9/5/02

LC020905

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> PARENTS ARE BUYING HIGH-TECH GADGETS TO TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR CHILDREN, BUT ARE THESE DEVICES WORTH THE MONEY?

TRICIA HERNANDEZ>> IF IT BRINGS JUST THAT ONE LITTLE BIT OF REASSURANCE TO ONE PARENT, THEN IT'S WORTH IT. IF IT CAN FIND JUST ONE CHILD THAT'S MISSING, THEN I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY WORTHWHILE PRODUCT.

VAL>> THE BILL SIMON CAMPAIGN IS TAKING A SWING AT THE GOVERNOR ON A NEW WEBSITE CALLED "EGRAY".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> HAS GRAY DAVIS SOLD OUT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER? AND WHAT ABOUT BILL SIMON'S PROMISE TO GAYS? TONIGHT A LOOK AT WHY BOTH CANDIDATES ARE UNDER THE GUN.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON WONDERS WHETHER CORPORATE MARKETEERS ARE GOING TOO FAR.

PATT MORRISON>> WHAT IS THERE THAT'S NOT FOR SALE? TAKING SPONSORSHIPS TO WAR -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> PLUS, THE STORY OF THREE PREGNANT TEENS WHO'VE CHOSEN TO HAVE THEIR BABIES. ONE SAYS SHE'LL GIVE UP THE CHILD FOR ADOPTION, BUT WHAT WILL SHE DO WHEN THE BABY'S REALLY BORN? TONIGHT A LOOK AT THE HARSH REALITIES OF YOUNG MOTHERHOOD.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

THIS HAS BEEN THE SUMMER OF HIGH-PROFILE CHILD ABDUCTIONS AND IT HAS STRUCK FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF MANY PARENTS, SO IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE PERHAPS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE RESORTING TO TECHNOLOGY FOR A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND. THEY'RE BUYING ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT ALLOW THEM TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF THEIR CHILD AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

VAL>> THESE DEVICES USE SATELLITES TO TRACK A CHILD'S WHEREABOUTS, BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, CRITICS SAY THE TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY FUELING A PARANOIA THAT ISN'T JUSTIFIED.

GAY YEE>> IT'S MORNING AT THE HERNANDEZ HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE. TIME FOR THE SEVEN A.M. SCRAMBLE. TRICIA HERNANDEZ SCURRIES OUT THE DOOR WITH HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, SARAH. SHE'LL DROP HER OFF AT PRESCHOOL ON THE WAY TO WORK. BUT BEFORE TRICIA LETS SARAH GO, SHE CLIPS A DEVICE ON HER LITTLE GIRL. IT LOOKS LIKE A PAGER, BUT IN FACT IT'S A HIGH-TECH TRACKER, A DEVICE THAT USES GPS SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP TABS ON SARAH'S WHEREABOUTS AT ALL TIMES. SO EVEN AFTER TRICIA SAYS GOODBYE, SHE CAN STILL KEEP AN EYE ON HER DAUGHTER. ALL IT TAKES IS A COMPUTER WHERE SHE CAN LOG IN AND SEE EXACTLY WHERE SARAH IS.

TRICIA HERNANDEZ>> I ACTUALLY HAD ONE PARENT TELL ME THAT IT WAS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH THIS. LIKE I TOLD HER, IF MY DAUGHTER'S GONE FOR MORE THAN TEN SECONDS OUT OF HER BOUNDARY, I KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT. IF SHE'S WITH AN ABDUCTOR, I KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT AND I DON'T NEED TO SECOND-GUESS HOW I'M GOING TO FIND HER OR HOW SHE'S GOING TO BE PROTECTED.

GAY YEE>> TRICIA ISN'T THE ONLY PARENT WHO IS SEEKING A LITTLE ADDED PEACE OF MIND IN WHAT'S BEEN A SUMMER OF CHILD ABDUCTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WORRIED PARENTS HAVE CREATED A BOOMING NEW MARKET FOR THE PRODUCERS OF HIGH-TECH TRACKING DEVICES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM OUT THERE. EVERYTHING FROM A MICROCHIP THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE THAT CAN BE IMPLANTED IN A PERSON'S BODY TO THESE WRISTWATCHES THAT USE SATELLITE AND CELL PHONE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP TRACK OF CHILDREN. ALMOST ALL THE DEVICES RELY ON THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM, OR GPS. A NETWORK OF SATELLITES MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PLOT EXACT LOCATIONS ON THE GROUND.

DAVID ADDINGTON>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE ANTENNA'S KIND OF BEVELED UP HERE AND THAT IS SO IT CAN POINT UP TOWARDS THE SKY WHERE THE GPS SATELLITES ARE IN ORBIT.

GAY YEE>> DAVID ADDINGTON IS A VICE PRESIDENT AT DIGITAL ANGEL CORPORATION IN RIVERSIDE, MAKER OF THE DEVICE SARAH WEARS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS. NOW IT'S POPULAR FOR CHILDREN AND PETS. THIS MODEL HAS A DISTINGUISHING FEATURE. IT ALLOWS PARENTS TO SET A PREDETERMINED BOUNDARY AROUND THE PERSON THEY WANT TO PROTECT. AN ALERT IS GIVEN IF THE CHILD IS MOVED OUTSIDE THOSE LIMITS. ADDINGTON CALLS IT GEO-FENCING.

DAVID ADDINGTON>> IF A CHILD OR AN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT WANDERS OUTSIDE THEIR GEO-FENCE, AN ALERT IS GENERATED. IT COMES TO OUR DATA CENTER AND WE SEND A PAGE TO THE PERSON DESIGNATED AS THE CARER FOR THE WEARER OF THE DEVICE. THEY WILL ALSO GET AN E-MAIL.

GAY YEE>> IF THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE AND YOU CAN AFFORD IT, SOME PARENTS SAY WHY NOT? BUT CRITICS SAY THEY'RE JUST WASTING THEIR MONEY, THAT THE PROBABILITY OF A CHILD BEING ABDUCTED BY A STRANGER IS MINISCULE, ONE IN A MILLION, THAT IT'S MORE PROBABLE THAT THAT SAME CHILD BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

BARRY GLASSNER>> IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE, ESPECIALLY ON THE CABLE NEWS CHANNELS, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS GOING ON ALL THE TIME. BUT IN FACT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THESE ARE VERY RARE. IN FACT, THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN. THERE ARE FEWER STRANGER ABDUCTIONS THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE FBI, THAN LAST YEAR.

GAY YEE>> BARRY GLASSNER IS A USC SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR AND AUTHOR OF "THE CULTURE OF FEAR: WHY AMERICANS ARE AFRAID OF THE WRONG THINGS". HE SAYS ONLY ABOUT A HUNDRED CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE ACTUALLY KIDNAPPED BY STRANGERS LAST YEAR. THE VAST MAJORITY OF MISSING CHILDREN ARE RUNAWAYS OR TAKEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS. GLASSNER SAYS, IF PARENTS WANT TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN, A BETTER INVESTMENT WOULD BE BICYCLE HELMETS AND HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS.

BARRY GLASSNER>> THERE ARE ABOUT 6,000 UNINTENTIONAL DEATHS OF CHILDREN EVERY YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY. ABOUT FORTY PERCENT OF THOSE ARE IN THE HOME. MOST OF THOSE CAN BE PREVENTED WITH SOME SIMPLE, SIMPLE STEPS THAT ARE USUALLY INEXPENSIVE AND IT'S A MUCH BETTER EXPENDITURE OF MONEY THAN TO GET ONE OF THESE HIGH-TECH DEVICES TO TRY TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD AGAINST SOMETHING THAT IS PHENOMENALLY UNLIKELY TO EVER HAPPEN.

GAY YEE>> BUT TRICIA HERNANDEZ ISN'T CONVINCED.

TRICIA HERNANDEZ>> IF IT BRINGS JUST THAT ONE LITTLE BIT OF REASSURANCE TO ONE PARENT, THEN IT'S WORTH IT. IF IT CAN FIND JUST ONE CHILD THAT'S MISSING, THEN I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY WORTHWHILE PRODUCT REGARDLESS IF THEY THINK IT'S JUST A PROPAGANDA JUST TO SELL MORE UNITS OR WHATEVER.

GAY YEE>> SHE'S A SINGLE MOM WHO BELIEVES THE NEW TECHNOLOGY DOES HAVE VALUE REGARDLESS OF THE HYPE AND, IF THE DEVICES SAVE JUST ONE CHILD LIKE HERS, TRICIA SAYS IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.

JESS>> THOSE TRACKING DEVICES AREN'T CHEAP. SOME OF THEM COST BETWEEN $300 AND $400 APIECE, PLUS THERE'S USUALLY A MONTHLY SERVICE FEE OF $25 TO $30. THE COMPANIES SAY THEY'RE WORKING ON WAYS TO MAKE THE TECHNOLOGY MORE AFFORDABLE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, PAINFUL CUTS IN THE L.A. COUNTY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY FACE THE THREAT OF LOSING THEIR ONLY PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

>> I FEEL LIKE THEY JUST DON'T CARE. THIS IS A LITTLE SMALL RINKY-DINK HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. OH, CLOSE THEM UP.

JESS>> IT'S LIKELY IF YOU FLEW SOMEWHERE OVER THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND, YOU UNDOUBTEDLY HAD TO HASSLE WITH CROWDED AIRPORTS AND SECURITY CHECKS, BUT NOT SO FOR GOVERNOR DAVIS. HE AND HIS ENTOURAGE BOARDED PRIVATE JETS PAID FOR BY CORPORATIONS AND LABOR UNIONS. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE L.A. TIMES, EIGHTEEN COMPANIES HAVE PROVIDED THEIR PRIVATE PLANES FOR THE GOVERNOR'S USE DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.

VAL>> IN THE MEANTIME, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, BILL SIMON, HAS HIS OWN PROBLEMS. CONSERVATIVES ARE ANGRY BECAUSE SIMON SUPPOSEDLY PROMISED GAYS HE WOULD PROCLAIM A GAY PRIDE DAY. SIMON SAYS THAT'S NOT TRUE AND NOW THE GAY COMMUNITY IS MAD.

JESS>> TONIGHT TWO EXPERTS ARE HERE TO WEIGH IN ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. BILL CARRICK IS A VETERAN DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN STRATEGIST AND ALLAN HOFFENBLUM IS AN OLD PRO WITH THE REPUBLICANS. GENTLEMEN, WELCOME.

BILL CARRICK>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

JESS>> LOOKING AT THE POLLS AND LISTENING TO THE SCANDALS AND THE ACCUSATIONS AND THE CROSS-ACCUSATIONS, SOMEONE HAS SUGGESTED WE REALLY DO NEED THAT BOX THAT SAYS "NONE OF THE ABOVE" ON THE BALLOT.

BILL CARRICK>> WELL, WE MAY HAVE A "NONE OF THE ABOVE" BOX. IT MAY BE A "STAY AT HOME" BOX ON ELECTION DAY BECAUSE THE NEGATIVES KEEP PILING UP AND PILING UP AGAINST BOTH CANDIDATES AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO DEPRESS VOTER TURNOUT COME NOVEMBER.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR A LONG TIME -- EXCUSE THE VOICE. I'M GETTING OVER A COLD --

JESS>> -- ALL THOSE SIMON RALLIES YOU'VE BEEN CHEERING AT (LAUGHTER).

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> OH, YEAH. TRYING, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH (LAUGHTER). BUT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, THE WINNER OF THIS RACE MAY BE THE ONE WITH THE MOST FRIENDS OR RELATIVES BECAUSE THE REST OF US ARE ALL GOING TO STAY HOME, WHICH GIVES SIMON A CHANCE, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS THAT MANY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. THE PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR CHOICE AND, SPEAKING AS A REPUBLICAN, I KNOW EXACTLY WHY THEY'RE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR CHOICE. THE BILL SIMON CAMPAIGN, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY CONVINCE THE VOTERS THAT HE'S A REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE TO AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR WHOM THEY DISLIKE.

JESS>> AND YET THE FIELD POLL SHOWS HIM NARROWING THE GAP.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> HE'S NOT NARROWING THE GAP. DAVIS JUST KEEPS GOING DOWN AND BILL SIMON STAYS AT THE SAME LEVEL. I MEAN, THE POLL SAYS IF THE GOVERNOR GOES BELOW TWENTY-NINE, THEN IT'S THIRTY, TWENTY-NINE AND --

BILL CARRICK>> -- THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW CAMPAIGNS IN THE COUNTRY WHERE UNDECIDED VOTERS ARE GROWING AS A VOTING BLOCK RATHER THAN SHRINKING.

VAL>> BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S ABOUT ONE IN FOUR UNDECIDED?

BILL CARRICK>> ONE IN THREE BASICALLY.

VAL>> ONE IN THREE?

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> BUT THE PART OF THE FIELD POLL THAT I FOUND DISTRESSING FOR THE SIMON CAMPAIGN, IT GOT TO TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR SIMON WERE NOT VOTING FOR SIMON, BUT THEY WERE VOTING AGAINST GRAY DAVIS. SO HE'S MADE THE CASE AGAINST GRAY DAVIS. I STILL CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME FIGURE OUT WHY DOESN'T THE MAN COME FORWARD WITH HIS CAMPAIGN AND TELL WHY HE COULD BE A BETTER GOVERNOR AND STOP ALL THIS NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AGAINST GRAY DAVIS BECAUSE THAT'S NO LONGER NEEDED.

BILL CARRICK>> WELL, I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS, FROM THE BEGINNING, RUN A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AND HE DID THAT, OBVIOUSLY, WITH MAYOR RIORDAN IN THE PRIMARY TO BEGIN WITH. SIMON FELT COMPELLED TO RESPOND TO IT AND IT'S JUST A SPIRAL DOWN AND IT'S JUST TURNING VOTERS OFF AND IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN ZERO TURNOUT.

VAL>> WELL, SIMON HAS HIT BACK IN A NEGATIVE WAY, ALTHOUGH NOT ON TV. HE HAS CREATED A WEBSITE, AN ANTI-GRAY DAVIS WEBSITE, CALLED "EGRAY" BASED VERY MUCH SIMILAR TO "EBAY" AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW. IT'S VERY FUNNY. IT'S THE ONLY CHUCKLE I'VE GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR. HERE IT IS.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> SO YOU GO TO "EGRAY" AND YOU FIND ALL THESE LAWS AND LISTED OVER IS A PRICE THAT YOU CAN BID ON TO MAKE THE LAW HAPPEN OR NOT, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY BASED ON CONTRIBUTIONS THAT GRAY DAVIS HAS GOTTEN. YOU CAN CLICK AND GET THE ACTUAL NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT SUPPORTS THE INFORMATION. IT'S JUST A KICK AND I'M WONDERING IF (LAUGHTER) AT LEAST SOMEONE IS CLEVER IN THE SIMON CAMPAIGN.

BILL CARRICK>> WELL, IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO GET SOME ATTENTION. BUT THE IRONY IN THIS IS THAT SIMON GOT INTO THE RACE, ALLAN, HE WAS GOING TO BE A SELF-FUNDED CANDIDATE. HE WAS GOING TO WRITE THE BIG CHECK AND PLAY BALL WITH THE GOVERNOR. HERE WE ARE, IT'S AFTER LABOR DAY, AND THERE'S NO BIG CHECK AND THERE'S NO TV ADS.

JESS>> MAYBE HE THOUGHT IT WAS NOT A GOOD INVESTMENT.

BILL CARRICK>> HE MIGHT. HE MIGHT HAVE MADE THAT DECISION.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> OH, UP UNTIL ABOUT FOUR WEEKS BEFORE THE PRIMARY WHEN HE THOUGHT DICK RIORDAN WAS GOING TO WIN AND SIMON WAS ONLY THERE BASICALLY TO DO REASONABLY WELL SO THAT HE COULD RUN FOR U.S. SENATE MAYBE IN TWO YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I THINK HE WAS EVERY BIT AS SURPRISED BY WINNING THE PRIMARY AS A LOT OF RIORDAN PEOPLE WERE DISAPPOINTED BY THE FACT.

BUT AGAIN, YES, THAT'S CLEVER, THAT'S CUTE, OR WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT THE CASE TO REMOVE GRAY DAVIS HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. WHAT HE NEEDS TO CONCENTRATE ON IS THE CASES AS TO WHY HE WOULD DO BETTER. FROM WHAT I CAN SEE SINCE MARCH 23 WHEN WE HAD THE PRIMARY TO THIS DAY, HE'S NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO MAKING THAT CASE AND THAT'S WHAT I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND.

BILL CARRICK>> BUT THE THING HE CONTINUES TO DO IS LIKE THIS WHOLE THING WITH THE GAY QUESTIONNAIRE. HE CONTINUES TO --

VAL>> -- TELL US ABOUT THIS IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

BILL CARRICK>> BASICALLY, THE SIMON CAMPAIGN ANSWERED A QUESTIONNAIRE FROM A GAY GROUP AND IT WAS VERY PRO GAY. SOME OF SIMON'S SUPPORTERS ON THE RIGHT, VERY CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTERS, PRESSURED HIM TO RESCIND THE THING AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS NOT GOING OUT AND HE'S SAYING HE DIDN'T SIGN IT, IT WAS SIGNED BY AN AUTO PEN. IT TURNS INTO A WHOLE SCANDAL OF HIS OWN MAKING.

VAL>> SO A PROMISE THAT HE MADE TO ACTUALLY DECLARE A GAY PRIDE DAY, SIMON SAYS IT WASN'T AUTHORIZED, HE DIDN'T SIGN IT --

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> -- VAL, IT WENT BEYOND THAT. THAT IS WHAT THE SIMON CAMPAIGN -- LISTEN, I RECEIVED A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE BILL SIMON FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN THAT OUTLINED HIS POSITION ON GAY ISSUES AND WAS ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE STATEMENTS THAT ANY REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IN MY HISTORY EVER. THIS WAS NOT A QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE LOG CABIN CLUB. THIS WAS A BILL SIMON FOR GOVERNOR PRESS RELEASE.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID HE WOULD BE THE FEATURED SPEAKER AT A GAY FUNDRAISER WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD TONIGHT WITH MARY CHENEY, THE GAY DAUGHTER OF THE VICE PRESIDENT. THIS IS NOT A CANDIDATE WHO HAD A QUESTIONNAIRE GO TO THE LOG CABIN CLUB THAT HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT. HE ACTUALLY MADE OVERTURES AND MET WITH THEM. SO NOW IT WOULD APPEAR THAT, AS SOON AS HE DID THIS AND LOU SHELDON AND THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT YANKED HIS CHAIN, NOW HE'S RUNNING AROUND FEARFUL THAT HE'S LOSING, YOU KNOW, HIS RIGHT-WING --

JESS>> -- WHAT SHOULD HE HAVE DONE?

BILL CARRICK>> WELL, THE FIRST THING HE --

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> -- STAY AWAY FROM THE ISSUE, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

BILL CARRICK>> WELL, DECIDE WHAT HIS POSITION WAS IS THE FIRST THING HE SHOULD HAVE DONE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S TOO HARD (LAUGHTER).

BILL CARRICK>> THE FIRST THING HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THIS WHOLE ISSUE WAS HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE TRUTH FROM THE BEGINNING, THAT HE'S EITHER WITH THE GAY COMMUNITY OR HE'S AGAINST THEM, AND HE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING HIS MIND UP DURING THE PROCESS OF THE CAMPAIGN. THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM -- HE'S MOVING TO THE CENTER, NOW HE'S MOVING BACK TO THE RIGHT, SO HE STEPS ON HIS FOOT ONE MORE TIME.

JESS>> BUT, BILL, WHAT ABOUT GRAY DAVIS? HERE THERE'S ALL THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN RAISED, HE'S DONE A TERRIFIC JOB OF RAISING FUNDS, BUT HE CLEARLY IS INDEBTED TO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT IS A VERY DAMAGING ISSUE WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS CONCERNED.

BILL CARRICK>> I THINK IT IS VERY DAMAGING AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS NOW -- SIMON HAS THE PART OF THE CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE THAT DEALS WITH HIS BUSINESS FRAUD AND BUSINESS ISSUES AND HIS INCOME TAX. DAVIS HAS ANOTHER PART OF IT, WHICH IS TOO MUCH SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY IN POLITICS, POLITICIANS BEHOLDING TO PEOPLE THAT GIVE THEM MONEY, AND NOW AIRPLANE TRIPS.

VAL>> RIGHT. THESE AIRPLANE TRIPS WERE OFFERED -- THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN WOULD LIKE CALL -- I THINK IT WAS A SANTA MONICA COMPANY CALLED CADIZ THAT WAS ONE OF THEM. THEY ALL HAVE BUSINESS PENDING ON THE STATE LEVEL -- THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN WOULD CALL AND, IF THE JET WAS AVAILABLE, IT WAS MADE AVAILABLE. NOW TO BE FAIR, DAVIS DID PAY A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, RIGHT? BUT NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE VALUE OF THE TRIP?

BILL CARRICK>> WHAT WE HAVE IS A SITUATION UNDER STATE LAW WHERE YOU CAN BASICALLY PAY AS IF A CHARTERED PLANE PROVIDED TO YOU BY SOMEBODY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, EITHER A LABOR UNION OR A CORPORATION, THEN YOU PAY THE COST OF A FLIGHT FROM, SAY, SAN DIEGO TO SAN FRANCISCO, COACH.

VAL>> SO LEGALLY --

BILL CARRICK>> -- BUT YOU'RE FLYING, OBVIOUSLY, ON A PERSONALLY CHARTERED PLANE, SO IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE ACTUAL COST OF THE FLIGHT. SO WHAT WE GOT HERE IS THAT IT'S REPORTED PUBLICLY WHICH IS THE GOOD NEWS. WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS ON THESE PLANES AND WHO PROVIDED THE AIR TRAVEL TO HIM. THE BAD NEWS IS, HE'S NOT PAYING REALLY FULL MARKET VALUE FOR THESE PLANE TRIPS.

VAL>> NOT ANYWHERE NEAR.

BILL CARRICK>> AND THE FEDERAL LAW, YOU PAY THE COST OF FIRST-CLASS FARE FROM SAN DIEGO TO L.A. AND IF YOU'RE FLYING FROM SOMEWHERE LIKE SAN DIEGO TO VISALIA, WHICH OBVIOUSLY ISN'T A DIRECT ROUTE FOR ANYBODY, YOU PAY THE COST OF A CHARTER. WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE LAWS SO IT'S MORE LIKE THE FEDERAL LAW.

JESS>> NEITHER OF YOU IS VERY PROUD OF THE CANDIDATES FOR YOUR PARTIES, BUT WITH THIS LOW VOTER TURNOUT THAT YOU BOTH ANTICIPATE, WHAT'S THIS GOING TO DO TO THE PEOPLE DOWN-BALLOT?

BILL CARRICK>> WELL, THAT'S THE REALLY INTERESTING THING. THERE ARE TWO THINGS -- I HAVE SEVERAL CLIENTS IN THE INTEREST OF DISCLOSURE WHO ARE RUNNING THE DOWN-BALLOT OFFICE. I THINK THE THING YOU WORRY ABOUT IS TURNOUT AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR CANDIDATES. IF THE DEMOCRATIC BASE VOTERS DON'T GET OUT, IT'S GOING TO HURT DEMOCRATS AND, VICE VERSA, IT WILL HURT THE REPUBLICANS IF THE REPUBLICAN BASE VOTERS DON'T GET OUT.

THE OTHER THING YOU WORRY ABOUT IS SORT OF THE MERV DIMELY EFFECT. YOU MAY REMEMBER WHEN JERRY BROWN GOT RE-ELECTED, HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS DEFEATED AT THE SAME TIME. MIKE CURB GOT ELECTED AND, OF COURSE, GRAY DAVIS SERVED AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR UNDER PETE WILSON. SO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE VOTERS SAYING WE'LL TAKE ONE OF THESE AND, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THESE TO WATCH THEM.

VAL>> LAST TEN SECONDS, ALLAN.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> YEAH, THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO SPEND A FORTUNE TO TRY TO GET OUT THEIR VOTE. THEY'RE PRETTY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE SO MANY ELECTION CONDITIONS, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND THE STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN GERRYMANDERED. THERE'S NO CAMPAIGNS GOING ON, YOU KNOW, FOR CONGRESS AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THERE'S NOTHING TO MOTIVATE THEM TO GO OUT OTHER THAN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR. IF YOU DON'T LIKE EITHER ONE, THE CHANCES ARE YOU'RE GOING TO STAY HOME. SO I BELIEVE THE ONE THING THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE ABILITY TO GET THEIR VOTE OUT AND, AS BILL SAID, THAT SOME PEOPLE, WHEN THEY HOLD THEIR NOSE AND VOTE FOR GRAY DAVIS, MAYBE THEY'LL VOTE REPUBLICAN ON ANOTHER LEVEL.

VAL>> ALLAN HOFFENBLUM, BILL CARRICK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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JESS>> IS NOTHING SACRED WHEN IT COMES TO CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS? PATT IS DOING BATTLE IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> MERCHANTS OF DEATH WAS THE OLD TERM FOR THE PURVEYORS OF ARMS AND ARMAMENTS AND FOR MEN LIKE ALFRED NOBEL WHO INVENTED DYNAMITE AND THEN ENDOWED A PEACE PRIZE TO ATONE FOR IT. NOW IN THE YEAR OF CORPORATE SCANDALS, HERE COME THE CORPORATE SPONSORS OF WAR.

IT'S NOT REAL WAR AND IT'S NOT CONTEMPORARY WAR. IT'S A REENACTMENT OF THE 1862 CIVIL WAR BATTLE OF ANTIETAM WHEN 6,300 SOLDIERS DIED AND 17,000 WERE WOUNDED OR WENT MISSING. AND IT WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THREE MAJOR SPONSORS, A COUPLE OF BANKS AND A CABLE COMPANY, IN ADDITION TO AN INVESTMENT BANK, A FORTUNE 500 ENERGY COMPANY AND PEPSICO. NO LOGOS ALLOWED ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BUT CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE AT A SPONSOR'S TENT NEAR THE ENTRANCE SO THAT YANKEES AND REBELS ON BREAK FROM THE HEAT OF BATTLE CAN HAVE THEIR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS ANALYZED.

JUST AS THE CIVIL WAR WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN EVENT, SO IS THIS SPONSORSHIP. ONE REENACTOR SAID IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR THEM TO MAKE MONEY. ALREADY IN THIS COUNTRY, PARKS AND STADIUMS ARE NAMED FOR WHOEVER CAN PUT UP THE MOST CASH. REMEMBER ENRON FIELD IN HOUSTON? THE TIMING OF THE ANTIETAM EVENT IS SERENDIPITOUSLY UNFORTUNATE, COMING THE SAME WEEK AS THE ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11. THIS WAS ONE YEAR THEY MIGHT HAVE SKIPPED THE REENACTMENT OF THE BLOODIEST DAY IN THE NATION'S HISTORY.

BUT MAKING IT VISIBLY A CORPORATE EVENT SUGGESTS THAT, ONE DAY SOON, SEPTEMBER 11 ANNIVERSARIES MAY BE BROUGHT TO YOU BY MAJOR OIL COMPANIES OR THE NEW YORK TOURISM BOARD. AND WHO'S TO SAY THIS UNDERWRITING WILL STOP WITH REENACTMENTS? WHY NOT UNDERWRITE A REAL WAR? "HUNTING BIN LADEN: BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NESTLE FOODS, GOOD DRIVING AND GOOD EATING", "AMERICA INVADES IRAQ: SPONSORED IN PART BY HALLIBURTON, A LEADER IN OIL FIELD SURFACES. HALLIBURTON. NO MATTER WHAT THE MESS, WE ALWAYS MANAGE TO CLEAN UP. AND NOW BACK TO THE WAR ALREADY IN PROGRESS".

SO THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE ASKS WHAT WAS ONCE MEANT AS THE RHETORICAL QUESTION "IS NOTHING SACRED?", YOU CAN ANSWER PLAINLY, "NO, NOTHING IS."

VAL>> TEENAGE PREGNANCY IS ON THE DECLINE IN AMERICA. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS, DESPITE THE DECLINE, THE U.S. STILL HAS THE HIGHEST TEEN PREGNANCY RATE IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD.

JESS>> THE CHALLENGES OF PARENTHOOD ARE MAGNIFIED WHEN THE MOTHER IS LITTLE MORE THAN A CHILD HERSELF. LAST NIGHT YOU'LL REMEMBER WE MET THREE TEENAGE GIRLS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHO RECENTLY GAVE BIRTH. TONIGHT CHANNEL ONE REPORTER, KRYSTAL GREENE, SHOWS US HOW THEIR CHOICES ARE AFFECTING THEM AND THEIR BABIES.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> EMOTIONALLY, HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW?

SARA>> PRETTY GOOD. I'M READY FOR THIS BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T GET DONE NOW, I'M AFRAID THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO PASS HER ALONG.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> IT HAD BEEN ABOUT SEVEN HOURS SINCE I ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL. SO FAR, SARA WAS DOING OKAY. I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR VALERIE DURING HER LABOR.

VALERIE>> OUCH, OUCH.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> VALERIE WAS IN LABOR FOR OVER SEVENTEEN HOURS BEFORE IT WAS TIME. SHE DIDN'T WANT A CAMERA IN THE ROOM FOR DELIVERY, SO AFTERWARDS SHE TALKED ABOUT BEING A NEW MOM.

VALERIE>> I'M FEELING NERVOUS BECAUSE (LAUGHTER) STAYING UP WITH HER IN THE NIGHT AND JUST HOLDING HER AND JUST HEARING HER CRY.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> BY THE TIME I GOT THE CALL FOR KARINA'S DELIVERY, SHE HAD ALREADY HAD A LITTLE GIRL. SHE NAMED HER AFTER HER MOTHER. WHY DID YOU NAME HER AFTER YOUR MOTHER?

KARINA>> (CRYING) BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME WHEN NOBODY ELSE WAS.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> THE REALIZATION OF HER NEW BABY HAD HIT HER. WHAT HAVE YOU REALIZED?

KARINA>> THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HER FIRST.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> AFTER TWELVE HOURS OF WAITING, IT WAS FINALLY SARA'S TURN. THEY JUST CAME IN AND TOLD US IT'S TIME, SO I'M GOING TO GO SEE SARA, BUT THEY'RE ONLY ALLOWING ONE CAMERA IN. SO IT'S JUST GOING TO BE ME AND MY CAMERA WATCHING THE DELIVERY PROCESS.

>> SHE'S COMING, HONEY.

>> ONE MORE AND YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.

SARA>> HI, BABY.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> LOOKING AT SARA WITH THE BABY, I WONDERED IF SHE WOULD STICK TO HER DECISION TO GIVE IT UP FOR ADOPTION. LATER, I'D FIND OUT.

KARINA'S LITTLE GIRL WAS A MONTH OLD THE NEXT TIME I SAW HER. SO HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

KARINA>> FINE.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> HOW IS IT HAVING TO THINK OF SOMEBODY ELSE FIRST?

KARINA>> WEIRD (LAUGHTER) BECAUSE I ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT MYSELF AND NOW I'M LIKE, OKAY, SHE HAS TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS FIRST.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> KARINA TOLD ME SHE CAN'T AFFORD A BABYSITTER AND IT'S HARD FOR HER TO GO GET A JOB, SO SHE'S DECIDED TO GET ON WELFARE AND, AFTER ALL THIS TIME, SHE STILL HASN'T HEARD FROM THE BABY'S FATHER.

KARINA>> I HAVE TO ACCEPT SHE AIN'T GOING TO HAVE A DAD AROUND.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> VALERIE'S BABY IS NOW ONE MONTH OLD. LIVING AT HOME, SHE HAS CONSTANT HELP FROM HER FAMILY, BUT BEING A NEW MOM IS STILL A CHALLENGE. SO HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN SINCE YOU'VE COME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL?

VALERIE>> THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF UP AND DOWN WITH HER CRYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SHE WAKES UP AROUND ONE AND THEN AGAIN AT 4:30 AND THEN THE LAST TIME AT 7:30, THEN SHE'S UP.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> ARE YOU FEELING HOW HEAVY A RESPONSIBILITY IT IS ALREADY?

VALERIE>> YEAH, I AM.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> WHEN I SAW KARINA TWO MONTHS LATER, SHE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF BALANCING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MOTHERHOOD.

KARINA>> I HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO TO A JOB, BUT I HAD NOBODY TO WATCH HER, SO THAT WENT AWAY (LAUGHTER).

KRYSTAL GREEN>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS YOU HAVE FOR YOURSELF?

KARINA>> WELL, THE MAIN GOAL RIGHT NOW IS JUST TRYING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND FINISH.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> BUT ON MY LAST VISIT THREE MONTHS LATER, SHE STILL HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO ENROLL. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO BY NOW IF SHE WASN'T HERE?

KARINA>> I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FINISHED. YEAH, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FINISHED SCHOOL.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> TODAY KARINA'S BABY IS EIGHT MONTHS OLD. SHE'S STILL NOT IN SCHOOL. NO WORD FROM THE FATHER. RIGHT NOW, VALERIE IS ON INDEPENDENT STUDIES AT HOME.

VALERIE>> I'M NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. I MISS MY FRIENDS AND I MISS BEING IN CHEERLEADING.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE IN TERMS OF WHAT BEING A TEEN MOM IS LIKE?

VALERIE>> BEING A TEEN MOM IS VERY HARD AT TIMES. SOMETIMES YOU JUST GET SO FRUSTRATED, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND SOMETIMES YOU FEEL JUST SO LIKE KIND OF STRESSED SOMETIMES BECAUSE YOUR BABY'S CRYING AND YOU JUST WANT TO RIP YOUR HAIR SOMETIMES.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> VALERIE IS NOW WAITING TO TURN SIXTEEN SO SHE CAN WORK FULL-TIME. SHE STILL HOPES TO BE A CHEERLEADER AGAIN. SOON AFTER THE DELIVERY, SARA STUCK BY HER DECISION. AFTER HOLDING AND FEEDING HER LITTLE GIRL, I WATCHED HER PASS HER BABY TO THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS. WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SAW HER FACE?

MARTHA>> I JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL.

NORM>> IT'S REALLY SOMETHING YOU CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS. I MEAN, IT'S JUST A FEELING THAT JUST OVERWHELMS YOU.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> SARA AND THE BABY'S FATHER, ENRIQUE, TOLD ME THEY'RE HAPPY THE BABY WILL HAVE A BETTER LIFE WITH HER NEW PARENTS.

ENRIQUE>> I'M JUST GLAD TO HAVE A FAMILY LIKE THEM TO TAKE CARE OF MY BABY BECAUSE I CAN'T.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> WHAT KIND OF FAMILY ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO HAVE?

MARTHA>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A COMPLETED FAMILY.

KRYSTAL GREENE>> TODAY, SARA AND ENRIQUE ARE NO LONGER TOGETHER. THE BABY IS NOW THREE MONTHS OLD AND LIVING WITH HER NEW FAMILY.

JESS>> THE CALIFORNIA WELLNESS FOUNDATION HAS A WEBSITE WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON TEEN PREGNANCY. THE ADDRESS IS LETSGETREAL.ORG. INFORMATION IS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

VAL>> AND THANKS AGAIN TO KRYSTAL GREENE AND OUR FRIENDS AT CHANNEL ONE NEWS FOR THEIR COMPELLING WORK. A REMINDER TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF RECENT BROADCASTS. THE ADDRESS IS KCET.ORG.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

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