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American Morning
Najaf Uprising; Swift Boat Controversy
Aired August 26, 2004 - 9:00 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: It is a critical moment now in Najaf. Iraq's most influential cleric is back in that city. The situation is volatile again today. Many are already dead.
The Swift Boat ad controversy lives another day after dueling letters at the president's ranch in Texas. Does John Kerry have something to gain from that PR? And what has Kerry already lost?
There's a new poll out today. We'll look at a possible shift in support on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: And good morning, everyone. Nine o'clock in New York. I'm Bill Hemmer.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Heidi Collins in for Soledad. Some of the other stories we're following this morning.
You've seen a lot of music stars lately trying to get young people registered to vote. Well, in part four of our series on politics and entertainment, we're going to look at how effective their efforts have been and how likely it is to change the outcome of the election.
HEMMER: Also, there's a big question here in New York. What do the police have to do to protect the city, protect the delegates at the convention starting Monday? In a few moments, we'll hear what the police commissioner, Ray Kelly, has to say about the anarchists and the demonstrations planned.
Some predict 250,000. We will see if those numbers hold true. Bottom line is, this city is on alert.
Is it not, Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Well, what -- here's what two judges said about the protesters: you cannot go to Central Park.
Twice they petitioned for a permit to hold huge demonstrations on the great lawn at Central Park and two different judges said nada, you cannot do it. So they say they're coming anyway. There's going to be some sort of a march on Sunday, and some of the protesters say they're going to go on to the park from the march anyhow.
The police department, no doubt, will be available to keep things under control. But the question is, should they be allowed on the great lawn at Central Park, a quarter of a million of them? Amcnn.com. Let us hear your thoughts.
COLLINS: All right, Jack. Thanks so much for that.
Want to get now straight to the news and Carol Costello, standing by at the CNN Center for what's happening.
Hey, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Heidi. Thank you. And good morning, everyone.
Within the half-hour, a Senate committee will gather on Capitol Hill for a closed hearing on the 9/11 report. The Governmental Affairs Committee will focus on reorganizing intelligence operations. A House committee is also set to get under way later this morning.
Russians are observing a day of mourning today for the 89 people killed in near simultaneous jet crashes. Officials are searching the sites and poring over the planes' flight data recorders, looking for clues. No useful information has been retrieved from those recorders. That's according to officials cited this morning by the Russian news agency.
The nephew of Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy is facing a new allegation of sexual assault. William Kennedy Smith is facing a lawsuit leveled by a former personal assistant that claims he assaulted here after a night of drinking. Smith denies the claim. Back in '91, a jury acquitted Smith in a different sexual assault case.
And there may be a link between high levels of platinum in women and silicone breast implants. A study released publicly just a half hour ago shows level of the highly reactive metal are unusually high in women with implants and in children they breast feed. The findings will be presented later to the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia.
Back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Carol Costello, thanks so much for that.
Talks are under way now in Najaf between Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani and aides to radical Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sistani and thousands of his supporters made their way to Najaf today. The city has been a bloody battleground between U.S. troops and al-Sadr forces for three weeks now. Kianne Sadeq is live on the phone to give us the very latest on the situation there -- Kianne.
KIANNE SADEQ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Heidi.
Well, as a matter of fact, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani arrived in Najaf just a few hours ago, and he is apparently in his house resting at the moment. We talked to a top aide of his, Hamid al-Kafa (ph), who told us that he will send a statement through the grand ayatollah calling on all -- all those who are faithful, all the demonstrators to stay in their positions and not -- not move any further towards the city of Najaf.
Now, he also said that the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani has left London against the doctor's words from his treatment in order to come back here and solve this crisis. They said that there were five goals in this, and the five goals was that armed persons be out of -- be out of Najaf and Kufa, and there will b3e no people who are armed in Najaf and Kufa.
He said that they wanted all foreigners to be out of Najaf as well. He says that he wanted all those people who have been effected or victims of this crisis to be confrontated (ph), and that he wanted the problems of Iraq to be solved by -- as legitimate elections.
Now, earlier today, thousands of supporters of the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani made their way over to Kufa from all over Iraq in order to demonstrate, in order to march to the old city of Najaf and to the Imam Ali -- Ali shrine in peaceful demonstrations. But as they began to march from Kufa, making their way, they were shot at by sniper fire, lots and lots of sniper fire.
We were there earlier today. Several people were killed. Several people were injured by the sniper fire.
The demonstrators had to stop and wait until they received the word from the grand ayatollah on what to do. Well, now the grand ayatollah has sent a statement telling those people to stay put in their positions at this time until further notice.
Back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Kianne Sadeq, thanks so much for giving us the very latest coming out of Najaf this morning. Once again, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: Now, back in this country, the controversy over the Swift Boat ads attacking John Kerry brought new developments yesterday both in Washington and near the president's ranch in Texas. Kelly Wallace back with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning to you, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, it is clear the Kerry campaign is trying to keep this issue alive. It has a new television ad going up in battleground states showing Senator John McCain rebuking, then Governor Bush in 2000. And then yesterday you can say it was poor political theater in Crawford.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice-over): Camp Kerry steered the Swift Boat controversy to President Bush's doorstep, dispatching former senator and Vietnam veteran Max Cleland to the president's Crawford ranch.
MAX CLELAND (D), FMR. U.S. SENATOR: We want George Bush to stand up, come to the plate, and say this is wrong. That attack on the valorous service of a fellow American is wrong.
WALLACE: Team Bush called it a political stunt, but, put on the defensive, sent a Vietnam veteran who supports Mr. Bush before the press.
JERRY PATTERSON, TEXAS LAND COMMISSIONER: All veterans have a right to speak. But if we have 527s, you can't selectively say this one's good, that one's bad.
WALLACE: With this verbal volley...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The accusations...
WALLACE: ... the Kerry campaign kept the duel over the senator's Vietnam record alive for yet another day.
LARRY SABATO, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: When you've got a bad story, you want to make sure it's bad not just for you but for the other candidate. The Kerry people have an opportunity to cut in to the buildup to the Republican convention.
WALLACE: And so, to no one's surprise, the Kerry team jumped on the resignation of Bush-Cheney campaign lawyer Benjamin Ginsberg after he acknowledged giving legal advice to the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. But Republicans fired back.
TERRY HOLT, BUSH-CHENEY CAMPAIGN: For them to -- to pounce on Ben at this point is ridiculous, in fact, and a double standard.
WALLACE: There are connections on the Democratic side. Bob Bauer provided legal advice to senator Kerry during the primaries. His law firm is legal counsel both to the Kerry-Edwards campaign and the pro-Kerry independent group America Coming Together.
Another example, Harold Ickes, who was chief of staff to America Coming Together, and a member of the Democratic Party's executive committee. Since March, ACT and other so-called 527 groups have spent more than $60 million on ads critical of President Bush, more than 20 times what the pro-Bush 527s have spent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: So who has more to lose in this battle, Bill? Analysts say both candidates could be hurt by negative ads, but that Senator Kerry could be damaged more since he made his Vietnam biography the centerpiece of his convention and the campaign.
HEMMER: Yes. Now, on the voter front here, you're on the trail quite often. Are they dialed into this issue? Or do they believe the issue is overdone? What is your sense of that?
WALLACE: The sense -- it's a little hard to say, but the sense is that the issue is overdone. Everyone always likes to attack the media. And it's true in this case, people are saying, the media, all of us, are focusing on this issue day after day, when people really out in the battle ground states are asking the senator and the president when he's there issues like Iraq, the economy. But we'll have to see watching some polls down the road if people are noticing these ads and if they're planting any seeds of doubt for John Kerry or President Bush.
HEMMER: All right. Kelly, thanks for that.
We have some new numbers, in fact, today, new polling numbers suggesting that the recent ads may be taking a toll on Senator Kerry. I talked with Ron Brownstein, political analyst, writer for the "LA Times," about the new numbers out of Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Ron, your latest poll has President Bush with a slight lead, three points, 49 to 46, for the first time in your polling in the "LA TIMES." What explains that shift toward the White House?
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LA TIMES": Well, on a variety of measures, Bill, really almost across the board, you see a small movement toward President Bush and a slight erosion for John Kerry. And a pattern of erosion for Kerry that suggests some damage from the Swift Boat ads.
In part, we saw President Bush's approval rating go up on Iraq, as at least in the last few weeks. It hasn't been quite as much in the headlines. But on a number of measures, trust -- confidence in John Kerry to be commander in chief, interpretation of his Vietnam service, which man do you think has the honesty and integrity to be president, there was a pattern of erosion that I think suggests that he has taken a little bit of a bite from this offensive from the Swift Boat ads.
HEMMER: We also found Independent voters a bit split based on your survey there. But they also find that more Democrats are willing to back President Bush, 15 percent, as compared to Republicans, only three percent willing to back John Kerry. What explains that?
BROWNSTEIN: I think that's more evidence to me, more indirect evidence that this offensive may have been having some effect. The kind of Democrats who are moving away from John Kerry are socially conservative, by and large. They're more likely to be gun owners, they're more likely to be rural, they're more likely to be non- college-educated.
I think the kind of audience that would be most recentive to these arguments -- one very interesting fact is that we have -- we continue to have in this poll a larger constituency for change in the abstract than we do for John Kerry in the particular. About one-fifth of the people who tell us that they believe that President Bush's direction hasn't worked and they want the country to set a new course still aren't voting for John Kerry. That's the gap that he has to close, I think, in order to put himself back in the driver's seat here.
HEMMER: In your first answer, you talked about the honesty and integrity question. When asked who had the most honesty and integrity to serve as president, George Bush wins this category. Do you think that is all because of Swift Boat ads, or is there more to it?
BROWNSTEIN: No. Well, I think, you know, President Bush obviously -- the whole nexus of character issues, they believe, has been their greatest strength, strength of leadership, resolve, honesty. Kerry had narrowed that gap, but it's widening again amid this attack. And I think you can -- you can sort of infer that one has something to do with the other.
The other thing that's widening is the extent to which voters are more likely to say Kerry rather than Bush flip-flops on the issues. And I think that could be another, again, measure of some effect on Senator Kerry.
Most of these are small movements, but they all are tilting in the same direction. And they produce a slight tilt here.
I wouldn't say President Bush is out of the woods, though. We still have a lot of measures in this poll showing an openness for change. People think the country's on the wrong track. A majority of people say that we need a new direction in policy.
A strong plurality say President Bush's policies haven't helped the economy. The question continues to be, can John Kerry inspire enough faith and confidence in those open to change in the abstract to support him in particular?
HEMMER: Again, Ron Brownstein, writer for the "LA Times," talking about the new numbers from his newspaper just out today.
Also, one more reminder. Starting Monday morning, 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, we will be live in the Garden here in New York City. Madison Square Garden, day one, for the Republican National Convention -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Scott Peterson lied. That's what the prosecution spent Wednesday telling the jury. Jurors heard more audiotapes and intercepted more phone calls. Prosecutors say the tapes prove Peterson lied in the days following his wife Laci's disappearance.
In one of the recordings, Peterson told several people, including his mother-in-law, that he was in Bakersfield, California, when he was really in Berkeley. That's where Laci's remains and those of her unborn child eventually washed ashore.
And an emergency court hearing is planned today in the Kobe Bryant case. In a motion filed yesterday, a deputy district attorney claims Bryant's defense team manipulated DNA data. Prosecutors are trying to cast doubt on DNA tests of semen samples taken from the accuser and her clothing. The defense maintains it's from a man other than Kobe Bryant. Jury selection in that case is set for tomorrow.
HEMMER: Almost 15 minutes past the hour. A check of the weather again with Chad Myers, watching "F," for Frances, and also the Midwest.
(WEATHER REPORT) COLLINS: Again, I say that's nasty. All right. Thanks so much, Chad.
Still to come this morning, there is a monumental task facing the NYPD next week. I'm sure you've heard about it. The Republican National Convention, they've been preparing for it for months. But will the police be ready for that convention? We'll hear from the man in charge, Commissioner Ray Kelly.
HEMMER: Also ahead, Sanjay checks back in with a pack-a-day smoker from our "New You" series. How is she doing since we left off, what, six months ago...
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: ... seven months ago? We'll have a look in a moment.
COLLINS: Plus, tuning into politics. There's a rock 'n' roll revolution going on. It's part of our weeklong series, "Poli-Wood," ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Day four now of our weeklong series, "Poli-Wood" a look at politics, Hollywood and the narrow line in between. More than ever, it seems music stars are playing the role of pied piper, leading young people to the polls. So, is it working, and could it actually affect the November election?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's simple. It takes a few minutes. And, plus, guys, chicks dig registered voters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frankly, you're right. Check it out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At least I get to decide who they are.
COLLINS (voice-over): You can either Rock the Vote, Choose or Lose, MoveOn, or vote for change in this year's presidential election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go to declareyourself.com to download your voter registration form.
COLLINS: Welcome to the new revolution. Rock 'n' roll is no longer raging against the machine. Instead, polling young people of all political persuasions to the polling booth.
SEAN. P. DIDDY COMBS, CITIZEN CHANGE: We're trying to educate, motivate and empower young people that have over the years been disenfranchised about the voting process.
COLLINS: Since the voting age requirement was lowered in 1972, the turnout rate has actually declined the most among 18 to 24-year- olds. COMBS: It's very simple. If you -- if in your life you need help in your life, and people are not talking about helping you, you're not going to keep tuned in to them, you know.
COLLINS: So, music moguls from Sean P. Diddy Combs, Russell Simmons, along with MTV and other grassroots group are using ever effort to get younger Americans to the polls.
(on camera): There are some people out there, though, who will say, wait a minute, what is MTV doing? I mean, it's MTV. It's not politics.
GIDEON YAGO, MTV NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Just because somebody likes Britney Spears doesn't mean they don't care about STDs, or politics, or violence in their schools, or war outside of, you know, America's borders. It's not mutually exclusive.
COLLINS (voice-over): And so pop stars, like Outkast's Andre 3000, may be better at delivering the message to young people.
ANDRE 3000, DECLARE YOURSELF: Mr. Norman Lear, who's doing a campaign with Declare Yourself, he contacted me and said, "We want to recruit you, you know, to get the youth to vote." And I said, "Well, Mr. Lear, you know, I don't know if I'm the right person for it because I've never voted ever in my life." And he said, "No, that's perfect."
So I think doing it by example is my plight, you know, just to show by example. I'm not like a huge, you know, no politician, you know, let's go fight and let's go stand out, you know. But if I have to do that, I will, you know. But hey, I think what I'm doing through music is way more powerful. It can be way more powerful than a politician, you know.
COLLINS: Artists like Andre 3000 may get the vote out. But can musicians have any effect on convincing the voters who to vote for? A Bush-Cheney campaign spokesperson says, "All the showbiz in the world isn't going to get John Kerry elected. The Democrats may have The Boss, but we have the commander in chief."
YAGO: At the end of the day, you know, young people, you know, they might get tuned into the fact that this election is important because someone in Hollywood says so. But they're not necessarily going to vote because, you know, celebrity X tells them to. They're going to vote because the issues affect their lives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Our five-part "Poli-Wood" series concludes tomorrow with a look at the importance of a candidate's image. In our media- driven world, where a premium is placed on image, will Hollywood directors play a bigger role in politics? That's tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING.
HEMMER: In a moment here, baseball's pennant race is heating up. And a curious squirrel can make a huge impact. We'll explain. First, though, Olympics quiz this morning. When the Olympics were revised in 1896, in Athens, winners did not receive gold medals. What did they get for their victories? The answer after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: What did the winners receive at the Olympic games back in 1896? The answer is silver medal, crown of olive branches and a diploma. That was for first place. Second place, bronze medal, a crown of laurel and a diploma. The current gold-silver- bronze tradition started began in 1904.
COLLINS: Which really is gold. Remember we talked about that the other day -- 97.5 percent silver?
HEMMER: It's only partially gold, that's right.
COLLINS: A little gold on top?
HEMMER: We did that for Jack, by the way.
CAFFERTY: I have a question.
HEMMER: Yes?
CAFFERTY: When are the Olympics over?
COLLINS: Over?
HEMMER: Is it Saturday?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: It couldn't be soon enough for you.
HEMMER: Closing ceremonies Saturday?
CAFFERTY: Today's Thursday.
HEMMER: At least this weekend.
CAFFERTY: We're getting there.
HEMMER: Maybe it's Friday.
CAFFERTY: An anti-umbrella group -- anti-GOP umbrella group -- excuse me -- called United for Peace and Justice was denied a permit to demonstrate on the great lawn in Central Park by two different judges in the last couple of days. They've been told they could protest near the convention center, which is Madison Square Garden, but not on the great lawn of the park.
The city spent $18 million to restore the lawn a few years back, says it doesn't want it destroyed again. There are also some security issues that have been raised. The activists are vowing to go to the park on Sunday anyway. It could get ugly. The question is this: is it right to keep the protesters out of Central Park?
Kathie in New York write this: "If the park can handle huge groups of people to see entertainers on the great lawn, it can handle a large group of demonstrators. Gee, I bet if they were demonstrators for the Republican Party, Bloomberg, Pataki and cohorts would have no problem with this demonstration."
Diane in New York City writes this: "Ten minutes ago, I just returned from a run in Central Park. I ran past the great lawn, and I can say it's one of the highlights of the park. To have a bunch of protesters trampling over the grass is stupid when there's pavement all over the city and the convention is 30 blocks away."
"So keep them off the park and on the street where they can exercise their right of free speech and I can run in peace. P.S., I ran on the pavement, not on the grass."
And Dean in Marlton, New Jersey, "Yes, I think they should be kept out of Central Park and instead be given a permit to hold their protests at Ground Zero where the World Trade Center once stood. Of course that might take some of the wind out of their sails."
HEMMER: Trying to get the closing ceremonies for you, Jack. I can't find it.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: I feel like a failure. You know, here I am for you all the time. I just...
COLLINS: Anybody got that?
CAFFERTY: You know, but it's the effort that counts for something, right? The fact that you're trying.
HEMMER: Yes. Still, bah, bah, bah.
Break here in a moment. We're going to follow the story again out of Russia. Still looking for clues in those plane crashes of two days ago. At least one top official zeroing in on what he thinks is the likely cause.
Also, a developing story in Iraq. A break here. Back in a moment. Opening bell after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired August 26, 2004 - 9:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It is a critical moment now in Najaf. Iraq's most influential cleric is back in that city. The situation is volatile again today. Many are already dead.
The Swift Boat ad controversy lives another day after dueling letters at the president's ranch in Texas. Does John Kerry have something to gain from that PR? And what has Kerry already lost?
There's a new poll out today. We'll look at a possible shift in support on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: And good morning, everyone. Nine o'clock in New York. I'm Bill Hemmer.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Heidi Collins in for Soledad. Some of the other stories we're following this morning.
You've seen a lot of music stars lately trying to get young people registered to vote. Well, in part four of our series on politics and entertainment, we're going to look at how effective their efforts have been and how likely it is to change the outcome of the election.
HEMMER: Also, there's a big question here in New York. What do the police have to do to protect the city, protect the delegates at the convention starting Monday? In a few moments, we'll hear what the police commissioner, Ray Kelly, has to say about the anarchists and the demonstrations planned.
Some predict 250,000. We will see if those numbers hold true. Bottom line is, this city is on alert.
Is it not, Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Well, what -- here's what two judges said about the protesters: you cannot go to Central Park.
Twice they petitioned for a permit to hold huge demonstrations on the great lawn at Central Park and two different judges said nada, you cannot do it. So they say they're coming anyway. There's going to be some sort of a march on Sunday, and some of the protesters say they're going to go on to the park from the march anyhow.
The police department, no doubt, will be available to keep things under control. But the question is, should they be allowed on the great lawn at Central Park, a quarter of a million of them? Amcnn.com. Let us hear your thoughts.
COLLINS: All right, Jack. Thanks so much for that.
Want to get now straight to the news and Carol Costello, standing by at the CNN Center for what's happening.
Hey, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Heidi. Thank you. And good morning, everyone.
Within the half-hour, a Senate committee will gather on Capitol Hill for a closed hearing on the 9/11 report. The Governmental Affairs Committee will focus on reorganizing intelligence operations. A House committee is also set to get under way later this morning.
Russians are observing a day of mourning today for the 89 people killed in near simultaneous jet crashes. Officials are searching the sites and poring over the planes' flight data recorders, looking for clues. No useful information has been retrieved from those recorders. That's according to officials cited this morning by the Russian news agency.
The nephew of Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy is facing a new allegation of sexual assault. William Kennedy Smith is facing a lawsuit leveled by a former personal assistant that claims he assaulted here after a night of drinking. Smith denies the claim. Back in '91, a jury acquitted Smith in a different sexual assault case.
And there may be a link between high levels of platinum in women and silicone breast implants. A study released publicly just a half hour ago shows level of the highly reactive metal are unusually high in women with implants and in children they breast feed. The findings will be presented later to the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia.
Back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Carol Costello, thanks so much for that.
Talks are under way now in Najaf between Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani and aides to radical Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sistani and thousands of his supporters made their way to Najaf today. The city has been a bloody battleground between U.S. troops and al-Sadr forces for three weeks now. Kianne Sadeq is live on the phone to give us the very latest on the situation there -- Kianne.
KIANNE SADEQ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Heidi.
Well, as a matter of fact, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani arrived in Najaf just a few hours ago, and he is apparently in his house resting at the moment. We talked to a top aide of his, Hamid al-Kafa (ph), who told us that he will send a statement through the grand ayatollah calling on all -- all those who are faithful, all the demonstrators to stay in their positions and not -- not move any further towards the city of Najaf.
Now, he also said that the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani has left London against the doctor's words from his treatment in order to come back here and solve this crisis. They said that there were five goals in this, and the five goals was that armed persons be out of -- be out of Najaf and Kufa, and there will b3e no people who are armed in Najaf and Kufa.
He said that they wanted all foreigners to be out of Najaf as well. He says that he wanted all those people who have been effected or victims of this crisis to be confrontated (ph), and that he wanted the problems of Iraq to be solved by -- as legitimate elections.
Now, earlier today, thousands of supporters of the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani made their way over to Kufa from all over Iraq in order to demonstrate, in order to march to the old city of Najaf and to the Imam Ali -- Ali shrine in peaceful demonstrations. But as they began to march from Kufa, making their way, they were shot at by sniper fire, lots and lots of sniper fire.
We were there earlier today. Several people were killed. Several people were injured by the sniper fire.
The demonstrators had to stop and wait until they received the word from the grand ayatollah on what to do. Well, now the grand ayatollah has sent a statement telling those people to stay put in their positions at this time until further notice.
Back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Kianne Sadeq, thanks so much for giving us the very latest coming out of Najaf this morning. Once again, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: Now, back in this country, the controversy over the Swift Boat ads attacking John Kerry brought new developments yesterday both in Washington and near the president's ranch in Texas. Kelly Wallace back with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning to you, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, it is clear the Kerry campaign is trying to keep this issue alive. It has a new television ad going up in battleground states showing Senator John McCain rebuking, then Governor Bush in 2000. And then yesterday you can say it was poor political theater in Crawford.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice-over): Camp Kerry steered the Swift Boat controversy to President Bush's doorstep, dispatching former senator and Vietnam veteran Max Cleland to the president's Crawford ranch.
MAX CLELAND (D), FMR. U.S. SENATOR: We want George Bush to stand up, come to the plate, and say this is wrong. That attack on the valorous service of a fellow American is wrong.
WALLACE: Team Bush called it a political stunt, but, put on the defensive, sent a Vietnam veteran who supports Mr. Bush before the press.
JERRY PATTERSON, TEXAS LAND COMMISSIONER: All veterans have a right to speak. But if we have 527s, you can't selectively say this one's good, that one's bad.
WALLACE: With this verbal volley...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The accusations...
WALLACE: ... the Kerry campaign kept the duel over the senator's Vietnam record alive for yet another day.
LARRY SABATO, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: When you've got a bad story, you want to make sure it's bad not just for you but for the other candidate. The Kerry people have an opportunity to cut in to the buildup to the Republican convention.
WALLACE: And so, to no one's surprise, the Kerry team jumped on the resignation of Bush-Cheney campaign lawyer Benjamin Ginsberg after he acknowledged giving legal advice to the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. But Republicans fired back.
TERRY HOLT, BUSH-CHENEY CAMPAIGN: For them to -- to pounce on Ben at this point is ridiculous, in fact, and a double standard.
WALLACE: There are connections on the Democratic side. Bob Bauer provided legal advice to senator Kerry during the primaries. His law firm is legal counsel both to the Kerry-Edwards campaign and the pro-Kerry independent group America Coming Together.
Another example, Harold Ickes, who was chief of staff to America Coming Together, and a member of the Democratic Party's executive committee. Since March, ACT and other so-called 527 groups have spent more than $60 million on ads critical of President Bush, more than 20 times what the pro-Bush 527s have spent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: So who has more to lose in this battle, Bill? Analysts say both candidates could be hurt by negative ads, but that Senator Kerry could be damaged more since he made his Vietnam biography the centerpiece of his convention and the campaign.
HEMMER: Yes. Now, on the voter front here, you're on the trail quite often. Are they dialed into this issue? Or do they believe the issue is overdone? What is your sense of that?
WALLACE: The sense -- it's a little hard to say, but the sense is that the issue is overdone. Everyone always likes to attack the media. And it's true in this case, people are saying, the media, all of us, are focusing on this issue day after day, when people really out in the battle ground states are asking the senator and the president when he's there issues like Iraq, the economy. But we'll have to see watching some polls down the road if people are noticing these ads and if they're planting any seeds of doubt for John Kerry or President Bush.
HEMMER: All right. Kelly, thanks for that.
We have some new numbers, in fact, today, new polling numbers suggesting that the recent ads may be taking a toll on Senator Kerry. I talked with Ron Brownstein, political analyst, writer for the "LA Times," about the new numbers out of Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Ron, your latest poll has President Bush with a slight lead, three points, 49 to 46, for the first time in your polling in the "LA TIMES." What explains that shift toward the White House?
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LA TIMES": Well, on a variety of measures, Bill, really almost across the board, you see a small movement toward President Bush and a slight erosion for John Kerry. And a pattern of erosion for Kerry that suggests some damage from the Swift Boat ads.
In part, we saw President Bush's approval rating go up on Iraq, as at least in the last few weeks. It hasn't been quite as much in the headlines. But on a number of measures, trust -- confidence in John Kerry to be commander in chief, interpretation of his Vietnam service, which man do you think has the honesty and integrity to be president, there was a pattern of erosion that I think suggests that he has taken a little bit of a bite from this offensive from the Swift Boat ads.
HEMMER: We also found Independent voters a bit split based on your survey there. But they also find that more Democrats are willing to back President Bush, 15 percent, as compared to Republicans, only three percent willing to back John Kerry. What explains that?
BROWNSTEIN: I think that's more evidence to me, more indirect evidence that this offensive may have been having some effect. The kind of Democrats who are moving away from John Kerry are socially conservative, by and large. They're more likely to be gun owners, they're more likely to be rural, they're more likely to be non- college-educated.
I think the kind of audience that would be most recentive to these arguments -- one very interesting fact is that we have -- we continue to have in this poll a larger constituency for change in the abstract than we do for John Kerry in the particular. About one-fifth of the people who tell us that they believe that President Bush's direction hasn't worked and they want the country to set a new course still aren't voting for John Kerry. That's the gap that he has to close, I think, in order to put himself back in the driver's seat here.
HEMMER: In your first answer, you talked about the honesty and integrity question. When asked who had the most honesty and integrity to serve as president, George Bush wins this category. Do you think that is all because of Swift Boat ads, or is there more to it?
BROWNSTEIN: No. Well, I think, you know, President Bush obviously -- the whole nexus of character issues, they believe, has been their greatest strength, strength of leadership, resolve, honesty. Kerry had narrowed that gap, but it's widening again amid this attack. And I think you can -- you can sort of infer that one has something to do with the other.
The other thing that's widening is the extent to which voters are more likely to say Kerry rather than Bush flip-flops on the issues. And I think that could be another, again, measure of some effect on Senator Kerry.
Most of these are small movements, but they all are tilting in the same direction. And they produce a slight tilt here.
I wouldn't say President Bush is out of the woods, though. We still have a lot of measures in this poll showing an openness for change. People think the country's on the wrong track. A majority of people say that we need a new direction in policy.
A strong plurality say President Bush's policies haven't helped the economy. The question continues to be, can John Kerry inspire enough faith and confidence in those open to change in the abstract to support him in particular?
HEMMER: Again, Ron Brownstein, writer for the "LA Times," talking about the new numbers from his newspaper just out today.
Also, one more reminder. Starting Monday morning, 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, we will be live in the Garden here in New York City. Madison Square Garden, day one, for the Republican National Convention -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Scott Peterson lied. That's what the prosecution spent Wednesday telling the jury. Jurors heard more audiotapes and intercepted more phone calls. Prosecutors say the tapes prove Peterson lied in the days following his wife Laci's disappearance.
In one of the recordings, Peterson told several people, including his mother-in-law, that he was in Bakersfield, California, when he was really in Berkeley. That's where Laci's remains and those of her unborn child eventually washed ashore.
And an emergency court hearing is planned today in the Kobe Bryant case. In a motion filed yesterday, a deputy district attorney claims Bryant's defense team manipulated DNA data. Prosecutors are trying to cast doubt on DNA tests of semen samples taken from the accuser and her clothing. The defense maintains it's from a man other than Kobe Bryant. Jury selection in that case is set for tomorrow.
HEMMER: Almost 15 minutes past the hour. A check of the weather again with Chad Myers, watching "F," for Frances, and also the Midwest.
(WEATHER REPORT) COLLINS: Again, I say that's nasty. All right. Thanks so much, Chad.
Still to come this morning, there is a monumental task facing the NYPD next week. I'm sure you've heard about it. The Republican National Convention, they've been preparing for it for months. But will the police be ready for that convention? We'll hear from the man in charge, Commissioner Ray Kelly.
HEMMER: Also ahead, Sanjay checks back in with a pack-a-day smoker from our "New You" series. How is she doing since we left off, what, six months ago...
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: ... seven months ago? We'll have a look in a moment.
COLLINS: Plus, tuning into politics. There's a rock 'n' roll revolution going on. It's part of our weeklong series, "Poli-Wood," ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Day four now of our weeklong series, "Poli-Wood" a look at politics, Hollywood and the narrow line in between. More than ever, it seems music stars are playing the role of pied piper, leading young people to the polls. So, is it working, and could it actually affect the November election?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's simple. It takes a few minutes. And, plus, guys, chicks dig registered voters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frankly, you're right. Check it out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At least I get to decide who they are.
COLLINS (voice-over): You can either Rock the Vote, Choose or Lose, MoveOn, or vote for change in this year's presidential election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go to declareyourself.com to download your voter registration form.
COLLINS: Welcome to the new revolution. Rock 'n' roll is no longer raging against the machine. Instead, polling young people of all political persuasions to the polling booth.
SEAN. P. DIDDY COMBS, CITIZEN CHANGE: We're trying to educate, motivate and empower young people that have over the years been disenfranchised about the voting process.
COLLINS: Since the voting age requirement was lowered in 1972, the turnout rate has actually declined the most among 18 to 24-year- olds. COMBS: It's very simple. If you -- if in your life you need help in your life, and people are not talking about helping you, you're not going to keep tuned in to them, you know.
COLLINS: So, music moguls from Sean P. Diddy Combs, Russell Simmons, along with MTV and other grassroots group are using ever effort to get younger Americans to the polls.
(on camera): There are some people out there, though, who will say, wait a minute, what is MTV doing? I mean, it's MTV. It's not politics.
GIDEON YAGO, MTV NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Just because somebody likes Britney Spears doesn't mean they don't care about STDs, or politics, or violence in their schools, or war outside of, you know, America's borders. It's not mutually exclusive.
COLLINS (voice-over): And so pop stars, like Outkast's Andre 3000, may be better at delivering the message to young people.
ANDRE 3000, DECLARE YOURSELF: Mr. Norman Lear, who's doing a campaign with Declare Yourself, he contacted me and said, "We want to recruit you, you know, to get the youth to vote." And I said, "Well, Mr. Lear, you know, I don't know if I'm the right person for it because I've never voted ever in my life." And he said, "No, that's perfect."
So I think doing it by example is my plight, you know, just to show by example. I'm not like a huge, you know, no politician, you know, let's go fight and let's go stand out, you know. But if I have to do that, I will, you know. But hey, I think what I'm doing through music is way more powerful. It can be way more powerful than a politician, you know.
COLLINS: Artists like Andre 3000 may get the vote out. But can musicians have any effect on convincing the voters who to vote for? A Bush-Cheney campaign spokesperson says, "All the showbiz in the world isn't going to get John Kerry elected. The Democrats may have The Boss, but we have the commander in chief."
YAGO: At the end of the day, you know, young people, you know, they might get tuned into the fact that this election is important because someone in Hollywood says so. But they're not necessarily going to vote because, you know, celebrity X tells them to. They're going to vote because the issues affect their lives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Our five-part "Poli-Wood" series concludes tomorrow with a look at the importance of a candidate's image. In our media- driven world, where a premium is placed on image, will Hollywood directors play a bigger role in politics? That's tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING.
HEMMER: In a moment here, baseball's pennant race is heating up. And a curious squirrel can make a huge impact. We'll explain. First, though, Olympics quiz this morning. When the Olympics were revised in 1896, in Athens, winners did not receive gold medals. What did they get for their victories? The answer after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: What did the winners receive at the Olympic games back in 1896? The answer is silver medal, crown of olive branches and a diploma. That was for first place. Second place, bronze medal, a crown of laurel and a diploma. The current gold-silver- bronze tradition started began in 1904.
COLLINS: Which really is gold. Remember we talked about that the other day -- 97.5 percent silver?
HEMMER: It's only partially gold, that's right.
COLLINS: A little gold on top?
HEMMER: We did that for Jack, by the way.
CAFFERTY: I have a question.
HEMMER: Yes?
CAFFERTY: When are the Olympics over?
COLLINS: Over?
HEMMER: Is it Saturday?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: It couldn't be soon enough for you.
HEMMER: Closing ceremonies Saturday?
CAFFERTY: Today's Thursday.
HEMMER: At least this weekend.
CAFFERTY: We're getting there.
HEMMER: Maybe it's Friday.
CAFFERTY: An anti-umbrella group -- anti-GOP umbrella group -- excuse me -- called United for Peace and Justice was denied a permit to demonstrate on the great lawn in Central Park by two different judges in the last couple of days. They've been told they could protest near the convention center, which is Madison Square Garden, but not on the great lawn of the park.
The city spent $18 million to restore the lawn a few years back, says it doesn't want it destroyed again. There are also some security issues that have been raised. The activists are vowing to go to the park on Sunday anyway. It could get ugly. The question is this: is it right to keep the protesters out of Central Park?
Kathie in New York write this: "If the park can handle huge groups of people to see entertainers on the great lawn, it can handle a large group of demonstrators. Gee, I bet if they were demonstrators for the Republican Party, Bloomberg, Pataki and cohorts would have no problem with this demonstration."
Diane in New York City writes this: "Ten minutes ago, I just returned from a run in Central Park. I ran past the great lawn, and I can say it's one of the highlights of the park. To have a bunch of protesters trampling over the grass is stupid when there's pavement all over the city and the convention is 30 blocks away."
"So keep them off the park and on the street where they can exercise their right of free speech and I can run in peace. P.S., I ran on the pavement, not on the grass."
And Dean in Marlton, New Jersey, "Yes, I think they should be kept out of Central Park and instead be given a permit to hold their protests at Ground Zero where the World Trade Center once stood. Of course that might take some of the wind out of their sails."
HEMMER: Trying to get the closing ceremonies for you, Jack. I can't find it.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: I feel like a failure. You know, here I am for you all the time. I just...
COLLINS: Anybody got that?
CAFFERTY: You know, but it's the effort that counts for something, right? The fact that you're trying.
HEMMER: Yes. Still, bah, bah, bah.
Break here in a moment. We're going to follow the story again out of Russia. Still looking for clues in those plane crashes of two days ago. At least one top official zeroing in on what he thinks is the likely cause.
Also, a developing story in Iraq. A break here. Back in a moment. Opening bell after this.
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