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CNN Saturday Morning News
Congressman's BP Apology Spurs Rebuke, But Also Analysis; Storm Damages Famed Chicago Skyscraper; Soldier Charged for Overweight Duffel Bag; Native South African Offers Guide to Lingo, Foods
Aired June 19, 2010 - 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: Well, hello there, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING for this June the 19th. I'm T.J. Holmes. Glad you're starting your morning right here with us.
It's 6 a.m. where I stand here in Atlanta. It's 5 a.m. in Chicago, where there is a mess going on this morning. You see what I'm talking about there. But in addition to this, hundreds of thousands of people are waking up without power. All of this because of a band of storms that ripped through the area late last night.
You see the trees, things blown around. Some injuries possibly to report as well. The storm even blew out windows at the Willis Tower. That's the formerly Sears Tower in downtown Chicago.
Our Reynolds Wolf is here with us this morning. He's taking a look at this storm and also some storms still on the way. Other places right now need to be on the lookout.
Also this morning, if you haven't been keeping up with the World Cup, I just need you to trust me here when I tell you that the U.S. got hosed yesterday, OK? We should have won this game. We're going to tell you about what we have now, which may be the first big World Cup controversy. The U.S. ended up tying the game, which is still in itself a pretty miraculous after what they went through. But still, should have won the game.
We'll get into all those details of the World -- World Cup, get you caught up, when we go live to South Africa.
But first, let me tell you about the stories that are making headlines right now.
Well, a senior official in the Obama administration saying that the administration will, in fact, sue Arizona over its tough new immigration law. We could see this happen within a month or so.
The Justice Department not quite confirming. But again, we're getting this word from senior administration officials. You're seeing the governor there, Jan Brewer, when she signed that legislation. It's set to go into effect July 28.
Meanwhile, Governor Brewer upset and has come out and said so because she wasn't informed by the administration. She had to find out about it through an interview.
Also, a suspected drone attack in northwest Pakistan kills at least 13 people, another six injured. This happened, as you see there, in the northern Waziristan region. Now, this is an area that's known to be a militant hideout. Now, this is believed to be a U.S. drone attack. The U.S. does oftentimes favor these drone attacks vs. on-the- ground attacks and going after militants. But at the same time, the U.S. usually doesn't officially comment on these attacks.
Also, the female Viagra not going to happen. Not yet at least. The FDA advisory committee that was looking at this so-called female Viagra put it on hold, did not give its OK for it. Now this stuff, like it says, female Viagra -- it's designed to boost a woman's sexual desire. Now, the government is telling the drug maker right now, 'Continue development. Go back to the drawing board,' if you will.
This is not necessarily though a final decision. Actually, this advisory panel is just that: it advises the FDA. But the FDA usually takes the recommendations of this advisory panel. They say the side effects of this drug did not really -- really outweigh the benefits. Dizziness, insomnia, nausea, stuff like that, was associated with the drug. So not approved just yet.
Well, the Gulf oil disaster. Can you believe, here we are now, on Day 61, some two full months now into this oil disaster. Let me give you the latest developments we're keeping an eye on.
BP's partner in the drilling of that well blaming the spill on BP. And I'm quoting here -- they said they were reckless -- had reckless actions and also reckless decisions. Now, BP is rejecting the allegations against them.
The Department of Interior, meanwhile, has ordered oil and gas companies to submit a well-blowout-prevention plan when they apply for permits. Now, attorney Kenneth Feinberg -- he says he will work quickly to process claims to people along the Gulf Coast. Feinberg was appointed by President Obama to manage BP's $20 billion compensation fund.
You may recall as well that during those congressional hearings where BP got a -- raked over the coals, there was a Texas congressman by the name of Joe Barton who apologized to the oil companies. As a result, Joe Barton, as you see there -- he got in all kinds of trouble. He made the comment -- called it a "shakedown" -- at the White House. That's how he described the way the White House got BP to put up that $20 billion fund to compensate victims.
But would you know, he's not the only one to describe it as a "shakedown," even though he might have been the only one to say it on live, national television. Barton, you see, is part of the Republican Study Committee. That is a caucus of House conservatives. They put out a press release on June 16 that said -- and let me quote it to you -- "BP's reported willingness to go along with the White House's new fund suggests that the Obama administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics" -- end quote. That caucus is a group of 115-plus members of which Mr. Barton is a member. But still, he was the one that said on national TV; he was the one that got in trouble for it. But others seem to share that same sentiment.
Still, what he was talking about here, a lot of people still call it -- you know, it's unusual. It's unprecedented. But CNN's Lisa Sylvester reports now, when you look at this a little closer, Barton may have started a pretty important argument.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. JOE BARTON (R), TEXAS: I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown. In this case, a $20 billion shakedown. I apologize.
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Outrageous and insensitive," That's the bipartisan reaction to Representative Joe Barton's comments. The Texas congressman has since swallowed his words, which he first framed as an apology to BP.
A day later, the issue is not put to rest.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: People in the Gulf are suffering from BP's negligence and recklessness. Republicans in Congress are apologizing to BP.
SYLVESTER: But some analysts say, 'Wait a minute. Barton may have had a point that got lost in his less-than-delicate wording.'
The Cato Institute is a libertarian group that favors smaller government and less regulation.
Dan Mitchell agrees with Barton in this one respect: The White House agreement to get BP to pay up front, before any claims have even been litigated in court, is highly unusual.
DAN MITCHELL, CATO INSTITUTE: What the president did, in terms of ordering a private company to set aside a pot of money without any judicial oversight or obedience to what the law actually says, that troubles me a little bit.
SYLVESTER: Mitchell says it's symptomatic of a recent trend that started under the Bush administration and continued under President Obama: Big government as the rescuer, bailing out Wall Street, coming to the aid of beleaguered automakers, and now moving to micromanage BP's claims process.
It's all enough to fire up the conservative talk shows.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: It's outrageous. It is unconstitutional, what they are doing.
SYLVESTER: But the polls show the public overwhelmingly, 92 percent, believes the Gulf spill is out of control, and 63 percent say there shouldn't be a limit on how much BP will have to pay.
(on camera): I spoke to two environmental lawyers who said, 'Yes, a fund like this is unusual and unprecedented,' especially given the amount here. But keep in mind, BP agreed to this. There's a PR value here for the company; f it looks like it's cooperating with the government, it may buy the company some good will.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, this Gulf oil disaster a lot of you have watched from afar, trying to find a way to help. We have a way for you to help.
Join us Monday night for an all-star relief effort to help the people of the Gulf Coast. A special two-hour "LARRY KING LIVE" event begins at 8:00 Eastern. That's Monday night, right here on CNN.
We showed you a few of the pictures earlier as well of the severe weather that's hitting the Midwest. We still have thousands of people without power this morning. Windows blown out of the Willis Tower in Chicago. You know it more commonly as the Sears Tower.
Homes, businesses destroyed. We will take you there, show you some of the pictures. And also, our Reynolds Wolf is tracking some nasty weather today.
It's eight minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, things a little calm this morning. Certainly calmer than they were yesterday.
Take a look at the conditions we saw just a few hours ago. There's -- quite frankly, you'd describe it as widespread damage. You got -- you know, you see this oftentimes typical damage. But still, it's damaging, it's debilitating and it's, quite frankly, depressing when you look at it, certainly for the communities it's happening to.
But this was in Chicago. A nasty storm went through. High winds knocking power out. We still have thousands of people without power this morning.
Now, Reynolds, it has made its way -- it was coming in yesterday afternoon. Made its way through Chicago.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Now, that means it's going after somebody else now, is that correct (INAUDIBLE)?
WOLF: That is correct.
This is basically like a wrecking ball moving through parts of the Windy City, no pun (INAUDIBLE) intended.
HOLMES: Yes.
WOLF: And this is what you have right here, the most intense showers and storms driving into the Southeast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Well, we've been to the airport. You see soldiers in the airport all the time, a lot of them going, you know, to and form war zones. They're carrying a lot of stuff. Big bags usually. Well, you know, those things are heavy. Surely, the airline doesn't charge them for an overweight package fee, do they?
Actually, no. But we've got the story of another ticket agent who decided to do things a little differently -- wouldn't let a soldier board, get on the plane, until he paid an overweight-baggage fee.
There's been a public outcry now, as you can imagine. But would you believe, the airline sticking by the policy? That story up next.
It's 13 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, the -- the Army has recalled some 13,000 armor plates made by a company called Armorworks. The small-arms protective inserts don't mean Army specifications because they have deviled (ph) edges.
But Army officials say the recall plates don't pose a threat to the safety of the troops, actually. The plates are only a small percentage of the 150,000 plates bought from the Arizona-based company.
And a story I was just mentioning a moment ago. A Texas solider charged an excessive-baggage fee by American Airlines. Now, American, typically, they waive this extra-baggage fee for active-duty military personnel. As you know, you see them in the airport, carrying these big bags, and, of course, oftentimes weigh more than the 50-pound limit.
Now, the family says it's not about the $50 fee, but that the ticket agent was actually rude to the soldier.
Tiffany Craig of CNN affiliate of KHOU files this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TIFFANY CRAIG, KHOU CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now that her husband's in Iraq, Melody Sharpen has to keep up with on Facebook.
MELODY SHARPEN, SOLDIER'S WIFE: And people were honking and waving.
CRAIG: But when Army Specialist Gary Sharpen recently got two weeks' leave, even strangers were happy to see him home.
SHARPEN: One lady even stopped her car and said, 'Thank you for your service.'
CRAIG: Before she knew it, Melody was dropping her husband back off at the airport to return to duty.
SHARPEN: He was wearing his full Army fatigues. He had his backpack, which is Army regulated. And he had his luggage.
CRAIG: So Specialist Sharpen checked in at Bush Intercontinental's American Airlines desk.
(on camera): Sharpen showed up with a 64-pound duffel bag, which is normally 14 pounds overweight. But he also knew that American makes exceptions for the military.
(voice-over): According to airline policy, military personnel on orders are allowed one bag in the free allowance up to 100 pounds. Sharpen's mother says the agent was rude and told her son to pay the $50 in overweight charges.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I couldn't imagine anyone treating one of our soldiers like that, telling them, 'So what?,' that they're going back to Iraq.
CRAIG: Airline officials say they waive the fee only if a passenger shows military travel orders, and Sharpen didn't. His family argues he was never asked.
SHARPEN: Did they want him to take out the pictures of our family? The toothbrushes that he was bringing over? The extra toothpaste he was bringing over? Deodorant?
CRAIG: Airline officials have agreed to refund the money if they see Sharpen's travel orders. Sharpen's family says it's not about the money, but common courtesy for an American soldier.
Tiffany Craig, 11 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: OK. Maybe I'm missing something here. But please tell me if I am.
We want you all to chime in on this story this morning. You know where to find us -- on Facebook, Twitter as well. It's tjholmescnn. Please comment on this story. And I -- I would like to hear from someone, because we haven't found too many who are taking up for American Airlines.
Yes, there is a policy in place, but common sense doesn't seem to be a part of the policy. He didn't have his travel orders; he says he wasn't asked them for it. But still, do you just make a judgment call and let the kid go with his extra 14 pounds? Or do you think America needs to stick by this policy? Please, let us hear from you, especially anyone out there who is taking up for American Airlines in this regard. Because we would like to hear that defense as well.
Again, tjholmescnn. Also on Facebook, tjholmes. We'd love to hear from you.
Something else that might get you fired up this morning, if that story didn't: the World Cup. Now, already, the U.S. is an underdog, if you will. We're not necessarily a soccer or football country, if you will. So we need all the breaks we can get.
But we got a bad one yesterday, folks. We are going live to South Africa.
Stay with us this morning. It's 18 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty-minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Get you caught up on some of the stories making headlines.
Listen to this, out of Lexington, Kentucky. Police there are apologizing after a severely injured woman died. Well, when she was found, she was presumed to be dead, but she really wasn't. And so police officers didn't call, didn't get her to a hospital until some three hours after finding her. The woman then eventually died the following day.
This incident caused a policy change within the police department. The first officers on the scene must immediately request emergency care and provide whatever medical aid they can before preserving and documenting a crime scene.
Also, an Amtrak train accident. A horrible accident where a young woman and three brothers. This was in rural Louisiana. An 18-year-old female driver was seven months pregnant. Her brothers were ages 16, 13 and 12. Investigators say the car actually did not stop at the crossing.
Now, the city of New Orleans -- this famous city of New Orleans train had just left the city for Chicago.
Now, also, Michael Jackson's estate -- the operators of the Staples Center will pay $1.3 million to Los Angeles. The money will cover city expenses for last summer's tribute. Los Angles officials criticized the operates, AEG Live, for not picking the extra costs. Los Angeles mayor now praising the company for -- quote -- "good corporate citizenship."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, we get into the second weekend of the World Cup. Another set of games ready to start in just about an hour or so in South Africa.
The games also giving a lot of people a crash course in South African lingo.
Well, Nadia Bilchik is our editorial producer here. She's a South African native. And she gives a lesson to Josh Levs in some of the words and foods even we need to know about.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So throughout the World Cup, we've been looking at some of the unique expressions coming out of South Africa. And schooling me on all this is our Nadia Bilchik, who is our editorial producer and an anchor from South Africa who knows for every piece of lingo.
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN PRODUCER: Well, first of, how's it (ph), Josh?
LEVS: How's it?
BILCHIK: How's it?
LEVS: I've been practicing how's it?
BILCHIK: And a how's it go?
LEVS: And "lekka," (ph) which means awesome.
BILCHIK: "Lekka," awesome.
LEVS: Loving "lekka."
All right. So let's take a look; we're going to bang through a few more right now.
Help me out with this.
BILCHIK: Jol.
LEVS: Jol.
BILCHIK: So we go on a jol, which means we go party. Now, you can even use it as a noun or a verb. You and I can go tonight on a big jol, or we can go joling.
LEVS: We're going to go jol.
BILCHIK: Partying, and it's partying in its essence (ph).
LEVS: So it's the South African party. It's a jol.
BILCHIK: Jol. It's a jol.
(CROSSTALK)
BILCHIK: Are we having a jol right now?
LEVS: I'm having a jol. Are you having a jol? BILCHIK: (INAUDIBLE)
LEVS: All right. Zhoosh?
BILCHIK: Zhoosh.
(CROSSTALK)
BILCHIK: Zhoosh, like you look sharp, you look smart, you look amazing. Like, it's a very zhoosh outfit.
LEVS: Really? (INAUDIBLE)
BILCHIK: Or, I'm feeling very zhoosh.
LEVS: You feel zhoosh?
BILCHIK: You feel zhoosh.
LEVS: Zhoosh.
BILCHIK: And the other word is "shak" (ph).
LEVS: Like "shark," but except without the "r."
BILCHIK: Like "shark," but "shak."
LEVS: Shak.
Help.
BILCHIK: Gatvol.
LEVS: Gatvol.
BILCHIK: Now isn't this onomatopoeic, because I am full up, I have had enough. I can be gatvol of a situation.
LEVS: Gatvol.
BILCHIK: And I can be a gatvol of a person.
I've had enough. Fed up.
LEVS: So it's a bad thing. You're done with this.
BILCHIK: Gatvol.
LEVS: And last one: babbelas?
BILCHIK: Babbelas. Babbelas.
LEVS: Babbelas?
BILCHIK: Like, if I have a hangover, I have such a babbelas.
Last night, when we went on that jol, I drank so much...
LEVS: And now you have a babbelas.
BILCHIK: ...this morning I have the biggest babbelas.
LEVS: OK. That's (INAUDIBLE) from the World Cup.
Well, speaking of eating and drinking, you also have for us some special food you're going to show us, some unique South African (INAUDIBLE)?
BILCHIK: Some (INAUDIBLE) South African favorites.
So I say to you, Josh, before we get to the great (INAUDIBLE), which means go well.
LEVS: All right. Let's get to the food.
All right. Tell me about some of these South African foods here.
BILCHIK: OK. So after we've had our big night out on a jol...
LEVS: On a jol.
BILCHIK: ...and we have babbelas...
LEVS: I have babbelas.
BILCHIK: ...we have a rusk (ph) in the morning. And a rusk is a staple South African breakfast food. It is like a hard biscuit.
Josh, I have to show you one. They are quite delicious. And you dip them in your tea and your coffee, and then you eat them once they've been dipped.
LEVS: OK, rusk.
BILCHIK: And then there is biltong (ph). Now, biltong is dried meat. You would have beef jerky here, but the big difference is that jerky is processed. Biltong is totally naturally dried with beautiful herbs like coriander. And that -- there is much of this consumed at the World Cup.
LEVS: OK. What else we got?
BILCHIK: Then we have Mrs. Bol's (ph) chaktney (ph). Now, chaktney's chaktney, but now like Mrs. Bol's. This is the quintessential chaktney.
We have some chaka lakka (ph), which is tomatoes and onions and garlic which you would have with your pak (ph), and you would cook in a three-legged pot called a poikey (ph).
LEVS: Poikey?
BILCHIK: A poikey. LEVS: OK.
BILCHIK: And a poikey means a little pot, so you have poikey- coss (ph).
LEVS: All right.
BILCHIK: Which is food that's poikey.
And pak (ph). This is the staple South African food. Pak. It could be like grits. It's like a hard meal. And this is the staple. Everybody eats their mealy pak with their chaka lakka a bit of chaktney and some billavoss (ph), and they have a bra (ph). And then you can have some perry perry (ph) sauce. Zulu zulu (ph), perry perry.
LEVS: Now I'm even more jealous of our people who are actually in South Africa and getting to eat all this.
All right. Before we go, really quickly, you have a handshake you want to show me. Everyone's been asking about this.
BILCHIK: This is the -- now, there are many versions of the South African handshake, Josh. But let me show you this version.
LEVS: OK. Over here.
BILCHIK: We shake.
LEVS: Uh huh.
BILCHIK; We shake.
LEVS: OK.
BILCHIK: We shake.
LEVS: OK.
BILCHIK: And we clap.
LEVS: Oh, that's not that bad.
BILCHIK: OK?
(CROSSTALK)
BILCHIK: But you have to do it very quickly.
LEVS: OK.
BILCHIK: Because we shake, shake, shake, clap.
LEVS: What if you miss?
BILCHIK: Darling, you never miss.
And it's all about warmth and camaraderie. South Africans are very open, warm people, and they hug a lot.
LEVS: And we're seeing that in the World Cup coverage.
BILCHIK: A lot of hugging.
LEVS: Nadia Bilchik, than you so much.
BILCHIK: Thank you. Have a lekka day.
LEVS: We'll go have a jol.
(LAUGHTER)
LEVS: Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, President Obama is taking a hit in the latest polls when it comes to his response in the Gulf. But he doesn't have to worry about his support sliding with at least big supporter -- a famous supporter.
You see her there. You'll hear what Oprah has to say about how President Obama is now taking a hit in the polls.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Welcome back to this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Bottom of the hour now here in Atlanta, Georgia. It's 5:30 for you folks in New Orleans. Oh, a little bouncy day here in Atlanta. That's all right. We're going to right the ship. Don't worry about it. Give you a look at the stories making headlines.
You remember that moment, Governor Jan Brewer signing that controversial immigration bill out in Arizona. Now the Obama administration appears ready to sue the state of Arizona over that new immigration law.
Some senior officials are saying that, in fact, they will challenge Arizona's tough new immigration law. We could see this happen within a month or so according to the senior official. Meanwhile the Justice Department won't officially confirm it saying still reviewing that statute. The law is set to take effect July 28.
Also over in Pakistan now, specifically the northwestern part of that country; a drone attack suspected U.S. drone attack has killed 13 people, injured another six. Pakistani intelligent officials say two missiles were fired in the north Waziristan region. That is near the Afghan border, this area also known to be a militant hideout. The U.S. is not officially commenting on this drone attack.
Also, female Viagra? Not just yet. An FDA advisory committee says no-go on the female Viagra. Now, this stuff, just like it sounds, nickname it has, female Viagra, is designed to help women with low sex drive. This committee says, though, the side effects outweighed the benefits. This committee, this advisory committee, is not the final say on this, however. They are, like their name says, an advisory committee, but still the FDA usually takes their recommendations.
Here we are now day 61 of this oil disaster in the Gulf. Give you the latest on what's happening there. BP's partner in the drilling of that well blaming the spill on BP's, quote, "reckless decisions and actions." BP, of course, saying that's not the case. The Department of Interior, meanwhile, has ordered oil and gas companies to submit now a well blowout prevention plan when they apply for permits.
Also, Attorney Kenneth Feinberg says said he will work quickly to process claims to people along the Gulf Coast. Feinberg was appointed by President Obama to manage BP's $20 billion compensation fund.
President Obama's poll ratings on handling the oil disaster are dropping, but the president still doing better than BP, as you can imagine. Our Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser breaking down the numbers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER,CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning, T.J. The percentage of Americans who give President Barack Obama a thumbs down on how he's handling the Gulf oil spill is on the rise. Nearly 6 in 10 say they disapprove of how Mr. Obama is handling the environmental disaster. That's up 8 points in from last month. This according to our new CNN Opinion Research Corporation national poll, which was conducted the day after the president gave his Tuesday night-prime time address.
But BP fairs even worse. Nearly 9 out of 10 say they disapprove of how the oil giant is dealing with the massive spill, with just 13 percent giving them a thumbs up. And two-thirds of those we questioned say they think BP's top priority is turning a profit. With only 3 in 10 feeling the oil company's number one goal is cleaning up the oil spill.
Here's another side of how Americans feel about BP. In a day and age where the trust in government are extremely low, our poll indicates that more people have faith in Washington rather than the oil company to clean up the mess, T.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our deputy political director.
Meanwhile, talk show host Oprah Winfrey is defending President Obama's handling of the Gulf Coast oil disaster. She was in Atlanta this week to speak to the inaugural eighth grade graduating class at the Ron Clark Academy. She has donated about $2 million to that private school.
Our Don Lemon caught up with her at that event.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (On camera): I have to ask you this because of the news. You have been so supportive of the folks down South and what's going on with the oil. What's going on in your heart with that?
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: What's going on in my heart is the same thing that's happening, I think, everybody feels for what is happening to all of the fishermen and all of the families who this time of the year would be hosting people from all over the country and all over the world there. You know, we can only hope and pray that this will soon be resolved in a way that people can pick themselves up and we begin to move forward.
LEMON: The criticism from the president is handling ...
WINFREY: I think the president is doing the best anybody can. I really don't understand what people want him to do. I think he's the president of the United States. You're not supposed to be emotional. You're supposed to take action and get things done and make sure those things happen. I really don't know what it is people want him to do.
LEMON: You're so charitable. Are you going to help do anything for the folks down there?
WINFREY: Well, I don't have any plans right now to do anything specifically because it's going to take more money than I have to do that. So I think that all of us being united in our sense of understanding, what is going on, and what happening not only to the people but to the animals, that's what breaks my heart, too, watching that every day.
LEMON: Thank you, Oprah.
WINFREY: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And you have seen the devastation. You've been hearing complaints. You've been watching from afar. A lot of people want to help. Here is your chance. Join us Monday night for an all-star relief effort to help the people on the Gulf Coast. A special two- hour "LARRY KING LIVE" event, begins at 8:00 o'clock Eastern. That's Monday night right here on CNN.
Well, it seemed like a matter of common sense that kids and crocodiles just don't mix. Don't tell that to these folks. In Pakistan they take part in a sacred festival that combines, yes, kids and those things. We'll tell you all about it.
Also, dozens of tornadoes tear across the Midwest. Some of those twisters caught on camera. Take a look at that. Reynolds Wolf will be breaking this down and tell us how much more severe weather is on the way. It is 37 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: All right. Y'all have got to see this one. We're 40 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We've got some pictures here to show you. Folks would be arrested in the U.S. for doing this. But what you are seeing-yes, you see a baby crying and you see a crocodile.
This Pakistani pilgrims here seeking good luck from crocodiles. This is an annual festival. This is near Karachi, southern Pakistan. What they do here is actually hold the babies over the croc's open jaws. This is for luck. I suppose if the baby survives that's pretty lucky.
Now, this -- let me explain this legend here. This says that crocs grew from lice that were left by saints 700 years ago so they bring offerings of goat meat and candy to the crocodiles.
Reynolds, you just dangle the child.
WOLF: A rabbit's foot, to me, is more than suitable for a good luck token. Throwing an infant possibly over the gaping mouth of a giant crocodile, not so much.
HOLMES: Most important line of the script here, caretakers say no one has ever been hurt in this four-day event.
WOLF: That we know of.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Yes.
WOLF: That we're aware of. They've been doing this for a long time. Chances are mom or dad is doing this and someone sneezes and -- I'm not saying anything. Are you going to say anything? You just got to go on.
HOLMES: It's amazing picture to see. Hey, there are customs and traditions around this world that maybe wouldn't try here, but, hey, it's been working for them.
WOLF: Some crazier than others.
HOLMES: We do crazy stuff around this country, as well.
WOLF: Yes, we in the U.S., absolutely. Hey, it's true, they never had anyone hurt, there you go.
HOLMES: Weather wise, we have some dangerous weather that has potential to hurt some folks. Nasty stuff in Chicago.
WOLF: Amazing stuff in Chicago. Parts of the Midwest just been pummeled this severe weather season. You know we haven't gotten to the brunt of hurricane season, already it has been a battering ram in parts of the nation.
We're going to show you the video that we've had in parts of Chicago. Strong storms yesterday. Dozens of tornadoes in the Midwest. This week it has just been nonstop severe weather extravaganza. Horrendous conditions. We had two fatalities in parts of the Midwest.
Here's what you see in Chicago, people waking up this morning. Quarter of a million people without power. It is going to be clean-up duty. Neighbors out helping neighbors. Certainly rough times.
As T.J. and I mentioned earlier, we're going to be, of course, talking about some people who have been listening in, not watching because of the power outages. What you can expect as we take a look at our map. Most of the storms are now driving a bit more to the South. Thankfully these storms are losing quite a bit of intensity.
What we will be seeing with the storms, still some heavy showers, and occasional clap or thunder or two. We may see some of that regenerate later on today as soon as we have that daytime heating. We're not going to see in the Ohio Valley but rather the focus can shifted a bit more to the East and also some toward the Central Plains.
We're going to talk more about that coming up very soon. You're watching CNN. Stay tuned. See you in a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. A quarter to the top of the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
We week into the World Cup. Team USA is undefeated at the World Cup. We have not been beaten. We haven't beaten anybody either. But that's another story. Let me explain here.
We should have won the game yesterday. Controversial call may have hurt the chances for the U.S. actually advancing after the second round. You are seeing some of the highlights here. Team USA this is the first goal. This is in the second half though after the U.S. was already down 2-0. Ended up having to score two goals in the second half. Tied it up. Ended up also scoring a third that many say that the referee inexplicably took away.
There's some controversy now over what the call was by the ref to take away that third goal. Here you're seeing it. Not sure, did he call offside? Did he call a foul? What did he do? The U.S. should have made it 3-2. U.S. should have won easily into the next round.
Let's go live now to CNN International's Alex Thomas joining us from South Africa.
Maybe you can help me out, Alex. What's the fallout? What's the deal? What's the call from this referee?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I'd love to be able to shed a little bit more light on this, but like the players we're all very perplexed, scratching our heads here, I'm afraid. I'm outside Soccer City Stadium. This is where the World Cup final will be played in Johannesburg. But the USA game took at Ellis Park Stadium. Normally a more famous rugby union venue, little bit further into town, packed with loads of American fans in their stars and stripes. Not as many Slovenia fans, but here is a country with just 2 million people versus the mighty USA with 300 odd million people.
Yes, it was Slovenia, 2-0 up. Then as you said, an astonishing come back with goals from Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, the son of the coach, Bob Bradley. And possibly a third goal from Maurice Edu, plays his club for the Scottish side, rangers and in Glasgow. Hit the back of the net. Stars and Stripes fans up in the air, thought they had won it. Then as you said, the referee disallowed the goal.
When the replay went by we thought, oh, it's offsides? But, no, Edu himself wasn't offsides. The players themselves went up the officials. Said, can you tell us, explain to us, why was this disallowed? No answer. No reply. Landon Donovan said I'm even sure if the guy spoke English or not.
And in the end we're all having to think about it because there is no reply. FIFA the world governing body aren't going to let you appeal against a decision made on the pitch. The referee's decision is final.
I tell you something, if you're watching American sports in the United States, you normally use television replays to rule on controversial decisions. That does not happen in football or soccer at all. The head of FIFA does not like TV technology. The result is going to stand. American two draws, no wins. They still got a chance of reaching the knockout stages.
HOLMES: All right. Still got a chance. Again, you don't have any way to appeal here. We've got to deal with it and move on from this. BuT quite frankly, and maybe you can even spread some -- or put historical light on this. You know, quite frankly, there haven't been a lot of goals scored, there have not been too many upsets. One or two here or there, but quite frankly is this the first dabble of controversy we have seen in the World Cup and in some ways is that what we should expect to have?
THOMAS: No, not by any stretch of the imagination. We've seen some real shock victories. Certainly a few days ago a real lack of goals. Then suddenly the goals have been flooding in left, right and center. Lots of criticism of the ball they are using. It's new for this season. The players are complaining about it.
One other note of controversy. In the match after America's, England was play down in Cape Town. They drew 0-0 with Algeria. Loads of England fans there. Booed the team off the pitch, and one disgruntled fan even got into England's changing room, prompting the English FA to complain to FIFA and the South African police service are launching an investigation. HOLMES: All right. Alex, we appreciate the update from South Africa today. Alex Thomas for us. Not giving us any relief though. We're going to have to let it stand. Alex, we appreciate you, buddy. Talk to you again soon.
Well, you know, the rapper T.I., he's been through quite a bit here lately. He was in jail, out of prison now. What is he doing? Going right back to work. And also a part of it, part of what he's doing since he got out of jail is he's going out and speaking to young people at schools. Would you want T.I. at your school? This is a different T.I. You're seeing in this picture probably than the one you're used to seeing. We catch up with him at his home in Atlanta.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Ten minutes to the top of the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
You know the name, you know a lot of the music as well. But the image you see behind me you might not know of that of T.I., the rapper. Also, Clifford Harris, the father. I interviewed him right before he went to prison last year on some weapons charges. Well, caught up with him again. He's out of prison and life, in a lot of ways, has gone right back to how it was before he went to prison. But in other ways it's changed quite a bit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES (voice over): This is the T.I. hip-hop fans and your kids know. This is the T.I. you see on the news.
T.I., CLIFFORD HARRIS, HIP-HOP STAR: Hit me.
(CHILD'S LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: And this is the T.I., or Clifford Harris, that you don't know, with his son at his Atlanta home. These are the moments T.I. missed while he was in prison for seven months serving on a felony weapons charge.
(On camera): Good to see you again.
HARRIS: I appreciate it.
HOLMES: Much different circumstances this time. Last time I was sitting down with you, there was a moment during that interview where your ankle monitor went off.
HARRIS: Yeah.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Is that you?
HARRIS: Yeah.
I'm actually doing an interview with CNN. As soon as I'm finished, I'll change the battery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Do you remember that moment?
HARRIS: Yeah, absolutely. I remember a lot of those moments. But you know, I remember that. I remember the one specifically you're talking about with you.
HOLMES: They saw you in a different light, a lot of people did, because they found that to be an awfully humbling moment for a very confident and successful guy.
HARRIS: Yeah. You're right. You know, but I mean, I think to humble yourself is to strengthen yourself. So you know, I think I -- I survived it, and I have been able to use it to my advantage, to make myself a better person.
HOLMES: Do you think your image is in need of any type of rehabilitation?
HARRIS: I'm more concerned with my life than I am my image. My image will be a reflection of my life and how I'm living. I feel like if I make the necessary adjustments in my life, then my image will change with it.
HOLMES (voice over): T.I. is staying busy with his music career, which seems to be untarnished by his prison sentence. He's already put out several singles since his release from prison and is getting set to release his next album this summer.
HARRIS: At least two of these three verses I believe I wrote down while I was in the joint. So, you know, I was kind of frustrated.
(HIP-HOP MUSIC)
HOLMES: You were having a rough day, weren't you?
HARRIS: I was in prison, man. Yeah.
HOLMES: Yeah.
HARRIS: I was ...
HOLMES: A little bit more aggressive. I like that though.
HARRIS: I was just speaking at my environment.
HOLMES: Yeah?
(voice over): T.I.'s environment these days, a lot different than the one he came up in. He lived in a rough neighborhood of Atlanta and lived a rough lifestyle, which he portrayed in the 2006 film, "ATL." As part of his sentence T.I. was ordered to serve 1500 hours of community service. And one of the ways he does that is speaking to school kids about the mistakes he made and the dangers of guns, drugs and gangs. But he's not always welcome.
(On camera): I think it was Woodland Middle School here where a parent was upset after the fact. They didn't know that T.I. was going to be speaking to their child. They say they would have pulled their child out of the school for the day had they known it. How does it make you feel to hear that some people don't want you around their children to hear that message, or your message.
HARRIS: As far as them wanting to pull their children out because of me, if you don't want them to hear from me, as long as you've got them hearing it from some where. I mean, who else you going to have come speak to them, who they're going to listen to and who they're going to actually take their words for face value more than me? And does it matter who is giving them the message, or does it matter that they're getting the message?
HOLMES: How big of a mistake do you think often times we make as parents, as a society, when we don't want -- we don't want to hear oftentimes from people who have gone through things?
HARRIS: I think it's the children that's really getting the short end of the stick. I think the children are really the ones, they not benefiting from -- from the possible outcome that it could bring, you know. I know I go to speak to youth detention centers where kids, you know, they're in jail going through the judicial system.
And you know, their parents can't pull them out so they've got to hear it. You know? If you want your kid to hear it in there, fine, you know what I'm saying? If that's where you want them to hear that, I'll wait until they get in there, and I'll speak to them and you can't pull them out. It's your choice.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: I spent a lot of time with him. You're going to hear more and including why tomorrow he says he would rather be more like Will Smith than Jay-Z.
It's four minutes until the top of the hour. Stay with us here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Good morning, everybody, from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING on this June 19th. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. Thank you for starting your day right here with us and wherever you may be.
You would love to see this picture. Let me show it to you. This is out of Okaloosa, Florida. Look at that beautiful shot of a beautiful sunrise. The only thing marring this picture, yes, folks, in the water that's boom in the water. Letting you know that, in fact, they are trying to protect themselves, possibly from oil heading their way. Still, a beautiful shot, nonetheless, out of Okaloosa. We are going to be going there live in just a moment. Meanwhile, juxtapose that picture with another one I can show you now out of Chicago, much different there yesterday. Hundreds of thousand of people are waking up today without power. And a band of thunderstorms that ripped through that area yesterday -- trees down, cars, houses damaged, as well, blew out windows as well to the Sears Tower which is, of course, now known as the Willis Tower in downtown Chicago.
Reynolds Wolf is here. He's standing by. He's taking a look at the day ahead.
Also, if you haven't heard by now, the United States is undefeated in World Cup play. The only problem is, yes, we haven't lost, but we haven't beaten anybody, either. Another tie for the U.S. yesterday, a 2-2 tie.
But a lot of controversy over yesterday's game. A lot of people is saying no doubt, the U.S., we got hosed on this one. We'll tell you about the controversy -- coming up.
Meanwhile, let me give you a look at some of the stories making headlines this morning. Senior officials in the Obama administration are telling us that, in fact, the administration will challenge Arizona's tough new immigration law.
We can see this happen in about a month or so, according to this senior official. The Justice Department is not officially commenting just yet. You're seeing pictures there of Governor Jan Brewer when she signed that into law back in April. It's scheduled now to take effect July 28th.
Also, an Amtrak train accident has killed a young woman and her three brothers in rural Louisiana. It was an 18-year-old female driver who was 7 months pregnant, also killed her brothers who were ages 16, 13, and 12. So far, investigators are saying that the car didn't stop at the crossing. Also, there were no gates -- no gates at that crossing. The train had just left the city for Chicago.
And they are heading back to the lab to try to come up with something else that could possibly get approved. But right now, female Viagra is a no go. An FDA advisory committee put a hold to it yesterday. Now, this stuff -- just like the name suggests -- supposed to boost sexual desire in women. Now, the government ordered the maker to continue some development.
This is not a final decision. This is an advisory panel decision here. They advise the FDA, but the FDA oftentimes does take their recommendations. They say the side effects outweigh the benefits. And those side effects included dizziness, insomnia and nausea.
Well, back to the Gulf oil disaster, day 61 of it now. And with the spill about to invade its shores, one Gulf Coast county is not waiting on the feds to help swoop in and come in and save it. Federal safety officers have been taking protection into their own hands even at the risk of going to jail.
CNN's David Mattingly joins us now live from Okaloosa Island, Florida, with this story for us.
David, good morning to you. And we are starting possibly to see more and more of this. Folks are getting tired of waiting for the federal government or BP to do something.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, T.J. It got very loud and very contentious here. Officials didn't have to go to jail. There was an 11th hour agreement, but they did push it right to the brink and sort of set an example for other communities here in the panhandle who are also getting impatient with the federal response.
I talked to those officials here who said they would rather fight than wait.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DINO VILLANI, DIR., DEPT. PUBLIC SAFETY: I think there's a fundamental flaw in the federal response. I mean, you know, to some degree, it's there and it has its usefulness on a higher level. But when you're down in the trenches trying to respond like we are, it doesn't work.
MATTINGLY: This no way strategy that you're talking about almost got you in trouble with the feds, didn't it?
COMMISSIONER WAYNE HARRIS, OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA: Yes, very much so.
MATTINGLY: Were you prepared to go to jail if it would have come to that?
HARRIS: Well, he wasn't and I didn't want him to.
MATTINGLY: But you talked about it.
HARRIS: Sure, we talked about it. We knew that that was the possibility. In fact, the Coast Guard had told us that, commissioners, if you do that, there's a potential for you going to jail. And we said, well, so be it. But we've got to protect our waterways and our people.
MATTINGLY: You know what you've done, don't you? You've gone out and set an example for every city on the panhandle. Do you think they're going to take matters in their own hands now the way that you have?
HARRIS: Well, I certainly hope they do. I mean, that's what -- that's what you're paid for and that's what your responsibilities are when you're the leader of a particular county or city or whatever the agency is.
MATTINGLY: So, the lesson we learn from this: don't wait on the federal response?
HARRIS: You can't. It wasn't that we were giving them an ultimatum. In fact, we were. But the bottom line was this: if they were not going to act, we were going to act whether we had their permission or not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY: And what finally broke this, T.J., was the fact that the oil started coming closer and it actually they saw tar balls. I've got some of them right here. Tar balls started hitting the beach here in Okaloosa Island. Most of them have been cleaned up.
But this is what they look like. And that's when this really started to hit home here. The tar balls filled about a 300-yard stretch of beach here.
And now, of course, they do have the federal approval. They've got the booms. They're going to be bringing in barges later to seal off this bay behind me to keep this oil from getting into that bay -- T.J.
HOLMES: And can you imagine -- you talk about the possibility of them being arrested -- can you imagine the backlash to see a couple of officials who are trying to save their beaches being hauled off to jail because they're just trying to help? No way that the federal government or BP wants that picture. But, how were they able -- like you said, they might be setting an example here -- so, how were they able to get the federal government to come along?
MATTINGLY: Well, they are being very proactive. They actually came up with their own plan to put this boom on underwater curtain and a series of barges across this waterway to keep that oil from getting into the bay back here. They drew up that plan two weeks after this disaster started. They've been pushing it ever since, trying to look for money to get it to happen. They just ran into what they call a lot of foot dragging, a lot of indecision.
And so, finally, when this oil started coming ashore, that's when things started turning around. They got very loud. They got very defiant. Everything came together at the last minute and now, their plan is in motion. They plan to have those barges and everything in place sometime later this week.
HOLMES: All right. David Mattingly for us on Okaloosa Island there in Florida on a beautiful sun rise -- the only thing marring is to see that boom and some of those tar balls. But a beautiful morning, nonetheless.
David, we appreciate you. Thanks so much.
The U.S. has been offered -- offered a lot of help from other countries to help out on this whole disaster. A lot of it has been offered, but so far, the government has not yet accepted very much of it.
Josh, why?
LEVS: Yes, we're going to talk about that. It's interesting, isn't it? I mean, you would think we would want all the help we can get right now.
And what the State Department is saying, I got a map here. We'll take it so you can see, more than -- about two dozen countries at this point have offered help. And you can see they're all over the world. And some of them have some offered big help -- skimmer, ships, you know, in some ways whatever the country needs.
However, there's two things you should know about it. One: in most cases, the government is still considering whether to accept it. And in two, in virtually all these cases, these countries are saying they want to be reimbursed for that help.
Now, the State Department yesterday, a spokesman was asked about this, some reporters were saying, "Wait a second, the U.S. offers help to other countries, doesn't want to be reimbursed." But the spokesman said, "You know what, in this case, they will be reimbursed by BP. Even the U.S. government is getting reimbursed." And he also said the government is doing all they can to get that help in soon.
Here's what he said:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK TONER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: Look, what we're concerned with right now is getting these types of assistance as they become available and as they -- as they're useful to our clean-up operations, getting them into action so they can clean up the Gulf.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: And officials are saying that there's a system that they go through to figure out what they're going to need, if it's convenient to get it there. If in some -- in some cases, they can actually cause more problems if they put even more of a kind of thing they already have. Also, certain types of dispersants they don't use. So, there are a lot of steps that they're taking a look.
Let me just show you some examples of what countries are offering.
Canada has offered dispersants. One of the few things the United States has already accepted is boom from Canada. Also, they've offered to send some people and technical officials here.
Let's take a look at Mexico as well, since it's the Gulf of Mexico is the site of the spill. The dispersants, they've offered. Not yet accepted.
They have offered some boom and BP purchased that. They've also offered some skimmers. BP has purchased some of those.
We'll get to two more examples. France has offered some dispersants which the U.S. declined. It's the type of dispersant not approved here. They've also offered boom.
And we can end on this one, the Netherlands offered some skimmers -- one more thing that the U.S. has actually accepted so far. They've also offered to send some people over who are experts in all of this.
Officials are saying at this point that they are going to take more steps to get more international aid into the Gulf, T.J., but so far, just a trickle has been accepted.
HOLMES: We'll see if we get more of that help along the way.
Josh, we appreciate you.
LEVS: Thanks.
HOLMES: We'll be checking with you again this morning.
Now, a lot of people, of course, want to find a way to help out. And it's been tough, quite frankly. Looking for a way, you might be living too far away from the Gulf to help?
Well, we've got a chance for you, a way for you to help. Join us Monday night for an all-star relief effort to help the people on the Gulf Coast. A special two-hour "LARRY KING LIVE" event begins 8:00 Eastern Monday night, right here on CNN.
Well, no, we are not a big soccer country, but still, it's the World Cup. That's a big deal. And the U.S. is playing so the country is behind them.
Our Alex Smith is live in Johannesburg in South Africa for us with, quite frankly, with some disheartening news -- Alex.
THOMAS: A controversial refereeing decision has cost the United States what would have been a crucial victory here at the 2010 World Cup. Live from South Africa, we'll bring you all the details -- next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Thirteen minutes past the hour.
Not to be bitter here, but we got robbed, all right? And the referee has got some explaining to do. We're talking about the World Cup here.
The U.S., we're -- OK, we're not a soccer country. We can use all the help we can get. But this was the goal that should have put us up, 3-2. U.S. wins. We needed those points to move on.
Now, if you don't know the rules that well of soccer, a lot of people don't. There's clearly not an off-sides and we don't hear a clear call about a foul or exactly what happened. He just waived it off. The players are complaining. They couldn't get an explanation of exactly what happened.
So, now, we're at risk of not making it to the second round of the World Cup.
Let's turn to Alex Thomas now for us, with CNN International. He's in South Africa for us. Alex, please help our American viewers understand just how big of a -- quite frankly, a controversy and how big of a deal this is. This wasn't just maybe a bad call. It goes a little beyond that. We're still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
THOMAS: Well, I think you summed it up rather nicely, didn't you?
What made this a particularly controversial call are the circumstances of the match leading up to this. Let's not forget it's Slovenia versus the United States, right? This is the country with the smallest population of any of the 32 nations competing at this World Cup, versus the country with the largest population, 2 million versus around 300 million, 310 million. It should be a complete mismatch -- David versus Goliath stuff.
But, actually, there's only 11 rankings between these two countries. And the United States, the bigger team, was getting thrashed at halftime. Slovenia tuned it up.
Then, a couple of changes by Coach Bob Bradley at halftime, a different American side came out for the second half. And they staged an astonishing comeback, goals from Landon Donovan and from Michael Bradley, the coach's son. And then, suddenly with just four minutes remaining, we saw Maurice Edu, who plays his football in Scotland for Glasgow Rangers, hit the back of the net.
And I don't know if we can take a look at the action again. But you'll see, as the ball comes over towards the Slovenia goal, that everyone, USA players and Slovenia players, arms around each other. It looks like an NFL line of scrimmage more than a game of soccer, if you ask me.
But the one player who wasn't being manhandled, or doing any manhandling of anyone else, was Edu who scored the goal. But the goal was disallowed. The American players surrounded the referee. They said, look, why did you not give that goal? And they got no satisfactory answer.
Speaking to Landon Donovan afterwards, he said, "I don't know. I don't know if he understood English or not."
But after coming back from 2-0 down, and won 3-2, would have boosted the USA so much. And they still have a chance in the knockout stages, that their third and final group match next Wednesday up against Algeria, arguably the weakest side in their group.
HOLMES: All right. Yes, arguably, the weakest side. We can't take anybody for granted now.
Alex Thomas, we appreciate you checking in live with us on what's happening there from South Africa.
Reynolds is standing by here with me now.
I know you're not -- this is part of the reason a lot of people are not into the World Cup and we're not a soccer country.
WOLF: Why didn't we go for two? Why go for the single -- why go for the field goal when you go for two, you're inside the five-yard line, give you fullback, plow through, and then it's over.
HOLMES: That's exactly the point. A lot of people don't understand how you can not win a game, you could tie two games and still advance.
WOLF: Right.
HOLMES: There's a weird point system. A lot of people just don't understand it. But, folks, trust us on this one, we got a bad deal here.
WOLF: Really is.
But, I mean, as a viewer -- I mean, I know there are many people like yourself -- I definitely support the U.S. team and I know that they are incredible athletes that take part in this.
But you know, it's kind of tough for some Americans to wrap their mind around this. They tried back in the '80s with Pele. They brought Pele to the New York Cosmos. They tried again with Beckham, bringing back him in.
For some of us, it's just -- you know, you got, it's football. It's football or baseball.
HOLMES: The problem is, we don't have the best soccer players in this country. If you lived in Brazil, if you live somewhere in Europe, where they have the best soccer competition, we would be more so into it. But here, it's just not on that elite level. No offense to the Major League Soccer.
WOLF: But, you know, there are just some things that Americans don't like. I mean, yes, the metric system works better but we don't want that. I understand that there are some cars that have the steering wheel on the other side, but guess what, we like them on the left side. You know, they're just some things that are purely American. This is something that I'm sure we're going to get a little more of a taste of, but it's going to take time.
HOLMES: All right. How much time we got now for weather since ...
WOLF: We better hurry ...
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: Let's go right to it, I'm sure we got right.
Big story day with weather is a better situation for Chicago. Better because I'm saying yesterday, it was rough stuff as this storm system made its way through the Windy City now driving into the Ohio Valley. You get a squiggly line right about there. That squiggly line is the Ohio Valley.
It looks like these storms are going to be getting to fade out. But by the afternoon, we may see more of these storms fire up in places like the Central Plains, perhaps in parts of the Northeast.
Same scenario playing, you got your frontal boundary, a lot of moisture there in place, that with the daytime heating will give you some rough weather.
We're going to talk more about that possibly rough weather coming up later on this morning.
Plus, we're going to have a conversation with a professional storm chaser. A guy actually gets in his car with the steering wheel on the right side, goes out there, and chases these storms. We're going to talk to him coming up in mere moments.
You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING. See you in a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Today, time for a little homeschooling. I got my home boy, Clyde Anderson, sitting here with me. I am going to talk to him about scams here.
But let me set this thing up for you, our viewers, and tell you with this tight economy and high home foreclosure rates out there now, bogus companies starting to prey on desperate homeowners.
Just this week, the attorney general, Eric Holder, came out and announced arrests in what's being called the largest mortgage fraud crackdown in the country's history. The operation was called Operation Stolen Dreams, and it led to the seizure of about $11 million.
Five hundred people across the nation have been arrested. Among those arrested, two women in Miami for allegedly running a $4.4 million scheme. Several people in Detroit alleged to be on a ghost loan scheme. And also a prominent builder in Chico, California, for supposedly offering bogus sales rebates.
The attorney general says the government will use every law enforcement tool available to prosecute anyone preying on homeowners.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: We know that mortgage fraud ruins lives. It destroys families and devastates whole communities. So attacking the problem from every possible angle is absolutely vital.
These schemes are despicable. They are dangerous to our economy and they will simply not be tolerated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, the Federal Trade Commission also ordered a ban on 16 companies from selling mortgage relief services.
And again, Clyde Anderson, our financial analyst, is here with us. They sound specific here. They're not just saying, look out for this, look out for that.
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: No.
HOLMES: They are naming and outing these folks.
ANDERSON: Yes.
HOLMES: So, let's show some of them and tell us about these companies. We had a few, we said 16, but there are at least eight we can show you. But here they are.
ANDERSON: Exactly.
HOLMES: People need to look out for some of these names.
ANDERSON: Look out. I mean, you've got Making Home Affordable, Federal Loan Modification Law Center. These things look official, you know?
And so, you get information in the mail from them and you think it's legitimate. And they send you information and you probably received some in your home where they send things and say, hey, we can help you, we can save you. So, you see something like this and you see the Financial Group Incorporated, and you think they're legitimate.
HOLMES: They sound really legitimate.
ANDERSON: They sound legitimate. They do. And they're not. And that's the scary part.
And so, that's really where consumers beware. You've got to look out. You got to know what to look for and you can't trust everything you get in the mail.
HOLMES: Now, on these things as well, is part of the trick just having a name that sounds official. But do they have like official Web sites ...
ANDERSON: Oh, yes.
HOLMES: ... and all their mailers and everything looks legit.
ANDERSON: Yes. It looks legitimate. And it looks like, OK, I can trust this company. So, that's why we've had the case where's some people have shelled out $5,500 to go ahead and get their home saved and end up still losing their property.
Yes. So, it's a hard thing. It's definitely hard. And it's definitely a thing that you can look out for.
HOLMES: All right. And we're talking about the names specifically people can look out for. Even if you don't know the name, there are still some things, some tips -- I mean, some clear cut ways you can keep from messing up, quite frankly.
ANDERSON: Yes, definitely. I mean, you're definitely going to see -- some people are going to say, hey, pay us a fee up, pay us a fee up front. Maybe it's $1,000, maybe it's $1,500. If anybody asks you to pay anything up front, run the other way.
HOLMES: All right.
ANDERSON: OK? And they can guarantee they can stop foreclosure, only your lender can really do that. Your lender is going to be the one that you need to talk to. No one can guarantee that other than them. They can negotiate on your behalf but they can't stop it.
Also, advise you to stop paying your mortgage. I've seen this several times. "Don't pay the mortgage. We're going to handle it. Pay us instead. We'll take care of it."
HOLMES: OK. Now, on that, we'll move on to four, five and six. But on that one there ...
ANDERSON: Yes.
HOLMES: ... some people will -- it's one thing to stop paying. You know, I mean, you see some people out there who -- columnists and whatnot -- tell people it might be better to stop and go into foreclosure, blah, blah, blah.
But it's one thing for somebody to tell you to stop paying, but would they tell you to stop paying and instead pay us?
ANDERSON: Pay us.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Make the payments to us. We'll take care of us. And then we can even sometimes forgive your loan. I've heard that several times. I've gotten people that gotten into jams because his company says we can get your loan forgiven.
HOLMES: OK.
ANDERSON: Just pay us the money and we'll take care of it. And then you end up in a situation where you've still lost the property.
HOLMES: All right. Let's go ahead to four, five, and six. We can put those back up now.
So, go ahead with number four.
ANDERSON: Four, pressure you to sign the deed over. You know, people will say, "We'll take care of it. You're in foreclosure, sign it over to us and we'll start making the payments." And they don't make the payments. And then you find yourself stuck. They can offer government-approved program. Only the government can offer government-approved programs, you know? It's the HUD, contact HUD.gov and they have all this information on their Web site, so you don't have to settle for that.
And ask you to release personal financial information. That's definitely a red flag. When someone says, hey, give us your Social Security number, give us your property information -- you don't have to give that information to anyone.
Talk to your loan servicer. You know, don't be scared is the key. You know, talk to them, talk it out. Give them your information and they can work out a plan for you.
HOLMES: Well, some of that besides the name, and you say these things can look really legit, the names can sound really legit. And you talk about what people might ask you for.
Do they also have really, I guess, convincing salesmen, quite frankly?
ANDERSON: Oh, yes. Yes, definitely. They'll call you. And now, they're consistent. They'll call. They'll send these letters and say, hey, we'll help you.
And you think about it. A lot of people are vulnerable in this position and so, they're looking for some hope right now. And these people are selling false hope and they're telling you, "We can save your home, your American dream."
HOLMES: Are these major operations? It sounds like you would have to have a phone bank of people making calls.
ANDERSON: Yes.
HOLMES: Are these major operations?
ANDERSON: Major operations. Just look at them. We're talking about $11 million that they're talking about seizing. These are big operations -- a million dollar operations that are going on and preying on people's hope.
HOLMES: Yes. You know, it never fails. Somebody is always trying to take advantage of somebody's tough time.
All right. Clyde, it's a very good information as always. Good to have you.
Quick break here. We are right back on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: As adults, we're supposed to be setting the example for teenagers, right? Well, not when it comes to texting and driving. A new study out there finds that more adults actually indulge in this than teenagers behind the wheel.
Yes. The report found that nearly half of 47 percent of adult texters say they send and receive messages while driving. Compare that to the 34 percent of teenagers who say they have sent text messages while driving.
The study was done by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project.
Well, I'll be back at the top of the hour with more top stories, more live news when the next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues.
But right now, I need to hand it over to a good friend, "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." begins right now.
