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Campbell Brown
G-20 Summit Wraps Up; Republican Civil War?
Aired April 02, 2009 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, folks. I'm Roland Martin. And thanks for joining us tonight.
One thing I have made clear as I fill in for Campbell Brown, who is on maternity leave, of course, is that I always keep it real.
So, as the G-20 economic summit wraps up, I have got to say, we, the United States of America, were taken to the shed a little bit. Europe made it pretty clear that it's not about to let us make the rules anymore. You know it, I know it, and President Obama knows is.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ultimately, the challenges of the 21st century can't be met without collective action. Agreement will almost never be easy, and results won't always come quickly. But I am committed to respecting different points of view and to forging a consensus instead of dictating our terms.
When I came here, it was with the intention of listening and learning but also providing American leadership. And I think that the document that has been produced as well as the concrete actions that will follow reflect a range of our priorities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN: Big day, folks, in Europe, and we're following every move President Obama makes as he continues going global.
Randi Kaye is here to break it down for us.
Randi, so what is going on? A lot of stuff happening?
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes.
Of course, Roland, a pretty big day for the president, of course.
MARTIN: Yes.
KAYE: He held his first solo conference. And he took some questions from U.S. reporters, also from some foreign reporters. You can see the press conference right there. He had a major announcement about a major agreement among the G-20 countries, including they're going to increase regulation of the markets and pump about another $1 trillion or so into the global economy. So, that's a pretty big announcement.
MARTIN: Now, he seems to be overshadowed by his better half, first lady Michelle Obama.
KAYE: Yes, she's getting a lot of attention abroad, as you have probably realized by now, not only for her fashions, but also for her visits that she's been making and those she's been meeting.
Today she went to this school. This is some video where she was. It was this all-girls school in London. And about 200 girls waited for her for a couple of hours. And she had a great message for them about hope, and inspiration and integrity and confidence. She talked about growing up on the South Side of Chicago. And she told them that the world is counting on them, which was really a nice thing for her to say.
MARTIN: Also, the Obamas seem to be really bringing this different kind of attitude and this friendly face, if you will, to the world stage.
KAYE: Yes, which is why this picture is making its way around the Internet. Right there, it looks like the three amigos, Obama giving -- President Obama giving the thumb's up there.
Well, that picture, as you could see, it's President Obama, also Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev. And the three of them are sort of hanging out, looking like good pals.
And this is something that, as you know, Roland, that President Obama talked a lot during the campaign, actually. He wanted to improve the U.S.'s image abroad, show that we can have friends abroad and have friendly relations with other countries. And a lot of people are saying that this is certainly the beginnings of that.
MARTIN: Yes, also the Dow was up today. So, glad to see everybody smile in that photo.
KAYE: Yes.
MARTIN: Hey, Randi, we certainly appreciate it. Thanks so very much.
Folks, the president pointed to the summit as the right way to deal with the economic crisis, saying, when the world reacted too slowly in the past, it paid an enormous price. So, can today really turn things around?
We're breaking it down tonight with our team of correspondents. Anderson Cooper is in London, where he sat down for an exclusive interview with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.
But, first, we start with Richard Quest.
Now, Richard, break it down for us. A big agreement was released today by the G-20 leaders. So exactly what are the main points of that agreement?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for goodness' sakes, you want to know the main point. The thing runs to some 10 pages. It is extremely detailed. It goes into far more detail concerning the financial regulation than you would wish me to bore on about at this hour.
No, the real core of this agreement is that the 20 countries were able to get into that very large room and didn't walk out in a huff or fisticuffs, that there was no major arguments and that fundamentally they did agree that more needed to be done. The rest is window dressing.
MARTIN: Richard, we also saw the market the United States -- I said that earlier -- up 200 points. So how is the rest of the world taking the news of the G-20 summit? All positive?
QUEST: Well, I think the whole point is, any leadership in a vacuum is considered to be good leadership.
And what they're now seeing is, six months ago in Washington, there was the first G-20, with a lame duck president in the United States. Now they have got some engagements by Washington. And that's crucial. Do not underestimate the importance of the sheer ability of Washington to engage with the G-20 and in six months time there will be another one.
In that environment, this document takes on a bit of life, albeit still rather boring, but the stock market still goes up some couple of hundred points.
MARTIN: All right, Richard, I certainly appreciate it. Of course looking forward to chatting with you a little bit later in the show. So, stick around. We will have a good time.
Folks, so is the president making all the right moves?
Well, we turn to our political experts, Republican strategist Kevin Madden, also CNN contributor and Democratic strategist James Carville.
Now, Kevin, you have had some doubts whether President Obama could do well or cut it on the world stage. What do you think now?
KEVIN MADDEN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I have.
But I think that the president rightly and to his credit seized on the opportunity to flourish on the world stage. I think that the idea that many Americans are facing economic crisis here at home, a great deal of anxiety here at home. And when you see the president on the world stage, going out there and engaging in foreign leaders in what is now a global crisis, he has an opportunity to score points.
And ultimately, Roland, I believe that many Americans are affected not as much by the substance of what happens at the G-20, but they're affected by the images of seeing their president as leader of the free world over there trying to solve their economic problems. So, I'm ready to give him a good solid B, Roland.
(LAUGHTER)
MARTIN: I know James got a good laugh out of that.
You know, James, Kevin talked about images, And so we want to bring that image back up of the smiling amigos, if you will. And so do you think that picture, James, represents the rest of the world warming up to the U.S. again after the last eight years of President George W. Bush?
JAMES CARVILLE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, I think there is something there.
And I think the world wants to be friendly with the United States. I don't think the world really wants to dislike us. There are some people obviously that do. But by and large people around the world like the United States. I think they like this president.
And, look, I think this is the best day he has had of his presidency since he was inaugurated. I thought this was a really good day for President Obama. I thought he filled up the stage. I thought he looked like he was a world leader. And he got some significant agreements there, $1 trillion in the global economy. People recognize how serious this is. And he will have some bad days in the future, but today was a really good one.
MARTIN: Hey, Kevin, obviously, the economy is huge, but the president really announced some agreements with Russia, China, Iran.
Do you think he's overpromising here in terms of these new relations with those three countries?
MADDEN: Well, look, I think the big risk here is where President Obama seemed intent to go over there and make a case for the listening, not lecturing mandate that he thinks that he has on the world stage.
I think what that does is it provides a little bit of an air of hesitation. And I think many of our allies will worry about that hesitation and many of the folks at the G-20 who are not really our friends, that they would be encouraged by that and that would essentially provide a little bit more of an opening for aggression, and that they can now be the ones that are going to dictate the terms and the contours of a lot of the conversations that we're going to have on the international stage, be it national security or be it the economic crisis.
MARTIN: James, agree or disagree?
CARVILLE: Well, look, I think that it's obviously you can have a good summit. Russian self-interests, Chinese self-interests are not going to change. And the fact is not going to change that the United States at the beginning of the Obama presidency is not in as advantageous a position economically as it has been in the past. I think the president recognizes that. But I think he did very well. You know, and, yes, they had a lot of happy pictures and stuff like that. And Kevin knows and I know, and, Roland, you know, too, that when they get down to hard-core diplomacy, national self-interest is going to play in, and it's going to probably be tough.
But I think it -- look, you need a -- a journey does good well a good start and we got a good start here today. I thought it was pretty good.
MARTIN: Hey, guys, hold tight one second. We're bringing you back.
Is America to blame for causing the world's money crisis? Anderson Cooper puts the tough questions to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.
And on this World Autism Awareness Day, actress Holly Robinson Peete is here tonight to talk about the controversy of childhood vaccines. We have a lot of passionate opinions about this, like the call we got from Allison in Massachusetts.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ALLISON, MASSACHUSETTS: I have a severely vaccine-injured child with autism. I have no question in my mind that my son completely regressed after his MMR. And we're fighting like mad to get him back.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
MARTIN: Folks, now is the time to start calling. We want to hear from you, 1-877-NO-BULL-0. That's 1-877-662-8550. You can also e-mail me at Roland@CNN.com, or post on my Twitter and my Facebook accounts -- back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARTIN: President Obama's says the G-20 summit is a turning point for the world economy. But there are still plenty of people who blame America for getting the world into this huge mess. Is that fair?
Well, our own Anderson Cooper followed the money to London, where he talked with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": There has been a lot of finger-pointing to the U.S. Does the U.S. have anything to apologize for in terms of creating this financial crisis?
TIMOTHY GEITHNER, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: We have a huge interest as a country in making sure we put in place a stronger system in the future. And the world depends on recovery in the United States. The world depends a lot on us being able working with the Congress to create a more -- stronger system. (CROSSTALK)
COOPER: So, you don't feel there's anything to apologize for?
GEITHNER: No, I believe the U.S. bears some responsibility for this. But responsibility goes around.
And I think all countries were sort of overwhelmed by the force of global capital flows. And you recognize that, that people recognize that around the room.
Our challenge now, though, is to make sure we're moving with the rest of the world to pull the world towards higher standards. We want us to get a race to the top, rather than the race to the bottom. And we need them to come with us if we're going to effective in strengthening our system.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN: Anderson joins us live right now.
Anderson, let me ask you this question. Do you get the sense the administration is happy with how this trip has turned out?
COOPER: I think without a doubt. James Carville said it earlier. It was a good day for Barack Obama's administration.
Yesterday, you had the headlines of positive developments in the U.S.-Russia relationship. Today, despite threats by the French president to walk out, despite finger-pointing at the U.S. from Germany and France, at the end of the day, they are going to leave here tomorrow with this communique, with the sense that they are standing shoulder to shoulder in the face of this huge global crisis.
And, you know, they all acknowledge that this is perhaps the most important economic summit since World War II. And they leave here, at least on paper, with an agenda of how to move forward. The devil is in the details, how this all plays out, of course, whether protectionist barriers start to spring up in different countries. All of that remains to be seen.
But they leave here having made a big impression on the world stage for this young president, his first trip overseas, and they leave here with new ammunition and new regulation, and tomorrow is another day.
MARTIN: Anderson, thanks a bunch.
And, folks, tonight at 10:00, hints that more CEO heads could roll. And also Anderson Cooper asks Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner about that tonight on "A.C. 360." So, please tune in for that.
Look, it's a tough balancing act for President Obama, showing leadership on the worldwide economic mess, while holding off the blame-America crowd. And, trust me, there's a lot of folks saying that. The question is, can he do it? And is Tim Geithner the right man to put the president's policies into action?
We bring back James Carville, as well as Kevin Madden.
Now, Kevin, team Obama is trying to project humility, but at the same time, they calls don't want to come off as the world's whipping boy. Are they striking the right balance in tone?
MADDEN: Roland, remember, Senator Obama was much more accommodating on America's position in the world and how we should deal with many of our friends and allies around the world.
And now I think President Obama has been forced to defend American prominence. And I think that's one of big learning curves that you have when you go from a candidate to a president. So, he's in that new position right now and it's sort of like a rookie who has played his first game.
And I think he sees the value of American prominence now with controlling these debates and getting what America needs on the world forum, on the world platform of these discussions.
MARTIN: Hey, James, there was a point where Tim Geithner was like the wiz kid from Wall Street. He's going to come in and shake everything up.
Then, all of a sudden, they said run the guy out of town. Now people are happy. Do you think he's recovered a bit from the last few weeks?
CARVILLE: Yes, I do.
I think he was very good on Sunday morning television. And I think he was very good in watching him with Anderson. I will see more tonight. I think he's learned a lot.
Now, the guy has been quite busy. I mean, they had a housing plan. They have had the whole banking thing that they have had to deal with. They have had the Detroit thing they have had to deal with. It's not like he hasn't had his plate full.
But I was rather critical of him as a communicator at the beginning. But you know what? He's gotten better. And I think that's what you're looking for. And part of the job as treasury secretary is he's got to project some confidence and competence. And I think he's starting -- I think the first -- his competence was never really much questioned.
His ability to project some confidence was. And I think he's doing better at that. I give him some credit here. I think this guy is learning something.
(CROSSTALK)
MADDEN: And, you know, Roland, he had the luxury of having nowhere to go but up after the last few weeks.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: At least he is going up, though.
(LAUGHTER)
CARVILLE: And he seems like a kind of nice guy in some ways. I don't know Mr. Geithner. But everybody says he's smart. But he's got a pretty full plate there.
MARTIN: Hey, Kevin, he might be going up, but he's also saying we're going to take some CEOs down.
As a conservative, are you bothered by that, this talk that, look, we may chop some more heads off?
MADDEN: Look, I think that the private sector here, Roland, is going to have to be a partner with government.
I think that any time we take -- we look at this -- if we look at the nexus between government and the private sector and its need to flourish, if we look at it in a punitive way, and if we look at it as a way that we have to start targeting people, we're never going to get the kind of cooperation, the kind of forward-looking visionary policies that we're going to need to get out of this crisis.
So, I think that any time that you're looking at cutting people's heads off or targeting them, it's going to create a liability for the need to move this economy forward.
MARTIN: Hey, James, about 25 seconds, though. But at what point, though, do these private companies no longer become private, when we're putting so much public money into them?
CARVILLE: Right. Right.
But, look, I think, actually, I kind of like Rick Wagoner. I don't know him. And I think he makes -- started to make some terrific cars. But the stock went down 95 percent under his tenure. The government has had to put a bunch of money in there. And I think it was important for people to show -- the president is a basketball player. He likes to establish his sort of zone.
And it's sending a message to these bank CEOs is, straighten this thing up or you will be gone, too. And that's not necessarily a bad thing for people to know, that they don't -- lifetime jobs in this business.
MARTIN: All right.
James Carville, Kevin Madden, we certainly appreciate it. Look forward to chatting with you guys again. Thanks a bunch.
MADDEN: Great to be with you, Roland. MARTIN: Folks, I want to take a moment to salute my colleagues here at CNN. We have won the Peabody Award for our coverage of the 2008 presidential primary campaign and debates. The board said that CNN gave viewers unparalleled coverage of the historic process.
So, big congrats to the whole CNN team.
Now, Newt Gingrich has a warning for Republicans. If they don't get their act together, there is going to be a civil war that will end in a third party. Now, what I want to know is, so, what's wrong with that?
And listen to Michelle Obama at an all-girls school today in London.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: It is important for the world to know that there are wonderful girls like you all over the world, all over the world.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN: When we come back, we will tell you what got the first lady a little choked up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARTIN: You know, folks, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, he has been warning Republicans, telling the Republican Party, if they don't get their act together, that angry Republican parties are going to form a third party.
I was thinking about that and I said, well, what is the big deal with that? It's a great idea. Other countries have more than two parties. And so it's only us. We're walking around talking about Republicans and Democrats. That's the only conversation we seem to have.
But the reality is, there are folks like me who are not comfortable in the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. We have different views. Some might be liberal. Some might be conservative.
So, personally, I think it's a good idea. Now, we know it's hard. We know it's difficult. But, frankly, it is worth it, because we need to have more people fighting and rallying for the ideas and voices of the American people. I am sick and tired, frankly, of only having two choices.
But, look, Gingrich's idea, frankly, is not crazy. You remember John Anderson. He ran in 1980 for president. Ross Perot got tons of attention in 1992 and 1996. So, the question is, who is next in line to start a third-party revolt? I want to bring in Republican strategist Ralph Reed, who advised the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004, as well as fellow GOP strategist Rick Wilson, who worked on Rudy Giuliani's Senate bid in 2000.
Now, Rick and Ralph, here's what Gingrich actually said -- quote -- "If the Republicans can't break out of being the right-wing party of big government, then I think you would see a third-party movement in 2012."
Rick, is Newt sending hints here that maybe some Republicans should break off from the GOP and form a third party?
RICK WILSON, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I don't think he's sending hints.
I think he's trying to send a warning shot to the party that there's an aspect of the way we governed during the Bush years that we deserve criticism for of spending too much, of adopting the culture of Washington, and of doing the things that were absolutely counter to the real core conservative message of fiscal discipline and conservative governance.
He's sending a warning message. I think a third party is an existential threat to the Republican Party. I think it would destroy the party. And we have seen that when parts of the party went to Ross Perot in the 1992 election, we lost that in a spectacular fashion.
So, unifying all the factions is going to have to happen if we are going to keep the party together.
MARTIN: But, Ralph, let's just be honest, though. You have this populist rage that is going on across the country. You have Republicans who are angry with what is going on.
And, sure, you might have a Democratic president, but you also have people who are independents who are also not happy. And, so, is this a question of Newt trying to get some attention or do you think this is real?
RALPH REED, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I agree with Rick.
I think this is the equivalent of a doctor trying to train a patient with shock therapy and basically say, look, if you have got some issues that are threatening your livelihood -- in the case of the Republican Party, it's political viability and livelihood -- you have got to make some changes. And if you don't make some dramatic changes, there are going to be very bad consequences.
Now, I have to be honest with you, Roland. I'm not worried about that happening, and I will tell you why. Because Barack Obama has done more to create unity in the Republican Party in the last eight weeks than anything I have seen in a long, long time.
This budget has brought the party together. Not a single House Republican voted for his stimulus package. I think you're seeing Republicans in both the Senate and the House uniting against this budget, which would double the national debt in about six years or triple it or nearly triple it in 10 years. It will pile up nearly $10 trillion in debt.
So, I think you're going to see the Republican Party returning to first principles of fiscal responsibility, spending restraint, delimiting government, and giving the American people what they deserve, which is a smarter, leaner, smaller, and more efficient government.
MARTIN: But, Rick, look, the big problem here is, you really don't have a strong leader right now in the party. And so do you think Newt, with this kind of idea, it will cause those disaffected folks in the party to rally behind that idea, and say, you know what, that's our guy; he's the one we should be falling behind?
(CROSSTALK)
WILSON: Roland, as Ralph pointed out, the countervailing issue is that Barack Obama is a lightning rod for the party, a unifying point for the party.
It's still too early for the 2012 candidate to have emerged from the very large field of folks that are out there interested in the race. If Newt is interested in it, that's one thing. And that's his business.
There are a lot of other people that are going to be in the race to be the person that can carry that conservative message of limited government, can carry that conservative message of returning to the principles that were successful for us in 1994, when we took over Congress in a situation that looked, frankly, as dire or more so as it does today.
(CROSSTALK)
REED: I don't think we need one leader.
MARTIN: Ralph, 10 seconds.
REED: I think we have got a lot of leaders out there.
MARTIN: OK. Rick Wilson, Ralph Reed...
WILSON: It's a while before we have to get to that.
MARTIN: ... I certainly appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
But, again, I would still like to see a third party, because I'm tired of these two choices.
All right, gentlemen, thanks so much. I appreciate it.
Folks, tonight, we're taking your calls about autism and childhood vaccines. Call us now at 1-877-NO-BULL-0. That's 1-877- 662-8550. And who in the world would bring their 9-year-old daughter along on a robbery? Police say a dad from Washington State did. We will you what happened to the little girl and her father when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARTIN: Phone lines, Facebook, Twitter, you name it, we have got a lot of reaction today on World Autism Awareness Day. And we're talking to actress Holly Robinson Peete about that issue. And you can call us at 1-877-NO-BULL-0. That's 1-877-662-8550.
But, right now, let's go to Gary Tuchman, who joins us with the briefing.
Hey, Gary, how you doing?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Roland, very good.
We're starting with breaking news tonight. Illinois Governor, the former governor, Rod Blagojevich has been indicted on federal corruption charges, including trying to sell President Obama's old Senate seat.
Drew Griffin of our Special Investigation Unit is live in Chicago with more.
So, Drew, what is Blagojevich facing?
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Gary, a massive political corruption, 75 pages in details on this indictment, for the governor himself, 16 felony counts, many of them carrying possible 20- year prison sentences, racketeering, extortion conspiracy, fraud, lying to federal agents.
But I think the nut of the case here, Gary, is the allegation that, even before he was elected in 2002, Blagojevich and three of his pals, including Tony Rezko, got together and decided they were going to use the Illinois governor's office to raise money for themselves, and when he was done being governor, they were going to divvy up this money between themselves. That started with selling contracts and that ended with possibly trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Barack Obama.
TUCHMAN: Drew, what a saga. Any reaction from Blagojevich today?
GRIFFIN: You know, Blagojevich, in true fashion, has been in Florida this week on vacation in Disney resorts with his children, but he did issue a statement through his PR firm. It came late this afternoon, Gary. It says that, "I'm saddened and hurt. I'm not surprised. I'm innocent." And he'll fight to clear his name in court -- Gary.
TUCHMAN: Drew Griffin, thank you very much.
In other news tonight, former star quarterback Michael Vick wants to be back in pro football by September. The ex-Atlanta Falcon is finishing up a 23-month prison term for his part in a dog fighting ring. He was in bankruptcy court today.
A 9-year-old girl who watched while her father robbed a convenience store in Washington State is in protective custody tonight. The suspect, Robert Daniel Webb, escaped a police chase Tuesday night. He allegedly told the clerk he's unemployed and needed money to support his daughter.
And, Roland, a proposal on New York City's Brooklyn Bridge went very wrong last week when the groom-to-be dropped the ring onto the road below. Friends and family shot these pictures.
Don Walling managed to scramble down and grabbed the ring. And you know there are metal grates down there, it could have ended up in the East River. And we buried one of the headlines, "Gina Pellicani (ph)."
Roland, she said yes. And it's a good thing because if she said no, being on the Brooklyn Bridge as the jilted groom is not a good place to be.
MARTIN: I'm glad he got the ring.
TUCHMAN: I know.
MARTIN: Gary, I certainly appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
Folks, First Lady Michelle Obama is getting used to rock star reception. So, why did a girl at this London school almost moved her to tears? We've got the story.
And we're taking your calls and e-mails tonight on the debate over childhood vaccines and autism. Listen to this e-mail.
"It's understandable that parents of autistic children are looking for answers, but there's no reason to turn to pseudo-science or conspiracy theories. Trying to rally behind a disproved theory will only hinder the search for the real cause of autism."
That's one reader, but what do you think? Call me right now toll free at 1-877-no-bull-0. That's 1-877-662-8550. You can also can e- mail me roland@cnn.com or find me on twitter and Facebook.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARTIN: OK, the song "Party Like a Rock Star" was for Michelle Obama, not Erica Hill.
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Come on, Roland, a little love.
MARTIN: All right. All right.
Last year, the piece (ph) was about Erica, now Michelle Obama is making headlines all over the world with hugs. So what's happening in the "Political Daily Briefing"? HILL: A lot of love is happening in the "Political Daily Briefing," a lot of love for Michelle Obama. Talk about another busy day for her in London.
The first lady has been going nonstop since she and the president arrived in the UK. Her day began this morning, 10:00 a.m. local time, with a tour of the Royal Opera House along with the other G-20 spouses. There was a lunch following. We are told she sat next to Mrs. Harper of Canada. No press though was allowed inside, so that's the information from the White House.
At 3:00 p.m., the first lady was off to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Language School, where students who've been waiting for nearly two hours greeted her like a rock star.
They were so excited to have the first lady there. This is an all-girl school we've actually been hearing so much about. Two-thirds of these students, two-thirds of them, English is actually their second language. Ninety percent of the girls here are minorities. All of them are encouraged to dream big.
The girls as you just saw there performing for Mrs. Obama. They showered her with gifts. If you thought though the initial cheers for the first lady were something, listen to what happened when she was introduced to speak.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
Mrs. Obama saying at one point she can't top that, but she did. The first lady clearly touched by these young women and became pretty emotional praising them in their "terrific school."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: All of you are jewels, you are precious and you touch my heart. And it is important for the world to know that there are wonderful girls like you all over the world. All over the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: After the speech, it was a hug fest, Roland, from the stage down to the auditorium. She made her way down there. Everybody getting a little love from the first lady.
MARTIN: All right. Speaking of hugs, let's clear up all this drama over the hug with the queen. Did it break protocol or was it OK?
HILL: OK, so the short answer on this is no. There's a good chance I think that Mrs. Obama may be invited back. The palace is talking about the incident in question, where the queen, by the way, did make the first move.
So there you go. There's the gesture. In response to all the hoopla, Buckingham Palace today issuing an official statement about this moment saying, "There was no breach of protocol. It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation between the queen and Michelle Obama."
Now, interestingly, the palace also noted in their statement that several members of the public hugged the queen on her last visit to the states in 2007. I'm not sure if they're trying to encouraging people to, you know, get a little closer in this modern day and age to their monarch or what. But --
MARTIN: I'm trying to figure out is hugging -- that's what people do. I don't get it.
HILL: Not always with the queen apparently.
MARTIN: I don't get it. Well, she's human. I think you can hug.
All right. Now, what's the next thing on the Obama's European adventure?
HILL: European adventure it is. So they're wrapping up in London at this point. President and Mrs. Obama tomorrow will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife when they arrive in the very early morning in France.
On Saturday, Mrs. Obama and the other G-20 spouses will visit a hospital where they'll tour the cyber surgery unit of Civil Hospital. They'll also tour Notre Dame. And on Sunday, Mrs. Obama will be in Prague where she will tour the Jewish Quarter before leaving her husband to head back home to her girls in Washington, D.C.
MARTIN: All right. Erica, I appreciate it. Give you a hug later.
HILL: Thanks, Roland.
MARTIN: Folks, we'll get more of the Brits reaction to the first lady from our man in London, the always affable Richard Quest.
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MARTIN: Our first lady is a huge hit with the Brits and here to talk over there, she's already in the same league as Jackie O, even Princess Di. And check out the newspapers over here. Today's "New York Post" headline "Royalty and Mrs. Windsor, too."
Our Richard Quest is back with his unique perspective from across the pond. Richard, we've been talking about "Michelle mania." But keep us honest here. Is the excitement about Mrs. Obama the same as past first ladies? How about the last first lady, Laura Bush?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you can't compare the two. I mean, trust you, Roland. That's right, jet me with a really nasty question, straight in the middle of the Thames behind me.
Look, Laura Bush was a woman who -- great dignity and great class and she had a certain way about her but it was not the informality that we're seeing with Michelle Obama. Now, maybe Mrs. Obama in the fullness of time will turn the same way. But the reality is, at the moment, there is this lively bundle of energy that is striding around the world. It is fresh, it is different, and that is what people are reacting to.
That is why nobody, frankly, except you, is getting terribly excited about the hug with the queen, which wasn't really a hug. That is why Michelle Obama has been getting rock star-like welcome. It is the freshness that they like.
MARTIN: Richard, look, I like the hug. The queen -- I don't see a big deal about the hug, so I don't know what the drama is. But how about this? The first lady and the president, they're going to be hanging out in France. And so, tell us about the first lady of France and what you think is going to happen with her and Michelle Obama.
QUEST: Ah. Ah, Mrs. Obama is about to meet her match. She's not even gone across the English Channel yet.
All right. Now, come on, just imagine it. I mean, I pity any first lady of any country that now has to go to France where there is a very popular president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who divorced his wife into somewhat odd circumstances, married a super, former supermodel who has had, I would say, raunchy pictures of her in newspapers, tastefully done, mind -- tastefully done, (INAUDIBLE) tasteful.
But the fact of the matter is, Carla Bruni, the first lady of France, Michelle Obama, interestingly, there will be one slight note. Michelle is a large, tall lady as indeed is President Obama. President Sarkozy is a little on the short side, and it will be an interesting picture to see of them all. Let's see if Michelle Obama wears heels when she meets the French president.
MARTIN: And we'll also see if they're going to hug. Richard Quest, always a pleasure, I appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
All right, folks, today the world is taking time to think about those living with autism and those supporting them. Actress and autism activist Holly Robinson Peete is about to join me. Her son R.J. was diagnosed with autism. This iReporter named Alison, also knows about autism. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We really have seen a change. The people are really much more educated about autism and they're much more understanding about it. And we just find that as a family we're getting more support from our co-workers and our neighbors and the people around us. And that's really making it easier for us to adjust to what we need to do and feel good about it and make friends and do what is needed to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN: I want you to call in with your thoughts and we're going to talk about the sensitive issue of autism and the vaccine. Call in now, 1-877-no-bull-0. That's 1-877-662-8550 or join the conversation online.
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MARTIN: This Saturday is the 41st anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And tonight for the first time we're seeing some historic photos taken by a photographer for "Life" magazine shortly after Dr. King was killed.
Here his friends and colleagues gather on the balcony outside room 306 of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. This photo shows members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference inside Dr. King's room. And this photo you see Ralph Abernathy, his longtime right-hand man, and William Campbell, both longtime friends of Dr. King embracing.
Right now, we're going to bring in special correspondent Soledad O'Brien. She had unprecedented access to one witness of the assassination.
And Soledad, you spent a lot of time with the man who was with Dr. King on that particular day.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a man who to this day says he needs (ph) to be a witness, a living truthful witness. So when Dr. King was killed, one of these men was on the motel balcony with him. It was the Memphis minister Billy Kyles, who had just turned away so he could walk down and go get his car. They were supposed to go off to dinner.
I went up on that balcony with the Reverend Kyles and talked to him about what happened on that day. Take a look.
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REV. BILLY KYLES, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: And then I got maybe about here. And the shot rang out. When I turned, I could see him lying on the balcony.
One of his feet was sticking through the railing. There was this huge hole in his face. And the police were coming and I hollered to them, call an ambulance on your police radio. Dr. King has been shot. And they said, "Where did the shot come from?"
Everybody was pointing in that direction. I took a crushed cigarette out of his hand. He didn't want the kids to see him smoke. And I took the package out of his pocket. I have in them in my possession somewhere now. I have a handkerchief where I wiped much blood off of my hand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN: So people still debate who killed him. Reverend Kyles, what does he think? O'BRIEN: Reverend Kyles believes that it was James Earl Ray who was the shooter, but he believes it was a greater conspiracy, the FBI law enforcement who all really did play a role -- Roland.
MARTIN: Well, we'll look forward to this special, folks. CNN's "Black in America" special report "Eyewitness to Murder, the King Assassination" airs Saturday and Sunday night at 8:00 Eastern.
Soledad, thanks so much.
Larry King is getting ready for his show right now. Larry, give us a preview.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Well, a lot of what you've been discussing, Roland. Did Michelle Obama steal the spotlight from her husband in London by budding up to the queen? We'll talk about that and that embrace that's making apparently big waves.
And what did the summit do for President Obama and America's standing in the world?
Roland, it's all next on "LARRY KING LIVE" and you better watch.
MARTIN: Absolutely, every night. All right, Larry.
And, folks, I know you want your chance to speak up about autism and childhood vaccines. And we always get a lot of feedback. Get on the phone right now by calling 1-877-no-bull-0. That's 1-877-662-8550 or hit me up on e-mail, twitter, or Facebook.
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MARTIN: One out of every 150 kids in this country is diagnosed with autism. Nobody knows for certain what the cause is, and that scares a ton of parents. So on this, the second annual World Autism Awareness Day, we're talking real people, real issues.
Joining me is actress and autism activist, Holly Robinson Peete. Her son R.J. was diagnosed with autism. Also joining us, pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, author of the best-selling book, "The Happiest Baby on the Block."
Now, Holly, you blame your son's autism on the vaccines. Now, all the major groups, medical groups, they say there's no connection. So why do you still believe that?
HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE, HAS SON WITH AUTISM: Well, mainly because I haven't heard or seen any studies about susceptibility, Roland. I haven't seen any studies about predisposition.
I took my son into a pediatrician's office. He was a healthy toddler, getting all his milestone speaking, the whole deal, and next thing you know he gets hit with a measles, mumps, rubella shot, along with some other shots to catch him up on his shots. And it was a case of toxic overload. I just saw him have this awful reaction, and I never heard him say "mommy no or yes," and all the little things he was saying, again.
So I didn't have anything else to look at. Does that mean that I'm anti-vaccine? Does that mean that I would tell people not to vaccinate their child? Absolutely not.
MARTIN: Because --
PEETE: Yes, I have four children. I need pediatricians to have a good conversation with me, a nuance, balanced conversation about how I best can get my kids inoculated in a situation where I might have some genetic predisposition in my family.
MARTIN: Dr. Karp, we've got a ton of people who called and e- mailed and written and they say, we agree with Holly.
DR. HARVEY KARP, PEDIATRICIAN: Sure.
MARTIN: So how do you respond to those folks who say, hey, you know, I'm with her?
KARP: Well, you know, my heart goes out to the families who are struggling with these kids. Great kids with autism but it's a huge burden on the families and they want answers and they need the answers.
It's the medical community's responsibility to find those answers. We've looked at immunizations and there were a lot of good studies on measles, mumps and German measles vaccines specifically which shows no correlation. In fact, there have been studies on lots of different vaccines that show no correlation. That doesn't mean we stop looking for the reason. It means we look harder.
And you know, I was on Larry King show a year ago for the first International Autism Day, and I have to tell you we're here a year later and there's been a lot of progress in terms of getting money out so we can solve this problem. I'm speaking here at the CDC in Atlanta and we, after eight years of inactivity during the Bush administration, we've got $100 million that's going to be advanced in the national child study, which is going to look to see children from birth, exactly what Holly is talking about, from birth to find out what is the susceptibility, which kids are at risk for developing not only autism but leukemia and other serious childhood problems?
MARTIN: I'm going to go to the phone lines. Nomita is calling from Texas.
Nomita?
NOMITA, TEXAS: Yes, hello.
MARTIN: Yes.
NOMITA: I'm a family physician and I opened a clinic for autism in north Houston because my nephew was diagnosed with Asperger's. And based on looking into and doing research on autism in general, I feel that vaccinations can be a trigger to autism and I described (ph) that kind of watching preventative medicine.
The diabetes, there are risk factors to diabetes, like having a strong family history of diabetes and then if you become overweight or you gain too much weight, your doctors tell you to avoid weight gain. And so it is a risk factor and therefore vaccinations also can be a preventive medicine.
MARTIN: OK.
NOMITA: You have to try to avoid something that can trigger a child to go into or become autistic.
MARTIN: Thanks so much. I appreciate it, Nomita.
Holly, a real concern in Los Angeles, one L.A. county (ph) story.
PEETE: Yes.
MARTIN: ... where 40 percent of the kids in kindergarten had no vaccinations.
PEETE: Right.
MARTIN: And so, are people buying into this notion? Because you say, you still get the vaccination.
PEETE: Yes. Yes, because I have a pediatrician who will work with me. Imagine, if you will, Roland, and Dr. Karp, I want you to answer this question, too.
I have a son who had a terrible awful reaction and then he plummeted into autism. That's my story. That's not junk science. That's the Peete science, OK.
KARP: Right. Sure.
PEETE: And so that's what happened. Now, I have a subsequent pregnancy where I have another boy. I reach out to my pediatrician.
I say what do I do with this kid? You know, what happened with me before, I'm a little scared and nervous. Can you work with me? I want to get him vaccinated. Can you split it up?
And what he told me was basically it's all junk science, you don't know what you're talking about.
MARTIN: Right.
PEETE: And I was belittled. It's the conversation with pediatricians and parents with a little more nuance and less black and white, I can guarantee you those vaccinated numbers will go up.
MARTIN: Dr. Karp, what about that? About 45 seconds with your answer. What about what Holly just said?
KARP: Yes, you know, I mean, I think that nothing is black and white. What we do know is, for example, half a million kids were looked at in Denmark who got the measles, mumps vaccine and there was no correlation between the ones who got the vaccine and the ones who didn't get the vaccine in terms of autism.
PEETE: Yes. But what about the cumulative effects of all of the shots?
KARP: No, I --
PEETE: We haven't seen that study done.
KARP: Oh, no, those studies have been done as well. As a matter of fact -- well, sure we have. I mean, we've seen that. We haven't added vaccines in the last few years and we're seeing a continual increase in the number of kids with autism.
I'm not saying, look, vaccines can trigger side effects.
PEETE: Yes.
KARP: But vaccines are a thousand times less of an attack on the system than the disease itself.
PEETE: Yes. The Vaccine Injury Court was set up for this type of situation.
KARP: Absolutely.
PEETE: There are children who cannot handle these toxins, minus one of them.
MARTIN: All right.
KARP: You know something, there's no question about that but if we stop doing vaccinations overall --
PEETE: No one said stop. We had to compromise. That's all.
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: Dr. Karp?
KARP: No, I agree with that but in the schools, there are 40 percent of kids who are not getting vaccinated, that's a problem.
MARTIN: All right.
Dr. Karp, I certainly appreciate it.
KARP: Thank you, Roland.
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: Holly, thanks very much. Great information. .
PEETE: Thanks, Dr. Karp. KARP: Thank you, Holly. I look forward to talking to you more.
MARTIN: Yes. Absolutely, you got us definitely hooked. Keep the conversation going.
Folks, there are organizations out there supporting research, raising awareness and providing resources for families living with autism. You'll find links to them on our "Impact Your World" page. Go to CNN.com/impact. Back in a moment.
MARTIN: "LARRY KING LIVE" right now.
