Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
John Kerry, John Edwards Hitting Trail For First Time This Morning; New Attempt to Crackdown on Insurgents in Iraq
Aired July 07, 2004 - 07:00 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: Good morning. Do they have winning chemistry? The team of John Kerry and John Edwards hitting the trail for the first time this morning.
There is a new attempt to crack down on insurgents in Iraq even as U.S. forces fight yet another fierce battle today in the heart of Baghdad.
And an inside look live in a secret compound at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. All ahead this morning here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning everybody. Heidi Collins working for Soledad this week. Soledad has some well-deserved time off. Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Big day yesterday, was it not?
COLLINS: It was quite a day yesterday. Went on all day and all night.
HEMMER: Could be again today also. Senator John Kerry, Senator Edwards, campaigning as a team for the first time this morning. Have an appearance scheduled later today, about 90 minutes from now, in fact.
We'll look at the game plan and also show you how voters are reacting to the Edwards choice with some overnight polling.
COLLINS: Also, the White House isn't waiting around to give its take on the Edwards selection, as you might guess. Calling the senator a liberal and inexperienced.
We're going to talk to the communications director for the Bush- Cheney campaign about it.
HEMMER: Also, we're waiting for what's being billed as a significant announcement from Pfizer, one of the largest drug companies around, to help uninsured Americans afford prescription medication. How much will it really do?
Sanjay Gupta in a moment -- details on that when it happens here -- we'll get it to you in a moment and hear from Sanjay.
COLLINS: In the meantime, Jack Cafferty joining us.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. The "New York Post" had a reputation of having the greatest headline writers in all of the newspaper industry right up until yesterday morning, when they trashed themselves pretty good with this.
This was the front page of one of the New York tabloids insisting that Gephardt was the man. Wrong.
Here's the -- here's the retraction this morning acknowledging, in fact, it's Edwards and if you got -- there you can see "Dem picks Edwards as VP candidate (REALLY)."
There's good size helping of crow being consumed at the "Post" building down there on the East River this morning. Much to the delight of the competing "New York Daily News" and all the other news organizations.
We all make mistakes, but the "Post" made a dandy. And we're all taking great joy in that.
HEMMER: Call that a do-over, don't we?
CAFFERTY: Same company that owns the Fox News Network, by the way.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack. John Kerry and John Edwards taking their newfound political partnership on the road today to begin a multi-state campaign tour.
First stop, Kerry's farm near Pittsburgh. Kelly Wallace live at Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania.
Kelly, good morning there.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, here is how it's playing in Pittsburgh. The local paper: "Kerry-Edwards Starts Here." It all starts, as you said, here at the Heinz-Kerry estate in Pittsburgh.
The two families got together last night, staying up late, having dinner.
About 90 minutes from now, we will see them here before all the cameras. This is the start of a carefully orchestrated rollout, designed to get the maximum bounce for the Democratic ticket.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The next vice president of the United States of America will be Senator John Edwards.
WALLACE: Day two brings them together before the cameras for the very first time. Day one was all about the decision.
KERRY: I have chosen a man who understands and defends the values of America.
WALLACE: And all about basking in the glow.
KERRY: Well, I trust that met with your approval.
WALLACE: It did, at least according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted after the announcement.
Sixty-four percent of registered voters said Edwards was an excellent or good choice. That's compared to 55 percent for Dick Cheney, 53 percent for Joe Lieberman, and 44 percent for Dan Quayle.
The strategy now, a full-court press.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One is a combat veteran with over 30 years of experience handling the toughest issues facing America.
The other is the son of a mill worker who all his life has stood up for ordinary people against powerful interests.
WALLACE: New ads start running today, while Kerry and Edwards travel to the battlegrounds: Ohio and Florida today, West Virginia and New Mexico later this week, before ending up in Edwards' home state of North Carolina.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you?
WALLACE: The goal, reaching those voters who might be more moved by Edwards' humble roots and his one America message than Kerry's privileged background and his policy wonkish approach.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (on camera): Perhaps the toughest challenge for Kerry- Edwards at the start is on Kerry himself having to explain why he selected someone whose readiness for the presidency he questioned during the primaries -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kelly, thanks for that, and stand by there in PA -- we expect that photo opportunity about 90 minutes from now, around 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, and certainly we'll be in there live to see it and cover it.
Jim Johnson is the man who led the top-secret search for John Kerry's number two, and after months of keeping things hermetically sealed, he's coming up for air.
Jim Johnson spoke with me a bit earlier today to talk about the process.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: How hard did you go after John McCain? JIM JOHNSON, LED KERRY'S VP SEARCH: There was a lot of interest in the concept of a unity ticket. Both parties being represented, trying to stop this bitter partisanship that's really a plague on our nation.
So there was some preliminary discussions, but they never got to a serious stage, and there was never an offer made. There was only one offer and that was John Edwards. Seems to be working out very well.
HEMMER: Give me a better indication about how far your discussions went.
JOHNSON: They didn't really go into anything specific. John Kerry and John McCain are close personal friends. They have the common bond of their service in Vietnam. Served in the Senate together. And so they had a friendly dialogue, but it was -- it was nothing more than that.
HEMMER: Republicans are saying John McCain was your first choice -- are they wrong?
JOHNSON: No -- well -- Republicans have got to have something to say on the day that you make such a spectacular announcement. So I don't pay too much attention to their commercial or to their efforts to be part of the story.
This is our story about now a very exciting ticket. People are going to work very well together and I think be very attractive to the American people.
HEMMER: Senator Kerry passed on Senator Bob Graham in Florida. He passed Congressman Dick Gephardt from Missouri. What does John Edwards have that these two men do not have?
JOHNSON: What John Edwards has, I think, is a great feel for how to move this country forward. How to make it stronger. How to deal with economic challenges, how to build jobs. How to deal with health care, how to deal with the burden of child care costs. How to make it possible for really every family to have a brighter opportunity.
That's a tremendously powerful message. He'll also be a great partner for John Kerry. I think it's a very strong ticket.
HEMMER: Five points the criteria that John Kerry set out that he wanted in his running mate. On the screen.
They include distinguished record of leadership, committed to his agenda, ability to campaign all over the country, compatibility, and ready to assume the presidency.
Take points one and five. How is Edwards the best choice?
JOHNSON: I think John Edwards has shown the judgment that's required and the leadership that's required to be an outstanding president. You know, resumes are one thing but in the end what counts is judgment and understanding the needs of our country.
John Edwards, I think, has a superior understanding and a superior feel for the direction our country should go. I think that's his greatest strength. He understands America; he understands how to make our country stronger.
HEMMER: Karl Rove at the White House told the AP this yesterday: "Its hard to sell a liberal in the South."
What's your reaction to that?
JOHNSON: I think the Republicans are looking for labels; they're looking for ways to muddy up the selection. I don't think that stuff means anything to most people.
I think what they want to know is whether or not we're going to have a stronger country, whether we're going to have a better economy, whether our country will be fair to all the citizens. And I think Kerry and Edwards are very strong in that regard.
I think frankly that's why the Republicans were so active yesterday. They see it as a great choice.
HEMMER: Jim Johnson. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The Bush campaign is having its say now about the choice of John Edwards as Kerry's second in command.
Nicole Devenish is communications director for Bush-Cheney '04, and she's joining us this morning from their campaign headquarters in Washington.
Nicole, good morning to you. Thanks for being here.
NICOLE DEVENISH, COMM. DIR., BUSH-CHENEY 'O4: Thanks for having me.
COLLINS: You know, we all saw quite a few times yesterday, I believe, the very quick response ad featuring John McCain called first choice.
But what some people might not have seen yet is the ads that are now running from the Democratic side of things, where Senator John McCain was actually critical of President Bush. Let's go ahead and take a listen to just a portion of that. I'll get your response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R) ARIZONA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 38 percent of his tax cuts to the wealthiest one percent of Americans. My friends -- my friends. I don't think Bill Gates needs a tax cut.
Mistakes happening here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Nicole, both sides are obviously playing the game here, right?
DEVENISH: Well, I think this is a sign of just how much both sides value Senator McCain and having him appear to be on their side.
But on the Democratic side, it's really just an appearance. I mean, Senator McCain has endorsed the president; he's campaigning for the president, and we're very honored to have his support. But, you know, I agree with something Jim Johnson just said.
He said it's not about resumes; it's about records. And I think that when the balloons stop falling from the announcement yesterday, we're going to spend a long time talking about what this choice says about John Kerry.
And, you know, I think that's what you'll hear from our campaign and what it says is that this is a ticket that stands so far out of the mainstream of America on the kitchen table issues that we think people are going to vote on.
Prescription drugs for seniors, tax relief for married couples, tax relief for families with children. These guys all oppose those common-sense measures and -- you know -- I think in November that's what people are going to make a decision based on.
COLLINS: But the Democrats are raving about this choice. Some are saying this is the most unified they've seen the Party in a very, very long time. And specifically they're raving about the energy -- the young new couple, if you will, that is going to lead this country.
But they're showing a big contrast between John Edwards and Vice President Dick Cheney. Republicans worried about that?
DEVENISH: We are very proud of Vice President Cheney's steady hand and expertise and experience and, you know, I think we're very proud to run as compassionate conservatives who share the values of mainstream Americans.
Again, on the issues of providing tax relief and making sure that people keep more of their hard-earned money. On the things people care about there's only one ticket that really represents the values of most Americans.
COLLINS: All right. Nicole Devenish, we certainly appreciate your perspective this morning. Thanks so much for being with us.
HEMMER: About 11 minutes past the hour now. Significant news out of Iraq this morning.
In central Baghdad, Iraqi security officers and U.S. led forces engaging in a fierce gun battle with insurgents there. All these attacks coming now as Iraq's interim government reveals stronger security laws aimed at stopping those very insurgents.
Brent Sadler live in Baghdad with much more on this now.
Brent, good afternoon.
BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good afternoon from here.
First of all, let's talk about this developing story. It began several hours ago when firefights broke out in the center of Baghdad, even as the interim government was announcing tough new measures to crackdown on the insurgents.
Apparently, a challenge to the announcement of those new laws. These are some of the pictures, we understand, from health ministry sources here, but two people have been killed amid the ongoing firefight, several others injured, as Iraqi security forces clash with insurgents using small arms mortars and grenades.
U.S. forces called up in support of the Iraqis. Helicopters, Apache gunships, have been circling overhead. No confirmation that they've been deployed into action. Also, eyewitness accounts from CNN sources that U.S. armored personnel carriers were heading in the direction of this ongoing firefight.
Now that happened even as the interim ministers from the ministries of justice, interior, and human rights were announcing new laws -- a package of tough new measures to crack down on the insurgents.
These new measures include giving powers to the interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to impose martial laws in areas that are deemed to be a threat to national security providing he has the unanimous support of the cabinet.
If they sign off on implementing these tough new measures, then the Iraqi prime minister can impose curfews, restrictions of movements, detentions, freezing of assets, and so forth.
Officials here said that the new laws were based on the Patriot Act that was brought into effect in the United States after the 9/11 attacks on America -- Bill.
HEMMER: Brent Sadler, thanks. More on this at the half hour with Ken Pollack -- Heidi.
COLLINS: A military lawyer for a man in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay is planning on meeting her client today. She says she will soon decide in which U.S. circuit court she will challenge her client's detention.
Bob Franken joins us now from Guantanamo Bay. Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Lieutenant Colonel Sharon Schaeffer is the military lawyer for Ibrahim Ahmed al Qosi, who is a Sudanese who was taken on the battlefield in Pakistan and charged now with conspiracy to commit violence against the United States.
She is down here, she says, because of the Supreme Court ruling last week saying that the detainees, in spite of the fact that they're in a different country, have the right to confront their charges before a neutral party. That is to say the right of habeas corpus.
She says that this ruling has, quote, changed things in a big way. She said it's opened the door to challenge the very validity of these military commissions. That is to say, the tribunals, and also to challenge the factual basis for the reasons he is being held.
She says, as you pointed out, that she is going to pick a circuit and file in some federal court circuit after they've decided which is the most advantageous way to go.
Now the officials here who are giving CNN a tour of their facility say that they have gotten very valuable intelligence out of these detainees. That's something that has been controversial -- that contention has been controversial for quite some time.
They do believe that once the lawyers start coming down, the intelligence value will probably almost dry up. They, however, say that they are looking for possible ways to accommodate the Supreme Court decision.
We are told that the Navy Secretary Gordon England is expected to come down here this week. He's the person in charge of coming up with these procedures.
The other things that are under consideration include the release of some of the detainees. But the point right now is they're very confused here; they're saying that what they have done down here has been valuable to the United States. Of course there are questions about the treatment of the detainees.
They insist that they have not -- they have not been like the prisons in Iraq. There has been very little rough treatment of the detainees. They're going to give us a tour to show that -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Bob Franken thanks so much for the update on that. Appreciate it.
HEMMER: About 15 minutes past the hour. A look at some other headlines today. Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center.
Fredricka, great to see you. Good morning.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill.
Well, here are the headlines -- nearly four years after the deadly U.S.S. Cole attack, charges have been filed in a security court in Yemen.
Six suspects were charged today in the planning of the October 2000 bombing. They are believed to be members of al Qaeda.
Seventeen American sailors were killed in the U.S.S. Cole attack. The charges open the first trial in the case.
Suspected terrorist Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi and his group are reportedly claiming responsibility for an attack on U.S. forces. In a statement posted on an Islamic Web site, Zarqawi's group saying it fought American troops early this week.
Meanwhile, another group is apparently threatening Zarqawi. The Arabic language network Al-Arabiya reporting that it received a taped statement urging Zarqawi and its followers to leave Iraq or face consequences.
In California, a tough day in court in the Scott Peterson trial. Testimony turning to discoveries of the bodies of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
Pictures of the remains were shown yesterday. Laci Peterson's parents left the courtroom. The trial resumes later today.
Heavy rains causing some serious flooding in parts of Missouri and Illinois. One stranded motorist in East St. Louis plucked from his car by security guards while waiting for police to get him. The thunderstorms also knocked out power for thousands of residents in the region.
And, finally, Kenny Rogers will soon be singing lots of lullabies. The singer and his wife Wanda welcomed twin baby boys in Atlanta yesterday, according to a spokesperson. The 65-year-old Rogers has three other children from previous marriages.
Now back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: He's a papa, huh?
WHITFIELD: He is.
HEMMER: Again. 65. Thank you for that. Talk to you later.
Back to Jack now. What's on your mind? Good morning.
CAFFERTY: He'll be 84 at the kids' high school graduation.
HEMMER: Exactly right.
CAFFERTY: That's my dad over there. Unbelievable.
The Catholic Church asking the government for protection. The archdiocese of Portland, Oregon became the first in the nation to file for bankruptcy yesterday.
It's seeking protection from multimillion dollar settlements connected with the trial sexual abuse scandal. The announcement came just as jury selection was about to start in a civil trial where two plaintiffs are asking for $155 million.
There are 60 other claims pending. The archbishop says the filing is not an attempt to avoid responsibility for any possible sex abuse claims. Chapter 11 will protect the Church from lawsuits, but it could also open the church financial records to public scrutiny, something that has never happened in the long history of that organization.
The question is this: Should bankruptcy laws protect the church from multimillion dollar settlements in lawsuits connected to the abuse of children? Am@cnn.com would be the address.
COLLINS: Great question.
CAFFERTY: It's an interesting query. Interesting problem.
COLLINS: It is. We'll see what folks say about it. All right, Jack. Thanks so much.
CAFFERTY: Sure.
COLLINS: In Arizona a wildfire still burns toward several very expensive telescopes. Flames have moved within a mile of the $200 million Mount Graham International Observatory. Firefighters say the observatory building probably won't burn, but the smoke and heat could damage its delicate instruments.
The blaze is also about a mile and a half from a community of about 74 cabins. The wildfires are in the mountains about 150 miles southeast of Phoenix.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Last night on Conan O'Brien taking a bit of a swipe at the "New York Post's" embarrassing mistake on the front-page yesterday. Here's Conan from last night.
"LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN" FROM NBC: John Edwards was named John Kerry's running mate earlier today, but the "New York Post" made a major mistake. They said Kerry had chosen Dick Gephardt. This is the actual paper today and they say "Kerry's Choice -- this is a big picture -- and they say its Dick Gephardt.
Huge mistake. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is not the only major mistake the "Post" has made recently. Take a look at this headline right here. It's pretty amazing.
"Dick Cheney Wins New York Marathon."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Hey listen, if P. Diddy did it, right? Dick Cheney.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: Just have them back to back. It's almost an identical headline from yesterday to today.
But the words have changed, especially the one word on my right hand there. Really. COLLINS: Really, we promise.
HEMMER: Lot of folks in New York having a bit of fun with that yesterday here, so.
COLLINS: Yes, a lot of fun. Still to come, though, this morning we are keeping an eye on what could be a huge announcement on uninsured Americans and drug prices. Both Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Andy Serwer are going to talk to us about that.
HEMMER: Also, more on John Kerry's new running mate.
Republicans are already going after John Edwards for what they say is a weakness. Some Democrats say it might be his strength. We'll explain.
COLLINS: Plus, gas prices supposed to be falling, but nobody said anything about through the roof. It's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: One of the nation's largest pharmaceutical companies unveiling a plan to make their medicines more available to uninsured Americans.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta now at the CNN Center for the significance on this.
Good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
We've been talking about this story -- hearing about it -- for quite some time now. We hear a lot about Internet drug companies -- overseas pharmacies -- trying to bridge the gap for drugs to those who cannot afford them, do not have access to them.
Well, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer actually today going to announce a plan around 10:00 a.m. -- we're expecting their own plan to try and provide access to those who do not have insurance.
This is not an insurance card, that's a plan that's been in place by many drug companies for some time. An insurance card, a sort of discount card.
This is not that, but rather a more comprehensive plan we're hearing to draw -- to try and provide all of their drugs at very discounted, significantly discounted rates, so all of those folks who do not have insurance.
This would certainly increase the number of people possibly getting their drugs at this time. That's what we're hearing, Bill. Press conference expected at 10 a.m.
HEMMER: What's the motivation behind this, Sanjay? GUPTA: You know, it's a really good question. Been hearing a lot about possibly legalizing re-importation, meaning actually legalizing some of these overseas drugs, coming to the United States.
Obviously the pharmaceutical companies in this country do not want that to happen. I think -- and I talked to Ed Henry, our congressional correspondent about this quite a bit this morning, and I think that that might be some of the stimulus for this.
Trying to provide their own plans to try and prevent those re- importation laws from happening.
But again, it could potentially be a win-win situation -- providing drugs to those who cannot get them at this time because of un-insurance, and also increasing the markets for these pharmaceutical companies as well.
HEMMER: We'll watch it. Thanks. 10:00 a.m. Sanjay thanks. More now with Heidi.
COLLINS: So how will those discount drugs effect Pfizer in the marketplace? Andy Serwer joining us now with a check on business matters.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, it's an interesting plan, as Sanjay was saying, and I think it will go over as long as the company doesn't lose their shirt.
The interesting point here is will the other big drug companies like Eli Lily, Bristol and Merck follow suit?
We don't know a lot about this plan yet. It's very unique when a private company like this tries to move essentially into the public sector.
Give you a little back-story on this. Sanjay mentioned a little bit of this, but, of course, 44 million uninsured Americans. Always a favorite whipping boy during election season, the drug companies are, particularly for the Democrats, probably trying to preempt this.
Also, we talked about Canada. This is probably trying to stem the tide of Americans going to Canada to get their drugs. Pfizer is the biggest drug company they've got. Pharmaceuticals like Zoloft, Lipitor, Viagra and they're probably also trying to help their business out by doing this as well.
Not completely altruistic by the big drug companies here.
COLLINS: It will be interesting to see what the others will do -- the competition.
SERWER: Right, that's really interesting because you know of course the uninsured will go to these drugs if they are going to be cheaper than the competition.
COLLINS: All right, Andy Serwer, thanks so much. SERWER: You're welcome.
COLLINS: All right, still to come this morning some "90-Second Pop" to carry you through the morning.
Looking for some fun? How about a trip in the way back machine to the '70s and Will Ferrell as "Anchorman."
Or maybe a trip in the way, way, way back machine to the days of King Arthur?
Plus, a tennis bad boy is coming to your living room whether you like it or not. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 7, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Do they have winning chemistry? The team of John Kerry and John Edwards hitting the trail for the first time this morning.
There is a new attempt to crack down on insurgents in Iraq even as U.S. forces fight yet another fierce battle today in the heart of Baghdad.
And an inside look live in a secret compound at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. All ahead this morning here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning everybody. Heidi Collins working for Soledad this week. Soledad has some well-deserved time off. Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Big day yesterday, was it not?
COLLINS: It was quite a day yesterday. Went on all day and all night.
HEMMER: Could be again today also. Senator John Kerry, Senator Edwards, campaigning as a team for the first time this morning. Have an appearance scheduled later today, about 90 minutes from now, in fact.
We'll look at the game plan and also show you how voters are reacting to the Edwards choice with some overnight polling.
COLLINS: Also, the White House isn't waiting around to give its take on the Edwards selection, as you might guess. Calling the senator a liberal and inexperienced.
We're going to talk to the communications director for the Bush- Cheney campaign about it.
HEMMER: Also, we're waiting for what's being billed as a significant announcement from Pfizer, one of the largest drug companies around, to help uninsured Americans afford prescription medication. How much will it really do?
Sanjay Gupta in a moment -- details on that when it happens here -- we'll get it to you in a moment and hear from Sanjay.
COLLINS: In the meantime, Jack Cafferty joining us.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. The "New York Post" had a reputation of having the greatest headline writers in all of the newspaper industry right up until yesterday morning, when they trashed themselves pretty good with this.
This was the front page of one of the New York tabloids insisting that Gephardt was the man. Wrong.
Here's the -- here's the retraction this morning acknowledging, in fact, it's Edwards and if you got -- there you can see "Dem picks Edwards as VP candidate (REALLY)."
There's good size helping of crow being consumed at the "Post" building down there on the East River this morning. Much to the delight of the competing "New York Daily News" and all the other news organizations.
We all make mistakes, but the "Post" made a dandy. And we're all taking great joy in that.
HEMMER: Call that a do-over, don't we?
CAFFERTY: Same company that owns the Fox News Network, by the way.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack. John Kerry and John Edwards taking their newfound political partnership on the road today to begin a multi-state campaign tour.
First stop, Kerry's farm near Pittsburgh. Kelly Wallace live at Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania.
Kelly, good morning there.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, here is how it's playing in Pittsburgh. The local paper: "Kerry-Edwards Starts Here." It all starts, as you said, here at the Heinz-Kerry estate in Pittsburgh.
The two families got together last night, staying up late, having dinner.
About 90 minutes from now, we will see them here before all the cameras. This is the start of a carefully orchestrated rollout, designed to get the maximum bounce for the Democratic ticket.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The next vice president of the United States of America will be Senator John Edwards.
WALLACE: Day two brings them together before the cameras for the very first time. Day one was all about the decision.
KERRY: I have chosen a man who understands and defends the values of America.
WALLACE: And all about basking in the glow.
KERRY: Well, I trust that met with your approval.
WALLACE: It did, at least according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted after the announcement.
Sixty-four percent of registered voters said Edwards was an excellent or good choice. That's compared to 55 percent for Dick Cheney, 53 percent for Joe Lieberman, and 44 percent for Dan Quayle.
The strategy now, a full-court press.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One is a combat veteran with over 30 years of experience handling the toughest issues facing America.
The other is the son of a mill worker who all his life has stood up for ordinary people against powerful interests.
WALLACE: New ads start running today, while Kerry and Edwards travel to the battlegrounds: Ohio and Florida today, West Virginia and New Mexico later this week, before ending up in Edwards' home state of North Carolina.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you?
WALLACE: The goal, reaching those voters who might be more moved by Edwards' humble roots and his one America message than Kerry's privileged background and his policy wonkish approach.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (on camera): Perhaps the toughest challenge for Kerry- Edwards at the start is on Kerry himself having to explain why he selected someone whose readiness for the presidency he questioned during the primaries -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kelly, thanks for that, and stand by there in PA -- we expect that photo opportunity about 90 minutes from now, around 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, and certainly we'll be in there live to see it and cover it.
Jim Johnson is the man who led the top-secret search for John Kerry's number two, and after months of keeping things hermetically sealed, he's coming up for air.
Jim Johnson spoke with me a bit earlier today to talk about the process.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: How hard did you go after John McCain? JIM JOHNSON, LED KERRY'S VP SEARCH: There was a lot of interest in the concept of a unity ticket. Both parties being represented, trying to stop this bitter partisanship that's really a plague on our nation.
So there was some preliminary discussions, but they never got to a serious stage, and there was never an offer made. There was only one offer and that was John Edwards. Seems to be working out very well.
HEMMER: Give me a better indication about how far your discussions went.
JOHNSON: They didn't really go into anything specific. John Kerry and John McCain are close personal friends. They have the common bond of their service in Vietnam. Served in the Senate together. And so they had a friendly dialogue, but it was -- it was nothing more than that.
HEMMER: Republicans are saying John McCain was your first choice -- are they wrong?
JOHNSON: No -- well -- Republicans have got to have something to say on the day that you make such a spectacular announcement. So I don't pay too much attention to their commercial or to their efforts to be part of the story.
This is our story about now a very exciting ticket. People are going to work very well together and I think be very attractive to the American people.
HEMMER: Senator Kerry passed on Senator Bob Graham in Florida. He passed Congressman Dick Gephardt from Missouri. What does John Edwards have that these two men do not have?
JOHNSON: What John Edwards has, I think, is a great feel for how to move this country forward. How to make it stronger. How to deal with economic challenges, how to build jobs. How to deal with health care, how to deal with the burden of child care costs. How to make it possible for really every family to have a brighter opportunity.
That's a tremendously powerful message. He'll also be a great partner for John Kerry. I think it's a very strong ticket.
HEMMER: Five points the criteria that John Kerry set out that he wanted in his running mate. On the screen.
They include distinguished record of leadership, committed to his agenda, ability to campaign all over the country, compatibility, and ready to assume the presidency.
Take points one and five. How is Edwards the best choice?
JOHNSON: I think John Edwards has shown the judgment that's required and the leadership that's required to be an outstanding president. You know, resumes are one thing but in the end what counts is judgment and understanding the needs of our country.
John Edwards, I think, has a superior understanding and a superior feel for the direction our country should go. I think that's his greatest strength. He understands America; he understands how to make our country stronger.
HEMMER: Karl Rove at the White House told the AP this yesterday: "Its hard to sell a liberal in the South."
What's your reaction to that?
JOHNSON: I think the Republicans are looking for labels; they're looking for ways to muddy up the selection. I don't think that stuff means anything to most people.
I think what they want to know is whether or not we're going to have a stronger country, whether we're going to have a better economy, whether our country will be fair to all the citizens. And I think Kerry and Edwards are very strong in that regard.
I think frankly that's why the Republicans were so active yesterday. They see it as a great choice.
HEMMER: Jim Johnson. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The Bush campaign is having its say now about the choice of John Edwards as Kerry's second in command.
Nicole Devenish is communications director for Bush-Cheney '04, and she's joining us this morning from their campaign headquarters in Washington.
Nicole, good morning to you. Thanks for being here.
NICOLE DEVENISH, COMM. DIR., BUSH-CHENEY 'O4: Thanks for having me.
COLLINS: You know, we all saw quite a few times yesterday, I believe, the very quick response ad featuring John McCain called first choice.
But what some people might not have seen yet is the ads that are now running from the Democratic side of things, where Senator John McCain was actually critical of President Bush. Let's go ahead and take a listen to just a portion of that. I'll get your response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R) ARIZONA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 38 percent of his tax cuts to the wealthiest one percent of Americans. My friends -- my friends. I don't think Bill Gates needs a tax cut.
Mistakes happening here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Nicole, both sides are obviously playing the game here, right?
DEVENISH: Well, I think this is a sign of just how much both sides value Senator McCain and having him appear to be on their side.
But on the Democratic side, it's really just an appearance. I mean, Senator McCain has endorsed the president; he's campaigning for the president, and we're very honored to have his support. But, you know, I agree with something Jim Johnson just said.
He said it's not about resumes; it's about records. And I think that when the balloons stop falling from the announcement yesterday, we're going to spend a long time talking about what this choice says about John Kerry.
And, you know, I think that's what you'll hear from our campaign and what it says is that this is a ticket that stands so far out of the mainstream of America on the kitchen table issues that we think people are going to vote on.
Prescription drugs for seniors, tax relief for married couples, tax relief for families with children. These guys all oppose those common-sense measures and -- you know -- I think in November that's what people are going to make a decision based on.
COLLINS: But the Democrats are raving about this choice. Some are saying this is the most unified they've seen the Party in a very, very long time. And specifically they're raving about the energy -- the young new couple, if you will, that is going to lead this country.
But they're showing a big contrast between John Edwards and Vice President Dick Cheney. Republicans worried about that?
DEVENISH: We are very proud of Vice President Cheney's steady hand and expertise and experience and, you know, I think we're very proud to run as compassionate conservatives who share the values of mainstream Americans.
Again, on the issues of providing tax relief and making sure that people keep more of their hard-earned money. On the things people care about there's only one ticket that really represents the values of most Americans.
COLLINS: All right. Nicole Devenish, we certainly appreciate your perspective this morning. Thanks so much for being with us.
HEMMER: About 11 minutes past the hour now. Significant news out of Iraq this morning.
In central Baghdad, Iraqi security officers and U.S. led forces engaging in a fierce gun battle with insurgents there. All these attacks coming now as Iraq's interim government reveals stronger security laws aimed at stopping those very insurgents.
Brent Sadler live in Baghdad with much more on this now.
Brent, good afternoon.
BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good afternoon from here.
First of all, let's talk about this developing story. It began several hours ago when firefights broke out in the center of Baghdad, even as the interim government was announcing tough new measures to crackdown on the insurgents.
Apparently, a challenge to the announcement of those new laws. These are some of the pictures, we understand, from health ministry sources here, but two people have been killed amid the ongoing firefight, several others injured, as Iraqi security forces clash with insurgents using small arms mortars and grenades.
U.S. forces called up in support of the Iraqis. Helicopters, Apache gunships, have been circling overhead. No confirmation that they've been deployed into action. Also, eyewitness accounts from CNN sources that U.S. armored personnel carriers were heading in the direction of this ongoing firefight.
Now that happened even as the interim ministers from the ministries of justice, interior, and human rights were announcing new laws -- a package of tough new measures to crack down on the insurgents.
These new measures include giving powers to the interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to impose martial laws in areas that are deemed to be a threat to national security providing he has the unanimous support of the cabinet.
If they sign off on implementing these tough new measures, then the Iraqi prime minister can impose curfews, restrictions of movements, detentions, freezing of assets, and so forth.
Officials here said that the new laws were based on the Patriot Act that was brought into effect in the United States after the 9/11 attacks on America -- Bill.
HEMMER: Brent Sadler, thanks. More on this at the half hour with Ken Pollack -- Heidi.
COLLINS: A military lawyer for a man in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay is planning on meeting her client today. She says she will soon decide in which U.S. circuit court she will challenge her client's detention.
Bob Franken joins us now from Guantanamo Bay. Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Lieutenant Colonel Sharon Schaeffer is the military lawyer for Ibrahim Ahmed al Qosi, who is a Sudanese who was taken on the battlefield in Pakistan and charged now with conspiracy to commit violence against the United States.
She is down here, she says, because of the Supreme Court ruling last week saying that the detainees, in spite of the fact that they're in a different country, have the right to confront their charges before a neutral party. That is to say the right of habeas corpus.
She says that this ruling has, quote, changed things in a big way. She said it's opened the door to challenge the very validity of these military commissions. That is to say, the tribunals, and also to challenge the factual basis for the reasons he is being held.
She says, as you pointed out, that she is going to pick a circuit and file in some federal court circuit after they've decided which is the most advantageous way to go.
Now the officials here who are giving CNN a tour of their facility say that they have gotten very valuable intelligence out of these detainees. That's something that has been controversial -- that contention has been controversial for quite some time.
They do believe that once the lawyers start coming down, the intelligence value will probably almost dry up. They, however, say that they are looking for possible ways to accommodate the Supreme Court decision.
We are told that the Navy Secretary Gordon England is expected to come down here this week. He's the person in charge of coming up with these procedures.
The other things that are under consideration include the release of some of the detainees. But the point right now is they're very confused here; they're saying that what they have done down here has been valuable to the United States. Of course there are questions about the treatment of the detainees.
They insist that they have not -- they have not been like the prisons in Iraq. There has been very little rough treatment of the detainees. They're going to give us a tour to show that -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Bob Franken thanks so much for the update on that. Appreciate it.
HEMMER: About 15 minutes past the hour. A look at some other headlines today. Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center.
Fredricka, great to see you. Good morning.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill.
Well, here are the headlines -- nearly four years after the deadly U.S.S. Cole attack, charges have been filed in a security court in Yemen.
Six suspects were charged today in the planning of the October 2000 bombing. They are believed to be members of al Qaeda.
Seventeen American sailors were killed in the U.S.S. Cole attack. The charges open the first trial in the case.
Suspected terrorist Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi and his group are reportedly claiming responsibility for an attack on U.S. forces. In a statement posted on an Islamic Web site, Zarqawi's group saying it fought American troops early this week.
Meanwhile, another group is apparently threatening Zarqawi. The Arabic language network Al-Arabiya reporting that it received a taped statement urging Zarqawi and its followers to leave Iraq or face consequences.
In California, a tough day in court in the Scott Peterson trial. Testimony turning to discoveries of the bodies of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
Pictures of the remains were shown yesterday. Laci Peterson's parents left the courtroom. The trial resumes later today.
Heavy rains causing some serious flooding in parts of Missouri and Illinois. One stranded motorist in East St. Louis plucked from his car by security guards while waiting for police to get him. The thunderstorms also knocked out power for thousands of residents in the region.
And, finally, Kenny Rogers will soon be singing lots of lullabies. The singer and his wife Wanda welcomed twin baby boys in Atlanta yesterday, according to a spokesperson. The 65-year-old Rogers has three other children from previous marriages.
Now back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: He's a papa, huh?
WHITFIELD: He is.
HEMMER: Again. 65. Thank you for that. Talk to you later.
Back to Jack now. What's on your mind? Good morning.
CAFFERTY: He'll be 84 at the kids' high school graduation.
HEMMER: Exactly right.
CAFFERTY: That's my dad over there. Unbelievable.
The Catholic Church asking the government for protection. The archdiocese of Portland, Oregon became the first in the nation to file for bankruptcy yesterday.
It's seeking protection from multimillion dollar settlements connected with the trial sexual abuse scandal. The announcement came just as jury selection was about to start in a civil trial where two plaintiffs are asking for $155 million.
There are 60 other claims pending. The archbishop says the filing is not an attempt to avoid responsibility for any possible sex abuse claims. Chapter 11 will protect the Church from lawsuits, but it could also open the church financial records to public scrutiny, something that has never happened in the long history of that organization.
The question is this: Should bankruptcy laws protect the church from multimillion dollar settlements in lawsuits connected to the abuse of children? Am@cnn.com would be the address.
COLLINS: Great question.
CAFFERTY: It's an interesting query. Interesting problem.
COLLINS: It is. We'll see what folks say about it. All right, Jack. Thanks so much.
CAFFERTY: Sure.
COLLINS: In Arizona a wildfire still burns toward several very expensive telescopes. Flames have moved within a mile of the $200 million Mount Graham International Observatory. Firefighters say the observatory building probably won't burn, but the smoke and heat could damage its delicate instruments.
The blaze is also about a mile and a half from a community of about 74 cabins. The wildfires are in the mountains about 150 miles southeast of Phoenix.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Last night on Conan O'Brien taking a bit of a swipe at the "New York Post's" embarrassing mistake on the front-page yesterday. Here's Conan from last night.
"LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN" FROM NBC: John Edwards was named John Kerry's running mate earlier today, but the "New York Post" made a major mistake. They said Kerry had chosen Dick Gephardt. This is the actual paper today and they say "Kerry's Choice -- this is a big picture -- and they say its Dick Gephardt.
Huge mistake. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is not the only major mistake the "Post" has made recently. Take a look at this headline right here. It's pretty amazing.
"Dick Cheney Wins New York Marathon."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Hey listen, if P. Diddy did it, right? Dick Cheney.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: Just have them back to back. It's almost an identical headline from yesterday to today.
But the words have changed, especially the one word on my right hand there. Really. COLLINS: Really, we promise.
HEMMER: Lot of folks in New York having a bit of fun with that yesterday here, so.
COLLINS: Yes, a lot of fun. Still to come, though, this morning we are keeping an eye on what could be a huge announcement on uninsured Americans and drug prices. Both Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Andy Serwer are going to talk to us about that.
HEMMER: Also, more on John Kerry's new running mate.
Republicans are already going after John Edwards for what they say is a weakness. Some Democrats say it might be his strength. We'll explain.
COLLINS: Plus, gas prices supposed to be falling, but nobody said anything about through the roof. It's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: One of the nation's largest pharmaceutical companies unveiling a plan to make their medicines more available to uninsured Americans.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta now at the CNN Center for the significance on this.
Good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
We've been talking about this story -- hearing about it -- for quite some time now. We hear a lot about Internet drug companies -- overseas pharmacies -- trying to bridge the gap for drugs to those who cannot afford them, do not have access to them.
Well, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer actually today going to announce a plan around 10:00 a.m. -- we're expecting their own plan to try and provide access to those who do not have insurance.
This is not an insurance card, that's a plan that's been in place by many drug companies for some time. An insurance card, a sort of discount card.
This is not that, but rather a more comprehensive plan we're hearing to draw -- to try and provide all of their drugs at very discounted, significantly discounted rates, so all of those folks who do not have insurance.
This would certainly increase the number of people possibly getting their drugs at this time. That's what we're hearing, Bill. Press conference expected at 10 a.m.
HEMMER: What's the motivation behind this, Sanjay? GUPTA: You know, it's a really good question. Been hearing a lot about possibly legalizing re-importation, meaning actually legalizing some of these overseas drugs, coming to the United States.
Obviously the pharmaceutical companies in this country do not want that to happen. I think -- and I talked to Ed Henry, our congressional correspondent about this quite a bit this morning, and I think that that might be some of the stimulus for this.
Trying to provide their own plans to try and prevent those re- importation laws from happening.
But again, it could potentially be a win-win situation -- providing drugs to those who cannot get them at this time because of un-insurance, and also increasing the markets for these pharmaceutical companies as well.
HEMMER: We'll watch it. Thanks. 10:00 a.m. Sanjay thanks. More now with Heidi.
COLLINS: So how will those discount drugs effect Pfizer in the marketplace? Andy Serwer joining us now with a check on business matters.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, it's an interesting plan, as Sanjay was saying, and I think it will go over as long as the company doesn't lose their shirt.
The interesting point here is will the other big drug companies like Eli Lily, Bristol and Merck follow suit?
We don't know a lot about this plan yet. It's very unique when a private company like this tries to move essentially into the public sector.
Give you a little back-story on this. Sanjay mentioned a little bit of this, but, of course, 44 million uninsured Americans. Always a favorite whipping boy during election season, the drug companies are, particularly for the Democrats, probably trying to preempt this.
Also, we talked about Canada. This is probably trying to stem the tide of Americans going to Canada to get their drugs. Pfizer is the biggest drug company they've got. Pharmaceuticals like Zoloft, Lipitor, Viagra and they're probably also trying to help their business out by doing this as well.
Not completely altruistic by the big drug companies here.
COLLINS: It will be interesting to see what the others will do -- the competition.
SERWER: Right, that's really interesting because you know of course the uninsured will go to these drugs if they are going to be cheaper than the competition.
COLLINS: All right, Andy Serwer, thanks so much. SERWER: You're welcome.
COLLINS: All right, still to come this morning some "90-Second Pop" to carry you through the morning.
Looking for some fun? How about a trip in the way back machine to the '70s and Will Ferrell as "Anchorman."
Or maybe a trip in the way, way, way back machine to the days of King Arthur?
Plus, a tennis bad boy is coming to your living room whether you like it or not. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
