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Fred Thompson Launches Presidential Campaign; Luciano Pavarotti Remembered; Search Continues For Steve Fossett

Aired September 06, 2007 - 15:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: If the 2008 presidential race were a movie, well, we would be well into the second reel. Now that Fred Thompson's made his entrance, the question becomes, will he be the leading man? We will drop in on Thompson's first real campaign speech moments from now in Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI, OPERA SINGER (through translator): I dreamed to become a singer when I was 4 and I hear my father on the church singing with a beautiful tenor voice. And I say to myself, well, let's try to do something.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Whether it was opera for the purists, pop duet for charity or R&B for fun, nobody did it like Pavarotti. This hour, we remember the maestro with Three Mo' Tenors live from New York.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Live pictures now from Italy. You can see all the camera clicks there. That is the coffin behind all of those folks, as we listen the applause there of famed tenor Luciano Pavarotti. His body has arrived there.

And we're just going to listen in to the applause for a little bit.

(APPLAUSE)

LEMON: Someone who has received many, many, numerous applause in his life, Luciano Pavarotti, obviously loved by the people of Italy and loved, beloved by the world.

You can see that hearse there, his coffin inside of that hearse.

Here is what is going to happen. They're going to finish up the arrangements some time today and then unveil them on Friday. But the main service at the Modena Cathedral there will be held on Saturday, and that's according to the city's mayor.

This is Luciano Pavarotti's hometown. Just a short while ago, we spoke with Aretha Franklin, who as many of you may remember, had to fill in for Luciano Pavarotti at the 1998 Grammy Awards after he became sick. She said they were friendly before that, but became even better friends after this.

She as well as everyone we have been speaking to today and hearing from today, they have been talking about the legacy that this man will leave when it comes to music, how he took opera to a new level, to coin a phrase. It went across all lines, from pop music to soul music, R&B, and just across over every realm.

We're going to speak with a group that he inspired, three young men, actually six young men, but they trade off, three young men called Three Mo' Tenors. We are going to speak to them about how he influenced them later on in the CNN NEWSROOM. We will continue to follow this.

We want to get you now live to an event in Des Moines, Iowa, Fred Thompson just throwing his hat into a ring last night, Jay Leno, "The Tonight Show," saying he is going to run for president, finally.

Our chief national correspondent, John King is tracking the Thompson kickoff tour for us this hour. He's in Des Moines, Iowa, with the very latest.

Has he taken to the stage yet, John?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're just a few minutes away from that Don -- the pregame, you might say, pregame show under way right now, an introduction of Fred Thompson, a gentleman supporting him here in Iowa going through his biography up on stage. Then there will be a campaign video, we are told.

But then the senator himself, in his first speech, his first rally, as a declared candidate for the president of the United States. Many saying, is Fred Thompson too late to get into this race? He of course is seeking the Republican nomination. Eight other Republican hopefuls have been at this for months. They debating last night, many of them goading Senator Thompson, saying, where are you, Fred? If you are in the race, why don't you debate with us?

But he wants to keep the spotlight to himself for a few days as he gets into the race here in Iowa.

I tell you, Don, there are a number of concerns about, can he pull this off this late? Can he line up the activists, especially in a state like Iowa. It has a caucus system. You need all that grassroots support.

A modest crowd here today for this kickoff. That will fuel the concerns and the skepticism of many of his rivals that Thompson is getting in too late. But he believes there is plenty of time as long as he gets out of the box strongly to line up his support in the four months between now and the first contest.

And his message essentially will be that, I am the complete package as a conservative, keep taxes low, fight the war on terror, be tough on immigration, anti-abortion, and conservative on the social issues. Fred Thompson's message is that he is the right conservative. And his message also will be, Don, that he can win in November 2008 at a time when many Republicans are very worried because the odds now favor the Democrats, after eight years of a Republican president and a campaign that will be held in the middle of a very unpopular war.

So, we're just a few minutes away from the first official rally of the Thompson campaign.

LEMON: CNN's John King joining us from Des Moines, Iowa -- John King part of the best political team on television.

Thank you very much for that, John.

The search for aviation pioneer Steve Fossett grows in size and also in scope. Dozens of aircraft, along with hundreds of rescuers and volunteers, are now involved in this, focusing on 10,000 square miles in western Nevada. Fossett hasn't been seen or heard from in more than three days.

Our Kara Finnstrom joined the searchers. She's been with the searchers in Minden and she joins us now with the very latest.

What's their feeling?

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now search teams are asking everyone to have patience. They say this is a huge search- and-rescue operation, and, they say, it could be a couple of weeks before they know what happened to Steve Fossett and his plane.

What they did earlier this afternoon was they revised their original search area. Originally they had said it would be 600 square miles. Now they say it's more like 10,000 square miles. They say that was due simply to a miscalculation originally.

If you take a look behind me, you can see this is some very rugged terrain that they are searching through, big mountain peaks. They also have sagebrush deserts, lots of trees. So a very painstaking and slow process, and they are asking everyone to have patience.

Right now they have up helicopters and planes that are equipped with some thermal imaging, also some infrared imaging and some very high-tech computer programs that they are hoping will help them. And because there is very low wind today, this is good news, those planes can really get down low, and they are hoping they will make some headway in the search effort.

They also have crews on the ground and they even have an underwater vehicle that is searching a nearby lake. So, they say they are really trying to do everything they can to try to try and find Steve Fossett as soon as they can.

And those who know Steve Fossett say he is the ultimate survivor. He's a balloonist. He's a sailor. He's a pilot who holds more than 116 distance and long-distance and speed records. So, they say he is the ultimate survivor.

And a little bit earlier today, some of these search-and-rescue teams agreed with them that he could have survived this, if he survived any type of initial crash. They say there is precedent in past crashes and rescue efforts.

And here's what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJOR CYNTHIA RYAN, CIVIL AIR PATROL: ... a search in Louisiana a couple of years ago, where I think it was three days into the search, they finally found the target and the pilot was still hanging upside down in his harness, in a tree, quite alive.

So, you know, barring some sort of catastrophic landing, this is entirely survivable. And you have got a guy out there who has all the skills necessary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FINNSTROM: One troubling sign, no signs picked up from any of the location devices on the plane or on Fossett's wristwatch. Time is of the essence now. So, they are hoping they will have some luck today -- Don.

LEMON: CNN's Kara Finnstrom -- thank you for that report, Kara.

Also, a desperate search is under way along Nicaragua's Caribbean coast. That's where Hurricane Felix slammed ashore Tuesday, blowing away villages, flooding rivers, killing at least 48 people. Dozens more are missing.

And what's left of that Category 5 storm is still dumping rain on neighboring Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Mopping up after Henriette. The onetime hurricane is now a tropical depression after plowing into Mexico twice. First Baja California, on Tuesday, flooding seaside communities and killing at least nine people. It hit again near the port city of Guaymas yesterday. Well, today, it's dumping rain on Arizona and New Mexico.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

LEMON: We want to get our viewers back now to Des Moines, Iowa, Fred Thompson throwing his hat into the ring last night, giving his first official speech as a presidential candidate.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

FRED THOMPSON, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to tell you how special this day is for us, special for me, special for my family.

This is the first event of the first day of our campaign for the presidency of the United States. How special does that get?

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) THOMPSON: And it is so appropriate that we are right here, because, in case some person somewhere in the United States of America does not know this, it all begins in Iowa, and that's where we wanted to be today.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

THOMPSON: My friends, I'm not here today because I have had a lifelong ambition to hold the office of the presidency, nor do I think that I have all the answers for the problems that face this country. I don't think any person does.

But I am a man who loves his country, who is concerned about her future, and knows that, in the next years, it's going to require strong leadership. Decisions are going to be made on this next president's watch that's going to determine the course of our country for many years to come.

And I am determined that we make the decisions that will leave us a stronger nation, a more prosperous nation, and a more united nation. And that's why I'm running for the presidency of the United States.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

THOMPSON: This whole process for us started around our kitchen table just a few months ago.

Now we got a lot of process talk about, oh, you can't run for president of the United States unless you, you know, run for years, unless you raise, I think some of the pundits said $100 million this calendar year -- no possibility of that.

But, the more we looked at it, the more I thought that something special was going on in this country. The more I looked around my house, the more it occurred to me what kind of world these kids are going to grow up in. These kids are my grandkids. What kind of country are they going to have when they get a little older?

And then I thought, how often does a man have a chance to do something about that? So, we tested the waters, just like we said. We went out to make sure what I was feeling was actually there. And I think it is, my friends.

I think that the American people have opened up a door of opportunity. There have been doors, as you can see from my background, all along my way, because I was so fortunate to have a wonderful family, wonderful parents, and wonderful people who oftentimes saw more in me than I saw in myself all along my way.

And those doors occasionally would open up, and, occasionally, I would walk through one, because it was a challenge, sometimes a personal one, sometimes one for my state, sometimes one for my country.

I feel this is another door to serve the country that I love. So, the preseason is over. Let's get on with it. LEMON: All right.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

THOMPSON: Thank you.

LEMON: Fred Thompson, actor, that is his first official speech as a presidential candidate.

And he says it all begins in Iowa. He said it was not his lifelong ambition to want to be president. But he was concerned, concerned about what kind of world his grandkids would grow up in, what kind of country. And he said, how often do you have a chance to do something about it? So, he is choosing to do something about that.

Earlier, we asked you about GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson's first movie role. Well, it was in 1985. It was called "Marie," a movie based on a real-life case in Tennessee, in which Thompson, a defense attorney, played himself.

Want to get you back live now to Modena, Italy. That's where Luciano Pavarotti body is being prepared for a final funeral to happen on Saturday. Just moments ago, we saw the body inside the hearse, the coffin inside the hearse, arrive at Modena Cathedral. Again, that funeral service will be held on Saturday. And, of course, we will have complete coverage right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We're paying tribute today to the life and legacy of Luciano Pavarotti right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Eighteen past the hour. Three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

The increasingly desperate search for Steve Fossett is now in its third day. Rescue crews say they're following every lead. The millionaire adventurer was last seen Monday at a Nevada airstrip when his single-engine plane took off for what was supposed to be a short flight.

The opera world is mourning its biggest superstar. Acclaimed tenor Luciano Pavarotti is dead at 71, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

And look at this. A tanker-trailer crashed into a house in Jonesville, South Carolina. Reports say no one is hurt -- or one man is hurt, I should say.

Well, I guess he missed that funeral for the N-Word. Comic Eddie Griffin runs afoul of his Miami audience and some prominent black leaders. We will get Roland Martin's take it on straight ahead right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: All right. The N-word, it's a racial slur that has long been out of bounds for most White House entertainers. Now African- American performers are under pressure to stop using it, too.

Comedian Eddie Griffin was forced to leave the stage after using the word at a Miami performance sponsored by "Black Enterprise" magazine. Is this the start of a trend?

Well, joining us to talk about it, CNN contributor Roland Martin, a syndicated columnist and the author of "Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America."

Speak, brother, on this. Before you speak, I want to tell you, though, you are in that Texas A&M shirt because you were speaking at your alma mater. And you couldn't get to...

(LAUGHTER)

ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, actually, I was speaking at the University of North Texas.

LEMON: OK.

MARTIN: But I wanted to show some Texas love to them.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: All right.

So, speak, brother. What do you think of this whole thing?

MARTIN: Well, I think, first off, Earl Graves and "Black Enterprise," they were correct in saying, look, you can't talk this way in front of our audience, because we have a standard we're going to uphold.

LEMON: But don't you know what you're getting when you get Eddie Griffin?

MARTIN: Well, actually, and you're absolutely right. And that was the point that I made on my blog on Essence.com.

And, when you get Eddie Griffin, you're hiring Eddie Griffin. Don, before we came on the air, I called Butch Graves, the son of Earl Graves -- and Butch is now really the CEO of "Black Enterprise." And what he said was, he said, look, we're culpable in the fact that, yes, you take a chance when you are hiring Eddie Griffin.

But what Butch also was is that Eddie Griffin sent them a clean version of his act. They put it in the contract what they expected in terms of language. He said prior to going on the "Black Enterprise" folks, as well as Eddie Griffin's manager, as well as the sponsor, talked to Eddie and said, this is what we also expect.

And what he said was, he came out -- he said, well, I'm not going to call you guys the N-word. I'm just going to call you M.F.s. And, so, he just unleashed a torrent of M.F.s to the audience.

And Butch said, it got so overbearing, they said, look, this makes no sense. So, "Black Enterprise" has taken responsibility for bringing him in, knowing full well this could have happened. But they made it clear that it was...

LEMON: In the contract.

MARTIN: ... in the contract that this would not happen, and he would perform a clean version of his show.

LEMON: So, as we say here in the NEWSROOM, his script, and what he was going to say, were vetted by the folks at "Black Enterprise." And they said, OK, we're fine with this, because as we said, as I said to you when we first started, you know what you're going to get when you get Eddie Griffin.

You know, everybody has seen "Undercover Brother." He makes fun, black humor, black exploitation. I would imagine this is an embarrassing moment, 1,000 people in the audience, Roland, and I would imagine sponsors, as well as white Americans. This must have been a very embarrassing moment for Butch Graves -- for Earl Graves.

(CROSSTALK)

MARTIN: Well, I think you have got to understand that this was the creme de la creme of African-Americans in corporate America.

The "Black Enterprise" Golf and Tennis Challenge, this was the 14th year, I believe, they have held it, and so this is a major event. And, so, you're absolutely right. And, so, I think, from their standpoint, it was embarrassing, but also I think from Eddie Griffin's standpoint, because, again, for you to sit here and be told, this is what we expect and we're paying you for this, and then you go the opposite, come on.

Now, look, Eddie Griffin has done some amazing things. Very recently, he took a number of HBCU graduates to Jamaica, all expenses paid. So, he's done some great things with his foundation.

But the times have changed.

LEMON: Yes.

MARTIN: African-Americans are saying, no longer are we going to tolerate the use of the N-word and the kind of coarse language. And, so, what this says is, from "Black Enterprise"'s standpoint is, we're going to use our power and hold you accountable.

And I think who it's going to help, Don, it's going to help people like Rickey Smiley, Jonathan Slocumb, Sinbad, and other clean comedians who frankly are putting on family-friendly shows that are more appealing and engaging to the audience.

LEMON: Not necessarily, though, getting all the pub that people who use these words and who are a little bit more provocative get. MARTIN: No, of course not.

LEMON: All the publicity and really all the bookings and engagements.

And I want to say, Roland, we have not gotten a response from Mr. Griffin. We tried. He was -- his spokesperson would not give us a response. Apparently, right now, he's not commenting on it. But we certainly want to extend him the information -- the invitation, I should say, to come here.

(CROSSTALK)

MARTIN: Don, he should. He should.

First of all, Eddie Griffin is making a huge mistake by not speaking out.

LEMON: Right.

MARTIN: Because, again, his name is being dragged through the mud. But he has to own up to it. That's why I called Butch Graves directly and said, hey, Butch, I'm going to CNN. I really want to get you guys' perspective as to exactly what happened here, because, again, initially, I made the point that, wait a minute, you hired Eddie.

LEMON: Right.

MARTIN: If you didn't put it in his contract, if you didn't tell him, hey, it is going to be Eddie.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Right. Then what's the problem?

Real quick, because, you know, Roland, we're running out of time. You do the same thing that I do here.

What does this mean, though? People are going to say, he's an artist. Artists should be given this poetic license to be able to say things like that and to challenge people. What does this say for what's happening now with the N-word, with rap music, with all of these people who are burying the N-word and saying, you know what, we don't want to hear it anymore?

MARTIN: What it says is people are not going to tolerate it anymore. And they are going to exercise their power. You're right. You can say whatever you want to say, but if it's my event and I'm paying you, you know, I control this.

It's no different than if I threw a party, Don, for my nieces and my nephews and I hire a deejay. He might play some music I disagree with. The onus is on me to say, no, take that out of your rotation. You can play it elsewhere, but you're not going to play it here.

LEMON: Right.

MARTIN: That's what you're saying. And I think you are going to see more people say, we have control of the environment. Do what you say, or take your act somewhere else.

LEMON: "Speak, Brother!" -- Roland Martin.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

MARTIN: Go ahead and sell some books, Don.

LEMON: "A Black Man's View of America," and a CNN contributor.

Thank you so much. And, also, a Texas Aggie, class of 1991.

MARTIN: Whoo!

LEMON: Didn't know you were that old, man.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: All right, see you. Peace. Thank you.

MARTIN: Thanks a lot.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

LEMON: And, speaking of that, the world has lost a legend, but Luciano Pavarotti's spirit will live on, thanks to people like these men, Three Mo' Tenors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(THREE MO' TENORS SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

A legendary voice is silenced, but his influence will live on through the voices of others, including a trio that goes by the name Three Mo' Tenors. They'll join to us sing the praises of Luciano Pavarotti right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

But first this half hour, the longer Steve Fossett is missing, the greater the concern. The 63-year-old aviation pioneer hasn't been seen or heard from since Monday morning, when he took off from an airstrip in Western Nevada.

Now, he didn't file a flight plan, but going by the amount of fuel in his plane, the Civil Air Patrol is searching a 10,000 square mile area. That's about one tenth of the state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. CYNTHIA RYAN, CIVIL AIR PATROL: Searches of this nature very typically can go on for as long as two weeks, and longer. So four days into it, we're still scratching the surface, trying to raise that cumulative probability of detection that I told you about before -- requiring successive passes over an area under different lighting and meteorological conditions so that we can truly rule that area out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The search is being done by air and by ground during the day and, also, now at night.

They're both in Australia. The Asia-Pacific Conference hasn't started yet, so why not talk? Well, President Bush sat down today with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Our White House correspondent Elaine Quijano has a report from Sydney.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Bush calls the U.S./China relationship complex, and for 90 minutes today he and China's President Hu Jintao had the chance to discuss those complex relations. Afterwards, the two leaders said they discussed a variety of topics, including Iran, climate change and religious freedom.

And against the backdrop of product recalls and consumers concerns in the United States, President Bush said the two also discussed product safety.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The president was quite articulate about product safety and I appreciated his comments.

QUIJANO: Also on the agenda, increasing communication on military matters, including a possible future hotline between the two country's armed services. Bush aides hope an announcement on that will come soon.

The president also accepted an invitation from the Chinese premier to attend next year's Olympics, taking place in China. Bush aides say the president will attend as a sports fan and not to make a political statement.

Meantime, tomorrow, President Bush will make remarks before Asian and Pacific leaders attending the economic summit before sitting down for meetings with the presidents of Russia and South Korea.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, Sydney, Australia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Well, the man on the right of your screen -- he is a German police officer. The man on the left -- he's one of three terror suspects now in custody believed to have been planning a major terror attack against American people and facilities overseas. Also picked up, explosives and detonators -- the kind used by the military.

Today German police say they're tracking 10 other suspects connected to these three. They've been watching the group for months now.

An update now on the discovery of a suspicious chemical at a U.N. office last month.

Remember this scene?

Commotion in Manhattan -- authorities thought they had found samples of a deadly chemical agent recovered from an Iraqi weapons lab by U.N. inspectors. They sent it off for testing and it turns out it may be nothing more than a cleaning solvent -- something you can buy over the counter.

The world is without a big man today -- not just physically big, but massive in his influence and enormous in sheer contribution. Perfect pitch, appetite for life and a voice, that bel canto, that poured forth from somewhere deep inside and hypnotized the audience. Luciano Pavarotti's legacy lives in the performers who count him as their influence.

Joining us now from New York, the Three Mo' Tenors -- Victor Robertson, Kenneth Alston, Jr. and Phumzile -- I want to make sure I get that right -- Phumzile Sojala.

Did I say that right?

PHUMZILE SOJOLA, THREE MO' TENORS: That was perfect.

LEMON: That was perfect?

SOJOLA: Perfect. Thank you.

LEMON: Gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

LEMON: He really influenced you guys, not only you three, but there are three other gentlemen, as well, who he influenced.

You guys switch on and off, correct?

VICTOR ROBINSON, THREE MO' TENORS: Yes.

KENNETH ALSTON, JR. THREE MO' TENORS: Correct.

LEMON: Tell us how he influenced you, what you thought of...

ROBINSON: Well...

LEMON: He's been dubbed "the big man." ROBINSON: Well, you know, seeing that clip, it just brings chills that he's not going to be with us anymore. I think everyone, especially singers, can remember the first time and where they were when they heard Luciano. And he just brought opera to the masses and just from every corner of the world. It's just amazing, actually.

LEMON: How did you guys get into singing opera? Was it because of him? Was it because of the influence of someone else in your life?

ALSTON: Well, it was just listening to performances like him on television. I mean, like he said, he brought opera to the masses. So when you heard performances like Luciano Pavarotti, you wanted to be a singer with that much girth, to be able to touch America and the greater -- and the greater United States, or even the world.

LEMON: What we're hearing today, we hear so much negative news, especially about rap music, you know, which is -- obviously stems from African-American culture and what have you. We hear so much about the "N" word. We've been talking about Eddie Griffin. And then you hear about opera, which is considered one of the original art forms.

What do you think about that? You three being African-American guys what do you think about the influence and how -- tell us about how he crossed over cultures and generations and all sorts of music.

ROBINSON: Well, I think when you hear -- when you hear a beautiful voice, you know a beautiful voice. You can hear it in the White House or the ghetto. I mean you know when you hear a gorgeous line, and Luciano knew how to deliver that.

SOJOLA: And I think every art form could use something -- could use a person who would make it accessible and Pavarotti did that by bringing Whitney Houston and U2, Bono and Sting to his concerts. He made himself and opera accessible to people. He made it popular. So that's what our show does, as well.

LEMON: Yes. And we were speaking just a short time ago to Aretha Franklin and she said, you know, she would use -- out of her catalogue -- her song "Respect" to describe the late tenor.

What -- do you have a favorite song by him or something that you sing that maybe you'd like to do for us a little bit here?

ROBINSON: Well, we actually do, "La donna e mobile," which you just played.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

ROBINSON: And we can do that for you, if you'd like that.

LEMON: Go right ahead.

ROBINSON: Start it up, Kenneth.

(VIDEO CLIP OF THREE MO' TENORS SINGING)

LEMON: Three Mo' Tenors. Thank you for joining us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks for everything.

LEMON: You can sing us out if you want. Have a good day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Don.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: How do most 12-year-olds spend their summer?

Going to camp, playing video games -- how about going around the country swabbing the mouths of strangers while registering bone marrow donors?

That's what today's CNN Hero did.

Meet Pat Pedraja.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAT PEDRAJA, CNN HERO: The doctor came in and just said you have leukemia. And it was devastating, horrifying and scary.

All I knew about cancer was that both my grandparents had died from it.

Well, I was in the hospital and I was watching the TV. And a Hispanic girl died because she couldn't find a marrow transplant match.

You're most likely to find a match within your own ethnicity.

(BEGIN GRAPHIC)

There are 6 million donors on The National Marrow Donor Registry.

Only 27 percent are minorities.

Source: National Marrow Donor Program Registry

(END GRAPHIC)

PEDRAJA: I'm half Hispanic and I decided to change it because it could affect me, too. I said, mom, I want to do something. Well, let's have a bone marrow drive. And she said, what? And I said, yes, we're going to have a drive for these bone marrow donors. And then it turned into Driving for Donors.

Hi. My name is Pat Pedraja. I am 12-years-old. And I'm trying to sign people up for the National Marrow Registry. It's our responsibility as a human being to watch out for someone else.

Driving for Donors is a 30-city national marrow drive. We sold advertisement spots on the (INAUDIBLE) on the head and raised close to $100,000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What Patrick is doing is something that it comes from inside him. It's something that's very personal to his heart.

My sister died of leukemia because she could not find a match within the Brazilian community; in 70 percent of the cases, you do not find a match with your brother or sister and you have to find a match in the National Registry.

PEDRAJA: If you sign up to the Registry, it's just a cheek swab. And then you know that you could be the one to save a kid's life.

And you are going to be on the Registry until your 61st birthday, which is a really long time away. This is your card. If you ever move or anything, just call it. And this is -- you are now a number.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.

(BEGIN GRAPHIC)

In three months, Pat has signed up more than 5,000 people to the National Marrow Registry.

Source: Driving for Donors.

(END GRAPHIC)

PEDRAJA: I don't need a bone marrow transplant myself. I'm in remission and I feel fine, but I still have cancer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a 12-year-old, he's showing that each one of us can do so much to save other people's lives.

PEDRAJA: People don't know that it's such a big issue and that people are dying each day, and I want to change that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: You can go to CNN.com/heroes to check out Pat Pedraja on the road during his incredible cross-country tour. And while you're there, you can nominate a hero of your own. You have until the end of the month. Selected winners will be honored during a special live global broadcast on December 6th, hosted by our very own Anderson Cooper.

They never performed together, but they're forever linked by a single aria and a memorable pinch hit. The queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, shares her memories of Luciano Pavarotti.

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