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American Morning
Sandusky Investigated in Texas; Penn State Bracing for Game Day; Big Bonuses for Fannie-Freddie; Nixon, In His Own Words; Penn State Bracing for Gave Day; Sandusky's Lawyer Speaks Out; Paterno Loses "Medal of Freedom" Support; Mayor: Pack and Leave; OWS Holding Veteran's Day Rally; Engine Catches Fire on Delta Flight; McCains On a Mission; Honorvets.org Helps Veterans; San Francisco Elects First Chinese-American Mayor
Aired November 11, 2011 - 06:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Game on. Penn State bracing for their first home game since the sex abuse scandal broke, and the first game without Joe Paterno in charge in 46 years.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: Dishonor, the defense secretary speaking for the first time since the Air Force admitted that remains of war heroes were literally discarded like trash.
VELSHI: Does anyone see the crisis that's going on right now? Executives at two bailed out government backed mortgage firms getting millions in bonuses as homeowners suffer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW": Getting ready tonight, the top 10 Rick Perry excuses.
RICK PERRY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hey, listen, you try concentrating with Mitt Romney smiling at you. That is one handsome dude.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: And the nation gets rip rolled. Governor Rick Perry trying to fix what's left of his campaign by taking shots at himself on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Good Friday morning. It is 11/11/11, Veterans Day. Christine's off today. I'm Ali Velshi along with Alina Cho. Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING.
CHO: Ali, good morning, good morning, everybody. And we start first with the growing Penn State sex abuse scandal. New developments. CNN affiliate KSAT is reporting that police are investigating claims that former Nittany lions coach Jerry Sandusky raped a boy in San Antonio during the Alamo bowl back in 1999. He was one of the eight alleged victims in the original indictment. And now San Antonio police are getting involved.
Right now in State College PA, they are bracing for game day, the last home game of the year, the first one in more than a half century without legendary coach Joe Paterno there in some capacity. The small college town swells to the third largest city on game day, and given what we saw on campus two nights ago, police there are under intense pressure to maintain control.
Our Jason Carroll is live in state college this morning. Jason, what are you learning about this new report?
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, according to the grand jury report, that victim that you're referring to is referred to as "victim number four." And according to the report, back in 1999, Jerry Sandusky took this young boy to the Alamo Bowl in Texas. Also according to the grand jury report, Sandusky showered this young boy with gifts such as clothes, Nike shoes, a snowboard as well.
And at one point in a hotel room, again, according to the report, Sandusky tried to sexually assault the young boy. The boy telling grand jurors he eventually distanced himself from Sandusky.
Also I have to tell you, Alina, this falls in line with what the attorney general said actually on Monday. She said based on their research, that Sandusky had access to young boys for such a long period of time she said it would not be unlikely that more victims might emerge.
And a source close to the investigation told me earlier this week that a police tip line had received more than a dozen calls from people saying that they, too, were victimized by Sandusky. But that source saying those people who were calling in, those allegations have to be vetted a full investigation has to take place before these people eventually become part, or even if they do become part of a particular case. So we may be hearing more stories, more allegations coming up in the next few days or even weeks.
CHO: I can only imagine. Jason, let's talk about tomorrow's game. There is a lot of speculation about assistant coach Mike McQueary who of course allegedly saw Jerry Sandusky involved in a sexual act with a 10-year-old boy some years back. He will not be on the sidelines tomorrow, right, because he's been threatened? Is that correct?
CARROLL: Right. That allegation really is key because that comes from 2002. And apparently once again, according to the grand jury report, McQueary saw Sandusky sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in the shower. McQueary told his father and then on the following day, told Coach Paterno. Coach Paterno then told his superior here at the university and as you know, and as many people know by now, Paterno no longer here at the university.
A lot of anger here. People saying, well, if Paterno had to go, why not McQueary? As a result of that, McQueary has now received several death threats. And in terms of security, university officials thought it best that he not be at this weekend's game.
And that just gives you a sense of the high emotion that's running here at the university, some on one side, you got anger. But on the flip side of that, Alina, we should also point out there are a number of students, faculty, people in the community who say it's time to focus more on the victims and not so much on football. That's why tonight there's going to be a candlelight vigil that's going to be taking place at 9:30 in honor of the victims. Alina?
CHO: Jason Carroll live for us in State College, Pennsylvania. Jason, as always, thank you.
Last night on "AC 360" State Representative Kevin Boyle says the law may have failed the victims, watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STATE REP. KEVIN BOYLE, PENNSYLVANIA: We need to toughen this up, the legislation -- the current legislation on the books, because the current law allows for conspiracies. It allows for cover-ups. And I feel as though if we had stronger legislation on the books, Paterno, who I'm sure was lawyered up from the get-go, would have reported this to the police and hopefully there wouldn't have been as many as a dozen victims in the last decade.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: All right, the stunning fall from Grace continues for Joe Paterno. Pennsylvania's two senators, U.S. senators, are pulling support for a presidential medal of freedom for Paterno. Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Pat Toomey had sent a letter to President Obama. This was back in September. They were backing Paterno for the nation's highest civilian honor for his dedication to his players and for his famous grades-first philosophy.
Following the story at Penn State, what you find is there are really two distinction storylines. There's the sex abuse scandal and how that is being dealt with, and then the issue of this famed football team, this lucrative football program. And that's -- those are the two things we're having trouble reconciling here, because the students are getting very frustrated about both of those things.
Let's bring in a couple people close to the situation. Dan Florencio is a senior at Penn State University. He's also the president of the intra-fraternity council. And Davis Shaver is also a senior at Penn State, and he's the founder and general manager of Onward State, which is a blog. Gentlemen, thank you for being with us.
What a tough time for students at Penn State, because you've got two very distinct issues to deal with as I've just said. One is the reputation of Penn State because of this sex abuse scandal, and the second one is this famed football program that is so central to being a student at Penn State, whether or not you play football.
And I guess central to this is these outbursts we saw on campus two nights ago. Many students want people to know that they're very upset by what happened. Dan, I want to quote something from the "Daily Collegian" the newspaper there, an editorial yesterday that said "We are appalled. This is not the way the most legendary coach in college sports was supposed to go. Wednesday night was an embarrassment for Penn State." There referring to the rioting, the overturning of a TV truck. What are your thoughts on that, Dan?
DAN FLORENCIO, SENIOR, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY: I think any acts of violence or rioting are extremely deplorable and shouldn't be indicative of how the students react to things like this. But emotions are running high.
VELSHI: Davis, let me ask you. It must be tough for people who are just students there, who live in a bit of a bubble, as college students often do, to wonder a is my reaction supposed to be? Am I supposed to be Mad at the board of trustees? Am I supposed to be mad at Paterno and the coaching staff? What am I mad about? What are you mad about?
DAVIS SHAVER, FOUNDER AND GENERAL MANAGER, ONWARD STATE: Yes, well, I mean, absolutely. It's been very difficult for many Penn State students to comprehend the horrible allegations that have come out against the university over the past week, and it's been very traumatic to come to terms with them, face them head-on. I agree with Dan, that the actions on Tuesday night were deplorable, but I think that the board of trustees did what it had to do to confront this event and face it.
VELSHI: But the board of trustees is going to meet again this morning. The governor is expected to make an appearance there. Do you have any idea, either of you, what is likely to happen next? I mean, look, two major, major things have happened already, the firing of the president and of Joe Paterno. What else has to happen other than in the legal system to get Penn State and its students feeling like things are back on track?
FLORENCIO: Well, as the anchor mentioned earlier, the Mike McQueary angle to the story is really beginning to heat up. The athletic department announced yesterday that he wouldn't be attending this weekend's football game, but there hasn't been yet any announcement as to what his employment condition with the university is or what its future will be. And I know a lot of students are very upset about that.
VELSHI: Dan, let me ask you about this. "Boston Globe" columnist Dan Shaughnessy wrote that the board of trustees should consider one thing this morning. They should consider canceling the season. Let me just tell you what he wrote. "Canceling football would be the best way for the board of trustees to demonstrate it understands the seriousness of the conspiracy of silence that cloaked Paterno's program the last at least nine years. No senior day. Those players will recover. Wish we could say the same for Jerry Sandusky's victims."
Dan, for those of us outside of Penn State, it seems like something big being done like that might fit what has gone on. But this is very different for people in Penn State. How do you they would go over? Canceling the rest of the football season?
FLORENCIO: I think that would be a horrible idea, because I think it makes more victims and more people punished for the acts of a few bad men. The seniors that worked hard for the past four years and I think it would be very unfair to them to cancel the season because it's about them.
VELSHI: Do you think the -- Sorry. Go ahead.
SHAVER: I think that the challenge is, when we come together this weekend, to harness the singular amount of energy and angst and all types of emotions the Penn State community has and channel them into some kind of possible direction. I know that a number of student groups and student leaders are reaching out to charities that support victims of sexual abuse and child abuse, and there will be plans announced prior to the game about that.
VELSHI: All right, guys, thoughtful commentary. Thank you very much. It's in stark contrast to what we saw the other night but I understand that those things we saw in the street were not representative of everybody at Penn State. So I appreciate the comments from you. Dan Florencio is the president of the Intra- Fraternity Council and a senior at Penn State, Davis Shaver, also a senior, is the founder and general manager of the blog Onward State.
FLORENCIO: Thank you.
SHAVER: Thank you.
CHO: The U.S. defense secretary speaking out on the air force mortuary scandal. Secretary Leon Panetta is promising to get to the bottom of an apparent mismanagement of the Dover mortuary. "Washington Post" blew the lid off the scandal this week, reporting that bodies of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are being grossly mishandled, shocking cases of missing body parts and remains being dumped in a Virginia landfill. Panetta is calling for an independent investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: None of us will be satisfied until we have proven to the families of our fallen heroes that we have taken every step possible to protect the honor and dignity that their loved ones richly deserve.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Panetta is also asking the air force secretary to ensure that appropriate disciplinary action is taken.
VELSHI: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may soon be out of office. A crucial debate is happening now in the Italian Senate. Live pictures over the debt reduction that country needs to undertake to pull itself our near bankruptcy. Berlusconi pledged to step down from his post as prime minister once economic reforms are passed that will clear the way for a new technocrat government, meaning one not mired in politics but in fact set there to do something highly specific. It is likely going to be led by former EU commissioner Mario Monte.
CHO: It's certainly the end of an era.
VELSHI: Unbelievable.
CHO: It is extraordinary.
Big changes for Greece as well. A new prime minister will be sworn in later this morning. In just under two hours Harvard economics professor and former banker Lucas Papademos will lead the country's new unity government and inherit its debt troubles. He's promising to implement harsh austerity measures necessary for the country to receive a second bailout from the European Union. Former prime minister, George Papandreou, stepped down earlier this week.
If you can't beat them, join them. Governor Rick Perry poking fun at himself after he couldn't name the third government agency he would ax at the GOP debate. The top ten reasons for the Rick Perry excuses for that gaffe last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: Actually, there was three reasons I messed up last night. One was the nerves, two was the headache, and three was -- um -
Hey, listen, you try concentrating with Mitt Romney smiling at you. That is one handsome dude.
(LAUGHTER)
PERRY: Yes, I had a five-hour energy drink six hours before the debate.
I wanted to help take the heat off my buddy Herman Cain.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW": OK. Let's put this stuff in the caboose. The number one Rick Perry excuse --
PERRY: I just learned Justin Bieber is my father.
LETTERMAN: Oh, my gosh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: My personal favorite. That's good.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: I like that. Like I say, there are all sorts of bad ways people can handle thing. I don't know whether this is good advice or his idea, but it was funny.
CHO: I think it was very funny.
Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, the housing market and economy are down, but big bonuses are up. Federal government dishing out millions for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives. We'll have that report next.
And Richard Nixon in his own words, recordings and grand jury testimony released toed public after decade under wraps, including Nixon's explanation for that 18 and a half minute gap on those White House audiotapes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Eighteen minutes after the hour. The economy is struggling. The housing market is down.
CHO: But it's bonus time for executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And despite failing to clean up the housing crisis, the federal government is still rewarding them with millions of dollars.
A report this morning from CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You may not know Michael Williams but you probably want to be paid like him. Same for Ed Haldeman. They're the respective CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government sponsored firms which back at least half the mortgages in America.
According to records from the Securities and Exchange Commissions, Williams and Haldeman each made about $900,000 in salary last year, and each is getting paid about $2 million in bonuses.
Earlier this year, the federal government approved nearly $13 million in bonuses for Williams, Haldeman and eight other execs from the two firms. Despite the fact that millions of Americans are still struggling to make it through the housing crisis and the Fannie and Freddie have been hemorrhaging cash this year. They lost $10 billion in the last quarter and just asked Congress for more money.
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R), SOUTH DAKOTA: This is completely excessive and uncalled for.
TODD: Republican Senator John Thune is spearheading an effort by 60 Democratic and Republican senators to cancel the bonuses. They've sent a letter to the government body that oversees Fannie and Freddie. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, asking it to revise the compensation policy for those execs. The FHFA approved those bonuses.
THUNE: Why would you be rewarding this kind of behavior and - or this kind of performance at least in a time when we've got all of these national economic issues and people across the country are very frustrated?
TODD: Contacted by CNN, officials at Fannie and Freedie wouldn't comment on the bonuses.
(on camera): Their overseer, the FHFA, says its reduced executive pay at Fannie and Freedie in recent years, but those firms have to pay that kind of money to attract the kind of talent needed to manage $5 trillion in mortgages.
And officials here tell CNN, the reason those execs got those bonuses was because they took the right steps to turn things around at Fannie and Freddie after the mortgage meltdown.
(voice-over): A meltdown which triggered a massive bailout from the Feds.
(on camera): How big was the bailout of Fannie and Freddie compared to the auto bailout and some of the others?
CLIFF ROSSI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Yes. It was about $170 billion so far for both entities, both Fannie and Freddie. And I think the estimated tally from what I understand from the Congressional Budget Office is somewhere in the neighborhood of about $250 billion. So from that standpoint, it's - it's large relative to these other bailouts.
TODD (voice-over): Analysts Cliff Rossi, who once worked at both Fannie and Freddie says the current execs at those firms were put in place since the bailout to clean up the mess from before. He said they've started to do that, but also says they haven't done enough to modify more homeowners bad mortgages. So he's on the fence about whether they deserve their bonuses.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI: Well, I tell you one guy who deserves a big bonus. Reynolds Wolf -
CHO: That's right.
VELSHI: -- standing by in Atlanta.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Unbelievable.
VELSHI: And Reynold, getting trouble from the bosses on that, just let me know. I'll put the word in for you.
WOLF: I am liking - I like the way you're thinking today. I really do. I love this guy.
Hey, unfortunately you probably wouldn't like the forecast in parts of the northeast especially if you're just trying to get from one side of the country to the other. We got delays on both sides. In New York and Philadelphia, the gusty winds could give you some delays up to one hour. In Boston, D.C. metros, not quite as bad. But the gusty breeze giving you delays under an hour.
But then out on the West Coast, it looks like they might have another storm system that could keep you grounded for, again, 60 minutes perhaps a bit longer.
Next 30 second or so, we're going to show you what's happening towards the west. We're talking about the rain in the Central Coast to California. Meanwhile, Pacific Northwest, rain in the valleys. The highest elevations we're talking about, some snowfall. Look for a chance of some scattered snow showers in places of upstate New York, perhaps even into the Berkshires. A little touches (ph) on maybe.
But then as we move towards the Gulf Coast, not much, though high pressure is going to be your dominating features. So beautiful conditions for you in places like New Orleans with a high of 60 - 60 degrees; 65 in Memphis; 50 in Chicago; wrapping it up in New York with 49; 53 in Salt Lake City and 70 in Los Angeles.
Back to you, Ali, my new agent.
VELSHI: There you go. That's right. I'll take good care of you, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet. Take care.
CHO: All right, Reynolds. Thank you.
Still to come this morning, it's all hands on deck in San Diego. As two of the nation's top college basketball teams get ready to do battle on the deck of a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier with the president courtside.
VELSHI: Everything about that is cool. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Twenty-six minutes after the hour. "Minding Your Business" now.
Markets in Europe higher this morning after a rally yesterday on Wall Street. The Dow rising nearly one percent thanks to new leadership in debt riddled Italy and a stronger than expected earnings report from Cisco.
The Senate unanimously passing a jobs bill to help unemployed veterans. It gives tax credits of up to $9,600 to employers who hire veterans who have been out of work for six months or more.
After two days of marathon talks, no end yet in the NBA lockout. The union says it will bring the league's latest offer to the players early next week. If it's approved the NBA is talking about a 72-game season with a December 15th tip-off.
Mickey's the man. The Disney Corporation reporting record earnings this morning. Net income for the last quarter hitting $1.1 billion, that's up 30 percent over last year. The news sending Disney stock up more than two percent in after-hours trading.
Microsoft stepping on Apple's turf. Hundreds of people waiting on line for the grand opening of a Microsoft Store in San Jose. It's located directly across the street from an Apple Store. Microsoft is luring customers by offering a chance to win free concert tickets to see The Black Keys or Joe Jonas.
AMERICAN MORNING will be right back after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD NIXON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I have never seen the secret service quite so petrified with apprehension.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Richard Nixon in his own words, 45 minutes of audiotape nearly 50,000 pages of records released to the public after decades under wraps on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Just crossing the half hour. Good morning to you all. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Time now for this morning's top stories.
Penn State bracing for its first football game since the sex abuse scandal rocked the program and the university. A CNN affiliate is reporting that police in San Antonio are now involved in the investigation looking into allegations into the indictment that Jerry Sandusky raped a boy at the Alamo Bowl in 1999.
CHO: The lawyer for Sandusky, the former coach accused of sexually abusing as many as eight young boys is now speaking out saying his client has already been tried in the court of public opinion.
And, also, that Jerry Sandusky is destroyed by what happened to the former head coach, Joe Paterno. Sandusky is charged with 40 counts of abuse that carry more than 400 years in prison.
VELSHI: Pennsylvania's two senators are pulling support for a presidential medal of freedom for Joe Paterno. Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Pat Toomey had sent a letter to President Obama back in September backing Paterno for the nation's highest civilian honor.
CHO: Oakland's mayor has a message for all protesters, pack up and leave voluntarily. Mayor Jean Quan made the call just hours after an unidentified man was shot to death near the "Occupy Oakland" camp outside city hall. Protesters say the shooting was not related to the encampment. Police are now investigating.
VELSHI: It's day 56 of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement and protesters are planning a Veterans' Day rally and concert in New York's Folly Square. Joan Baez is schedule to perform. Today's event has been dubbed "Honor the Dead, Fight like Hell for the Living."
CHO: We have this just in to CNN. Passengers on a plane headed from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina got a real scare when the plane's engine burst into flames.
CNN affiliate, WBTV, says it happened minutes after takeoff. The pilot was able to fly back to Atlanta and get all the passengers safely off the plane. Nobody was hurt, but many of the passengers who heard the explosion thought they were in danger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we heard it, started shaking first, and then all of a sudden we saw sparks, very big boom. Lots and lots of fire, and then shortly after that smoke started coming out of the air vents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Some scary moments.
VELSHI: That would be a little scary.
CHO: We need to remind everybody that everyone is OK, of course, it rattled, the explosion, and has may have caused it is now under investigation.
VELSHI: All right, hundreds of pages of sealed grand jury testimony and 45 minutes of audiotape released to the public after decades under wraps.
Richard Nixon in his own words on the Watergate scandal that brought down his presidency and that famous 18-and-a-half minute gap on the White House tapes. It's a treasure trove for historians. Here's Athena Jones.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Years after his fall from grace, it's Richard Nixon in his own words.
NIXON: I got dressed and at approximately 4:35, we left the White House and drove to the Lincoln Memorial.
JONES: New transcripts and audio recording released by the National Archives and the Nixon Library provided glimpse into the mind of the nation's 37th president.
NIXON: I have never seen the Secret Service quite so petrified with apprehension.
JONES: As he reminisces about an impromptu, predawn meeting with anti-war protesters at the Lincoln Memorial. Just five days after members of the Ohio National Guard killed demonstrators at Kent State University. NIXON: A few small groups of students had begun to congregate in the Rotunda of the Memorial. I walk over to a group of them, walked up to them and shook hands. They were not unfriendly.
JONES: He said he tried to explain to the students why the U.S. had invaded Cambodia, expanding the unpopular Vietnam War.
NIXON: Our goal was not to get into Cambodia by what we were doing, but to get out of Vietnam.
JONES: Then there's the secret grand jury testimony. In which a testy Nixon is pressed repeatedly about the 18 and a half minute gap in an audiotape of his conversation with Chief Staff H.R. Haldeman about the Watergate break-in.
Nixon said I have never heard this conversation that you have alluded to, this so-called 18 and a half minute gap. When asked how that part of the tape was lost, he said, "If you're interested in my view as to what happened, it is very simple. It is that it was an accident. I don't know how it happened." And throughout the testimony, Nixon denied ordering the IRS to go after Democrats in the months before the 1972 election.
TIMOTHY NAFTALI, DIRECTOR, NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY: I'm not a lawyer, but I think lawyers and those who want to be lawyers, will recognize in the president's statements, a very intelligent lawyer who is not offering anything beyond what he knows or thinks he knows the prosecution. There's very little information that is offered.
JONES: Nixon appeared before the grand jury in June 1975, ten months after he resigned in a dramatic television address from the Oval Office.
NIXON: I have never been a quitter.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JONES: In making the decision to release the president's former grand jury testimony, the federal judge in the case said that doing so would enhance the existing historical record, foster further scholarly discussion and improve the public's understanding of the significant historical event. The historians and legal scholars who sued for this release of transcripts will certainly be pleased. Athena Jones, CNN, Washington.
CHO: Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, how Senator John McCain and his family are trying to make Veterans Day a little more hip. We'll explain. It's 36 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. It's Friday, November 11th, Veterans Day. You're looking live at the Tomb of the Unknowns where the president will lay a wreath later this morning.
It's all hands on deck literally when top ranked North Carolina tangles with Michigan State tonight in college basketball's Carrier Classic as it's being called.
The game will be played before 7,000 fans including President Obama on the deck of the Navy Aircraft carrier "Carl Vinson." Isn't that incredible? Rain is in the forecast and so are high winds, but organizers are rolling the dice deciding not to move the court below deck.
Well, Senator John McCain, his wife, Cindy and their son, Jim, are on a mission to make Veterans Day cool. While they're at it, they wouldn't mind eliminating the stigma facing thousands of returning war heroes who were challenged by mental health issues.
That's the motivation behind tonight's "Unity for Vets" concert here in New York featuring rocker Bret Michaels. And here to talk about their campaign is Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain.
She joins us live from Phoenix, Arizona. Good morning and here in New York, their son, Jim McCain, a Marine veteran and co-founder of honorvet.org. Thanks to both of you for joining us.
Jim, it's nice to see you. You are a Marine. You did a tour of duty in Iraq. What was it about your experience that inspired you to start to honor vets?
JAMES MCCAIN, SON OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: When we came home, me and my best friend who served with me in Iraq, we saw what was happening to a lot of veterans in America and our friends and everything. And we decided, you know, why wait? We should take this upon ourselves and really worked and that was the initial drive for our --
CHO: And your friend was suffering from PTSD?
JAMES MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am.
CHO: And talk about what honor vet does, then, to help veterans?
JAMES MCCAIN: We're an online base community for veterans and their families. Most importantly, it's not always just a veteran, and we try and provide services, mental health and employment most importantly to veterans online. And they can get it all there instead of spread out.
CHO: You know, there's been a lot of talk about PTSD and yet there's still a stigma attached to it?
JAMES MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am.
CHO: And I imagine what you're trying to do is bring about a little bit more awareness?
JAMES MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am.
CHO: Go ahead.
JAMES MCCAIN: Just so people know that, you know, these young men and women have chosen to do that part and just because they came home, there are some residual effects.
CHO: I'd like to talk to you, Cindy. You are the wife and mom of veterans. I want you to talk about the stress of having family members serve abroad.
You know, we all know that when Jim was serving in Iraq, your husband was running for president. How much more stressful did that make it for you?
CINDY MCCAIN, WIFE OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: I don't even know how to explain it. It was a time that I look back upon. I can't tell you how proud of Jimmy I was at the time, and have always been proud of, but it was a time that I really like to forget, because it was so incredibly stressful.
I'd like to also say how very proud of all of the families, not just my own, but all of the families that are serving right now and have served. It's stressful for everybody, and honor vet and what they do is remarkable.
Because these two young men saw not only a need that was not being met by our own veterans community and veterans services that are out there, but they saw a niche that they not only knew needed to be filled that was not being filled.
There are 18 suicides a day in our veterans community right now. That's not only unacceptable it's something we have to address and address very quickly. Honor Vet not only is addressing that need right now, but addresses it in a fashion that our veterans understand.
It's online. It's quick. It's a way that these guys can get to it and get help. And it addresses it in a fashion that these guys understand and quite frankly, my generation doesn't get to it that way.
CHO: Well, I'm sure, Jim, that still as a veteran, as a Marine, you know, probably there are a lot of people out there who are a little reluctant to reach out for help, right?
JAMES MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. And, you know, the reluctancy is something that I think a lot of veterans, they know, they maybe don't know they need help.
Sometimes they don't really can see it and that's the thing we try and do. We're not going to ever force anyone to try to better themselves, but a lot of young men and women know they can come to it.
CHO: Let's talk a little bit about the concert tonight.
JAMES MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am.
CHO: Tell me about it.
JAMES MCCAIN: It's in Westbury, New York and we have Bret Michaels and Billy Gibbons coming. It's going to be a lot of fun. You know, we just wanted to bring a lot of people together. You know, New York, being obviously the 10-year anniversary, wanted to bring people together and we can really support our veterans.
CHO: Are there still tickets available?
JAMES MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am.
CHO: How do people get them?
JAMES MCCAIN: Unityforvets.com is our web site and also just show up.
CHO: That's a good idea, too. How much money have you raised so far? Do you have any idea?
JAMES MCCAIN: No, ma'am. We do have a text to donate campaign. If you text honor. I forget it, but it's online.
CHO: Go to the Web site?
JAMES MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am. That's our big thing right now.
CHO: All right, wonderful. Cindy, before we go, I just have to ask you one question about the political season. You know, when we're looking at the Republican field, we've got that oops moment by Rick Perry.
We've got Herman Cain who has had his share of problems and Mitt Romney who some say can't energize the Republican base. Are you at all concerned about this and how much do you watch it?
CINDY MCCAIN: I do watch it. Obviously, it's part of our life. You know something? Anything and everything can happen in a political race. I don't count anybody out, having been there ourselves. Don't count anybody out until the race is over.
CHO: All right.
CINDY MCCAIN: I look forward to seeing more debates. And I think it's -- we've got a great field of candidates. So stay tuned.
CHO: Willing to tell us who you're supporting right now?
CINDY MCCAIN: No.
(LAUGHTER)
CHO: Had to ask. Had to ask.
All right. Cindy McCain, we thank you for joining us.
And, Jim McCain, congratulations on all of your efforts.
JIM MCCAIN: Thank you.
CHO: It's a pleasure to meet you. JIM MCCAIN: Can I say happy Veterans' Day, and happy birthday to the Marine Corps yesterday, 236 years.
CHO: Wow. Amazing. That's great.
JIM MCCAIN: Yes, ma'am.
(LAUGHTER)
CHO: It's nice to see you.
(LAUGHTER)
Good luck at concert.
JIM MCCAIN: Thank you.
CHO: Hope the weather holds up.
To learn more about Honor Vet, get involved or to donate, go to honorvet.org.
Your morning headlines are next. Its 46 minutes after the hour. We're back after this.
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VELSHI: 47 minutes after the hour. Here are your morning headlines.
Greece will soon have a new prime minister. Harvard economics professor and former banker, Lucas Papademos, who is set to be sworn in later this morning. He'll lead the country's new unity government. Former Prime Minister George Papandreou stepped down earlier this week.
U.S. markets are poised for another rally today. The Dow, NASDAQ and S&P 500 are all up this morning pointing to a higher opening at the bell.
The mayor is calling on Occupy Oakland protesters to voluntarily end their encampment outside city hall. Mayor Jean Quan says it's a matter of safety after an unidentified man was shot in the head yesterday afternoon near the protest site.
Penn State is bracing for its first football game since a sex abuse scandal rocked the program and the university. The university says the assistant coach, who allegedly witnessed a victim being sexually assaulted in a shower, won't be at the game because of multiple death threats against him.
Pennsylvania's two Senators are pulling their support for a presidential Medal of Freedom for Joe Paterno. Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Pat Toomey had sent a letter to President Obama backing in September, backing Paterno for the nation's highest civilian honor. Rick Perry joining the list of people poking fun at Rick Perry. The Texas governor, on David Letterman, to the top-10 Rick Perry excuses for his poor debate appearances. Among them, El Nino and Mitt Romney's alluring smile.
Billy's back. Comedian Billy Crystal is hosting the Oscars this year. He's replacing actor, Eddie Murphy. Crystal has hosted the awards show eight times. The Oscars will air in February.
The news you need to know to start your day. AMERICAN MORNING is back right after the break.
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CHO: Good morning, New York City. What a gorgeous morning.
VELSHI: It is.
CHO: Now the sun is up. The sun wasn't up when we came up.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: A little bit of a chill in the air.
CHO: Yes.
VELSHI: But it's sunny. 43 now, and 49 later.
CHO: A little windy when I woke up.
Welcome back to "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good news for working moms to be. A record 51 percent of working women received paid maternity leave. That's according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And that's the highest percentage since the bureau began keeping records in the early 1980s. But the U.S. is still behind the rest of the industrialized world. It's one of only three countries that doesn't guarantee paid leave.
VELSHI: Yes.
Coffee giant Starbucks is expanding its empire to include juice. Starbucks bought the juice company, Evolution Fresh, for 30 million bucks. They plan on tapping into the very lucrative health and wellness arena, $50 billion business. Starbucks will sell the juice in its retail stores for now. Come 2012, you'll see Starbuck's own juice bar chains popping up across the country. Look out, Jamba, you have some competition.
(LAUGHTER)
CHO: There were some rumors that was going to happen.
VELSHI: Yes.
CHO: Now, it's official. You may have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. But the cost of your turkey dinner may not make the list. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, this year's Thanksgiving dinner will cost you 13 percent more than it did last year. That's thanks to a 22 percent rise in the price of turkey. A 13 percent hike in the price of milk.
VELSHI: Wow.
CHO: 15 percent increase in the price of pumpkin pie mix and a nearly 17 percent rise in the cost of green peas.
VELSHI: Wow. Wow. We've sort of been reporting on these things but when someone puts it in context --
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: -- that's incredible.
A real San Francisco treat. The Bay City made history this week electing its first Chinese-American mayor. It's an important milestone that illustrates how far the city and the country have come. Mayor Ed Lee is enjoying a wide range of support. He even snagged the votes of a few celebrities.
Dan Simons got the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than a century ago, San Francisco leaders tried to keep the Chinese as second-class citizens. But the Chinese fought back. And now their community, China Town, is a major tourist attraction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dan, how are you?
(CROSSTALK)
SIMON: It is a significant milestone. This robust community now has one of their own in the mayor's office.
ED LEE, MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO: Our own local government back in the late 1800s and early 1900s were anti-Chinese, anti-Chinese immigrant.
SIMON: Mayor Ed Lee, whose parents emigrated from China and lived part of his youth in a housing project, symbolizes another advance in overcoming racial injustice.
LEE: We have the opportunity to write a brand-new chapter of resonant participation, everything that we do. I'm very proud. I'm very proud of the roots that I have.
SIMON: Lee's appeal is much broader. He won the endorsement of tech heavy weights like Twitter's Biz Stone.
BIZ STONE, C0-FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, TWITTER: Vote for Ed Lee. Here's the most action.
SIMON: Celebrities, too, like the Black Eyed Peas, Will. I am.
WILL. I AM, RAPPER: Ed Lee is too legit to quit.
SIMON: They appeared in a music video that went viral on YouTube, parodying an old M.C. Hammer song called "2 Legit 2 Quit." By the way, M.C. Hammer is a supporter too.
(SINGING)
SIMON: "2 Legit 2 Quit" had real meaning. Lee was appointed to the post after former mayor, Gavin Newsom, got elected lieutenant governor, though Lee seemed to have no appetite for politics.
(on camera): Lee wasn't originally going to run for the job but a ground swell of support made him change his mind. His opponents tried to make the flip-flop an issue, but it didn't really stick.
(voice-over): In fact, he was just what voters was looking for, a nonpolitician. Yet, as the past city administrator, he knew the inner workings of government.
Bob Gardner is a Bay Area political strategist.
BOB GARDNER, POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Lee's not a career guy and, yet, you know, he showed, in his few months in city hall, that he can be an effective mayor.
SIMON: Lee's effectiveness has been tested with the Occupy Wall Street movement in San Francisco. Taking up space downtown near businesses and tourists hasn't been ideal. At one point, he considered having police remove the protesters.
(GUNFIRE)
SIMON: But the violent confrontation across the bay in Oakland after the Occupiers were evicted there caused him to reconsider.
LEE: I think the challenge in Oakland was really not so much the action, but what people kind of suggest as maybe flip-flopping. Once you make a decision, you ought to stick with it.
SIMON: He's referring to Oakland's acquiescence to allow the encampment to return.
Lee has a reputation for speaking his mind and, so far, the voters like what he has to say.
Dan Simon, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: A milestone for San Francisco.
Your top stories are next. Also ahead, Academy Award-winner, Cuba Gooding Jr is here. Show me the parade float? He's got a special tribute on this Veterans Day for the Tuskegee Airmen, the first unit of African-American military pilots who flew in World War II. Cuba Gooding, Jr, is live in our studios.
It's 56 minutes after the hour.
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