American Morning
Debating religion and health care reform
President Obama's latest health care push – talking up reform to faith-based groups and religious leaders. In a conference call with at least 140-thousand people, the president called reform "a core ethical and moral obligation."
Rev. Jim Wallis, a member of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based Partnerships, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, debated the issue on "American Morning" Tuesday.
Bad credit = No small biz loan
Want to create jobs? One North Carolina restaurant owner says send some stimulus money his way and he'd create 50 jobs within three months. He just needs a loan.
But it's a new, tougher world out there. Entrepreneurs who want to expand their businesses are running into walls trying to get credit.
Mass. could be model for national health care reform
With so many town halls descending into Jerry Springer Shows on whether "Obama Care" means "death panels" for seniors (it won't), Massachusetts enjoys near-universal health care and it isn't breaking the bank.
Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney pushed through health care reform as governor of democratic Massachusetts three-years-ago. The result? 97 percent of the citizens in this state have health care. The program has a 69 percent approval rating and taxpayer watchdogs say it hasn't wasted public funds.
So what's the difference between "Romney Care" and "Obama Care"? In Massachusetts there's no public option. Citizens here are mandated to buy insurance or pay fines.
Romney says Democrats have only themselves to blame for the rowdy town halls on health care. But when asked whether Sarah Palin was wrong to say the president's plan would usher in "death panels," Romney would only say, "I don't read that in the bill."
What’s on Tap – Thursday August 20, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- Report: CIA hired contracted killers. Instead of Navy Seals or the Army's Special Ops tracking down al Qaeda, The New York Times reports that in 2004 the job of killing terrorists was outsourced. The price tag, said to be in the millions. And the plan was apparently a total bust.
- Right now the people of Afghanistan are picking a president. The polls close at 7:30 am ET. But it looks like Taliban threats are keeping many away. What will this election mean for America’s mission in the war-torn nation?
- And halfway through a two-day summit with North Korean diplomats., New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson joins us live. Find out why Pyongyang says they're owed a seat at the table with the Obama administration.
- You go, girl. The new list of the most influential women in the world is out. One European leader tops the list for the fourth year in a row. And get this, Oprah isn't even in the top 40! Our Christine Romans will tell you who else did and didn't make the cut.
The War at Home: Sisterhood for military teens
In the third installment of our "War at Home" series we introduce you to two California teenagers who struggled to deal with their fathers' deployments to Afghanistan. They found a way to cope with the loneliness and isolation and now they're helping other girls – their military "sisters" – do the same.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
