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American Morning

Bush Goes to Atlanta to Visit CDC

Aired November 08, 2001 - 11:00   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: First up, though, as mentioned, President Bush getting outside of Washington. Later today he'll come to Atlanta hoping to reassure Americans that things are ok, and again, to caution people to be patient. Kelly Wallace at the White House this morning. A preview of a rather busy day later today. Kelly, good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill. Yes, another busy day. As you know, the president doing some more coalition building. He should be wrapping up a meeting with President Cardoso of Brazil any minute from now. And then later meeting with Prime Minister Ahern of Ireland.

Then, of course, heading your way, Bill, to Atlanta, taking a tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and then the focus, the main event of the day, a prime time address which Ari Fleischer, the president's spokesman, said in that speech the president will say that following the September 11th attacks, life in the U.S. will never be the same. He will also say that while threats remain, Americans should go on with their normal lives. Again, we have heard the president deliver this message many days before, but tonight in a prime-time address. Ari Fleischer saying the president will -- quote -- "share with the American people how we should live in light of what has happened." Now, he will also say that the September 11th attacks mean a new responsibility for law enforcement, and also a new responsibility for all citizens.

Fleischer would not say what citizens and Americans should do, but administration officials saying the president is expected to call on Americans to volunteer their efforts to help bolster homeland security. Now, Bill, administration officials say this speech is not in response to criticisms of the administration's handling of anthrax, and also its handling of these two very general FBI terrorism alerts, warning of imminent terrorist attacks in the United States.

They say that the president felt this was an important time to give a progress report on the campaign against terrorism, overseas, but mainly on the campaign against terrorism at home. Bill?

HEMMER: sounds like free speech exercised there this morning.

WALLACE: Exactly, yes. A protester making his point known. So, sorry for that. HEMMER: On another front, Kelly -- Hollywood and Washington, a bit of a relationship developing here. Karl Rove is going to head up this operation out west in California. What's happening with that, kelly?

WALLACE: Actually, very interesting, Bill, because as you know, the Bush administration hasn't had the greatest, or most intimate relationship with Hollywood so far. Karl Rove, though, the president's top political adviser, meeting with Hollywood executives on Sunday, basically to talk about the campaign against terrorism and see how Hollywood may work in connection with the administration's communication strategy on this campaign against terrorism.

Possible ways the two could work together: public service announcements about the administration's message, getting very high profile Arab and Muslim celebrities to participate in these announcements. The delicate balancing act is, is the administration in any way trying to involve itself with any content, any content of movies or productions. Ari Fleischer, the president's spokesman, saying -- quote -- "let the meeting take place."

So, clearly, the White House definitely going out there to see how Hollywood can help. Another step, Bill, in this sort of stepped up public relations offensive for this administration to get its message out, that this is campaign not against the people, not against Islam, but against terrorists and those who harbor them. Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Kelly, thanks. Kelly Wallace at the White House.

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