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American Morning

Global Economy in Peril; Herman Cain Accuser May Talk; Cheney Said We're 'Going To Die'; FBI Investigates Wall St. Firm; Europe Faces Possible Currency Crisis; Captain "Sully" Sullenberger Interviewed about Polish Airlines Plane's Emergency Landing; Occupy Oakland Strike; Cain Accuser May Talk; The Evolution of Mississippi

Aired November 02, 2011 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello.

The Greek bailout now in jeopardy and it's sending shockwaves across the globe and onto America's shores. This morning, the fear of what could happen in Greece -- what could happen if Greece goes down and takes the bailout with it?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: He says/she says.

I'm Christine Romans.

A woman accusing Herman Cain of sexual harassment may want out of a deal that kept her silent.

More on that confidentiality agreement and whether it stands -- on this AMERICAN MORNING.

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you. It is Wednesday, November 2nd. Ali Velshi is at the G-20 Summit in France. We'll hear from him in just a bit.

ROMANS: There's anything going on in Europe.

COSTELLO: Nothing at all.

ROMANS: Perfect place to have Ali right now because European leaders worked for weeks on a plan to save Greece and the Euro zone. But this morning, there's reason to believe Greece may bail on that bailout. That's because it blindsided world leaders yesterday, announcing it was going to put the rescue plan that took so long to hash out, they're going to put that rescue plan up to its own national vote, and that has European leaders furious. They've scheduled emergency talks with Greek leaders today.

COSTELLO: And concerns the European deal could fail have investors across the globe on edge to say the least. Overseas in Asia, the markets are mixed. Right now in Europe where trading is under way, London's FTSE is down, and as are a number of other European markets.

And here in the U.S., investors are glued to the Greek drama. Stock futures pretty much flat right now after a horrible day yesterday. Investors are simply waiting to find out what is going to happen with Europe's rescue plan. And also later today, the Fed chief is going to have a press conference -- one of those rare press conferences. You can be sure the Fed chief will be asked about this. So, that could provide some fireworks and some fodder for investors later on today.

COSTELLO: Yes.

As you might imagine, this whole Greek drama issue number one at the G-20 summit in France.

Ali Velshi is covering the summit. He joins us live from France now.

So -- oh, it just got more interesting, didn't it?

ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Wow. Wow. Look, Carol, with the exception of Christine Romans, most people are done listening to Greece. Most people are not that interested in this Euro zone deal and the G-20 is never the top of the list of people who are up watching us and saying, I wonder what's happening there.

But this became crucial. First of all, Greece cost you a lot of money yesterday if you have a 401(k). Markets tumbled all day yesterday on this very surprise news that the Greek prime minister wants to put the Euro deal and the role that Greek has to play in it to a referendum of the Greek people.

What have we watched for the last year? We watched these riots in the streets of Athens. The Greek people do not want to undertake the things they have to get this deal done. Like a higher retirement age, like cuts in social services, like higher taxes, like the fact that tax payment is actually going to be enforced in Greece.

So, we're unclear why the Greek prime minister decided to do this, but this G-20, which was the stayed, relatively uneventful discussion of a few major global economic issues is all about one thing. Sarkozy of France, Merkel of Germany, Obama and Geithner ganging up on the Greek prime minister saying, what on earth were you thinking? If you do this, you risk the Euro zone, you risk the Euro, you certainly risk Greek's future and risk everyone else's investments around the world.

So, you look at those futures, Christine, and you said they're kind of flat right there. That's because there is thinking that this might get itself settled.

ROMANS: Yes.

VELSHI: That Papandreou might come out and say, all right, we're not going to go ahead with this. But if they go ahead with this referendum, which could happen in December or January, that is two more months of uncertainty for global markets. That is something we may not have the stomach or the ability to have.

ROMANS: Ali, can they just kick Greece out of the E.U.? I mean, they would be stabilizing right? You just can't end that relationship.

VELSHI: Well, it would set Greece back 50 years probably. I mean, there are a lot of discussions this morning about whether Greece could go back to the drachma. But the issue here is that Greece would default if it didn't go for this deal. A default means nobody lends you money. It means your cost of borrowing goes up. It means everybody in Greece who was trying to buy a house or sell a house can't do that. It means higher unemployment.

This is something that has international implications. And it means -- you know, here's the G-20. It's not just Western nations. It's a lot of developing nations. The premier of China is here. They were kind of hoping, the Europeans were hoping to present this deal at the E.U. to the global community and say, we would love for you to invest in Europe right now.

Can you imagine what the people with the big checkbooks are saying? They've shown up here in Cannes saying, yes, you know what, I think I'll find somewhere else to invest my money.

COSTELLO: Wow.

ROMANS: All right, Ali. Thanks. We'll talk to you, again, soon.

COSTELLO: We're following developments, too, this morning in the case of a U.S. Army soldier suspected of espionage. Twenty-two- year-old Army Specialist William Colton Millay was arrested at a base just outside of Anchorage, Alaska, where he was serving as an M.P. He is expected to be formally charged this week.

The FBI and Army counterintelligence are conducting a joint investigation.

ROMANS: We'll learn more about that as it unfolds.

Also, four men in Georgia are charged as part of a militia group allegedly plotting to attack several federal judges and IRS agents. The men are between ages 65 and 73. A government informant recorded the men discussing plans to manufacture ricin, that's a highly poisonous substance made from castor beans. Officials say the public was never in imminent danger. The men will be in court later today.

COSTELLO: Only hours ago, a verdict was passed down in the extradition appeal of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. A London judge ruled that Assange can be extradited to Sweden. He's wanted for questioning for two sexual misconduct allegations from last year. In the meantime, Assange announced this week that WikiLeaks is dealing with financial problems and is struggling to survive.

ROMANS: All right. Now too, the growing sexual assault or -- sorry, gosh, terrible misuse of words -- it is a scandal involving Herman Cain. You are looking live at a technology and innovation forum in Virginia. Herman Cain is speaking live there this hour. We're watching for any new comments on this controversy, a sexual harassment controversy.

COSTELLO: Yes, because this morning, one of his accusers is thinking about going public. Her attorney telling CNN, he's asking the National Restaurant Association to let her out of this confidentiality agreement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP

JOEL BENNETT, ATTORNEY FOR CAIN ACCUSER (via telephone): Naturally, she's been very upset about all this since the story broke last Sunday because Mr. Cain is giving the impression that she is someone that came out and made false allegations, and that's certainly not true and she is still deciding once we hear from the restaurant association what she'll do if they'll wave the confidentiality. Until they do that, she's not going to speak out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Cain is now calling all of this part of a smear campaign against him. Also new this morning, "The New York Times" is reporting that one of Cain's accusers received a year's salary, $35,000, as part of a settlement back in the '90s. All of this brings up so many questions -- most of them legal.

Joining us now is CNN legal contributor Paul Callan.

ROMANS: And you've done some of these contracts, some of these employment contracts and confidentiality agreements. So, what are they precluded from talking about.

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well, just to give you a general atmosphere on these cases, two possibilities here.

One, she had a great case against Herman Cain. He did sexually harass her. The restaurant association then says, hey, we can't deal with the publicity and we're going to settle the case and get a confidentiality agreement so no one knows about it. Possibility number one.

Possibility number two: Herman Cain is innocent. As a matter of fact, he didn't do anything improper. These are false claims but restaurant association doesn't want publicity, doesn't want to hire lawyers. So, they pay her off with a severance package, $35,000, one year's annual salary and confidentiality agreement. So, nobody knows the truth of it. It doesn't get litigated.

And this goes on every day in the employment litigation world. Quiet deals, everybody doesn't talk about it and people walk away from it. So, we are not going to know the truth until both parties go public.

COSTELLO: So, what circumstances must exist that these women can break a confidentiality agreement?

CALLAN: Well, I think in this case, if Herman Cain, by making a public statement that he did not harass anyone, I suspect he may be in violation of the confidentiality agreement. If he signed it -- because there's another possibility here, he may not have been sued personally in this case, maybe they only sued the restaurant association. And they negotiated the confidentiality agreement. He might not even be a party to it.

So, we have to see what those papers say, whether he's bound by it or not.

ROMANS: And we don't even know what these cases are about. What the allegations really are because of these confidentiality agreements and it's kind of hard to tell when he's speaking which case he's talking about or which part of the allegation he's responding to. He has said he did not sexually harass anyone.

CALLAN: Yes. And "Politico" which originally, I think, broke the story, they interviewed what they described second-hand witnesses who said he was being criticized for use of inappropriate language and also for gestures of a, quote, "nonsexual nature" that made women uncomfortable.

I'm not quite clear what that kind of gesture would be. I mean, if you scratch your cheek, are you feeling uncomfortable, Carol? I mean, you know, I really don't -- I don't know what that gesture would be. But that's the kind of information we'd have to know to know whether this is a serious case or whether this is just sort of a case where somebody settled to avoid publicity.

COSTELLO: Right. We're not going to know that unless we read the settlement, right?

Now, it is possible -- and you brought this up last hour -- that this woman could just violate, one of these two accusers, or both of them, could violate confidentiality agreement and just come out and talk and she would have to pay, what, $35,000, at least one of them, because that's how much she settled for and maybe perhaps someone might pick up the tab?

CALLAN: Probably, even less than that, because I have to tell you, in a lot of these confidentiality agreements, the forfeiture clause is a percentage of the total settlement, maybe 10 percent or 20 percent. So, it might be as little as $3,500 or $7,000 that she would be facing in penalties.

ROMANS: Oh, but the publicity she's facing. You would be opening yourself up to. You know what I mean? I mean, you could see if you're one of these women how it would be difficult to decide whether or not you want to do the round of TV shows and talk about what you say when he says it didn't happen.

CALLAN: Well, and the other, I think -- I hate to veer from the legal to the political --

ROMANS: But please do.

CALLAN: But the more they go after Herman Cain on this, it's probably going to increase his support in the Republican primary because I can assure you that his core supporters think that these lawsuits have gotten out of hand and that he's a conservative who's speaking against such lawsuits. So, while people think this is destroying Herman Cain, maybe it's really going to boost his standing in the Republican primary.

So, we'll have to see how this plays out -- especially if it just involves claims that he told some jokes that were inappropriate or something of a relatively non-serious nature. So --

COSTELLO: Paul Callan, thanks for being here. We appreciate it.

CALLAN: OK. Thank you.

ROMANS: All right. Still ahead, a plane carrying 230 people from Newark making a dramatic crash landing in Poland. It is caught on tape. It brings back memories of Captain Sully Sullenberger's "miracle on the Hudson" landing nearly three years ago. We're going to speak with Captain Sully a little later.

COSTELLO: Plus, she said everyone just sort of froze. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recalling the moment she thought she and President Bush had been poisoned. Plus, was she aware of Moammar Gadhafi's crush on her? You've got to hear her answer to this one.

We'll be back.

COSTELLO: Also, six inches of snow on the way and miserable commute for some this morning. Say ain't snow. Are you in the strike zone?

Rob Marciano is striking another snow storm, next.

It's 12 minutes after the hour.

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ROMANS: Good morning, Denver. Wow. It looks a little snowy out there. Snow and 30 right now. Going to be a high of a whopping 34 degrees later on today.

COSTELLO: It's a good thing Colorado and Denver. So beautiful, right, Rob Marciano?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Really, and this is their second best snowstorm of the season. An early one, just like in the northeast and a blizzard warning up, as well. So, good morning, again, guys.

Yes, I'll start off with that storm because it will be traversing across the country, likely staying south of the northeast, but, nonetheless, it's spreading rainfall as far north as Minneapolis in through Milwaukee and the heaviest amounts of (INAUDIBLE) through Denver proper where the snows are coming down.

Winter storm warnings are posted in the pink. That includes Denver proper which is eight to 14 inches and around the area, especially along the front range, maybe a little bit higher at the higher elevations and the orange is a blizzard warning. Winds are going to be gusty, maybe 30, 40, 50 miles an hour and across the high plains.

That wind can move its snow around pretty quick. So, visibility is going to be very, very low. I want to talk about the visibility of the snow from satellite. This is the high resolution's NASA satellite, which is showing the northeast snow pack and the contrast between the green and the white. You wouldn't see this sort of contrast during the wintertime because it'd be a little bit more in the way of brown.

By the way, the folks who are dealing with outages still over a million this morning are dealing with cold temperatures, as well, right around or below the freezing mark this morning. Of course, we will see temps rise fairly rapidly throughout the day today. Sixty- one degrees expected in D.C. and still a degree or two below average, in New York, a high about 57, and 65 degrees expected in Chicago. That's the latest from here. Toss it back up to you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, guys.

ROMANS: OK. It's Tom Clancy-type stuff. Former secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, revealing a pretty scary story from inside the White House. In a "Nightline" interview, she talked about a time right after September 11th when the president and most of his inner circle thought they were poisoned and that they would die. She was with the president when Vice President Dick Cheney bluntly delivered the news.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We were in Shanghai, actually, when the vice president came on the screen and said that the White House detectors had detected botch 11 toxins and those of us who exposed were going to die.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said that?

RICE: Yes, he said that. And I remember, everybody just sort of freezing and the president saying, what was that, what was that, Dick?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Including the president?

RICE: Including the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Wow!

ROMANS: Rice said it took another 24 hours before they found out that the tests were negative.

COSTELLO: I cannot even imagine how that would feel. Secretary Rice also talked (ph) by the daily show where Moammar Gadhafi's obsession with her came up. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART: Were you aware that he had a strange and, shall I say, creepy fixation on secretary of state Condoleezza Rice? Did you know that?

RICE: I was aware. Several of my foreign minister colleagues have told me before I went to visit him back in 2008 that he had this fixation. And, when I got there I thought, just get through your business. You know, just do diplomacy, just get out of here, and everything was going fine, and then, all of a sudden, he said I have this video for you.

And I thought, oh-oh, what is this? But it was actually just pictures of me with Hu Jin Tao, with Vladimir Putin of Russia set to a song that he had had written called "Black Flower in the White House."

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

STEWART: How does the song go?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That's what I was wondering. "Black Flower in the White House." What would that song be like?

ROMANS: Set to a montage of pictures of her with world leaders. Freaky. Anyway, Secretary Rice is Piers Morgan's guest tonight, 9:00 p.m. eastern, talking about her new memoir as well. President Obama, the fall of Gadhafi, the 2012 election. Piers will talk with her tonight at 9:00.

COSTELLO: Can't wait.

Now is your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning, are the Cain allegations high-tech lynching or fair game?

The Herminator is in trouble, and his troubled waters could get deeper. One of the two women who accused Cain of sexual harassment back in the 1990s now wants to tell her side of the story. Imagine a he said/she said smack in the middle of a presidential primary, but Cain supporters already have a battle plan, and Cain seems to be embracing it. Listen to this interview on Fox News.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Do you think that race and being a strong black conservative has anything to do with the fact that you've been so charged? And if so, do you have any evidence to support that?

HERMAN CAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe the answer is yes, but we do not have any evidence to support it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Cain's answer is surprising considering he, of course, using the race card.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAIN: I don't believe racism in this country today holds anybody back in a big way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: But Cain supporters say Cain sexual harassment controversy has everything to do with race and conservatism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANN COULTER, AUTHOR, "DEMONIC": Just the way liberals treat a black conservative. This is another high-tech lynching. Even the allegations here --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The words of Clarence Thomas --

COULTER: That's right. There is nothing liberals fear more than a black conservative. Ask Alan West, ask Michael Steele, and ask Clarence Thomas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So, the "Talk Back" question for you today, are the Cain allegations high-tech lynching or fair game?

Facebook.com/americanmorning. Facebook.com/americanmorning. I'll read your comments later this hour.

ROMANS: All right. Up next, missing money. The FBI now investigating whether some $600 million in client funds is gone from MF Global. That's the brokerage firm run by former New Jersey governor, Jon Corzine.

COSTELLO: And what's the number one complaint about the new iPhone? We'll tell you. It's 22 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: It's 25 minutes after the hour. "Minding Your Business" this morning.

Just in this morning, good news about the job market. ADP, that's a private payroll company, is reporting 110,000 jobs were added last month by its count of private sector payrolls. The government's official job's report comes out this Friday. The ADP report has been wrong before, but if it's right this time, it would show that maybe that double dip recession has been avoided for now.

In an unexpected move, Greece announced it plans to hold a popular vote on the bailout package that was agreed upon last week. Greek prime minister, George Papandreou, heads to the G20 summit today for emergency talks with other European leaders who are urging him to scrap this whole idea.

Without this bailout, the Greek economy could collapse and Greece could kick out of the EU. It would be incredibly destabilizing for financial markets and economy.

These concerns sparked a steep selloff in U.S. markets yesterday, but right now, stock futures are trading slightly higher ahead of the opening bell.

This afternoon, the fed wraps up it's two-day meeting on interest rates, but more importantly, after that event, fed chief, Ben Bernanke, will hold a briefing. His comments will be watched very closely. (INAUDIBLE) He'll be asked about Greece's new referendum plan, how it could affect the U.S. and will also be looking to see if there are any new plans underway to boost the U.S. economy and jobs market by the fed. What can the fed do now?

Also, the FBI and federal prosecutors are joining the investigation into the failure of a financial firm led by former New Jersey governor, Jon Corzine. Sources close to the case say MF Global is unable to account for $600 million in customer money. MF Global filed for bankruptcy Monday.

The gripes are getting a little louder over that new iPhone 4s battery life. The problem, people say the battery seems to drain even when they're not using this device. So far, no word from Apple. One theory, the location-base services on the phone might be cutting the battery life.

Up next, all eyes on Oakland today. "Occupy" protesters calling for a strike, and they pledge to shut down the city. Police are preparing for trouble. AMERICAN MORNING back right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is 30 minutes past the hour. Time for your top stories. A Herman Cain accuser may want to talk. Her lawyer telling CNN the bombshell news, the attorney saying she wants to share her side of the story about a sexual harassment claims but is bound by a confidentiality agreement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOEL BENNETT, ATTORNEY FOR CAIN ACCUSER: I suggest that that would be the right thing to do so she can tell her side of the story, since Mr. Cain is telling his side of the story. And if they agree to that, then I will confer with my client again and see what she wants to do. Ultimately, it's up to her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: "The New York Times" is reporting one of the two accusers were paid a year's salary in the settlement, $35,000.

ROMANS: The Occupy Oakland group calling for a citywide general strike today. Organizers are asking businesses to close. They want people to demonstrate at banks before marching later to the Port of Oakland. It follows last week's heavy police response against protestors outside city hall.

COSTELLO: President Obama plans to deliver a big speech at the Key Bridge in Washington today. It is badly in need of repairs. The president will use it as a backdrop while he calls on Congress to pass the infrastructure portion of his jobs bill. The president says the measure will put thousands of Americans back to work while delivering much-needed improvements to roads and bridges across the country.

ROMANS: After his speech, the president leaves for France. When he arrives for the start of the G-20 summit in Cannes tomorrow he may not get the rock star treatment he enjoyed in the past. Europe's economy is crumbling and the Obama administration has already made it clear that it doesn't plan to offer up a hand out any time soon. Here's chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: When the president meets with world leaders at the G-20 summit, keep this in mind -- what happens in Europe doesn't necessarily stay in Europe.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The biggest head wind the America economy is facing right now is uncertainty about Europe because it's affecting global markets.

If Europe is weak and if Europe is not growing, as our largest trading partner, that's going to have an impact on our businesses and our ability to create jobs here in the United States.

YELLIN: France and Germany have just outlined a plan to rescue Europe's debt-strapped nations. At this summit those leaders will be pressed to fill in more details and explain where they will get all the money their plan requires. The answers to those questions matter.

KEN ROGOFF, FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST, IMF: If Europe goes into a deep recession, it will hit us in many ways. There are direct effects and we trade with them. But much more importantly it will shake confidence and hurt our financial sector and take our very, very slow growth and possibly push us into a recession.

MARTIN BAILY, FORMER ECONOMIC ADVISER FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON: If Europe really were to have a continuing crisis or a worsening crisis, it would be very hard for the U.S. to avoid a double dip recession ourselves.

YELLIN: And a recession would not only hurt the economy, it could wound the president politically.

JAMES CARVILLE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: If there's a recession, if the recession is caused by something in Europe or caused by something in Asia, people are not going to saw through it and sort of go, well, gee, you know what I mean. They tend to blame the people in charge, and the president's in charge.

YELLIN: But given America's economic slowdown and the political stalemate in Washington, there's only so much the U.S. can do.

ROGOFF: Everyone at the G-20 wants their picture with President Obama. He is the central person everyone is looking to. But I don't think the United States can simply dictate the terms of an agreement the way it might have been able to 30 years ago.

YELLIN: Expect to hear plenty of questions about what role China, the U.S., or the International Monetary Fund will play in financing Europe's rescue. So far, the Obama administration's position has been Europe has to finance its own rescue.

Jessica Yellin, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, the first lawsuit filed over the deadly Reno airshow disaster.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The crash caught on tape. A Texas physician who lost her husband when the plane nosedived into the crowd filed a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit. The suit claimed the Reno Air Racing Association went for profit over safety.

COSTELLO: A tug boat pilot responsible for a deadly river crash in Philadelphia that killed two Hungarian students has now been sentenced. Matthew Devlin will serve one year in jail. And new video presented in court for the first time shows the barge driving right over the boat, sending 37 people onboard into the Delaware River. The NTSB found that Devlin spent nearly an hour on his cell phone, a laptop, and he turned down a marine radio to hear them better.

ROMANS: Just in time, an incredible train track rescue in Missouri. This dash cam video shows a train slamming into a car, a car that's stuck on the tracks. Only moments before an off-duty police officer noticed this vehicle and managed to pull a woman and her baby to safety. Both are now doing OK. It's not clear how the car became stuck, but the woman later failed sobriety tests.

COSTELLO: Coming up next, the landing gear would not open on a flight from Newark, New Jersey, triggering sparks and fires. The pilot manages a dramatic crash landing with no wheels. It's all caught on tape. So how does the pilot pull off this perfect belly flop? Who better to ask than Captain "Sully" Sullenberger who landed safely? Of course, everyone remembered that. Captain Sully will join us live, next.

ROMANS: Also ahead, baloney -- the so-called freshman 15 is not true. So, how much weight do college students really gain when they go to college? It's not zero.

It's 36 minute after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, good morning, New York. This is a shot of the Hudson River. Doesn't it look beautiful? It's sunny and 44 degrees right now. But we're looking at a high of 57 degrees. And welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.

When a Polish Airlines pilot safely touched down in Warsaw yesterday without the use of the plane's landing gear, memories of another miracle crash landing came flooding back for our next guest. We're pleased to welcome Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who was at the controls of the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson" landing in New York. Captain Sully, welcome.

CAPTAIN CHESLEY SULLENBERGER III, AVIATION AND SAFETY EXPERT: Thanks, good morning. Good to be with you.

COSTELLO: And you're in San Francisco this morning, as we can see from the picture of the bridge behind you. Let's talk about this crash landing, because the pilot did an amazing job. So, when you first saw the video of this thing landing, what went through your mind?

SULLENBERGER: Well, first, I wouldn't call it a crash landing. That was an emergency landing. Yes, the captain and the crew, obviously, had done a great job. And you know the leadership and organizational and planning skills for this are almost as important as the flying skills. They used effectively the time that they had probably an hour and a half to prepare the cabin for the emergency landing and the evacuation, prepare the forces on the ground for the emergency landing, the fire and rescue forces, and also run through a series of checklists in the cockpit. So, planning and implementing the plan and the execution of this landing is very important.

COSTELLO: So, let's talk about that plan, because while the plane was still up in the air, the pilot got on the microphone there and he told the passengers to be prepared because they had to make this emergency landing. And as they landed, there could be a fire and that passengers should prepare themselves for that. So, beyond warning the passengers what might happen, what other precautions did the pilot take?

SULLENBERGER: Well, certainly the flight attendants have been reviewing the location and the emergency exit operation. As we all know, not everyone pays attention on most average flights, and so they would have pointed those things out to them. They would have instructed them on how to do the brace position and what the signals would be to brace and those kinds of things.

And, of course, the pilots would have been communicating with air traffic control and talking with which run way they would use and where the fire services would be positioned when they came to a stop and those kinds of things.

COSTELLO: OK, and then as the pilot is getting ready to land, I understand this pilot was in a glider club. He was very adept at flying gliders, as you are, right? So, how did that play into how he was able to land this plane so smoothly?

SULLENBERGER: Fundamental flying skills are as important as the judgment part of it. And there are two major things that would be different about this sort of a landing than a normal landing. First, without the landing gear when they touched down on the runway, they would be much lower and closer to the ground than normal. So that would look out the cockpit windows, and that difference in the visual picture for landing would have to be taken into account.

And second, without the landing gear down, there would not be the normal ability to steer the airplane on the ground by turning the nose wheel. And so they would have only the rudder on the tail to use to keep the airplane aligned with the runway and keep it from going off to one side. And as you slow it down, with less air flowing over the rudder, it would become less effective. And so it's very important to touch down exactly in the center and maintain that alignment throughout the stopping of the airplane.

COSTELLO: So, was it more difficult landing a plane, you know, in trouble like this on a runway, or would it have been then on water?

SULLENBERGER: Oh, if I could have made it to a runway, I would have, believe me. I would have liked to have had that choice. But it definitely requires skill to do this well, and from all reports and from watching the video, it looked like it was done very, very well.

COSTELLO: Yes, that pilot is a hero in his native country this morning. Captain Sullenberger, thanks so much for joining AMERICAN MORNING. We appreciate it.

SULLENBERGER: Good to be with you, thank you.

COSTELLO: Morning headlines coming your way next. It's 43 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Forty-five minutes after the hour. Here are the "Morning Headlines".

Markets open in about 45 minutes from now. Right now U.S. stock futures are trading higher as investors wait to learn more about the fate of Europe's rescue plan. Greece wants to put the bailout to a public vote of Greek citizens because of the steep tax hikes and spending cuts. European leaders don't want to wait any longer to fix Europe's problems.

The Occupy Oakland group, staging a citywide general strike today. Organizers are calling on businesses to close, they want people to demonstrate at banks and then march later to the Port of Oakland. It follows last week's heavy police response against protesters outside city hall.

The Occupy Seattle Movement is taking their message straight to the one percent. Today they'll be protesting outside a hotel in downtown Seattle where this morning J.P. Morgan Chase's CEO Jamie Dimon will be speaking at a University of Washington business event.

One of Herman Cain's accusers may want to talk. Her attorney telling CNN she wants to share her side of the story about a sexual harassment claim, but she's bound by a confidentiality agreement. Cain has denied he ever did anything appropriate.

Live pictures now from -- inappropriate -- live pictures now from a technology and innovation forum in Virginia. You're watching Herman Cain speaking live right now. We're waiting for any new comments on the controversy whether he addresses it and what he says.

Jury deliberations in the Michael Jackson death trial could begin tomorrow after the prosecution and defense deliver closing arguments. Testimony wrapped up yesterday with Dr. Conrad Murray deciding not to take the stand in his own defense. Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Bob Barker is heading to Capitol Hill today. The retired game show host and animal rights activist will help introduce the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act. It will end the use of wild exotic animals in traveling circuses and shows.

Justin Bieber has just had a major record. He's the first person to reach two billion views on his YouTube channel. He passed Lady Gaga who was the first person to ever reached one billion views.

That's the news you need to start your day. AMERICAN MORNING is back after this break.

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COSTELLO: Oh, isn't that a gorgeous picture? It's gorgeous. Good morning, Washington. It's sunny and 43 degrees. You're looking at a high of 62. Oh I wish I were there.

ROMANS: All right the latest national report card is out and -- on education and math scores are up. In fact, fourth and eighth grade students achieved their highest math scores in 20 years; reading scores, flat-lined.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan says the report card indicates not as progress, but American students are not accelerating fast enough. Researchers say the freshman 15, you know, you've heard that phrase, the freshman 15. Well, it's a myth that's been commonly reported that the average amount of weight a college freshman gains during the first year of school is 15 pounds.

But a new study out by Ohio State University finds the number really is 3.4 pounds and 25 percent of freshmen actually lose weight. Wow. I didn't. I gained that freshman 15.

ROMANS: I loved my lunch room.

COSTELLO: Me, too.

ROMANS: And the cost of health care for pets is skyrocketing as quickly as it is for humans. The average American household spent $655 for medical care for their dogs last year. That's a 47 percent increase from a decade ago. Health care spending for cats is up 73 percent. That's right on pace with the increase humans have faced over the last ten years.

COSTELLO: You know, pets are like your child. You got to take care of them.

ROMANS: I know.

COSTELLO: A study is raising new concerns about alcohol's link to breast cancer. It says even light drinking can elevate a woman's cancer risk. That's about three drinks a week. The link between alcohol and cancer isn't new, but this is the first study to suggest a higher risk for light to moderate drinkers.

ROMANS: And something historic is happening in Mississippi. The mayor of Hattiesburg has captured the Democratic nomination for governor. That means, Johnny Dupree could become the first African- American to be elected to a statewide office in Mississippi since reconstruction.

Here's Don Lemon with this morning's "Black in America" report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you thought that "Johnny Dupree for Governor Campaign" would be celebrating except for Johnny Dupree.

JOHNNY DUPREE, MAYOR, HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI: I got all the naysayers, I couldn't do it because --

LEMON: Couldn't win the Mississippi primary because he's a black man in a state stigmatized by racism; because he didn't have nearly as much money to spend as his white Republican opponent, Lt. Governor Bill Brian.

DUPREE: And you can fill in the blanks.

LEMON: But primary voters made history by making Johnny Dupree the first African-American ever to have a real chance of becoming the governor of Mississippi.

DUPREE: That's awesome, isn't it? Isn't it awesome? That we live in a place called America that allows things like that to happen that have never happened before. Isn't that awesome?

LEMON: But is it realistic in a race where not much distinguishes one candidate from the other. They disagree mostly over how to pay for universal health care and whether voters should show ID at the polls and those two ideas aren't enough to motivate voters. According to retired political professor Joseph Parker --

JOSEPH PARKER, RETIRED POLITICAL PROFESSOR: Most white voters in Mississippi vote for the white candidate and most black voters vote for the black candidate.

LEMON: Parker says to win as Governor Johnny Dupree would have to get all of the black votes and a least a third of the white. He did it in 2001, when he became the first black mayor of Hattiesburg but can he do it statewide?

PARKER: If he does, it'll be like Moses rolling back the Red Sea.

DUPREE: I'm here to talk to you about color -- green.

LEMON: The only color Dupree wants to address is money; something his state, the nation's poorest, desperately needs. Something his opponent has a lot of, outspending Dupree, 7-1, but Dupree is confident.

DUPREE: I have 100 percent chance of not winning if I wasn't in the race. But I got a 50 percent chance of winning because I'm in the race.

LEMON: Dupree has proven the polls, the pundits and the naysayers wrong before. But with this much at stake, can he do it again?

Don Lemon, CNN, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, cool. We'll be watching.

All right Silicon Valley may nurture ingenuity but racial diversity is almost not existent. Now some black entrepreneurs are taking, they're risking everything to become the next big thing.

Soledad O'Brien is going to explore this once in a lifetime opportunity to change the game in "THE NEW PROMISE LAND: SILICON VALLEY", A "Black in America" special that's Sunday night November 13th 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

COSTELLO: Coming up next, our "Talk Back" question of the morning. Here's the question. "Are the Cain allegations high-tech lynching or fair game?" Boy, have you responded. We'll read some of your responses after a break.

Its six minutes until the top of the hour.

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ROMANS: Good morning, Atlanta; sunny and 40 right now; a high later on today of 67 degrees.

COSTELLO: OK. Let's get to our "Talk Back" question because we did ask you to talk back this morning. This was the question: Are the Cain allegations high-tech lynching or fair game?

This from Carrie, "Oh, please. These allegations were brought against him and settled before he ever entered the political arena. To say this is a liberal media attack is ridiculous and to assert that it is a racial, anti-conservative attack is utterly weak."

This from Pat, "There's no doubt that this is a high-tech lynching; if she settled for money before, then who is to say that her motivation is not more money now. Yesterday on "AC 360", the accuser's attorney said that she called him immediately after reading the Politico article and not after hearing Cain's supposed bashing of her on TV. That's one contradiction already.

And this from Joseph, "I always thought when you run for any political office, you should be prepared and take inventory of incidents within your life that can be detrimental. After that you prepare for them. Unfortunately, this is just one more example of politicians that try to hide from the truth."

Keep the conversation going; Facebook.com/Americanmorning and thanks, as always, for your comments.

ROMANS: He's speaking right now in Virginia. We're going to continue to monitor that to see if he says anything new about these allegations. And from the perspective of crisis management and campaigns, you know, how does he turn the page on this? What does he say to put this to rest and move forward with his campaign? Because, you know, poll out this morning shows him well ahead of Romney. A poll taken before this really blew up shows him well ahead of Romney. There he is speaking in Virginia live.

COSTELLO: The only thing he said -- he sort of like intimated at this controversy, he said there are forces working against me. That's all he said about that and then he started talking about technology and things that his secretary was doing to promote technology in the workplace.

ROMANS: Anyway. So there you go. We're going to continue to monitor that and so will Kyra Phillips because "CNN NEWSROOM" starts with Kyra right now. Good morning Kyra.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR, "CNN NEWSROOM": Good morning guys.