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Obama Remarks in Colorado; Water in Pearl River is Still Rising; Reporter Austin Tice Still Missing in Syria; Democratic National Convention to Start Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina; 58- year-old Glen Smith Killed in an Air Show

Aired September 02, 2012 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: It is about 30 miles northeast of New Orleans near the Mississippi line. Residents are worried about The Pearl River and a canal connected to it. Both were swollen by rain from what was hurricane Isaac now only remnants continue to turn. But in the Midwest, let's focus on Slidell right now. George Howell is there.

So George, I understand you got a look at first-hand one of the Coral River with actually by chance, one of the stars of the show, "Swamp People," the History channel. How did that come about?

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We got a first-hand look there. We got to finally see exactly what is happening on the river. Right now we are on an offshoot of the Pearl River. About only show, you know, you can see this river. The water is slowly but surely still rising. And we were able to go out and give you a better look at exactly what is happening.

No better way to show you what we are talking about than to take you out on the river. What you see here is the Pearl River, some eight to nine feet higher than it typically is. You are seeing this river so high because of all of this storm water, all the rain that came in from hurricane Isaac, it has got to go somewhere. It is flowing downstream and affecting a lot of communities.

Now, officials are also concerned about a navigational canal that runs a parallel to the Pearl River. There are two locks on the canal, lock one and two. There was concern earlier about those locks failing. But officials seem fairly certain that the locks are doing better. They are monitoring that situation.

Now, I want to bring in Terral Evans here.

And Terral, no one knows this river better than you. You have seen the river rise before. What are you expecting tonight?

TERRAL EVANS, SLIDELL RESIDENT: We are expecting to see it tomorrow it is supposed to go to about 19.5. That's the predict right now. Everybody kind of has their eye on it. They are little skeptical. They are watching the gauges down here on the rise. 19.5 is going to flood quite a few areas down here especially like the upper end of the Pearl starting from 59 back this way. Some of the areas that were affected through Isaac were some of the subdivisions like Indian village, Quail Ridge. Those areas are adjacent to the river. And as they call it, they were caught with some storm surge. This river is going to get back in those areas. So there is some concern. We have a subdivision over here called Magnolia Forest. It is going to be affected, also. So it's a guessing game right now. They are saying 19.5. I hope they are right.

HOWELL: And you know, let's take a look again. I want to show you this water. We are talking about three additional feet of water before all is said and done out here on the Pearl River.

And we are looking right now at this gauge. Keep in mind that gauge not completely accurate. It has been there for some time and gotten knocked over a bit. We have been able to watch the water rise inch by inch. And again, they are expecting some three feet of water in this area. This river expected to crest, Fred, sometime tomorrow evening.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, George Howell. Keep us posted on that.

All right, meantime President Obama, he will be heading to Louisiana tomorrow to see the affects of Isaac first-hand. His visit comes three days after Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney made a stop in that state. Obama spokesman said last week the president scheduled his trip to avoid causing logistical problems.

All right, to find out how to help many people devastated by Isaac visit impact your world page. That's a cnn.com/impact.

An American freelance journalist covering the conflict in Syria is missing and has not been heard from in weeks. Nick Valencia is joining me with more on this.

How much do we know about this 31-year-old former marine turned journalist and what assignment he was on?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We are beginning to learn more about Austin Tice. He was a Houston native from Texas. He was in Syria since May, Fred, working as a freelance journalist in capacity for such media organization as "the Washington Post," on a McClatchy newspaper, and "CBS News" even Al Jazeera English.

And what we got earlier this week was a statement from "the Washington Post." They are sending a senior diplomat as well as many people that have familiar knowledge with this matter saying the Czech Republic senior diplomat is saying that he is being held by the Syrian government. He was detained by the Syrian government, according to this source.

Now, of course, since the U.S. left Syria their embassy now closed. The Czech Republic has been acting in official capacity for the United States. So, this is the line that we are hearing.

WHITFIELD: And the last time the family members heard from him? VALENCIA: It has been about three weeks now. In fact, his mother, you bring out a god point, his mother tweeted earlier today saying this marks the end of the third week today, Sunday marks in the third week since he has been missing. No one know where he is at. He is unaccounted for. It has been weeks since they have heard from him.

He started reporting there in conflict zones - he has experienced in conflict zones, but not as a journalist, Fred, but more as a U.S. marine. He was based in the horn of Africa, as well as in Jordan, the U.S. carrier. But this is one of the his first assignments as a conflict correspondent.

WHITFIELD: So, what are they saying is the state department prepared to do to help in locating him or even find out what may have potentially happened?

VALENCIA: Sure. The state department gave us a statement early this week. The acting spokesman telling our Jill Dougherty in the state department New York correspondent at CNN, telling her, we are working through our Czech protecting power in Syria to get information on his welfare and whereabouts and we appreciate the efforts of the Czech mission on behalf of out citizen. We have seen news reports that Mister Tice is in Syrian custody. However, the Syrian government has yet to confirm these reports with our protecting power. We urge the Syrian government to respond to Czech's diplomatic note as soon as possible.

And as you know, the Syrian conflict, one of the most violent angle in conflict, community protect journalists saying 19 journalists have been killed since November of 2011 there.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nick Valencia. Thanks so much for bringing that to us. Of course, we are all hoping on his safe return.

All right, in Washington, D.C. hundreds marched in protest of the civil war in Syria. Demonstrators were in full force in front of the White House. They are calling for President Obama and the international community to take action against the Syrian regime. Opposition activists say 103 people were killed in fighting in Syria today.

The founder of the unification church has died. Reverend Sun Myung Moon was famous for holding mass weddings including some held worldwide via satellite. He also helped found the conservative "Washington Times." The newspaper reported his death this afternoon. Moon whose followers were known as Moonies were sometimes called a cult leader. He served a federal prison term in the mid 1980s for tax evasion. Moon died from complications from pneumonia. He was 92.

President Obama hits two states today on his road to Charlotte tour. We will preview what he needs to do to convince voters to let him keep his job.

And later, I sit down face to face with southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. They have a new album out and they tell me sometimes fans reveal a little too much about how much they love the bands' iconic songs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is amazing to hear the different ones from graduation to, you know, even parents say our child was conceived during "Free Bird."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, President Obama is on the campaign trail today. His next stop, Toledo, Ohio. A little earlier, he was in Boulder, Colorado.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

WHITFIELD: He was there making his case for re-election.

Our Athena Jones was with him. What did he have to say?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred.

On day two of the president's road to Charlotte tour, he spoke before a large crowd here, about 13,000 at the University of Colorado, Boulder. His message was part a rebuttal from what we heard from the Republican national convention last week and part of effort are really rev up the crowd of these mostly young voters. Make sure they are registered to vote and make sure they actually do vote. Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Just over two months from now, for the first time in many of your lives you will get a chance to pick a president. And by doing so you will get a chance to choose the path that we take from here. Last week the other party gave their pitch at their convention down in Florida. Don't boo. Vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Colorado is an important swing state. Nine electoral votes. And the president won the state back in 2008. They are certainly hoping they can do so again. He has been to Colorado 11 times as president and eight of those times this year alone which shows you how important it is.

One other push that they have been making both here in Colorado and in Iowa yesterday, was this focus on early voting and voting by mail. Campaign officials tell us here in the state of Colorado 77 percent of the votes came in either early or by mail last time around. So, it is something they can prove pivotal in this state.

The president's next stop is Toledo, Ohio on Monday and they also goes to visit hurricane, the victims of hurricane Isaac in Louisiana later that day -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much. Athena Jones traveling with the president.

All right, not everybody is happy to have the Democratic convention in Charlotte. In fact, some protesters are already on the street. These people are part of the occupy movement. They want to close the gap between the poor and the America's super rich who they called the one percent. Labor unions, farming community and the immigration advocated are also planning to demonstrate during the event.

So, how do Democrats plan to make their case for a second term for President Obama? Some big names are part of the lineup. First lady Michelle Obama taking to the stage on opening day. Following day, former president Bill Clinton gives his endorsement. And then, Thursday, is when things get serious, vice president Joe Biden speaking, will talk serious. But before the man of the hour expects his nomination to run for another term as president, all those precede him. Thursday the president.

All right, CNN's live coverage of the Democratic National Convention from Charlotte, North Carolina beginning Tuesday evening 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett and Candy Crowley will be joining Wolf Blitzer to lead our coverage.

A book written by a former Navy seal, who, helped kill Osama bin Laden, that book comes out this week. A former general weighs in on whether the SEAL revealed too much.

And if you have to go out today, just a reminder, you can continue watching CNN from your mobile phone. You can also watch CNN live from your desktop. Just go to CNN.com/TV.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hurricane Isaac has cleared out of the gulf coast but people can still feel the affects every time they go to the gas station. The average price of a gallon of regular gas was $3.83 on Friday up it was 9.4 percent from the end of July.

Earlier today I asked our Alison Kosik why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: The good news is you can pretty much blame Isaac for the short term. So yes, you can expect to see gas prices stay higher in the short term and then go lower in the longer term. Now, the reason Isaac is the brains of this is because Isaac hit the gulf coast which you see few oil production in the country , in fact, 40 percent of the nation's petroleum refining capacity is located right along the gulf coast.

Now, the good news is that the refineries, they weren't damaged. But the reason Isaac is having a huge impact on the price on days to come is because the refineries had to shut down or cut down production during the storm. And the fact is, that knocked out hundreds of thousands of barrel production during the day. That downtime sent prices higher.

You know, it is not just Isaac although we can clear to be high in prices. Also there has been a deadly refinery fire in the major facility Venezuela. That happened two weeks ago. There are also refinery fires happening in California. That shut down production, as well. And all of that one that is sinking supply, driving up oil prices and then driving gas prices higher. I think this late, we loss the price then if less gas is on the market you are seeing gasoline prices go higher.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And of course, we will keep you posted on when the prices might potentially get lower.

All right, U.S. special operations forces have stopped training Afghan police recruits. They are double checking their background information first. The move comes after more than 40 NATO troops were killed this year either by Afghan security force members or insurgence disguise as troops. The 16,000 police officers who are being re- vetted are still conducting operations.

The lawyer for a Navy SEAL, a former Navy SEAL who wrote a tell-all book about killing Osama bin Laden insists his client didn't reveal any classified information. In the book "no easy day," Mark Owen, the pen name of author Matt Bissonnette, writes this.

Quote "it was strange to see such an infamous face up close. Lying in front of me was the reason we have been fighting for the last decade. It was surreal trying to clean blood off the most wanted man in the world so that I could shoot his photo."

Not everyone agrees that Bissonnette should have released that information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS, RETIRED GENERAL, U.S. ARMY: The fact that Navy SEALs might be targeted, there might be some type of revenge attacks, clearly that could be a possible outcome. But you can't control that. What you can control is the fact that this incredibly talented SEAL made a big mistake by publishing this book without getting the authorities to do it and without getting the appropriate redaction. And the fact that the mission he was on was a classified mission, classified by the CIA, not the department of defense, no SOCOM. This was a CIA operation. So, only the CIA had the authority to declassify information that might be in that book. Now, the author would say it does not have that classified information. But it is not his authority to designate that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: According to Bissonnette's attorney, the Pentagon's classified nondisclosure agreement quote, "invites" but doesn't require Bissonnette to submit his book for prepublication review. President Barack Obama fighting to keep his job. What will he have to say this week to convince voters that he is still about hope and change? We'll talk about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Authorities in Louisiana have lifted a mandatory evacuation order for about 1,200 homes near the Mississippi border. Residents were told to leave because water in a canal that jets off the Pearl River was close to bursting through a lock. Engineers released some of the water and ease the pressure. However, the danger isn't over. The river is expected to crest Monday evening.

In Iowa, federal investigators are trying to figure out what caused a plane to explode in front of thousands of spectators killing the pilot. Everything started out normally with three planes flying in formation yesterday at the quad city air show. But then, all of the sudden, one of the planes' nosedived into a field while attempting 45 degree bunk. Witnesses watched in horror as the plane exploded into a giant fire ball once it hit the ground. The Quad City Times Web site is identifying the pilot as 58-year-old Glen Smith of Frisco, Texas.

President Barack Obama on the campaign trail today. His next stop is Toledo, Ohio. A little earlier he was in Boulder, Colorado for a campaign rally. There was definitely no shortage of swipes at Romney. But the president says the focus of his campaign is about moving forward. Let's take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: On Thursday night I'm going to offer you what I believe is a better path forward, a path that will grow this economy and create more jobs and strengthen the middle class. And the good news is you get to choose the path we take.

Now, you can go with their plan to give massive new tax cuts to folks who have already made it or we can go forward with my plan to keep taxes low for every American who are still trying to make it.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: You know, if you talk to a Republican out there who says, you know Obama, Democrats are all about tax and spending, all of these. Remind them I promised four years ago to cut taxes for middle class families. And the typical middle class family is paying a total about $3,600 less in taxes now than when I came into office. I kept my promise. I kept that promise.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And now I'm running to make sure taxes aren't raised a single dime for the first $250,000 of income which means 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses will see their taxes remain low because they are the ones who need relief, not folks like me. Not folks like Mister Romney. He needs it less than I do. But this is ultimately going to be your choice. Now, you can choose whether we see new jobs and new industries to countries like China or whether we fight for those jobs in states like Colorado.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Now, my opponent likes to tout his private sector experience and he was incredibly successful. And you know, clearly disciplined and hard working. But keep in mind that his experience was investing in companies that were called pioneers in the business of outsourcing jobs.

When the auto industry was on the verge of collapse, he said let's let Detroit go bankrupt. And I have a different vision for America. I bet on American workers and I bet on American manufacturing. And today, the U.S. auto industry has come roaring back. And by the way, the cars they are making are better and more fuel efficient than ever. That's how we move forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And tomorrow, the president travels to Louisiana to survey damage from hurricane Isaac.

In 2008 Barack Obama was man promising hope and change. Now, four years later, some critics say he hasn't fulfilled all of his promises to American voters. So, what needs to be the president's mission during the convention this week?

I asked chief political correspondent Candy Crowley earlier today if he needs to highlight everything checked off on his long to do list or spell out what he needs to do next.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You can't ignore the economy because that leaves a big opening for Republicans who have charged all along that the president cannot run on his economic record. And so, you know, we hear folks out there going the economy is better than when he took office. We were on this deep mess. He certainly has made improvements. So, on the one hand, they have to say things are better. And on the other hand, they have to sell and they are going to get better still.

WHITFIELD: You spoke with L.A.'s mayor Villaraigosa earlier on "STATE OF THE UNION." This is how he saw it.

MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA (D), LOS ANGELES: The path before us, the choices that the American people have in this election, a choice that invests in the economy from the middle out, that continues to build on some of the progress. We have created about 4 1/2 million jobs in the last four years. Twenty nine consecutive months of growth in our economy. We want to continue that. I think we also want to compare and contrast with the Bush policies that Romney/Ryan would like to promote going into the future. WHITFIELD: So, it will be interesting to see if there is a little bit of looking back and then forward as the Obama campaign is trying to underscore. You know, the expectations, you know, are very different this go around. Everyone is in agreement with that meaning during Obama's first campaign the direction was hope and let's all work together. But now, it is very clear there is great polarization. You know, how does the president try to appeal to the kind of disenchanted during this convention?

CROWLEY: Well, a lot of folks have said particularly Democrats when you say what is the problem here? He promised hope and change. He promised to change the tone in Washington. They say yes, but the Republicans wouldn't let him. Does that sell to a certain extent it certainly sells to the base. What we are looking at really is an election that still is going to turn on the economy. And about the economy right now and about what folks think the economy will be in the future.

So, what the president has to do is really look forward because people don't vote on the past. They vote on their future. So he has to at once convince folks that things have gotten better. But he has to move that along and say you need to stick with me. You know, we are on a path and that is where they use that kind of contrast thing. You will see him saying and many people saying you don't want to go back to the policies that brought us here in the first place linking George Bush and Mitt Romney.

WHITFIELD: All right, Robert Gibbs sees it this way.

ROBERT GIBBS, OBAMA SENIOR CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Mitt Romney's speech was about two people, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Barack Obama's speech is going to be about 300 million people that live in America. He is going to focus on how we move this country forward, laying out plans for strengthening the security of the middle class, investing in research and innovation, paying down debt and honoring those that serve overseas.

WHITFIELD: And it will be interesting to see if a secret weapon, maybe not really a secret will be, you know first lady Michelle Obama, similar to how Mitt Romney's wife. Perhaps, nearly upstage his appearance during the convention.

CROWLEY: She is far more popular, she being the first lady is far more popular than the president is at this point. It tends to happen with first ladies. But I will tell you in surprise when gives his talking about is that this convention is aimed very much at saying hey, we are the parties of the people and those other guys you saw in Tampa, they are about the elite. They are about rich people. They have gone out of their way to sort of include people and say hey, come and walk through the convention floor. They have done that for a couple of days so that folks can see it. They will have average middle class people talking about how the president's policies have helped them over the past four years. So they definitely want the flavor to be we are not politicians. We are all about you.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: All right, Candy Crowley helping to lead our political coverage this week.

Mitt Romney going bowling with the press now, well kind of. It happened on his campaign plane. All that was need was an orange, yes, he is a fruit, orange and a sharpie. The reporters would actually write this question on the piece of fruit saying governor, are you going to let Portman play Obama come chat? And then they roll the orange back to him, as you right there quote, "don't tell Sununu, but yes." That's what he wrote on there. Just a slice of humor on the campaign trail.

This week, Romney will be doing kind of mock debates and that was the reference to Portman who will be actually playing President Obama.

All right, so, do you want to know what it is really like to experience the Democratic National Convention from the inside? Tuesday, join the CNN election round table with Wolf Blitzer and CNN's political team. Submit your questions, get your answers in real time in this live virtual chat. Don't miss the CNN election round table Tuesday noon eastern time by logging on to CNN.com/roundtable.

The National Football League kicks off the regular season this week. But a group of rookies taking the field is raising concerns about how the game will be played and officiated.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The NFL season kicks off this week. There is a cloud hanging over the start of the season, a full blown labor dispute involving the men wearing black and white.

CNN's Mark McKay explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK MCKAY: CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As another NFL season gets ready to kick off disaster could be right behind.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REFEREE: Correction on the reporting of the foul. Both teams - both fouls on the kicking team. Five yard penalty.

MCKAY: The NFL and its referees have been in a labor dispute ever since the last collective bargaining agreement expired three months ago. The NFL locked out the referees and hired replacements called from the lower levels of college football as well as the high school ranks. Though the NFL continues to provide on the job training for these officials, the results have been mixed with some embarrassing moments that could put the credibility of the league at stake.

TOM COUGHLIN, HEAD COACH, NEW YORK GIANTS: We just hope these officials know the rules, know how to enforce them and can keep the game under control and keep order.

MCKAY: There are 121 NFL referees. They are considered part-time employees who have other careers outside the NFL. Last year officials were paid an average of $149,000 plus benefits.

BEN REITER, WRITER, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: The NFL referees want a raise in that salary. And make no mistake. They are requesting a significant raise. They want more than double that over the course of five years. The NFL is countering with annual raises over the next seven years of five percent to 11 percent. There is quite a distance between those. There are also issues about pensions and a few other things. At the end of the day the problem is financial.

MCKAY: The NFL players' association has criticized Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league saying they are jeopardizing players' safety by using inferior referees.

ADAM PODLESH, CHICAGO BEARS PLAYER REPRESENTATIVE: I think on the whole it is in the back of our minds a bit of a concern because like we said before, these referees have never refereed in an NFL season game. So, that's you know, a bit of a concern.

REITER: Laws are only as good as their enforcement really. And in this case players sense they can get away with something, helmet to helmet hits. And they sense that orders is not being upheld. They will take advantage of that. And really, it's a public relations thing. It is the perception that the NFL is not doing everything it can to protect players playing a very dangerous game.

MCKAY: The first week of games could determine which side gets the upper hand in negotiations. If the games come and go without incidents, the NFL will continue using replacements and the locked out referees will continue to lose paychecks. If not, the outrage from fans, coaches and players will put pressure on the league to get a deal done.

Mark McKay, CNN. Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And it is home to some of the smartest students in the country and now Harvard University is at the center of a cheating scandal. The ivy league investigation next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, check some of the news happening overseas now.

The deadly violence rages on across Syria. Opposition activists say at least 103 people were killed today alone. UNICEF reports 1,600 people were killed in Syria last week making it the deadliest week yet in the civil war. This bombing near a government security building reportedly left at least four people wounded.

In South Africa, the country's top prosecutor drops murder charges against hundreds of miners accused of killing their co-workers. The arrest came after a deadly clash with police last month. Witnesses say it was actually the police officers shooting and killing the 34 miners. Three separate investigations are underway. And in Hong Kong, the proposed changes to the curriculum for elementary and secondary schools has parents and teachers accusing the government of trying to brainwash students. Several thousand turned out to protest the changes. China says the move is intended to make children more aware of China and to make them more patriotic.

All right, back to this country now. Cheating scandals in schools, nothing new. But what about when it happens at one of the most prestigious schools in the world like Harvard. More than 100 students from an intro to Congress class last semester are now under investigation. And some who have already graduated have been warned that their degrees could be impacted.

CNN's Lisa Sylvester takes a look.

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The test instructors state it is open book, open internet with one major rule, quote, "students may not discuss the exam with others." But Harvard's administrative board has been investigating whether almost half of the class of more than 250 students in appropriately collaborated or plagiarized on that exam. The review has not been completed. But even the allegations were hurt the university says ethics expert and author, Bruce Weinstein.

BRUCE WEINSTEIN, AUTHOR, THE ETHICS GUY: I was appalled by this news and I will tell you why. You don't want to see the words Harvard and cheating in the same sentence. It is horrible when any student cheats or is accused of cheating. But we look to Harvard as being one of the world's leader institutions in education. And as a leader, we expect more from places like Harvard.

SYLVESTER: The alleged cheating came to light after the assistant government professor teaching the course noticed similar answers from students.

Ben Samuels is a senior and the editor of the Harvard Crimson. He says students in the class they spoke to were dumbfounded they were being accused of cheating.

BEN SAMUELS, EDITOR, HARVARD CRIMSON (via telephone): I think at this point there is more confusion than anything else. The students we talked to by and large are still trying to figure out exactly what they are being accused of.

SYLVESTER: In a statement Harvard University president, Drew Faust, said quote, "these allegations if proven represent totally unacceptable behavior that betrays the trust upon which intellectual inquiry at Harvard depends."

Other colleges around the country are taking note. Andrea Goodwin is the associate director of student conduct at the University of Maryland.

ANDREA GOODWIN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF STUDENT CONDUCT, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: But I think they are probably going to use this opportunity as our many of our campuses across the country to educate students about the importance of integrity, the importance of academic integrity and making sure that students understand that it is not just about cheating on an exam or quiz or homework assignment that it is much more important.

SYLVESTER: If it is determined students cheated they could place disciplinary action including being kicked out of the school for a year.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN. Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Lynyrd Skynyrd, best known for hits like "sweet home, Alabama, Free Bird and What's your name," face to face with some of the band members next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The Democratic National Convention starting Tuesday and everybody on the Sunday morning talk shows is talking about what might happen in Charlotte. If you missed it check out the headlines - highlights.

(LAUGHTER)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC FEHRNSTROM, ROMNEY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Next week in Charlotte, the president needs to explain why he didn't do what he said he was going to do. When he took office shortly after his inauguration he said in an interview that if he didn't have this economy turned around in three years his presidency would be a one-term proposition. Well, the economy hasn't turn around.

GIBBS: In Tampa we saw nothing but insults and old slogans and tired old ideas. In Charlotte the president is going to focus on a plan to provide the middle class in this country some necessary and need security by investing in research and innovation and strengthening the middle class. And I think a pathway to moving us forward.

DAVID PLOUFFE, ADVISER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: He didn't talk about the war we are waging in Afghanistan or our troops which is an amazing thing for someone who wants to be 66 days from now elected.

CROWLEY: Do you think he should have said something?

FEHRNSTROM: He spoke to Afghanistan in a big speech before the American legion the night before his convention speech. That was an invitation --

CROWLEY: Sure. But this is a huge big audience here.

FEHRNSTROM: Governor Romney's convention speech was an opportunity for him to introduce himself to millions of voters who are seeing him for the first time. And in that speech he accomplished what he set out to do. UNIDENTIFIED MALE ANCHOR: David, can you honestly say that the average American is better off today than they were four years ago?

DAVID AXELROD, OBAMA CHIEF CAMPAIGN STRATEGIST: Here is what I can say, Chris. I can say that we are in a better position than we were four years ago in our economy in the sense that when this president took office we were losing 800,000 jobs a month. Are we where we need to be? No.

MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL (D), CHICAGO: Nobody is debating, Clint Eastwood is a great director, great writer. I love his movies. But that moment in time is a commentary beyond Romney's speech. And I think the Romney people, I know this, you have a convention you want it about your candidate's ideas, not about a bizarre performance.

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you are Mitt Romney and your choice is to have decided that night the pick Clint Eastwood or pick on you, I think I'd give them Clint Eastwood every night for the reference.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, right.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: President Obama is busy on the campaign trail. He's headed to Ohio right now after a visit in Colorado earlier today continuing the push in swing states on his way to the democratic national convention.

Our chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin sat down for an in depth interview with the president and she gives us a sneak preview.

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred.

You know, right now it's easy to get caught up in the little spats of the campaign news cycle. But in the documentary we pulled back and look at some of the major events that shaped the last 3 1/2 years. The president's time in office. And one of the recurrent themes is the partisanship in Washington, especially meaningful because in 2008, the president campaigns saying in part that he would heal the bitter divide in Washington and around the country.

So in my interview with President Obama, I talked to him about why he hasn't built more relationships with some of those Washington insiders who could have helped get his agenda through. Here is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Sometimes Michelle and I not doing the circuit and going out to dinners with folks is perceived as us being cool. It actually really has more to do with us being parents. When we're in town here in Washington, in the evenings 6:30 we want to be at the dinner table with our kids, and I want to be helping with their homework. I think that's sometimes interpreted as me not wanting to be out there slapping backs and wheeling and dealing, ant it really has more to do with just the stage we are in our lives. YELLIN: If you're re-elected, your girls will be older. Probably have their own weekend plans. They might not want to hang out with mom and dad.

OBAMA: It already starting to happen. Yes.

YELLIN: Do you think you might do more outreach, what you call back slapping, with members of congress?

OBAMA: My hope is that getting past this election people will have an opportunity to maybe step back and say, you know what? The differences that divide us aren't as important as the common bonds we have as Americans. And some of that I'm sure will require additional effort on my part. Hopefully we'll see more effort on the other side as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YELLIN: So in the documentary, we delve more deeply into all of these issues, both the president's family life and some of these issues of partisanship in Washington and who shoulders responsibility for it.

And we talked to some of the president's closest aides, including Secretary Clinton, his former personal assistant Reggie Love, former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and the leader of the opposition, speaker John Boehner and a lot of other people. I hope you'll watch -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: We will, indeed, be watching, Jessica. Thanks so much.

If you want to know more about what President Obama's really like, Jessica Yellin revealing the man through the people who know him best. Watch "Obama revealed, the man, the president," month night 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All I need to do is mention "sweet home Alabama, free bird," and you know exactly who I am talking about.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, defining the sound of southern rock since the '70s and even after a tragic plane crash in 1977 killing three of the band members, Lynyrd Skynyrd played on cranking out hit after hit, album after album over the years.

Well now, on tour with a new album, "last of a dying breed." Lynyrd Skynyrd's first album since 2009's "gods and guns." And it's giving them their highest billboard chart debut since the 1970s.

I talked to face-to-face some with vocalist Johnny Van Zant and guitarist Gary Rossington and Rickey Medlocke on a tour stop right here in Atlanta. And I asked them after 60 albums, are there any stories behind the records and the songs that they could share?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY ROSSINGTON, GUITARIST, LYNYRD SKYNYRD: Oh, yes, but we can't discuss them on this program. Yes --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A few of them.

ROSSINGTON: Everything throughout our career has had a story and that's what we write about and to be able to last so long, I guess people can understand the stories we tell and the songs, and we just try to play for the people, you know, and do our thing for that.

WHITFIELD: And people, you know, love the ones I just mentioned and so many others. Even when you come out in your launching, you know, your new tour, your new album, new songs, people in the audience are chanting, you know, "Free Bird." When do we going to hear that?

ROSSINGTON: What song do you want to hear today?

CROWD: Free bird!

ROSSINGTON: You got it baby.

We always do the old favorites and stuff. We always do that for the people. It's fun to do a new tune here and there to keep it fresh.

WHITFIELD: What happens when you look in the audience and you see those who have been growing with you and then they're bringing their kids?

ROSSINGTON: Oh, yes p.m.

Some of the songs, "simply man," "free bird" you can see women or people crying, sometimes they think about their sons being overseas of staff in service. There's memories that come up. It's kind of a lifetime of memories through our music.

RICKEY MEDLOCKE, GUITARIST, LYNYRD SKYNYRD: I think what's cool is the stories that you hear from, you know, people all over the years and the stories that they have about certain songs, how certain songs of the band has touched them in a certain way, you know, and it's just - it's amazing to me to listen to all the different ones from graduation to, you know, even parents saying, oh, our child was conceived during "free bird," like enough information.

WHITFIELD: I hear "free bird" and I think about my high school and junior high dances. And you know, it was just the buildup and everyone, you know, gets excited about the song and takes, you know, to the floor. And I think, yes, very nostalgic.

But you know for you, Johnny, is it nostalgic when you play kind of the older tunes, the signature tunes, but then you got to introduce the new stuff, too, and it becomes a different tone on stage, doesn't it?

JOHNNY VAN ZANT, SINGER, LYNYRD SKYNYRD: Yes. Well, right now we've got the new record out "last of a dying breed." I love it because we start the show off, kind of giving it out away, But Gary comes out playing a slide and we have this Wolf thing happening. And it's just a lot of fun for us. And you know, I have been here in the band for 25 years. My brother, Ronnie, started the band with Gary and Allen Collins and, you know, it's been my pleasure to be out here and see how it's grown and, you know, see all the young fans come into this and love the old with the new.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: They are still enjoying the ride big time. Gary Rossington, by the way, is going to be inducted into the Georgia music hall of fame in October. The band has already been inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame, of course. Well, the band will be heading to the U.K. for a tour come November. And we got even more from my interview with the band next weekend on CNN. Remember how the confederate flag was for so long kind of a symbol of the band on their album covers, backdrop on stage. Well, why the band made a change. That's revealed next weekend.

All right, that is going to do it for me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.