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CNN Live Saturday
Unprecedented Security For Democratic Convention; Kerry, Edwards Take Winding Road To Boston
Aired July 24, 2004 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY LIVE: It is 2:00 p.m. in Boston, 1:00 p.m. in Crawford, Texas. Good afternoon. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta.
Ahead this hour, political preparations in Boston amid unprecedented security measures already underway leading up to the Democratic National Convention. We're live with the latest.
Meanwhile, the democratic ticket hits the road. We're live from the campaign trail. And securing the summer games. We'll examine the impact U.S. Special Forces will have in Athens.
Those stories in a moment but first a look what's making news at this hour.
Negotiators are working to win freedom for a senior Egyptian diplomat now being held in Iraq. Top Iraqi leaders say they hope Egypt will resist calls to give in to terrorist demands. Seven international truck drivers are also being held by militants as well as the chief of a state-owned construction company in Baghdad, taken hostage this morning.
A so-called Bin Laden virus is attacking Internet message board users. An entry falsely claims that Osama Bin Laden has committed suicide citing a nonexistent CNN report. If someone opens the file, the virus allows hackers to take over control of that computer.
The mother of a missing jogger in Utah is pleading for more volunteer searchers. Lori Hacking disappeared Monday. Her husband Mark is a person of interest to Salt Lake City police. He's under observation as a psychiatric hospital.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
The road to the White House leads through Boston for the Democrats. Their national convention starts there Monday. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards are crisscrossing the country on the way to Bean Town to accept their party's nomination. We have your complete campaign coverage right here. Elaine Quijano is following Edwards today. Suzanne Malveaux is on the President's tax ranch. And CNN's and Bob Franken is live from Boston with a preview of the DNC. Bob, let's begin with you.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK. Let's begin with the delegates beginning to trickle into Boston. They are here coming in a little early in many cases so they can have a little breath of the history. Take a little look at the sites. We were just on the roadway there, Faneuil Hall and the Quincy market area. And we saw a few delegates just relaxing, being tourists.
The big event here today is the baseball game between the New York Yankees and Red Sox. But the big event starting Monday of course is the Democratic convention. And the huge event is the massive security that has been put into place. You see more than anything else, security forces everywhere.
You see security when you ride the subway, and there are random searches of people's bags. Security over ahead. Jets will be flying overhead. Air Force jets coordinated by the Secret Service. And there's so much that we're not seeing, surveillance everywhere. It is a huge unprecedented security effort.
The delegates have all been warned to be patient as they come here, and hope that the only story that comes out of Boston after everything is said and done, is the story about the nomination of John Kerry and John Edwards to make up the presidential ticket for the Democrats.
But the story they'll leave behind if things go well, is a debate over whether all this was necessary. Over whether the security so badly hurt the economy by keeping Bostonians out, and shutting businesses down that it was worth the effort. Other cities are going to be watching this to see if perhaps the time has come. Question whether conventions really are all that much of an advantage to any city. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: And Bob, is it the case that unless you have a special badge or pass, that you really cannot go inside a certain perimeter?
FRANKEN: Well, it's not quite that extreme, but there are certainly certain venues where that's the case. Obviously the Fleet Center being one, the big news media area, that's another one. Badges help a lot these days.
WHITFIELD: Bob Franken in Boston. Thanks very much.
Kerry meets up with John Edwards after the two make individual appearances throughout the weekend. Right now, Edwards is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And that is where we find our Elaine Quijano -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon Fredricka. Senator John Edwards spoke to a crowd of about 5,000 people here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wisconsin of course a key state this time around. It was back in 2,000 when Al Gore won this state by a razor thin margin, less than one percentage point over George Bush.
This time around, Senator Edwards is reaching out to voters for his running mate, John Kerry. Senator Edwards today using the backdrop of a park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park here on Milwaukee's north side. The senator quoting Dr. King and talking about the ideas of hope and optimism. Telling the crowd the Kerry-Edwards ticket represented the politics of hope.
Senator Edwards also discussed policy issues, including giving tax credits for childcare, and health care, and also a plan to make college more affordable for Americans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN EDWARDS, VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you are trying to send your kids to college, we've got hundreds of thousands of young people who want to do exactly what I did, first in my family to be able to go to college. They want to go to college. But they can't go. Why can't they go? They can't pay for it.
Well, we and the to do something about that. We want to make a tax break to families for up to $4,000 of tuition a year. There are real things we can do to strengthen working middle class families.
QUIJANO: Now Senator Edwards was here to talk about some serious policy issues, and to focus the political spotlight on his running mate John Kerry. But it was his two children at the event here today just a short time ago who actually stole the spotlight. His two young children, 6-year-old Emma Claire, and 4-year-old Jack.
The appeared on stage wearing traditional Wisconsin cheese head gear, much to the delight of crowd who had come here to see Senator Edwards. As for the senator's itinerary, he is off to San Antonio this afternoon. First of all, we should tell you here in Milwaukee he is scheduled to meet with African American leaders. Then moving on to San Antonio, Texas for events there. And eventually returning to North Carolina before the big trip to Boston, obviously, for the Democratic National Convention.
A lot of attention being paid to his speech. We understand that Senator Edwards is using much of his free time to work on that speech. We are told that on the trip from Connecticut to Denver, quite a lengthy trip, he spent a considerable amount of time during that flight working on the overall themes. And a lot of attention is going to be obviously focused on him come Wednesday when he is set to deliver that. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Elaine Quijano. Thanks very much traveling with the Edwards camp.
Today John Kerry is keeping busy. Today delivering this week's Democratic radio address. He is also testing the party's message today in Sioux City Iowa. After accepting the party's nomination Thursday in Boston, Kerry and Edwards hit the road once again for a two-week, 21-state tour.
Stay with CNN, your election 2004 campaign headquarters. Coming up later today, "THE CAPITAL GANG" is live from Boston. That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4: 00 Pacific. And tomorrow night join Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff for a special preview of the Democratic National Convention. That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.
On this weekend before the curtain goes up on the Democratic National Convention, President Bush is spending time away from the spotlight. He flew home yesterday to spend a week on his ranch in Texas. Today, much of his focus is on the war on terror and the 9/11 Commission's final report. Our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the President, and joins us from Crawford. Suzanne?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, while the Democrats really take center stage, President Bush is largely going to be out of the spotlight. He is at his Crawford ranch. That is where he's on a working vacation, we're told at the Western White House.
The President however, focusing on the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. We are told he is looking over that report. He has initiated a special task force to come up with advice in terms of what type of recommendations can be implemented right away. He is expected that that task force get back to him promptly.
We are told as well that this is going to be a task force headed by his Chief of Staff Andy Card, will include a Homeland Security team, a National Security team, and other high level officials. It is expected this week in Washington that that task force will assemble, and that National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will come out to the ranch on Monday to join the President to go over those recommendations.
It is very clear that this administration is trying to get across the message they are taking this very seriously. President Bush in his weekly radio address today however, saying that his administration has already implemented many of those changes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES: We have already put into action many of the steps now recommended by the commission. And we will carefully examine all the commission's ideas on how we can improve our on going efforts to protect America, and to prevent another attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, of course, his Democratic opponent, Senator John Kerry gearing up to officially accept his party's nomination, has put out the Democratic response today. He mainly focused on health care as well as economics. These are two areas in which he scores better in the polls than National Security. But he also addressed that issue as well, encouraging that reform efforts in terms of intelligence and security be made right away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We value a strong military and strong alliances so that America never has to go to war because it wants to, but only because we have to. These aren't Democratic values. And they are not Republican values. They're American values. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Members of congress both at the House and Senate say they will give up their August recess to hold hearings, as well as make recommendations by the end of August. Legislation of what they believe the kinds of steps that should go forward in terms of national security, reform, and intelligence.
The two top priorities is setting up of course a counter- terrorism task force on a national level, also a national director of intelligence. This Fred of course, is still a controversial issue, a controversial proposal. The White House says it's open to it however, the head of the Homeland Security Department, as well as the acting CIA director, both of them against that proposal. That is still being debated.
WHITFIELD: Suzanne Malveaux in Crawford, Texas, thanks very much.
Leading up to the big show in Boston, John Kerry is making his appearance along with his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, right there who is speaking at the mike in Sioux City Iowa. We already saw a little bit earlier that his partner in crime, John Edwards, is making his appearances in Wisconsin.
Special Forces taking action in Athens. We'll examine the tough task of securing the summer games. Now with help from U.S. forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in a life or death situation right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
And the 9/11 report is out. But what happens next as congress goes on summer break?
And major legal victory for Kobe Bryant's defense team. We'll find out what impact if any it will have in his trial on rape charges.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The U.S. is committing 400 troops to help guard next month's Olympic Games in Athens. The request came from the Greek government. It's not clear if the Special Forces will be in Athens, or perhaps on alert in various European bases. Either way, they will be under NATO command. Greece says the security costs for the games have passed $1.5 billion, that's 25 percent higher than earlier estimates.
Let's talk about the challenges of protecting so many athletes and VIP's in Athens. CNN Military Analyst Ken Robinson joins us from our Washington bureau. Good to see.
KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Hi, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Why is this such an incredible challenge? Is it mostly because the borders are so porous?
ROBINSON: Well there's a contiguous coastline. There's a country with an airport that has a notorious past in regards to security, and the fact that these are the first summer games since 9/11 attacks. And there has been heightened awareness of bombings in Madrid, bombings in Istanbul and bombings in Athens on May 5th. There three simultaneous bombs on May 5th in Athens. So they know there are threats to the games.
WHITFIELD: And well before May 5th, in these bombings in Athens, Athens and other parts of Greece really had become a birthplace of a lot of terrorism attacks many years ago. November 7 being one of those groups that was blamed for much of the terrorist attacks. What has happened with that group? Is it still there? Is it kind of a sleeping group?
ROBINSON: It's kind of fallen off the radar screen in recent years. However, they do believe there are remnants there. There's a multitude of groups that have congregated in Athens in recent months leading up to the games. There are anti-globalization groups which are there. There are other foreign terrorist organizations that may want to put themselves on the radar screen and see the Olympics as an opportunity to do that. There's a hodgepodge.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Well the Greeks are acknowledging that they could use some help. And they're soliciting, or at least inviting the help from U.S. forces. Might athletes, VIP's, guests for the games actually see these Special Forces there in Athens, or in the periphery somewhere?
ROBINSON: No, I think they're going to see not all the special mission units which have been allocated to try to protect high visibility people, including President Bush -- Bush 41 and his family. But there's going to be a large presence of footprint security. There are underwater patrols which are going on around cruise ships which are going to house participants.
There's all kinds of -- there's a balloon that's been mounted with chemical and biological sniffing devices, and also sensors to be able to monitor cameras. There's cameras all over the country. There's 70,000 police that are going to be employed. These special units may be operating from areas within Athens, or on the island of Crete where the United States has a base.
WHITFIELD: Well then with all that in place, more than a billion -- 1.5 billion by some estimates of security cost measures, what in the world is missing that makes this still a vulnerable location?
ROBINSON: Because terrorists get to pick the time and the place. And because they get to pick the time and the place of their choosing, not necessarily will it be one of the hard and protected sites. They may choose to go to a place where they feel is not so protected. Maybe the Intercontinental Hotel overlooking the Acropolis is the softest target.
Some location where they feel they can get more bang for the buck, because they can't guard everything. So they try to maintain a presence of a deterrence, and then be prepared to react if there are any consequences from that. They have to assume the unknown.
WHITFIELD: CNN Military Analyst, Ken Robinson, thanks very much.
ROBINSON: Thanks, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Here at home, plans following the public release of the 9/11 report. Congress is now planning hearings in August on the findings and recommendations from the Commission. CNN's Sean Callebs reports now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As congress headed out of town for a six-week recess, signals that for some the vacation will be cut short. Senate leaders from both parties announcing rare August hearings.
SEN JOE LIEBERMAN, (D) CONNECTICUT: You know, I think when members of both houses go home for this recess, the folks back home are going to say, why are you home? Why aren't you in Washington dealing with the recommendations of the September 11th Commission?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: Senators say they want to have legislation crafted by October 1st so lawmakers can vote on sweeping national intelligence reforms. The 9/11 findings are now a bestseller, hot off the presses, and a hot topic among Americans who are issuing a call for action. In Chicago --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As soon as they can. I mean, I think you can't wait any longer.
CALLEBS: And in New York.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in a life or death situation right now. Especially in this town.
CALLEBS: 9/11 families are buoyed by the sense of urgency, but concerned the Capitol will laps into politics at usual.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not in charge. All I can do is demand high standards, and look to Washington to implement these reforms, and try to make this country safer.
CALLEBS: Some House Democrats have accused Republican speaker Hastert of digging in his heels, instead of digging into the panel's call for reform. In response, Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay issued a statement saying; "Congress needs to act as quickly as possible, calling for August hearings, as well". They want a proposal on the floor before congress adjourns in October.
At the White House too, promises for a quick thorough review. The White House officials saying the President directed the Chief of Staff Andrew Card to head a task force involving members of the Homeland Security team, and National Security team to review recommendations and report back to him soon. Saying we are not talking weeks.
CALLEBS (on-camera): Commission members have said the presidential election and congressional break aren't reasons to derail efforts to overhaul the way the U.S. gathers and disseminates intelligence. Senator Lieberman saying the United States is dealing with a crisis. That "people die, and more people will unless we get it together." Sean Callebs, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And back now to Sioux City Iowa where presumed Democratic nominee John Kerry has taken the mike just two days now before the start of the Democratic Convention in Boston.
KERRY: And several very, very special guests, I met briefly before we came out here. I'm proud today to be able to announce that I've been endorsed by the Omaha tribe, by the Winnebago tribe, by Chairman Blackhawk, Chairman Grant who are both here. I thank them both. Thank you, chairmen. And Frank LaMere of the Native American council who represents the council of Native Americans of the country (ph). Frank, thank you for your leadership.
WHITFIELD: John Kerry in Sioux City Iowa taking a few more stops on his way to Boston where he'll end up on Monday.
Colorado's rape shield law thrown out, sort of. The judge in Kobe Bryant's trial issues a ruling in favor of his defense. We'll find out exactly what it means in our legal roundtable.
And star treatment coming up. Anderson Cooper takes special behind the scenes looks at what some of your favorite celebrities do to stay healthy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: On the docket today, Scott Peterson, Douglas Faneuil and Kobe Bryant. We start with the Kobe Bryant case, where Bryant's accuser's sex life could come into play. It was a big win for the defense this week. The judge said it could present evidence about the woman's sexual activity in the days after her encounter with Bryant and before the rape exam.
The defense claims she had sex with at least two other men during that time. With us in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Civil Rights Attorney and Law Professor, Avery Friedman. And in New York, Criminal Defense Attorney Richard Herman. All right gentlemen. Good to see you.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Hi, Avery.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Hello. All right Avery, let's begin with you. What do these conditions mean? FRIEDMAN: Well, really, at first blush, people will be very fearful for those of us that fight for the rights of women, that what Judge Terry Ruckriegle did was really terrible. But when you read his opinion, Fredricka, what he did was carefully tailor an order to balance the rights of the accused with the rights of the victim.
He is limiting introduction of evidence to the injury. And in fact, what he's doing is making his opinion and this trial bulletproof so that in the event there's an appeal, it's going to be rock solid. So it was the correct thing to do.
WHITFIELD: So Richard, does it also mean the defense brought forth some sort of evidence to convince the judge that there is sufficient evidence that will back up the claim that this accuser had at least one other encounter with somebody else?
HERMAN: Fred, you hit the nail right on the head there. This evidence must be overwhelming. And it's my understanding that the prosecution is going to meet with this alleged weekend in the upcoming week, and ask her if she truly wants to proceed with this case. She very well may decline to proceed.
WHITFIELD: And so Richard would the prosecution team try to convince her otherwise? Will they try to talk her into it, into staying?
HERMAN: They probably would because it's such a high profile case. But the judge is going to allow any physical evidence -- any evidence of prior -- of sexual history during the period of time, that 72-hour period between the time of her alleged incident with Kobe, and the time she finally went to the hospital to be examined.
FRIEDMAN: Very limited though.
WHITFIELD: If the evidence is there though, why even encourage her to go on?
HERMAN: Because it's consistent with trauma, isn't it?
FRIEDMAN: The fact is though, that she claimed she was raped. So whatever she did with someone else at a different time, she's arguing, should have nothing to do with it. That ruling by the judge in Eagle County is going to be very difficult because remember, the prosecution has to establish their case beyond a reasonable doubt. So that evidence getting in is not good news for the victim.
HERMAN: And Fred, they're going to try to prove this case by the introduction of physical injury to her which could have been caused by someone else. Which would be inconsistent with forced sexual conduct.
WHITFIELD: Well let's that's talk about the evidence that makes the Scott Peterson case that much more confusing and strange this past week. The issue of one hair versus two hairs found on pliers. Why, Richard is that significant?
HERMAN: Chain of custody. Those are the key words, Fred. Chain of custody is so critical in any criminal case, in any criminal investigation. Early on at the preliminary hearing, all the prosecution talked about was one hair. One hair that was derived from the boat of Scott Peterson.
Now lo and behold, when a witness gets up and testifies, there are two hairs in that particular jar. It looks; it smells like something's been planted there. The prosecution witness himself testified that the hair did not break off from the same piece that was in there. So it's a second hair.
FRIEDMAN: And that falls into the defense in this case that the cops botched this investigation. But the bottom line is the most dramatic evidence in the Scott Peterson case is yet to come. We are going to hear inconsistent statements. This was a terrible week for the prosecution. But remember right around the corner we're going to hear from Amber Frey. We're going to hear some of those inconsistent statements. We've got a long way to go.
HERMAN: Fred, this case is like the poly-prep (ph) high school football team playing the NFL Super Bowl champions. The prosecution is completely outmatched here. They are getting destroyed every step of the way. I'll predict to you right now that Amber Frey and her attorney, her mouthpiece; Gloria "All-wrong" is going to be a major bust for the prosecution.
WHITFIELD: You're going to get e-mail for that one.
HERMAN: Gloria Allred, I'm sorry.
WHITFIELD: All right. Richard Herman and Avery Friedman. Thanks so much. We're out of time. We didn't get to Douglas Faneuil. But at least to set the record straight for those who were keeping up all week, he got a $2,000 fine, no jail. No probation.
All right. Well we're coming back with a look at our top stories this hour, also looking good and feeling good. Some of your favorite celebrities shell out top dollar. I mean big bank for personal pampering. We've got the dish coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 24, 2004 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR, CNN SATURDAY LIVE: It is 2:00 p.m. in Boston, 1:00 p.m. in Crawford, Texas. Good afternoon. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta.
Ahead this hour, political preparations in Boston amid unprecedented security measures already underway leading up to the Democratic National Convention. We're live with the latest.
Meanwhile, the democratic ticket hits the road. We're live from the campaign trail. And securing the summer games. We'll examine the impact U.S. Special Forces will have in Athens.
Those stories in a moment but first a look what's making news at this hour.
Negotiators are working to win freedom for a senior Egyptian diplomat now being held in Iraq. Top Iraqi leaders say they hope Egypt will resist calls to give in to terrorist demands. Seven international truck drivers are also being held by militants as well as the chief of a state-owned construction company in Baghdad, taken hostage this morning.
A so-called Bin Laden virus is attacking Internet message board users. An entry falsely claims that Osama Bin Laden has committed suicide citing a nonexistent CNN report. If someone opens the file, the virus allows hackers to take over control of that computer.
The mother of a missing jogger in Utah is pleading for more volunteer searchers. Lori Hacking disappeared Monday. Her husband Mark is a person of interest to Salt Lake City police. He's under observation as a psychiatric hospital.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
The road to the White House leads through Boston for the Democrats. Their national convention starts there Monday. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards are crisscrossing the country on the way to Bean Town to accept their party's nomination. We have your complete campaign coverage right here. Elaine Quijano is following Edwards today. Suzanne Malveaux is on the President's tax ranch. And CNN's and Bob Franken is live from Boston with a preview of the DNC. Bob, let's begin with you.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK. Let's begin with the delegates beginning to trickle into Boston. They are here coming in a little early in many cases so they can have a little breath of the history. Take a little look at the sites. We were just on the roadway there, Faneuil Hall and the Quincy market area. And we saw a few delegates just relaxing, being tourists.
The big event here today is the baseball game between the New York Yankees and Red Sox. But the big event starting Monday of course is the Democratic convention. And the huge event is the massive security that has been put into place. You see more than anything else, security forces everywhere.
You see security when you ride the subway, and there are random searches of people's bags. Security over ahead. Jets will be flying overhead. Air Force jets coordinated by the Secret Service. And there's so much that we're not seeing, surveillance everywhere. It is a huge unprecedented security effort.
The delegates have all been warned to be patient as they come here, and hope that the only story that comes out of Boston after everything is said and done, is the story about the nomination of John Kerry and John Edwards to make up the presidential ticket for the Democrats.
But the story they'll leave behind if things go well, is a debate over whether all this was necessary. Over whether the security so badly hurt the economy by keeping Bostonians out, and shutting businesses down that it was worth the effort. Other cities are going to be watching this to see if perhaps the time has come. Question whether conventions really are all that much of an advantage to any city. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: And Bob, is it the case that unless you have a special badge or pass, that you really cannot go inside a certain perimeter?
FRANKEN: Well, it's not quite that extreme, but there are certainly certain venues where that's the case. Obviously the Fleet Center being one, the big news media area, that's another one. Badges help a lot these days.
WHITFIELD: Bob Franken in Boston. Thanks very much.
Kerry meets up with John Edwards after the two make individual appearances throughout the weekend. Right now, Edwards is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And that is where we find our Elaine Quijano -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon Fredricka. Senator John Edwards spoke to a crowd of about 5,000 people here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wisconsin of course a key state this time around. It was back in 2,000 when Al Gore won this state by a razor thin margin, less than one percentage point over George Bush.
This time around, Senator Edwards is reaching out to voters for his running mate, John Kerry. Senator Edwards today using the backdrop of a park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park here on Milwaukee's north side. The senator quoting Dr. King and talking about the ideas of hope and optimism. Telling the crowd the Kerry-Edwards ticket represented the politics of hope.
Senator Edwards also discussed policy issues, including giving tax credits for childcare, and health care, and also a plan to make college more affordable for Americans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN EDWARDS, VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you are trying to send your kids to college, we've got hundreds of thousands of young people who want to do exactly what I did, first in my family to be able to go to college. They want to go to college. But they can't go. Why can't they go? They can't pay for it.
Well, we and the to do something about that. We want to make a tax break to families for up to $4,000 of tuition a year. There are real things we can do to strengthen working middle class families.
QUIJANO: Now Senator Edwards was here to talk about some serious policy issues, and to focus the political spotlight on his running mate John Kerry. But it was his two children at the event here today just a short time ago who actually stole the spotlight. His two young children, 6-year-old Emma Claire, and 4-year-old Jack.
The appeared on stage wearing traditional Wisconsin cheese head gear, much to the delight of crowd who had come here to see Senator Edwards. As for the senator's itinerary, he is off to San Antonio this afternoon. First of all, we should tell you here in Milwaukee he is scheduled to meet with African American leaders. Then moving on to San Antonio, Texas for events there. And eventually returning to North Carolina before the big trip to Boston, obviously, for the Democratic National Convention.
A lot of attention being paid to his speech. We understand that Senator Edwards is using much of his free time to work on that speech. We are told that on the trip from Connecticut to Denver, quite a lengthy trip, he spent a considerable amount of time during that flight working on the overall themes. And a lot of attention is going to be obviously focused on him come Wednesday when he is set to deliver that. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Elaine Quijano. Thanks very much traveling with the Edwards camp.
Today John Kerry is keeping busy. Today delivering this week's Democratic radio address. He is also testing the party's message today in Sioux City Iowa. After accepting the party's nomination Thursday in Boston, Kerry and Edwards hit the road once again for a two-week, 21-state tour.
Stay with CNN, your election 2004 campaign headquarters. Coming up later today, "THE CAPITAL GANG" is live from Boston. That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4: 00 Pacific. And tomorrow night join Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff for a special preview of the Democratic National Convention. That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.
On this weekend before the curtain goes up on the Democratic National Convention, President Bush is spending time away from the spotlight. He flew home yesterday to spend a week on his ranch in Texas. Today, much of his focus is on the war on terror and the 9/11 Commission's final report. Our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the President, and joins us from Crawford. Suzanne?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, while the Democrats really take center stage, President Bush is largely going to be out of the spotlight. He is at his Crawford ranch. That is where he's on a working vacation, we're told at the Western White House.
The President however, focusing on the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. We are told he is looking over that report. He has initiated a special task force to come up with advice in terms of what type of recommendations can be implemented right away. He is expected that that task force get back to him promptly.
We are told as well that this is going to be a task force headed by his Chief of Staff Andy Card, will include a Homeland Security team, a National Security team, and other high level officials. It is expected this week in Washington that that task force will assemble, and that National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will come out to the ranch on Monday to join the President to go over those recommendations.
It is very clear that this administration is trying to get across the message they are taking this very seriously. President Bush in his weekly radio address today however, saying that his administration has already implemented many of those changes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES: We have already put into action many of the steps now recommended by the commission. And we will carefully examine all the commission's ideas on how we can improve our on going efforts to protect America, and to prevent another attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, of course, his Democratic opponent, Senator John Kerry gearing up to officially accept his party's nomination, has put out the Democratic response today. He mainly focused on health care as well as economics. These are two areas in which he scores better in the polls than National Security. But he also addressed that issue as well, encouraging that reform efforts in terms of intelligence and security be made right away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We value a strong military and strong alliances so that America never has to go to war because it wants to, but only because we have to. These aren't Democratic values. And they are not Republican values. They're American values. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Members of congress both at the House and Senate say they will give up their August recess to hold hearings, as well as make recommendations by the end of August. Legislation of what they believe the kinds of steps that should go forward in terms of national security, reform, and intelligence.
The two top priorities is setting up of course a counter- terrorism task force on a national level, also a national director of intelligence. This Fred of course, is still a controversial issue, a controversial proposal. The White House says it's open to it however, the head of the Homeland Security Department, as well as the acting CIA director, both of them against that proposal. That is still being debated.
WHITFIELD: Suzanne Malveaux in Crawford, Texas, thanks very much.
Leading up to the big show in Boston, John Kerry is making his appearance along with his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, right there who is speaking at the mike in Sioux City Iowa. We already saw a little bit earlier that his partner in crime, John Edwards, is making his appearances in Wisconsin.
Special Forces taking action in Athens. We'll examine the tough task of securing the summer games. Now with help from U.S. forces.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in a life or death situation right now.
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And the 9/11 report is out. But what happens next as congress goes on summer break?
And major legal victory for Kobe Bryant's defense team. We'll find out what impact if any it will have in his trial on rape charges.
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WHITFIELD: The U.S. is committing 400 troops to help guard next month's Olympic Games in Athens. The request came from the Greek government. It's not clear if the Special Forces will be in Athens, or perhaps on alert in various European bases. Either way, they will be under NATO command. Greece says the security costs for the games have passed $1.5 billion, that's 25 percent higher than earlier estimates.
Let's talk about the challenges of protecting so many athletes and VIP's in Athens. CNN Military Analyst Ken Robinson joins us from our Washington bureau. Good to see.
KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Hi, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Why is this such an incredible challenge? Is it mostly because the borders are so porous?
ROBINSON: Well there's a contiguous coastline. There's a country with an airport that has a notorious past in regards to security, and the fact that these are the first summer games since 9/11 attacks. And there has been heightened awareness of bombings in Madrid, bombings in Istanbul and bombings in Athens on May 5th. There three simultaneous bombs on May 5th in Athens. So they know there are threats to the games.
WHITFIELD: And well before May 5th, in these bombings in Athens, Athens and other parts of Greece really had become a birthplace of a lot of terrorism attacks many years ago. November 7 being one of those groups that was blamed for much of the terrorist attacks. What has happened with that group? Is it still there? Is it kind of a sleeping group?
ROBINSON: It's kind of fallen off the radar screen in recent years. However, they do believe there are remnants there. There's a multitude of groups that have congregated in Athens in recent months leading up to the games. There are anti-globalization groups which are there. There are other foreign terrorist organizations that may want to put themselves on the radar screen and see the Olympics as an opportunity to do that. There's a hodgepodge.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Well the Greeks are acknowledging that they could use some help. And they're soliciting, or at least inviting the help from U.S. forces. Might athletes, VIP's, guests for the games actually see these Special Forces there in Athens, or in the periphery somewhere?
ROBINSON: No, I think they're going to see not all the special mission units which have been allocated to try to protect high visibility people, including President Bush -- Bush 41 and his family. But there's going to be a large presence of footprint security. There are underwater patrols which are going on around cruise ships which are going to house participants.
There's all kinds of -- there's a balloon that's been mounted with chemical and biological sniffing devices, and also sensors to be able to monitor cameras. There's cameras all over the country. There's 70,000 police that are going to be employed. These special units may be operating from areas within Athens, or on the island of Crete where the United States has a base.
WHITFIELD: Well then with all that in place, more than a billion -- 1.5 billion by some estimates of security cost measures, what in the world is missing that makes this still a vulnerable location?
ROBINSON: Because terrorists get to pick the time and the place. And because they get to pick the time and the place of their choosing, not necessarily will it be one of the hard and protected sites. They may choose to go to a place where they feel is not so protected. Maybe the Intercontinental Hotel overlooking the Acropolis is the softest target.
Some location where they feel they can get more bang for the buck, because they can't guard everything. So they try to maintain a presence of a deterrence, and then be prepared to react if there are any consequences from that. They have to assume the unknown.
WHITFIELD: CNN Military Analyst, Ken Robinson, thanks very much.
ROBINSON: Thanks, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Here at home, plans following the public release of the 9/11 report. Congress is now planning hearings in August on the findings and recommendations from the Commission. CNN's Sean Callebs reports now.
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SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As congress headed out of town for a six-week recess, signals that for some the vacation will be cut short. Senate leaders from both parties announcing rare August hearings.
SEN JOE LIEBERMAN, (D) CONNECTICUT: You know, I think when members of both houses go home for this recess, the folks back home are going to say, why are you home? Why aren't you in Washington dealing with the recommendations of the September 11th Commission?
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CALLEBS: Senators say they want to have legislation crafted by October 1st so lawmakers can vote on sweeping national intelligence reforms. The 9/11 findings are now a bestseller, hot off the presses, and a hot topic among Americans who are issuing a call for action. In Chicago --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As soon as they can. I mean, I think you can't wait any longer.
CALLEBS: And in New York.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in a life or death situation right now. Especially in this town.
CALLEBS: 9/11 families are buoyed by the sense of urgency, but concerned the Capitol will laps into politics at usual.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not in charge. All I can do is demand high standards, and look to Washington to implement these reforms, and try to make this country safer.
CALLEBS: Some House Democrats have accused Republican speaker Hastert of digging in his heels, instead of digging into the panel's call for reform. In response, Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay issued a statement saying; "Congress needs to act as quickly as possible, calling for August hearings, as well". They want a proposal on the floor before congress adjourns in October.
At the White House too, promises for a quick thorough review. The White House officials saying the President directed the Chief of Staff Andrew Card to head a task force involving members of the Homeland Security team, and National Security team to review recommendations and report back to him soon. Saying we are not talking weeks.
CALLEBS (on-camera): Commission members have said the presidential election and congressional break aren't reasons to derail efforts to overhaul the way the U.S. gathers and disseminates intelligence. Senator Lieberman saying the United States is dealing with a crisis. That "people die, and more people will unless we get it together." Sean Callebs, CNN, Washington.
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WHITFIELD: And back now to Sioux City Iowa where presumed Democratic nominee John Kerry has taken the mike just two days now before the start of the Democratic Convention in Boston.
KERRY: And several very, very special guests, I met briefly before we came out here. I'm proud today to be able to announce that I've been endorsed by the Omaha tribe, by the Winnebago tribe, by Chairman Blackhawk, Chairman Grant who are both here. I thank them both. Thank you, chairmen. And Frank LaMere of the Native American council who represents the council of Native Americans of the country (ph). Frank, thank you for your leadership.
WHITFIELD: John Kerry in Sioux City Iowa taking a few more stops on his way to Boston where he'll end up on Monday.
Colorado's rape shield law thrown out, sort of. The judge in Kobe Bryant's trial issues a ruling in favor of his defense. We'll find out exactly what it means in our legal roundtable.
And star treatment coming up. Anderson Cooper takes special behind the scenes looks at what some of your favorite celebrities do to stay healthy.
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WHITFIELD: On the docket today, Scott Peterson, Douglas Faneuil and Kobe Bryant. We start with the Kobe Bryant case, where Bryant's accuser's sex life could come into play. It was a big win for the defense this week. The judge said it could present evidence about the woman's sexual activity in the days after her encounter with Bryant and before the rape exam.
The defense claims she had sex with at least two other men during that time. With us in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Civil Rights Attorney and Law Professor, Avery Friedman. And in New York, Criminal Defense Attorney Richard Herman. All right gentlemen. Good to see you.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Hi, Avery.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Hello. All right Avery, let's begin with you. What do these conditions mean? FRIEDMAN: Well, really, at first blush, people will be very fearful for those of us that fight for the rights of women, that what Judge Terry Ruckriegle did was really terrible. But when you read his opinion, Fredricka, what he did was carefully tailor an order to balance the rights of the accused with the rights of the victim.
He is limiting introduction of evidence to the injury. And in fact, what he's doing is making his opinion and this trial bulletproof so that in the event there's an appeal, it's going to be rock solid. So it was the correct thing to do.
WHITFIELD: So Richard, does it also mean the defense brought forth some sort of evidence to convince the judge that there is sufficient evidence that will back up the claim that this accuser had at least one other encounter with somebody else?
HERMAN: Fred, you hit the nail right on the head there. This evidence must be overwhelming. And it's my understanding that the prosecution is going to meet with this alleged weekend in the upcoming week, and ask her if she truly wants to proceed with this case. She very well may decline to proceed.
WHITFIELD: And so Richard would the prosecution team try to convince her otherwise? Will they try to talk her into it, into staying?
HERMAN: They probably would because it's such a high profile case. But the judge is going to allow any physical evidence -- any evidence of prior -- of sexual history during the period of time, that 72-hour period between the time of her alleged incident with Kobe, and the time she finally went to the hospital to be examined.
FRIEDMAN: Very limited though.
WHITFIELD: If the evidence is there though, why even encourage her to go on?
HERMAN: Because it's consistent with trauma, isn't it?
FRIEDMAN: The fact is though, that she claimed she was raped. So whatever she did with someone else at a different time, she's arguing, should have nothing to do with it. That ruling by the judge in Eagle County is going to be very difficult because remember, the prosecution has to establish their case beyond a reasonable doubt. So that evidence getting in is not good news for the victim.
HERMAN: And Fred, they're going to try to prove this case by the introduction of physical injury to her which could have been caused by someone else. Which would be inconsistent with forced sexual conduct.
WHITFIELD: Well let's that's talk about the evidence that makes the Scott Peterson case that much more confusing and strange this past week. The issue of one hair versus two hairs found on pliers. Why, Richard is that significant?
HERMAN: Chain of custody. Those are the key words, Fred. Chain of custody is so critical in any criminal case, in any criminal investigation. Early on at the preliminary hearing, all the prosecution talked about was one hair. One hair that was derived from the boat of Scott Peterson.
Now lo and behold, when a witness gets up and testifies, there are two hairs in that particular jar. It looks; it smells like something's been planted there. The prosecution witness himself testified that the hair did not break off from the same piece that was in there. So it's a second hair.
FRIEDMAN: And that falls into the defense in this case that the cops botched this investigation. But the bottom line is the most dramatic evidence in the Scott Peterson case is yet to come. We are going to hear inconsistent statements. This was a terrible week for the prosecution. But remember right around the corner we're going to hear from Amber Frey. We're going to hear some of those inconsistent statements. We've got a long way to go.
HERMAN: Fred, this case is like the poly-prep (ph) high school football team playing the NFL Super Bowl champions. The prosecution is completely outmatched here. They are getting destroyed every step of the way. I'll predict to you right now that Amber Frey and her attorney, her mouthpiece; Gloria "All-wrong" is going to be a major bust for the prosecution.
WHITFIELD: You're going to get e-mail for that one.
HERMAN: Gloria Allred, I'm sorry.
WHITFIELD: All right. Richard Herman and Avery Friedman. Thanks so much. We're out of time. We didn't get to Douglas Faneuil. But at least to set the record straight for those who were keeping up all week, he got a $2,000 fine, no jail. No probation.
All right. Well we're coming back with a look at our top stories this hour, also looking good and feeling good. Some of your favorite celebrities shell out top dollar. I mean big bank for personal pampering. We've got the dish coming up.
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