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CNN Saturday Morning News
Texas Authorities Raid a Compound of the Church of Latter Day Saints; Zimbabwe's Opposition Party Asking United Nations for Help; President Bush Will Meet with President Putin; Clintons' Release Tax Returns
Aired April 05, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING, April 5th. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, hello, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
All right. Happening right now, look at this, history is burning. Flames heat up overnight, forcing firefighters to watch this building collapse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Food is never enough. Water is never enough. If somebody arrives the day after food distribution, they have to wait until the next month to get food.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Tens of thousands of people barely surviving in the world's largest tent city. It's a CNN exclusive and we'll show you how you can help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES: Should any danger threaten your people, America and the NATO alliance will stand with you. And no one will be able to take your freedom away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: President Bush promises to protect a newly-invited NATO country. But how is that going to play with Russia's president?
At first though, the secretive polygamist sect once led by convicted felon Warren Jeffs is back in the spotlight this morning. Texas authorities raided the group's sprawling compound yesterday near the town of Eldorado, which is about 160 miles northwest of San Antonio.
HOLMES: And we do know here now that more 50 girls from infants to teenagers were taken away from the property there, 18 of them now in protective custody. CNN's Susan Roesgen is in Eldorado.
Susan, tell us. What lead to the girls being taken in the first place?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it started, T.J. and Betty, with a tip that a 50-year-old man was married to a 16-year-old girl at that compound. That's illegal under Texas state law and that the man had fathered a baby with her.
So, Child Protective Services went to that compound armed with an arrest warrant for the man and a search warrant to get all the evidence that might there about whether or not this had actually happened. And when they left, they left with dozens of girls and a lot of unanswered questions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROESGEN (voice-over): Escorted by sheriff's department trucks and jeeps, two white buses from a local Baptist Church drive down a dusty Texas road. It's hard to tell through the tinted windows but inside the buses are dozens of girls, some just a few months old.
The girls were being removed from a sprawling secretive Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints' compound near Eldorado called the YFZ ranch. Throughout the evening, dozens of girls were taken away.
MARLEIGH MEISNER, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES: We have 52 young women from the ages of 17 to six months of age that we have taken from the compound. Not legal custody but taken from the compound and of those 52 girls we have 18 that we have taken legal custody of. I can tell you that we are half way through our investigation.
ROESGEN: The Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints has an estimated 10,000 members. Most of them in a tiny town in Utah and they are notoriously hostile to outsiders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I ask you a quick question?
ROESGEN: Nearly all of them are followers of Warren Jeffs. A man they call their prophet. Jeffs is currently in jail after being convicted of two counts of being an accomplice to rape.
Critics of the sect say, it forces as young as 13 into marriage. The investigation at the ranch began Thursday after Child Protective Services received a tip that a teenage girl at the compound had been sexually and physically abused.
Armed with the search and arrest warrants, authorities drove out to the compound where some 400 members of this polygamous lived. The followers initially resisted but officials were able to get inside and investigate the claims of abuse.
MEISNER: I can tell you that we are still there. We are hearing these rumors as well. We really don't want to deal with rumors. We're really trying to deal with facts and the way we're getting facts is by interviewing those people at the compound right now.
ROESGEN: The state has taken legal custody of 18 of the girls saying they were exposed to an imminent risk of abuse. Many of them are being housed in a nearby community center. Stretch across 1700 acres, the ranch is the largest polygamous community outside of Utah and Arizona. It has a towering white temple, water tower, dormitories and is guarded by armed men.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROESGEN: Now, you heard the Child Protective Services person there talked about rumors. Those rumors are some reports but again, just rumors that many of those other girls taken away were pregnant.
The investigation is far from other. They're going to keep talking to those girls at the civic center, keep doing their investigation. Ultimately, some of the girls could be placed in foster homes if there is evidence of abuse, sexual, physical or otherwise. But ultimately also, if there is no evidence, some of those girls could be returned to the compound -- T.J.
HOLMES: Wow. Susan Roesgen for us with details that are rough for a lot people to hear this morning. Susan, we appreciate you.
NGUYEN: Well, very few people outside the FLDS know what life is like inside the sect. But Carolyn Jessop does. She fled the group nearly five years ago, taking her eight children with her.
HOLMES: And Jessop tells CNN, she thinks four of her step daughters might be among the girls taken from the compound yesterday. She spoke last night with CNN's Anderson Cooper about why she thinks the group is a growing menace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLYN JESSOP, FMR. FLDS MEMBER: The tragedy to me is that it's not only there, but it's expanding. It's moving into states like Texas and South Dakota and Colorado. And it's growing rapidly. And at the rate that this community believes in having children, it will continue to grow rapidly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: At CNN.com we got whole lot more on this story. You can go there for details. Also, there's a map there that shows you exactly where the group's members now located.
NGUYEN: Let's take you to the world of politics now and the troubled and troubling election in Zimbabwe, there's still no official results one week after the voting. And the opposition party is now appealing to the United Nations for help.
And just in this morning, CNN has learned lawyers are being allowed into the country's high courts. Let's get the latest on all of this.
CNN's Robyn Curnow joins us now live from Johannesburg, South Africa, where a lot of Zimbabweans are fleeing.
Robyn, first of all, why appeal to the United Nations. Explain the major concerns here.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the major concern is violence. The opposition party is saying that if the election commission does not announce the presidential results soon, and if the president, Robert Mugabe does not accept those results, would decide to push for a run off, well then there's a concern that the country will be destabilized, that the region will be destabilized.
Because many people in Zimbabwe and (INAUDIBLE) opposition have already said that they have won this presidential election and they're very concern that the president, Robert Mugabe will use all means possible, state means, to try and prevent him losing power.
NGUYEN: Robin, let me ask you this, how realistic is it that a run off will occur? And if so, how soon will that happen?
CURNOW: Well, it's all very fluid at the moment because unofficially, the opposition said they got enough votes. They announced this a few days ago. The government is saying, we (ph) are preparing for a run off. But they're saying this before they've got the official election results.
Normally, it's the other way around. In a democracy, the election results are announced and the government then (ph) to go this is what we're going to do. But it's happening the other way around in Zimbabwe. It's of course is making people concerned.
But it's looking likely that there will be a run off between the two main contenders: the president and the opposition and that could happen within the next 21 days. But of course, that's the concern. What happens to the political vacuum that is created in the next 21 days if there is a run off and just how will the people of Zimbabwe react because by all accounts and by all unofficial counts, the opposition won this presidential race.
So, will people rise up, will they defend their votes? And will they turn to street violence perhaps because they say, many people talking to us say, that their vote is not being honored. And that the president is refusing to step down and if he's going to force the run off to try to rig the second part of this election. So, real concerns coming from the north of the border.
NGUYEN: Well, normally that's what we're hearing from the opposition party that they're worried that war veterans and militias have already to being deployed around the country to intimidate voters ahead of a possible run off.
And let's get to this. Meanwhile, as they try to decide on what to do, I need you to explain how this economy has really reached a crisis mode with sky-high inflation.
CURNOW: It's not a crisis. I think it's a catastrophe, Betty. A new domination was released yesterday, 50 million Zimbabwean dollars, it's the equivalent of U.S. $1, that will buy about three loaves of bread, that's how bad the inflation is. They keep on printing new money and new dominations.
Just last week, I was on CNN, I was at the border and I was showing a $10 million note and that could not buy an apple. And then just a week, the now highest domination is 50 million. That's the kind of level of inflation.
Now, you can imagine, that wreaks havoc on people's salary. You get paid one day, the next day, you know, it's half the value of what you got paid the day before. Also, quite interestingly, just to put it into perspective, if you go to an ATM or a bank machine, the most you can withdraw is a billion dollars.
So, in terms of the inflation and the currency, it's essentially worthless.
NGUYEN: It is simply amazing. I know when I was in Africa back in August, inflation was at 5,000 percent. That seemed like an astronomical number, but we're at, well over 100,000 percent. In the meantime, they're still trying to decide what to do in this presidential election.
Robyn Curnow joining us live with the latest there. Thank you, Robyn.
HOLMES: Wow. A $10 million apple, Betty.
Well, take a look at this, folks. A spectacular scene out of Quebec City, Canada. This is a happening, really, a building that a lot of people would hate to see go up in flames here.
NGUYEN: A massive fire and explosion as you can see here just ripped through one of the city's most historic buildings, the Quebec City Armory. It was built back in 1884.
HOLMES: And most of the building collapsed a couple of hours after that fire started. It housed the Canadian Forces Reserve Unit and was undergoing renovations. Firefighters still don't know the cause. We can tell you, there were no injuries associated with it.
Well, President Bush is still in Europe. He's talking of the benefits of expanding NATO membership and spreading democracy through Europe. Well, next hour, he's off to Russia for the talks with the president there, Vladimir Putin.
CNN's Elaine Quijano is traveling with the president. She joins us now.
Elaine, tell us how important is the timing of the speech we're hearing from the president today?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, the timing really is of a paramount importance here. President Bush, as you noted, just hours away from landing in Russia where he'll be meeting one on one with Russia's outgoing president, Vladimir Putin. And many of the themes that the president was talking about here in Croatia are certain to not sit well with Putin at all.
President Bush is coming here to Croatia to talk about his democracy agenda, his freedom agenda, really highlighting the democratic progress that has taken place here in this country.
Putin, of course, has been very wary of issues like NATO expansion. Why? Because Putin views the idea as encroachment into Russia's sphere of influence, if you will.
Nevertheless, President Bush did come here. He gave a speech here in the capital city of Zagreb, Croatia where he touted his freedom agenda and interestingly, T.J., the president in making his remarks and making his case here, noted Croatia's own long and difficult road to democracy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: There are many people who don't appear to understand why it takes so long to build a democracy. You can tell them how hard it is to put in place a new and complex system of government for the first time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, if that tone, if that language sounds familiar, that's because it is. President Bush in effect seemed to be in a not so veiled way referring to arguments for Iraq. Of course, the president next week returning to Washington to the testimony of his top commander and his top diplomat in Iraq, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Both set to testify on Capitol Hill about progress that has been made on the ground.
Now, the president, we know, of course, T.J., has talked about the military progress, but the president there, here in Croatia rather, seemed to be addressing the political arguments people are making about the fact that the Iraqis have not come necessarily together in the way that the U.S. had hoped.
So president, again, never mentioning Iraq, but holding up Croatia as an example of how democracy can sometimes be hard fought but can eventually have some benefits. T.J.?
HOLMES: Elaine, a big stop for the president. He's going to see his boy or the guy we thought was his boy at the beginning of the presidency. Kind of, I don't know if you expect it -- yes, a long sappy goodbye with Putin. It turned into a kind of strange relationship.
QUIJANO: Yes, you know, strange is exactly right, T.J.
President Putin of course, was someone that President Bush thought in the beginning, hey, this is someone I can work with. Perhaps, have some kind of closer relationship between Moscow, between Washington under Putin's leadership. It has not turned out that way. The U.S. has been sharply critical of what it views as Russia's backsliding on democracy. Now, again, timing is everything here in this case. The president coming specifically here to Croatia, a country that was once under Russia's sphere of influence, is making this speech. Again, those comments by the president are not going to be viewed, are not going to be welcomed necessarily by Putin. But there's also this issue of U.S. missile defense.
President Bush came to NATO, he got the backing of NATO allies for this missile defense system in Eastern Europe, that's Putin's backyard. He doesn't like the idea. We're going to have to wait and see what comes out of this meeting in Sochi, Russia. President is going to land there later tonight -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right. We will see. What happens? The two started out with such promise on that relationship, it didn't quite work out.
But, Elaine Quijano, we appreciate you keeping us up-to-date on the president's trip. Thank you so much.
NGUYEN: Well, we're going to check in now with the Olympic torch relay. We're going to bring you some live pictures from Russian television. Russia does hold the flame today. And these are from St. Petersburg. Olympians started early this morning after the official ceremony. They then sprinted down the streets of St. Petersburg. The torch, there it is, finally we're seeing it, was in Istanbul on Thursday and tomorrow it lights up London sky.
HOLMES: There it is. OK. We waited all that time and we finally saw the flame.
NGUYEN: Some kind of a ceremony that's going on there. But then, we finally saw the torch. We'll work on that video for you next time.
HOLMES: Yes. All right. Well, folks, we also need to tell you about an airline's, another airline's final boarding call.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I have flights for two more months booked every weekend on Skybus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, it ain't happening, my dear lady. Travel plans change after Skybus becomes a sky bust.
NGUYEN: And what's the fuss about Hillary Clinton's tax return? Well, we're going to jump on the CNN Election Express for that and so much more when it comes to campaign news.
HOLMES: Oh, and we've been waiting to show this picture here.
NGUYEN: Look at that. And if you can see really closely, I think you can make out the tears on Reynolds' eye there. Seriously.
HOLMES: I think he's tired.
NGUYEN: No, there's a tear drop there.
HOLMES: That's our guy. Of course, Reynolds Wolf, our meteorologist, he is with us on the weekends. Well, he's got his hands full as you can see. They have welcomed a baby girl. There's baby Wolf.
NGUYEN: Well, just so precious, look at her.
HOLMES: We will be sharing some more photos coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, another U.S. airline is calling it quits. Ohio- based Skybus had roughly ended operations effectively today. It's the third airlines to go out of business in less than a week.
NGUYEN: And it joins ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines in filing for bankruptcy. Skybus blames it's demise on high fuel prices and a slowing economy. Now, the airlines says, people with tickets should talk to their credit card companies about getting a refund.
Well, so much for helping them, huh?
HOLMES: How does that usually go for you when you call a credit card company?
NGUYEN: I guess you call them and say, look, I bought this ticket, they went (ph) under cancel the charge or can I get my money back somehow.
HOLMES: Oh, good luck, people.
NGUYEN: But then you still have to schedule another ticket, maybe it's closer to your ticket date and you got to pay a sky high price.
HOLMES: You may have to pay a sky high price. It's one thing when people go bankrupt.
NGUYEN: Right.
HOLMES: These folks go bankrupt and say, we (INAUDIBLE).
NGUYEN: We're done. Doors are locked.
HOLMES: Well, good luck to you, folks.
So, we're going to turn to some politics now. And there will be no do-over in Michigan.
NGUYEN: That's right. The state Democratic Party deciding against redoing it's presidential primary, saying it's just not practical. Hillary Clinton won the January 15th primary but she was the only top Democrat on that ballot. HOLMES: And if you remember, Michigan and Florida were punished and stripped of their delegates for holding their primaries too early. Florida also decided not to do a revote. So, no final decision now has been made on how to handle either state at the national convention.
Lot more politics are going to on besides what's happening in Michigan and Florida. The candidates are out west right now. They're looking for votes. They're looking for money. Speaking of money, my goodness, the Clintons, released their tax returns and wait until you hear this.
CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is with the CNN Election Express in Philadelphia this morning.
Paul, you and I need to be former presidents because it obviously pays to be a former president. $109 million is the word that the Clintons have made since he left office. Wow.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. $109 million over the last eight years and about $80 million of that, T.J., $80 million of that $109 million comes from Bill Clinton. He's the big bread winner in the Clinton family. Most of that money is coming from speeches and from his book deals.
The Clintons were kind of under the gun to release these tax records. Barack Obama, his campaign released his tax records about eight days ago. And the Clintons promised they would come out with them. They did.
They gave about $8 million to charity. They paid about $33 million in taxes. But it's interesting the timing of when they released them, late on a Friday. But here we are on SATURDAY MORNING talking about them.
HOLMES: OK. But what's the big deal? I mean, they were told. And like you said, they were under the guns to release these things. OK, they released them. They made a lot of money.
That's not illegal, that's not really out of the norm even for a former president to go out there and start making money on the speaking circuit. So, what's the big deal? Is there anything else to read in to these tax returns? They made a lot of money, OK.
STEINHAUSER: Well, it's true. They made a lot of money and we are still reading the tax returns to see exactly where some of the income came from. There could be questions about that when they can sift to the documents more.
But the Clintons have been kind of under pressure to release a couple of things. First off, the first lady records, her scheduling records. They came out back last month. Now the tax returns.
They also want to see who some of the big donors are to the Clinton Presidential Library and the Clintons have yet to release those. Those were the kind of three things they were going after. Politically though, when you're Hillary Clinton and you're trying to run as a big supporter of blue collar workers and union workers, it may be sometimes tough to, you know, explain that you're worth so much money. So, I don't know how much it will hurt her politically, if any, but, you know, you can see that the (INAUDIBLE) are there.
HOLMES: All right. Let's talk about the trail now. They're back out there. Of course, so much emphasis is being put on Pennsylvania. It's a big state, a lot of delegates at stake there but obviously, the candidates are looking way beyond Pennsylvania. This thing is not going to end there, they're moving into other states now.
STEINHAUSER: They are. I'm not taking it personally. I'm here with the CNN Election Express in Pennsylvania and they're long gone today. But I'm not taking it personally.
They're out west today in Montana. Both Clinton and Obama are going to be at a Democratic Party dinner tonight in Montana which is yet to vote. Last night, they were both at the same event in North Dakota.
And they're both out west fundraising. Clinton was in L.A. and San Francisco earlier this week, fundraising. Obama will be in California tomorrow. Remember, he raised over $40 million in March. She raised $20 million. Not so bad, $20 million, but he outraised her two to one.
HOLMES: Paul, that's a lot of money being thrown around. All these are a lot of big numbers we're talking about this morning, 100 million here, 40 million there, 20 million there.
We're going to see you later on this morning. And I know I want to talk to you about how often we hear that the candidates are absent from their roles in the Senate. Well, they're all going to be back in the Senate next week for a very big deal, hearing on Iraq.
We'll get into that a later this morning. We'll see you shortly, buddy.
STEINHAUSER: Take care, T.J.
HOLMES: All right, folks. You can catch CNN's "BALLOT BOWL." That's coming up later today. It's your chance to hear from the candidates themselves. Our "BALLOT BOWL" bowls on today at 2:00 p.m. Eastern only right here, your home for politics.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, there is a tough choice in Somalia and what that really means no choice at all.
How escaping the violence in the capital forces people into a crisis in the countryside.
HOLMES: And the south, my goodness, is still dealing with wicked, wicked weather, strong storms leaving a big old mess.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Take a look at these live pictures. You're watching President Bush as he is shaking hands with the military there in Croatia, getting ready to hop on board Air Force One and head off to Russia, where he's going to be dining this evening with Vladimir Putin. He's going to be at Putin's summer home in the Black Sea, at the resort of Sochi.
And they're going to cuff (ph) off, you know, what has been, as you talked about a little bit earlier, T.J., a contentious seven-year relationship that's going to come to an end when Putin leaves office next month. And they do hope to produce new strategic framework which will guide the relations to say, a lesser rocky future beyond their time in office.
So, as we're watching right now, President Bush and Mrs. Bush, it's what you see right there on this live picture, getting ready to board Air Force One. They are leaving Croatia after -- they pretty much congratulated not only Croatia but Albania. Both of which were under Moscow's cold war era influence. But they both have been invited to join NATO.
And Bush had a big speech on that, saying, should any danger threaten your people, America and NATO, the NATO alliance will stand with you and no one will be able to take your freedom away. There you see it. President Bush leaving Croatia onboard Air Force One, headed to Russia.
HOLMES: We will turn back here to the U.S. now.
And more nasty weather. And there you go. You see pictures like this, it seems like a lot over the past couple of week with severe weather happening.
This is Alabama, cleaning up there after storms hit that state. The entire area really took a beat down yesterday. It had blinding rain, powerful winds and officials there say it's possible a tornado touched down in Collin, Alabama. If you ask those folks, it's not just possible. They'll tell it happens.
Trees smashed into homes, power lines down, no reports of serious injuries though. Certainly, some good news.
NGUYEN: Yes, definitely. But you know what, people are still without power from those storms. And the question today is: are they going to get some relief because there's a lot of cleanup to be made. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is in today because Reynolds Wolf is on maternity duty?
Is that what you call them? Had a little baby, not too long ago, we're going to show you some pictures after the report but, welcome.
KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thank so much, Betty and T.J. And yesterday, what a very wild weather day. Let's zoom in across the southeast, specifically the Gulf Coast where already from Mobile down towards New Orleans and through gulf point (ph) they are still seeing those thunderstorms rumbling around. And some estimates are between three and seven inches of rain.
Here's a live view of Atlanta. It's overcast, it's dreary, a little bit of fog out there. We can expect maybe a thunderstorm or two. But it looks like the overcast skies continue for most of the day.
Here's a view across North Georgia right now. No watches, no warnings. We still have some activity back here across portions of Alabama. But it wasn't just the Deep South that still saw (ph) a severe weather. In North Carolina they had high winds and even reports of hail. Now, flooding is a big issue. They were saying right around Mobile Bay, they could expect an additional three to six inches of rain possible.
We'll keep you updated on that and I hear there's a new little forecaster that's just been born.
NGUYEN: A baby Wolf as we like to call her. It's kind of interesting though, well, she's probably not going to like that. Her name, Landry (ph), look at that sweet little thing. Landry Marie Wolf (ph) to be exact.
HOLMES: She was born on the 31st of March.
NGUYEN: Right before April Fool's Day.
HOLMES: Yes, thank goodness. An eight-pounder, that's a big baby there.
NGUYEN: She was a big one. Listen to this though, she was 19.25 inches long. Oh, look at that beautiful little family. You see Anna (ph), the daughter there in Reynolds' arms. You know that they are so excited and we are happy for them. So, welcome.
HOLMES: We were saying how good, I don't know if you're going to look a couple of pictures, Erin (ph) looks great. She looks fantastic right now. I don't know we're going to see ...
NGUYEN: There is a motherly glow, you think?
HOLMES: Yes, that has to be it. But I have seen mothers would beat down after they have some babies. But she looks great.
NGUYEN: Well, she really does. Well, some babies are huge. My college roommate had a 11-pounder. I don't think she was beat down but if she was, she deserved to be considering what she gone through. But, anyway, Landry (ph) is not that big, eight pounds, and a lot of joy for that family. So, Reynolds, congratulations.
Still to come though here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING: desperate times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICK DUPLAT, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL: The food is never enough. The water is never enough. If somebody arrives the day after food distribution, they have to wait until the next month to get food.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A humanitarian nightmare. Families numbering in the tens of thousands stuck in a massive refugee camp. You're seeing it here. Well, aid workers will be telling their stories
HOLMES: And those families are depending on relief donations but those supplies maybe in danger as well. We'll talk to someone from the World Food Program.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, in Somalia, Islamic insurgents are carrying out almost daily attacks on government troops. The situation there doesn't always make the headlines here in the U.S. but, you know what, maybe it should.
NGUYEN: Yes, since 2006, the battle between the U.S.-backed government and Islamic extremists have left close to one million Somalis homeless and hopeless.
HOLMES: CNN's Barbara Starr reports on one refugee camp with 250,000 people in it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Listen closely. Even the African winds can't drown out a child's cry. In Apcoria (ph), Somalia, just west of Mogadishu, nearly 250,000 Somalis live a heart-breaking existence in huts made of twigs, garbage, and bits of cloth.
ERIN WEIR, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL: This is where families, sometimes families with eight or nine children are living.
STARR: These extraordinary videos and pictures were shot by aid workers, Patrick Duplat and Erin Weir of Refugees International.
DUPLAT: This is simply the largest concentration of displaced people in the world. It's absolutely massive.
STARR: Technically, these aren't refugees. These Somalis are internally-displaced persons trying to live inside their own country and more arrived each day walking for miles, escaping the fighting in Mogadishu. Already 60,000 people have fled the capital this year.
WEIR: Most of the people that we'd interviewed said that they'd fled because their homes have been shelled, their family members killed. They'd lost their livelihood.
STARR: The camp now stretches for more than 10 miles. One woman arrived that morning.
DUPLAT: She'd arrived with eight children and she was holding a one-month-old little girl and her husband had been killed the day before he was crushed under the debris because a shell landed on the family's home.
STARR: The U.N. can't keep up with the desperate need for aid.
DUPLAT: The food is never enough. Water is never enough. If somebody arrives the day after food distribution, they have to wait until the next month to get food.
STARR: When Patrick and Erin finally climbed unto a roof, they were stunned.
DUPLAT: My most enduring memories, quite clearly, walking on the roof of that school and seeing the extent of displacement. It is the largest camp in the world. And all the people that we speak to, wants us to bring their voices and their stories to the international community.
STARR: Two hundred and fifty thousand Somalis wanting the world to know they are here.
Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, Somalia may be the worst country on earth to be a child according to United States.
NGUYEN: Yes, listen to this. One in eight children dies before they are 5 years old. And malnutrition rates are among the highest in the world. Less 1/3 of the population has access to safe water.
NGUYEN: Well, those are certainly grim statistics but you can help make a difference. Bettina Luescher, a former CNN anchor who is now with the United Nations World Food Program joins us this morning from New York.
Welcome.
BETTINA LUESCHER, WFP CHIEF SPOKESMAN: Good morning. Thank you very much for having me, Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, let's just get right to it because there's a dire need right now. If the $500 million isn't raised by May 1st, the World Food Program is going to have to cut some of its food rations?
LUESCHER: Yes, that's the situation we're desperately trying to avoid. Somalia, as you've just mentioned, is one of the countries where we are helping every single day. And what we need to do to be functioning all over the world in some 78 countries is we need $3.4 billion. That price has gone up by $500 million just in the last few months because of these sky-rocketing food prices.
What we are facing is really a perfect storm. We have rising fuel and energy costs, we have the lowest food reserves in some 30 years, we have climate change, droughts and floods, so that promise (ph) on that harvesting (ph) as much they did in the past and in order to help these people who were in desperate need all over the world, we are asking the governments to step forward so that we can avoid cutting food rations.
NGUYEN: Well, let me stop you right there because it sounds like when you talk about, you know, high fuel prices, the cost of buying not only that but trying to find food as well for the millions that need it, this sounds like a long-term problem. Are you prepare for that because a lot of countries including the U.S. has already said, we are going to cut back some of our donations to these humanitarian aid groups?
LUESCHER: Yes. And we are talking to all of the governments and they totally realize that this is a serious situation. So, we are quite hopeful that countries will step forward and help us.
This is a long term problem. We have not found experts who have said that the food prices will go down. The difference for example in the developing countries and rich countries like here in the U.S. is that there are safety nets here.
You know, the government will have their food banks (ph) here. There's a real safety net. You do not have that in the developing world.
For us here in the U.S., we might skip a meal in a restaurant, we might skip a movie to make up for some of those rising food costs. In the developing world, it's a matter of survival.
And the last thing you want to do as an aid worker is tell a woman who has fled violence is ended up in a refugee camp with her children, that sorry, we didn't get enough donations and therefore, we have to cut your food ration in half.
NGUYEN: Oh, that is devastating. So, let me ask you this. When we talk about the possibility of cutting rations by May 1st which is less than a month away, how many people are we talking about? Who's at greatest risk here?
LUESCHER: Well, the greatest risk of the countries in Africa, countries that import a lot of food, that have high inflation already. We are talking to all of the governments in those developing countries and tried to help them strengthen their safety nets. In the long- term, agriculture has to be improved.
But really, what we are seeing here is a perfect storm. It is such a complicated situation that we are really worried. We haven't faced anything like this in a very, very long time, for, we never before.
In the old days, there was food surplus that came from American farmers and was sent abroad. That's no longer the case. You've got bio-fuel production; farmers are switching from wheat to corn productions.
NGUYEN: The problem is, you know, compiled on top of each other. And very quickly (ph), let me ask you this, to people who are watching this, I know you are calling on nations to help, but can individuals help? LUESCHER: Yes, very simply. If you want to feed a child for a year in school, that's one of the long-term things. Go to our Web site: WFP.org. For just $50, you can feed a child for a year.
NGUYEN: $50 will feed a child for a whole year.
LUESCHER: It's a quarter a day. It's a very small sum, you can do this.
NGUYEN: All right, absolutely and especially when you're hoping to feed 73 million people in 78 countries for 2008 alone. Bettina Luescher with the World Food Program, thank you. We do appreciate it.
HOLMES: Did I hear that right? $50?
NGUYEN: $50, she just said, would feed a child for a year. So, all you have to do is go to WFP, which stands for World Food Program, WFP.com.
HOLMES: All right.
NGUYEN: It's easy, right?
HOLMES: Everybody should do that. It's a quarter a day. All right.
Well, our Josh Levs, also, on this issue, taking a closer look at the food problem in today's Reality Check.
Good morning, Mr. Reality.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.
Coming up, we're going to look at the broad scope of the world food crisis and also, how you can help for free just by knowing what words mean, something online right here turned into a phenomena. We'll explain right here, coming up on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Before we went to the break there, we were speaking with Bettina Luescher with the World Food Program about the enormous challenges facing the aid organization.
NGUYEN: Yes, our Josh Levs has been taking a closer look at the size of this problem around the world and some things that you can actually do to help. Now, Bettina said that you can donate to WFP.org and $50 will feed a child for a year. What else have you found?
LEVS: Yes, I'm going to tell you about a couple of fun ways. I'm glad we're talking about this today because, you know, we want to (INAUDIBLE), we're going to talk about. To me, world hunger is like the giant elephant in the room of the world. We focus a lot on hot spots in any given day.
Meanwhile, take a look at these numbers. I want to start right here, more than 800 million people are living in chronic hunger. So, when you get a sense of how broad the scope is, 854 million people. Keep in mind, we are a world of just over six billion. That's more than one in 10 people.
And then, you've got 25,000 people a day dying from hunger and poverty. And just to give one of the most pointed figures here, almost half of that figure of undernourished is children: 350 to 400 million children are undernourished. And again, that's from the World Food Program. That's how huge the scope of this is. That's the Reality Check portion here.
Now, I'll tell you a couple of unusual things people are doing these days to help. One is this handbag that I've never heard about but is now a big deal. It's on Amazon. People are buying. It's designed by a model, Lauren Bush (ph), which we have a picture, guys. It's designed by model Lauren Bush (ph), she's also his niece. Anyway, we don't have that so far.
And we're going to skip that and we're going to go right over here. We're going to go right over here now to -- there you go. There it is. People are buying this like crazy. It's really catching on. And it feeds someone for a year. You can learn more about that at Amazon.com.
Now this one is amazing to me. I read about this from the "New York Times," this morning herald, the examiner (ph). A very quick look here: Freerice.com. Let's go to this camera. We're going to look at this Web site here, all that's happening here.
You get online and you test your own vocabulary knowledge. It says what does abduct mean and you say it means kidnap, OK? People are playing this school all over the world. It's catching on with kids and every time you get an answer right, you're donating rice.
I'm going to bring back in Bettina Luescher. Bettina, could you explain to me, why it is that when you get one of these questions and you get it right, you're somehow automatically donating rice to someone? How does that work?
LUESCHER: You know, the advertisers on the Web site that was designed by John Green (ph), they are giving us money and then, we go to the developing countries like Uganda, Cambodia, we buy rice.
So, if you click and get the right word, then, you know, through the advertising money, we buy money in this developing countries and it helps us to feed a child or a mother. And we bring food in these red cups here and again, it costs like 25 cents a day to feed a child in school. So, it's a very hands-on approach.
LEVS: OK. So, this is what's amazing to me. I was just reading about that hundreds of thousands of people have started playing this thing online alone just over the past month alone. And every time you play it, you're automatically donating food.
Bettina, thank you so much. Betty and T.J., there you go. Some fun ways that you can help out, obviously you can send money directly to WFP. You can also just jump online and impact your world in some more fun way.
NGUYEN: And you know how important that is right now because there is a rice shortage. So, for people to be able to donate in that way makes a huge difference in those developing countries.
Josh, thank you so much for that.
LEVS: Thanks.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, you can learn more about how to get food to hungry people all around the globe. Here's what you do. Just go to CNN.com/impact and see all the agencies that impact your world.
HOLMES: And of course, we're just getting rolling here on the CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We've got a lot more to talk about including a first in the final four. And I am happy to see it.
All four number one seeds, the big dogs make it to the last weekend of the final four. Our top seed, Pretty Rickey is in the house. He is with us here.
NGUYEN: Who let him in the studio? Did he get past security?
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Yes. But the bottom line is, you know, you and I are having some issues with our respective brackets. But at least we fill them out.
(CROSSTALK)
HORROW: I don't want to play.
NGUYEN: You know what, we're going to knock heads ...
HORROW: Hey, I just want to watch the games. Thirty million people do it, and you don't.
HOLMES: Why do you do that little voice though? Was that necessary?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, all right. The top dogs meeting this weekend in San Antonio. College basketball tournament down to the final four and for the first time ever, and I am so thankful to see it. All the top seeds are there.
Our sports business analyst, we are so happy to have Pretty Ricky in the house with us here in Atlanta, kind sir. Welcome.
HORROW: Wow. That was much too nice. It was nicer to normal. So, I hit you earlier and I apologize, so just I want you to understand, OK?
HOLMES: It's quite all right. It's good to have you, man. It's good to have you here.
HORROW: Thank you. I'm on my way to San Antonio, as you know. So, we got the final four going on.
HOLMES: Where are the tickets? You just showed us a Super Bowl tickets.
HORROW: I did not have them but I'm not showing them to you because -- and you can get on the flight anyway. Flights are sold out. Twelve thousand hotel rooms are sold out. $50 million of economic impact in San Antonio, river walk, hopping, and it was great to have the games there. So, that's good.
HOLMES: Is it a bigger impact -- bigger financial impact because of these particular schools? These are big schools who have serious followings. And you got all the number one seeds there. So, more of an interest.
HORROW: Well, there's more of an interest. Everybody is talking about Armageddon, the television ratings are down by about 7 percent or so but Internet is up as well by 180 percent.
You got the top four seeds, you got 143 wins between everybody, and so that's a big deal as well because this is, again, if it should, if it holds to form, be the best final four in NCAA history, if it holds to form.
HOLMES: It will hold to form.
HORROW: And by the way, here's North Carolina, OK? My daughter is there, and so we got that and of course, Texas and Arkansas -- neither are in it.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: What happened to my Longhorns last weekend? But you know, because of my bracket and only because of my bracket, I'm rooting, well, I would say that -- that I'm rooting for Kansas. Although I would say I do kind of support Memphis. They played so well again there.
HORROW: That's very nice waffling. Why don't you throw the other two teams? I like UCLA because their colors are nice. And I like North Carolina because it's closer here (ph).
NGUYEN: No, I'm sticking with Kansas because I've got to win my bracket.
HORROW: Hey, and by the way, the schools, also, it's a big deal for them. Remember, George Mason's march (ph) to the final run a couple of years ago? One hundred thirty percent in increase in awareness, $5 million increase in donation.
And by the way, the average SAT score before the final four at George Mason was 1100, after the final four two years later 1135. So, the kids got smarter.
HOLMES: So, that's the economic benefits.
NGUYEN: It's nothing to do with that.
HOLMES: Well, the teams, they are all up ahead of what's called APR, which is a graduation rate NCAA put it. North Carolina is higher than the others. But everybody is graduating their kids, which is an important to remember as we get into the final four also.
HOLMES: Does the NCAA like to see all four number seeds? Everybody likes the Cinderella, a lot of people pulling to Davidson, I'm sorry I was, and I love their run and it's fun to watch Stephen Curry, but I like the -- this is what I wait for all year to see the big dogs go at it.
HORROW: I'll tell you what the NCAA likes. The NCAA likes $6 billion in television revenue. They like the merchandise which is over 3 billion for all of college sports. So, and by the way, these teams are the top 25 in awareness, they love them in revenue, they like that. As far the sneaker companies, Adidas have three of the four and Nike and Jordan have the other one.
So, listen, these are the big guys playing close games hopefully this weekend. Not the blowouts like last week. So, of course, the NCAA likes this. Why? It's money.
NGUYEN: A better final four than what we're seeing here right now.
HORROW: All four first seeds for people that don't know basketball. It's the first time it's ever happened. And people to pick those picks just by favorites, they're doing really well. And by the way, just so you know, you didn't ask, I'm doing better than you in the brackets.
NGUYEN: Where are you now?
HORROW: Well, I'm two ahead of you. So, it doesn't matter.
NGUYEN: Well, it doesn't mean anything but we're at the bottom of the pool here.
HOLMES: But the key thing you said there is we didn't ask, we did ask.
HORROW: Well, listen, I always answer questions you don't ask. That's right because when I get on this segment with you, I play and answer the questions regardless of which ones you ask.
NGUYEN: I truly understand what T.J. means by not playing is a sense that you're rooting for a team only because it's in your bracket maybe not because you truly want them to win.
HORROW: Well, and you two have the definitive expertise on that having your respective alma maters knocked hopelessly early. And, so that's exactly right.
So, we're onto San Antonio, next year's final four in Detroit and then, Indianapolis in a new stadium and then, Houston. What do they have in common? Big domes, 60,000 seats. A lot of money, a lot of impact. So, this is a tip of a very large iceberg.
HOLMES: You are planning ahead.
NGUYEN: He is. He's on the money trail.
HORROW: I've gotten all my tickets. And you know, we're talking about the Kentucky derby and we talked about that. And you guys wanted those tickets and we'll see. You, guys, got to be nice in the next couple of weeks.
NGUYEN: On, that's so hard.
HORROW: That is next week and we'll go from there.
HOLMES: Well, enjoy that jet-setting lifestyle you got there Pretty Ricky. And you wonder why we call you Pretty Ricky. What do you think?
NGUYEN: Security. All right. Thanks, Rick.
OK. Pointing out the positive in having a child with Down syndrome.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're special, they're the most loving people you will ever meet in your life, and I think, they deserve a chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The difficult decisions that parents make and why doctors are being blamed. That's coming up on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Hello, everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And hey there, I'm T.J. Holmes.
And unfortunately, we got to start with some more bad economic news as another airline shuts down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I have, like, flights for two more months, booked every weekend on Skybus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: She ain't going nowhere. Folks, you got Skybus tickets, we are talking to you. Two months of trips canceled, many Airbus customers will be looking for refunds this morning, need to check that ticket folks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're special. There the most loving people you'll ever meet in your life and I think they deserve a chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: This father is talking about children with Down's syndrome. Find out why some parents say doctors are not giving them good advice.
HOLMES: This sounds familiar doesn'it it folks, an airline goes bust. It's familiar because this is the third time we have said it.
NGUYEN: Three times this week alone and officials at Skybus airlines are blaming soaring fuel prices and a troubled economy. We've heard that before this week as well. Now the low-cost carrier flew for the last time last night. It was a surprise to many travelers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the last flight? Really? I had no idea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, you are kidding me? That's terrible. It better not be before my last trip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are kidding me? Oh, that kills me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: At least you got on a plane. If you have a ticket to fly with Skybus in the future, you can collect a refund. The company says though, here's how you need to do it. Check with your credit card company.
HOLMES: How does that work?
NGUYEN: I don't know. I guess you call your credit card company, say they went bankrupt. Can I get a refund some way. You can't call Skybus because they're done, I mean the doors are shut. The company is gone.
HOLMES: People are going to be out of money.
NGUYEN: People are going to be very upset. Can you imagine those phone calls today? All right folks, but that's what you need to do.
In the meantime though, gasoline prices setting another record high. This morning AAA says the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline is $3.31 a gallon nationwide. That is up a penny from yesterday and up some 58 cents from a year ago. And gas prices are just part of this numbers game.
HOLMES: There's another number that might be even more troubling than that and that is the number of people losing jobs.
CNN's Christine Romans has the story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This economy is hemorrhaging jobs. Almost a quarter of a million lost in the first quarter this year. Last month 48,000 manufacturing jobs gone, 51,000 construction jobs, gone. Losses are spreading, the Labor Department says, beyond the well-known shocks in the housing market.
KEITH HALL, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Consumer spending actually has been weakening and I think that's been part of this broader weakening in the labor market.
ROMANS: Jobless rates rose for just about everyone to 5.1 percent overall, 4.5 percents for whites, 6.9 percent for Hispanics and 9 percent for blacks. Vanguard mutual fund founder John Bogle.
JOHN BOGLE, FOUNDER, VANGUARD INVESTMENTS: I think we are in for some tough economic times maybe for the rest of this year, maybe into 2009.
ROMANS: Those tough economic times revealed in a barrage of grim statistics. Gas at a record $3.30 a gallon, up 60 cents in a year. First quarter bankruptcy filings up 20 percent. An estimated 20,000 homeowners with sub-prime loans lose their house each week and the government forecasts in the next year, the number of people using food stamps will reach a record 28 million.
Rising food costs and a weakening job market are the primary culprits. There was hiring last month by the government, hospitals, restaurants and schools, but not enough to make up for deepening losses throughout the rest of the labor market. The concern now is how much worse could it become.
(on-camera): According to the Labor Department, after the past four recessions, it took on average 20 months for job creation to return to pre-recession levels. After the last recession, it took an unusual 39 months.
Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And our money team as well has you covered whether it's jobs, debt, housing, savings, whatever it is. They got it covered. Join us for a special report "ISSUE #1," the economy, all this week at noon Eastern only right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: There are new developments this morning with Zimbabwe's troubled election and economy. Opposition party lawyers now allowed in the high court building. Police earlier blocked their entry. The opposition is trying to force the Federal Election Commission to release results from last weekend's vote, but CNN has just learned moments ago that a hearing is now delayed until tomorrow.
The opposition party is claiming it won the election. President Robert Mugabe's ruling party has indicated a runoff election is a probability. Opposition leaders are now asking the United Nations to step in because they fear violence in a runoff.
HOLMES: Some scary times in the south. The strong thunderstorms ripped through that area, trees fell on houses, nursing home as well in Coleman (ph), Alabama, and also on this nursing home in Alabama. Power was out all over the place. Power also knocked out in parts of Mississippi where storms triggered possible tornadoes, heavy rain as well as hail.
NGUYEN: Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is in for Reynolds Wolf today. Reynolds had a little baby a few days ago, so he's out attending to that new little one, his family, joins his other daughter there and so we'll have some pictures of that in a little bit. But in the meantime, we do want to get the latest on the storm.
Good morning, Karen.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Now, we'll take a look at some of the other stories making headlines this morning.
NGUYEN: The brother of the Florida man accused of planning a Virginia Tech style massacre is speaking out. Police found an arsenal of weapons at Kalen Wong's (ph) home, but his brother says Wong ran a weapons trading business. He says his brother never meant to hurt anyone.
HOLMES: Also, a rough landing for a police helicopter in Topeka, Kansas. The CNN affiliate there reporting this morning that the chopper was on a call when it clipped a light pole and that was result as you see there. There were three people onboard. Nobody seriously injured. Investigators of course now looking into this.
NGUYEN: The FBI -- we'll get to that story in just a second. In the meantime, look at this one. Remember that fugitive Marine charged with killing a fellow Marine? The FBI is still looking for Cesar Laurean. Agents think he may have changed is appearance.
Here's a look at the new picture of that. He may now have a dark tan and a beard. Laurean is wanted for killing pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach and burying her body in his backyard. So if you have any information as to his whereabouts, please call the FBI at 704-377- 9200.
HOLMES: We got an update on a story we have been bringing you here about a family's fight, well, it is over. They won. The super store says it will no longer try to recoup medical expenses from a former employee.
NGUYEN: And being blessed with a child with Down's syndrome.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are special. They are the most loving people you ever meet in your life and I think they deserve a chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: But are doctors discouraging parents from giving those children a chance? We're going to take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: You know what? We have an update for you. Remember that story that we told you about last week dealing with Wal-Mart and a former employee?
HOLMES: This was Debbie Shank. If you saw it, you will not forget it. She suffered brain damage in a traffic accident eight years ago. The company won't have to pay back the company or the family now is not going to have to pay back those medical expenses, thought they would have to. Wal-Mart, the company she's worked for, initially tried to recoup over $400,000 after Shank settled with a trucking company involved in that accident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM SHANK, HUSBAND OF DEBBIE SHANK: It's a great relief, Randy, it's just a great relief. And what really makes it great is the fact that not only is this a victory for Debbie, but this is a victory for every Wal-Mart associate. They are going to change their whole insurance plan that this won't happen to anybody again.
I hope it is just -- they saw the light. The pressure from the people and all the hit, like you said, you've had millions of hits on your sites expressing what they think of Wal-Mart and for such a retail giant, maybe they finally felt the pressure that maybe we'd better rethink things and come out of this the good guy instead of the bad guy. Most of the people that have called me and sent me letters have seen it on CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: This week, Wal-Mart said it will no longer seek any reimbursement from Shank and that it will modify its health care plan to allow more discretion in individual cases which is really a good thing for this family, because when we talked to him live last week on this show, he said there was no funds. There was no funds. I mean there were just waiting for Wal-Mart to come and collect and he really had no backup plan.
HOLMES: And again, like you say, this was the policy allows for and they signed up and all that and that was the thing, no discretion was allowed. This was a very different and a special case here and it's good that it all worked out and Wal-Mart came through. So nice to bring you that update this morning. NGUYEN: Very true.
What would you do if you knew your unborn child would be born with Down's syndrome? That's the dilemma many parents face because of advances in prenatal genetic testing.
HOLMES: CNN's Ted Rowlands has the stories of two families facing two difficult choices and they're making two different decisions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Faith Mitchell has Down's syndrome and considering the statistics, she's lucky to be celebrating her fourth birthday. The fact is an overwhelming majority of parents who find out their baby will likely be born with Down's syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy. Many people, including Faith's parents, believe doctors are partially to blame for the high rate of Down's syndrome abortions, which some studies put as high as 90 percent.
LISA MITCHELL, FAITH'S MOM: They give you a bleak picture. You go out there and you are scared. You don't know what to do because you have -- you think of all these great things and it is all taken away from you in an instant.
ROWLANDS: The Mitchells say during those gut-wrenching minutes after the diagnosis, they got the feeling that their doctors were pressuring them to abort Faith. The focus they say, was on the medical difficulties many children with Down's syndrome have, like heart trouble and how hard they are to raise, due to their learning disabilities.
L. MITCHELL: They even told me that it could be a burden on my son as he grows up.
ROWLANDS: The Mitchells and others raising children with Down's syndrome say they want doctors to give expecting parents a more complete picture, including the positive points.
MICHAEL MITCHELL, FAITH'S DAD: They are special. They are the most loving people you ever meet in your life. And I think they deserve a chance.
DR. BRIAN SKOTKO, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON: Doctors are not prepared when it comes to delivering that diagnosis.
ROWLANDS: Dr. Brian Skotko, who has a sister with Down's syndrome, authored a 2005 study while he was in medical school that showed that most parents of children with Down's syndrome thought that doctors indeed focused on worst case scenarios. The medical community has heard the complaints.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As concerns of various groups are recognized, I think there is a tendency towards providing that information and I think those guidelines are being developed to do that. ROWLANDS: Joy and Jeff terminated a pregnancy more than two years ago after receiving a Down's syndrome diagnosis. They didn't want us to use their last names. They say the decision was very difficult for them, but they have no regrets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do not feel any guilt about it. I don't think we did anything wrong.
ROWLANDS: They said they didn't get the feeling that their doctors pushed them in one direction, but they say many people made them feel bad for deciding to have an abortion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here we were going through a loss and there are people out there, there are a lot of people out there who look down on what we chose to do.
ROWLANDS: Since then, they have had a child with no birth defects. The Mitchells say they never considered aborting Faith, but they are very careful not to judge anyone who makes the choice, because they say as sure as they are that they made the right decision, they also know how difficult it is to have that decision to make.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: It is, indeed, a very difficult decision on either side.
HOLMES: I can't imagine being faced with that kind of a choice.
Folks, stay with us here. We got a lot more ahead on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING, including a first history being made with the final four this evening. College basketball's best of the best squaring off. We're going to be taking you live to San Antonio.
NGUYEN: And Josh Levs is following the Democrats. Hey there, Josh.
LEVS: Good morning to you, guys.
The continuing battle between Clinton and Obama. How could it ultimately shape November? We're going to have your chance to weigh in coming up right here CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, wheels up. President Bush has left Croatia and is on his way to Russia.
HOLMES: He flew out just about a half hour ago. Before leaving though, he congratulated Croatia and Albania for their invitations to join NATO. President Bush will hold talks this weekend with outgoing Russian President Vladmir Putin at the Black Sea resort of (INAUDIBLE). NGUYEN: The political slug fest if you will between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will likely continue at least through the Pennsylvania primary which is a little bit later this month.
HOLMES: Some say the constant tension is simply a sign of healthy democracy. Others say it is just destroying the Democratic Party and their chances coming up here down the road in November against John McCain. Good morning to you.
LEVS: Do you know what's cool about Saturdays, is we can take a look back at the week and every week there's like a new (INAUDIBLE) that everybody was sharing. There's a new debate and this week of course the big debate is about this whole idea that calls for Clinton to drop out of the race.
Some Obama supporters pushed that idea. Senator Patrick Leahy said quote, she ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama. He said it's her call, but then he added this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D) VERMONT: As long as there are two candidates fighting for the nomination, when it is obvious which one is going to win, all that does is to help the other party's nominee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: The Clinton camp rejected that. He's her supporter Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES (D), OHIO: You got 10 more states, 10 states who ought to have their voice heard in this election. We are Democrats, we always have a conversation getting engaged in issues, but in the end we're all going to come together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: So there are those different views on this. Now, there's a big debate this week, whether the party needs to coalesce right now or to keep up the fight and how that could ultimately affect the general election. So today, this is our question to you.
Is the continuing battle between Obama and Clinton good or bad for the Democrats? Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, independent, none of the above, how do you see this continuing battle ultimately shaping the general election. Write to us weekends@cnn.com.
Remember folks, keep your thoughts thoughtful, respectful and brief. We don't air diatribes on this show and we'll share some of your responses. Actually later this morning, guys, we're going to start off with these in a couple hours.
NGUYEN: This is going to be good because while you see the senators calling for Clinton to get out, a lot of people are saying if she got out right now, you have a lot of mad voters out there because people have gone to the polls and it's pretty close.
LEVS: Sure, absolutely.
HOLMES: It is strange to hear him say it is obvious who is going to win. I'm sure folks in Pennsylvania, Indiana, a lot of places would take offense to that.
LEVS: There are a lot of people who feel that their votes are being discounted, which gets back to what we talk about often here, that democracy is supposed to be about the voters, not about a party getting its person. So that's nice. The party wants to know who is going to win. Well, have fun, but what about the voters getting that decision? So this is where people get to weigh in, say what they think.
NGUYEN: It's going to be good. I can't wait to hear those e- mails.
HOLMES: You got to let us see some of the ones that don't make it through. You always have to put that, be respectful and (INAUDIBLE)
LEVS: People are so emotional about this race. You can go to cnn.com sometimes and see the postings people put there. Some people get really mean. It just doesn't move the dialogue forward. Passion is good. Emotion is good, excitement, caring, passion is good, but taking the opportunity to say that person is evil, I hate that person, I'm not going to stick that on the air, but I'll show you guys.
NGUYEN: OK. Thank you, josh. That will be in your next book, right, a list of e-mails.
HOLMES: You can see more about how the race is shaping up on our "BALLOT BOWL." You make the call there, your chance to hear from the contenders themselves today at 2:00 Eastern only on CNN, which is your home for politics. It is a big day for me.
NGUYEN: It's huge!
HOLMES: I'm excited.
NGUYEN: My Longhorns are out of it, that's OK, I'm still in it. I'm excited for both Memphis and Kansas.
HOLMES: Well, take that. That's just because of your bracket. (INAUDIBLE) a big day, one of the biggest in college basketball. We're going to take you live just ahead.
NGUYEN: Plus, in the next hour, tax time for the candidates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ever since my husband got out of full-time public service, he's actually made money, much to both of our amazements.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: I don't know. You guys -- you'll be pretty amazed when you hear how much the Clintons are worth.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Let's check in now with the Olympic torch relay. Russia holds the flame today. These are pictures from the closing ceremonies in St. Petersburg just a short time ago. Now, Olympians started early this morning. They sprinted down the streets of the city carrying the flame. We'll get a look at that flame shortly, hopefully. That relay is in London tomorrow.
HOLMES: There's some fire. We'll take that.
NGUYEN: We'll take what we can get.
HOLMES: Well, college basketball's big stage is set and the top seeds set to battle it out in the final four. First time ever that all four number one seeds have made it to the final four. There are some days, most days, really, that I would like to switch jobs with CNN sports Larry Smith, especially right now. He's in San Antonio this morning.
Good morning to you, sir. How is it going in San Antonio?
LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J.
It is a gorgeous morning here, a bit chilly, but as usual, the (INAUDIBLE) we want to be you. We want to be T.J.
HOLMES: Oh, please.
SMITH: The final four is here, man, here at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio. As you mentioned, it's a bit of history, the first time that all four number one seeds have advanced, the first time I should say since the seedings, the sort of seeding teams back in 1979.
Now, among these four teams are three of the most storied programs in college basketball history. UCLA, North Carolina and Kansas all have combined for 48 final fours and 17 NCAA titles. Then there's Memphis, the Tigers roared to their first final four since 1985, 37-1 on the season and they bring a little inspiration into tonight's game versus UCLA.
Yesterday, it was the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis. And this week, the Reverend Jesse Jackson who was with King on that day, returned to the city and took time to talk to the final four bound Tigers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DERRICK ROSE, MEMPHIS GUARD: When he came in, I thought, this is Jesse Jackson (INAUDIBLE) chance to is meet him. He knew who I was so I was glad.
ANTONIO ANDERSON, MEMPHIS GUARD: He just came and spoke to us about life, pretty much not even about the basketball side of things, but about graduating and the struggles that he's been through throughout his lifetime and Dr. King as well.
CHRIS DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, MEMPHIS GUARD: We were speechless. Usually we joke around with each other, but not -- at one point, no one in there was joking when he was speaking. We were all focused in. It was a great moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Now, Jackson says he's rooting for Memphis because their freshman point guard Derrick Rose is from his hometown of Chicago. With a win tonight, Memphis would get its 38th victory on the season. That would be an NCAA record. They play UCLA in game one and North Carolina and Kansas play the night cap here in San Antonio.
Let's go back to you.
HOLMES: All right. We know you've been to Super Bowls. You've covered major events before. How does this scene there in San Antonio compare? We know the Super Bowl is a party scene days before that event, but how does San Antonio kind of compare getting ready for the final four?
SMITH: I think this is one of the better cities in the country to host a sporting event because you've got the river walk there, had dinner with friends last night and we enjoyed just sitting and just watching the people. You have all kinds of coaches, celebrities, media people you may recognize from TV or newspaper or the Internet. It is just a great scene and the proximity of the dome to all the hotels and the entertainment makes it a special city. It's been a very vibrant atmosphere this week.
HOLMES: We wish we could be there at that dinner with friends. We know you roll with some high rollers. We'll ask you later who you were eating with. Good to see you and enjoy the game tonight. Thanks, buddy.
SMITH: All right, thanks.
NGUYEN: Hey, you know, it must have been a pretty tame one because he's live with us very early this morning.
HOLMES: He was pretty good.
NGUYEN: So, maybe not out too late.
HOLMES: Super Bowl time, he was -- you didn't know about him.
NGUYEN: Oh, looking kind of rough on the air.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: You want to stay with CNN throughout the morning for more on how the economy is affecting you and the campaign trail.
HOLMES: All that coming up and of course, Betty and I are going to be back with you here at 9:00 at the top of the hour. But we got some good stuff inbetween. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta, "HOUSE CALL" starts right now.
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