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American Morning
Iran Sending Ships Near U.S. Coast; Trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's Doctor; Gas Leak Sprouts Flames On Road; New Numbers On Economy's Pulse; Amazon Expected To Unveil Tablet Today; Wanted Convicted Killer Arrested in Portugal; Taye Diggs Interviewed about hew New Children's Book; "Chocolate Me"; Florida's Reptile Invasion
Aired September 28, 2011 - 07:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Iran with a real attention getter. I'm Carol Costello. The nation planning a threatening move, putting navy ships off the U.S. coast. What is Iran trying to prove? And who are they trying to test?
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Ali Velshi. Republicans were hoping to hear a big announcement. Chris Christie delivering a foreign policy address at the Reagan Library last night. Could have been the perfect place to announce a bid for the White House but the New Jersey governor is still keeping us guessing on this AMERICAN MORNING.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you, it is Wednesday, September 28th. Christine has the day off.
VELSHI: We have a lot of news to follow. We'll tell you about Chris Christie in a minute.
But up first, some tough talk from Iran. The country is threatening to move a powerful presence of navy ships very close to American waters, saying the U.S. does the same thing to them.
Barbara Starr has more on this from the Pentagon.
Barbara, what's going on?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ali, I talked to some of my sources here at the Pentagon about what they thought about all of this, and I have to tell you, I got some rolling eyeballs when they were talking about this announcement by Iran.
Look, international waters are open to everybody. The U.S. Navy is happy to let Iran sail into international waters, not into U.S. waters, though.
But these kind of maritime operations, international naval operations that Iran is talking about is a lot harder and a lot more expensive than you might think at first blush. They're going to have to, if they want to do this, they're going to have to have a very highly trained force and they're going to have to have ships and airplanes. They're going to have to be able to refuel, resupply and stay at sea for months. That's something they haven't had a lot of practice with in Iran.
Earlier this year, they sent some ships through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean. That's about the farthest they've ever gone.
So, if they want to do this, the reaction there at the Pentagon is, have at it. But it's going to cost you money. It's going to cost you a lot. And is it what you really want to do? What message are you trying to send?
COSTELLO: I was just going to ask you that. What is Iran's real goal here?
STARR: Well, you know, a lot of the thinking is that Iran is very determined to be perceived as a power on the world stage -- their nuclear program, their political moves, their support for some bad actors in the region that they live in. But, you know, going all the way to the east coast of the United States, what does that really get them?
Much of the thinking is that Iran will stick to its naval military strategy of being the power in the Persian Gulf. Their focus for so many years has been to be able to control those vital shipping lanes through the Gulf, that's what they might be a lot better suited to, according to a lot of Pentagon officials.
VELSHI: All right. Intriguing story, Barbara, thanks very much for that.
COSTELLO: Also this morning, drama in the courtroom. Jurors at the Michael Jackson death trial heard chilling audio from the King of Pop just weeks before he died. Michael Jackson's barely coherent, he's slurring his words. It's part of the prosecution's case against Dr. Conrad Murray, who they say is to blame for Jackson's fatal drug overdose.
CNN's Don Lemon, live outside the courthouse in Los Angeles.
Tell us about this audio recording.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It came from Dr. Murray's iPhone. That's according to the people, the prosecutors yesterday. And apparently, the investigators in this case got it off of his iPhone, a recording there.
And according to someone who testified yesterday, they said that was shortly after Dr. Conrad Murray started to treat Michael Jackson.
Let's listen, Carol, and then we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, KING OF POP: When people leave my show, I want them to say, I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen nothing like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
LEMON: OK. So, when they played that in court, we were wondering, what is that? Is that Michael Jackson? We couldn't understand it. We couldn't see the words up on the screen like you're seeing them there on the screen. And everyone just sort of looked around like, what in the world is that? And the family, as well.
And then if that wasn't bad enough, Carol, this photograph of Michael Jackson in the hospital on a gurney, his lifeless body. We were aghast when we saw that. The family aghast as well. And then the jurors, the look on the jurors' faces when that picture popped up, Carol and Ali, it was just -- I can't even explain what it was like to you to be inside of that courtroom and to just -- you could hear a pin drop.
COSTELLO: I bet.
And the reason behind the release of this audiotape by prosecutors and the release of this photo is to show that Dr. Conrad Murray knew that Michael Jackson was addicted to drugs. Yet, he continued to administer these heavy doses of drug to Michael Jackson.
LEMON: Yes, yes. Yes. And that's what the prosecutor said.
Listen, I want to tell you, though, that the defense in this case said, hey, listen, you know, Dr. Conrad Murray gave Michael Jackson Propofol and these drugs for two months and Michael Jackson went on about his life and he functioned. It was when he stopped giving it to him when he took his life. That's what their defense is. That's what happened.
But I have to tell you, you know, I mean, Ali and Carol, we all have parents. We all have families and this has nothing to do with the guilt or innocence of Dr. Conrad Murray. But imagine sitting there, as I was and many of the members of the press and jurors and having to witness not only that, but the family, the mother of Michael Jackson having to see that and to live this all over again. I mean, it was -- everyone was on the verge of tears. It was unbelievable to see.
COSTELLO: Don Lemon, reporting live from Los Angeles -- thanks. For complete coverage and analysis of the Michael Jackson death trial, check out our sister network, HLN.
VELSHI: No one has seen it before but there's a 2008 jailhouse videotape of Casey Anthony reacting to the news that her daughter, Caylee, remains were found. This afternoon, in Orlando, the judge who presided over her murder trial will decide whether to release it to the public. A local TV station is fighting for it. The original judge in the case ruled three years ago that the tape could not be introduced into court because it would hurt Casey's chances of getting a fair trial.
COSTELLO: The accused Tucson gunman Jared Loughner due back in court today to decide whether he's fit to stand trail. Loughner is diagnosed as schizophrenic. He's been on suicide watch. He's been forced to take his meds in prison. He is accused of killing six people and wounding 13 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords seen here on the House floor on August 1st for the debt ceiling vote.
VELSHI: And a Long Island college student and six former classmates are now under arrest in an alleged SAT cheating ring. Authorities say 19-year-old Sam Eshaghoff was paid as much as $2,500 to take the SATs for six students at Great Neck North High School. They he scored as high as 2,240 out of 2,400 for them.
COSTELLO: A follow-up now to a story we're watching yesterday. It was a cupcake sellout at a pay by your race bake sale on the campus of U.C. Berkeley. This sale is staged by campus Republicans. They say it was meant to get -- it was meant to be racist and to get people fired up about a bill on the governor's desk that would allow colleges to consider ethnic backgrounds in the admissions process. There was no violence, but neither side backed down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
RONNIE KAZOOBA, U.C. BERKELEY STUDENT: I think even before the bake sale started, we've already met our goal, which was to start discussion about this very politically insensitive topic. I think if we had any type of forum or discussion about it, it wouldn't have reached local news, national or international.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's very offensive. I'm offended. It's fine making a point, but you can make a point at our expense. People like me.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
COSTELLO: Hundreds of students staged a mass lay down in solid protest on campus in opposition to the Republican bake sale.
VELSHI: Well, President Obama reaching out to Hispanic voters in an online roundtable later this morning. He's going to be answering questions about issues that affect Latinos. The event will be streamed live on the White House Web site. President Obama will also be visiting a Washington, D.C. high school where he will deliver his third annual back to school speech to students.
COSTELLO: Someone at the White House needs a refresher course in geography. Take a look at the press credentials given to reporters who are covering the president's West Coast trip. See how the three highlights are highlighted there.
He's visiting Washington state, California and Colorado. There's just one problem, that's not Colorado, it's Wyoming. This is the real state of Colorado, a little south and east. But, hey, they're both rectangular and have really pretty mountains.
VELSHI: All right. He sure sounded presidential, but if Chris Christie has plans to run for president in 2012, he is playing it coy. A lot of Republicans were looking to hear a big announcement from the New Jersey governor when he delivered a foreign policy speech last night at the Reagan Library, but that's not what they got.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you reconsidering or are you standing firm?
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: Listen. I have to tell you the truth. You folks are an incredible disappointment as an audience. The fact that that took to second question -- shows you people are off your game. That is not American exceptionalism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: All right. So, will he or won't he run? Let's ask John Avlon. He's a CNN contributor, and senior political columnist with "Newsweek" and the "Daily Beast." And Maggie Haberman, senior political writer for "Politico." Welcome to both of you.
John, last night, while he was giving a speech you and I and your wife were together at an event and you were pretty convinced, as was she, that he's not going to run. But here's something interesting: this is the first time he's been asked where he has actually been coy about this, because he hasn't been coy.
Listen to some of the responses he's given every other time he's been asked. Listen to this.\
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
CHRISTIE: I don't feel ready in my heart to be president.
I don't feel like I'm ready to be president. I don't want to run for president. I don't have the fire in the belly to run for president.
I'm not stupid. I see the opportunity. I see it. That's not the reason to run.
I threaten to commit suicide. I did. I said, what do I have to do short of suicide to convince people I'm not running? Apparently, I actually have to commit suicide.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
VELSHI: All right. Last night was different. He was coy.
JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Last night, he was somewhat coy but did go on to say, look, I just don't feel it and that's the true. I mean, I've asked him directly, sir, are you 100 percent saying you're not going to run? He said, yes, absolutely, 100 percent.
Look, I feel like this headline, Chris Christie not running, it's like that old "SNL" skit, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still. He's not running. The story hasn't changes. I think his team is enjoying all the interest. He is a national Republican leader and gave a great speech last night and a lot of people would love Republican candidate, but he's not running.
VELSHI: Maggie?
MAGGIE HABERMAN, POLITICO: I don't totally agree. I mean, look, I don't think he's running, but I do think he is considering it. And I do think his answer last night was very different than we have heard. This was is not the straight talk, I'll go lay down in the street and kill myself answer that we've gotten.
(CROSSTALK)
HABERMAN: That's right. This was, you know, I am hearing what you have to say. That woman who asked him a question at the end, he said he is listening to what people are saying to him and he is taking that in. That was absolutely not, I'm not ready, I'm not feeling it -- what he has said at every other turn.
Now, again, I don't think this will end up in a campaign, but I think he absolutely is thinking about it and wants people to know he's thinking about it.
VELSHI: It's not just folks at meetings like this, John. It's donors. There are people with money who have not put their money behind Mitt Romney. They have not put their money behind Rick Perry, and they are saying, get into this race and we'll back you.
AVLON: And that's the real news here. I mean, I think it's the highest level donors and party recognized, frankly, that it is a weak field, especially, there's no one representing the strong center right, someone who is a fiscal conservative, who is unabashed and taken on the issues. But isn't far right on social issues necessarily.
And so, I think that's the real news out of this whole courtship of Chris Christie. It's been a fascinating process. They're coming around, again, and they're stirring up this pot because they want to pressure him through the media, as well.
HABERMAN: Literally not taking no for an answer, and repeatedly coming back month after month. I do think this is the final window for it, where he is giving it, you know, a moment's thought. Again, I don't think he'll run, but I do think last night was interesting.
VELSHI: If he ran, how would it change the race?
HABERMAN: Oh, he would suck all the oxygen out of the room in two seconds. I think that the path is not totally clear, but he would -- you know, it would very, very problematic for Mitt Romney because they would draw from very similar areas, donors, supporters, voters, what have you. I think it would set up this epic battle between him and Rick Perry because Rick Perry is not going to gently go into that goodnight.
AVLON: No, but he doesn't overlap with the Bachmann/Perry/Palin aspect to the party. He would take support --
VELSHI: He's not so interested on the social issues.
AVLON: No.
HABERMAN: Correct.
ALVON: But here's what's fascinating. You know, early on, one of the first indications he'd be a strong candidate was this October Richmond, Virginia, Tea Party straw poll which he won and he'd only be in office 10 minutes. So, he has an enormous amount of grassroots among the Tea Party because of his record in office.
You listened to that speech last night, what was fascinating is he is talking about leadership, criticizing the president for failure of leadership, but also talking about the importance of compromise, principled compromise in Washington. And that's not the message you'll hear to appeal to the Republican base.
HABERMAN: Absolutely. And that was also not a message of, you know, sort of strict hard right moment that this party is in right now. He was talking not in the neocon vein of, you know, go out and attack everyone who we think is hurting our interest overseas. He was very much more pick and choose, much more Jon Huntsman-like, frankly, than what you see --
VELSHI: Yes. The problem with Jon Huntsman is he can't move, he can't crack 2 percent poll.
HABERMAN: That is indeed a problem. And I think Chris Christie probably would do a little better than that, but Chris Christie is not tested either.
(CROSSTALK)
HABERMAN: Yes, but could he take one?
VELSHI: The northeastern elite conservatives, including "The Wall Street Journal," endorse Jon Huntsman or his economic --
AVLON: His plan.
HABERMAN: That's right.
VELSHI: You know what I mean? The Northeast money that hasn't committed itself yet hasn't got itself a candidate and certainly hasn't got itself a candidate, a mainstream Republican primary voters seem to be interested in.
AVLON: And the real question, is this Chris Christie's time? He is sort of the un-Obama, he's unapologetic, he's unabashed, he's articulated his positions and it's all about strong leadership, unapologetic leadership. And so, that's a real question.
He's only been in office two years and I think he realizes he doesn't feel ready, but is this his time?
HABERMAN: But the national stage is different, as Rick Perry is seeing. It's not the same, just no reporters.
VELSHI: There have been concerns about his health. They popped up. He's quite overweight. He said he's trying to tackle that. But he's quite overweight and it seems to be something about breathlessness and heart asthma.
Can this -- does that affect him? Can that change when he gets into a race. And does that guy have stamina and runs that busy schedule anyway?
HABERMAN: I think that he has stamina and would be able to do it. But I do think that was a blip that concerned a lot of people, especially those supporting him. And you never understand how rigorous a campaign is at a presidential level until you are in it. So, that would be in the back of a lot of people's minds, not the least of which would be his and his families.
VELSHI: Does he do what Mike Huckabee did? Get in on some regimen, lose a lot of weight and show that as part of his drive.
AVLON: I think, you know, in 2016, you know, you can't play this far out. But I think you'll see the guy losing a bit of weight if he's serious about running for president.
He owns it. He says, look, yes, I'm fat. Man up, deal with it.
But that's part of what people like. He's an authentic guy. People want authenticity.
VELSHI: He does actually deliver that. There's no question about that. Great talking to you both, Maggie Haberman and John Avlon.
John has got a great piece, by the way, right now because of our in depth coverage on CNN about broken government. It's called "Politics as ideological blood sport."
COSTELLO: You always come up with these good things. Blood sport. I like it. Chris Christie's funny. I think that's his biggest asset.
VELSHI: That's very true.
COSTELLO: The man is funny.
VELSHI: Yes. He makes people laugh. You're right.
COSTELLO: Still ahead, incredible video. An underground gas leak actually sets a road on fire. So, how do firefighters put out the flames and what exactly is underneath the street?
VELSHI: Yes. And who's causing that?
Plus, no more rain. Much of the country wondering his morning when we will see the sun again. Plus, new action in the tropics. Rob is all over that from a very special place in Florida. COSTELLO: And love the skin you're in. That's the message from new children's book author and actor, Taye Diggs. Taye joins us live in our studio, and I'm pretty excited about that. It's 15 minutes past the hour.
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning, Washington. Engineers probably starting to decide whether they're going to repel down the Washington Monument again this morning. There are going to be thunderstorms. They were really worried about lightning yesterday, which is why they cut short their mission to find out if there's any more damage to the Washington Monument. So, we'll let you know what they decide.
VELSHI: Rob Marciano is in the Florida Everglades for us this morning. Hey, Rob. Talk to us about the weather and why you're there.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, for one thing, we're here to do a story on reptiles and amphibians. Herpetofauna is the fancy word for it, believe it or not. Muggy down here. It's muggy across the northeast. We'll talk more about reptiles in the next half an hour. The problem with this weather pattern is it's been kind of stuck in a rut.
So, as clear and calm right now across D.C., you had thunderstorms earlier, and you probably have some later on today. There's the pin-wheeling motion that we become so familiar with. So unsettled weather. The problem is when it does rain, it will come down fairly heavily, and we've already had some reports of some flooding across parts of Northeast Pennsylvania.
There you go. Flash flood warning, and potentially, some water rescues happening even as we speak. The green areas are where the flash flood watches are posted. Most of which will be through tonight and tomorrow morning.
An additional one to two, maybe three inches of rainfall on top of what they've already seen in places like Philly and Allentown, PA, and Mount Pocono and northwestern parts of Jersey already seen nine to 11 inches of rainfall for the month.
So, they don't need any more, that's for sure. All stuck with this, what we call a cutoff low. It's all at the upper level of the atmosphere where basically this low is cut off from the mainstream, and when that happens, it doesn't move very much.
So, we have been stuck in this very unsettled weather pattern, but, a little disturbance will come down from Canada, get things move in a little bit more, also bring down some cooler air and more stable air, eventually, as we go towards the weekend, but until then, things will be a little bit on the steamy side.
It is steamy down here, and sun comes up over the Everglades here in South Florida. Florida is a state that has a problem with reptiles, amphibians that don't belong here, non-Native, invasive species that have been blown up because of the pet trade. We'll talk more about that story in the next half hour -- guys.
COSTELLO: Can't wait. Thank you, Rob.
VELSHI: All right. A strange and pretty scary sight on the road in California. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI (voice-over): The middle of the street is on fire, and the fire is spreading. It looks like a barbecue. It's not that far off, actually. Utility crews say a gas line ruptured underneath the road last night. Gas was coming through the cracks in the road and burning when it hit the air. Nearby businesses were evacuated.
Firefighters said the burn was actually a good thing, because they didn't have to look for the leak. That's a glass half full way of saying it, isn't it? Crews dug holes 50 feet deep on each side to cap the leak overnight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Actually, a story of the day. Our question for you this morning, are job loss greeting cards kind or inappropriate? I know, it's a strange question when there are Hallmark cards for everything. Birthday, kwanza, Valentine's Day, depression, divorce, cancer, yes, cancer.
Hallmark's latest, unemployment. It's launched a line of job loss cards. That's right. If a loved one has just lost their job and is on the edge of bankruptcy, send a card. Imagine, them opening up that card and experiencing this Hallmark moment. Is there anywhere I could hack up a hairball, like on a former employer's head?
Other messages are more thoughtful like this one about taking the lemon life gives you and making a martini with a twist. You'll handle this like you do everything else in your own unique way, and everything will be more than OK. Psychiatrist, Gale Salt, says although Hallmark is capitalizing on a niche (ph), that niche (ph) does work for some people.
Hallmark told us, quote, "Cards for people who have lost their jobs are a reflection of our times. Hallmark customers were asking for these cards to offer support to their friends or family going through a difficult time. People in times of need always look for ways to connect."
Maybe I'm just being a tad harsh, but with unemployment, perhaps, the biggest fear in America right now, I'm not sure a Hallmark moment can make it better or can it?
So, the "Talk Back" question today. Are job loss greeting cards kind or inappropriate? Facebook.com/americanmorning. Facebook.com/americanmorning. We've been getting great response to this question this morning. So, keep them coming.
VELSHI: They've been very good responses.
All right. A check of the early morning markets next.
Plus, Apple's next generation iPhone 5 is finally coming. What can we expect from the new model? We've got the short list of things. It's 24 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Twenty-seven minutes after the hour. "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Right now, U.S. stock futures are higher. Stocks have closed higher for the past three days on hopes that Europe's debt crisis is closer to being resolved. But this morning, there are concerns about the bailout for Greece and that it could be in jeopardy. According to the "Financial Times," Euro zone members are now split over the terms of the loan.
A new report this morning says the number of mortgage applications in the U.S. was slightly higher last week. More people are taking advantage of those low mortgage rates and refinancing, but a lull in home purchasing is still holding back the number of mortgage applications.
The popular iPad could be about to get some new competition. This morning, Amazon expected to reveal its new tablet computer. Rumors are it will be called the Kindle Fire and able to stream both movies and TV shows.
And Apple is expected to unveil the long awaited iPhone 5 at a press event next Tuesday. It's been 15 months since the iPhone 4 was announced. Among the upgrades, a new better design, better cameras, voice recognition, and more carriers.
Up next, after more than 40 years on the run, a fugitive hijacker from New Jersey is caught overseas. That amazing story, next. AMERICAN MORNING back after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 31 minutes past the hour. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
Top stories for you now. Sources inside the Pentagon now reacting to a threat from Iran to move their Navy ships near the U.S. east coast. Told our Barbara Starr, the Pentagon, that is, it's fine as long as Iran stays in international waters. But the Pentagon also announced Iran has the know how to play it off.
VELSHI: Chris Christie playing it coy about a possible run for president. The New Jersey governor delivered a foreign policy speech at the Reagan library in California last night. Many Republicans were hoping he might have a big announcement. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do it for my daughter, do it for our grandchildren, do it for our sons. Please, sir, don't -- we need you. Your country needs you to run for president.
(APPLAUSE)
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R) NEW JERSEY: It's extraordinarily appreciated. But that is also not a reason for me to do it. That reason has to reside inside me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Jurors this morning will hear from Michael Jackson's personal assistant about the chaotic moments after Dr. Conrad Murray realized Jackson stopped breathing. Opening day testimony was shocking yesterday. Jurors heard an audio recording of a barely coherent Jackson just weeks before his death, and they saw a picture of him dead on a hospital gurney. Prosecutors blame Murray for Jackson's death, claiming he repeatedly gave him the dangerous drug Propofol as a sleep aid. The defense claims Murray was trying to wean him of the drug and they say Jackson gave himself a fatal overdose.
COSTELLO: George Wright, a convicted killer and airline hijacker who once forced to deliver ransom money in only their bathing suits, was arrested in Portugal. Deb Feyerick joins us now with how police got their big break.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. You know, U.S. marshals have been tracking him for about a decade, and they finally got a positive hit. Along with Portuguese authorities they arrested George Wright in Portugal about an hour from Lisbon just on the coast. He was living there under an assumed name.
The FBI agent in charge said, quote, "Even after 40 years the commitment of law enforcement is unwavering." Now, the story is remarkable in the early '60s Wright was convicted of killing a World War II veteran during a gas robbery. He escaped a New Jersey prison in the warden's car and he made his way to Detroit where he joined up with the Black Liberation Army.
Then in 1972, Wright along with four other Liberation members hijacked a Miami-bound Delta flight out of Detroit. He was dressed as a priest and he smuggled a gun onboard in a hollowed out bible. Once the plane landed Wright and the other hijackers demand $1 million in cash for the release of some 80 passengers. And FBI agents were told to wear bathing suits and deliver the money on to the tarmac. This was a way of ensuring that they weren't carrying any guns.
The hijackers kept the crew onboard and forced the pilots to fly to Boston. They refueled, took on another pilot, and then they flew across the Atlantic to Algeria where they asked for asylum. The government there briefly detained and then released them. The $1 million, most asked in ransom money, was returned along with the plane, but the other hijackers, ultimately, about four years later were arrested. Wright remained on the run. He is now fighting extradition and he is expected to be in court in about two weeks.
COSTELLO: So we don't know what he was doing in Portugal for all this time.
FEYERICK: No. It is very interesting. There are ways of finding people and one of them is simply waiting. That may sound kind of simplistic, yet every now and again what happens is these people who have been gone for so long feel the need to connect with family. And that's one way that people just wait and watch and listen. So -- but it takes time and it takes patience. They have been working on this since 2002.
VELSHI: Does the U.S. have an extradition agreement with Portugal? Is he likely to be extradited?
FEYERICK: They do. It is unclear, though, at this particular point. Depends on how much he fights. It could be some time before he arrives back on the United States soil. He may just give up because he's still facing the murder charges. It was a sentence up to 30 years and then the hijacking charges and the other people on the plane did serve time for air piracy. He's facing both of those right now. So it could be a long time.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Deb.
He's an actor, a father, and now Taye Diggs can add children's book author to his resume. Taye Diggs here live in our studios to talk about "Chocolate Me."
It's 35 minutes past.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 39 minutes past the hour. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. He starred in the hit Broadway show, "Rent," "Chicago," and you also know him as Dr. Sam Bennett in the hit series "Private Practice."
But here's something you may not know about Taye Diggs. He's the author of a new children's book called "Chocolate Me." And he joins us this morning to tell us what it is about and why he wrote this book. Welcome.
TAYE DIGGS, ACTOR: Thank you for having me.
COSTELLO: The book is called "Chocolate Me." I'll read a little passage from the book.
DIGGS: What a treat.
COSTELLO: It was a fun book to read. This is the passage. "You have skin like velvet fudge frosting mixed in a bowl, you can lick the spoon. Cotton candy hair soft to the touch of my fingertips and your smile, she says," and she's a mom, "makes me so happy I could cry. No amount of money could buy how it makes me feel. For real, it's perfect." What are you trying to --
DIGGS: Thank you. I thought that was quite nice.
COSTELLO: Thank you very much. It's quite a nice passage, actually. And why did you write it?
DIGGS: Well, let me give you the short version. I wrote a poem in college when I was very self-reflective about this period in my life and I was five living in this neighborhood where none of the kids looked like me. You know, kids would be kids they made fun of me. And I went to my mother and asked her these questions. Why can't I be -- why aren't I more like my neighbors, these other kids?
And she basically just sat me down and taught me to love myself, to love my differences, to embrace, you know, that which these kids were making fun of and how that made me special.
So, years later my best friend, Shane, who is also the illustrator of this book, challenged me to turn this poem into a children's book. And we did. He, obviously, made some beautiful additions with the illustrations. And we sold it. And now it's a book and now I feel it's a message that everybody can use because I feel it's universal. Everybody at one point in their life has felt on the outside. This is a book about, you know, self-esteem and loving your differences.
VELSHI: And chocolate comes from your father, used to refer to black people as chocolate.
DIGGS: When I was growing up, there wasn't any African-American. And there was "black," all of those words at a certain instance had a negative or could have a negative connotation. But I noticed, and my father, rest in peace, I wish I could ask him, he always referred to us as chocolate. And later in my life I realized that chocolate, to a kid, there are no negative connotations for chocolate. I grew up having a very positive after all of this, you know, very positive thoughts about being chocolate as opposed to, oh, this person thinks black is this, this person, this means to this to this person.
COSTELLO: Which is a lovely thought, but I'll be honest when I saw the title I thought the former New Orleans mayor when he called it a "chocolate city," and it had sort of a negative connotation then.
DIGGS: Right, right, right. Not this. This is only positive. How about that?
COSTELLO: I like that better.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: So, you have a two-year-old with you, your beautiful wife.
DIGGS: I read this book to him.
VELSHI: Did you tell me she was on "Glee" last night? Carol, why don't you tell me about these things?
(LAUGHTER)
DIGGS: Get with the program.
COSTELLO: But you have a two-year-old, an adorable two-year-old.
VELSHI: Who is milk chocolate?
DIGGS: What would he be? He's latte. You know what I mean.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: Have you read the book to him?
DIGGS: I have. It was a very sentimental moment. It was very special to me because, obviously, we wrote the book prior to him being born, but him being born adds so much more to what it means to me and what it will mean to him.
COSTELLO: I know what you said about your father, but you said in part the inspiration for this book came from your son.
DIGGS: Absolutely. You know, he's going -- I'm jealous of him already. He's got a pretty good life. But at some point he's going to come up against a situation like this, and I hope he carries this message with him.
VELSHI: I was talking to one of the guys who works on our floor here who grew up in a similar environment. Is it, it's not really racism. It was curiosity and ignorance of kids around you.
DIGGS: Sure. And that's what I want to spread because I don't want people to think that this is just a book, you know, for young African-American children. It's a book for anybody. Anybody that feels on the outside --
VELSHI: A little different on the outside.
DIGGS: I think that's the way we're programmed. Anything we don't understand, we fear. And we poke fun at. But that which makes us different can make us stronger. We should appreciate that.
COSTELLO: And children are brutally honest. Things just come out of their mouths. They don't really think before they say.
DIGGS: No, no, no. I'm hoping that this can help a few people.
VELSHI: A great book. Like I said, I read it three times already, which often isn't the case. We get these books and we've got people I have to interview and try to get through the 500-page book. So, if you write another one, please come on. I'll be able to research it fully again.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: Taye Diggs, what a pleasure to see you. Author of "Chocolate Me." He is an actor on "Private Practice."
COSTELLO: We should ask you about "Private Practice" before you go.
VELSHI: Ask him.
COSTELLO: What about "Private Practice"?
DIGGS: It's such a great show, you all should watch it.
(LAUGHTER)
DIGGS: It's premiering, I think -- I think, Thursday.
COSTELLO: I know, the new season is starting. You're not going to give us any hints.
DIGGS: It's juicy. There are some juicy stuff. A lot -- a lot of tension, a lot of tension.
VELSHI: Juicy, chocolate, a lot of food themes is going on here this morning. It makes me hungry.
Taye Diggs, it's good to see you and thank you for coming by.
DIGGS: All right, thank you for having me.
VELSHI: What a pleasure.
DIGGS: All right, man.
VELSHI: Read the book, it's a good book.
COSTELLO: Thank you so much.
VELSHI: Your "Morning Headlines" are coming up next. It is 45 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Forty-six minute past the hour. Here are your "Morning Headlines".
Right now U.S. stock futures are up, but a new report just released says orders for durable goods were down last month. And a good sign for growth of the economy, that's orders for things like planes and cars and anything that lasts longer than three years.
A Long Island college student and six of his former classmates under arrest in an alleged S.A.T. cheating ring. Authorities says 19- year-old Sam Eshaghoff was paid as much as $2,500 to take S.A.T. tests for six students at Great Neck North High School. They say he scored as high as 2,240 out of 2,400 for them.
President Obama will be reaching out to Hispanic voters at an online round table later this morning. The event will be streamed live on the White House Web site. And this afternoon the President will be visiting a Washington D.C. high school where he'll deliver his third annual back-to-school speech to students.
Chris Christie is playing it coy. The New Jersey Governor delivered a foreign policy speech at the Reagan Library in California last night. Republicans were hoping for a big announcement. But when asked if he's running for president. Christie deflected the question saying only "he's touched by all the support."
Day two of the Michael Jackson death trial. The most memorable and disturbing day of part one, a chilling audio of Jackson, barely coherent, slurring his words just weeks before he died. Dr. Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's drug overdose death.
There is a 2008 jailhouse videotape of Casey Anthony reacting to the news that her daughter Caylee's remains have been found. And this afternoon in Orlando the judge who presided over her murder trial will decide whether the public can see that videotape. A local television station is fighting for its release.
Rihanna scolded by a farmer in Northern Ireland. She was shooting a video on a wheat field when the owner of the land ordered her to cover up because she was wearing way too little.
And that's the news you need to start your day. AMERICAN MORNING back after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: I feel like (INAUDIBLE) man.
VELSHI: Welcome to the jungle. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
There is some serious news here, there is an invasion going on under way in Florida right now. The state has a major problem with reptiles. It's been traced to the exotic pet trade.
COSTELLO: And you thought reptiles were part of the Florida culture, but not these kinds of reptiles.
VELSHI: No, not this kind. Rob is there, and he's investigated the whole thing. It's very serious. He's in Broward County, Florida. Rob, tell us the story.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, invasive species are non-native reptiles and amphibians we call it herptafauna (ph). They have been coming over here for over 100 years. Back in 1863 a little cute little green house frog came over via -- via cargo shipment and now the thing runs rampant and that happened for 100 years with other lizards and snakes and -- and turtles and such.
But just in the last 10 or 20 years curious kids and adults are fascinated by these animals and they're taking them in as pets. Well, the problem is, some of them are getting out. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS GILLETTE, REPTILE EXPERT: Here goes another guy. Right there. Look at this.
MARCIANO (voice-over): One of many dangerous animals reptile expert Chris Gillette has found in this area.
GILLETTE: Whoa, he definitely bites.
MARCIANO: An exotic species that shouldn't be anywhere near the U.S.
(on camera): This kind of snake does not belong in Florida.
GILLETTE: No.
MARCIANO: Obviously it came here --
GILLETTE: This guy's from Africa. This is an African specie. The snakes there are very, very common in the pet trade.
MARCIANO (voice-over): And we found it right next door to an exotic pet importer along with frogs, lizards and more snakes.
GILLETTE: Look at that, another python.
MARCIANO (on camera): Another one.
GILLETTE: Look at that.
MARCIANO: It got right off the sidewalk.
GILLETTE: That's another ball python. Like I says, when you find one, you often find more.
MARCIANO: So you've never seen a concentration of exotic reptiles like this in any other spot.
GILLETTE: No. No, I haven't.
MARCIANO: So clearly, that's got to be the source.
GILLETTE: Yes, it has to be. Absolutely.
MARCIANO (voice-over): The source according to a University of Florida study is this exotic pet store, Strictly Reptiles. The study finds that 25 percent of all established, non-native reptiles have been legally distributed through this business. Strictly Reptiles agreed to comment on the phone.
VAN NOSTRAND, STRICTLY REPTILES (via telephone): Just because they found an animal loose around my facility doesn't -- doesn't mean that it is an invasive species or that it's established itself in the State of Florida.
MARCIANO: Still what happens after an animal is purchased at any store is difficult to control.
KENNETH KRYSKO, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HERPETOLOGIST: If they're responsible owners, it's not a problem. However, if they're not responsible owners, they will release these animals illegally.
MARCIANO: Illegal, but it's almost impossible to enforce. We asked Florida Fish and Wildlife if the laws are strong enough. They simply said, "Regulations alone will not solve the problem. We see the law as part of a larger effort to increase public awareness of the problem of releasing exotic animals."
The study ultimately found that Florida has the largest number of non-native reptiles and amphibians in the world. So far, there haven't been any widespread negative impacts on the environment, but the study's lead author said, it takes decades to see the consequences.
GILLETTE: For some people to say oh, these have no -- no consequences -- no negative impacts on our environment at all, well, ok, well, let us know in about 30, 40, 50 years. Let's see what actually happens then.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: And that's the problem. The lag time once the species get established is about 40 years before we see any sort of effect to the -- to the environment. The fact of the matter is, in the last ten years alone, the number of invasions or introductions have quadrupled via the pet industry. And when you look at the bigger picture, 84 percent of such introductions lately are from the pet industry alone.
So, it's not just that. And we've got snails that have invaded parts of south Florida. And if you look in your backyard across America, there's probably a non-native invasive plants that have taken over and you're fighting against.
So it's become a huge, huge problem here in the Everglades where it's just teeming with life, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now they could have a lot of inhabitants that just don't belong.
COSTELLO: You know that actually happened, not with reptiles, but in Fairfield, Connecticut, those parrots, the green parrots, I don't know the official name of them, but they're certainly not indigenous to Fairfield, Connecticut.
But there are flocks of them. They take -- they destroy trees and -- and it's exactly what you say. Some pet store or somebody imported them, one of them got away and they reproduced.
VELSHI: Well, two of them would have been able to reproduce.
MARCIANO: Yes and -- and they -- and some of them become pests like -- like you mentioned there. So we all love animals, especially the ones that are -- are more fascinating. You just got to keep control of them. And if you are tired of them and you do want to get rid of them, or return them back to the pet stores. Often, guys, they'll buy them back because those animals are so valuable. So, just be responsible.
VELSHI: Good story, Rob, thank you very for that. Rob Marciano in Florida on a very interesting story. I'm sorry about the parrots.
COSTELLO: They're actually enjoyable, unless you're walking under a tree where they're all --
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: Lots of --
COSTELLO: -- doing whatever they do up there. The tree rains down upon you.
Up next, your responses to our "Talk Back" question of the morning. The question this morning, "Are job loss greeting cards kind or inappropriate?" We have great responses this morning. Thank you. We'll read them after a break. Its five minutes until the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We asked you to "Talk Back" this morning and you certainly did. The question this morning, are job loss greeting cards kind or inappropriate? Yes, Hallmark has a new line of cards for the newly jobless.
This from Bob, "If a job loss card can put a smile on someone's face, I say go for it. Roses are red, violets are blue, we're all unemployed and so are you."
This from Michelle, "What are we supposed to do, pretend that the problem doesn't exist? Despite being one of many unemployed people who feel along even among friends and family, encouragement through a card is perfectly fine."
This from Christopher, "If I lost my job and someone sent me one of those cards, I would actually think it was nice. Someone actually cares about what happened. Inspiration to find another job in times of despair with regard to the unemployment rate, care goes a long way."
And this from Joshua, "I'm writing 537 of these cards, one for every member of the Senate and House, can't wait to mail them."
Keep the conversation going, facebook.com/Americanmorning. And thanks, as always, for your comment.
I don't understand how he gets to 537. There's 435 and 100. So it's 535, president and vice president, maybe.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Maybe he means the president and vice president.
Give him a break, it's the morning. VELSHI: All right. Still too early for math anyway.
With that we're going to hand it over to our good friend, Kyra Phillips with the "CNN NEWSROOM". Good morning, Kyra.
