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CNN Sunday Morning
Aristide Leaves Haiti; Authorities Continue Search for Missing Mississippi Family
Aired February 29, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Heidi Collins.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Martin Savidge.
Good morning, if you are just waking up on the West Coast, it is very early there. Thanks to all of you for starting your day with us.
Well, the headlines are just ahead, including the latest on the fast-changing situation in Haiti. Stick with us for the rest of this hour.
Here is what else is coming up. A tanker explodes and sinks off the coast of Virginia. Some crew members are dead, others still missing in the 40-degree waters. We will have a live update.
COLLINS: Rosie said I do, and so have thousands of others, gays and lesbians, from San Francisco to New York. But the debate rages on. Should same-sex couples have the right to wed? We'll tackle the issue a little bit later on in the hour.
SAVIDGE: And they are primping and polishing their best duds this morning. Hollywood gets a chance to strut its stuff with the 76th Annual Academy Awards tonight. We'll check in on the party, first though, here's what's happening at this hour.
COLLINS: In Haiti, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has fled the country. That is the word from the State Department. You are now looking at some live pictures coming in to us from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We are looking at smoke, trying to get details on that and what that might be pouring out of the structure there on the ground.
As you know, militant rebels, they were intent on removing Aristide from power. So they have advanced to within 25 miles of the capitol Port-au-Prince that you see here.
Off the Virginia coast now, hope is fading for finding 18 crew members from a tanker ship that exploded and sank. Coast Guard aircraft and patrol boats are searching the area 50 miles off the Virginia's Chincoteague . Three of 27 crew members were killed when the vessel blew up, six others were rescued.
Democratic presidential candidates aren't yet through taking on one another, verbally, at least. The four challengers met in Los Angeles a few days ago and meet in another televised debate in New York later this morning. They will meet there. It is their last one before Super Tuesday, when 10 states hold primaries or caucuses.
The FBI is looking into new developments into the Oklahoma City bombing. Sources tell CNN documents related to the attack my have been destroyed and others never turned over to the FBI for investigation. This comes days before a jury selection in the state trial of Terry Nichols for his role in the 1995 bombing.
Now, to Haiti, our top story this morning, amid international pressure Jean-Bertrand Aristide leaves the country. We want to get the very latest now, for that we head to the capital of Port-au-Prince and CNN's Lucia Newman.
Lucia?
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Martin.
Well, we now have independently confirmed that the president has indeed stepped down. Having said earlier that he actually just moved to another location for security reasons. His attorney, Ira Kurzban, is now saying, yes, the president has resigned.
We don't know exactly where he is at this moment. I can tell you that the prime minister, Yvon Neptune is, at this moment, about to begin news conference, along with members of the international community, to talk about what will happen next.
In the meantime, the situation on the streets is quite tense, very dangerous, in fact. Many foreign journalists have been fired upon. There are barricades all over the city. People are burning tires. And as we mentioned at the beginning, there is a fire, there is smoke coming from an area very, very close to the palace at this time. We don't know what it is that is burning. There are groups of armed gangs, very heavily armed, roaming (AUDIO GAP) the news of president (AUDIO GAP)
SAVIDGE: We apologize for that, you were listening to a report from Lucia Newman coming to us via videophone.
We continue to watch developments there as well as looking at the live images. She was talking about a fire burning where the white house is. It remains to be seen exactly how that nation is going to react now, the fact that its president has left, we will continue to follow it closely.
Heidi?
COLLINS: We want to get a little background now on Haiti and the political past. Clearly, its political past brought us to the situation today, and a very volatile one it is.
We are joined, on the phone, by former U.S. ambassador to Haiti, William B. Jones, he served during the Carter administration.
Thank you so much, sir, for being with us this morning.
I am sure you have been able to catch up with what has been happening this morning, even though it is changing, as we speak.
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has left the country. What does this mean? What does it mean, in particular, to the violence that we have been seeing over the last several weeks?
WILLIAM B. JONES, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HAITI: Well, I would guess, there would be chaos. There is no organized government to maintain the infrastructure of the country. I think it is very important now, that there be some sort of international cooperative action to bring order to Haiti.
COLLINS: What would that international cooperation look like to you?
JONES: I would like to see a resolution by the Security Council of the United Nations or the OAS, which has authorized a multi- national force. Not an American unilateral force, but a multinational force, which would go in and take charge, maintaining order. That is to maintain the airports, the water system, the infrastructure, to fight to make sure there is a reasonable amount of policing in the country.
What I am afraid of is that there will be a period of utter chaos. During that period, who knows what will happen. It is very difficult to predict. Fortunately, thus far, the casualties have been fairly light in this overthrow.
I think we have to now look forward toward the future, and I think that is what is important, to then to develop a long-range plan, so that every four, five, six, 10 years we don't go back into Haiti and do this all over again.
COLLINS: Sure, understandable.
Ambassador Jones, we do want to remind the viewers that we have learned and been told by the U.S. State Department, one of our sources we have there, telling us that a multinational force will soon be sent to Haiti. Of course, still trying to get more details on what "soon" means. But looking very much like it will be a multinational force.
Of course, you have been an ambassador to this country. Set up the situation for us and the past. What is at issue here for those people who have not followed this crisis in the past.
JONES: What is at issue is who is going to govern the country. The elected president was overthrown. Unfortunately, this is part of Haitian tradition. The Clinton administration, who supported Aristide, who really brought him to power when he was overthrown, in 1992 or '93, by the Haitian military.
And then he was brought back and put into power by the Clinton administration. We had 22,000 armed forces, Americans, in the country. And they only stayed though for about two years. Unfortunately, Aristide never really gained the full confidence of the Haitian people. COLLINS: Is that because -- if I may interrupt quickly, we are running out of time, Ambassador Jones, but is that because the General Raoul Cedras -- I understand that during the summer of 1993 -- when the deal was put together, between Aristide and Cedras that he never left the country.
JONES: As far as I know, he went to Panama. But I have way of knowing whether he secretly is there or not. My information was that he was out of the country.
I think the thinking is that all of this is because of what someone else did, is misguided. I think Aristide must be held responsible. He was the president. He was in charge of the country for 10 years, he made some major mistakes.
I don't think that it is good that a democratically elected president should be overthrown. But nevertheless the Haitians have to begin to accept responsibility for their own acts. They can't continue to blame other forces or conspiracy theories for things that has happened outside of the country.
Haiti is Haiti. And I think that they have to face it that they have problems, and they have to try to get organized and the international community has to help them.
COLLINS: All right, William B. Jones, former ambassador to Haiti. We appreciate your time this morning, sir. Thank you very much.
The White House blamed much of the crisis in Haiti on President Aristide and publicly questioned his fitness to govern. For more we return now to White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, for the very latest, from that perspective.
Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, one of the reasons we are not getting the level of details in the last couple of hours is because, a senior administration official says they are waiting for Aristide to arrive at his destination. They are also waiting for the announcement to come out of Haiti before they unveil just how this happened.
But we can tell you that officials said that this is something that it intimately involved Secretary Powell, overnight discussions, negotiations involving Aristide, involving other nations, in seeing that he would peacefully leave his country.
It became very clear yesterday when the White House, in no uncertain terms abandoned its support of Aristide staying in power. The White House releasing a very harshly worded statement saying they question his fitness in governing. They suggested that the crisis was largely of his own making, and that it would be in the best interest for Aristide to leave.
One of the big questions here, of course, is the contingency plan and some sort of stabilization force. What is the U.S. role going to be here? We have heard from senior administration officials who tell us that there are active discussions taking place right now, in terms of what kind of stabilization force the U.S. would be willing to send.
One of these plans, a contingency plan we have been talking about the last couple of days, would involve 2,200 Marines. We are told they are on alert status, not deployed yet, but on alert status, ready to go if necessary.
Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, we will continue to follow that situation as well. Thanks so much, Suzanne Malveaux, from the White House.
SAVIDGE: On the subject of the U.S. military, what role, if any, they may play in Haiti, we will turn to our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr.
Good morning, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Martin.
SAVIDGE: What do you hear about these Marines and whether or not they may now be moved or any military assets brought to bear to try to help in Haiti?
STARR: Well, Marty, there are growing signs in Washington that that is exactly what may happen, even as soon as later today.
Officials tell CNN, as Suzanne Malveaux just reported, there are very active discussions going on across Washington. The Pentagon, the State Department, the White House, about some sort of military force.
The issue, is they want to participate in some sort of stabilization force. But what they say, very clearly, that the U.S. forces would have to be invited in by whatever government exists in Haiti. There would not be any movement of U.S. forces unless the Haitians wanted them there. There are growing signs today that there maybe exactly that, some movement of forces into Haiti within the next many hours.
SAVIDGE: All right, Barbara, let me ask you this, and I know it is the obviously, because the president has already left from Haiti, but what has exactly changed as far as the military strategy? Because the U.S. seemed to be reluctant to commit any force before all of this, and now, seems to openly talk about doing it after he has left.
STARR: Well, there are a couple of issues here, which is the president has now indicated that the U.S. would want to participate in some sort of international stability, or peace-keeping, force if you will. Not clear at this point what that U.S. military participation would be. Whether it would be actual troops on the ground or whether it would be some sort of logistical behind the scenes type of support.
But the fundamental issue is there are about 20,000 Americans in Haiti. And the United States military would seek to provide some sort of safe atmosphere for them to get to the airport, to get out of the country if they wanted to.
Also, remember, there are a number of U.S. Marines at the embassy, providing security and stability there, to keep the embassy safe. They may need some additional reinforcement. The plan had been to keep those U.S. Marines on standby, and perhaps have them sail by ship all the way to Haiti. That would take about four or five days.
The feeling now, this morning, is maybe -- just maybe, they want to get some type of force into that area more quickly. People are saying, keep an eye on the whether those Marines may fly into the Haiti at this point. All indications are, no final decision has been made, but it is under very active consideration.
SAVIDGE: And this international force? How long would it take to organize? And who is likely to participate in it?
STARR: Well, given past experience, it is clear that they would want some participation by Caribbean nations, nations in the region. I think that it is still under very active discussion in diplomatic circles. The U.S. military, of course, would take its lead, its guidance from the State Department as a diplomatic solution is fashioned. Again, not clear at this point whether that would be U.S. boots on the ground, if you will, or some type of other support. But Pentagon officials very actively looking at the situation this morning.
SAVIDGE: CNN's Barbara Starr reporting to us on the telephone from Washington, saying the U.S. now is considering the possible use of military forces, in some way, keeping in mind we're talking about Haiti, the departure of the president.
About 20,000 Americans are in Haiti at this particular time. Their safety is obviously a primary concern to the administration.
Also, as you have heard, Haiti's president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide has departed, his whereabouts currently unknown. And the exact details of his departure have not been released.
We will have coming up in a live report, from Virginia, talking about the other big story of the morning. That is a tanker explosion.
COLLINS: We will have that, Marty, as well.
We want to let everybody know some information just now about a news conference that will be held pertaining to the Haiti matter. Actually, the Haitian prime minister will be holding a news conference. And CNN will have a producer, on the spot, reporting back to us so that we may report on any information out of that news conference to you.
In the meantime, we will take a break and be back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Now let's head to Virginia, as the Coast Guard aircraft and rescue boats search the Atlantic for survivors of that tanker ship explosion. Unfortunately, hope is rapidly fading that anyone else is still alive. CNN's Elaine Quijano is live in Portsmouth, Virginia, with the very latest on the circumstances there.
Elaine?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Martin.
It is a race against the clock for these U.S. Coast Guard rescuers. As 14 hours have now passed since they first arrived on the scene last night. They are continuing their search at this hour for 18 missing crewmen who were onboard that tanker that exploded about 55 miles east of Chincoteague, Virginia.
Now, three crew members were killed. Six others managed to survived the ordeal. Infrared images taken by the Coast Guard give us a sense of what the area looked like. You can see one end of the ship clearly visible before it disappears beneath the water.
Now this tanker had more than 3 million gallons of ethanol and some 250,000 gallons of fuel oil. It was registered under a Singapore flag and headed for New York from Houston.
Now, overnight, the Coast Guard interviewed the survivors, the six of them who were taken to a hospital in Norfolk. It is still not clear what happened. Apparently some crew members were asleep at the time. Others were working on deck.
The Coast Guard says at this point, they have no reason to believe that this was anything more than an accident. Now, this morning, officials got their first look -- a new look, rather -- at the area by the light of day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REAR ADM. SALLY BRICE-O'HARA, U.S. COAST GUARD: We have accounted for all four of the life rafts, which were on this vessel. There are a number of life jackets that are in the water. And they show also the impact of the fire.
And so, we are getting good, on scene information. It is clear, last night was clear. It is relatively calm. So, from the search perspective, the conditions are pretty good for us to be out there searching.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: As for potential environmental impact, at this point, Coast Guard officials believe it will be minimal to the protected areas along Chincoteague, Virginia. They say the ocean currents are helping with that.
Also, the investigation, the government of Singapore has now authorized the U.S. to be the lead investigating state after consulting with Department of Homeland Security officials, and members of the Department of State.
Martin?
SAVIDGE: Elaine Quijano, giving us the very latest on the search. Of course, with temperature that cold, in the water, hope would be fading. Thank you very much for that.
COLLINS: Turning now to the mystery in Mississippi. Authorities are about to resume their search for this family. They have been missing since Valentine's Day. They also plan to file charges against a relative in connection with the disappearance. CNN's Mike Brooks, joining us from Taylorsville, Mississippi now, with the very latest.
Mike, good morning.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Investigators are back on the scene, here in Taylorsville, hoping to find more clues on the disappearance of the Hargon family, that disappeared on February 14. The three-member family haven't been heard of since then.
Joining us right now is Warren Strain from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Warren, thanks for being with us.
WARREN STRAIN, DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY: My pleasure.
BROOKS: Where does the case stand right now?
STRAIN: Right now, we are still going, we have just gone back in and begun and the search again. About 50 people, approximately, are involved in the search this morning. Typical grid search of the area, to the east of the roadway here, down toward the Leaf (ph) River, is where we're focusing on this morning. As the day progresses, then we'll shifting over to the west side of the roadway here.
BROOKS: Last evening you said multiple felony charges will be filed against Ernest Lee Hargon, the adopted cousin of Michael, who is missing. What charges will those be?
STRAIN: There will be varying charges, some will be filed here in Smith County, others will be filed in Yazoo County, where the Hargon family were discovered missing.
BROOKS: Now, when they were discovered missing there was a crime scene involved, about 100 miles from here. Have you been able to link that crime scene with any evidence you found here on Ernest Lee's property?
STRAIN: We felt real good about the information that we were able to derive from the dwellings here and then also the other buildings here yesterday. Went through with the crime scene, evaluated that, collected all the information, all the evidence that we could from here. We feel really good. The investigation is in good shape in that regard.
BROOKS: Thank you, Warren.
Well, Heidi, as you hear, they are still investigating it. They are still gathering evidence. Right now the three members of the Hargon family are still missing. They don't know exactly where they are.
Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, Mike Brooks. We will check back with you should anything develop this morning. Thank you very much.
SAVIDGE: Let us show you the latest images coming out of what is the big story of the morning, that is the situation in Haiti. Fire, burning there on the ground, that is near the area of the palace, not the palace itself.
The big news, is that Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the democratically elected president has now left. He was under a great deal of international pressure. Of course, pressure within his own nation to leave. His whereabouts currently unknown. This apparently was worked out in talks between U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, last night.
And then CNN's Barbara Starr reporting from the Pentagon, that it appears that is U.S. forces are preparing for the possibility of going in to Haiti to restore order. That as part of some international force. So, there you have the latest on situation in Haiti.
COLLINS: We will continue to follow that, but there is other news today, especially if you like entertainment news. "Lord of the Rings" has ruled the box office but will "Return of the King" grab the gold at tonight's Academy Awards. We'll get a preview from Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: That music just gets you all fired up, doesn't it?
Tonight, the five tales are the toast of Tinseltown. There is a homicide, a hobbit, a horse, a Hollywood hot shot, and some hi-jinx on the high seas.
That is some pretty good writing, isn't it?
All five are hoping for the top honor at the Academy Award. CNN's Kendis Gibson, is up very early in Los Angeles.
Boy, very early, especially for you Kendis.
KENDIS GIBSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know that I like to sleep in.
COLLINS: Yes.
GIBSON: Yes, we are up early. I tell you, shocking and surprising, but there is this much activity on the red carpet, Heidi. Look at it. Actually, this is probably the last time the red carpet will look this empty. Because the crews have wrapped up all the work they needed to do to prepare the 500-foot long red carpet. As you can see, the oversized Oscar statues are in place adorned with plenty of flowers.
Now as for the smaller guys, the smaller statues, the Oscars. Who will take one home for the best picture. Of course, many of the pundits are saying it will be "Lord of the Rings" and it probably will be.
And "Lord of the Rings" being the winner, if so, perhaps it is the Academy Awards itself that will be the winner. If you listen to this theory, back in 1998, when "Titanic" won, some 55 million tuned to watch that year's Academy Awards. Last year, 33 million people watched. This year, you have a very extremely popular movie, as popular as "Titanic" was at that time.
So, many of the folks at the Academy are hoping once again that they will finally be able to get the viewers to come back and watch the awards. Even though it is probably a foregone conclusion that "Lord of the Rings" will win.
So, things are expected to get heated and get a little more active as the day goes on, but for now as you can see things are pretty much ready.
Heidi?
COLLINS: All right. I thought you would have company on the red carpet this morning, but I guess not.
GIBSON: No, just work crews.
COLLINS: Kendis, thanks so much. Things are sure to heat up tonight.
SAVIDGE: Updating our top stories: The Coast Guard is searching this morning for 18 crewmembers missing after a tanker loaded with ethanol explodes off the coast of Virginia. Three are confirmed dead, six were rescued.
And breaking news out of Haiti. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has stepped down. Aristide had been under intense international pressure to step down in the wake of recent violence and lawlessness. Rebels launched a campaign to overthrow Aristide three weeks ago. Jean-Bertrand Aristide is no stranger to the conflict in Haiti.
More from Haiti now with a live update from our Lucia Newman -- after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Things are anything but rosy when it comes to the issue of gay marriage. On Thursday, Rosie O'Donnell took her partner's hand and joined the gay marriage ranks. We talk more about the issue in just a few moments. SAVIDGE: Welcome back. That story's coming up, though first, here's what's happening at this hour.
We start in Haiti where President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has left the country. Aristide was under pressure from opposition groups and the international community to step down. We will have more on this developing story throughout the day.
In Spain, the government says a terrorist attack intended for Madrid was foiled this morning. Police intercepted a stolen vehicle packed with more than 1,000 pounds of explosives. Authorities say two Basque separatists were arrested. The alleged plot appears to have been timed to the country's general election. That was to take place in about two weeks.
And political leaders in Iraq missed a midnight deadline for a new draft constitution, but continued efforts could lead to an agreement this week. Officials say the delay shouldn't endanger plans for an interim government to take control by the end of June.
Police resume their search this morning for a missing family in Mississippi. The three family members were reported missing about two weeks ago on Valentine's Day. An adopted cousin is in custody and should be charged today.
COLLINS: Now back to our top story. Haitian President Jean- Bertrand Aristide has left the country and resigned as president. CNN's Lucia Newman joins us now, via videophone, from the capital, with the very latest from there.
Good morning to you, once again, Lucia.
NEWMAN: Good morning, Heidi. The Prime Minister Neptune has said that the president resigned in order to avoid bloodshed. However, Jean-Bertrand Aristide's attorney, Ira Kurzban, tells CNN that the president has not resigned, but he has left the country, but that it was not a resignation as such.
In the meantime, we are hearing a lot of gunfire, a lot of ambulances, loud shouting from crowds out on the streets, a very, very fluid situation out here at the moment, Heidi.
COLLINS: Can you clear up any further for us, Lucia, the difference between what is being said? Aristide's attorney saying he left, didn't resign, but we are learning here he did. When will we know whether or not he has voluntarily relinquished control of the country?
NEWMAN: I suppose when we hear from Jean-Bertrand Aristide himself, Heidi. Right now, there is a subtle difference. From the practical point of view, he's gone. But from a legal standpoint, it is very different to resign than being forced out of power, Heidi...
COLLINS: Understood.
NEWMAN: ... possible defendant will say. COLLINS: Understood. Who will take over, any idea at this point, and I realize this is a developing story as we speak to you. But in the interim, who will be watching over the country?
NEWMAN: Well, according to the constitution, the president of the Supreme Court will immediately step in once the president is gone.
Heidi, hello? Can you hear me?
COLLINS: I can hear you. All right, Lucia Newman, thanks very much.
NEWMAN: So it will be the president of the Supreme Court.
COLLINS: President of the Supreme Court. Understood. Thanks so much, Lucia Newman, joining us live, videophone, from Haiti in Port- au-Prince there.
And it is a growing topic of discussion, now to a national debate involving everyday people, celebrities, and even the president. The issue of gay marriage, and the opinions are many. We'll discuss the hot topic, coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... activist course, have left the people with one recourse. If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage to be changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: According to her, it was those comments by President Bush Tuesday that prompted openly gay comedian Rosie O'Donnell and her partner to get married last week. On Thursday, O'Donnell married long time girlfriend Kelly Carpenter. The couple tied the knot inside the office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O'DONNELL, ENTERTAINER: We were both inspired to come here after the sitting president said the vile and vicious and hateful comments he did on Tuesday. It inspired myself, my brand new wife.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: President Bush's proposal to amend the constitution to stop same-sex couples from marrying is so hot, some members of his own party don't even want to talk about. So why is it such a big deal? Well, joining me to talk about it are Matt Daniels with the Alliance for Marriage.
Good morning to you, Mr. Daniels. And Mark Mead, with the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay organization. And good morning to you as well, Mr. Mead.
Thanks to the both of you for being with us this morning.
Break this down for us, as quickly and basically, if you can. And go ahead, you can begin, Matt Daniels, what is this about? There are some people who say, if gays can be together with a civil union, that should be enough. I am sure you heard the question before.
MATT DANIELS, ALLIANCE FOR MARRIAGE: Yes, we have come under fire from the right often for the position of the Alliance for Marriage, which is that marriage is a man and a woman, and that the states should be allowed to create civil unions if they want to, democratically.
I was privileged, with my wife, to sit next to our president when he made his recent statement endorsing AFM's marriage amendment. And I can tell you that the people in the room, Latino, African-American, Jewish, who are members of our coalition, do not believe it is hateful to believe it is common sense that marriage is a man and a woman, that the courts don't have a right to destroy that. We believe that gays and lesbians have a right to live as they chose, but they don't have a right to use the courts to change marriage for our entire nation. And we're proud of our president for saying it.
COLLINS: Mark Mead, what about breaking the law in San Francisco?
MARK MEAD, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: Well, that may be not helpful to our entire mission, which is full and fair equality for all Americans. And amending the constitution, putting discrimination into a sacred document like the constitution, is not compassionate, and it's certainly not conservative.
COLLINS: Well, to you then, and to be fair, I want to make sure that you get a moment to explain, what this is about, in particular, civil unions versus marriage?
MEAD: Well, civil unions, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said, are not enough. Separate is rarely equal in this nation. And we believe that if you promote family values and value all families, you need to include the one million children being raised in same sex households in this nation. They need the same protection and rights as all families, and all children, and that come only from a civil marriage license.
COLLINS: Mr. Daniels, is this about the children?
DANIELS: Listen, what it really is is about the message that our laws are going to send to kids. The most Americans want our laws to send what they regard as a positive message to children about marriage and family.
And by the way, when anyone uses the terms hatred or discrimination or bigotry, let's remember, the federal marriage amendment is supported by the man who organized the march on Washington for Martin Luther King, by two of the largest African- Americans denominations in the United States. These people are great men and women, these people are my friends. I have to ask, who is anyone to tear them down, to attack them, to criticize their integrity for standing up for what most Americans regard as common sense, that marriage is a man and woman and it's good for kids to be sent that message through the law.
COLLINS: Of course, Mark Mead, you have heard the argument before, I would imagine, that who has the right to say who can be married and who cannot? If I can be married, you can be married?
MEAD: Understand, we're talking here about civil rights, not sacred rights. There is not a church, or synagogue, or mosque impacted by this, nor should there be.
But I'd ask Matt, Matt, how does my relationship threaten your marriage, because, I can assure you, your marriage doesn't threaten my relationship.
DANIELS: Yes, I can answer that, and it's simple. This is not about your relationship, Mark, it's about redefining the public legal institution of marriage in ways that will have sweeping impact on this generation and generations to come. That's what we're really talking about here. This has been raised to the level of the United States Constitution by activists who are going to use the constitution to force this on every man, woman and child through the courts. And that's why we now have to amend our constitution if the American people, instead of courts and judges, are going to have the final say for the sake of our kids and grandkids.
MEAD: Matt, what this will do, for generations to come, is to permanently discriminate against gays and lesbians and their families, and that is wrong.
DANIELS: The man who organized the march on Washington for Martin Luther King, who was beaten and jailed for the cause of civil rights, and many other African-American leaders who walk with him, are in this coalition. We're not motivated out of animus towards you or anyone in your community, nor am I. We just deeply believe that kids do best with a mom and a dad, and that our laws have a right to - the very people have a right to see that encouraged under our laws, because when men and women come together to parent, there are unique benefits for children and society. People understand that, the courts don't. And that's why we have this conflict.
COLLINS: Mr. Mead, let me ask you what you think should be happening in San Francisco? You mentioned earlier that the breaking of the law there may not help the cause and what your group is about in trying to get equality, as you say. What should be happening, and what is the best way to go about this for your cause?
MEAD: When I see the pictures of loving, committed people, who want to share their lives and make a commitment to each other, I'm uplifted. It's a nice thing to see, and I'm proud of them. That said, we do believe that the ultimate way to get full equality for all gay and lesbian Americans, and all Americans, is through the legal system. It's not through amending the constitution. It's letting each state decide how they are going to navigate this. Log Cabin Republicans believes exactly what Vice President Cheney believes, that this is a state's right issue, that we should come to some kind of accommodation that allows gay and lesbian to enjoy the same, not anything special, but the same protections as Matt Daniels' family.
COLLINS: And, very quickly, Mr. Daniels, the last word, please.
DANIELS: Gays and lesbians already have the same rights as other Americans, but they don't have the right to redefine marriage for our entire society. That's what this debate is entirely about.
COLLINS: All right, to the both of you, thanks so very much for your time this morning. Matt Daniels and Mark Mead, again, we appreciate it.
SAVIDGE: The fierce debate in the U.S. over gay marriage got us to thinking, how do other countries see the issue? And here's what we found.
There are three countries with laws granting homosexuals the rights to marry, the Netherlands, Belgium, and two provinces in Canada, Ontario and British Columbia. A few other nations have laws that provide gays civil unions with some rights, but not the full rights of marriage. For instance, can you get what's called a registered partnership in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. In fact, those are the only nations that recognize civil unions from other countries. France also offers several forms of civil unions for gays.
And now, to the e-mails on this subject. Let's take a look at the first ones, here.
COLLINS: We were asking your opinion about, you know, what you think of this. That was the question, so we want to go ahead and read those, now.
SAVIDGE: Separate marriage from the government, replace it with legal unions and let religious organizations marry people. That's Tim, from Dallas.
COLLINS: All right, Tim, thanks to you. And also now from Harold, should gay marriages be approved? Absolutely not.
That's all we have for now.
SAVIDGE: Is it? I thought we had more than that, but all right.
Now we want to update you on another story we are, of course, following, the situation in Haiti. CNN has learned that the Haitian Supreme Court justice, that is Boniface Alexandre, is expected to be sworn in as president of Haiti some time today. That would be in keeping in the nation's constitution there.
The democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has left that country, his whereabouts currently unknown. He departed early this morning, of course, after international pressure, and also pressure from within from rebel forces.
Right now, Lucia Newman has been reporting the sounds of gunfire and ambulances on the streets of the capital of Port-au-Prince. And the Pentagon is said to be considering the possibility of sending in some U.S. forces, more than likely Marines, to try to restore stability in that nation. That would be in conjunction with some sort of international force. We follow all of this, this morning, for you. Heidi?
COLLINS: We are also following the Oscars, when the biggest and brightest stars come out to play. The dress, they certainly dress the part, that is. Hollywood's big night means celebs will be working it on the red carpet. Our stylist to the stars, Philip Bloch, there he is now, is going to be joining us to tell us about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: A little RuPaul there, I like that.
Today in Tinsel town everybody's talking about who will win at tonight's Academy Awards. But for many fans, and for the -- what is that word? Fashionistas.
COLLINS: Fashionista!
SAVIDGE: Fashionista, thank you very much. The drop-dead question is, who is going to be wearing what. For a sneak peek now, we turn to celebrity stylist and author of the book, "Elements of Style," Phillip Bloch. He joins us live from Los Angeles.
Good morning, to you Phillip. Thanks very much for being with us.
PHILLIP BLOCH, CELEBRITY STYLIST: Good morning. I am a fashionista.
SAVIDGE: I've got it. So, what do you think is going to be the trend? I mean, will we see a trend? What are people going to wear?
BLOCH: I think we're definitely going to be seeing a lot of pastels, a lot of chiffon, a lot of satins. At the SAG Awards last week, we saw lots of purpley satins. At the Golden Globes, colored chiffons on Jennifer Lopez, the orange on Charlize Theron. We saw yellow, Dior.
I think we're definitely going to see a lot of flow-y fabrics, definitely, definitely. The ones to watch, to get some hints of what they might be wearing, Charlize Theron, expected to possibly wear white. Renee Zellweger is supposed to be wearing a white Carolina Herrera dress, Holly Hunter will be in Vera Wang. Julia Roberts, Mr. Armani announced at a show last week, will be wearing Armani. So that is exciting for the Armani clan. And then there's the whole big Australian contingent they've gotten down.
SAVIDGE: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Before you go there, OK, let me just pause you for a moment. Given all the uproar about Janet Jackson, are we going to be slinky this year, or are we going to be conservative of what we see on the carpet?
BLOCH; I think the Oscars are always trying to be appropriate to what the event is. So I don't think we will see any nipple-gate as we had at the Super Bowl.
SAVIDGE: All right, well, some people will be happy about that, others won't. Who are you dressing this year, by the way?
BLOCH: I'm working with Pierce Brosnan and Keely Brosnan, his wife, and Jim Carrey, and Marsha Thomason from Las Vegas.
SAVIDGE: What do the guys wear? I mean, isn't it just a tux, or do you go beyond that?
BLOCH: Tux, long tie, you want maybe a great pin in the lapel, instead of a microphone. Great cuff links, lots of bling-bling, but it's all kind of hidden with the guys.
SAVIDGE: This may seem silly, but who doesn't have their dress yet? Is anybody out there that's like, well, I'm not really sure what I'm going to have?
BLOCH: There are still disasters going on as we speak. We had one the other day. Vera Wang is set up out here. A lot of the designers fly out for this. There's always last minute changes. Nerve, nerves, nerves.
SAVIDGE: Yes, plenty of nerves. We go through that everyday.
Well, Phillip Bloch, thank you very much. It's a pleasure talking to you. We'll be glued to see who's got what on tonight. Thank you.
COLLINS: Fashion emergencies. You do sometimes wonder, you know, what on earth would happen if they stepped on the dress and rips right there. Well, as you know now, Vera Wang's right there to fix it.
SAVIDGE: Don't even go there.
COLLINS: All right. Rob Marciano, as Marty put it, well, isn't it just a tux to wear if you're a guy?
SAVIDGE: I didn't mean to make it sound so dull.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Pretty much. It's one of the beauties of being a man, you don't have to think too much. When I start thinking, you see smoke coming out, that's when you know you should run for the hills.
Hi guys, I want to talk about the weather, and tell you that it is fashionable to wear snow here in Salt Lake City and Denver, Colorado, and the mountains in between. Several feet of snow falling the mountains of southern Colorado.
We will see showers and storms, some could be strong to severe in the red area. Rains to the north. Mild air as far north as Minneapolis, continuing on, through today, on the mild side. Here is some of the rain showers moving up in the north. Rapid City, the Black Hills of South Dakota, seeing snow today.
63 degrees in St. Louis. 55 for a high in Chicago. 55 in New York. 64, look at the numbers. Wow, this is like spring in much of the eastern seaboard. Denver, Colorado, west coast looking dry today. Tomorrow, the next storm system will roll in. Chicago will see some rain, Detroit, St. Louis rain, with thunderstorms as well I think one more day tomorrow for the east coast to be dry. The other rains expecting to move across the Pacific Northwest today.
COLLINS: I give you an applause, for the snowstorm in the Rockies, which I am headed to tomorrow. Thank you.
MARCIANO: Do you live in Atlanta anymore? You seem to do nothing but ski.
COLLINS: Oh sure. We are wrapping up. Thanks Rob, we appreciate it.
Quickly want to give you a check of our top stories this morning. Smoke rises over Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide leaves the country. In Washington there is discussion of military force to help stabilize Haiti now if the U.S. is invited to help. And the intervention could come as soon as today. No reports yet of casualties, but gunfire was heard this morning in Port-au- Prince.
Charges expected to be filed today against Ernest Hargon, a cousin of the Michael Hargon of Yazoo County, Mississippi. It is unclear what charges will be filed. Michael Hargon, his wife Rebecca, and their four-year-old son James Patrick have been missing since February 14th.
Well, Super Tuesday, as you know, just one of the news items ahead this week. We, of course, are going to give you a sneak peek coming up in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Fast forward now. Didn't mean to scare you, there. Going to take a look at what is happening this week.
They call it Super Tuesday for a good reason, 1,151 delegates up for grabs in ten states.
Also on Tuesday, Kobe Bryant's accuser will likely take the stand for the first time in a closed preliminary hearing. She will be asked about her sexual history.
On Thursday, jury selection in Scott Peterson's murder trial. The trial could take five months, but jurors will be allowed to go home every day.
SAVIDGE: Plenty more to come here on CNN. Up next, "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" with Jeanne Meserve. Today, campaign strategist face off two days before that big day. Plus, don't miss this year's political Oscar picks live from the red carpet.
At 11:00 it's CNN LIVE SUNDAY and the latest on today's headlines.
At 11:30, gay marriage, "The Passion of the Christ," indecency on the airwaves. What role are journalists playing in the so-called culture war. That's coming up in a live edition of "RELIABLE SOURCES."
Thanks for being with us. We have enjoyed it. I have enjoyed it.
COLLINS: I have enjoyed having you with me, for sure. Thanks so much, Marty. I'll be back at 11:00. And for now, "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" with Jean Meserve begins right now.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Missing Mississippi Family>
Aired February 29, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Heidi Collins.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Martin Savidge.
Good morning, if you are just waking up on the West Coast, it is very early there. Thanks to all of you for starting your day with us.
Well, the headlines are just ahead, including the latest on the fast-changing situation in Haiti. Stick with us for the rest of this hour.
Here is what else is coming up. A tanker explodes and sinks off the coast of Virginia. Some crew members are dead, others still missing in the 40-degree waters. We will have a live update.
COLLINS: Rosie said I do, and so have thousands of others, gays and lesbians, from San Francisco to New York. But the debate rages on. Should same-sex couples have the right to wed? We'll tackle the issue a little bit later on in the hour.
SAVIDGE: And they are primping and polishing their best duds this morning. Hollywood gets a chance to strut its stuff with the 76th Annual Academy Awards tonight. We'll check in on the party, first though, here's what's happening at this hour.
COLLINS: In Haiti, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has fled the country. That is the word from the State Department. You are now looking at some live pictures coming in to us from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We are looking at smoke, trying to get details on that and what that might be pouring out of the structure there on the ground.
As you know, militant rebels, they were intent on removing Aristide from power. So they have advanced to within 25 miles of the capitol Port-au-Prince that you see here.
Off the Virginia coast now, hope is fading for finding 18 crew members from a tanker ship that exploded and sank. Coast Guard aircraft and patrol boats are searching the area 50 miles off the Virginia's Chincoteague . Three of 27 crew members were killed when the vessel blew up, six others were rescued.
Democratic presidential candidates aren't yet through taking on one another, verbally, at least. The four challengers met in Los Angeles a few days ago and meet in another televised debate in New York later this morning. They will meet there. It is their last one before Super Tuesday, when 10 states hold primaries or caucuses.
The FBI is looking into new developments into the Oklahoma City bombing. Sources tell CNN documents related to the attack my have been destroyed and others never turned over to the FBI for investigation. This comes days before a jury selection in the state trial of Terry Nichols for his role in the 1995 bombing.
Now, to Haiti, our top story this morning, amid international pressure Jean-Bertrand Aristide leaves the country. We want to get the very latest now, for that we head to the capital of Port-au-Prince and CNN's Lucia Newman.
Lucia?
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Martin.
Well, we now have independently confirmed that the president has indeed stepped down. Having said earlier that he actually just moved to another location for security reasons. His attorney, Ira Kurzban, is now saying, yes, the president has resigned.
We don't know exactly where he is at this moment. I can tell you that the prime minister, Yvon Neptune is, at this moment, about to begin news conference, along with members of the international community, to talk about what will happen next.
In the meantime, the situation on the streets is quite tense, very dangerous, in fact. Many foreign journalists have been fired upon. There are barricades all over the city. People are burning tires. And as we mentioned at the beginning, there is a fire, there is smoke coming from an area very, very close to the palace at this time. We don't know what it is that is burning. There are groups of armed gangs, very heavily armed, roaming (AUDIO GAP) the news of president (AUDIO GAP)
SAVIDGE: We apologize for that, you were listening to a report from Lucia Newman coming to us via videophone.
We continue to watch developments there as well as looking at the live images. She was talking about a fire burning where the white house is. It remains to be seen exactly how that nation is going to react now, the fact that its president has left, we will continue to follow it closely.
Heidi?
COLLINS: We want to get a little background now on Haiti and the political past. Clearly, its political past brought us to the situation today, and a very volatile one it is.
We are joined, on the phone, by former U.S. ambassador to Haiti, William B. Jones, he served during the Carter administration.
Thank you so much, sir, for being with us this morning.
I am sure you have been able to catch up with what has been happening this morning, even though it is changing, as we speak.
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has left the country. What does this mean? What does it mean, in particular, to the violence that we have been seeing over the last several weeks?
WILLIAM B. JONES, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HAITI: Well, I would guess, there would be chaos. There is no organized government to maintain the infrastructure of the country. I think it is very important now, that there be some sort of international cooperative action to bring order to Haiti.
COLLINS: What would that international cooperation look like to you?
JONES: I would like to see a resolution by the Security Council of the United Nations or the OAS, which has authorized a multi- national force. Not an American unilateral force, but a multinational force, which would go in and take charge, maintaining order. That is to maintain the airports, the water system, the infrastructure, to fight to make sure there is a reasonable amount of policing in the country.
What I am afraid of is that there will be a period of utter chaos. During that period, who knows what will happen. It is very difficult to predict. Fortunately, thus far, the casualties have been fairly light in this overthrow.
I think we have to now look forward toward the future, and I think that is what is important, to then to develop a long-range plan, so that every four, five, six, 10 years we don't go back into Haiti and do this all over again.
COLLINS: Sure, understandable.
Ambassador Jones, we do want to remind the viewers that we have learned and been told by the U.S. State Department, one of our sources we have there, telling us that a multinational force will soon be sent to Haiti. Of course, still trying to get more details on what "soon" means. But looking very much like it will be a multinational force.
Of course, you have been an ambassador to this country. Set up the situation for us and the past. What is at issue here for those people who have not followed this crisis in the past.
JONES: What is at issue is who is going to govern the country. The elected president was overthrown. Unfortunately, this is part of Haitian tradition. The Clinton administration, who supported Aristide, who really brought him to power when he was overthrown, in 1992 or '93, by the Haitian military.
And then he was brought back and put into power by the Clinton administration. We had 22,000 armed forces, Americans, in the country. And they only stayed though for about two years. Unfortunately, Aristide never really gained the full confidence of the Haitian people. COLLINS: Is that because -- if I may interrupt quickly, we are running out of time, Ambassador Jones, but is that because the General Raoul Cedras -- I understand that during the summer of 1993 -- when the deal was put together, between Aristide and Cedras that he never left the country.
JONES: As far as I know, he went to Panama. But I have way of knowing whether he secretly is there or not. My information was that he was out of the country.
I think the thinking is that all of this is because of what someone else did, is misguided. I think Aristide must be held responsible. He was the president. He was in charge of the country for 10 years, he made some major mistakes.
I don't think that it is good that a democratically elected president should be overthrown. But nevertheless the Haitians have to begin to accept responsibility for their own acts. They can't continue to blame other forces or conspiracy theories for things that has happened outside of the country.
Haiti is Haiti. And I think that they have to face it that they have problems, and they have to try to get organized and the international community has to help them.
COLLINS: All right, William B. Jones, former ambassador to Haiti. We appreciate your time this morning, sir. Thank you very much.
The White House blamed much of the crisis in Haiti on President Aristide and publicly questioned his fitness to govern. For more we return now to White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, for the very latest, from that perspective.
Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, one of the reasons we are not getting the level of details in the last couple of hours is because, a senior administration official says they are waiting for Aristide to arrive at his destination. They are also waiting for the announcement to come out of Haiti before they unveil just how this happened.
But we can tell you that officials said that this is something that it intimately involved Secretary Powell, overnight discussions, negotiations involving Aristide, involving other nations, in seeing that he would peacefully leave his country.
It became very clear yesterday when the White House, in no uncertain terms abandoned its support of Aristide staying in power. The White House releasing a very harshly worded statement saying they question his fitness in governing. They suggested that the crisis was largely of his own making, and that it would be in the best interest for Aristide to leave.
One of the big questions here, of course, is the contingency plan and some sort of stabilization force. What is the U.S. role going to be here? We have heard from senior administration officials who tell us that there are active discussions taking place right now, in terms of what kind of stabilization force the U.S. would be willing to send.
One of these plans, a contingency plan we have been talking about the last couple of days, would involve 2,200 Marines. We are told they are on alert status, not deployed yet, but on alert status, ready to go if necessary.
Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, we will continue to follow that situation as well. Thanks so much, Suzanne Malveaux, from the White House.
SAVIDGE: On the subject of the U.S. military, what role, if any, they may play in Haiti, we will turn to our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr.
Good morning, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Martin.
SAVIDGE: What do you hear about these Marines and whether or not they may now be moved or any military assets brought to bear to try to help in Haiti?
STARR: Well, Marty, there are growing signs in Washington that that is exactly what may happen, even as soon as later today.
Officials tell CNN, as Suzanne Malveaux just reported, there are very active discussions going on across Washington. The Pentagon, the State Department, the White House, about some sort of military force.
The issue, is they want to participate in some sort of stabilization force. But what they say, very clearly, that the U.S. forces would have to be invited in by whatever government exists in Haiti. There would not be any movement of U.S. forces unless the Haitians wanted them there. There are growing signs today that there maybe exactly that, some movement of forces into Haiti within the next many hours.
SAVIDGE: All right, Barbara, let me ask you this, and I know it is the obviously, because the president has already left from Haiti, but what has exactly changed as far as the military strategy? Because the U.S. seemed to be reluctant to commit any force before all of this, and now, seems to openly talk about doing it after he has left.
STARR: Well, there are a couple of issues here, which is the president has now indicated that the U.S. would want to participate in some sort of international stability, or peace-keeping, force if you will. Not clear at this point what that U.S. military participation would be. Whether it would be actual troops on the ground or whether it would be some sort of logistical behind the scenes type of support.
But the fundamental issue is there are about 20,000 Americans in Haiti. And the United States military would seek to provide some sort of safe atmosphere for them to get to the airport, to get out of the country if they wanted to.
Also, remember, there are a number of U.S. Marines at the embassy, providing security and stability there, to keep the embassy safe. They may need some additional reinforcement. The plan had been to keep those U.S. Marines on standby, and perhaps have them sail by ship all the way to Haiti. That would take about four or five days.
The feeling now, this morning, is maybe -- just maybe, they want to get some type of force into that area more quickly. People are saying, keep an eye on the whether those Marines may fly into the Haiti at this point. All indications are, no final decision has been made, but it is under very active consideration.
SAVIDGE: And this international force? How long would it take to organize? And who is likely to participate in it?
STARR: Well, given past experience, it is clear that they would want some participation by Caribbean nations, nations in the region. I think that it is still under very active discussion in diplomatic circles. The U.S. military, of course, would take its lead, its guidance from the State Department as a diplomatic solution is fashioned. Again, not clear at this point whether that would be U.S. boots on the ground, if you will, or some type of other support. But Pentagon officials very actively looking at the situation this morning.
SAVIDGE: CNN's Barbara Starr reporting to us on the telephone from Washington, saying the U.S. now is considering the possible use of military forces, in some way, keeping in mind we're talking about Haiti, the departure of the president.
About 20,000 Americans are in Haiti at this particular time. Their safety is obviously a primary concern to the administration.
Also, as you have heard, Haiti's president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide has departed, his whereabouts currently unknown. And the exact details of his departure have not been released.
We will have coming up in a live report, from Virginia, talking about the other big story of the morning. That is a tanker explosion.
COLLINS: We will have that, Marty, as well.
We want to let everybody know some information just now about a news conference that will be held pertaining to the Haiti matter. Actually, the Haitian prime minister will be holding a news conference. And CNN will have a producer, on the spot, reporting back to us so that we may report on any information out of that news conference to you.
In the meantime, we will take a break and be back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Now let's head to Virginia, as the Coast Guard aircraft and rescue boats search the Atlantic for survivors of that tanker ship explosion. Unfortunately, hope is rapidly fading that anyone else is still alive. CNN's Elaine Quijano is live in Portsmouth, Virginia, with the very latest on the circumstances there.
Elaine?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Martin.
It is a race against the clock for these U.S. Coast Guard rescuers. As 14 hours have now passed since they first arrived on the scene last night. They are continuing their search at this hour for 18 missing crewmen who were onboard that tanker that exploded about 55 miles east of Chincoteague, Virginia.
Now, three crew members were killed. Six others managed to survived the ordeal. Infrared images taken by the Coast Guard give us a sense of what the area looked like. You can see one end of the ship clearly visible before it disappears beneath the water.
Now this tanker had more than 3 million gallons of ethanol and some 250,000 gallons of fuel oil. It was registered under a Singapore flag and headed for New York from Houston.
Now, overnight, the Coast Guard interviewed the survivors, the six of them who were taken to a hospital in Norfolk. It is still not clear what happened. Apparently some crew members were asleep at the time. Others were working on deck.
The Coast Guard says at this point, they have no reason to believe that this was anything more than an accident. Now, this morning, officials got their first look -- a new look, rather -- at the area by the light of day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REAR ADM. SALLY BRICE-O'HARA, U.S. COAST GUARD: We have accounted for all four of the life rafts, which were on this vessel. There are a number of life jackets that are in the water. And they show also the impact of the fire.
And so, we are getting good, on scene information. It is clear, last night was clear. It is relatively calm. So, from the search perspective, the conditions are pretty good for us to be out there searching.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: As for potential environmental impact, at this point, Coast Guard officials believe it will be minimal to the protected areas along Chincoteague, Virginia. They say the ocean currents are helping with that.
Also, the investigation, the government of Singapore has now authorized the U.S. to be the lead investigating state after consulting with Department of Homeland Security officials, and members of the Department of State.
Martin?
SAVIDGE: Elaine Quijano, giving us the very latest on the search. Of course, with temperature that cold, in the water, hope would be fading. Thank you very much for that.
COLLINS: Turning now to the mystery in Mississippi. Authorities are about to resume their search for this family. They have been missing since Valentine's Day. They also plan to file charges against a relative in connection with the disappearance. CNN's Mike Brooks, joining us from Taylorsville, Mississippi now, with the very latest.
Mike, good morning.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Investigators are back on the scene, here in Taylorsville, hoping to find more clues on the disappearance of the Hargon family, that disappeared on February 14. The three-member family haven't been heard of since then.
Joining us right now is Warren Strain from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Warren, thanks for being with us.
WARREN STRAIN, DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY: My pleasure.
BROOKS: Where does the case stand right now?
STRAIN: Right now, we are still going, we have just gone back in and begun and the search again. About 50 people, approximately, are involved in the search this morning. Typical grid search of the area, to the east of the roadway here, down toward the Leaf (ph) River, is where we're focusing on this morning. As the day progresses, then we'll shifting over to the west side of the roadway here.
BROOKS: Last evening you said multiple felony charges will be filed against Ernest Lee Hargon, the adopted cousin of Michael, who is missing. What charges will those be?
STRAIN: There will be varying charges, some will be filed here in Smith County, others will be filed in Yazoo County, where the Hargon family were discovered missing.
BROOKS: Now, when they were discovered missing there was a crime scene involved, about 100 miles from here. Have you been able to link that crime scene with any evidence you found here on Ernest Lee's property?
STRAIN: We felt real good about the information that we were able to derive from the dwellings here and then also the other buildings here yesterday. Went through with the crime scene, evaluated that, collected all the information, all the evidence that we could from here. We feel really good. The investigation is in good shape in that regard.
BROOKS: Thank you, Warren.
Well, Heidi, as you hear, they are still investigating it. They are still gathering evidence. Right now the three members of the Hargon family are still missing. They don't know exactly where they are.
Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, Mike Brooks. We will check back with you should anything develop this morning. Thank you very much.
SAVIDGE: Let us show you the latest images coming out of what is the big story of the morning, that is the situation in Haiti. Fire, burning there on the ground, that is near the area of the palace, not the palace itself.
The big news, is that Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the democratically elected president has now left. He was under a great deal of international pressure. Of course, pressure within his own nation to leave. His whereabouts currently unknown. This apparently was worked out in talks between U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, last night.
And then CNN's Barbara Starr reporting from the Pentagon, that it appears that is U.S. forces are preparing for the possibility of going in to Haiti to restore order. That as part of some international force. So, there you have the latest on situation in Haiti.
COLLINS: We will continue to follow that, but there is other news today, especially if you like entertainment news. "Lord of the Rings" has ruled the box office but will "Return of the King" grab the gold at tonight's Academy Awards. We'll get a preview from Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: That music just gets you all fired up, doesn't it?
Tonight, the five tales are the toast of Tinseltown. There is a homicide, a hobbit, a horse, a Hollywood hot shot, and some hi-jinx on the high seas.
That is some pretty good writing, isn't it?
All five are hoping for the top honor at the Academy Award. CNN's Kendis Gibson, is up very early in Los Angeles.
Boy, very early, especially for you Kendis.
KENDIS GIBSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know that I like to sleep in.
COLLINS: Yes.
GIBSON: Yes, we are up early. I tell you, shocking and surprising, but there is this much activity on the red carpet, Heidi. Look at it. Actually, this is probably the last time the red carpet will look this empty. Because the crews have wrapped up all the work they needed to do to prepare the 500-foot long red carpet. As you can see, the oversized Oscar statues are in place adorned with plenty of flowers.
Now as for the smaller guys, the smaller statues, the Oscars. Who will take one home for the best picture. Of course, many of the pundits are saying it will be "Lord of the Rings" and it probably will be.
And "Lord of the Rings" being the winner, if so, perhaps it is the Academy Awards itself that will be the winner. If you listen to this theory, back in 1998, when "Titanic" won, some 55 million tuned to watch that year's Academy Awards. Last year, 33 million people watched. This year, you have a very extremely popular movie, as popular as "Titanic" was at that time.
So, many of the folks at the Academy are hoping once again that they will finally be able to get the viewers to come back and watch the awards. Even though it is probably a foregone conclusion that "Lord of the Rings" will win.
So, things are expected to get heated and get a little more active as the day goes on, but for now as you can see things are pretty much ready.
Heidi?
COLLINS: All right. I thought you would have company on the red carpet this morning, but I guess not.
GIBSON: No, just work crews.
COLLINS: Kendis, thanks so much. Things are sure to heat up tonight.
SAVIDGE: Updating our top stories: The Coast Guard is searching this morning for 18 crewmembers missing after a tanker loaded with ethanol explodes off the coast of Virginia. Three are confirmed dead, six were rescued.
And breaking news out of Haiti. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has stepped down. Aristide had been under intense international pressure to step down in the wake of recent violence and lawlessness. Rebels launched a campaign to overthrow Aristide three weeks ago. Jean-Bertrand Aristide is no stranger to the conflict in Haiti.
More from Haiti now with a live update from our Lucia Newman -- after the break.
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COLLINS: Things are anything but rosy when it comes to the issue of gay marriage. On Thursday, Rosie O'Donnell took her partner's hand and joined the gay marriage ranks. We talk more about the issue in just a few moments. SAVIDGE: Welcome back. That story's coming up, though first, here's what's happening at this hour.
We start in Haiti where President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has left the country. Aristide was under pressure from opposition groups and the international community to step down. We will have more on this developing story throughout the day.
In Spain, the government says a terrorist attack intended for Madrid was foiled this morning. Police intercepted a stolen vehicle packed with more than 1,000 pounds of explosives. Authorities say two Basque separatists were arrested. The alleged plot appears to have been timed to the country's general election. That was to take place in about two weeks.
And political leaders in Iraq missed a midnight deadline for a new draft constitution, but continued efforts could lead to an agreement this week. Officials say the delay shouldn't endanger plans for an interim government to take control by the end of June.
Police resume their search this morning for a missing family in Mississippi. The three family members were reported missing about two weeks ago on Valentine's Day. An adopted cousin is in custody and should be charged today.
COLLINS: Now back to our top story. Haitian President Jean- Bertrand Aristide has left the country and resigned as president. CNN's Lucia Newman joins us now, via videophone, from the capital, with the very latest from there.
Good morning to you, once again, Lucia.
NEWMAN: Good morning, Heidi. The Prime Minister Neptune has said that the president resigned in order to avoid bloodshed. However, Jean-Bertrand Aristide's attorney, Ira Kurzban, tells CNN that the president has not resigned, but he has left the country, but that it was not a resignation as such.
In the meantime, we are hearing a lot of gunfire, a lot of ambulances, loud shouting from crowds out on the streets, a very, very fluid situation out here at the moment, Heidi.
COLLINS: Can you clear up any further for us, Lucia, the difference between what is being said? Aristide's attorney saying he left, didn't resign, but we are learning here he did. When will we know whether or not he has voluntarily relinquished control of the country?
NEWMAN: I suppose when we hear from Jean-Bertrand Aristide himself, Heidi. Right now, there is a subtle difference. From the practical point of view, he's gone. But from a legal standpoint, it is very different to resign than being forced out of power, Heidi...
COLLINS: Understood.
NEWMAN: ... possible defendant will say. COLLINS: Understood. Who will take over, any idea at this point, and I realize this is a developing story as we speak to you. But in the interim, who will be watching over the country?
NEWMAN: Well, according to the constitution, the president of the Supreme Court will immediately step in once the president is gone.
Heidi, hello? Can you hear me?
COLLINS: I can hear you. All right, Lucia Newman, thanks very much.
NEWMAN: So it will be the president of the Supreme Court.
COLLINS: President of the Supreme Court. Understood. Thanks so much, Lucia Newman, joining us live, videophone, from Haiti in Port- au-Prince there.
And it is a growing topic of discussion, now to a national debate involving everyday people, celebrities, and even the president. The issue of gay marriage, and the opinions are many. We'll discuss the hot topic, coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... activist course, have left the people with one recourse. If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage to be changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: According to her, it was those comments by President Bush Tuesday that prompted openly gay comedian Rosie O'Donnell and her partner to get married last week. On Thursday, O'Donnell married long time girlfriend Kelly Carpenter. The couple tied the knot inside the office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O'DONNELL, ENTERTAINER: We were both inspired to come here after the sitting president said the vile and vicious and hateful comments he did on Tuesday. It inspired myself, my brand new wife.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: President Bush's proposal to amend the constitution to stop same-sex couples from marrying is so hot, some members of his own party don't even want to talk about. So why is it such a big deal? Well, joining me to talk about it are Matt Daniels with the Alliance for Marriage.
Good morning to you, Mr. Daniels. And Mark Mead, with the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay organization. And good morning to you as well, Mr. Mead.
Thanks to the both of you for being with us this morning.
Break this down for us, as quickly and basically, if you can. And go ahead, you can begin, Matt Daniels, what is this about? There are some people who say, if gays can be together with a civil union, that should be enough. I am sure you heard the question before.
MATT DANIELS, ALLIANCE FOR MARRIAGE: Yes, we have come under fire from the right often for the position of the Alliance for Marriage, which is that marriage is a man and a woman, and that the states should be allowed to create civil unions if they want to, democratically.
I was privileged, with my wife, to sit next to our president when he made his recent statement endorsing AFM's marriage amendment. And I can tell you that the people in the room, Latino, African-American, Jewish, who are members of our coalition, do not believe it is hateful to believe it is common sense that marriage is a man and a woman, that the courts don't have a right to destroy that. We believe that gays and lesbians have a right to live as they chose, but they don't have a right to use the courts to change marriage for our entire nation. And we're proud of our president for saying it.
COLLINS: Mark Mead, what about breaking the law in San Francisco?
MARK MEAD, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: Well, that may be not helpful to our entire mission, which is full and fair equality for all Americans. And amending the constitution, putting discrimination into a sacred document like the constitution, is not compassionate, and it's certainly not conservative.
COLLINS: Well, to you then, and to be fair, I want to make sure that you get a moment to explain, what this is about, in particular, civil unions versus marriage?
MEAD: Well, civil unions, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said, are not enough. Separate is rarely equal in this nation. And we believe that if you promote family values and value all families, you need to include the one million children being raised in same sex households in this nation. They need the same protection and rights as all families, and all children, and that come only from a civil marriage license.
COLLINS: Mr. Daniels, is this about the children?
DANIELS: Listen, what it really is is about the message that our laws are going to send to kids. The most Americans want our laws to send what they regard as a positive message to children about marriage and family.
And by the way, when anyone uses the terms hatred or discrimination or bigotry, let's remember, the federal marriage amendment is supported by the man who organized the march on Washington for Martin Luther King, by two of the largest African- Americans denominations in the United States. These people are great men and women, these people are my friends. I have to ask, who is anyone to tear them down, to attack them, to criticize their integrity for standing up for what most Americans regard as common sense, that marriage is a man and woman and it's good for kids to be sent that message through the law.
COLLINS: Of course, Mark Mead, you have heard the argument before, I would imagine, that who has the right to say who can be married and who cannot? If I can be married, you can be married?
MEAD: Understand, we're talking here about civil rights, not sacred rights. There is not a church, or synagogue, or mosque impacted by this, nor should there be.
But I'd ask Matt, Matt, how does my relationship threaten your marriage, because, I can assure you, your marriage doesn't threaten my relationship.
DANIELS: Yes, I can answer that, and it's simple. This is not about your relationship, Mark, it's about redefining the public legal institution of marriage in ways that will have sweeping impact on this generation and generations to come. That's what we're really talking about here. This has been raised to the level of the United States Constitution by activists who are going to use the constitution to force this on every man, woman and child through the courts. And that's why we now have to amend our constitution if the American people, instead of courts and judges, are going to have the final say for the sake of our kids and grandkids.
MEAD: Matt, what this will do, for generations to come, is to permanently discriminate against gays and lesbians and their families, and that is wrong.
DANIELS: The man who organized the march on Washington for Martin Luther King, who was beaten and jailed for the cause of civil rights, and many other African-American leaders who walk with him, are in this coalition. We're not motivated out of animus towards you or anyone in your community, nor am I. We just deeply believe that kids do best with a mom and a dad, and that our laws have a right to - the very people have a right to see that encouraged under our laws, because when men and women come together to parent, there are unique benefits for children and society. People understand that, the courts don't. And that's why we have this conflict.
COLLINS: Mr. Mead, let me ask you what you think should be happening in San Francisco? You mentioned earlier that the breaking of the law there may not help the cause and what your group is about in trying to get equality, as you say. What should be happening, and what is the best way to go about this for your cause?
MEAD: When I see the pictures of loving, committed people, who want to share their lives and make a commitment to each other, I'm uplifted. It's a nice thing to see, and I'm proud of them. That said, we do believe that the ultimate way to get full equality for all gay and lesbian Americans, and all Americans, is through the legal system. It's not through amending the constitution. It's letting each state decide how they are going to navigate this. Log Cabin Republicans believes exactly what Vice President Cheney believes, that this is a state's right issue, that we should come to some kind of accommodation that allows gay and lesbian to enjoy the same, not anything special, but the same protections as Matt Daniels' family.
COLLINS: And, very quickly, Mr. Daniels, the last word, please.
DANIELS: Gays and lesbians already have the same rights as other Americans, but they don't have the right to redefine marriage for our entire society. That's what this debate is entirely about.
COLLINS: All right, to the both of you, thanks so very much for your time this morning. Matt Daniels and Mark Mead, again, we appreciate it.
SAVIDGE: The fierce debate in the U.S. over gay marriage got us to thinking, how do other countries see the issue? And here's what we found.
There are three countries with laws granting homosexuals the rights to marry, the Netherlands, Belgium, and two provinces in Canada, Ontario and British Columbia. A few other nations have laws that provide gays civil unions with some rights, but not the full rights of marriage. For instance, can you get what's called a registered partnership in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. In fact, those are the only nations that recognize civil unions from other countries. France also offers several forms of civil unions for gays.
And now, to the e-mails on this subject. Let's take a look at the first ones, here.
COLLINS: We were asking your opinion about, you know, what you think of this. That was the question, so we want to go ahead and read those, now.
SAVIDGE: Separate marriage from the government, replace it with legal unions and let religious organizations marry people. That's Tim, from Dallas.
COLLINS: All right, Tim, thanks to you. And also now from Harold, should gay marriages be approved? Absolutely not.
That's all we have for now.
SAVIDGE: Is it? I thought we had more than that, but all right.
Now we want to update you on another story we are, of course, following, the situation in Haiti. CNN has learned that the Haitian Supreme Court justice, that is Boniface Alexandre, is expected to be sworn in as president of Haiti some time today. That would be in keeping in the nation's constitution there.
The democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has left that country, his whereabouts currently unknown. He departed early this morning, of course, after international pressure, and also pressure from within from rebel forces.
Right now, Lucia Newman has been reporting the sounds of gunfire and ambulances on the streets of the capital of Port-au-Prince. And the Pentagon is said to be considering the possibility of sending in some U.S. forces, more than likely Marines, to try to restore stability in that nation. That would be in conjunction with some sort of international force. We follow all of this, this morning, for you. Heidi?
COLLINS: We are also following the Oscars, when the biggest and brightest stars come out to play. The dress, they certainly dress the part, that is. Hollywood's big night means celebs will be working it on the red carpet. Our stylist to the stars, Philip Bloch, there he is now, is going to be joining us to tell us about it.
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SAVIDGE: A little RuPaul there, I like that.
Today in Tinsel town everybody's talking about who will win at tonight's Academy Awards. But for many fans, and for the -- what is that word? Fashionistas.
COLLINS: Fashionista!
SAVIDGE: Fashionista, thank you very much. The drop-dead question is, who is going to be wearing what. For a sneak peek now, we turn to celebrity stylist and author of the book, "Elements of Style," Phillip Bloch. He joins us live from Los Angeles.
Good morning, to you Phillip. Thanks very much for being with us.
PHILLIP BLOCH, CELEBRITY STYLIST: Good morning. I am a fashionista.
SAVIDGE: I've got it. So, what do you think is going to be the trend? I mean, will we see a trend? What are people going to wear?
BLOCH: I think we're definitely going to be seeing a lot of pastels, a lot of chiffon, a lot of satins. At the SAG Awards last week, we saw lots of purpley satins. At the Golden Globes, colored chiffons on Jennifer Lopez, the orange on Charlize Theron. We saw yellow, Dior.
I think we're definitely going to see a lot of flow-y fabrics, definitely, definitely. The ones to watch, to get some hints of what they might be wearing, Charlize Theron, expected to possibly wear white. Renee Zellweger is supposed to be wearing a white Carolina Herrera dress, Holly Hunter will be in Vera Wang. Julia Roberts, Mr. Armani announced at a show last week, will be wearing Armani. So that is exciting for the Armani clan. And then there's the whole big Australian contingent they've gotten down.
SAVIDGE: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Before you go there, OK, let me just pause you for a moment. Given all the uproar about Janet Jackson, are we going to be slinky this year, or are we going to be conservative of what we see on the carpet?
BLOCH; I think the Oscars are always trying to be appropriate to what the event is. So I don't think we will see any nipple-gate as we had at the Super Bowl.
SAVIDGE: All right, well, some people will be happy about that, others won't. Who are you dressing this year, by the way?
BLOCH: I'm working with Pierce Brosnan and Keely Brosnan, his wife, and Jim Carrey, and Marsha Thomason from Las Vegas.
SAVIDGE: What do the guys wear? I mean, isn't it just a tux, or do you go beyond that?
BLOCH: Tux, long tie, you want maybe a great pin in the lapel, instead of a microphone. Great cuff links, lots of bling-bling, but it's all kind of hidden with the guys.
SAVIDGE: This may seem silly, but who doesn't have their dress yet? Is anybody out there that's like, well, I'm not really sure what I'm going to have?
BLOCH: There are still disasters going on as we speak. We had one the other day. Vera Wang is set up out here. A lot of the designers fly out for this. There's always last minute changes. Nerve, nerves, nerves.
SAVIDGE: Yes, plenty of nerves. We go through that everyday.
Well, Phillip Bloch, thank you very much. It's a pleasure talking to you. We'll be glued to see who's got what on tonight. Thank you.
COLLINS: Fashion emergencies. You do sometimes wonder, you know, what on earth would happen if they stepped on the dress and rips right there. Well, as you know now, Vera Wang's right there to fix it.
SAVIDGE: Don't even go there.
COLLINS: All right. Rob Marciano, as Marty put it, well, isn't it just a tux to wear if you're a guy?
SAVIDGE: I didn't mean to make it sound so dull.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Pretty much. It's one of the beauties of being a man, you don't have to think too much. When I start thinking, you see smoke coming out, that's when you know you should run for the hills.
Hi guys, I want to talk about the weather, and tell you that it is fashionable to wear snow here in Salt Lake City and Denver, Colorado, and the mountains in between. Several feet of snow falling the mountains of southern Colorado.
We will see showers and storms, some could be strong to severe in the red area. Rains to the north. Mild air as far north as Minneapolis, continuing on, through today, on the mild side. Here is some of the rain showers moving up in the north. Rapid City, the Black Hills of South Dakota, seeing snow today.
63 degrees in St. Louis. 55 for a high in Chicago. 55 in New York. 64, look at the numbers. Wow, this is like spring in much of the eastern seaboard. Denver, Colorado, west coast looking dry today. Tomorrow, the next storm system will roll in. Chicago will see some rain, Detroit, St. Louis rain, with thunderstorms as well I think one more day tomorrow for the east coast to be dry. The other rains expecting to move across the Pacific Northwest today.
COLLINS: I give you an applause, for the snowstorm in the Rockies, which I am headed to tomorrow. Thank you.
MARCIANO: Do you live in Atlanta anymore? You seem to do nothing but ski.
COLLINS: Oh sure. We are wrapping up. Thanks Rob, we appreciate it.
Quickly want to give you a check of our top stories this morning. Smoke rises over Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide leaves the country. In Washington there is discussion of military force to help stabilize Haiti now if the U.S. is invited to help. And the intervention could come as soon as today. No reports yet of casualties, but gunfire was heard this morning in Port-au- Prince.
Charges expected to be filed today against Ernest Hargon, a cousin of the Michael Hargon of Yazoo County, Mississippi. It is unclear what charges will be filed. Michael Hargon, his wife Rebecca, and their four-year-old son James Patrick have been missing since February 14th.
Well, Super Tuesday, as you know, just one of the news items ahead this week. We, of course, are going to give you a sneak peek coming up in just a moment.
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COLLINS: Fast forward now. Didn't mean to scare you, there. Going to take a look at what is happening this week.
They call it Super Tuesday for a good reason, 1,151 delegates up for grabs in ten states.
Also on Tuesday, Kobe Bryant's accuser will likely take the stand for the first time in a closed preliminary hearing. She will be asked about her sexual history.
On Thursday, jury selection in Scott Peterson's murder trial. The trial could take five months, but jurors will be allowed to go home every day.
SAVIDGE: Plenty more to come here on CNN. Up next, "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" with Jeanne Meserve. Today, campaign strategist face off two days before that big day. Plus, don't miss this year's political Oscar picks live from the red carpet.
At 11:00 it's CNN LIVE SUNDAY and the latest on today's headlines.
At 11:30, gay marriage, "The Passion of the Christ," indecency on the airwaves. What role are journalists playing in the so-called culture war. That's coming up in a live edition of "RELIABLE SOURCES."
Thanks for being with us. We have enjoyed it. I have enjoyed it.
COLLINS: I have enjoyed having you with me, for sure. Thanks so much, Marty. I'll be back at 11:00. And for now, "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" with Jean Meserve begins right now.
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