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The Situation Room
Bush Supports Rumsfeld; Mumps Outbreak in Midwestern States
Aired April 14, 2006 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: To our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time.
Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you tonight's top stories.
Happening now, standing by his man. President Bush says he supports Donald Rumsfeld no matter what some retired generals say. Now one surprising military figure tells CNN what he thinks of the battle between Rumsfeld and the generals.
And an outbreak of the mumps. Why is a disease virtually unseen in almost 40 years suddenly popping up in several states? Now the government wants to know if airline passengers were exposed.
And will it be an Easter outing? The annual White House Easter egg roll is usually a fun-filled right. So how might gay rights be part of the event?
I'm Heidi Collins, in for Wolf Blitzer, and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Tonight, President Bush wants Americans to know he is sticking with Donald Rumsfeld even though a half-dozen retired generals want to see the Pentagon chief go. Mr. Bush released an unexpected statement in support of Rumsfeld today. And in a CNN interview, former Joint Chiefs chairman Richard Myers is speaking out for the first time about the uproar over Rumsfeld and his handling of the Iraq conflict.
We'll hear from him shortly, but first to our White House correspondent now, Ed Henry.
Hi, Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good evening again, Heidi.
A remarkable defense of the defense secretary. Unusual that President Bush decided to intervene himself, not put this statement out through his press secretary, but instead the commander in chief doing it himself. A clear sign, especially given the fact the president also interrupted his Easter holiday at Camp David to first call Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, then put out this public statement, a sign that with this growing chorus of criticism from these retired generals, the president felt the need to finally intervene. He put out a statement that said in part, "Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period. He has my full support and deepest appreciation."
Also noteworthy, this statement went out on the first official day for new White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, taking over, of course, for Andy Card, who has now left amid all this speculation that there could be a White House shakeup either among the staff, perhaps the cabinet. People trying to read the tea leaves, really getting some clues finally today about what may happen.
Whenever we ask White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan about the future of embattled Treasury Secretary John Snow, he always says he will not comment on personnel matters. Well, today, the president obviously decided to publicly and loudly comment on a personnel matter, saying he's sticking with his defense secretary. It's the kind of full-throated defense we have not seen the president give his Treasury secretary -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Ed Henry, thanks for the update.
Secretary Rumsfeld also is brushing aside his critics today. And the man who recently served as America's top general is speaking out, too.
Let's check in with CNN's Fredricka Whitfield.
Hi, Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Heidi, Donald Rumsfeld says it remains to be seen whether he'll still be in his job when the 2008 election rolls around, but he's making it clear that he has no plans to call it quits any time soon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD (voice over): Speaking to Arab news channel Al- Arabiya, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld responded to critics calling for his resignation.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I intend to serve the president at his pleasure. And the fact that two or three or four retired people have different views, I respect their views. But obviously if out of thousands and thousands of admirals and generals, if every time two or three people disagreed we changed the secretary of defense of the United States it would be like a merry-go-round.
WHITFIELD: Of those retired generals calling for Rumsfeld to step down, three worked under him during the Iraq War. But those generals are being targeted themselves.
Today, former Joint Chiefs chairman Richard Myers, who worked directly with Donald Rumsfeld until 2005, spoke with CNN's Barbara Starr.
GEN. RICHARD MYERS, FMR. CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: I think one of the things we have to understand, or at least my whole perception of this, is that it's bad for the military. It's bad for civil military relations. And it's potentially very bad for the country, because what we're hearing and what we're seeing is not the role the military plays in our society under our laws -- for that matter, under our Constitution.
WHITFIELD: Myers would not say whether he supports Defense Secretary Rumsfeld because, according to Myers, Rumsfeld's future is for the president to decide.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And as for the future of the Iraq mission, Rumsfeld would not predict how much longer it would last and what it would cost in dollars and lives. But he did make one prediction. He said he does not think a civil war would break out in Iraq -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Fredricka, thank you.
And now to new developments in the nuclear crisis with Iran. More explosive comments from Iran's president are not easing the situation.
CNN Senior United Nations Correspondent Richard Roth is following that story for us.
Hi there, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
The nation of Iran insists its nuclear intentions are strictly peaceful, but once again the country's leader's remarks are incendiary.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH (voice over): More fiery rhetoric on a religious holiday for much of the world. Iran's president, days after announcing gains in nuclear enrichment, declared the Zionist regime of Israel is heading forwards annihilation.
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The Zionist regime is a dying tree that soon its branches will be broken down.
ROTH: Last October, the Iranian leader drew global criticism when he said Israel should be wiped off the map. Addressing a conference on Palestinians, the president again expressed doubts that the Holocaust ever occurred.
AHMADINEJAD (through translator): Is this Holocaust worse than or less than the Holocaust you claim that has taken place?
ROTH: The U.S. State Department reacted quickly to the inflammatory remarks. SEAN MCCORMACK, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: It's more reprehensible rhetoric from the president -- president of Iran. This is -- this is the kind of rhetoric, I think, that has only added to the fears and concerns of the international community as it relates to Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.
ROTH: But Iran's president accused the United States and others of being bullies, trying to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear program for energy purposes.
AHMADINEJAD (through translator): They are against the advancement of technology and science in the region.
ROTH: No indications in the speech or during the visit this week by the U.N.'s top nuclear inspector that Iran is seeking a compromise in the simmering nuclear dispute. Secretary of State Rice spoke to the U.N.'s Mohamed ElBaradei, who reported he heard nothing new from the Iranians.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH: Next to take a crack at the Iranians, China, which has a minister there this weekend. Then the U.S. and the big powers on the Security Council will huddle up for strategy in Moscow next week -- Heidi.
COLLINS: What are the potential next steps, though, Richard, for the U.N. Security Council?
ROTH: Well, the U.S. put on the record today what it's looking for, a resolution at the council with teeth, something Iranian is legally forced to comply with. And if not, targeted sanctions in that resolution against senior Iranian government officials, including travel bans, perhaps, and financial asset freezes.
COLLINS: Well, the situation certainly seems to be heating up.
Richard Roth, thank you.
Jack Cafferty joins us now from New York once again tonight.
Hi, Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How are you doing, Heidi?
In case you haven't noticed, it's getting more and more expensive to drive. Gasoline prices up to an average of $2.72 a gallon, according to AAA. That's 45 cents a gallon more than gas cost a year ago. Oil prices up sharply, too, flirting with $70 a barrel yesterday, a 27 percent increase over last year.
All this means that getting around this summer is going to cost Americans more.
In the 1970s, when inflation and the Arab oil embargo caused gas and oil prices to soar, President Nixon imposed price controls. So here's the question: At what point should President Bush impose price controls on gasoline?
You can e-mail your thoughts to caffertyfile@cnn.com or go to cnn.com/caffertyfile.
And by the way, while you're getting squeezed at the pump, you'll be happy to know that Exxon, which made $36 billion last year, is giving its retiring chairman of the board, Lee Raymond, a retirement package worth almost $400 million -- Heidi.
Next time you fill up, think about that.
COLLINS: All right, Jack. We'll check those e-mails in just a bit. Thank you.
Coming up, an outbreak in the Midwest making a comeback. Could air passengers have been exposed to the mumps?
Plus, a big city's school district being divided along racial lines. Find out why some lawmakers are backing it but others are outraged.
And Easter outing. Gay parents are lining up at the White House right now to take their kids to the egg roll. There's a live picture there of the White House. Find out why some critics say they're playing politics.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM, everybody.
In a developing story we are following, why is a disease that's been mostly under control for almost 40 years now causing an outbreak in several states?
Our Mary Snow is tracking this mysterious spread of mumps.
Mary, what have you learned?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, a lot of questions being raised, and this mumps outbreak is growing. Health officials report that this outbreak has spread to eight states in the Midwest and that health officials are at a loss to explain it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice over): Health officials discovered the first U.S. cases on an Iowa college campus in December. Now cases of the mumps in Iowa have skyrocketed to more than 600. And nearby Midwest states report dozens more, puzzling doctors.
DR. WILLIAM SCAFFNER, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: Where did it lurk? How is it that we didn't see further cases?
SNOW: Mumps cause the glands under the jaw to swell, and people usually have a fever and headache. Severe complications like deafness and meningitis are rare. Mumps spread when infected people cough and sneeze.
What about when they travel?
DR. JANE SEWARD, CDC EPIDEMIOLOGIST: A disease like mumps spreading on a plane, it's very uncommon. But we wanted to be cautious and just inform passengers.
SNOW: The Centers for Disease Control is now investigating whether this mumps outbreak put air travelers at risk. The government is reaching out to passengers on flights taken by two infected people. Those infected people had many layovers.
According to the CDC, the first infected person traveled from Waterloo, Iowa, in late March to Minneapolis, Minnesota, then to Detroit, Michigan, then to Washington, D.C. , and back. The other went from Tucson, Arizona, to Dallas, Texas, to Lafayette, Arkansas, to St. Louis, Missouri, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 2nd.
SCAFFNER: We can take this mumps epidemic as kind of a fire drill for what might happen if bird flu suddenly became transmissible to humans and was introduced into the United States.
SNOW: It's also testing the public health system response that was put into place after 9/11 to deal more effectively with biological emergencies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So it is not only being useful for dealing with mumps, but it's actually testing our ability to deal with biological emergencies and showing us where we can do better.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Now, the question is, how are health departments faring if after four months this outbreak is still spreading? Well, doctors say it's a lesson in how difficult it can be to limit an outbreak -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Mary, are any of the people that you've spoken with talking at all about immunizations? I mean, we have done stories here and there about parents who choose not to immunize their children.
SNOW: Certainly, it is a question. And one of the things that doctors are looking into is that, because most people get two doses of the vaccine, maybe that one -- if people only had one of those doses, they might be more susceptible than people who had both doses. They're also looking to see if there's another strain of the virus.
And health officials do point out, I also wanted to say, that they do know of an outbreak in the United Kingdom recently. They don't know if the two are connected.
COLLINS: All right. Much more work to be done on this one, I guess. Thank you so much.
Mary Snow.
Fredricka Whitfield joining us now from the CNN Center in Atlanta with a closer look at stories making news -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Good evening, Heidi.
The U.S. military says a mortar attack has killed two Marines in Iraq's Anbar province. They were among a group of Marines building an observation post yesterday when they were attacked by insurgents. Twenty-two Marines were injured.
More than 2,300 U.S. troops and military civilians have been killed in Iraq since 2003.
People are getting a closer look at the devastation from five tornadoes that pounded Iowa City and neighboring areas last night. A woman was killed when a twister literally tore apart her mobile home.
The tornadoes ripped off roofs, shattered windows and tossed cars upside down. National Guard troops are helping crews clean up. A state of emergency has been declared in three counties.
And more than four years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, almost 300 more human bone fragments have been found on the roof of a badly-damaged World Trade Center bank building in New York. The building had been left vacant and covered in netting after 9/11. The remains were found as the area was being decontaminated. Medical examiners are going through the bone fragments to try to identify them.
Four TV networks are challenging an FCC ruling that several programs contained indecent language. ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and other affiliates filed challenges in federal courts in Washington and New York. They're protesting what they say is aggressive enforcement of federal indecency rules.
They claim those rules are vague and inconsistent. In some cases, the networks have faced fines of millions of dollars.
The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1st, but the fallout from last year's devastating season is not over. A new report by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general says the agency's focus on terrorism left it unprepared to deal with Hurricane Katrina. The report also includes 38 recommendations to improve disaster response this year, including speeding up and coordinating federal, state and local assistance -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Thank you, Fred.
And, you know, we did speak with the acting FEMA director a little bit earlier today here in THE SITUATION ROOM, David Paulison, who says they are absolutely red for this hurricane season. In fact, when I asked him on a scale form one to 10 how he would rate the current state of the agency according to readiness, he gave himself an 8 out of one through 10. Still to come tonight in THE SITUATION ROOM, segregated schools. Many American students study about it in the history books. Now some are living it. We'll tell you about this new racial divide in the heartland.
And a White House tradition with a twist. Gay couples and their children plan to turn out at the annual Easter egg roll. What do they hope to accomplish?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A pretty amazing story out of the Midwest that echoes back to the civil rights movement in 1954. Nebraska's governor has signed into law a bill that segregates the city's schools in Omaha into three districts: one mostly black, one mostly white, and one predominantly Hispanic.
CNN's Bill Tucker is joining us now from New York with more on the current controversy.
Bill, nice to have you here.
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, thank you very much, Heidi.
This is an interesting story. And critics say the measure amounts to state-sponsored segregation. And many are wondering even if it's legal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCKER (voice over): Like many problems do, the dispute over schools in Omaha began about money. Omaha's public school system wanted to increase its funding base, and it touched off a full-blown controversy.
The state will now create three school boards with three new school districts. Three essentially racially segregated school districts.
NANCY OBERST, OMAHA SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: It is shocking to me that we would decide to carve out the district in a way because the residential situation in Omaha is such that we do have communities where, in the north, it is heavily African-American and in the south Latino, and the west is Anglo.
TUCKER: The action has sparked outrage.
PAT BOURNE, NEBRASKA STATE LEGISLATURE: I just think it's a dark day for Nebraska. I truly believe that we set race relations back here 20 years. I don't think any state has done what we did in a long, long time. And I'm discouraged and disappointed.
TUCKER : Under a bill signed into law by Governor Dave Heineman, parents of children in a school district will have a greater say in the governance of their schools because the school board members will be from the neighborhoods the schools are in. It doesn't seem like an especially controversial idea. But it certainly is distinctive.
ERNIE CHAMBERS, NEBRASKA STATE LEGISLATURE: Every proposal made by the white people has failed. Nothing has altered the situation in these schools. I offer a plan. And because it is going to work, white people have gotten alarmed because when we do have control of our schools, the parents will be interested because they have a stake.
TUCKER: Chambers says nothing about the racial makeup of the schools will change. He's the first to admit they are segregated and the first to point out that this is the first time many opponents have admitted it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCKER: Now, it's important to point out that under this law, parents of a child in Omaha schools do have the right to move their child to another school if they're unhappy with the school that he or she is attending -- Heidi. . COLLINS: All right. Bill Tucker, thank you.
Time now for Ali Velshi and tonight's "Bottom Line."
Ali, Delta pilots, deal or no deal?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Deal and you get to fly now. By all accounts, it looked as if we'd be talking about strike contingency plans for Delta passengers by today, but the carrier and the pilots union have reached a tentative agreement on wage cuts, tentative because they've got to go to their -- the pilots themselves to vote on it.
Now, arbitrators were going to decide by tomorrow if Delta could throw out its union contract which could have triggered a walkout by the pilots and could have shut down the bankrupt airline. A little more than a year ago, Delta pilots who were the highest paid in the industry agreed to cut their pay by a third to an average of $150,000 a year.
Now, it seems like the hybrid hype might be dying out. Honda says it might cut production of its Accord hybrid sedans. Sales are down 51 percent from last year. The company says it's having a hard time convincing car buyers that the Accord will save them gas money.
The hybrid model does have a 25 percent better fuel economy. It's also got a sticker price of about $4,000 more. But we could see demand picking up soon because gas prices are up about 50 cents from where they were last year, just in time for summer.
Oil prices are flirting with record highs as well.
And finally, Heidi, Wal-Mart has been under fire for years about its gun sales. Now the company says it's going stop selling guns in about a third of its stores. About a thousand Wal-Marts in all, but Wal-Mart wants you to know it's just a marketing decision, nothing more. Pulling the guns, according to Wal-Mart, is reflecting a lack of demand for fire power in certain parts of the country -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Ali. Thank you.
Just ahead now, standing by his man. President Bush sticks up for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. A look at the political fallout.
Plus, who makes more money? President Bush, Dick Cheney or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Their tax returns online. We have a sneak peek.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins, in for Wolf tonight.
Returning to our top story tonight, when President Bush issued a new statement of support for Donald Rumsfeld today, it served as a reminder of a trait they have in common. They both tend to stick to their guns.
CNN's Tom Foreman has been studying Rumsfeld's style.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable secretary of defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Friends and foes all know Donald Rumsfeld does not easily bend. So, here are some reasons they suggest why he's unlikely to bow under the current battering. Number one, it is not the Rumsfeld way. Rumsfeld takes his critics head on.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Do you think I'm going to stand around reading your books and disputing things in them or validating or not validating?
QUESTION: Well...
RUMSFELD: I've got a real daytime job.
(LAUGHTER)
RUMSFELD: I mean, you would do nothing else but that, if you did that.
FOREMAN: His political life was built on toughness. Richard Nixon saw it 30 years ago.
RICHARD M. NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At least Rummy is tough enough. He's a ruthless little bastard. You can be sure of that.
FOREMAN: Rumsfeld sees it, too.
RUMSFELD: You know, if you do something, somebody is not going to like it. Therefore, you have got a choice. You can go do nothing, or you can go do something, and live with the fact that somebody's not going to like it.
FOREMAN: Number two, the impact on the military. The future of Iraq is uncertain. Osama bin Laden is still free, and Iran is rattling its saber. Some military analysts say Rumsfeld bears some blame. But others say, letting the defense secretary be forced out would send a dangerous signal of weakness to enemies.
Number three, politics -- through Afghanistan and Iraq, Rumsfeld has led this administration's signature initiative, the battle against global terrorism. The White House stands by him and expects the same in return.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history.
FOREMAN: Number four, the opposition. Critics want Rumsfeld out.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: It would energize American forces. It would energize the political environment. Yes, he should step down.
FOREMAN: Political analysts say attacks on the White House will grow bolder if Rumsfeld blinks.
And number five, personal conviction.
(on camera): Rumsfeld has said many times this war is difficult. It will take a long time, but it is going well.
(voice-over): He sees newsmakers and news reporters who focus on the negative as mistaken and defeatist.
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Much of the reporting in the U.S. and abroad has exaggerated the situation. The number of Iraqi deaths have been exaggerated. That is to say nothing of the apparently inaccurate and harmful reports of U.S. military conduct.
FOREMAN: Simply put, Don Rumsfeld has lost political battles, but it is not his nature to ever go down without a fight.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: We're joined by CNN political analyst and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile today, and by Bill Bennett, CNN contributor and host of "Morning in America." Thanks, guys, for being here.
Let's talk about this situation with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. We have six retired generals now that have come forward and expressed their extreme displeasure. President Bush issued a statement today, as we mentioned. Here is part of it. I want to put it up on the screen for our viewers right now.
It says, "Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period. He has my full support and deepest appreciation."
Is this the way to do it, Bill, a written statement on a Good Friday holiday?
BILL BENNETT, HOST, "MORNING IN AMERICA": It's a good, strong statement. Yes, and as you know, there's not a lot of news. So I think it's a good time for it. There have been enough people who have spoken out that I think it's good for the president to do it.
The fact that several retired generals did it maybe makes the case more against retirement than it does against Don Rumsfeld. But this is a firm arm around the shoulder by the president of the United States supporting Don Rumsfeld.
Look, I mean these guys can have their differences. That's fine. Some of them, I think, have fundamental differences about the war, whether we should be conducting the war. And a couple of them, at least, should have the courage to say and the integrity to say and the honesty to say, it's not Don Rumsfeld's execution of the war they are arguing with, it is the war itself.
And, you know, they should be calling on the commander in chief to step down. As I have listened to them, clearly that's the case with some of them.
COLLINS: Donna, what do you think?
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, the president has said repeatedly that he takes his cues from those on the ground, the commanders on the ground. And these are former commanders and now what they are saying is that Mr. Rumsfeld should go. They are saying that he's been wrong on so many fronts.
He's been wrong about weapons of mass destruction. He's been wrong about the troop levels in Iraq. He's been wrong about the insurgency. He's been wrong about the reconstruction. So they have given the president, I think -- although they are retired, they are telling the president it's time for Mr. Rumsfeld to go. And I think the president should listen to those retired generals.
BENNETT: Well, these guys when they were on the ground did not give this advice, which I think does not speak to their sense of integrity.
BRAZILE: Well, we don't know that, Bill. BENNETT: Well, yes, we do, because they have been interviewed. And several of them said, no. I mean, I watched Batiste last night, and he said, no, when I was there I just went along and I just waited until I got out. Well, I mean that's -- we can expect more of a man than that.
But, look, there are not six generals or 10 generals. There are hundreds of generals and, by far, the vast majority support Don Rumsfeld. People retire, they second guess. It's a difficult war. Absolutely, mistakes have been made. I'm glad to see the president back and up again.
COLLINS: In fact, Bill, you mentioned, there are hundreds of retired generals out there. I do want to make sure that we get an opportunity here to play the sound from the latest general and what he had to say. This is Major General Charles Swannack. Let's listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. CHARLES SWANNACK, JR., (RET.), U.S. ARMY, 82ND AIRBORNE COMMANDER: I feel that he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there to achieve our strategic objectives. I really believe that we need a new secretary of defense.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COLLINS: Could it really ever happen that Donald Rumsfeld would go, Bill? I mean, this is the guy who was basically running the war in Iraq, running the war on terror. I mean, wouldn't there be some huge political consequences?
BENNETT: Well, sure, there are circumstances under which he could go. It's happened before in the history of the United States. But, again, I'm more impressed by guys like John Singlaub who stood up to Jimmy Carter about Korea and was fired as a result of it. But he was in service on the ground and made his point then.
But, no, I mean, there's civilian control of the military. The president can decide he's not happy with his -- either his generals or his secretary of defense and make that decision. But, again, Don Rumsfeld is not responsible for the reports on the weapons of mass destruction. That was intelligence all over the world that said that.
And I'll tell you, politically, totally weak, I hate to do politics. But I know that's her job, I know. Politically, it would really hurt the president to let Don Rumsfeld go because immediately this would be interpreted as weakness.
We are in a no-win game for the president. He keeps Rumsfeld, he's keeping damaged goods, according to a lot of the media. If lets him go that would be a show of weakness.
COLLINS: Donna, is that your assessment or is it a fresh start?
BRAZILE: No, that's just the problem. The problem is that we are putting politics ahead of our troops and ahead of having a winning strategy for victory in Iraq. And let me just say this. I mean, last night General Batiste said that Mr. Rumsfeld intervened in some of the decisions that the generals made on the ground, that Mr. Rumsfeld didn't listen.
And we all know about the weapons of mass destruction and some of the faulty intelligence. And it's clear that the administration looked at and reviewed and analyzed what they wanted to believe and not what clearly was out there for all to see.
So I think it's time the president listened to the commanders on the ground and listened to what they have to say and find someone else to delegate this war to, so that we can win and bring our troops home.
BENNETT: Look, Peter Pace said incessantly, every time he's been asked, we have these opportunities, we have these forums, we have these discussions where generals can bring up their disagreement. It is an open forum. They can bring it to the secretary. They can bring it to me. They can bring it to my deputies. These objections were not made at the time.
He just -- I'm sorry, but just the second guessing after the fact is not the same thing as being there on time. Now, can you look at this war and say, well, you know, things should have gone differently? Certainly. But to do it this way, it is just not impressive.
COLLINS: Well, it is true that both Rumsfeld and the war in Iraq are going to be huge issues. We have midterm elections coming up.
Let's talk about that for a minute and how these issues might affect the midterm elections. I want to put a poll up for you guys, ABC/"Washington Post" poll. This is interesting.
The sampling error is plus or minus three percent. But look at the disparity. This is Democrats saying 55 percent and Republicans 40 percent, as far as who will win Congress. Should Republicans be worried, Bill?
BENNETT: Sure. Always be worried. Always act as if things are bad. The good news here is that people don't vote in general, they vote in particular, and when you disaggregate the data, as they say, and look at individual races it looks a little different.
But, look, we're in tough times, in a number of ways, mainly, the unpopularity of this war. And there are some other factors. So, of course, Republicans should be worried. I had Chris Shays on my show today. It's a very interesting test. I think Donna would agree. He's a liberal Republican in Connecticut.
He's a target by the Democrats. I would understand why they are targeting him, because that's a liberal, fairly liberal district. Nevertheless, he says: I will support the president and support the president on the war. And he says: I have told the president, my hide doesn't matter, so much as you doing the right thing.
So, it's going to be an interesting -- an interesting fall. I... COLLINS: Donna.
BENNETT: ... at six...
BRAZILE: Well ...
BENNETT: ... six, seven months away, I have to predict I don't think they are going to change the composition.
BRAZILE: Well, Mr. Shays is vulnerable on immigration, on Iraq, and so many other issues.
Look, the Democrats are fielding a really good crop of candidates. They have more money in the bank that they -- than they had this same time in the 2002 cycle. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has done a fabulous job in trying to get a good message out there to help these candidates.
We have fresh blood out there. The polls look good. We still need a tidal wave of support from independents and others. And, of course, turnout is everything in an election. The good news is that Democrats are well positioned. The bad news is, we have seven more months to wait for this victory to occur.
COLLINS: Donna Brazile, Bill Bennett, we certainly appreciate you being here in the "Strategy Session."
BENNETT: Thank you.
COLLINS: Thanks so much.
BENNETT: Thank you.
BRAZILE: Happy Easter.
BENNETT: Bye-bye.
Happy Easter.
COLLINS: You, too.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: We're learning new details today about the financial portfolio of the president and vice president. Just a few hours ago, CNN got a hold of their tax returns. You, too, can peruse the White House filings thanks to a little help from our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner. Always telling us how to navigate -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Heidi, this is really cool stuff. And you can look at it too, online, but when you do, I want to show you what to look for. Right here is the tax return for President George W. Bush. Now, I want to show you line-item seven. This right here is his salary as president, $400,000.
I also want to take a look at his combined income with his wife, first lady. We can see here, the taxable income, $618,000. That means they are paying $187,000 in taxes this year. We also know that they gave away $75,000 worth of charity, and among that was hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast region.
Want to switch now to the vice president. Take a look at his tax return with his wife, Lynne Cheney. Vice President Cheney and his wife, adjusted gross income. Look at this number, $8.8 million, but wait, there's more. They gave away $6.9 million in charity, a lot of that was stock options that went directly from Halliburton to the charity. They have $1.96 million in taxable income, $517 worth of taxes.
And in the interest of disclosure today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his 2002, 2003 and 2004 tax returns. His adjusted gross income for 2004, $16.7 million.
Go to CNN.com/situation report and you, too, can look through all of the stuff yourself -- Heidi.
COLLINS: You know, my husband's in the studio here, and he did our taxes this year. And he says we have nowhere near as many commas as that.
SCHECHNER: I don't either. I'm not even close.
COLLINS: Oh, all right. Jacki, thank you.
Happening now, gay parents lining up at the White House to take their kids to the annual Easter egg roll. Find out why some people say they're playing politics. That story when we come back.
Plus, the latest challenge facing a baseball legend, Barry Bonds and a grand jury investigation. We have the story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Tonight the White House is preparing for a not so traditional Easter outing. Gay families are planning to take part in the annual Easter egg roll on Monday. Some critics are questioning their motives, calling the event brokeback bunny.
Our correspondent Brian Todd is covering the holiday culture war. He's actually standing near the line that has already gotten pretty big, right, Brian?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It sure has, Heidi. It's almost a competitive situation just to get tickets for this event. This is the front of the line and this is where they are going to give out tickets here at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, but already people are gathering here and they've been here for about 12 hours.
They are not giving tickets out for another 12 hours. Some of these folks have been here for the last 12 hours. This is the beauty of the event. This is what the White House loves about it. It is open, open to the public. First come, first serve, but this year that openness is being put to the test. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice over): Dressing up, rolling eggs, posing with Peter Rabbit, time-honored traditions at the White House Easter egg roll, which this year come with a twist. A twist that starts at the ticket line, where more than a hundred gay and lesbian couples are converging this year to grab first come, first serve passes for the event.
JENNIFER CHRISLER, FAMILY PRIDE COALITION: I think we're making a statement certainly that we are here, that we exist, that we're raising children.
TODD: Jennifer Chrisler, a mother of twins, is organizing the effort and says it's only about giving their children access to events and creating memories. One Christian group thinks otherwise.
MARK TOOLEY, INST. ON RELIGION & DEMOCRACY: I think the groups who were organizing this statement basically are exploiting a children's event to share their political perspective.
TODD: Chrisler says this isn't political, but when we asked what her group thinks about the Bush administration's record on gays and lesbians...
CHRISLER: I believe this administration is wrong about how they think about the policies that affect gay and lesbian people and gay and lesbian families in this country.
TODD (on-camera): OK. So putting that together with what you're doing and the fact that you didn't do it for a Democratic administration, this is not a political statement that you're making?
CHRISLER: No, this is about us being visible for the American people, so that they can see that gay and lesbian parents exist in this country.
TODD (voice over): White House officials will only say this is a public event. Everyone is welcome to attend, and they have no plans to make the egg roll invitation only in the future.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: Jennifer Chrisler says her group expects about 400 people from gay and lesbian families to be at the White House Easter egg roll on Monday. That is out of a projected crowd of about 16,000 -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Brian, you've been out there in that line now talking with people. Is anybody talking about this issue?
TODD: Not really. I did hear a couple of people say it's a big to do about nothing, but it's not the only political controversy surrounding the event this year. Believe it or not the Humane Society of the U.S. has asked the White House to use eggs that are not from caged hens they are citing the cruelty that they believe is inflicted on caged animals. The White House has actually denied that request, saying that they have consulted with the American Egg Board and that they feel that eggs from caged annals are better for food safety of all things.
COLLINS: Of all things. All right. Brian Todd, thank you very much.
As hundreds of gay and lesbian families descend on the White House lawn for Easter, they're getting a little help from the Internet.
Our Abbi Tatton has the details on that -- Abbi.
ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, Family Pride is the group behind this effort. What they say is what they're doing is not political. However, a glance at their web site shows you it's certainly well planned and long organized. They're doing this with a number of groups around the country.
What you can do is go on the web site and sign up and say that you're attending on Monday, but they want more than that. They're looking for volunteers to actually help them get these tickets, to stand in line for families that may not be able to themselves, even to hand out refreshments for people that are in line outside the White House getting these tickets.
I spoke to executive Director Jennifer Chrisler. She says that the response online has been strong, although, there have been a few people using the web site to express their opposition to what the group is doing -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Abbi Tatton, thanks for that.
Up ahead now, baseball star Barry Bonds in a little bit of hot water again in connection with allegations he used steroids. Will the slugger get hit with an indictment? We're taking you live to Dodger Stadium in just a moment.
And are gas prices out of control? And what, if anything, can President Bush do about it? Jack Cafferty is back with your e-mails.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Did he or didn't he? Many high-ranking officials and everyday fans have all wanted to know if Barry Bonds ever used steroids. Now, that search for the truth is taking an unexpected twist. CNN's Ted Rowlands is in Los Angeles with the details. Hello to you there, Ted.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. We are in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, and no sign of Barry Bonds yet. He and the San Francisco Giants are in town to play the Dodgers tonight. Game time is still more than two hours away. No sign of Bonds, no comment from Bonds. But when he left San Francisco last night, he left the stadium a little early before the second game of a doubleheader was over. A swarm of media was looking for comment from Bonds to see what his thoughts were about the revelation that a grand jury is now looking into a possible perjury indictment.
Basically, what is happening here is the prosecutors in San Francisco think that Barry Bonds lied. Whether or not he did steroids does not matter to them. They are concerned about whether or not he committed perjury back in 2003.
And the stakes are much higher, too. It's not his reputation or his career or an as asterisk next to a record that's at stake. It is a possible jail sentence if it goes all the way through and he's found guilty of this.
Right now, the process is at the early stages. A grand jury has been convened. They're hearing evidence to see if there's proof that Bonds committed perjury back in 2003.
Back then, he and a number of athletes testified in front of this grand jury. They were given immunity. The deal was, you tell the truth, you're fine; you lie, we may come back to you. And it appears as though the federal government is now coming after Barry Bonds.
If this grand jury believes prosecutors and they hand up an indictment, Bonds could be looking at a criminal prosecution against him, the worst-case scenario for anybody in this situation -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Ted, we know you'll follow it for us. Thank you, Ted Rowlands.
Let's find out now what's coming up next hour on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." Hi there, Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Heidi. That would be about seven minutes from now, for those of you looking at your digital clock like I am.
The question we have for you tonight is why have police detectives gone back to the Duke University campus? We're going to have the very latest on the investigation involving rape allegations against some members of the Duke lacrosse team.
Also, a very timely report for this Good Friday, a day when images of Jesus are all around us. How close do any of them really come to what he looked like? Well, at the top of the hour, we're going to have a face you may not recognize at all. Could it in fact be the most accurate of all? We'll let you be the judge of that a little bit later on -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, great, we'll check it out. Thanks, Paula.
Meanwhile, gas prices going sky high for the summer. Should the president step in to do something about it? Our Jack Cafferty is taking your email.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: And here's a look now at some of the hotshots coming in from the Associated Press, pictures you'll likely see in your newspaper tomorrow.
In Nepal, torch light protests. Students march against the king who dissolved the government and seized control more than 14 months ago.
On a beach in Spain, a woman sings during a procession in remembrance of all the sailors who have died at sea.
In Zimbabwe, a young orphan wipes tears from his eye after he fell on the ground during a ball game. Almost one in three children there are now orphaned as a result of the AIDS epidemic.
And in Uruguay, Easter cowboy. This one fell from his horse during the rodeo. They have it every year during holy week.
And that's today's hotshots pictures, often worth a thousand words.
Jack Cafferty is in New York now with "The Cafferty File." Hi there, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Good evening, Heidi.
Gasoline pieces up 50 cents a gallon roughly from a year ago. Oil prices way up as well, flirting now with $70 a barrel yesterday. The question is, at what point should President Bush impose price controls on gasoline? Nixon did that one time, a long time ago.
Kelly in Ithaca, New York writes -- "Never. Let the SUV drivers bankrupt themselves feeding their beastly machines. They deserve it. The higher the prices, the better. Fewer and fewer folks will be able to drive, and more and more will rely on public transit."
Dan in Louisville, Kentucky -- "Only if oil is embargoed. We'll never get over our oil addiction by holding prices down. We should adjust the gas tax upward as a fuel use disincentive, and use the added tax revenue for highway improvements." Not a bad idea.
Pat in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. "It should have begun right after Katrina, which is when this mess began."
Mike in San Diego -- "At no point should President Bush impose gasoline price controls. I'm just loving the fact that I can blow by you gas-guzzling SUV pigs in my hybrid. I can hardly remember the last time I had to put gas in the old girl." Talking about his car.
Chris in Pittsburgh -- "Funny how selective we are when it comes to touting free market capitalism. If Americans keep demanding so much gas, they'll have to pay for it. High gas prices may be the only way to get Americans to slow down in more ways than one."
Steve in Greenville, Tennessee -- "What, price controls, and turn the windfall profits of all of Mr. Bush's Texas oil buddies as well as all his friends in the Middle East? Surely you jest."
Jim writes from Mexico -- "He should not. Gas prices in the United States are cheaper than in Mexico and Europe. Supreme unleaded gas costs me over $1 a gallon less in the United States than regular unleaded costs in Mexico."
And Calvin writes in Mound House, Nevada -- "As soon as possible. Let's go back to $1 a gallon so we can all climb in our Hummers and drive all day. Foreign dependence on oil? Hell, we'll just invade Venezuela! Global warming? That's just a conspiracy cooked up by liberals to prevent me from having a good time." Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, and we'll be watching "IN THE MONEY" this weekend, too, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Oh, good.
COLLINS: It's been nice being with you.
CAFFERTY: You, too.
COLLINS: Have a good one.
CAFFERTY: You, too.
COLLINS: Thanks for joining us, everybody. Wolf will be back in THE SITUATION ROOM on Monday. And you can join him this Sunday for "Late Edition." Among his guests, the Iraqi ambassador to the United States.
Once again, I'm Heidi Collins in THE SITUATION ROOM. Have a great weekend. Here's Paula Zahn.
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