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CNN Sunday Night
New Polls Out in Race for White House; 'Rap Sheet'
Aired October 17, 2004 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN SUNDAY NIGHT. The presidential race, the new poll out tonight and the states to watch. Our Bill Schneider is absolutely certain the future of these men will depend on only three states.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREA MACKRIS: I just said no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him about his saucy language.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: The accuser who is suing Bill O'Reilly for sexual harassment. The gloves are off as the case is up for debate in our rap sheet tonight.
And Yao Ming, he's a seven foot six Chinese man who lives with his parents. And he's an NBA phenom playing on his home turf in China. These stories and a lot more next on CNN SUNDAY NIGHT.
Good evening, I'm Carol Lin from the CNN Center in Atlanta. Ahead tonight, the Scott Peterson case. The new evidence and the defense's case. We're going to show you who you're going to see on the stand when court convenes tomorrow.
Also, the panic to get flu shots. My interview with Secretary Tommy Thompson on whether the U.S. is in fact facing a health crisis. And in our spotlight tonight, a Russian mother forced to choose between her children. Who would she leave behind with the terrorists? And which child's life would she save? Our Ryan Chilcote goes back to Beslan.
Up first tonight, election politics U.S.A. Two weeks and some change until election day. And it's been a long time since one of the two main candidates has enjoyed a decisive lead. Our own poll released just hours ago has startling numbers.
The latest CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll shows the Republican Bush- Cheney ticket leading John Kerry and John Edwards by eight percentage points among likely voters. But notice the margin of error, which puts them dead even.
It's much closer among registered voters who responded. Three other major polls, "The Washington Post," "Newsweek" and "Zogby" also give a slight edge to the president. It is a close, close race and one that sends the Democrat to a battleground state today.
Our congressional correspondent Joe Johns reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before a large crowd in Pembrook Pines, Senator Kerry issued an urgent bilingual appeal to south Floridians to show up early when voting begins here on Monday morning.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Necessitos su voto. Necessitos su ayuda. I need your help. I need your votes. Not for me, not for me, not for John Edwards, but for you and for our country because we have to lift this nation up.
JOHNS: There was a new line of attack, playing off of a "New York Times" magazine article asserting that the president told Republican insiders he was planning to come out strong for privatizing Social Security in January.
KERRY: He said, and I quote him, "we're going to move quickly to privatize Social Security." Those are his words.
JOHNS: The attack has special resonance in Florida, with the largest number of retired residents per capita in the country. The Bush campaign denied the quote and said the president has never used the word "privatization," accusing Kerry of scaring seniors.
But the Commerce Secretary said the president is taking the long view.
DONALD L. EVANS, COMMERCE SECRETARY: He has consistently said for the last five or six years that we need to give serious consideration for the young people of this country to be able to have private accounts within the Social Security system, so that over a 30 or 40 year period, they will have a nice nest egg to retire on.
JOHNS: Kerry started the day in another key swing state, Ohio, attending church for the second time this weekend, trying to rally African-American voters with reminders of the recount war four years ago.
KERRY: You have my pledge. You get to the polls, and we're going to make sure that this time, not only does every vote count, but every vote is going to be counted.
JOHNS (on camera): Kerry continues a Florida swing on Monday. He's to give a health care speech, unveiling a new proposal to present a repeat of the flu vaccine shortage, another issue senior citizens care about.
Joe Johns, CNN, Pembrook Pines, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, President Bush was at the White House today, but is gearing up to go to New Jersey, a traditionally Democratic state, but a strategically perfect place for tomorrow's anti-terrorism speech.
Here's Elaine Quijano at the White House today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just over two weeks left to reach the shrinking number of undecideds and most polls show a neck-and-neck race. But a new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll gives President Bush an edge over Senator John Kerry, among likely voters, 52 percent to 44 percent, among registered voters, 49-46. Bush aides say they have the momentum and note the debates which instant polls showed Kerry won, did not have an effect on Kerry's favorable rating. Both sides say anything could still happen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only poll that matters and that's the one on November 2nd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only one poll that matters, Wolf and that's on November 2nd.
QUIJANO: The president picked up several newspaper endorsements, including the "Chicago Tribune" which supported him in 2000. The "Tribune" cites his resoluteness in fighting terrorism. Denver's "Rocky Mountain News" also threw its support behind Bush citing his foreign policy vision. But some say an endorsement by a much smaller paper, the "Canton Repository" in Stark County, Ohio could hold more sway. Analysts say in a smaller community, the endorsement for Bush could have much bigger influence in a swing county in a swing state.
This week the president heads to several battleground states including Florida, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Add to that New Jersey, a traditionally Democratic stronghold where the president is set to give a speech on terrorism Monday. Hundreds of New Jersey residents died in the September 11th attacks and as one senior Bush aide put it, voters still feel the personal sting of 9/11.
Behind the scenes administration officials say they've been reaching out to congressional leaders trying to get a bill on 9/11 intelligence reforms to the president's desk as soon as possible. Republicans say lawmakers plan to meet Wednesday to work out differences in the House and Senate versions of the legislation.
SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN) MAJORITY LEADER: On Wednesday, the conference report, the conferees, the senators and the House members will meet to pull those two bills together and I'm very hopeful that over the next several weeks, we will send a bill to the president, to the United States, which will be the most far-reaching reform in over 50 years of our intelligence community.
QUIJANO: Before leaving the White House Monday, President Bush will sign the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for next fiscal year 2005. The money will go to pay for border protection, transportation security, and first responders.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, we've got something that's hardly a barometer of how voters vote, but the country's newspapers, large and small, each election year make public their endorsements.
Well, today, "The Chicago Tribune" backed President Bush. And he also has Denver's "Rocky Mountain News" and several smaller western and Midwestern papers who's endorsements are considered as influential as the big ones.
Senator Kerry, no surprise on the two major newspapers in his corner, "The New York Times" and "The Boston Globe." Also, "The Star Tribune" of Minneapolis and Atlanta's "Journal Constitution" support the Democrat.
Now on its editorial page, the Atlanta paper slammed the Bush administration for a "ideology the recognizes no shading of gray."
Well, this election clearly doesn't hinge on the endorsements, but on a handful perhaps of a few states. Bill Schneider has been crunching the numbers. He's our senior political analyst.
Good evening, Bill.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Evening, Carol.
LIN: We made up a map showing some of the swing states. Now we have a number eight, OK, that basically lists off Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio. Those are considered the swing states, but you actually have three, three specific states in mind. We made up a map there for folks.
SCHNEIDER: There you go.
LIN: There you go.
SCHNEIDER: Those are the three. They all have at least 20 electoral votes, much bigger than all those other swing states. Those are crucial states.
Here's the rule of thumb. If either candidate, whichever candidate wins two of those three states, is likely to be the next president.
In 2000, President Bush carried Ohio and in a close call, Florida. Gore carried Pennsylvania. So he became president. That's the thing to watch for on election night. And those are the polls to look at.
All of the polls, including our own, that we've been reporting, are within the margin of error. But those are national polls. This is all about the electoral college. Watch what's happening in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. Two out of three, you're going to be president.
LIN: All right. Taking a look at some of the newspaper endorsements, I mean a smaller newspaper, "The Tampa Tribune" said it made a "achingly painful decision" not to make an endorsement. Typically -- usually for a Republican, but no endorsement. The first time for this newspaper since 1964. What does that tell you about what is happening if not in Tampa, perhaps even in the state of Florida?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Florida is still on the line. The latest poll in Florida shows exactly the same result as in 2000. 48 Bush, 48 Kerry, which is what happened between Bush and Gore in 2000. It's a very tough election in Florida. And that's one of the states we're watching.
You know, newspaper endorsements usually make a difference in lower level races, where voters are less familiar with the candidates. They don't know much about the candidates. They're not on television. So they follow what the newspaper says.
But everybody, everybody knows the presidential candidates. So newspapers usually don't make as much of a difference with their endorsements, except in very small towns and rural areas, places like Canton, Ohio, where people feel much more of an attachment to their local newspaper and where they do have more influence. And that's where this campaign is being fought, in rural areas and small towns.
LIN: "Canton Repository" endorsing President Bush. Let's take a look at some of our own polling data, the most recent one which just came out just a few hours ago.
Choice for president, this is what CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup found. Likely voters -- among likely voters, 52 percent for George W. Bush, 44 percent for John Kerry. Bush ahead by 2 percentage points. Still within the margin of error. Registered voters, 49 percent for Bush, 46 percent for Kerry.
What are you seeing here, Bill? I mean, it's still a dead heat.
SCHNEIDER: It's still a dead heat. It's very close, like all the other national polls, but this suggests the higher their turnout, the more the Democrats can stimulate a high turnout, the better chance Kerry has. That's why the Democrats are making such a push to get as many registered voters as possible out to vote.
LIN: Now here's the one that I don't know understand. When asked the question who do you think will win the election, look at this disparity. 20 points between George Bush and John Kerry. With George W. Bush with 56 percent of the vote.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, that's right. And that's having some consequences. One of the surprising things we found in our poll is the Democrats are a bit less enthusiastic about voting than Republicans are this year. It's one of the things that are giving -- that's giving Bush his edge.
And one of the reasons is that those Democrats who do not expect Kerry to win say they are less enthusiastic about voting. So therefore, the Democrats have to take -- have to pump up their troops. They have to rally them and say Kerry really does have a chance, because Democrats who feel demoralized are less likely to vote.
LIN: All right, we'll see what happens. November 2nd just around the corner, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
LIN: All right. And a lot may hinge also on the war on terror, which is why we're going to take a look at the situation in Iraq, where the plot is thickening.
The U.S. military begins an investigation into the refusal by some soldiers to make a fuel delivery because of safety concerns. But now "The Washington Post" says that last winter, the top commander complained to the Pentagon that his supply situation was so poor, that it threatened the troops' ability to fight.
Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez commanded troops in Iraq until just a few months ago. Senior Army officials said that most of Sanchez's concerns have been addressed at least in recent months.
Meanwhile, there's a preliminary investigation going on. And some results into why 18 U.S. soldiers refused that fuel delivery. Well, it finds that those troops who've been driving that same dangerous delivery route for the last nine months had a history of reporting their vehicles were unreliable. They refused to take fuel tankers on a supply run from Tallil in southeastern Iraq to Baghdad. Military commanders are trying to downplay this.
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BRIG. GEN. JAMES CHAMBERS, U.S. ARMY: This is a single event. It's confined to a small group of individuals who would have had an impact on good order and discipline in the unit.
If the investigation bears out any wrongdoing, the appropriate action will be taken to ensure discipline is maintained. To facilitate the investigation, the soldiers involved will remove to a separate location, where they could be privately questioned.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Now General Chambers says the soldiers are all back on duty doing maintenance and safety training.
Well, while the daily refueling trips are dangerous for coalition troops, it seems safe enough for Iraq's interim prime minister Iyad Allawi to walk around Sadr City to see if militants are in fact turning in their weapons.
Our Karl Penhaul was with him.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was visiting the eastern slum district of Baghdad known as Sadr City. He met there with local tribal and religious leaders, but the main purpose of that trip was to inspect progress on the weapons buyback program. The main aim of that program is to disarm the Mehdi army militia. Those are gunmen loyal to the renegade Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr, gunmen who have been battling against coalition and Iraqi forces on and off for many months now.
Minutes before Allawi's arrival at the soccer stadium, a mortar round did explode. There were reports that three Iraqis were killed. Allawi's visit was rescheduled for later in the day. Coalition authorities so far have been very lukewarm on the progress there, saying that there's only a glimmer of success so far, saying that they expect many more weapons to be handed in over the coming days. Otherwise they will resume raids in the area.
Prime Minister Allawi, however, was much more upbeat. He said things were moving in the right direction, and suggested this could be used as a model for disarmament programs elsewhere in Iraq.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, elsewhere in Baghdad, another brutal reminder that this is a country at war. Seven people are killed in a car bomb explosion. Reuters quotes the U.S. military as saying the bomb targeted Iraqi police at a cafe. At least 20 people are wounded. The blast went off in a district where U.N. offices and the Australian embassy are located.
Britain's ambassador to Iraq is pleading now also for information that would lead to the recovery of the remains of former hostage Ken Bigley. Bigley and two Americans were kidnapped last month. And as you recall, all three were beheaded.
Now in the Sunni heartland, no let up in the U.S. assault on insurgent positions in Fallujah. Three people are killed in an air strike on the city's northwest area. And two insurgents are wounded when tanks hit positions in the eastern part of the city.
The assault on Fallujah is part of a wider strategy to pacify Sunni areas. Later in our program, our Brian Todd reports on what lies behind the U.S. strategy, and how commanders hope to regain control of the volatile Sunni region. That is coming up.
In the meantime, a shot in the arm. That has become a major cause for concern this past week. Up next, we're going to talk with our newsmaker about the supply and demand for flu shots. Also...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He had threatened that anybody who would ever speak of it would be raked through the mud.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: He said, she said. We're going to go inside the sexual harassment accusation facing Bill O'Reilly. And homecoming fit for a giant. Yao Ming brings a few friends to his Chinese homeland.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: There is palpable fear that people think they may die if they do not get a flu shot, or at least a flu vaccine. That is in desperate short supply.
Now in a moment, my interview with the Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on what's being done. But first, our Sara Dorsey looks at the scene across America.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This year's flu shot season, hurry up and wait. Sometimes that means five or six hours in line for a vaccine that many are used to getting easily.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So they were here like 6:30, 7:00.
DORSEY: Complaints for the most part are minimal, though. Many of these people just feel lucky to finally have found a dose.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were at Public's, and they didn't have any more shots available. So we came over here and got a number, and hopefully we'll make it.
DORSEY: Some did make it. And others were turned away. Only 130 vaccines were made available to this Eckerd's drugstore in Georgia. And the scene is similar in other states. In the nation's capitol, more lines. In Michigan, people wait in cars. As the shot becomes more scarce, frustrations begin to rise.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not organized properly. You know, the issue -- you should have a time scheduled or get something pre-done early, instead of lining cars up.
DORSEY: Peggy Meaney's daughter-in-law works for the CDC, proving even knowing someone won't get you help this year.
PEGGY MEANY, SEARCHING FOR FLU SHOT: Seems like no sooner do you find out that there is one, than they're all filled up. So I wish there was a better way, a more accurate way.
DORSEY (on camera): Unless the CDC can find a way to stretch the 54 million doses of the vaccine on hand, a better way is probably at least a year away.
Sara Dorsey, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, you saw the long lines and the tempers on edge. And a mild panic in some places. And the Bush administration got repeated warnings the vaccine supply was vulnerable.
Well, earlier today, I spoke with Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. He is our newsmaker tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOMMY THOMPSON, SEC. OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: We had anticipated we were going to have 100 million doses of vaccine. And when you end up only getting 55 million, that is quite a surprise. And it was quite a shock.
But the truth of the matter is, it's nobody's mistake. The company which is -- United States company, which manufactures in England, made a mistake in the manufacturing process. And as a result of that, 50 million doses that we were supposed to receive didn't come.
LIN: And I know Congress is investigating. The Justice Department is investigating. Your department is on the situation. But when we take a look at these very dire pictures of long lines of old people...
THOMPSON: Yes.
LIN: ...the chronically ill, some people who are young, already a doctor at Columbia University says that we are in the middle of a health crisis. Do you agree with that assessment?
THOMPSON: No, it is not a health crisis. In fact, I would like to tell individuals just be calm. And don't stand in line, because we have approximately 24 million doses of vaccine that have not been shipped yet. We're reallocating those vaccines and shipments to regions that are -- have a shortage. And we want to make sure first off, that our elderly citizens, those age 65 and older, get the vaccine first, because that is where the biggest number of vulnerabilities really are. Ninety percent of the people that die from flu are individuals over the age of 65. So that's our number one priority.
Second priority is to get children between the ages of six months and 24 months covered by vaccine. And the third one are those that are immune suppressed or those individuals that have chronic illnesses. And the fourth one, of course, are pregnant mothers and health workers.
And we're encouraging people to use common sense. Stay home when you're sick. And get some other things to protect you, such as Ramanadyne (ph), which is a protective or prophylactic, if in fact you come in contact with the flu virus.
LIN: Mr. Secretary, but clearly, there is a panic out there. Yesterday, a 79 year old woman died from a head injury from standing in line. Given that at least there is a supply of vaccine coming, can you then assure the American public that no one will die as a direct result of a shortage in the flu vaccine, that everybody who needs a vaccine will get it this year?
THOMPSON: No. Nobody can make that kind of an assurance, Carol. And I wouldn't try to. But I would like people to be calm. And if there are lines, don't wait. Come back another day. And if the individual clinics or nursing homes don't have the vaccine right now, let us know. And we will be reallocating vaccine across this country, especially to take care of those individuals that do it.
The worst thing for seniors to do is to wait in line and get sick while they're waiting in line. Please just understand that we're on top of this thing.
LIN: Right.
THOMPSON: And we are doing everything we possibly can to protect you. And we're going to be able to continue to do so.
LIN: Is the administration going after price gougers? There are doctors, there are people who are administering this vaccine for something like 10 times the amount...
THOMPSON: Oh, absolutely.
LIN: ...of the normal going rate.
THOMPSON: And it really makes us really sad to see that happening, Carol. And I sent a letter out last week to every attorney general in the United States, saying please prosecute these individuals for price gouging.
The worst thing in the world is when you do have a situation, which are preying on elderly's minds about the lack of vaccine at this point in time, is to gouge the marketplace. And we have no sympathy for those individuals. And we're encouraging the attorney generals to take stern action against those individuals.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Secretary Thompson said three million vaccines are arriving every week. And no, the 62-year old is not getting a flu shot this year, because he says he is not yet in a high risk group.
But the Kerry campaign is jumping on the vaccine shortage and having a field day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Three years ago, medical experts warned George Bush that a dangerous shortage loomed. Instead of fixing the problem, production of the vaccine was sent to a factory overseas. The vaccines were contaminated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: But the Republicans are not taking that lying down. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was on CNN's "LATE EDITION" earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FRIST: The president is not responsible. In fact, if you look 30 years ago, there were about 25 companies making vaccines. Today, there are five in the world. There are only two that make children's vaccines. There used to be 15.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Which brings us to our last call question. Do you believe the Bush administration's view that there isn't a flu crisis? Give us a call at 1-800-807-2620.
All righty, staying in the race for the White House, but now Ralph Nader is making an offer to Democrats that could swing a few votes in November.
And it's not exactly a whale of a tale, but it is making a big splash at the box office. We've got those details.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Now for a look at the stories making news tonight and tomorrow. Kerry poll setback. By our polling, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry appears to lose ground even though most viewers say Kerry won the three debates. A new CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll gives George Bush a 49 to 46 percent edge among registered voters. A statistical tie, given the four point margin of error.
But among likely voters, Bush has a larger spread. 52 percent to 44 percent.
Al Zarqawi charged. Jordan's military prosecutor presents charges against 17 alleged militants, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for plotting against targets in Jordan, including the U.S. embassy. Al Zarqawi is the big name behind the anti-U.S. attacks and kidnappings in Iraq.
And in Iraq, Sunni heartland, punishing air and tank strikes by U.S. forces against targets in Fallujah. Now these are not isolated attacks. They follow a pattern. Earlier this month, American and Iraqi forces retook the town of Samarra, using similar tactics.
So what is the big picture? Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The push into Fallujah, on one front, a powerful display of lethal force. But as U.S.-led forces hit insurgent targets, analysts say a broader strategy is at work, one that began with the offensive in the Sunni triangle city of Samarra earlier this month.
KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTEL ANALYST: One of the things that they're doing right now is carrot and stick. They're going to try to reach out at tribal leaders at local levels, block to block and they're going to try to use incentive and those areas where someone is harboring or supporting an insurgent or a jihadist, they're going to bomb those buildings and they're going to chase where those people go and then they're going to bomb that building.
TODD: Analysts say local leaders who work with coalition forces and give up insurgent fighters will be given the chance to exchange weapons for money. U.S.-led commanders, they say, want to send many signals to locals in the most dangerous cities, that U.S. forces and their Iraqi allies want to work with the locals, that they're coming in waves, that they're not going anywhere anytime soon and that they have overwhelming power to back all of it up. Not a new strategy according to military experts, but one that has taken on greater urgency as the interim Iraqi government tries to establish credibility ahead of the January elections.
GEN. GEORGE JOULWAN, FMR NATO SUPREME COMMANDER: I think there's some room here for the interim government in time to be able to also get its influence into that area. But you have to get rid of the leadership of these insurgents. And Zarqawi is one of the often-named and other foreign influence in that city. That has to go.
TODD: Abu Musab Zarqawi is a particular problem right now, a clearly menacing presence with a dangerous band of foreign jihadists. His group just designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. But a top military official tells CNN coalition commanders are frustrated, believing Zarqawi has been built up in the media as, in his words, a rock star. Terrorism experts agree. Some perspective on Zarqawi is desperately needed.
MAGNUS RANSTORP, UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS: Presidents and government leaders always have to pinpoint to someone that, you know, who they can identify with. It is much more complex than that. There's not just one al Qaeda or Zarqawi, there are many al Qaedas and Zarqawi's.
TODD: As for this particular Zarqawi, one analyst with close ties to the U.S. military tells me, he is not a master terrorist. There will be nothing magic about his demise. And in his words, eventually they'll run this guy down. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Up next, in our rap sheet, our contributors Jayne Weintraub and Wendy Murphy tonight the gloves are off on the O'Reilly. We're talking about Bill O'Reilly, the sexual harassment case.
And don't forget our "Last Call" question. Do you believe there is not a flu crisis? Give us a call at 1 800 807-2620.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Time for tonight's "Rap Sheet," and up first, the Scott Peterson double murder trial. The judge brought proceedings to an abrupt stop last week because of a dispute over concrete. CNN's Rusty Dornin explains.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The trial came to a halt last week over the concrete used to make this anchor found at the bottom of Scott Peterson's boat. Sources tell CNN prosecutors needed more time to counter testimony by a defense witness, an engineer who is an expert in concrete. The defense claims Peterson made the anchor and used the remainder of a 90-lb. bag of cement to do a backyard project. The prosecution contends Peterson used the bag of cement to make five anchors, four of them to weight down Laci Peterson's body in San Francisco bay, anchors that were never found.
A prosecution witness said the concrete in the anchor did not match the concrete in the backyard. The defense expert is expected to say the concrete is the same. The defense could point to this wiretapped conversation between Scott Peterson and Laci Peterson's brother Brent Rocha.
BRENT ROCHA, LACI'S BROTHER: They talk about cement in your shop that used for, I don't know, anchors or something.
SCOTT PETERSON: Yes, I made a boat anchor with some cement and I put some in the driveway here.
DORNIN: Analysts foresee a battle of experts. Key could be a pathologist expected to testify Laci Peterson's fetus survived past December 24th. If jurors believe that, it could exonerate Scott Peterson who was under surveillance after his wife's disappearance.
The defense may also call a witness to cast doubt on prosecution claims that the dog Tremble (ph) picked up Laci Peterson's scent at the Berkeley marina.
(on-camera): Defense attorney Mark Geragos is expected to take six to eight days to present his case. The judge has told the jury he hopes they will begin deliberations November 3rd.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right. Now, let's get into the no sin zone. OK, that's a bit cheeky, but the Bill O'Reilly case did capture the public imagination this week. It certainly got our attention here at CNN. And what's a little celebrity scandal every now and again? Let's bring in our regular CNN contributors, former state prosecutor Wendy Murphy and criminal defense attorney Jayne Weintraub. Good to see both of you.
WENDY MURPHY, FORMER STATE PROSECUTOR: Hi, Carol.
LIN: All right. Jayne, they say he says it's extortion. She says it's sexual harassment. What do you think?
JAYNE WEINTRAUB, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I think it's extortion. I think that for sexual harassment you have to have two things. You have to have the fact that it's an unwelcome advance and it has to create a hostile work environment. From the e-mails that this young lady was sending to her friends saying how happy she was, wonderful work environment, happy to home with, back with Bill O'Reilly, I can't imagine that the sexual harassment case will go anywhere. I think it's a shame.
LIN: Wendy is there evidence of extortion, because according to her, the young woman's attorney, he says, look, that $60 million figure only came up in conversation with Fox's attorneys when he said, when he asked, how much is this man worth to the network? How much revenue does he bring in. That's where the $60 million figure came in.
MURPHY: Right, right. That was the suspicion from the get-go, that this lawyer wasn't dumb enough to demand $60 million. But still I think it has a feel of extortion to it. I don't know if we would use the technical, criminal, legal term, but this is my concern. I mean I don't have a doubt at all that the tapes exist and that it happened, that it is sexual harassment, that she had a right to bring a lawsuit. But she had no right to demand $1 million, let alone, $5, $10 or $60...
LIN: Why?
MURPHY: ... because this kind of case -- I handle these cases all the time. This -- talking dirty, even over the course of a period of time, to a subordinate, just isn't worth $1 million or $10 million. Maybe a couple of hundred thousand dollars and you don't get extra because it's Bill O'Reilly. That's called extortion, even if it's not a technical, legal, criminal term.
WEINTRAUB: Well, why should she have gone back to work? What about her accountability? Why should she get a couple of hundred thousand dollars? That's a lot of dollars, OK. I don't think she has any meritorious lawsuit. She went back there. She's desperate. She went for dinner with him. She repeatedly talked to him. I mean
(CROSSTALK)
MURPHY: That may be something the jury could take into account in judging her credibility, but the bottom line is, if those tapes exist, if he persistently called her and did those things to her, whether or not the jury thinks she shouldn't have gone back to work there, the bottom line is, that is sexual harassment. That's the very definition of sexual harassment and she could win. But, she has no business asking for -- reminds me of the Paula Jones case. Paula Jones had a right to bring her lawsuit against Bill Clinton too. But she had no business asking for $2 million. How scary can it be
(CROSSTALK)
LIN: Is there any kind of compensation that an alleged victim, that if this is proven, all right, take the famous names out of it. If it is proven, what is legitimate compensation to a woman who felt pressure from her boss that he was going to, the next time around was, the threat was that he was going to be saying these things to her in person. That implied that something may happen. He was expecting something to happen.
WEINTRAUB: Carol, we don't know what she was saying to him. Maybe she was provoking him. Maybe she even liked it. Why was she taping him? Maybe she knew he'd call back again. I mean she to me, seems as if she was setting it up, number one. And number two, she's been all over the TV the past few days. I mean why is she trying the case on the television like it's a movie set, as opposed to in the courtroom?
LIN: They describe though two weeks of background, private conversation between her attorney and the network, because she didn't want to put herself in the position of taking on one of the biggest stars in cable news. She wanted her attorney to handle it. He was in serious discussions with the network and he says, according to him, he said, all of a sudden, they put -- they slammed the hammer down and served them with papers.
MURPHY: Look, the bottom line is, they were obviously trying to settle this. They couldn't come up with a number that was close enough. One of them was too far away from the other and that's what you do. You walk away and it becomes public. But you know what, there remains a great deal of value to the plaintiff in this case, because the tapes haven't yet been played to the public and I think the case is going to be settled in exchange for keeping those tapes very quiet for the rest of our lives.
WEINTRAUB: O'Reilly can't afford to do that at this point.
LIN: Quickly, let's talk about the Michael Jackson case. One of the attorneys dropped out of the case, Steve Cochran. What does this mean Jayne?
WEINTRAUB: We really don't know. We just don't know. It could be a personal reason Carol. I mean I don't think it's fair to Michael Jackson to make it seem as if it's another defense, like it's another aspersion cast upon his lack of credibility.
LIN: It doesn't look good when your attorney quits your case, just what a month and a half before the trial.
WEINTRAUB: There could be a personal reason for that. We just don't know. I mean
LIN: Why would they release that then? Why wouldn't they say -- why wouldn't the Jackson camp say, poor Steve Cochran, due to family obligations he cannot participate in this case.
MURPHY: That's right. The silence is deafening, because if there really were an innocent explanation, Carol, you're right. They would have told us about it. Look, one of the reasons defense attorneys quit is usually because they're trying to concoct a reason for a delay. Look what Robert Blake has done. How many lawyers has he gone through, oh, and he happens to fire them on the eve of the trial date. Oh, how convenient. I don't know that that's the explanation here. I suspect it's something more strategic, but it doesn't look good for Michael Jackson to have lawyers in and out, in and out and one of those lawyers may end up being a witness in the case, if not a charged co- conspirator, Mark Geragos, who had to leave because he was involved in behavior that some people suspect is why the kid was feeling intimated and his family was being harassed.
WEINTRAUB: Oh, Wendy, please.
(CROSSTALK)
LIN: Catch us up. Catch us up. What is this about? What do you think he did?
MURPHY: Well, Mark Geragos very early on was boasting that he had actually sat down with the victim and his family and had taken statements from them and had them sign papers and he was boasting about his role in causing those statements to be taken. ... put him in a position of being a witness and if he did anything intimidating, he may well be charged.
LIN: But Jayne, do you think, I mean would he actually have to take the stand? Wouldn't that be wild?
WEINTRAUB: Mark would probably have to take the strand in an evidentiary hearing, yes he would. However, that's not what's at issue here. What's at issue here is on November 4th, there's going to be a hearing on whether or not the bail should be reduced from $3 million and whether or not the district attorney himself, Tom Sneddon has to be removed from prosecuting the case. And that is the core issue.
LIN: They're running out of players in this trial. We're losing attorneys. We might be losing a prosecutor.
WEINTRAUB: As well we should.
MURPHY: And that's a beautiful argument. I don't have enough, $3 million for my bail. Oops, but I did pay $25 million to two little boys to make them stay silent, because I was worth so much money that no one should take the negative inference that maybe I was guilty. Oh, I have too much money, not enough money, which is it Michael Jackson?
LIN: We'll find out. Trial starts January 31st, a big maybe. We'll see what happens. Thanks Jayne, thanks Wendy.
MURPHY: Thank you.
WEINTRAUB: Thanks.
LIN: Let's take a look around the nation right now.
All right. Ralph Nader down but not out. The independent presidential long shot says he's in the race for the duration, but wouldn't pass up some Democratic money if offered. Nader told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he'd gladly star in an anti-Bush TV commercial if Kerry donors pick up the tab. Fat chance.
And it was billed as the million worker march, blue collar employees, coast to coast, rallied on the national mall today, concerned about health care, jobs and the war in Iraq. Organizers did not really expect a million people to show up, but about 10,000 did. And this ain't your average fish story. Moviegoers bought more tickets to "Shark Tale" this weekend than any other, for the third straight weekend. The Dreamworks animation is up to its gills in star voice power and it took in $22 million this weekend alone. "Shark Tale" easily chewed up the next best finisher, the football flick, "Friday Night Lights."
All right. We've got much more straight ahead, so stay right there. Spotlight coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: In our spotlight tonight, it focuses on southern Russia, the town of Beslan remains clouded by immense sadness. More than a month after the tragic end of the school hostage crisis, the shock, the incomprehensible loss and in some cases, decisions made that will haunt the people of Beslan forever. Here is our Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anetta returns to the gym showers where she and her two daughters were kept by the terrorists. Leaning against the door where she said her last good-bye to her 9-year-old. She cries. Alana, forgive me for leaving.
ANETTA: Every day, every day I think about it. I think, think...
CHILCOTE: And losing her English continues. "Before, I thought I didn't have a choice, but now my sense of guilt is overwhelming me more and more, even though everyone is always telling me that I did the right thing."
A thin, pale, weak Anetta marks the 40th day after Alana's death. The end of the mourning period for Orthodox Christians. A day when they believe the souls of the dead rise to heaven.
The more time passes; Anetta's pain only grows. "Then it was so fresh and the pain wasn't so sharp, now, everything just repeats. She doesn't come home, she doesn't appear in my dreams and I can't change anything."
Little Malena has changed. The daughter Anetta saved has learned to wave good-bye in the last month.
ANETTA: Yes, she changed, I think. She becomes more aggressive. In the night, she all the time cry.
CHILCOTE: With the mourning period now over, it is traditional here for the men, in this case, Anetta's husband, to seek revenge. Eye for an eye.
ANETTA: I don't want to kill the children, but I want that their mothers, these terrorist mothers...
CHILCOTE: She continues in Russian, "to suffer as we suffer." Anetta's suffering only grows when she goes back to Alana's school, where she, again, asks for her forgiveness.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Beslan, Russia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: It's been a long hot summer for you hard core fans. Even for October and the return of the NBA. Well, this week, the longest pre-season road trip, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, in Beijing, yes, that Beijing. Jaime FlorCruz reports on an extra large homecoming in a vast land of hoop hungry fans.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These Chinese fans forked out a lot of money to get good seats for an NBA game.
LU RUNOOING, NBA FAN: ... because I admire their skills, especially the slam dunks.
FLORCRUZ: The sell out crowd came out to watch the first ever NBA game to be played in Beijing.
(on-camera): Chinese basketball fans have been watching NBA games for years and now they're ready for the real stuff, this one a match up between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings. The star of the game was the hugely likable Chinese center Yao Ming, now an NBA star and a national hero. Basketball is already one of the most popular sports in China, but Yao Ming's success has given it even more boost, inspiring amateurs and professionals alike to hone their skills. Yao says the pre-season game is for him something special.
YAO MING, HOUSTON ROCKETS: It's the first time to play NBA games back home. It's a great chance for the Chinese fans to enjoy the NBA experience.
FLORCRUZ: And that includes experiencing American culture and consumerism. These fans closely follow details of their NBA idols, even their jerseys and shoes.
RUNOOING: When I go out, I wear NBA clothes and many people think it's cool. I wear jerseys featuring Kobe, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and Jordan.
FLORCRUZ: Fans like him make NBA market strategists a little giddy. Encouraged by the prospects of tapping China's 1.3 billion people.
DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: I think there are probably 1.3 billion reasons why China is important, given the fact that basketball is the number one team sport amongst kids in China. It would seem to me a natural that as China grows, so will the NBA's business here grow.
FLORCRUZ: With the prospect of more Yao Ming's emerging in the future, the NBA is looking for more slam dunks in China. Jaime FlorCruz, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: And on that note, we're going to leave you with tonight's responses to our last call question. Do you believe the Bush administration's view that there is not a flu crisis? Here's some of your thoughts. Have a great night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CALLER: Yes, I do believe that there is not a flu crisis and the drug companies, this is just a ploy for them to make money and all based on fear.
CALLER: The Bush administration is absolutely correct in saying there's no flu crisis, totally absurd to blame a company's manufacturing fault on the president.
CALLER: I believe that is the Bush administration's responsibility and that this has been overlooked by them because they had received warnings that there would be a problem and they didn't take action when they had the opportunity to do so.
CALLER: No, of course. Stop trying to blame everything on the Bush administration.
CALLER: Yes, I do believe they knew it was a crisis and did nothing about it.
CALLER: I believe that Bush is not telling the truth. I believe there is a flu crisis and if 50 percent of the people that need it will get it if they're lucky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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Aired October 17, 2004 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN SUNDAY NIGHT. The presidential race, the new poll out tonight and the states to watch. Our Bill Schneider is absolutely certain the future of these men will depend on only three states.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREA MACKRIS: I just said no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him about his saucy language.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: The accuser who is suing Bill O'Reilly for sexual harassment. The gloves are off as the case is up for debate in our rap sheet tonight.
And Yao Ming, he's a seven foot six Chinese man who lives with his parents. And he's an NBA phenom playing on his home turf in China. These stories and a lot more next on CNN SUNDAY NIGHT.
Good evening, I'm Carol Lin from the CNN Center in Atlanta. Ahead tonight, the Scott Peterson case. The new evidence and the defense's case. We're going to show you who you're going to see on the stand when court convenes tomorrow.
Also, the panic to get flu shots. My interview with Secretary Tommy Thompson on whether the U.S. is in fact facing a health crisis. And in our spotlight tonight, a Russian mother forced to choose between her children. Who would she leave behind with the terrorists? And which child's life would she save? Our Ryan Chilcote goes back to Beslan.
Up first tonight, election politics U.S.A. Two weeks and some change until election day. And it's been a long time since one of the two main candidates has enjoyed a decisive lead. Our own poll released just hours ago has startling numbers.
The latest CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll shows the Republican Bush- Cheney ticket leading John Kerry and John Edwards by eight percentage points among likely voters. But notice the margin of error, which puts them dead even.
It's much closer among registered voters who responded. Three other major polls, "The Washington Post," "Newsweek" and "Zogby" also give a slight edge to the president. It is a close, close race and one that sends the Democrat to a battleground state today.
Our congressional correspondent Joe Johns reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before a large crowd in Pembrook Pines, Senator Kerry issued an urgent bilingual appeal to south Floridians to show up early when voting begins here on Monday morning.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Necessitos su voto. Necessitos su ayuda. I need your help. I need your votes. Not for me, not for me, not for John Edwards, but for you and for our country because we have to lift this nation up.
JOHNS: There was a new line of attack, playing off of a "New York Times" magazine article asserting that the president told Republican insiders he was planning to come out strong for privatizing Social Security in January.
KERRY: He said, and I quote him, "we're going to move quickly to privatize Social Security." Those are his words.
JOHNS: The attack has special resonance in Florida, with the largest number of retired residents per capita in the country. The Bush campaign denied the quote and said the president has never used the word "privatization," accusing Kerry of scaring seniors.
But the Commerce Secretary said the president is taking the long view.
DONALD L. EVANS, COMMERCE SECRETARY: He has consistently said for the last five or six years that we need to give serious consideration for the young people of this country to be able to have private accounts within the Social Security system, so that over a 30 or 40 year period, they will have a nice nest egg to retire on.
JOHNS: Kerry started the day in another key swing state, Ohio, attending church for the second time this weekend, trying to rally African-American voters with reminders of the recount war four years ago.
KERRY: You have my pledge. You get to the polls, and we're going to make sure that this time, not only does every vote count, but every vote is going to be counted.
JOHNS (on camera): Kerry continues a Florida swing on Monday. He's to give a health care speech, unveiling a new proposal to present a repeat of the flu vaccine shortage, another issue senior citizens care about.
Joe Johns, CNN, Pembrook Pines, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, President Bush was at the White House today, but is gearing up to go to New Jersey, a traditionally Democratic state, but a strategically perfect place for tomorrow's anti-terrorism speech.
Here's Elaine Quijano at the White House today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just over two weeks left to reach the shrinking number of undecideds and most polls show a neck-and-neck race. But a new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll gives President Bush an edge over Senator John Kerry, among likely voters, 52 percent to 44 percent, among registered voters, 49-46. Bush aides say they have the momentum and note the debates which instant polls showed Kerry won, did not have an effect on Kerry's favorable rating. Both sides say anything could still happen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only poll that matters and that's the one on November 2nd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only one poll that matters, Wolf and that's on November 2nd.
QUIJANO: The president picked up several newspaper endorsements, including the "Chicago Tribune" which supported him in 2000. The "Tribune" cites his resoluteness in fighting terrorism. Denver's "Rocky Mountain News" also threw its support behind Bush citing his foreign policy vision. But some say an endorsement by a much smaller paper, the "Canton Repository" in Stark County, Ohio could hold more sway. Analysts say in a smaller community, the endorsement for Bush could have much bigger influence in a swing county in a swing state.
This week the president heads to several battleground states including Florida, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Add to that New Jersey, a traditionally Democratic stronghold where the president is set to give a speech on terrorism Monday. Hundreds of New Jersey residents died in the September 11th attacks and as one senior Bush aide put it, voters still feel the personal sting of 9/11.
Behind the scenes administration officials say they've been reaching out to congressional leaders trying to get a bill on 9/11 intelligence reforms to the president's desk as soon as possible. Republicans say lawmakers plan to meet Wednesday to work out differences in the House and Senate versions of the legislation.
SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN) MAJORITY LEADER: On Wednesday, the conference report, the conferees, the senators and the House members will meet to pull those two bills together and I'm very hopeful that over the next several weeks, we will send a bill to the president, to the United States, which will be the most far-reaching reform in over 50 years of our intelligence community.
QUIJANO: Before leaving the White House Monday, President Bush will sign the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for next fiscal year 2005. The money will go to pay for border protection, transportation security, and first responders.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, we've got something that's hardly a barometer of how voters vote, but the country's newspapers, large and small, each election year make public their endorsements.
Well, today, "The Chicago Tribune" backed President Bush. And he also has Denver's "Rocky Mountain News" and several smaller western and Midwestern papers who's endorsements are considered as influential as the big ones.
Senator Kerry, no surprise on the two major newspapers in his corner, "The New York Times" and "The Boston Globe." Also, "The Star Tribune" of Minneapolis and Atlanta's "Journal Constitution" support the Democrat.
Now on its editorial page, the Atlanta paper slammed the Bush administration for a "ideology the recognizes no shading of gray."
Well, this election clearly doesn't hinge on the endorsements, but on a handful perhaps of a few states. Bill Schneider has been crunching the numbers. He's our senior political analyst.
Good evening, Bill.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Evening, Carol.
LIN: We made up a map showing some of the swing states. Now we have a number eight, OK, that basically lists off Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio. Those are considered the swing states, but you actually have three, three specific states in mind. We made up a map there for folks.
SCHNEIDER: There you go.
LIN: There you go.
SCHNEIDER: Those are the three. They all have at least 20 electoral votes, much bigger than all those other swing states. Those are crucial states.
Here's the rule of thumb. If either candidate, whichever candidate wins two of those three states, is likely to be the next president.
In 2000, President Bush carried Ohio and in a close call, Florida. Gore carried Pennsylvania. So he became president. That's the thing to watch for on election night. And those are the polls to look at.
All of the polls, including our own, that we've been reporting, are within the margin of error. But those are national polls. This is all about the electoral college. Watch what's happening in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. Two out of three, you're going to be president.
LIN: All right. Taking a look at some of the newspaper endorsements, I mean a smaller newspaper, "The Tampa Tribune" said it made a "achingly painful decision" not to make an endorsement. Typically -- usually for a Republican, but no endorsement. The first time for this newspaper since 1964. What does that tell you about what is happening if not in Tampa, perhaps even in the state of Florida?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Florida is still on the line. The latest poll in Florida shows exactly the same result as in 2000. 48 Bush, 48 Kerry, which is what happened between Bush and Gore in 2000. It's a very tough election in Florida. And that's one of the states we're watching.
You know, newspaper endorsements usually make a difference in lower level races, where voters are less familiar with the candidates. They don't know much about the candidates. They're not on television. So they follow what the newspaper says.
But everybody, everybody knows the presidential candidates. So newspapers usually don't make as much of a difference with their endorsements, except in very small towns and rural areas, places like Canton, Ohio, where people feel much more of an attachment to their local newspaper and where they do have more influence. And that's where this campaign is being fought, in rural areas and small towns.
LIN: "Canton Repository" endorsing President Bush. Let's take a look at some of our own polling data, the most recent one which just came out just a few hours ago.
Choice for president, this is what CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup found. Likely voters -- among likely voters, 52 percent for George W. Bush, 44 percent for John Kerry. Bush ahead by 2 percentage points. Still within the margin of error. Registered voters, 49 percent for Bush, 46 percent for Kerry.
What are you seeing here, Bill? I mean, it's still a dead heat.
SCHNEIDER: It's still a dead heat. It's very close, like all the other national polls, but this suggests the higher their turnout, the more the Democrats can stimulate a high turnout, the better chance Kerry has. That's why the Democrats are making such a push to get as many registered voters as possible out to vote.
LIN: Now here's the one that I don't know understand. When asked the question who do you think will win the election, look at this disparity. 20 points between George Bush and John Kerry. With George W. Bush with 56 percent of the vote.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, that's right. And that's having some consequences. One of the surprising things we found in our poll is the Democrats are a bit less enthusiastic about voting than Republicans are this year. It's one of the things that are giving -- that's giving Bush his edge.
And one of the reasons is that those Democrats who do not expect Kerry to win say they are less enthusiastic about voting. So therefore, the Democrats have to take -- have to pump up their troops. They have to rally them and say Kerry really does have a chance, because Democrats who feel demoralized are less likely to vote.
LIN: All right, we'll see what happens. November 2nd just around the corner, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
LIN: All right. And a lot may hinge also on the war on terror, which is why we're going to take a look at the situation in Iraq, where the plot is thickening.
The U.S. military begins an investigation into the refusal by some soldiers to make a fuel delivery because of safety concerns. But now "The Washington Post" says that last winter, the top commander complained to the Pentagon that his supply situation was so poor, that it threatened the troops' ability to fight.
Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez commanded troops in Iraq until just a few months ago. Senior Army officials said that most of Sanchez's concerns have been addressed at least in recent months.
Meanwhile, there's a preliminary investigation going on. And some results into why 18 U.S. soldiers refused that fuel delivery. Well, it finds that those troops who've been driving that same dangerous delivery route for the last nine months had a history of reporting their vehicles were unreliable. They refused to take fuel tankers on a supply run from Tallil in southeastern Iraq to Baghdad. Military commanders are trying to downplay this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. JAMES CHAMBERS, U.S. ARMY: This is a single event. It's confined to a small group of individuals who would have had an impact on good order and discipline in the unit.
If the investigation bears out any wrongdoing, the appropriate action will be taken to ensure discipline is maintained. To facilitate the investigation, the soldiers involved will remove to a separate location, where they could be privately questioned.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Now General Chambers says the soldiers are all back on duty doing maintenance and safety training.
Well, while the daily refueling trips are dangerous for coalition troops, it seems safe enough for Iraq's interim prime minister Iyad Allawi to walk around Sadr City to see if militants are in fact turning in their weapons.
Our Karl Penhaul was with him.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was visiting the eastern slum district of Baghdad known as Sadr City. He met there with local tribal and religious leaders, but the main purpose of that trip was to inspect progress on the weapons buyback program. The main aim of that program is to disarm the Mehdi army militia. Those are gunmen loyal to the renegade Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr, gunmen who have been battling against coalition and Iraqi forces on and off for many months now.
Minutes before Allawi's arrival at the soccer stadium, a mortar round did explode. There were reports that three Iraqis were killed. Allawi's visit was rescheduled for later in the day. Coalition authorities so far have been very lukewarm on the progress there, saying that there's only a glimmer of success so far, saying that they expect many more weapons to be handed in over the coming days. Otherwise they will resume raids in the area.
Prime Minister Allawi, however, was much more upbeat. He said things were moving in the right direction, and suggested this could be used as a model for disarmament programs elsewhere in Iraq.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, elsewhere in Baghdad, another brutal reminder that this is a country at war. Seven people are killed in a car bomb explosion. Reuters quotes the U.S. military as saying the bomb targeted Iraqi police at a cafe. At least 20 people are wounded. The blast went off in a district where U.N. offices and the Australian embassy are located.
Britain's ambassador to Iraq is pleading now also for information that would lead to the recovery of the remains of former hostage Ken Bigley. Bigley and two Americans were kidnapped last month. And as you recall, all three were beheaded.
Now in the Sunni heartland, no let up in the U.S. assault on insurgent positions in Fallujah. Three people are killed in an air strike on the city's northwest area. And two insurgents are wounded when tanks hit positions in the eastern part of the city.
The assault on Fallujah is part of a wider strategy to pacify Sunni areas. Later in our program, our Brian Todd reports on what lies behind the U.S. strategy, and how commanders hope to regain control of the volatile Sunni region. That is coming up.
In the meantime, a shot in the arm. That has become a major cause for concern this past week. Up next, we're going to talk with our newsmaker about the supply and demand for flu shots. Also...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He had threatened that anybody who would ever speak of it would be raked through the mud.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: He said, she said. We're going to go inside the sexual harassment accusation facing Bill O'Reilly. And homecoming fit for a giant. Yao Ming brings a few friends to his Chinese homeland.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: There is palpable fear that people think they may die if they do not get a flu shot, or at least a flu vaccine. That is in desperate short supply.
Now in a moment, my interview with the Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on what's being done. But first, our Sara Dorsey looks at the scene across America.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This year's flu shot season, hurry up and wait. Sometimes that means five or six hours in line for a vaccine that many are used to getting easily.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So they were here like 6:30, 7:00.
DORSEY: Complaints for the most part are minimal, though. Many of these people just feel lucky to finally have found a dose.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were at Public's, and they didn't have any more shots available. So we came over here and got a number, and hopefully we'll make it.
DORSEY: Some did make it. And others were turned away. Only 130 vaccines were made available to this Eckerd's drugstore in Georgia. And the scene is similar in other states. In the nation's capitol, more lines. In Michigan, people wait in cars. As the shot becomes more scarce, frustrations begin to rise.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not organized properly. You know, the issue -- you should have a time scheduled or get something pre-done early, instead of lining cars up.
DORSEY: Peggy Meaney's daughter-in-law works for the CDC, proving even knowing someone won't get you help this year.
PEGGY MEANY, SEARCHING FOR FLU SHOT: Seems like no sooner do you find out that there is one, than they're all filled up. So I wish there was a better way, a more accurate way.
DORSEY (on camera): Unless the CDC can find a way to stretch the 54 million doses of the vaccine on hand, a better way is probably at least a year away.
Sara Dorsey, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right, you saw the long lines and the tempers on edge. And a mild panic in some places. And the Bush administration got repeated warnings the vaccine supply was vulnerable.
Well, earlier today, I spoke with Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. He is our newsmaker tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOMMY THOMPSON, SEC. OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: We had anticipated we were going to have 100 million doses of vaccine. And when you end up only getting 55 million, that is quite a surprise. And it was quite a shock.
But the truth of the matter is, it's nobody's mistake. The company which is -- United States company, which manufactures in England, made a mistake in the manufacturing process. And as a result of that, 50 million doses that we were supposed to receive didn't come.
LIN: And I know Congress is investigating. The Justice Department is investigating. Your department is on the situation. But when we take a look at these very dire pictures of long lines of old people...
THOMPSON: Yes.
LIN: ...the chronically ill, some people who are young, already a doctor at Columbia University says that we are in the middle of a health crisis. Do you agree with that assessment?
THOMPSON: No, it is not a health crisis. In fact, I would like to tell individuals just be calm. And don't stand in line, because we have approximately 24 million doses of vaccine that have not been shipped yet. We're reallocating those vaccines and shipments to regions that are -- have a shortage. And we want to make sure first off, that our elderly citizens, those age 65 and older, get the vaccine first, because that is where the biggest number of vulnerabilities really are. Ninety percent of the people that die from flu are individuals over the age of 65. So that's our number one priority.
Second priority is to get children between the ages of six months and 24 months covered by vaccine. And the third one are those that are immune suppressed or those individuals that have chronic illnesses. And the fourth one, of course, are pregnant mothers and health workers.
And we're encouraging people to use common sense. Stay home when you're sick. And get some other things to protect you, such as Ramanadyne (ph), which is a protective or prophylactic, if in fact you come in contact with the flu virus.
LIN: Mr. Secretary, but clearly, there is a panic out there. Yesterday, a 79 year old woman died from a head injury from standing in line. Given that at least there is a supply of vaccine coming, can you then assure the American public that no one will die as a direct result of a shortage in the flu vaccine, that everybody who needs a vaccine will get it this year?
THOMPSON: No. Nobody can make that kind of an assurance, Carol. And I wouldn't try to. But I would like people to be calm. And if there are lines, don't wait. Come back another day. And if the individual clinics or nursing homes don't have the vaccine right now, let us know. And we will be reallocating vaccine across this country, especially to take care of those individuals that do it.
The worst thing for seniors to do is to wait in line and get sick while they're waiting in line. Please just understand that we're on top of this thing.
LIN: Right.
THOMPSON: And we are doing everything we possibly can to protect you. And we're going to be able to continue to do so.
LIN: Is the administration going after price gougers? There are doctors, there are people who are administering this vaccine for something like 10 times the amount...
THOMPSON: Oh, absolutely.
LIN: ...of the normal going rate.
THOMPSON: And it really makes us really sad to see that happening, Carol. And I sent a letter out last week to every attorney general in the United States, saying please prosecute these individuals for price gouging.
The worst thing in the world is when you do have a situation, which are preying on elderly's minds about the lack of vaccine at this point in time, is to gouge the marketplace. And we have no sympathy for those individuals. And we're encouraging the attorney generals to take stern action against those individuals.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Secretary Thompson said three million vaccines are arriving every week. And no, the 62-year old is not getting a flu shot this year, because he says he is not yet in a high risk group.
But the Kerry campaign is jumping on the vaccine shortage and having a field day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Three years ago, medical experts warned George Bush that a dangerous shortage loomed. Instead of fixing the problem, production of the vaccine was sent to a factory overseas. The vaccines were contaminated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: But the Republicans are not taking that lying down. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was on CNN's "LATE EDITION" earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FRIST: The president is not responsible. In fact, if you look 30 years ago, there were about 25 companies making vaccines. Today, there are five in the world. There are only two that make children's vaccines. There used to be 15.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Which brings us to our last call question. Do you believe the Bush administration's view that there isn't a flu crisis? Give us a call at 1-800-807-2620.
All righty, staying in the race for the White House, but now Ralph Nader is making an offer to Democrats that could swing a few votes in November.
And it's not exactly a whale of a tale, but it is making a big splash at the box office. We've got those details.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Now for a look at the stories making news tonight and tomorrow. Kerry poll setback. By our polling, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry appears to lose ground even though most viewers say Kerry won the three debates. A new CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll gives George Bush a 49 to 46 percent edge among registered voters. A statistical tie, given the four point margin of error.
But among likely voters, Bush has a larger spread. 52 percent to 44 percent.
Al Zarqawi charged. Jordan's military prosecutor presents charges against 17 alleged militants, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for plotting against targets in Jordan, including the U.S. embassy. Al Zarqawi is the big name behind the anti-U.S. attacks and kidnappings in Iraq.
And in Iraq, Sunni heartland, punishing air and tank strikes by U.S. forces against targets in Fallujah. Now these are not isolated attacks. They follow a pattern. Earlier this month, American and Iraqi forces retook the town of Samarra, using similar tactics.
So what is the big picture? Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The push into Fallujah, on one front, a powerful display of lethal force. But as U.S.-led forces hit insurgent targets, analysts say a broader strategy is at work, one that began with the offensive in the Sunni triangle city of Samarra earlier this month.
KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTEL ANALYST: One of the things that they're doing right now is carrot and stick. They're going to try to reach out at tribal leaders at local levels, block to block and they're going to try to use incentive and those areas where someone is harboring or supporting an insurgent or a jihadist, they're going to bomb those buildings and they're going to chase where those people go and then they're going to bomb that building.
TODD: Analysts say local leaders who work with coalition forces and give up insurgent fighters will be given the chance to exchange weapons for money. U.S.-led commanders, they say, want to send many signals to locals in the most dangerous cities, that U.S. forces and their Iraqi allies want to work with the locals, that they're coming in waves, that they're not going anywhere anytime soon and that they have overwhelming power to back all of it up. Not a new strategy according to military experts, but one that has taken on greater urgency as the interim Iraqi government tries to establish credibility ahead of the January elections.
GEN. GEORGE JOULWAN, FMR NATO SUPREME COMMANDER: I think there's some room here for the interim government in time to be able to also get its influence into that area. But you have to get rid of the leadership of these insurgents. And Zarqawi is one of the often-named and other foreign influence in that city. That has to go.
TODD: Abu Musab Zarqawi is a particular problem right now, a clearly menacing presence with a dangerous band of foreign jihadists. His group just designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. But a top military official tells CNN coalition commanders are frustrated, believing Zarqawi has been built up in the media as, in his words, a rock star. Terrorism experts agree. Some perspective on Zarqawi is desperately needed.
MAGNUS RANSTORP, UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS: Presidents and government leaders always have to pinpoint to someone that, you know, who they can identify with. It is much more complex than that. There's not just one al Qaeda or Zarqawi, there are many al Qaedas and Zarqawi's.
TODD: As for this particular Zarqawi, one analyst with close ties to the U.S. military tells me, he is not a master terrorist. There will be nothing magic about his demise. And in his words, eventually they'll run this guy down. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Up next, in our rap sheet, our contributors Jayne Weintraub and Wendy Murphy tonight the gloves are off on the O'Reilly. We're talking about Bill O'Reilly, the sexual harassment case.
And don't forget our "Last Call" question. Do you believe there is not a flu crisis? Give us a call at 1 800 807-2620.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Time for tonight's "Rap Sheet," and up first, the Scott Peterson double murder trial. The judge brought proceedings to an abrupt stop last week because of a dispute over concrete. CNN's Rusty Dornin explains.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The trial came to a halt last week over the concrete used to make this anchor found at the bottom of Scott Peterson's boat. Sources tell CNN prosecutors needed more time to counter testimony by a defense witness, an engineer who is an expert in concrete. The defense claims Peterson made the anchor and used the remainder of a 90-lb. bag of cement to do a backyard project. The prosecution contends Peterson used the bag of cement to make five anchors, four of them to weight down Laci Peterson's body in San Francisco bay, anchors that were never found.
A prosecution witness said the concrete in the anchor did not match the concrete in the backyard. The defense expert is expected to say the concrete is the same. The defense could point to this wiretapped conversation between Scott Peterson and Laci Peterson's brother Brent Rocha.
BRENT ROCHA, LACI'S BROTHER: They talk about cement in your shop that used for, I don't know, anchors or something.
SCOTT PETERSON: Yes, I made a boat anchor with some cement and I put some in the driveway here.
DORNIN: Analysts foresee a battle of experts. Key could be a pathologist expected to testify Laci Peterson's fetus survived past December 24th. If jurors believe that, it could exonerate Scott Peterson who was under surveillance after his wife's disappearance.
The defense may also call a witness to cast doubt on prosecution claims that the dog Tremble (ph) picked up Laci Peterson's scent at the Berkeley marina.
(on-camera): Defense attorney Mark Geragos is expected to take six to eight days to present his case. The judge has told the jury he hopes they will begin deliberations November 3rd.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: All right. Now, let's get into the no sin zone. OK, that's a bit cheeky, but the Bill O'Reilly case did capture the public imagination this week. It certainly got our attention here at CNN. And what's a little celebrity scandal every now and again? Let's bring in our regular CNN contributors, former state prosecutor Wendy Murphy and criminal defense attorney Jayne Weintraub. Good to see both of you.
WENDY MURPHY, FORMER STATE PROSECUTOR: Hi, Carol.
LIN: All right. Jayne, they say he says it's extortion. She says it's sexual harassment. What do you think?
JAYNE WEINTRAUB, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I think it's extortion. I think that for sexual harassment you have to have two things. You have to have the fact that it's an unwelcome advance and it has to create a hostile work environment. From the e-mails that this young lady was sending to her friends saying how happy she was, wonderful work environment, happy to home with, back with Bill O'Reilly, I can't imagine that the sexual harassment case will go anywhere. I think it's a shame.
LIN: Wendy is there evidence of extortion, because according to her, the young woman's attorney, he says, look, that $60 million figure only came up in conversation with Fox's attorneys when he said, when he asked, how much is this man worth to the network? How much revenue does he bring in. That's where the $60 million figure came in.
MURPHY: Right, right. That was the suspicion from the get-go, that this lawyer wasn't dumb enough to demand $60 million. But still I think it has a feel of extortion to it. I don't know if we would use the technical, criminal, legal term, but this is my concern. I mean I don't have a doubt at all that the tapes exist and that it happened, that it is sexual harassment, that she had a right to bring a lawsuit. But she had no right to demand $1 million, let alone, $5, $10 or $60...
LIN: Why?
MURPHY: ... because this kind of case -- I handle these cases all the time. This -- talking dirty, even over the course of a period of time, to a subordinate, just isn't worth $1 million or $10 million. Maybe a couple of hundred thousand dollars and you don't get extra because it's Bill O'Reilly. That's called extortion, even if it's not a technical, legal, criminal term.
WEINTRAUB: Well, why should she have gone back to work? What about her accountability? Why should she get a couple of hundred thousand dollars? That's a lot of dollars, OK. I don't think she has any meritorious lawsuit. She went back there. She's desperate. She went for dinner with him. She repeatedly talked to him. I mean
(CROSSTALK)
MURPHY: That may be something the jury could take into account in judging her credibility, but the bottom line is, if those tapes exist, if he persistently called her and did those things to her, whether or not the jury thinks she shouldn't have gone back to work there, the bottom line is, that is sexual harassment. That's the very definition of sexual harassment and she could win. But, she has no business asking for -- reminds me of the Paula Jones case. Paula Jones had a right to bring her lawsuit against Bill Clinton too. But she had no business asking for $2 million. How scary can it be
(CROSSTALK)
LIN: Is there any kind of compensation that an alleged victim, that if this is proven, all right, take the famous names out of it. If it is proven, what is legitimate compensation to a woman who felt pressure from her boss that he was going to, the next time around was, the threat was that he was going to be saying these things to her in person. That implied that something may happen. He was expecting something to happen.
WEINTRAUB: Carol, we don't know what she was saying to him. Maybe she was provoking him. Maybe she even liked it. Why was she taping him? Maybe she knew he'd call back again. I mean she to me, seems as if she was setting it up, number one. And number two, she's been all over the TV the past few days. I mean why is she trying the case on the television like it's a movie set, as opposed to in the courtroom?
LIN: They describe though two weeks of background, private conversation between her attorney and the network, because she didn't want to put herself in the position of taking on one of the biggest stars in cable news. She wanted her attorney to handle it. He was in serious discussions with the network and he says, according to him, he said, all of a sudden, they put -- they slammed the hammer down and served them with papers.
MURPHY: Look, the bottom line is, they were obviously trying to settle this. They couldn't come up with a number that was close enough. One of them was too far away from the other and that's what you do. You walk away and it becomes public. But you know what, there remains a great deal of value to the plaintiff in this case, because the tapes haven't yet been played to the public and I think the case is going to be settled in exchange for keeping those tapes very quiet for the rest of our lives.
WEINTRAUB: O'Reilly can't afford to do that at this point.
LIN: Quickly, let's talk about the Michael Jackson case. One of the attorneys dropped out of the case, Steve Cochran. What does this mean Jayne?
WEINTRAUB: We really don't know. We just don't know. It could be a personal reason Carol. I mean I don't think it's fair to Michael Jackson to make it seem as if it's another defense, like it's another aspersion cast upon his lack of credibility.
LIN: It doesn't look good when your attorney quits your case, just what a month and a half before the trial.
WEINTRAUB: There could be a personal reason for that. We just don't know. I mean
LIN: Why would they release that then? Why wouldn't they say -- why wouldn't the Jackson camp say, poor Steve Cochran, due to family obligations he cannot participate in this case.
MURPHY: That's right. The silence is deafening, because if there really were an innocent explanation, Carol, you're right. They would have told us about it. Look, one of the reasons defense attorneys quit is usually because they're trying to concoct a reason for a delay. Look what Robert Blake has done. How many lawyers has he gone through, oh, and he happens to fire them on the eve of the trial date. Oh, how convenient. I don't know that that's the explanation here. I suspect it's something more strategic, but it doesn't look good for Michael Jackson to have lawyers in and out, in and out and one of those lawyers may end up being a witness in the case, if not a charged co- conspirator, Mark Geragos, who had to leave because he was involved in behavior that some people suspect is why the kid was feeling intimated and his family was being harassed.
WEINTRAUB: Oh, Wendy, please.
(CROSSTALK)
LIN: Catch us up. Catch us up. What is this about? What do you think he did?
MURPHY: Well, Mark Geragos very early on was boasting that he had actually sat down with the victim and his family and had taken statements from them and had them sign papers and he was boasting about his role in causing those statements to be taken. ... put him in a position of being a witness and if he did anything intimidating, he may well be charged.
LIN: But Jayne, do you think, I mean would he actually have to take the stand? Wouldn't that be wild?
WEINTRAUB: Mark would probably have to take the strand in an evidentiary hearing, yes he would. However, that's not what's at issue here. What's at issue here is on November 4th, there's going to be a hearing on whether or not the bail should be reduced from $3 million and whether or not the district attorney himself, Tom Sneddon has to be removed from prosecuting the case. And that is the core issue.
LIN: They're running out of players in this trial. We're losing attorneys. We might be losing a prosecutor.
WEINTRAUB: As well we should.
MURPHY: And that's a beautiful argument. I don't have enough, $3 million for my bail. Oops, but I did pay $25 million to two little boys to make them stay silent, because I was worth so much money that no one should take the negative inference that maybe I was guilty. Oh, I have too much money, not enough money, which is it Michael Jackson?
LIN: We'll find out. Trial starts January 31st, a big maybe. We'll see what happens. Thanks Jayne, thanks Wendy.
MURPHY: Thank you.
WEINTRAUB: Thanks.
LIN: Let's take a look around the nation right now.
All right. Ralph Nader down but not out. The independent presidential long shot says he's in the race for the duration, but wouldn't pass up some Democratic money if offered. Nader told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he'd gladly star in an anti-Bush TV commercial if Kerry donors pick up the tab. Fat chance.
And it was billed as the million worker march, blue collar employees, coast to coast, rallied on the national mall today, concerned about health care, jobs and the war in Iraq. Organizers did not really expect a million people to show up, but about 10,000 did. And this ain't your average fish story. Moviegoers bought more tickets to "Shark Tale" this weekend than any other, for the third straight weekend. The Dreamworks animation is up to its gills in star voice power and it took in $22 million this weekend alone. "Shark Tale" easily chewed up the next best finisher, the football flick, "Friday Night Lights."
All right. We've got much more straight ahead, so stay right there. Spotlight coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: In our spotlight tonight, it focuses on southern Russia, the town of Beslan remains clouded by immense sadness. More than a month after the tragic end of the school hostage crisis, the shock, the incomprehensible loss and in some cases, decisions made that will haunt the people of Beslan forever. Here is our Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anetta returns to the gym showers where she and her two daughters were kept by the terrorists. Leaning against the door where she said her last good-bye to her 9-year-old. She cries. Alana, forgive me for leaving.
ANETTA: Every day, every day I think about it. I think, think...
CHILCOTE: And losing her English continues. "Before, I thought I didn't have a choice, but now my sense of guilt is overwhelming me more and more, even though everyone is always telling me that I did the right thing."
A thin, pale, weak Anetta marks the 40th day after Alana's death. The end of the mourning period for Orthodox Christians. A day when they believe the souls of the dead rise to heaven.
The more time passes; Anetta's pain only grows. "Then it was so fresh and the pain wasn't so sharp, now, everything just repeats. She doesn't come home, she doesn't appear in my dreams and I can't change anything."
Little Malena has changed. The daughter Anetta saved has learned to wave good-bye in the last month.
ANETTA: Yes, she changed, I think. She becomes more aggressive. In the night, she all the time cry.
CHILCOTE: With the mourning period now over, it is traditional here for the men, in this case, Anetta's husband, to seek revenge. Eye for an eye.
ANETTA: I don't want to kill the children, but I want that their mothers, these terrorist mothers...
CHILCOTE: She continues in Russian, "to suffer as we suffer." Anetta's suffering only grows when she goes back to Alana's school, where she, again, asks for her forgiveness.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Beslan, Russia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: It's been a long hot summer for you hard core fans. Even for October and the return of the NBA. Well, this week, the longest pre-season road trip, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, in Beijing, yes, that Beijing. Jaime FlorCruz reports on an extra large homecoming in a vast land of hoop hungry fans.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These Chinese fans forked out a lot of money to get good seats for an NBA game.
LU RUNOOING, NBA FAN: ... because I admire their skills, especially the slam dunks.
FLORCRUZ: The sell out crowd came out to watch the first ever NBA game to be played in Beijing.
(on-camera): Chinese basketball fans have been watching NBA games for years and now they're ready for the real stuff, this one a match up between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings. The star of the game was the hugely likable Chinese center Yao Ming, now an NBA star and a national hero. Basketball is already one of the most popular sports in China, but Yao Ming's success has given it even more boost, inspiring amateurs and professionals alike to hone their skills. Yao says the pre-season game is for him something special.
YAO MING, HOUSTON ROCKETS: It's the first time to play NBA games back home. It's a great chance for the Chinese fans to enjoy the NBA experience.
FLORCRUZ: And that includes experiencing American culture and consumerism. These fans closely follow details of their NBA idols, even their jerseys and shoes.
RUNOOING: When I go out, I wear NBA clothes and many people think it's cool. I wear jerseys featuring Kobe, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and Jordan.
FLORCRUZ: Fans like him make NBA market strategists a little giddy. Encouraged by the prospects of tapping China's 1.3 billion people.
DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: I think there are probably 1.3 billion reasons why China is important, given the fact that basketball is the number one team sport amongst kids in China. It would seem to me a natural that as China grows, so will the NBA's business here grow.
FLORCRUZ: With the prospect of more Yao Ming's emerging in the future, the NBA is looking for more slam dunks in China. Jaime FlorCruz, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: And on that note, we're going to leave you with tonight's responses to our last call question. Do you believe the Bush administration's view that there is not a flu crisis? Here's some of your thoughts. Have a great night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CALLER: Yes, I do believe that there is not a flu crisis and the drug companies, this is just a ploy for them to make money and all based on fear.
CALLER: The Bush administration is absolutely correct in saying there's no flu crisis, totally absurd to blame a company's manufacturing fault on the president.
CALLER: I believe that is the Bush administration's responsibility and that this has been overlooked by them because they had received warnings that there would be a problem and they didn't take action when they had the opportunity to do so.
CALLER: No, of course. Stop trying to blame everything on the Bush administration.
CALLER: Yes, I do believe they knew it was a crisis and did nothing about it.
CALLER: I believe that Bush is not telling the truth. I believe there is a flu crisis and if 50 percent of the people that need it will get it if they're lucky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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