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Controversy Surrounds Foley Emails; Bush Defends Hastert; Amish School Shooter Had Troubled Past

Aired October 03, 2006 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Former page. The network has published a partial transcript of the alleged Internet exchange on its Web site. Foley is investigated for allegedly sending sexually charged e-mails and instant messages to teenaged pages.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And speaking up for the speaker, President Bush is defending House Speaker Dennis Hastert even though a conservative newspaper is calling on Hastert to give up his leadership role over the scandal surrounding ex-congressman Mark Foley. The "Washington Times" says Hastert was either grossly negligent or simply ignored inappropriate messages Foley sent to underage pages.

But at a fundraiser today in California, the president says he is confident Hastert can put things right. Hastert is defending himself, as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DENNIS HASTERT, (R) HOUSE SPEAKER: The first I was really aware of this was last Friday when it happened. And all of a sudden, the press came out that said that there were these e-mails that were from 2003, I guess, and Congressman Foley resigned.

That's when I learned of it, at that point. I don't recall Reynolds talking to me about that but if he did, he brought it in with a whole stack of things and I think if he would have had that discussion he would of said it was also resolved because my understanding now that it was resolved at that point. The family had gotten what it wanted to get.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hastert was referring to Congressman Tom Reynolds, also a member of the GOP leadership. Reynolds said he told Hastert what he calls overly friendly e-mails from 2005 but both men insist they were not aware of more explicit messages from 2003.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now we just heard within the last hour the president coming forward out of Stockton, California where he has been raising funds for members of Congress. He finally came forward and commented on what he felt about Mark Foley, the congressman who has resigned over these scandalous e-mails in addition to Dennis Hastert, the speaker, and calls for his resignation.

White House correspondent Elaine Quijano is traveling with the president in California and she brings us more. Elaine?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Kyra. That's right, the president's comments came before those latest revelations by ABC News. But this is coming at a time the White House really had hoped to be drawing distinctions between Republicans and Democrats on the issue of national security.

Instead, what you are seeing now is President Bush having to respond to the news of the day. Here is what President Bush said earlier today here in Stockton, California.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: I was dismayed and shocked to learn about Congressman Foley's unacceptable behavior. I was disgusted by the revelations and disappointed that he would violate the trust of the - of the citizens -- who placed him in office. Families have every right to expect that when they send their children to be a congressional page in Washington that those children will be safe.

We have every right as citizens to expect people who hold pub -- higher office behave responsibly in that office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And that show of support for Denny Hastert significant, especially in the wake of, as you heard a moment ago, that call by "The Washington Times," a conservative newspaper, for Denny Hastert to resign his speakership. Now the president is certainly trying to quell any kind of concerns over the Republican leadership at a critical time, Kyra, we're just five weeks away from congressional midterm elections.

Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, what is the word as you're around other journalists and you're traveling with the camp here, is there a strategizing going on and preparation for how this could continue to get worse?

QUIJANO: You know, it's tough to say, Kyra. Certainly, the question that was asked before the president made his comments is, will he say something? And then the other question is how would he do it? It's an awkward situation certainly for this White House. The president is here to tout the Republican Party. He is speaking at fundraisers, three of them in all today, and the question was really are we going to hear him talk about it.

Well, it's interesting to note, of course, the White House choosing a different setting essentially a stop that was not on the official schedule before the president chose to stop at a school where we should also mention he talked about school violence in the wake of the shootings, not only the one in Pennsylvania, but also Colorado and Wisconsin. So it's been a delicate balancing act but certainly the White House feeling that now is the time, especially with Speaker Hastert, with those calls for him to resign his speakership. The White House feeling this is the time the president had to speak out and say something. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right. Elaine Quijano, thanks so much.

Well, to get your daily dose of the latest political news, you can click on CNN's new political ticker. Just go to cnn.com/ticker.

LEMON: And straight to the newsroom now and Betty Nguyen with details on a developing story for us, Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, Don, let me tell you about this. Another school is under lockdown for many different reasons, though. Let me tell you what is happening at the school in northwest Oklahoma. I want to bring you some pictures as well, some live pictures as well coming out of the area. An elementary school was put into lockdown, that's Apollo (ph) Elementary because kidnapping and rape suspect was spotted nearby.

Now you see these local authorities there on the ground in this -- it appears to be a residential area but what we've been learning from wire reports is that the suspect was spotted nearby in an apartment complex so perhaps that is near the area where you're seeing right now.

But obviously, this person is near schools and for that reason, the Apollo Elementary school is in lockdown. In fact, five other schools were locked down for a brief period of time this afternoon, but they have since been opened. Now, police say the man in question here, Glen Arnett (ph) is not charged with a crime but wanted for questioning in an assault on a woman. So he is a suspected of kidnapping and rape and he is wanted for questioning at this point and so authorities are on the ground and just to take a precaution, elementary school nearby, the Apollo Elementary School is in lockdown at this hour. We will bring you the latest just as soon as we get it, Don.

LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, Betty Nguyen, in the newsroom.

PHILLIPS: A man with a troubled and apparently well-hidden past. That's what state police in Pennsylvania Investigators investigate yesterday's tragedy at an Amish school in Pennsylvania. They say Charles Carl Roberts IV (ph) into the one-room schoolhouse. Today five children are dead. Five more are at area hospitals. All but one in critical condition. Now in notes that he left behind Roberts said that he was angry at God and he alluded to crimes he committed 20 years ago when he was just 12.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. JEFFREY MILLER, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE: His wife didn't know what he was talking about. It wasn't until she spoke to him when he was inside the school before the shooting started that he told her he had molested two minor relatives, 20 years prior, and that was how she put all of that together, but neither his wife or any member of his family we have spoken to has any knowledge of any crime being committed but, again, this gives you a little bit of an insight into what he was thinking of doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Judging by the items that Roberts brought with him to the schoolhouse, investigators believe that he may have intended to molest female victims before killing them and himself. The community plans a prayer vigil this afternoon.

LEMON: And sticking with this tragedy, Jack Meyer knows quite well those involved in this latest tragedy, a member of the Brethren Community who works with and lives near the Amish. Jack Meyer joined us from the site of the shooting a little bit earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACK MEYER, LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: I think that folks, in general, are doing well. I talked with a number of Brethren this morning and I say Brethren, I mean Amish people and the horse and buggy Mennonite men. And the community, as a whole, is very supportive.

Even now, as I'm standing here, I'm watching vanloads of Amish folks come by here and I'm sure they are from far away, coming to be with their family or their loved ones, coming to be with their Brethren who have, you know, suffered such a tremendous loss, such a shock.

LEMON: Did you know any of the folks involved in this, sir?

MEYER: Well, I did not know any of the children personally. I do know some of the people that were affected by it. I have a carriage service business here and one of my driver's niece was the teacher. Another neighbor of ours had a nephew in the school, a young man, and he is, of course, all right. So I know ...

LEMON: Go ahead.

MEYER: Go ahead.

LEMON: Here is what I find interesting about this. It seems that the Amish, this is the very reason they want to be kept separate from the world because of violence, because of situations like this, there is no Internet, there is no electricity, very little use of that at least, no phones.

I would imagine that it's doubly hard in a situation like this, but it appears to us here in the media and the folks at home watching it looks like the people here are coping with this as well as you can cope with it and, today, offering forgiveness, not only for the men but for his family. MEYER: Yes, that's true. You know, in forgiveness, there is healing. There has been -- it's an understatement to say there's been a terrible hurt and so many times, if folks are hurt, they can become angry.

We have a choice. We have a choice to do what Jesus would have done or we might do it some other way. I don't think there's anybody here who wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way, but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts.

LEMON: That was partially my next question, Mr. Meyer. What about Mr. Roberts, the person accused of doing this horrific act? Do you have any contact with this family? I would imagine his family is in this community and people are familiar with him and his family? Do you have any contact with him?

MEYER: Well, I did not personally. Two of my daughters called me when this incident was ongoing and said that they thought they knew who the man was in the schoolhouse, that he was some kind of a hauler and that he had a grudge for a long time.

LEMON: Yeah. Jack Meyer ...

MEYER: So this -- this knowledge, you know, if my daughter has got that knowledge from some of the other ladies in the community, then it must have been a common knowledge.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: One African nation, the world's deadliest conflict in half a century. Anderson Cooper takes us there straight ahead in the newsroom.

LEMON: And drugs, stripping and killing all in a gag video by a school superintendent. Some folks say it's not funny. He says there's something else behind the uproar. Details ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Back now to that hijacked Turkish airliner. The standoff appears to be over. Authorities in Italy where the plane is on the ground says that all 113 people onboard have been released and both suspects are in custody.

We're told the flight was heading from Albania to Istanbul when the pair entered the cockpit. It appears in initial reports, the suspects who are Turkish were protesting a visit by the pope were incorrect. Now, authorities say that -- rather the Italian authorities are saying they are asking for political asylum.

LEMON: Crisis in Congo. After decades of civil war the fighting is over but the suffering goes on. CNN's Anderson Cooper is there tonight for a special AC 360.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: We're here in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo covering a major humanitarian crisis. A crisis which has received virtually no attention from the media over the last several years. For the next three nights on 360 we are going to bring you exclusive reports on the crisis here in the Congo as well as the humanitarian crisis continuing in Darfur and Sudan.

We have reporters in inside Darfur as well as along the border with Chad. Two major humanitarian crises that really have not received the kind of attention that they deserve. You may not realize this, but the largest, the deadliest world in our lifetime since World War II has taken place here in the Congo over the last 10 years. Some three to four million people have died and in many ways their death have gone unnoticed. The fighting has stopped. But the humanitarian crisis continues. Some 1200 people are dying every day from malnutrition and disease. Deaths which could be prevented.

The UN has launched a massive relief effort here. Some 17,000 UN peacekeepers. It's the largest peacekeeping operation in UN history is happening now.

Also happening now, elections. The largest election effort in UN history as well. But the future is very uncertain. The peace here is fragile. And there is so much that needs to be done. There are war lords still with private armies. You're going to meet one of them on 360 tonight, a man who refuses to give up his weapons and join the democratic process, a man whose soldiers are accused of human rights abuses, massive rapes and looting and summary executions of prisoners.

Rape here in the Congo has been one of the most horrific aspects of this civil war. Tens of thousands. Some aide workers say even hundreds of thousands of women's have been brutally raped over the last several years and those rapes continue. There's a lot to talk about. We are going to be covering it for the next three nights on 360.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Anderson Cooper. "Africa's Misery, the World's Shame," CNN's Anderson Cooper is reporting live from Africa all week. Tonight he is in the Congo and he will be joined by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and African correspondent Jeff Koinange for a special report. That is all this week at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

PHILLIPS: Condoleezza Rice in Cairo. The secretary of state is touring the Mid East meeting with allies. At a news conference with Egypt's foreign minister today Rice talked about North Korea. She said a nuclear test by Pyongyang would be in her words very provocative. Rice has also been calling on Palestinians to stop their infighting. She meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tomorrow.

LEMON: The Foley fallout. Will the disgraced former congressman be the only casualty of the page scandal on Capitol Hill? Some conservatives certainly hope not. The latest ahead in the NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Bob Woodward is still boffo (ph) at the bookstore.

LEMON: His "State of Denial" - boffo at the bookstore - his "State of Denial" is already in its third printing. Just days after its first. Well, it just came out yesterday. But other numbers were up for discussion last night with CNN's Larry King to backup his criticism of how the Bush administration has handled the war in Iraq. Woodward pointed to increasing insurgent violence, months after President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB WOODWARD, JOURNALIST: What you also find in the research, at that time, the month before, attacks zoomed up, insurgent attacks on our forces and Iraqis to 1,000 in the month of October, 2003. Now that's 30 attacks a day. That's one an hour.

Now, imagine if there was, in this country, if there were attacks one an hour? What? You would say something is going on and -- the concern should not be what is "The New York Times" going to say? The concern should be how do we deal with this?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, tonight, child safety advocate John Walsh joins Larry to talk about a fallout over former Congressman Mark Foley. CNN's LARRY KING LIVE airs at 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

PHILLIPS: A new survey shows drivers got more relief at the gas pump last week. Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange has all those details. Susan?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra and Don.

It is the eighth week in a row, in fact, of declines. The government report showing the national average for regular unleaded dropping nearly seven cents to $2.31 a gallon over the last week. Lowest level since February. Prices have fallen 70 cents from the high of $3.04 hit in early August and there is more. The government says the national average could fall as low as $2.15 in the next few weeks.

Kyra and Don?

LEMON: Whoa. Why such a big decline?

LISOVICZ: Well, it's something we've been talking about for the past couple of months. Oil prices have been sliding over the past few months, crude has lost more than 20 percent and hitting its peak back in July and cheaper oil translates into cheaper gasoline. Also the peak summer driving season is behind us now and it's turning out, fortunately, to be a relatively mild hurricane season. I don't think I need to remind you guys what happened last year at this time following Katrina and Rita. Kyra and Don?

PHILLIPS: And the automakers out with their September sales numbers, right? Are all of those falling gas prices helping at all?

LISOVICZ: Not much. Not yet. Kyra. GM and Chrysler both saw sales fall last month, although GM did report an improvement in truck sales which is a very lucrative part with GM. It's also cutting its North American target production again. Ford, however, posted a modest rise in sales last month, five percent. That is its first monthly rise since January. Strong demand for the Mustang and its new mid-sized cars such as the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan made the difference.

Remember, trucks big, big emphasis there on Ford and that is really what has been hurting them but the real strain came from overseas again. Toyota trouncing the big three posting a 25 percent jump in monthly sales.

As for the markets, well, we're seeing gains. Not 25 percent gains today. But another big drop in oil prices helping today's rally. Crude settled below $59 a barrel. Down about $19 from the all-time highs we saw this summer. The Dow hit a new inter-day record as long as it closes above 11722, we'll have new time closing high for the blue chips.

Take a look at the big board. Dow right now up 76 points, or about 2/3 of apercent, the NASDAQ up a half a percent. That is the latest from Wall Street. More NEWSROOM in a moment. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Possible motive for the inexplicable tragedy at an Amish schoolhouse.

PHILLIPS: Pennsylvania State Police say the man responsible had a troubled past, a past that was a mystery even to those closest to him. CNN's Jason Carroll is on the scene in Lancaster County.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, police described Charles Roberts as a deeply disturbed man, a man who wasn't necessarily targeting the Amish but he was targeting young girls.

(voice-over): They also described him as a man who had a plan, one that he wanted to carry out with precision. They were particularly interested in two notes that he left behind, a suicide note that left to his wife as well as a checklist that they found in his pickup truck.

First, the suicide note police actually held up a copy of it during a press conference. In that note there was a reference to something that had happened early on in his life. That was the death of a premature baby daughter that Roberts and his wife had nine years ago. That baby girl, Elise (ph), died just 20 minutes after birth and his wife said he never got over it.

Well, he mentioned that in this rambling suicide note that police said that he left that for his wife. He said that he was angry with God, but he also said that he was angry with himself and that is in reference to a conversation that Roberts had with his wife the day of the shooting, just before the shooting, he admitted to her 20 years ago that he had molested some of his relatives. They were children between the ages of three and five. That was the first his wife had heard about it. In the suicide note that he left behind, he said that he had a desire to do it again.

MILLER: Roberts mentioned suicide -- in his suicide note that he was having dreams of molesting again. Some of the motives are reasons, again, we cannot tell with any degree of like a 100 percent certainty what he was thinking but we're trying to piece together from the information he left behind and the evidence we gathered a better picture of what was going through his mind.

CARROLL: Inside the one-room schoolhouse police also recovered some evidence that seem to suggest that Roberts had intended to molest some of his victims. They also found a checklist inside his pickup truck. That checklist included some of the things he had purchased just a few days ago, hardware like nails and chains, ammunition. He had 600 rounds of ammunition, as well as firearms.

Police say all this seeming to indicate that Roberts had intended to keep his victims for some time before he got caught. Jason Carroll, CNN, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And straight to the newsroom now and Betty Nguyen with details on a developing story. Betty?

NGUYEN: In fact it is the story that you and Kyra followed last week. It's a sad ending to tell you about. Want to take you to some video from Lakeland, Florida. This is between Tampa and Orlando. Look at the thousands who have gathered here. Let me tell you why. They gathered to bury Polk County sheriff's deputy Vernon Matt Williams (ph) and his dog. They were shot last week by a man after a routine traffic

A SWAT team killed the suspect after intensive manhunt, as you recall. But just to show you -- aside from these pictures, these live pictures that you see right now, why this deputy is so loved.

Deputy Mike Evans, who is a friend of Williams, the man who is being buried today, told reporters that Polk County has not only lost probably one of the greatest canine handlers deputy sheriffs that's ever been here, but that the Williams' family has lost a wonderful father, a wonderful husband, a wonderful son, and we all have lost a wonderful friend. He was a hero. He lived as a hero and he died as a hero. And today, he is being sent off as a hero.

As you saw in that video a little bit earlier, Don, thousands have come out to say their good-byes to the Sheriff's Deputy Vernon "Matt" Williams, who died courageously last week after a routine traffic stop. He was called in after a man was stopped on the side of the road and things were a little suspicious, so Deputy Williams was called in with his canine to try to find this man, who fled.

Well, that man shot the deputy and his dog, killed them both, and as a result of that, a SWAT team eventually killed the suspect. So that is the latest sad ending to a chapter here.

LEMON: It certainly is, Betty. Can we put those live pictures back up? Because we want to remind people that officers certainly put their lives on the line.

Betty, thank you.

They put their lives on the line every day, and they certainly deserve to be honored. This man was in the line of duty, as we were reporting last week.

PHILLIPS: He had no idea what he was up against. The guy was speeding, they pulled him over, the next thing you know he was in a chase with the suspect, and shot dead.

LEMON: And Kyra and I are both sitting here, saying, you know, it seems like we were just covering this. And now they are laying this sheriff's deputy to rest. So, an honor for him, and we certainly hope his family and all of the officers there in Lakeland, Florida are OK and our prayers certainly with them.

PHILLIPS: Well, now new and even more shocking allegations against ex-Congressman Mark Foley. According to "ABC News", Foley once interrupted a House floor vote in 2003 so he could take part in cybersex with a high school aged former page. The network has published a partial transcript of the alleged Internet exchange on its website. And Foley is being investigated now for allegedly sending sexually charged e-mails and instant messages to teenaged pages.

LEMON: Well, there have been plenty of attacks on Mark Foley from his former colleagues in Congress. Now President Bush has chimed in against the ex-congressman accused of sending sexually charged e- mails to teen aged pages. The president didn't hold back today when he visited a California elementary school named after him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We also had a reminder of the need for people in positions of responsibility to uphold that responsibility when it comes to children.

In the case of Congressman Mark Foley, I was dismayed and shocked to learn about Congressman Foley's unacceptable behavior. I was disgusted by the revelations and disappointed that he would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: President Bush also gave a boost to House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Hastert has been criticized for not taking action against Foley earlier. He spoke up for Hastert's leadership. He also said, quote, "Hastert cares about all the children of this country".

PHILLIPS: Now adding to the shock value of the Foley scandal is the former Congressman's role in crafting laws to protect children, especially online.

CNN's Brian Todd has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In those first hours after Mark Foley's resignation from Congress, crucial decisions had to be made. Members of Congress, organizations associated with him, had to figure out what to say.

One is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that had worked with Foley on child predator legislation. Friday night, the Center issues this statement: "Congressman Mark Foley's resignation is a great loss to Florida and the nation. He has been a hard-working, dedicated and effective congressman. He will be missed."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When additional details became available and we discovered that there was much more than we thought, we generated an update of that statement.

TODD: The next day, a much more toughly worded statement, calling reports on Foley deeply troubling and, "if it is determined that he has engaged in acts which have harmed children or put them in jeopardy, like any other person, he must be held accountable. If he has violated the law, he should be prosecuted."

But another well-known children's advocate is outraged by the first statement.

MARC KLAAS, BEYONDMISSING.COM: This guy resigns because of inappropriate Internet communications with young boys and they don't even see that?

TODD: Marc Klaas, who has led campaigns against child predators since his daughter was abducted and murdered in 1993, accuses the National Center being too close with Congress and, in particular, Mark Foley.

KLAAS: He had an extremely cozy relationship with Ernie Allen and with the National Children for Missing and Exploited Children.

TODD: Foley did have a history with the group. He had worked with the Center to produce sweeping legislation last summer to shield children from predators.

This picture, from the signing ceremony last summer. President Bush shaking Foley's hand with John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted" beside them. Walsh is a co-founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But on Klaas' charge of a cozy relationship:

ERNIE ALLEN, NATL. CTR. FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN: We worked with Democrats and Republicans. We worked with the House and the Senate. And that has always been our approach and will continue to be.

TODD: But when a parent, someone who goes to your website, who looks to your group for guidance, sees the first statement and says, wow, that's really -- what is going on here? How would you respond to that person?

ALLEN: I think what parents need to understand is that the statement reflected the facts, as we knew them at the time. And when the facts changed, we changed the statement.

TODD: One important note, Marc Klaas and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have had several long-standing disputes over how best to serve children at risk. Also, for transparency, last year CNN partnered with National Center to run pictures and information about the children missing from Hurricane Katrina.

Bryan Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And Brian Todd is part of the team covering the world for the "SITUATION ROOM". Just join Wolf Blitzer weekdays, 4:00 Eastern and again, primetime, 7:00.

LEMON: Drugs, stripping and killing all in a gag video by a school superintendent.

PHILLIPS: Now some folks say it's not funny. He says, hey, there is something else behind the uproar. We'll have the details from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, if you have to explain a joke, usually it's not funny, and, even if it is, it may not always be good for your career. Case in point, a school superintendent in suburban Chicago edited gag questions into videotaped interviews with new faculty members. Today, not everybody's laughing.

Reporter Darlene Hill of CNN affiliate WFLD has that story for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE).

DARLENE HILL, WFLD REPORTER (voice-over): This video was supposed to make administrators, staff members and new teachers in Berman High School (ph) District 228 laugh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What were the results of the last drug test you took? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Carol (ph), I was told you were arrested before.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's the rumor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twice, was it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All of the time.

HILL: Richard Mitchell is the superintendent. He made this using actual interviews from new teachers. Well, Mitchell edited in the fake funny questions and showed the clip at teacher's orientation. Then he put it on the school's Web site. Well, now the school board president is questioning his judgment and his position.

EVELYN GLEASON, SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT: The context of those videos do not send the message that we want to send what we stand for, what we do.

JAMES MADIGAN, MITCHELL'S ATTORNEY: The only reason it went up on the Web site was because teachers who enjoyed it so much couldn't hear in the back of the auditorium and asked him to make it available because they thought it was so funny.

HILL: Dr. Mitchell's attorney says his client is being forced out not because of a bad joke or one in poor taste but because Dr. Mitchell is gay, and like his personality, he's very open and comfortable about his sexuality.

The attorney says he's informed the board that Mitchell is ready to file a lawsuit against the board and his president, claiming that some have harassed him.

MADIGAN: I don't work for the school district, but I do know this. No teacher has complained to the teachers union and the video was shown over a month ago. So I find it hard to believe that the board had any real issue with it.

HILL: Board members are expected to take up this issue of Mitchell's future Tuesday night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: So the saga continues. Thanks again to Darlene Hill of CNN affiliate WFLD for that report. The Associated Press reports Mitchell already had a lawsuit pending against the school board regarding the length of his contract.

PHILLIPS: Well, a personal crisis lived out on public stage. Elizabeth Edwards in the midst of the 2004 presidential campaign when she found a lump in her breast. And at first, she even didn't tell her husband John, the Democratic nominee for vice president.

Well, this morning, she spoke with our Soledad O'Brien about her new book, "Saving Graces," where she writes about her cancer and how the death of her teenage son in 1996, that car wreck, well, it helped her get through it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF JOHN EDWARDS: This is after I found out that I had cancer. I said, "I really was at peace about the disease. I sometimes talked about strange gift that comes with the awful tragedy of losing a child. I had already been through the worst, I believed. We all had. And I had the gift of knowing that nothing will ever be as bad as that. The worst day of my life had already come. And I knew, too, that I had a chance to beat this, a chance my son never had, a chance we never had to save him."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, you can start your morning off right with Soledad and Miles on AMERICAN MORNING, weekdays at 6:00 Eastern.

It wasn't me, it was the booze or the pills.

LEMON: Or some other addiction or affliction that can mitigate the blame for a scandalous offense. Mark Foley says he's an alcoholic and he is mentally ill. And while friends and family say the drinking issue is news to them, there's no doubt rehab is a tried and true exit strategy when the world is closing in.

Here's CNN's Randy Kaye.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've seen this cycle before, long before former Congressman Mark Foley. Well-known politician or big name celebrity messes up, blames alcohol or drug addiction, then runs for cover in rehab.

MICHAEL LEVINE, HOLLYWOOD & MEDIA EXPERT: I do think it's really kind of part of a cultural trend in which celebrities of all shapes, colors, sizes are using addiction and rehab as a kind of inoculation against further crisis.

KAYE: After being accused of sending salacious messages to male congressional pages as young as 16, Foley blamed alcohol.

JOSEPH CALIFANO, NATIONAL CENTER ON ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE: I don't think you can blame it solely on alcohol. I think, obviously, there was some pedophilia element in this guy's personality. There was some homosexual element in this guy's personality.

What the alcohol can do is just release that, and so he would write things he might not otherwise write if he hadn't had a couple of drinks.

KAYE: But many wonder if rehabilitation is becoming a get out of jail free card. (on camera): Doesn't this in a way by saying, wait, blame the alcohol or the drugs, doesn't it basically wipe the slate clean?

LEVINE: I think it certainly softens the intensity of the sin or the transgression.

KAYE (voice-over): Of which, there have been plenty. After crashing his car in the nation's capitol, Representative Patrick Kennedy went public with his addiction.

REP. PATRICK KENNEDY (D), RHODE ISLAND: I simply do not remember getting out of bed, being pulled over by the police or being cited for three driving infractions.

KAYE: Kennedy got treatment for prescription pain medication. Mel Gibson blamed alcohol after getting caught drunk driving and firing off religious slurs. He pleaded no contest and promised to get help. Conservative Commentator Rush Limbaugh traded jail time for treatment of his addiction to painkillers after he was charged with prescription fraud.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Over the past several years I have tried to break my dependence on pain pills, and in fact I've twice checked myself into medical facilities in an attempt to do so.

LEVINE: The only good defense is an offense. And the only good offense is relentless. And you must go on the offense quickly.

KAYE: It was lightning fast in the case of Representative Bob Ney from Ohio, who entered rehab for alcohol addiction while facing federal charges for his dealings with corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Alcohol expert Joseph Califano says trading jail for rehab, even if it is a P.R. tactic, may actually help kick the habit.

CALIFANO: Somebody that's hooked needs every carrot and stick you can bring to bear to get them off the stuff.

KAYE (on camera): And don't think rehabilitation is a career killer. Not long ago, Model Kate Moss's cocaine addiction was made public. Major brands dropped her. But after an apology and some rehab, top names are wooing her again. And the strategy seems to have worked. Her earnings are expected to double what they were before the scandal.

Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And of course, you can catch more of Randi Kaye's reports on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." "A.C. 360" airs weeknights at 10:00 Eastern only here on CNN.

PHILLIPS: Well, severe weather watch in parts of the U.S. Jacqui Jeras tracking all the bad weather for us.

LEMON: She joins us live in the NEWSROOM next. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Cleaning up in Chicagoland. Severe storms overnight brought heavy rain, up to four inches in some of those places. Standing water forced detours and delays for morning commuters. Winds as strong as 65 miles an hour toppled trees, power lines and for a while as many 300,000 people had lost electricity.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: And when weather becomes the news, you can become a CNN correspondent. If you see severe weather happening, send us an I- Report. Of course, we want you to be careful and please stay out of harm's way. Go to CNN.com and click on "I-Report" or type in ireport@CNN.com on your cell phone and share your pictures or your videos.

PHILLIPS: Well, a plea for leniency, then an official surrender. Army Specialist Darrell Anderson spoke briefly with reporters before turning himself in at Fort Knox to face a desertion charge. Anderson went AWOL last year, fleeing to Canada rather than facing a second tour of duty in Iraq. He says he believes the war is illegal and that by resisting orders to return, he made up for the sins that he says he committed in that war.

LEMON: So, did you hear about the Dow today?

PHILLIPS: Only because Susan Lisovicz has been talking about it every single second, all throughout the day. A record high, folks, is broken. Ali Velshi now is going to step in and talk about the closing bell and a wrap of the action on Wall Street. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BERAK)

LEMON: Whoa! Talking about rolling thunder, huh?

PHILLIPS: What song do we cue here? "Buffalo Soldier"?

LEMON: Around the outside.

PHILLIPS: Around the outside. Hey, Otis!

You are looking at more than a thousand buffalo that make Country State Park (ph) in South Dakota their home on the range. They rumbled across the prairie yesterday in the 41st buffalo Roundup. The biggest crowd ever, more than 11,000 people, watched -- watched, ate. There was also a buffalo barbecue.

LEMON: And ate.

PHILLIPS: Sorry, folks. The roundup is the first step in getting those buffalo ready for auction next month. Have you ever had buffalo burgers?

LEMON: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Kind of tasty.

LEMON: Very good.

PHILLIPS: Ted Turner, that's his thing.

LEMON: Yummy, yummy.

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