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CNN Live Saturday

Texas School Board Forces Textbook Rewrite Defining Marriage; Interview with Peter Sprigg

Aired November 06, 2004 - 16:00   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, CNN ANCHOR: Defining marriage: Texas rewrites some of its health books for school children. And have you had cosmetic surgery, or even thinking about it? And will your flexible spending account pay for it? There's a doctor in the house who can answer that question.
Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I am Fredricka Whitfield. Those stories coming up, but first a look at those headlines.

A deadly day in Samarra, Iraq. A series of violent attacks killed at least 34 people, dozens wounded. The violence began this morning when insurgents attacked a police station. The unrest also included two car bombs that exploded near the mayor's office and a coalition patrol.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat continues to hang on to life at a Paris hospital. Sources say he's being kept in a coma to prevent him from moving, which could be fatal. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials are beginning to discuss life in a post-Arafat era openly for the first time.

And British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be able to congratulate President Bush on his re-election in person. Blair is coming to Washington next week. Mr. Blair will meet with the president Thursday and Friday. Iraq will be at the top of their agenda.

First, to the ongoing bloody fight for Iraq. The deadliest attack of the day took place Samarra just north of Baghdad, a city where U.S. and Iraqi forces thought they had pacified the insurgents. Their focus now? The rebel stronghold of Falluja. We begin with CNN's Nic Robertson and a city under siege.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): This is the food market in Falluja. An automatic weapon rests on the fruit. Normally bustling, normally loaded with produce. This video, shot by a cameraman who lives in Falluja, depicts a town emptying of normal life. A resident packing to leave complains about the U.S. bombing.

"Where are the mujahadin," he says, "There are no mujahadin around these houses."

His neighbor shows buildings apparently damaged by explosions. You can hear the automatic weapons fire close by.

"These families have left the city," he says, "but the bombing continues. Look at the houses. They've destroyed everything."

In a Baghdad apartment, the Mehdi (ph) boys eagerly watch the news about their home town, Falluja. Their family is among the four- fifths of Falluja residents who are believed to have left, anticipating a U.S. and Iraqi government assault to drive out insurgents. Ali Medhdi (ph) is 9 years old.

"We fear the air strikes," he says, "They are very intense and the planes drop a lot of bombs. That's why we left Falluja."

His older brother, Muhammad, is a car mechanic.

"All of the people I know in Falluja have left already," he says, "only those with no place to go remain."

To the north in Samarra, insurgents struck in what appears to be coordinated attacks. At least 34 killed and dozens injured. As a car bomb detonated at the mayor's office and a police station in the city came under near simultaneous mortar and gunfire attack. Half an hour later, a vehicle bomb detonated by Iraqi troops on patrol with U.S. forces injured one Iraqi soldier and four passers-by.

(on camera): For the coalition and the Iraqi government, poised to drive insurgents out of Falluja, the attacks in Samarra are a stark reminder that even after eradicating insurgents, as they did in Samarra a month ago, there is no guarantee the insurgents won't return.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, has mission in Falluja been compromised? There is word this afternoon that an Iraqi commander who knows what U.S. forces are planning is missing. Let's get the latest from the CNN's Jane Arraf who is with some of the troops trade move in -- Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the air strikes and ground strikes on Falluja continue in preparation for a possible assault. Now, they're not saying anything more here than they're engaged in security operations in and around Al Anbar province, which includes Falluja. But it is known more than 10,000 troops, Iraqi and American, most of them Marines, would be engaged in any battle. And they're talking about potentially the fiercest fighting that has been seen since end of major combat.

Residents in Falluja still expected to try to flee the city. And Iraqi officials just back in the country, and expected due back soon, are expected to comment. They have told people in Falluja that this is essentially the last chance that if they don't give up insurgent, they will be attacked. And they're expected to reiterate that message -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right, Jane Arraf, thanks so much.

Well, the U.S. Marines are warning an assault on Falluja will be difficult. And some already are comparing it to the battle of Wei (ph) during the Vietnam War. The house to house fighting there lasted for weeks. So how are Marine families handling all of this now? CNN's Donna Tetrault talked with one Marine wife at Camp Pendleton, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TETRAULT (voice-over): A day at the beach for Megan Smith and her two daughters, Molly, 3, and Maggie, 11/2, isn't without thoughts that someone is missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's my dad.

TETRAULT: Corporal Matthew Smith, Megan's husband is one of the thousands of Marines in Falluja preparing for an expected assault against insurgents.

SMITH: I don't want to spend another anniversary without him. I don't want to spend another birthday without him. I just want him home.

TETRAULT: New Year's Eve, the couple will celebrate their third year of marriage. But now Megan focuses more on the smaller milestones. The last time she spoke to her husband was about a week ago.

SMITH: When we get on the phone, he jokes a lot more than usual. So I know he's scared but he's trying to hide it. So it's -- I think it's very hard on him to be away again.

TETRAULT: This is Matthew's second deployment to Iraq, and Megan is worried she could get the worst news possible, like her neighbor did, now a widow.

SMITH: To see my neighbor get that news and to hear her cry, it was hard because I knew it could have been me or it could have been Matt. And I don't want it to be.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TETRAULT: And Megan says that she spends a lot of her time praying. She said that when she married her husband, she knew what she had signed up for, she knew this was part of her job, but she says that it is still very difficult. Megan is only 23. Her husband is only 23. And they're trying to raise this young family.

But fredricka, you have to remember that Megan is only one of many families that are living like this, having to deal with this. And many are them are here in Ocean Side, near Camp Pendleton -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Donna, in that community of Ocean Side, what overall is being said or felt there?

TETRAULT: Well, that's very interesting, because when you talk to people on the street, you're talking to a lot of Marines, people that have been in Falluja, have been in Iraq. And these Marines say that they just want to get the job done. They are strong and showing their strength.

But again, when you talk to the wives and the people that are left behind, it's a lot more difficult -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Donna Tetrault in Ocean Side, thanks very much.

Well the condition is critical and still in a deep coma, but Yasser Arafat's exact condition remains a mystery as hundreds of Palestinian supporters hold vigil outside of Paris hospital. CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is keeping watch for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): An overnight vigil continuing here at the Percy Military Hospital in West Paris by supporters and well-wishers of Yasser Arafat. Inside, the 75-year-old leader remains where he has been for more than a week now while doctors determine his condition.

There has been very little word from the hospital as to what ails the 75-year-old Palestinian leader. But a statement earlier from the hospital said his condition had not deteriorated and it remained stable. He remains in a specialized unit here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIAN ESTRIPEAU, FRENCH MILITARY HEALTH SERV (through translator): Mr. Arafat's health has not deteriorated. It is considered stable in comparison to the last communication, thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SWEENEY: Now in a bid to quell some of the speculation that has been ripe, both here in Paris and in Ramallah, and indeed in Israel and Washington, the Palestinian leadership emerged from the hospital overnight to issue a statement to reporters.

Farouk Kaddoumi, who is the foreign minister for the PLO based in Tunisia said that in view of all of the declarations issued by various individuals and bodies in regard to President Arafat's health, and in order to avoid any misinterceptions and guarantee a higher degree of precision, it was agreed with the medical team supervising his treatment that it is to be the only entity authorized to issue statements from time to time. No other entity, in the words of Farouk Kaddoumi, whatsoever has been authorized to give out any information.

Following his presentation of the written statement, Farouk Kaddoumi then said to reporters that Yasser Arafat's health was quote, "good. But it may take some time." Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, Paris. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Palestinian officials have begun openenly discussing life after Arafat for the first time. More on that in a moment.

Meantime, can Democrats learn something from Republicans about moral issues or at least how to make them win for you? That discussion coming up.

And how a vote on gay marriage affected Texas' health books.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Palestinian officials have begun openly discussing life after Arafat for the first time. Two men are leading contenders to replace him: Former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and current Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, both known as the old guard.

For more on their leadership and their relationship with the White House, let's check in with CNN's Dana Bash.

And Dana, the president has been diplomatic about expressing his concerns about Arafat's conditions. But how worried, or concerned might he be about the leadership after Arafat?

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, that is what the White House is sort of watching and waiting to see in terms of what happens. But in terms of the history of the White House relationship with Yasser Arafat, Fredricka, you know that Yasser Arafat was never invited to this White House, to the Bush White House, even after he was a very frequent visitor to the Clinton White House.

And the president really was under fire from European allies and others in the Mideast, because he waited to endorse the so-called road map to peace until there was somebody else who he could deal with besides Yasser Arafat.

And at the time back in June of last year, you see there is someone in Aqaba, Jordan. That was Mahmoud Abbas. That was the first prime minister put if place that President Bush was very excited. He told reporters afterwards on Air Force One, very excited to work with. He said he got a good feeling about him, about his relationship with Ariel Sharon. But then, of course, as President Bush later said and in his word, Arafat shoved him out.

So, the White House has had sort a tough time figures exactly who to deal with, how to deal with the Palestinian leadership. So they certainly are looking to see what will happen next whether it is, as you you put it, the old guard, which would be Mahmoud Abbas, which would be Qorei, the two people who are potentially in line to lead, even share potentially, leadership after Arafat actually goes. Or whether or not there will be some new blood, somebody new to deal with. There are other people, certainly, that the White House -- that officials are in touch with. and they understand that this certainly could be a new opportunity for them. They are certainly hoping so, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: And, Dana, if it's Abbas or Qorei, apparently who would step in immediately after Arafat if he were to die, apparently there would still have to be a formal election within 60 days. So, how involved would the U.S. be in trying to help select some candidates to lead the Palestinian authority?

BASH: Well, I would imagine that they would try to be quite careful and not to look and not to be involved at all. Try to -- because in order to have any kind of legitimacy for a Palestinian leader, they would likely have to be elected and appointed or certainly hopefully elected by the Palestinian people without the backing, overt backing, at least, initially by the U.S. government, because they understand that could hurt the prospects for whichever leader it is on the Palestinian street if they look like they are somebody who had put in place with the full backing, almost too forceful of a backing of the United States.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dana Bash from the White House. Thanks so much.

BASH: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, there's a Texas-size controversy brewing over school textbooks. At issue, what students in the Lone Star State will read in health class next year? CNN's Sara Dorsey reports, it has the potential to affect classrooms across the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god. I mean, what -- what are we saying?

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not so much what the Texas Board of Education said, but what it passed that has some people angry. Next year, middle and high school students will get revised health textbooks with the new take on sex ed and this new definition of marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A marriage is a lifelong union between a husband and wife who develop an intimate relationship.

DORSEY: The current text defines marriage between two adults, but board member Terri Leo felt that should be updated after the Defense of Marriage Act passed in the state.

TERRI LEO, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: It says a marriage between persons between the same sex or a civil union is contrary to public policy of this state and is void in this state.

DORSEY: The board also approved a series of health textbooks. Most of them have removed almost all mention of the use of condoms and other forms of birth control, instead promoting abstinence. KYLEEN WRIGHT, TEXAS FOR LIFE: Students are taught that abstinence is the only way to be protected. It is the standard in Texas. It's a high standard.

DORSEY: The revisions are causing controversy. Some critics say the board overstepped its authority.

SAMANTAH SMOOT, TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK: The big tragedy here today is that 4 million Texas students are going to rely on these health textbooks for information about how to keep themselves safe and healthy, and they're not going to find it there.

RANDALL ELLIS, LESIBAN & GAY RIGHTS LOBBYIST: And the bottom line is, they're not putting accurate information in our textbooks. And we're not making all students feel welcomed, that these books address their needs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORSEY: And some fear the new terminology could affect other states that use the same textbooks published by Glencoe, Mcgraw-Hill and Winston. CNN called both companies for comment, but our calls were not returned.

WHITFIELD: And there are concerns because, such a big state, they purchased so many books and often times publishers will then distribute them across the country?

DORSEY: That's right. It's the second largest buyer of books. So they have a lot of room to throw around their muscle and instances like that. So people are concerned it could go either way. And other states may have to use these books, even though they didn't vote on it.

WHITFIELD: So possibly as early as next school year then?

DORSEY: That's right. They could see them as early as the fall.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks, Sara.

Well, gay marriage was among the issues that drove voters to the polls in huge numbers this week. 36 percent of Bush voters cited moral values as the most important issue of the election, terrorism followed closely behind.

It was different for Kerry voters. 31 percent said the economy and jobs were the most important issue, Iraq was in second place, followed by healthcare.

So just how did moral values affect the presidential race? Joining us now from Washington is Peter Sprigg. He is the senior director of Marriage & Family Studies at the Family Research Counsel. It's one of the groups promoting conservative issues. Good to see you, Peter.

PETER SPRIGG, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNSEL: Thank you for haveing me. WHITFIELD: All right. So moral values, obviously, was the cornerstone of this presidential race, but was there in the end a signal definition of what was meant by moral values?

SPRIGG: Well, of course when you ask that question on exit polls, people can read into it what they want, but I think it's pretty clear what the moral issues have been in this country. One of them was the one you just did a story about, in terms of what children are being taught in our schools, the type of sex education they receive and so forth.

But clearly, the big issues are pro-life issues, concern about the unlimited abortion license and the issues of same-sex marriage which came to providence this year, because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

WHITFIELD: Just by virtue of your definition right there it sounds as though moral values really was defined by the rhetoric of the Republican Party. But obviously, not everyone in this country agrees on what is considered to be a moral value or not.

SPRIGG: Well, it's interesting. The vast majority -- for example in the states where they were given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage, more than two-thirds of the people, 14 million people, voted in favor of defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

It's very ironic when liberals accuse those of us in the pro family movement of being divisive by bringing up the issue of questions like this. The definition of marriage doesn't divide America. We are united in believing that marriage should be the union of one man and one woman. There are few issues in which America is anywhere as united as on that.

WHITFIELD: Well, interestingly enough, a lot of people agree religion was something by which moral values can be defined. However, when you started splintering it into denomination we saw very different results. For example, Kerry being a Catholic, apparently did not appeal to as many Catholics as President Bush did. What happened there?

SPRIGG: Well, again, Kerry professes to be a Catholic. He's grown up in a Roman Catholic Church, but his political positions are totally inconsistent with what the Catholic Church teaches about moral issues.

So you're right. It's not just one denomination. It's not just white, born again evangelical protestants who are concerned about moral issues. It's observant Catholics.

WHITFIELD: But didn't it end up sending the message that only certainly denominations would be considered to have, you know, upstanding, you know, morals?

SPRIGG: Well, no. I think that what we're sending the message is that people need to take a pro-family stance. Politicians are at risk if they don't take a pro-family stance. It's not a matter of imposing theocracy, that's just a characiture that's brought up by the other side. But it is standing firm for traditional family values, from marriage between a man and a woman, for parental authority over their children and issues like that.

WHITFIELD: It did seem as though the Republican Party did use religion as a platform in which to help craft a campaign by using that rhetoric. So, when you reflect now, do you think the Democratic Party perhaps may be thinking of ways in which to incorporate the same kind of rhetoric without violating what some people see as violation of church and state state?

SPRIGG: Well, I think if the Democratic Party wants to remain a mainstream party in this country, first of all, they need to divorce themselves from the extremists in their midst, the abortion on demand lobby, same-sex marriage lobby because those are not mainstream positions. And they need to develop an exhibit, a healthier respect for people of faith, rather than allowing the secularists within the party to dominate the message that it gives.

WHITFIELD: How do you see religion in politics having a future together as we saw? In this particular campaign, so many argued that religion and politics really don't have a place together.

SPRIGG: Well, there's a great misunderstanding. When people talk about the separation of church and state, what that means is a separation of the institutions and offices of the church from the institutions and offices of the state. It does not mean a separation of religion and politics, or a separation of faith and public policy, or separation of morals and public life in this country. And I think people need to recognize that distinction.

WHITFIELD: Peter Sprigg with the Family Research Council, thank you for joining us.

SPRIGG: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, not everyone is happy with President Bush's re- election. In fact, many people in so-called blue states, the ones carried by John Kerry, are practically inconsolable. CNN's Jeanne Moos has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a sentence that makes voters in the blue states feel sentenced to...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four more years of President Bush.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't mention the election to me.

MOOS (on camera): Why not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I am emotionally disturbed about the election.

MOOS (voice-over): What's the state of mind in the blue states?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Feel my blues.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so, so blue. I'm depressed. I really was...

MOOS (on camera): Clinically?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, not clinically.

MOOS (voice-over): New Yorkers are sounding inconsolable even on voice mail.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, you, it's me. I still can't believe this. Oh, my God.

MOOS: A listing reportedly from the online marketplace, Craig's List, reads, "Straight male seeks Bush supporter for fair physical fight to vent my anger."

Democracy Plaza is more like depression plaza. And that clever idea of turning the skating rink into an electoral map?

(on camera): You see those maps with the red all across of America and then on the edges, the blue states?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It makes us feel like you don't want to travel across the country. That -- you know that it's a different territory.

MOOS: You can always fly over it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can fly over it, but you don't want to go through there. And that they're completely different. And you don't know who these people are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel angry at Americans. I don't understand the mentality of a country. So much red to me indicates so little tolerance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to move to, like, a different country.

MOOS (voice-over): But don't pack your bags for Canada yet. Canadian officials made it clear fed up Americans would have to wait like other immigrants. "You just can't come into Canada and say, I'm going to stay here."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not moving, but I'm cursing a lot.

MOOS: Jokesters on the web have been adding new provinces to Canada. The United States of Canada.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe in the next four years I'll move, but not to a red state I assure you that.

MOOS: As for the president...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really think that he did a wonderful job of scaring the hell out of people in this country.

MOOS: It figures that a New York-based comedy show would pick up on the red/blue divide.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We in New York are too close to the terrorism and the gay people. Only the red states with the advantage of a safe distance can take in the whole picture.

MOOS: But not every blue state voter is seeing red over the president's re-election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God told me he brought Bush and you're going to see what is going to happen...

MOOS (on camera): Wait a minute, God told you he brought Bush?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God, yes. I've seen Jesus Christ. He told me he put Bush in power, OK? So -- and now...

MOOS: Well, that's better than an exit poll.

(voice-over): Despite Senator Kerry's concession, there's no talk of cessation, just the blue state blues.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: What's happening now in the news. A series of coordinated attacks by insurgence in the Iraqi town of Samarra has left at least 34 people dead, dozens more wounded. Insurgents set off several car borms and staged a mortar attack on a police station. The violence comes as U.S. forces prepare for an all-out assault on the rebel stronghold of Falluja.

The situation in Iraq will be discussed at a meeting next week between President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The White House says the 2 leaders will meet Thursday and Friday in Washington. The war on terrorism and the U.S.-European relations are also on their agenda.

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Aired November 6, 2004 - 16:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Defining marriage: Texas rewrites some of its health books for school children. And have you had cosmetic surgery, or even thinking about it? And will your flexible spending account pay for it? There's a doctor in the house who can answer that question.
Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I am Fredricka Whitfield. Those stories coming up, but first a look at those headlines.

A deadly day in Samarra, Iraq. A series of violent attacks killed at least 34 people, dozens wounded. The violence began this morning when insurgents attacked a police station. The unrest also included two car bombs that exploded near the mayor's office and a coalition patrol.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat continues to hang on to life at a Paris hospital. Sources say he's being kept in a coma to prevent him from moving, which could be fatal. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials are beginning to discuss life in a post-Arafat era openly for the first time.

And British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be able to congratulate President Bush on his re-election in person. Blair is coming to Washington next week. Mr. Blair will meet with the president Thursday and Friday. Iraq will be at the top of their agenda.

First, to the ongoing bloody fight for Iraq. The deadliest attack of the day took place Samarra just north of Baghdad, a city where U.S. and Iraqi forces thought they had pacified the insurgents. Their focus now? The rebel stronghold of Falluja. We begin with CNN's Nic Robertson and a city under siege.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): This is the food market in Falluja. An automatic weapon rests on the fruit. Normally bustling, normally loaded with produce. This video, shot by a cameraman who lives in Falluja, depicts a town emptying of normal life. A resident packing to leave complains about the U.S. bombing.

"Where are the mujahadin," he says, "There are no mujahadin around these houses."

His neighbor shows buildings apparently damaged by explosions. You can hear the automatic weapons fire close by.

"These families have left the city," he says, "but the bombing continues. Look at the houses. They've destroyed everything."

In a Baghdad apartment, the Mehdi (ph) boys eagerly watch the news about their home town, Falluja. Their family is among the four- fifths of Falluja residents who are believed to have left, anticipating a U.S. and Iraqi government assault to drive out insurgents. Ali Medhdi (ph) is 9 years old.

"We fear the air strikes," he says, "They are very intense and the planes drop a lot of bombs. That's why we left Falluja."

His older brother, Muhammad, is a car mechanic.

"All of the people I know in Falluja have left already," he says, "only those with no place to go remain."

To the north in Samarra, insurgents struck in what appears to be coordinated attacks. At least 34 killed and dozens injured. As a car bomb detonated at the mayor's office and a police station in the city came under near simultaneous mortar and gunfire attack. Half an hour later, a vehicle bomb detonated by Iraqi troops on patrol with U.S. forces injured one Iraqi soldier and four passers-by.

(on camera): For the coalition and the Iraqi government, poised to drive insurgents out of Falluja, the attacks in Samarra are a stark reminder that even after eradicating insurgents, as they did in Samarra a month ago, there is no guarantee the insurgents won't return.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, has mission in Falluja been compromised? There is word this afternoon that an Iraqi commander who knows what U.S. forces are planning is missing. Let's get the latest from the CNN's Jane Arraf who is with some of the troops trade move in -- Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the air strikes and ground strikes on Falluja continue in preparation for a possible assault. Now, they're not saying anything more here than they're engaged in security operations in and around Al Anbar province, which includes Falluja. But it is known more than 10,000 troops, Iraqi and American, most of them Marines, would be engaged in any battle. And they're talking about potentially the fiercest fighting that has been seen since end of major combat.

Residents in Falluja still expected to try to flee the city. And Iraqi officials just back in the country, and expected due back soon, are expected to comment. They have told people in Falluja that this is essentially the last chance that if they don't give up insurgent, they will be attacked. And they're expected to reiterate that message -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right, Jane Arraf, thanks so much.

Well, the U.S. Marines are warning an assault on Falluja will be difficult. And some already are comparing it to the battle of Wei (ph) during the Vietnam War. The house to house fighting there lasted for weeks. So how are Marine families handling all of this now? CNN's Donna Tetrault talked with one Marine wife at Camp Pendleton, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TETRAULT (voice-over): A day at the beach for Megan Smith and her two daughters, Molly, 3, and Maggie, 11/2, isn't without thoughts that someone is missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's my dad.

TETRAULT: Corporal Matthew Smith, Megan's husband is one of the thousands of Marines in Falluja preparing for an expected assault against insurgents.

SMITH: I don't want to spend another anniversary without him. I don't want to spend another birthday without him. I just want him home.

TETRAULT: New Year's Eve, the couple will celebrate their third year of marriage. But now Megan focuses more on the smaller milestones. The last time she spoke to her husband was about a week ago.

SMITH: When we get on the phone, he jokes a lot more than usual. So I know he's scared but he's trying to hide it. So it's -- I think it's very hard on him to be away again.

TETRAULT: This is Matthew's second deployment to Iraq, and Megan is worried she could get the worst news possible, like her neighbor did, now a widow.

SMITH: To see my neighbor get that news and to hear her cry, it was hard because I knew it could have been me or it could have been Matt. And I don't want it to be.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TETRAULT: And Megan says that she spends a lot of her time praying. She said that when she married her husband, she knew what she had signed up for, she knew this was part of her job, but she says that it is still very difficult. Megan is only 23. Her husband is only 23. And they're trying to raise this young family.

But fredricka, you have to remember that Megan is only one of many families that are living like this, having to deal with this. And many are them are here in Ocean Side, near Camp Pendleton -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Donna, in that community of Ocean Side, what overall is being said or felt there?

TETRAULT: Well, that's very interesting, because when you talk to people on the street, you're talking to a lot of Marines, people that have been in Falluja, have been in Iraq. And these Marines say that they just want to get the job done. They are strong and showing their strength.

But again, when you talk to the wives and the people that are left behind, it's a lot more difficult -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Donna Tetrault in Ocean Side, thanks very much.

Well the condition is critical and still in a deep coma, but Yasser Arafat's exact condition remains a mystery as hundreds of Palestinian supporters hold vigil outside of Paris hospital. CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is keeping watch for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): An overnight vigil continuing here at the Percy Military Hospital in West Paris by supporters and well-wishers of Yasser Arafat. Inside, the 75-year-old leader remains where he has been for more than a week now while doctors determine his condition.

There has been very little word from the hospital as to what ails the 75-year-old Palestinian leader. But a statement earlier from the hospital said his condition had not deteriorated and it remained stable. He remains in a specialized unit here.

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CHRISTIAN ESTRIPEAU, FRENCH MILITARY HEALTH SERV (through translator): Mr. Arafat's health has not deteriorated. It is considered stable in comparison to the last communication, thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SWEENEY: Now in a bid to quell some of the speculation that has been ripe, both here in Paris and in Ramallah, and indeed in Israel and Washington, the Palestinian leadership emerged from the hospital overnight to issue a statement to reporters.

Farouk Kaddoumi, who is the foreign minister for the PLO based in Tunisia said that in view of all of the declarations issued by various individuals and bodies in regard to President Arafat's health, and in order to avoid any misinterceptions and guarantee a higher degree of precision, it was agreed with the medical team supervising his treatment that it is to be the only entity authorized to issue statements from time to time. No other entity, in the words of Farouk Kaddoumi, whatsoever has been authorized to give out any information.

Following his presentation of the written statement, Farouk Kaddoumi then said to reporters that Yasser Arafat's health was quote, "good. But it may take some time." Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, Paris. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Palestinian officials have begun openenly discussing life after Arafat for the first time. More on that in a moment.

Meantime, can Democrats learn something from Republicans about moral issues or at least how to make them win for you? That discussion coming up.

And how a vote on gay marriage affected Texas' health books.

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WHITFIELD: Palestinian officials have begun openly discussing life after Arafat for the first time. Two men are leading contenders to replace him: Former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and current Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, both known as the old guard.

For more on their leadership and their relationship with the White House, let's check in with CNN's Dana Bash.

And Dana, the president has been diplomatic about expressing his concerns about Arafat's conditions. But how worried, or concerned might he be about the leadership after Arafat?

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, that is what the White House is sort of watching and waiting to see in terms of what happens. But in terms of the history of the White House relationship with Yasser Arafat, Fredricka, you know that Yasser Arafat was never invited to this White House, to the Bush White House, even after he was a very frequent visitor to the Clinton White House.

And the president really was under fire from European allies and others in the Mideast, because he waited to endorse the so-called road map to peace until there was somebody else who he could deal with besides Yasser Arafat.

And at the time back in June of last year, you see there is someone in Aqaba, Jordan. That was Mahmoud Abbas. That was the first prime minister put if place that President Bush was very excited. He told reporters afterwards on Air Force One, very excited to work with. He said he got a good feeling about him, about his relationship with Ariel Sharon. But then, of course, as President Bush later said and in his word, Arafat shoved him out.

So, the White House has had sort a tough time figures exactly who to deal with, how to deal with the Palestinian leadership. So they certainly are looking to see what will happen next whether it is, as you you put it, the old guard, which would be Mahmoud Abbas, which would be Qorei, the two people who are potentially in line to lead, even share potentially, leadership after Arafat actually goes. Or whether or not there will be some new blood, somebody new to deal with. There are other people, certainly, that the White House -- that officials are in touch with. and they understand that this certainly could be a new opportunity for them. They are certainly hoping so, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: And, Dana, if it's Abbas or Qorei, apparently who would step in immediately after Arafat if he were to die, apparently there would still have to be a formal election within 60 days. So, how involved would the U.S. be in trying to help select some candidates to lead the Palestinian authority?

BASH: Well, I would imagine that they would try to be quite careful and not to look and not to be involved at all. Try to -- because in order to have any kind of legitimacy for a Palestinian leader, they would likely have to be elected and appointed or certainly hopefully elected by the Palestinian people without the backing, overt backing, at least, initially by the U.S. government, because they understand that could hurt the prospects for whichever leader it is on the Palestinian street if they look like they are somebody who had put in place with the full backing, almost too forceful of a backing of the United States.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dana Bash from the White House. Thanks so much.

BASH: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And we'll be right back.

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WHITFIELD: Well, there's a Texas-size controversy brewing over school textbooks. At issue, what students in the Lone Star State will read in health class next year? CNN's Sara Dorsey reports, it has the potential to affect classrooms across the country.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god. I mean, what -- what are we saying?

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not so much what the Texas Board of Education said, but what it passed that has some people angry. Next year, middle and high school students will get revised health textbooks with the new take on sex ed and this new definition of marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A marriage is a lifelong union between a husband and wife who develop an intimate relationship.

DORSEY: The current text defines marriage between two adults, but board member Terri Leo felt that should be updated after the Defense of Marriage Act passed in the state.

TERRI LEO, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: It says a marriage between persons between the same sex or a civil union is contrary to public policy of this state and is void in this state.

DORSEY: The board also approved a series of health textbooks. Most of them have removed almost all mention of the use of condoms and other forms of birth control, instead promoting abstinence. KYLEEN WRIGHT, TEXAS FOR LIFE: Students are taught that abstinence is the only way to be protected. It is the standard in Texas. It's a high standard.

DORSEY: The revisions are causing controversy. Some critics say the board overstepped its authority.

SAMANTAH SMOOT, TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK: The big tragedy here today is that 4 million Texas students are going to rely on these health textbooks for information about how to keep themselves safe and healthy, and they're not going to find it there.

RANDALL ELLIS, LESIBAN & GAY RIGHTS LOBBYIST: And the bottom line is, they're not putting accurate information in our textbooks. And we're not making all students feel welcomed, that these books address their needs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORSEY: And some fear the new terminology could affect other states that use the same textbooks published by Glencoe, Mcgraw-Hill and Winston. CNN called both companies for comment, but our calls were not returned.

WHITFIELD: And there are concerns because, such a big state, they purchased so many books and often times publishers will then distribute them across the country?

DORSEY: That's right. It's the second largest buyer of books. So they have a lot of room to throw around their muscle and instances like that. So people are concerned it could go either way. And other states may have to use these books, even though they didn't vote on it.

WHITFIELD: So possibly as early as next school year then?

DORSEY: That's right. They could see them as early as the fall.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks, Sara.

Well, gay marriage was among the issues that drove voters to the polls in huge numbers this week. 36 percent of Bush voters cited moral values as the most important issue of the election, terrorism followed closely behind.

It was different for Kerry voters. 31 percent said the economy and jobs were the most important issue, Iraq was in second place, followed by healthcare.

So just how did moral values affect the presidential race? Joining us now from Washington is Peter Sprigg. He is the senior director of Marriage & Family Studies at the Family Research Counsel. It's one of the groups promoting conservative issues. Good to see you, Peter.

PETER SPRIGG, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNSEL: Thank you for haveing me. WHITFIELD: All right. So moral values, obviously, was the cornerstone of this presidential race, but was there in the end a signal definition of what was meant by moral values?

SPRIGG: Well, of course when you ask that question on exit polls, people can read into it what they want, but I think it's pretty clear what the moral issues have been in this country. One of them was the one you just did a story about, in terms of what children are being taught in our schools, the type of sex education they receive and so forth.

But clearly, the big issues are pro-life issues, concern about the unlimited abortion license and the issues of same-sex marriage which came to providence this year, because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

WHITFIELD: Just by virtue of your definition right there it sounds as though moral values really was defined by the rhetoric of the Republican Party. But obviously, not everyone in this country agrees on what is considered to be a moral value or not.

SPRIGG: Well, it's interesting. The vast majority -- for example in the states where they were given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage, more than two-thirds of the people, 14 million people, voted in favor of defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

It's very ironic when liberals accuse those of us in the pro family movement of being divisive by bringing up the issue of questions like this. The definition of marriage doesn't divide America. We are united in believing that marriage should be the union of one man and one woman. There are few issues in which America is anywhere as united as on that.

WHITFIELD: Well, interestingly enough, a lot of people agree religion was something by which moral values can be defined. However, when you started splintering it into denomination we saw very different results. For example, Kerry being a Catholic, apparently did not appeal to as many Catholics as President Bush did. What happened there?

SPRIGG: Well, again, Kerry professes to be a Catholic. He's grown up in a Roman Catholic Church, but his political positions are totally inconsistent with what the Catholic Church teaches about moral issues.

So you're right. It's not just one denomination. It's not just white, born again evangelical protestants who are concerned about moral issues. It's observant Catholics.

WHITFIELD: But didn't it end up sending the message that only certainly denominations would be considered to have, you know, upstanding, you know, morals?

SPRIGG: Well, no. I think that what we're sending the message is that people need to take a pro-family stance. Politicians are at risk if they don't take a pro-family stance. It's not a matter of imposing theocracy, that's just a characiture that's brought up by the other side. But it is standing firm for traditional family values, from marriage between a man and a woman, for parental authority over their children and issues like that.

WHITFIELD: It did seem as though the Republican Party did use religion as a platform in which to help craft a campaign by using that rhetoric. So, when you reflect now, do you think the Democratic Party perhaps may be thinking of ways in which to incorporate the same kind of rhetoric without violating what some people see as violation of church and state state?

SPRIGG: Well, I think if the Democratic Party wants to remain a mainstream party in this country, first of all, they need to divorce themselves from the extremists in their midst, the abortion on demand lobby, same-sex marriage lobby because those are not mainstream positions. And they need to develop an exhibit, a healthier respect for people of faith, rather than allowing the secularists within the party to dominate the message that it gives.

WHITFIELD: How do you see religion in politics having a future together as we saw? In this particular campaign, so many argued that religion and politics really don't have a place together.

SPRIGG: Well, there's a great misunderstanding. When people talk about the separation of church and state, what that means is a separation of the institutions and offices of the church from the institutions and offices of the state. It does not mean a separation of religion and politics, or a separation of faith and public policy, or separation of morals and public life in this country. And I think people need to recognize that distinction.

WHITFIELD: Peter Sprigg with the Family Research Council, thank you for joining us.

SPRIGG: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, not everyone is happy with President Bush's re- election. In fact, many people in so-called blue states, the ones carried by John Kerry, are practically inconsolable. CNN's Jeanne Moos has the story.

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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a sentence that makes voters in the blue states feel sentenced to...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four more years of President Bush.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't mention the election to me.

MOOS (on camera): Why not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I am emotionally disturbed about the election.

MOOS (voice-over): What's the state of mind in the blue states?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Feel my blues.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so, so blue. I'm depressed. I really was...

MOOS (on camera): Clinically?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, not clinically.

MOOS (voice-over): New Yorkers are sounding inconsolable even on voice mail.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, you, it's me. I still can't believe this. Oh, my God.

MOOS: A listing reportedly from the online marketplace, Craig's List, reads, "Straight male seeks Bush supporter for fair physical fight to vent my anger."

Democracy Plaza is more like depression plaza. And that clever idea of turning the skating rink into an electoral map?

(on camera): You see those maps with the red all across of America and then on the edges, the blue states?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It makes us feel like you don't want to travel across the country. That -- you know that it's a different territory.

MOOS: You can always fly over it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can fly over it, but you don't want to go through there. And that they're completely different. And you don't know who these people are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel angry at Americans. I don't understand the mentality of a country. So much red to me indicates so little tolerance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to move to, like, a different country.

MOOS (voice-over): But don't pack your bags for Canada yet. Canadian officials made it clear fed up Americans would have to wait like other immigrants. "You just can't come into Canada and say, I'm going to stay here."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not moving, but I'm cursing a lot.

MOOS: Jokesters on the web have been adding new provinces to Canada. The United States of Canada.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe in the next four years I'll move, but not to a red state I assure you that.

MOOS: As for the president...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really think that he did a wonderful job of scaring the hell out of people in this country.

MOOS: It figures that a New York-based comedy show would pick up on the red/blue divide.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We in New York are too close to the terrorism and the gay people. Only the red states with the advantage of a safe distance can take in the whole picture.

MOOS: But not every blue state voter is seeing red over the president's re-election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God told me he brought Bush and you're going to see what is going to happen...

MOOS (on camera): Wait a minute, God told you he brought Bush?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God, yes. I've seen Jesus Christ. He told me he put Bush in power, OK? So -- and now...

MOOS: Well, that's better than an exit poll.

(voice-over): Despite Senator Kerry's concession, there's no talk of cessation, just the blue state blues.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: What's happening now in the news. A series of coordinated attacks by insurgence in the Iraqi town of Samarra has left at least 34 people dead, dozens more wounded. Insurgents set off several car borms and staged a mortar attack on a police station. The violence comes as U.S. forces prepare for an all-out assault on the rebel stronghold of Falluja.

The situation in Iraq will be discussed at a meeting next week between President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The White House says the 2 leaders will meet Thursday and Friday in Washington. The war on terrorism and the U.S.-European relations are also on their agenda.

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