[Chetry:] Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." Your Fourth of July "Political Ticker," right now. And a new CNN poll of polls showing the race for the White House is tight going into Independence Day. Barack Obama holding a six point lead over John McCain 48 percent to 42 percent. A point higher than his lead was last week. And another White House, Bush White House original on its way out. Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagen told the president he is leaving this month for a job in the private sector. Hagen has been with the president's campaign since the 2000 race. He was a point man during the Florida recount and also worked for the first President Bush. His middle name is even White House.
[Roberts:] White House is warning the terror detainees could be free to walk our streets. Thanks to a recent decision by the Supreme Court. The ruling gave all detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Naval facility the right to petition federal judges for immediate release. White house Press Secretary Dana Perino invoked the accused 911 mastermind to make her point saying, quote, "I'm sure that none of us would want Khalid Sheikh Mohammed walking around our neighborhoods. Analysts say it's unlikely an Appeals Court would actually release the detainee on the U.S. soil. Slowing down to save gas. Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia suggesting that Congress might want to rethink a national speed limit. He says it could force drivers to be more efficient and maybe lead to lower gasoline prices as well. Back in 1974, Congress set a national speed limit of 55 miles an hour because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. After Sammy Hager popularized his song "I Can't Drive 55," Congress was forced to rescind the order in 1995. No, I just made that up. And for more up to the minute political newsticker. Well, some alternate lyrics to the national anthem are creating controversy on this Independence Day. Denver's mayor and others are blasting a jazz singer for her surprise rendition. One sometimes referred to as the black national anthem. CNN's Carol Costello is following the story for us.
[Carol Costello, Cnn Correspondent:] Just before we celebrate the bomb's bursting in air and how our flag was still there Denver City leaders are dealing with star spangled mess.
[Mayor John Hickenlooper , Denver:] The "Star Spangled Banner" in that context is part of our sacred, most beloved traditions.
[Costello:] The mayor after receiving hundreds of outraged phone calls is now condemning jazz singer Rene Marie's version of the "Star Spangled Banner."
[Rene Marie, Sang "alternative" Anthem:] That the dark path has taught us.
[Costello:] Singing at the Denver mayor's state of the city address, she substituted Francis Scott Key's lyrics to lyrics from what some call the black national anthem. A song called "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
[Marie:] I want to express how I feel about living in the United States, as a black woman.
[Costello:] After that hit the air waves, Republican congressman Tom Tancredo wrote an op-ed in Thursday's Denver post, calling on Denver officials to fully condemn, Marie, a woman he says "...is angry at America for its shortcomings. She does not like singing the national anthem because it makes no mention of the suffering of black people." But Marie says she was expressing herself artistically in honor of her parents and their fight against segregation.
[Marie:] They took matters into their own hands, basically. And that's what you have to do.
[Costello:] This isn't the first time an individual's interpretation of our national anthem has sparked controversy. Back in 2006, the Spanish language version of the song was released to support illegal immigrants. It sparked loud protests. And way back in 1969, Jimi Hendrix's screaming guitar version sparked controversy because it seemed an anti-Vietnam war statement. Today Rene Marie's version is giving some ammo to at least one Republican to use against Colorado Democrats. The city will host the Democratic convention in August, and Congressman Tancredo ended his op-ed piece with this. "I suspect that right now the Democrat National Convention is asking how they can work Marie into the program to affirm her right to artistic expression. Go for it, girl." It's pretty safe to say that the city of Denver will not be inviting Marie to sing the national anthem again any time soon. As for Marie, she offers no apologies and no regrets. Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.