Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Bush in North Carolina to Push Judicial Nominees
Aired July 07, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: 9:30 in New York. Time for stocks to open their day of trading today. The Dow 30 today starting at 10,219. A tough day yesterday for the blue chips. Off about 63 points in trading yesterday. Some say it was the fallout from the Democratic ticket. Others saying, nope. Just oil concerns, yet again today. We'll see where we go.
Nasdaq market site, 1,963's your opening mark, off 43 points with the tech-heavy Nasdaq yesterday.
Welcome back, everybody. 9:30 here in New York and good morning. Heidi working for Soledad yet again today.
And we saw the image 60 minutes ago, John Kerry, John Edwards, their wives and families, Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania. In a few moments, we'll hear what the White House plans to do today in terms of a counter move. Dana Bash standing for with the president's schedule in a moment here.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly is beautiful there. Isn't it?
Also, Sanjay Gupta back with us telling us about a strange case for police. What happens when investigators get a DNA evidence match that matches too much? He's going to be talking about that in just a few moments.
But for now, back to politics for a moment. President Bush today heads to North Carolina, the home state of Senator John Edwards. He's scheduled to depart the White House in just a short time from now. Dana Bash is live there at the White House for the latest on all of this. And, Dana, Republicans have been doing well in North Carolina. What do they think now?
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, you're right. Republicans have been doing well in North Carolina over the last several cycles in the presidential election. As a matter of fact, George W. Bush won there big in 2000 by 13 percentage points.
But there is some evidence that has been closing in the race between President Bush and John Kerry, even before Senator Edwards was on the ticket. Let's like to take a look at a poll taken last month. It showed President Bush with 47 percent, John Kerry with 42 percent. That's almost within the margin of error that is a lot closer than the Bush campaign would like to see. And certainly Democrats are hoping that now that they have North Carolina's home state senator on their ticket it will put them, perhaps, over the line in North Carolina. But Bush aides, Heidi, are quick to point out that Senator Edwards is not running again for Senate in his home state. And they question whether or not he could even have won there on his own. So that opens the question of how much of an impact he can have on the ticket there with John Kerry.
COLLINS: Yes, it sure does. But you know the president has been to North Carolina now something like 13 times. Who's he going to be meeting with today?
BASH: Well, the White House insists -- and it happens to be true that this trip was planned before Senator Edwards was on the ticket. And he's going down there to raise some money for the Republican National Committee. But he also do have some business that is very directly related to Senator Edwards.
Senator Edwards has been blocking confirmation of three of Mr. Bush's judicial nominees because he says that they are out of the mainstream. So the president will have some private meetings with those nominees. And it's -- the attempt by the president here is going to highlight an issue that is very important to conservatives in his own party and the makeup of the courts now.
It's important to note that this has been an age-old issue. Republicans in that state and other states have held up Democratic nominees. But the timing of this does allow the president and his team to highlight one of the themes that they introduced right away yesterday, which is that the think that John Edwards is too liberal -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Dana Bash, live from the White House this morning. Dana, thanks so much.
To Michigan now and a rape case there. It's an investigation that is a case of double trouble for detectives. It involves identical twins and identical DNA. Surprisingly, the situation occurs more often than you might think. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center now once again to sort things out.
Wow, this is really weird. How do you tell them apart?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well that's the difficult part. Detectives really having to put in some shoeleather work here to try and figure it out. Grand Rapids, Michigan is where we're talking about this particular event, this crime taking place. One crime, two suspects linked DNA. It's a bit of a puzzle. But here's how their trying to piece it together.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): One crime, two suspects. Tyrone Cooper was linked by DNA to the horrible rape of a Michigan college student. Problem is, so was his twin, his identical twin, Jerome Cooper.
SGT. TIM WILLIAMS, GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPT.: One is saying it's his brother. The other is saying -- the other one is saying no.
GUPTA: Usually your DNA, a genetic fingerprint, is so unique that it can conclusively distinguish you from any other human, living or dead. But in a situation that is becoming increasingly common, sophisticated genetic equipment is duped by identical twins.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now DNA would not be the way to distinguish between identical twins.
GUPTA: It's the same sperm and the same egg that come together, form a zygote and then split resulting in two zygotes that have the same DNA and are impossible to distinguish -- almost.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're looking for very small sequence differences, which means a lot of work.
GUPTA: So if DNA isn't reliable for these types of cases what type of evidence is? Well experts say fingerprints between identical twins are distinct based on how they develop in the womb. And hair samples are reliable as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hair might a good sample to evaluate because it can be altered by the environment, and, thus, identify one identical twin as different from the other.
GUPTA: And finally, eyewitness accounts may be the best bet because while identical twins are born looking very much alike, they often change as they grow up.
In the case of the Cooper twins, police are still looking for leads. The crime remains unsolved. Both Jerome and Tyrone are in jail, but on unrelated charges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: So, Heidi, neither one of them is really cooperating at this time with authorities trying to place one of them at the scene. But what this really comes down to is not using some of the most advanced technology that we have, DNA technology. But rather focusing on some of the age-old sort of ways of differentiating various suspects -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, very different because, boy, you think once you have the DNA, case closed. But not in this case.
But you said we're seeing more and more cases of identical twins being implicated for crimes like these. How common is it?
GUPTA: Well, you know, they saw actually several cases in Virginia over the last couple years. I'm not sure why that particular state.
But I think part of that's because we're having increasing DNA evidence available on a variety of people. People do submit DNA for various things. And that is being stored. So people are getting DNA samples in there. And you're going to see more cases as those samples become more frequent. But, you know, it's something that happens. And DNA, probably for most twins, is not going to be the way to distinguish them.
The fingerprints I thought was really interesting. Identical twins do not have identical fingerprints. And in cases like this, that may be the way they ultimately distinguish them.
COLLINS: Interesting. Sanjay Gupta, our certified medical investigator. Thanks so much. Appreciate it, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HEMMER: That is absolutely fascinating.
COLLINS: It is.
HEMMER: Get a break here. In a moment, an airline kicking off a whole new price war. Andy Serwer has that, some discounts, serious discounts too in a moment.
COLLINS: Also ahead, cable TV about to get a Mac attack. "90- Second Pop" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: It's "90-Second Pop" for a Wednesday, and the gang is all here.
Toure, contributing editor for "Rolling Stone." "New York" magazine contributing editor Sarah Bernard. And...
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Thanks for dragging that out.
TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE": She's a pro!
COLLINS: And B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
OK, we've been having a lot of fun with this one. "Anchorman." All right?
TOURE: Yes.
COLLINS: B.J., I know you saw this last night. What's the verdict? Tell me it's good.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": It is really, really good. Loads of laughs. Lots and lots of silly fun. I had kind of low expectations, and then I was really impressed by it.
COLLINS: Really? SIGESMUND: It reminded me of "Airplane." It just kind of got a laugh a minute. Will Ferrell is hysterical as this 1970s-era, San Diego anchorman, who is like dopey but lovable, who is very challenged when Christina Applegate comes to work at the TV station. She's a real TV journalist. And she's there to challenge the sexist notions at the time that say a woman can't anchor the news. So, it has a real story, but tons and tons of laughs. I challenge...
COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) obscenities, right?
SIGESMUND: Exactly. I challenge anyone to go to this movie and not have a great time. I'm expecting it to do huge business. You know, "spider-Man" will still be No. 1 this weekend.
COLLINS: Right.
SIGESMUND: But then "Anchorman."
BERNARD: I can't believe this isn't a sequel. Are you sure it's not a sequel to something? Is this like "Elf 2?"
SIGESMUND: Well, it's Will Ferrell shtick, you know.
TOURE: I mean, Will Ferrell is so great in everything. I mean, "Old School," I mean, from "Saturday Night Live." I mean, whatever he'll do, we'll go out and see and we'll laugh hysterically.
BERNARD: That's right.
(CROSSTALK)
COLLINS: Yes, all right, I was going to ask if you saw any comparisons in the movie to certain anchormen that you might know or...
SIGESMUND: No (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Hemmer.
BERNARD: Hemmer, I love that.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: Nothing like Hemmer. Nothing like a Bill Hemmer. It...
COLLINS: I didn't say anything about Hemmer.
OK, let's move on.
TOURE: You just did.
COLLINS: Yes, well, accidentally.
OK, Toure, outspoken tennis bad boy, if will you. I love the guy. But the question is, with this new talk show -- is that what we're calling it, a talk show?
TOURE: Yes.
COLLINS: There is some comedy, there is some shtick, as you were saying...
TOURE: Right.
COLLINS: ... kind of all mixed in here. Is this going to translate on CNBC?
TOURE: Well, I don't know. I mean, you know, I'm just excited to see McEnroe. I mean, in '79, he was the most reviled athlete in America, bar any sport. You know, he was super brat, and everybody hated him in those outbursts. And the over the 25 years since, he's completely re-changed himself, and become you know, the elder statesman for tennis, and they say he should be the commissioner of tennis. And he's the best tennis commentator ever. Period.
BERNARD: But he's filled in, too. Remember, he sat in for David Letterman actually when David had his heart surgery.
TOURE: Right.
SIGESMUND: Right.
COLLINS: Right.
BERNARD: And that's where he got the idea, and he was pretty good at it.
TOURE: Yes, yes.
SIGESMUND: He says Letterman is his idol, and he would like to over the next few months, I think, become more like a Letterman. He's going to have some shtick, too, in the show. He may even have a monologue. Like it's not going to be a traditional talk show.
BERNARD: But he's tried everything. You know, he had a game show. He tried this rock career.
TOURE: Which flopped.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: So now we've got a talk show. This is...
TOURE: I don't know how he has that much time. He's got like seven kids or...
BERNARD: Yes, it's the "Brady Bunch."
SIGESMUND: Six kids, yes.
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: It's the McEnroe "Brady Bunch."
SIGESMUND: From three different women.
TOURE: Yes.
SIGESMUND: But I want them to be on the show.
COLLINS: Yes, well, they might be. You never know.
SIGESMUND: I applaud him, actually, in this day and age. Celebrities looking for a second act often do reality shows. And it's sort of charmingly old-fashioned that John McEnroe would just do a talk show instead of inviting cameras into his home.
COLLINS: Hmm, well...
BERNARD: It's kind of a reality show.
TOURE: Couldn't you see him, though, with the reality show and the kids are like, daddy, can I borrow the car? You cannot be serious!
SIGESMUND: Or visits from Tatum O'Neal.
COLLINS: Yes, this could turn into a reality show. Let's stay away from that.
All right, one more topic to talk about here, Sarah. Reports of Harvey Weinstein leaving Miramax.
BERNARD: Right.
COLLINS: We know his contract is coming up in something like 2009. Does this indicate that there is -- I mean, there has been trouble in the past.
BERNARD: There has been trouble.
COLLINS: There was the whole Disney thing.
BERNARD: Disney and Miramax not getting along. But, I mean, people keep saying, is this going to be the end of Miramax? And I think -- we've seen the end of Miramax for a while now. The company is not doing what it had started out doing, which is really just distributing small budget films like "Life is Beautiful," "Crying Game." Remember all of those English, all of those kinds of things. It's really changed to a studio where...
TOURE: Last year...
BERNARD: ... they spend tons of money, overspending on movies like "Cold Mountain." It's not the same.
TOURE: But they've been making aggressively aesthetic movies.
SIGESMUND: Great movies.
TOURE: But that's what we love. I mean, last year was "Kill Bill."
BERNARD: Great movies but not financial movies.
TOURE: "Kill Bill," I mean, "City of God."
BERNARD: Yes.
SIGESMUND: "Chicago," hello. What about "Chicago?"
COLLINS: Yes. Well, it's true, though. Great movies, but where's the catch?
SIGESMUND: Well...
TOURE: I mean, but this is the most important studio head of the last, what, 10, 15 years? I mean, from "Sex, Lies and Videotapes" to "Shakespeare in Love," Harvey Weinstein has helped change your movie- going experience.
BERNARD: And that's true. And if he leaves and he teams up with Steve Ratner (ph), one of the financiers they mentioned...
COLLINS: Right.
BERNARD: ... and starts and, you know, takes over MGM again, the audience is not going to know that so much. They're going to just keep seeing the movies.
COLLINS: All right, guys...
BERNARD: But what he's going to lose is the library.
COLLINS: OK. All right...
SIGESMUND: Bad decision I think overall.
COLLINS: Bad decision.
SIGESMUND: Disney is predicting to lose...
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: But it's good for him.
COLLINS: We're going to have to agree to disagree. Thanks so much, the three of you, for coming again today. Toure, Sarah and B.J., thanks, guys -- Bill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. I'm watching "AARON BROWN" at 10:00, by the way. The photo-op everyone's been waiting for, John Kerry, John Edwards, now a team.
Back in a moment. Top stories after this, and the Democratic ticket. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Forty-five past the hour. Back to Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center, a look at the other news making headlines today, and there are many.
Fredricka, good morning.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There are indeed.
Thanks a lot, Bill.
We begin with U.S. politics. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards presenting a united front, appearing together for the first time as running mates about an hour ago outside Pittsburgh, both projecting confidence about the race ahead. Kerry and Edwards now heading to Ohio for their first joint campaign stop. Kerry officially named Edwards his running mate yesterday.
On the Republican side, President Bush will be in North Carolina today. The president meeting with three judicial nominees there. He's expected to highlight Senator Edwards role in blocking one of his nominees. According to the White House, the trip was planned weeks ago, before Senator Edwards was on the Democratic ticket. President Bush also expected to do some fund-raising.
Turning overseas now to Iraq. Clashes today between insurgents and Iraqi forces in central Baghdad. Government officials say two Iraqis were killed. Another attack taking place near Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi's home.
Meanwhile, a new security plan is now in place. Iraqi officials presenting details a at press conference in Baghdad several hours ago. The plan would give the interim government the power to declare martial law and detain suspected insurgents.
Back here in the U.S., actor James Doohan is reportedly suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Doohan best known for his character Scotty on the '60 TV series Star Trek. His agent telling the Associated Press, the diagnosis was made within the last couple of months and that the disease is in its early stages.
And 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.
Now back to Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Fredricka, thanks.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
COLLINS: Still to come this morning. If you're looking for some really cheap tickets, maybe to Las Vegas, you never know, one airline may have a huge deal for you. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business," next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
If you're looking for a cheap getaway this summer, one airline is slashing prices. Andy Serwer checks in on that, also a check of the markets.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: First start on Wall Street?
SERWER: Yes, let's do that.
A little bit of a recovery here this morning on Wall Street. Stocks moving up just a bit, 12 points. Nasdaq recovering even more, but that's because it slipped more yesterday.
One stock we'll be watching this morning, Yahoo!. Boy what a year Yahoo!'s had. The stock has doubled over the past 12 months, this as the Internet ad business has recovered nicely. They're reporting after the bell.
Now, let's take about airlines, shall we? Some good news here if you're a passenger. Southwest Airlines, the leading discount carrier, also the healthiest airline, is putting the hammer on fares. A new summer sale going on here, and that's great news for travelers. Bad news for the other airlines. Obviously, they're just limping along. Here the news is, check out some of these fares. We've got, what, $39 from Phoenix to L.A. You can't hitchhike that cheaply. $49 to get out of Buffalo. I'll take it. $99 -- now, this is the key fare, that $99 cross-country fare, that's BWI, Jack, Baltimore-Washington to Oakland. So flying cross country, you can still get it for $100. That's the same fare we've had for two decades, one way.
You can just see there hasn't been any increase in fares in decades now, and, you know, that's really difficult for the airlines, but just great news for us. And you have to wonder how long the big ones are going to hang around. They've been in bankruptcy. Are we going to ever see a merger or one of them actually shut down?
HEMMER: The other thing, you wonder how long airlines like Southwest can maintain those prices. That's cheap -- cheaper than gas.
SERWER: Well, but Southwest is still making money on that, because they've hedged, they've got lower fuel prices and they've got lower employee costs as well.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
COLLINS: Jack, joining us now with more on the "Question of the Day."
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed.
The question is this: Should bankruptcy laws protect the Catholic Church from multimillion dollar lawsuit settlements?
Here's the last batch of some of the mail we've gotten from you this morning.
Dan in New Bern, North Carolina: "Conduct of the Roman Catholic Church in condoning and covering up the abuse of children by its priests was intentional and approved at the highest level. The church's obligations to its victims should not be discharged in bankruptcy."
David, English, Indiana: "Absolutely not. Follow the money, and when it goes to Rome, take all the art works and everything else. A religion does not need a building nor temple nor anything other than faith. They move these perverts from church to church and hid them from these sins. They must pay fully and completely."
And Kerry (ph) in Savage, Minnesota, writes: "The bankruptcy law should provide the Catholic Church with the same protection they provided the young men who sought help and protection at their doors -- none at all. I find it ironic that the issue they denied for so many years is now something they seek federal protection from."
Thank you for your thoughts.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Next hour here on CNN, going to lighten things up a little bit. All morning long, talking about Will Ferrell's new movie "Anchorman." You'll get to hear from him live. He chats with Daryn Kagan.
We're back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Before we get out of here, later tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," here's Aaron Brown, a preview of what's coming up -- Aaron?
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Thank you, Bill.
Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," a survival story and a musical drama rolled into one. Jazz was born into blues, and this story has its share of tough knocks. Like its hometown, Newark, New Jersey, Jazz Radio 88 has struggled often in the last quarter of a century, but it is still on the air. How it beat the odds.
That story, plus all the day's top news, morning papers and everything else that makes "NEWSNIGHT" "NEWSNIGHT." CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Aaron, thanks. We'll see you then later tonight, 10 o'clock, 12 hours away. We got to run, huh?
COLLINS: Yes, we do.
HEMMER: Completely out of time, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You bet.
Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center.
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 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: 9:30 in New York. Time for stocks to open their day of trading today. The Dow 30 today starting at 10,219. A tough day yesterday for the blue chips. Off about 63 points in trading yesterday. Some say it was the fallout from the Democratic ticket. Others saying, nope. Just oil concerns, yet again today. We'll see where we go.
Nasdaq market site, 1,963's your opening mark, off 43 points with the tech-heavy Nasdaq yesterday.
Welcome back, everybody. 9:30 here in New York and good morning. Heidi working for Soledad yet again today.
And we saw the image 60 minutes ago, John Kerry, John Edwards, their wives and families, Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania. In a few moments, we'll hear what the White House plans to do today in terms of a counter move. Dana Bash standing for with the president's schedule in a moment here.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly is beautiful there. Isn't it?
Also, Sanjay Gupta back with us telling us about a strange case for police. What happens when investigators get a DNA evidence match that matches too much? He's going to be talking about that in just a few moments.
But for now, back to politics for a moment. President Bush today heads to North Carolina, the home state of Senator John Edwards. He's scheduled to depart the White House in just a short time from now. Dana Bash is live there at the White House for the latest on all of this. And, Dana, Republicans have been doing well in North Carolina. What do they think now?
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, you're right. Republicans have been doing well in North Carolina over the last several cycles in the presidential election. As a matter of fact, George W. Bush won there big in 2000 by 13 percentage points.
But there is some evidence that has been closing in the race between President Bush and John Kerry, even before Senator Edwards was on the ticket. Let's like to take a look at a poll taken last month. It showed President Bush with 47 percent, John Kerry with 42 percent. That's almost within the margin of error that is a lot closer than the Bush campaign would like to see. And certainly Democrats are hoping that now that they have North Carolina's home state senator on their ticket it will put them, perhaps, over the line in North Carolina. But Bush aides, Heidi, are quick to point out that Senator Edwards is not running again for Senate in his home state. And they question whether or not he could even have won there on his own. So that opens the question of how much of an impact he can have on the ticket there with John Kerry.
COLLINS: Yes, it sure does. But you know the president has been to North Carolina now something like 13 times. Who's he going to be meeting with today?
BASH: Well, the White House insists -- and it happens to be true that this trip was planned before Senator Edwards was on the ticket. And he's going down there to raise some money for the Republican National Committee. But he also do have some business that is very directly related to Senator Edwards.
Senator Edwards has been blocking confirmation of three of Mr. Bush's judicial nominees because he says that they are out of the mainstream. So the president will have some private meetings with those nominees. And it's -- the attempt by the president here is going to highlight an issue that is very important to conservatives in his own party and the makeup of the courts now.
It's important to note that this has been an age-old issue. Republicans in that state and other states have held up Democratic nominees. But the timing of this does allow the president and his team to highlight one of the themes that they introduced right away yesterday, which is that the think that John Edwards is too liberal -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Dana Bash, live from the White House this morning. Dana, thanks so much.
To Michigan now and a rape case there. It's an investigation that is a case of double trouble for detectives. It involves identical twins and identical DNA. Surprisingly, the situation occurs more often than you might think. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center now once again to sort things out.
Wow, this is really weird. How do you tell them apart?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well that's the difficult part. Detectives really having to put in some shoeleather work here to try and figure it out. Grand Rapids, Michigan is where we're talking about this particular event, this crime taking place. One crime, two suspects linked DNA. It's a bit of a puzzle. But here's how their trying to piece it together.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): One crime, two suspects. Tyrone Cooper was linked by DNA to the horrible rape of a Michigan college student. Problem is, so was his twin, his identical twin, Jerome Cooper.
SGT. TIM WILLIAMS, GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPT.: One is saying it's his brother. The other is saying -- the other one is saying no.
GUPTA: Usually your DNA, a genetic fingerprint, is so unique that it can conclusively distinguish you from any other human, living or dead. But in a situation that is becoming increasingly common, sophisticated genetic equipment is duped by identical twins.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now DNA would not be the way to distinguish between identical twins.
GUPTA: It's the same sperm and the same egg that come together, form a zygote and then split resulting in two zygotes that have the same DNA and are impossible to distinguish -- almost.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're looking for very small sequence differences, which means a lot of work.
GUPTA: So if DNA isn't reliable for these types of cases what type of evidence is? Well experts say fingerprints between identical twins are distinct based on how they develop in the womb. And hair samples are reliable as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hair might a good sample to evaluate because it can be altered by the environment, and, thus, identify one identical twin as different from the other.
GUPTA: And finally, eyewitness accounts may be the best bet because while identical twins are born looking very much alike, they often change as they grow up.
In the case of the Cooper twins, police are still looking for leads. The crime remains unsolved. Both Jerome and Tyrone are in jail, but on unrelated charges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: So, Heidi, neither one of them is really cooperating at this time with authorities trying to place one of them at the scene. But what this really comes down to is not using some of the most advanced technology that we have, DNA technology. But rather focusing on some of the age-old sort of ways of differentiating various suspects -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, very different because, boy, you think once you have the DNA, case closed. But not in this case.
But you said we're seeing more and more cases of identical twins being implicated for crimes like these. How common is it?
GUPTA: Well, you know, they saw actually several cases in Virginia over the last couple years. I'm not sure why that particular state.
But I think part of that's because we're having increasing DNA evidence available on a variety of people. People do submit DNA for various things. And that is being stored. So people are getting DNA samples in there. And you're going to see more cases as those samples become more frequent. But, you know, it's something that happens. And DNA, probably for most twins, is not going to be the way to distinguish them.
The fingerprints I thought was really interesting. Identical twins do not have identical fingerprints. And in cases like this, that may be the way they ultimately distinguish them.
COLLINS: Interesting. Sanjay Gupta, our certified medical investigator. Thanks so much. Appreciate it, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HEMMER: That is absolutely fascinating.
COLLINS: It is.
HEMMER: Get a break here. In a moment, an airline kicking off a whole new price war. Andy Serwer has that, some discounts, serious discounts too in a moment.
COLLINS: Also ahead, cable TV about to get a Mac attack. "90- Second Pop" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: It's "90-Second Pop" for a Wednesday, and the gang is all here.
Toure, contributing editor for "Rolling Stone." "New York" magazine contributing editor Sarah Bernard. And...
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Thanks for dragging that out.
TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE": She's a pro!
COLLINS: And B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
OK, we've been having a lot of fun with this one. "Anchorman." All right?
TOURE: Yes.
COLLINS: B.J., I know you saw this last night. What's the verdict? Tell me it's good.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": It is really, really good. Loads of laughs. Lots and lots of silly fun. I had kind of low expectations, and then I was really impressed by it.
COLLINS: Really? SIGESMUND: It reminded me of "Airplane." It just kind of got a laugh a minute. Will Ferrell is hysterical as this 1970s-era, San Diego anchorman, who is like dopey but lovable, who is very challenged when Christina Applegate comes to work at the TV station. She's a real TV journalist. And she's there to challenge the sexist notions at the time that say a woman can't anchor the news. So, it has a real story, but tons and tons of laughs. I challenge...
COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) obscenities, right?
SIGESMUND: Exactly. I challenge anyone to go to this movie and not have a great time. I'm expecting it to do huge business. You know, "spider-Man" will still be No. 1 this weekend.
COLLINS: Right.
SIGESMUND: But then "Anchorman."
BERNARD: I can't believe this isn't a sequel. Are you sure it's not a sequel to something? Is this like "Elf 2?"
SIGESMUND: Well, it's Will Ferrell shtick, you know.
TOURE: I mean, Will Ferrell is so great in everything. I mean, "Old School," I mean, from "Saturday Night Live." I mean, whatever he'll do, we'll go out and see and we'll laugh hysterically.
BERNARD: That's right.
(CROSSTALK)
COLLINS: Yes, all right, I was going to ask if you saw any comparisons in the movie to certain anchormen that you might know or...
SIGESMUND: No (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Hemmer.
BERNARD: Hemmer, I love that.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: Nothing like Hemmer. Nothing like a Bill Hemmer. It...
COLLINS: I didn't say anything about Hemmer.
OK, let's move on.
TOURE: You just did.
COLLINS: Yes, well, accidentally.
OK, Toure, outspoken tennis bad boy, if will you. I love the guy. But the question is, with this new talk show -- is that what we're calling it, a talk show?
TOURE: Yes.
COLLINS: There is some comedy, there is some shtick, as you were saying...
TOURE: Right.
COLLINS: ... kind of all mixed in here. Is this going to translate on CNBC?
TOURE: Well, I don't know. I mean, you know, I'm just excited to see McEnroe. I mean, in '79, he was the most reviled athlete in America, bar any sport. You know, he was super brat, and everybody hated him in those outbursts. And the over the 25 years since, he's completely re-changed himself, and become you know, the elder statesman for tennis, and they say he should be the commissioner of tennis. And he's the best tennis commentator ever. Period.
BERNARD: But he's filled in, too. Remember, he sat in for David Letterman actually when David had his heart surgery.
TOURE: Right.
SIGESMUND: Right.
COLLINS: Right.
BERNARD: And that's where he got the idea, and he was pretty good at it.
TOURE: Yes, yes.
SIGESMUND: He says Letterman is his idol, and he would like to over the next few months, I think, become more like a Letterman. He's going to have some shtick, too, in the show. He may even have a monologue. Like it's not going to be a traditional talk show.
BERNARD: But he's tried everything. You know, he had a game show. He tried this rock career.
TOURE: Which flopped.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: So now we've got a talk show. This is...
TOURE: I don't know how he has that much time. He's got like seven kids or...
BERNARD: Yes, it's the "Brady Bunch."
SIGESMUND: Six kids, yes.
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: It's the McEnroe "Brady Bunch."
SIGESMUND: From three different women.
TOURE: Yes.
SIGESMUND: But I want them to be on the show.
COLLINS: Yes, well, they might be. You never know.
SIGESMUND: I applaud him, actually, in this day and age. Celebrities looking for a second act often do reality shows. And it's sort of charmingly old-fashioned that John McEnroe would just do a talk show instead of inviting cameras into his home.
COLLINS: Hmm, well...
BERNARD: It's kind of a reality show.
TOURE: Couldn't you see him, though, with the reality show and the kids are like, daddy, can I borrow the car? You cannot be serious!
SIGESMUND: Or visits from Tatum O'Neal.
COLLINS: Yes, this could turn into a reality show. Let's stay away from that.
All right, one more topic to talk about here, Sarah. Reports of Harvey Weinstein leaving Miramax.
BERNARD: Right.
COLLINS: We know his contract is coming up in something like 2009. Does this indicate that there is -- I mean, there has been trouble in the past.
BERNARD: There has been trouble.
COLLINS: There was the whole Disney thing.
BERNARD: Disney and Miramax not getting along. But, I mean, people keep saying, is this going to be the end of Miramax? And I think -- we've seen the end of Miramax for a while now. The company is not doing what it had started out doing, which is really just distributing small budget films like "Life is Beautiful," "Crying Game." Remember all of those English, all of those kinds of things. It's really changed to a studio where...
TOURE: Last year...
BERNARD: ... they spend tons of money, overspending on movies like "Cold Mountain." It's not the same.
TOURE: But they've been making aggressively aesthetic movies.
SIGESMUND: Great movies.
TOURE: But that's what we love. I mean, last year was "Kill Bill."
BERNARD: Great movies but not financial movies.
TOURE: "Kill Bill," I mean, "City of God."
BERNARD: Yes.
SIGESMUND: "Chicago," hello. What about "Chicago?"
COLLINS: Yes. Well, it's true, though. Great movies, but where's the catch?
SIGESMUND: Well...
TOURE: I mean, but this is the most important studio head of the last, what, 10, 15 years? I mean, from "Sex, Lies and Videotapes" to "Shakespeare in Love," Harvey Weinstein has helped change your movie- going experience.
BERNARD: And that's true. And if he leaves and he teams up with Steve Ratner (ph), one of the financiers they mentioned...
COLLINS: Right.
BERNARD: ... and starts and, you know, takes over MGM again, the audience is not going to know that so much. They're going to just keep seeing the movies.
COLLINS: All right, guys...
BERNARD: But what he's going to lose is the library.
COLLINS: OK. All right...
SIGESMUND: Bad decision I think overall.
COLLINS: Bad decision.
SIGESMUND: Disney is predicting to lose...
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: But it's good for him.
COLLINS: We're going to have to agree to disagree. Thanks so much, the three of you, for coming again today. Toure, Sarah and B.J., thanks, guys -- Bill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. I'm watching "AARON BROWN" at 10:00, by the way. The photo-op everyone's been waiting for, John Kerry, John Edwards, now a team.
Back in a moment. Top stories after this, and the Democratic ticket. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Forty-five past the hour. Back to Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center, a look at the other news making headlines today, and there are many.
Fredricka, good morning.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There are indeed.
Thanks a lot, Bill.
We begin with U.S. politics. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards presenting a united front, appearing together for the first time as running mates about an hour ago outside Pittsburgh, both projecting confidence about the race ahead. Kerry and Edwards now heading to Ohio for their first joint campaign stop. Kerry officially named Edwards his running mate yesterday.
On the Republican side, President Bush will be in North Carolina today. The president meeting with three judicial nominees there. He's expected to highlight Senator Edwards role in blocking one of his nominees. According to the White House, the trip was planned weeks ago, before Senator Edwards was on the Democratic ticket. President Bush also expected to do some fund-raising.
Turning overseas now to Iraq. Clashes today between insurgents and Iraqi forces in central Baghdad. Government officials say two Iraqis were killed. Another attack taking place near Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi's home.
Meanwhile, a new security plan is now in place. Iraqi officials presenting details a at press conference in Baghdad several hours ago. The plan would give the interim government the power to declare martial law and detain suspected insurgents.
Back here in the U.S., actor James Doohan is reportedly suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Doohan best known for his character Scotty on the '60 TV series Star Trek. His agent telling the Associated Press, the diagnosis was made within the last couple of months and that the disease is in its early stages.
And 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.
Now back to Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Fredricka, thanks.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
COLLINS: Still to come this morning. If you're looking for some really cheap tickets, maybe to Las Vegas, you never know, one airline may have a huge deal for you. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business," next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
If you're looking for a cheap getaway this summer, one airline is slashing prices. Andy Serwer checks in on that, also a check of the markets.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: First start on Wall Street?
SERWER: Yes, let's do that.
A little bit of a recovery here this morning on Wall Street. Stocks moving up just a bit, 12 points. Nasdaq recovering even more, but that's because it slipped more yesterday.
One stock we'll be watching this morning, Yahoo!. Boy what a year Yahoo!'s had. The stock has doubled over the past 12 months, this as the Internet ad business has recovered nicely. They're reporting after the bell.
Now, let's take about airlines, shall we? Some good news here if you're a passenger. Southwest Airlines, the leading discount carrier, also the healthiest airline, is putting the hammer on fares. A new summer sale going on here, and that's great news for travelers. Bad news for the other airlines. Obviously, they're just limping along. Here the news is, check out some of these fares. We've got, what, $39 from Phoenix to L.A. You can't hitchhike that cheaply. $49 to get out of Buffalo. I'll take it. $99 -- now, this is the key fare, that $99 cross-country fare, that's BWI, Jack, Baltimore-Washington to Oakland. So flying cross country, you can still get it for $100. That's the same fare we've had for two decades, one way.
You can just see there hasn't been any increase in fares in decades now, and, you know, that's really difficult for the airlines, but just great news for us. And you have to wonder how long the big ones are going to hang around. They've been in bankruptcy. Are we going to ever see a merger or one of them actually shut down?
HEMMER: The other thing, you wonder how long airlines like Southwest can maintain those prices. That's cheap -- cheaper than gas.
SERWER: Well, but Southwest is still making money on that, because they've hedged, they've got lower fuel prices and they've got lower employee costs as well.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
COLLINS: Jack, joining us now with more on the "Question of the Day."
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed.
The question is this: Should bankruptcy laws protect the Catholic Church from multimillion dollar lawsuit settlements?
Here's the last batch of some of the mail we've gotten from you this morning.
Dan in New Bern, North Carolina: "Conduct of the Roman Catholic Church in condoning and covering up the abuse of children by its priests was intentional and approved at the highest level. The church's obligations to its victims should not be discharged in bankruptcy."
David, English, Indiana: "Absolutely not. Follow the money, and when it goes to Rome, take all the art works and everything else. A religion does not need a building nor temple nor anything other than faith. They move these perverts from church to church and hid them from these sins. They must pay fully and completely."
And Kerry (ph) in Savage, Minnesota, writes: "The bankruptcy law should provide the Catholic Church with the same protection they provided the young men who sought help and protection at their doors -- none at all. I find it ironic that the issue they denied for so many years is now something they seek federal protection from."
Thank you for your thoughts.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Next hour here on CNN, going to lighten things up a little bit. All morning long, talking about Will Ferrell's new movie "Anchorman." You'll get to hear from him live. He chats with Daryn Kagan.
We're back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Before we get out of here, later tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," here's Aaron Brown, a preview of what's coming up -- Aaron?
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Thank you, Bill.
Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," a survival story and a musical drama rolled into one. Jazz was born into blues, and this story has its share of tough knocks. Like its hometown, Newark, New Jersey, Jazz Radio 88 has struggled often in the last quarter of a century, but it is still on the air. How it beat the odds.
That story, plus all the day's top news, morning papers and everything else that makes "NEWSNIGHT" "NEWSNIGHT." CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Aaron, thanks. We'll see you then later tonight, 10 o'clock, 12 hours away. We got to run, huh?
COLLINS: Yes, we do.
HEMMER: Completely out of time, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You bet.
Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
