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Questions Over Jackson's Death; New Iran Street Protests; Coup Sparks Political Crisis in Honduras; Woman Behind "Man in the Mirror"
Aired June 28, 2009 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Voices raised. Thousands of Iranians flood the streets for the first time in days. They're out in force and so are the cops.
Ousted from his office, booted from his homeland, the sitting president of Honduras is down, but he's not going out.
Gay rights on parade from New York to New Delhi. Marchers look to the past and fight for the future.
And the governor speaks. New information tonight on the future of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who went missing, then confessed he was on a rendezvous with his mistress.
The news starts right now.
Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon coming to you live from Los Angeles in our continuing coverage of the Michael Jackson death investigation and what we can only describe as a very interesting day.
The questions that everyone has about the circumstances surrounding Jackson's death were answered somewhat by Joe Jackson and Jackson's attorney, Londell McMillan, in exclusive interviews with both.
Now first to Jackson's father, Joe Jackson. In the midst of mourning and making funeral arrangements, he attended the BET Awards show tonight. The entire show was hastily reworked to honor his son. Now I spoke with Joe Jackson exclusively on the red carpet, and as you're about to see, it was an unusual interview and at times he definitely did not sound like a grieving dad.
Plus, Joe Jackson wasn't the only one talking. I want to play it for you now in its entirety. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON (on camera): How are you doing, sir? How is the family holding up?
JOE JACKSON, FATHER OF MICHAEL JACKSON: I'm great. My family is doing pretty good.
LEMON: Yes?
JACKSON: Yes, they are.
LEMON: You want to tell -- the last couple of days I know it's been really tough for you guys.
JACKSON: And? Yes, it has. It has been really tough. Remember, we just lost the biggest star in the world, superstar in the world. So it's been tough.
LEMON: Why did you decide to show up here tonight? Was it to pay tribute to your son?
JACKSON: Sure, yes, to pay tribute to my son, yes, Michael. Yes, so we did. I did.
LEMON: How is Mrs. Jackson?
JACKSON: She is fine, thank you.
LEMON: Yes?
JACKSON: Yes.
LEMON: Is there anything you would like to share with the world about your son and about his legacy or...
JACKSON: Yes, I got a statement here. Give me the statement here.
LEMON: His publicist is going to come up and read a statement, and then we'll talk more.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. This is from -- written on behalf of Mr. Jackson and the family.
"Our family sincerely thanks all of you around the world for your love and support during our time of grief. Our beloved son, Michael Jackson, loved you all. Michael's children are our first priority. We will have further announcements to discuss our plans going forward. Until such time, however, we have the personal and legal authority to act, and solely Katherine and I have authority for our son and his children. We wish to handle his memory and legacy with dignity, and the attorney for the Jacksons is Londell McMillan, and no one else has authority to speak on behalf of the Jackson family at this time."
LEMON: Thank you very much for that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
LEMON: Mr. Jackson, you know, I was talking to you about the legacy that Michael Jackson left. Do you think that the world even realizes how big your son's legacy is?
JACKSON: Now, the -- seems to have realized it now, but only thing it is I wish the world had recognized him when he was living because, you know -- but right now he's bigger than ever now. But I wish he was here to see all this, to hear all this, yes. LEMON: We've been hearing from the Reverend Sharpton that you had some concerns regarding some of the last moments of the people who were around him in his life. Do you care to share that?
JACKSON: Yes, yes. Listen -- what now? What was that?
LEMON: I said you had some concerns about the physician and the people who were around him during the last moments of his life.
JACKSON: Yes, I have. I have a lot of concerns.
LEMON: What are your concerns?
JACKSON: I can't get into that, but I don't like what happened.
LEMON: You don't like what happened?
JACKSON: This is my attorney here.
LEMON: Yes. Sir, I was asking him. He said -- come on in here, you're Londell, right?
LONDELL MCMILLAN, JACKSON FAMILY ATTORNEY: Yes, sir.
LEMON: He said he had some concerns about the last moments of his son's life, about who may have been around him. Can you talk to us about that?
MCMILLAN: We can't talk about that now. There's a second autopsy that's under way, and we'll let that process take its course at this time. We'll have more to say about that at a later point. How about that?
LEMON: Have you spoken at all to the doctor at all?
MCMILLAN: No, I have not.
LEMON: Do you guys have any -- do you know anything, Mr. Jackson, about funeral arrangements? Have you had time to...
JACKSON: Not yet. We haven't got to that yet, but we're working on that.
LEMON: Yes.
JACKSON: This is Marshall (ph) here. I want you...
LEMON: Thank you. How was -- you said your wife is well, what about Janet and the rest of the family, the daughters and everything?
JACKSON: They're all doing fine, but I want to make this statement. This is a real good statement here. Marshall (ph) and I, we own a record company called -- tell him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ranch Records, OK, distributed by Blu-ray technology, and that's his next step. LEMON: And that's your next step. There have been -- talk to us about the 60th -- your 60th wedding anniversary as I understand in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. The entire family was there and Michael said that he had wanted the members of his family to...
JACKSON: My birthday?
LEMON: Your wedding anniversary, you and Katherine in Las Vegas.
JACKSON: That was fantastic. Yes, it was. A lot of people were there and a lot of people I was glad to see. It was a fantastic job that was done. That's first one though. That was our first wedding anniversary we had and they came out. Fantastic.
LEMON: What's next for you guys?
JACKSON: We've got a lot of fixing to happen, but I can't really announce it right now, OK?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Well, as you just saw, Joe Jackson was accompanied by family attorney L. Londell McMillan, who spoke with me at length after that interview. McMillan would not go into details on exactly what the Jackson family's concerns are about Michael's death, but he did answer questions about disturbing allegations by Michael Jackson's longtime nanny, his three children, his belongings and a second autopsy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCMILLAN: I represent Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, and I represented Michael Jackson for several years.
LEMON: Yes. As you know, I spoke to Mr. Jackson, he said the family is doing well. Can you tell us in your estimation how they're holding up?
MCMILLAN: They're grieving, but they're very strong and loving family, and I'm very proud of them and the ones that I have seen and had the opportunity to witness is just strength and compassion and a lot of love in this family.
LEMON: Joe Jackson said, you know, yes, I have some concerns about the doctor.
MCMILLAN: Well, we haven't gotten into too much of the details and as lawyer I'm focusing on other legal matters and hoping that the medical examiner and others will come up with what happened. But we're watching that closely, and I'll let Joe speak for himself with respect to that.
LEMON: He said he has some concerns about the last moments of his son's life as well.
MCMILLAN: Well, under such a tragic and unfortunate situation, you know, it's like we lost a major constellation in the night sky with Michael. He was just a phenomenal person and under such tragic circumstances one would be concerned and have certain questions.
LEMON: There have been reports about prescription drug use and abuse.
MCMILLAN: I know nothing about that in particular.
LEMON: That Michael may have had a Demerol shot. The doctor gave him a shot. The doctor today saying he didn't.
MCMILLAN: Well, we'll see exactly what happens when the reports come out.
LEMON: How was Michael's health in the last months of his life?
MCMILLAN: From what I'm told, he was in excellent physical fitness, and he just performed the night before and nights prior, and he was in great shape and he was looking forward to performing in the shows, and Michael Jackson was a very thin man, but he was a very strong man.
LEMON: There are concerns about what may happen to his children.
MCMILLAN: His children are in great care with Mrs. Jackson. They're in a loving environment. She's a great grandma. And I couldn't think of anyone better for these children than a grandma like Ms. Katherine Jackson and the loving support of family of the Jacksons at the Hayvenhurst state.
LEMON: Is she seeking custody of the children?
MCMILLAN: Well, she will seek custody of the children. That's what Michael would have wanted to happen. She loves them dearly.
LEMON: Who is -- was there a will?
MCMILLAN: Well, there have been reports of one and we're trying to assess that now. None has been presented to the family at this time.
LEMON: And not through his attorney, through you -- a will has not surfaced.
MCMILLAN: I have not seen a will at this time.
LEMON: If there is no will, who gets his assets?
MCMILLAN: Well, if there's no will, then under the state of California it goes to the next of kin, that's an adult administering and overseeing for the best interests of the children and that would be Mr. and Mrs. Jackson and Katherine Jackson is the duly appointed person.
LEMON: So it would not be, you know, Debbie Rowe or anyone like that? MCMILLAN: No.
LEMON: No. There's also a concern about, you know, that there was debt and that sort of thing. Can you talk to us about Michael Jackson's financial situation before he died?
MCMILLAN: No, I cannot. I can't talk about the financial situation.
LEMON: Talk to us about the second autopsy. You said a second autopsy is being done or has been done?
MCMILLAN: I understand that it's currently being done.
LEMON: Did you get -- has the family gotten any results from the first autopsy?
MCMILLAN: I'm not sure what the latest results have been, but that is something that we'll be talking about shortly.
LEMON: Anything else that you want to share with us about the family, about Michael at this point? There's one other -- there's one other thing that I want to ask you. We saw moving trucks at Michael Jackson's rented home yesterday taking some of his things out. Do you know who ordered that and what they took out and where it went?
MCMILLAN: The family wanted to protect his possessions and make sure that they're in great safekeeping. I mean, Michael Jackson was not just a phenomenal performer, but he was a phenomenal person with a great spirit and energy that touched so many people. I think the family wanted to thank everyone for their love and support.
We also want to have a time to just pay our respects to Michael and also to some of those people who felt so touched by it that they've taken their own life and so we want to also be mindful that Michael touched people so much that we want to also be very, very, very careful about that.
LEMON: It had been reported that they were taking things out of the home because Michael hadn't paid rent, and they thought maybe the owners of the home would come and take his possession.
MCMILLAN: There have been so many rumors and speculation around Michael Jackson. Almost all of them are false. And if there's any one thing that any of us can walk away with such a tragedy is that his soul and hopefully these rumors are at rest and he's at peace.
LEMON: There was a report in a London paper about the nanny saying that she had, you know, pumped Michael's stomach several times and that she said that he was -- he did have an issue with drugs. Prescription.
MCMILLAN: Again, almost all of the reports that I have seen and that I know of, as an attorney I can evaluate the facts, have been false. So, I would attribute these to false statements, and at the end of the day the truth comes to light. And what we want to do is bring the truth to the surface and to the light.
We want to have him buried with the legacy and the dignity that he deserves. And we want to look at what's in the best interests of these children so that they can be safe and that they can grow up well. And that his legacy speaks to the love and the musicality and creativity that he intended us all to have.
LEMON: I know that they don't -- you guys don't have funeral arrangements set yet, but you have to have been talking about them. Can you share with us any idea of where it might be, what they may do, because we know there will be probably a private ceremony, but I'm sure there will be a public one as well.
MCMILLAN: I have to respect the wishes of the family. And certainly as an attorney, I don't impose myself in those areas. Certainly, it's a personal matter and the family is handling the funeral arrangements with the personal care. So, I'll let the family speak on that and I'll just deal with making sure, again, that the best interests of the children are first and foremost, that his person, his creativity, and his estate is administered with the dignity and the respect that he deserves.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Jackson family attorney L. Londell McMillan.
Tonight, we're hearing new details about Michael Jackson's last moments. And for that, we turn to CNN's Ted Rowlands.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician with Michael Jackson when he died, broke his silence Sunday, firing back through his attorneys against allegations that he may have somehow contributed to the death of Michael Jackson by giving him a shot of the prescription drug Demerol.
Quote, "Dr. Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson," his lawyer said. "Not ever, not that day, not OxyContin either for that matter."
The lawyers do say Dr. Murray gave Jackson drugs in response to, quote, "specific complaints."
911 DISPATCHER: He's unconscious, he's not breathing?
CALLER: Yes, he's not breathing, sir.
ROWLANDS: Dr. Murray also described through his attorneys what happened as Jackson was dying, saying he found Jackson in his bed not breathing with a, quote, "slight pulse." He says Jackson was warm and he immediately started CPR, an account that seems to be backed up by the 911 tape.
911 DISPATCHER: Is he on the floor? Where's he at right now?
CALLER: He's on the bed, sir. He's on the bed.
911 DISPATCHER: OK, let's get him on the floor.
ROWLANDS: Police still have the car Murray drove to Jackson's house which they towed the night Jackson died. Murray met with detectives Saturday. His lawyers say he will remain in southern California in case police need more information.
Meanwhile, at the site where Michael Jackson received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 25 years ago, fans continue to show their respects as they wait for an official cause of death.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I do want justice to be done, you know, because I do believe that something happened that shouldn't have happened. I do believe that from the bottom of my heart.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Now, what exactly happens still remains to be seen. One thing to keep in mind here that this, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, is still a death investigation, not a criminal investigation.
Dr. Murray came down voluntarily and talked with detectives, an important note. Finding out the details of this is going to take not only those toxicology reports, but also going back and looking at all the prescriptions that were prescribed for Michael Jackson and by whom.
LEMON: And this is only the beginning. And as you heard, Michael Jackson's family, his father say, they have some questions, he has a lot of concerns.
Our Ted Rowlands on top of this story. Ted, thank you very much for that.
Let's turn now to news in Iran. Protesters take to the streets of Tehran today in the first demonstration there in days.
Also, a military-led coup ousts a Honduran president. Now what?
We want to know what's on your mind tonight. We want you to weigh in. Log on to Twitter, to Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com. We will get your comments on the air.
And be sure to tune in for a "CNN PRESENTS SPECIAL" on the life and music of Michael Jackson. "MAN IN THE MIRROR" airs tonight right after this broadcast, 11:00 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN.
I'm Don Lemon. We're live from Los Angeles with the latest on the Michael Jackson death investigation moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: To the tension-filled streets of Iran now. Thousands of protesters are again out in force in Tehran, and the main opposition leader in the country's disputed election tries to address his supporters. CNN's Reza Sayah has an update for us from our Iran desk.
What do you have, Reza?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Don, where is opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi? That's what a lot of people have been asking for the past week because, with the exception of a few statements on his Web site, he really hasn't been seen or heard from. That changed on Sunday in Tehran. Let's go ahead and show you some video. It will tell you what we're talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAYAH: This is video posted on Facebook based on accounts on the ground. It shows Mir Hossein Moussavi addressing a large gathering by his cell phone. The video shows someone putting a cell phone up to a loud speaker. Then you hear what is purportedly Mr. Moussavi's voice, but the audio quality is poor. It's really impossible to make out what he's saying.
The other big development is that large gathering you're seeing. Moussavi supporters haven't really turned out in big numbers for the past week because of the violent crackdown on the part of the government. But today, his supporters took advantage of a demonstration of a gathering that was actually sanctioned by the government.
The official purpose of the gathering was to honor a cleric assassinated back in 1981. And Mr. Moussavi's supporters say we're going too. According to our sources, 5,000 people marched to a mosque in Tehran. There were stretches where they were quiet but they also chanted. Associated Press is reporting some clashes between police and protesters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAYAH: Also today, American rock legend Jon Bon Jovi getting into the fray. Bon Jovi usually doesn't sing in Farsi, but he is now to show his support for the protesters in Iran. Jon Bon Jovi singing a song in Farsi, posting it on YouTube.
Here now, Jon Bon Jovi singing in Farsi.
(VIDEO CLIP JON BON JOVI SINGING)
SAYAH: That was Jon Bon Jovi. In a rough translation, Bon Jovi singing hand in hand, all with one voice, countrymen, your pain is my pain.
Not to be outdone, folk singer Joan Baez, she also got into the act by singing "We Shall Overcome" in Farsi, and she posted that on her Web site.
Don, the turmoil in Iran has touched and moved a lot of people there. You have two music legends offering their support with some music.
LEMON: All right, Reza, and we're following every development. Thank you very much for that.
Meantime in Honduras tonight, two men are claiming to be the president there. The military removed the country's elected leader this morning, and members of the Honduran Congress have installed a new provisional leader. Let's get an update from CNN's Karl Penhaul, who spoke with the ousted president earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was seized by gun-toting troops around dawn Sunday still in his pajamas. He was flown into exile in Costa Rica.
Mr. Zelaya's supporters rallied and unleashed fists and abuse as reinforcement headed into the presidential palace. By mid-afternoon, the Honduran Congress voted to back the coup and swore in a new president, Congress chief Roberto Micheletti.
In an apparent effort to make the coup seem legal, Congress leaders first announced Mr. Zelaya had resigned. Then they said, they revoked his mandate.
I spoke to Mr. Zelaya by phone in Costa Rica and asked if he had gone willingly.
"That is totally false. This is not just a military coup but a conspiracy by elite political and economic groups trying to steal Honduras's wealth," he said.
Mr. Zelaya had called a referendum for Sunday. He wanted to win voters' backing for another presidential term in a bid to push through his leftist social reforms. That brought him into confrontation with powerful political and business elites and even members of his own party.
Honduras's courts declared the referendum illegal. Power and telephones were cut across parts of Honduras Sunday, according to eyewitness reports. Helicopters buzzed overhead and tanks rolled into the capital, Tegucigalpa. Protesters burned tires on the streets and chanted insults at the military.
The White House said it was deeply concerned at the coup. The U.S. equips and trains the Honduran Armed Forces. Some 550 U.S. military advisers based in Honduras are now confined to barracks.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, one of Mr. Zelaya's closest allies, threatened a military strike after he said the Venezuelan ambassador was roughed up by Honduran soldiers.
"If our embassy is attacked or our ambassador is kidnapped, then this military junta in Honduras will be entering a state of war. We have to act, even respond with military means," Chavez said.
Honduras's new president, Roberto Micheletti, seemed optimistic his power grab would prosper. But if the coup is to succeed long term, it will have to survive threats from Chavez, mounting international criticism and a backlash on the streets.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Karl Penhaul joins us now live from the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
Karl, tell us about the situation on the streets right now. What's the scene like?
PENHAUL: A couple of hours ago in fact, an indefinite curfew came into place. That's been decreed by the new president, Roberto Micheletti, and that in an apparent bid to try and keep a lid on some of these protests that are now mounting around the capital Tegucigalpa and possibly also in other parts of Honduras. Difficult to see really what that might achieve, whether that will be successful.
What is also going on at this time is that some of the leftist Latin American leaders have called an emergency meeting. They're meeting in neighboring Nicaragua. Among those leaders, of course, are Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. And as we know earlier in the day, he threatened even intervening militarily in Honduras if President Manuel Zelaya is not restored to power and if Venezuelan diplomatic interests aren't respected in Honduras by the coup leaders - Don.
LEMON: Karl Penhaul. Thank you, Karl.
More international news to tell you about now. The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq says Iraqi troops are ready to take over security in their biggest cities. General Ray Odierno tells CNN he's seen consistent improvement in Iraq's security situation. He says extremists are launching attacks to try to draw attention to themselves ahead of Tuesday's deadline for U.S. forces to be out of Iraqi cities. But he doesn't expect Iraqi forces to suffer a security breakdown.
So, what do these major international developments mean to the White House? We are digging deeper for that.
And the woman behind the Man in the Mirror. A very special tribute to Michael Jackson. We're live in Los Angeles with the very latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I'm Don Lemon live in Los Angeles. We're following the very latest on the death investigation of the late Michael Jackson. Hard to say those words. On the phone with me now is legendary singer Donna Summer, a close friend of Michael Jackson.
Thank you so much for joining us tonight. What was your relationship with Michael, Miss Summer? How did you know him?
DONNA SUMMER, SINGER (via telephone): Well, I met him years ago when I was working with Quincy, actually even before that. And he sang on one of my cuts off one of my albums. And, you know, over the years, his family came to see my shows, and I hadn't seen him lately in quite a while since I -- really since I started my family. I haven't seen him for a while. But I followed his career and have followed him and have loved him for an exorbitant amount of time.
LEMON: Yes, you've known him for a long time. Tell us, do you have a fond memory of him? What is your fondest memory?
SUMMER: One of my fondest memories is one day I was recording at Quincy Jones's house and he came by. And the kids were out on the front lawn, you know, they were playing on like the jumping thing. And when we went outside, he was outside playing with the kids, and it was just one of those sweet moments where he was just so vulnerable and human and so utterly down to earth and humble. It was a precious moment for me.
LEMON: You know, everyone has been answering this question, but you may have a better perspective on it, about his legacy, because you're in the music industry as well.
SUMMER: What do I think of his legacy?
LEMON: His legacy, yes.
SUMMER: Well, first of all, I think one would have to say that Michael Jackson without question raised the bar on what we consider talent in the first place and on the perfection of what you were given as a talent. And I think his discipline -- in his level of discipline exceeded pretty much anybody I've ever met. So I just think that he, you know, if there's something or if there was a perfect performance, then Michael Jackson gave it.
LEMON: Is there anything on your heart or mind right now that he is gone?
SUMMER: Well, you know, it's just -- it's very difficult to imagine that there will be no more Michael physically walking around and that he will never sing another song or speak again. It's hard to grasp. You know, I have moments of just sitting down crying and my mind cannot really comprehend it yet, so I think I'm still trying to grapple with the reality of it.
LEMON: Yes, and you know what? People have been talking about the people around him, maybe taking advantage of him, you know. Did he pay the ultimate price of fame here, Miss Summer?
SUMMER: I don't know. I don't know if it's an ultimate price of fame, but I certainly think that he could have had wiser people around him. And I think whenever you're a celebrity or whenever you're a person that's in the public eye, it is easy to have hangers-on or whatever you call them and people who want to use and exploit you, and I think that's always a problem. I'm sure that somebody like Michael had a far more, you know, a greater chance of being taken advantage of. He was a sitting target.
And so, I just feel -- you know, I feel more than anything for his family and I just, you know, send my condolences and my love to all of them. And I hope I'll see them before this is all over. LEMON: Donna Summer, we appreciate it. Thank you so much for joining us and we wish you the very best.
SUMMER: Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
LEMON: All right.
Earlier tonight, you know, we heard from Michael Jackson's father for the first time since Michael's death. Joe Jackson attended the BET Awards, and he spoke to us on the red carpet as he arrived for tonight's show, which, as you know, was a tribute to the life and career of Michael Jackson. Joe Jackson talked about his son and said his family is coping well. I also asked him about funeral arrangements.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S FATHER: Not yet. We haven't gotten to that yet, but we're working on that.
LEMON: Yes.
JACKSON: This is Marshall (ph) here. I want you...
LEMON: Thank you. How was -- you said your wife is well, what about Janet and the rest of the family, the daughters and everything?
JACKSON: They're all doing fine, but I want to make this statement. This is a real good statement here. Marshall (ph) and I, we own the record company called -- tell him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ranch Records, OK, distributed by Blu-ray technology, and that's his next step.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. So a lot to talk about tonight with our radio hosts. Warren Ballentine joins me now from Raleigh, North Carolina. He hosts "Warren Ballentine Show." Michael Medved is here on the West Coast. He's in Seattle. He hosts "The Michael Medved Show."
So let's start, where else, with the Michael Jackson situation. We heard Joe Jackson there, and I have to be honest with you, a lot of people have been saying what was that all about, promoting, you know, his new production company or what have you.
Warren, I'm going to start with you. Did you hear anything about that after that interview?
WARREN BALLENTINE, HOST, "THE WARREN BALLENTINE SHOW": My phone has been ringing ever since you did that interview, and a fantastic interview, by the way, Don. My Facebook page has blown up. I mean, a lot of my listeners who are 90 percent African-American are very upset about Joe Jackson plugging his record label at this time when we're celebrating the life of Michael Jackson. They're very disturbed by that. LEMON: Michael Medved, did you get a chance to listen to that interview and have you gotten any feedback from anyone?
MICHAEL MEDVED, HOST, "THE MICHAEL MEDVED SHOW": I haven't yet, Don, but it's terrific that you had the opportunity to speak to Joe Jackson. It's obviously an awkward situation, given some of the charges that Michael himself had made about his father. This obviously wasn't a terrific relationship at all times.
And I think one of the questions now is why the delay for the funeral because it will be a big funeral. And I think it will be cathartic for all of the people around the world who loved Michael Jackson. It will be a good thing for him to be honored properly and for him to rest in peace.
LEMON: And, Michael, you know, much has been made of the media coverage. We heard several of the entertainers who came out tonight saying that the media coverage is focusing on the controversy. But I'm also hearing people, Michael, saying, you know, we can't forget the last 15 or so years of his life or 10 or what have you that was part of his life. What do you make of that?
MEDVED: Well, I think it's sad. Michael Jackson in his life blurred distinctions. He blurred distinctions between black and white like no one else except for President Obama. I mean, literally, when you think about a black entertainer from Gary, Indiana, who literally was just -- transcended any ethnic identity or any background at all and then he did that in his person, in his physicality, as well with some of the plastic surgery.
He blended distinctions between male and female, between gay and straight, between adult and child. And that's what ultimately got him into trouble. It's a very, very sad and classic American story. And I think it does remind people in many ways of the sudden passing of Elvis at a time when people were talking about his comeback. I suspect Neverland Ranch will become a national shrine in the style of Graceland.
LEMON: And, Warren, now same question to you.
BALLENTINE: Well, I want to say this. Michael Jackson, not only did he transcend race, he changed everything, Don.
Before Michael Jackson, videos were just somebody standing in front of a screen and dancing. Michael Jackson actually made movies out of videos. Martin Scorsese worked with him. Landis worked with him. Wesley Snipes got his start there. Tyra Banks got her start there. Eddie Murphy was in one of his videos.
This man touched everybody from movies to music to clothing and how we dressed to the hair that we wear to HBCUs, my beloved North Carolina, and to the bands, they played Michael Jackson music. He transcended everything, Don.
LEMON: Thank you, Warren. We have to run. We have to leave with that. Warren Ballentine and Michael Medved, we appreciate it. No doubt everyone will be talking about this on the radio come Monday morning.
MEDVED: No doubt at all.
BALLENTINE: No doubt.
LEMON: Thank you.
Well, Honduras. Well, it may or may not have a new president. We're not sure.
And the demonstrations continue in Tehran. We're digging deeper on that for you.
And 40 years ago tonight, the American gay pride movement was born. But where is it going? Does anyone remember Stonewall?
We're live from Los Angeles with the latest on the Michael Jackson death investigation. We're back moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Here to discuss the big issues on President Obama's plate this week are CNN political editor Mark Preston, he joins us live from Washington, April Ryan, she's a White House correspondent for American Urban Networks. She's live in Baltimore.
Thank you both.
Mark, this weekend we heard tough talk from Iran's president to the White House. How is the administration responding to that? I would imagine that it's even stronger than it was in previous weeks.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, you know, Don, the White House has been very consistent as has President Obama to say that they're going to leave the elections up to the Iranian people. It's the Iranian people who are going to speak about it. Still, it hasn't stopped the Iranian president, as you just said, of accusing the White House of meddling in his country's affairs.
LEMON: And, you know, April, you know, if Iran and North Korea aren't enough to worry about, now we have this coup in Honduras. How is President Obama handling this situation? What are you hearing?
APRIL RYAN, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN URBAN RADIO NETWORKS: Well, the Obama administration is working with a lot of the countries in the region around Honduras to try to fix this problem peacefully. They're saying it's unfortunate. They're looking at the fact that the president is not -- well, the ousted president is not in asylum and he has not resigned. And they're trying to work this situation out, trying to come to a peaceful resolution, saying that it's not consistent with the democratic constitution there.
LEMON: OK. So, hey, Mark, late last week I understand you broke some news on people trying to influence the debate on health care, correct? PRESTON: Yes. Well, Don, you know, clearly this is one of the top domestic issues for the president, and there's a lot of stakeholders. There's a lot of money involved. And now this is done exclusively for CNN by campaign, media analysis group shows, and so far, Don, $22 million has been spent in only six months on health care ads, trying to influence this debate. It's only the tip of the iceberg. So over the next couple months, expect to see more and more commercials trying to influence this debate.
LEMON: Yes. And, April, I know that you reported to us that the White House will be holding what's being billed as a White House online town hall meeting. But I want to get to you about some developing news that you have concerning the president and Michael Jackson's family?
RYAN: Yes. President Obama has sent a letter to the Jackson family. Now, Thursday when Michael Jackson died, the White House said they were not going to issue a statement. Because of the outpouring of all around the world, they said, look, you know, they were going to issue a statement Friday. The president was going to speak on it, but no reporter asked. So, we're expecting the president to talk about it this week.
And also former President Bill Clinton has talked with at least Joe Jackson and Katherine Jackson and we understand possibly some other Jackson family members.
But we understand the letter from President Obama has gone out, and former President Clinton has talked to the family.
LEMON: April Ryan and Mark Preston, thank you both.
RYAN: Thank you.
LEMON: It is pride weekend across the country and members of the gay and lesbian and bisexual and transgender communities are out in force. We'll also talk to Daniel Choi. He is a former Army lieutenant who has outed himself on national television and he -- there he is, smiling for the world to see.
We'll also hear from the woman who wrote one of Michael Jackson's favorite songs, "Man in the Mirror."
Live from Los Angeles with the latest on Michael Jackson tributes and his death investigation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The rainbow flag unfurled around the world today.
(VIDEO CLIP)
Well, take a look at that. That is New Delhi. Gay right activists paraded past India's high court, which is reviewing a law dating back to colonial times that outlaws homosexuality. People can be sent to prison for up to ten years. There were similar parades in cities across the U.S. like this one in New York. The gay rights movement was born in New York's Greenwich Village 40 years ago today. That's when gay bar patrons and New York police clashed in an incident known as the Stonewall rebellion.
The gay pride parade in San Francisco today, the co-Grand Marshall was former Army Lieutenant and West Point graduate Dan Choi. He has a very interesting story to tell. A victim of the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Now he's an activist, and he joins us tonight from San Francisco.
How was the parade?
DAN CHOI, CO-GRAND MARSHAL, SAN FRANCISCO GAY PARADE: Wonderful, Don. Just the showing of support by almost a million people out in the streets. And there's not just gay people that go to these things. It's straight people, it's gay people, it's black and white, women and men, just people that are saying, you know what, we need to show support and we need to have a clear message to everyone out there.
LEMON: But, Dan -- Dan, it's interesting because you have a million people out in San Francisco out west, but yet in California, you know, you've got the Prop 8 going on. So, you have all these supporters, but then you have something like this where gay people cannot get married or at least it's rescinded.
CHOI: And, Don, it's amazing. Forty years after Stonewall, and we've been in this movement, and we still have such a long way to go. It's a wake-up call. We need to wake up and say, you know what? It's not just about declaring who we are as ourself. It's for the other people, generations from now so that we can band together and say inequality is an insult to Americanism.
LEMON: And, Dan, you know, there is a party and a gathering at the White House tomorrow. The White House -- the administration has invited openly gay legislators from around the country to come in for what's being billed as a cocktail party behind the scenes. And many people are saying that's to repair the deteriorating, I guess, relationship, you would say, with the gay community and the White House.
Do you feel like the administration is doing enough, or that they're feeling the heat at least from gay issues?
CHOI: Don, I think they need to do a lot more. And all of our leaders from Congress to senators to advocacy groups and their leaders need to just wake up and realize that when we talk about the victims of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" or the victims of inequality, we have to look at the straight soldiers, and those straight people in America who are also hurt by that.
When you rip people out of a unit, you're hurting the entire unit. When you hurt somebody by stripping away their rights, you hurt what it means to be American.
LEMON: All right. Dan Choi, thank you very much. We wish you the very best.
CHOI: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: Well, you know his name, you know his voice. A famous pitchman found dead in his Florida home.
Plus, I'll give you a behind-the-scenes look from the red carpet at tonight's very special BET Awards. We're live from Los Angeles with the very latest on the Michael Jackson tribute and the investigation into the singer's death.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You know his voice, his products and that famous beard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILLY MAYS, STAR PITCHMAN: You know the best way to get your stains out in the wash? Well, America's leading laundry brands...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Infomercial (INAUDIBLE) Billy Mays has died at the age of 50. His wife found him unresponsive at their Florida home this morning. No word on the cause of his death.
Mays was on this US Airways flight that landed roughly yesterday in Tampa. Afterward he told a TV station he suffered a bump on the head, but it's not clear if that had anything to do with his death.
South Carolina's governor says he is not going anywhere. After days of speculation, Mark Sanford tells the Associated Press he will remain in office. Sanford's political career has been in limbo since he admitted to an extramarital affair on a trip to Argentina. Today he said he has decided not to quit and instead try to repair the damage.
Hundreds of people are expected to pack a New York courtroom tomorrow for the sentencing of Bernie Madoff. He pleaded guilty back in March to swindling thousands of people out of their life savings and what has been called the biggest Ponzi scheme ever. Madoff could be sentenced to 150 years in prison.
Just hours ago, I was on the red carpet at the BET Awards. I'll take you behind the scenes for a bit of stargazing. We're live from Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Well, every edition of our series up from the past is special, but tonight is unique. On the red carpet of the BET Awards I spoke with many stars about Michael Jackson. For them he personified the true spirit of an American pioneer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Michael Jackson shaped every part of our lives. Every song that he sang, I think we all have a memory.
ALICIA KEYS, SINGER/ACTRESS: I mean, how could he not influence us to break the barriers, and to think bigger, and to try new things, and to break, you know, to just break the rules.
KERI HILSON, SINGER/SONGWRITER: You know, he broke all kind of boundaries. And he's just -- you know, he's incredible. He's a legend.
SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS, ENTERTAINER: He changed my life. He made me believe that anything was possible. He made me believe in magic.
CHAKA KHAN, SINGER/SONGWRITER: I have to believe that energy lives on.
LEMON: It does.
KHAN: And that he is still with us in some amazing way.
ZOE SALDANA, ACTRESS: You can be famous and you can also give back, you know, and lend your voice to great causes for children. I just -- I knew that at a very young age that Michael was more than just the moonwalker, you know.
COMBS: This man is like, you know, one of the greatest heroes for us. He's one of the reasons why Barack Obama is president, you know what I'm saying.
KEYS: Absolutely.
TARAJI P. HENSON, ACTRESS: He parted a gap so that Obama could be the president. You know, that was -- his rise to fame was the beginning of, "Oh, black people are OK."
SHEPHERD: I just remember laying in bed, and I used to dream about marrying Michael Jackson. I thought we're going to have matching jumpsuits in our wedding. I mean, I had the whole thing planned out.
ARSENIO HALL, ACTOR/COMEDIAN: He brought us so much joy. I hope we will remember how he made us happy.
Oh, man. Can you listen to anything Michael created and not smile?
LEMON: His talking about ABC, it's easy as 1, 2, 3.
KHAN (SINGING): Got to be there. Be there in the morning, when she says, hello world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: "Up From a Past" there, every Sunday night 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. right here on CNN. The woman behind "The Man in the Mirror." A very special tribute to Michael Jackson, live from Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We have all heard the inspirational Michael Jackson song "Man in the Mirror." Well, you're about to meet the woman behind the music.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL JACKSON (singing): I gotta make a change...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... for once in my life.
JACKSON: I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... who am I to be blind pretending not to see their need.
JACKSON: I'm starting with the man in the mirror.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: And I'm asking him to change his ways.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Siedah Garrett wrote "Man in the Mirror" 21 years ago.
SIEDAH GARRETT, SONGWRITER, "MAN IN THE MIRROR": Quincy Jones. I was signed to Quincy's publishing company, and he wanted a song to finish out the "Bad" album. I wanted to write a song that made him feel like he had something to say important to the world. And I think he let me know that I did exactly that.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): What did he say to you?
GARRETT (voice-over): He said "Man in the Mirror" is one of my favorite songs of all-time.
GUTIERREZ: What was it like when you actually heard him singing your words?
GARRETT: I remembered the first time I heard the song on the radio. I got goose bumps as I pulled over to the side of the road on the freeway. And I turned up the radio as loud as it could go, and I just sat there with tears just streaming down my face because it was such a moving, emotional moment.
GUTIERREZ: What will you miss the most?
GARRETT: His voice, his laughter, and his sense of humor.
GUTIERREZ: What has the world lost?
GARRETT: Music. We lost the music. GUTIERREZ (voice-over): So she sang as a tribute to her friend at the Agape Church in Los Angeles.
GARRETT (SINGING): I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways, and no message could have been any clearer...
GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I'm Don Lemon, reporting live from Los Angeles. Thanks for joining us.
"CNN PRESENTS: MAN IN THE MIRROR" begins right now.
