Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Death Penalty For 9/11 Suspects?; Sarah Palin Speaks Out
Aired November 13, 2009 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Coming at you now: Does your insurance cover abortion? Michael Steele makes a move to get it out of the RNC's health care plan.
ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: These were extraordinary crimes, and, so, we will seek maximum penalties.
LEMON: A self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind facing trial in New York, and this man seems to be taking the fall for what's not happening at Gitmo, all announced as the president is overseas. Is timing everything?
She's out of a job because of her Facebook photos.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I went to the Temple Bar District of Dublin and drank some alcohol there, like any normal adult would.
LEMON: Where's the line, and did her boss cross it?
Um, that's not maternal instinct -- caught red-handed.
Your national conversation for Friday, November 13, starts now. Let's go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, in today for Rick Sanchez, with the next generation of news. It's a conversation, it's not a speech, and it is your turn to get involved.
We have a lot of news, new developments this afternoon to tell you about in the massacre at Fort Hood. And we have some new information on the suspect here, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who is hospitalized. He's in intensive care in San Antonio, Texas.
Now, his lawyer tells CNN that Hasan, his room is surrounded by three or four guards who are keeping very tight control over who's going in and who's coming out of there. And, again, a major development to tell you about. He tells us Hasan is paralyzed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. JOHN P. GALLIGAN (RET.), ATTORNEY FOR MAJOR NIDAL MALIK HASAN: He's not ambulatory. He's paralyzed, at least from the waist down. And my understanding is that there's no immediate likelihood that that's going to change.
You're looking at an individual in a bed. And I'm telling you, can't move his legs, and has tremendous pain in his hands, difficulty speaking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right.
Lee Hancock is a reporter with "The Dallas Morning News." She's been covering this story since the very beginning. She's joining us now from Killeen, Texas.
So, paralyzed, and he found out in a meeting between Colonel Galligan, and who else was involved in that meeting when he found out?
LEE HANCOCK, "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS": Apparently, Colonel Galligan and defense -- co-defense counsel from the military had arranged for one of the major's brothers to fly in to San Antonio last night just to meet with him in the hospital. He wanted his brother to be there and present with the major when he heard the news, when the family was told the news that the major is paralyzed from the waist down.
(CROSSTALK)
HANCOCK: So, it was about an hour meeting.
LEMON: Go ahead. I'm sorry.
HANCOCK: It was about an hour meeting, in which the brother was allowed to spend some time. Apparently, it was described as an emotional meeting with the major in which they discussed his -- a bit about his condition, that he has been told that he will never walk again.
LEMON: Mm-hmm. And what I was going to say as I was about to interject there, this is the first time we have heard about a family member meeting with Hasan.
HANCOCK: That's correct. And his defense lawyer said he thought that it was important for him to have that connection. You know, he is becoming a bit more able to converse for longer periods of time.
The colonel said that, after about an hour, though, he was still exhausted. Apparently, he does have some use of his hands, but said that, on a scale of one to 10, he's got a pain level of about eight, and seemed to be fading. He's apparently on heavy medications, heavy pain drugs for his condition there in the ICU.
LEMON: Mm-hmm. And I'm reading your latest report, and you said here, that he had some feeling in his hands, and that he is in significant pain from his injuries that were sustained on that day.
Do you know about physical therapy and where they're going to do it? Is there a location for his physical therapy yet? HANCOCK: Apparently, that kind of decision is some distance in the future. His lawyer said that this is going to be a long and difficult road. And there are an awful lot of questions once he is released from medical care in the hospital as to where he will be held.
You know the assumption is that he will be held, but he is going to need a great deal of continuing care, physical therapy and other treatment, in addition to having to try to help with his lawyers in -- in mounting a defense.
Another issue that's been raised is where he may get a mental evaluation.
LEMON: Yes.
HANCOCK: His lawyer was unwilling to say whether there will be an insanity defense or a military equivalent, but, certainly, he's already raising the possibility that there may be some difficulty finding a military hospital where he can be evaluated.
LEMON: Well, I think the concern was is that he might have his physical therapy in the same location where others who were wounded in the shooting might have theirs, Lee.
HANCOCK: Well, certainly, there are all sorts of questions about where he can go, where he can be held. His -- his lawyer is already saying definitely he's going to be asking for a change of venue for any trial that occurs, which is obviously some ways off.
LEMON: All right, Lee Hancock, reporter with "The Dallas Morning News," doing a great job on the ground there, we appreciate it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLDER: I also want to assure the American people that we will prosecute these cases vigorously, and we will pursue the maximum punishment available.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Eight years after 9/11, five Gitmo detainees, including the confessed mastermind, will be tried in a civilian court in New York.
And Michael Steele suddenly eliminates abortion coverage from the RNC's insurance plan. We're drilling down on this. And we found a few things that might surprise you.
And the interview that's getting a whole lot of attention -- we're talking about Sarah Palin and what she told Oprah. We will play some of it for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back, everybody.
Want to get to some of your feedback. A lot of people are writing in about Major Nidal Hasan, and that he is now paralyzed, according to "The Dallas Morning News" and our reports as well.
Listen, this is one is from Rick. I am going to take this one from Rick. And then I will do mine. This is at RickSanchezCNN. And will do Don Lemon in a little bit.
"Hasan probably thought that he would die when he started his massacre. As President Obama said, he will get his justice."
And then Angry Wookie says: "I am really supposed to feel sorry for a man that murdered 13 soldiers?" Twelve, one civilian.
Let's see: "Hasan, being a major in the U.S. Army, should be tried for treason, in addition to 13 counts of murder, paralyzed or not." And then it goes on.
We appreciate you sending it in. We're going to be taking tweets on that, on Michael Steele and abortion.
And, also, coming up, the 9/11 conspirators, one of them says he did it. They're going to be tried in New York -- the accused conspirators, I should say. But one says he did it. We're going to be taking your comments on that as well.
Let's talk now about Sarah Palin, because, remember, the big flap over Sarah Palin's alleged shopping sprees? Palin now says the fancy wardrobe, it wasn't her idea. And it she says the McCain campaign forced her and her family to undergo that six-figure makeover, which she says made her wonder whether the family seemed unpresentable.
Well, it's one of the revelations in Palin's new book, which hasn't been released, but today is being quoted by the Associated Press. Now, according to the AP, Palin also claims the McCain campaign glamorized -- now, that's a quote -- glamorized the pregnancy of her unwed daughter Bristol who made a highly public appearance at the Republican National Convention with her boyfriend Levi Johnston.
Well, as you probably remember, John McCain himself greeted the two teens when the Palins flew in from Alaska. Now, as the whole country knows, Levi Johnston -- well, he has said some unflattering things about Palin since his engagement to Bristol fell through.
And this is kind of interesting, because Johnston isn't mentioned in Palin's new book at all. But Palin was asked about her one-time son- in-law-to-be by none other than Oprah Winfrey. This interview is to air on Monday. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": One final question about Levi. Will he be invited to Thanksgiving dinner?
(LAUGHTER)
SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: You know, that's a great question. And it is lovely to think that he would ever even consider such a thing, because, of course, you want -- he is a part of the family. And you want to bring him in the fold and kind of under your wing.
And he needs that, too, Oprah. I think he needs to know that he's loved. And he has the most beautiful child. And this can all work out for good. It really can. We don't have to keep going down this road of controversy and drama all the time.
We are not really into the drama. We don't really like that. We are more productive. We have other things to concentrate on, including...
WINFREY: Does that mean, yes, he is coming or, no, he's not?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: I guess you will have to tune in to get the answer to that question.
So, despite any suggestions that Johnston is still part of the family. Johnston has made it clear that, if Sarah Palin provokes him, he's prepared to disclose things that, in his words, will hurt her. Stay tuned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then as to the false reporting to authorities, the class three misdemeanor, how do you plead?
MAYUMI HEENE, MOTHER OF FALCON HEENE: Guilty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right, so, you can't see them there from the back, but it's official. The parents who duped us with the balloon boy story admit their guilt.
And does your insurance policy cover abortions? Michael Steele is all of a sudden ending that option for his RNC employees. Why now? Brooke Baldwin drills down for us next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Democrats and Republicans, opposite sides of the political spectrum, right? That's a no-brainer. Well, they are big-time opposites on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion.
But what if I told you that for the last 18 years, for the last 18 years, employees of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee are very much the same on at least one matter? Both national parties, both of them, have health care coverage that includes abortions, until now.
I'm going to turn now to our Brooke Baldwin here. She's going to explain this story that got everybody talking here, because -- because of what it is, and especially because of the health care reform bill that has this weekend, and part of it was -- abortion was a big deal. (CROSSTALK)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Talking about abortion. It's a different bag of tricks, if you will, but we're talking about employer-based insurance here.
LEMON: Yes.
BALDWIN: And we're talking about really reading the fine print. You have got big glasses over there. Maybe you read your fine print, Don Lemon.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: You should always read the fine print, yes.
BALDWIN: But you should be really the fine print. This is why.
Look, here's the deal. This is what got us talking this morning. It turns out that, since 1991, the Republican National Committee has had a health insurance plan that covers elective abortions. So, since that made news, the chairman of the RNC, that being Michael Steele, he has decided that his party should opt out of that coverage, of course, based upon the party's ideals.
Take a look at what he said -- quote -- "Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose. I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."
Now, the company here, the insurance company that we're talking about that the RNC is dealing with is Cigna. I talked to Cigna. Here's what Cigna told me today. "Our products are designed to meet the requirements of our individual employer clients. Employer clients are informed of the services covered and it is their choice to decide which benefits meet their needs."
Don, obviously, the key word there choice. And 18 years ago, the RNC did not choose to opt out.
LEMON: All right, so, really, what is up with this? If the chairman of the RNC did not know about this, how are the rest of us or everyone, how are we supposed to, as you said, read the fine print...
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: How are we supposed to know?
LEMON: They didn't know.
BALDWIN: Think about this. This is an example we were all talking about in our editorial meeting, Angie (ph), our...
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: ... and I. If you're a pregnant woman and the doctor says to you, look, the only way we can save your life is to terminate the pregnancy, do you know if you would be covered? Two national studies you should know about that have looked at how insurance companies cover abortion procedures, I talked to both of them.
This first one done back in 2002 by the Guttmacher Institute, which I should point out is a pro-choice organization, and what they did was they looked at plans offered by a number of insurance companies,. We're talking both big and small companies. And they found that 87 percent of them covered abortions.
One year later, another group, Kaiser Family Foundation, which is nonpartisan, surveyed several human resource departments and found out only about 46 percent of employees had abortion coverage. You know, looking at the two numbers, there's quite a difference there. So, why is that number so much lower than the other one?
Perhaps here it could be because Kaiser says a large number of those H.R. reps simply didn't know, which is the whole point here, taking me back to my initial question: Do you know if your plan would cover an abortion?
And but the good news here, getting the information is pretty easy. You probably -- I grabbed mine -- you know, your the little insurance number that you have? You probably -- I have a 1-877 -- you may have a 1-800 number. On the back of that card, find out now. Take a look before you or perhaps or your loved, your daughter gets pregnant.
The answer also could be on the Internet. Here's what we did. We Googled. We went to UnitedHealthcare, for example, and we found out -- very large provider -- looked up what -- their large plan. And on the list of covered procedures, here it is, plain writing, pregnancy termination, both elective and nonelective.
So, there's no excuse, no matter how you feel. The purpose here, arm yourself with the knowledge. Read the fine print.
LEMON: Read the fine print.
BALDWIN: Yes.
LEMON: So they didn't know.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: They didn't know. And now they know 18 years later.
LEMON: Yes. And a lot of people don't read the fine print. I don't always. Do you?
BALDWIN: I don't always either.
LEMON: OK.
Hey, let's take a some of these real quick before you go. (CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: People tweeting?
LEMON: Yes. This is at DonLemonCNN. And then I will do a couple from Rick.
Troy says: "Remove abortions? That's like saying you can't be treated for lung cancer if you're a smoker. Senators need to just pass it."
Well, you have kind of got it mixed up there. We're talking about the RNC here.
"Honestly, now, Republicans have zero credibility on any subject these days."
"I think that's fair. One should be responsible for their abortions."
Let's see what guys are saying over on Rick's site here. Want to update his -- just update it really quickly before I read them.
There we go. "Rick, abortion pro-choice or pro-life, make sure you never have one. Be glad it's legal if you have an emergency."
And let's get one more from Rick in here. "Abortion should not be part of any government health care bill. You make the decision to have sex, you get an -- you get a unexpected gift, your mistake."
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: That should be "an" unexpected gift.
But I think people are getting confused with the health care bill and with...
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: The bill. Apples and oranges, a little bit.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: ... which was in the RNC's health care coverage.
BALDWIN: It's a complicated issue.
LEMON: Two different stories here.
BALDWIN: One is to inform people.
LEMON: Yes. But that's really why this is such a big story because it was part of the health care vote the other night and now it's in the coverage for the RNC, but not anymore.
BALDWIN: Yes. RNC. Not anymore.
LEMON: Because they had it removed. Thank you. Have a good weekend.
BALDWIN: They're working on it. They're working on it.
LEMON: Always good to see you.
BALDWIN: Thanks.
LEMON: All right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like this is just a situation where they probably didn't have all the facts and just made a snap moral judgment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A teacher says she was forced to resign because of these photos of her on Facebook. Disturbing or not? You decide.
The balloon boy's parents admit in court what we all already knew: guilty. Now what's going to be their punishment, that's the question.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK, update now on this story. Boy, is it over yet?
A boy believed to be in a runaway balloon, you remember that story and the images. It was live all over television, all the cable outlets. All the main networks carried it as well. The balloon floating wildly over Colorado, we and the other news outlets covered it for hours and hours and hours.
And we learned later, after it touched down, what many already suspected, that the 6-year-old boy was not inside. It was all a big fat balloon of a lie. Well, today, both parents came to court to officially own up. Richard Heene pleaded guilty for attempting to influence a public servant. His wife pleaded guilty to filing a false report.
They are due back in court on December 23 for a sentencing hearing. Their attorneys say prosecutors have already agreed to sentences of probation, and that could include some jail time, probably not as much as they would gotten without a plea.
They're now having to report to probation. But get this. They will be allowed to travel out of state. Why? Richard Heene says he needs to go to New York. He's looking for a job and also has plans to go to California. His wife says she might accompany him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLDER: I also want to assure the American people that we will prosecute these cases vigorously, and we will pursue the maximum punishment available. (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Five detainees at Guantanamo Bay will be tried in New York for their alleged involvement in the 9/11 attacks. CNN's Candy Crowley joins me next to talk about this development. See you in a bit, Candy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For a sport centered around cars that get about five miles per gallon, NASCAR is an unlikely incubator for some eco-friendly practices. At races, all used tires are shredded. Each year, 180,000 gallons of oil and automotive fluids are recycled.
(on camera): The oil in a stock car could be used for, for what?
MIKE LYNCH, NASCAR GREEN INITIATIVE COORDINATOR: I mean, it can be used in fleets, in cars, recycled oil.
KEILAR: NASCAR races are like small cities: thousands of fans, thousands of cars, tons of trash. Only about one-third of NASCAR's race tracks recycle, though, official say all of them will within the next few years.
The sport is hanging much of the success of its greening efforts on changing the everyday behavior of its fans. And that's where the drivers come in.
BRIAN VICKERS, NASCAR DRIVER: I love enjoying the outdoors. And I want to make sure it's, you know, still there for my kids and grandkids.
KEILAR: Brian Vickers, driver of the number 83 car, is one of the sport's young talents. His personal car is a hybrid. Since NASCAR fans are infamous for their loyalty to the brands that sponsor their drivers, Vickers thinks he and others might be able to sell them on eco-consciousness as well.
VICKERS: There is a connection with this sport and its fans unlike any other. I think that presents an opportunity for this industry to make a bigger impact.
KEILAR: The potential is there, but even Jeff Gordon, one of the biggest names in racing, will tell you the sport needs to do more to sell fans on a greener lifestyle.
JEFF GORDON, NASCAR DRIVER: I think there's a lot more we can be doing, and I think that the fans would appreciate that.
KEILAR: Brianna Keilar, CNN, Richmond, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: So, the president out of the country today, a blockbuster announcement out of the Justice Department, and it may have ignited a firestorm, really. Here's what -- that announcement from Attorney General Eric Holder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLDER: After eight years of delay, those allegedly responsible for the attacks of September the 11th will finally face justice. They will be brought to New York, to New York, to answer for their alleged crimes in a courthouse just blocks away from where the Twin Towers once stood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right, and there you see now the five suspects led by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 plot.
And now I will show you a sample of the angry reaction that's coming out a short time ago from Republicans. This is from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. He calls it "a step backwards for the security of a country that puts Americans unnecessarily at risk." He goes on to say, "Our cities will face enormous security problems and our communities will be potential targets for attack."
Joining me now from Washington, CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley.
Candy, Senator Joe Lieberman is urging -- Joe Lieberman is urging the administration to reconsider. John McCain says he's extremely disappointed.
This reaction doesn't surprise the White House, does it?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It doesn't, but it doesn't cut cleanly long party lines. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia has also said he has grave concerns about this idea.
It's why, if you go back into the Bush administration, there was always this argument about whether 9/11 was a criminal act or an act of war. And this is why words matter, because this administration now has taken this in as a criminal act to be tried in a federal court -- so, an act of terrorism, indeed, but a -- but a criminal act, as opposed to an act of war.
And so, what are the complaints about this from those who say this is a bad idea: one, that it will become a circus, that it will give a platform to those who hate America. That it is unsafe, and that so much of what they don't want to have out there will be at least asked for by the lawyers for the defense.
Now, it is also part of an overall picture, though, which is: how do you close down Guantanamo? You have to do something with these prisoners. So, some are going to be tried in military -- by military commissions. Others will be -- at least these -- will be tried in civilian, although federal court. So, there was almost no way to not make this a political issue.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.
CROWLEY: I know it was the hope of the Obama administration that this wouldn't become a political issue. But it's not just a political issue, it's an emotional issue. And so you see all of that coming to bear on this.
LEMON: By moving to New York, you don't think it's become more of a political issue -- just by moving it there?
CROWLEY: It probably would have been less of a political issue, but not -- not a non-issue, had all of this taken place in military commissions. And you even see the families of 9/11 victims saying, you know, different things. Some say, "Yes, I want to be there in court. I want to look these people in the eye."
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Yes, they got to go there.
CROWLEY: Right. And others saying, "I just think, you know, they shouldn't be here, they're not Americans." There are a lot of people who feel that they should not be afforded the right...
LEMON: Yes.
CROWLEY: ... that you get in a civilian trial.
LEMON: Well, Candy...
CROWLEY: So, this debate, it's not going to go away by this decision.
LEMON: Well, Candy, Mohammed has at least confessed himself to doing it. But the question is here -- maybe some people really don't care. Can they get a fair trial in New York?
CROWLEY: Well, certainly -- I mean, when you listen to the attorney general, Eric Holder, today, he was asked a lot of these questions, including that one and including -- well, what about, you know, we know he had been tortured, you know, the mastermind of all of this was tortured so therefore aren't they going to bring that up? Won't it put, you know, the U.S. on trial as well? And he sort of seemed to say, "I've seen this, I would not, you know, send this year unless I believed that they would be found guilty. I'm going to ask for the death penalty, we don't have to use that information."
So, there are a number of issues that do come up that they seem to have weighed very carefully and come up with this decision. Like so many things, it's really easy to look at this and say, "Well, this could work and this could be a disaster," we won't really know if it's a good decision until afterwards.
LEMON: Yes. Even the president today in Japan, he was asked about it. And he said that the American people insist on a trial. What did he say, let me get the right thing. "He will be," talking about Mohammed -- Sheikh Mohammed, "will be the subject to the most exacting demands of justice. The American people insist on it and my administration will insist on it." So, he is echoing what Eric Holder said today.
But it is politically risky, Candy, don't you think?
CROWLEY: Yes.
LEMON: Because anything can happen during a trial. What if there is some technicality and one of these guys is let go?
CROWLEY: Well, it's sort of one of these things like, what happens if that happens? Does -- do they just go out on to the streets of New York? I mean, there must be -- I mean, even if it's minuscule, there's a chance. It's the American justice system.
So, yes -- I mean, there's lots of really risky things that could happen here. It could become a circus, outside the court, inside the court, although there's no cameras allowed inside federal court, but people are allowed inside. So, this could become -- it could become a forum in some way, shape or form for those who would try to destroy America for this particular brand of thought.
So, yes, I think there are a lot of things there that really are risky for the administration, which leads me to believe that they understood this and that they, in the end, felt that this was the best way and the surest way, perhaps, not just for the American people, but to show the world about the American system. Look, this is what we do. This is how we try people. These are the rights we give them.
A lot of people don't think we should have those rights, by the way, here in America, but it sort of, you know, showcase an American system either in a good way or a bad way.
LEMON: That's why I said, can they get a fair trials. Some people may not care because he's already confessed.
But I want to ask, speaking of this politically though -- some could give the administration credit. They might give the administration credit for being bold on this or they could say that they've left themselves open for real trouble that we were talking about here. So, that's yet -- that remains to be seen.
CROWLEY: Sure. And that's -- again, there's so many times when we talk about politics and say, "Well, this could happen and that could happen, this could be a really bad decision." And I think, until we see these trials, until we understand how they're viewed in the world, until we see what the outcome is, this is either going to be brilliant or it's gong to be, what are they thinking of, this was a disaster.
LEMON: Do you think, right now, the administration is -- someone at least is saying to the president or someone way high up, "Well, in retrospect I wish we hadn't said that about closing Gitmo in the first day -- you know, first 100 days, or whatever, in office"? CROWLEY: Even if they haven't said it out loud, I think the kind of views that they've been getting and the sort of things that they have run into -- so far, they've sort of blamed it on the Bush administration. It didn't do the paperwork; it didn't keep the records -- that sort of thing.
But it was a very big deal, if you remember, when he signed that order.
LEMON: Yes.
CROWLEY: And it was like second day in office or something. So, yes, politically...
LEMON: I think it's the first day.
CROWLEY: ... it was a very bad political move. In the end, six months from now, even if he doesn't meet his own January deadline, if he meets it in June, will people care beyond that? I don't know, but I think in the immediate political realm, it was a bad idea and I think that's why you have seen some finger-pointing at the White House which resulted in some switchover in senior lawyers there, senior advisors.
LEMON: I think I appreciated this talk. It's like we're having coffee together, just sitting there.
CROWLEY: I know. It's kind of fun, without the coffee.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Have a great weekend. Thank you, Candy.
CROWLEY: All right. You, too, Don.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHLEY PAYNE, FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: I feel like this is just a situation where they probably didn't have all the facts and just made a snap moral judgment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, this story of the teacher who says she was forced to resign over her Facebook photos. A lot of people could be in trouble about that? Why? Could it happen to you? Her story is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right, this is my favorite part. Some feedback from you guys because it's always interesting to get your feedback.
Let's do -- real quickly, let's do Twitter and then we'll do some Facebook from Rick. First, we'll do my mine, because this was one of my favorites.
We're talking about Richard Heene. They said, "Don, how is Richard Heene traveling? Via UFO?"
Talking about the teacher, "She's being punished for that pic, and it is silly since it doesn't involve school. But I guess everyone needs to be careful."
"I hope the judge throws the max sentence at those balloon parents." "Don, if people get fired because of their Facebook photos, I guess most of the world is going to be unemployed." And then on and on.
This is my favorite. This one is in tribute to Rick Sanchez. Where is it? He says, "I love it when at Don Lemon fills in for Rick Sanchez. Two of my favorite news men."
All right. Let's go on now -- let's do some -- real quick, I want to see Rick real quick. Let's go to Twitter real quick. Just I want to Rick.
"Look, if the U.S. arrests people, the U.S. has to take responsibility for the legal outcome. A trial makes a system transparent." And then there's more on Rick.
And this Rick's MySpace here. "Having their trials near ground zero is not going to make them feel remorse or anything."
So, thank you so much for all your feedback. We'll get more of it in if we can throughout the show today.
So, take a look at this surveillance video right now. It shows a mother allegedly shoplifting and her young kids right by her side. What is and what was she thinking? And what is she thinking now? That's probably the question.
And I'm also going to show you video of a soldier who returns home from Afghanistan to a very happy greeting. You've got to see this, straight ahead in "Fotos."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: She has come to be known as the hero of Fort Hood, of that massacre. And she was supposed to talk with our Wolf Blitzer this afternoon. But within the last hour or so, Sergeant Kimberly Munley suddenly cancelled all interviews. Her father spoke to reporters instead.
I want you to listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENNIS BARBOUR, SGT. KIMBERLY MUNLEY'S FATHER: After review and discussion with Kim and the medical staff this morning, it has been determined that the focus must be on her recovery. Therefore, she will not be conducting any interviews. She appreciates all the prayers and well wishes from people all over the country. We thank you for being respectful and ask that you abide by her wishes to allow her to focus on her extended recovery process. Right now, I would like to read a statement directly from Kim. "I appreciate the support that everyone has shared. I just happened to be there to stop this incident. But there are so many others who deserve recognition for their efforts in saving lives.
Right now, I'm concerned with my extended recovery and all that I want to do is to get well and get back on my job to help my fellow officers. I am not the only person who responded. I am just thankful that I was able to help in avoiding further casualties."
Thank you all for coming today, Kim sends her best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Sergeant Munley's father. Well, Sergeant Munley was wounded when she exchanged shots with the alleged Fort Hood gunman. Here's CNN's Ed Lavandera with more on that day and those heroes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At first, Sergeant Kimberly Munley received most of the credit for ending the deadly rampage at Fort Hood. But Sergeant Mark Todd also played a crucial role in bringing down Nidal Hasan.
CHRIS GREY, CID: Our investigation, thus far, indicates that two responding police officers, one male and one female, arrived at the scene and both engaged the armed suspect.
LAVANDERA: Investigators haven't determined which officer's gunshots wounded Hasan, both arrived at the same time and both fired repeatedly as Hasan allegedly moved around the soldier readiness building. Sergeant Munley told NBC's "Today Show" that Hasan fired at Todd first.
SGT. KIMBERLY MUNLEY, FIRST RESPONDER: I got in my patrol car and ran up the hill and I immediately looked to my left and saw Sergeant Todd, and that's when gunfire started to emerge and we started to take action.
LAVANDERA: Munley was allegedly shot by Hasan three times, in the right hand and each leg. Todd escaped uninjured and according to Sergeant Todd's comments on NBC, it sounds like his final gunshots might have ended the shootout.
SGT. MARK TODD, FIRST RESPONDER: I came back around and then that's when I first -- that was -- the next time I seen Sergeant Munley and that was at the other location. And that's when I challenged the individual for him to drop his weapon, drop his weapon. And at that time, he starts towards -- he turned towards me and started firing and then we neutralized him.
LAVANDERA: Investigators say the final story of what happened in those tragic moments will take time to piece together because of the complex crime scene. GREY: I would caution anyone from drawing final conclusions concerning the actual engagement in terms of who did what until all the evidence is fully analyzed.
LAVANDERA (on camera): There's a great deal of interest in the stories of Sergeant Munley and Sergeant Todd in how this massacre ended. But perhaps the greatest part of this story is that having two heroes is better than one.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Fort Hood, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And just as that report aired, I want to show you some feedback. This one is from someone named Fran and it's on Rick's Twitter page. I just want to show this one real quick. It says, "Get well Kimberly, thanks for what you did. Take care of yourself first."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHLEY PAYNE, FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: I feel like this is just a situation where they probably didn't have all the facts and just made a snap moral judgment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A Georgia teacher says she was forced out of her job because of her vacation pictures that she posted on Facebook. And her story maybe a special interest to any -- any Facebook user, meaning, you. That is ahead.
And a mother allegedly shoplifting with her young children right by her side. Wait until you hear the full story from police. That's next in "Fotos."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Oh, the -- you know, holiday season is upon us. Time for eggnog, turkey, feasting, family bonding. We've got all sorts of bonding, the good, the bad, and -- well, you'll just have to see it in "Fotos."
(MUSIC)
LEMON: That's a good music there.
OK. So, a mother is accused of using her two children to help shoplift. Cameras capture the alleged crime and then you see them fight off the security people there, right? Well, the mother was arrested, her boyfriend and his mother who also joined in the scuffle were also arrested. The two kids, by the way -- they are now with a relative in Cleveland.
I wanted to show you a rare million-dollar super car and a rare brown pelican. Looks like some water as well. The two faced off in Texas and guess who wins? Not who you would think. The driver of this Bugatti Veyron -- well, says he was startled by the low flying bird and drove his car into the marsh. This mud cake sports car is one of only 15 in the United States. Fourteen now, right?
But it was a good day for the pelican. The species was taken off the endangered species list that same day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get him. Come here.
(INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God. She's crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I told you.
(INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, you're going to make me cry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Tell me if you really have to say anything after that.
Here's returning from Afghanistan. He's a soldier. You can see that. If you didn't know he was missed by his best friend and -- well, he's happy that he's home now. His dog is crazy seeing him. Or you can see he's odd sit on that video for as long as he can.
That is "Fotos."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's just crying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
LEMON: OK. So, look at these photos right here. This woman is an adult. She's on vacation, having a beer, right? It's all legal, seems harmless. Well, she says she was forced to resign after her boss saw the photos of her on her Facebook page. Her story is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Here is a good reason to get out and good some exercise. A new study by the American Institute for Cancer Research pinpoints the impact of obesity and cancer. And our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has the details for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I can tell you, we've known for some time that there's an association between cancer and obesity or excess body weight. But we haven't known it's been hard to sort of pinpoint exactly how much of an impact is there? That's been a focus of some research for some time by now by the American Institute for Cancer Research trying to find the link, trying to sort of quantity the link as well.
Let's get right down to it. They think that every year, there's over 100,000 cases of cancer that are directly linked to obesity and being overweight. And let me be more clear on that. When you reduce all the other potential factors, like smoking, like age, like gender, it seems that it comes down to simply carrying too much body weight that increases your likelihood of cancer.
And they even specified how much of an increase it was between obesity and specific cancers. For example, take a look. Forty-nine percent of endometrial cancers linked to obesity; 35 percent of esophageal cancers; 28 percent of pancreatic cancers; 24 percent of kidney cancers.
That's worth pointing, they only studied seven cancers. It's quite possibly, quite likely that there are cancers that also have this association. That's what we know, that's what's come out of this most recent study.
I think the larger question that a lot of people are sort of trying to figure out is why and what can you do about it? Well, as far as why obesity increases your likelihood of cancer, it's not entirely clear, although there's probably a few reasons. One is that, when someone is obese, men and women alike, they are carrying around more estrogen, which is a hormone that often is a fuel for cancers. Also, when someone is overweight or obese, they tend to suppress their immune system a little bit. So, it's harder for them to fight off things, including potential cancer-causing cells.
And also this idea that when you -- when you have obesity, you're sort of, you have this oxidative stress going on in your body. This sort of rusting process that can cause DNA mutations. That's the bad news.
The good news is, they found that just doing 30 to 40 minutes on a treadmill or a stationary bike every single day can sort of dramatically reduce your risk of cancer. So, we always say stay fit. Here's yet another reason.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Sanjay, thank you very much.
OK. Seriously here, I want to you think about this. I want you to put yourself in Ashley Payne's shoes. She's 24 -- which means she's certainly old enough to go to Europe. She's allowed to have a grass of wine, right? And if she goes to the Guinness brewery, you would think she'd be allowed to take a picture holding a beer glass.
She's documented her vacation on her Facebook page, and guess what? Like a lot of us. So, she did it on her Facebook, that's a lot of do.
So, guess what's happened to her? She said she was forced to resign from a job as a teacher. Rick Sanchez picks up her story from here.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Joining me now is Ashley Payne, as well as her attorney, Richard Storrs.
Thanks to both of you for being with us.
Ashley, let me ask you first. The school is saying they're basically accepting your resignation because of the pictures on Facebook?
ASHLEY PAYNE, FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: Technically I resigned for personal reasons because that's what they instructed me to do.
SANCHEZ: Yes. So, basically, they've asked you to resign?
PAYNE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: It's because of the Facebook pictures.
PAYNE: Yes, the Facebook pictures was the issue that they brought to my attention.
SANCHEZ: And again, the Facebook pictures show what?
PAYNE: They show me in Europe having a glass of wine in Italy or having a glass of beer at the Guinness brewery or in the Temple Bar district in Dublin holding...
SANCHEZ: That's it?
PAYNE: ... holding alcohol in my hands. That's it.
SANCHEZ: So, you're holding alcohol in your hand. For all they know, you weren't even drinking the alcohol.
PAYNE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: So, you can go to like, for example, to go -- if you want to the Guinness brewery, you're going to hold a Guinness bottle.
PAYNE: Right.
SANCHEZ: If you've gone through to a crystal factory, you're going to hold the crystal there, right?
PAYNE: Exactly.
SANCHEZ: Same thing. So, did you make that argument to them?
PAYNE: They didn't really give me the opportunity to make the argument. I told them that the only pictures that I had posted on Facebook were of my European trip, but they didn't seem to care.
SANCHEZ: This is -- is this like a Christian school, very devout?
PAYNE: No, it's a public school.
SANCHEZ: A public school. How old are you?
PAYNE: Twenty-four.
SANCHEZ: I just want to make sure -- you were on your own time. You were not chaperoning kids.
PAYNE: No. No kids.
SANCHEZ: Personal vacation.
PAYNE: Personal vacation.
SANCHEZ: In Europe.
PAYNE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: And you take pictures of yourself socializing with friends.
PAYNE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Was there anything about the outfits you're wearing? Were you...
PAYNE: No. I mean, it was a perfectly conservative outfit, nothing skimpy, nothing scandalous.
SANCHEZ: Did you know prior to going there that there was a policy that no teacher is ever to be photographed anywhere near alcohol?
PAYNE: There was no such policy and there still is no policy on that.
SANCHEZ: So, I'm curious. Why do you think they let you go?
PAYNE: I wish I knew. I feel like this is just a situation where they probably didn't have all of the facts and just made a snap moral judgment and thought it would be easier to let a young teacher go and sweep everything under the rug and stand up for them.
SANCHEZ: Counselor, I am baffled. I don't understand what's going on with your client here. This -- I mean, it just seems like a bridge too far here.
RICHARD STORRS, PAYNE'S ATTORNEY: There was just a rush to judgment by the principle. She was ambushed on the door of the school on the morning of August 27th. She was taken into an office and basically railroaded into resigning. But she was given no real option. She was told that she was going to be immediately suspended if she did not resign.
SANCHEZ: But how did this even come about? Did a bunch of the church ladies there in the community got together with the principal and said, "Look what we found on Facebook. One of your teachers had a beer in Germany or a wine, whatever." STORRS: It's a little bit of a mystery because the principal was never able to show us or show Ashley a copy of the photograph that was the objectionable photograph. But what he said was that a parent complained about photographs on Facebook.
SANCHEZ: It's interesting. Do you know if there's any policy out there that maybe would...
STORRS: There is no policy. Now, after the termination, the board of education drafted a policy that's under consideration and supposed to be voted on for on December 1st, I believe.
SANCHEZ: What do you want, by the way? You just want your job back?
PAYNE: I just want my job back.
SANCHEZ: That's all?
PAYNE: That's all. I'm just asking for my job and this isn't an issue of money. The only money involve would be my back pay.
SANCHEZ: And that's what you hope to get in this situation?
PAYNE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: I'll tell you, fascinating story.
Ashley Payne and Richard Storrs, my thanks to both of you.
STORRS: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: I have a statement here from the Barrow County school superintendent. His name is Ron Saunders and here's what he says. He says, "We make it a practice to not discuss personnel matters in public. We do this to protect not only the system, but also employees and non-employees."
I'm Don Lemon. Thank you for watching.
Time now for Mr. Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
