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Gay Rights Show of Force; Troop Surge in Afghanistan?; U.S. Troops Face Hidden Dangers
Aired October 11, 2009 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: The next hour of the CNN newsroom begins right now.
Hello everyone, I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for joining us.
Gay rights activists thousands of them marched through Washington to make their case for legal equality. Their walk from the White House to the Capitol comes the day after the nation's largest gay rights group hosted President Barack Obama at a black tie dinner.
The president aligned his political agenda with the group's goals on several key issues, but he offered no timelines on when he would fulfill his ambitious promises.
Let's start with the march. Several thousand people turned out for the walk down Pennsylvania Avenue stopping briefly to chant outside the White House. From -- excuse me, from there, marchers headed to the Capitol where they held a rally and called on President Obama and on all Americans to embrace their calls for equality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE CLUNIE, ACTRESS: I want to send a message for everyone in America to hear that this is no longer a gay rights movement; this is a civil rights movement. This is a human rights movement. This is our generation's movement. Our time is now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Throughout this nation thousands of individuals are the LGBTQ community are treated as second class citizens, accepted, but not seen as equals. And so that is why we march here. To ensure that no spouse is denied the right to see their loved one in the hospital, to ensure that everyone has their right to the pursuit of happiness and to ensure that my wedding doesn't stay a fairy tale.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: President Obama got a warm reception last night when he spoke to the nation's largest gay rights group. Mr. Obama told the Human Rights Campaign that he supports the group's views on legal protection against job discrimination and a range of other issues, but it was his pledge to end the military's "Don't ask Don't tell" policy that got some of the loudest applause.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We cannot afford to cut from our ranks people with the critical skills we need to fight any more than we can afford for our military's integrity to force those willing to do so into careers encumbered and compromised by having to live a lie.
So I'm working with the Pentagon, its leadership, and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy. Legislation has been introduced in the House to make this happen. I will end "Don't ask, don't tell." That's my commitment to you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, the president's pledge to end "Don't ask, don't tell" remains a work in progress, and he still has work to do with lawmakers opposed to any changes in the current policy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS, (R) GEORGIA: We've got a program that's working within the military. It's been very effective, very accommodating for about 15, 16 years now and it's worked well, and I think there's no reason to change it. I get calls from military personnel on a regular basis every time this issue gets stirred up. And this is not a popular discussion within the military, I can assure you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, there was another section of the president's speech last night that really brought the audience to its feet. It happened when the president repeated his call for a repeal of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
B. OBAMA: Well, we uphold the ideals on which this nation was founded that all of us are equal, that all of us deserve the same opportunity to live our lives freely and pursue our chance at happiness. I believe we can. I believe we will.
And that is why -- that's why I support insuring the committed gay couples to have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country. I believe strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away and passing the laws that extend equal rights to gay couples.
I have required all agencies in the federal government to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families as the current law allows. And I have called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, not everyone, though, is applauding the president's speech. As you can tell from the cheers, Mr. Obama had lots of supporters at last night's dinner. And last hour I spoke with the President of the Human Rights Campaign who remains largely supportive. But his critics, like one who joined me last night here on CNN, they say that the president is long on talk but short on action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELANGELO SIGNORILE, SIRIUS XM RADIO HOST: It was a great speech for February. We need it now after the loss of faith because he has dragged his feet and has not really spoken this way. We really need to see something concrete, something of a timeline on "Don't ask, don't tell." He just really just didn't even mention the Defense of Marriage Act and we wanted to hear him speak out against these attacks on us.
JOE SOLMONESE, PRESIDENT, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN: There's an enormous amount of impatience. I'm impatient. The community is impatient and I don't think we will -- we will continue to be impatient until all of these issues are dealt with, and we have full equality, whether it's in the workplace, in our ability to serve this country, in terms of health care disparity.
That's not going to change, but what was important was that the president said he is working with the military leadership. He's working with the House and the Senate. I don't just believe that to be true. I know that to be true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Now as I said, the president offered strong promises to his gay and lesbian supporters, but he offered no timelines on when he would accomplish his goals. We'll keep tracking these issues for you and we'll bring it to you right here on CNN.
President Barack Obama is thinking hard about the war in Afghanistan as well before deciding on America's next move. A misstep could have huge consequences and this morning's political talk shows prove there's no shortage of opinions about a potential troop surge.
Our Kate Bolduan is at the White House with a look at the options on the table -- Kate.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The funeral for Sergeant Titus Reynolds, one of the U.S. soldiers killed last month in Afghanistan. A striking and painful reminder of the cost of war as President Obama reconsiders U.S. presence and strategy in Afghanistan. Mr. Obama huddled with his national security team twice during the week.
The focus: Wednesday, Pakistan; Friday, Afghanistan and General Stanley McChrystal's assessment of the situation on the ground, reportedly calling for 40,000 additional troops.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: To disregard the requirements that has been laid out and agreed to by General Petraeus and Admiral Mullen I think would be an error of historic proportions.
BOLDUAN: Senator John McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, tells CNN's John King anything short of General McChrystal's request could result in failure.
MCCAIN: I think the great danger now is not an American pull-out. I think the great danger now is a half measure, sort of a try to please all ends of the political spectrum.
BOLDUAN: The White House insists no decisions have been made and all options remain on the table. Vice President Biden has advocated a smaller approach, more special ops teams and use of unmanned predator drones. And in stark contrast to his colleague, Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee says the focus should be more on Afghan forces, not U.S. troops.
SEN. CARL LEVIN, (D) MICHIGAN: At this time don't send more combat troops, but I say focus on the Afghan forces of the army -- faster, larger, better equipped.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN: The White House is getting pressure from all sides on this issue. Many on the left oppose committing any additional troops, while many on the right say the president should take the best advice from the commanders on the ground.
A fifth meeting on the administration's strategy in Afghanistan is scheduled for Wednesday. White House officials say a decision could still be weeks away.
Kate Bolduan, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LEMON: All right, Kate.
The family of a woman killed in an Arizona sweat lodge is speaking out saying heat is the only thing that could have killed her.
And a devastating reminder about the dangers of drinking and driving: police say an 11-year-old girl is dead at the hands of a drunken mother who was driving a car full of girls to a slumber party.
We want to know what's on your mind tonight: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com. We want to hear from you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: An 11-year-old is dead tonight after a police say a drunken mom crashed a car full of girls on the way to a slumber party. It happened in Manhattan on the Henry Hudson Parkway. Police say 31- year-old Carmen Huertas (ph) flipped the car several times when seven girls -- with seven girls on board, including her own daughter.
11-year-old Leandra Rosatto (ph) was thrown from the car and later died at the hospital. Huertas has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.
A celebrated high school marching band is singing the praises of a music teacher who died when the band's bus flipped over. The American Fork High School Band was heading from Utah -- to Utah from a competition in Idaho last night when the bus driver suffered a medical emergency.
That's when 33-year-old Heather Christianson she sprung into action according to the band director. She grabbed the steering wheel, but fell out of the window and was killed when the bus rolled over. Dozens of students were hurt, but none of the injuries are life- threatening.
More than eight hours, that's how long these three people had to cling to a lobster trap buoy before being rescued by the Coast Guard. But it wasn't for a lack of trying. The Coast Guard and other Florida agencies had been searching for their downed plane in the Gulf of Mexico since Friday night.
The plane was on its way from Tampa to Marathon, Florida, but crashed off the Coast of Cape Sable.
The family of one of the Arizona sweat lodge victims says she was in top shape and had no preexisting medical conditions. 38-year-old Kirby Brown (ph) of West Town, New York, was an avid hiker and surfer. She had a 40-year-old -- she and 40-year-old James Shore (ph) of Milwaukee, both died on Thursday after being overcome in a crudely built hut.
19 others were taken to the hospital. One remains in critical condition. The Spiritual Warrior retreat was being conducted by self- help expert and author James Arthur Ray. Both paid between $9,000 and $10,000 to participate in the spiritual cleansing ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIO BLACK WOLF, OWNS A SWEAT LODGE: Everybody has the right to believe and practice the way they wish to, but when it endangers the lives of others or when you have to pay for it, that's not a spiritual belief.
GREG ANDERSON, JAMES RAY FAN: There's nothing evil or wrong about money. That's one of the things that we're taught. And more and more in this society that money is evil and it really isn't, it just provides wonderful things. If you have the ability, you can you help many, many people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, police say they are focusing on Ray and his staff to determine if critical negligence played a role.
LEMON: Bonnie Schneider joins us now from the CNN Severe Weather Center to tell us about cold and snow -- I'm glad I'm not near -- it can be beautiful, though, but you have to be a little careful especially early on, because the ground is still warm. It gets slippery.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN SEVERE WEATHER CENTER: That's true. It is early. We're not even halfway through October, and we're talking about a big winter storm. Temperatures in the teens and then we're going to talk about record heat.
It's a day of extremes in the weather department. I want to show you first where we have winter weather advisories and where the snow is falling right now. We're seeing snow all the way across South Dakota just south of Minneapolis.
And Minneapolis already saw their first snowfall of the year, and temperatures are actually very, very cold across the entire region. You can see most of them are in the mid 30s. It's hard to find some of the upper 30s. As we head south, maybe we'll get up to 40 degrees. That's it really.
Nebraska also under winter weather advisories right now because of the snowstorm that's working it's way through the region, how much snow can we expect? Well, anywhere between one and six inches; so half a foot of snow in some parts of South Dakota. That will fall overnight tonight.
Get ready for Monday morning. It may be a tough commute in this part of the country from Wyoming all the way up to Wisconsin and into Minnesota. That's where we're expecting heavy snowfall possibly, and, remember, this is the first snow of the season as Don mentioned; so the ground not used to it. We're going to see slippery roads ahead.
Another thing that we're going to be watching across a good portion of the country are some very cold temperatures overnight. I mentioned earlier 14 degrees down into Billings, Montana, but here's another place that's under areas where we have frost advisories: parts of upstate New York, a good portion of New England, and even Suffolk County on Long Island. Temperatures will drop down into the upper 30s.
Take in the plants and the pets. Maybe they're not used to it getting so cold because it's been pretty nice so far this season in the northeast, but now we'll get down into the 30s, and we'll get ready for some chilly temperatures.
Oh, I forgot to mention one thing, Don. The record high in Miami today; right now we're looking at a low of 81. They got up to 92 degrees. That is a record; record heat down in south Florida.
LEMON: 92, sunny, clear skies, right?
SCHNEIDER: Yes. I mean, if you like the heat, that's where you want to go.
LEMON: I love it. Sounds like paradise to me.
I got such a kick out of this story. Many of our viewers did, Bonnie, last night. We had a little fun with it. Let's do it again.
SCHNEIDER: Ok.
LEMON: Because some people may not have seen it. Drum roll, please, for the next cover -- who is going to be on the next cover of "Playboy" magazine.
SCHNEIDER: I know. It's somebody so beautiful and famous. We've all heard of it her.
LEMON: Probably lots of retouching, right -- what do you think?
Marge Simpson. All retouched really because it's an animated character. She has an interview and the centerfold and she's following some pretty big names: Farrah Fawcett, Marilyn Monroe. Guess who took the pictures? Homer.
SCHNEIDER: Homer but he caught her by surprise; if you look closely at her expression. She was not ready for this, I don't think.
LEMON: Ok. Well, get ready, because it's coming out October 16th, right? The whole reason they're doing this, they're trying to increase their -- get younger people to start becoming readers of the magazine. Plus, it's their 20th anniversary. I find it very -- it's fascinating that they're putting a character on. First one they put on was --
SCHNEIDER: Jessica Rabbit.
LEMON: Jessica Wabbit (SIC). Jessica Rabbit.
Thank you very much.
SCHNEIDER: Sure. That should be an interesting cover. We'll see how it does.
LEMON: Talk to you soon. Hope I didn't embarrass you.
SCHNEIDER: Not at all.
LEMON: Is Rush Limbaugh ready for football? A better question maybe is the NFL ready for Rush? We've got the story coming up.
And male breast cancer, it's rare, but a growing number of ex-Marines are coming forward telling CNN their story. The Marines and their families say they were poisoned by toxic tap water and our special investigations unit has a story that you'll only see right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Free at last. Pakistani commandos rescued 42 hostages at the army headquarters early today nearly a full day after uniformed militants stormed in. 20 people were killed during the standoff in Rawalpindi: three captives, eight security officers, and nine militants. Authorities believe the Taliban or an allied Islamist group are responsible and they say they captured the attack ringleader.
At least 23 people are dead, and the Iraqi city of Ramadi is sealed off following a string of three deadly car bombings. Iraq's interior ministry says two of the bombs exploded within ten minutes of each other and just 15 yards apart. The third blast hit the hospital where the dead and dozens of wounded were taken. Officials believe the attacks were carried out by al Qaeda in Iraq.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.S. is committed to Afghanistan as President Obama thinks about the best path forward. She met with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in London today focusing on the size of the challenge in the war zone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Our challenge has been to take what we inherited, including an immediate request for troops that the president had to act on shortly after taking office understanding that we wanted to integrate our civilian and our military approaches; that we wanted to see Afghanistan in a larger regional context and to recognize the imperative of working with Pakistan in order to be successful in Afghanistan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is also considering sending more troops to Afghanistan. That announcement could come this Wednesday when he addresses Parliament.
Now the latest on a shocking and sad tale, one that made us ask exactly what we were putting our troops through overseas and hear at home.
We have new developments in a story we first brought you two weeks ago. A group of men who believe they got breast cancer from toxic water at Camp LeJeune. Since CNN aired that story, more men are now speaking out, and Congress is paying attention to what may be a case of poisoned Marines.
CNN's Abbie Boudreau has more in our special investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are the faces of a rare disease, male breast cancer. Marines, or children of Marines, who believe their illnesses came from drinking and bathing in toxic tap water at Camp LeJeune decades ago.
Within two weeks after CNN's story first aired, the number of men coming forward with this disease has nearly doubled. The total is now 40, all marines or their children.
MIKE PARTAIN, SON OF MARINE: That's blown me away. I expected to find some, but to double our number with just one story, and it just -- it begs to ask, well, how many people are out there with male breast cancer from Camp LeJeune?
Mike Partain was one of those we first interviewed. As a result of the story, he has been asked to testify before the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Partain was born at Camp LeJeune 40 years ago.
PARTAIN: I do not drink. I do not smoke. I was diagnosed at the age of 39. There's no history of breast cancer anywhere in my family, male or female. I was exposed while my mother was pregnant with me to chemicals in the drinking water. I was poisoned.
BOUDREAU: Representative John Dingell has long pushed for clean-up and accountability for contaminated military sites, including Camp LeJeune.
REP. JOHN DINGELL (D) MICHIGAN: It's an outrage, frankly. It -- it should not be permitted. It smacks of act of deceit, dishonesty, irresponsible of the environmental concerns and quite honestly, putting their people at risk.
BOUDREAU: The Marine Corps says drinking water at Camp LeJeune is now cleaned up, but acknowledges it was badly contaminated.
In a written statement the Marines point out that several scientific studies have not identified a link between exposure to the historically impacted water at Camp LeJeune and adverse health effects. With no proven link, many of those who are sick are denied V.A. benefits.
Senator Kay Hagen from North Carolina where Camp LeJeune is located says these people deserve help.
SEN. KAY HAGEN (D), NORTH CAROLINA: I think they've worked their entire careers successfully completing the mission that they were asked to start. And I think it should be our mission to give them complete answers on the water contamination issues, and if we stop now, our mission will not be accomplished.
BOUDREAU: Partain says that would be a start.
PARTAIN: It is up to the senate and up to Congress to force the Marine Corps to answer these questions and hold their feet to the fire when they're giving the answers and make them explain their answers. That's the only way we're going to get to the bottom of the truth of this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOUDREAU: Senator Hagen has just sponsored a bill that would give V.A. medical benefits to marines and their families who may have been exposed to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune.
Abbie Boudreau, CNN, Washington.
LEMON: All right, Abbie.
The president has reaffirmed his commitment to gay rights, but some people aren't too happy saying the president is not acting fast enough on his campaign promises.
Coming up, hear what our panel of experts has to say about that. Plus, hear what it's like for the two teens that we're going to introduce you to: one gay, the other transgender. Hear what it's like for them to come out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: He hasn't forgotten about gay rights. That's the central theme of President Obama's address last night to the human rights campaign in Washington. He said before that he supports a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, but he has never taken such a strong stand on protections for same-sex relationships as he did last night.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know you want me working on jobs and the economy and all the other issues that we're dealing with, but my commitment to you is unwavering even as we wrestle with these enormous problems. And while progress may be taking longer than you would like as a result of all that we face -- and that's the truth -- do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach.
The expectation is that when you look back on these years you will see a time in which we put a stop to the discrimination against gays and lesbians whether in the office or on the battlefield. You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The president didn't just focus on issues facing older Americans -- this generation of gay Americans. He paid special attention to gay children who may be struggling with that aspect of their identity.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: ... who may be struggling with that aspect of their identity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Tonight somewhere in America, a young person - let's say a young man - will struggle to fall asleep wrestling alone with a secret he has held as long as he can remember. And soon perhaps he will decide it's time to let that secret out. What happens next depends on him his family, as well as his friends, his teachers, his community but it also depends on us. On the kind of society we engender, the kind of future we built. I believe the future is bright for that young person. For a while there will be setbacks and bumps along the road. The truth is that our common ideals are a force far stronger than any division that some might sum. These ideals when voiced by generations of citizens are what made it possible for me to stand here today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. So what's it like for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth to hold that secret the president was talking about? And what's it like to finally spill it? I talked about it with two teens from Tulsa and their moms.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It makes me feel really good that he is actually taking a stand for gay rights.
LEMON: You came out in middle school, right?
KATIE HILL, TRANSGENDER TEEN: I came out numerous times around middle school and high school. I really came out last year in my freshman year of high school.
LEMON: Transgender. I have been getting comments from people saying, you know what, people leave the transgender people out of the conversation. I want to hear more about transgender people. As a transgender person, I wonder if it was tougher for you to come out because it's not the gender role that most people would think that you would have.
HILL: Uh-huh. Being transgendered it wasn't as hard to come out to my friends. It was really hard to come out to my family, though, because I didn't really know how to explain it to them because even until last year, my freshman year, I didn't even know myself exactly what I was.
And over the past few years they've tried to get gay acceptance and lesbian acceptance and lately I've seen from different shows, different newscasts about transgenders now starting to get more affiliated. When I talked to my friends about it, I told them about myself, they didn't know how -
LEMON: It makes it easier when people start to know that there are other people, you know, that you're not alone, right? They start to learn more about transgender. I think it may be easier for people to come out. I want to talk now to Misty. Misty, you came out in middle school as well, right?
MISTY TEUFUL, GAY TEEN: Yes. I came out in my sixth grade year. I was 12. And I came out to a group of friends at a party, and I wanted to get it out there because I didn't know if I was the only one who was going through it, and I did - I'm, like, I'm bisexual, and everybody was, like, oh, that's cool. I asked them to keep it to themselves, and next day at school it wasn't kept to themselves.
LEMON: How do you know, though, in sixth grade?
TEUFUL: It's something that you always know, I guess. I think it's not a choice. It's something you are born with. It's not - you wake up one morning, oh, I want to be gay. My mom even told me that when I was little I would tell the waitresses they were pretty. I mean, I guess I had it from the get go.
LEMON: What do you say to people who say, my gosh, these kids shouldn't be coming out in middle school and that, you know, their parents should encourage them to be in their - to live in their own gender, the gender in which they were born, or to have a relationship with the opposite sex.
Misty, I'll start with you.
TEUFUL: I say that they need to stay behind your kids. It's they are person that they created, and they should be able to stand behind them and say this is who you are, and I accept you no matter what. No parent in this world raises they are kid to be gay. No parent raises their kid to be transgender. It's not something you sit down and tell your kid. You are just supposed to stand behind them and be with them 100 percent.
LEMON: Hey, Katie, in the short time we have left, I'll give you the last word real quickly here. I'm sorry. Yes, Katie. Go ahead.
HILL: That's the last word. I think parents should, just like Missy says, stay behind their daughter and son and whatever they choose, people just don't understand exactly what we go through. They think that they choose - we choose to be this way.
TEUFUL: We choose to get harassed. It's not like that.
HILL: I don't think we would wake up one day and say I choose to be hated by everyone at my school. I choose to be having the fear of being beaten up every day. I choose to be abnormal. It doesn't make sense.
LEMON: Well, Misty and Katie, you are very lucky to have such understanding and loving parents. So I thank you, Katie, Misty, Davie Ann, and also Jasmine. Thanks to you. Have a great evening, OK?
TEUFUL: Thank you.
HILL: Thank you.
LEMON: Best of luck.
That conversation took place last night just minutes after the president's speech. So you have heard from our youth about - and their honesty that they have they had there. So what about the overall reviews from the president? It wasn't some people say that the president has a long way to go, and others say patience, patience.
We have a very opinionated group on last night. They joined us here in the CNN NEWSROOM to talk about the president's speech and to analyze what was behind his words.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HILARY ROSEN, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: This is not a single issue. We've asked them to repeal don't ask, don't tell. We've asked them to pass hate crimes. We've asked them to stop employment discrimination. We've asked them to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. This is a heavy load, and already in the first nine months we have seen progress on several of those things.
Look, four years ago President Bush stood before the country and tried to write us out of the constitution, and guess what, he was re- elected. So the idea that this is not a complete sea change and that we should not take this guy at his word for what we've seen to me is mind-boggling.
LEMON: What you do think of that, Dan Savage, that maybe the gay community should be a little bit more patient and give the administration time to do these things, because if you think about it, what group or block wants so many things done so soon? You know, Defense of Marriage Act, don't ask don't tell, employment discrimination, on and on. Do you think that the gay community should be a little bit more patient, possibly?
DAN SAVAGE: No, I think we should be as impatient as the fierce urgency of now implies. People being thrown out of the military now, including Dan Choi. We didn't ask President Obama to do all these things. President Obama, as Candidate Obama, promised to do all of these things and has not done anything except give the same campaign speech over and over and over.
LEMON: By the same token, you know, the big marches tomorrow -
ROSEN: There's a law that's going to be signed next week that President Bush would have vetoed -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A law that is 10 years old. A bill that is 10 years old.
ROSEN: That's right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Long overdue.
ROSEN: That's right. That's how long it took. That shows these are not slam dunks. Congress has to pass these laws.
LEMON: You know, I understand what you're saying that it is not necessarily the Obama administration's fault that these laws haven't been passed within the couple of months of his administration. From what he said tonight, it appears that he is making some progress. So why blame the Obama administration?
MICHAELANGELO SIGNORILE, SIRIUS XM RADIO HOST: We're not seeing progress. Look, it is about right now. We have the biggest majority in the Congress we're going to get in terms of Democrats supporting LGBT rights, and a Democratic president. It is about now. It has to happen now.
He is somebody who is, you know, speaking to the human rights campaign, which accepts this incrementalist approach. Hilary is on the board of HRC. I understand why she is on board with that, but really, the grassroots and what is happening tomorrow, the national equality march, people are really saying to him you need to come forward with what you promised during the campaign.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Make sure you join us tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN. The best political team on television weighs in on that, plus what's happening in Afghanistan and the week ahead for President Barack Obama. As we count down to our Latino in America special, we are taking a closer look at some Hispanic pioneers.
Coming up, meet Jim Plunkett, the first Hispanic to win the Heisman trophy. But his accomplishments didn't end there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Right here on this program we are profiling Latinos who overcame obstacles and shattered stereotypes to make history. It's part of our series "Pioneros: Latino Firsts." Tonight, the first Hispanic to win the Heisman trophy and quarterback a team to the Super Bowl Championship is Jim Plunkett. He is the son of being Mexican-American parents. He played at Stanford and later led the Oakland Raiders two NFL titles. He joins me now from New York. I was going to say, you can smile at that.
JIM PLUNKETT, FIRST LATINO HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER: Absolutely.
LEMON: You look so serious there. It's good to see you.
PLUNKETT: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: How are you doing? You look well. How is it going? You know, you are - people were joking here that you look like you're in your 30s, man. Life must be good for you now.
PLUNKETT: But I feel like I'm 130. You know, playing all those years really took its toll on me. I've had several surgeries. I just had my knees replaced, but all in all, you know, I'm happy to be where I'm at.
LEMON: Let's talk about that. I mentioned in the lead-in to you that both of your parents were blind Mexican-American family, San Jose, California. Having two blind parents, I would imagine that that was probably challenging for you as a child, but it probably gave you, I don't know, some initiative or you probably - it helped you to overcome many obstacles in your life.
PLUNKETT: Well, I think it did. You know, they raised three children. They worked, and everything they did was to provide for their kids. We didn't have much to begin with, and whatever we had, they sacrificed for us. Getting married, having my own kids, you know, you know how hard it is to take care of children when you have four good eyes between the two of you, and you know, they literally had none, and it was a challenge for them, and I think I drew a lot from their strengths.
LEMON: You excelled in athletics. What was the focus on academia, on education in your family?
PLUNKETT: Well, I think, you know, both my parents never got past the seventh grade. There wasn't really a lot of learning from them as far as academics go, but I knew that I wanted make a better life for myself growing up with two parents who couldn't see, who were on welfare, and every day was kind of a struggle, but I wanted a better life for me and my family to be, whoever that might be, in the end.
And so, you know, I was determined to do well in school and I fell in love with sports. No matter what it was, on a court, or on a field. You know, I wanted to be out there doing something every day and getting better at whatever I was doing.
The reason I ask you that is because I'm looking over the list. You have a long list when it talks about philanthropy and charitable organizations that you speak to hispanic boys and girls in school. You have a scholarship fund for athletes. That's the reason I asked you that because it appears education and charity work is very important to you.
PLUNKETT: It is. You know, I have been very fortunate. I got up from, you know, a poverty situation myself. I know what it's like to struggle growing up in particular, and I think you - when you talk to children and you can reach them early, I think it makes a bigger impact than when they're a little bit older, and so it gets them to strive for things early on in their youth.
LEMON: OK. I think this is going to be a last question. You know, we talked about you and what you do, but let's - can I go over your resume for a little bit?
PLUNKETT: Sure.
LEMON: You led Stanford to the Rose Bowl. Rose Bowl win in Ohio state. That was in 1971.
PLUNKETT: Correct.
LEMON: 1970 Heisman trophy winner. Number one draft pick for the New England Patriots in 1971. You finished your rookie season passing for 2,158 yards and winning the rookie of the year honors. You were acquired by the Oakland Raiders. MVP of Super Bowl 15 and on and on and on. So I have to ask you, do you feel like a pioneer?
PLUNKETT: You know what, not unless people bring it up. You know, I accomplished all that stuff or many of those things. Obviously with a lot of help from my teammates and that goes without saying. You know, I was very fortunate. I've always been a hard worker. I always strive to be the best that I can possibly be. And I didn't look at it as being a pioneer as something I set out to do. You know, you set goals, and you want to be the best at whatever you are doing. You know, fortunately, I happen to be in the right place at the right time. You know, I did accomplish those things. You know, not only - obviously as a Hispanic but you know, as a person, as a player. You know, I worked very hard to get to where I eventually got to.
You know, you - when I went to Stanford, they hadn't been to the Rose Bowl in 19 years. Myself and my teammates were dedicated to getting us there, and we accomplish that. You get in the NFL, and your goal is to get to a Super Bowl and win one. You know, I was very fortunate to be in two. You know, that just goes along with the territory.
LEMON: Well, you seem very excited about it, and I think the title of pioneer fits you very well.
PLUNKETT: Thank you.
LEMON: You know. We wish you the best of luck. Thank you so much for joining us here. You know, enjoy it. Enjoy it.
PLUNKETT: I do. I look back. Thank you.
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much.
Next week, as we continue our series here on CNN, we'll focus on the first Hispanic to become attorney general of the United States. I sat down with Alberto Gonzales. A very interesting interview that you are going to want to tune in for.
We are just 10 days away from "Latino in America." A comprehensive look at how Latinos are changing America, reshaping politics, business, schools, churches, neighborhoods. "Latino in America," October 21st, 22nd on CNN, the worldwide leader in news.
No touchdown for Rush Limbaugh. At least not yet. The head of the NFL players union doesn't seem to be a fan of the conservative talk radio host who wants to buy an NFL franchise. We're going to lay it all out for you.
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LEMON: All right. I have to say this. Talk about political football. Guess who wants to buy the St. Louis Rams' football team? Yes, conservative radio talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. But not everyone is rushing in favor of Limbaugh's proposed ownership stake. In fact, some Rams players and the head of the NFL players association, well, they want Rush to punt the idea. Boy, there's lots of little puns here. No word yet from the Limbaugh camp as to how they are going to proceed with this.
A college football star returns from injuries. The baseball players get underway and an NFL legend has a legendary performance. Who can get all that in? Our sports business analyst. Mr. Rick Horrow is joining us from West Palm Beach, Florida, where it is probably warm there today as well. We heard Miami had record heat 81 degrees. So let's talk - he's got his phone up because that's the best way he can hear us. He's skyping with us.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: (INAUDIBLE) skyping so I can hear.
LEMON: So let's talk about Tim Tebow. You know, he had a serious concussion just two weeks ago but he was back on the field yesterday and yes -
HORROW: Listen, first of all, kudos to (INAUDIBLE) Florida, right. I understand he went to Dallas U. Let's put that aside. They have a chance if they come back, and run the table, they can win the national championship. We don't have time to go through that today.
What we ought to go through is Tim Tebow, the brand. Florida has more revenue than any other school in the country. 105, 106 million. He has won the Heisman. He has come back to defend that. And so the stake was a very significant one. I guess it was a gamble. But the doctors cleared him and he ran a very safe offense, by the way. He wasn't hit but a couple of times.
LEMON: Yes. Hey, hey, let me jump in here. Because you know, I'm an LSU Tiger but, of course, we wish the guy well. You know and everyone even people, you know, who were gators were saying maybe he shouldn't play for the long term. He should sit out a little bit until he gets better and not go into this game even though it was a big one.
HORROW: Well, again, multidoctors cleared him. And he played a flawless game. And he was protected and he came out OK. That doesn't always justify the result but Coach Urban Meyer was very clear saying he was looking out for his welfare. And you have to believe him the way things worked yesterday, and it was a fairly easy game, although the defense won the game. Not really the offense.
LEMON: You say that because there is so much talk and controversy around concussions when it comes to pro athletes. And even, you know, college and high school athletes. So let's move on and talk about the baseball playoffs now. They're underway. Are we seeing the big money, the big market teams asserting their dominance here, Rick?
HORROW: Well, two LARE (ph) teams are already through in sweeps. The Yankees are playing tonight against Minnesota. The Rockies would have played last night but it was about 25 degrees so they'll be playing later on tonight against the Phillies who were the defending champion. The bottom line is seven out of the eight spots in the post season were taken by teams with 100 million or so plus pay roll. So the rich get richer and the poor need to get more money. As I said last week, money doesn't buy you happiness but it sure beats not having it.
LEMON: Yes, I'm sure you remember "Sleepless in Seattle." I'll have what she's having. I'm sure you remember that movie. I'll have whatever Brett Favre is having. Because, I mean, the guys is amazing. Monday night football last week. That was great.
HORROW: Well, but also, he played, I know we're going to get some letters from St. Louis fans. Because they call the Rams a pidgeon but they were winless going in. Today, they are winless coming back out. He won, I think the score was 38-10. Racked up a whole bunch more yardage and added to his legend. So the Rams are for sale but Rush Limbaugh wants to spend a billion dollars. You know, talk about that earlier but it was not a good day for St. Louis. Their baseball team got eliminated. Favre through all over the place and now the Rams are for sale.
LEMON: Yes. All right. Rick Horrow. Appreciate it. Enjoy Florida.
HORROW: I can hair you twice. This is great.
LEMON: Get off the phone. We're having a conversation on television.
HORROW: I'll see you in studio next week. I'll see you later.
LEMON: Thank you. Looking forward to it.
Well, they say they want to be a family that you can relate to. But the ladies of "Lincoln Heights" say their show is more than about characters on a TV screen.
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LEMON: Well, their hope is the Sutton family is just like yours. A typical American family tackling every day struggles from paying the bills, coping with teenage daughters dating to crime threatening their community. Its the premise of a television drama, in its fourth season in the ABC family channel. And CNN's Fredricka Whitfield sat down with the ladies of the cast.
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FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Lincoln Heights," one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Now also the name sake of one of television's newest dramas focusing on real family matters. From teenage dating to a heart tugging kidnapping. The women of the cast told me with each season, more reasons in which everyone, regardless of race and gender, can identify.
NICKI MICHEAUX, PLAYS JEN SUTTON: It's just like anybody's family. The good parts, the bad parts. How we love each other. How we fight. "Lincoln Heights" I think is so relatable. I think you see yourselves in the show.
WHITFIELD: Nicki Micheaux is the matriarch of the family as Jen Sutton. Her daughter, Cassie, in the throws of a romantic relationship is played by Erica Hubbard.
ERICA HUBBARD, PLAYS CASSIE SUTTON: The one thing I enjoy about Cassie Sutton is that she just wants to be loved and she wants to love. And I think that's why a lot of people tune in. It's to see that love that Cassie and Charles they have for each other.
WHITFIELD (on camera): Played by Robert Adamson. It's an interracial relationship. And you're also using this as a tool to help teach a lesson. Right? HUBBARD: Yes. Yes. The interracial relationship, you know what? It's an interracial relationship. I think when the viewers tune in, they don't see that. They see the love, the genuine love that they have for each other.
CASSIE SUTTON: Are you kidding? Of course I will.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): And youngest daughter, Lizzie, a freshman in high school is something actress Rhyon Brown can completely relate to. Although there are challenges.
RHYON BROWN, PLAYS LIZZIE SUTTON: They've given me a variety of things to do on the show. I've gone through being kidnapped. So there, those are different emotions that I had to display that I haven't gone through. So that's a stretch in itself.
WHITFIELD: All of these actresses coming with a range of on stage, on camera and production experiences. Yet Michelle admits despite the success of "Lincoln Heights" in its fourth season, there remains this.
(on camera): How much do you feel it being a burden that, yes, you know what I'm talking about? You know, I mean, already there are going to be expectations, right? People say, well, let's watch the black family as opposed to let's just watch a family on television?
MICHEAUX: I think sometimes as African-American artists, there becomes a weight put on to always be the teaching model. Not that our show doesn't have teaching moments. But primarily it's for you to feel the love of this family and enjoy that. And really to, if we could, get beyond color.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Similar to the universal success and appeal of "The Cosby Show" 25 years ago. As the cast of "Lincoln Heights" hopes to renew for a fifth season, they have their own ideas about what should happen next.
HUBBARD: They are most definitely taking their relationship to an intimate level. A more intimate level. They're going to college. They're going to college. So, you know, topics and situations are deriving out of that.
MICHEAUX: Because as kids grow older, it gets so complicated for parents. I love that Eddie and Jen get to try and struggle with these issues.
WHITFIELD: Just like, they hope, real life off-screen.
Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Atlanta.
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LEMON: All right, I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. See you back here at 10:00 p.m. Hope you can join us. Meantime, "STATE OF THE UNION" with John Kings begins right now.
