Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Latest Terror Threat Warning From U.S. Authorities; Floods Kill Hundreds in Haiti, Dominican Republic
Aired May 27, 2004 - 08:00 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Seven suspects and they are just the tip of the iceberg in a terror threat to the nation.
Kobe Bryant back in court this morning, his team trying to bring in a figure from the O.J. Simpson trial.
And where will the next great breakthrough in sunscreen come from? From the hippopotamus, of course. Huh. We're confused, too. We'll explain on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome, everybody.
Bill Hemmer is off today.
Anderson Cooper is sitting in.
Nice to have you.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is nice to be here.
Good morning, everyone.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
It's hard, too, because you work at night and you work in the morning.
COOPER: It is my pleasure just to be able to sit next to you. Yes, wah, wah, wah.
O'BRIEN: Now you're going too far, Anderson.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's a treat.
O'BRIEN: You should have stopped while you were ahead with it's a pleasure to be here.
COOPER: I thought I could pull that one off.
O'BRIEN: But whatever.
COOPER: Let's take a look at some of the news making headlines right now.
The attorney general is urging America's law enforcement agencies to be especially vigilant for signs of terrorists, though he isn't specifically saying what al Qaeda may have planned. We'll talk about the new terror warnings and what police can do with New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, we're going to take a look at the absolutely catastrophic effects of flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Look at the pictures. The losses there are just utterly staggering.
Susan Candiotti has our report this morning. That's just ahead.
COOPER: And on a far lighter note, we have to talk about "American Idol." A new idol crowned last night, as Jack Cafferty will quickly tell you. Sarah Bernard back with us this morning for the 20- 20 hindsight. Was the right contestant chosen? Yes. What made one diva a winner and the other an also ran? Talent. But that's my opinion.
O'BRIEN: There are so many questions this morning about "American Idol."
COOPER: Oh yes.
O'BRIEN: We really, I think we should devote at least 20 or 30 minutes.
COOPER: Do you think? OK.
O'BRIEN: In depth reporting on "American Idol." I'd feel comfortable with that.
COOPER: I doubt it.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty, good morning.
CAFFERTY: Coming up in the Cafferty File, we will tell you why a visit to the doctor could make you sick, not as sick as getting involved in "American Idol" for the 484th time, but it could make you sick, nevertheless.
And there may be some cause for concern if your husband drives a Porsche.
O'BRIEN: Because he's having a midlife crisis?
CAFFERTY: We shall explain.
O'BRIEN: All right.
CAFFERTY: That's all I'm saying at this time.
O'BRIEN: We'll see.
Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Appreciate it.
The FBI is seeking the assistance of every American in locating seven suspected terror operatives who have been described as a clear and present danger. Photographs of the seven were made public yesterday, as law enforcement officials discussed the terror threat now facing the U.S.
Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joins us this morning live from Washington -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
The FBI has put out the names of six of these individuals before. But one is new, and he is an American. Adam Yahiye Gadahn is described by the FBI as a convert to Islam who attended training camps in Afghanistan and has done translations for al Qaeda. The FBI says he is an associate of Abu Zubaydah, a key al Qaeda operative.
Members of Gadahn's family expressed shock.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY KCAL-TV)
OMAR GADAHN, BROTHER: Last when he spoke to us he was in Pakistan, in Kabul, I think.
QUESTION: And what was he doing?
GADAHN: He said he was writing for a newspaper and that he was ready to have a baby so. He got married and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That's the last time we talked to him, it was, I think, March of 2001, around then.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: The FBI has also sent out a bulletin to its 18,000 state and local law enforcement partners, urging them to be especially vigilant. It asks them to watch out for people of interest who possess (COMMERCIAL BREAK) driver's licenses with a permit to transport hazardous materials or who have purchased or modified heavy vehicles like ambulances or buses, indications that truck bombs are a serious concern -- Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne, a quick question for you. The have been some inconsistent statements about the magnitude or the potential magnitude of the threat.
Can you clarify some of that for us?
MESERVE: We wish we could. I mean we had John Ashcroft on one hand saying this is disturbing intelligence; they could be 90 percent prepared for a strike. On the other hand, I spoke to Tom Ridge yesterday, who played it down, said this is part of a steady stream of intelligence -- we don't have any specifics as to when, where or how. He said he'd been much more concerned over the Christmas holidays, the last time the nation was moved up to threat level orange.
As to why there's that inconsistency, some people say hey, it's a confusing picture. Maybe there are just different interpretations of the same data. Other people say there may be something more political involved here -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne Meserve for us in Washington this morning.
Jeanne, thanks.
Here to talk about how the increased terror warnings are affecting a city that knows terror all too well is New York City's police commissioner, Ray Kelly.
Nice to see you, Commissioner.
Thanks for being with us.
RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: Good to be with you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
So what's changed since yesterday? The announcement made. What's been done with that new information that's come out?
KELLY: I don't think anything has changed here in New York. We've done an awful lot, certainly since the beginning of the war with Iraq. You'll see additional police officers on the street. Yesterday we had a major mobilization drill in Times Square, recovering of sensitive locations. We have plainclothes officers deployed throughout the city. We've done a lot with our intelligence, counter- terrorism bureau.
So nothing has changed as a result of yesterday's announcement, because we've been on a higher state of alert.
O'BRIEN: Has anything changed with the start of Fleet Week, which began yesterday?
KELLY: Well, we've had Fleet Week here now, this is, you know, a yearly event. So we have been...
O'BRIEN: Like 10 zillion years now we've done Fleet Week.
KELLY: Right. Right. But we have additional covering, you know, for the fleet, our harbor unit is involved. Any time you have a gathering of people these days you have to some -- have additional police coverage, and that's what we're doing for Fleet Week.
O'BRIEN: So the new warning, then, there was no rise in the threat level, there were no real specifics that came out of it.
Do you think that these warnings are helpful in any way? I mean it sort of -- everybody...
KELLY: I think it's helpful in the sense that it's a reminder. The difference here, as the attorney general said yesterday, is the credibility of the sources. There are multiple sources and they're deemed to be highly credible. Again, lack specificity. Certainly it's a kind of frustrating announcement that we've seen over time because of its lack of specificity. It's difficult for law enforcement to react. I understand that.
But I think here you have this body of information. We had it for a while, the law enforcement community has. And I think it's probably a good thing to get it out at this time.
O'BRIEN: You used the word frustration. I'm curious, are your officers frustrated? Do they tell you that at all? Because I know as just people who live here in New York City, it is very frustrating to get a warning with sort of -- and live your life the way it is, don't change anything and we don't have any specifics.
But are the officers frustrated, too?
KELLY: I think to a certain extent. It's understandable. You want specific information, you know, be alert, be on guard, be more vigilant, for what, do what? And we understand that. But that's our post-9/11 world. Everybody's world has changed as a result of it.
O'BRIEN: Now, there's been a lot of talk about protecting the subways because, of course, a lot of the subways here go under what would be considered sort of landmark New York City structures, right under.
How do you do that logistically when you really can take the subway from the bottom of Manhattan to the top of Manhattan and all the way out? How do you protect people and how do you keep an eye on people traveling with something on the subway?
KELLY: Well, you'll see an increased police presence in the subway. We do a variety of things. We have surges where you'll see a lot of officers on the train or on the station. We move that on an unannounced basis. We have increased our plainclothes officers in the subway system, as well. We have some increased cameras, increased coverage at certain tunnel locations that we're concerned about.
So we're doing a variety of things. But it's a challenge, no question about it.
O'BRIEN: Do you think, overall, then, we should feel comfortable, I mean those of us who live in New York City, those of us who are going to come to visit New York City, comfortable with the way security is now?
KELLY: Yes. I think we're doing everything we reasonably can do to protect the city. We have a big experience, the police force. We're deployed, I believe, at the right places, at the right times. And, again, there's no guarantees. We understand that. But I think, as I say, we're doing everything we can do to protect New York. O'BRIEN: Commissioner Ray Kelly, nice to see you, as always.
KELLY: Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: Thanks for coming in to talk to us.
Appreciate it -- Anderson.
COOPER: Well, reports from Haiti and the Dominican Republic say that 1,000 people are dead from storms and flooding on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Severe rain over the weekend led to floods that wiped out entire villages. At least 1,000 more people are missing.
Susan Candiotti reports now from one of the hardest hit areas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gerardo Dotel (ph) appears dazed as he picks his way through muck next to his mud filled home. His nine-month-old daughter Yvonne (ph) was swept away by the raging flood. "They can't find her anywhere," says her mother.
Around every corner, more despair. This woman says she was sleeping when the water rose as high as eight feet. She describes bodies piled everywhere.
When Sunday's storm rolled through in the dead of night, rushing water consumed everyone and everything in its path.
EDDY OUVARES, CIVIL DEFENSE SPOKESMAN: It's one disaster. It's bad, very, very bad.
CANDIOTTI: Hundreds are dead, many remain missing in the Dominican Republic and neighboring Haiti. At least 300 bodies recovered in Jimani, on the Dominican side. Those who could not be identified have been moved from temporary morgues to common graves.
(on camera): Residents here paint a devastating picture, describing how the streets of Jimani became rivers of death.
(voice-over): Throughout Jimani, a struggle to salvage belongings. Here, a man desperately trying to wash the mud from a mattress. People take turns drawing water for cleaning. Civil defense workers and the Red Cross working to bring in drinking water, food, shelter. For Gerard and Geraldine Dotel (ph), an effort to start over, getting rid of mud, holding onto the memory of a lost child.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Jimani, the Dominican Republic.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: A terrible scene there.
Now the flooding in the Midwest. The governor of Illinois has issued a disaster declaration for flooded communities north of Chicago. Flood waters are starting to recede and better weather is expected to bring some relief. In Michigan, flooding has prompted evacuations of about 200 lake homes. Some beaches may remain closed through the Memorial Day weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COOPER: Kobe Bryant returns to court this morning in Colorado for another pretrial hearing. The judge may set a trial date today for the sexual assault case. Bryant's attorneys, meanwhile, claim that shoddy police work may have prejudiced the case against him.
Alex Stone, a reporter for radio station KOA in Denver, has been covering the case.
He joins us this morning from the courthouse in Eagle, Colorado.
Alex, thanks for being on the show this morning.
ALEX STONE, REPORTER, KOA RADIO: Hi, Anderson.
Good to be here.
Thanks.
COOPER: Alex, the defense is claiming detectives, and I quote, "closed their eyes" when collecting some evidence.
What is the defense saying that detectives missed?
STONE: The defense is saying that the Eagle County deputies, when they went in to do their crime scene investigation, that they didn't do it properly. They're saying that they should have taken the chair where the act allegedly happened. They're saying that they should have done tests on different pieces of evidence in the room, whether it be the rug where the act allegedly happened, right over that area, or in the bathroom, where the accuser says she went in and cried and cleaned up with some tissues in the bathroom.
They're saying all of that should have been collected. None of it was, according to what we know from inside the courtroom.
COOPER: But in response, Alex, prosecutors are saying look, you know, the time had elapsed. Some 24 hours had already elapsed and most of the evidence, they say, was on the alleged victim and Kobe Bryant's clothing, correct?
STONE: That's exactly what the prosecution is saying. They're saying Eagle County deputies did their job, but the defense is saying, no, that's not true. They want to bring in an expert, an expert who's known from the O.J. Simpson case, to say that they made a mistake, that things didn't happen the way it should have happened.
But the prosecution says no, it shouldn't be allowed in. COOPER: Well, something else they seem to be borrowing from the O.J. Simpson case, basically intimating that the police were somehow biased against Kobe Bryant.
STONE: Yes, we're hearing that, as well. And really, you have to imagine, Anderson, that the defense is going after everything and anything they can at this point. But they are saying that they were biased in some way, that when they went to the lodge at Cordillera, the spa at Cordillera, that they had a plan, that they were going to arrest Kobe Bryant at some point and that it was all part of a bias.
The prosecution says there's no truth to that, that it was all part of their investigation and that they had enough evidence to go ahead and make the arrest when they made the arrest. But the defense and prosecution fighting that out now.
COOPER: Well, they're also trying to get text messages; also any phone record from the accuser; also some other parties involved.
Are they likely to get that? And even if they get them, are they likely to actually find their way into the trial?
STONE: We're going to find out today. That's what's going to be argued in the courtroom today. At least one of the issues will be those text messages. We know it was some sort of wireless device that the defense is trying to get access to, whether it be a cell phone or a text pager of some sort. They say that she may have been either bragging about her time with Kobe Bryant or at least talking about her time. The defense wants access to those records. The prosecution, yet again -- and, of course, the defense and prosecution fighting back and forth on this -- they're saying the defense should not have access to these records.
COOPER: All right, a lot to watch for today.
Alex Stone, thanks very much.
STONE: All right, thank you.
COOPER: It is about 14 minutes past the hour. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Heidi Collins.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning once again, everyone.
Britain announcing more manpower will now be sent to Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEOFF HOON, BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY: At roll, I am announcing a net increase of around 317 troop numbers, to bring the total of U.K. forces supporting operations in Iraq to about 8,900. As the House is aware, we keep the number and composition of U.K. forces in multinational divisions southeast under constant review.
Sesemendi Southeast (ph) was established the summer of 2003. We've made a series of adjustments in the light of the security situation on the ground and the advice of the general office of commanding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: There had been speculation for weeks that Britain would send up to 3,000 reinforcements.
Dissenting opinions on a potential deal to end a stand-off in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr says he will withdraw his militia in exchange for a pull back of U.S. forces in the city. The offer was announced by Iraq's national security adviser. But coalition officials say nothing has been agreed upon.
The nuclear scientist who was said to be the top contender for prime minister for Iraq's interim government is taking his name out of the running. A statement from U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says Hussain al-Shahristani wants to serve his country, but not as prime minister. The interim government is expected to be put in place June 30.
The University of Colorado will reportedly reinstate head football coach Gary Barnett. Barnett was suspended in February for comments he made about a former female player. Newspaper reports say the reinstatement would include a number of conditions, including what some say are the most stringent recruiting policies in the country. Recent allegations of sex and alcohol abuse in the football recruiting program have plagued the university. Apparently people in Colorado are pretty split about how they feel about that one.
O'BRIEN: Yes, pretty shocking. I think a lot of people thought when he was suspended originally that that was it, he was done.
COLLINS: Yes.
O'BRIEN: But apparently not.
COLLINS: They were talking it a lot.
O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty -- good morning.
CAFFERTY: Soledad O'Brien -- good morning.
The "New York Times" reports a 53-year-old guy suing the estate of Dr. Atkins and the company for $28,000. Jody Gorran says that after following the Atkins diet for a couple of years, his cholesterol level shot up, clogged his arteries and he had to undergo a procedure to get them reopened. A representative for Atkins Nutritionals told the "Times" they stand by the science of their diet.
So the question we're asking this morning is should you be able to sue your diet?
"Suing fast food companies, now diets," writes Wendy from Tokyo, Japan, where we are on in prime time, by the way. AMERICAN MORNING seen in the prime time viewing hours in Japan. "Ridiculous. People appear to be incapable of taking responsibility for their own choices. I think, oops, I just spilled my soda on my lap while trying to type this e-mail to you. I really think you should at least pay for the dry cleaning."
Steve in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: "Atkins is a weight loss diet, not a cholesterol lowering diet. If you wanted to fly to Chicago but got on a plane bound for Denver, could you sue the airline for taking you to the wrong place?"
Lisa in Westfield, Massachusetts: "Yes. If someone's touting themselves as a professional and gaining income from diet advice, then they should be held accountable for the health effects of that advice."
And John in Madison, Wisconsin writes: "I had a really bad day yesterday after watching Jack on AMERICAN MORNING. My lawyers will be in touch."
O'BRIEN: John, let me know if that works.
CAFFERTY: Yes. There'll be a long line, John. I don't know.
O'BRIEN: My people are going to call your people. We have a lot to talk about.
CAFFERTY: Very good.
O'BRIEN: This could pay for my kids' education. Wait a minute. It's all coming together.
Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Well, President Bush outlined some specifics for Iraq's future in his speech on Monday night and one of his points caught the attention of Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
JAY LENO, HOST: President Bush has called for the tearing down of Abu Ghraib Prison and replacing it with one that is easier to pronounce.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: That was pretty funny. He was funny last night, I thought. Anyway...
COOPER: Eh, I'm more a Letterman guy. Sorry, what can I say?
O'BRIEN: Well, that's the -- that's what America is all about, Anderson.
COOPER: I'm just glad we have viewing options.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the very latest, in fact, in that prisoner abuse scandal. We're going to take you live to the Pentagon and Barbara Starr.
COOPER: And campaigning for dad -- who might be more effective on the campaign trail? Who do you think, the Bush twins or the Kerry sisters? Our political pop segment weighs in.
O'BRIEN: And 65 million "American Idol" voters. Well, they can't be wrong.
COOPER: And they weren't.
O'BRIEN: Or could they, I was going to say?
COOPER: No. Fantasia ruled.
O'BRIEN: Oh, thanks for giving away the punch line. Appreciate it.
COOPER: Oh, well, she's singing it right there.
O'BRIEN: That story is ahead on "American Idol" -- "American Idol."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "AMERICAN IDOL")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The winner of "American Idol" 2004 is Fantasia Barrino.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Oh, thank goodness.
Well, there is a new idol to worship this morning, as fans of the TV show "American Idol" picked their winner. Last night, Fantasia, in fact, became the third "American Idol" champion. Sixty-five million votes were cast by phone and text messaging for the finale. That's up from 24 million last year. That show has just been a huge success.
Joining us to talk about the big finish is our own American idol, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor...
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: I like that.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
BERNARD: I could be comfortable with that title.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
BERNARD: No doubt about it.
O'BRIEN: So you've been predicting this all along... BERNARD: I have.
O'BRIEN: As had, frankly, a lot of people.
BERNARD: I wasn't alone, I have to admit. But definitely the right diva won tonight.
O'BRIEN: Was it close at all?
BERNARD: I don't think it was that close. And the reason why is, unfortunately, because Diana made a little mistake on Tuesday night. She claims that actually her earpiece fell out and that's why she kind of went off key during her last song. But I think that was really it. Before that it was neck and neck and then Fantasia just went and took it all.
O'BRIEN: There have been some big complaints, complaints about the phones, that the whole voting system, frankly, complaints about racism. Let's talk about the phone system first. They fixed that.
BERNARD: They did fix it and the way they fixed it was by giving each girl three different numbers that you could call and then opening up the voting for four hours instead of two so everyone could feel like they were really participating. But I think that it ended up working in Fox's favor, because people were determined to make their votes. And that's what happened. I mean 65 million people voting for this? That's unbelievable.
O'BRIEN: Is it people or is it votes?
BERNARD: I guess it's votes. That's true.
O'BRIEN: Because some people said that they called in a bunch of times.
BERNARD: You could vote several times. But just...
O'BRIEN: But that's like...
BERNARD: The response was unbelievable.
O'BRIEN: ... at least 60 million people watched that or something like that. I don't, I'd have to imagine.
BERNARD: Yes, and it's definitely doubled or tripled than last year's.
O'BRIEN: Then there were the complaints about racism. When Jennifer Hudson got kicked out.
BERNARD: And LaToya London.
O'BRIEN: And LaToya, right.
BERNARD: I don't know. I mean none of the contestants have said that they really agree with that. Even LaToya London said I don't really think so. Rubin Studdard won last year. But...
O'BRIEN: The controversy has to help, right? BERNARD: It does have to help...
O'BRIEN: Because then people say oh, then I'm going to watch, even... BERNARD: It actually made people, I think, pay more attention and was more motivated to vote, right? It's kind of like the presidential election -- you have to get out the vote. If you don't get people interested...
O'BRIEN: You've got to get a stake in it.
BERNARD: ... you're not going to get any response.
O'BRIEN: You've said that if you pick the wrong song, that could be the end of it for you.
Do you think that that's what Diana did? Was it the wrong song for her or she just wasn't kind of ready?
BERNARD: Well, it's interesting, you know, they've been repeating the songs and actually she had sung that song the week before and had great success with it. So I think it was just that she should have chosen something new, because we'd seen her sing that before. But then again, Fantasia did "Summertime" twice and that was just an amazing rendition of the song. It was so gritty and deep. And that's really the turning point for her.
So Fantasia did choose better, because she showed more range in what she sung.
O'BRIEN: What happens to the two of them now? Fantasia is 19.
BERNARD: Amazing, right?
O'BRIEN: Diana is 16. I mean do they go on to become gajillionaries? Because even the runner-up does really well. I mean we saw that with Clay Aiken...
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: That's right. So Diana shouldn't be crying too much today. I mean Fantasia is going to get her record deal. Her first single is going to come out on June 15th. She's going to get a million dollar contract, but she's not actually going to see that. She'll probably see about $100,000 of that. Because you know who gets most of the money? Simon Cowell, strangely. He is -- she is now signed to his management company. So he's actually going to be really in charge of her career.
O'BRIEN: Somebody explain the math to me. If it's a million dollar contract but she only gets like a tenth of it? Why?
BERNARD: Because I guess everyone takes all sorts of cuts of it, is why. But she's going to get more money if she makes different royalty marks with her success, and she probably will, because all of the other (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
O'BRIEN: Those agent fees will kill you every time.
BERNARD: I know. But all of the other people have really, I mean Kelly Clarkson, Craig Kilborn sold about a million copies together. So she's probably going to make it. And Diana, I'm sure, as we've seen with Clay, will get her own deal. And they will both be part of the tour.
O'BRIEN: She's 16. Yes. Which you're going to watch.
BERNARD: That's right.
O'BRIEN: Because you're a little obsessed.
BERNARD: It comes to New York on August 31.
O'BRIEN: Now you're just scaring me.
BERNARD: People think I don't know that. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: You and Jack need to talk, because he is so into this whole thing, too.
BERNARD: Maybe we could go together.
O'BRIEN: Ah. Good luck if you do.
BERNARD: That would be fun.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Sarah.
Appreciate it.
Tomorrow night you can see the "American Idol" winner and runner- up on "Larry King Live." You notice they don't say loser, they say runner-up.
BERNARD: No, they say runner-up.
O'BRIEN: Fantasia and Diana.
BERNARD: Yes, they're both winners and they're good friends, which is kind of sweet.
O'BRIEN: They're both winners.
They'll be Larry's guest. That's 9:00 Eastern time right here on CNN and that's on Friday night -- Anderson.
COOPER: I'm sure they're great, great friends. What pops out of the presidential campaign. The power of the candidates' daughters and are the comments of Al Gore good for the Democratic candidate? All that ahead. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Still to come this morning, what does this animal have to do with protecting you from the sun? The answer just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome, everybody.
Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Bill Hemmer has the day off. He has tomorrow off, too.
But Anderson Cooper has been kind of enough to fill in, so we sure appreciate that.
COOPER: I'm happy to be here.
O'BRIEN: Some of the stories we're following this morning. New details about the military's prison abuse investigation now spilling over into Afghanistan. Barbara Starr has been looking into some possible criminal charges for troops there. She's going to bring us her report in just a few moments.
COOPER: Also this morning, political pop coming up. A lot of great topics for you, including the Bush daughters versus the Kerry daughters, how they're going to do on the campaign trail. They've been in the news in the last few weeks, not always in the most campaign friendly ways. We'll talk about that.
O'BRIEN: Also, Elizabeth Cohen explains the big medical mystery surrounding hippos. Could a really hip -- a really, really hot hippo save your life is the question? I guess that there must be dermatologists looking into this or something.
COOPER: Interesting.
O'BRIEN: I wouldn't have thought that hippos would be able to help out human beings.
COOPER: Yes, I don't think -- I didn't know that they had much to contribute, but I'm glad they do.
O'BRIEN: But apparently they do.
COOPER: All right.
(WEATHER REPORT)
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 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Seven suspects and they are just the tip of the iceberg in a terror threat to the nation.
Kobe Bryant back in court this morning, his team trying to bring in a figure from the O.J. Simpson trial.
And where will the next great breakthrough in sunscreen come from? From the hippopotamus, of course. Huh. We're confused, too. We'll explain on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome, everybody.
Bill Hemmer is off today.
Anderson Cooper is sitting in.
Nice to have you.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is nice to be here.
Good morning, everyone.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
It's hard, too, because you work at night and you work in the morning.
COOPER: It is my pleasure just to be able to sit next to you. Yes, wah, wah, wah.
O'BRIEN: Now you're going too far, Anderson.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's a treat.
O'BRIEN: You should have stopped while you were ahead with it's a pleasure to be here.
COOPER: I thought I could pull that one off.
O'BRIEN: But whatever.
COOPER: Let's take a look at some of the news making headlines right now.
The attorney general is urging America's law enforcement agencies to be especially vigilant for signs of terrorists, though he isn't specifically saying what al Qaeda may have planned. We'll talk about the new terror warnings and what police can do with New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, we're going to take a look at the absolutely catastrophic effects of flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Look at the pictures. The losses there are just utterly staggering.
Susan Candiotti has our report this morning. That's just ahead.
COOPER: And on a far lighter note, we have to talk about "American Idol." A new idol crowned last night, as Jack Cafferty will quickly tell you. Sarah Bernard back with us this morning for the 20- 20 hindsight. Was the right contestant chosen? Yes. What made one diva a winner and the other an also ran? Talent. But that's my opinion.
O'BRIEN: There are so many questions this morning about "American Idol."
COOPER: Oh yes.
O'BRIEN: We really, I think we should devote at least 20 or 30 minutes.
COOPER: Do you think? OK.
O'BRIEN: In depth reporting on "American Idol." I'd feel comfortable with that.
COOPER: I doubt it.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty, good morning.
CAFFERTY: Coming up in the Cafferty File, we will tell you why a visit to the doctor could make you sick, not as sick as getting involved in "American Idol" for the 484th time, but it could make you sick, nevertheless.
And there may be some cause for concern if your husband drives a Porsche.
O'BRIEN: Because he's having a midlife crisis?
CAFFERTY: We shall explain.
O'BRIEN: All right.
CAFFERTY: That's all I'm saying at this time.
O'BRIEN: We'll see.
Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Appreciate it.
The FBI is seeking the assistance of every American in locating seven suspected terror operatives who have been described as a clear and present danger. Photographs of the seven were made public yesterday, as law enforcement officials discussed the terror threat now facing the U.S.
Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joins us this morning live from Washington -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
The FBI has put out the names of six of these individuals before. But one is new, and he is an American. Adam Yahiye Gadahn is described by the FBI as a convert to Islam who attended training camps in Afghanistan and has done translations for al Qaeda. The FBI says he is an associate of Abu Zubaydah, a key al Qaeda operative.
Members of Gadahn's family expressed shock.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY KCAL-TV)
OMAR GADAHN, BROTHER: Last when he spoke to us he was in Pakistan, in Kabul, I think.
QUESTION: And what was he doing?
GADAHN: He said he was writing for a newspaper and that he was ready to have a baby so. He got married and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That's the last time we talked to him, it was, I think, March of 2001, around then.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: The FBI has also sent out a bulletin to its 18,000 state and local law enforcement partners, urging them to be especially vigilant. It asks them to watch out for people of interest who possess (COMMERCIAL BREAK) driver's licenses with a permit to transport hazardous materials or who have purchased or modified heavy vehicles like ambulances or buses, indications that truck bombs are a serious concern -- Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne, a quick question for you. The have been some inconsistent statements about the magnitude or the potential magnitude of the threat.
Can you clarify some of that for us?
MESERVE: We wish we could. I mean we had John Ashcroft on one hand saying this is disturbing intelligence; they could be 90 percent prepared for a strike. On the other hand, I spoke to Tom Ridge yesterday, who played it down, said this is part of a steady stream of intelligence -- we don't have any specifics as to when, where or how. He said he'd been much more concerned over the Christmas holidays, the last time the nation was moved up to threat level orange.
As to why there's that inconsistency, some people say hey, it's a confusing picture. Maybe there are just different interpretations of the same data. Other people say there may be something more political involved here -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne Meserve for us in Washington this morning.
Jeanne, thanks.
Here to talk about how the increased terror warnings are affecting a city that knows terror all too well is New York City's police commissioner, Ray Kelly.
Nice to see you, Commissioner.
Thanks for being with us.
RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: Good to be with you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
So what's changed since yesterday? The announcement made. What's been done with that new information that's come out?
KELLY: I don't think anything has changed here in New York. We've done an awful lot, certainly since the beginning of the war with Iraq. You'll see additional police officers on the street. Yesterday we had a major mobilization drill in Times Square, recovering of sensitive locations. We have plainclothes officers deployed throughout the city. We've done a lot with our intelligence, counter- terrorism bureau.
So nothing has changed as a result of yesterday's announcement, because we've been on a higher state of alert.
O'BRIEN: Has anything changed with the start of Fleet Week, which began yesterday?
KELLY: Well, we've had Fleet Week here now, this is, you know, a yearly event. So we have been...
O'BRIEN: Like 10 zillion years now we've done Fleet Week.
KELLY: Right. Right. But we have additional covering, you know, for the fleet, our harbor unit is involved. Any time you have a gathering of people these days you have to some -- have additional police coverage, and that's what we're doing for Fleet Week.
O'BRIEN: So the new warning, then, there was no rise in the threat level, there were no real specifics that came out of it.
Do you think that these warnings are helpful in any way? I mean it sort of -- everybody...
KELLY: I think it's helpful in the sense that it's a reminder. The difference here, as the attorney general said yesterday, is the credibility of the sources. There are multiple sources and they're deemed to be highly credible. Again, lack specificity. Certainly it's a kind of frustrating announcement that we've seen over time because of its lack of specificity. It's difficult for law enforcement to react. I understand that.
But I think here you have this body of information. We had it for a while, the law enforcement community has. And I think it's probably a good thing to get it out at this time.
O'BRIEN: You used the word frustration. I'm curious, are your officers frustrated? Do they tell you that at all? Because I know as just people who live here in New York City, it is very frustrating to get a warning with sort of -- and live your life the way it is, don't change anything and we don't have any specifics.
But are the officers frustrated, too?
KELLY: I think to a certain extent. It's understandable. You want specific information, you know, be alert, be on guard, be more vigilant, for what, do what? And we understand that. But that's our post-9/11 world. Everybody's world has changed as a result of it.
O'BRIEN: Now, there's been a lot of talk about protecting the subways because, of course, a lot of the subways here go under what would be considered sort of landmark New York City structures, right under.
How do you do that logistically when you really can take the subway from the bottom of Manhattan to the top of Manhattan and all the way out? How do you protect people and how do you keep an eye on people traveling with something on the subway?
KELLY: Well, you'll see an increased police presence in the subway. We do a variety of things. We have surges where you'll see a lot of officers on the train or on the station. We move that on an unannounced basis. We have increased our plainclothes officers in the subway system, as well. We have some increased cameras, increased coverage at certain tunnel locations that we're concerned about.
So we're doing a variety of things. But it's a challenge, no question about it.
O'BRIEN: Do you think, overall, then, we should feel comfortable, I mean those of us who live in New York City, those of us who are going to come to visit New York City, comfortable with the way security is now?
KELLY: Yes. I think we're doing everything we reasonably can do to protect the city. We have a big experience, the police force. We're deployed, I believe, at the right places, at the right times. And, again, there's no guarantees. We understand that. But I think, as I say, we're doing everything we can do to protect New York. O'BRIEN: Commissioner Ray Kelly, nice to see you, as always.
KELLY: Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: Thanks for coming in to talk to us.
Appreciate it -- Anderson.
COOPER: Well, reports from Haiti and the Dominican Republic say that 1,000 people are dead from storms and flooding on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Severe rain over the weekend led to floods that wiped out entire villages. At least 1,000 more people are missing.
Susan Candiotti reports now from one of the hardest hit areas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gerardo Dotel (ph) appears dazed as he picks his way through muck next to his mud filled home. His nine-month-old daughter Yvonne (ph) was swept away by the raging flood. "They can't find her anywhere," says her mother.
Around every corner, more despair. This woman says she was sleeping when the water rose as high as eight feet. She describes bodies piled everywhere.
When Sunday's storm rolled through in the dead of night, rushing water consumed everyone and everything in its path.
EDDY OUVARES, CIVIL DEFENSE SPOKESMAN: It's one disaster. It's bad, very, very bad.
CANDIOTTI: Hundreds are dead, many remain missing in the Dominican Republic and neighboring Haiti. At least 300 bodies recovered in Jimani, on the Dominican side. Those who could not be identified have been moved from temporary morgues to common graves.
(on camera): Residents here paint a devastating picture, describing how the streets of Jimani became rivers of death.
(voice-over): Throughout Jimani, a struggle to salvage belongings. Here, a man desperately trying to wash the mud from a mattress. People take turns drawing water for cleaning. Civil defense workers and the Red Cross working to bring in drinking water, food, shelter. For Gerard and Geraldine Dotel (ph), an effort to start over, getting rid of mud, holding onto the memory of a lost child.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Jimani, the Dominican Republic.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: A terrible scene there.
Now the flooding in the Midwest. The governor of Illinois has issued a disaster declaration for flooded communities north of Chicago. Flood waters are starting to recede and better weather is expected to bring some relief. In Michigan, flooding has prompted evacuations of about 200 lake homes. Some beaches may remain closed through the Memorial Day weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COOPER: Kobe Bryant returns to court this morning in Colorado for another pretrial hearing. The judge may set a trial date today for the sexual assault case. Bryant's attorneys, meanwhile, claim that shoddy police work may have prejudiced the case against him.
Alex Stone, a reporter for radio station KOA in Denver, has been covering the case.
He joins us this morning from the courthouse in Eagle, Colorado.
Alex, thanks for being on the show this morning.
ALEX STONE, REPORTER, KOA RADIO: Hi, Anderson.
Good to be here.
Thanks.
COOPER: Alex, the defense is claiming detectives, and I quote, "closed their eyes" when collecting some evidence.
What is the defense saying that detectives missed?
STONE: The defense is saying that the Eagle County deputies, when they went in to do their crime scene investigation, that they didn't do it properly. They're saying that they should have taken the chair where the act allegedly happened. They're saying that they should have done tests on different pieces of evidence in the room, whether it be the rug where the act allegedly happened, right over that area, or in the bathroom, where the accuser says she went in and cried and cleaned up with some tissues in the bathroom.
They're saying all of that should have been collected. None of it was, according to what we know from inside the courtroom.
COOPER: But in response, Alex, prosecutors are saying look, you know, the time had elapsed. Some 24 hours had already elapsed and most of the evidence, they say, was on the alleged victim and Kobe Bryant's clothing, correct?
STONE: That's exactly what the prosecution is saying. They're saying Eagle County deputies did their job, but the defense is saying, no, that's not true. They want to bring in an expert, an expert who's known from the O.J. Simpson case, to say that they made a mistake, that things didn't happen the way it should have happened.
But the prosecution says no, it shouldn't be allowed in. COOPER: Well, something else they seem to be borrowing from the O.J. Simpson case, basically intimating that the police were somehow biased against Kobe Bryant.
STONE: Yes, we're hearing that, as well. And really, you have to imagine, Anderson, that the defense is going after everything and anything they can at this point. But they are saying that they were biased in some way, that when they went to the lodge at Cordillera, the spa at Cordillera, that they had a plan, that they were going to arrest Kobe Bryant at some point and that it was all part of a bias.
The prosecution says there's no truth to that, that it was all part of their investigation and that they had enough evidence to go ahead and make the arrest when they made the arrest. But the defense and prosecution fighting that out now.
COOPER: Well, they're also trying to get text messages; also any phone record from the accuser; also some other parties involved.
Are they likely to get that? And even if they get them, are they likely to actually find their way into the trial?
STONE: We're going to find out today. That's what's going to be argued in the courtroom today. At least one of the issues will be those text messages. We know it was some sort of wireless device that the defense is trying to get access to, whether it be a cell phone or a text pager of some sort. They say that she may have been either bragging about her time with Kobe Bryant or at least talking about her time. The defense wants access to those records. The prosecution, yet again -- and, of course, the defense and prosecution fighting back and forth on this -- they're saying the defense should not have access to these records.
COOPER: All right, a lot to watch for today.
Alex Stone, thanks very much.
STONE: All right, thank you.
COOPER: It is about 14 minutes past the hour. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Heidi Collins.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning once again, everyone.
Britain announcing more manpower will now be sent to Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEOFF HOON, BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY: At roll, I am announcing a net increase of around 317 troop numbers, to bring the total of U.K. forces supporting operations in Iraq to about 8,900. As the House is aware, we keep the number and composition of U.K. forces in multinational divisions southeast under constant review.
Sesemendi Southeast (ph) was established the summer of 2003. We've made a series of adjustments in the light of the security situation on the ground and the advice of the general office of commanding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: There had been speculation for weeks that Britain would send up to 3,000 reinforcements.
Dissenting opinions on a potential deal to end a stand-off in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr says he will withdraw his militia in exchange for a pull back of U.S. forces in the city. The offer was announced by Iraq's national security adviser. But coalition officials say nothing has been agreed upon.
The nuclear scientist who was said to be the top contender for prime minister for Iraq's interim government is taking his name out of the running. A statement from U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says Hussain al-Shahristani wants to serve his country, but not as prime minister. The interim government is expected to be put in place June 30.
The University of Colorado will reportedly reinstate head football coach Gary Barnett. Barnett was suspended in February for comments he made about a former female player. Newspaper reports say the reinstatement would include a number of conditions, including what some say are the most stringent recruiting policies in the country. Recent allegations of sex and alcohol abuse in the football recruiting program have plagued the university. Apparently people in Colorado are pretty split about how they feel about that one.
O'BRIEN: Yes, pretty shocking. I think a lot of people thought when he was suspended originally that that was it, he was done.
COLLINS: Yes.
O'BRIEN: But apparently not.
COLLINS: They were talking it a lot.
O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty -- good morning.
CAFFERTY: Soledad O'Brien -- good morning.
The "New York Times" reports a 53-year-old guy suing the estate of Dr. Atkins and the company for $28,000. Jody Gorran says that after following the Atkins diet for a couple of years, his cholesterol level shot up, clogged his arteries and he had to undergo a procedure to get them reopened. A representative for Atkins Nutritionals told the "Times" they stand by the science of their diet.
So the question we're asking this morning is should you be able to sue your diet?
"Suing fast food companies, now diets," writes Wendy from Tokyo, Japan, where we are on in prime time, by the way. AMERICAN MORNING seen in the prime time viewing hours in Japan. "Ridiculous. People appear to be incapable of taking responsibility for their own choices. I think, oops, I just spilled my soda on my lap while trying to type this e-mail to you. I really think you should at least pay for the dry cleaning."
Steve in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: "Atkins is a weight loss diet, not a cholesterol lowering diet. If you wanted to fly to Chicago but got on a plane bound for Denver, could you sue the airline for taking you to the wrong place?"
Lisa in Westfield, Massachusetts: "Yes. If someone's touting themselves as a professional and gaining income from diet advice, then they should be held accountable for the health effects of that advice."
And John in Madison, Wisconsin writes: "I had a really bad day yesterday after watching Jack on AMERICAN MORNING. My lawyers will be in touch."
O'BRIEN: John, let me know if that works.
CAFFERTY: Yes. There'll be a long line, John. I don't know.
O'BRIEN: My people are going to call your people. We have a lot to talk about.
CAFFERTY: Very good.
O'BRIEN: This could pay for my kids' education. Wait a minute. It's all coming together.
Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Well, President Bush outlined some specifics for Iraq's future in his speech on Monday night and one of his points caught the attention of Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
JAY LENO, HOST: President Bush has called for the tearing down of Abu Ghraib Prison and replacing it with one that is easier to pronounce.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: That was pretty funny. He was funny last night, I thought. Anyway...
COOPER: Eh, I'm more a Letterman guy. Sorry, what can I say?
O'BRIEN: Well, that's the -- that's what America is all about, Anderson.
COOPER: I'm just glad we have viewing options.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the very latest, in fact, in that prisoner abuse scandal. We're going to take you live to the Pentagon and Barbara Starr.
COOPER: And campaigning for dad -- who might be more effective on the campaign trail? Who do you think, the Bush twins or the Kerry sisters? Our political pop segment weighs in.
O'BRIEN: And 65 million "American Idol" voters. Well, they can't be wrong.
COOPER: And they weren't.
O'BRIEN: Or could they, I was going to say?
COOPER: No. Fantasia ruled.
O'BRIEN: Oh, thanks for giving away the punch line. Appreciate it.
COOPER: Oh, well, she's singing it right there.
O'BRIEN: That story is ahead on "American Idol" -- "American Idol."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "AMERICAN IDOL")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The winner of "American Idol" 2004 is Fantasia Barrino.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Oh, thank goodness.
Well, there is a new idol to worship this morning, as fans of the TV show "American Idol" picked their winner. Last night, Fantasia, in fact, became the third "American Idol" champion. Sixty-five million votes were cast by phone and text messaging for the finale. That's up from 24 million last year. That show has just been a huge success.
Joining us to talk about the big finish is our own American idol, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor...
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: I like that.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
BERNARD: I could be comfortable with that title.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
BERNARD: No doubt about it.
O'BRIEN: So you've been predicting this all along... BERNARD: I have.
O'BRIEN: As had, frankly, a lot of people.
BERNARD: I wasn't alone, I have to admit. But definitely the right diva won tonight.
O'BRIEN: Was it close at all?
BERNARD: I don't think it was that close. And the reason why is, unfortunately, because Diana made a little mistake on Tuesday night. She claims that actually her earpiece fell out and that's why she kind of went off key during her last song. But I think that was really it. Before that it was neck and neck and then Fantasia just went and took it all.
O'BRIEN: There have been some big complaints, complaints about the phones, that the whole voting system, frankly, complaints about racism. Let's talk about the phone system first. They fixed that.
BERNARD: They did fix it and the way they fixed it was by giving each girl three different numbers that you could call and then opening up the voting for four hours instead of two so everyone could feel like they were really participating. But I think that it ended up working in Fox's favor, because people were determined to make their votes. And that's what happened. I mean 65 million people voting for this? That's unbelievable.
O'BRIEN: Is it people or is it votes?
BERNARD: I guess it's votes. That's true.
O'BRIEN: Because some people said that they called in a bunch of times.
BERNARD: You could vote several times. But just...
O'BRIEN: But that's like...
BERNARD: The response was unbelievable.
O'BRIEN: ... at least 60 million people watched that or something like that. I don't, I'd have to imagine.
BERNARD: Yes, and it's definitely doubled or tripled than last year's.
O'BRIEN: Then there were the complaints about racism. When Jennifer Hudson got kicked out.
BERNARD: And LaToya London.
O'BRIEN: And LaToya, right.
BERNARD: I don't know. I mean none of the contestants have said that they really agree with that. Even LaToya London said I don't really think so. Rubin Studdard won last year. But...
O'BRIEN: The controversy has to help, right? BERNARD: It does have to help...
O'BRIEN: Because then people say oh, then I'm going to watch, even... BERNARD: It actually made people, I think, pay more attention and was more motivated to vote, right? It's kind of like the presidential election -- you have to get out the vote. If you don't get people interested...
O'BRIEN: You've got to get a stake in it.
BERNARD: ... you're not going to get any response.
O'BRIEN: You've said that if you pick the wrong song, that could be the end of it for you.
Do you think that that's what Diana did? Was it the wrong song for her or she just wasn't kind of ready?
BERNARD: Well, it's interesting, you know, they've been repeating the songs and actually she had sung that song the week before and had great success with it. So I think it was just that she should have chosen something new, because we'd seen her sing that before. But then again, Fantasia did "Summertime" twice and that was just an amazing rendition of the song. It was so gritty and deep. And that's really the turning point for her.
So Fantasia did choose better, because she showed more range in what she sung.
O'BRIEN: What happens to the two of them now? Fantasia is 19.
BERNARD: Amazing, right?
O'BRIEN: Diana is 16. I mean do they go on to become gajillionaries? Because even the runner-up does really well. I mean we saw that with Clay Aiken...
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: That's right. So Diana shouldn't be crying too much today. I mean Fantasia is going to get her record deal. Her first single is going to come out on June 15th. She's going to get a million dollar contract, but she's not actually going to see that. She'll probably see about $100,000 of that. Because you know who gets most of the money? Simon Cowell, strangely. He is -- she is now signed to his management company. So he's actually going to be really in charge of her career.
O'BRIEN: Somebody explain the math to me. If it's a million dollar contract but she only gets like a tenth of it? Why?
BERNARD: Because I guess everyone takes all sorts of cuts of it, is why. But she's going to get more money if she makes different royalty marks with her success, and she probably will, because all of the other (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
O'BRIEN: Those agent fees will kill you every time.
BERNARD: I know. But all of the other people have really, I mean Kelly Clarkson, Craig Kilborn sold about a million copies together. So she's probably going to make it. And Diana, I'm sure, as we've seen with Clay, will get her own deal. And they will both be part of the tour.
O'BRIEN: She's 16. Yes. Which you're going to watch.
BERNARD: That's right.
O'BRIEN: Because you're a little obsessed.
BERNARD: It comes to New York on August 31.
O'BRIEN: Now you're just scaring me.
BERNARD: People think I don't know that. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: You and Jack need to talk, because he is so into this whole thing, too.
BERNARD: Maybe we could go together.
O'BRIEN: Ah. Good luck if you do.
BERNARD: That would be fun.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Sarah.
Appreciate it.
Tomorrow night you can see the "American Idol" winner and runner- up on "Larry King Live." You notice they don't say loser, they say runner-up.
BERNARD: No, they say runner-up.
O'BRIEN: Fantasia and Diana.
BERNARD: Yes, they're both winners and they're good friends, which is kind of sweet.
O'BRIEN: They're both winners.
They'll be Larry's guest. That's 9:00 Eastern time right here on CNN and that's on Friday night -- Anderson.
COOPER: I'm sure they're great, great friends. What pops out of the presidential campaign. The power of the candidates' daughters and are the comments of Al Gore good for the Democratic candidate? All that ahead. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Still to come this morning, what does this animal have to do with protecting you from the sun? The answer just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome, everybody.
Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Bill Hemmer has the day off. He has tomorrow off, too.
But Anderson Cooper has been kind of enough to fill in, so we sure appreciate that.
COOPER: I'm happy to be here.
O'BRIEN: Some of the stories we're following this morning. New details about the military's prison abuse investigation now spilling over into Afghanistan. Barbara Starr has been looking into some possible criminal charges for troops there. She's going to bring us her report in just a few moments.
COOPER: Also this morning, political pop coming up. A lot of great topics for you, including the Bush daughters versus the Kerry daughters, how they're going to do on the campaign trail. They've been in the news in the last few weeks, not always in the most campaign friendly ways. We'll talk about that.
O'BRIEN: Also, Elizabeth Cohen explains the big medical mystery surrounding hippos. Could a really hip -- a really, really hot hippo save your life is the question? I guess that there must be dermatologists looking into this or something.
COOPER: Interesting.
O'BRIEN: I wouldn't have thought that hippos would be able to help out human beings.
COOPER: Yes, I don't think -- I didn't know that they had much to contribute, but I'm glad they do.
O'BRIEN: But apparently they do.
COOPER: All right.
(WEATHER REPORT)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
