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Live From...
Newsflash: Smoking is Bad For You; Kerry Speech
Aired May 27, 2004 - 13:34 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Medical news now. A standard blood test may not catch some cases of prostate cancer. A new study finds that the typical prostate cancer screening exam misses 15 percent of older men's tumor, especially some aggressive tumors. The men ranged in age between 62 and 91. The National Cancer Institute study can be found in "The New England Journal of Medicine."
America's smokers have more bad news to puff on. The surgeon general released a report today that says lighting up affects every organ in the body and is linked to a new form of cancer. Holly Firfer joining us with the news flash, smoking is bad.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Smoking, bad for you. They say it's the most comprehensive report in 15 years, the surgeon general report.
Now, the first surgeon general report was in 1964. And at that time, 42 percent of Americans smoked. The good news, if there's good news here about smoking is that that has dropped. About 22 percent to 24 percent of adults smoke. And there's more former smokers than current smokers.
So the surgeon general says we're trending in the right direction. But we still have a long way to go. Surgeon General Richard Caromona said today that smoking is dangerous, and affects every part of you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD CAROMONA, SURGEON GENERAL: First, it affirms that smoking harms nearly every major organ of the body, often in profound ways, causing many diseases and significantly diminishing the health of smokers in general.
Second, quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term effects. Within minutes and hours after smokers inhale that last cigarette, their bodies begin a series of changes that continue for years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIRFER: First to talk about some of the new diseases that they've definitely linked to smoking. They've suspected there might be a cause, now they know these things are caused by smoking. Abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia -- that's a blood cancer, first time they've absolutely connected that -- cataracts, cervical, kidney, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, perionditis and stomach cancer.
And interestingly enough, though in this study, one of the things they found out is that breast and colon dancer is not directly linked to smoking. They suspect they might have a link, but say they just don't have the numbers to say yes, this is a cause and effect. But they warn that there may be an effect for certain people, like women who have genetic predisposition to breast cancer, Miles, may be affected by smoking.
O'BRIEN: All right, if you're a smoker out there, you should be pretty depressed by about now. Is there anything in this report which offers a glimmer of hope for those smoking or those who are thinking about quitting for that matter?
FIRFER: Actually, there's some good news, and that is about quitting. Basically if you are 35 and you stop smoking now, you have a 90 percent chance of decreasing your risk of having some kind of tobacco-related illness. If you're 65 or older and you stop smoking now, your risk of dying will be reduced to 50 percent.
But look at these statistics. It kills 440,000 people a year. Shortens your life, 13 to 14 years. Costs $157 billion in medical costs and loss of productivity.
So if you stop now, it's fog to help you later on in life. But still taking far too many lives.
O'BRIEN: All right, Holly Firfer, thank you very much -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: After months of battling between the candidates it comes down to the final two.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know that the tension is high. People are really concerned about who's going to win. Fantasia or Diana.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All eyes and ears on the idols last night, even the presidential candidate. Only one walked away with the title.
And no need to walk if you have this ride parked in your driveway. An alternative to big gas guzzlers when LIVE FROM... hauls on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Want to take you live to Seattle now where presidential hopeful John Kerry is speaking with national security. It's part of an 11-day tour, focusing exclusively on keeping America safe.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS) SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... is not the only source of power -- of our power in the world, we must deploy all that is in the American arsenal: our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and most importantly, the appeal -- the extraordinary appeal that through centuries has made us who we are, the appeal of our values and our ideas.
(APPLAUSE)
KERRY: Fourth and finally, to secure our full independence, our full freedom, to be the masters of our own destiny, we must free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil.
(APPLAUSE)
These four imperatives are an inescapable reality. The world and the war itself has changed. The challenge and the enemy are different. And we have to think and we have to act anew.
Today we're waging a global war against a terrorist movement committed to our destruction. Terrorists like Al Qaeda and its copycat killers are unlike any adversary that our nation has ever faced.
We don't know for certain how they're organized. We don't even know for certain how many operatives they have.
But we know the destruction that they can inflict. We saw it in New York and in Washington. We've seen it in Bali and in Madrid, in Israel and across the Middle East. And we see it day after day in Iraq.
This threat will only be magnified as the technology to build nuclear and chemical and biological weapons continues to spread. And we can only imagine what it would be like, what would happen, if the deadly forces of terrorism got their hands on the deadliest weapons in history.
KERRY: Everyone outside of this administration seems to understand that we're in deep trouble in Iraq. Failure there would be a boon to our enemies and it would jeopardize the long-term prospects for a peaceful, democratic Middle East, leaving us at war, not just with a small, radical minority, but with increasingly large portions of the entire Muslim world.
There is also the continuing instability of Afghanistan, where Al Qaeda has a base. Osama bin Laden is still at large because the Bush administration didn't finish him off at the Battle of Tora Bora when they had the chance.
(APPLAUSE)
And in East Asia, North Korea poses a genuine nuclear threat, while we have begun to strip American forces from that peninsula to relieve the over-burdened forces in Iraq. In the coming week, I will also offer specific plans to build a new military capable of defeating enemies, both new and old, and to stop the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
But first, here, today, I want to set out the overall architecture of a new policy to make America stronger and respected in the world.
The first new imperative represents a return to the fundamental principle that guided us in peril and victory through the past century: Alliances matter and the United States must lead them.
(APPLAUSE)
Shredding alliances is not the way to win the war on terror or even to make America safer.
As president, my number one security goal will be to prevent the terrorists from gaining weapons of mass murder.
KERRY: And our overriding mission will be to disrupt and destroy their terrorist cells. Because Al Qaeda is a network with many branches, we have to take the fight to the enemy on every continent, smartly. And we have to enlist other countries in that cause.
America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances. We always have. It has always served us. It's always saved us money. It's always saved us lives. It's always made us safer.
We simply can't go it alone or rely on a coalition of the few.
(APPLAUSE)
The threat of terrorism demands alliances on a global scale, to find the extremist groups, to guard ports and stadiums, to share intelligence and to get the terrorists before they get us.
In short, we need a coalition of the able. And in truth, no force on Earth is more able than the United States and its allies. So we must build that force. And we can. We can be strong without being stubborn. Indeed, that is ultimately the only way that we can succeed.
But building strong alliances is...
the only way that we can succeed, but building strong alliances...
PHILLIPS: Presidential hopeful John Kerry speaking in Seattle, 11-day tour talking about national security, laying out a number of new imperatives. He says that if indeed, he were president, talking about modernizing the military to meet the new threats. Also talk about building on the intelligence system, and of course the economy, making the quote, "We must free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil." We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL" HOST: The winner of "American Idol" 2004 is -- Fantasia Barrino.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: She had the chops and the soul to win, and America agreed. As you just saw, Fantasia was crowned the "American Idol" last night.
O'BRIEN: She just edged out the Georgia girl, Diana DeGarmo, who I discovered here at CNN. That's another story. Won the talent contest that has nearly all of America calling in, texting in their votes. Kyra had recused herself.
Nevertheless, CNN's Denise Quan has her "Idol" recap.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was like picking between your two children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It could go either way tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think probably Fantasia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantasia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantasia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't be surprised if Diana wins.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll be on the edge of my seat, like this...
DENISE QUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The polls were closed, yet the great debate continues. Ultimately, only one girl would be named the next "American Idol."
SEACREST: The winner of "American Idol 2004," is -- Fantasia Barrino.
SIMON COWELL, "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: I would say America is almost becoming as good a judge as me. I mean it.
SEACREST: Sixty-five million votes were tabulated and despite some surprising twists and turns this season, the 19-year-old single mother from High Point, North Carolina, ended the competition on a high note. FANTASIA BARRINO, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: I'm glad they accepted me for having a child. I am a young mother, but I'm a strong mother, I'm a good mother, and I'm going work hard so that she can have the best.
PAULA ABDUL, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: She's got that "it" thing, the X factor that everyone says they can't quite articulate, but you know when you first see them, that their presence just knocks you out.
QUAN: Sixteen-year-old Diana DeGarmo from Snellville, Georgia came in second, which isn't so bad. Just ask last year's runner-up, Clay Aiken.
DIANA DEGARMO, "AMERICAN IDOL" RUNNER-UP: Next up is definitely recording an album. And Fantasia, you better watch out sister, because I'm coming with one.
QUAN: But before Fantasia goes on to fame and fortune, there's one quick pit stop she has to make.
QUESTION: How are you going to celebrate?
BARRINO: I'm going to go hug my baby and give her some sugar.
QUAN: And tell her a bedtime story about an American idol.
BARRINO: Denise Quan, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: What a good reaction -- I'm going to go home and give my baby some sugar.
PHILLIPS: They'll both going to get a record deal, though, right? Is that how it works?
O'BRIEN: Oh, sure, absolutely. Yes, we're going to talk about that a little later. But being No. 2, in some cases -- remember the "She bang, she bang" guy?
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. Oh, boy. He bangs right on out -- he's terrible.
O'BRIEN: He's done great. He's terrible. He has no talent, and he's making millions. So that just goes to show you...
PHILLIPS: There's hope for us.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
PHILLIPS: All right, in any case, you heard the smug, egocentric Simon, who said Fantasia was the best "American Idol" contest winner ever. More important, what do you think? Pop us an e-mail, livefrom@CNN.com. We will idolize your comments.
And catch both of the finalists Friday night on "LARRY KING LIVE." Larry will talk with both Fantasia and Diana about the whole "American Idol" experience. Just gives me goosebumps thinking about it. Tomorrow, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific.
PHILLIPS: All right, coming up next in the second hour of LIVE FROM, the Cos has caused an uproar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL COSBY: No longer is a person embarrassed because they are pregnant without a husband. No longer is a boy considered an embarrassment if he tries to run away from being the father.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, the legendary comedian speaks his mind and lands himself in the center of a racial debate. But he did speak out again last night. We're going to hear from him, and we're going to talk more about it, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 27, 2004 - 13:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Medical news now. A standard blood test may not catch some cases of prostate cancer. A new study finds that the typical prostate cancer screening exam misses 15 percent of older men's tumor, especially some aggressive tumors. The men ranged in age between 62 and 91. The National Cancer Institute study can be found in "The New England Journal of Medicine."
America's smokers have more bad news to puff on. The surgeon general released a report today that says lighting up affects every organ in the body and is linked to a new form of cancer. Holly Firfer joining us with the news flash, smoking is bad.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Smoking, bad for you. They say it's the most comprehensive report in 15 years, the surgeon general report.
Now, the first surgeon general report was in 1964. And at that time, 42 percent of Americans smoked. The good news, if there's good news here about smoking is that that has dropped. About 22 percent to 24 percent of adults smoke. And there's more former smokers than current smokers.
So the surgeon general says we're trending in the right direction. But we still have a long way to go. Surgeon General Richard Caromona said today that smoking is dangerous, and affects every part of you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD CAROMONA, SURGEON GENERAL: First, it affirms that smoking harms nearly every major organ of the body, often in profound ways, causing many diseases and significantly diminishing the health of smokers in general.
Second, quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term effects. Within minutes and hours after smokers inhale that last cigarette, their bodies begin a series of changes that continue for years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIRFER: First to talk about some of the new diseases that they've definitely linked to smoking. They've suspected there might be a cause, now they know these things are caused by smoking. Abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia -- that's a blood cancer, first time they've absolutely connected that -- cataracts, cervical, kidney, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, perionditis and stomach cancer.
And interestingly enough, though in this study, one of the things they found out is that breast and colon dancer is not directly linked to smoking. They suspect they might have a link, but say they just don't have the numbers to say yes, this is a cause and effect. But they warn that there may be an effect for certain people, like women who have genetic predisposition to breast cancer, Miles, may be affected by smoking.
O'BRIEN: All right, if you're a smoker out there, you should be pretty depressed by about now. Is there anything in this report which offers a glimmer of hope for those smoking or those who are thinking about quitting for that matter?
FIRFER: Actually, there's some good news, and that is about quitting. Basically if you are 35 and you stop smoking now, you have a 90 percent chance of decreasing your risk of having some kind of tobacco-related illness. If you're 65 or older and you stop smoking now, your risk of dying will be reduced to 50 percent.
But look at these statistics. It kills 440,000 people a year. Shortens your life, 13 to 14 years. Costs $157 billion in medical costs and loss of productivity.
So if you stop now, it's fog to help you later on in life. But still taking far too many lives.
O'BRIEN: All right, Holly Firfer, thank you very much -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: After months of battling between the candidates it comes down to the final two.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know that the tension is high. People are really concerned about who's going to win. Fantasia or Diana.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All eyes and ears on the idols last night, even the presidential candidate. Only one walked away with the title.
And no need to walk if you have this ride parked in your driveway. An alternative to big gas guzzlers when LIVE FROM... hauls on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Want to take you live to Seattle now where presidential hopeful John Kerry is speaking with national security. It's part of an 11-day tour, focusing exclusively on keeping America safe.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS) SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... is not the only source of power -- of our power in the world, we must deploy all that is in the American arsenal: our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and most importantly, the appeal -- the extraordinary appeal that through centuries has made us who we are, the appeal of our values and our ideas.
(APPLAUSE)
KERRY: Fourth and finally, to secure our full independence, our full freedom, to be the masters of our own destiny, we must free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil.
(APPLAUSE)
These four imperatives are an inescapable reality. The world and the war itself has changed. The challenge and the enemy are different. And we have to think and we have to act anew.
Today we're waging a global war against a terrorist movement committed to our destruction. Terrorists like Al Qaeda and its copycat killers are unlike any adversary that our nation has ever faced.
We don't know for certain how they're organized. We don't even know for certain how many operatives they have.
But we know the destruction that they can inflict. We saw it in New York and in Washington. We've seen it in Bali and in Madrid, in Israel and across the Middle East. And we see it day after day in Iraq.
This threat will only be magnified as the technology to build nuclear and chemical and biological weapons continues to spread. And we can only imagine what it would be like, what would happen, if the deadly forces of terrorism got their hands on the deadliest weapons in history.
KERRY: Everyone outside of this administration seems to understand that we're in deep trouble in Iraq. Failure there would be a boon to our enemies and it would jeopardize the long-term prospects for a peaceful, democratic Middle East, leaving us at war, not just with a small, radical minority, but with increasingly large portions of the entire Muslim world.
There is also the continuing instability of Afghanistan, where Al Qaeda has a base. Osama bin Laden is still at large because the Bush administration didn't finish him off at the Battle of Tora Bora when they had the chance.
(APPLAUSE)
And in East Asia, North Korea poses a genuine nuclear threat, while we have begun to strip American forces from that peninsula to relieve the over-burdened forces in Iraq. In the coming week, I will also offer specific plans to build a new military capable of defeating enemies, both new and old, and to stop the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
But first, here, today, I want to set out the overall architecture of a new policy to make America stronger and respected in the world.
The first new imperative represents a return to the fundamental principle that guided us in peril and victory through the past century: Alliances matter and the United States must lead them.
(APPLAUSE)
Shredding alliances is not the way to win the war on terror or even to make America safer.
As president, my number one security goal will be to prevent the terrorists from gaining weapons of mass murder.
KERRY: And our overriding mission will be to disrupt and destroy their terrorist cells. Because Al Qaeda is a network with many branches, we have to take the fight to the enemy on every continent, smartly. And we have to enlist other countries in that cause.
America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances. We always have. It has always served us. It's always saved us money. It's always saved us lives. It's always made us safer.
We simply can't go it alone or rely on a coalition of the few.
(APPLAUSE)
The threat of terrorism demands alliances on a global scale, to find the extremist groups, to guard ports and stadiums, to share intelligence and to get the terrorists before they get us.
In short, we need a coalition of the able. And in truth, no force on Earth is more able than the United States and its allies. So we must build that force. And we can. We can be strong without being stubborn. Indeed, that is ultimately the only way that we can succeed.
But building strong alliances is...
the only way that we can succeed, but building strong alliances...
PHILLIPS: Presidential hopeful John Kerry speaking in Seattle, 11-day tour talking about national security, laying out a number of new imperatives. He says that if indeed, he were president, talking about modernizing the military to meet the new threats. Also talk about building on the intelligence system, and of course the economy, making the quote, "We must free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil." We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL" HOST: The winner of "American Idol" 2004 is -- Fantasia Barrino.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: She had the chops and the soul to win, and America agreed. As you just saw, Fantasia was crowned the "American Idol" last night.
O'BRIEN: She just edged out the Georgia girl, Diana DeGarmo, who I discovered here at CNN. That's another story. Won the talent contest that has nearly all of America calling in, texting in their votes. Kyra had recused herself.
Nevertheless, CNN's Denise Quan has her "Idol" recap.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was like picking between your two children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It could go either way tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think probably Fantasia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantasia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantasia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't be surprised if Diana wins.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll be on the edge of my seat, like this...
DENISE QUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The polls were closed, yet the great debate continues. Ultimately, only one girl would be named the next "American Idol."
SEACREST: The winner of "American Idol 2004," is -- Fantasia Barrino.
SIMON COWELL, "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: I would say America is almost becoming as good a judge as me. I mean it.
SEACREST: Sixty-five million votes were tabulated and despite some surprising twists and turns this season, the 19-year-old single mother from High Point, North Carolina, ended the competition on a high note. FANTASIA BARRINO, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: I'm glad they accepted me for having a child. I am a young mother, but I'm a strong mother, I'm a good mother, and I'm going work hard so that she can have the best.
PAULA ABDUL, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: She's got that "it" thing, the X factor that everyone says they can't quite articulate, but you know when you first see them, that their presence just knocks you out.
QUAN: Sixteen-year-old Diana DeGarmo from Snellville, Georgia came in second, which isn't so bad. Just ask last year's runner-up, Clay Aiken.
DIANA DEGARMO, "AMERICAN IDOL" RUNNER-UP: Next up is definitely recording an album. And Fantasia, you better watch out sister, because I'm coming with one.
QUAN: But before Fantasia goes on to fame and fortune, there's one quick pit stop she has to make.
QUESTION: How are you going to celebrate?
BARRINO: I'm going to go hug my baby and give her some sugar.
QUAN: And tell her a bedtime story about an American idol.
BARRINO: Denise Quan, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: What a good reaction -- I'm going to go home and give my baby some sugar.
PHILLIPS: They'll both going to get a record deal, though, right? Is that how it works?
O'BRIEN: Oh, sure, absolutely. Yes, we're going to talk about that a little later. But being No. 2, in some cases -- remember the "She bang, she bang" guy?
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. Oh, boy. He bangs right on out -- he's terrible.
O'BRIEN: He's done great. He's terrible. He has no talent, and he's making millions. So that just goes to show you...
PHILLIPS: There's hope for us.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
PHILLIPS: All right, in any case, you heard the smug, egocentric Simon, who said Fantasia was the best "American Idol" contest winner ever. More important, what do you think? Pop us an e-mail, livefrom@CNN.com. We will idolize your comments.
And catch both of the finalists Friday night on "LARRY KING LIVE." Larry will talk with both Fantasia and Diana about the whole "American Idol" experience. Just gives me goosebumps thinking about it. Tomorrow, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific.
PHILLIPS: All right, coming up next in the second hour of LIVE FROM, the Cos has caused an uproar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL COSBY: No longer is a person embarrassed because they are pregnant without a husband. No longer is a boy considered an embarrassment if he tries to run away from being the father.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, the legendary comedian speaks his mind and lands himself in the center of a racial debate. But he did speak out again last night. We're going to hear from him, and we're going to talk more about it, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
