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Countdown to Election Day; Christina Applegate Beats Cancer; Insurance and Genetic Testing; Countdown to Election Day; Grading New Movies; Recalled Veggies May Contain Glass

Aired October 17, 2010 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A frenzy on the campaign trail as the midterm elections draw closer. President Barack Obama gets some help from the first lady as he rallies Democrats in the key state of Ohio.

And a new worry for consumers. Some frozen vegetables sold at Wal-Mart and Kroger are being recalled because of possible glass fragments. We'll tell you exactly what to look for.

Big names on the big screen this weekend, we'll check in with our movie critic to find out what's worth seeing.

Hello everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Only 16 days until midterm elections, and the candidates and their supporters are out in force across the country. The president and Mrs. Obama are attending a fund-raiser for Ohio Governor Ted Strickland in Cleveland and the two will be traveling to Columbus for a rally at Ohio State University. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has a rally in Reno, Nevada and in Washington State, incumbent Senator Patty Murray will be debating Republican challenger Dino Rossi.

The Best Political Team on Television is on the job, senior white house correspondent Ed Henry is in Columbus Ohio, deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is in Manchester, New Hampshire and Lisa joins us from Washington.

Let's get started in Ohio where we find Ed Henry in Columbus. It's been a while since the first couple has been campaigning together. Why now?

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred. It's been two years to be precise. They have not been together on the campaign trail since the 2008 campaign. Why now? Look, there are Democrats all across the country in some deep trouble including here in Ohio. You mentioned Ted Strickland, the governor, the incumbent, he's facing a stiff challenge from Republican John Kasich. You have Democrat Lee Fisher in an open Senate seat race here. He's trailing by double-digits against Rob Portman, the Republican candidate.

It's beautiful weather out here, really almost perfect for autumn football here behind me on the Ohio State campus, but a lot of long faces on this campus after Ohio State was knocked out of the top spot in the nation by Wisconsin last night; the football team taking a big loss so you may say the president handing the ball off to the big money player, the first lady. We saw her this week in some key states like Wisconsin, Illinois and Colorado campaigning solo for the first time. They're getting together for the first time together since the 2008 campaign.

You'll remember that a couple months ago Robert Gibbs went on NBC's "MEET THE PRESS" and suggested maybe Democrats won't hold control of Congress, got a lot of heat from fellow Democrats about that. Today he was back on the same program sounding much mother upbeat both on "MEET THE PRESS" and afterwards when our cameras caught up with him.

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think that Democrats are out effectively making a case for the steps that they've taken to rescue the economy, stabilize our financial system, to reform our education and to get our foreign policy moving again. I think come November that on election night Democrats will retain control of the house and Senate.

HENRY: The problem for Democrats, though, is to keep that football analogy going for maybe just a moment is the fact they're playing a lot of defense. The president and first lady are here in Ohio as I mentioned trying to defend the Democratic incumbent governor. The president later this week goes out west on a major campaign swing where he's trying to bail out incumbents like Patty Murray, Barbara Boxer in California. He'll also be with Harry Reid who you noted, the Senate majority leader facing a stiff challenge in Nevada. Rather than playing offense right now going into states to pick off Republicans and get some gains for Democrats, the president right now is playing an awful lot of defense. His time is very valuable in the final days, and it gives you an idea of the map right now. Democrats playing defense all around the country, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Ed Henry traveling with the president there from Columbus, Ohio, thank you so much.

Meantime Republicans are hoping to take control of Congress, and they think they can get two of the seats they need right there in New Hampshire.

Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is in Manchester. What's the feeling?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You know Fred you just heard Ed Henry talking about playing defense. Democrats also playing defense in this state as well. New Hampshire has two seats in the House of Representatives both right now controlled by the Democrats. Republicans are optimistic they can win back both seats. I spoke to somebody from the state party here in New Hampshire today and he said their get out the vote efforts their enthusiasm is bigger and stronger than two years ago.

Democrats have made some big gains in New Hampshire in 2006 and 2008 but the Republicans feel like 2010 is their year and you know what? If they win back two seats here, if they win a bunch of others, remember they need a net gain of 39 to win back the chamber, win back the House of Representatives.

Fred, check this out. Our latest CNN poll of polls for the generic ballot, that's the standard question at CNN and other organizations ask would you vote for the generic Democrat or Republican in your Congressional district, look at that. 47% say they would back or vote for the Republican generic candidate in their district and 41% for the Democrats. That's a troubling number for the Democrats as they try to hold onto the House and the Senate, Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. It is a new day, isn't it, as it pertains to how much campaigns are costing? We know in California we're seeing huge amounts of personal wealth that are being poured into these campaigns, talking about Carly Fiorina as well as Meg Whitman. Is that seeming to be the trend now?

STEINHAUSER: Yeah. Money matters so much in campaign politics, and we keep such a close eye on it as we keep on the polls as well. Money pays for get out the vote efforts and pays for those campaign commercials that you see. Look at this. This is interesting. These are September fund-raising figures. The Democratic Congressional committees outraising their Republican National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Committee, the DFCC and the DCCC outraising their Republican counterparts, so you think the Democrats are doing great.

The big story is those independent groups. Look at this next graphic here. Independent groups on the conservative side greatly outspending independent groups on the liberal and progressive side, and that is the big story this year. You heard it again on the state of the union with Candy Crowley today, top Democrats criticizing independent groups raising money for Republicans because by law they're allowed not to disclose cash figures. It's a big story in these midterm elections.

WHITFIELD: All right. Paul thanks so much from Manchester, New Hampshire.

Later on this hour, how a Republican take-over in Congress could affect the new health reform law. We have a live report from Capitol Hill as the Best Political Team on Television counts down to the election.

A Brooklyn alliance in New York's race for governor. What the Republican candidate said about gays that got him in trouble with a popular rabbi.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: You can expect some fireworks in New York tomorrow night in the debate for the governor race, just one of the potential explosions. Republican Paladino got in trouble last week over some comments he made about gays to a group of Orthodox Jews. It may come up again in the debate. Here's CNN's Susan Candiotti.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New York GOP Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino set off a firestorm when he made controversial comments last Sunday about homosexuality.

CARL PALADINO (R), CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR: I just think my children and your children will be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don't want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn't.

CANDIOTTI: At a parade the next day Paladino was peppered with questions.

PALADINO: Children should not be exposed in schools to homosexuality.

CANDIOTTI: The day after that Paladino apologized for poorly chosen words that were scripted for him and insisted he's pro gay rights. End of story, New York's top GOP leader says it should be case closed.

ED COX, NEW YORK GOP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Susan, he apologized, that's it. That's not what the people in New York State really care about. When you have 17% unemployment and underemployment, people are concerned about their jobs.

MICHAEL MUSTO, VILLAGE VOICE COLUMNIST: To just say nobody cares, people only care about a job or keeping a job, that's baloney.

CANDIOTTI: Village Voice columnist Michael Musto says gay or straight, a lot of people do care. Musto who is gay wrote an open letter to Paladino ridiculing his apology as weak attempts to take back vitriol.

MUSTO: When it hit the fan and became front page news that he was so intolerant, he started to pull his foot out of his mouth and did a complete flip flop to say everyone who knows me knows I've always supported civil rights for gays. This is quite a change. Which Paladino do we believe?

CANDIOTTI: The orthodox rabbi who says he wrote part of Paladino's controversial comments to help him court conservative Jewish voters slams Paladino's apology.

RABBI YEHUDA LEVIN, FORMER PALADINO SUPPORTER: After what he did there's a great dampening of enthusiasm, and that's why for his own good he has to find a way of coming back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: Paladino insists he supports gay rights 100% as he puts it except for gay marriage. Now a Paladino spokesman tells me -- sorry. Let me add this. The fact is after his initial comments, GOP leaders were silent until he apologized. Could it affect the outcome of the race? That's clear. A recently released poll puts Paladino 18 points behind Democrat Andrew Cuomo. Paladino's spokesman tells he Mr. Paladino is not a homophobe. He's simply against gay marriage, no different from President Obama. He adds this. Mr. Paladino is prepared to take on this and all other issues at tomorrow night's debate, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Susan Candiotti in New York, appreciate that.

On college campuses across the country women will not be heard asking this question. Do I look fat? We'll tell you why straight ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A super typhoon takes aim at the Philippines, and California is bracing for several days of rain. We'll have details on the weather coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A monster storm is racing towards the Philippines, but first a quick look at today's headlines.

The Tennessee based Pick Sweet Company is recalling some packages of frozen peas, carrots and mixed vegetables sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide and Kroger stores. You can see the list right there. Check your freezer. These are concerns that the bags may contain glass fragments.

Two people are dead and several others are seriously injured in a tour bus crash in Kingman, Arizona. Police say the bus drifted off the highway and rolled over several times. It was headed from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West with 11 passengers on board.

Australia has its very first catholic saint. Pope Benedict XVI has canonized 19th century nun Mary Makila. The Catholic Church credits her with miraculously helping to cure a woman of cancer.

A super typhoon is targeting the Philippines and it could trigger dangerous flooding and mudslides. Karen McGinnis is tracking the storm for us.

KAREN MCGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We're watching this, Fred, because there's a great potential for loss of life associated with this super typhoon. Generally speaking by this time of year in this portion of the pacific we would have seen three super typhoons. This is the first one of the season, but it's one of the strongest systems we've seen anywhere in any ocean in years. One we saw in 2005, Wilma, made three landfalls. That one was the strongest one in 2005.

This ranks as one of the all-time greatest storm systems now making its way towards Luzon, northern Philippines. It will move out here into the South China Sea. Here's Luzon and there is Hong Kong right there. As it makes landfall, it's expected to have supporting winds of about 180 miles per hour. This is a very fierce system, and the potential for loss of life is great. It's on its path towards the west-southwest over the next 24 hours, and then start to curve a little bit more towards the west and then northwest. All right.

In southern California here we go. Look at San Francisco. Yeah, central and northern California picking up some of that wet weather, but we have this area of low pressure that lies off the coast. It will take its time, making its ways towards the great basin. For Los Angeles it looks like that rainfall is going to be off and on for the next several days, and some of the computer models are saying significant rain. I think as you head towards interior sections of California, that may be true. In those coastal areas I think what we're expecting generally speaking is mostly light rainfall, maybe gusty winds.

Have to show you a beautiful picture coming out of Atlanta with beautiful sunshine and, Fred, today the blue angels were at Dobbins Airfield showing off all they can do. I saw them flying near my house in the last couple days.

WHITFIELD: That's a fun thing to do.

MCGINNIS: My husband went to see them today, and he called and said they were nothing less than spectacular, as they typically are.

WHITFIELD: I understand a lot of folks just simply park in some of the streets nearby instead of going right onto the base or close to the base, because you see these blue angels and all the other beautiful aircraft.

MCGINNIS: If you don't see them, you can hear them.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Bring your earplugs.

Karen, we're back on the sofa now, because we've entered the chat room. A lot of interesting, fun things on the radar. So many women and probably men too are guilty of saying I look fat in the mirror. Do I look fat? Now there's day of kind of like no asking the question of do I look fat in these jeans or whatever at all.

MCGINNIS: After a certain age don't you think you know if things aren't going right. You just quit asking.

WHITFIELD: I think it's teenagers.

MCGINNIS: You don't want the answers.

WHITFIELD: A number of college campuses, in fact 35 college campuses will take part in what's being called fat talk free week. You have to refrain from actually asking that question. It's a national campaign. This is the third year, in fact, that folks are doing it. In particularly at San Antonio Trinity University this is the exercise that they're asking many folks on campus to kind of partake in. You get in front of mirror; maybe don't have as much clothes as you ordinarily would as you walk out the door. Look at yourself and write down nice things about your yourself, accentuate the positives as opposed to looking at yourself in a critical view. I think that's a very positive affirmation.

MCGINNIS: Daily affirmations, I am smart, I am slim. We have so many TV shows that are geared towards older people, adults, dance your tushie off. All the different weight loss shows. So kids I'm suspecting they kind of look at that and say, hmm, let me think. The obesity rates, the American society for adolescent and child behavior, 16 to 33% of teens are overweight.

WHITFIELD: That's a huge number.

MCGINNIS: It is a huge number.

WHITFIELD: We've seen other numbers, or at least other pushes that have said almost half of America has a weight problem. So that's kind of indicative of that, too. All right what's next? Let's talk about the big old skateboard out there. Were you a skateboarder as a kid?

MCGINNIS: I wouldn't hardly know a skateboard if I saw one.

WHITFIELD: Really? Let's take a look. I was a big skateboarder as a kid. I got a nice scar on my right knee to prove it. I was a tomboy. Take a look at this one right here making it into the Guinness Book of World Records. This California man skated right on into it by coming up with this incredibly huge skateboard, so that everybody can get on board and have fun.

MCGINNIS: Is it me, or does he look Tom Selleck-ish?

WHITFIELD: He kind of does.

MCGINNIS: Could be his other brother.

WHITFIELD: Here are the dimensions of that skateboard. Maybe if I were on a skateboard like that, I wouldn't have the nice scar on my knee like I do. That way you don't fall. 36 feet and 7 inches long weighing 3,640 pounds. There are racing tires on there too. He wiped out. They look like they're on a golf course. That looks fun. Crazy stuff.

What else is next on the radar here in the chat room? So you think with the name Justin Bieber, especially if you are Justin Bieber, you have quite of fan base. It's a good thing. How about the Florida man who has the name who says, it's not me, people. I'm not that cute teenager, but gets a lot of fan mail. There he is. He's a cutie pie, but he says it's not always great being Justin Bieber, because he gets lot of mysterious phone calls from people. His Facebook page ended up being canceled because I guess the company, Facebook, thought that he was an imposter. He said I'm really Justin Bieber. Not that one right there.

MCGINNIS: I don't know if you've worked someplace where they have your same name, but we had a Karen McGinnis that worked here.

WHITFIELD: This is what Justin Bieber, the first one since he's older. This is what he had to say about what it is to be Justin Bieber.

JUSTIN BIEBER, SINGER: First mail was about two years ago, and pretty shortly after that was when the phone started ringing. When I don't recognize an address on them, I usually don't open them because I figure they're not really meant for me, especially when they have little hearts written all over them. That would make my wife a little grumpy.

WHITFIELD: That's kind of sweet, though. At least it wasn't hate mail. I don't think Justin Bieber has, you know, an enemy out there. So it's all love mail. That's kind of cute.

MCGINNIS: Little hearts and stickers. That's cuteness to us.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. I think it is, too. He's a cutie pie. All right Karen. That was lots of fun. Good to see you. We'll talk more weather coming up too.

The one test that actress and cancer survivor Christina Applegate wants you to know about.

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE, ACTRESS, CANCER SURVIVOR: I can't stress enough. It saved my life. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Emmy-award winning actress Christina Applegate is candid about her successful battle against cancer. Now the mother-to- be wants to help others. She wants to help women pay for high-tech tests not covered under their insurance. Applegate sat down with our Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent, and explained how one of them saved her life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

APPLEGATE: It wasn't until I was 35 and almost 36 that my -- the doctor I had been getting my mammograms from said it's time that we start doing MRIs because of the density and their inability to see what was going on. And, you know, luckily for me, you know, he did do that, because they found on the MRI the calcifications which then through the biopsy found it was cancer.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: One of the things I hear all the time as a doctor is that you doctors order too many tests, ordering tests for everything and this has been I think part of the reason there's been a -- there's a hesitation or a slow to sort of act as far as ordering more MRIs for breast cancer. What do you say to people who say we're a culture of overtesting as it is?

APPLEGATE: I can't stress enough it saved my life. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it. I just had a mammogram. There was nothing on it. This was something that found it at a stage that was curable instead of where it's not. I also unfortunately know that MRI screenings are incredibly expensive and a lot of insurance companies don't cover that which is why I started my foundation because it really upset me so much that these women were opting to not have this really valuable screening because of money and because we're not taking care of these women who are high risk. So that's one of the things that really got me when I was going through all of this.

GUPTA: Should insurance companies be hearing what you have to say? I mean ultimately -- APPLEGATE: Absolutely. This should be part of it. You know, I mean we -- you know, MRIs should be in tandem with mammography. That's just what I truly believe, but until then with Right Action for Women, we're going to provide financial aid to these women.

GUPTA: That's probably the most frightening position to be involved. Because now your doctors told you you need it because they're worried presumably, and you simply can't afford it. That's got to be a very frightening position.

APPLEGATE: Yes. That's why I just -- this was told to me when I was just going through the early stages of all of this. And I just -- it upset me so much, that I had to do something about it.

GUPTA: This is a big issue. I mean there's a lot of women out there who may fall into this category. Need an MRI based on this criteria. Your foundation can only do much. Who else should be hearing this? I mean how -- what needs to change?

APPLEGATE: Knowing your family history is -- can save your life, and that's something -- you can start testing when you're -- in your 20s and you can catch it when it's -- you know, a lot of people don't know what DCIS is. It's ductal carcinoma in situ where it hasn't reached into the breast tissue yet.

That's such a treatable stage. And you can find it through these kinds of -- these other kinds of screening.

GUPTA: And you didn't want to have a mastectomy at all, but after all the data came back and you looked at it all, you talked to your doctor, you decided a double mastectomy was the best thing to do?

APPLEGATE: For me. I -- you know, I know I've gotten some criticism I'm sure from people who have said, you know, what I've done was way too radical, but I just looked at my family and I just thought this is the smartest thing for me to do.

This is my best chance of not having to deal with this -- with breast cancer ever against for as long as I live.

GUPTA: Any regrets about the operation? Do you ever look back and say well, maybe it was? You know, I acted hastily or too quickly or anything?

APPLEGATE: When my head goes into vanity, sometimes. I go, darn it, you know, I miss -- I miss those gals.

(LAUGHTER)

APPLEGATE: But then, you know, it's closely followed by this is about your life and, you know, what's the sacrifice of that for being able to watch this one grow up and have children of their own. And, you know, I mean that's what's -- that's what's really important to me.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: So Applegate had a genetic test which showed positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. She encourages women to get genetic tests. And her foundation helps women at high risk of breast cancer pay for MRIs.

You can find out more about it online, rightactionforwomen.org.

So when it comes to genetic screening and MRIs figuring out what is covered can be complicated and very confusing. So here to help us sort it out is Andrew Rubin, an expert on the business of health care.

Good to see you.

ANDREW RUBIN, NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER: Good to be here.

WHITFIELD: So right off the bat is everyone covered to get genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer, especially if there is some history of it in the family?

RUBIN: So this is -- you know, this is one of those everything we talk about, Fredricka, is always complicated when we talk about health care insurance. But in general if you have a fully comprehensive insurance plan, and that's one that has a full range of benefits and you have a history of breast cancer in your family, and there's criteria for what family history means, the BRCA, the BRCA gene test 1 and 2 would be covered.

But there are strict rules about family history that you have to meet to have this test covered. And there are a lot of people out there who have what we -- you know, we talked about this with McDonald's in the news the past few weeks ago. These limited medical plans. And those people wouldn't have these tests covered.

So it really depends on your insurance company.

WHITFIELD: OK. And so as we talk about insurance companies, say your insurance company says you can get this genetic testing. Then the fear for many insurers or insureds becomes well, if there's a positive reading and there shows that I have a propensity of getting something now, I'm afraid the insurance is going to drop me.

Where are we on that fear?

RUBIN: So that fear I believe thankfully is misplaced today. A few years ago I wouldn't have been able to say that.

There's a federal law that prohibits using genetic testing information to determine whether or not you have a pre-existing condition for purposes of getting insurance. Insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against you if you have these test positives for these genes or any of these genetic disorders.

They can't use it in setting premium rates, they can't use it for determining if you have a pre-existing condition, they can't deny you for insurance companies -- coverage. So that fear is misplaced, yet there's still a lot of women and men who get this test out of pocket. And it's an expensive test.

WHITFIELD: How expensive?

RUBIN: Well, depending on whether you're getting the full gene sequencing or not, it can be anywhere between $300, $400 and $4,000 if you need the full screening panel being done on you.

So it's not an insignificant expenditure, particularly if you don't have insurance that covers it.

WHITFIELD: OK. And so -- now the other option that even Applegate was talking about, talked about genetic testing, she talked about mammograms versus MRIs, et cetera. Mammograms people don't seem to have that -- that much difficulty in getting their insurance to cover it for the most part.

But when it talks about MRIs now and trying to detect breast cancer or other type -- forms of cancer, do you have a difficult time negotiating this with your insurance company?

RUBIN: That's a great question, and I like what Christina is doing with her foundation. Breast MRI is a new technology. Well, MRI has been around. But using an MRI for breast screening is relatively new. And insurance companies have very strict criteria of what -- who qualifies for it.

So again, if you have a history of breast cancer in your family, you most likely will qualify if your doctor, you know, thinks that you need to have this test, or you know, density in the breast and things like that. So there are criteria that insurance companies use.

That being said, they're still not widely used because of the cost, and you have to meet this standard of what -- you know what it's used for. So you know, it's just -- it's just how much your physician can argue that you need it.

WHITFIELD: OK. Andrew Rubin, thanks so much. We're learning so much particularly this month with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And this just helps us sort out some of those very -- sometimes very complicated details even further.

Thanks so much.

RUBIN: You got it. Never easy stuff.

WHITFIELD: All right. Speaking of health care and insurance, if Republicans win control of Congress, there could be some changes coming.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, 15 days until the elections -- midterm elections, and we're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines from the CNNPolitics.com desk and here's what's crossing right now.

Facing the prospect of fewer Democrats in Congress, President Barack Obama plans to push ahead with his priorities. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president's main focus will be on growing the economy.

And Senator John McCain's daughter Megan sounds off on Delaware Senate candidate Tea Party favorite Christine O'Donnell. Megan McCain says, quote, "I just know in my group of friends it turns people off because she's seen as a nut job," end quote.

And a Senate battle in Kentucky turns nastier. Democrat Jack Conway is attacking Republican Rand Paul is some new ads. One of the ads is based on reports that Paul was a member of a secret society while he was a student at Baylor University.

The ad says the group was banned for mocking Christianity and Christ. Paul's campaign calls the ads despicable and desperate.

So if Republicans win big in November, it could mean a change in direction for health care reform.

Lisa Desjardins is CNN Radio's Capitol Hill correspondent.

So, Lisa, if they do take over the House, exactly what are Republicans promising or threatening to do?

LISA DESJARDINS, CNN RADIO CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENTS: Right. You've probably heard this, Fredricka, on the campaign trail. Republicans say we want to repeal health care, but it's interesting that here in Washington there's a little bit of different story going on.

Republicans as a unit up here have been much more vague. For example, remember that Pledge to America? Well, the word "health care" are not in it anywhere. They do try and get at that, though, and we're going to play the clip from the Republican-produced ad, basically their pledge, about where they are saying they would deal with health care.

Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We pledge to honor the constitution as constructed by its framers, and honor the original intent of those precepts that have been consistently ignored.

Particularly the Tenth Amendment which grants that all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively or to the people.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

DESJARDINS: OK. So people following this issue get that. But I think for most folks they're probably saying Tenth Amendment? What? What is that talking about?

Basically Republicans are there just kind of getting around the issue and saying, we would protect states' rights and we will try and block the government from forcing people to get health insurance.

Kind of vague. That's what I'm talking about. Even though Republicans are being strong on health care, against health care reform on the campaign trail, Fred, up here in Washington we have yet to see any real specifics on what they do.

WHITFIELD: But regardless of what happens on the Hill, particularly if it becomes a Republican-controlled Congress, the president still has the power of the veto.

DESJARDINS: Yes. That's right. And you know, it seems like the likeliest scenario right now is Republicans could take over the House. So let's say that happens. What exactly would that mean for health care? What exactly could these guys do to fulfill what they're telling people and try and repeal health care?

Well, let's look at a graphic here. Certainly Republicans would file bills and perhaps even pass a repeal in the House if they controlled the House. But the problem is that that wouldn't go very far.

As you say, Fredricka, the president could veto it and of course the Senate, even if Republicans take it over, will be divided and almost nothing will be able to go through over there.

So what else could they do? This is where it gets serious. Republicans will have the power of the purse. There you see it. GOP could try to undercut the law by cutting funding.

The truth is for health care reform to get in motion the government has to start hiring a huge number of people, IRS agents to enforce it, more people at Health and Human Services.

The Republicans could attack the health care law by trying to starve its funding, and they could -- this could lead to a huge budget battle. But that's their most likely path to try and seriously make a difference and undercut the health care reform law.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lisa --

DESJARDINS: There you go, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Lisa Desjardins, thanks so much from Washington. Fascinating stuff. Appreciate it.

DESJARDINS: Sure.

WHITFIELD: And of course, for the latest political news log on to CNNPolitics.com.

All right, a star-studded cast gathers for a special caper, will the new movie "Red" rake in lots of green. We'll check out the latest releases with movie reviewer Pete Hammond. There he is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Still a few hours to make it to the movies this evening if you want to. Three new films hit the theaters this weekend.

Pete Hammond is a movie reviewer with "Box Office" magazine in Los Angeles. And he's joining us now.

Good to see you.

PETE HAMMOND, BOX OFFICE MAGAZINE: Hi, how are you?

WHITFIELD: I'm doing pretty good. All right. The first movie "Jackass 3D," Johnny Knoxville and his buddies are up to their daredevil comic antics yet one more time. And you get to see it in 3D. Let's take a quick peek.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When "TIME" magazine called 3D the future of movies --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We doubt this is what they had in mind.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Am I going to like this? Am I going to be able to stand it?

HAMMOND: I don't think so. I think this is the end of civilization as we know it. It's crazy stuff, and now it's in 3D. So you see flying dildos. You see -- here's some of the things. The Lamborghini tooth pull. You know? You don't know have to go to a dentist. You can just use a sports car.

Beehive tether ball. That's one of the big things. And outhouse bungee jumping. You don't want to miss that.

This is crazy stuff. It's like the "Three Stooges" on acid.

WHITFIELD: Well, at least you know, hence the title, that it's going to be over -the-top silly, but what would be your grade on that?

HAMMOND: My grade is D plus. I wanted to say just 3D plus here. But it's -- it's not good. It's just silly stuff, but people are flocking to it, which says more about what the audience seems to want than what the filmmakers are serving up here.

WHITFIELD: People want a little comic relief -- yes, I guess people want a little comic relief -- a little escapism, sort of.

HAMMOND: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Yes, OK. Well, let's talk about --

HAMMOND: Sort of.

WHITFIELD: "Conviction." And we're talking about Hillary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver. Haven't seen her in a while. Melissa Leo. Working while putting herself through law school so that she can represent her brother. And this is actually a true story.

Let's take a quick peek.

HAMMOND: Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELISSA LEO, ACTRESS: Kenneth Waters, you're under arrest for the murder of Katharina Bow.

SAM ROCKWELL, ACTOR: Are you out of your mind?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We find the defendant guilty, your honor.

HILLARY SWANK, ACTRESS: I'll get you out, Kenny. You hear me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When her brother was convicted of murder.

ROCKWELL: I can't spend the rest of my life in here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Betty Ann Waters began an impossible 18-year struggle to set him free.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, great cast. What were your thoughts?

HAMMOND: I really liked this film. It's an amazing story. I mean literally Betty Ann Waters put herself through high school, college, and then law school for the simple purpose of freeing her wrongly convicted brother.

And it's quite fascinating, but the cast is just great. You can't beat them. Sam Rockwell, in particular, is the brother -- the imprisoned brother, is Oscar bait here. He's really wonderful, and it's a perfect role for Hillary.

I think people will be really interested in this. It's got heart, it's got top drama, and it's something for adults this fall season for sure.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. And I just saw the cast of -- or the listing, you know, for "Red." That makes me want to see that movie. We're talking about some ex-CIA, I guess, agents. We're talking about Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman. The list is there.

Let's take a quick peek. Did I ask you for -- wait a minute, did I get your grade for "Conviction"?

HAMMOND: On "Conviction" it's an A. It's an A. Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. Great. All right. Let's take a quick look at "Red." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRUCE WILLIS, ACTOR: We're going to break into the CIA and find out who's trying to kill us.

MORGAN FREEMAN, ACTOR: We're getting the band back together.

WILLIS: Just in case.

JOHN MALKOVICH, ACTOR: I am excited.

MARY-LOUISE PARKER, ACTRESS: What do you suppose the punishment is for overtime here?

WILLIS: Death.

PARKER: Awesome.

HELEN MIRREN, ACTRESS: I thought it might be nice to have a bit of girl time together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't touch me.

MORGAN: Of course we can.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK. Incredible people. You got to like noise to like this movie it seems. A noisy movie.

HAMMOND: Yes. Yes. You know, it's a senior citizen fantasy. Geriatric excitement here. In fact, I call this the first geri-action picture.

What really makes it -- what really makes it work, though, is a wonderful cast. Seeing these people in roles we've never seen them do before. When was the last time you saw Helen Mirren with an oozy?

WHITFIELD: I like it.

HAMMOND: You know, this is exciting stuff. Morgan Freeman, terrific. John Malkovich.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

HAMMOND: Great cast.

HAMMOND: And Mary-Louise Parker with that kind of -- you know, dry, you know, creepy kind of humor that we saw there. So what was your grade?

HAMMOND: B plus. It's nothing big or different, but it's a lot of fun. And you'll have a great time at this. And, you know, particularly for the cast. Got to go see this picture.

WHITFIELD: Gosh, so, Pete, we're seeing an interesting trend here on I guess the movies. It seemed to be, I guess, exemplified good movie making. It's not necessarily the complete escapism, but maybe a little humor and maybe --

HAMMOND: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Like a little fantasy as you say.

HAMMOND: Absolutely. Absolutely. And something that's using really good actors in a different kind of context, you know. And I think that's what's clever about it. And I think it will appeal not only to the young male action crowd but also to the older audience. Is isn't as easy to get out to movies these days.

WHITFIELD: Excellent. All right, Peter Hammond, thanks so much. Always good to see you. Happy movie watching.

HAMMOND: Good to see you, Fredricka.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: All right. Appreciate it.

OK. You probably haven't heard these words in a while, whooping cough? Well, guess what? It's making a huge comeback particularly in California. We're going to be finding what is behind the rise, what do you do to protect yourself, and should you be alarmed about it, too.

And we want you to try to identify what a whooping cough actually sounds like. So here's a little quiz for you, A, B, or C. Take a listen.

All right . So what does it sound like to you? A, B or C. The answer next hour. And Josh Levs following a very important food recall for us as well.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think I know which cough it was.

WHITFIELD: Yes?

LEVS: But now I really want to know. Also this is going on. I'll be telling you about it. Frozen vegetables from two major stores being recalled because of the possibility that bits of glass could be in there. I'm going to have the details for you right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So perhaps you have some frozen vegetables in your refrigerator right now. You just might want to look a little closer. Some veggie packages sold by Wal-Mart and Kroger are being recalled because they could contain glass fragments.

So here to tell us which products are actually affected, CNN's Josh Levs.

This is scary to hear. LEVS: Yes. You know we hear about food recalls sometimes, but this one is really unusual to hear about the possibility of glass fragments. And this can affect shoppers all over the country partly because Wal-Mart is -- it's a voluntary recall involving certain frozen vegetable at two stores, and one of them is Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart locations all over the whole country. Wal-Mart has more than 4,000 facilities, many of them do carry frozen foods. So anyone who shopped at Wal-Mart, you might want to pay attention now because we'll tell you what they are.

Also Kroger locations. And those are specifically in the southeastern United States. So it's Wal-Marts all over the country and Kroger specifically in the southeast that sold these products that are now under voluntary recall.

And I have for you here some information about what these products are. It's right here. Great value 12-ounce steamable sweet peas and green peas and 12-ounce steamable mixed vegetables.

I'll go through it fast. I'll show you where to find it online. And also Kroger 12-ounce green peas and Kroger 12-ounce peas and carrots.

So there you go. Those are the things that are being recalled. Now they have specific production codes that can help you determine if you have these packages. We've listen them all for you at our Web site at CNN.com and I've posted all the information for you at my pages, Facebook and twitter, JoshLevsCNN.

That should help you determine if it's what you have in your freezer -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK, so did this happen in the first place?

LEVS: I wish we knew. You know we have calls out to this company Pictsweet which is based in Tennessee. And we're asking them what happened, and we haven't gotten any calls back. They put out this announcement late Friday, and no one answering calls throughout the weekend.

So, we have a lot of questions, and we want to know what they may have seen happened that could have led to these concerns about little bits of glass in there. And obviously, they want the word to be out so other places don't make, potentially, a similar mistake. So, as soon as we hear back, we'll bring that to you right here.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Don't eat it, take it back to the store, return it --

LEVS: Full refund.

WHITFIELD: Get your money back.

LEVS: That's right.

WHITFIELD: Or at least throw it away. LEVS: Stay away.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Josh.

LEVS: You got it.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate that.

LEVS: Sure.

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