American Morning

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April 7th, 2009
12:00 PM ET

Busted for sexting

CNN's Deborah Feyerick reports on the trend of 'sexting' and how police are now getting involved.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick reports on the trend of 'sexting' and how police are now getting involved.

A lot of teens think it's funny, a way to flirt or joke around with friends.

No big deal.

But sending and receiving naked images of children is illegal. And once that photo of your kid is out there it's virtually impossible to get it back.

Watch

What do you think? Should teenagers be prosecuted for "sexting?"


Filed under: Controversy
April 7th, 2009
10:17 AM ET

Commentary: Muslim world "likes" Obama's words

CNN's Kiran Chetry speaks to Hisham Melhem of Al-Arabiya about President Obama's message to Muslims.
CNN's Kiran Chetry speaks to Hisham Melhem of Al-Arabiya about President Obama's message to Muslims.

President Obama was in Turkey today. It was the last leg of his five-nation European tour and his first trip to a Muslim country since taking office. During the stop he sent a message to the world that the U.S. will never be at war with Islam.

“I am personally committed to a new chapter of American engagement. We can't afford to talk past one another, to focus only on our differences or to let the walls of mistrust go up around us.”

So how is the Muslim community reacting to the president’s visit? Hisham Melhem, Washington Bureau Chief for global Arab language network Al-Arabiya, spoke to Kiran Chetry Tuesday on CNN’s “American Morning.”

Kiran Chetry: In all, how was our president received in the muslim world?

Hisham Melhem: Well, judging by the positive headlines, by the live coverage that my network and others gave his speech yesterday in front of the Turkish parliament, the Muslim world likes what the president has been saying. Not only in Turkey, but since he was elected. And I think his words and, more importantly, his actions, have resonated positively throughout the Arab world and the Muslim world. People realize that there is a new tone, that there is a new content, that there is a new language. Gone are the combustible words that President Bush used to use like Islamo [sic] Fascism. Now the new president talks about engagement, he talks about partnership, he talks about respect, mutual interests. President Bush seemed to many Arabs and Muslims every time he talks to them as if he is talking down to them, as if he is lecturing them. This new president is trying to engage them as potential partners in the fight against the real enemy of the United States and the real enemy of these governments which is al Qaeda. The president doesn't talk about the war on terror in general because the war on terror is a war on a tactic. He has a well-defined enemy called al Qaeda. He doesn't clump like, President Bush, all Islamic groups. He focuses only on al Qaeda. All of these things, they are nuances and people recognizes nuances and they appreciate that.

FULL POST


Filed under: Islam • Politics
April 7th, 2009
09:00 AM ET

Albright: Kim Jong-il wants 'respect'

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks to CNN's Carol Costello about North Korea's rocket launch.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks to CNN's Carol Costello about North Korea's rocket launch.

It's been three days since North Korea ignored the demands of the U.S. and its allies with a rocket launch.

The UN Security Council still has no official response, even after two days of closed-door meetings. We've also learned that a commercial satellite, owned by digital globe, apparently captured images of Sunday's launch.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright joined us live.

Watch

What do you think? What actions should the UN Security Council take in response to North Korea's rocket launch?


Filed under: North Korea
April 7th, 2009
08:00 AM ET

Gun control dead?

Despite a rash of shooting rampages, Congress is unlikely to pass new gun control laws. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.
Despite a rash of shooting rampages, Congress is unlikely to pass new gun control laws. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.

You'd think with a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress, gun control bills would be on their way to the White House for the president's signature.

But times have changed.

And so have Democrats on gun rights. As one southern Democrat recently said, the way the votes are shaping up these days, gun control is "dead on arrival" on Capitol Hill.

Watch

What do you think? Why is gun control receiving little attention from lawmakers despite mass shootings across the country?


Filed under: Crime • Politics
April 7th, 2009
06:03 AM ET

What’s on Tap – Tuesday April 7th, 2009

Two big developing stories overnight.  A small plane stolen in Canada lands in Missouri – the pilot is arrested.  Plus, a plot to assassinate President Obama is foiled in Turkey. The suspect is Syrian.  Here are the other major stories we're working on right now.

  • President Obama is in Turkey speaking with Muslim youth this morning at a town hall in Istanbul, the gateway between the Muslim world and Europe.  He told students to “choose to build new bridges.”  We’ll talk about whether his tour changed our image around the world. CNN Chief International Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, looks at President Barack Obama's first trip overseas - what did it achieve?
  • The search for survivors intensifies after a strong earthquake in Italy.  An ancient town reduced to rubble. The death toll 150 and rising. We’ll look at a desperate search for students who may have been buried alive, when a dorm crumbled to the ground.
  • Letter from a mass killer.  Confusion, paranoia, anger and frustration – all revealed in broken English in a letter purportedly written by the suspect in last week's deadly shooting at a Binghamton, New York immigrant center.  It was sent to a New York television station days after the massacre.
  • The Texas Legislature is considering allowing guns on campuses.  This, after a wave of gun violence and mass killings across the country.  A former Virginia Tech student who lost his girlfriend in that school’s tragedy will debate it.

Filed under: What's On Tap
April 6th, 2009
03:00 PM ET

We Listen!

Here’s your daily recap of the best feedback we got from YOU on the blog, Facebook, Twitter, Email. Continue the conversation below. And remember, keep it brief, and keep it clean. Thanks!

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American Morning viewers bestowed praise on President Obama and the First Lady, as they continued their trip abroad. Many viewers were optimistic about the future of international relations:

  • BeeBee: I think Obama is doing a wonderful job uniting the US to the world! We can no longer rule the world we must partner with the world. People like Gingrich & Rumsfeld don't understand our new world and step out of the picture forever! We don't want old men with their mentality to be our leaders.

Even former naysayers waxed eloquently about the President:

  • Mike: I have to say although I was NOT happy with President Obama when he got an attitude with Ed Henry regarding when he knew about the bonuses; however, I have been impressed by his actions since he became our Leader. The PRIDE I am feeling as an American is beyond my ability to express that pride in written word! Maybe I can finally start traveling Europe again!

How do you feel about President Obama’s performance abroad? Do you believe he appropriately represented the United States and our interests? Was he too submissive or apologetic, or did he represent the U.S. with strength and dignity?

Some viewers took offense at Mr. Obama’s closing comments during the press conference with Turkey’s president:

  • David: I felt the press conference with Turkey’s President Gul today went very well...until President Obama's closing comments. He stated that the United States was not a Christian country, or Jewish country, or Muslim country. While trying to make a point about our religious freedoms, he offended me with this comment. As our Pledge of Allegiance states: "One nation, under GOD..." We are founded on Christianity, and we should remain steadfast on these grounds. We can still negotiate with the Turks without misrepresenting the beliefs of the most powerful Nation in the world.

Do you believe the President’s remarks in Turkey were inappropriate as the viewer above states, or were Mr. Obama’s words an attempt to present the U.S. as a refuge for religious freedom? Let us know what you think on these issues and others of interest to you.

FULL POST


Filed under: We Listen
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