American Morning
Sticky situation for Toyota
Many more Toyota drivers don't know whether it's safe to drive to work today.
Now the company is acknowledging the very popular Prius had brake problems but never told customers about it. And Congress is demanding more answers from Toyota about what's really causing runaway cars.
More and more safety experts are saying "sticky" gas pedals are not the problem. So are these fixes the final fixes?
On Thursday's American Morning, our Christine Romans talked about the trouble at Toyota with David Rosenberg, owner and president of Prime Motor Group, which runs two Toyota dealerships in Massachusetts and Maine; and Joan Claybrook, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Full Coverage: Toyota Recall
Welcome to the Tea Party: Florida showdown
Editor's Note: CNN's Jim Acosta takes you inside the Tea Party movement and sits down with those who started it to talk about the factions within the movement and the first ever 'Tea Party Convention.' Tomorrow on American Morning, we'll tell you about a Carnival cruise to the Caribbean where Tea Party protesters sound off on the president.
By Jim Acosta, CNN
For Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist it's the hug that just won't let go.
His embrace of the president and of the stimulus program at a town hall meeting last year could cost this once rising GOP star a shot at a U.S. Senate seat.
Meet Marco Rubio. He's a darling of the Tea Party movement and is challenging Crist for the GOP nomination for that Senate seat.
"What I find at these events are folks who've never been involved in politics before," says Rubio.
Rubio takes his message of smaller government and lower taxes to Tea Party rallies. And his YouTube page features Tea Party activists venting their anger at Washington.
Polls show Rubio has closed a 30 point gap and just might win the party primary.
Would he be the first Tea Party senator if elected?
Welcome to the Tea Party: To hug or not to hug?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://blogs.cnn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2010/02/obama-crist-gi-art.jpg caption="Governor Charlie Crist is hugged by President Obama at a town hall meeting February 10, 2009 in Fort Myers, Florida."]
By Jim Acosta, CNN
To hug or not to hug?
That's the question facing Florida's Republican voters. The answer could have national implications for the Tea Party movement.
In the white-hot GOP primary battle between Governor Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the hug is the big issue.
In case you haven't heard – last year, the governor briefly hugged President Obama at a stimulus town hall meeting in Florida. Tea Party activists in the state immediately cried foul and began moving in droves to Rubio in the race.
Does Crist regret the hug? Does he still defend his support of the stimulus? Yes. And yes. To the governor, it's all about civility in politics. Tea partiers or no tea partiers.
Would Rubio hug Obama? Watch our second part of "Welcome to the Tea Party" – "Florida showdown," Thursday on American Morning.
We Listen – Your comments 2/3/2010
Editor's Note: Wednesday’s American Morning audience shared varied opinion about the growing Tea Party movement. As the party hosts its convention this weekend, some expressed fear of the new organizers, while others believe the Tea Party would be the third contingent to emerge in our electoral system.
- Susan: The T Party Movement – You will find out if you investigate that these people are racist people who are mad because Obama has gotten in as President. Please investigate these people. Myself, I feel they are an offshoot of the militia and the KKK. They are hiding their identities more so they can penetrate the government. These people are very negative and want to be destructive to the Government and our freedom. Please, please investigate these groups out here that pretend to be for the Government. They are angry mobs who at the chance would try to kill Obama if they could. They are very scarrrrry to our nation. Please DIG DEEPER. I also feel that this is why some of those republicans are against Obama. Underneath they believe in the T party doctrine. It's awful.
- Doug: LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE CANIDATES MAY HAVE A T BESIDE THEIR NAME, INSTEAD OF AN I, OR A D, OR AN R, NOW IT MAY HAVE A T; THE TEA IS BEING TAKEN OVER FOR MONEY, THAT DID NOT TAKE LONG.
- Sandra: I love how you guys can't wait to hop on the Tea Parties (a 3 part series?) but have you reported on the HEAD of the UN Climategate refusing to step down even though his "proof" of melting glaciers in the Himalayans is from hikers? LOL!!! It's no wonder I never watch CNN anymore and only found out about your 3 part series as I accidentally flipped channels past yours. You know...what you fail to realize is the Tea Party movement is not about some guy wanting for profit and others not. It's about things like, oh say, a multi-TRILLION dollar budget while a gazillion people poof out carbon all over the place going to Copenhagen on our tax dollar. Too funny. And how come we never hear about GE's bonuses? When you realize you've made a giant mistake hopping on the Global Warming boat, how are you going to get off and still maintain face? Tea Parties are the least of your worries.
What do you think of the Tea Party movement? Continue the conversation here.
SIDS linked to brain chemical
There may be a link between the brain chemical serotonin and babies who die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the report.
Abduction or misunderstanding in Haitian kids case?
A judge will meet today with some of the Americans who were arrested for trying to illegally take 33 Haitian children out of that country.
There's still no decision as to whether they'll be charged with attempted child trafficking.
Christopher Schmidt, an attorney who specializes in international kidnapping cases, joined us on Wednesday's American Morning to discuss the case.
Read more: Pastor: Court hearing set for Americans held in Haiti
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