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CNN Saturday Morning News
Obama, Biden Double as Fundraisers-In-Chief; Interview With Alicia Keys; Health-Care Reform Measures Face Winding Road Through Congress; Interracial Marriage Controversy in Louisiana
Aired October 17, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hey there, everybody. From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING for October 17. Good to see you again.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good to have you back, T.J.
HOLMES: Took a weekend off last weekend. Back with you.
NGUYEN: Don't ever do that again. No.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: I don't think I'll get a chance to (INAUDIBLE).
NGUYEN: No.
HOLMES: But no, good to be back. Hello there, everybody.
NGUYEN: Well, it is glad to have him back.
Hey, everybody. Betty Nguyen. It's 6 a.m. here in Atlanta; 3 a.m. in Oakland, California. Do want to thank you for starting your day with us.
You know, it sounds like a story from the 1960s, but...
HOLMES: Oh may.
NGUYEN: But the controversy is happening right now in Louisiana.
All right. Here it is: A justice of the peace refused to marry an interracial couple. It's not the first time this official has refused to marry mixed couples. In fact, civil-rights groups and Republican Governor Bobby Jindal wants this justice of the peace fired. Coming up, you're going to hear from the couple.
HOLMES: Yes, you see the -- the teary bride-to-be. There's the groom as well, or groom-to-be. They -- they -- they got a marriage license elsewhere, but it's just the fact that nobody can believe this is happening in this day and age.
Want to hear your thoughts on this. Chime in. You know where to find us: on the blog, also on Twitter, also on Facebook. What do you think about this particular case, but also interracial marriages in general? Get the conversation started with us this morning. Also, we're going to be talking about Grammy winner Alicia Keys. I sat down with her not too long ago, and not just focused on talking about music...
NGUYEN: Music, yes?
HOLMES: ...like you might think.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICIA KEYS, SINGER: I was wowed that people that far away would know my music.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: OK. I love that, a kid in Africa singing her music. Yes, the faces of the kids in Africa really captured her heart. You'll hear what she's doing to change their lives. That's coming up.
NGUYEN: Oh, it's a great program, too.
And Reynolds Wolf -- all right. You know, he's up for just about anything. He was swimming with the sharks last weekend.
HOLMES: Of course. Yes.
NGUYEN: Well, this time he takes his trip to my home state -- it's Texas, where they're having the Texas State Fair. But you know what? He didn't gravitate toward Big Tex or the Cotton Bowl...
HOLMES: All right.
NGUYEN: I say Big Tex because he goes, 'How do, folks?' Anyways, we'll get to that in a minute.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: But what he did was, he went straight for the food.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: All right. Next up, we've got fried butter. That's right, fried butter. Hard to believe you have the two together. Let's give this a shot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: That sounds so disgusting.
HOLMES: It sounds delicious. NGUYEN: Fried butter?
HOLMES: Butter's delicious; fried things are delicious.
NGUYEN: Why don't you just take a stick of butter and deep-fry it and then eat it?
OK, Reynolds Wolf.
HOLMES: It's not the same (INAUDIBLE).
NGUYEN: OK. Reynolds at -- listen to this -- fried pecan pie, fried bacon, fried pork chips -- again, fried butter. You know, everything that can be fried. And he actually didn't call in sick today, so we're going to check in with him and see how he's feeling.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: We'll see him in just a second.
Do want to start though with a quick look at some of the stories we are keeping an eye on, the stuff we were keeping an eye on overnight. We'll start with -- after two weeks -- we really saw bloody weeks of militants attack, Pakistan today launched an assault on the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Civilians have been fleeing to area ahead of today's offensive. Army and intelligence sources say 28,000 troops are involved.
Now, this offensive is aimed at militants in South Waziristan. That's along the Afghan border. This comes after terrorist attacks that killed more than 175 people in the past days and weeks.
NGUYEN: All right, folks, we now have a major hurricane that is churning in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Rick, as it's called, has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm with winds of 115 miles per hour. It's about 215 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and our Reynolds Wolf will be keeping an eye on the growing storm throughout the morning. We'll be checking in with him.
HOLMES: And I don't know how productive this meeting was. Take a look here, folks. You're not seeing things. You see some -- some divers down there. But this is in Maldives.
NGUYEN: (INAUDIBLE)
HOLMES: Yes, this is an island nation southwest of Sri Lanka. Yes, they are trying to hold a meeting. These are officials having an actual cabinet meeting underwater.
Now, the point of this whole thing is not just that they're avid divers or something. They're trying to attract international attention to the threat of global warming.
NGUYEN: Uh huh.
HOLMES: So it was 13 of them, also the country's president, they all donned (INAUDIBLE) scuba gear. They used hand signals...
NGUYEN: I was about to say, how do they hear each other -- yes.
HOLMES: They used hand signals to communicate. They met at the table on the seafloor that you see there. This was 20 feet below the surface. I have no idea how productive this meeting might have been.
NGUYEN: Or how long it took.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: Oh, five minutes, we're done. Raise your hand if you agree. Yes, we're (INAUDIBLE).
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Interesting way to do it. Maybe not a lot of arguments probably underwater.
NGUYEN: But you know what? Hey, it made CNN, right?
HOLMES: And, you know, we...
NGUYEN: So there you go. It's getting a little attention.
HOLMES: ...attract the attention. Well...
NGUYEN: Absolutely. And that was the point of it.
HOLMES: All right.
Well, the president -- don't think he's holding any meetings underwater, I don't believe.
NGUYEN: Not yet.
HOLMES: We're talking about health-care reform, Social Security, budget deficit -- the Oval Office has plenty of money issues to deal with these days.
NGUYEN: Yes. But as CNN deputy director Paul Steinhauser tells us, the president and vice president also busy stocking their party's war chest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, Betty, T.J.
I guess you can call Barack Obama and Joe Biden "the party guys." They're not only president and vice president of the United States, they're also the leaders of their political party. And in that role, they've been very busy lately helping out fellow Democrats.
Let's start with the top guy. President Obama, he headlined a major fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee out in San Francisco on Thursday. He's the main attraction at a similar fundraiser for the party this upcoming Tuesday in New York City.
Mr. Obama's also heading back out on the campaign trail this Wednesday to lend a helping hand to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, whose fighting for re-election. New Jersey voters go to the polls on November 3.
Vice President Biden's just as busy. He's up in New Jersey on Monday campaigning with Corzine. Yesterday, he was in Nevada, helping Harry Reid bring in the bucks. The Senate Majority Leader faces a very tough re-election next year.
And Mr. Biden was the main attraction at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Minnesota on Thursday. Hours earlier, he was in Missouri, helping the Democratic candidate for the Senate there bring in the cash.
Now, if this sounds surprising, it isn't. Besides running the country, presidents and vice presidents have a long history of also doing whatever they can to help out their own party. And even though they're no on the ballot this year or next year, Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden still have a lot on the line -- Betty, T.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: So tomorrow at 9 a.m., a rare interview with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel. John King talks to him about health care, the economy, foreign policy and so much more on "STATE OF THE UNION," Sunday, 9 a.m. Eastern, only on CNN.
HOLMES: All right. Over here with Reynolds Wolf.
Must be something going on. You're a busy man over here this morning. Good morning to you.
WOLF: Good morning.
HOLMES: I know we're going to be talking about this hurricane in a second. We got some video here to show off some snow.
WOLF: Oh yes.
HOLMES: Let's take this video if we can, please. Six inches of snow. Six inches -- Pennsylvania. More today. How bad is it going to get up there?
WOLF: Well, I'll tell you what -- I mean, it's gotten to the -- to the point that for the game today up in Happy Valley, we're talking the Penn State game, there are some major issues in terms of snow. I mean, this time of the year, we're expecting partly cloudy skies. Not going to be the case today.
You'll notice that they have banned tailgating in a few spots.
HOLMES: You can't do that.
(CROSSTALK) HOLMES: Who gets to make that call?
WOLF: I don't know who makes that call, but it's like the Earth stops spinning. I mean, you know, when you -- when you don't have the regular college routine you have this time of the year...
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE)
WOLF: ...you get the snow coming down, it's just kind of odd. So -- but yes, it should be pretty interesting. The snow they've had up there may continue, but it looks like most of today is going to be in the highest elevations from about 1,500 feet and higher. Everything in the Valley is going to be mostly rain, so not quite as bad today.
HOLMES: And it's a bit cold in some places right about now.
WOLF: It is -- yes, part of the nation...
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE). Yes.
WOLF: ...much cooler than what you'd expect. Other places warming up a little bit. We're going to show you both coming up.
HOLMES: Right.
WOLF: But one thing that's heating up, the tropics. We're going to show you that in mere moments.
And what we're going to show you is Hurricane Rick, which is now a major hurricane, winds of 115 miles per hour at this time. Some gusts have been stronger, going up to 114 miles per hour, moving west northwest at 12.
And just to give you an idea of where this thing is headed, we're going to give you the latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center that shows the storm marching its way to the west northwest, increasing in strength, too, to a Category 4 storm, and then weakening as it makes that turn to the north, possibly making landfall in the Baja as a minimal hurricane, Category 1, as we get into Thursday.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: All right. We have some incredible video: A baby in its carriage hit by a train. Look at this.
HOLMES: You see it rolling onto the tracks, and -- wow. We will tell you what happened. You've got to see the video. We'll let you know though, the child is OK. We'll tell you exactly how that happened.
Also, we'll be talking about one superstar that I had a chance to talk to. You know her for her music, her 12 Grammys. But Alicia Keys wants to be known for something else: her message to you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KEYS: I believe that the world does want to find a way to utilize themselves. You know, everybody wants to know how they can help another person, you know? But how? And where? And what do I do and how should I do it?
So if someone can tell you how, then you -- you want to -- you want to step up to the plate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC, ALICIA KEYS, "KARMA")
HOLMES: Alicia Keys, the song, "Karma." That was from her first album, "Songs in A Minor" that was released some eight years ago now. The world really has watched her grow up in a lot of ways right before our eyes.
And we know her -- know so much about her because of her music. This morning though, we're going to show you another side to Alicia Keys, one that's about saving lives in Africa.
This is not about the numbers; she doesn't want to talk about statistics. It's a story about people.
I caught up with this 12-time Grammy Award-winning singer in New York, and talked about her charity, Keep a Child Alive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEYS: It's crazy when you think about it, how you can change the lives of people forever for the price of a pair of shoes.
HOLMES (voice-over): Alicia Keys didn't set out to do humanitarian work in Africa. In a way, Africa came to her.
It was 2002. Her first album was climbing the charts. She won Grammys for "best new artist" and "song of the year." But she never expected an invitation to perform in Africa.
KEYS: I was wowed that people that far away would know my music.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SINGING)
HOLMES: Maybe she knew that 40 percent of the population there was infected with HIV AIDS. But those numbers didn't really hit home until she came face to face with the people there.
KEYS: And I started to meet kids my age and younger who were personally dealing with it, lost their parents, watched their parents die, then had to raise their younger brothers and sisters. If they're 14, and they're raising their 7- and 6-year-old brother and sister.
HOLMES: The people she met changed her life.
(SINGING)
HOLMES: And ever since, this 12-time Grammy Award-winning singer has been working to change theirs.
KEYS: All they kept saying when I was leaving, "Don't forget us. Please don't forget us."
HOLMES: Within a year, Keys co-founded the Keep A Child Alive organization, with filmmaker and activist Lee Blake. Their mission is to build clinics and provide kids and their families with medicine that will save their lives.
KEYS: Picture your brother. Picture your mother. Picture your daughter. Picture your son. And picture them suffering greatly. You would not tolerate it. You wouldn't. You would say, 'Whatever I have to do to change that, I'm going to do it.'
HOLMES: On December 1, World AIDS Day, Alicia Keys will release her fourth CD, "The Element of Freedom." She says it'll show a different side of Alicia Keys.
KEYS: I'm renewed and I'm reborn. So you will feel a different side of me, definitely. A freer side of me, a more confident side of me, a stronger side of me.
HOLMES: The first single, "Doesn't Mean Anything," is already out. She performed it for the first time live this week.
(SINGING)
HOLMES (on camera): Everybody knows about what you do behind the piano. But what do you want to be known for, maybe years down the road?
KEYS: I want to be known as an incredible global citizen, and a person who has made their mark in -- in -- an inspiring, positive way.
I'll tell you one thing, they going to make it through. And they're going to have something serious to say. They're going to change the world. We're going to change the world. (INAUDIBLE).
This is my generation. We about to do something really good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE) -- she was -- caught up with her in New York during the Clinton Global Initiative, her organization part of the CGI up there.
NGUYEN: Mm-hmm.
HOLMES: And she was -- and I asked the question, I said -- you know, just what does it bring to an organization or a cause when somebody like you gets involved?
And you know, I didn't mean any offense by it. She stopped me quickly -- "This ain't that kind of party; I don't just put my name on this."
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: She lets you know quickly, she was a part of founding this, and she very much is a part of it from Day 1, and day in, day out, a part of it. They're trying to expand to India now. She said that's just a natural progression now.
NGUYEN: There's such a need in India as well.
HOLMES: That's -- that's exactly what she said.
NGUYEN: And the beauty of it -- and you could see it, you could the passion there, when she says, 'This is my generation, and we're going to do something big.'
HOLMES: Mm-hmm.
NGUYEN: I mean, I -- I think when someone wants to do something to help others like that, and it comes from the heart, you really feel that spirit.
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE).
NGUYEN: It's not about my name added to something.
HOLMES: Not at all.
NGUYEN: It's not about getting any kind of recognition. It's about making a difference.
HOLMES: Absolutely. She had the -- the big ball to celebrate, the Keep A Child Alive big banquet on Thursday, star-studded affair, raised a lot of money there. So the work continues.
Her album is coming out on -- later this year. But she said we're going to see a different side to her this time around.
NGUYEN: I love it though. It's a good side, too.
HOLMES: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Not that there are any of the bad ones that we've seen as of yet.
HOLMES: Yes, not saying that.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: But this is a beautiful one, no doubt.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Well, we're going to talk about something that have a lot of people have had on their minds: the country actually moving one step closer to health-care reform this week. But still a lot of hurdles ahead.
HOLMES: Yes, our Josh Levs has found a way to break this down via "Schoolhouse Rock."
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: Josh, good morning.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
You guys remember "Schoolhouse Rock," right?
HOLMES: Of course.
NGUYEN: Sure.
LEVS: Come on, we love "Schoolhouse Rock."
So here's the thing: There's a handful of very specific steps between where we are today and an actual bill reaching the president's desk. So we are going to show you, with the help of some of our own cartoons.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: A couple of the top stories we are checking right now, and news we are just getting in to us of another three U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan. We're getting a release from the military officials there that says that two of these U.S. service members were killed by an IED in eastern Afghanistan. This just happened yesterday.
Another service member killed in a different IED attack in the southern part of the country, happened on the same day.
So again, three U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan. All three, in two different incidents, involving IEDs.
NGUYEN: Well, want to get the latest now on the H1N1 vaccine. In fact, fewer doses of that flu vaccine will be ready this month than health officials originally thought would be ready. That is because of manufacturing delays.
Doctor's offices and clinics -- well, they're expected to receive at most about 30 million doses this month. Well, instead, they're -- that's what they're expecting, instead of the 40 million-plus that they were promised. So definitely not getting as much as they were hoping to at this point.
HOLMES: Want to take a look here at the president on a stage. Nothing new there. But hey, he's been greeted on that stage by a former president, the former President Bush there.
What was happening here was that the president was attending a form at Texas A&M University. He was invited there by the former President George H.W. Bush.
In a speech, the Mr. President -- Mr. Obama, that the government can only do so much without the help from volunteers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK," "ONLY A BILL")
NGUYEN: I used to love that. You remember that in school?
HOLMES: You know what? I do remember that. But when they were singing, and when we were in school, "Only a Bill" -- it wasn't the Baucus bill.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: No.
HOLMES: And it wasn't a health-care bill, all right?
NGUYEN: It was not.
HOLMES: It sounds simple.
NGUYEN: But -- but maybe we could use a little bit of that to help break down the Baucus bill, you know?
HOLMES: I would love it. This...
NGUYEN: Because the question is, what's next with that thing?
HOLMES: What's next? Went up for a vote, as we know, on Tuesday, coming out of committee. But now, everybody's all excited about this one. So now what do we do? We just -- we wait.
NGUYEN: Yes.
Our Josh Levs, though, explains the next stages, "Schoolhouse Rock"-style.
All right. Break it down.
LEVS: Guys, if it were only as simple as it was back in those days, it would be so good, wouldn't it?
I'm about to show you the steps that there actually are between where things are today and if there were to be a piece of legislation to -- to make it to the president's desk.
Let's put the pictures in here, and we're going to trace you through these one by one.
So this is the first thing. This is what happens. So you have this bill that came out of the Senate Finance Committee. Now, let's go to the next one, because what we're going to show now, is where the bills actually go from here. You actually have two different Senate committees. And what they need to do now is get together and merge them together into this next screen. And if they can merge them, then it goes all the way to the Senate.
Meanwhile, we're going to clear out these pictures. We're going to go over to the House right now. Because in the House, you also have a similar process going on. You have three different committees in the House. They need to merge what they're doing into one bill right here. And if they can do that, then that goes to the House. So that in and of itself is a bunch of work.
Then on top of that, there's one more thing -- check this out. What has to happen after that, if the House and the Senate can come up with everything, is a House and Senate committee then get together, take the two bills that they have managed to come up with, they smush them all together into one bill. That then has to be passed by the House and the Senate, which ultimately makes it to the White House.
So short version here, you got a merger, a vote, another merger, another merger, another vote and another vote. And Betty and T.J., if we can go through that incredibly long process, then ultimately, at the end of this whole thing, we will have a bill for the president to sign.
But obviously, you know, it's -- it's great that there was a step this week for those who are pushing for this reform, but they have to recognize that there's a lot of hurdles yet ahead of them.
NGUYEN: Oh definitely. And I know that we will be watching it every step of the way, and you'll be breaking it down. You going to follow it on your little chart as it goes through?
LEVS: Yes, we'll get some more cute little pictures like that, thanks to the folks in graphics.
NGUYEN: OK.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Well, it's a big bill though.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: And one that affects so many people.
All right. You know, this affected one child...
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: ...and its family. But, my goodness, you have got to see this video. Just chilling.
Look at this. OK, so that -- there, the parents, there on the little area waiting for the train. And then pretty soon you're going to see this stroller, it rolls off the platform right there and onto the tracks. Oh, and then the train comes by.
Can you imagine?
HOLMES: Oh my word.
OK. Yes, all kinds of questions here. How do you -- how do you let the stroller get away in the first place?
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: OK, but -- but we're bringing you this story because it has a great ending, a very happy ending compared to what could have happened.
The kid is OK. Would you believe just had a bump on the head? How that's possible I do not know.
NGUYEN: I have no idea.
HOLMES: But it -- I mean, you -- I guess a lot of people take this for granted...
NGUYEN: Look at that.
HOLMES: ...don't even think about these restraints they have, like the little seat belts for these things they have, for the strollers.
NGUYEN: Mm-hmm.
HOLMES: That thing, they say, worked, kept the kid in there, just like in a car...
NGUYEN: Right.
HOLMES: ...would keep you in, keep you from getting tossed out of it. That worked. The kid got a bump on the head, and it's all good.
NGUYEN: Can you imagine the fear though...
HOLMES: To see that.
NGUYEN: Yes, to see the -- the stroller just roll onto the tracks.
HOLMES: How did it get away?
NGUYEN: And then, boom, the train comes. Well, then -- and if you look at the video, when the train comes, it grabs a piece of the stroller, and it almost just gets -- like, right there on that little edge right there, you think it would just ....
HOLMES: It gets dragged there.
NGUYEN: ...you know, drag it down. But the baby is OK.
HOLMES: The baby's OK.
NGUYEN: Thank goodness.
HOLMES: All right. Happy ending there.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: Not so much of a happy ending in Louisiana. I couldn't believe this story when we all read, heard about it.
NGUYEN: That's right.
HOLMES: And you're outraged about this morning.
Would you believe a justice of the peace is refusing to marry interracial couples? He has his reasons. We'll explain them in a second, and...
NGUYEN: And it's not the first time that he...
HOLMES: No.
NGUYEN: ...has denied a marriage license.
HOLMES: It's kind of his policy.
NGUYEN: Mm-hmm.
HOLMES: So he has his reasons. We'll explain them. And some people think they're reasons he should be fired as well.
Send us your thoughts, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, blog, you know how to find us by now. We're getting in on this story in just a second.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Look at this beautiful picture right here. Live tower camera of Bay Bridge in California. Complements of our affiliate KGO. You know today is the 20th anniversary of the Bay Area earthquake. Back in 1989, an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. It actually killed 63 people, causing $6 billion worth of damage. But, look at it today. The bridge, a beautiful sight.
HOLMES: People don't realize -- at the time -- we focus so much on San Francisco and Oakland because of the World Series was going on. Ya'll remember we saw that on TV.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: But it shook the entire Bay Area from in the bay to down to Santa Cruz, just the whole area. That bridge right there could have been a lot worse. It was during rush hour when the thing hit, around 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Because of the World Series there, being played between the local teams, Oakland and San Francisco. Everybody stayed home, everybody was off the road at the time. NGUYEN: Which was a relief considering what could have been done, because of all that damage.
HOLMES: A blessing, a blessing.
NGUYEN: Hey, everybody, welcome back. It's 6:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 3:30 -- I should say 6:30, here in Atlanta, 3:30 in San Francisco.
HOLMES: Hello, everybody. I'm T.J. Holmes, or the time keeper. Thanks for starting your day right here with us.
NGUYEN: Time to check some of the top stories for you this morning. We have some unfortunate news to tell you. Three U.S. service members were killed in militant attacks in Afghanistan. A statement from the international security force says two were killed in a roadside bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan. The other was hit by an explosion in southern Afghanistan.
HOLMES: A delay in holding elections in Iraq. That is not going to affect the scheduled withdrawal of forces. The Pentagon plans to pull all combat troops out by August. Now that would leave 50,000 still there in advisory roles. Those would then leave by 2011. The U.S. ambassador to Iraq says the Iraqi parliament must come up with a new election law in order to hold those elections by mid-January.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS HILL, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: First of all, the parliament has been very busy this week. They have been working rather hard on it. From the embassy, we had a number of people over there talking to the various parties and various factions. So, they have a draft. They have worked through some of the tough issues. There are a couple of tough issues on it. So their hope is to get this done.
Would we like them to kind of get this over with early, rather than late? We would. But sometimes this country there is a tendency to do things at the last minute. So, we'll see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: If you are working through your own debt, which a lot of people are, take a listen to this. The White House says we have a $1.42 trillion -- trillion -- deficit. It makes this fiscal year the worst since World War II.
Also this to tell you about: About 20, 000 Pakistani troops are on the move right now. Headed into a major Taliban stronghold. CNN International Correspondent Reza Sayah joins me now live from Islamabad, Pakistan.
All right, Reza, what prompted this latest offensive?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, this is arguably the most important battle here in Pakistan against the Taliban. It has everything to do with this particular region, where this offensive is happening, South Waziristan.
There is a consensus, not just among Pakistani officials, but among U.S. officials, that this is the hub, the epicenter, the headquarters of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. They most hardened militants are in this region. Analysts say if they want to plot and plan suicide attacks, and guerilla attacks, they do it here. If they want to hide and train, they do it here.
And of course, on several occasions, you have had senior Obama officials in the Obama administration called South Waziristan the epicenter of jihad. They say many of the attacks taking place across the border, in Afghanistan, are being launched from South Waziristan.
So, that kind of puts in perspective the importance of the region; as you mentioned, 28,000 troops moving into South Waziristan earlier today. They will be taking on up to 15,000 militants. They are certainly outnumbered, but make no mistake, say analysts, they are not at a disadvantage; because these militants know this very severe and mountainous terrain well and they plan to use it to their advantage.
Of course, with these troops moving in, that means tens of thousands of refugees have been leaving the battle zone. According to the U.N.'s refugee agency, 80,000 individuals have already registered for aid relief. They expect another 24,000 to do so. That poses, of course, another challenge for the government for what is a defining moment for them. This is the mother of all battles, according to some officials, against the Taliban, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. So, the U.S. doesn't have troops on the ground, per se, in Pakistan. But how is it playing any other role in this offensive, or is it?
SAYAH: Yes, they are. Of course, they don't have troops, but for a long time now, they have been training Pakistani troops and supplying them. Another strategy they have been using over the past year are these U.S. drone strikes. There have been dozens of them for the past year.
Of course, there was on August 5 that a drone strike killed former Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. Those drone strikes have been quiet for the past couple of weeks. So, it will be interesting to see if they start back up again, in conjunction with this ground offensive, Betty.
NGUYEN: What are the consequences if Pakistan isn't successful in this offensive?
SAYAH: Well, analysts say they just simply cannot afford to lose this battle. They have gone into South Waziristan, the same region, three times previously since 2001. All three times they have flopped. The Pakistani military insists this time things will be different. But it will be a huge setback if they are not successful.
Of course, this ground offensive comes after a two week wave of militant attacks. The Taliban making a bold statement that they are here, that they are a formidable enemy. Analysts say the Pakistani government must make a strong stand. They say this is a defining moment for them. It's important for them to be successful, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. Reza Sayah, joining us live, breaking it down for us today as we continue to watch this offensive. Thank you, Reza.
HOLMES: Well, a vote of confidence in Pakistan from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Earlier this year, she said Pakistan was in danger of falling to terrorists. But, Secretary Clinton tells our Jill Dougherty that the recent offensives there against militants have changed her mind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm very impressed with the commitment that the Pakistani government, both the civilian leadership and the military have made. When I said what I said, some months ago, there was not the full commitment of going after those who were threatening territory and authority inside Pakistan. There is now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Clinton also recently said she's not worried that Pakistan's nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of extremists.
All right. You want to take this next one?
NGUYEN: Boy, is this a story, folks? All right. Where do we begin?
HOLMES: Please, yeah.
NGUYEN: Civil rights advocates in Louisiana calling for a white justice of the peace to step down because he refused to issue a marriage license to a black man wanting to marry a white woman.
HOLMES: Yes, the groom is the black guy, the bride is the white lady. They have gotten married.
NGUYEN: Right.
HOLMES: They went elsewhere. But the original justice of the peace, his name is Keith Bardwell, he told a local newspaper -- you see the bride there. But he told a local newspaper that he's concerned about children of mixed marriages, if this couple was to go on and have kids.
NGUYEN: Yeah. He told the paper that most interracial marriages do not last. OK. Let's talk to the groom for a second, shall we?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERENCE MCKAY, GROOM: He's saying 99 percent of it wind up in divorce. But, how many people get married and wind up in divorce, white or black?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So, Justice of the Peace Bardwell says he's not a racist, telling the Associated Press that, quote, he has piles of black friends. They come to his home and even use his bathroom. His words.
HOLMES: "Piles", he did say "piles".
NGUYEN: That's what he said, "piles".
HOLMES: Put that in quotes, because he actually said he has "a pile of black people" in his friend circle.
The bride wants him to lose his job. A lot of people do right now, including a lot of state officials around Louisiana. Last night, the bride, she was on "AC 360." Asked her why more people didn't complain. Again, this is not the first time he's done this.
NGUYEN: He's denied marriage licenses before.
HOLMES: This is almost a standing policy here, folks. This was her answer to why more in the past haven't complained before now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: It's incredible to think this guy has been doing this for more than 30 years. How many couples -- there's no way of knowing but there must be many couples who he has turned away.
BETH MCKAY, BRIDE DENIED MARRIAGE LICENSE OVER RACE: I'm sure there has. I'm sure that people didn't go to him because they knew that he didn't do it. Which, which it's so unfair because he's projecting to the community that this is something that's not acceptable, that this is inappropriate. And in turn that makes people feel that it is. It is inappropriate to date or marry interracially.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: What's going on in Louisiana? Thirty years he's been getting away with this, apparently. You can catch Anderson Cooper 10:00 o'clock, Eastern Time, weeknights here on CNN. Just leaves you scratching your head. How could he be getting away with this for 30 years? He makes it sound, like, well, of course, I don't. Like this is just standing policy. It's a constitutional issue, no doubt, a clear violation of the Constitution, clear stupidity.
NGUYEN: But according to him it is his standard operating procedure.
HOLMES: It's what he does.
NGUYEN: So, a lot of you have had a lot to say about this story. And we want to know what you think. So, weigh in this morning. Let us know what you think about this justice of peace who will continue to deny mixed couples the ability to get married.
We were on Facebook, we're on Twitter, you can leave a comment on our blog. Many ways to reach out to us. Hey, let us know what you think, either side of the issue. We want to hear from you this morning and we'll be reading those responses on the air.
HOLMES: We're getting some, so far. We are reading them. We're going to share them here, don't worry.
NGUYEN: Pretty good, too.
HOLMES: A lot of them, already this morning.
We'll turn back to health care, here for a second. Health care seems simple and sane compared to that story, really. But some progress, some people say, we just saw this week, on health care. Now, we have some new reaction from the president about it that we are just getting this morning. You will hear it for the first time, here.
NGUYEN: Also, sent Reynolds Wolf to taste all things fried at the state fair in Texas. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF: All right. Here is corn dog shrimp. Let's try this one out.
(LAUGHTER)
WOLF: I'm going to be awhile. We'll move on to the next one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: I take it he didn't like it. Reynolds did move on to, of all things, fried butter. Mmm, doesn't that sound good in the morning? We'll have the latest. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WOLF: It's terrifying to watch that, but we have some things that are not so terrifying. And that would be some of the great events we have taking place around the nation this weekend.
NGUYEN: All right.
HOLMES: These are pretty good this weekend.
WOLF: They are pretty good. The first one may be kind of spooky. We're talking about the Scream Fest in Los Angeles. It's a major horror film festival.
NGUYEN: That's cool.
WOLF: It is kind of cool. What is even more cool, is a little bit up the coast, you got to Treasure Island Music Festival, in San Francisco. They feature the Flaming Lips, as a guest. NGUYEN: MGM T.
WOLF: That's right. (INAUDIBLE) will be playing today.
A little further down the coast, in Beverly Hills, Barbra Streisand, Babs, she has an auction, more than 500 items for sale.
NGUYEN: Really?
WOLF: Yeah.
NGUYEN: Like what, exactly?
WOLF: You know, I like Barbara Streisand, but a little bit -- buying her stuff , not so much.
NGUYEN: Oh, come on.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Holiday season is around the corner. Why not?
WOLF: I'll just pass on that one.
NGUYEN: OK.
WOLF: But at the Arizona State Fair we have the Phoenix Woolly Worm Festival.
NGUYEN: What is that?
WOLF: It's a great event. The Woolly Worm is little bug that they have. They actually have races that are going to be held there in Banner Elk, North Carolina.
HOLMES: Worms racing?
WOLF: Worms racing. I'll tell you something else that is going to be racing today. It's going to be the Long Horns and the Sooners.
NGUYEN: Yeah.
WOLF: The big game is going to be colorful (ph).
NGUYEN: Hook'em!
WOLF: Yeah, I know. And the cool thing about that, if you never had the opportunity to go there, it takes place at the Texas State Fairgrounds. There's so many great things to see, but there are also some great things to eat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF (On camera): You know, at first glance, this could be any fair in America. Sure, there are a few things that are going to set it apart. I mean, you've got Big Tex and you've got the Cotton Bowl. But the thing that really makes it different is the unusual fried food that you are going to find here, at this fair.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shrimp corn dog, here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Outstanding.
WOLF: What is actually in this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's actually three prawn, dipped in a special batter. Once we deep fry it we put a glaze, an apricot Jalapeno glaze on it.
WOLF: Wow. All right. Here is corn dog shrimp. Let's try this one out. I'm going to be awhile. We'll move on to the next one.
The next one is called Deep Fried Peaches & Cream. Let's give it a shot. This is the peaches, that is the cream, these are other peaches that are not fried. Let's give this a go through. We're going to do it this way.
Wow. Awesome. All right.
Next on the list, we have the Texas Fried Pecan Pie. Take a look at this. Urgh, urgh, oh, forget it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got an almost winner over here.
WOLF: What are you guys eating?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fried bacon.
WOLF: OK, this is fried pork -- you first. How do you like it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great.
WOLF: It's awesome. Bad day for a pig.
Now, the objective here is to eat just about anything their offer me in terms of food, that happens to be fried. So, I eat all that stuff, but when it comes to these things, I think I'm going to have to pass.
Next up, we have fried butter. That's right, fried butter. Hard to believe you have the two together. Let's give it a shot.
Have you been on this ride before?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I haven't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have.
WOLF: Ever see anyone throw up on a ride?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. WOLF: All right. Here we go. This is the last one on the list. Thank you so much. Take a look. All right. Got them all done. The last one, the Twisted Yam on a Stick and boom. Let's give this guy a shot.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It looks wonderful.
WHITFIELD: Hmm -- it's good. I'm going for a nap. Bye, bye.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: I mean it really was good food. It was a great thing. But, I have to tell you, the next morning I cut myself shaving and my blood came out like peanut butter. This comes from a guy whose astrological sign is extra crispy. My blood type is Ragu. So, I love eating that kind of stuff.
NGUYEN: Didn't you feel sick, though, after eating all of that?
WOLF: It was revolting. That last thing I ate, that potato thing was awful. Don't get me wrong, the food was good. But if you look at it from this viewpoint ...
NGUYEN: You just had so much of it.
WOLF: But after eating that much, as I told T.J., they could have handed me a wad of newspaper, and it would have tasted the same way. It really would.
HOLMES: Are any of these premiered at this fair? They come up with something new every year?
WOLF: Yeah. They try to ...
NGUYEN: I had not heard of the butter until this year.
WOLF: You see, that's the one that is a little bit freaky. It was actually pretty good. But some of it is just kind of a novelty. If they could find a way to fry a doorknob, it probably would have showed up on the menu somewhere.
NGUYEN: And you probably would have eaten it.
WOLF: Yes, pretty much. If it was fried, breaded, it's gone.
NGUYEN: It's on your plate. All right. Well, hey, you know, you're a trooper, I tell you. Sharks last week, all the fried food this week.
WOLF: I do it for you guys.
HOLMES: Suit still fits?
WOLF: Amazingly enough.
NGUYEN: You need a check up, I think. Make sure you are still healthy.
WOLF: I've got to call Sanjay.
NGUYEN: I'm afraid to ask what your next assignment is. Thanks, Reynolds.
So, the face of the U.S. population changing, and soon the minorities will be the majority.
HOLMES: Yes, reports show that the Latino population will triple by 2050. Still to come, one man's quest for the American dream and it starts with mastering English.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A beautiful shot this morning. Good morning, New York. Good morning, America. All the other places around the world that are watching this morning. Thanks for joining us.
HOLMES: The Latinos, we're talking about here now. Minority population here in this country, the one that is expected to nearly triple by the year 2050.
NGUYEN: Yes, and next week CNN takes an in-depth look at how Latinos will likely change this country and how the country changed them. Part of that special, Soledad O'Brien's compelling story of a Puerto Rican man, who is pursuing the American dream and facing significant challenges along the way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Repeat after me, logs used as wheels.
CARLOS ROBLES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDENT: Logs used as wheels.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Carlos Robles seems like the typical American, until he opens his mouth.
ROBLES: A horse drawn chariot.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chariot.
ROBLES: Chariot.
O'BRIEN: This 29-year-old is taking English pronunciation classes at Valencia Community College in Orlando. He's hoping to reduce his Spanish accent.
(On camera): When you came to Orlando, how did you think your English was?
ROBLES: Worse. Really worse.
O'BRIEN: Did you feel -- did know you couldn't speak English well?
ROBLES: Yeah. I also cried in my bed because I couldn't have a conversation with the peoples. It was really bad.
This place is like two minutes.
O'BRIEN: Carlos was born in Puerto Rico, an American territory, whose residents are U.S. citizens. Spanish is the main language.
ROBLES: It's hard to understand the English.
O'BRIEN: In Puerto Rico he was a decorated police officer. Now, he dreams of job in Florida law enforcement. But first, he has to pass the sheriff's exam.
ROBLES: I failed the first one. But I don't think it's so hard, the test, I can do it. Really I can.
O'BRIEN (On camera): Would knowing English better help you on the exam?
ROBLES: Yeah.
O'BRIEN: Academy requirements, criminal justice chain of command, officer safety and response, community relations, intervention services. This looks hard. How many questions is it, over how long?
ROBLES: It's 250, in four hours.
O'BRIEN: Uh-huh.
ROBLES: I go in more comfortable for the test now.
O'BRIEN: This time?
ROBLES: A little nervous, but I think I'm ready.
O'BRIEN: When is the test?
ROBLES: Next week.
O'BRIEN: You have a lot of pressure on you. And, basically, a week to go.
ROBLES: That's right. But I have to go forward.
O'BRIEN (voice over): Adding to that pressure, fatherhood. Carlos met Kayla (ph) a year ago. Now, they are engaged and expecting a baby. Carlos Robles is unemployed, uninsured, and still struggling with his English. His future, and now his family's future, is in his hands.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: We are just four days away from "Latino in America", which is a comprehensive look at how Latinos are changing America. CNN's two-night event takes place Wednesday and Thursday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. It will also be simulcast in Spanish on CNN Espanol. HOLMES: Well, the U.S. military focus has been to fight terrorist groups in Afghanistan. But there's been, now, daily chaos in Pakistan. That's coming up at the top of the hour here, on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Hello, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING for October 17th. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. It's 7:00 a.m. in Atlanta, 4:00 a.m. in Seattle. Early I wouldn't even say brighten early, it's not even bright at that time.
HOLMES: Darker.
NGUYEN: But thanks for starting your day with us.
And, boy, this is no way to start it out, but we got a hurricane on our hands, folks. A category four hurricane, in fact.
HOLMES: This is -- Rick is the name, Hurricane Rick. You can see it churning there, right -- getting real close to Acapulco. They are certainly on edge there, at this point, that resort town.
Our Reynolds Wolf keeping an eye on this thing as well.
Reynolds, we just -- when we started (INAUDIBLE) hurricane three, up to a hurricane four. And really, it could possibly even strengthen up to a five.
WOLF: It's very possible. The good thing about this, let's give you the good news and the bad news.
NGUYEN: OK.
WOLF: The bad news, well, you've already mentioned it. The storm is the strongest on the planet. It's a category four storm. It is expected to weaken a little bit on and off for the last hour or so, fluctuation in power is what we expect.
Now, T.J., you mentioned of it becoming a category five. That's always possible, but the thing is, it's very difficult for these storms to maintain that kind of power.
Now, what the storm is expected to do is actually remain off the coast of Mexico and the coast of Acapulco, although they're going to have some heavy surf.
But the latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center brings the storm a bit more to the west, fluctuating a bit, you'll notice category four, category four, but as T.J. mentioned, it could actually pop to a cat five and then drop back. It is expected to curve back towards the Baja of Mexico. However, as it just in the cooler water, it's also going to interact with very strong upper level winds called sheer which is going to cause the storm to weaken a bit.
So, good news, it is not going to be affecting land until we get into Thursday. And as this does so, we can considerably, possibly even as a tropical storm by the time it makes land fall, if it makes land fall. It can happen between now and early next week.
That is the latest in the forecast. We got a lot more coming up to share with you. Plus, a major cooldown in parts of country, and a warm-up in a few other spots.
Let's send it back to you.
NGUYEN: Yes. We're kind of feeling that major cooldown right here in Atlanta.
WOLF: Yes, no question.
NGUYEN: Chilly this morning. OK. Thank you, Reynolds.
HOLMES: Thanks, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
NGUYEN: All right. So, another top story that we are working on for you this morning: Pakistani troops -- they are on the move against thousands of militants at this hour. This, after two bloody weeks of militant attacks.
Now, Pakistan today launched an assault on the Taliban and al Qaeda. Civilians have been fleeing ahead of today's offensive. Army and intelligent sources say 28,000 troops are involved.
Now, the assault is aimed at militants in South Waziristan, along the Afghan border. And it comes after terrorist attacks that killed more than 175 people.
Although terrorist attacks have put Pakistan on edge, as you can imagine, and Washington also very concerned, because Pakistan has nuclear weapons.
HOLMES: Yes. And our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, tells us there are questions over Pakistan's ability to deal with this growing militancy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: The nearly daily chaos is raising more questions about the ability of Pakistan's security forces to maintain control. The last two weeks of attacks are largely the work of an increasingly powerful Taliban organization. It's all impacting the White House discussion about how to proceed with the war.
BRUCE RIEDEL, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: One should have no doubt about the relationship between al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban. STARR: Experts say, as the White House struggles to decide whether the priority is fighting al Qaeda or the Taliban, it must first understand its facing a web of interconnected networks in Pakistan.
JOHN NAGL, PRES., CENTER FOR A NEW AMERICAN SECURITY: It's impossible, I think, to separate the Taliban in Afghanistan from the Taliban in Pakistan. They're both gaining strength and they present a real threat to the security of this entire region, this nuclear-armed region. So, it's enormously worrying.
STARR: Remember, Mullah Omar, the one-eyed Taliban leader who fled the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan for Pakistan? He's back, big time.
RIEDEL: Mullah Omar has presided over one of the most remarkable military recoveries in our time. An organization which was thoroughly defeated and discredited at the end of 2001 is now, in its mind, on the eve of victory.
STARR: Another Taliban faction known as the TTP also growing in strength. One senior U.S. official says recent intelligence suggests the group aims to launch attack beyond Pakistan, perhaps even sending suicide bombers abroad.
The Taliban factions are benefiting from al Qaeda's inability to launch significant attacks. Financial backers are seeing the surging Taliban and an al Qaeda on the run.
RIEDEL: Donors, particularly those rich donors in the Persian Gulf states have been sending their money to those who have been successful in the business of terrorism.
STARR (on camera): Why is this so important? Well, of course, Pakistan is a nuclear power and the surging Taliban appears to have the goal of destabilizing the government there, if not outright overthrowing it.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The Senate and the House both are working to merge versions of their health care reform bills. President Obama meanwhile is sounding kind of confident and kind of cautious about the progress so far in his weekly address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For the first time ever, all five committees in Congress responsible for health care reform have passed a version of legislation. As I speak to you today, we are closer to reforming the health care system than we have ever been in history.
But this is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. This is not the time to grow complacent. There are still significant details and agreements to be worked out in the coming weeks. And there are still those who would try to kill reform at any cost.
The history is clear: For decades, rising health care costs have unleashed havoc on families, businesses and the economy. And for decades, whenever we have tried to reform the system, the insurance companies have done everything in their considerable power to stop us.
We know that this inaction has carried a terrible toll. In the past decade, premiums have doubled. Over the past few years, total out-of-pocket costs for people with insurance rose by a third. And we know that if we do not reform the system, this will only be a preview of coming attractions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And the House has three versions of health care reform bill to try to merge. The Senate has two to try to merge. And once they all merge theirs, they try to merge one together.
All right. With a version passed by the Senate Finance Committee this week, that's the only one that doesn't have the so-called public option.
And in this week's GOP address, Texas Congressman Kevin Brady explains, once again, why the GOP could not stand for such a program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. KEVIN BRADY (R), TEXAS: The massive health care plans being crafted behind closed doors in Washington will ultimately allow the government to decide what doctors we can see, what treatments the government thinks you deserve, and what medicines you can receive.
The Democrats' plans are loaded with new federal mandates and higher taxes on insurance plans, treatments and equipment, all which will be passed down to patients. New taxes on professionals and small businesses will drive jobs out of our economy and push more families into a government-run plan.
At a time families and workers want more choice and more options, Democrats in Washington are bent on trading a one-size-fits-all plan that Americans can just take or leave. And, by the way, these same Democratic members of Congress are making sure they and their families aren't included in the plan. That should tell you something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, even without the public option, Democrats might have a bit of a problem here. The Senate finance bill only got one Republican vote on the committee. Not sure if it will get any more when it goes to the full Senate.
NGUYEN: All right. Talk about meetings, you know, we have seen a lot of them concerning health care reform, and this and that.
HOLMES: Of course.
NGUYEN: But never one like this. You got to watch this video out of the Maldives, which is an island nation, southwest of Sri Lanka.
Yes, you see the table there. It's like a forum. You got a meeting going on, yet, it's underwater, folks. What the heck is going on here and why? Well, T.J.?
HOLMES: Well -- yes, you leave me to try to explain this one. Well, the point here is that they're just trying to draw attention, which they have because we're paying attention, but to global warming, an issue they are very much into.
But they're only about 20 feet underwater there. They have a table. You are probably wondering well how in the world are they communicating.
NGUYEN: They're communicating, yes.
HOLMES: Well, just like that. They are using hand signs and sign language to try to communicate. I think that means OK. I agree.
NGUYEN: Thumbs up if you agree.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Yes. But, hey, whatever works. It seems like they are signing something down there as well. Hey...
NGUYEN: Underwater pens.
HOLMES: Maybe they should try this up on Capitol Hill on health care reform possibly.
NGUYEN: I don't know.
HOLMES: Try to do whatever and see if it works.
NGUYEN: Do what got to do folks. But hey, apparently, it's gotten some attention. We are airing this story.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: And all of it is to bring attention to global warming. But that's an interesting way to have a meeting. We should do that for our show meetings, just do it all underwater.
HOLMES: We don't go to the meetings, anyway. So...
NGUYEN: Don't tell everybody that.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: There's a reason behind that, though...
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: Scheduling. Anyways, OK.
Many of us are actually getting stung by the housing and credit crisis. But, minorities may be getting the worse of it and it's no accident. There's a new government report out. We're going to explain all of this to you.
HOLMES: Also, trying to explain this one. A justice of the peace refuses to marry interracial couples. He's been doing this for years and years. And now, one couple is taking a stand, and now, he could lose his job.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
NGUYEN: All right. So, according to a new government report, the housing collapse is making it harder for blacks and Hispanics to get any type of mortgage, including refinancing. Now, last year, look at this, blacks were twice as likely to get denied a home loan as whites. The denial rate shows blacks at 36 percent, Hispanics 31 percent, Asians 18 percent while whites are at 13 percent.
Let's break this down. Housing expert Clyde Anderson is here to talk about these numbers. And then, tell us how this not only affects minorities, but, in fact, everyone, no matter what your race.
But hold on. Let's get back to those numbers.
CLYDE ANDERSON, HOUSING EXPERT: Yes.
NGUYEN: Why is it that minorities are being affected most by this?
ANDERSON: Well, you got to look at several factors...
NGUYEN: OK.
ANDERSON: ... when you look at this. Credit is a big piece. You know, I was having this conversation the other day, it's really not a race thing so much as it is a credit education piece and a money piece.
NGUYEN: OK.
ANDERSON: You got to look at those.
NGUYEN: All right. African-Americans and Hispanics are having trouble getting mortgages.
ANDERSON: Yes.
NGUYEN: Is it solely, though, a credit issue or are we seeing a situation where it's making it very difficult for them to qualify? ANDERSON: Well, I think that's the big piece. The credit is a big piece, because when you qualify for a home loan, your credit plays a huge part.
NGUYEN: Right, no doubt.
ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) like a table, you know. And credit is a big piece, one of those legs on the table. If that leg is missing, it's hard for the table to stand. And so, I think that's a big part of it. So -- and also, it's a lack of education.
And so, if you don't have that financial literacy education, you're going to miss...
NGUYEN: Then you can't find a loan.
ANDERSON: You can't find a loan.
NGUYEN: You can't apply for it and qualify most importantly.
ANDERSON: You don't know what you're looking for.
NGUYEN: All right. Wasn't there something in the stimulus package that was supposed to help remedy these situations?
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, they got the Making Home Affordable program. When we talk about that, it definitely helps people when they're looking to refinance and things like that, depending on your situation and where you are. But if you got terrible credit, meaning, where you got late paying (ph) mortgage for 12 months, you got collections, it's going to make it really hard for anybody to help you as far a lender because they're going to look at you as a risk.
NGUYEN: Right. You know, seeing so many people lose their homes, is there a situation that you think we could see additional lawsuits pop up because of all of this?
ANDERSON: Well, yes, I think, definitely. You can definitely see and you're going to see that in anything. But now, the thing is, can they prove it? You know, that's going to be the biggest question.
NGUYEN: And we're talking discrimination lawsuits.
ANDERSON: Discrimination. You know, you got to look at it side- by-side. If you're looking at apples to apples in order to (INAUDIBLE) as credit, my credit the same as someone else or my counterpart, and did I get denied, you know, because of my race and not because I have lower credit score compare to them.
NGUYEN: All right. So, OK, we've been talking minorities and, you say, a lot -- a lot of it has to do with their personal credit situation.
ANDERSON: Right.
NGUYEN: How does it affect everybody? ANDERSON: Well, you got to look at it this way, when we're looking at refinance or we're buying. Let's look at refinance for one. We got a situation where someone has a subprime loan that they, you know, received because maybe they did have lower credit scores. That's really going to affect and it's going to hurt. You're going to see increased residences surrounding foreclosures, more blighted neighborhoods, decreased pool of potential buyers.
You know, if people can't qualify to refinance their home, they're going to probably going to lose those homes. And then, you're going to have more blighted neighborhoods, more inventories sitting on the market. That's going to hurt the market in the end.
NGUYEN: All right. So, what is your advice -- the most important of advice -- to people who want a mortgage, but found it very difficult to get one?
ANDERSON: Really, what you got to look at is the credit.
NGUYEN: Mortgage loans, yes.
ANDERSON: You know, you really got to understand, is the credit the issue? And if the credit is the issue, you got to seek help. You know, look at organizations like CCCS. And get some credit education and find out, you know, what you need to do to build that credit up. A lot of time, it takes 12 months to change the picture of a credit.
So, if you got bad credit, it doesn't mean in 12 months, you have to have bad credit then. Look at leases and other things like that to get all (ph) behind until you're ready to actually to purchase (ph).
NGUYEN: Got you. Clyde Anderson, as always, we appreciate it.
ANDERSON: It's my pleasure, Betty.
NGUYEN: T.J.?
HOLMES: All right, guys. Well, time now to turn over to Josh Levs.
Josh, I'm told you are geeked up about Florence Henderson. Right?
LEVS: I guess so. Yes.
Here's the deal. She has a new role. She's the mom for "Brady Bunch" and she has a new role now. She's teaching grandparents all over the country how to use technology, how to get on webcams, how to hook up on Facebook.
We're going to talk to her, coming right up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, a few of our top stories we want to pass along. News we got this morning that three U.S. service members, three more have been killed in militant attacks in Afghanistan. A statement from the international security force there says two were killed in a roadside attack in eastern Afghanistan, the other was hit by an IED in southern Afghanistan.
NGUYEN: Well, a delay in holding elections in Iraq will not affect the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Pentagon plans to pull all combat troops out by August. And that will leave 50,000 in advisory roles. Now, those troops I will leave by the end of 2011.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq says the Iraqi parliament must come up with a new election law in order to hold elections in mid-January.
HOLMES: Also, it was 20 years ago today, the deadly earthquake shook California's Bay Area. Sixty-three people died as a result of Loma Prieta quake that collapsed buildings and bridges up and down the coast, the northern of California. One of the most iconic pictures is that damaged Bay Bridge.
However, a much prettier sight today. The bridge this morning, some 20 years later -- a new project there. They have been retrofitting that bridge actually. That project is going to make it what some say is earthquake-proof. At least it will be able to stand- up to a very powerful earthquake, certainly, the size of the Loma Prieta in the years to come. Work is still going on, but still, in the next few years, they should have that thing earthquake-proof.
(MUSIC)
LEVS: So. All the latest technology can help you keep in touch with the family, right? But only if you and they know how to use it. And now, someone is here to help, Mrs. Brady, Florence Henderson.
Just take a look this. She's created this new business. She's calling it Floh Club. It's for people who didn't grow up with computers. They take phone calls and they talk you through how to get all hook up.
In the newsroom, I got to speak with her about being tech savvy and the 40th anniversary of the "Brady Bunch."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FLORENCE HENDERSON, ACTRESS-TURNED-TECH TEACHER: That's one of the most exciting things for me, is to be able to video conference because I have a son and his wife and two children living in St. Louis. I have a daughter in Florida and they have to children.
And now, I can actually see them. I have a new granddaughter, just a year old. I can watch her grow and I can talk to them. To me, that is the most exciting thing. And so, I'm encouraging older adults to really stay connected and use your brain.
LEVS: Well, quickly, I got to talk to you about the "Brady Bunch" because it's the 40th anniversary of the "Brady Bunch" -- 40 years. I can't -- 40 years after it was created and we're talking about somebody (ph) that maintained this kind of iconic position in society.
Talk to me quickly, we see some stars come and go, but you -- 35 years after the show, technically...
HENDERSON: Yes.
LEVS: ... and you have stayed out there as an icon. What's your secret? What did you do that no one else figured out?
HENDERSON: You know what, Josh? I think it's because I love what I do. I'm passionate about what I do. I've also kind of felt that my career was my vocation. And I love staying on top of things. That's why I would get so frustrated. That's why I started the Floh Club.
You know, now, I'm cyber mom. But I think I genuinely love to communicate and I love people. And I'm so thrilled to be on CNN, I cannot tell you.
LEVS: Well, listen, thank you so much. Oh, listen, let's show everyone the graphic because I've posted a link to your blog.
HENDERSON: Thank you.
LEVS: To your new business right there. Let's go to that. It said, CNN.com/Josh has it. I've also posted on Facebook and I'm sending it out by Twitter right now.
HENDERSON: Thank you.
LEVS: Florence Henderson, so good to talk to you. Thank you so much.
HENDERSON: Thank you, Josh. You're a doll. I'll see you again soon.
LEVS: Mrs. Brady called me a doll. Wow.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: It's a lot of fun. Now, I'll tell you. You can actually see a lot more from that interview at any of those links we should you. You can also get a link to her business here, FlohClub.com.
And, you know Betty and T.J., this is helping a lot of grandparents out there who have wanted to stay in touch with their grand kids, who don't know how to use these things like webcams and Facebook and Twitter, and, you know, the things younger kids are doing these days. It's a chance for them.
So, fortunately, they are helping people, too.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
HOLMES: All right. No Rush for the St. Louis Rams. Everybody knows that. I think, still...
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: ... they are terrible right now. All right. They have no rushing game. But we're talking about something different this time when I say they don't have any Rush.
NGUYEN: As in Limbaugh.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: OK. But, yes, talking about conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh left out. deemed too controversial for the NFL.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Louisiana. What in the world is going on?
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: A lot of folks there are calling for a justice of the peace -- happens to be white -- they want him out of a job because he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple.
NGUYEN: Yes, the groom, African-American, the bride, white. They have actually gone ahead and gotten married elsewhere.
But the original justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell, told a local newspaper that he is concerned for children that they may have. And he told the paper most interracial marriages do not last. He went on to say this, that he is not a racist, telling the "Associated Press" that he had...
HOLMES: Oh, you got to listen to this first.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes, yes. All right.
HOLMES: Set this one up, Betty.
NGUYEN: Telling the "Associated Press" that he has -- and I'm quoting here, folk -- piles, piles of black friends. They come to his home and they even use his bathroom.
All right. His words. So, we are getting your words this morning. Let's go to my Twitter page just really quickly. Comedycop409 says, "Why is this coming out now? He seems to have done this for years. He should be fired immediately."
And, you know, and truth in reporting here, yes, this is not the first time that he's done this. HOLMES: Apparently, they say, this is his standing policy of some 30 years. So, it's not just this couple. He says he doesn't do this for interracial couples. He actually said that he does this because he's concerned for the children who come from mixed marriages.
I will read from my Shannon on my Facebook page, who gets to that point about mixed children. She says, "I'm concerned, too, about children of mixed couples, because I am one. I mean, who knows, the children couldn't possibly end up as president of the United States. So, we have got to change our stinking thinking. Get it together, people."
Shannon, we appreciate that this morning.
We got a whole lot more we'll be sharing. Continue to send those in. You know where to find us on the blog, also on our Facebook and Twitter pages as well.
NGUYEN: We know you want to speak out against this or -- hey, some of you may be all for it. So, let us know what you think. Much more to come on that.
But right now, we want to take you to "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
