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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

White House Steps Up Defense of Pre-War Intelligence; Who Sent Deadly Toxin to the Senate?; Kerry Wins 5 Primaries

Aired February 04, 2004 - 17:00   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.


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now. The Bush administration steps up its defense on pre-war intelligence and Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the decision to go to war as well. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

Searching for the source. Who sent a deadly toxin to the Senate?

Primary focus. Kerry has company.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This field is narrowing right now.

BLITZER: Gay marriage, a court gives the candidates another hot topic.

Phone call from Martha Stewart. A star witness tells his inside story of alleged insider trading.

Rush Limbaugh's legal woes. Is the best defense a good offense? I'll ask his attorney, Roy Black.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, February 4, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The war in Iraq, the weapons hunt, intelligence gathering, the Bush administration is out in force, defending its record on all three fronts. We'll go live to our national security correspondent David Ensor, to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. But we begin with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who stuck to his guns today before a pair of congressional panels. Let's go live to senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, his critics say he's in denial, but Defense Secretary Rumsfeld was on the Hill today vigorously disputing that there had been any intelligence failure or deliberate manipulation of intelligence data.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): In back to back appearances before the House and Senate armed services committees. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld refused to concede any intelligence failure in the pre-war assessment Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The impression that has and is being created of broad intelligence failures can be dispelled.

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld dismissed the widely held theory that Iraq had no chemical or biological weapons before the war as, quote, "possible but not likely. And he insisted that Saddam Hussein was to blame for the U.S. intelligence consensus Iraq was hiding WMDs.

RUMSFELD: Saddam Hussein's behavior during that period reinforced that conclusion. He did not behave like someone who was disarming and wanted to prove he was doing so.

MCINTYRE: Democrats grilled Rumsfeld over his assertion made ten days into the war that the Pentagon knew the location of Iraq's unconventional weapons. That they were stashed around Baghdad and Tikrit where, U.S. forces had not yet reached.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D-MA), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: And then you say in March '03, we know where they are. We know where they are. That is an extraordinary leap, and that extraordinary leap was wrong.

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld said he was referring to suspected WMD sites not the weapons themselves. It was one of the few times during his grilling Rumsfeld grudgingly conceded he might have been wrong.

RUMSFELD: You're quite right, short hand we know where they are, probably turned out not to be exactly what one would have preferred in retrospect.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: Nevertheless, Rumsfeld was not ready to say weapons of mass destruction won't eventually be found in Iraq, noting it took ten months to find Saddam Hussein in a hole which he noted was big enough to hold stockpiles of deadly germs or gas -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Thank you very much.

Under fire for intelligence failures in Iraq, the CIA is striking back. Director George Tenet plans a major speech to answer the critics. Our national security correspondent David Ensor has a preview -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this speech was hastily arranged for tomorrow. George Tenet will forcefully defend his embattled agency's judgments about Iraqi weapons prior to the war. U.S. officials are saying he will also try to correct misimpressions about what U.S. intelligence knew of Libya and Iran's nuclear programs and he'll warn Americans that intelligence is not a crystal ball.

For Tenet, this speech is a chance to respond to criticisms from David Kay, his former weapons inspector in Iraq, who said the U.S. intelligence given to the president before the war about weapons of mass destruction's problems was simply wrong. The speech is the second salvo in the administration's response to the growing chorus of critics on the case for war and first salvo came today in the testimony that you just heard mentioned by Jamie from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

He strongly defended the record and also predicted that Tenet will make some news tomorrow on U.S. intelligence successes unknown until now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUMSFELD: Tenet will be able to make some of those recent examples of successes, and there have been many, public so that the impression has and is being created of broad intelligence failures can be dispelled.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENSOR: Tenet will also respond to Kay's statements that the CIA was apparently wrong and underestimated how advanced Libya and Iran's nuclear programs were, officials say. Libya decided to give up its program in part, they say, after hearing how much the CIA already knew about it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks, David, very much for that.

Under a steady barrage lately from Democrats, President Bush today defended his war on terrorism and drew parallels to Britain's often embattled wartime prime minister Winston Churchill. Let's go live to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was at a speech to honor Winston Churchill at the Library of Congress, that was where President Bush vehemently defended the administration's decision to go to war. This, of course, comes at a time when there are six different panels that are investigating the intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

At the same time, the administration has announced it is going to be cooperating with the White House presidential panels to look into the matter and also at the same time, you see the approval rating of the president dipping below the 50 percent mark, when Democrats are taking a swipe at the president, become more vocal, criticizing him for the case he made to go to war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And Iraqi men and women are no longer carried to torture chambers and rape rooms and dumped in mass graves. Because the Baathist regime is history. Iraq is no longer a grave and gathering threat to free nations. Iraq is a free nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Well, not completely. President Bush is working with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the administration with the United Nations to try to figure out a way to transfer power back to the Iraqi people as quickly as possible, that June 30 deadline, the administration set some time ago -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux, thank you very much, for that.

Investigators, meanwhile, are still swarming over Capitol Hill searching for the source of the deadly ricin toxin. Let's turn to our justice correspondent Kelli Arena -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Senate majority leader says that the three Senate office buildings that are now closed will all be open by Monday morning barring any unforeseen circumstances. But in the meantime, as you said, the investigation into how and why the ricin got into one of those buildings is in full swing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): A special Marine Chem Bioteam (ph) continued to search for any additional traces of ricin as investigators sorted through barrels of mail hoping to track how the deadly poison ended up in a Senate office building mail room. In all, a team of about 500 is working the ricin case.

CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: At the moment, like last night or the day before there's been no smoking letter information that helps tie this thing together. We're keeping an open mind.

ARENA: FBI agents are trying to find out whether this ricin is connected to two letters containing vials of the poison including this one shown on the FBI's website. So far, investigators say there is no obvious link. The two letters were signed by someone calling him or herself Fallen Angel, claiming to be a fleet owner of a tanker company.

In the letters were angry demands for a change in trucking regulations. One was found in a postal facility in Greenville, South Carolina, in October and another was mailed to the White House in November and intercepted. But the existence of the White House letter was not shared with other law enforcement agencies for weeks. And was not publicly disclosed until Tuesday.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: If there is a public health threat, we share that information. The letter was deemed by public health officials not to be a public health threat.

ARENA: The White House claims as soon as they were told about the letter, they shared the information. As for the current investigation, without a new letter or any claim of responsibility, the only way to determine any connection to the previous ricin is by testing, and that continues. Testing will also determine the strength of the poison -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena, thank you very much.

Yes, to marriage in Massachusetts and nothing less. A big victory for same-sex couples in that state.

Rush Limbaugh's legal troubles. How the radio talk show host is dealing with the investigation and allegations against him. I'll speak live with his attorney, Roy Black.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET JACKSON, SINGER: I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Super Bowl shocker and now the regrets. Is Janet Jackson's apology a publicity stunt or a sincere act. The newest twist. We'll get to that. First, though, today's news quiz.

"Which solo performer has won the most Grammy awards? Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Prince."

The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: With the biggest day of the election year so far behind them the Democratic presidential candidates are pushing ahead to the next battleground states. But today, the front-runner John Kerry is taking some time off as he savors his victories yesterday in five out of seven states.

Kerry won big in the primaries in Arizona, Missouri and Delaware and in the caucuses, New Mexico and North Dakota. Also getting a boost in yesterday's Democratic contest, Wesley Clark, but he may have some financial struggles. CNN's Dan Lothian is on the phone now, he's joining us from Tennessee with more on that. What's happening, Dan?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I just finished talking to a senior aide with the Clark campaign, and he told me that 250 staffers with the Clark campaign have voluntarily given up their pay for a week. He says that would provide the campaign with $250,000. I asked him if they were forced to do this, he said no, but they were willing to pitch in, especially after the victory they said that they got yesterday in Oklahoma. So once again, 250 staffers with the Clark campaign have, quote, "voluntarily given up their pay for a week," raising $250,000 for the campaign -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Dan Lothian in Camden, Tennessee, thank you very much.

And also in the spotlight today, Senator John Edwards who finished relatively strong in yesterday's contest. Here's CNN's national correspondent Frank Buckley in Norfolk, Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John Edwards very upbeat after his big win in South Carolina. He wasted no time in getting back on the campaign trail. We jumped on the charter aircraft last night in Columbia, South Carolina, and flew immediately to Memphis where he had his first event this morning. He also appeared on morning talk shows in Memphis. This evening, he is in New York attending fundraisers and reading the top ten list on Dave Letterman's show.

While we were on the campaign trail today, Senator Edwards actually came in to the back of the aircraft, had his picture taken and worked the media a little bit. Earlier he was here in Virginia, the other state which he is going after next Tuesday. Exit polling last night revealed Edwards got the majority of voters who put jobs at the top of their list of candidate qualities. Jobs, a major theme he campaigned on in South Carolina, here's what he had to say about it today.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The idea that we have here in this country over the last 30 years, we've seen working people's pay go up about 10 percent while CEO pay has gone up 3,000 percent? That endangers the economic security of this country.

BUCKLEY: Primaries this weekend in Washington state and Michigan, Senator Edwards does not intend to go Washington state. Decisions are still being made about Michigan. For now the major push is on Tennessee and Virginia next Tuesday. Frank Buckley, CNN, Norfolk, Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The former front-runner among the Democrats, Howard Dean, failed to win any of yesterday's primaries or caucuses, but he's still pushing on and today he launched a new offensive in his bid for a comeback. Will it work? Our senior analyst Jeff Greenfield is joining us now live. The question is Wisconsin. That seems to be where Howard Dean is placing a lot of emphasis.

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: It actually makes sense. Wisconsin is an unusual state. It has been home to progressive insurgent reformists for almost 100 years since Robert La Follette, the governor and senator helped found the progressive movement in this country. His son was a U.S. senator. Bill Proxmire, who served in the Senate for decades was famous for going after wasteful government spending. Remember the famous golden fleece awards. And Russ Feingold, one of Wisconsin's senators is co-author of the campaign finance reform act.

So it is a very favorable climate. I spent four years there in school for outsiders, for people challenging the interests. If there's any state where that message ought to resonate, Wisconsin is it.

BLITZER: That's this Saturday. Also, this Saturday...

GREENFIELD: No, the 17th. BLITZER: That's right. It's not this Saturday. A week after Michigan. But Michigan is significant. That's coming up this Saturday, Michigan and Washington state. Michigan is significant, but take a look at these poll numbers that we're getting from "Detroit News." Look at this. Kerry so far ahead over Howard Dean right now. Michigan doesn't seem to be a place where Howard Dean is going to do very well.

GREENFIELD: I think we professionals can tell you that if you're 44 points behind in a poll with four days to go, you have a problem. There is one message, if I can go to the Wisconsin list, I was thinking about. Flatter a state. Tell it you have the power to turn this election around. When Nelson Rockefeller went to Oregon his message was he cared enough to come. I mean, the other guys couldn't even bother with you.

When Robert Kennedy ran in Indiana in 1968. Not a particularly major state, you would say. The campaign slogan was "Indiana can choose the next president of the United States." You can see a message where Dean says you, Wisconsin, with your tradition, don't let the insiders have this nomination, you can turn this election around. I'm not saying it will work, because I don't know how to predict the future but it seems to me that that message makes sense.

BLITZER: Well, let's say he wins Wisconsin, then what?

GREENFIELD: Well, you're right, then you face super Tuesday with very little money.

BLITZER: March 2nd.

GREENFIELD: I think there you can have almost a similar message. I mean, call me mad cow but suppose you went to these big states and said isn't it time that the larger states helped pick a nominee? Aren't you tired of letting Iowa and New Hampshire run your campaign? You, California, New York, Ohio, Georgia, you never have any power, this is your chance to say to the Democratic party, all right, we're going to help pick the nominee.

We're talking about a long-shot strategy for Howard Dean. But it doesn't seem to be impossible. When people say he's toast, he's finished forget it, it's the same people often who said he's the definite nominee two months ago, and maybe we ought to look what the possibilities are rather than saying, yes, I know what the future is because I don't.

BLITZER: Jeff Greenfield, thank you very much.

Joe Lieberman's dream of winning the presidency is over, at least, this time around. After failing to win any of the contests yesterday, the senator from Connecticut huddled with family members and campaign staffers. And before the night was over, a decision was made, Lieberman dropped out of the race. At a farewell rally a short time ago, he talked about that decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Every day along the way, I will feel blessed by God to live in a land where our dreams can become real. It's one year, and I must say another amazing journey later, and I'm proud that I kept that promise even as our White House dream did not become real. I know who I am and what I stand for, and so do you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Yesterday, on winning at least the Delaware primary, but he finished far behind Senator John Kerry.

New ruling on same-sex marriages in Massachusetts. Why the decision could make it harder for politicians to sidestep the issue.

Legal dilemma. A conservative radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh is handling the allegations against him. I'll speak live with his attorney, Roy Black.

Damaging testimony and a surprising admission from a star witness in the Martha Stewart case. We're live from the courthouse here in New York. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A court ruling announced today is setting the stage for Massachusetts become the first state to recognize gay marriage.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa is following this story from here in New York -- Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a historic decision, a landmark ruled by the high court of Massachusetts welcomed with cheers of joy among many gay activists but opponents are gearing up for the national fight against gay marriage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HILLARY GOODRIDGE, PLAINTIFF IN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CASE: What this decision means for us again today is we'll be able to provide each other and we will be able to provide our daughter with all of the protections and benefits possible that we can have a healthy and stable family.

HINOJOSA: For this family Hillary and Julie Goodrich and 5-year- old daughter Annie, today's decision means legal approval for the relationship they recognized for 16 years.

H. GOODRIDGE: Twenty years ago if you told me we were going to be talking about marriage, I would have told you you were crazy.

HINOJOSA: The Massachusetts court said same sex couples must be allowed to marry and nothing less. The court said this in response to the Massachusetts legislature's proposal to grant gays and lesbians civil unions instead. Because the proposed law by it expressed term forbids same sex couples entry into civil marriage, it continues to relegate same sex couples to a different status. History of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom if ever, equal. The ruling by the court this fall that said denying marriage benefits to gay couples is forbidden under the Massachusetts constitution. The Massachusetts constitution affirms that dignity and equality of all individuals, the court decided in November, and forbids the creation of second class citizens.

MARY BONAUTO: The court has clarified that equal means equal. The government cannot deny marriage rights to same sex couples.

HINOJOSA: Legislative leaders are convening a constitutional legislation new week to try to amend the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. But both Houses would have to approve that in two consecutive sessions and then voters would have to approve it in a constitutional convention. The earliest all that could happen is by 2006. Meantime, a move by President Bush for a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage has only just begun.

MATT DANIELS, ALLIANCE FOR MARRIAGE: Most Americans believe that gays and lesbians have a right to issues, but they don't have a right to sue in court to redefine marriage for our entire society.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HINOJOSA: Wolf, just to give you a quick example why many gay activists say marriage is so important. If you're a gay couple and your partner ends up in the hospital for example. You have no right, you will not be allowed in many cases to see this person. Have you no ability to make a decision about medical treatment about, anything, even though you may be a couple for 18 years. When you a marriage certificate, that give us that right -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Maria Hinojosa reporting. Thanks, Maria, very much for that comprehensive report.

Ohio's plan to ban gay marriages is a signature away from becoming is a signature from becoming law. The measure cleared the state legislature and is now awaiting Governor Bob Taft's approval. It not only outlaws gay marriages in Ohio, it also bans some state benefits for same sex and domestic partners. More than 30 states now ban same-sex marriages. But with the benefits ban the Ohio measure is considered among the strictest in the nation.

Here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this, "Do you think your state should follow Massachusetts' lead on gay marriage?"

You can vote right now. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in the broadcast.

Rushing to his defense. How will radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh challenges the legal charges that could be filed against him. I'll speak live with his attorney, Roy Black.

Star witness, damaging testimony about dumping stocks. We'll go live to the Martha Stewart trial.

And missing mystery. Can high-tech digital technology help find the man who snatched an 11-year-old girl? We'll have the latest from Florida. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Lady Liberty here in New York. Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting today from New York.

Defending Rush Limbaugh. I'll speak live with his high-powered attorney, Roy Black, for the latest on case. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.

The U.S. Coast Guard is imposing $10,000 penalties against almost 1,000 port facilities and vessels for failing to file updated security plans. Violators have until July 1 to file the required papers or face being shut down. The Coast Guard says about 90 percent of 10,000 operators have already complied with the regulation.

A man who shipped himself in an airline cargo crate from New York to Dallas has been sentenced; 25-year-old shipping Charles McKinley was fined $1,500, sentenced to four months under house arrest, and placed on probation for a year. The judge said McKinley did it to save money, not breach airline security.

Sotheby's auction house says it has sold the rare Faberge egg treasures collected by the Forbes publishing family to a Russian industrialist. The exact price wasn't disclosed, but Sotheby's estimated the collection at more than $90 million. Russian Czar Alexander III first commissioned the Faberge eggs in 1885 as an Easter present for his wife.

Fans of Rush Limbaugh have been tuning in for many, many years now to hear the conservative talk show host's take on the news. These days, however, Limbaugh is often in the news himself. He's the target now of a Florida investigation that Limbaugh supporters call a witch- hunt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: So I need to tell you something.

BLITZER (voice-over): When Rush Limbaugh told his radio audience he had become addicted to prescription painkillers, it came as a shock to millions of loyal listeners.

It was even more shocking when Florida prosecutors suggested Limbaugh may have committed a felony by visiting several doctors get duplicate prescriptions of a controlled narcotic. Responding to a public records request from the media, prosecutors released letters suggesting Limbaugh's lawyers had approached them seeking a way to keep their client out of court. According to those letters, Limbaugh's lawyers wanted an agreement under which Limbaugh would enter a drug treatment program without having to plead guilty to anything. But prosecutors rejected that option. Both Limbaugh and his attorney, Roy Black, deny that Limbaugh engaged in doctor shopping. And even though prosecutors claim there's evidence to support in excess of 10 felony counts, no charges have been filed so far.

Black accused the prosecutors of running a smear campaign against his client. And he's angry about the decision to release the letters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And Roy Black is joining us now live from Miami.

Roy, thanks very much for joining us.

(CROSSTALK)

ROY BLACK, ATTORNEY FOR RUSH LIMBAUGH: Well, thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Where does the case stand right now, the prosecution case? No charges have been filed.

BLACK: No, but let me give you a little background, because I think a lot of people are confused what's been happening here.

This whole thing started with an article in a tabloid newspaper. I went and talked to the prosecutor, who said, look, we understand the situation. We have no interest in prosecuting Rush Limbaugh, because we know he had a dependency on medication. But soon thereafter, you had all these stories in the press that he's part of a drug ring. Then, it went to money laundering. Then, it went to doctor shopping.

And we never said a word while this was going on, because I would talk to the prosecutors and say, what's going on? They say, that's not us. Then we get called by a reporter that says, well, Rush Limbaugh's going to plead guilty to doctor shopping, according to the state's attorney's office. I said, that's an outright law. And I asked, where did that come from? And it comes from the spokesperson of the Palm Beach County state attorney's office.

Once that happened and we saw that these people were not going to treat us fairly, we went public with our side of that. And we didn't go public with this until they went that far. And this whole case, this investigation has been so one-sided and unfair. It's the worst I've seen in my career.

BLITZER: You know, Roy, Mike Edmondson, who is the spokesman for the Palm Beach state attorney's office, he gave us a statement. He said: "His principle criticism," referring to you, "all along has been that there have been leaks. In reality, the only person speaking in a forum has been him or his client."

That's what Mike Edmondson says. BLACK: Well, that's exactly why I wanted to give you the background. We never said a word all the way through this, even though they went into drug trafficking, money laundering, doctor shopping, until Edmondson called "The Palm Beach Post" and told them, the next headline the next morning is going to be: Rush Limbaugh pleading guilty. And we found out it came from Edmondson. Until that happened, we never said a word.

But I'll tell you what. No one is going to sit back and have those kind of things and those false accusations made without having a response. Certainly, I'm not going to and neither is Rush Limbaugh.

BLITZER: He also says this -- and I'll put it up on the screen, Roy, so can you respond to this, Mike Edmondson from the Palm Beach state attorney's office: "He always makes this out to be a partisan witch-hunt and calls the state attorney a Democrat. The prosecutor that brought the case forward is a Republican. And most of the investigative team are Republican as well."

You want to respond to that?

BLACK: You know, that's really interesting.

I've never once stated a single time that Barry Krischer is a Democrat and that's why this is being done. I've never brought politics into it. However, that office, by the way they're saying it now, has done it here. And they also did the same thing when they got into a fight with the attorney general. It turns out they had lied about the advice given to them by the attorney general about releasing those letters.

And then, when they were called on it, what was their response? Well, the attorney general is a Republican, and, therefore, it's a political matter, and that's why it's happening. They're the ones who keep raising politics.

BLITZER: The point, though, is that they're suggesting -- at least the suggestion is that Rush Limbaugh was going out, speaking to different doctors, at least four different doctors, to get multiple prescriptions for painkillers. And they say, since 2002, in Florida, that's a potential felony and that, if they didn't pursue the suspicion, they would be giving Rush Limbaugh special treatment.

BLACK: Well, they're certainly giving him special treatment.

By the way, if you notice, anybody else who has ever had a prescription drug problem because of pain medication or what have you has never been prosecuted. They always go into a rehabilitation program and that resolves the matter. It's happened in this state thousands of times. The only time it doesn't happen is with Rush Limbaugh.

Now, answering the doctor shopping, there are four doctors involved. Two of them are partners together, so you could hardly shop between the two of them. And they treat pain and intractable pain, which Rush suffers because of his back problems. A third doctor happens to do his cochlear implant in his head out in Los Angeles. I can't imagine somebody goes all the way to Los Angeles to have major surgery in order to get a prescription.

So, for doctor shopping, you have people who go to doctors without medical purpose to get drugs to either use them or resell them. That's totally false in this case. Every single doctor was seen for a legitimate purpose, and it cannot be doctor shopping.

BLITZER: So, is there any other charge? If you can have a good defense on the doctor charge allegation, is there anything they have suggested to you that they're investigating right now, any other alleged criminal activity on the part of Rush Limbaugh?

BLACK: Well, what happens -- when I went to see them, they first told me, we have no interest in him. We know of his dependency and we don't prosecute people for that.

Then, there was the avalanche of letters and e-mails from people in Palm Beach County who don't like Rush Limbaugh, saying he ought to be prosecuted. The next time I talked to them, they said, look, because of that, we have to prosecute him for something. Now that they've gone through drug trafficking, money laundering, doctor shopping, the next is going to be jaywalking with intent, probably somewhere in Palm Beach.

They are going to try to do something, whether it has any evidence to it or not.

BLITZER: But if they don't have the evidence, they would look very, very foolish coming up against a high-powered attorney like you, a criminal defense attorney, if they didn't have anything on him.

BLACK: Well, I would agree with you normally, but look at what happens here.

They went into the medical records and violated the law doing that. Then they released these letters. And then, when they released the letters, they know committing -- they're doing something that's wrong, so they put on their cover letter, well, we talked to the Florida Bar and the attorney general, who said it would be unethical not to release them. The bar and the attorney general immediately say that that is false, we never said anything like that.

So they don't care what the rules are. They don't care what the attorney general says or what the bar says. They're going to go ahead with whatever they want to do, whether they have the evidence or not.

BLITZER: There were documents, though, released, letters that were exchanged, made public -- whether or not that was right or wrong is a separate issue -- that suggested you initiated some sort of a plea bargain deal, some sort of arrangement that you wanted to get Rush Limbaugh off the hook. Give us your perspective on precisely what you did?

BLACK: Yes, sir, I'm glad that you asked that question, because, No. 1, this was not plea bargaining. We never at any time said Rush Limbaugh would plead guilty to an offense, because he has not committed a crime in the state of Florida. What we told them is that Rush has admitted he had a dependency on prescription pain medication because of the years of pain he suffered from his back problems and others. He went into rehabilitation.

We said, in every other case -- and you see dozens upon dozens of celebrities where this happened, where they admit to a prescription pain medication problem. Going into rehabilitation and solving their problem is what most people want and all prosecutors go along with, until you get to this case.

So I wrote them a letter saying, why don't you treat Rush like you treat everybody else? Let him go into rehabilitation. You can monitor it. He's having the follow-through. He has his own personal physicians. You can do drug testing, whatever else you would want. Treat him the same as everybody else. But, no, they send a response back saying, no, we're demanding guilty pleas and want to go into doctor shopping.

And then they leaked it all to the newspaper. And then afterwards, as part of the smear campaign, they release all these letters. It's all one campaign to try to discredit him because they're treating him differently than anybody else.

BLITZER: One final question, Roy, before I let you go.

BLACK: Yes, sir.

BLITZER: How is he dealing with the addiction? How is Rush feeling?

BLACK: well, this was not an easy situation for Rush, as you can imagine.

For years, he suffered from chronic and intractable pain, particularly out of his spine and even had his coccyx bone removed, had shots in his spine. Nothing would work. Surgery didn't work. So, he had to use medication. And there are millions upon millions of people in this country who have the same thing. Pain is a disease like any other disease, and you ought to be treated for it.

And, by the way, we don't blame diabetics for using insulin and say they're addicts because they take insulin to survive. It's the same thing with people suffering from pain. But now he has gone through rehabilitation. He has other types of medication that are not as strong or not the same types of medication as before. He's living his life day by day. He's trying to and hoping that this will be over soon. But this has been a tremendous stress on him, as you can imagine.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Roy Black, for joining us.

BLACK: Well, thank you, Wolf, for inviting me.

BLITZER: We'll continue this conversation down the road. A shocking admission. The star witness in the Martha Stewart trial takes center stage. Find out what he said and what it could mean for the homemaking maven.

Going digital. The search for a missing Florida girl and her captor goes high-tech. But will it work?

Plus, this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET JACKSON, SINGER: Unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Baring her soul after baring her breast, the public apology from Janet Jackson. But is it real regret or simply a strategy for more of the spotlight?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Another day of crucial testimony in the trial of Martha Stewart. The prosecution's star witness took the stand, making some damning, damaging allegation.

CNN's Mary Snow is joining us now live with more on today's testimony -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was damaging because star witness Doug Faneuil contradicted Martha Stewart's explanation of her sale of ImClone stock on December 27, 2001. And he was the one who handled the trade.

The former stockbroker assistant, turned government witness testified about what he claims was a cover-up between Martha Stewart and her stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic. Faneuil says he passed along a tip that ImClone CEO Sam Waksal was dumping ImClone shares. Faneuil testified, he spoke with Martha Stewart by phone on December 27, 2001. And he says she asked: "What's going on with Sam?"

Faneuil says he told he didn't have any company, but that, Peter, the stockbroker, "thought you might want to act on information that Sam is trying to sell all his shares." She asked, "All his shares?" She then asked for a price on ImClone stock and instructed him to sell the shares. Faneuil said his boss, Peter Bacanovic, said Stewart's sale was part of a tax-selling loss plan, but later said there was a stop-loss order, saying -- quote -- "I've spoken with Martha and met with her and everything is telling the same story. It was a $60 stop- loss order. Everyone is on the same page. It's the truth. It's a true story."

Now, Martha Stewart has maintained all along that she had a preexisting agreement to sell the stock once it fell below a certain price. Cross-examination of Doug Faneuil will continue tomorrow -- Wolf. BLITZER: Mary, has Faneuil's alleged drug use come up in the courtroom?

SNOW: It certainly did, Wolf.

There was an argument before the jury even came in about what the defense could ask. The judge is permitting certain questions. And this afternoon, defense attorneys were asking questions about it, because he's admitted to marijuana and Ecstasy use -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Mary Snow with the latest on this case -- thanks, Mary, very much.

In Florida, the search for a missing 11-year-old girl is intensifying, as officials wait for enhanced images of Carlie Brucia's apparent abduction on Sunday.

CNN's John Zarrella is covering the developments. He's joining us now live in Sarasota.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, going on nearly 72 hours since Carlie Brucia disappeared from here, behind this car wash on Sunday evening at 6:21 a.m.

Still waiting for an enhanced image of her alleged kidnapper, NASA and the FBI working on that, in fact, the Kennedy Space Center working as we speak, using some enhanced imaging equipment, $3.2 million computer system, added since the Columbia accident, because NASA needs to get higher-resolution pictures of shuttles in flight, using this equipment for the first time in this kind of a case, hoping to get an enhanced picture that they can get out to the public of what this man, this alleged kidnapper, may look like.

That's what they're working. Still no timeline of when we may have that. Earlier today, we were told that the governor, Governor Jeb Bush, did have an opportunity to talk to the family and express his sympathy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I spoke to the mom of the child, just to say that the resources of the department are being brought to bear to find her child. And this was after giving a brief on how many people are involved in this. It's a pretty significant sum of folks. I don't know the details of when the Amber Alert was kicked in, so I can't comment on that, but I've asked him to do an inquiry about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, the governor's office told us late this afternoon that the Amber Alert system worked exactly the way it was supposed to. There had been some talk earlier that it had been delayed for 24 hours, from 6:21 Sunday until 7:30 Monday, when it was actually issued.

And that is because, people here on the ground are telling us, that, at first, they thought that perhaps she was just a missing child. They had no idea until they saw the video that in fact she had been kidnapped -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John Zarrella with this sad story for us. Let's hope they find her very, very soon. Thanks, John, very much.

Another apology, Janet Jackson asking for the public's forgiveness. But is there an alternative reason for her latest plea?

And if at first you don't succeed, try another model. Cuba's most inventive asylum-seekers are back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked: Which solo performer has won the most Grammy Awards? The answer, Stevie Wonder. The singer has won 19 Grammys in his long career, including six for best male R&B vocal performance. He's also the youngest artist ever to have a U.S. No. 1 album.

Janet Jackson is confessing. The entertainer says it was her idea to have Jason (sic) Timberlake rip off part of her costume during the Super Bowl halftime show, but she says she didn't mean to expose one of her breasts.

CNN's Brian Todd reports, the apology won't stop the discussion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To use a popular phrase, we just want to put the whole thing behind us. The problem is, we can't. Add Janet Jackson herself to the cast of characters who are keeping this Super Bowl halftime story alive.

JACKSON: My decision to change the Super Bowl performance was actually made after the final rehearsal. MTV, CBS, the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever. And, unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end. I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention.

TODD: But what was her intention? Could it be to promote her album coming out soon? As they say in showbiz, any publicity is good publicity.

B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": Music insiders are not mad at Janet Jackson for doing this. And, in fact, if I were the president of Virgin records, I'd release her upcoming album today, because when was the last time there was so much talk about Janet Jackson? Music industry insiders are not angry, but it's CBS' affiliates that are making it difficult for CBS.

TODD: That also may be up for debate. Yes, CBS and MTV, who produced the halftime show, are being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission. CBS and its many affiliates could well be in for some hefty fines. HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": The FCC can also rough up CBS pretty badly in the court of public opinion by beating up on the network for this sort of tawdry halftime entertainment.

TODD: But, consider, CBS is airing the Grammy Awards this Sunday. The ripper himself, Justin Timberlake, is nominated in five categories and is among those slated to perform. The network does say, the Grammys will air with a so-called enhanced tape delay.

But just look at the buzz being generated by all this between the Super Bowl and the Grammys. Could CBS actually benefit?

SIGESMUND: Madonna and Britney sort of raised, or lowered, the bar, as a lot of people have said, last summer with their kiss on the VMAs. Now every awards show needs a moment like this.

TODD: First a kiss, then a rip. What will they need next?

Brian Todd, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Jackson, by the way, was scheduled to appear at Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremonies. But her publicist now says she probably won't go. A spokesman for the Motion Picture Academy says ABC's broadcast of the upcoming Oscar ceremony also may use a tape delay.

Trekking in a truck. It's our picture of the day. We'll have that when we come back, also, the results of our "Web Question of the Day."

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day." Take a look at this, remembering it's not a scientific poll.

Last year, they tried driving a truck across 90 miles of water. They were caught and returned to Cuba. As our picture of the day now shows, this time, they found something with fins. It's a '59 Buick turned into a boat fitted with a propeller. The bright green roadster was sealed tight and seaworthy, with 11 aboard. But relatives of exiles say the migrants were once again stopped by the Coast Guard.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Sent Deadly Toxin to the Senate?; Kerry Wins 5 Primaries>


Aired February 4, 2004 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now. The Bush administration steps up its defense on pre-war intelligence and Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the decision to go to war as well. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

Searching for the source. Who sent a deadly toxin to the Senate?

Primary focus. Kerry has company.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This field is narrowing right now.

BLITZER: Gay marriage, a court gives the candidates another hot topic.

Phone call from Martha Stewart. A star witness tells his inside story of alleged insider trading.

Rush Limbaugh's legal woes. Is the best defense a good offense? I'll ask his attorney, Roy Black.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, February 4, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The war in Iraq, the weapons hunt, intelligence gathering, the Bush administration is out in force, defending its record on all three fronts. We'll go live to our national security correspondent David Ensor, to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. But we begin with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who stuck to his guns today before a pair of congressional panels. Let's go live to senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, his critics say he's in denial, but Defense Secretary Rumsfeld was on the Hill today vigorously disputing that there had been any intelligence failure or deliberate manipulation of intelligence data.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): In back to back appearances before the House and Senate armed services committees. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld refused to concede any intelligence failure in the pre-war assessment Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The impression that has and is being created of broad intelligence failures can be dispelled.

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld dismissed the widely held theory that Iraq had no chemical or biological weapons before the war as, quote, "possible but not likely. And he insisted that Saddam Hussein was to blame for the U.S. intelligence consensus Iraq was hiding WMDs.

RUMSFELD: Saddam Hussein's behavior during that period reinforced that conclusion. He did not behave like someone who was disarming and wanted to prove he was doing so.

MCINTYRE: Democrats grilled Rumsfeld over his assertion made ten days into the war that the Pentagon knew the location of Iraq's unconventional weapons. That they were stashed around Baghdad and Tikrit where, U.S. forces had not yet reached.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D-MA), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: And then you say in March '03, we know where they are. We know where they are. That is an extraordinary leap, and that extraordinary leap was wrong.

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld said he was referring to suspected WMD sites not the weapons themselves. It was one of the few times during his grilling Rumsfeld grudgingly conceded he might have been wrong.

RUMSFELD: You're quite right, short hand we know where they are, probably turned out not to be exactly what one would have preferred in retrospect.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: Nevertheless, Rumsfeld was not ready to say weapons of mass destruction won't eventually be found in Iraq, noting it took ten months to find Saddam Hussein in a hole which he noted was big enough to hold stockpiles of deadly germs or gas -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Thank you very much.

Under fire for intelligence failures in Iraq, the CIA is striking back. Director George Tenet plans a major speech to answer the critics. Our national security correspondent David Ensor has a preview -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this speech was hastily arranged for tomorrow. George Tenet will forcefully defend his embattled agency's judgments about Iraqi weapons prior to the war. U.S. officials are saying he will also try to correct misimpressions about what U.S. intelligence knew of Libya and Iran's nuclear programs and he'll warn Americans that intelligence is not a crystal ball.

For Tenet, this speech is a chance to respond to criticisms from David Kay, his former weapons inspector in Iraq, who said the U.S. intelligence given to the president before the war about weapons of mass destruction's problems was simply wrong. The speech is the second salvo in the administration's response to the growing chorus of critics on the case for war and first salvo came today in the testimony that you just heard mentioned by Jamie from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

He strongly defended the record and also predicted that Tenet will make some news tomorrow on U.S. intelligence successes unknown until now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUMSFELD: Tenet will be able to make some of those recent examples of successes, and there have been many, public so that the impression has and is being created of broad intelligence failures can be dispelled.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENSOR: Tenet will also respond to Kay's statements that the CIA was apparently wrong and underestimated how advanced Libya and Iran's nuclear programs were, officials say. Libya decided to give up its program in part, they say, after hearing how much the CIA already knew about it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: David Ensor, thanks, David, very much for that.

Under a steady barrage lately from Democrats, President Bush today defended his war on terrorism and drew parallels to Britain's often embattled wartime prime minister Winston Churchill. Let's go live to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was at a speech to honor Winston Churchill at the Library of Congress, that was where President Bush vehemently defended the administration's decision to go to war. This, of course, comes at a time when there are six different panels that are investigating the intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

At the same time, the administration has announced it is going to be cooperating with the White House presidential panels to look into the matter and also at the same time, you see the approval rating of the president dipping below the 50 percent mark, when Democrats are taking a swipe at the president, become more vocal, criticizing him for the case he made to go to war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And Iraqi men and women are no longer carried to torture chambers and rape rooms and dumped in mass graves. Because the Baathist regime is history. Iraq is no longer a grave and gathering threat to free nations. Iraq is a free nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Well, not completely. President Bush is working with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the administration with the United Nations to try to figure out a way to transfer power back to the Iraqi people as quickly as possible, that June 30 deadline, the administration set some time ago -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux, thank you very much, for that.

Investigators, meanwhile, are still swarming over Capitol Hill searching for the source of the deadly ricin toxin. Let's turn to our justice correspondent Kelli Arena -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Senate majority leader says that the three Senate office buildings that are now closed will all be open by Monday morning barring any unforeseen circumstances. But in the meantime, as you said, the investigation into how and why the ricin got into one of those buildings is in full swing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): A special Marine Chem Bioteam (ph) continued to search for any additional traces of ricin as investigators sorted through barrels of mail hoping to track how the deadly poison ended up in a Senate office building mail room. In all, a team of about 500 is working the ricin case.

CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: At the moment, like last night or the day before there's been no smoking letter information that helps tie this thing together. We're keeping an open mind.

ARENA: FBI agents are trying to find out whether this ricin is connected to two letters containing vials of the poison including this one shown on the FBI's website. So far, investigators say there is no obvious link. The two letters were signed by someone calling him or herself Fallen Angel, claiming to be a fleet owner of a tanker company.

In the letters were angry demands for a change in trucking regulations. One was found in a postal facility in Greenville, South Carolina, in October and another was mailed to the White House in November and intercepted. But the existence of the White House letter was not shared with other law enforcement agencies for weeks. And was not publicly disclosed until Tuesday.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: If there is a public health threat, we share that information. The letter was deemed by public health officials not to be a public health threat.

ARENA: The White House claims as soon as they were told about the letter, they shared the information. As for the current investigation, without a new letter or any claim of responsibility, the only way to determine any connection to the previous ricin is by testing, and that continues. Testing will also determine the strength of the poison -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena, thank you very much.

Yes, to marriage in Massachusetts and nothing less. A big victory for same-sex couples in that state.

Rush Limbaugh's legal troubles. How the radio talk show host is dealing with the investigation and allegations against him. I'll speak live with his attorney, Roy Black.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET JACKSON, SINGER: I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Super Bowl shocker and now the regrets. Is Janet Jackson's apology a publicity stunt or a sincere act. The newest twist. We'll get to that. First, though, today's news quiz.

"Which solo performer has won the most Grammy awards? Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Prince."

The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: With the biggest day of the election year so far behind them the Democratic presidential candidates are pushing ahead to the next battleground states. But today, the front-runner John Kerry is taking some time off as he savors his victories yesterday in five out of seven states.

Kerry won big in the primaries in Arizona, Missouri and Delaware and in the caucuses, New Mexico and North Dakota. Also getting a boost in yesterday's Democratic contest, Wesley Clark, but he may have some financial struggles. CNN's Dan Lothian is on the phone now, he's joining us from Tennessee with more on that. What's happening, Dan?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I just finished talking to a senior aide with the Clark campaign, and he told me that 250 staffers with the Clark campaign have voluntarily given up their pay for a week. He says that would provide the campaign with $250,000. I asked him if they were forced to do this, he said no, but they were willing to pitch in, especially after the victory they said that they got yesterday in Oklahoma. So once again, 250 staffers with the Clark campaign have, quote, "voluntarily given up their pay for a week," raising $250,000 for the campaign -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Dan Lothian in Camden, Tennessee, thank you very much.

And also in the spotlight today, Senator John Edwards who finished relatively strong in yesterday's contest. Here's CNN's national correspondent Frank Buckley in Norfolk, Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John Edwards very upbeat after his big win in South Carolina. He wasted no time in getting back on the campaign trail. We jumped on the charter aircraft last night in Columbia, South Carolina, and flew immediately to Memphis where he had his first event this morning. He also appeared on morning talk shows in Memphis. This evening, he is in New York attending fundraisers and reading the top ten list on Dave Letterman's show.

While we were on the campaign trail today, Senator Edwards actually came in to the back of the aircraft, had his picture taken and worked the media a little bit. Earlier he was here in Virginia, the other state which he is going after next Tuesday. Exit polling last night revealed Edwards got the majority of voters who put jobs at the top of their list of candidate qualities. Jobs, a major theme he campaigned on in South Carolina, here's what he had to say about it today.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The idea that we have here in this country over the last 30 years, we've seen working people's pay go up about 10 percent while CEO pay has gone up 3,000 percent? That endangers the economic security of this country.

BUCKLEY: Primaries this weekend in Washington state and Michigan, Senator Edwards does not intend to go Washington state. Decisions are still being made about Michigan. For now the major push is on Tennessee and Virginia next Tuesday. Frank Buckley, CNN, Norfolk, Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The former front-runner among the Democrats, Howard Dean, failed to win any of yesterday's primaries or caucuses, but he's still pushing on and today he launched a new offensive in his bid for a comeback. Will it work? Our senior analyst Jeff Greenfield is joining us now live. The question is Wisconsin. That seems to be where Howard Dean is placing a lot of emphasis.

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: It actually makes sense. Wisconsin is an unusual state. It has been home to progressive insurgent reformists for almost 100 years since Robert La Follette, the governor and senator helped found the progressive movement in this country. His son was a U.S. senator. Bill Proxmire, who served in the Senate for decades was famous for going after wasteful government spending. Remember the famous golden fleece awards. And Russ Feingold, one of Wisconsin's senators is co-author of the campaign finance reform act.

So it is a very favorable climate. I spent four years there in school for outsiders, for people challenging the interests. If there's any state where that message ought to resonate, Wisconsin is it.

BLITZER: That's this Saturday. Also, this Saturday...

GREENFIELD: No, the 17th. BLITZER: That's right. It's not this Saturday. A week after Michigan. But Michigan is significant. That's coming up this Saturday, Michigan and Washington state. Michigan is significant, but take a look at these poll numbers that we're getting from "Detroit News." Look at this. Kerry so far ahead over Howard Dean right now. Michigan doesn't seem to be a place where Howard Dean is going to do very well.

GREENFIELD: I think we professionals can tell you that if you're 44 points behind in a poll with four days to go, you have a problem. There is one message, if I can go to the Wisconsin list, I was thinking about. Flatter a state. Tell it you have the power to turn this election around. When Nelson Rockefeller went to Oregon his message was he cared enough to come. I mean, the other guys couldn't even bother with you.

When Robert Kennedy ran in Indiana in 1968. Not a particularly major state, you would say. The campaign slogan was "Indiana can choose the next president of the United States." You can see a message where Dean says you, Wisconsin, with your tradition, don't let the insiders have this nomination, you can turn this election around. I'm not saying it will work, because I don't know how to predict the future but it seems to me that that message makes sense.

BLITZER: Well, let's say he wins Wisconsin, then what?

GREENFIELD: Well, you're right, then you face super Tuesday with very little money.

BLITZER: March 2nd.

GREENFIELD: I think there you can have almost a similar message. I mean, call me mad cow but suppose you went to these big states and said isn't it time that the larger states helped pick a nominee? Aren't you tired of letting Iowa and New Hampshire run your campaign? You, California, New York, Ohio, Georgia, you never have any power, this is your chance to say to the Democratic party, all right, we're going to help pick the nominee.

We're talking about a long-shot strategy for Howard Dean. But it doesn't seem to be impossible. When people say he's toast, he's finished forget it, it's the same people often who said he's the definite nominee two months ago, and maybe we ought to look what the possibilities are rather than saying, yes, I know what the future is because I don't.

BLITZER: Jeff Greenfield, thank you very much.

Joe Lieberman's dream of winning the presidency is over, at least, this time around. After failing to win any of the contests yesterday, the senator from Connecticut huddled with family members and campaign staffers. And before the night was over, a decision was made, Lieberman dropped out of the race. At a farewell rally a short time ago, he talked about that decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Every day along the way, I will feel blessed by God to live in a land where our dreams can become real. It's one year, and I must say another amazing journey later, and I'm proud that I kept that promise even as our White House dream did not become real. I know who I am and what I stand for, and so do you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Yesterday, on winning at least the Delaware primary, but he finished far behind Senator John Kerry.

New ruling on same-sex marriages in Massachusetts. Why the decision could make it harder for politicians to sidestep the issue.

Legal dilemma. A conservative radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh is handling the allegations against him. I'll speak live with his attorney, Roy Black.

Damaging testimony and a surprising admission from a star witness in the Martha Stewart case. We're live from the courthouse here in New York. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A court ruling announced today is setting the stage for Massachusetts become the first state to recognize gay marriage.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa is following this story from here in New York -- Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a historic decision, a landmark ruled by the high court of Massachusetts welcomed with cheers of joy among many gay activists but opponents are gearing up for the national fight against gay marriage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HILLARY GOODRIDGE, PLAINTIFF IN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CASE: What this decision means for us again today is we'll be able to provide each other and we will be able to provide our daughter with all of the protections and benefits possible that we can have a healthy and stable family.

HINOJOSA: For this family Hillary and Julie Goodrich and 5-year- old daughter Annie, today's decision means legal approval for the relationship they recognized for 16 years.

H. GOODRIDGE: Twenty years ago if you told me we were going to be talking about marriage, I would have told you you were crazy.

HINOJOSA: The Massachusetts court said same sex couples must be allowed to marry and nothing less. The court said this in response to the Massachusetts legislature's proposal to grant gays and lesbians civil unions instead. Because the proposed law by it expressed term forbids same sex couples entry into civil marriage, it continues to relegate same sex couples to a different status. History of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom if ever, equal. The ruling by the court this fall that said denying marriage benefits to gay couples is forbidden under the Massachusetts constitution. The Massachusetts constitution affirms that dignity and equality of all individuals, the court decided in November, and forbids the creation of second class citizens.

MARY BONAUTO: The court has clarified that equal means equal. The government cannot deny marriage rights to same sex couples.

HINOJOSA: Legislative leaders are convening a constitutional legislation new week to try to amend the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. But both Houses would have to approve that in two consecutive sessions and then voters would have to approve it in a constitutional convention. The earliest all that could happen is by 2006. Meantime, a move by President Bush for a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage has only just begun.

MATT DANIELS, ALLIANCE FOR MARRIAGE: Most Americans believe that gays and lesbians have a right to issues, but they don't have a right to sue in court to redefine marriage for our entire society.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HINOJOSA: Wolf, just to give you a quick example why many gay activists say marriage is so important. If you're a gay couple and your partner ends up in the hospital for example. You have no right, you will not be allowed in many cases to see this person. Have you no ability to make a decision about medical treatment about, anything, even though you may be a couple for 18 years. When you a marriage certificate, that give us that right -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Maria Hinojosa reporting. Thanks, Maria, very much for that comprehensive report.

Ohio's plan to ban gay marriages is a signature away from becoming is a signature from becoming law. The measure cleared the state legislature and is now awaiting Governor Bob Taft's approval. It not only outlaws gay marriages in Ohio, it also bans some state benefits for same sex and domestic partners. More than 30 states now ban same-sex marriages. But with the benefits ban the Ohio measure is considered among the strictest in the nation.

Here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this, "Do you think your state should follow Massachusetts' lead on gay marriage?"

You can vote right now. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in the broadcast.

Rushing to his defense. How will radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh challenges the legal charges that could be filed against him. I'll speak live with his attorney, Roy Black.

Star witness, damaging testimony about dumping stocks. We'll go live to the Martha Stewart trial.

And missing mystery. Can high-tech digital technology help find the man who snatched an 11-year-old girl? We'll have the latest from Florida. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Lady Liberty here in New York. Welcome back to CNN. I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting today from New York.

Defending Rush Limbaugh. I'll speak live with his high-powered attorney, Roy Black, for the latest on case. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.

The U.S. Coast Guard is imposing $10,000 penalties against almost 1,000 port facilities and vessels for failing to file updated security plans. Violators have until July 1 to file the required papers or face being shut down. The Coast Guard says about 90 percent of 10,000 operators have already complied with the regulation.

A man who shipped himself in an airline cargo crate from New York to Dallas has been sentenced; 25-year-old shipping Charles McKinley was fined $1,500, sentenced to four months under house arrest, and placed on probation for a year. The judge said McKinley did it to save money, not breach airline security.

Sotheby's auction house says it has sold the rare Faberge egg treasures collected by the Forbes publishing family to a Russian industrialist. The exact price wasn't disclosed, but Sotheby's estimated the collection at more than $90 million. Russian Czar Alexander III first commissioned the Faberge eggs in 1885 as an Easter present for his wife.

Fans of Rush Limbaugh have been tuning in for many, many years now to hear the conservative talk show host's take on the news. These days, however, Limbaugh is often in the news himself. He's the target now of a Florida investigation that Limbaugh supporters call a witch- hunt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: So I need to tell you something.

BLITZER (voice-over): When Rush Limbaugh told his radio audience he had become addicted to prescription painkillers, it came as a shock to millions of loyal listeners.

It was even more shocking when Florida prosecutors suggested Limbaugh may have committed a felony by visiting several doctors get duplicate prescriptions of a controlled narcotic. Responding to a public records request from the media, prosecutors released letters suggesting Limbaugh's lawyers had approached them seeking a way to keep their client out of court. According to those letters, Limbaugh's lawyers wanted an agreement under which Limbaugh would enter a drug treatment program without having to plead guilty to anything. But prosecutors rejected that option. Both Limbaugh and his attorney, Roy Black, deny that Limbaugh engaged in doctor shopping. And even though prosecutors claim there's evidence to support in excess of 10 felony counts, no charges have been filed so far.

Black accused the prosecutors of running a smear campaign against his client. And he's angry about the decision to release the letters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And Roy Black is joining us now live from Miami.

Roy, thanks very much for joining us.

(CROSSTALK)

ROY BLACK, ATTORNEY FOR RUSH LIMBAUGH: Well, thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Where does the case stand right now, the prosecution case? No charges have been filed.

BLACK: No, but let me give you a little background, because I think a lot of people are confused what's been happening here.

This whole thing started with an article in a tabloid newspaper. I went and talked to the prosecutor, who said, look, we understand the situation. We have no interest in prosecuting Rush Limbaugh, because we know he had a dependency on medication. But soon thereafter, you had all these stories in the press that he's part of a drug ring. Then, it went to money laundering. Then, it went to doctor shopping.

And we never said a word while this was going on, because I would talk to the prosecutors and say, what's going on? They say, that's not us. Then we get called by a reporter that says, well, Rush Limbaugh's going to plead guilty to doctor shopping, according to the state's attorney's office. I said, that's an outright law. And I asked, where did that come from? And it comes from the spokesperson of the Palm Beach County state attorney's office.

Once that happened and we saw that these people were not going to treat us fairly, we went public with our side of that. And we didn't go public with this until they went that far. And this whole case, this investigation has been so one-sided and unfair. It's the worst I've seen in my career.

BLITZER: You know, Roy, Mike Edmondson, who is the spokesman for the Palm Beach state attorney's office, he gave us a statement. He said: "His principle criticism," referring to you, "all along has been that there have been leaks. In reality, the only person speaking in a forum has been him or his client."

That's what Mike Edmondson says. BLACK: Well, that's exactly why I wanted to give you the background. We never said a word all the way through this, even though they went into drug trafficking, money laundering, doctor shopping, until Edmondson called "The Palm Beach Post" and told them, the next headline the next morning is going to be: Rush Limbaugh pleading guilty. And we found out it came from Edmondson. Until that happened, we never said a word.

But I'll tell you what. No one is going to sit back and have those kind of things and those false accusations made without having a response. Certainly, I'm not going to and neither is Rush Limbaugh.

BLITZER: He also says this -- and I'll put it up on the screen, Roy, so can you respond to this, Mike Edmondson from the Palm Beach state attorney's office: "He always makes this out to be a partisan witch-hunt and calls the state attorney a Democrat. The prosecutor that brought the case forward is a Republican. And most of the investigative team are Republican as well."

You want to respond to that?

BLACK: You know, that's really interesting.

I've never once stated a single time that Barry Krischer is a Democrat and that's why this is being done. I've never brought politics into it. However, that office, by the way they're saying it now, has done it here. And they also did the same thing when they got into a fight with the attorney general. It turns out they had lied about the advice given to them by the attorney general about releasing those letters.

And then, when they were called on it, what was their response? Well, the attorney general is a Republican, and, therefore, it's a political matter, and that's why it's happening. They're the ones who keep raising politics.

BLITZER: The point, though, is that they're suggesting -- at least the suggestion is that Rush Limbaugh was going out, speaking to different doctors, at least four different doctors, to get multiple prescriptions for painkillers. And they say, since 2002, in Florida, that's a potential felony and that, if they didn't pursue the suspicion, they would be giving Rush Limbaugh special treatment.

BLACK: Well, they're certainly giving him special treatment.

By the way, if you notice, anybody else who has ever had a prescription drug problem because of pain medication or what have you has never been prosecuted. They always go into a rehabilitation program and that resolves the matter. It's happened in this state thousands of times. The only time it doesn't happen is with Rush Limbaugh.

Now, answering the doctor shopping, there are four doctors involved. Two of them are partners together, so you could hardly shop between the two of them. And they treat pain and intractable pain, which Rush suffers because of his back problems. A third doctor happens to do his cochlear implant in his head out in Los Angeles. I can't imagine somebody goes all the way to Los Angeles to have major surgery in order to get a prescription.

So, for doctor shopping, you have people who go to doctors without medical purpose to get drugs to either use them or resell them. That's totally false in this case. Every single doctor was seen for a legitimate purpose, and it cannot be doctor shopping.

BLITZER: So, is there any other charge? If you can have a good defense on the doctor charge allegation, is there anything they have suggested to you that they're investigating right now, any other alleged criminal activity on the part of Rush Limbaugh?

BLACK: Well, what happens -- when I went to see them, they first told me, we have no interest in him. We know of his dependency and we don't prosecute people for that.

Then, there was the avalanche of letters and e-mails from people in Palm Beach County who don't like Rush Limbaugh, saying he ought to be prosecuted. The next time I talked to them, they said, look, because of that, we have to prosecute him for something. Now that they've gone through drug trafficking, money laundering, doctor shopping, the next is going to be jaywalking with intent, probably somewhere in Palm Beach.

They are going to try to do something, whether it has any evidence to it or not.

BLITZER: But if they don't have the evidence, they would look very, very foolish coming up against a high-powered attorney like you, a criminal defense attorney, if they didn't have anything on him.

BLACK: Well, I would agree with you normally, but look at what happens here.

They went into the medical records and violated the law doing that. Then they released these letters. And then, when they released the letters, they know committing -- they're doing something that's wrong, so they put on their cover letter, well, we talked to the Florida Bar and the attorney general, who said it would be unethical not to release them. The bar and the attorney general immediately say that that is false, we never said anything like that.

So they don't care what the rules are. They don't care what the attorney general says or what the bar says. They're going to go ahead with whatever they want to do, whether they have the evidence or not.

BLITZER: There were documents, though, released, letters that were exchanged, made public -- whether or not that was right or wrong is a separate issue -- that suggested you initiated some sort of a plea bargain deal, some sort of arrangement that you wanted to get Rush Limbaugh off the hook. Give us your perspective on precisely what you did?

BLACK: Yes, sir, I'm glad that you asked that question, because, No. 1, this was not plea bargaining. We never at any time said Rush Limbaugh would plead guilty to an offense, because he has not committed a crime in the state of Florida. What we told them is that Rush has admitted he had a dependency on prescription pain medication because of the years of pain he suffered from his back problems and others. He went into rehabilitation.

We said, in every other case -- and you see dozens upon dozens of celebrities where this happened, where they admit to a prescription pain medication problem. Going into rehabilitation and solving their problem is what most people want and all prosecutors go along with, until you get to this case.

So I wrote them a letter saying, why don't you treat Rush like you treat everybody else? Let him go into rehabilitation. You can monitor it. He's having the follow-through. He has his own personal physicians. You can do drug testing, whatever else you would want. Treat him the same as everybody else. But, no, they send a response back saying, no, we're demanding guilty pleas and want to go into doctor shopping.

And then they leaked it all to the newspaper. And then afterwards, as part of the smear campaign, they release all these letters. It's all one campaign to try to discredit him because they're treating him differently than anybody else.

BLITZER: One final question, Roy, before I let you go.

BLACK: Yes, sir.

BLITZER: How is he dealing with the addiction? How is Rush feeling?

BLACK: well, this was not an easy situation for Rush, as you can imagine.

For years, he suffered from chronic and intractable pain, particularly out of his spine and even had his coccyx bone removed, had shots in his spine. Nothing would work. Surgery didn't work. So, he had to use medication. And there are millions upon millions of people in this country who have the same thing. Pain is a disease like any other disease, and you ought to be treated for it.

And, by the way, we don't blame diabetics for using insulin and say they're addicts because they take insulin to survive. It's the same thing with people suffering from pain. But now he has gone through rehabilitation. He has other types of medication that are not as strong or not the same types of medication as before. He's living his life day by day. He's trying to and hoping that this will be over soon. But this has been a tremendous stress on him, as you can imagine.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Roy Black, for joining us.

BLACK: Well, thank you, Wolf, for inviting me.

BLITZER: We'll continue this conversation down the road. A shocking admission. The star witness in the Martha Stewart trial takes center stage. Find out what he said and what it could mean for the homemaking maven.

Going digital. The search for a missing Florida girl and her captor goes high-tech. But will it work?

Plus, this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET JACKSON, SINGER: Unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Baring her soul after baring her breast, the public apology from Janet Jackson. But is it real regret or simply a strategy for more of the spotlight?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Another day of crucial testimony in the trial of Martha Stewart. The prosecution's star witness took the stand, making some damning, damaging allegation.

CNN's Mary Snow is joining us now live with more on today's testimony -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was damaging because star witness Doug Faneuil contradicted Martha Stewart's explanation of her sale of ImClone stock on December 27, 2001. And he was the one who handled the trade.

The former stockbroker assistant, turned government witness testified about what he claims was a cover-up between Martha Stewart and her stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic. Faneuil says he passed along a tip that ImClone CEO Sam Waksal was dumping ImClone shares. Faneuil testified, he spoke with Martha Stewart by phone on December 27, 2001. And he says she asked: "What's going on with Sam?"

Faneuil says he told he didn't have any company, but that, Peter, the stockbroker, "thought you might want to act on information that Sam is trying to sell all his shares." She asked, "All his shares?" She then asked for a price on ImClone stock and instructed him to sell the shares. Faneuil said his boss, Peter Bacanovic, said Stewart's sale was part of a tax-selling loss plan, but later said there was a stop-loss order, saying -- quote -- "I've spoken with Martha and met with her and everything is telling the same story. It was a $60 stop- loss order. Everyone is on the same page. It's the truth. It's a true story."

Now, Martha Stewart has maintained all along that she had a preexisting agreement to sell the stock once it fell below a certain price. Cross-examination of Doug Faneuil will continue tomorrow -- Wolf. BLITZER: Mary, has Faneuil's alleged drug use come up in the courtroom?

SNOW: It certainly did, Wolf.

There was an argument before the jury even came in about what the defense could ask. The judge is permitting certain questions. And this afternoon, defense attorneys were asking questions about it, because he's admitted to marijuana and Ecstasy use -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Mary Snow with the latest on this case -- thanks, Mary, very much.

In Florida, the search for a missing 11-year-old girl is intensifying, as officials wait for enhanced images of Carlie Brucia's apparent abduction on Sunday.

CNN's John Zarrella is covering the developments. He's joining us now live in Sarasota.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, going on nearly 72 hours since Carlie Brucia disappeared from here, behind this car wash on Sunday evening at 6:21 a.m.

Still waiting for an enhanced image of her alleged kidnapper, NASA and the FBI working on that, in fact, the Kennedy Space Center working as we speak, using some enhanced imaging equipment, $3.2 million computer system, added since the Columbia accident, because NASA needs to get higher-resolution pictures of shuttles in flight, using this equipment for the first time in this kind of a case, hoping to get an enhanced picture that they can get out to the public of what this man, this alleged kidnapper, may look like.

That's what they're working. Still no timeline of when we may have that. Earlier today, we were told that the governor, Governor Jeb Bush, did have an opportunity to talk to the family and express his sympathy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I spoke to the mom of the child, just to say that the resources of the department are being brought to bear to find her child. And this was after giving a brief on how many people are involved in this. It's a pretty significant sum of folks. I don't know the details of when the Amber Alert was kicked in, so I can't comment on that, but I've asked him to do an inquiry about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, the governor's office told us late this afternoon that the Amber Alert system worked exactly the way it was supposed to. There had been some talk earlier that it had been delayed for 24 hours, from 6:21 Sunday until 7:30 Monday, when it was actually issued.

And that is because, people here on the ground are telling us, that, at first, they thought that perhaps she was just a missing child. They had no idea until they saw the video that in fact she had been kidnapped -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John Zarrella with this sad story for us. Let's hope they find her very, very soon. Thanks, John, very much.

Another apology, Janet Jackson asking for the public's forgiveness. But is there an alternative reason for her latest plea?

And if at first you don't succeed, try another model. Cuba's most inventive asylum-seekers are back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked: Which solo performer has won the most Grammy Awards? The answer, Stevie Wonder. The singer has won 19 Grammys in his long career, including six for best male R&B vocal performance. He's also the youngest artist ever to have a U.S. No. 1 album.

Janet Jackson is confessing. The entertainer says it was her idea to have Jason (sic) Timberlake rip off part of her costume during the Super Bowl halftime show, but she says she didn't mean to expose one of her breasts.

CNN's Brian Todd reports, the apology won't stop the discussion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To use a popular phrase, we just want to put the whole thing behind us. The problem is, we can't. Add Janet Jackson herself to the cast of characters who are keeping this Super Bowl halftime story alive.

JACKSON: My decision to change the Super Bowl performance was actually made after the final rehearsal. MTV, CBS, the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever. And, unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end. I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention.

TODD: But what was her intention? Could it be to promote her album coming out soon? As they say in showbiz, any publicity is good publicity.

B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": Music insiders are not mad at Janet Jackson for doing this. And, in fact, if I were the president of Virgin records, I'd release her upcoming album today, because when was the last time there was so much talk about Janet Jackson? Music industry insiders are not angry, but it's CBS' affiliates that are making it difficult for CBS.

TODD: That also may be up for debate. Yes, CBS and MTV, who produced the halftime show, are being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission. CBS and its many affiliates could well be in for some hefty fines. HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": The FCC can also rough up CBS pretty badly in the court of public opinion by beating up on the network for this sort of tawdry halftime entertainment.

TODD: But, consider, CBS is airing the Grammy Awards this Sunday. The ripper himself, Justin Timberlake, is nominated in five categories and is among those slated to perform. The network does say, the Grammys will air with a so-called enhanced tape delay.

But just look at the buzz being generated by all this between the Super Bowl and the Grammys. Could CBS actually benefit?

SIGESMUND: Madonna and Britney sort of raised, or lowered, the bar, as a lot of people have said, last summer with their kiss on the VMAs. Now every awards show needs a moment like this.

TODD: First a kiss, then a rip. What will they need next?

Brian Todd, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Jackson, by the way, was scheduled to appear at Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremonies. But her publicist now says she probably won't go. A spokesman for the Motion Picture Academy says ABC's broadcast of the upcoming Oscar ceremony also may use a tape delay.

Trekking in a truck. It's our picture of the day. We'll have that when we come back, also, the results of our "Web Question of the Day."

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day." Take a look at this, remembering it's not a scientific poll.

Last year, they tried driving a truck across 90 miles of water. They were caught and returned to Cuba. As our picture of the day now shows, this time, they found something with fins. It's a '59 Buick turned into a boat fitted with a propeller. The bright green roadster was sealed tight and seaworthy, with 11 aboard. But relatives of exiles say the migrants were once again stopped by the Coast Guard.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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