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CNN Saturday Morning News
Bishop Faces Sex Allegations; Stay-At-Home Dads Bond Through Blogging; Design Video Game, Win Money; Court: Reinstate Gay Air Force Major; Colbert "Testifies"; Athletes: Love Them or Hate Them; Problems for Pastor Eddie Long
Aired September 25, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: FBI agents raiding homes in the Midwest, homes of anti-war activists. But they could be tied to terror.
New details emerging from the latest lawsuit against megachurch minister Eddie Long. This is the fourth lawsuit just this week, all young men who claim the bishop engaged them in a sexual relationship when they were teens. He is denying the allegations.
From CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is 8:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 5:00 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Good morning to you. I'm Drew Griffin in for T.J. this morning. Thanks for starting your day with us. Let's check the top stories.
A greater sense of security in the nation's largest subway system, 500 additional surveillance cameras online this morning and up and running in New York's underground. Police say the goal is to better prevent crime and possible terror attacks on the subway system.
A plane bound for Pakistan made an emergency landing in Stockholm, Sweden, early this morning. Police have now arrested one passenger. Authorities say a tipster called to say the man was carrying explosives. Police have yet to confirm that story. All 260 people on board the plane have been evacuated, they are OK.
In south Florida, no arrests yet after Friday's bizarre bank robbery. This is near Miami. Police say several men forced a teller to rob his own bank by strapping a supposed bomb on the teller. Nobody hurt. The device was deactivated.
There are new developments today in the deepening sex scandal at one of the largest churches in the U.S. A fourth man has filed a lawsuit accusing Bishop Eddie Long of coercing him into sex as a teenager.
Long is denying the accusation through his attorneys and says he will face them tomorrow from the pulpit. Martin Savidge is here with a closer look at why this is such a big story.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a troubling story and it's one that's been developing through the week and it really is quite remarkable because we're talking about a religious empire that has been built over the personality of one man - that's Bishop Eddie Long -- 25,000 parishioners. And yet it would seem that that empire and that church is very much teetering on the brink. The latest lawsuit came late yesterday afternoon. It was brought by a young man by the name of 22-year-old Spencer Legrand (ph).
What's different about this suit is where Legrand is from, Charlotte, North Carolina. He was actually a member of a satellite parish that is located there of the New Birth Church and he says that it was there at that church that he met Bishop Long when he was 17 years of age. They began a telephone communication and a relationship that way. And then several months later, the young man was invited by Bishop Long and according to the suit, to go to Africa with him.
It was during that trip that he says that the intimate sexual contact began between himself and Bishop Long. They slept together for eight nights and it was a relationship that would continue for years.
And similar to the other suits that have been brought by the three other young men, it implies that there was a condition of sort of sexual coercion, that these young men were given favors. They were given access to incredibly famous people. They traveled around the world all the time under the care of Bishop Eddie Long and this is how the troubling sexual relationship evolved over time.
We want to point out that of course the attorneys for Bishop Long deny all of these suits categorically. And yesterday Bishop Long himself apparently spoke out in what is described as a conference call.
This conference call was actually listened to by one of our affiliates. Here is a quote from Bishop Long in which he says, I have never dealt with anything like this before. I have been under attack before, but everything else has been at different levels and different challenges.
And then also yesterday, there was a gathering of local pastors here in the Atlanta area where they were trying to determine how they should react to these horrible allegations that have been made.
And among those who came out and spoke to us was Jasper Williams. Here's what he had to say, how they will respond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. JASPER W. WILLIAMS, JR., SALEM BAPTIST BIBLE CHURCH: We're asking in our prayers that God will give us directions as it relates to the church and what the church should do and how it is that we should respond to all that is going on this week.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Speaking of responses, then, Bishop Eddie Long is going to speak out for the first time publicly from the pulpit tomorrow, Drew, not once but twice, two services, one at 8:00 a.m., the other at 11:00 a.m. We will be there and you can imagine many other people will be wondering.
GRIFFIN: One of the great mysteries in this for people who support him and those who are ambivalent to him is why the silence. Why five days of silence? If indeed this is not true, if indeed as his lawyers say these are lies, then where is Eddie Long? Why isn't he coming forward and saying, don't believe this?
SAVIDGE: There were a number of apparently where situations where he was supposed to come forward. He was going to speak on a national radio program. He backed out of that apparently at the advice of his attorney. There was supposedly going to be a press conference. That was also hastily canceled.
So it appears that he's getting advice. Some might argue that it's not very good advice, that he needs to run to just about every microphone to say look, these allegations are absolutely false and as his attorneys claim that this is nothing more than young men trying to shakedown Bishop Long for money.
GRIFFIN: Let's bring in Roland Martin, who's on the phone now, a CNN contributor.
Roland, you wrote an article this morning which I just got seconds ago. But briefing through it, you say, while I disagree with waiting five days since the allegations were revealed, if someone accused me of doing this and I know in my heart I didn't do, I'd be screaming from the top of Georgia's Stone Mountain.
You seem to have been asking the same question I have. Where is Eddie Long?
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (via telephone): Well, first of all, when I interviewed - I was the one who interviewed the attorney Craig Gillen (ph) on the (INAUDIBLE) morning show on Thursday and we already confirmed Bishop Eddie Long was notified around midnight that night that he was not going to be appearing.
What I said to him was, I said the exact same thing. What Gillen said (INAUDIBLE) when you have these kind of serious charges and you hire an attorney, you listen to your attorney's advice.
I also host "Washington Watch" on TV1 and we dealt with this issue there, tomorrow, 11:00 a.m. Eastern and we talked to a crisis management expert who said, she said you might disagree from the media standpoint.
But from a PR standpoint, from an attorney standpoint, you have to make sure that you are not making any possible statement publicly that could cut back and be used against you in any kind of legal situation.
This is a civil case, but remember, BJ Bernstein, the attorney for the plaintiffs, she is called in Federal authorities saying that with him being at the Longfellow Academy, that something is amiss there and so you want to watch every single step. So again, to each his own, but that's certainly the position of - like I told the attorney, that I know I certainly would take. We have these kind of serious charges.
GRIFFIN: That's obviously, as Martin was saying, the legal advice is to shut up, to let this play out in court.
But I'm wondering, Roland, from a man of the cloth standpoint, from a higher calling standpoint, is that really the path you believe he should be taking?
MARTIN: Even though he is a man of the cloth, you're still dealing with the legal issue. Secondly, do you look at the fourth lawsuit, the fourth lawsuit names several other individuals who work for the church as well.
If you look also, look at all of the different lawsuits, they range - it goes beyond sexual coercion. They talk about fiduciary responsibility. They talk about fault. So the legal exposure from the church's standpoint extends beyond just Bishop Eddie Long. They are saying that other people were involved as well.
And so, he also is one who is the leader of the church and so he is not only looking at a personal responsibility, he has to think about whether the potential legal exposure, financial exposure for the entire church.
And so yes, man of cloth, but also CEO of the church, also personal responsibility and so you have so many different layers there, that you have to make the appropriate decision.
And so certainly, so yes, I understand, when you factor all of that in, the attorney's position might very well be, look, you don't say anything until you address your own congregation. We don't know what he is going to say. We don't know that he is going to deny it, if he's going to admit to it, if he's going to step down and at the end of the day, although we have answers publicly, the people who he most has to answer to is his congregation.
GRIFFIN: Roland, thanks.
One thing we do know apparently now this morning from Art Franklin, who is Bishop Eddie Long's spokesperson, Bishop Long is not going to step down. We just got this, the rumor that Bishop Long is stepping down on Sunday is absolutely false. Bishop Eddie Long is and will continue to be the senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
Martin, real quickly, do we have any idea what he's going to say?
MARTIN: No, we don't. I mean one of the things that is obviously clear is the fact that, although people may have their faith shaken in Bishop Eddie Long, their faith overall is going to remain just as strong.
GRIFFIN: Thank you both, Martin Savidge. And we're going to continue to follow this story all weekend of course. Martin will report back on what Bishop Long tells this congregation.
You going to be out there?
SAVIDGE: You bet.
GRIFFIN: We'll have it for you live tomorrow. At 8:00 is when the bishop is expected to speak during that hour.
Why is one group saying a military concert and soldiers and their families violates the constitution?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKEY WEINSTEIN, MILITARY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOUNDATION: The express purpose of this event is to evangelize and spread the gospel to all those who are lost. Soldiers are being given pieces of paper with seven blank names on it to bring seven more people so they all come to Christ.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: We are going to take a look at whether the concert is trying to support the troops or convert them.
Plus, heavy rains are pounding the Midwest. Our Reynolds Wolf is going to show us exactly where.
But first we want to continue with this "Forbes" magazine annual list of the 400 richest Americans and our quiz for you. The queen of daytime talk, Oprah Winfrey, she's on that list. What is her net worth? There's your choices: $1.7 billion, $2.7 billion, $3.7 billion.
Take your guess. We'll have the answer right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: How much is Oprah worth? We asked you before the break. Well, let's tell you that it's -- the answer -- what do you think Reynolds?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I was actually going to go with "C."
GRIFFIN: Well, you lose. The answer is $2.7 billion is how much Oprah is worth, worth a lot more to her viewers. She's number 130 on the "Forbes" richest 400 Americans list.
Hope she's having a good morning and hope she's watching. Good morning, Oprah.
Much of the Midwest dealing with some serious flooding, some in southwest Wisconsin are getting an upper body workout. Why? Because they're rowing canoes and going through the water there. Water levels should be receding.
Another storm, though, apparently on the horizon. We're going to bring in Reynolds to tell us about that. Hot in the south. Where is fall? Where is the crack of the October footballs?
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: It's time for the guys on the couch segment as Reynolds wipes a tear.
WOLF: This is our touchy feely time.
GRIFFIN: The economy has turned more of us guys into stay-at- home dads. Fortunately we haven't been turned into stay-at-home dads just yet.
Here's what it looks like. These dads are looking for help and advice from other fathers who have been there. So they turn to the Internet. Josh is here to tell us about a quickly growing phenomenon which I was surprised at -- daddy bloggers.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daddy bloggers. It's huge, 158,000 stay-at-home dads now.
GRIFFIN: Huge?
LEVS: Here's the thing. Hear me out. You're right. There's different ways to decide what's huge. About 158,000 dads in this country have been home for a full year now taking care of their kids. This is more than ever.
The economy is doing this to a lot of them and those are just the ones (INAUDIBLE). My wife as a stay-at-home mom looks on the Internet all the time for advice. What you're finding is more and more dads are doing the same thing.
They had their first ever summit. You want to call that huge or not, you can. They had a summit in which a whole bunch of these guys got together who run these dad blogs and now their blogs are catching on for all sorts of dads.
So I asked them, what are dads looking for online?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC ELKINS, DATINGDAD.COM: They're really looking for other dads who are going through the same things they are and looking for some support, looking for some funny stories and - and really wanting to share the magic that it is - that is being a father.
PAUL BANAS, GREATDAD.COM: Guys are responding the same way that a lot of women have traditionally responded. They look for articles on - on potty training, on how to get the baby to sleep, how to name their baby. And - and then they end being a lot on - on relationship issues. Because there are a lot of things that guys just don't talk about with anybody after the baby is born. And we get the fair amount of traffic of - is on articles about sex after - after pregnancy, because the relationships change with that first baby.
LEVS: And you don't hear about this stuff a lot, right? They - these issues don't come up a lot. Yes, go ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This role is being completely reinvented. And lots of men are out there wanting to talk about it, because there's not a previous generation you can go to. You can't go to your dad, because his form of fatherhood was completely different than what we see today.
And so it's new media; it's new fatherhood. And that's what we're talking about here.
LEVS: So on your blog, you find that this is a place where you can present information about it, ideas about it, have a conversation with other dads about it, where they're sharing their experiences. Because they need that - what? - that sense of community? They need to know there's other guys out there going through the same thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we're not the Peter Griffin or the Homer Simpson that we're often portrayed as. We're involved in our family; we're working; we're trying to provide, or we're working at home in a lot of cases.
And our role in the family is be - being real men.
LEVS: And what "real men" means, right? I mean, that's part of - what it - what it means to be a real man now.
You know, guys who get together and have poker night and can talk. Guys can just, like, call each other.
What is it specifically about being online that is offering dads something? What do they want from the Web?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not out, you know, going to the PTA meetings necessarily or going - you know, we're not meeting the other guys in - in the neighborhood as often as - as we should, you know? The nights of poker night are not that easy and they don't happen as much. And that's a - one core group of guys.
But with the Web, you get to talk to guys all around the world that you may never actually meet in person. And you can share these ideas and have this conversation.
LEVS: When are they getting on blogs? Because my day is so busy. And if you have a job, and then you get home and you have your kids, are they - are they getting - are they staying up late, at 2 in the morning because they couldn't have sex?
(LAUGHTER)
LEVS: (INAUDIBLE) When are they getting online?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're finding that they're saying, you know, I'm on - in the computer at work. But they're also saying, there's a huge segment of time between 30 minutes and two and a half to three hours when they get back home where they're actually going online.
LEVS: What are the biggest things that you think in general people in society don't understand about dads?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, dads are so active in their kids' lives, whether it's - I mean, I work for home. I've worked from home for four years. My kids come home; I have to help them with their homework. You know, it - I'm the one doing it. I'm the one going -- signing their forms and going to the play, and I love it. I - I would have it no other way.
And I think that's the biggest thing people seem to miss, is that it's not - you still all the advertisements, all the - the literature. Anything, it's always with the mom slant on it. And it - it - it is a slight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not only are we active, but we're confident. We're really good fathers, you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like changing my - my baby's diaper. And I like getting the milk at night or whatever, because there's a - it's a very human thing, whether you're a woman or a man, caring for a - a little baby is a very human emotion. So we wanted to promote that same feeling or that acceptance of that to other men, to promote men being involved dads who felt uncomfortable as well, but also to the, you know, larger society to see us that way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: And so you can see now dads in all sorts of situations looking into this. You both said that's so true. What is that?
WOLF: You go to a bookstore and you'll see a plethora of childcare books geared toward females, how to do this for your baby. But not so many geared that are toward guys. When a -- for me, when you look at a young kid -- and I have two daughters, a two-year-old and a four-year-old. Basically my goal is to keep them from killing themselves, keep from destroying the house and killing themselves until they get to be about seven or so.
GRIFFIN: But the other thing is sitcoms, commercials, dad is a doof. Dad is just a doof. He doesn't know how to raise his kids or anything. That's so contrary to my experience --
LEVS: You have a lot more father experience than we do. Your daughter is grown.
GRIFFIN: Man up. Be a dad and get out there and help.
LEVS: They're saying this is what they're doing and that they're sick of these representations out there. People suggesting that's not what they're doing.
I got two things to show you guys since we're talking about dad, a couple of stats quickly. In this country right now, 42 percent are sole providers in this country and two-thirds now working more than 40 hours a week, 9 percent have taken on second jobs.
We want to hear from you. We want to hear from you about your thoughts on all this. Go ahead and weigh in on my Facebook and Twitter, joshlevscnn. (INAUDIBLE)
GRIFFIN: That was fascinating. Did I get a t-shirt by the way?
LEVS: You want one? I'll get one from the summit.
GRIFFIN: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: President Obama says he wants students to be more involved in science, technology and math. Now he's putting some bucks behind it.
The first ever national video game challenge. You design the winning video game and get tens of thousands of dollars for your school.
Here's what the president had to say about getting kids involved.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our nation's success depends on strengthening America's role as the world's engine of discovery and innovation. That leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today especially in science, technology, engineering and math. We know how important this is for our health. It's important for our security. It's important for our environment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: What's this all about? We turn to our tech guru Mario Armstrong. He's joining us from Washington.
Mario, what is this all about?
MARIO ARMSTRONG, DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: Drew, this is all about trying to tap into kids and to tap into an area of innovation. The bottom line is we are at a tough time in our economy and in our innovation.
We are looking at kids' math as we relate to other countries and developed nations. We're 25th out of 30 ranked in math. We're 21st out of 30 ranked in science. The bottom line is we need to do more things of relevance to get kids inspired to want to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers and academics.
GRIFFIN: Some people may scoff at the video game angle. Why the video game competition?
ARMSTRONG: I think this is great. This is just like to me like the Sputnick moment. I think it's one of those things where the public was caught off guard by Sputnik. And I think video games has that same potential.
I lot of people don't understand. They only think video games have entertainment value. There's a whole social impact, games for health, games for change. All types of games are being developed now from everything from public policy all the way over to health care.
So my point is to develop a game, you have to have core foundations in mathematics. You cannot develop a game, Drew, if you don't understand algebra or geometric shapes and polygons. So if you want to teach a kid geometry, do you tell them let's go to geometry class or do you say let's go and create a video game?
GRIFFIN: Very interesting. Science, technology, engineering, math. It's called STEM. The competition is based on those areas.
ARMSTRONG: That's right. And it's three basic competitions that are happening. One is geared toward middle school aged kids fifth through eighth grade. And these kids are creating a game on paper or if they're advanced enough they can use online tools that are free like MIT has a (INAUDIBLE) tool, game maker tool. These kids could create a game or a prototype and then go for an opportunity to win $50,000 in cash prizes which can be comprised of laptops, educational software as well as cash for the school.
Another part of the challenge is the developer challenge. This is where emerging game designers or college students or adults or game companies could go after a pool of 100k in potential prizes and help with marketing and distributing their game especially for those that are focused on underserved populations.
GRIFFIN: You mentioned companies. Are companies involved in this? Are they putting up some cash?
ARMSTRONG: Yes, well, companies are absolutely backing this because here is the bottom line, when I talk to CEOs, I don't care if they're from -- from Dell to Microsoft to anyone in between, they are concerned about the pipeline issue.
Where is the future of our engineers coming from? So Microsoft is behind this, AMD is behind this, you also have the Entertainment Software Association behind this and a whole slew of other partners that want to see this become successful.
And this is the inaugural launch, the first kickoff of what intends to be several years of this type of competition.
GRIFFIN: All right, folks sitting at home maybe they're gamers, they're designers.
ARMSTRONG: That's right.
GRIFFIN: They want to find out about this, right? There's some money going on. Where -- where -- where do we -- where do we look?
ARMSTRONG: Yes, so two places, I would advise people StemChallenge.org, StemChallenge.org and also on my blog. I have a whole host of resources and Web sites and links for kids interested in video games but may not have the same interests at home for maybe math and science. And this can help parents bridge that gap.
So my blog is at MarioArmstrong.com/blog.
GRIFFIN: All right, Mario, enjoy it. Every Saturday morning you can catch Mario.
ARMSTRONG: Yes.
GRIFFIN: He is our tech guru.
ARMSTRONG: Dream, create, go. Dream, create --
GRIFFIN: All right, sit back down. We got it. Dream --
ARMSTRONG: That's what I want them to do. That's what I want them to do, dream, create, go.
GRIFFIN: Mario Armstrong joining us from Washington, D.C. Thanks.
ARMSTRONG: Thanks.
GRIFFIN: Hey, you can get the latest scoop on the latest technology you can use on our tech segments every Saturday with that smiling guy there. And you can visit his Web site as he said, MarioArmstrong.com.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Checking our top stories, FBI agents searching homes and offices in Minneapolis and Chicago. This is part of a terror investigation; groups allegedly supporting terrorism.
The FBI confiscated computer hard drives and one cell phone. No arrests. One of the activists says the groups have done nothing wrong.
A fourth lawsuit has been filed against prominent Atlanta area Pastor Eddie Long. Four young men claiming the pastor coerced them into sexual relationships. Long is expected to talk about the allegations against him from the pulpit of his church tomorrow. We're going to have that for you live.
Actress Lindsay Lohan is out of jail this morning. A California judge reversed another judge's decision and ordered her to be released if she put up $300,000 bail. Initially she was to stay behind bars until October 22nd when a probation hearing is scheduled. Lohan reportedly tested positive for controlled substance use. Well, critics say a Christian outreach concert scheduled tonight for soldiers and their families at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, is crossing the line. General David Petraeus has said many times he's worried Muslims overseas may believe the U.S. military is representing the Christian faith.
He's called it sensitive issue and says the perception alone could put the lives of U.S. troops in danger. He's talking about people who insult Islam, for example, calling it evil and a wicked religion.
Here's the controversy. That concert at Ft. Bragg is being held by Evangelist Billy Graham and his son Franklin. Franklin Graham is the one who said that Islam is evil and wicked. Given his record, how will this play out in the Muslim world. Will it be a problem for our commanders?
Here's a special report by our Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Christian concert is called "Rock the Fort" and it's living up to its name. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is bringing Christian rock bands and worship to Ft. Bragg and some say crossing a line.
MIKEY WEINSTEIN, MILITARY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOUNDATION: The express purpose of this event is to evangelize and spread the gospel to all those who are lost. Soldiers are being given pieces of paper with seven blank names on it to bring seven more people so they all come to Christ.
LAWRENCE: Ft. Bragg advertised the concert on its Web site. And Mikey Weinstein says more than 100 soldiers there have complained to his group Military Religious Freedom sending e-mails like, "Please help us MRFF. This is wrong."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here in a few minutes I'm going to give you a chance to make a decision. It's your choice.
LAWRENCE: "Rock the Fort" has been to several other bases including recruit training at Ft. Jackson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we pray that not only do they become soldiers here in boot camp but we pray that they will come into God's Army in the sense of giving their life over to Jesus Christ.
LAWRENCE: Critics say that's a dangerous message for the military to bring (INAUDIBLE) into basic training.
WEINSTEIN: We're not supposed to be using the U.S. Army to develop and engender and you know and new soldiers for Christ.
COL. DAVID HILLIS, FT. BRAGGS CHAPLAIN: Our goal is again not to proselytize anyone from either their particular faith that they're a part of. And our goal is not to -- to coerce anyone.
LAWRENCE: Ft. Bragg's Chaplain says the event on his base is open to the public. No one has to come. Except the thousands of soldiers and their families who are excited to do so.
HILLIS: Really, it's up to the individual. And people, like any message or any faith, can choose to accept or reject. We're offering an invitation, but that invitation is only voluntary and of the free choice of that particular individual.
LAWRENCE: The Chaplain wrote to North Carolina churches on Ft. Bragg letterhead promoting the event. And Billy Graham's Web site states right up front "The Rock the Fort outreach is designed to channel new believers into your church."
Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote the Secretary of the Army urging him to stop the military's endorsement of the event. They argue proselytizing is prohibited and the Army is breaking the law by endorsing religion. The chaplain says the base is merely a host for anyone who wants to come.
(on camera): The chaplain also told me that sharing the faith is part of the Christian tradition and he's not only obligated but happy to provide the same kind of support to other faiths on base if they wanted to put on a similar event.
Critics say when it comes to religion, all the Army is supposed to do is officiate religious events and provide a place for soldiers to worship. And these concerts go way beyond that.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Another military controversial issue, a federal judge has ordered the reinstatement of an openly gay Air Force Major. She was dismissed under the military's "don't ask, don't tell." Her name is Major Margaret Witt and she sued to get her job back with the Reserves.
The Air Force honorably discharged her in 2007 because of an affair with a woman. Witt spent 20 years as a decorated Air Force flight nurse. Most see her reinstatement as a setback for the Obama administration's attempt to end the policy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. MARGARET WITT, MILITARY NURSE: I'm absolutely thrilled. I mean, all I've ever wanted to do was to go back and -- to my unit and do my job. So just for that chance, I'm really excited.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: The Air Force still says Witt's discharged fully consistent with the law. The critical midterm elections are coming up in 38 days and 2012 presidential hopefuls are already looking at ways to gain support in a very important state. Mitt Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts and a 2008 Republican presidential candidate, gives the key note address this morning at the New Hampshire Republican Party State Convention.
New Hampshire holds the nation's first presidential primary, which is still 16 months off. Romney is the first of three potential Republican presidential candidates targeting New Hampshire. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, who is the former Republican National Committee Chair will be in Manchester Monday for a plant tour and fundraiser with the gubernatorial nominee John Steven.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is also going to be in New Hampshire Thursday and will also campaign for that governor.
Well, maybe this was supposed to be funny. It certainly was sarcastic. But some people are now saying -- oh -- very ill advised. A hearing on Capitol Hill yesterday on a serious topic, conditions facing migrant farm workers, but testifying was a comedian, Stephen Colbert. And he was in character.
Colbert spent a day in the fields working alongside immigrant workers taping this bit for his Comedy Central show which deals with political satire
Colbert tried to be funny. He made a joke about gay men in Iowa and told the panel that the best way to prevent abuse of migrant workers was for Americans to stop eating fruits and vegetables they pick.
The chairwoman of the subcommittee said she wanted to call attention to the problem saying celebrities add pizzazz. They also add controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE COLBERT REPORT": Picking beans, packing corn for hours on end side by side in the unforgiving sun, I have to say -- and I do mean this sincerely -- please don't make me do this again. It is really, really hard.
For one thing, when you're picking beans you have to spend all day bending over. It turns out -- and I did not know this -- most soil is at ground level. If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we make the earth waist high? Come on, where is the funding?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Well, Republicans weren't laughing. The committee criticized Colbert's appearance as a stunt. Lamar Smith of Texas said undocumented workers are driving down wages and they are taking away jobs from those who are here legally.
For the latest political news you know where to go, CNNPolitics.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Child abuse covered up, guilty priests relocated the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church. As a cardinal and Vatican official, what did the current Pope know and when? You can watch this CNN investigation with Gary Tuchman tonight and tomorrow, 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN.
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GRIFFIN: You know fans have a really complicated relationship with superstar athletes. A new poll shows that you either love them or hate them.
Here's an example. What they call the Q rating, it's a poll measuring athlete popularity; shows the most disliked athletes in America in this order are Michael Vick, Tiger Woods, Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. But wait a minute, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods are also tied at number one on the most popular athletes' list -- that's from Harris Interactive. And get this -- the Michael Vick football jersey is one of the most popular in the NFL right now.
For more on the fickle fan base and what it means to an athlete's marketability, we bring in sports business analyst Rick Horrow from West Palm Beach, Florida.
I don't get it, man. Why -- you know, Michael Vick, rise, fall, rise again. Four years he's now the starting quarterback of the Eagles, number one most disliked list, yet, Rick, the jersey is selling like crazy. How does this happen?
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: We're a schizophrenic nation, my friend. That's part of the issue. Four years ago, the guy was on top of the world then the problem with dog-fighting, then the contrition, then the repentance. Now he's back and he sure can throw the football.
It's the same thing with Kobe Bryant. You remember in 2003 he had major legal issues. He is reviled in some circles, revered in others. And as we said on that graphic, he's also the top NBA jersey sales spokesman in China.
So people love them. People hate them. But from an endorsement perspective, people certainly are aware of them.
GRIFFIN: Well, let's look at the dislike list again. Vick, Tiger Woods, Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco and Kobe Bryant and LeBron James -- James, who took the biggest hit because of the way he kind of moved to Miami, how that whole was handled.
Are there long term effects for him or is it going to be like Vick? You know, you play well, all is forgiven?
HORROW: Well, remember one was a federal crime and another was just an unpopular decision to go to a market. There were six other markets, Chicagos, the New Yorks, the Clevelands. You can't please everybody. He had a television show that many people think probably should have been done over again called the decision. He should have called owners first. That's a tactical thing.
His dislike index is higher than everybody but so is Dwayne Wade and so is Chris Bosh, his Miami Heat teammates. They start playing in a couple of months. And there's a little jealousy there. I don't think this is deep. If the Heats start playing well people aren't going to like him especially if they get beat by him but I think he comes back quite clearly.
GRIFFIN: Yes. I mean Vick did go to prison for crimes.
We're also talking about Ben Roethlisberger. Obviously he was accused of rape. Kobe Bryant back after being accused of rape. Double standard?
HORROW: Well, you know, everything is evolving. Kobe Bryant was not convicted. Ben Roethlisberger was not tried. So there are issues there regarding the justice system, which is most important here. Roethlisberger 27 years old, he's been suspended. He's going to come back if the Steelers play well.
I don't think all will be forgotten but he's got to change his behavior as well. Bottom line here Drew, contracts with corporate America and endorsers. They're shorter, they're smaller and they're easier to terminate. And that's not because of one athlete or one incident. That is because of this general malaise we see out there.
GRIFFIN: All right. Rick, thanks a lot for joining us. Good luck with all your football picks today buddy. Take care.
HORROW: Hey, I'll be all right. See you guys next week.
GRIFFIN: All right. Thanks.
Hey, big changes how you get your health care. The new reforms kick in this week affecting your coverage and wallet. At the top of the hour we're going to break it down.
First another quick quiz about the "Forbes" richest Americans. One of these people is tied for the last spot on the Forbes 400 list. Who is it? Real estate mogul Ross Perot, Jr., sailboat builder John Edson, natural gas strategist T. Boone Pickens; who is the least rich of the 400 richest? The answer after this.
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GRIFFIN: All right. Who is the least of the 400 richest Americans? We asked you before the break. Reynolds, you want to take a pick before we say?
WOLF: Sure. I was speaking to my friend, Rich Daniel, and I have to agree with his assessment. I would think it would be John Edson because we've all heard of Ross Perot Jr. and T. Boone Pickens is kind of a well-known guy but John Edson -- I don't know.
GRIFFIN: You are correct. And let me tell you a little bit about John. He's one of 16 people tied for that final spot -- 16 people.
The self-made man's net worth is $1 billion even. Edson --- he started building sailboats when he got out of the Army in 1955. He sold his company years later for $425 million. I guess he's done a pretty good investment after that to double his money. Not bad.
WOLF: If you're going to be last on the list, that's not a bad one, especially if you're making sailboats. That's what I'm talking.
GRIFFIN: That's cool. Good stuff.
All right. You're going to need a sailboat in parts of Wisconsin.
WOLF: How right you are. They had some rough stuff, they really did. Heavy rainfall in parts of Wisconsin; a little bit of a break today but then by tonight could be round 2, possibly some heavy rainfall.
GRIFFIN: No.
WOLF: I know. It's just --
GRIFFIN: Saturated grounds. It's coming right back up.
WOLF: I know, man. Take a look at that video that you have right there. You see the rain coming down like a sack of hammers yesterday. Now it's going to draw back a little bit but then as we take a look at the maps on the magic wall you see this.
We have another area of development farther back over toward Minneapolis southward along 29 and even near 80 all that shifting up to northeast. That could mean more rainfall. Probably not as heavy as the first installment which caused some flooding in parts of Wisconsin and into portions of Michigan but it will be a little more than they certainly need.
What we're seeing in parts of the southeast is the beginning of some changes in the forecast. Take a look at this line you see of showers that extend from parts of the Carolinas of the Piedmont Region through north Alabama, to the Tennessee Valley, in fact over to south of Little Rock, Arkansas. That is part of a frontal boundary. It's going to be that front and that cool air behind it that's going to bring this world of change to parts of the southeast including some cooler temperatures in places like Nashville and Chattanooga.
For Atlanta thought, it's still going to feel like summer out there today. So it's not going to be quite cool yet, 90 degrees the high; 86 in Boston, 84 in New York, 79 in Denver, 100 in Vegas, 105 in Phoenix, 91 in Los Angeles and Seattle with 78 degrees.
That's a quick check on your forecast. We have more coming up right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
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GRIFFIN: These are the top stories on this Saturday morning. Five million people ride the New York City subway every day. To prevent crime and look out for terrorists the system is adding 500 surveillance cameras monitored around the clock. The police commissioner calls the cameras it a high priority since 40 percent of terror attacks target transportation.
More problems for the Pastor of an Atlanta area megachurch; a fourth teenager accusing Pastor Eddie long of coercing him into a sexual relationship. This kid says it happened in 2005 during a trip to Africa and continued four years after that.
Long is bishop of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a congregation of more than 25,000 people. He, through his attorneys, denying the allegations; a group of Atlanta area pastors says it's going to rally around Long and pray for him.
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REV. JASPER W. WILLIAMS JR., SALEM BAPTIST BIBLE CHURCH: I don't know what the outcome is. I just don't know. But I do know the church. And I do know the impact. And I do know that as a believer that somebody needs to make a stand and to say something. And that's all I'm doing. I'm just calling for the church to come together with the pastor.
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GRIFFIN: In Texas, the Texas board of education passed a nonbinding resolution objecting to what it calls the religious bias of some world history textbooks. The resolution calls the books slanted toward Islam. Because of the sheer volume of texts the state buys the vote could influence publishers in many other states.
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