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CNN Sunday Morning
Wildfires Rage in Arizona; Inmates Defend Amanda Knox; Springsteen Sideman Dies
Aired June 19, 2011 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: From CNN's world headquarters, bringing you news and analysis from across the nation and around the globe. Live, from Studio 7, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING with T.J. Holmes.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Wildfires are tearing across Arizona, have destroyed a half million acres. And Senator John McCain is blaming illegal immigrants for starting some of them.
Plus, if you ever bought a ticket to see the Boss in concert, chances are, you saw Clarence Clemons. This morning, we say to goodbye to Bruce Springsteen's famous sidekick.
And we could be watching history unfolds at the U.S. Open. Twenty-two-year-old Rory McIlroy is on fire.
From the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING for this June 19th. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
We start with accusations this hour that NATO is targeting civilians in Libya. The Libya government says a NATO attack in a residential neighborhood of Tripoli early today killed at least three people. A government spokesman called the deaths, quote, "cold- blooded murder."
In the last hour, I asked the NATO spokesman what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CMDR. MIKE BRACKEN, NATO SPOKESMAN (via telephone): And we've had a lot of propaganda from -- and accusations from the Gadhafi regime over the last few weeks. But on this occasion, we are very carefully looking at this matter, and, you know, we have to look carefully because NATO were operating in Tripoli last night. We were operating in northern Tripoli.
We identified a surface-to-air missile that was being used. And therefore, you know, we had to then take that out because it was putting a huge risk on the civilians in the area. And also threatening our forces themselves. At the end of the day, our pilots and air crews are very well-trained and we used very sophisticated precision-guided weapons to avoid civilian casualties.
But let's be clear, you know, you can reduce risks in every day possible, but you can never make them zero in a military campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, it just can't get any worst. That's what one fire official is saying about a fire in southern Arizona. The so-called "monument fire" has burned more than 20,000 acres. The head of the U.S. Forest Service says this fire is the nation's one number priority. And there are more than 700 firefighters working to control that right now.
Some residents have evacuated but haven't lost hope.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GERTRUDE COULTHART, WILDFIRE EVACUEE: The land is still mine. So, nobody can take that away from me. But I will -- I will go down and build another house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, the monument fire is near the Mexican border -- a fact Arizona Senator John McCain says may offer some insight into how the fire started.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We are concerned about particularly areas down on the border where there is substantial evidence that some of these fires were caused by people who have crossed our border illegally. They have set fires because they want to signal others. They have set fires to keep warm. And they have set fires in order to divert law enforcement agents and agencies from them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And here is what some civil right activists Randy Parraz says about McCain's comments, quote, "It's easier to fan the flames of intolerance, especially in Arizona." He also called the comments "careless and reckless."
Parraz ran against McCain in Arizona Senate race last year.
Let me turn and say good morning now to our Reynolds Wolf, who is keeping an eye on the weather, which has played a role in these fires, no doubt.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, they can't catch a break out there. What they need is some heavy rainfall, but it's nowhere in sight at all. In fact, what they are getting is just the opposite -- very dry conditions, humidity levels that are extremely low and winds that contain a roar right through the region, fanning those flames.
It's not only Arizona, although that's the primary focus. That threat, the critical, really critical threat exists not just in Arizona but to New Mexico, back into Kansas, Oklahoma, even into Texas, it's just going to be a tremendous mess.
But they really could use some rain, but there is really nothing on the horizon for them in terms of precipitation. The windy condition exists, not just into the four corners, but as I mentioned, into the central and southern plains, from Amarillo back to Dodge City, even into Dallas, we have those problems.
And, you know, although we've really been focusing out west, we also had, of course, the issue with fires in parts of the -- parts of Georgia and, of course, into north Florida. Take a look at the temperatures in that region, go into the 90s, with the high humidity, it's going to feel even warmer.
One hundred and two in Dallas, 98 in Houston, 95 in Atlanta, as we wrap it up in Tampa at 93, the expected high.
More of your national forecast coming up -- plus, the possibility of severe weather could see that across the Ohio Valley and into the Northern Plains.
Back to you, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Reynolds, appreciate you as always, buddy. Thank you so much.
A shoddy autopsy -- that is what one forensic expert said on the stand in the Casey Anthony trial yesterday. The defense witness says he's performed more than 60,000 autopsies and he argued that the actual cause of death can't be determined, because the medical examiner never cut open Caylee Anthony's skull. He used a prop skull to illustrate his point.
Casey Anthony is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee two years ago. If she's convicted, she could get the death penalty.
A mafia boss and a child murderer came to the aid of American Amanda Knox, saying she didn't kill her housemate. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the crime. But as our Phil Black reports, the story told by the convicts didn't exactly match up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The legal teams for Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito insist this was an important day in their appeal. To try to prove their innocence, they called on the testimony of men who are guilty of serious crimes.
The first witness was a 50-year-old Mario Alessi. He says he became friends in prison with Rudy Guede. Guede, along with Knox and Sollecito, convicted of murdering British student Meredith Kercher in the home she shared with Knox in November 2007.
Mario Alessi says Guede told him in prison that Knox and Sollecito had nothing to do with it. He says Guede admitted sexually assaulting Kercher with a friend. But he insisted it was this unnamed friend who was responsible to cutting her throat.
Alessi told the court his friendship with Guede ended because he would not tell that version to authorities.
Mario Alessi is serving a life sentence for the kidnap and killing of an 18-month-old boy. He said he was giving this testimony because he was committed to the truth.
Three other inmates were called to try and support Alessi story. But the final witness of the day told a completely different story.
Luciano Aviello is serving 16 years for mafia-related crimes, showing open contempt for lawyers in the court. Aviello claimed Meredith Kercher was killed by his own brother, Antonio, and another man, (INAUDIBLE) while burglaring her home. He said he doesn't know where his brother is now.
He gave the murders were committed by his brother. He gave no clear reason for coming forward with this information.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: As we said, Knox is serving 26 years for murdering her housemate. The next step in the appeals by this process comes June 27th, when Rudy Guede takes the stand. He is serving 16 years for his part in the murder.
To politics now -- in the Republican Leadership Conference that has wrapped up in New Orleans. And it was a chance where some of the presidential hopefuls to strut their stuff and lead a chorus of criticism of President Obama. Ron Paul won the straw vote taken at the event. He had 612 votes, far ahead of the number two candidate, Jon Huntsman, who isn't really a candidate yet. He's expected to declare this week.
The conference's last day also belonged to Texas Governor Rick Perry. He hasn't declared yet, but he sure sounded like a candidate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: That mix of arrogance and audacity that guides the Obama administration is an affront to every freedom- loving American and a threat to every private sector job in this country.
(CHEERS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, another Republican running for president, skipped the GOP gathering. Pawlenty was in Minnesota, at a meeting of conservative activists. He told the crowd he stands by his pledge to grow the economy by 5 percent a year if he's elected. He also issued a warning about entitlement programs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TIM PAWLENTY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have to look the American people in the eye without scaring them, without freaking them out, but putting reasonable solutions on the table, to real challenges. And that's why we got to go places like Florida and tell seniors and young people what it's really going to take to fix Social Security. We have to go to Wall Street and tell the bankers and the financiers and the money changers they got to get their snout out of the government's trough because it's in deep as anybody else's.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann also spoke to the group. She promised if she is elected, she'll appeal the health plan pushed through Congress by President Obama.
President Obama came out on the winning end of the so-called golf summit, but so did House Speaker John Boehner. It turns out the two political rivals actually teamed up on the course against Vice President Joe Biden and Ohio Governor John Kasich. We're told the president and Boehner got two bucks for winning the match on the final hole. They gathered for drinks afterwards, but no one is saying what they talked about.
More now on that Republican gathering in New Orleans. A man impersonating President Obama was ushered off one stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black History Month. Michelle, she celebrates the full month, and, you know, I celebrate half.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: But not until after he got in a few barbs.
Also, 22-year-old Rory McIlroy could be just one round away from keeping history at the U.S. Open. We'll tell you more about this young Irishman who keeps breaking records.
And police say he got somebody else's tax return and spent it. We'll tell you what happened to him after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MSG. CYNTHIA MESSERGSCHMIOT, U.S ARMY: Hello. I'm Master Sergeant Cynthia Messerschmiot, stationed at Joint Base Balad in Iraq. I'd like to wish a happy Father's Day to my dad in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Love you, dad, for all you've done for your country and for all you've done for me and my family. Love you, bye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. Thirteen minutes past the hour.
The big story at the U.S. Open, 22-year-old Rory McIlroy.
HLN Sports' Joe Carter, a friend of our show here -- we were talking about him yesterday. We want to know if he was going to implode like he did at the Masters. So far, so good.
JOE CARTER, HLN SPORTS: So far, so good. It looks like he's on his way to a first major title. You know, he's really become the fan favorite quickly at this year's U.S. Open.
Watching the coverage yesterday on TV, you know, they cut to a shot of another golfer and another hole, and you could hear the huge gallery chanting, "Let's go Rory." I mean, blend (ph) into the TV coverage. He's also becoming a favorite among the field as well.
Phil Mickelson, who played with him during round one and round two, actually said he's the best -- or it was the best performance by any golfer he's ever seen at a U.S. Open. And that speaks volumes coming from Phil Mickelson.
Now, others, Jason Day, in fact, called his performance so far Tiger-esque. Now, he shot in the 60s for three straight days. And he's the first player in U.S. Open history to reach 14-under par. They've been playing this tournament for 111 years. Now, he starts today with a monstrous 8-shot lead.
So, the question is, not if he'll win, but how much will he win by.
It happens to be Father's Day today. His father, Jerry, has been following him, hole by hole.
HOLMES: OK.
CARTER: He's there. You know, at the Congressional, and it would be a really sweet Father's Day gift to not only be able to have a father come out and accept a trophy with him, but to see his name etched on that trophy at 22 years old. He's only played in eight Majors and he's got a big career ahead of him.
HOLMES: Now, I read this. And I'm saying, wow, we're going this far now. Now, they're talking about him as the guy who can break Jack Mickelson's record down the road. We're not talking Tiger anymore. The kid is just 22.
CARTER: He's 22. He's got maybe 30 years left in him in gold. I mean, that's 80 Majors or something like. I mean, that's a lot of tournaments to be able to reach that record.
HOLMES: All right. Let's turn now -- yesterday, you sold me on some video yesterday. And it was great. You delivered.
Now, you're selling me on more video today.
CARTER: OK.
HOLMES: Grannies in basketball? Do I have this right? CARTER: We may have oversold this.
HOLMES: OK.
CARTER: You know, most senior citizen women are playing bingo, maybe a little shuffle board. But these young ladies at heart, anyways, are playing in a league that you have to be over 50 to play and it's the granny basketball tournament, happening right now in Des Moines, Iowa. Eight teams around the state of Iowa wearing those vintage 1920 uniforms, also playing by vintage rules. There's no running, no jumping for example.
But you got 60-year-old, 70-year-old, even 80-year-old women competing against each other for the right to be state champions and the state championship team goes on to play at the national granny basketball tournament.
HOLMES: This is big deal. Huge.
CARTER: Huge deal. So, (INAUDIBLE) for pre-game and (INAUDIBLE) for post-game. I'm just kidding.
HOLMES: Some of them are actually 80 out there?
CARTER: Yes. Isn't that great?
HOLMES: That's amazing.
CARTER: Good for you guys. Way to go. They're waking up this morning, feeling good, getting warmed up.
HOLMES: You delivered on this one, too. Good stuff.
Joe, good to see you as always, buddy. Thanks so much.
We're 16 minutes past the hour now.
Some stories making news across the country.
Firefighters in Camden, New Jersey, are battling a fire at a vacant chemical plant. The fire broke out around three hours ago and has gone to a six-alarm.
In Florida, bond has been set at $1 million for a flight attendant accused of stealing another man's identity. Investigators say 38-year-old Jophan Porter assumed the identity of a New York man in order to fly around the world. Porter faces multiple counts of identity theft and forgery.
In California, a man who got somebody else's tax return and spent it has been charged with grand theft. Police say Steven McDow went on a spending spree after $110,000 was mistakenly deposited into his checking account. McDow claims to have spent more than half the money, paying off student loans and his home mortgage.
In Oregon, a large swarm of honeybees draw a curious crowd of people in downtown Portland. The bee grew to about two feet long in less than five minutes. People took a lot of pictures, kept a safe distance, the bees eventually flew away.
Well, rock and roll has lost a heavy hitter. Clarence Clemons, saxophonist and backbone of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, has died.
Now, that, of course, was a little "Born to Run." Clemons was by Springsteen's side for almost 40 years. But he was also the sax of choice for a wide range of artists, from Aretha Franklin, the Twisted Sister and Lady Gaga.
Clemons suffered a stroke a week ago. A spokesperson for the band says Clemons was surrounded by family members in Palm Beach, Florida, when he died.
Bruce Springsteen posted this on his Web site. "He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those imply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."
Clarence Clemons, the big man, was 69 years old.
Well, a lot people talking about the apocalypse these days -- the end of the world. Well, maybe you believe in it, maybe you don't. But if you want to survive, I've got the place you have got to go. Book your flights to France, folks. I'll explain after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Nadia Bilchik is joining me with our "Morning Passport."
We just had in May, some people were predicting the end of the world. That didn't happen. But a lot of people are looking ahead to the apocalypse, according to the Mayan calendar, they say December of next year.
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: December 21st, 2012.
HOLMES: All right.
BILCHIK: Some people believe what they call esoteric -- believe that the end of the world is coming.
HOLMES: OK, I want to survive it. What do I need to do?
BILCHIK: Exactly.
You know, some stories you just can't this make up. Well, according to certain esoterics, there's a beliefs that a place in Bugarach, in southwest France, this is going to be the place that will save you from the apocalypse.
And what you're seeing now is what they call the Sacred Mountain, the peak of Bugarach. And it's believed that in this mountain, there are actually aliens, some believe, that are going to save you.
HOLMES: OK. Aliens are in the mountain right now?
BILCHIK: Some people believe that now, T.J.
But let's look at the mountain. It's actually fascinating. Because, usually, you would have a older rock in the bottom and then newer on the top, but in this mountain, you have a complete inversion. So, it's a scientific anomaly.
But this has been a grave concern to the mayor of Bugarach, because he has this little town, 200 people, people go there to hike, to see the views, to find beautiful orchids, and he's very concerned that they're going to get 2,000, 3,000 people converging on this little town.
HOLMES: Are they starting to do this already?
BILCHIK: People are already booking. They are booking apartments and bed and breakfasts to come in for this period of time. And some residents actually report that there are people who have been walking up the mountains, some in white robes, some naked with orbs.
But the concern here, T.J., is sects. And a government agency in France has actually sent us an alert this week, that's why it's topical, warning people about sects. There's a concern that like we saw with Waco, what happened as you get people who are very vulnerable.
One of the things they've warned people is people who have cancer, people who are ill, that may be susceptible to these kinds of cults. So, that's a concern here.
HOLMES: Now, again, how seriously do people -- this is another one of these things. But are reasonable people starting to come in, or is it --
BILCHIK: That is questionable. In fact, if you look on the Internet, the concern by this French government agency is how prolific it is, how many people actually believe it.
HOLMES: But they are taking it seriously enough to act, if you will, or at least put out a statement?
BILCHIK: Exactly. And, of course, the mayor is going, I don't want my town to be full of lunatics and fanatics, and apocalypse, and people who are seeking or concerned about the end of the world. So, it's really become quite controversial.
And, interesting enough, this is the place where George Burns spoke about in "Journey to the Center of the Earth." And Spielberg spoke about in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
So, a very beautiful place, but of grave concern right now to the mayor and to French authorities, that there may be a group of people taking this far too seriously and may influence others to take it seriously.
HOLMES: It is beautiful. Aliens inside the mountain.
BILCHIK: Inside the Sacred Mountain, the peak of Bugarach.
HOLMES: All right. Nadia Bilchik, all right, folks -- I would say book your tickets, but that's exactly what they don't want you to do, people to descend on this place.
Nadia with our "Morning Passport" --
BILCHIK: We'll speak again on December 21st, 2012.
HOLMES: But will we speak on the 22 is the question, I guess.
Nadia, thank you as always.
We have seen thousands of e-mails from Sarah Palin recently. And at least one of them really stands out because of its signature. See signed it "from God." That discussion in our "Faces of Faith" -- next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PO1 GEDELL CODY, U.S. NAVY: Hi. I'm PO1 Gedell Cody out of Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. And I just want to shout out to my awesome dad, Glenn Cody, in Augusta, Georgia. Happy Father's day, dad!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Welcome back to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes. We're coming up on the bottom of the hour here.
Give you a look at some of the stories making headlines.
The Libyan government reporting nine people dead and at least six wounded after what they claim was a NATO airstrike on the residential neighborhood in Tripoli. NATO has not confirmed the strike but say they are investigating.
And bad news for hundreds of firefighters working to control wildfires burning in Arizona. Forecasters say they could face some of the worst weather this season. Red flag warnings are in effect for most of Arizona, that means low humidity and strong winds posed an extreme fire risk.
The U.S. Forest Service chief says fighting the fires is a number one priority.
And another massive cyber attack to tell you about? This one on a gaming company Sega in Japan. They are reporting a data breach that compromised people's names, dates of birth, e-mails addresses and passwords. More than 1 million accounts were hacked.
Sega shut down operations and sent out apologies.
Now, reporters might have been hoping for some kind of gotcha moment, but instead they got God. Of the thousands of Sarah Palin emails that were released last week, this is the one we're talking about this morning. She sent it while pregnant with her son Trig who has Down syndrome.
This part was left out of her book. So it's new to us. It says "But tell me what do you earthlings consider 'perfect' or even 'normal' anyway? Have you peeked down any grocery store aisle, or school hallway, or into your office lunchroom lately? Or considered the odd celebrities you celebrate as perfect on TV. Have you noticed I make them all shapes and sizes? Believe me, there is no perfect."
Now look at the signature of her e-mail. It says, "Love, Trig's Creator, Your Heavenly Father.
Yes, the Alaska governor writing from God's perspective.
CNN.com religion editor, Dan Gilgoff wrote about this on our belief blog and he is here with me now. And again, we've read kind of some of the parts. She didn't include part of this e-mail in her book that she wrote.
But some of it we had now seen before. After you wrote about it, what was the initial reaction you got from people immediately?
DAN GILGOFF, CNN.COM RELIGION EDITOR: Well, I think the reaction was really surprising. Because when people first heard about the idea that Palin had crafted this letter in the voice of God, you think that sounds rather presumptuous. And then, a lot of our readers -- and they commented on this after reading the story, read her letter -- and they were really quite taken by it.
It turns out to be this really thoughtful medication on the son that she knows is coming, that has Down syndrome, and how people ought to see him, how people ought to treat him, and reassessing our notions of what makes someone perfect. So it's really -- it's really quite tender and it led a lot of people over.
HOLMES: And remind our viewers here who may not know who she was actually writing this e-mail, this letter to, initially.
GILGOFF: Yes she was writing it to friends and family and she writes a little bit about why she wrote the letter in her 2009 book "Going Rogue." And what she says is you know, the Down syndrome diagnosis was being read by a lot of friends and family as something that was negative and she wanted to turn it into something that was positive. And that was really the impetus behind sort of writing this letter.
Now it was a very intimate moment because this wasn't a letter at the time that it intended to be released to the public.
HOLMES: And I was taking -- I was telling you here in the commercial break, as I was just reading through peoples' comments, I mean she is one of those polarizing figures. It's almost like you love her, you hate her there's no in between.
GILGOFF: Right.
HOLMES: But a lot of people were commenting and you know what, I can't stand this woman, I can't stand her politics, but I was in tears when I read it.
GILGOFF: As you say, the opinion around Palin is really entrenched; a lot of high negatives around her. And people that don't like her tend to think of her as this very spiky culture warrior; and they read this letter and people's impressions of her really soften.
So I was really taken by the number of commenter's who said I can't stand Palin, hated the idea that she was writing a letter from God, you know it sounded like a total lunatic. Then they read the thing and even her enemies feel kind of won over to her side.
HOLMES: Important to note as well, when she actually wrote this?
GILGOFF: Yes, she wrote it in April of 2008. Of course, this was about six months or so before she was plucked by John McCain to be his running mate. And I think it speaks to this moment before she got to the national stage, got to be this very divisive figure. And if you think about it, if she decides to seek public office again, that's the kinds of softer public image she's going to need to cultivate. She's going to want to return to a moment like that.
HOLMES: All right, let's go through. And we have some of the comments from some of the -- from some of the folks who wrote in on your blog here. I want to share some of these, and I encourage everybody. I'll actually send it down to you guys here shortly to give you a link to it so you can read it.
But a one comment here from Healthy Mom, says "I feel exactly the same way, when I see her name in headlines I usually cringe, but this piece of news is actually refreshing.
Another here we have from Laurie that says, "I must give Sarah Palin applause for her loving acceptance of her son as he is and her desire to share this message to all who would be a part of his life.
But then another from Russ, and you kind of hit on this, as well here a second ago saying, "Oh, my God, and I use the God part loosely. If you have a problem don't blame yourself, just say it's God's will."
And then another here saying, "Imagine the mess, a model brain like 'Palin' Palin would create no creator could clean that up. Well, we know already that he can, but what the hey, even if we pretend he could."
So you know, some people still found a reason to attack her. It -- frankly, it seems -- it's kind of difficult to imagine someone attacking her after you really read this e-mail, this letter, and she -- it's very open and honest about what you know -- it had to have been a very difficult time for her. GILGOFF: Yes. Well, you know, as the editor of the belief blog on CNN.com, it's always impressive how many atheists and critics of religion winds up commenting on all our stuff. It turns out that these folks are some of the most eager consumers of religion news. So that's kind of not surprising.
But it's hard to remember a Sarah Palin's story that brought around critics as much as this one has seemed to. So I think it's kind of a unique moment for her. Especially because the anticipation around this release of all these e-mails from her time as governor, as governor of Alaska was predicted to be as you said, another kind of gotcha moment.
HOLMES: Yes.
GILGOFF: People were looking to pounce, and this turned out to be kind of the reverse.
HOLMES: Yes this one is not about politics here folks. And we encourage you all to read it.
But Dan, it's good to see you with us again, our religion editor.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: You can find the article over -- on the belief blog, for sure you can find it at CNN.com\belief.
But also I'm going to send this out to you guys at TJHolmes on Twitter and also on Facebook as well so you'll have the link. But it's really -- if you take the time and read it. Well, thanks again Dan. Thanks so much.
GILGOFF: It's good to be here.
HOLMES: Now, President Obama's re-election strategy; our Candy Crowley talking to the point man behind that plan with senior strategist David Axelrod. She'll tell us more about the re-election campaign. That's after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, the "State of the Union" with Candy Crowley coming up at the top of the hour, in just about 20 minutes from now. But you don't have to wait that long. You can see her right now.
Candy good morning to you. How are you?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Good morning. I'm good, how about you?
HOLMES: I am doing fairly well today. You've got a couple of big guests today who can talk about -- well, one -- one guy is kind of outgoing, and the other guy is just kind of ramping up and getting busier, if you will. We're talking about David Axelrod and the Secretary of Defense. CROWLEY: You know that Janis Joplin song, "Freedom is Just another Word for Nothing Left to Lose"?
HOLMES: No. I thought that you were --
(CROSSTALK)
CROWLEY: Well, Defense Secretary Gates is on his way out, headed towards the freedom of private life. And he has become even more outspoken over the past several weeks and certainly on this interview talking about what he thinks went wrong, how he thinks the military should be shaped going forward. It's very clear he's had some differences of opinions about the two ongoing wars now. So he is quite free speaking at this point.
And David Axelrod has just moved back to Chicago within the past couple of months. He is the President's top political strategist for 2012.
So, two very different guys on very different subjects but real interesting.
HOLMES: Ok, they are going to be shaping that strategy. But have we seen some signs of kind of what the President's strategy will be for re-election. Is it stick with me, we're just halfway through my plan and I need these other four years to continue to implement it and make sure we don't get off track. Is that going to be the sell?
CROWLEY: That's -- that's part of it. But I will tell you, that you know, all of the talk now is the President isn't so much running against Republican nominees, whoever that may be, he'll be running against the economic figures.
But in talking to Axelrod, what they believe is sure, that's true, running up into the fall of next year, people we're talking about oh, the figures and the economic figures, those are bad. But they believe that come 2012, it really will not be a race of President Obama and his record but it will be President Obama and whoever the Republican nominee is. And I can assure you they have very big files now on the various Republicans that are already in the race.
And Axelrod you will hear is quite outspoken about the ways they will go at some of these Republicans, should they become the nominee.
HOLMES: Yes they might have to add a couple of files here over the next week or so.
CROWLEY: Yes.
HOLMES: Candy Crowley coming your way in 18 minutes and 30 seconds at the top of the hour with "STATE OF THE UNION."
Candy it's good to see you always. We'll see you at the top of the hour.
And on this Father's Day a look at a new film encouraging fathers in the African-American community: "From Fatherless to Fatherhood" coming up next.
But first the show team here at CNN wanted to say thank you to a few dads around here. Happy Father's Day.
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CASSANDRA CARROLL, U.S. ARMY: This shout-out is going to my dad in Grand Junction, Colorado. Dad, happy birthday day. Staff Sergeant Carroll from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Hope you have a wonderful day. I love you and I miss you.
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HOLMES: On Father's Day it's good to remember some of the advice dad has shared over the years. Here are some of the favorites you've been sharing with us.
One saying, "There are only two things in the world that no one can ever take away from you: your knowledge and your integrity."
Another reader got this from his father saying, "Money won't buy you happiness, it just gives you options."
Well, if you have some advice to share, send it to our blog at cnn.com/tj or you can look me up on Facebook and Twitter.
And a new film to tell you about on this Father's Day that aims to generate discussions about the value and effect of fatherhood in the African-American community. We had the opportunity for us here to speak with the producer of the film and a father who takes fatherhood to heart.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Father means a protector of his family, a provider, and gives lots of love and wisdom and knowledge, especially about God. That's what a father means to me.
HOLMES: The new documentary "From Fatherless to Fatherhood" explores the role of the fathers in the African-American community.
KOBIE BROWN, PRODUCER, "FROM FATHERLESS TO FATHERHOOD": The purpose of this documentary is really to ignite discussion throughout the African-American community about the importance of fatherhood and to let people understand, especially young people understand that in a lot of cases their situation is not unique. Their lives are not determined by the absence of their father; that they can move beyond that and succeed nonetheless.
HOLMES: Producer Kobie Brown started this project two years ago. He said he gained insight from the many men and women he has met.
BROWN: We are bombarded with all these images and stories of absent fathers. There are positive fathers out here and this project reveals who some of them are.
HOLMES: Jwyanza Nuriddin is one of those fathers. He's busy with a full-time job and runs a small business with his wife. But still he makes it a priority to spend quality time with his three active sons; ages 4, 5 and 6.
JWYANZA NURIDDIN, FATHER OF THREE: It's a juggling act. I mean that's the bottom line. But I do a lot of multitasking. And I am motivated to be a good example for my children; an example of a good husband, an example of a strong worker and example of a good father. I want them to know and see that work equals reward.
HOLMES: Nuriddin says his faith and his wife Dawn both play a pivotal role in his relationship with his sons, especially since his wife is more of a disciplinarian.
NURIDDIN: There is no us without her. We have a great balance with our sons that allows us to, I believe, do an effective job.
But I am probably more of the father that's a friend than a disciplinarian. One of my challenges with this is I look at my sons and I see the best of them. And one of the challenges is I have to know and realize that bringing out the best often requires discipline and not necessarily just friendship.
HOLMES: He is hopeful that his presence in their lives now will better prepare them for the future.
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HOLMES: Now, President Obama gets invited to a Republican gathering in New Orleans, sort of.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black History month. You see, Michelle, she celebrates the full month. And, you know, I celebrate half.
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HOLMES: Not everybody was laughing at this presidential impersonator. I will tell you why.
Plus Arizona is not the only state with wildfire problems. Take a look at this. Texas is having a tough time as well. More than a million acres up in flames so far. The story next.
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PO1 ERICA GARDNER, U.S. NAVY: Hi daddy it's me from Guantanamo Bay. I don't have any lizards for you to look at but I just wanted to wish you happy father's day. I love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: All right. Well, "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley coming up at the top of the hour.
But first the Libyan government says a NATO attack in a residential neighborhood in Tripoli earlier today killed at least nine people. A government spokesman told the deaths quote, "cold-blooded murder". A NATO spokesman says NATO takes the accusation seriously and is looking into the matter.
Clarence Clemons on the sax; Clemons died yesterday a week after suffering a stroke. Clemons and his saxophone were the backbone of Bruce Springteen's East Street Band. But he is also the sax of choice for a wide range of artists from Aretha Franklin, the Twisted Sister and Lady Gaga. Clemons was 69 years old.
Republican Ron Paul has something to crow about. The Texas congressman won the presidential straw vote at the Republican leadership conference in New Orleans. He had 612 votes, far ahead of the number two candidate, Jon Huntsman who isn't really a candidate yet. Huntsman is expected to declare this week.
There were a few uncomfortable moments at the conference in New Orleans. They came during a performance by Obama impersonator, Reggie Brown. Listen to this.
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REGGIE BROWN, OBAMA IMPERSONATOR: Black history month. You see Michelle, she celebrates the full month, and, you know, I celebrate half. My father was a black man from Kenya, and my mother was a white woman from Kansas. So yes, my mother loved a black man, and no, she was not a Kardashian.
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HOLMES: That got some people in the crowd laughing, not a lot. Try this one.
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BROWN: The state of our union is not good. The debt is rapidly growing, unemployment is quickly rising and people are being forced from their homes. I feel their pain because in two years that could be me.
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HOLMES: Now, that got a better reaction. But take a look at what happened when he started taking shots at the Republican candidates. Organizers came to got him; pretty much pulls him off stage just was he was about to make a joke about Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. He did get in a joke about Newt Gingrich's supporters dropping faster than Anthony Weiner's pants and something about Tim Pawlenty needing a spine transplant.
Those didn't go over really well. Well, horrific fires burning through Southern Arizona; it's being called a national priority right now.
Our Thelma Gutierrez has more on the so-called "monument fire".
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THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Flames raced down steep canyons into tender, dry, grasslands igniting this 10-foot high wall of flames that spanned across the valley near Sierra Vista, Arizona. High winds spreading the blaze, forced the evacuation of nearly 7,000 residents, who fled with whatever they could carry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean I may not come back to these things. I don't know.
GUTIERREZ: Fire officials say conditions could not be any worse. It has not rained since December. A drought, high desert temperatures and strong winds have made this fire disastrous.
CHUCK POTUCEK, SIERRA VISTA CITY MANAGER: Looking up at the mountains, very, very difficult terrain; very steep, a lot of canyons and elevation. They are very difficult to get fiery spots in there. So that's mostly an air response area.
As you come lower out of the mountains, you're talking oak trees and grassland, and once it breaks out into that grassland, there's really nothing to stop it.
GUTIERREZ: More than 700 firefighters have come from all over the country to help battle the monument fire that started near the Coronado National Park near the U.S./Mexican border. So far 47 homes and 22 structures have been destroyed.
As for the cause of the fire, officials say it's still under investigation. But they do say they know where and when the fire started.
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HOLMES: And this video of a fire burning in Groveton, Texas. This fire has burned around 14,000 acres so far and forced some residents to evacuate. The Texas Forest Service says they responded to more than 12,000 fires since fire season started last November.
Those firefighters have their hands full. Now severe storms are popping up in the Midwest and Midsouth. Large hail, heavy rain, tornadoes are possible, but Reynolds is covering all that for us. Good morning again.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning again. And you know some of those thunderstorms actually spawning other fires. In fact here in Georgia, in Dunwoody George, we have some video I'd like to share.
This was actually sent in by Robby Mills in Dunwoody. And you see -- look what happened. Lightning is actually seven times hotter than the surface of the sun. So obviously when they strike something they can burn and it often does such as the case that you see in Dunwoody.
And speaking of severe thunderstorms like the one we had in Atlanta just yesterday, we are seeing some pop up across the landscape this morning from Missouri back over to Illinois, Indiana and now into Tennessee and back into parts of Kentucky. We see the strongest storms all driving to the east, bringing with them some very heavy rainfall with a tornado warning and (INAUDIBLE) watch that extends just north of Nashville at this time right along parts of 65 as we speak.
Some of the heaviest rainfall also a little bit farther back towards the east. Southwest of Lexington, we've got one tornado warning that is now in effect northeast of Lebanon. No visual on this, this is just Doppler-indicated for the time being. And we may see more of this develop later on today and not just in that part of the world but rather back into parts of the Central Plains.
High temperatures today, 97 in Memphis, 102 in Dallas, 75 in Atlanta, 82 in New York, 58 degrees in Salt Lake City, 72 in San Francisco and 64 in Seattle.
That's a quick snapshot of your forecast. T.J. back to you.
HOLMES: Reynolds, appreciate you, as always, buddy. Thanks so much.
And to our viewers, thank you all for spending time with us here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING on this Father's Day. Enjoy the day.
Thanks so much. But it's time for Candy Crowley and "STATE OF THE UNION. As you know her guests today -- she's got two big names, David Axelrod who's going to be planning the President's re-election strategy and also the outgoing secretary of defense, Robert Gates. He's been on a goodbye tour here as of late and maybe a goodbye interview with our Candy Crowley this morning as well.
But Candy starts right now.
