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American Morning
A Royal Proposal: Prince William to Marry Long-Time Girlfriend; The Woman Who Captured Prince William's Heart; Slurpee Summit Fizzles; "Commoner" Kate: Hometown Girl; Bionic Dog; Raw Power of Nap Time
Aired November 17, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good Wednesday morning to you. Thanks so much for joining us on AMERICAN MORNING. It is the 17th of November. I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're with us. We have a lot going on this morning. We want to get you caught up on the latest with the royal wedding in the works.
Prince William and Kate Middleton engaged to be married, talking about it publicly for the first time. William on starting a family and Kate on the late Princess Diana, his mother. The big interview and the story behind the engagement ring ahead.
ROBERTS: The future Queen Katherine. After an eight-year romance, Kate Middleton steps into the spotlight. This morning, we're learning more about the charming middle class woman with royal poise.
CHETRY: And can't they all just get along? How about that so-called Slurpee summit? The president's planned meeting with bipartisan congressional leadership on hold. Republicans and Democrats pointing fingers at each other over the delay. So is it an early sign of Washington gridlock?
ROBERTS: But first this Wednesday morning, the happy couple up close and personal. Prince William and Kate Middleton are tying the knot and talking about it for the very first time. William says he considered asking Kate's dad for permission to pop the question, but he thought he might say no. So he went straight to the bride and she, of course, said yes.
CHETRY: We're also getting our first look at the royal engagement ring. It may look familiar. It is the stunning sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds. This very same ring worn by William's late mother, Princess Diana.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCE WILLIAMS'S FIANCE: Well, obviously I would love to have met her. And obviously she's an inspiration for women to look up to. And obviously to this day and, you know, going forward and things. You know, it's a wonderful family. The members I've met have achieved a lot. And they're very inspirational. So yes, I do.
PRINCE WILLIAM: There's no pressure. There's no pressure. Like Kate said, it's about carving our own future. No one's going to try, you know, no one's trying to fill my mother's shoes and what she did is fantastic. It's about making your own future and your destiny and Kate will do a very good job of that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are bound to ask, you know, (INAUDIBLE) children, do you want also children? You know, see what comes?
PRINCE WILLIAM: I think we'll take it one step at a time. We'll sort of get over the marriage first and then maybe look at the kids. But obviously, you know, we want a family. So, you know, we'll have to start thinking about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: No date's been set yet, but there is already a big buzz about a possible spring wedding for the two.
ROBERTS: And everyone is talking about the ring, that ring, and how it ended up on Kate Middleton's finger. Atika Shubert is live in front of Buckingham Palace this morning. That sapphire and diamond dazzler might just be about the most photographed piece of jewelry in history, Atika.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It definitely is. Everyone has been talking about it. I just want to show you some of the headlines here. I mean, really this news is just really, boy, the whole country.
This is one of the souvenir supplements in the papers today showing William and Kate. "Queen of His Heart" is the headline. And just to show how much in the spotlight Kate is going to be, this supplement actually focuses just on Kate and her childhood with all kinds of details like her first memory of a marshmallow cake. It's really incredible the kind of scrutiny she'll now come under.
And here's that main headline that everyone is focusing on "Sealed with Diana's Ring" with a close-up photo of that sapphire and diamond ring. Its estimated value now is about $130,000. And Prince William specifically said he chose to propose with this ring in order to honor his mother's memory. She figured very prominently in his decision, clearly. And that's why he chose the ring. Here's a little bit more of how he proposed to her from their interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE WILLIAM: We've been talking about marriage for a while. So it wasn't massively a big surprise. But I took her out somewhere nice in Kenya and I proposed.
KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCE WILLIAM'S FIANCEE: Very romantic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: You know, one of the interesting things as we learn more about this love story between them is how when they broke up a few years ago when they finally got back together, Prince William basically told her, look, I do want to marry you, I want to be committed, I just don't want to do it right now. So they sort of made a pact, if you will, the kind of an agreement that she would wait and that he would some years later propose. And this probably is why in some of the tabloids she earned the nickname "Waity Katie." But clearly she is waiting no longer, she is a bride to be. And everyone is now just trying to figure out what date this royal wedding is going to be happening next year.
CHETRY: Yes. So I guess we'll keep waiting on that one. How lavish, though, do they expect the wedding to be?
SHUBERT: Well, this is the big question. It is as they say the age of austerity in Britain right now in the midst of an economic recession. So people are saying it needs to be a little bit more frugal. It can't be quite as lavish as Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding, but at the same time, people do want to see a spectacle, a celebration, something to really lift their spirits up. So there's a lot of speculation how much it will be. What we do know is that the estimated cost of Prince Charles' wedding in 1981 was about -- excuse me about $40 million. So that's about the ballpark range that they're going with now. We'll have to see what the estimates will be going forward. Also interesting to note that the person expected to foot the bill, of course, would be the royal family. Prince Charles will be footing most of the bill for the wedding itself. Security and then so forth will be paid for by the metropolitan police here in London.
ROBERTS: Atika Shubert for us this morning, in front of Buckingham Palace. Atika, thanks so much.
Prince William's bride to be, Kate Middleton, has been dubbed "Waity Katie" in the past, but she is waiting no longer.
CHETRY: Our Alina Cho joins us now with more of the woman who captured the heart of the prince. It's so funny because at one point they asked or were teasing about whether she had posters of him up when she was younger, which probably would be not that out of the realm given that everyone dreams about marrying a prince.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. She said no, it was actually the Levi's guy. At any rate, Prince William counters, of course, that no, there were posters of me up there. But you know, I mean, clearly everyone is excited about this. It's all anyone is talking about. The public hasn't been this excited about a royal wedding, in fact, since Charles and Diana. That was dubbed the wedding of the century. This could be too. So we wanted to know who is this woman in line to be queen? Who is Kate Middleton?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): In England, she's a media darling, a household name. But until now, the rest of the world has not seen much of her. All of that is changing now that Prince William has asked Kate Middleton to marry him.
KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCE WILLIAM'S FIANCEE: It was a total shock when it came and very excited.
CHO: A rare chance to hear her speak.
MIDDLETON: Actually, I'm bright red and sort of scuttled off.
CHO: That's how she describes the first time she met Prince William. It was 2001, while both studied art history at St. Andrews in Scotland. A year later, they were flat mates, and then a couple.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's thoroughly charming. She's good fun. She's very sporty. She's very, very down to earth. She comes from a family that is incredibly close and tight knit. And she is middle class.
CHO: The daughter of a former pilot and a flight attendant. Parents who now own a party supply business, self-made millionaires. She's 28, the eldest of three, and grew up outside London.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's incredibly private. She's incredibly discreet and she's incredibly loyal. These are all reasons why Prince William has chosen to be with her.
CHO: Today the London tabloids document her every outfit. Women watch and copy what she wears. A lot like Princess Diana before her. The comparisons are inevitable.
MIDDLETON: I would have loved to have met her. And she's obviously -- she's an inspirational woman to look up to.
CHO: Middleton wears the same ring Diana wore as her engagement ring. Within a year, she too will join the most famous royal family in the world.
MIDDLETON: It's obviously nerve-wracking because I don't know what I'm -- sort of I don't know the ropes really (INAUDIBLE). But now, I'm willing to learn quickly and work hard.
PRINCE WILLIAM: Surely we will.
MIDDLETON: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: In fact, Prince William says he waited so long, he said jokingly a bit, because he wanted to give Kate Middleton some time to back out, if she wanted to. But truthfully, you know, living within those walls and with the royal family, obviously, is a unique experience. And something that Prince William clearly wanted his bride to be to get used to. He wanted to go meet the family and so forth and have all of that first. Of course, now that the engagement has been announced, let the guessing game begin about the gown and the wedding and so forth.
ROBERTS: Yes. You know, she seems very, very nice.
CHO: She does. She does. You know, remember, Princess Diana was called the people's princess. And Kate Middleton is a commoner as they say in England. The first time a commoner has married into the royal family in modern times. So it's interesting to note. Having said that, what is interesting about the wedding, we're talking about next spring possibly next summer. 2011 is an important year for the royal family. It would have been Princess Diana's 50th birthday.
ROBERTS: Right.
CHO: It would have been the 30th anniversary of the wedding of Charles and Diana. Remember, 750 million people watched that wedding.
CHETRY: There you go.
CHO: This is going to be a very big deal too.
CHETRY: It sure is. A lot of history there, as well.
CHO: You're right.
CHETRY: Alina Cho, thanks so much.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Alina.
CHETRY: And to really know Kate Middleton, you have to know her hometown, Buckleberry, England. We're going to take you there at 6:25 Eastern.
ROBERTS: Also new this morning, a real Hollywood who done it that has detectives completely baffled. Police are searching for a suspect in the shooting death of publicist to the stars Ronni Chasen. She was shot multiple times in her car last night while driving home from a party to celebrate the premiere of the movie "Burlesque." Her car was found crashed into a light pole. Chasen later died at Cedar Sinai Hospital. Police say they have no suspect or motive for the shooting.
CHETRY: Well, it could be a major break in the Natalee Holloway case. A jawbone found by tourist on a beach in Aruba. Dutch forensic experts are now testing it for a DNA match to see if it is that of the missing Alabama teen. Holloway was last seen on the island back in 2005. Joran van der Sloot was arrested twice in connection with Holloway's disappearance but never charged.
ROBERTS: It's last call for caffeinated alcohol in a can. The Food and Drug Administration could move to ban the beverages as early as today. Doctors say drinks like Four Loko are dangerous because caffeine covers up some of the effects of alcohol. We're going to have more from our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen coming up on this important story at 7:15 Eastern.
CHETRY: Ten minutes past the hour right now. Time to get a check of this morning's weather headlines. Rob Marciano is in the extreme weather center for us.
Hey, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, guys. Some rough weather moving across the northeast right now. And last night and yesterday afternoon, it was across the Delmarva in our nation's capital and through Baltimore. Damaging winds are ripping through this area. We had over 70 reports of winds that created some damage, and there you go. Power lines down, even some roofs collapsed. We had some injuries across the northeast part of Baltimore. So serious situation there. No confirmed reports of tornadoes, but certainly winds that's strong enough to do damage. Who cares what form they came in? Over 20,000 customers at one point without power.
Here's where the storm is now. Rotating as it continues to spin up towards the Great Lakes and the rainfall is now heading into the northeast. And with this rain is some wind, as well. Most of the heavy rain is east of New York now, heading through New England, and about to get into Hartford, Providence and Boston. But the winds behind this system, in front and behind very, very strong. So it's going to be a windy day today from Boston back through Hartford, New York, and through Philly. Winds will gust at times over 40 miles an hour. So even though most of the rain is beginning to wrap up across New York, it will continue to be quite breezy when advisories are in effect. Hold on to your hats today as this storm rips through.
John and Kiran, back up to you.
ROBERTS: You know, about midnight last night, I hear this -- every couple of minutes or so. Why are the neighbors moving furniture at midnight? It was the thunder. No idea.
ROBERTS: Storm knocking at your door.
CHETRY: It was loud. Thanks so much, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right, guys.
CHETRY: There's a lot still ahead this morning. The Slurpee summit, as they called it. It was supposed to be the big meeting between the president and Republican leaders postponed because of scheduling problems. And now some sniping back and forth about just why it's not happening any time soon.
ROBERTS: Also, what do you get when you cross Alaska with the Jersey Shore? Bristol Palin and "The Situation" talking safe sex? What's that all about? We'll show you.
CHETRY: Also, we'll be live in Buckleberry, England, Kate Middleton's hometown, for a look at the life of the princess before she met Prince William.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, ever since the midterm shellacking, as the president put it, he's talked about having Republican and Democratic leaders over for the White House - over to the White House for a dinner. It's a meeting that was dubbed "the Slurpee Summit".
ROBERTS: It was supposed to happen tomorrow, but now, it's been put off until at least the end of the month. As to why it was postponed, both sides are pointing fingers. Is it a sign of more political gridlock, and is it a slap in the president's face?
Our Brianna Keilar is live in Washington this morning. And I guess the Slurpees are going to be put on ice for just a little bit, Brianna.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. This is so sad, you guys, if not just for the fact that those Slurpees that we were going to have to mark the occasion are going to have to wait here. This was a meeting to discuss policy, some areas for agreement between Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the president and it's being postponed.
The White House says this is due to scheduling conflicts. They've rescheduled it for November 30th. And Congressional Republicans say they are just too busy right now setting up the new Congress, finishing up business with the old one.
But, check this out, an anonymous - some anonymous Democratic officials saying this is a sign of things, that they can't even work it out to get together when they were supposed to, guys.
CHETRY: So both House, Democrats and Republicans, are holding their leadership elections today. Is there some drama going on on both sides of the aisle?
KEILAR: Yes, there is. And, for Democrats, it really centers around Speaker Pelosi. That may not surprise you. She's running now to be minority leader in the new Congress, and she's likely to prevail, but not without some opposition. Some liberal members have not endorsed her, and conservative members, there are some of them who think that she shouldn't stay.
In fact, yesterday she met with Democrats for the first time since the midterms. This was a four-hour caucus, and several defeated members confronted her and they said that it's time for new blood, that they really felt that their losses had to do with her. So she now has a direct challenge from Heath Shuler, a Democrat from North Carolina, and he is not expected to win, but this is all about him making quite the point.
And then let's talk about Republicans. We've just learned that there will be not one, which we've talked about before, but two new spots at the leadership table for freshman Republicans.
This is a nod to the importance of this huge incoming class, and presumably, as we've heard about some of the tea party candidates that are the contenders for these positions, this is a nod to the Tea Party as well, as you can imagine, Republicans really trying to say, hey, we hear you. We think you're important. And giving these two positions is part of that, John and Kiran.
ROBERTS: And Brianna, the other big story out there on Capitol Hill, of course, Congressman Charlie Rangel. They threw the book at him yesterday, guilty on 11 of 12 possible ethics violations. So what happens now? KEILAR: Well, the Ethics Committee is going to meet tomorrow on sanctions. If this were a court trial, it would kind of be the sentencing phase. So what they're going to come up with, we're not exactly sure. But there are a number of options.
There's expulsion, of course. That's the worst sanction. But it's really seen as unlikely here. There are some more minor rebukes, but still pretty serious, censure, a reprimand, Charles Rangel could pay a fine.
But, you know, this is just a once very powerful chairman of the House, Ways, and Means Committee. This is his - he's just been elected to a 21st term. He was the head of that Tax Writing Committee Ways and Means, and now he's 80. He's in the twilight of his career and this ethics process is really not going his way, guys.
CHETRY: Yes. Tough times for Charlie Rangel, certainly.
Brianna Keilar for us. Thanks.
KEILAR: You bet.
CHETRY: Coming up next, "Morning Talkers".
You have to see this one. It's a little - well, you just have to see it. Bristol Palin and "The Situation" in a public service announcement. The acting is just unbelievable. Here's a little snippet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRISTOL PALIN, SARAH PALIN'S DAUGHTER: But I'm worried about you and you practicing safe sex.
MIKE "THE SITUATION" SORRENTINO, ACTOR, JERSEY SHORE: I actually practice a whole lot. I mean, a whole lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: OK. We'll show you more, coming up.
ROBERTS: Yes.
And a very different look for former Vice President Dick Cheney. We'll tell you how he lost so much weight.
Stay with us. It's 18 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Twenty-two minutes now after the hour. And here are some of the stories that got us talking in the newsroom this morning.
They have broken ground on the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of SMU. It's going to include a library, a museum, and a policy institute. It should be done by the year 2013. And have a look at this. A slimmed down Dick Cheney was on hand. He says he lost the weight during his last hospitalization. The former vice president says he believes the public is starting to recognize all of the accomplishments of the Bush administration. Got a lot of laughs when he called the library ground breaking, quote, "the only shovel ready project in America."
CHETRY: Well, (INAUDIBLE) of politics and economics for a 13-year-old Rockland County, New York boy. He and his three buddies decided they were going to sell cupcakes in their neighborhood park last month. The made over $100 the first day. But then a local councilman, Michael Wolfensohn spotted the kids the following weekend, he called the cops to close them down because they didn't have a permit.
ROBERTS: This - this sounds - remember the kids selling -
CHETRY: The lemonade stand.
ROBERTS: -- lemonade in Seattle?
CHETRY: You always hear about this.
ROBERTS: Hello?
CHETRY: Well, the kids are now looking for a friendlier community to hold their next bake sale.
ROBERTS: Oh, my goodness. Talk about the death of common sense.
A reality odd couple to tell you about. Teen mom Bristol Palin and "The Situation" from MTV's "Jersey Shore," which I'm proud to say I have still never watched, teaming up again -
CHETRY: You're missing out.
ROBERTS: Yes, I know. I am.
CHETRY: It's good.
ROBERTS: But - but you know, there are some things that are just worth missing.
The one-time co-stars of "Dancing with the Stars" taped this public service announcement on, of all things, safe sex. Have a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PALIN: I hope you're as committed to safe sex as you are to those abs.
SORRENTINO: I know you're all about that abstinence thing, you know? But come on, B. Palin, are you serious? Like, you're not going to hook up with - like before you're married? For real?
PALIN: For real.
SORRENTINO: For real?
PALIN: For real, for real, for real. But I'm worried about you and you practicing safe sex.
SORRENTINO: I actually practice a whole lot. I mean, a whole lot.
PALIN: I'm talking about the safe part of that.
SORRENTINO: The safe part, we've got the safe part down pat. (INAUDIBLE). Magnums. You know what? I might be able to spare one, I mean, you know, I'll give you one.
PALIN: It's fine, I avoid situations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Yes. OK. Jaw-dropping, right? When I saw it -
ROBERTS: I'm stunned.
CHETRY: It was just painful to watch, I have to say. That's why I wanted to bring it to you guys.
ROBERTS: Thank you so much for that.
CHETRY: You're welcome.
Coming up next, the commoner who won the heart of the prince. Kate Middleton's life will never be the same and neither will her hometown. We're going to take you there, still ahead.
Twenty-five minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Well, it's 27 and a half minutes after the hour.
Every hometown girl dreams of marrying a handsome prince, without having to kiss a frog first, and living in a palace. But this morning, there's only one hometown where that improbable fairy tale has actually come true. Reporters from all over the world are swarming the leafy village of Buckleberry, England, childhood home of commoner Kate, Prince William's bride to be.
Our own Dan Rivers is there this morning. So tell us about Buckleberry. What's it like there, Dan?
DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's pretty quiet. It must be said. This is a very small, sleepy little village in the English country side. It's the home of Carol and Michael Middleton, Kate's parents. They live a couple of miles down the road here. They came out and spoke yesterday about how thrilled they were. They - they're not saying much today.
People here, I think, were pleasantly surprised. It's been a long time in the making, this engagement. They've been going out for about seven years. But I think everyone was pleasantly surprised yesterday.
I think there's a general feeling here in the U.K. this is going to give a bit of a lift to the country next year in the midst of a very tough recession, in the middle of a kind of time of austerity when the government's cutting everything left, right and center, something for everyone here to look forward to next spring or summer.
ROBERTS: And well, on that point too, I mean, if people have got something to look forward to in these times of austerity, what about the size of the wedding? We all remember back in 1981, the enormity of Charles and Diana's wedding. Are they going to repeat that? Or will they have to scale it down just a little bit so it doesn't look so ostentatious in these hard times?
RIVERS: Yes. I think there's a big debate about that. I mean, we're standing outside the parish church here in Buckleberry. I don't think it's going to be held here. That would be a bit too modest. But I don't think it will be on the kind of quite lavish scale that Charles and Diana's wedding was in 1981.
As you say, this is a different time now. You know, I think there's a feeling that that wouldn't quite be appropriate in these tough economic times. So there's - they're kind of weighing up where the venue will be. It's possible it will be in St. Paul's. Perhaps more likely it might be in Westminster Abby opposite Big Ben, which is a slightly more intimate location and one known to be favored by Prince William.
So we don't know yet for sure. We don't know the date. But I think it's fair to say it's not going to be a repeat of Charles and Di's very lavish, very fairy tale-esque wedding. I think it will be something slightly more modest. It is a royal wedding. It will be big, of course. But it's going to be tempered a bit.
ROBERTS: Difficult to have a small royal wedding there in England? So, what are the people in the leafy hamlet of Bucklebury saying about Kate this morning?
RIVERS: Well, I think, you know, the people that we've spoken here, you know, have been pleased, you know, thrilled obviously. It's sort of local girl made good.
You know, the thing about this, as well, is that she is from the British aristocracy. She's from a very, you know, middle class normal background, really. Her parents live in a very nice home, but it's certainly not a stately home or anything like that. They run their own business, which supplies toys to children's parties.
She went to a very good school, but by no means has she been exposed to the royal family before this engagement and before getting to know William. You know, she comes from a normal background. And it's for that reason here that everyone is delighted because, obviously, everyone can identify it could have been them or their daughter instead of Kate.
ROBERTS: Well, in a nod to Monty Python, it's not like she grew up in a box in the middle of the road.
Dan Rivers for us this morning in Bucklebury -- Dan, thanks so much.
CHETRY: Right, because the term commoner just sounds bad. But it's not. It is what it is there.
ROBERTS: In England, it is what it is. There's no question about that.
CHETRY: Well, don't go anywhere. In about 10 minutes, we're going to be talking to Tom Bradby, from Britain's ITV News. He is the one who interviewed the royal couple, their first interview. And we're going to play some of it for you, as well.
ROBERTS: Looking forward to that.
Crossing the half hour now, our top stories this morning:
Haiti's cholera epidemic is triggering riots in several cities and towns, angry protesters burning tires and cars, and setting a police station on fire. They're accusing the United Nations peacekeepers of bringing the disease into the city. U.N. officials, of course, deny that claim. Aid workers are urging demonstrators to stop the violence so they can deliver supplies to the affected areas. Cholera has killed more than 1,000 people so far in Haiti.
CHETRY: President Obama presenting the nation's highest award from valor, the Medal of Honor, to Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta for heroism in Afghanistan. He saved members of his unit during a Taliban attack back in 2007. The president described Giunta as more humble than heroic and what America is all about. He is the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor during an ongoing conflict since Vietnam.
ROBERTS: And a former television producer accused of killing his wife is due in a Los Angeles courtroom today. Bruce Beresford-Redman who had one time worked on the reality show, "Survivor," was taken into custody yesterday. He's charged in Mexico with killing his wife while on vacation. Her body was found back in April in a sewer.
CHETRY: Brandy's out, Bristol Palin advanced to the next week's finals in the "Dancing with the Stars" competition.
ROBERTS: Why the judges may not exactly love her moves, the television audience keeps pushing Palin through, leaving some people to wonder if maybe we're witnessing a vast conservative conspiracy. Really, they're talking about it.
Carol Costello with a gut check this morning. She's joining us from Washington.
Is there any walk of life that politics is not permeated?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's the question we're asking this morning. If Bristol Palin's presence on "Dancing with the Stars" proves anything, it proves just how partisan we've become as a nation. I'm sure you've heard this. Some believe the only reason Bristol Palin remains on "Dancing with the Stars" is because of a Tea Party Republican conspiracy.
Seneca Doane wrote this in the liberal blog, the "Daily Kos" -- and quoting here -- "She, Bristol Palin, is inferior, but Sarah Palin fans keep on voting her in not because of her greater talent, but as a tribute to her grifter mom. Evidently, they're making a political point."
Bristol Palin and her dance partner insist that's not true.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK BALLAS, BRISTOL PALIN'S DWT'S PARTNER: I've had loads of people come out to me, especially out here in L.A. and going, you know what? I'm 100 percent Democrat, but I vote for you guys every week because I have a normal life, a normal family. I come home to my normal TV set, tune in. And I think to myself, I was on that show, that's exactly how I would be. And I enjoy watching the journey and it's inspiring.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Some people say the funny thing or the sad thing is just how much we've politicized everything in this country. Take a look at this headline in the "Hollywood Reporter," "The Reign of the Right- Wing Primetime." "Reign of the Right Wing Primetime."
And a new study, Experian Simmons, a media research company, came up with a list of shows Republicans like and those Democrats like. And I'll name a few in case you're interested.
Republicans watch, you guessed it, "Dancing with the Stars," "Modern Family," "Big Bang Theory." Democrats apparently watch shows about damaged characters like "Mad Men," "30 Rock," "Dexter," all shows with much lower ratings. Republicans, it seems, are more devoted to their favorites and watch in greater numbers.
Now, this supposed partisan divide in TV viewing habits has erupted over Bristol Palin.
Here's Kim Serafin who worked in politics with Rudy Giuliani and is now senior editor of "In Touch Weekly."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM SERAFIN, SR. EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": It's kind of funny, but not entirely surprising because people do politicize everything. They politicize TV shows. They politicize movies. They politicize celebrities. Everything that people do these days is politicized.
And when you're dealing with someone like Bristol Palin, the daughter of Sarah Palin, it's obviously going to be really amplified.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: And it's become really amplified. Kim says the saddest thing about this, we're fighting over alleged partisan shows that don't even delve into real political issues or real social issues. I mean, "Dancing with the Stars" making a political point?
So our gut check this morning, many of us expect our politicians to reach across the aisle, but do we really mean that? Are we so partisan that there are Republican shows and Democratic shows? Can't we just sit back and enjoy "Dancing with the Stars" as one nation?
Write to me on my blog this morning, CNN.com/amFIX. That's CNN.com/amFIX. Interested to hear what you have to say about that this morning.
ROBERTS: Yes. Can't we all just get along? It's a TV show.
COSTELLO: Apparently not.
ROBERTS: Wow, come on. All right -- looking forward to your responses on that.
CHETRY: Yes. And were people this angry about "American Idol"? I think they were, right, at times with the voting?
COSTELLO: At times with voting, especially when I think Adam Lambert was one of the contestants, and he didn't win.
CHETRY: Yes.
COSTELLO: It turned into a blue --
(AUDIO BREAK)
CHETRY: -- the same thing about Clay Aiken, right? The "Claymates," there was a conspiracy there, as well.
COSTELLO: I know. I know.
CHETRY: Wow. That's why I'm sticking with Nickelodeon.
COSTELLO: Safe choice.
ROBERTS: Now, wait a minute, I'm not quite sure what the political symbology --
CHETRY: Leaning to "Yo Gabba Gabba!"
ROBERTS: Well, with "Yo Gabba Gabba!" I think it's obvious. It's SpongeBob that I'm still (INAUDIBLE) don't know.
CHETRY: Well Prince William finally pops the question to his college sweetheart, Kate Middleton. What took him so long?
We're going to talk to Tom Bradby. He is the man who conducted the royal couple's first interview. We're going to hear from them.
Thirty-seven minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Forty minutes past the hour.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement is making headlines around the world, of course. And now, we're getting a chance to hear from them. In an interview with Britain's ITV News, the prince revealed more details about how he proposed to his now fiancee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES: It was about three weeks ago on holiday in Kenya. We had a little private time away together with some friends and I just decided that it was the right time really.
TOM BRADBY, ITV NEWS: And did you produce the ring there and then?
KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCE WILLIAM'S FIANCEE: Yes.
PRINCE WILLIAM: I did, yes. I had been carrying it around with me in my rucksack for about three weeks before that and I literally would not let it go. Everywhere I went, I was keeping ahold of it because I knew this thing, if it disappeared, I would be in a lot of trouble.
BRADBY: You're going to be the envy of many.
MIDDLETON: Well, I just hope I look after it. It's very, very special.
PRINCE WILLIAM: If she loses it, she's in big trouble.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: ITV's Tom Bradby conducted the interview. He joins us live this morning from London.
Good morning. Thanks for being with us.
BRADBY: Good morning.
CHETRY: So, tell us a little bit about what it was like when you sat down with them. Were they excited? Were they a little bit nervous with you?
BRADBY: They were -- they were very nervous. And what they did quite cleverly was to give me quite a long time. So, we had about an hour and a half together. You know, I'm (INAUDIBLE) for relatively long time.
So, we spent a half an hour upstairs, talked a little bit about the interview, but also just having a laugh really quite honestly and just, you know, relaxing altogether. So, that was quite helpful.
And I said to them very simply, look, this is your day, it's your happy day. I'm not going to muck it up. I normally cover politics. So, I said, I'm not trying to (INAUDIBLE). This is a conversation, it's a chance. People are hugely curious about you, it's a chance for you to talk about yourselves and my job is to effectively lead that conversation.
But what we all had in our minds was, of course, the fact when William's parents got engaged, they did a kind of toe-curling awful interview. It was where that famous, you know, "whatever love is" quote came from, which haunted them for years.
So, we were all pretty key to get out of this without mucking it up like that.
CHETRY: Well, I hear you. Well, they definitely seemed comfortable around each other in the interview, were relaxed. They were laughing. What's your little back-and-forth joke about just how long she was possibly in love with him?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRADBY: There's a story that goes around that you had a picture of him on your wall.
PRINCE WILLIAM: There wasn't just one, there was about like 10 or 20.
MIDDLETON: He wishes. No, I had the Levis guy on my wall, not a picture of William, sorry.
PRINCE WILLIAM: It was me in Levis honestly.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: So, that was a joking moment. But you said that there's a story going around. I mean, it would seem that it would be every little girl's dream to marry a prince, so the possibility of her having a poster of him wouldn't be that, you know, out of the realm.
BRADBY: I'm really sorry. Would you mind just repeating that question? The sound is really terrible.
CHETRY: Oh, it's fine. I just thought you were choosing not to answer it. No, I'm teasing.
I was just asking about the whole notion that there was a story going around that she would have a picture of him on her wall. And when you think about it, it really is every little girl's dream to marry a prince. And the way that they met is just so pedestrian. They met at school.
BRADBY: Yes, I mean, I -- one of the things I really noticed over the last 10 years is about 99 percent of all stuff written in the papers about them is complete and utter rubbish. So, you know, I always take things with a pinch of salt. I mean, it's quite a funny story. They're quite funny about it, you know, she gives him a ribbing, you know, on the grounds of you think I had a picture of you on my wall, you must be incredibly sad, is her sort of line.
But they're nice together, and, you know, does everyone dream of marrying a prince? Do they really in this day in age? I mean, I think we all know it's a very strange life. It's a very weird life. I don't think it's something a lot of people in their right mind would really choose if they actually stop to think about it.
And that's one of the reasons why it's taken them so long to get here. You know, they're well aware that they're stepping into a goldfish bowl. They're both quite private people. They're not massively showy. I don't think they enormously enjoy the limelight.
They're going to be happiest this week when they get up to Anglesey, which is, you know, an island in the middle of nowhere, if you don't know England well, Wales as well. You know, they don't have anyone out there except sheep and a few protection officers. And they'll be happy like that.
And they're going to live their life as far as possible like that. They'll do these big moments, and then they'll retreat. And domestic happiness is what William wants more than anything else. I don't doubt that at all, and so does she.
CHETRY: And that's interesting because he gave her his mother's wedding ring, the iconic engagement right, the diamonds and sapphires. And she was asked about her feelings about Princess Diana who famously did not have a happy domestic life with his father.
Let's just listen to a little bit about what Kate said about Princess Diana.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE MIDDLETON, FIANCEE OF PRINCE WILLIAM: She's an inspirational woman to look up to. And obviously, on the -- to this day and, you know, going forward and things. You know, it is -- you know, it's a wonderful family. The members I've met have achieved a lot. And they're very inspirational. So, yes, I do.
PRINCE WILLIAM, BRITAIN: There's no pressure there. There's no pressure because like Kate said, you know, it's about carving your own future. And no one's going to try to, you know, -- no one's trying to fill my mother's shoes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Seemed like a tender moment, as well. You see he put his hand -- he sort of put his hand on her lap for a second there on her knee, and he said there's no pressure. But is there pressure for her to be like Diana?
BRADBY: I think what is going to be pressure is the wave of attention that's going to come at her from all over the world. I mean, I suspect they will tour America, incidentally after they get married fairly shortly. I think they're going to go around the world at some point. And I think the pressure to live up to maybe Diana's glamour is going to be there. Let's not be naive about it. That will be a real pressure.
But, I think, you know, what the long wait has been about in terms of getting to this point has been about getting their heads straight about the kind of people they want to be and the kind of life they want to have. And it sure isn't the kind of life that his parents had. That was a mad, mad world, crazy, briefing journalists all the time, the war, the kind of constant front pages.
They just don't want that. And, you know, maybe I'll eat my hat, but I would bet a great deal of money that they'll never get divorced. And I know that's been a subject that they've much discussed. You know, they will be like William's grandparents. Whether they're happy or not, you know, I can't say.
I hope they are. I'm sure they will be, but I can't predict that. What I am pretty certain about is that, you know, they understand the importance of their marriage to the monarchy as an institution for better or worse, and they will stick it out.
And so they've been -- I think they've been pretty thoughtful about the way they've approached this quite honestly. And I think they know what they're getting into, and they know how they want to handle it. And one of the things I've really, really noticed about William over the years is he wants to do it his way. He's prepared to kind of meet the world, you know, do the media, do what's expected of him, and all the rest of it, but he really wants to do it in his own way.
And by the way, even this wedding announcement is quite an interesting example of that. They got engaged three weeks ago. You know, I knew that they got engaged a long time ago, but he didn't want to announce it until he wanted to announce it, and she wanted to announce it, and that's what they did.
CHETRY: It's great that you had a chance to sit down. They seem like a lovely couple. We all wish them the best certainly. Tom Bradby, the political editor of ITV News, thanks so much. John.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Kiran. Still to come this morning, Rob's got this morning's travel forecast. He'll be up right after the break.
Plus, it used to be something that would get you fired, but we'll tell you why more companies are actually letting their employees nap at work. Twelve minutes to the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Let's get a quick check of this morning's weather headlines. Rob Marciano in the Extreme Weather Center. Boy, we had some thunder overnight, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You did, and not only that you've had some thunder, but there was winds with that thunder down across Baltimore and D.C., some damaging stuff, and this is the storm that did it. This was down across the south yesterday, kind of intensified as it rolled up the Appalachians, and we're not done with it yet by any means. Even though most of the rain is done across parts of the New York City area, the heaviest amounts of rain are moving in through Eastern New England, but the winds ahead and behind this system are fairly significant. And we're seeing sustained winds right now in Boston and New York and even D.C. at 20 miles an hour, and those will gust higher throughout the day potentially over 40 miles an hour, and that will likely cause some air travel delays.
So, stormy conditions across the northeast, drying out across the south, also stormy across the midsection of the country, blizzard conditions to Eastern Colorado, and another storm rolling into the Pacific Northwest. If you are traveling today, Boston and New York are going to have their travel issues.
Well, man's best friend is going bionic. Some vets in Britain are giving some dogs a new lease on life. Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (voice-over): Mitzi is walking again. After being trampled by a horse in June, her owner was left with a tough decision.
VIV DAVIS, MITZI'S OWNER: The options were euthanasia or giving her a chance to walk. And we had to give her the chance to walk.
MARCIANO: Mitzi is one of just the few dogs in the world that can be labeled bionic. On this day, Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick is taking off Mitzi's bulky leg brace and replacing it with a sleek permanent prosthetic foot. He did this using a revolutionary device called an ITAP, a custom-built metal rod placed inside Mitzi's leg.
DR. NOEL FITZPATRICK, FITZPATRICK REFERRALS: It's a permanent fixture. It's part of the dog's body. The dog just gets on with life.
Before ITAP (INAUDIBLE), there was no way to give an animal a prosthesis.
MARCIANO: ITAP technology has also been tested on humans. Fitzpatrick says traditional prosthetic devices for humans can sometimes be painful and difficult to use. He says ITAP could be a remarkable alternative for people and their pets.
FITZPATRICK: If what I do by helping my patients in their needs help other patients that are animals or human, excellent. I think it is the future, yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (on-camera): How about that for an "Edge of Discovery?" Mitzi, guys, is now walking with normalized gait, healing very well, and Dr. Fitzpatrick is performing these procedures fairly regularly. Pretty amazing stuff.
CHETRY: Good for Mitzi. That's great. Rob, thanks so much.
MARCIANO: All right, guys.
CHETRY: Still to come, napping on the job is becoming a lot more common, but it's being encouraged, actually, by some employers. We'll explain coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: "Minding Your Business" this morning. The raw power of nap time. Maybe those kids in kindergarten are actually on to something because experts say that a growing number of companies are offering designated nap or renewal rooms. Research has shown that a quick 30- minute snooze can increase alertness, enhance brain power, and result in fewer sick days.
ROBERTS: That's (ph) all you need. Power nap. Edison used to take them. And there's a guy here at CNN, I won't say who is or even what he does, but sometimes, you'll pass him at 3:00 in the morning, he's perfected the ability to fall asleep with his hand on his computer mouse. And when I walk by, he just goes --
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: That's not a nap.
ROBERTS: He doesn't startle awake, he just sort of slowly opens his eyes, and it's almost like he continues with exactly what he was doing.
CHETRY: Are you talking about yourself?
ROBERTS: Not me, somebody else. Top stories coming your way -- I'm like this.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: Top stories coming your way right after the break. Stay with us. Drooling down the side.
CHETRY: Exactly.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY (voice-over): This morning, both sides of the Atlantic buzzing over the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Ahead this hour, the royal event, the ring, and the couple that everyone's talking about. We're going to hear from them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
