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American Morning
Interview with Scott McClellan; Interview with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs
Aired September 02, 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: A few moments ago live from Wall Street, Senate majority leader Bill Frist out of Tennessee doing the honors today, on this day, September 2nd, 2004. Off about five points in trading yesterday. The Dow 30 kicking off today. We'll see where they go. A lot of movement expected tomorrow after the jobs number comes out, about 23 hours from now. Half past the hour here. Welcome back to Madison Square Garden. They are finishing the stage now for President Bush's speech later tonight. The workers got started late last night. Take a look at this. In real time, or something real close to it, anyway, this is the image we're seeing right now over the course of the night into the early morning hours. They are taking a platform, extending it straight out from that stage, and then constructing a -- it's almost like a theater in the round, a circular stage that would be placed in the middle of Madison Square Garden. And we'll find out in a moment here from White House spokesperson Scott McClellan, the intent behind this, whose idea it was and what they hope to accomplish.
Also John Edwards in a moment here. We talked to him earlier today, his thoughts on what he heard last night. And P. Diddy is in the house today. We'll get back to him in his effort to get out the vote this year. Also Heidi Collins across town. Good morning, Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning once again, Bill. We want to, of course, check the forecast as well with Hurricane Frances, where it is and where it's headed. But right now, straight to the other news, now in the news, that is. More hostages have been released in the standoff in Russia. Within the past five minutes we've learned Interfax News Agency is reporting that 26 hostages were freed from the school. We're looking at three women, three infants that we had heard of earlier being let out in the arms of security officials there. Officials do say they hope to resume talks with the armed attackers after communication broke off earlier this morning. Hoping for some progress there.
Within the half hour, a U.N. special envoy will present a report to the security council calling for more peacekeepers in Sudan. The recommendation has already gained support from the U.S. and the Sudanese government. The council is expected to make a decision in the coming days.
And in California, a state investigator in the Scott Peterson double murder case will return to the stand. Yesterday he testified Peterson made several trips to the San Francisco Bay in the two weeks after his wife Laci's disappearance. Testimony continues in just a few hours. We are going to talk with Jeff Toobin about the Kobe Bryant trial and the bombshell there in just a few moments.
Bill, back over to you for now.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Tonight's the grand finale here in New York City for the Republicans, President Bush accepting his party's nomination, addressing the delegates, talking to the country. Last night a Democratic senator in the spotlight, Senator Zell Miller from Georgia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ZELL MILLER (D), GEORGIA: Today at the same time young Americans are dying in the sands of Iraq, in the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation is being torn apart and made weaker because of a Democrats' manic obsession to bring down our commander in chief. What has happened to the party I've spent my life working in?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: He spoke for 16 minutes. The reaction inside the garden was strong. It was also strong from the Democratic side outside of New York City. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan my guest here. Good morning to you.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Democrats are saying it was too strong. They even used the word hate in a statement last night. What was the purpose of putting Zell Miller out there last night?
MCCLELLAN: Well, Senator Miller is a Democrat who has worked with Senator Kerry. He knows him well. He also knows that the stakes are high in this election, that there are clear choices as we move forward. And I think he was talking about it from that perspective. He was talking about his grandchildren, how he wants to make sure that they live up in a world that is safe, a world where they can realize their full potential. And I think that's what he was talking about. Elections are about choices.
HEMMER: Also Democrats are saying that it was strong on Monday night with Rudy Giuliani hitting hard on John Kerry. And perhaps it was strong last night with Zell Miller and Dick Cheney. Will it be strong again tonight in the words of the president when he appears?
MCCLELLAN: Well, this election is about the issues. And this convention has focused on the issues. And tonight I think you're going to hear a very forward-looking and very hopeful agenda for the future of America. The president recognizes that we've been through a lot together over the last four years. We've overcome a lot. We've been tested. We've risen to those challenges to get our economy growing, and growing strong. We've risen to the challenge faced by the attacks of September 11th. And so, I think the president will be talking about not only freedom abroad and advancing freedom abroad, because we know that free nations don't export terror, but he'll also talk about freedom at home, giving people more freedom over their lives, control over their own lives and talking about building an ownership society.
HEMMER: You're saying an awful lot in that answer. Let me try and break it down here. Number one on the economy, for Americans out there listening to the president, trying to find out his ideas for the next four years, and how to make the economy stronger here, what will he say?
MCCLELLAN: Well, like I said, we've got more work to do when it comes to creating as strong an economy as possible. We've overcome a lot. The economy, the unemployment rate is now at 5.5 percent. That's below the averages of the '70s, '80s and '90s. We've created 1.5 million new jobs over the last year. Tonight he'll talk about how we've got more to do to make sure America continues to be the best place in the world to do business. And that's what he'll be talking about tonight.
HEMMER: But the Republicans were hitting on Democrats consistently a month ago in Boston saying they lack specifics. Will there be specifics on the economy?
MCCLELLAN: This is a detailed and robust agenda that the president will be offering tonight. And, yes, he'll be talking specifically about creating an educated workforce, where we have a workforce that has the skills to meet the jobs of the 21st century. We have better paying, high paying jobs being created. We need to make sure that workers in this changing time we're in have the skills to fill the jobs. And that's what the president will be talking about tonight.
HEMMER: He'll be on center stage in the round, too. Scott McClellan, thanks for your time. We will see what we hear tonight, and we'll wait for it.
MCCLELLAN: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: In a moment here also, we'll get back to the whole issue about getting out the vote. But before we go there, earlier in our program here, the vice presidential candidate on the Democratic side, John Edwards, is out, a rare interview during the convention for the opposing party. His comments now on the statements made last night about John Kerry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: You released a statement last night, quoting from that statement, "there was a lot of hate coming from the podium last night." What did you mean by that, the word hate?
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS, VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, hate, anger. If you listen to Senator Miller's speech and the vice president's speech, you know, there was an awful lot of focus and angry rhetoric about Senator Kerry. It would be nice for them to have a little more anger about, you know, the 5 million people who have lost their health care coverage while President Bush has been in office, 4 million people who have fallen into poverty and almost 2 million people who lost their private sector jobs and the typical family' income is down $1,500. And I think what is the contrast between what we saw last night and between what John Kerry and I did at our convention couldn't be more dramatic. I mean, we have a hopeful, optimistic vision and a plan to put our vision into place. The truth is, if you had left to go get a diet coke during the vice president's speech, you would have missed everything he said about the economy and jobs and what he's going to do about health care.
HEMMER: You say Iraq is a mess. Do you believe the U.S. is winning the war on terror at this point?
EDWARDS: I think we've made some progress, and I think there's a lot left to be done. And that includes in Iraq. I mean, for example, just an example, yesterday -- last night the vice president made this broad statement about progress that had been made, about the threat from Iran, just completely ignoring that on the same day the Iranians announced that they were moving forward with their nuclear weapons development program. Now, the record is just startling. I mean, both in Iran and in North Korea, they've moved forward significantly on this president's watch to create a greater threat for America and for the rest of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Senator John Edwards earlier today. A midnight rally with John Kerry in Ohio on the Democratic side in a moment. Our reporters on the floor live here in the garden. Back across town to Heidi again. Heidi?
COLLINS: Thank you, Bill.
Kobe Bryant's rape trial is over before it ever really began. Prosecutors say they were forced to drop sexual assault charges when Bryant's accuser decided not to testify. The Eagle County, Colorado D.A. calls it, quote, "justice interrupted." Senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin weighing now. Jeffrey, your reaction to this, and what does it say about the prosecution's competence?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: I think it says that they were incompetent. This case was brought too early, before it was fully investigated. There was no reason to bring it this fast. Kobe Bryant wasn't going anywhere. And the evidence suggested overwhelmingly that Kobe Bryant was going to be acquitted. And prosecutors should never have brought a case like that.
COLLINS: OK So this is over. What about the civil case? Where does that leave it then?
TOOBIN: Well, Kobe Bryant gave a very conciliatory statement yesterday. He's a very, very rich man.
COLLINS: It was an apology.
TOOBIN: It was an apology. He's a very rich man with a $120 million contract. There's a tremendous incentive for him, even though, frankly, I think he would win a civil case, too. Give the accuser some money, make this thing go away. I don't think we'll ever see a civil trial in this case.
COLLINS: Let's listen for just a minute, if we could. D.A. Mark Hurlbert actually went and addressed the press yesterday, thanked a lot of people he worked with. He also thanked some others. Let's listen for a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK HURLBERT, EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Finally, I want to thank the victim, and I want to thank her family. They are truly, truly great people. And they are my heroes. They went through an extremely, extremely tough time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: A very nice statement.
TOOBIN: But what does that mean? I mean, here you have a woman who sabotaged his case, who withdrew from the case. He says, you know, that he was pursuing justice. She stopped him from pursuing justice. I mean, it seems incoherent and indicative of a prosecution effort that tried to keep various constituencies happy, but didn't do the fundamental job of a prosecutor, which is to bring charges that can stick.
COLLINS: A lot of people across this country watching the case, especially in regard to the Colorado rape shield laws, what does this do? I mean, is this going to keep victims from coming forward now? It's been a question all along.
TOOBIN: Well, you know, I would hate to see that. I think it's worth remembering, this judge did not say open season on this woman's sexual history. That's a mistake. What the judge did was, the judge said her sexual activity in the 72 hours before she was examined could be revealed. And the judge had to do that. Because Kobe Bryant had a right to defend himself. But this does not mean it was open season on her personal life. And it doesn't mean that it's open season on all rape victims' personal lives. So I certainly hope as a citizen that it doesn't discourage women from coming forward who have been attacked, because that would be just terrible.
COLLINS: Jeffrey Toobin, thanks so much, as always. Big, big story on that one, for sure, surprise.
Chad Myers has been updating us all morning long now on another story, Hurricane Frances, of course. Good morning once again to you, Chad. Still moving very quickly, right?
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Our sympathies to Florida. Wow, this is just a double shot within a couple of weeks from each other.
MYERS: Sure is. Yes. HEMMER: All right, Chad, thanks for that. In a moment here, doctor can't get you to lower your cholesterol? Would James Bond be able to lower your cholesterol? Andy's minding your business. He explains that over at the diner.
And P. Diddy made his mark in music, then in fashion. Now trying to do the same in politics. We'll talk to him about his cause in a moment here live on American Morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. To our floor reporters in a moment. But the protesting once again underway again today. Some videotape a short time ago, about 150 anti-Bush demonstrators gathering at Grand Central Station. The group chanting fight AIDS, not Iraq. Nineteen people arrested when they refused orders to leave. Yesterday at this time, the number was 1,700, 1,700 arrests in New York City going back to Friday night, just about six days ago. Back to our floor reporters. Now we call it on the floor. Say hello and good morning to Candy Crowley, up early. They were up late last night. They're up early again today. Good morning, Candy. Ron Brownstein and Kelly Wallace with us here. Zell Miller reaction on the floor was what last night?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, they loved it. This is the partisan group. This is -- they love that kind of red meat, as we call it. You know, every once in a while somebody would say, did you think he went a little far? But they certainly understood that perhaps out there it might. But they, themselves, this is their kind of stuff.
HEMMER: Did you hear the same thing, Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Democrats will say it's going to backfire. Most of the anchors were pouncing on Senator Miller after his speech. Pouncing and pouncing. But how did it play? I saw an interview with 17 swing voters in a battleground state, the majority using words like remarkable, energetic. right on target. The majority favorable opinion.
HEMMER: So this wraps now. What's the Kerry campaign doing? A midnight rally later tonight. This strategy is what?
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": Very unusual, almost unprecedented. They feel they have -- each party always feels that the other side leaves an opening at their convention. I think the Democrats feel as you look at the first three nights it's been overwhelmingly national security, war on terror, very little on the economy, health care, domestic issues. The president will do more tonight. But Kerry wants to shift the focus back to those issues, especially with the jobs report coming out tomorrow, the census report last week. They want to move that to bay, at least partially. Obviously they'll focus on national security, too, but they want to move it back more toward economy, health care, where democrats and Kerry is stronger.
HEMMER: So that's what the Democrats are doing outside of New York. What is president Bush set to say tonight?
CROWLEY: Well, he is going to -- according to his aides, there will be some talk about Iraq. But I think we are going to get more of the domestic agenda, and pushing forward. They want this to be a contrast to John Kerry's speech. They felt that John Kerry -- the convention and the speech didn't lay out an agenda. They, of course, have been hammered for not putting out an agenda. They want to move forward and be seen as doing that.
BROWNSTEIN: They've gone three years, eight months and now three nights really without saying much about what they're going to do in a second term. That's been one of the big holes in this convention, almost nothing really in these first three nights. One question will be he will lay out broad goals on areas like Social Security reform, probably tax reform as well, health care reform. But how specific is he going to be in giving the public an idea of what he wants to do? He doesn't want to give them so much to shoot at that it becomes the focus of the campaign.
WALLACE: And the intangibles are important, too. People are saying they want people to be reacquainted with President Bush. He's become a commander in chief, a wartime president. One reporter saying lose the macho president, show his softer side. So, that's in the theater in the round tonight.
HEMMER: And we all wait to see. By the way, you had an amazing story last night. I don't have any time to tell it. But we do have 10 seconds. Squeeze it out for us. Jeb Bush signs on the floor, 08. What were they thinking?
WALLACE: Jeb Bush '08. It said Jeb '08 in the Florida delegation. We got one. A Florida delegate gave it to us. They literally wrestled it from our producer. I mean, they literally attacked him, took the thing away and said, you can't have this. You can't have that. Off message. You can't have that. The whole dynasty thing.
HEMMER: What were they thinking in Florida? We've got to run. Kelly, Ron, Candy, thanks. Break here in a moment. Back out to the diner one more time. Back with Andy and Jack in a moment telling us how Hollywood may affect what's in your medicine cabinet. That's what we call a tease. Back in a moment after this live from Madison Square Garden.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: The markets are open on this Thursday. A check on the early trading. A pharmaceutical company goes Hollywood. Here with the business news is Andy Serwer. Good morning.
(MARKET REPORT)
ANDY SERWER, CNN EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Good morning, Jack.
(MARKET REPORT)
CAFFERTY: These are the greatest marketers in the world. They sell a 10 cent cup of coffee for $8.
SERWER: Speaking of marketers, how about Pfizer? They're looking to put drugs, pharmaceuticals, product placement into movies and TV shows.
CAFFERTY: What kind of products?
SERWER: They've hired William Morris to do it. How about this, Viagra, Zoloft, Lipitor, Celebrex. These are some of the drugs. So, say, in Matt LeBlanc's new show, hey, he's got a medical problem. Maybe I should get some Viagra from the doctor, he would subtly say. Or Jack Nicholson feeling a little depressed. Maybe I need some Zoloft. Can you see this happening?
CAFFERTY: Absolutely.
SERWER: Yes, you can.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks.
SERWER: You're welcome
CAFFERTY: That's it from here, Heidi. All right.
COLLINS: All right. That's big news, Tootsie Roll and Double Bubble together. Love that. All right. Coming up, CNN continues to monitor Hurricane Frances as it bears Down on Florida. We're going to have a live update from the Bahamas as it chugs along. That's coming up in the next hour with Daryn Kagan on CNN Live Today. American Morning will be back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Vote or die, a powerful message from Sean P. Diddy Combs to America's youth. Citizen change, a non-partisan effort to get young people to the polls on November 2nd, two months to the day, in fact, today. Sean P. Diddy Combs with me now. Good morning, Sean. How are you?
SEAN "P. DIDDY" COMBS, MUSICAL ARTIST, DESIGNER: Good morning, how are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine, thanks.
COMBS: And the message I want to make sure that before you leave work, that you carry the message on. I brought the shirt for you.
HEMMER: Well, thank you, man. I appreciate that.
COMBS: We are now selling these in the Macy's department stores east and west and, you know, all over the United States and also the new Sean John Store on Fifth Avenue. So, you know, if you want to make a fashion statement.
HEMMER: Thank you. COMBS: It's a strong message. You know, it's a serious time. You know, many people have died for us, you know, to have the right to vote, to have the freedoms that we have here today. And the message is strong. You know, when you vote a president into office, you're putting your life and the lives of your families in their hands.
HEMMER: We talked a month ago in Boston. What has happened in the last month that has helped to forward your cause?
COMBS: So much has happened. We have just shot a series of PSAs directed by Joel Schumacher. It was shot by Alicia Keys, Yoko Ono, and myself, Kanye West. We are going really strongly at this community of the forgotten ones, the over 40 million young Americans over 18 to 35 and also minority voters who - we've been at both of these conventions, we're looking, we're begging to hear something that's going to change our lives, something that's really talking about issues that are regular human issues. But what we're seeing a lot of is really a fight between, you know, the Democrats and Republicans. And now it's time to start talking about issues that are going to affect the young American people.
HEMMER: You were in Miami on Sunday night. The Kerry daughters came out and the Bush daughters were on videotape. And the boo birds came out as well. This was a young people's crowd. It was a young audience, and they completely dismissed any message of politics. What does that say to you?
COMBS: I think it shows the frustrations of young Americans. They're tired of politicians not addressing issues that are dealing with their lives and politicians not giving them anything that's going to help to change their lives. You know, we need help. There are issues with poverty and health care and education that directly effect young Americans. And we feel like politicians don't talk directly to us.
And at the end of the day, this community of voters are going to be the deciding factor on who's the next president of the United States.
HEMMER: Listen, we've got 60 days to go.
COMBS: Yes.
HEMMER: You come back in a month, OK, come over to our studios in midtown Manhattan.
COMBS: Actions speak louder than words. On November 2nd, the revolution will be televised, and, you know, young Americans will decide who's the next president of the United States.
HEMMER: Nice to see you, Sean.
COMBS: OK, thank you.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, all right.
COMBS: Thank you very much.
HEMMER: Thanks for the T-shirt.
COMBS: Make sure you wear it.
HEMMER: I'll be wearing this around town.
COMBS: OK.
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Aired September 2, 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: A few moments ago live from Wall Street, Senate majority leader Bill Frist out of Tennessee doing the honors today, on this day, September 2nd, 2004. Off about five points in trading yesterday. The Dow 30 kicking off today. We'll see where they go. A lot of movement expected tomorrow after the jobs number comes out, about 23 hours from now. Half past the hour here. Welcome back to Madison Square Garden. They are finishing the stage now for President Bush's speech later tonight. The workers got started late last night. Take a look at this. In real time, or something real close to it, anyway, this is the image we're seeing right now over the course of the night into the early morning hours. They are taking a platform, extending it straight out from that stage, and then constructing a -- it's almost like a theater in the round, a circular stage that would be placed in the middle of Madison Square Garden. And we'll find out in a moment here from White House spokesperson Scott McClellan, the intent behind this, whose idea it was and what they hope to accomplish.
Also John Edwards in a moment here. We talked to him earlier today, his thoughts on what he heard last night. And P. Diddy is in the house today. We'll get back to him in his effort to get out the vote this year. Also Heidi Collins across town. Good morning, Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning once again, Bill. We want to, of course, check the forecast as well with Hurricane Frances, where it is and where it's headed. But right now, straight to the other news, now in the news, that is. More hostages have been released in the standoff in Russia. Within the past five minutes we've learned Interfax News Agency is reporting that 26 hostages were freed from the school. We're looking at three women, three infants that we had heard of earlier being let out in the arms of security officials there. Officials do say they hope to resume talks with the armed attackers after communication broke off earlier this morning. Hoping for some progress there.
Within the half hour, a U.N. special envoy will present a report to the security council calling for more peacekeepers in Sudan. The recommendation has already gained support from the U.S. and the Sudanese government. The council is expected to make a decision in the coming days.
And in California, a state investigator in the Scott Peterson double murder case will return to the stand. Yesterday he testified Peterson made several trips to the San Francisco Bay in the two weeks after his wife Laci's disappearance. Testimony continues in just a few hours. We are going to talk with Jeff Toobin about the Kobe Bryant trial and the bombshell there in just a few moments.
Bill, back over to you for now.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Tonight's the grand finale here in New York City for the Republicans, President Bush accepting his party's nomination, addressing the delegates, talking to the country. Last night a Democratic senator in the spotlight, Senator Zell Miller from Georgia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ZELL MILLER (D), GEORGIA: Today at the same time young Americans are dying in the sands of Iraq, in the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation is being torn apart and made weaker because of a Democrats' manic obsession to bring down our commander in chief. What has happened to the party I've spent my life working in?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: He spoke for 16 minutes. The reaction inside the garden was strong. It was also strong from the Democratic side outside of New York City. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan my guest here. Good morning to you.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Democrats are saying it was too strong. They even used the word hate in a statement last night. What was the purpose of putting Zell Miller out there last night?
MCCLELLAN: Well, Senator Miller is a Democrat who has worked with Senator Kerry. He knows him well. He also knows that the stakes are high in this election, that there are clear choices as we move forward. And I think he was talking about it from that perspective. He was talking about his grandchildren, how he wants to make sure that they live up in a world that is safe, a world where they can realize their full potential. And I think that's what he was talking about. Elections are about choices.
HEMMER: Also Democrats are saying that it was strong on Monday night with Rudy Giuliani hitting hard on John Kerry. And perhaps it was strong last night with Zell Miller and Dick Cheney. Will it be strong again tonight in the words of the president when he appears?
MCCLELLAN: Well, this election is about the issues. And this convention has focused on the issues. And tonight I think you're going to hear a very forward-looking and very hopeful agenda for the future of America. The president recognizes that we've been through a lot together over the last four years. We've overcome a lot. We've been tested. We've risen to those challenges to get our economy growing, and growing strong. We've risen to the challenge faced by the attacks of September 11th. And so, I think the president will be talking about not only freedom abroad and advancing freedom abroad, because we know that free nations don't export terror, but he'll also talk about freedom at home, giving people more freedom over their lives, control over their own lives and talking about building an ownership society.
HEMMER: You're saying an awful lot in that answer. Let me try and break it down here. Number one on the economy, for Americans out there listening to the president, trying to find out his ideas for the next four years, and how to make the economy stronger here, what will he say?
MCCLELLAN: Well, like I said, we've got more work to do when it comes to creating as strong an economy as possible. We've overcome a lot. The economy, the unemployment rate is now at 5.5 percent. That's below the averages of the '70s, '80s and '90s. We've created 1.5 million new jobs over the last year. Tonight he'll talk about how we've got more to do to make sure America continues to be the best place in the world to do business. And that's what he'll be talking about tonight.
HEMMER: But the Republicans were hitting on Democrats consistently a month ago in Boston saying they lack specifics. Will there be specifics on the economy?
MCCLELLAN: This is a detailed and robust agenda that the president will be offering tonight. And, yes, he'll be talking specifically about creating an educated workforce, where we have a workforce that has the skills to meet the jobs of the 21st century. We have better paying, high paying jobs being created. We need to make sure that workers in this changing time we're in have the skills to fill the jobs. And that's what the president will be talking about tonight.
HEMMER: He'll be on center stage in the round, too. Scott McClellan, thanks for your time. We will see what we hear tonight, and we'll wait for it.
MCCLELLAN: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: In a moment here also, we'll get back to the whole issue about getting out the vote. But before we go there, earlier in our program here, the vice presidential candidate on the Democratic side, John Edwards, is out, a rare interview during the convention for the opposing party. His comments now on the statements made last night about John Kerry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: You released a statement last night, quoting from that statement, "there was a lot of hate coming from the podium last night." What did you mean by that, the word hate?
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS, VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, hate, anger. If you listen to Senator Miller's speech and the vice president's speech, you know, there was an awful lot of focus and angry rhetoric about Senator Kerry. It would be nice for them to have a little more anger about, you know, the 5 million people who have lost their health care coverage while President Bush has been in office, 4 million people who have fallen into poverty and almost 2 million people who lost their private sector jobs and the typical family' income is down $1,500. And I think what is the contrast between what we saw last night and between what John Kerry and I did at our convention couldn't be more dramatic. I mean, we have a hopeful, optimistic vision and a plan to put our vision into place. The truth is, if you had left to go get a diet coke during the vice president's speech, you would have missed everything he said about the economy and jobs and what he's going to do about health care.
HEMMER: You say Iraq is a mess. Do you believe the U.S. is winning the war on terror at this point?
EDWARDS: I think we've made some progress, and I think there's a lot left to be done. And that includes in Iraq. I mean, for example, just an example, yesterday -- last night the vice president made this broad statement about progress that had been made, about the threat from Iran, just completely ignoring that on the same day the Iranians announced that they were moving forward with their nuclear weapons development program. Now, the record is just startling. I mean, both in Iran and in North Korea, they've moved forward significantly on this president's watch to create a greater threat for America and for the rest of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Senator John Edwards earlier today. A midnight rally with John Kerry in Ohio on the Democratic side in a moment. Our reporters on the floor live here in the garden. Back across town to Heidi again. Heidi?
COLLINS: Thank you, Bill.
Kobe Bryant's rape trial is over before it ever really began. Prosecutors say they were forced to drop sexual assault charges when Bryant's accuser decided not to testify. The Eagle County, Colorado D.A. calls it, quote, "justice interrupted." Senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin weighing now. Jeffrey, your reaction to this, and what does it say about the prosecution's competence?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: I think it says that they were incompetent. This case was brought too early, before it was fully investigated. There was no reason to bring it this fast. Kobe Bryant wasn't going anywhere. And the evidence suggested overwhelmingly that Kobe Bryant was going to be acquitted. And prosecutors should never have brought a case like that.
COLLINS: OK So this is over. What about the civil case? Where does that leave it then?
TOOBIN: Well, Kobe Bryant gave a very conciliatory statement yesterday. He's a very, very rich man.
COLLINS: It was an apology.
TOOBIN: It was an apology. He's a very rich man with a $120 million contract. There's a tremendous incentive for him, even though, frankly, I think he would win a civil case, too. Give the accuser some money, make this thing go away. I don't think we'll ever see a civil trial in this case.
COLLINS: Let's listen for just a minute, if we could. D.A. Mark Hurlbert actually went and addressed the press yesterday, thanked a lot of people he worked with. He also thanked some others. Let's listen for a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK HURLBERT, EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Finally, I want to thank the victim, and I want to thank her family. They are truly, truly great people. And they are my heroes. They went through an extremely, extremely tough time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: A very nice statement.
TOOBIN: But what does that mean? I mean, here you have a woman who sabotaged his case, who withdrew from the case. He says, you know, that he was pursuing justice. She stopped him from pursuing justice. I mean, it seems incoherent and indicative of a prosecution effort that tried to keep various constituencies happy, but didn't do the fundamental job of a prosecutor, which is to bring charges that can stick.
COLLINS: A lot of people across this country watching the case, especially in regard to the Colorado rape shield laws, what does this do? I mean, is this going to keep victims from coming forward now? It's been a question all along.
TOOBIN: Well, you know, I would hate to see that. I think it's worth remembering, this judge did not say open season on this woman's sexual history. That's a mistake. What the judge did was, the judge said her sexual activity in the 72 hours before she was examined could be revealed. And the judge had to do that. Because Kobe Bryant had a right to defend himself. But this does not mean it was open season on her personal life. And it doesn't mean that it's open season on all rape victims' personal lives. So I certainly hope as a citizen that it doesn't discourage women from coming forward who have been attacked, because that would be just terrible.
COLLINS: Jeffrey Toobin, thanks so much, as always. Big, big story on that one, for sure, surprise.
Chad Myers has been updating us all morning long now on another story, Hurricane Frances, of course. Good morning once again to you, Chad. Still moving very quickly, right?
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HEMMER: Our sympathies to Florida. Wow, this is just a double shot within a couple of weeks from each other.
MYERS: Sure is. Yes. HEMMER: All right, Chad, thanks for that. In a moment here, doctor can't get you to lower your cholesterol? Would James Bond be able to lower your cholesterol? Andy's minding your business. He explains that over at the diner.
And P. Diddy made his mark in music, then in fashion. Now trying to do the same in politics. We'll talk to him about his cause in a moment here live on American Morning.
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HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. To our floor reporters in a moment. But the protesting once again underway again today. Some videotape a short time ago, about 150 anti-Bush demonstrators gathering at Grand Central Station. The group chanting fight AIDS, not Iraq. Nineteen people arrested when they refused orders to leave. Yesterday at this time, the number was 1,700, 1,700 arrests in New York City going back to Friday night, just about six days ago. Back to our floor reporters. Now we call it on the floor. Say hello and good morning to Candy Crowley, up early. They were up late last night. They're up early again today. Good morning, Candy. Ron Brownstein and Kelly Wallace with us here. Zell Miller reaction on the floor was what last night?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, they loved it. This is the partisan group. This is -- they love that kind of red meat, as we call it. You know, every once in a while somebody would say, did you think he went a little far? But they certainly understood that perhaps out there it might. But they, themselves, this is their kind of stuff.
HEMMER: Did you hear the same thing, Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Democrats will say it's going to backfire. Most of the anchors were pouncing on Senator Miller after his speech. Pouncing and pouncing. But how did it play? I saw an interview with 17 swing voters in a battleground state, the majority using words like remarkable, energetic. right on target. The majority favorable opinion.
HEMMER: So this wraps now. What's the Kerry campaign doing? A midnight rally later tonight. This strategy is what?
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": Very unusual, almost unprecedented. They feel they have -- each party always feels that the other side leaves an opening at their convention. I think the Democrats feel as you look at the first three nights it's been overwhelmingly national security, war on terror, very little on the economy, health care, domestic issues. The president will do more tonight. But Kerry wants to shift the focus back to those issues, especially with the jobs report coming out tomorrow, the census report last week. They want to move that to bay, at least partially. Obviously they'll focus on national security, too, but they want to move it back more toward economy, health care, where democrats and Kerry is stronger.
HEMMER: So that's what the Democrats are doing outside of New York. What is president Bush set to say tonight?
CROWLEY: Well, he is going to -- according to his aides, there will be some talk about Iraq. But I think we are going to get more of the domestic agenda, and pushing forward. They want this to be a contrast to John Kerry's speech. They felt that John Kerry -- the convention and the speech didn't lay out an agenda. They, of course, have been hammered for not putting out an agenda. They want to move forward and be seen as doing that.
BROWNSTEIN: They've gone three years, eight months and now three nights really without saying much about what they're going to do in a second term. That's been one of the big holes in this convention, almost nothing really in these first three nights. One question will be he will lay out broad goals on areas like Social Security reform, probably tax reform as well, health care reform. But how specific is he going to be in giving the public an idea of what he wants to do? He doesn't want to give them so much to shoot at that it becomes the focus of the campaign.
WALLACE: And the intangibles are important, too. People are saying they want people to be reacquainted with President Bush. He's become a commander in chief, a wartime president. One reporter saying lose the macho president, show his softer side. So, that's in the theater in the round tonight.
HEMMER: And we all wait to see. By the way, you had an amazing story last night. I don't have any time to tell it. But we do have 10 seconds. Squeeze it out for us. Jeb Bush signs on the floor, 08. What were they thinking?
WALLACE: Jeb Bush '08. It said Jeb '08 in the Florida delegation. We got one. A Florida delegate gave it to us. They literally wrestled it from our producer. I mean, they literally attacked him, took the thing away and said, you can't have this. You can't have that. Off message. You can't have that. The whole dynasty thing.
HEMMER: What were they thinking in Florida? We've got to run. Kelly, Ron, Candy, thanks. Break here in a moment. Back out to the diner one more time. Back with Andy and Jack in a moment telling us how Hollywood may affect what's in your medicine cabinet. That's what we call a tease. Back in a moment after this live from Madison Square Garden.
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JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: The markets are open on this Thursday. A check on the early trading. A pharmaceutical company goes Hollywood. Here with the business news is Andy Serwer. Good morning.
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ANDY SERWER, CNN EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Good morning, Jack.
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CAFFERTY: These are the greatest marketers in the world. They sell a 10 cent cup of coffee for $8.
SERWER: Speaking of marketers, how about Pfizer? They're looking to put drugs, pharmaceuticals, product placement into movies and TV shows.
CAFFERTY: What kind of products?
SERWER: They've hired William Morris to do it. How about this, Viagra, Zoloft, Lipitor, Celebrex. These are some of the drugs. So, say, in Matt LeBlanc's new show, hey, he's got a medical problem. Maybe I should get some Viagra from the doctor, he would subtly say. Or Jack Nicholson feeling a little depressed. Maybe I need some Zoloft. Can you see this happening?
CAFFERTY: Absolutely.
SERWER: Yes, you can.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks.
SERWER: You're welcome
CAFFERTY: That's it from here, Heidi. All right.
COLLINS: All right. That's big news, Tootsie Roll and Double Bubble together. Love that. All right. Coming up, CNN continues to monitor Hurricane Frances as it bears Down on Florida. We're going to have a live update from the Bahamas as it chugs along. That's coming up in the next hour with Daryn Kagan on CNN Live Today. American Morning will be back in a moment.
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HEMMER: Vote or die, a powerful message from Sean P. Diddy Combs to America's youth. Citizen change, a non-partisan effort to get young people to the polls on November 2nd, two months to the day, in fact, today. Sean P. Diddy Combs with me now. Good morning, Sean. How are you?
SEAN "P. DIDDY" COMBS, MUSICAL ARTIST, DESIGNER: Good morning, how are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine, thanks.
COMBS: And the message I want to make sure that before you leave work, that you carry the message on. I brought the shirt for you.
HEMMER: Well, thank you, man. I appreciate that.
COMBS: We are now selling these in the Macy's department stores east and west and, you know, all over the United States and also the new Sean John Store on Fifth Avenue. So, you know, if you want to make a fashion statement.
HEMMER: Thank you. COMBS: It's a strong message. You know, it's a serious time. You know, many people have died for us, you know, to have the right to vote, to have the freedoms that we have here today. And the message is strong. You know, when you vote a president into office, you're putting your life and the lives of your families in their hands.
HEMMER: We talked a month ago in Boston. What has happened in the last month that has helped to forward your cause?
COMBS: So much has happened. We have just shot a series of PSAs directed by Joel Schumacher. It was shot by Alicia Keys, Yoko Ono, and myself, Kanye West. We are going really strongly at this community of the forgotten ones, the over 40 million young Americans over 18 to 35 and also minority voters who - we've been at both of these conventions, we're looking, we're begging to hear something that's going to change our lives, something that's really talking about issues that are regular human issues. But what we're seeing a lot of is really a fight between, you know, the Democrats and Republicans. And now it's time to start talking about issues that are going to affect the young American people.
HEMMER: You were in Miami on Sunday night. The Kerry daughters came out and the Bush daughters were on videotape. And the boo birds came out as well. This was a young people's crowd. It was a young audience, and they completely dismissed any message of politics. What does that say to you?
COMBS: I think it shows the frustrations of young Americans. They're tired of politicians not addressing issues that are dealing with their lives and politicians not giving them anything that's going to help to change their lives. You know, we need help. There are issues with poverty and health care and education that directly effect young Americans. And we feel like politicians don't talk directly to us.
And at the end of the day, this community of voters are going to be the deciding factor on who's the next president of the United States.
HEMMER: Listen, we've got 60 days to go.
COMBS: Yes.
HEMMER: You come back in a month, OK, come over to our studios in midtown Manhattan.
COMBS: Actions speak louder than words. On November 2nd, the revolution will be televised, and, you know, young Americans will decide who's the next president of the United States.
HEMMER: Nice to see you, Sean.
COMBS: OK, thank you.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, all right.
COMBS: Thank you very much.
HEMMER: Thanks for the T-shirt.
COMBS: Make sure you wear it.
HEMMER: I'll be wearing this around town.
COMBS: OK.
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