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Newspapers Casting Their Votes; Angry Words and Actions on the Campaign Trail; Desperate Plea for a Return of a Kidnapped Boy; Skipping Health Care; Riding With the Repo Man; Coping During Turbulent Times; Sex Offenders Across Maryland Must Post Signs; Entertainers on Politics; St. Louis High School HIV Scare; TCL Reality Series Fallout
Aired October 18, 2008 - 23:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, AIDS scare. An entire school on edge.
Bound and out. The economy driving people to suicide.
A black president. The possibility brings out the worst in people. Time for the news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a watermelon, a bucket of chicken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those are African-American stereotypes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really? Who says that? You?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Hateful words. Ugly comparisons. Anger, boiling over on the campaign trail. Isolated?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This racial thing in this campaign must stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Or long-hidden hate revealed by an historic election. We look deeper.
Battleground America.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just claim them for 90 percent on George Bush's policies.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senator Obama wants to run against George Bush, he should have run for president four years ago. (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Both campaigns take over the toss up states. We take you to the heart of the fight for the undecided vote.
Ripped from his home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just want him home -- I want him home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A little boy vanishes. Police look to his own grandfather, and a dangerous drug cartel for answers. Tonight, the unusual connection.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is absolutely ridiculous. How much more can I take?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A sign of the tough times. Imagine, your property taken right from beneath you. Tonight, we're running with The repo man. The pictures and the stories you haven't seen until right now.
Hello, everyone, welcome to special edition of the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Don Lemon. It has all come down to this. From now until Election Day, Barack Obama and John McCain will be spending virtually all of their time in the handful of battleground states. We're talking about the six toss-up states that you see here, plus a few others, that the campaigns believe are still within reach. Every other state is apparently a done deal for either McCain or Obama.
And by call indications, John McCain has his work cut out for him. With a little over two weeks to go until Election Day, a brand-new CNN poll of polls, it shows Barack Obama has 49 percent, John McCain has 43 percent. 8 percent say they are unsure. The numbers haven't moved since Friday.
John McCain heads to Ohio on Sunday. He campaigned Saturday in North Carolina and Virginia. Trying to hold on to a pair of states that are usually, and I say usually, safe bets for Republicans. Before he took the stage, he used a radio address to compare Barack Obama's tax plans to socialist ideas that are popular overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OF MCCAIN: At least in Europe, the socialist leaders who so admire my opponent are up front about their objectives. They use real numbers and honest language. And we should demand equal candor from Senator Obama. Raising taxes on some in order to give checks to others is not a tax cut. It's just another government give-away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Barack Obama has not responded. He heads for North Carolina on Sunday. He spends Saturday in St. Louis. Just take a look at the size of that crowd. An estimated 100,000 supporters. The rally was held beneath the city's famous arch. And he did, however, take issue to a comment John McCain made in their final debate earlier this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: In the debate this week, my opponent felt the need to inform me that he is not President Bush. Now, in fairness, I know John McCain is not Bush. Bush has that Texas accent. I know they're not the same people. And in fairness, I don't blame Senator McCain for all of President Bush's mistakes. After all, John McCain only voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time. So I just blame him for 90 percent of George Bush's policies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, it's just a few days left. Newspapers are casting their votes. Florida's "Tampa Tribune" and "The Dallas Morning News," the latest papers to endorse John McCain, both praise his lifetime of experience. Barack Obama picked up the support of "The Miami Herald, and his hometown, "Chicago Tribune."
It's a first time the conservative tribune has ever endorsed a Democrat. "The L.A. Times" is also backing Obama. That paper hasn't endorsed a presidential candidate since 1972. It backed Richard Nixon's re-election. And one more note for you. The buzz ahead of Sunday morning's talk shows, Colin Powell could make an endorsement announcement, as well.
Now to rising tension and an unfortunate aspect of this lengthy and contentious election. We have some stinging video in its entirety that shows just how much words can hurt. But first, we take you to California, where the Chaffey Community Republican Women sent out this newsletter. A phony food stamp with Obama's picture along with fried chicken, ribs and watermelon. The husband and daughter of the woman responsible for the stamps see no problem with the imagery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why is it not racist?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because you think it is racist, we didn't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a watermelon, a bucket of chicken?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those are African-American stereotypes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really? Who says that? You?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what does the chicken and the watermelon and the ribs mean then? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What does spaghetti and meatballs mean?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think it's racist?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, not exactly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How can a bucket of chicken, ribs and watermelon --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I eat chicken, I eat ribs, I eat watermelon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But those are black stereotypes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Says who?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, there's more. This is a hanging in the yard in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a ghost hanging by a noose with an upside down Obama sign on the front and the name Hussein. It is misspelled. The homeowner who is supporting McCain only tells our affiliate WKRC he is opposed to America electing a black president. And the man who hung that apparently got the idea after seeing this display in Kathryn, New York, set up by an Obama supporter. It features two mannequins. One made to look like Barack Obama, the other made to look like john McCain dressed in a KKK robe.
Now that same video I told you about just a couple seconds ago. We told you about some of the anger toward Barack Obama exhibited at Republican rallies. Now you're going to see some of it for yourself. This is from Johnstown, Pennsylvania when Sarah Palin was there just last week. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he gets in office, he is going to have...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...A lot of cross section of America in his cabinet. That's going to be Al Sharpton, Reverend Wright, Jesse Jackson --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE). This isn't an Oprah show!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Obama is a socialist.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who are the terrorists?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're the terrorists. Liars! Obama, Ayers, connection. What more he needs to say.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is little Hussein. Little Hussein wanted to see truth and good Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: God is over here! Pro-life! Pro-life!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hussein Muhammad Obama!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama Bin Laden!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Osama Bin Laden!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Born in Kenya, (INAUDIBLE) Indonesia!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kill some more babies, you bastards!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That video, from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, just last weekend. Now a Democratic congressman in that state wonders whether Barack Obama can carry his district. CNN's Brian Todd with more on race, impacting the race, in Pennsylvania.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A lot of folks in this hard-bitten town will tell you John Murtha has brought jobs and plenty of pride to Western Pennsylvania in his 35 years in Congress.
He's also now brought controversy over remarks to the "Pittsburgh Port-Gazette" on why he thinks Barack Obama will have a tough time winning in his district.
REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: There's no question western Pennsylvania is a racist area, and when I say racist area, I mean older people are hesitant, you know, they're slow in seeing change, real change.
TODD: Murtha wouldn't do an interview with us, but apologized in a statement saying, quote, "While we cannot deny that race is a factor in this election, I believe we've been able to look beyond race these past few months."
In Johnstown, at the heart of his district, we asked Murtha's constituents if they thought the area was racist. In some cases it depended on who you spoke with.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The older generations, possibly, the way they were raised. The era they were raised in. The younger folks, no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do agree it's racist.
TODD (on camera): Why? How so?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I notice that just jobwise, me trying to get a job out here.
TODD (voice over): Pennsylvania's 12th district, decimated by the loss of steel and coal mining jobs, is predominantly white with a heavy senior citizen population.
It went overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in the primaries.
(on camera): An aide to Murtha says his remarks reflected the fact that some of those older white constituents had indicated to him they might vote along racial lines.
(voice over): But Jim White, a Johnstown official, says he doesn't believe this area is more racist than any other.
JIM WHITE, JOHNSTOWN CITY OFFICIAL: In my 30 years here, I've sensed that anymore than maybe three or four times where I can look at a person and know and feel from growing up in the south that that person is just racist.
TODD: The Murtha remarks even more sensitive after a Sarah Palin rally in Johnstown just days earlier, when someone held up a stuffed monkey labeled Obama.
Local newspaper editor Chip Minemyers says that upset many in the community.
CHIP MINEMYER, JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT: That's not what they want to be associated with. That's not the kind of a mentality we want people to think exists here in -- you know in a kind of predominant fashion.
TODD: Minemyer and others here still say Barack Obama will have a tough time beating McCain in this pro-gun, pro-life district.
But city official Jim White says in these tough economic times people here will vote more with their wall than anything else.
Brian Todd, CNN, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Well, you know, we want to hear from you. Angry words and actions on the campaign trail. Is it isolated or is it long-hidden hate? Here is this one from Gary Jackson. It's from Twitter. He says "There is reprehensible hate on both sides, whether it's an angry chant or an offensive shirt. Let's all grow up, right and left." Keep them coming. This hour, you can reach us on Twitter -- twitter.com/donlemoncnn, Facebook or MySpace, or go on to our Website cnn.com or ireport.com.
Well, the clock is ticking as decision day draws near. Watch it all unfold with the Best Political Team on Television. Make sure you watch it on CNN worldwide networks and cnn.com, as well. A desperate plea for a return of a kidnapped boy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just bring him home. If you've got him, bring him home. Drop him off somewhere. I don't care. Just -- just let him go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: We have some new developments for you in this investigation. Details, moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Updating now a major story we have been following for you. The kidnapping of 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger. Las Vegas police believe the boy was snatched from his home, Wednesday, by members of a Mexican drug cartel. The boy's grandfather, an alleged drug dealer, has been taken into custody. And CNN Kara Finnstrom tells us police tonight are looking for a Mexican national as a person of interest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Helpful new leads in the search for 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger, who Las Vegas police believed was kidnapped by drug traffickers from Mexico. Authorities have two new persons of interest. This man, identified as Jesus Gastelum, who their looking for, and another man they're talking with but don't want to name as of now.
CAPT. VINCE CANNITO, LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE: Over the past 24 hours, a number of search warrants have been executed in several different jurisdictions throughout the country. Those searches have revealed some significant evidence with regards to this case.
FINNSTROM: Police also say the boy's grandfather, 51-year-old Clemens Tinnemeyer, whom they questioned is no longer considered a person of interest. Investigators believe Tinnemeyer's actions triggered the kidnapping. Authorities think he stole millions from drug traffickers, then disappeared a few months ago.
Last Wednesday, police say kidnappers dressed as police officers ransacked Tinnemeyer's daughter's home, tied up her and her fiance, demanded money, and when none was found, kidnapped her son, Cole. Police say the kidnappers are possibly after ransom or sending a frightening warning.
ROBERT PUFFINBURGER, FATHER: Just find him for me, you know, because I need my son back. I just want him home.
FINNSTROM: Robert Puffinburger is pleading with anyone who has more information about his missing son to come forward.
PUFFINBURGER: I don't care about what happened in the past, and why these people did it. I'm concerned about getting my son back. FINNSTROM: Police say they will fully investigate whether or not other members of Tinnemeyer's family were involved in drug operations. But for now, they're focused on Cole. Spreading images of the 48-town blue-eyed blonde boy.
PUFFINBURGER: Because he can't see without his glasses. So he's probably got them on. They're little, like, metallic blue. Like on the inside, you know, they're little Spongebob glasses. He's got a birth mark on his back neck. He's the shortest little kid you've ever seen, you know, for being 6.
FINNSTROM (on camera): Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about Cole or the kidnappers to contact them immediately. In Las Vegas, Kara Finnstrom, for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Well, if kidnapping the boy was supposed to force Clemens Tinnemeyer to give back the money he allegedly stole from drug traffickers, it may have back fired. Earlier this evening, I spoke with former FBI profiler, Mark Safarik.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOCE OF MARK SAFARIK, FORMER FBI PROFILER: If you think about it from a logical standpoint, abducting a child in terms of a ransom commitment, or for the grandfather, one, you know, do you really understand what the relationship is between the grandfather and the family, you know, where the child resides? If you're -- if you're the drug traffickers, and that's real problematic. How is that going to get you your money back? So, it may be more an act of desperation in hope for -- on their part, and you can see what has happened. You've got a national law enforcement response, a national media response and now it becomes very problematic to affect any kind of transaction, especially for the grandfather who is now in custody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Former FBI profiler, Mark Safarik. Now here is the boy's picture again. His name is Cole Puffinburger. He is 6 years old. And he's believed to be in extreme danger. Anyone with any information can call the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. Here is that phone number. It is (702) 828-56-78. Again, (702) 828-56-78.
We turn now to the economy. People are doing without in this tough economy. Without food, without gasoline, without a heck of a lot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's quite literally the difference between having access to medical care and none whatsoever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: What do people do when they can't afford to get sick?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Finding a way out of the global financial crisis, and keeping it from happening again. Twin goals of a global financial summit, President Bush plans to host. The president announced a meeting Saturday at Camp David, joined by French President Nicholas Sarkozy and the head of the European Union. Mr. Bush says world leaders have to work together, because, quote, "we're in this crisis together." No date is set for the meeting. But the White House says it will happen in the U.S. soon after the November 4th election.
Stress fractures from the economy are showing up in strange ways. It is part of our continuing coverage of what we call "sign of the times." For example, if living rent-free sounds good to you, a homeowner in Phoenix has just the place. Of course, there is a catch. You have to keep the place up, which means cutting the grass and making repairs. There's no guarantee a rent-free arrangement will work out. In fact, it could turn into a legal mess if you're not careful.
Jimmy Hill in Port Richy, Florida says he offered a homeless family a place to live. Soon after moving in, they quit paying for the utilities. Now six months later, he can't get rid of them. The family has filed a restraining order against him that prevents him from evicting them or cutting off their utilities. So, for now, he is stuck with a family of squatters on his property and he doesn't have the money to take them to court.
Well, why in the world is a Nebraska state treasurer going door-to- door, handing out money?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty nice-sized check.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: $23,000, to be exact. Yes, that is a pretty nice-sized check. It's from the estate of this woman's late sister. It's also just a fraction of the $85 million in unclaimed cash and property the state is trying to return. But contacting the owners by phone or letter hasn't worked so far. In this day and age, most folks think something for nothing, well, has to be a scam, right? So the treasurer has to drive to their house and return it in person. There is a simpler way. People can check a state Web site to see if any of the unclaimed property belongs to them.
Let's talk now about affordable health care. It's been a hot-button issue on the campaign trail, even routine doctor visits are a luxury, many people can no longer afford. And CNN's Brianna Keilar explains, that may save a few bucks now, but it can cost a fortune later.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): William Fitzgerald is a stroke survivor with throat cancer. He is unemployed and uninsured. WILLIAM FITZGERALD, CANCER PATIENT: I can't afford to be sick, plain and simple. If you have something that is ongoing, requiring maintenance like high blood pressure, such as I have, one of my medicines alone would run over $100 a week.
KEILAR: In this tough economic times, a growing number of Americans say they are going without medication doctors say they need. More say they're foregoing health insurance and doctors' appointments. Experts say it creates a vicious cycle, because people who wait too long to seek health care cost more to treat.
DR. DONALD FISHER, PRES. & CEO, AMERICAN MEDI. GROUP. ASSN.: When people forego the diagnostic test or the procedure, then their illnesses get much more severe, and when they present themselves to the health care provider, they're much sicker.
KEILAR: Like William, who figured his horse voice didn't warrant an expensive doctor visit. He now owes about $20,000 in medical bills. It could be worse. William gets medication and treatment from the Arlington Free Clinic, a facility that provides dramatically price- reduced health care for low-income patients.
FITZGERALD: It's actually been a God-send for me. It's quite literally the difference between having access to medical care and none whatsoever.
KEILAR: The clinic has seen up to 15 percent more patients this year.
NANCY PALLESEN, EXEC. DIR. ARLINGTON FREE CLINIC: I think this is just beginning. I think we're going to see more in the months to come. Because more people are going to lose jobs or cut back their number of hours, and so forth. And then they're going to come.
KEILAR: As the slumping economy forces an increase in patients, it also threatens to cut off the private donations that fund these last resorts for health care, leaving many concerned this safety net will catch fewer and fewer people. Brianna Keilar, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Well, you know, health care is not an easy issue. Providing universal medical care that everyone can afford would be hugely expensive for the country. It's a cost that would have to be added to the skyrocketing national debt. By one estimate, that figure is now more than $10.3 trillion, growing nearly $3.5 billion every day. The debt clock by zfacts.com is even higher. It uses a different method to calculate the debt. Either way, the total is too big to wrap your head around. It is "Our Sign of the Times."
Well, this one from Dubarnick (ph). That's the name. Capitalism is a pyramid scheme. Wealth flows upward, redistribution of some wealth back down, via some socialism is OK. All right. Keep them coming. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and ireport.com.
Now, if you think your day at the office is tough, take a listen to this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been shot at numerous times. I had knifes pulled on me, baseball bats, chains, dogs. Every type of dog, big dogs, little dogs, doesn't matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: You know it is one of the fastest-growing businesses in this down economy. We are running with The repo man.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. So you want to know what the fastest growing business is in this economy? Well, I'll give you a hint. You can't pay for it, so they take it away from you. But behind every piece of property they take, there is a personal story. I took a ride with the repo man, who is busier now than ever.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WES PEELER, REPOSSESSION NIGHT SUPERVISOR: Yes, that's us. All right.
LEMON (voice-over): The middle of the night is when Wes Peeler and his tow truck go to work.
PEELER: If anybody comes out, I'll handle them.
LEMON: Wes is the repo man. Simone, who doesn't want her face shown is about to see the last of her Jeep Grand Cherokee. A single mom with a 12-year-old daughter could no longer make the payments.
SIMONE, CAR REPOSSESSED: I have never been this down on my luck. I have a college degree and I can't find a job. And I have -- and I'm -- I'm a single mom. And I'm just -- I'm so frustrated. The I'm just frustrated.
LEMON: Simone's story is sadly no different than so many other Americans who are just one paycheck away from disaster. It starts with a layoff. The temp jobs don't pay the bills. They lose their homes to foreclosure. Their cars are repossessed.
(on camera): How are you going to get to work?
SIMONE: I have no idea. No idea. Don't even care right now.
LEMON: How is your daughter going to get to school?
SIMONE: I have no idea. No idea.
LEMON: Are you living with your parents?
SIMONE: Friends.
LEMON: It's bad out there, huh? SIMONE: Bad is an understatement.
LEMON: But the repo man has a tough job to do.
PEELER: I've been shot at numerous times. I had knifes pulled on me, baseball bats, chains, dogs. Every type of dog, big dogs, little dogs, doesn't matter.
LEMON (voice-over): Tonight is uneventful. He gives Simone time to gather her belongings and leave.
(on camera): It is hard to see her sit there with all -- she had all of her stuff, her computers...
PEELER: Yes, I'm human. I do feel bad for people. I've seen (INAUDIBLE) over, you know, and...
LEMON: Can you blame them?
PEELER: No, I can't.
NOLEN EASTMAN, OWNER, HILL & ASSOCIATES: Good morning, guys.
LEMON (voice-over): When Wes is done, the morning shift at Hill & Associates takes over.
EASTMAN: Russell, I'm going to send you to a flat down to Fayetteville. You're going down to Pinehurst. This one, the customer said they were going to turn it in today.
LEMON: An army of trucks, cabinets full of files, all repossessions.
(on camera): How many do you keep in here? How many do you do in a year?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 10,000.
LEMON: You do 10,000 a year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At least.
LEMON (voice-over): And lately, there's more than enough business to go around. Just across town...
RICHARD GROSVENOR, OWNER, SPEEDY RECOVERY: You know, as you see, we're full here on the lot. And we're looking to expand.
LEMON: Richard Grosvenor of Speedy Recovery says in 15 years he'd never seen it this bad.
GROSVENOR: This is typically telling me that all these businesses are in trouble. They are in terrible trouble. You know, we've always repossessed the automobiles. But never so much these work trucks, work vans, company vehicles like we're seeing today.
LEMON: One more sign of the times. Grosvenor says even the finance companies and banks are asking him, the repo man, for a break on fees.
GROSVENOR: We're feeling the pain just like everybody else.
LEMON: But for now, not nearly as much pain as the people they visit every day and every night.
I don't usually see this, so, it's just hard to watch.
SIMONE: I have a college degree. I owe $40,000 in student loans and I can't (EXPLETIVE DELETED) find a job. It's absolutely ridiculous. I'm just -- I'm tired. How much more can I take?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Boy, that is tough to watch. I have someone with me now who knows all about this. She's a clinical psychologist. She's written several books. She also has a DVD out that's called "Suffer in Silence No More." Dr. Gloria Morrow.
Thank you so much for joining us. You saw that story. You know people are hurting. What do you say to someone like Simone? That's not her real name, by the way, but she's crying in the driveway with all of her belongings around her and her 12-year-old daughter in the house, not knowing how she is going to get to school and get to work. What do you say to someone like that?
DR. GLORIA MORROW, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Well, first of all, people are struggling everywhere. So, I'm really happy to see that someone is underscoring the everyday citizen who has been impacted by this financial crisis. And so one of the things that I'd like to tell people, please don't suffer in silence. So many people are hiding and covering up their pain during this critical time.
LEMON: Yes, just last week, I spoke with a former first lady, Rosalynn Carter. She likes to get into the issues of mental health. And she said there is a stigma there. People really don't want to talk about those -- those -- that sort of problem. But it's important, and I think you stress this as well, to know that there are options out there and you should talk about it.
MORROW: Absolutely. One of the great things about the media right now, there are a lot of things that are bringing information to people. So I think it's really good for people to know that there are many options available. They don't have to give up. So it's really imperative that people understand that.
LEMON: And getting the right information, because you said -- I think you said, don't believe everything you hear. What does that mean?
MORROW: No, do not believe everything you hear. Sometimes we're getting information from friends and family. And sometimes we're preoccupied, turning from station to station to get information. So things may not be as bad as they seem. So I think it's very important to not believe everything you hear.
LEMON: I'm going to share something with you that she told me during that interview that really struck me. I asked that young lady how she got into that predicament. And she said her boss, who owned the company and she worked for him, killed himself in his office.
Everyone in the company lost their jobs because he had financial trouble, but no one knew how bad the company was. The company folded. She lost her job. The temp jobs, you know, didn't pay off. And so she said, you know, my boss kills himself but yet, you know, I have to suffer the consequences.
So I think, you know, probably advice there is to really think about it before you do something and how much -- do you really want to take your own life or do something drastic.
MORROW: Well, I think we should think before we act. The thing that I want to underscore here, though, sometimes people are already predisposed to suffering from depression and anxiety. So, if they're not taking their meds or seeing a psychologist for help, then they're going to be particularly more at risk of harming themselves when this crisis continues to boil for them.
LEMON: And real quickly, easily said than done. You said you have to keep a good attitude. That's easy for you to say.
MORROW: Yes.
LEMON: Glass half full. Is that, be optimistic?
MORROW: Be optimistic. And you can't do that alone sometimes. I think sometimes we have to get with our own spiritual sources and our support system to help us through these tough times.
LEMON: Yes. And you never know. You never know how things are going to turn out and all you have to do is just have faith and, you know, easy for us to say who are gainfully employed, but we are thinking about those people.
Dr. Gloria Morrow, thank you very much for joining us today -- tonight, I should say.
MORROW: Thank you so much.
LEMON: All right. Well, parents in Maryland, if you see this sign on a house while your kids are trick or treating, it is not a joke. You don't want your kids going to those homes. And we will tell you why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. We're getting close to trick or treat, but you know what, "no candy here." Sex offenders across Maryland are getting paper signs in their mail that show a pumpkin and say, "No candy at this residence." They have to post it or face a parole violation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I put one on my window down here on my room to keep the kids away, to let them know we don't have no candy at all. (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, Maryland officials are also distributing pamphlets statewide warning families about those signs.
Parents are worried, fearful and angry amid an HIV scare at a St Louis high school. Health officials say several students at Normandy High may have been exposed to the virus that causes AIDS. They say someone, not saying who, has tested positive and that may have led to students being exposed. Free and confidential HIV test will be offered at the school in about two weeks, a time line parents aren't happy about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSIE FONDREN, PARENT: They're talking about starting this process in the next two weeks. If it's this serious, they should start it right now, right away.
SHARON MORTON, PARENT: I just hope somebody do something about it quickly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Health officials are urging any student who've had unprotected sex to get tested. Well, yesterday, I spoke with the St. Louis County Health Director, Dr. Dolores Gunn, about how many students may have been exposed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. DOLORES GUNN, ST. LOUIS COUNTY HEALTH DIR.: If you look at the state of Missouri's data analysis for St. Louis County, last year in 2007, there were only five new cases for individuals between the ages of 13 and 18. And currently right now, we know that the investigation has led specifically to Normandy High School. And right now, we have a population of approximately 1200 students there.
LEMON: So we're looking at close to 50 students who may have been exposed.
GUNN: Up to 50 on initial exposure. Up to. And it's very early in investigation, so, you know, we really need to look to get in and make sure these students do get tested.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. Sad story there.
Well, she changed her life. Now she's helping others rebuild their lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When Katrina hit, I was living in Washington D.C. I couldn't believe the pictures that I was looking at. I wanted to come down to New Orleans and volunteer.
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LEMON: You're going to meet someone special. She is one of our top 10 CNN heroes. You'll meet her in just moments.
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LEMON: OK. So who says one person can't make a difference? Since CNN began asking you about your heroes, we've seen thousands of ways, regular people have touched the lives of others. CNN just announced its top 10 heroes of 2008. Over the next five weeks, we're going to talk to each of the nominees. We begin tonight with Liz McCartney.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is "CNN Heroes."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Katrina destroyed families, homes, who had normal red-blooded American family. And one day, it took to wipe us out. I was so beaten down, I was going to blow myself away.
LIZ MCCARTNEY, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: When Katrina hit, I was living in Washington D.C. I couldn't believe the pictures that I was looking at. I wanted to come down to New Orleans and volunteer. I naively thought that six months later you would see all kinds of progress.
But St. Bernard Parish looked like the storm had just rolled through. We realized very quickly that we were going to move to New Orleans. It was just something that we felt we had to do. I'm Liz McCartney and I'm helping families rebuild in St. Bernard Parish.
The St. Bernard Project can take a house that was gutted down to the studs, hang new sheetrock, put in new floors. We do all of that work in about twelve weeks for about $12,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The St. Bernard Project, Liz and her group had saved my life.
MCCARTNEY: Once you get one family back, other families are more confident, and they're willing to come back, as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little by little, one house at a time, we'll be back. I feel it. I know it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: I spoke with Liz McCartney earlier this evening and asked her what it felt like to be a CNN hero.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCARTNEY: Yes, it's a great honor. Thank you, so much. The thing that's tough for me is that I'm surrounded by heroes every day. You know, people from St. Bernard and people from New Orleans who are working hard every day to rebuild their homes and their lives and their community.
LEMON: I'm wondering and I'm sure you are, with the money that you're getting, it's going to help out, do you know how you're going to use it and how much it's going to help you in your efforts to rebuild New Orleans?
MCCARTNEY: Yes, that's a great question. The $25,000 prize that I got from CNN, I donated back to the St. Bernard Project. And that money will help us get two more families back into their homes.
LEMON: I have to ask you this because, you know, I was talking to you earlier and I told you that I'm from the area. And many people there feel like, you know what, their stories aren't being told three years after Hurricane Katrina. And they feel like, you know what, maybe people have moved on. What do you say to that? Is there some advice that you can offer people, or can you say something to people that may ignite them to go back and look at New Orleans and help out?
MCCARTNEY: Yes. You know, we've found over and over again, me and Zack Rosenburg, who is the other cofounder of the organization, and our amazing staff that we work with, that when the American people know the truth, they want to pitch in and help out. And when they find out that there are still thousands of families living in FEMA trailers who need help getting back into their homes, they want to pitch in and be a part of the solution.
And so while some people say, oh Liz, what about Katrina fatigue, I don't believe in that. I think that people just need to know the situation down here. And the reality is that while we've got a lot of families back in their houses and we're making great progress, there is still a lot of work to be done.
LEMON: And now we can see why Liz McCartney from the St. Bernard Project is a CNN hero. Thank you, Liz.
MCCARTNEY: Thanks, Don.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Make sure you go online right now and choose a hero who inspires you the most. We will honor all of these amazing people during "CNN Heroes," an all-star tribute. It's hosted by our very own Anderson Cooper. It's right here on CNN and we'll do that on Thanksgiving night. Don't miss that one.
Young entertainers certainly have something to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (SINGING): Hey, Mr. President, tomorrow I'm paying my rent. My fuel is running low.
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LEMON: You need to know who Janelle Monae is. She's fantastic. Entertainers on politics. You'll hear what they're saying right after the break in just a second.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So, we have been talking here to entertainers of all ages, genres and races about the youth vote in this upcoming election. It's supposed to be a youth revolution, we're hearing. You may not know this next group of people. But you know what? I'll bet your children certainly do because they are the hottest new artists on the scene. You should pay attention to them because you will know them soon. And they're influencing young people to go to the polls.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHARRELL, SIGNER, PRODUCER: I just encourage people to vote because let's not be mad at what happens. Just at least say to yourself, you know what? Whatever happens, I put my energy into it and obviously there is not much more I could do.
JANELLE MONAE, SINGER (SINGING): Hey, Mr. President, tomorrow I'm paying my rent. My fuel is running low. But I got places to go. Quit slowing me down.
D.A., SINGER, CHESTER FRENCH: It's a pivotal election, obviously, not that any of them aren't. But this has been a particularly inspiring one and it's great to see a lot of people in our generation get reengaged.
LEMON (on camera): I talked to the other folks here. I talked to Pharrell. Everybody seems to be, like, inspired by the election and what's going on in the country.
COMMON, HIP HOP ARTIST: Yes.
LEMON: What do you think of that?
COMMON: I mean, I feel that it's a beautiful time for us to take control of our destiny.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. That was Common. And we'll have much more on that conversation. We're going to continue this. We're not done. Off the music stage and on to the political stage. We'll continue our conversations with entertainers on politics before this election. It's very interesting.
All right. Speaking of the youth vote, ever heard of Scoop '08? It is a new newspaper according to founder, 18-year-old college student Alexander Heffner. His staff is comprised of 300 student volunteers from high schools and colleges from diverse regions and ideological backgrounds. I will talk to Alexander, Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN. He has some very interesting things to say about this election.
Well, earlier, I asked you if angry words on the campaign trail are isolated incidents or long-hidden hate. I want to read some of your responses now. Marnweeks, he says, "How soon we forget the violent effects inherently possible in divisive language. I lived through MLK, RFK, JFK. It can happen." It's a she, as a matter of fact.
All right. Suzyjax says, "It is both. It is isolated to a small minority with deep, usually hidden hate. At least, I hope it's isolated."
Playboypaul says, "There's million and millions of Americans that will vote for anyone but a black man regardless of his or her views."
We want you to keep your responses coming and you can find us again on Facebook, on Twitter, on MySpace, and also on iReport and cnn.com.
They have a beautiful family and they have a hit cable TV show as well. But some people question why Jon and Kate plus their eight kids are living their lives in public.
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LEMON: Jon and Kate Gosselin, stars of the TLC Reality Series "Jon & Kate + 8, call their twins and sextuplets multiple blessings. They even wrote a book about it. But some critics say Jon and Kate are exploiting their eight for commercial gain. Here's CNN's Brooke Anderson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the top rated show on the cable network TLC. Jon & Kate + 8 revolves around the Pennsylvania family of 10 starring four-year-old sextuplets and 8-year-old twins.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to do the show because we didn't have time to film.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And videos are cheaper.
ANDERSON: The cameras document daily routines, vacations and special events. New episodes there weekly. Now, in their fourth season, the Gosselins are celebrities featured in major magazines and now promoting a new book, "Multiple Blessings." But not everyone is pleased with the popularity.
PAUL PETERSEN, FOUNDER, "A MINOR CONSIDERATION": Children need secrets. They need silences. They don't need to live in a fishbowl.
ANDERSON: Paul Petersen, who played Jeff Stone on "The Donna Reed Show" in the '60s founded the group A Minor Consideration nearly 20 years ago to provide support to child stars. Petersen is accusing parents Jon and Kate of taking advantage of their children for commercial gain which he feels could have devastating long term effects.
PETERSEN: Big money is on the table. When you put your children up for sale, guess what? The rules change. The presence of cameras alters human behavior. It's true for the adults. We have seen it. You can witness it. And it's altering the children's behavior. And the consequences are down the road, 20 years maybe.
ANDERSON: Petersen's perspective on Jon and Kate is shared by posters on various blogs, including Gosselins Without Pity and Truth Breeds Hatred.
In a TLC webisode, Kate explains their decision to invite cameras into their home.
KATE GOSSELIN, MOTHER: We just wanted people to understand us better.
ANDERSON: The Gosselins who assert they will only continue the show as long as the kids are comfortable doing it declines CNN's request for an interview, but TLC issued this statement: "Because of the show, the kids and the family have economic security and the luxury of a mom who can stay at home and raise them."
JON GOSSELIN, FATHER: I'll go the ends of the earth for them.
ANDERSON: Petersen is calling for the show to be cancelled if the kids are being treated poorly. The Pennsylvania Labor Department tells me they have received no complaints about the series regarding anti child labor laws
Brooke Anderson, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Well, you know, there's something about being on a high bridge on October, it makes something do this.
Oh, my God. Not to worry. We think he has a parachute, I think.
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LEMON: All right. Take a look at this. Two people waiting for a bus in Phoenix and -- bam, a car slams right into them. One man, wow, is in critical condition. The driver was cited for failure to yield and driving without license or insurance.
Well, if you think that was wild, look at this. Here's one way to get a kayak into a river, but not something you'd want to try too many times. It's a hard landing, you know, at the bottom.
Oh, my gosh. You know, we see this every year but it never gets old. It's the annual Bridge Day Festival over the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Definitely not for the squeamish here. That's 876 feet straight down. Washington Monument is only 555 feet. Jumpers have about four seconds before they have to pull the ripcord. And before I've had a heart attack.
I'm Don Lemon. I'll see you back here Sunday night at 6:00 and then again at 10:00 Eastern. Have a good night. And in some places on the East, have a good morning.
