The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer : WETA : July 10, 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT; The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHREPRODUCTIONS Lehrer: GOOD ENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. ON THE NEWSHOUR THIS FRAY, THE LEAD STORIS GENERAL MOTOR'S EXIT FROM BANKRUPTCY TOY, AS SEEN IN A NEWSMAKER INTERVI WITH C.E.OFRITZ HENDERSON. EN, WE HAVE THE OTHER NEWS O E DAY, INCLUDING A MARGARET WARNER PORT ON THE LAST DAY OF THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT INTALY; A PREEW OF THE UPCOMI CONFIRMATION HEINGS FOR SUPREME COURT MINEE SONIA TOMAYOR; THE ANALIS OF DAVID BROOKS AND RUH MARCUS; AND AEDIA UNIT LOOK AT THE SATURAON COVERAGE OF THE MICHAEL JACKSON STO. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE NEWSHO WITH JIM LEHRER PROVIDED BY:

>> TINY LITTLE THING, 'S JUST... NOT BIG. AH... OKAY, I FOUND IT. ( CHEERS AND APPLSE ) OKAY.

>> WE ARE INTEL, SPSORS OF OMORROW.

>> THE WORLDS CHANGING, AND HOW WE USE ENERGY TODAY CANNOT BHOW WE USE IT TOMORROW. THERE IS NONE SOLUTION. IT NOT SIMPLY MORE OIL, MORE RENEWABLES OR BEG MORE EFFICIENT. IT'S A OF IT. OUR WAY OF LIFE PENDS ON DELOPING ALL FORMS OF ENERGY, AND TOSE LESS OF IT. IT'S TIME O PUT OUR DIFFERENCES ASE. WILL YOU BE PT OF THE SOTION? CHEVN, HUMAN ENERGY. AND THNATIONAL SCIENCE UNDATION. SUPPORTING EDUCION AND REARCH ACROSS ALL FIELDS OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERG. AND WITH THE ONGOINGUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AN FOUNDATIONS. D... THIS PGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BYONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LI YOU. THANK YO

>> Lehrer: GERAL MOTORS TERED A NEW ERA TODAY. THE REORGANIZED AU MAKER OFFICIALLY ENDED ITS JOURN THROUGH BANKRUPT. JUDY WOODRUFHAS OUR LEAD STORY REPORT.

>> ReporterGENERAL MOTORS ERGED FROM THE CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROCESS TER JUST 40 DAYS, ANDFTER LEAVING BEHIND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEB. WYERS LABORED THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH A STACK OF LEL DOCUMENTS TWOEET HIGH. THEY CLEARED THE WAY TSELL THEADILLAC, CHEVROLET, BUICK AND G.M. BRANDS, AND OTHER SETS, TO A "NEW G.M." WITTHE VERNMENT AS MAJORITY OWNER. THE COMPANY IS SHEDDING HUER, SATURN, SAAB, AND NTIAC, WHICH ARE BEING LD OR CLOSED DOWN. IN DETROIT, G.M. CHIEFXECUTIVE FRITZ HENDSON SAID IT'S A MORE STREAMLINED COMPANYITH A "RARE SECOND CHANCE".

>> G.M. HAS WHAT IT TAKES T EXCEL,UT WITH NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER TAY IN MAKING EXCUSES NOR DEBATING THE PAT. WE NEED TO BE ACCOUNBLE FOR THIS. FROM THIS POINON, OUR EFFORTS E DEDICATED TO CUSTOMERS, CARS, CULTURE, AND YING BACK THE TAAYERS. 'S ABOUT CREATING VALUE SO HAT SACRIFICES THAT ARE BEI MADE,HICH ARE IMMENSE, ARE WORTH IT-- WHEN PEOPLGET THE MIMUM RECOVERIES, AND GENERAL MOTORS CAN BE GRE AGAIN.

>> Reporter: HENDERSON SAITHE W G.M. PLANS TO MAKE A PROF BY MAKINBETTER VEHICLES. AND HE ICED HOPES OF REPAYING $50 BILLION IN FEDER LOANS AHEADF A 2015 DEADLINE. TOELP REACH THAT GOAL, THE REGANIZATION WILL CUT MORE THAN 600 WHITE-COLLAR JOBS THIS YEAR. OVRALL, G.M. WILL EMPLOY 64,00 AMERICAN WORKE BY YEAR'S END.; THAT'SOWN FROM 91,000 AT THE D OF LAST YEAR. AND THOSE LEFT HAVE AGREETO MAJOR CONCESSIONS TO CUT LAR COSTS. G.M. HAS ALSO CUT TIES TO,400 DEALERSHIPS ACSS THE COUNTRY. I SPOKE WITH THE COMPANY C.E.O., FRITZ NDERSON, EARLIER TODAY.

>> FRITZ HENDERS, THANK YOU FORALKING WITH US. GUESS CONGRAT LISS ARE IN ORDER FOR COMING OUTF BANKRUPTCY SO QUKLY. YOU LAIDUT A VERY OPTIMISTIC TIME LINE TODAY. THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE -- BECOME POFITABLE AGAIN QUICKLY YOU'RE GOING T PAY BACK THE GOVNMENT QUICY. WHAT DO YOU BASE THAT OPTIMISM ON?

>> WELL, JUD, THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL. WHEN WE DEVELOPED OUR PROJECTIO AND OUR PLS EVEN INID TO LATE APRIL WHAT ITALKED WITH ABOUT TODAY WERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR INDICATORS, WHAT OUR ERATING INDICATORS PROJECTING PRERTY CANNED CASH FLOW BACK THEN, WE N'T SEE ANYTHING THAT SUGGEST THOSE SHOULD CHGE TODAY. SO HO DOES THAT HAPPEN? WE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVEUR COST STRUCTURE, WE HA A FULLY COETIVE COST STRUCTURE. OUR XED COSTS IF YOU WILL ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN. OUR CAPITAL STRUCTURE, OUR LEVEL OFNDEBTEDNESSHAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT REDUCED SO WE CANAVE A COMPETITVE AND HEALTHY LANCE SHEET AND THENTENT OF THIS WAS SO THATE COULDPERATE THE BUSINS ON A BREAKEVEN LEEL, EARNINGS BEFORE TEREST AND TAXS SO THINK OF IT THE OPERATIO, IF YOU WL,THAT WE COULD GENERATE A BRKEVEN IN A $10 MILLIOUNIT INDUSTRY, 18, 18.5%ARKET SHARE. THAT IS ABOUT WHERE IT IS TODAY. ICH IS THE LOWEST LEVEL O DEMAND INCE POST WORLDAR II IN THE U.S. SO YOU COUL SAY ARE YOU AS TIMISTIC ABOUT THE MARKET. I THINK YOU C BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE MARKET TODAY, I'S VERY TOUGH. BUT WHAT I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUTS IF WE GET OUR COST RUCTURE THE WAY WE THINK WE CAN, WE CAN FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON DELIRING GREAT CARS, FOCUSING ON A CONSUMER, GETTG OUR CULTURE RIT, DOING ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TODO TO WIN THE MARKELACE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE DOP WHATE NEED TO DO IN THOPERATIONS AND CAPITAL SRUCTURE TO KE SURE WE ARE NOT BLEEDING. >>oodruff: AS YOU SAID YOSELF TODAY, MR. HENDERSON, YOARE BEI GIVEN SOTHING, ANKLY A GIFT THAT MANPEOPLE NEVER GET. AND THAT IS SECOND CHANCE. BUT HOW DO U GET CONSUMERS TO TAKE A SEND LOOK AT GM?

>> WELL, WE ARE GETTING A SECOND CHANCE. SECOND CHANS ARE PRECIOUS T THEREARE NO THIRD CHANCES. AND SO HOW DO WE TAKE MAXIMUM ADVANTAGEF THAT? IT DOES BEGIN WITH GRT PRODUCTS. WE HAVE SHOWNHETHER IT'S A VEHICLE LIKE THE CVROLET CAMERO, THE AQUINOX,HE CILLAC, WE CAN DO FANTASTIC NEWEHICLES. SO FOR THE TRADIONAL CUOMER, THE LOYAL GM CUSTOMER WE HAVEGREAT PRODUCTS COMING INTOOUR SHROOM THAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT. HE CAMARA LAST MONTH, 9300 UNITS OF SAL LAST AS WE WOULD SAY SMOKING HT. ON THE OR HAND, FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVEN'T CONSIDEREDS FOR SOME TIME, OOK AT US. E HAVE FANTASTIC VEHICLES, GREA OPPORTUNITIES, GREAT ALTERNATIVES AND CHOES THAT YOMAY NOT HAVE COSIDERED IN THE PAST. I THINK WE HAVE A NUMB OF PRODUCTSTHAT CONSUMERSAN REAL GET EXTED ABOUT. AND THAT' WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPENDING OUR TIME.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE SERIOUS MPETITION. YOU'VEEEN LOSING SARE FOR MANY YEARS TO FOREIGNARS DURING YOUR RECENT STRUGGLES. U'VE BEEN LOSING SHARE TO FORD. HOW DO YOU TURN THATAROUND? WELL, AS I SAID, IT STARTS WITH GRE PRODUCTS. STARTS WITH TN THE SEOND PART OFT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE LEADSHIP TEAM FROM MYELF ON DOWN FOCUSING ON CUSTOMERS, MAKING SURE THATE'RE TOUCHING CUOMERS, GETTI OUT IN THE MARKET, THINNG ABOUT THINGS ECK INTERNALLY, GETTING OUT, VISITING WITH DEALER, SUPPLIERS CUSTOMERS, GETTING OUT OF OR OFFICES, GETTING OUT WHE OPLE ARE ACTUALLY DESIGNING AND BLDING CARS. THE PCESS OF GOING THUGH BANKRUPTCY BASICALLY I ONE THATEQUIRES A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF TIM AND EFFORT. WE NOHAVE THAT DONE. AND SO NOW THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO CUSTOMERS, CARS A GETTING A CULTU THAT CAN RLLY WIN. AND IT'S INVIGATEING IN MANY WAYS.

>> Woodruff: THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMEN AS WE KNOW OWNS 60% O YOUR COMPANY. THEY FORCED A NUMBER OF CHANGES ON MANAGEMENT AND OTH ASPES OF THE NEW GM. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN Y A NOW OBLIGATED, Y FEEL OIGATED, YOU HAVE TO DO, AND DOES TT INCLUDE, FOR AMPLE, KEPING OPEN A PARTSCOMPANY IN PARTICULAR CONGRESSIONAL DTRICT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE IUE OF WHAT THE GORNMENT FORCED, IF YOUILL, WHAT THE AUTOMOTIVE TASK FORCE INDICATED, THEY WANTEDO HAVE A VIABLE COMPANY. THEY WANTED TO US GO DEER, THEY WANTED TO US FASTER IN THE RESTRTURING PLNINGMENT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID. THEY DIDN'T TELL US EXACT WHAT THEY WANTED TOS DO BUT THEY TOLD USHIS IS WHAT YOU NEED T DO OVERALL IN PRODUCING TO HAVE A COMPAN THAT CAN WIN. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE. I THINK WE DESIGNED THE COMPANY TO DOHAT. THROH THE PROCESS BY THE WAY WE HAVEALSO TRIED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED BE LISTENI TO CONSTITUENCY WHETHEREALERS WHO HAVE ASKED U TO RECONSER THE DECISIONS -- CISIONS OR IN THE CASE OF NUMBER OF OUR PLANTS OR OUR OPERATIONS TO RECONSIDERING THE TIMING OF WHEN WE WOULD ACTUALLY SHUT ANTS DOWN OR MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. WEE DONE THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T CIM TO BE PERFECT. BUT ITHINK WHEN YOU STEP BACK D LOOK AT THEVERALL SINESS, WHETHER YOU LOOK AT THE OPERATING SI OF THE BUSINESS, THE STRUCTURAL COSTS, OR E CPITAL STRUCTURE SIDE THE BUSINESS, E BALANCE SHEET, WE ACCOMPLISHED A AMOUNT TOUGH THIS PROCE. AND WE THINK WE CAN BE IGHLY COMPETITIVE AND FOCUS 100% OF OUR ATTENTIOON WINNING WITH CUSTERS.

>> SPEAKING OF THE FDERAL GOVERNMENT, AMERICA TAXPAYERS THAT PUT 5 BLION DOLLA IN TO GM, HOW MUCH OF THA ARE THEY GNG TO GET BACK TO YOU -- YOU THINK AND WHEN?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT HOWUCH HAS BEEN PUT IN, FIRST OF ALL -- 9 BUILDIN INCLUDING THE CANADIAN GORNMENT, 50 BILLION FROMHE U.S. GOVERNMENT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, 60.8% OF OUR SHARES A LARGPORTION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S FINCING HAS BEEN CONVERTEDNTO EQUITY. HOW DO WE PAY THE TREASURY BACK. E, WE HAV ABOUT 8 BILLION OF LN TO BOTH THE U.S. AND CANADA. DUE IN 2015. WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO PAY THOSE LOANS BACK SOONER. SO THER IS GOING TO BE HUGE EFFORT ON HE PART OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM TO GET THAT DONE. COND, IT'S ABOUT CREING REAL VALUEFOR SHARE HOLDERS BECAU, IN FACT, THE GOVEMENT WILL BE OUR LARGES SHAREHOLDER, THE U.S. TREASURY, WE HAVE 330 MILLION SHAREHOLDERSIF YOU WILL BETWE THE U.S. AND CANADIAN TAXYERS. SO IT'S AUT CREATINGEAL VAL IN THE BUSINES THAT'SOW THE ULTIMATE TAXPAYER GETS PAID BACK IS CREATING VALUE IN E SHARES. THAT'S WHE THE LION'S SHARE OF THE VALUE IS FOR TH U.S. TREASURY AND THAT'S - I THINK WE ARE VERY MUCH IN ALIGNMENT INHAT REGARD. >Woodruff: FRITZ HENDERSON, CEO OF GENERAL MOTORS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: IN OTH NEWS TODAY, ON WALL SEET, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRL AVERAGE LOST MORE THAN 36 POINTS TO CLOSAT 8,146. THNASDAQ ROSE THREE POINTS TO CLOSE AT 1,76. FOR THE WEEK, THDOW LOST 1.5%; THE NASDAQ FELL MORE THAN%. THE PUSH TO ERHAUL THE HEALTH CAREYSTEM RAN INTO NEW DELAYS TODAY. HOE DEMOCRATS PUSHED BACK RELEASING THEIR BILL UNTINEXT WEEKOR MAYBE LATER. THAT'S AFR CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRS, KNOWN AS THE "BLUE DOGS," DEMANDED MOR CHANGES. IN ITALY, AT THE G-8 SMIT, PRESINT OBAMA SAID HE STILL HOPES CONGRESS ACTS BEFORE S AUGUST RECESS. >>E'RE CLOSER TO THAT SIGNIFICA REFORM THAN AT ANY TIME IN RECENT HISTORY. THAT DOESN'T MAKET EASY. IT' HARD. AND W ARE HAVING A WHOLE SERIES CONSTANT NEGOTIATIS.

>> IS IT PRETT MUCH A -OR-DIE BY THE AUGUST RECESS?

>> IEVER BELIEVE ATHING IS DO-OR-D BUT I REALLY WANT TO GET IT DO BY THE AUGU RECS.

>> Lehrer: NEGOTIATNS ON A NATE BILL ALSO RAN INTO REISTANCE THIS WEEK OVER THE ISSUE OF TAXING HEAH BENEFITS. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ROLA BURRIS OF ILLIIS WILL NOT RUN FOR A FULL TERMEXT YEAR. HE ANNOUNCED THAT TODAYN CHICAGO. BURRIS WAS APPOIED LAST YEAR BYGOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH TO FILL PRIDENT OBAMA'S OLD SENATE SEAT. THE GORNOR WAS LATER FORCED FROM OFFICE OVEALLEGATIONS HE TRIED TSELL THE SEAT. BURRIS SAID HE'S BOWING T BECAUSE HE HATROUBLE RAISING MONEY FOR A CAMPAIGN.

>> I WAS CALD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SPENDING MYIME RAISING FUN OR SPENDING MY TIME RAISING ISUES FOR MY STATE. I BEEVE THAT THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE OTHE STATE OF ILLINOIS SHOULD WAYS COME FIRST THE BUSINS OF OUR STATE SHOULD COME FIRST.

>> Lehre: BURRIS HAS DENIED WRONGDOING IN HIS OWN DEANGS WITH AGOJEVICH. BUT HIS PUBLIC SUORT MELTED AWAY, ANDEADING DEMOCRATS OPPOSED KEENG HIM IN THE SETE. IN CHINA, THDEATH TOLL IN ETHNIC RIOTI ROSE TO 184. THE STATE-RUN NEWS AGEY ANNOCED 137 OF THE VICTIMS BELONGED TOHE HAN CHINESE MORITY. ARLY ALL OF THE REST WERE MULIM UIGHURS. THE TROUBLE ERUPTED LAST NDAY IN NORTHWTERN CHINA. NCE THEN, THOUSANDS OF TROO HE FLOODED THE REGION TO ENFORCE ORDER. EIGHT MORE BRITISH SOLDRS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ACTION IN AFGHANISTAN. THANNOUNCEMENT TODAY MADE 15 BRITH FATALITIES IN TEN DAYS. AND PRIE MINISTER BROWN WARNED THERE WILL BE MORE VIONCE AND DEATHS AFGHANISTAN. HE SAID, "THIS IS AERY HARD SUMMER. IT'S NOT OVER."

>> Lehre AND STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIT: THE SOTOMAYOREARINGS; BROOKSND MARCUS; ANMISSING STORIES. THAT FOLLOWSHE END OF THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN ILY. JEFFREY BROWN BEGINS OUR COVERAGE.

>> porter: PRESIDENT OBAMA WRAED UP A WEEK OF EUROPEAN TREL WITH A FINAL NEWS COERENCE AT THE G-8 SUMMIT IN L'AQUILA, ITALY. MR. OBAMA SAID THE G-8 LDERS ARE GIVING IRAN TWO NTHS TO START TALKINGSERIOUSLY ABOUT THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR PROGRA

>> WE REMAISERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABO THE APPALLING EVENTS SURROUNDING THE PRESIDENAL ELECTION. AN WE'RE DEEPLY TROUBLED BY T PROLIFERATION RISKSRAN'S NULEAR PROGRAM POSES TO THE WORLD. 'VE OFFERED IRAN A PATH TOWARDS ASSUMING ITS RIGHTF ACE IN THE WORLD. BUT WITH THAT RIGHT COM RESPONSIBILITIES WE HOPE IRAN WILMAKE THE CHOICE TO FULFILLHEM, AND WE WILTAKE STOCK OF IRAN'S OGRESS WHEN WE S EACH OTHER THIS SEPTEMBER AT THE G- MEETING.

>> poer: BEFORE HEADING OFF TO GHA, THE PRESIDENT STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE AFRICA OF A EW COMMITMENT TO FOOD SECURI.

>> ERE IS NO REASON WHY AFRICA CNOT BE SELF-SUFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD. HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO LIV IN VILLAGES-- EY THEMSELVES A NOT GOING HUNGRY-- BUT LIVE IN VILLAGES WHERE HUNGER IS REAL. AND SO, THIS IS SOMETHING TH I UNERSTAND IN VERY PERSONAL TERMS, D IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN AFRICA- CERTAINLY IN KENYA-- THEYILL SAY THAT PART OF THE IUE HERE IS THE INITUTIONS AREN'T ORKING FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE. AND SO GOVERNANCIS A VITAL CONCERN THAT HAS TOBE ADDRESSED. N, KEEP IN MIND-- I WANT TO B VERY CEFUL-- AFRICA IS A CONTINENT, NOT A COUNTRY, A SO U CAN'T EXTRAPOLATE FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF ONE COUNT. AND THERE ARE A L OF GOOD THINGS HPENING. PAROF THE REASON THAT WE'RE TRALING TO GHANA IS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TRE A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRCY, A PRESIDENT WHO'S SERIOUS ABOUT REDUCING CORRUPTION, AND YOU'VSEEN SIGNIFICANT ONOMIC GROWTH.

>> Reporter: AND MR. OBAMA REMARKED ON THNUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL SUMMITSE'S BEEN ATTENDING SINCE HIS INAUGURATION, AND SUGGTED CHANGES FOR FUTURE FORUMS SEEKING RESOLVE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES. SO I THINK WE'RE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD. WE'RE TRYING FIND THE RIGHT SHAPE THAT COMBINES E EFFICIENCYND CAPACITY FOR ACTION WITH INCLUSENESS. ANDY EXPECTATION IS, IS THAT, ER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, YOU'LL SEAN EVOLUTION AND 'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THE RIGH COMBINATION. THONE THING I WILL BE LOOKING FORRD TO IS FEWER SUMMIT MEENGS, BECAUSE, AS YOU SAID, I'VE ONLY BEENN OFFICE SIX MONTHS NOAND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THESE. ANI THINK THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF STREAMLING THEM AND MAKING THEM MORE EFCTIVE. THE UNITED STAS OBVIOUSLY IS A ABSOLULY COMMITTED PARTNER TO NCERTED INTERNATIONAL ACTIO BUT NEED TO, I THINK, MAKE SU THAT THEY'RE AS PRODUCTIVE AS POIBLE.

>> Reporter: OE THE SUMMIT ENDED, THE OBAMAS MET THEOPE IN ROME. AFTERWARD, I TALKED WITH ARGARET WARNER, WHO'S BEEN COVERING THE PRESIDENT'S TRI FOR US ALL WEEK OM RUSSIA TO ITALY. SO MARGARET SOME TOUG WORDS ON IRAN BUT NO IMMEDIATE NEW ANCTIONS?

>> Warne NO, NOT TAY, JEFF, BUTHEY WEREN'T AIMING FOR AT BE, WHAT WAS TERESTING WITH WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA ID TODAY IS THAT HE ISLEARLY ADVAND THE TIMETAE BY WHICH HE'S GOINGO BE ASSESSING WHETH OR NOT AN IS SERIOUS IN TAKE H UP ON HIS FER ABOUT ENGAGING. YOU MAY RECL THAT WHEN BEBE NETANYAHU THE ISRAELI RIME MINISTER WAS IN TOWN PRESIDENT OBAMA SUGGESTED BY DECEMBER WE TAKE A LOOK AS THIS THE THIS ARE ATHIS.

>> WHICH IS WHAT PRESIDENT SAR KOEZY SGESTING WHICH WHEN THEY ALL GET TOGEER FOR BOTH E U.N. AND THE G-20 IN PITTURGH THAT IS E POINT IN WHICH THEY WIL TAKE A LACK AND SEE WHETR THE IRAANS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ENGAGIGMENT I'M TOLD BY WHITE HOU AIDE THAT SINCE THE ELEION WHICH WAS A MONTH AGO IN IRAN, THRE HAVE BEEN THING RIOUS IN TH WAY OF A RPONSE FROM THE IRANIAN GOVERNNT, UNDERSTANDABLY OF COURSE THEY HAVE BEEN DISTRTED BUT THE AIDEAID WE CAN'T JUST SITROUND AND WAITND SAY THEY'VE GOT DOMESTIC PROBLEMS.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO DELAY AND JUST LET THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM BECOME A FAIT AOMPLI. SO IF.

>> HE THINKS IF NOTHG HAS HAPPENED BY SEPTEMBERHAT IF THAT POINT THE EUROPEA, THE AMERICANSAND THEY HOPE THE RUSSIANAS WELL WILL SET SOME SORT OF AN ULTIMATUM AT TH POINT OR THERE WILL BE PUSH TO SET AN ULTIMATUM BY WHICH POINT IF IRAN DOESN'T RESPND, CERTAINGREED UPON SANCTIONS, TOUGHER SANCTION WAS INTO PLACE. SO THER'S STILL A LOT OF PIECES, LOT OFCHESS PICES TOMOVE HERE. BUTAS PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID TODAY AT THE PRESS BRIEFING WITH US, HE SAID I HOPE THAT THE IRANIAN LEADERIP ESSENTIALLY IS WATCHING TIS AND HEARING THIS8 MESSE, WHICHIS THAT WOR OPINION IS MONG.

>> ANOTHER SUBJT THERE WAS AN AGREMENT ON FOOD ECURITY, A COMMITMENT OF $20 BILLION. WHAT DOES THAT TNSLATE INTO?

>> WELL, JEFFIT IS EVEN MORE THAN THE AMERICANS HAD EEN ORIGINALLY AIMING F. THEY WANTED TO GET 15 BILLIN. WHAT THAT IS REALLY AIMED DOING IS -- DOING IS CHNGING THE WAY AI IS GIVEN TO AFRI IN PARTICULAR SO THAT IT'S NOT SO MUCH AID AST IS DEVELOPMENT, INVESTMENT AND HELPING THEM LEARN TOROW CROPS BETTE SO T FIRST THING IS IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF D. THE SECOND IST'S A LOT MORE MONEY. WE'RE TOLD THATN THE MEETING TODAY, IN T CLOSED-DOOMEETING PRESIDE OBAMA WAS EVEN MORE PERSONAL THAN THE CLIP YOU JUST RAN INDICATED. THAT HE DID TALK AOUT HIS OWNAMILY IN KENYA AND THEIR PORTY. AND HE SAID, YU KNOW, MY COUN CAN'T EVEN GET JOB WITHOUT PAYING BRIBE. AND HE TOLD HIS FELLOW LEADERS, CAN'T BLAME THAT ON THE HISTORY OF COLIALISM OR ACTION BY E WEST. THAT THERE IS RESPONSIBILY ON THE PART OF AFRICAN GOERNMENTS TOO. D SO THAT'S THE DOUBLE-BARRELEDESSAGE THAT HE'S TAKING TO GNA. HE'S GIVING A MAJOR SPEEC THERE TOMORW. AND HE'S GOING TO S, PART OF HIS MSAGE WILL BE THE WEST NEEDS TO DO MORE TO HELP AFRICA, BUT AFRICA ALSO HAS TODO MORE TO HE ITSELF. AND THERE HAS BE GREATER TRANSPARENCY, GREAR OPENNESS MORE CIVIL SOCIETY. HE WILL POINT TO ANA AS A SUCCESS ORY OR ATEAST A UNTRIES THAT'SMOVED FARTHER ALG ON THIS PATH. BUT IT IS GOINTO BE A DOUBLE-BARRELED SSAGE. AND ITAS PVIEWED IN THE COMMENTS HE MAD TODAY ABOUT THEOOD SECURITY INIATIVE.

>> FNALLY THE PRESIDENT ME WITH THE POPE TAY. THERE W WORD E PRESIDENT CAME IN HOPING FIND SOME AREAS OF AGREEMENT ON THE ECONOMY AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ISES. WHAT YOU CATELL US?

>> WE WER TOLDEPEATEDLY BY OBAMA ADVISORS THAT THIS VISIT WITH THE POPE TODAY, MICHELLOBAMA WAS GOING AS WELL,WAS MUCH MORETHAN QUOTE JUST A STE VISIT TO HIM. THAT HE HAS BEEN PROUNDLY AFFECTED BY CATHOLI TEACHINGS. YOU KNOW, HE WAS A STUDE IN A CATHOC SCHOOL IN INNESIA. PARENTLY THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER PROGM THAT HE WORKED IN IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO WAS PARTLY FUNDED BY A CATHOLIC ORGANITION. AND MORE BROADLY THE TEACHING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, CATHOLICS TEACNGS ON SOCIALUSTICE HAVE PROFOUNDLY AFCTED HIM. HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS VISIT BECAUSE AS WELL ON A PCTICAL SE, UNLI HISELATIONSHIP MAYBE WITH TH CATHOLIC HIARCHY AND THE STATE SWISS FOCUSED VERY MUCH ON ABORTION AND STEM CELL REARCH AND VERY CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDE ON THAT, THEY SEE, AND HE SEES IN THE POPE A NATURAL AL, AGAIN ON THEMES OF SOCIAL JUSTIC ON HIS STRESSING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE INHE MUSLIM WORLD T IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ELSEWHERE. AND THAT THEY CAN RELY MAKE COMMON CAUSE ON NUMBER OF THESE BROADER THEMESPARTICULARLY INTERNATIALLY. SO I WOUL SAY ON BOTH A PERSONAL LEVE AS WELL AS A PRACTICAL ONE THIS VISIT WAS FAR MORE THAN A COURTESY CALL FOR THIS PRESIDENT. THIS IS REAY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF E TRIP FOR HIM.

>> MARGAREWARNER AT THE8 SUMMIT IN ITA, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK THIS WEEK.

>> THANK YO JEFF.

>> Lehrer: NEXT NIGHT, NEXT WEK'S CONFIRMATION HEARINGS F SUPREME COURTOMINEE SONIA SOTOYOR. NEWSHO CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT KWAME HOAN HAS OUR PREVIE

>> Rorter: THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WI MEET IN THIS SETE HEARING ROOM MONDAY TO CULMINATWEEKS OF SCRUTINY OF THE PERSONAL AND PROFESONAL BACKGROUND OF JUD SONIA SOTOMAYOR. IT BEGAN IN MAY, HEN PRESIDENT OBAMA NINATED HER TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>> LKING IN THE DOOR, SHE WOULD BRING MORE EXPERNCE ON THBENCH AND MORE VARIED PERIENCE ON THE BENCH THAN ANYONE CURRENTLY SERVG ON THE UNITED STAT SUPREME COURT HAD WHEN TH WERE APPOINTED.

>> Reporter: BNOW, SOTOMAYOR'S BIOGRAPHY IS FAMILIAR: BORN TO PUERTO RIC PARENTS AND ISED IN A SOUTH BRONX HOUSIN PROJT BY HER WIDOWED MOTHER, SHE GRADUAD WITH HIGH HONORS FROM PRINCETON UNIVERSITY D WAS MEMBER OF THE "LAW REVIEW" AT YALE LAW SCHOOL. SHE HAS SERVEAS A NEW YORK OSECUTOR, A TRIAL JUDGE, AND AN APPEATE COURT JUDGE, AND WOULD BE THE FIR HISPANIC JUSTICE ON THE PREME COURT. WHITE HOE OFFICIALS AND SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE PORTRAYE SOTOMAYOR A MODERATE JURIST.

>> SHE RESPECTS THE LE OF LAW. THAT'S WHAOUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS ALL ABOUT, OUR SYST OF JUSTICE. SHE DESVES A FAIR AND IMPTIAL HEARING.

>> porter: BUT REPUBLICANS REMAIN SKEPTICAL.

>> IS SHEALLOWING HER PERSONAL OR POLITAL AGENDA TO CLOUD HER JUDGMENT ANFAVOR ONE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS OVER ANOTHER, REGALESS OF WHAT THEAW SAYS?

>> Reporter: RENT POLLING SUGGES A NARROW MAJORITY OF AMERICANS VIEW SOTOMOR FAVORABLY, ALTHOUGOPINIONS TEND TO BRK ALONG PARTY LINES. AMY WTER IS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE "HOTLINE," "NAONAL JRNAL'S" POLITICAL DAILY.

>> IF YOU'RE A REPUICAN, YOU ARE LIKELY TO OPPOSE HER NOMINATION OR FEEL UNFAVOBLY ABOUT HER. IF YOU'RE DEMOCRAT, YOU FEEL AVORABLY TOWARD HER AND WOU LIKE TO SEE H GET CONFIRMED. THAT HAS MUCH MOREO DO WITH YOUR FEELINGS ABUT PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE RSON WHO ACTUALLY APPOINTED HER, TH SOTOMAYOR HERSEL

>> SHE SEEMS THOUGHTFUL, THOROUGH, CAREFUL, BUT NOT BOMTHROWER ON EITHER SID

>> Reporr: SUPREME COURT ADVOCA AND SCOTUSBLOG FOUNDER TOM GOLDSTEIN SAYS THERE NOT MUCH ATTACK IN SOTOMAYOR'S RECORD.

>> THERE'S BEEN MORE TH A MTH TO LOOK INTO HER RECORD, AND PELE WHO HAVE BEEN TRYI VERY HD TO FIND A GROUND TO DERAIL HER SEEM HAVE COME UP PRETTY EMPTY. Reporter:EVERTHELESS, GOLTEIN SAYS REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE SOME AMMUNITION XT WEEK.

>> REPUBLICANS, IN ESTIONING JUDGE SOTOMAYOR A IN MAKING THEIR SPEECS, ARE GOING TO LOOFOR ISSUES THAT RESONATE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT DOT MAKE IT LOOK LIKTHEY ARE JUST BGERING HER. AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT E FIREFIGHRS IN THE NEW HAVEN CASE, WE'REALKING ABOUT PROPERTY RHTS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GUN RITS, WHICH ARE BROADLY POPULAR, AND EN JUST SORT OF THE MARKS THAT SHE'S MADE THAT HAVE EN PLUCKED FROM A SPEECH HEROR A PANEL THERE.

>> Reporter: THE NEW HAN, CONNECTICUT, FIREFIGHTE CASE WAS ARGUED BEFORE THE SUPREM COURT IN APRIL. A GUP OF WHITE AND HISPANIC FIREFIGHTERS APALED A LOWER COURT DISION THAT NEW HAVEN COULD THROW OUTHE RESULTS OF A PROMOTIONS EXAM BECAU TOO FEW MINORIES QUALIFIED.Uw JUDGE TOMAYOR SIGNED ON TO THAT OPINION. THE JUSTICES LAST WEEREVERSED THE LOWER COURT, AND RUBLICANS CRGED IT WAS A REBUKE OF SOTAYOR'S JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY. THEY'VE CALLED ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS TO TESTIFY AT XT WEK'S HEARINGS. ALABAMA'S JEFF SESSIONS IS T JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S T REPUBLICAN.

>> I THINK SHE MADE A MISTA ON THAT CASE. WHEN YORENDER AN OPINION THAT SAYS AN OBJECTIVE PLANTEST, PROCEDURE, SHOULD BE ROWN OUT BECAUSE THERE RE, AS A MATTER F A RESULTS, A GROUP OF PEOP OF ONE RACE DID NOT DO WELL AS OTHERS, TH IS A VERY DANROUS THING. > Reporter: BUT DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN PAICK LEAHY VERMONT DISAGREES.

>> SHE WAS FOLLOWINGHAT THE SUPREME COT HAD SAID UP UNTIL THAT TIME. D SHE VOTED OTHERWISE, THEN SHWOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO TH CATEGOR THAT THEY SAY THEY DON'T WANT, OFCTIVIST JUDGES, BECSE SHE WOULD HAVE RULED CONTRY TO WHAT THE SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT WAS.

>> ERE'S SOMERUTH IN THAT.

>> Reporr: GOLDSTEIN SAYS SOTOMAYOR'S ROLE IN THE CE IS MORE AMBIGUO.

>> SETTLED LAW REALLY WAS AGAINST THE AINTIFF FIREFIGHTERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'PRETTY DARN CLEAR FROM JUDGE SOTOMAYOR'S RECORD TH SHE WOULD HAVE COME OUTHIS WAY ANYWAY.

>> Repoer: REPUBLICANS ALSO CITE A SPEECH SOTOMAYOR MADIN A 2001 AT THE UNIVEITY OF CALIFORNIAT BERKELEY. IN IT, SHE SAID: CONSERVATIVES SEIZED ON T COMMENT.

>> SHE'SCCEPTING SOMETHING LESS, I THINK, IN THAT SPEE THAN AN ABSOLUTE COMMITME TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIE TO MAKE SURE THAT, WHEN YOU RU ON A CE, THESE EXTRANEOUS PERSONAL ISSUES THAT YOU MAY HAVE A JUDGE ARE NOT GOING TO EECT HOW YOU DECE THE LEGITIMATE DIUTE THAT'S BEFORE YOU.

>> Rorter: BUT CHAIRMAN LEAHY SAYS SOTOYOR CLARIFIED HERSELF IN A RECENT PRIVATE MEETING.

>> WHAT SHE SAID WAS,YES, OUR BAGROUNDS SHAPE WHO WE ARE. MY BACKGROUND SHAP WHO I AM. EVERYBODY'S BACKGROUND ES." BUT SHE SS, ULTIMATELY AND COMPLETELY-- SHUSED THOSE WORDS, "ULTIMATELYND COMETELY"-- THE LAW IS WHAT CONTRS, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICANALSO QUESTION SOTOMAYOR'SNVOLVEMENT WH THE PUERTO RICAN LEGAL DEFENSE D EDUCATION FUND. SHE SERVED ON THE BOARD OFHE CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP, NOW KNOWAS LATINO JUSTIC BEFORE BECOMING FEDERAL JUDGE. BUT EVEN AS REPUBLICANSAISE CRICISMS, THEY FACE THE POLITICAL REALITY OF THEIR DIMINISHED NUERS, IN THE SENATE OVERALL AND ON THE COMMITTEE ITSELF. WITH THE SWEARING-IN OF AL FRANKEN AS MINNESOTA'S W SETOR, DEMOCRATS ACHIEVED A FILIBUST-PROOF 60-VOTE MAJORITY, ALTUGH AILING SENATORS WARD KENNEDY AND ROBERT BYRD REMAINBSENT. FNKEN WILL SERVE ON THE JICIARY COMMITTEE, WHERE DEMOCRATS HOLD A 1TO SEVEN ADVANTAE. PENNSVANIA'S ARLEN SPECTER, WHO DEFECTED FROM THE REPUBCAN PARTY EARLIER THIS YR, ALSO WILL QUESTION SOTOMAYOR A DEMOCRAT. THAT PARTISAN BREAOWN IS A AJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOTOMAYOR'S NOMITION AND THE ST TWO SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION BATTLES OVER IEF STICE JOHN ROBERTS AND JUSTI SAMUEL ALO, SAYS SCOTUSBLOG'S TOM GOLDSTEIN.

>> E LAST TWO CONFIRMATIONS-- IN FACT, THE LAST VERAL CONFIATIONS, HAVE BEEN MORE HARD-FOUGHT. THEREAS A REALISTIC PROSPECT BECAUSEF THE COMBINATION OF THE JUDGE'S RECD AND THE BALANCE IN THE SENATE AT THEY MIGHT BE STOPPED OR AT LEA FILIBUSTERED. HERE, IT JUST DOESN'TDD UP.

>> Reporter: HOTNE'S WALTER ALSO POINTS TO THE JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR WOULD SUEED, DAVID SOUTE

>> SHE IS REPLACING SOMEDY, TOO, WHO ISLREADY A LIBERAL TE. SO IT'S NOTOING TO CHANGE THE 5-4 BRKDOWN IN THE SAME WAY THAT IF, FOR EXAMPLE, A CONSERVAVE HAD LEFT THE BENCH. SO R REPUBLICANS WHO RECOGNIZE THATHEY HAVE TO SAVE THEIR POWDER FOR OTHER FIGHTS, TH MAY NOT BE THE ONE TO USIT ON.

>> Reporter: AND MOCRATS HAVE ONE MORE ADVANTAGE: AN EAIER START TTHE NEXT SUPREME COURT TERM. E JUSTICES WILL REHEAR A CRUCIAL CAMPAIGN NANCE CASE IN SEPTEER RATHER THAN STARTING ON THE TRADITNAL FIRST MONDAY OCTOBER. THAT MAY ADD MOMENTUM TO DEMOCRATS' PUSH FOR A FIN SENATE VOTEN JUDGE SOTOMAYOR BEFORE THEUGUST CONGRESSIONAL RECESS.

>> Lehrer: JUDY WOODRUFF WL ANCHOR OUR LIVE CORAGE OF JUDGE SOTOYOR'S CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON MNY PBS STATIONS, STARTING AT 10:00 A. MONDAY. YOU N ALSO WATCH THE HEARINGS LIVON OUR WEB SITE AT newshour.pbs.org. AND TO THE ANALYSIS OF OOKS AND MARCUS: "NEW YORK TIS" COLUMNIST DAVID OOKS AND ASHINGTON POST" COLUMNIST RUTH MARCUS. MARK SHIES IS AWAY. VID, HOW DO YOU SEE THE SOCIETY MAI HEARINGS PLAYING OU

>> I GET T WAY TEY DESCRIBED IT. ION'T SEE MUCH TRE. AND WITH PEOE HAVEOOKED AS GOLDSTEIN SAID FOR WEE AND MONTHS. AND WHEN YOUREAD THE OPINIONS, EVENF YOU READ IT FROM A NONLEGAL PERSPECTIVE THEY SM VERY DR VERY FACT ORIENTED, VERY DEILED. SO OF -- THE NOT A LOT OF RADICALISM THERE, NOT A LOT TO ATTACK. HAVING SAID ALL THAT THE FACT THATE ALSAID THAT AT LEAST I THINK THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT RUTH THINKS, TH MEANS WE ARE ALL BOUND TO BE WRONG. MAYBE SHE WILL SA SOMETHING OR DAVID CONE, THE FORMER METS PITCHERWHO WILLPPEAR ON HER BEHALFOR SAY SOMETHING OR FRANK RICHIE, E NEWAVEN FIRIGHTER WHO WILL BE AGAIN HER, SOMETHING IS BND TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT CAT BES SMOOTH AS WE ANCIPATE.

>> Lehrer: DO AGREE

>> I DOT THINK IT WILL BE AS SMOOTAS DAVIDTHINKS ITS GOING TO BE. AND I ALSO DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HA SOME KIND OF CLENCE THOMAS LIKE BOMBSHELL EITHER. ERE IS AS AMY WALTERS SAID NOT -- AMY WALTERS SAIDHE REUBLICANS MIGHT WANT TO KEEP THEIR POER DRY AND WAIT UNTIL E NEXT ONE. THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF POWDE IT'S APRETTY THIN CASE.

>> Lrer: ABOUT HER. ABOUT HER. IT A PRETTY THIN CASE TO TRY TO GO AGAIN JUDGE SOTOMAYOR AS DAVID HAD SAID AND TH HAVEN'TREALLY TTEN TRACTION WITH ANY OF THEIR ARGUMENTS. NONETHELESS I'M ACTLLY NOT NVINCED THAT'S GOING TO STOP THEM. SENATOR SESSIONS WHO IS T NEW RANKINGEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE SD IN AN TERVIEW THAT HE TNKS HER CONFIRMATION WAS FOREGONE CONCLUSIO I THINK H'S WRONG ABOUT THAT. BUT I THINK THAT THAT IS SIGNAL THAT THERE IS GOING BE AOT OF FIWORKS BEFORE THE INEVITLE CONCLUSION WCH IS THAT SHE WILL BE CONFIRMED. AND I TINK THE THINGTHAT I WILLE MOST INTERESTED IN IS WHETHER IN THIS NEW NE-UP OF THE COMMITTEE WITH SENAT SPECTER W WE ARE ALWAYS USE TO LOOKING AT AS THE RUBLICAN WHO MY DEFECT WITH H HAVING ALEADY DEFECTED TO THE OTHER SE, WILL IT BE A PARTYINE VOTE AGAINST HER AN FOR HER. WILL THERE BE SOMEMIXUP. AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THE INTERESTING QUESON.

>> Lehrer: DYOU AGREE THERIS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXUP OR LL IT BE SICTLY PARTY LINE.

>> WELL, SHE IS QUITE LIBERAL. I SUSPECT IT WILL BE A LOT OF OPPOSITN ON THOSE GROUS. BUT TO GE A REAL, TO SHAKE THINGS UP, THEYREALLY HAVE TO GETBEYOND THE FACT TT SHE'S QUITE LIBERAL. HAS TO GET TO ME REALM OF ACTIVISM, SOMETHING THAT ENGAG THE PUBLIC ND. SO IOULD RESPECT BECAUSE OFHER LIBERALM IT WILL BE ME LIKE A PARTY-LINE VOTE THAN NOT. I DOUBTT WILL BE A UNANIMOUS VE OR CLOSE TO AT. BUT TH DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL BE ACLOSE VOTE.

>> DO YOUTHINK FILLUST SERAFE THE TABL

>> I WOULD THK SO YOU KNO, RT OF IT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST GET THEIBE I THE CONSERVATIVE WORLD. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WITHOUT DO THIS FOR LIVING. THEYRE FOCUSED ON THIS. BUT I WOULDAY MOST CONSERVAVE TALK RADIO OR POLITICIANS THERE'S OTR THIN THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT. THEY'RE WORRIEDBOUT HEALTH CARE, TAXES, DEICITS. THERE'S AOT ELSE GNG ON. SO THERE REAY HASN'T EN FOS AMONG THE ACTIVIST COMMUNITY TH THERE MIGHT BE OERWISE ALSO.

>> LehrerSPEAKING OF THIN GOING ON THAT IS CALLED A SEGUE.

>> VERY ELEGNT.

>> Lehrer: THANK YU VERY MUCH. WHAT ABOUT RESIDENT OBAMA'S TRIP ABROAD. HAD A COUPLE SUITS. T'S START WITH THE RUSSIANS, H DO YOU THINK DE WITH THE RUSSIANS?

>> DE PRETTY WELLITH THE RUSSIANS BUT -- UNTIL HE GOT GOOD AGREEMENT ON ARCLES CONTROL. HE GOT AN AGREEMENT ON OVERFLIGHTS TO AFGHANISTAN. E MADE A VERY GOOD SPEECH. UNFORTUNATELY IWAS NOT ST SEEN BY THE RUSSIAN EOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE NEFITED FROM SEEING IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SHOWN ON RUSSIAN TELISION, BUT THE QUESTION IS,ND THEN WHAT WE PUSHED THE RES BUTTON. WE'VE GOTTEN A CERTAIN WAVE WITH THE RUSSIANSUT HOW MUCH FURTHER ARE WE GOING GET. IS THERE GOING T BE ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT ON GETTING HELP WITH SANCTIONS AINST IRAN. WHAT HAENED IN ITALY SUGGESTS PROBAY NOT. AND SO WE ARE -- IT WAS A FE RUSSIAN SUMMIT FOR WT IT WS. BUT DOT EXPECT TOOUCH MO.

>> DO YOUAGREE?

>> I BASICALLY AGREE. MY FAVORITE MOMENT WHEN EN HE MET WITH THE HE OF THE USSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY AND THE COUNISTS SAID IE STUDIED YOUROMESTIC PROGRAM AND I TNK IT'S EXCELLENT. SO WOULD -- I WOUL HOPE THEY BRING HIMO THE WHITE HOUSE AND MYBE TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THERESIDENT.

>> HE'S GOING TO BET THE SOTOMAR HEARINGS, I THINK.

>> HE MHT. SO I MEAN THAT WAS MY FACH R MOMENT BUT IN GENERAL I THIN DEFINE.

>> Lehrer: YTHING ACCOMPLISH.

>> THEY GOT O SMALL THINGS. THE REGOTIATION OF THE MISSIL AND THE START THING. AND THEN THEY GOT AN AIR FLYER RIGHT TO GET INTO AFGHISTAN. THOSE WE NOT MAJOR INGS. I INK THE MAR THING THEY ACCOMPSHED WAS HAVING A RELATISHIP WITH PUTINND THE REGIME. >Lehrer: DOW FEELTHAT'S REAL?

>> WELL, IT'S A WORK RELATIONSHIP FROM AT YOU CAN SEE. AND ALSO HE DID REACH OUT TO THE POSITION. THE OOSITION LEADERS WERE PLEASED WITHWHAT OBA SAID. AND OBAMA ANSWER THOUGHE DN'T GET TELEVISE THE I ALWAYS VERY NSCIOUS OF HOW AM I TALKINGTO THE PELE. AND HEFULLY SOME OF THE MEAGE HE GAVE TO THE RUSSN PEOPLE W ALSO FILTERED THROUGH.

>> Lehrer: WT ABOUT THE G-8 PART, THE ITALY PART, I THERE ALIST OF COMPLISHMENTS THERE THAT IMPRESSED YOU?

>> NOT IMPRESSED SO MUCH. BUT I THK YOU HAVE TO INK ABOUT THE BASELIN WHEN WAS THE LAST TE THERE WAS A G-8 SUMMIT THAT WAS A BLOCUSTER.

>> THAT WOULD MADRID '02

>> NO, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE '80s. BUT IN ANY EVENT, WE SAW SOME OF THE LITATIONS IN, AFTER BLOODSHED IN THE STREETS OFEHRAN. AFTER THIS TERRIBLE EPISODE. WHAT OULD THEY SAY? WE DEPLORE THE POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE. WELL, YOU COULD ST OF SEE AHMADINEJAD SAYING WOA, I'M SCARED W. AND THEYASICALLY SAID WEL WE REALLY NEED YO TO CLEAN YOUR ACT ON NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION AND ENNESS. BUT AND WE'LLEAL WITH THAT IN SEPTEMBER. WELL, ON THAT I SAY GOOD CK. AND ON GLOBAL WARMING, GLASS I THINA LITTLE BILESS THAN HALF FL. ERE WAS AN AS OPERAONAL AGREEMT TO LOWER THE MPERATURE BUT NOT EXACTLY AN EXANATION OF HOW. D THE DEVELOPING COURIES, CHINAnd INDIA WICH ARE ESSENTIAL PLAYERS IN LOWERING, IN DEALING WITH CLIMA CHANGE WOULDN'T AGREE ON DETAILS. >Lehrer: THAT'S A GREAT TERM, AS OPERATIONAL REEMENT, IS IT T.

>> A LOT OFS HAVE IT WITH OUR FRIENDS. YEAH, I THINK TH BIG STORY HERE IS THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ESSTIALLY THE WATING DOWNOF CLIMATE AEEMENT. IF YOU ARE A GLOB WARMING PERSON WHO WORRIED ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING AS WE SHOULD BE THIS HAS NOTEEN A GREAT PERIOD. WE HAD VERY BAD BILL IN THE HSE. PROSPECT OF REALLY NO FWHILT SENATE. D THEN INTERNATIONALLY WE'VE HAD OPPOSION FROM THE DEVELOPING WRLD WHICH WILL FURTHER STRENGTHENHE CRITICS HERE AT HOME. SO YOU'VE SEEN THE DILUON OF THA WHOLE ENERGY GLOBAL CLIMA MOMENTUM.

>> Lehrer: I HAVE ANOTHER SEGUE. SPEAKING OF AS OPERATIONAL AGREEMENTS W WHERE A WE ON HEALTH-CARE REFORM?

>> MORE AS OPERATNAL THAN NOT. IN FACT,ESPERATELY AS OPERATIONAL. IT BEEN A BAD WEEK FOR HEALTH-CARE REFOR ND I WOULD SAY ON A NUMBER OF FRONT FIRST, STRICTLON THE DEMOCRATIC FRO, THERE'S DE DISAGREEMENT ON WHOLE SERIES OFRONT WITHIN THE ADMINISTRION, IN CONGRES, MOST SERIOUSLY ABOUT HOW TO PAFOR ALL THIS. THE BILL WILL BE SOMEWHERE ROUND 1.3 TRILLN DOLLARS. THE HOE WANTS TODO ONE THING, THE 1459 WANT TO DO SOMETHG ELSE. THERE'S REALLY BEEN NO SGN OF COMING TOGETHER EVEN WITHIN THE SENATE. AN SO THAT IS A POLICAL PROEM. AND THEN TO ME THE LGER PROBM IS NOTNLY HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY THE 1.3 TRILLION FOR THIS BL BUT HOW DO WE REDUCE HEALTCARE COSTS OVERL, HEALTH CARE INFLATION. AND TO ME THERE IS PLENTY -- DEMOCRATS ARE AGAIN ANY COMPETION, AND SO WE ARE SPLENDIDLY AGREED WE WILL NOT CONTROL HEAL-CARE COSTSnd TT IS SOMETHING WE IS AGREEMENT ON. >>ehrer: WHAT IS YOUR READ ON THAT.

>> WEL, I'M NOT QUITE CLEAR AS GLOOMYAS VID BUT THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING. I'M STILL PRETTY GLOOMY. I THINKHIS WAS A BAD WEEK FOR HEALTH CARE. I THINK IT WAS A WE THAT ACTUALLY WOULD HA BENEFITEFROM PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PRESENCE. IT'S REALLYIME FOR HIM TO SP UP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT HE BELIEVES NES TO BE SEEN IN THIS BILL.

>> Lehr: TAKE IT AWAY FROM THE CONGRES

>> NOT TAKE IT AWAY FROM THE COGRESS BUT ASSERT HMSELF BIT MORE. E HAS TALKED VRY ELOQUENT ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE MEURES TO BEND THE CURVE AS THEY LIKE SAY, ON CONTROLLG COSTS WHICH NOT THERE O IS N THERE IN ANY ADEQUATE MEASURE IN THE PROVINCIALS THAT WVE SEEN SO FAR. AND THERE WAS AERY INTERESTINGETTER SENT THIS WEEK PUBLIC B PETER ORZ THE BUDGET DIRECTR TO THE THREEHAIRMAN OF THE LEVANT HOUSE COMMITTEES SAYING GREATORK, GUYS. LOVE WHAT YOU'VE DONE. IMPORTANTROGRESS, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST PAY FOR HEALTH CARE. WEAVE TO FIGURE OUT H TO PAY FR THE EXPANSION, WE HAVE TO FIGUR OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH TH COSTS. D THAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND DO IT PUBLICL PERHA SUGGESTS THEEASON I'NOT QUITE CLEAR AS GLOOMY AS YOARE, THAT THERE MAY BA LITTLE BIT OF MUSCLE PUT BEHIND TS.

>> Lehrer: DO YOU AGE WITH DAVID TH IF YOU DON'T DO SOMHING ABOUT HEALTH-CARE COSTS, R EXAMPLE GET IT, IT'S NOT GNG TO RESULT IN ANYTHING THAT MATTERS?

>> WELL, I MEAN T MAY RESULT IN SOMETHING AT MATTERS. AND THATOULD BE GOOD IN T SINCE OF EXPANDING COVERAGE FR A LOT OPEOPLE WHO DON'T HE COVERAGE. AND EXPANDING COVERAGE AND PAYING F IT IN ALL THE NUMBERS WORK OUT DIRECTLY, IS I TINK A GD ACHVEMENT IN ITSELF THOUGH DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU VE CREATED ANEW ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM ND GOD KNOWS WHAT THE COST KOS END BEING IN THE SECOND TEN YES AS OPPOSED TO THE FIRST TEN. BUT I THINK SQUANDER THIS PPORTUNITY WOULD BE A TRAGEDY.

>> ESSENTIALLY AGREE WITH THAT. THOU I WOULD THINK IF YOU DON CONTROL COSTS, IOULD THNK IT'S WORTH STARTING OVER.

>> LehrerSTARTING OVER. >I THINK WOULD BE WORTH OPPOSI SIMPLY BECAUSE -- I AGREE AT COVERING MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE VALUAB BUT IF WE DO THIS AND EVERYONE SAYS THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION CHANCEF WE DO THIS WITHOUT NTROLLING THE COSTS, THAT REALLY RUNS THE BUDET DEFICIT FOR THE LG-TERM FISCAL PICTE, FOR A NG TIME THIS WAS A CORPROMISE THE PRESIDENT MADE, THAT THIS WOULD BE OUT CONTROLLING COSTS. THAT'S NOT AN OPTIONAL PART OF HEALTH-CARE REFRM, THAT IS THE CENTL PART OF HEALTH-CARE RERM. AND IF YOU DON'DO THAT, IT SEEMS TO MEOU ARE MISSING ONE OF THEWO BIG PROBLEMS WE ARE TRYG TO ADDRS.

>> Lehrer: WE TALKEDEFORE THAT T STARS ARE FINALLY ALIGNED, END QUEOR THERE BE HEALTH-CARE REFORM. DO YOU TNK THERE IS GONG TO BE SOME KIND OF EALTH-CARE REFORM BUT IT MAY BE SFLAWED IT WON'T AT BE HELPFUL.

>> I THINK METHING WILL PASS AND DITIONAL PEOPLE WILL GET COVERAGE BUT UNLESS, AND I THINK THE STARS WERE ALIGNED IN PART BECAUSE THERE IS A WIDESPREAD SIRE. THE BLIC IS N QUITE AS GAGED AS IN 1993 BUT THEYE ENGAGED. THE D THE PRESIDENT WAS VERY SRIOUS ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS. AND PETER ORZAG THE BUDGET DIRECT CTIFICATE AN EXPER ON ALL OF THIS. AND SO THAT WHY I DO INK THEY REALLY DO WA TO CONOL COSTS IN THE WHITE HOUS AND THAT'S WHY AGREE WITH RUTH, I THINK THEY HAVE TO T MUCH MORE INVOLVED. I THINK THEY A WAITING FOR CONFEREE COMMITTEE AFTER ITASSES OUT OFHE HOUSE. IN MY MINTHAT IS TOO LATE.

>> Lehrer: SYOU STILL ARE VAGUELY OPTIMISTC.

>> I'M VAGUELYOPTIMISTIC. BUT I HAVE ANOTHER WORRY JUST TO D TO THE GLOOM AND DOOM WHICH IS THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF AACE AGAINST THE ECONOMY AND AGAINST THE CALENDAR. TIME IS RUNNI OUT. E SOTOMAYOR NOMINATION IS GOING TO TAKE UPTIME ON THE SENATE FLOOR AND AS THE ECONOMY WORTIONENS, PEOPLE AREOING TO GET MO AND MOR NERVOUS ABOUT ING SOMETHG THAT COULD ADD TO THE DEFICIT ANDHEY'RE GONG TO START INSISTING THAWELL, THAT STIMULUS PKAGE HE PASSED DIDN DO THE JOB SO W SHOULD WE TRUST HIM WITH HEALTH CARE.

>> I WOULD CA THAT CAUTIS OPTIMISM.

>> CAUTION, VRY CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.

>> Lehrer: OKAY, THANK OU, THANK YOUERY MUCH RUTH. THANK YOVERY MUCH, DAVID. Lehrer: FINALLY TONIGHT, MICHAEL AND THE MEA. JEFFREY BROWN HAS OUR RERT.

>> Reporter: IT WAS, OF COSE, EVERYERE-- THE COVERAGE OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH THE PLAYING OF HIS VIDEOSTHE MEMORIAL SVICE CARRIED LIVE BY MULTIPLE NETWORKSTHE REPORTS ON HIS CAREER AND PROBLEM BUT WAS ALL THAT A PROBLEM F THE MEDIA ANDEDIA CONSUMERS? HOW ARE SUCH DESIONS MADE AT NEWS ORGANIZATIOS? HERE'S HOW ONE ORGANIZATION, CBS, END ITS EVENING NEWS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> MICHAEL JACKSONS SDEN DEATH AND THE MYSTERY URROUNDING IT CAPTIVATED THE ORLD, OR MUCH OF IT, ECLIPSNG OTHER NEWS. JEFF GLONOW TELLS US SOME OF THE STORIETHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKSHAT ARE DEFINITY WORTH NOTING.

>> Rerter: AMONG THOSE OTHER-h STORIES CBS THENEPORTED: THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO RUSA; THE RIOTS IN CHI; AND THE ONGOI DEBATE OVER HEALTH CARE REFORM. WE TALK ABOUT JACKSOAND OTHER STORI NOW WITH KATHLEEN HALL AMIESON, DIRECTOR OF THE UNVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S ANNENBERG PUBLIC POLY CENTER; V SMITH, WHO HOSTS HER O NIGHTLY LK SHOW ON THE ERICAN URBAN RADIO NETWORKS; D ANDREW LECKEY, DIRECTOR O THE DONALD REYNOLDS NATIONAL CENTER FOR BUSINS JOURNALISM AT ARIZONA STATUNIVERSITY. KATEEN HALL JAMIESON, KAIE COURIC SAID THE MICHL JACKSON STORY LIPSE OTHER NEWS. HOW WOULD YOU CHACTERIZE WHAT HAPPENED THIPAST WEEK?

>> LL, WHEN MICHAEL JACKN'S DEATH GETS MORE COVERAGE IN ME BROADCAST D CABLE NEWS OUTLETS AN DID T CLIMATECHANGE LEGISLATION THATASSED THE HOUSE THE DAY AFTER, I THINK WE' GOT A PROBLEM. AND WHEN MICHL JACKSON MORIAL TOOK ME NEWS TIME IN THO CABLE AND BROADCAST OUTLETS THAN DID THE WRAP-UP OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SUMMIT IN RUSSIWHICH INCLUDED A PROVISNAL AGREEMENT TO REDE NUCLEAR ARMSI THINK WEEED TO WORRY ABOUT NE JUDGE. AND IT RAES FOR ME TIS QUESTIN, LET'S PPOSE THAT WE'RE NOW DEALING WITH NEXT WEEK NEWS. HOWUCH LIVE COVERAGE IS JGE SOTOMAYOR'S CONFIRMATION HEARING GOING TO GET. IS IT GOING TO BE COMPARAB TO WHATMICHAEL JACKSON'S MERIAL GOT. D HYPOTHETICALLY WHAT OULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CONFIRMATION HRINGS HAD BEEN UP AGAINST THE MEMORL. WHAT WOULD THAWS JGEMENT HAVE BEEN.

>> B SMITH WHAT WAS THE ARUMENT FOR GIVING IT SO MUCHIME AND DO YOU WORRY ABOUT WHAT W BEING MIED?

>> WELL, NOTHING WAS SSED ON O SHOWTHANK YOU FOR ASKIN BECAUSE WE CVERED TH PRESIDENT WITH RUSSIA WITHPROFESSOR RONALTERS AND OTHER SO THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OBJECTIVELY LOOK AT NEWS THAT IS IMPORTANTO ALL THE WOR AS WELL AS TALKING ABO MICHAEL JACKSON. BUT THERE ARE THREREASONS WHY WE COVERED MHAEL JACKSONAS WE DID, AND WE DID COVERICHAEL JACKSON. ONE IS Dr. MAYA ANGELOU SA SO WELL,HAT HE BELGED TO US AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICA COMMUNITY, D A SHOW NONAPOLOGECALLY AIMED AT THE AFRICAN-ARICAN MMUNITY, MICHAEL BELONGED TO US. THE SECOND IS TH MICHAEL WAS A MASTER. AND JUST ASWE GO TO THE MUSEUM AND WE LOOK AT THE MASTER VAN GOGH WHO CUTFF HIS EAR, HAD A ARGUMENT WITH THE PO, AND WE NOR HIM, IN OUR COMMUNITY WANT TO DO THAT. AND THE THI IS WE WER VERY UP SET WITH THE DIRECTION THE MEDIA TOOK IN THIS STORY AND IS TAKING NOW FOR EXAMP, ASNG ABOUT THE AUTHEIC PARENTAGE OF THE CLDREN. WE THINK THEY'VE GONE TOO FAR. AND AT LEAST ON THEEV SMITHHOW, WE'RE OBJTIVELY LOOKING AT THAT WHILE ALSO REPORTING ON OTER NEWS OF THE DAY.

>> ALL GHT, LET ME BRING IN ANDREW LECKEY, WAT DID YO SEE WHEN YOU LOOKED MORE BROADLY AT TELEVISI AND CABLE OVE THE LAST WEEK?

>> WL IT SEEMS ALL NEWS COVERAGE ISOW OVERKILL. AND OVERKILL BECAE NUMBERS SO DRIVE THE NEW AS NEVER BEFORE. THEITTINGS, THE RATINGS, WHAT IS A GOOD STORY? A GOOD STORY IS O THAT A LOOF PEOPLE VIEW. CERTAINLY THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AND A THE COVERAGE OF MICHAEL JACKSON WERE WIDELY WATCH BY A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE DOWNSIDE OF PART OF THI IS THERE IS A C AV KNEE OF DIFFERT SOURCES OF NS. SOME COMING AFTER INGS THAT MAY NOT EVEN BE CORRECT OR SAYING WHATEV. AND AS A RESULT TH ONAUGHT OF INFORMATIO REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S ALL BEING THROWN AT YOU ALL AT ONCE BUT OPLE KEEP WATCHING.

>> THEYO KEEP WATCHING Mr. CKEY. I MEAN THE RATINGS SOARED CORRECT. SO NWORK EXECUTIVES, PEOPLE IN THE NEWS REALY, THEY'RE WATCHING THT, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE THE DEATHS OF PRINCESS DI AND ELVIS, THATAS BEFORE TRE WERE ALL THESE DIFFERENT NEWS SOURCES T THERE AND ENDLESS COVERAGE. MORE THAN EVER BEFORE AN EVENT COMES UP, IT IS COVERED WALL TO WALL. AN THEN IT EVAPORATES AGAIN. AND ONE OF THE RE DOWNSIDES IN ALL THIS IS IF THERE IS INCORREC INFORMATION IT JUST SORT OF ES INTO THE VAPORS. NO ONE EVERORRECTS ANYTHING. NO ONE EVER COMES BACK TO TRY SAY WELL THAT'S NOT COECT. BUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS I HE HEARD ABOUT MICHAEL CKSON IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AND SOMOF THEM I VER HEARD MORE THAN ONCE. SOME OF TH I HEARD TWO THREE TIMES ANSOME OF THEM I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY CAMFROM.

>> WELL,ATHLEEN, WE, OF COUR, GOT CAUGHT UP IN TH TWO AND HAD TO MAKE OUR OWN DECIONS. ONE NIGHWE LEAD OUR PROGRAM WITH THIS STORY AND WE HEARD FROM A NUMBERF IRATE VWERS. I SUPPOSE YOU WOULD VE BE IN THAT CAMP. WT HAPPENS, THOUGH, WHEN YOU HAVE THE JUDGEMENT OF THE INTEREST THAT IS OUT THERE. I MEAN WHEN TELEVISION NETWORKS ARE LOOKINGAT THE WIDE INTEST, WHEN THE RATINGSRE UP, WHAT ROLE SHOULD THAT PL?

>> WHEN, THERE IS A ROLE FOR T COVERAGE. M NOT SUGGESTING THAT MICHAEL JKSON'S DEATH AND LEG SEE AREN'T NEWSWORTH BUT RHER THE QUESTION IS ONE OF PROPORTION. WHEN YOLOOK AT NEWS AND WHAT YOUEE IS THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY FUNCTION W MISSING ON CLIMATE CHANGE. WE DIDN'T GET GOOD STORIES THAT ASKED HOW MUCH OF A HOUSE BILL ACTUALLY CAPTURED WHATANDIDATE OBAMA HAD PROMISED. THERE WEREN'T THE NEWS STORIES INANY PLACES THAT LET THEROCESSSK THE QUESTN WILL THIS LEGISLATION DO WHAT IT PRISES, IS A 17% REDUCTION IN EMISSION BY 2020 OR A 2005ASE ACTUAL GOING TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUPROBLEM OF GLOBAL WAING. WE ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THEACT TESTING. THE KASPER HOUSE HOLD OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE WELY DIERENT ACROSS VARIOUS ARTISAN SOURCES AND AS A SULT NEWS DIDN'T PERRM THE FUNCTIONS IT NEEDS TO PERFORM TO KEEP THE POLITICAL PROCESS HONT AND ACCOUNTABLE. AND WHENHAT HAPPENS, ADVERTISING BECOMES THE MEANS BY WHICH THE PUBLIC LEARS ABOUT THIS LEGISLAON. THAT'SARTISAN AND ONE-SED. SPECIAL INTERESTS INFLUENCE AND MONEY GAINMPACT. AND FINALLY THE PUBLIC LOSES THE CONNEION BETWEEN CAMPAIGNING AND GOVERNMT. CADA OBAMA PROMISED CLIMATE CHANGE LISLATION. HE'S TRYING TO DELIVE AND T PUBLIC DOESN'T REALIZE CANDIDATES TRY AND OEN AS PRIDENT'S DO DELIVER ON THEIR PROMISES. THEY BECOMMORE CYNICAL ABOUT GOVERNMENT. IN OTHER WORDS, EN NEWS IS DISTRAJTED A DOESN'TDO ITS JOB BECAUSE IT DON'T KEEP THINGS IN PRPORTION, DEMOCRACISN'T AS WELL SERVINGED AS IT EDS TO BE.

>> BEV SMITH YOU WANT TO JUMP IN THERE.

>> I HEUER DO. I WOULD LI TO POSTHIS QUESTION TOO. THE ESTION IS WHO COMES FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG. AND WOULD SAY AS IT RELATES TO THE STORY, HOW W GET OURINFORMATION, HOW WE GET OUR OPINIONS ON ETHNIC GROUPS, PHYSICALLY CHAENGED AND THE HE WOULDLY, I WLD SAY NEITHER. THE MEDIA COMES FIRST BECAUSE THE MEDIA CREATES THE IENDSY. THERE IS A DECISION MA ON WHETHER A BRITNEY SPERS WITHOUT PANTIE SHOULD BE THE LEAD STORY. WHOMAKES TTDECISION, NOT THE PUBLIC. BUT WHEN YOU LEAD WITH THAT SRY AS A NEWS OUTLET YOU ARE CREATG THE STY. AND I TINK WHAT WE ARE SEEG NOW IS THAT THE MEDIA CREATES THE CHARACTERS CRTES THE LEADERSHIP, CREATES T ISSUES, AND THE INVESGATION THAT NEEDS T BE DON WE ALL POINT AT THE WAR IN IRAQ. THEY DID MOTTNVESTIGATE WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING. THE MEDIA HAS CHANGED THE WAY IT IS DONE AND THEY HAVE CHANGED THE FRAMEWOR AND SO I WOULD SAY I DON'T KNOW WLTS'THE CHICKENR THE EGG. POINT TO THE MEDIA AS E CREATOR OF WHATE SEE AS A MAJOR PROBLEM AN HOW INFORMATION IS DISSINATED HERE IN AMERICA. I WOULD CHALLENGE THE MEDIA TDO A BETTER JOB. AND THAT INUDES A LOT OF WELL PAID TALK SHOW HOSTS >>ehrer: AN Mr. LECKEY, YOU WANT TO CO IN ON THAT. BECAUSE IFHE MEDIA ASK THE LEAD HERE BUT IF ATHE SAME TI IN A STORY LIKE THIS THEY WATCH T RATINGS GO UP GHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER IGHT FOR A STO LIKE THIS, THEN WHSE'S LEADING AND WHOSE'S LLOWING? >>.

>> WL, THE FACT REMAINS THAT NEWS OW CAN NO LONGER BEONTROLLED. ALL THAT CAN BE DONE IS THE POWER O ONE. LIKE WE WOULD STILL INSTITUTES ERE AT THE CRONKITE SCHOOL, OU CAN AFCT WHAT YOU DO. JUST POSTING SOMHING DOESN'T PAGE YO A JOURNALIST BUT E NEWSHO AND REL VENT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS HAVTO MAKE THOSE DECISIS. ANDTO GO FORWARD WITH FACTUAL INFMATION AND CHOOSESTORIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. BUT YOU CAN'T STOP E FLOW OF INFORMATION. I'M GOING TO BE IN CHINA NEXT WEEK A I KNOW THE CHINESE ARE GOING TO S WHY DO YOU DWELL ON OUR NEGATIVE THINGS. WELL, WE ALWAYS DWELL ON THINGS AND THEN ME ON IN A COUPLE OF DAYS SO I THINK THE POWER OF EACH NEWS ORGANIZATION TO SND UP IN THE MST OF ALL THISBUT IN TRMS OFCONTROLING WHAT GOES OUT THE, WHO WATCHES WHAT, HOW MUCH OF IT ISDONE, YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT ANY MORE. L YOU CAN DO IS TRY TO COROL IT.

>> IT'S BEING DO.

>> GO AHEAD, BEV SMITH?

>> IT'S BECOME DONE. IT'S BEING CONTROLLE LOOK AT THE BOOKS TH ARE COMING OUT ABO THE FOX NETWORK. IS BEING CONTROLLED. I BEG TO DEFER WITH YOU, PROFESSOR. AND ONE OF YUR COLLEAGUES AT THENIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN PROFESSOR BEEN BOB GENERAL SONRITES ABOUT IT AND TEACHS ABOUT IT I HAVE BEEN IN THE ENCHS IT. IT IS CONTROLLED. AND IT CONTROLLED BY ADVERTISIG. IT'S CONTROLLED. WE HAVEO STOP THE CONTROL OF I WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVE >>ET ME GET A LAST WORD ROM KATHLEEN HALL JAMIESON I DIDEE A PEW STUDY WHI SAID ALST TWO OUT OF THREE AMERICANS THOUGHT THE COVERAGE WAS TOO MUCH. THIS OF COURSE YOHAVE TO JIBE WI THE FACT THAT THE RATINGS WERE WAY U SO WAS'S YOUR FINAL WORD?

>> I NOT CONCERNED AUT FORMS OF MEDIA TH BASICALLYAVE AS THEIR PRIME FUNCTION EITH OPINION,ALK OR ENTERTAINMENTMENT CAUSE WHEN ARYOU DISPLACINGHAT WITH COVERAGE OFICHAEL JACKSON, YOUTILL HAVE TRADITIONAL NEWS THAT ASPIRES TO OBJECTIVE, BALANCE, CTICITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND OPENG AVENUES FOR DEBATE. ITS WHEN THOSE TRADITNAL AVENUES OF FAIL TAT IS MY WORE HE . HERE. THEY DIDN'T COVER THIS THIS PROPER PROPORTN.

>> I WA TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR WALNG THROUGH THIS, KATHLEEN HA JAMIESON, V SMITH AND DREW LECKEY, THANKS A LOT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Y'RE WELCOME.

>> Lehre AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: GENERAL MOTORS ERGED FROM FEDERAL NKRUPTCY PROTECTION AFTER SHEDDINBILLIONS OF DOLLA IN DEBT AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS; AND THE GROUP OF 8 SUMMI CONCLUDED IN ITALY. THE INDUSTRIAL POWE PLEDGED NEW AID TO HELP POOR NATINS FEED THSELVES. ON newshour.pborg, SOME ONLINE-ONLY FEATES: CORRESPONNT BETTY ANN BOWSER BEGS A WEEKLY RECAP OF DEELOPMENTS ON THE HEALTHCARE REFORM FRONT; AND ON "ARBEAT," JEFFREY BROWN INTERVIEWS JEPH O'NEILL, AUTHOR OF "NETHERLAN" THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S N/FAULKNER AWARD FOR FICTIO

>> THE MIT TO WHAT AMERANS UNDERSTAND THAT LIMIT IS CRICKET. AND E RE COMPLEXITY A STERY OF CCKET IS ALMOST SYMBOLIC OF THE COMPLEXITY AND MTERY OF TH WIDER WORLD. AND A WIDE WORLD WHICH BECAME EXTREMELY IMPENETRABLE AND ALARMING IN THE AFTER 9/11 AND STILLS AND PROBABLY AWAYS WILL BE. THE NEWSHOUR'S JRNALISM IS AVAILAE WHENEVER YOU WANT IT AT newshour.pbs.org. WASHINGTON WK" CAN BE SEEN LATER THIS EVING ON MOST PBS ATIONS. WE'LL SEEOU ONLINE, AND AGAIN HE MONDAY EVENING. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND. I'M JIM LEHRER. THANK YOU AND GOODIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE WSHOUR WITH JIM LRER IS PROVIDED BY: CHEVRON. INTEL. SUPPORTI MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR TOMORROW'S INNOVATORS. AND THE WILLIAM A FLORA HEWLETT FODATION, WORKING TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMEAL PROBLEMS AT HO AND AROUND THE ORLD. AND WITH T ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AN FOUNDATIONS. AN... THIS PROGRAM WAS MA POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIBROADCASTING. AND BY NTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS KE YOU. THANK Y. Captioning sponsoreby MacNEIL/LEER PRODUCTIONS Caption by Media Aess Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org