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WikiLeaks Reveals 400,000 Pages of Secrets; Countdown to Election Day; Inside the Tea Party

Aired October 23, 2010 - 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: This hour, an investigation into the Tea Party uncovers shocking allegations about white supremacists infiltrating the group. I'll talk live with the editor of that publication.

Juan Williams and his firing from NPR burning up the airwaves this weekend. Tonight, a high-profile Muslim American who initially thought Williams must be fired has now changed her mind. She's here to answer the question: is this political correctness run amuck?

And you've probably been hearing a lot more about elections other than the one in your town. Well, how much do you know about who and what's on the ballot where you live? We're going to help you out a lot this hour.

(MUSIC)

LEMON: Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.

We start tonight with the Pentagon and a PR nightmare over an avalanche of classified military documents about the Iraq war. The whistleblower Web site, WikiLeaks, today, dumped 400,000 pages of Pentagon secrets right into the public realm.

This was a scene in London where the documents were released at a press conference. Today's total was nearly six times bigger than the WikiLeaks' dump of Afghanistan war documents back in July. Now among other things, the Iraq documents purport to reveal thousands of additional Iraqi deaths from 2004 to 2009, most at the hands of other Iraqis.

Both "The New York Times" and the British newspaper, "The Guardian," have earlier access to the documents. Both newspapers say the documents show numerous reports of abuse, rape, torture, and murder by Iraqi police and soldier routinely ignored by the U.S. military.

Our Chris Lawrence has been covering this story for us today at the Pentagon -- Chris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Bottom line, Don, one official told me it makes the U.S. military more vulnerable now than it was even six months ago. He called it a treasure trove of information that describes not only military tactics but really gets into information about how the U.S. military cultivates its sources. The Pentagon spokesman said that it endangers the lives of Iraqis who have cooperated with Americans.

The thing is they claimed the same thing back in July when WikiLeaks released information about Afghanistan.

And yet, both NATO official and someone right here in the Pentagon have told us that there is not one case of an Afghan being identified by WikiLeaks being harmed. Are you demonizing WikiLeaks for no reason?

GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: I don't believe so. I mean, I think, remember, this is an organization that induces people to break the law, leak classified information, and then exposes that information to the world for everyone to potentially take advantage of, including our enemies, those we're currently fighting and those we may one day be in conflict with.

PENTAGON: His argument is now China or Iran now have half a million classified documents in which to build a manual on how to fight the U.S. military. He argues that potential enemies, not just the ones the U.S. is fighting now could use this to decipher tactics down the road.

The counterargument to that is: would the U.S. military even still be using the same tactics, say, five or 10 years down the road, especially if it's on a different battle field?

Now, either way, the release does have the potential to damage the trust with political partners in Iraq, them now knowing that this classified information leaked out -- Don.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Chris, thank you very much.

And one of the documents appears to support the claim that the Iranian crossed the Iraqi border to arrest three American hikers last year. Two of those hikers are still in Iranian custody. The third, Sarah Shourd, was released just last month.

And this reaction from the Iraqi government to the WikiLeaks documents -- it says, quote, "Regarding reports of the death squads or pressuring and arresting Iraqi citizens and more, we confirm that the prime minister is the general commander of all security forces who carry out their duties to arrest or punished when ordered by the judiciary, but not on a sectarian or partisan basis."

All right. It's just 10 days now until we head to the polls on Election Day, a very busy political weekend as we come to the final stretch.

CNN senior political editor Mark Preston is standing by for us tonight.

Hey, Mark, you know, you're in Tampa for the Florida Senate debate tomorrow. But we'll talk more about that with our Candy Crowley. With you, I want to talk about these closing days. You've got the heavy hitters, like President Obama, Sarah Palin, all crisscrossing the country.

When is the last time the president slept in the White House?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, you know, Don, he's in Minnesota today. He's just got there. He was traveling over from Las Vegas. He hasn't been in the White House since Wednesday.

He made a very vital trip out west to key states. Oregon, there's a governor's race. Washington state -- a very key Senate race. And, of course, the all-important state of California where not only is there a governor's race, but a Senate race. And then, of course, he was in Nevada today trying to help our Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Now, President Obama heads home, Don, tonight. He'll spend a couple of days in the White House.

But, really, as we look forward heading into Election Day, here are the three key states that he will actually have an impact in. He'll be in Connecticut at the end of the week. He'll be in Pennsylvania at the end of the week. And he'll also be in Illinois where he's going to be trying to save the Senate set that he once held. Right now that is a toss-up, Don.

And, of course, I should say, he will be on the Daily Show as he makes that one last pitch to young voters -- Don.

LEMON: I have to ask you -- how important are these names? We're talking about the president, Sarah Palin, the first lady, former President Clinton. Do either President Obama or Sarah Palin have the coattails to carry the candidates into office?

PRESTON: Well, President Obama certainly had the coattails in 2008 and the states that he's going through right now are being specifically targeted by Democrats.

We saw him in Nevada. He got a huge crowd for Harry Reid. In fact, when they started chanting "Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama," he turned to them and said, "Harry, Harry, Harry," and got the crowd behind him. So, very important for President Obama, for certainly some of these Democratic candidates.

Sarah Palin, the same thing. She's going into states where candidates really want her. And where candidates do not want to appear with her because she has high negatives, they still want her in the state because she can drive up those real conservative activists. She can get them fired up, and it's all about the enthusiasm gap, Don, as we head into Election Day.

LEMON: Mark, why don't we listen to the president and Sarah Palin at their rallies today?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It looks like you're kind of fired up.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And I need you fired up -- because in just 10 days, you have the chance not just to set the direction of the state but also help determine the direction of this country, not just for the next two years but the next five years, the next 10 years, the next 20 years. And just like you did in 2008, you have the chance to defy the conventional wisdom.

SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: Friends, the president is now telling us that we're not thinking straight because of all the fear and frustration that Americans have. He claims facts, science, and arguments aren't winning the day because we're not "thinking straight," quote/unquote. Well, you know, Mr. President, you've got it right on one point there, we are afraid knowing that your economic policies are driving us off a cliff.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

LEMON: So, Mark, the president trying to link the 2010 election to his historic win in 2008, and Sarah Palin seeming to disagree with everything he's done since then.

PRESTON: Shocker, right?

(LAUGHTER)

PRESTON: Shocker that she would say that. But, look, she is right. It all comes down to the economy, Don, right? So, we see Sarah Palin out there trying to get Republicans fired up, saying that it is the GOP that has the right answers.

At the same time, you have President Obama -- we actually didn't hear it right there. But he's linking into the same message we've heard over and over again. "I was handed a bad economy. You helped elect me into office in 2008. I need the right people in Congress to help me to continue fighting for you."

And that's the message we're going to hear from President Obama. And, of course, the alternate message is the message we going to hear from Sarah Palin in these closing days -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Mark Preston, appreciate it.

An important conversation is just ahead here that will take you inside the Tea Party. An investigation by "Essence" magazine argues that the Tea Party is providing cover for right white hate groups.

Also ahead tonight, NPR under fire for firing Juan Williams. Should he get his job back? We'll talk about that.

And it's time for you to be a part of the conversation as well. Send us a message on Twitter and Facebook. Check out our blog at CNN.com/Don. Or you can check in with us at Foursquare.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: All right. I want you to pay very special attention to this next segment because it's going to be a bit provocative and I'm sure people will talk about it. There are just 10 days until midterm election. The Tea Party is stirring up deep emotions all across the country. And there maybe more to it than you think.

A provocative article in "Essence" magazine makes a case that the Tea Party is being infiltrated by white supremacists and other right-wing hate groups.

Angela Burt-Murray is the editor-in-chief of "Essence" magazine and she joins us here in the Atlanta studio.

And with us from Los Angeles is CNN political producer Shannon Travis, who has he's travelled with the Tea Party all across the country.

So, I want to start with you, Angela.

There is a distinction -- because you don't want to say that the people inside of the Tea Party are a part of.

ANGELA BURT-MURRAY, EDITOR IN CHIEF, ESSENCE: Right.

LEMON: What is the article? What is the basic --

BURT-MURRAY: So our reporter Jeanne Sykes (ph) spent six months travelling around the country and going to various white supremacist meetings, gatherings to really take a pulse on what these people are talking about. And what they've done is really interesting, because they've gotten quite sophisticated about their message.

And they understand that in order to be a part of the Tea Party conversation, which is now the national conversation, they've got to tone down their hate message in order -- so that the Tea Party does not turn against them, because the Tea Party doesn't want to be painted with the hate group brush because they know they'll be discredited immediately.

LEMON: You're saying because of the outrage and because of the voice the Tea Party has --

BURT-MURRAY: Exactly.

LEMON: -- how they feel about the country that some of these groups find fertile ground here.

BURT-MURRAY: Right. And it's interesting because Washington University Institute did a study that shows members of the Tea Party are 25 percent more likely to have feelings about race that show them that African-Americans are untrustworthy, are lazy, and are, you know, more likely to be involved in criminal activity. So, the white supremacist groups are seeing an entry point to allow them to be a part of that conversation.

LEMON: And you got that story. You had to hire journalists, right? BURT-MURRAY: We did. We had to hire a white journalist to go to these meetings and organizations. We're an African-American publication. So, you know, we couldn't necessarily send one of our writers to go in there and really hear what people had to talk about. So, it's really a fascinating journey.

LEMON: Are people of the Tea Party well aware of this?

BURT-MURRAY: We do seem to see from our reporting that they're aware of it. And, you know, the Tea Party is certainly interested in getting their numbers up and things like that. But, again, it's a very delicate dance because they don't want to be painted with a hate brush -- because again, it will discredit their message immediately.

LEMON: So, Shannon, you spent a lot of time with the Tea Party. You have an hour-long documentary coming up next weekend here on CNN.

What's your experience in regards to this fringe hate groups within the Tea Party, as the reporting that "Essence" magazine is doing?

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: You know, my experience, Don, is that you absolutely see certain fringe elements when you go, attend some of these Tea Party rallies as I traveled along with them, as you said, for many months now. But they're not pervasive. They are not across the board.

I mean, by and large, most of the people there that I run into, they're mothers and fathers, or, you know, doctors, lawyers, policemen or what-have-you -- by and large, I would say that the masses, the most of them, are not a part of these fringe groups or fringe elements. But you absolutely see some of these groups there. I just came back from Ohio, an event in Ohio, some other places I've travelled to across Colorado following the Tea Party movement.

So, they are there. It's just a question of how pervasive, how many.

LEMON: Yes.

TRAVIS: And in terms of this point of infiltration, how deeply they've infiltrated the movement.

LEMON: Well, here's a question, Shannon -- some people there, asked Angela, if they were aware. They said they are aware to some point.

When they are aware and you being there, do they denounce these people? Do they tell them to get out? What's their response to those folks?

TRAVIS: It's not a matter of them denouncing it to me privately. They've denounced it publicly. Amy Kramer, who's the chairperson of the Tea Party Express, she's even gone on "The View" and looked into the camera and said, "If you are a racist and you want to be part of this movement, we don't want you." I've heard similar from other Tea Party, they don't really have leaders.

LEMON: I understand that. I understand where you're going with that. But what about the people there, because, what, you know, what someone says at the top doesn't always go down to the bottom, doesn't always, you know --

BURT-MURRAY: Trickle down.

LEMON: Yes.

TRAVIS: Sure. Absolutely. I mean, let me give you an example, an anecdotal example. I was following Sarah Palin at a huge Boston Tea Party rally back in April. And it was, you know, by and large, the same kind of scorched earth rhetoric against the government and the economy or what-have-you.

But there was one guy there. He was holding up a sign that -- and I'm quoting here, it said, quote, "White people are pissed." I went to go and talk to him and see what it was about, but a group of people surrounded him saying, "Why are you here, what is this for, and what is it about?" It turns out that the guy was actually kind of heckling the people there. This wasn't him making a statement --

LEMON: And so, they wanted to shut him down. They wanted to shut him down.

TRAVIS: They shut him down.

LEMON: And, Angela --

(CROSSTALK)

BURT-MURRAY: Yes, I mean, it's interesting --

TRAVIS: Right. It's not that they shut him down. They did shut him down.

BURT MURRAY: Right. And the white hate groups, they are sophisticated and they understand that they cannot come out of the closet in, you know, full sheet regalia and go to these events.

So, even when you look at to their Web sites, like the white nationalist organization Stormfront, if you look at their Web site, they actually give tips on telling their members how to try to infiltrate Tea Party organizations and how you have to tone down the rhetoric, you can't hand out, you know, KKK flyers and stuff like that. You have to find common ground within the Tea Party and then bring them in to your deeper message.

LEMON: So, give us the bottom line here. What's the risk?

BURT-MURRAY: Well, I think there's a significant risk. When you look at organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has been tracking the significant growth in the development of not only new hate groups but also increased enrollment in existing groups, there's clearly something bubbling up against the surface and are these organizations going to be successful in their quest to infiltrate the Tea Party.

LEMON: OK. And it's in --

BURT-MURRAY: The November issue of "Essence."

LEMON: All right. "The Hate That Hate Produced," that's what the article is called, "Essence" magazine.

Angela Burt-Murray, thank you very much. Fascinating article.

BURT-MURRAY: Thank you.

LEMON: And thanks to our Shannon Travis out west as well. We appreciate it.

And I want to say Shannon will be anchoring a special documentary. It's called "Boiling Point: Inside the Tea Party." It's next Saturday and Sunday night, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Thanks again to Shannon.

You know, he has high hopes for college, but Fred Philp isn't sure how he's going to pay for it. One thing he does know, a degree will put him in debt. African-American struggle with money more than any other ethnic group, the black church is hoping to change that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: You know, this week, we have been reporting on how the black church has been helping African-Americans survive the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. In this segment, our Soledad O'Brien introduces us to a young man who was inspired to go to college by the youth minister at his New Jersey church.

Two problems: he has only average grades and no money.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KHRISTI ADAMS, YOUTH MINISTER, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH: This just seemed like a good place where you could study, you could think --

FRED PHILP, ASPIRING ACTOR: Yes.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fred Philp dreams of becoming somebody.

ADAMS: I pray for his audition and we pray that you would give him the strength, that you would bring every line to memorization --

O'BRIEN: First, he must get into college. Then, he must find the money to pay for it.

ADAMS: Stay focused and completely, totally, and block everybody out.

Can we go in?

O'BRIEN: Today, he's auditioning to get into the drama program at Kean University in New Jersey. PHILP: Now I have to prove to them and prove to myself that I am good enough to be here.

O'BRIEN (on camera): Deliver it now.

PHILP: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Now, pretty much. Good luck.

PHILP: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: It's 3:00. I've given you an extra 15 minutes to do whatever all you actors do, center.

PHILP: All right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Are you ready?

PHILP: Yes. Thank you.

Good afternoon.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whenever you're ready.

PHILP: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK?

PHILP: I hate you all. You know that? You know that? Yes, you do because now you turned your heads and you ain't looking at me no more.

O'BRIEN (voice-over): While Fred acts, Khristi Adams waits.

Khristi is the 28-year-old youth minister at Buster Soaries' church.

She has a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Seminary.

(on camera): Without being humble, if you are not here, would he make this far?

ADAMS: I want to say yes. I believe he needs motivation and if I wasn't here or anybody here pushing him, then I think that he would be a lot more nervous and I think he'd probably choke.

O'BRIEN: Has he choked before?

ADAMS: Yes.

PHILP: My name is Frederick George Philp, Jr.

O'BRIEN: Fred Philp really wants to go to college, but it will likely require taking out tens of thousands of dollars in loans. So, youth minister Khristi Adams has entered Fred in an NCAAP acting competition.

If he wins this round and makes it to the nationals, the grand prize is $2,000.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Fighting a financial crisis from the pulpit. The black church has fought for civil and human rights. Now, it's waging a war on debt. Soledad O'Brien's "Black in America" special, "Almighty Debt," can be seen in its entirety, tonight and Sunday night, 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Of course, right here on CNN.

NPR fires Juan Williams over controversial statements about Muslims. Does that make him a bigot? We'll ask two Muslims what they think right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: He used to -- used to host "The Talk of the Nation." But this week, Juan Williams truly took on the title himself. NPR fired him Wednesday after expressing a comment some listeners perceived as bigoted against Muslims. And since then, the vast majority of those weighing in say National Public Radio was wrong.

Here's more from yesterday's "PARKER SPITZER."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIOT SPITZER, CO-HOST, PARKER SPITZER: Is this a First Amendment issue, or is this an employment contract issue?

DAN ABRAMS, FOUNDER, MEDIAITE.COM: It is no First Amendment issue.

SPITZER: Right.

ABRAMS: I mean, you know, he can say what he wants. The government isn't coming in and saying, "You can't speak this." You're not going to be imprisoned for saying this. You're not going to be sued for saying this.

The bottom line is: an employer is saying, we don't want to be associated with you for this reason.

Now, getting back to your question about why would NPR fire him, I think this is a -- it's not just a wrong move on NPR's part. It's a really bad strategic move for NPR. Meaning, this is a media entity that for years has been dogged by allegations of being too liberal. So, you would think that they would be at least particularly sensitive to making decisions that will allow them to be targets.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. Let's get some perspective tonight from the Muslim community.

Maz Jobrani is a comedian and a non-practicing Muslim. He's now performing on a tour entitled "Brown and Friendly." Remember, he is a comedian and he is brown and friendly. I have met him.

And there's Zeba Khan, she is a writer and a socialist media consultant. And she's also Muslim and she joins us via Skype from Toledo, Ohio.

So, Zeba, I understand -- thanks to both of you for joining us, by the way -- I understand that you've changed your mind in the last 24 hours about the firing of Juan Williams. And before you answer, let's listen to how this all started and then I want to get your reasons about why you change your mind. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUAN WILLIAMS, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: When I get on a plane, I've got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they're identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. So, Zeba, why did you change your mind? At first you said he should be fired. Now, you're saying NPR was wrong?

ZEBA KHAN, WRITER & SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT: Yes. So, I think, without really giving it a really good investigative look, I sort of heard the sound bite that most people heard and thought, well, you know, that's -- you know, it's somewhat offensive for him to assume all Muslims are -- you know, I read that as an offensive statement. But when I took the time to look it into, read the whole transcripts, watch the whole interview, in fact, Mr. Williams was basically trying to tell Bill O'Reilly to not paint Muslims with a broad brush stroke and saying, he was acknowledging that, yes, I have some fears.

And by the way, he's not alone in that. There is a significant population in this country that also share those fears. However, irrational they may be, they're real fears and he's trying to say to Bill O'Reilly that you have to be accountable for when you make broad statements like Muslims are terrorists without (INAUDIBLE) -

LEMON: And Zeba -

I want to say that, you know, what you said that a lot of people do and a lot of people I spoke to, call me and say "you know, Don, I have those fears or whatever." But the question is as I'm looking at you, Maz, as you nod your head, that seems to be in agreement as Zeba is saying, is it OK for him to say that out loud?

JOBRANI: Yes, I think -- think that it is. I think that he -- the good thing is he was expressing an opinion and I think he was expressing his opinion, his feelings that he has when he sees somebody like that on an airplane. First of all, my thing is, obviously, if someone is going to hijack a plane, Al Qaeda, they're not going to be dressed in Muslim garb. You know, I jokingly have said that I'm not afraid of a guy dressed in Muslim garb. I'm more afraid of the guy who is dressed up in a Yankee ball cap going "hey, buddy, the Yankees are going to win the Super Bowl this year." You got it right there. Yes, but more importantly, I think the issue is, Don, that this is out there and we can't deny that it is out there. I think Juan was putting it our there as well. And I think the problem is, you know, the bigger problem is there's been discrimination because of this. There was an airplane with some imams praying before they got on the plane and the pilot wouldn't let them on the plane because he was afraid of something happening. There was another airplane, AirTran, there was a Muslim family walking down the aisle, talking about the safest place to sit on the plane -

LEMON: The question is then by firing him did NPR just completely abruptly end the dialogue that could have taken place about it or maybe in some strange way done the public a favor or Muslims a favor by bringing more to the light to the situation. Zeba.

KAHN: I think I'm hoping there's an opportunity still that teachable moment isn't lost. I think that NPR should have given him a chance to explain himself more. So then they did from what we're hearing from Mr. Williams of how he was fired. It was a quick phone call. I think he should have had a chance to explain, you know, his fears and explain that this was a fear rather and then the context which people seem to forget. Hopefully, you know, in fact, I think there is an opportunity because now he's sitting at the news desk of Fox News and it would even be even more informative for someone at that station in particular to say, "hey, let's talk about this. Why I have these fears and let's talk about why I have them and let's have that honest dialogue."

LEMON: Let's listen to a quick, let's hear from NPR and then we'll continue our conversation. Play it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VIVIAN SCHILLER, CEO, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: If you want to be a political activist, you may not also be a reporter or news analyst for NPR. This is very well understood by the lion's share of our staff and by journalists all over the country and all over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, Maz, I think Zeba brings up a very good point where she said she listened to the entire context of it. Because when we were having the discussion in our meeting, you know, I said, "let's not Shirley Sherrod it. Let the sound bite play and play what he said in its entirety if we can." We don't have the time on the show to play the full thing but in some way does she have some point by playing that sound bite, by just initially hearing people jump to conclusions you feel that maybe NPR did the same thing?

JOBRANI: Absolutely. I think the problem that we have in this day and age is that people look at the sound bite. They make up their mind right from -- you know, they hear something go, I'm offended, that's it. They don't give the full review. I actually watched the full segment. If anything Bill O'Reilly say a lot more, you know, bigoted racist comments in that segment, which is, you know, to be expected. But I watched the segment. In that segment Bill O'Reilly said you know, people are saying that the terrorists are just a few and he goes, no, the terrorists -- there's full countries of terrorists. He said Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. So what Bill O'Reilly is saying right there is that there's countries of terrorists and the problem with what Bill O'Reilly says is that subconsciously when people hear that, it becomes easier and easier for people to demonize a whole country.

And if there's ever a time when there's discrimination or there's a buildup towards war or something, then it's easier for people to support going to war and bombing a country because, you know, they've heard it over and over and over again from Bill O'Reilly that Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are countries of terrorists. So if anything, what he said was a lot more inflaming than what Juan Williams said.

LEMON: Hey, listen. That's going to have to be the last of it. Maz Jobrani and Zeba Kahn, thank you. I could talk about this all evening. I think it's a fantastic discussion about how much you can say about first amendment rights, about jumping to conclusions about people. It's very fascinating. Thanks to you both, OK.

KAHN: Thanks, Don.

JOBRANI: Thank you.

LEMON: You know, there's a political battle brewing in Florida as the state Senate candidates prepare to face off in Sunday's debate. Candy Crowley tells us what to expect. And who is running in your district? Don't know, do you? A lot of you don't. CNN can help you. Our new web site gives you the tools to make a decision on election day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The man vying for a Florida Senate seat are sharpening their barbs and preparing for their fifth debate this weekend. It's happening in the morning on CNN's own "State of the Union. The host of that show, Candy Crowley, will moderate. She's in Tampa, Florida to give us a heads up on what to expect. Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, HOST "STATE OF THE UNION": Hey, Don. I'm here at the University of South Florida here in Tampa. Big debate tomorrow morning. It's the senatorial race in Florida. It's a big race because it's got great characters in it. We have on the one hand independent Charlie Crist. He is the current governor. He used to be a Republican. And then when he began to fall behind in the Republican primary, he jumped out, became an independent and now he is running.

The man who chased him on that race, Marco Rubio, used to be in the state legislature here and we also have as the Democratic candidate Meek who's a congressman from Florida. So you have sort of all kinds of elements that come into this debate and, indeed, into this race. It absolutely I think is fascinating that probably a year and a half ago when the Obama administration was enjoying this big high, Charlie Crist was the face of the Republican Party. Everybody said Charlie Crist is the moderate Republican. He can bring people in. He can expand the tent.

Well, now, here we are, a year and a half later and people are talking about Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate as being the face of the party. He's conservative. He was backed by tea party activists and again we have Kendrick Meek, the Democrat who is trying to get some traction between these two. So it ought to be a fascinating debate. They have really big differences between them and we are very close to election day, so it can be pivotal, so I hope you'll be watching.

LEMON: Candy, I'll be watching. Thank you very much.

As we mentioned Candy is moderating the Florida Senate debate. Make sure you catch it tomorrow morning on "State of the Union" at 9:00 a.m..

OK. Here's some valuable information as I call it news, you can use it certainly. Listen, we're going to be here at election center, we know that. And we just want to give you some places -- things that you can do. You've been following, I'm sure, the national headlines a lot. But I want to give you an idea about what's happening in your local ballot come November 2nd.

Because you know what, a lot of the times, even I work in news, I don't always know what's happening in the local level because I'm so focused on work and what I'm doing in my own life. I don't have the time. And when I turn the TV on it's all about the big names in the national election. So if you want to get information, just go to cnn.com/politics, right, and look, this is the main page.

And then click on this button. This button is called Election Center. That's going to take you to this, right here. The Election Center page. And you can type in, we've typed in the zip code here at the CNN center. You can type in your zip code here and it will give you all the information that you need to know, in your area for the big names, what's on the ballot, if there's anything that's happening in the city council, any changes in sheriff, and all those people who are running for those offices and what they are. There you see here the races, Democrat, Republican, independent. It's got Johnny Isakson here, the incumbent, that's here in Georgia.

So and if you go and put in your zip code, it will be the exact same thing where you live. Cnn.com/politics and then click on the my election button. All right. Good information. As we say, news you can use.

A $100 million gift to help schools at a major north east city created a stir when it was announced on "Oprah." Now it is generating some controversy. We'll explain that one to you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's take a look at some of your top stories right now. Haiti is now coping with a deadly cholera outbreak. As the country continues it's long recovery from a devastating earthquake, more than 200 people have died with more than 2,500 cases of cholera now reported. The illness is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine. A person can get cholera from water or food contaminated with the bacteria.

Myspace says it is taking steps to plug leaks that are revealing to its user information to its advertisers. The "Wall Street Journal" reports Myspace has been transmitting data to outside advertising companies that could be used to identify users. The personal information has been sent out when users click on ads.

A catastrophic storm is pounding southeastern China. Typhoon Megi hit today forcing hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes. It is the fourth typhoon to hit China this year. The same storm left behind a trail of destruction and death in Taiwan and in the Philippines.

A huge donation by Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg to the public schools in Newark, New Jersey, drew a lot of attention last month. Now it is creating some controversy. CNN's education contributor Steve Perry went to Newark to investigate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): The announcement made big news on "Oprah."

MARK ZUCKERBERG, CEO & FOUNDER, FACEBOOK: A $100 million challenge grant.

PERRY: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg donated $100,000,000 to Newark, New Jersey schools. On stage to accept, a Republican governor and a Democrat mayor. But to critics, the gift raises many questions.

(On camera): Do you feel like it could help the school district?

BOB BRAUN, "NEWARK STAR LEDGER" COLUMNIST: We have no details on the gift except it was $100 million in stock that's going to be given over five years.

The (INAUDIBLE) out of the $100 million gift helped Chris Christie change the subject from his loss of $400 million in federal race to the top funds which would have come to New Jersey.

Booker has not come up with an education plan but shortly before the big rollout on "Oprah" lot a very serious political battle.

PERRY (voice-over): A battle over budget cuts. Public schools are failing. Currently, the state control the school district. Under the new plan. The governor authorizes Mayor Booker to develop a comprehensive education plan. Democrat state senator Ronald Rice says that's wrong.

RON RICE, NEW JERSEY STATE SENATE: (INAUDIBLE) one condition is that Mayor Booker must be the person who will more or less be in charge.

PERRY: We asked Mayor Booker and Governor (INAUDIBLE) but they declined. In a statement, Booker said he "would not take a formal role in running Newark's schools." He said he wants to leave "full community engagement in shaping Newark's educational future." Supporters say the Booker-Christie-Zuckerberg deal will help failing schools and for local leaders against the deal -

(on camera): What are you going to do to improve teaching and learning in Newark's public school?

RICE: We are starting to look at how to do legislation to encourage what we can legally mandate, get parents more involved in these school systems.

PERRY (voice-over): Steve Perry, Newark, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Steve, thank you.

Ahead, you'll meet one of this year's top 10 CNN heroes, a Mississippi woman committed to saving lives by whipping her town into shape.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: You know, each week we have been asking friends of CNN Heroes to introduce one of this year's top 10 honorees selected by our blue ribbon panel. Today, Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno puts the spotlight on Linda Fondren, a hero on a mission to help the fattest state in America get in shape. Fondren started a weight loss initiative in her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi that's changing and really saving lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

APOLO ANTON OHNO, CNN HEROES BLUE RIBBON PANELIST: Hi, I'm Apollo Anton Ohno, as one of CNN's Heroes Blue Ribbon panelist, I had the honor of helping choose this year's top 10. AS a champion of CNN Impact, I'm committed to making it easy for people to see exactly how their donation dollars can change someone's life. And now I am thrilled to introduce one of this year's top 10 honorees.

LINDA FONDREN, CNN HEROES TOP 10 HONOREE: Mississippi has held the title of being the most obese state but six consecutive years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's walk.

FONDREN: I knew that I wanted to do something to help people who wish they could live a better life. My name is Linda Fondren and I challenged my community to the 17,000 pound-weight loss challenge.

Go, girl, go good job.

For 17 weeks, (INAUDIBLE) 50,000 people in Pittsburgh to only lose half a pound. They beat the challenge, but I decided to make the challenge permanent because we did not reach enough people.

We have a walking club and a nutrition program. On Saturday, the gym is open for free. You have to give them the tools and the opportunities to want to do better and they will jump at that chance to do better. So you made it.

Obesity affects us all. The only way that you combat it is to band together and help each other. We need to make a commitment to change.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: It's hard to change. It's hard to change and to become active. So join us now via Skype in Vicksburg, Mississippi is Linda Fondren. Linda, congratulations. What has it been like since you've been named a top 10 finalist for CNN?

FONDREN: You know, it has been so rewarding, Don, and I have to say one of the best things about being a CNN Hero, there is no better way to get that word out there about obesity than being a CNN Hero. It has multiplied awareness in unbelievable way. I am known as the CNN Hero lady in my community and when people think about that, they think about, "hey, we have to do something about our health," and so it has been very, very rewarding for me.

LEMON: I got to ask you this Linda, like I said, it's hard to get people motivated. But I understand that your sister's death prompted you to get involved in this community weight loss movement, can you tell us a little bit about that?

FONDREN: Well, you know, my sister, although she passed away from cancer, obesity restricted her from living her life. And some of the things that people with normal weight take for granted like being able to walk, being able to go shopping for clothing or to even go to a gym, to fit in public seats, these were difficult things for her. So it restricted her from living her life. And her last words to me was, "Linda, I wish I had lived my life more for myself."

That prompt me to open up a gym for women like her who will not go to a traditional gym or who did not want to exercise. They wanted help. They wanted to do something but they just did not know how (INAUDIBLE). But they're just not committed enough to make that change.

LEMON: Listen, you have motivated me and I'm sure you are motivating a lot of people watching. I can hear the passion in your voice and feel as sort of mesmerize by listening to you speak. Hey, Linda Fondren, thank you so much. Best of luck to you. We hope that all of our heroes. We wish that all of them could be CNN Heroes of the year, that could be the top one, name the one. So best of luck. Thanks again. OK.

FONDREN: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: You can vote online at CNN.com for the CNN Hero who inspires you the most. The winner will be honored on Thanksgiving night during CNN Heroes and an all star tribute. It's hosted by our very own Anderson Cooper.

Run amuck in Kansas City. How much damage can one chimp do? A lot if her name is Sue.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: On Saturdays we want to try to catch you up on some of the news you might have missed throughout the week. First up, people who keep exotic pets always face the possibility that the animal will get out, right? Then things can get weird.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, he's jumping on the cop car. He's smashing it up.

Yes. He knows how to open car doors!

He opens car doors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He opens car doors. That's Sue, the 300-lb chimp, did a number on a police car and scared some of her Kansas City neighbors before the owner finally came to the rescue. This was not her first brush with the law though. The 21-year-old chimp has caused numerous legal problems for the people who raised her from infancy. After this last escapade, the city decided, Sue belong to the zoo, within the zoo with other chimps.

Buried treasure in this backyard in Franklin, Tennessee is like solid gold to an archaeologist. Bone fragments unearthed in the trench are from a 12,000 year old mastodon, also found at the site are prehistoric stone tools and even the bones of early domesticated dogs. Here's what researchers believe. They believe the site was once a shallow watering hole. The mastodon was probably ambushed by prehistoric hunters and butchered, cooked and eaten on the spot.

With the economy the way it is, gifts to charities have fallen off in recent months. But there was a pleasant surprise this week when officials opened a 9/11 donation site at the Word Trade Center site in New York City. Someone had put $10,000 in crisp new bills inside the box. Still no word on that anonymous donor. Isn't that amazing.

I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. Thanks for watching us. I'll see you back here at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. A special report "Black in America, the Almighty Debt" is next. And at 10:00 p.m. Eastern tonight, CNN is going do revisit a murder mystery the gripped the nation. You don't want to miss. "Murder in the Capital, the death of Chandra Levy." See you back at 10.