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Latest Developments in Michael Jackson Pretrial Hearing; A Woman Blind For Nearly 30 Years Can See Again

Aired August 20, 2004 - 11:30   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We focus on California now. Images from inside Michael Jackson's mansion and testimony from his accuser's stepfather. Those are among the latest developments in a pretrial hearing set to resume just about now.
Our Miguel Marquez is covering the case from Santa Maria, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Doe, the stepfather of Michael Jackson's accuser, takes the stand, and questioned by Jackson's lawyer about what he knew about the relationship between private investigator Brad Miller and Jackson's former lawyer, Mark Geragos.

If a relationship can be established, the defense may be able to get potentially crucial evidence tossed out.

STEVE CORBETT, "SANTA MARIA TIMES": And I don't think that they're succeeding the defense in proving that. They're not able to do that as of yet.

MARQUEZ: But John Doe's questioning did reveal his claim that someone from Neverland Ranch called the accuser's mother in the days after the documentary "Living With Michael Jackson" aired, asking that the boy and his family return to Neverland to make a rebuttal video.

Doe said he responded by saying, quote, "What are you offering?" Then, Doe said, the Neverland employee told him that they would offer security, a college education to the boy and his siblings, and a new home for the family.

Doe then said he told the Neverland employee he knew Michael Jackson was going to make millions off the video and that, quote, "his small family was making zero."

CORBETT: There is this insinuation that there is a give-and-take -- you know, we'll give you this in exchange for that.

MARQUEZ: In a setback for the defense, the judge ruled that Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson could release a statement and parts of the attorney general's investigation into whether Michael Jackson was mistreated while in custody.

Jackson made the claims on the CBS program "60 Minutes," but his defense lawyer said Jackson never filed an official complaint, and he was never interviewed for the investigation.

CORBETT: Mesereau stood and made a very strong argument against releasing what he called propaganda by prosecutors.

MARQUEZ (on camera): Jackson's defense also showed video of the search of Neverland Ranch to a judge, trying to prove that the search investigators conducted was broader than the search warrant allowed. Hoping to get more evidence tossed out.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And here's a look at what else is on the docket today in our legal briefs. A federal appeals court says the makers of two file-sharing programs are not liable if users swap copyrighted songs and movies. The ruling is a blow to the entertainment industry, which could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

No civil rights were violated when police with guns drawn raided a South Carolina high school last year. That is the conclusion of a Justice Department investigation. Police found no drugs or guns in the raid, but the raid did frighten students and sparked outrage. Civil lawsuits are still pending.

A hearing is scheduled to begin this hour in the Robert Blake murder case. A former private investigator is expected to testify. Prosecutors requested the conditional examination of the witness. They say he is more than 70 years old and may not be available for the trial, set to begin November 1st.

A cure for a certain form of blindness is being found in an unlikely source -- your mouth. We'll tell you how doctors restored one woman's sight in Britain.

And you might be surprised to find out why hundreds of bikers are holding a rally in Brooklyn this weekend. It has to do with one minister's mission.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Now for some stories making news coast to coast. Police in Portland, Oregon believe they have broken up a pint-sized burglary ring. Three children, ages 6 to 10, have been linked to more than a dozen home burglaries. Detectives cracked the case when the boy and his two older sisters were caught shoplifting some candy.

Being a famous member of Congress sometimes isn't enough for airport screeners. Senator Ted Kennedy says that he was delayed before boarding flights several times starting in March because his name is similar to one on a terrorist watch list. The Department of Homeland Security has since apologized to Kennedy for the inconvenience.

And in Houston, former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling is performing community service as a condition of his $5 million bond. Skilling is helping out at a warehouse and outlet store run by Habitat for Humanity. He's awaiting trial on criminal charges related to Enron's collapse three years ago.

The state of Vermont takes a fight over importing prescription drugs to court. Vermont is suing the Food and Drug administration. Officials want to allow state employees and retirees to buy cheaper medicines from Canada. The FDA says it's concerned about the safety of drugs reported to be from Canada that might actually come from other countries. Vermont says its plan does include safeguards.

An incredible story for you now, a woman who was blind for nearly 30 years can see once again. This, after surgeons used her own tooth to restore her sight.

Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the fascinating story in our "Daily Dose" of health news.

Good morning.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

It does indeed sound bizarre, but when I explain it, I hope it sounds a little bit more normal. Judith Smith is a grandmother in England. She has been blind since age 15. And what -- doctors wanted to do a more traditional cornea transplant, which I'll get to in a minute, but they found that she was not a candidate.

So, what they did, get this, is they took one of her teeth and they shaped it into a very, very small, very thin rectangle and put a hole in it -- and I'm shortening procedure here; this actually took much longer -- and that managed to replace her damaged cornea, and she says now that she can see her grandchildren for the first time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDITH SMITH, EYE TOOTH SURGERY PATIENT: The oldest ones are 4, and I've never ever seen -- I was at the births, and I've never ever seen them until the other day when they come to see me. It was fantastic. I just sat and cried. It was just overwhelming. Words just can't explain. you know, what it meant to me. And to be able to, like, see the flowers and the grass and things like that, it's just absolutely fantastic. It's amazing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: This procedure was first done in Italy, and is also now sometimes done in England -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So -- but there are some folks here in the U.S. wondering when will it be done here?

COHEN: Well, some of the doctors we talked to in the United States, I have to say, were a bit skeptical. There are other things that you can do besides taking someone's tooth and shaping it into a cornea. For example, usually cadaverous corneas, corneas from cadavers are used, or there are artificial cadavers. So I think it might be a while before we see anything done in this country.

KAGAN: Just a fascinating concept to even think about. If you hadn't seen anything since you were 15, and then you're a grandmother, that just must be literally a moon-blowing experience.

COHEN: Oh, It must be. It must be. And apparently she actually looked at one of her children and said, my, you have a big nose.

HEMMER: Nice.

COHEN: I think that was probably something of a surprise to that child. But again, this is something that is done as a last resort, is done rarely. Tens of thousands of people get cornea transplants from cadavers. That's almost a routine thing by now, and there are also artificial corneas that are made out of a synthetic material. This tooth cornea is indeed a very unusual thing to have done.

HEMMER: Elizabeth Cohen, joining us from Atlanta. Thank you, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks.

HEMMER: To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. The address is CNN.com/health.

A check of the financial markets is coming up next, plus biking for the Bible. How motorcycle rallies in the Big Apple hope to change some perceptions and lift some spirits.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We're looking at your spirit this morning. Mention biker clubs, you might automatically think Hell's Angels, Pagans, similar groups, but tomorrow in Brooklyn, the air will be filled with the sound of loud pipes and high praises. About 1,000 to 2,000 Christian bikers will assemble as part of the Genyonme (ph) Rider's Bike Blessing.

One of those on a Harley-Davidson will be the Reverend A.R. Bernard. He's founder of the Christian Cultural Center, which has grown from a storefront to a mega-church, about 21,000 members in Brooklyn.

Reverend, good morning. Thanks for being here with us.

OK, we're going blow some stereotypes out of the water here this morning.

REV. A.R. BERNARD, CHRISTIAN CULTURAL CENTER: Yes, absolutely.

KAGAN: First of all, bikers and Christians, those are not two people that I would normally put together. So how do you do that?

BERNARD: Well, most people don't realize that there are quite a few Christians who are biking. There is actually is known as the International Christian Biker's Association, which registers many, many clubs who are part of it. We got into it about 10 years ago. My wife bought me my first motorcycle for my birthday 10 years ago.

KAGAN: That was a good birthday, I bet.

BERNARD: My sons got into it, and what we realized that there were actually these event events around the city the clubs were holding called Bike Blessings. It'd be like a little party out on the block somewhere in the city, and they would have a minister come and pray over the bikers for safe and responsible riding. So we got involved, held our first, and now we're the largest in the city of New York proper.

KAGAN: I know for a motorcycle enthusiast that riding a bike can be a spiritual experience.

BERNARD: Yes.

KAGAN: A different type of spiritual experience. What are you really hoping to achieve by bringing it all together? You told me you expect about 2,000.

BERNARD: Yes. In fact, about 2,000 motorcyclists will be there. We're going to have stunts. We have bleachers set up, because we have a large parking lot. We have trick bikes, and it's become a family event where we have food and games for the kids, and actually clubs that promote biker gear, will have their little retail shops set up as well. So it's really a fun-filled day.

KAGAN: What do you think the big picture is happening here? I mean, you're own store, you were a banker, you were working in the banking business, and you left to go on your spiritual journey. You have people all over the place looking for more meaning than just what might be the surface meaning, even when for some people, it means getting on a bicycle.

BERNARD: This is true. I was at a bookstore, Border Books, and saw a book on the shelf, it said, "The Zen of Motorcycling," and I said, boy, everybody is getting alive with this whole idea. But for us, it's bringing people together.

KAGAN: And we're, by the way, looking at a picture of you. Is that your hog?

BERNARD: That's my street bike, actually, a Hayabusa. But we realize, there is a spirituality to it. And for us, it gave an opportunity to speak a positive message into the lives these bikers and build good relationships with them. You know, when you have guys from clubs like Legion of Doom, and the captain of the group is called Lucifer, you know, that really draws my attention.

KAGAN: It does. And do you expect people like that to be there tomorrow?

BERNARD: Oh, yes, they'll be there, Rough Riders, and individuals who are considered outlaws. They come. There's great respect, and there's a good relationship between us.

KAGAN: So it's an example of how this day and age when so many people are going in different directions and polarizing, bringing people together on a bike.

BERNARD: Exactly. Thank you.

KAGAN: You wearing a helmet?

BERNARD: Yes, I will.

KAGAN: Just checking.

Good luck on that tomorrow.

BERNARD: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Reverend A.R. Bernard, thanks for stopping by and talking about, what, 2,000 bikes going to Brooklyn, New York. It's going to be quite a sight.

BERNARD: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: All right, Rhonda. Thank you for that.

We are going to go behind the mask of Lady Liberty -- not the original Lady Liberty, the one trying to cash in on you. Jeanne Moos does that for us straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Time to check in on weather. Orelon Sidney looking at a Tropical Storm Estelle.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: All right, you enjoy those cool temperatures down in Atlanta...

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Will do it.

KAGAN: ... Orelon. Appreciate that.

Is there such a thing as too much liberty in the USA? Perhaps, as our Jeanne Moos found.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Will the real Statue of Liberty raise your torch.

(on camera): How long have you been doing this? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my first time.

MOOS (voice-over): Within sight of actual statue, you can sometimes find five or six impostors of varying shades.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I like the light green, but it goes better with my hair.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's not quite as green, it looks like. He's a little bit bluish.

MOOS: Speaking of shades, this one wears them while inviting the huddled masses to huddle around him for a photo, for the price of a small donation.

But there's something ironic about these Statues of Libertys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry. You're speaking -- sorry, no, no...

MOOS: They're practically all immigrants trying to make a buck.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Honest money, without selling drug or something else.

MOOS: Most seem to be Colombian, and they tend not to be ladies.

(on camera): Can I look under your skirt, Lady Liberty?

(voice-over): OK. So, they're not as impressive as the Statue of Liberty that roamed Manhattan in "Ghostbusters II," but even a normal size statue that moves...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freaky.

MOOS: ... tends to scare kids.

There is one statue who calls herself the original impostor. For 18 years, Jennifer Stewart has made a living posing as the statue. How does she feel about these Johnny-come-latelies in their store- bought masks?

JENNIFER STEWART, STATUE OF LIBERTY IMPOSTOR: I'll be this old wrinkled statue. You know, I'll be 60 years old, but I won't wear a mask.

MOOS: With all these competing statues, you'd think there might be confrontation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello.

MOOS: But no, the Statues of Liberty harmoniously co-exist. Most have other jobs. One statue is better known for his mannequin salsa routine, where he dances suggestively with a mannequin attached to his shoes.

But carrying a torch for Lady Liberty isn't easy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It gets very tired.

MOOS (on camera): Your arm gets tired?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MOOS: Yes. It's hard, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not easy. You have to stand up all day.

MOOS (voice-over): At least these ladies know better than to take liberties.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that's going to wrap it up for me for this morning, Daryn Kagan.

I hope you'll join me tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern, filling in for Aaron Brown. Until then, Wolf Blitzer takes over from Washington, D.C.

Hi, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Daryn. Thanks very much. We certainly will be watching, 10:00 p.m. with Daryn tonight, filling in from Aaron Brown on "NEWSNIGHT."

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 August 20, 2004 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We focus on California now. Images from inside Michael Jackson's mansion and testimony from his accuser's stepfather. Those are among the latest developments in a pretrial hearing set to resume just about now.
Our Miguel Marquez is covering the case from Santa Maria, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Doe, the stepfather of Michael Jackson's accuser, takes the stand, and questioned by Jackson's lawyer about what he knew about the relationship between private investigator Brad Miller and Jackson's former lawyer, Mark Geragos.

If a relationship can be established, the defense may be able to get potentially crucial evidence tossed out.

STEVE CORBETT, "SANTA MARIA TIMES": And I don't think that they're succeeding the defense in proving that. They're not able to do that as of yet.

MARQUEZ: But John Doe's questioning did reveal his claim that someone from Neverland Ranch called the accuser's mother in the days after the documentary "Living With Michael Jackson" aired, asking that the boy and his family return to Neverland to make a rebuttal video.

Doe said he responded by saying, quote, "What are you offering?" Then, Doe said, the Neverland employee told him that they would offer security, a college education to the boy and his siblings, and a new home for the family.

Doe then said he told the Neverland employee he knew Michael Jackson was going to make millions off the video and that, quote, "his small family was making zero."

CORBETT: There is this insinuation that there is a give-and-take -- you know, we'll give you this in exchange for that.

MARQUEZ: In a setback for the defense, the judge ruled that Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson could release a statement and parts of the attorney general's investigation into whether Michael Jackson was mistreated while in custody.

Jackson made the claims on the CBS program "60 Minutes," but his defense lawyer said Jackson never filed an official complaint, and he was never interviewed for the investigation.

CORBETT: Mesereau stood and made a very strong argument against releasing what he called propaganda by prosecutors.

MARQUEZ (on camera): Jackson's defense also showed video of the search of Neverland Ranch to a judge, trying to prove that the search investigators conducted was broader than the search warrant allowed. Hoping to get more evidence tossed out.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And here's a look at what else is on the docket today in our legal briefs. A federal appeals court says the makers of two file-sharing programs are not liable if users swap copyrighted songs and movies. The ruling is a blow to the entertainment industry, which could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

No civil rights were violated when police with guns drawn raided a South Carolina high school last year. That is the conclusion of a Justice Department investigation. Police found no drugs or guns in the raid, but the raid did frighten students and sparked outrage. Civil lawsuits are still pending.

A hearing is scheduled to begin this hour in the Robert Blake murder case. A former private investigator is expected to testify. Prosecutors requested the conditional examination of the witness. They say he is more than 70 years old and may not be available for the trial, set to begin November 1st.

A cure for a certain form of blindness is being found in an unlikely source -- your mouth. We'll tell you how doctors restored one woman's sight in Britain.

And you might be surprised to find out why hundreds of bikers are holding a rally in Brooklyn this weekend. It has to do with one minister's mission.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Now for some stories making news coast to coast. Police in Portland, Oregon believe they have broken up a pint-sized burglary ring. Three children, ages 6 to 10, have been linked to more than a dozen home burglaries. Detectives cracked the case when the boy and his two older sisters were caught shoplifting some candy.

Being a famous member of Congress sometimes isn't enough for airport screeners. Senator Ted Kennedy says that he was delayed before boarding flights several times starting in March because his name is similar to one on a terrorist watch list. The Department of Homeland Security has since apologized to Kennedy for the inconvenience.

And in Houston, former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling is performing community service as a condition of his $5 million bond. Skilling is helping out at a warehouse and outlet store run by Habitat for Humanity. He's awaiting trial on criminal charges related to Enron's collapse three years ago.

The state of Vermont takes a fight over importing prescription drugs to court. Vermont is suing the Food and Drug administration. Officials want to allow state employees and retirees to buy cheaper medicines from Canada. The FDA says it's concerned about the safety of drugs reported to be from Canada that might actually come from other countries. Vermont says its plan does include safeguards.

An incredible story for you now, a woman who was blind for nearly 30 years can see once again. This, after surgeons used her own tooth to restore her sight.

Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the fascinating story in our "Daily Dose" of health news.

Good morning.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

It does indeed sound bizarre, but when I explain it, I hope it sounds a little bit more normal. Judith Smith is a grandmother in England. She has been blind since age 15. And what -- doctors wanted to do a more traditional cornea transplant, which I'll get to in a minute, but they found that she was not a candidate.

So, what they did, get this, is they took one of her teeth and they shaped it into a very, very small, very thin rectangle and put a hole in it -- and I'm shortening procedure here; this actually took much longer -- and that managed to replace her damaged cornea, and she says now that she can see her grandchildren for the first time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDITH SMITH, EYE TOOTH SURGERY PATIENT: The oldest ones are 4, and I've never ever seen -- I was at the births, and I've never ever seen them until the other day when they come to see me. It was fantastic. I just sat and cried. It was just overwhelming. Words just can't explain. you know, what it meant to me. And to be able to, like, see the flowers and the grass and things like that, it's just absolutely fantastic. It's amazing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: This procedure was first done in Italy, and is also now sometimes done in England -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So -- but there are some folks here in the U.S. wondering when will it be done here?

COHEN: Well, some of the doctors we talked to in the United States, I have to say, were a bit skeptical. There are other things that you can do besides taking someone's tooth and shaping it into a cornea. For example, usually cadaverous corneas, corneas from cadavers are used, or there are artificial cadavers. So I think it might be a while before we see anything done in this country.

KAGAN: Just a fascinating concept to even think about. If you hadn't seen anything since you were 15, and then you're a grandmother, that just must be literally a moon-blowing experience.

COHEN: Oh, It must be. It must be. And apparently she actually looked at one of her children and said, my, you have a big nose.

HEMMER: Nice.

COHEN: I think that was probably something of a surprise to that child. But again, this is something that is done as a last resort, is done rarely. Tens of thousands of people get cornea transplants from cadavers. That's almost a routine thing by now, and there are also artificial corneas that are made out of a synthetic material. This tooth cornea is indeed a very unusual thing to have done.

HEMMER: Elizabeth Cohen, joining us from Atlanta. Thank you, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks.

HEMMER: To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. The address is CNN.com/health.

A check of the financial markets is coming up next, plus biking for the Bible. How motorcycle rallies in the Big Apple hope to change some perceptions and lift some spirits.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We're looking at your spirit this morning. Mention biker clubs, you might automatically think Hell's Angels, Pagans, similar groups, but tomorrow in Brooklyn, the air will be filled with the sound of loud pipes and high praises. About 1,000 to 2,000 Christian bikers will assemble as part of the Genyonme (ph) Rider's Bike Blessing.

One of those on a Harley-Davidson will be the Reverend A.R. Bernard. He's founder of the Christian Cultural Center, which has grown from a storefront to a mega-church, about 21,000 members in Brooklyn.

Reverend, good morning. Thanks for being here with us.

OK, we're going blow some stereotypes out of the water here this morning.

REV. A.R. BERNARD, CHRISTIAN CULTURAL CENTER: Yes, absolutely.

KAGAN: First of all, bikers and Christians, those are not two people that I would normally put together. So how do you do that?

BERNARD: Well, most people don't realize that there are quite a few Christians who are biking. There is actually is known as the International Christian Biker's Association, which registers many, many clubs who are part of it. We got into it about 10 years ago. My wife bought me my first motorcycle for my birthday 10 years ago.

KAGAN: That was a good birthday, I bet.

BERNARD: My sons got into it, and what we realized that there were actually these event events around the city the clubs were holding called Bike Blessings. It'd be like a little party out on the block somewhere in the city, and they would have a minister come and pray over the bikers for safe and responsible riding. So we got involved, held our first, and now we're the largest in the city of New York proper.

KAGAN: I know for a motorcycle enthusiast that riding a bike can be a spiritual experience.

BERNARD: Yes.

KAGAN: A different type of spiritual experience. What are you really hoping to achieve by bringing it all together? You told me you expect about 2,000.

BERNARD: Yes. In fact, about 2,000 motorcyclists will be there. We're going to have stunts. We have bleachers set up, because we have a large parking lot. We have trick bikes, and it's become a family event where we have food and games for the kids, and actually clubs that promote biker gear, will have their little retail shops set up as well. So it's really a fun-filled day.

KAGAN: What do you think the big picture is happening here? I mean, you're own store, you were a banker, you were working in the banking business, and you left to go on your spiritual journey. You have people all over the place looking for more meaning than just what might be the surface meaning, even when for some people, it means getting on a bicycle.

BERNARD: This is true. I was at a bookstore, Border Books, and saw a book on the shelf, it said, "The Zen of Motorcycling," and I said, boy, everybody is getting alive with this whole idea. But for us, it's bringing people together.

KAGAN: And we're, by the way, looking at a picture of you. Is that your hog?

BERNARD: That's my street bike, actually, a Hayabusa. But we realize, there is a spirituality to it. And for us, it gave an opportunity to speak a positive message into the lives these bikers and build good relationships with them. You know, when you have guys from clubs like Legion of Doom, and the captain of the group is called Lucifer, you know, that really draws my attention.

KAGAN: It does. And do you expect people like that to be there tomorrow?

BERNARD: Oh, yes, they'll be there, Rough Riders, and individuals who are considered outlaws. They come. There's great respect, and there's a good relationship between us.

KAGAN: So it's an example of how this day and age when so many people are going in different directions and polarizing, bringing people together on a bike.

BERNARD: Exactly. Thank you.

KAGAN: You wearing a helmet?

BERNARD: Yes, I will.

KAGAN: Just checking.

Good luck on that tomorrow.

BERNARD: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Reverend A.R. Bernard, thanks for stopping by and talking about, what, 2,000 bikes going to Brooklyn, New York. It's going to be quite a sight.

BERNARD: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: All right, Rhonda. Thank you for that.

We are going to go behind the mask of Lady Liberty -- not the original Lady Liberty, the one trying to cash in on you. Jeanne Moos does that for us straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Time to check in on weather. Orelon Sidney looking at a Tropical Storm Estelle.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: All right, you enjoy those cool temperatures down in Atlanta...

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Will do it.

KAGAN: ... Orelon. Appreciate that.

Is there such a thing as too much liberty in the USA? Perhaps, as our Jeanne Moos found.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Will the real Statue of Liberty raise your torch.

(on camera): How long have you been doing this? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my first time.

MOOS (voice-over): Within sight of actual statue, you can sometimes find five or six impostors of varying shades.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I like the light green, but it goes better with my hair.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's not quite as green, it looks like. He's a little bit bluish.

MOOS: Speaking of shades, this one wears them while inviting the huddled masses to huddle around him for a photo, for the price of a small donation.

But there's something ironic about these Statues of Libertys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry. You're speaking -- sorry, no, no...

MOOS: They're practically all immigrants trying to make a buck.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Honest money, without selling drug or something else.

MOOS: Most seem to be Colombian, and they tend not to be ladies.

(on camera): Can I look under your skirt, Lady Liberty?

(voice-over): OK. So, they're not as impressive as the Statue of Liberty that roamed Manhattan in "Ghostbusters II," but even a normal size statue that moves...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freaky.

MOOS: ... tends to scare kids.

There is one statue who calls herself the original impostor. For 18 years, Jennifer Stewart has made a living posing as the statue. How does she feel about these Johnny-come-latelies in their store- bought masks?

JENNIFER STEWART, STATUE OF LIBERTY IMPOSTOR: I'll be this old wrinkled statue. You know, I'll be 60 years old, but I won't wear a mask.

MOOS: With all these competing statues, you'd think there might be confrontation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello.

MOOS: But no, the Statues of Liberty harmoniously co-exist. Most have other jobs. One statue is better known for his mannequin salsa routine, where he dances suggestively with a mannequin attached to his shoes.

But carrying a torch for Lady Liberty isn't easy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It gets very tired.

MOOS (on camera): Your arm gets tired?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MOOS: Yes. It's hard, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not easy. You have to stand up all day.

MOOS (voice-over): At least these ladies know better than to take liberties.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that's going to wrap it up for me for this morning, Daryn Kagan.

I hope you'll join me tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern, filling in for Aaron Brown. Until then, Wolf Blitzer takes over from Washington, D.C.

Hi, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Daryn. Thanks very much. We certainly will be watching, 10:00 p.m. with Daryn tonight, filling in from Aaron Brown on "NEWSNIGHT."

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