Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Kansas City Chiefs' Jovan Belcher Kills Girlfriend, Self; Two Killed in Miami Airport Crash; Teenager Shot and Killed

Aired December 01, 2012 - 22:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Don Lemon here. The stories you're talking about in just a moment. But first, want to get you up to speed on some of the day's headlines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A loving person and that's somebody that you would want to keep around as a role model.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was like somebody to look up to, around here that you know, made it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, they're talking about that guy, number 59, Jovan Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs. He is dead tonight, suicide. There's something else. Police believe he killed his girlfriend about 20 minutes earlier. Jovan Belcher was a four-year starting linebacker, 25 years old. His girlfriend was 22. They had an infant daughter. Police say Belcher shot himself in the head in front of his coach and general manager in the parking lot of the chief of training facility.

Alabama will play Notre Dame for college football's national championship. The Crimson tide beat Georgia tonight 32-28 to win the southeastern conference championship. Alabama will try to win its second straight national title and third in just four years.

I have to tell you about an awful bus crash today at the Miami international airport. A tour bus smashed into an overpass that was too low for the bus to clear. Two people are dead tonight. Police and firefighters removed more than 30 passengers from the windows of the wreck. Authorities say the driver was not familiar with the airport and mistakenly drove onto a level that could not accommodate a tour bus.

We are taking you now to North Korea and tell you it's going to try again. They want to take another stab at sending a rocket into space, this time to place a satellite into orbit. The rocket will be similar to this one. North Korean state-run media is reporting the launch will be between December 10th and 22nd. The U.S. state department is not happy about it calling any launch by the North Korea is provocative. Mexico has a new president. Enrique Pena Nieto took the oath of office today. Before that, country's Congress is inauguration returned the institutional revolutionary party to power, 12 years after being turned out of office. That doesn't sit well with Mexicans who accuse it of buying the election. Hundreds crash with police outside Congress.

We have a lot more planned for you this Saturday night. Here's what else we're working on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: A sit-com star may have crucified his career by speaking out on religion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please stop watching "two and a half men".

LEMON: Does faith have to lead to fiasco in Hollywood?

A Florida teen's murder reigniting the Trayvon Martin debate and whether the infamous "Stand Your Ground" law should be outlawed.

An identity crisis at the heart of the U.S. financial crisis, a top conservative thinks so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don, honestly, I don't know what the Republicans stand for anymore.

LEMON: And from bravo owner to community leader, just elected to political office, the owner of the mustang ranch talks to me about his landslide victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. Let's talk, everyone, also remember, I'm on twitter, @donlemoncnn, same thing on facebook as well, you can reach out to me.

There is another shooting death in Florida involving a black teenager and a shooter of a different race. This one took place last week in a Jacksonville gas station, all because the admitted shooter 45-year-old Michael Dunn says he thought the music was too loud in the car the 17-year-old was riding in. Dunn allegedly felt threatened and shot at least eight rounds into the car. The victim's mother is in shock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUCIA MCBATH, MOTHER OF JORDAN DAVIS: You shot me over some music? And he was in the car. And there's no logical reason, there's nothing logical that you can say that would make me believe that you were threatened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: 17-year-old Jordan Davis was laid to rest today in suburban Atlanta. His father says this didn't have to happen. And the "Stand Your Ground" laws, well, it encourages such shootings.

George Howell interviewed the dad today. Holly Hughes, of course, is a criminal defense attorney.

To Holly, in a moment, but first George, I was watching that interview and I was wondering how that dad even stood up to do an interview.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, look. You know, here you have a man who just lost his son. And he told me, look, I buried half of my heart today. But you still find a person who is very calm and he's focused on these "Stand Your Ground" laws. He says it's got to change. He says deaths like this don't have to happen.

LEMON: You spoke to him about the comparisons to Trayvon, the race comparisons to Trayvon and about "Stand Your Ground" as well. Let's listen. Then we'll talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON DAVIS, FATHER OF JORDAN DAVIS: I believe it was strictly anger. You know, people try to associate that whenever people of color are different from someone else. And I believe -- still believe to this day, unless the gentleman tells me different, that it was anger that was involved in it, having the accessibility of a gun.

HOWELL: Your focus is on these guns?

DAVIS: Yes.

HOWELL: Your t-shirt even -- show this to us.

DAVIS: Yes. It says, kill guns, not kids. Kill guns, not kids. So, we have to kill these gun laws that allow them. Law enforcement has been trained and they're the only ones, I feel should have guns in public.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, he said again he doesn't believe race was involved. He believed this was just an angry individual. And he says the "Stand Your Ground," no.

HOWELL: And his focus is "Stand Your Ground" has to change because it gives people the opportunity to shoot first and ask questions later. And in this case, you have a suspect who left the scene, who was arrested later. But, again, felt you know, if he does use the "Stand Your Ground" law that he was threatened, he used force and you know.

LEMON: Holly, how do you drive up to someone -- what if I drove up to you and said, hey, I don't like the color of your car, your tailpipes are too loud -- I can smell cigarette smoke, cut it out.

HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Right.

LEMON: He says he thought he saw a gun in the car. Police have not found a gun.

HUGHES: That's correct, Don. And you know, this is the beginning stages of the investigation. They're going to play it all out. But if there is no gun in that car, what is he alleging -- and he's not just saying he saw any old gun. You know, sometimes we hear about these tragedies where somebody mistakes a gun for a cell phone, OK, which I never got, but all right. About the same size and color.

He's saying he saw a shotgun. Well, I mean, the barrel of a shotgun is this long. He is not saying he saw of shotgun. This man, Mr. Dunn, the person who was arrested, is familiar with guns. Everybody talks about, he knows his guns. So when he says, I saw a shotgun, he's talking about a long-barrel gun.

So that's not something you mistake for another object. It's not there, Don. And all he had to do -- all he had to do was roll up his windows and move three parking spaces down and he wouldn't have heard the music. This just did not have to end this way.

HOWELL: Can I jump in? This is a person, Dunn, who would not mistake a gun. This is apparently a gun collector. So, you know, he would know if he saw a gun in there. So, there's a lot for investigators to look into here.

HUGHES: Precisely.

LEMON: This is America.

HUGHES: Right.

LEMON: But what gives someone the gall to think that they can tell someone else what to do in their car? If someone was in your property, in your yard, you could say, you know what, you've got to turn your music down, my baby's sleeping. Get out of here. But you're in a public place -- where does "Stand Your Ground" fall into any of this?

HUGHES: Let me put on my lawyer hat for you here. OK? You know, because as a human being, I have a gut reaction to this. And I'm horrified. I think it's unnecessary. I think how dare you shoot somebody over music?

LEMON: What's your gut reaction?

HUGHES: My gut reaction is how dare you shoot somebody over music? OK? But here was what we are really talking about when you break it down. He is not saying I shot him because the music was too loud. OK? He's saying, I shot because I saw a shotgun -- and we had that discussion. He knows his guns, OK. And I felt threatened and I was afraid I was about to be shot. And that's the problem with the "Stand Your Ground" law. Is that all you have to say, I thought I saw a gun? But clearly, no. Once you get into a court of law, there's going to have to be evidence. There are witnesses out there. I'm sure there's a security camera out there. They are going to be combing every single minute of that footage to see if there was anything that could be remotely interpreted as a gun. LEMON: What if a gun is found later? What if the videotape shows a gun? What does it mean?

HUGHES: What that means is, legally speaking, is OK, he's got an argument for either "Stand Your Ground" -- and let's remember, "Stand Your Ground" is a motion you file before trial. So that's a way where you go in front of the judge, not a jury. "Stand Your Ground" is when you get in front of a judge and you say, I had every right to defend myself, there was a gun. They were threatening me. And it is basically a free self-defense there. And then the court makes that decision. If that doesn't work, you can still raise self-defense at trial and argue to a jury.

LEMON: I think I know where you're going to go, where some people say with the Trayvon Martin case, had you not been following him or didn't pursue him, this wouldn't have happened. Had you not said, turn your music down and butt your nose into a place where -- this would not have happened, even with a gun. Does that factor into this at all?

HOWELL: You know, I think that you have to look into that. But I want to point this out, Don. I mean, differences in the Trayvon Martin case, you have to keep in mind, there were a lot of witnesses around. This is a gas station. So, you know, when we talk about a weapon inside the vehicle, think about it. You know, the shooting happens, there are people around watching. Is there an opportunity for people in that vehicle to leave, and you know, ditch a gun? From what you hear from witnesses that did not happen. So there are a lot of people who saw this. And that's what investigators will be looking into.

LEMON: I think we're going to be talking a lot about the "Stand Your Ground" thing. This is going to a lot of movement because when you have a grieving mother and father who are on a mission for justice, they make things happen and things change.

HUGHES: And they should.

LEMON: Yes. Thank you, Holly. Thank you, George.

HUGHES: Absolutely.

HOWELL: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: Appreciate it.

Up next --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: From brothel owner to community leader, just elected to political office, the owner of the mustang ranch talks to me about his landslide victory.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: When it comes to election people to public office, voters in Nevada appear to keep an open mind. Take for example newly elected county commissioner Lance Gilman. He is the owner of the infamous or just famous Mustang Ranch Brothel. And the first Brothel owner to win public office in Nevada since prostitution was legalized.

But voters didn't think twice about electing him. He won the November 6th election with 62 percent of the vote. Commissioner Lance Gilman joins me now from Reno, the biggest little city in the world in Nevada. Listen, thank you for joining us.

LANCE GILMAN, STOREY COUNTY, NEVADA COMMISSIONER: It's a pleasure, Don. I've been a fan of yours for a long time. And it's a real pleasure to be with you here tonight.

LEMON: Thank you very much. And do I have to say, the most boring thing I think that you can be in life is a conformist. And you are certainly not a conformist and neither am I, and I think that's what makes you special. You are making a difference here.

I want to ask you about men and women, men I should say like David Petraeus, Bill Clinton, they pay a big price for their quote/unquote "immoral" behavior. But yet, you still won by a significant margin. Why do we say one thing and then do another?

GILMAN: Surely, I don't believe, Don, that my election was anything about the morality issue. If you look at the Mustang Ranch in Storey County, Virginia City, it's a wonderful corporate citizen, a lot of giving, a lot of gifting, take care of the seniors and the kids and backpacks. So, when it came down to the bottom line of voting, the Mustang Ranch is a real positive in Storey County. And as a matter of fact, the Brothels in the rural counties are positives in the state. My election -- I was elected on a business platform. And Don, for 45 years, I've developed four communities of 2,500 acres or larger. I'm a community builder. I've owned Harley stores and marine stores. I've been a general contractor.

LEMON: You're a job creator?

GILMAN: I'm a job creator, a community creator. So the folks here in Storey County look upon me as a business developer, as a community builder, a lot of revenue generated. And then the next level is that I do a lot for the community. I've been heavily involved in tourism in Virginia City and all of the events -- we race camels and outhouses and have chili cook-offs up there. The gold mining is fabulous. But Don, my business base in Storey County for 15 years is generating revenue. That's just the bottom line.

LEMON: Let me jump in here because I want to ask, a couple of things you said, you said that you believe that the Mustang Ranch and you-- the businesses that were built, similar businesses, you say they were positive for the community. Some people would say, no way, how are they positives?

GILMAN: Well, they're very positive because they're a great revenue generator. They've taken care of many of the county programs for the last 15 years. They generate -- I've generated over $5 million in the county with just the mustang operations in the last ten years. That's a significant revenue stream.

LEMON: Do you think that --

GILMAN: So, that's the bottom line --

LEMON: Is there a place -- I hate the cut you off because we have such a short time here. So, just shorten you answer, the more we can get in here. Do you think that what's happening in Nevada when it comes to the mustang ranch and prostitution should happen around the country?

GILMAN: I absolutely do but not legalization. You've got to step up to the plate and regulate. And it's regulation. If you just legalize, then you're going to let all the bad guys that are out there in the communities all over the nation today take advantage of a lot of innocent people. So regulation, yes, legalization, small part of the program, but do I believe it should be there, it's a valid service for folks that deserve regulation.

LEMON: Nevada has some of the worst unemployment and foreclosure numbers in the nation. Is the world's oldest profession recession- proof, do you think?

GILMAN: No, sir, I don't believe anything in this last recession that we have come through is recession-proof. Virtually every businessman that I'm aware of, small business has been damaged and is struggling to make the curve. So, nothing really is recession-proof in the kind of economy we're living in today.

LEMON: You ever want to be governor?

GILMAN: No, sir. I have plenty to do here. I love this county. I love what we're doing. You know, (INAUDIBLE) industrial center is the largest industrial park of its kind in the nation.

LEMON: Yes.

GILMAN: I have 130 companies. I got 6,000 jobs in the last five years. And that's going on in a park that sits right in the middle of Story County. So, I mean, there's 104,000 acres out there, Don. It's a fabulous industrial center. Story County is on the threshold of incredible adventure and profitability. And that's because of gold mining in the comp stock, tourism in Virginia City, TRI, the largest industrial park, that's where I'm going with my commission. That's where I'm going with Storey County. I can't wait to sit in the seat.

LEMON: Well, we can't wait for you to come back and talk to us and tell us how it's going. And you know, thank you very much. I appreciate it. I said now you're legit. And I told you in the commercial break, you said, I've always been legit. Now people just know my name.

Thank you, Mr. Gilman.

GILMAN: I've always been legit.

LEMON: Best of luck to you.

GILMAN: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: A young actor gets religion then speaks out against his own television show, calling it filth and telling people, don't watch. Can the entertainment industry mesh with faith? I asked a Christian film producer and Pat Boone, yes, the Pat Boone about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: My next two guests are itching to talk about that prostitution conversation I just had. But we're going to hold them to this subject for now and then we'll get to that.

The perfect example though, this week about thinking twice before wearing your religion on your sleeve or bringing it into the workplace. It is teen actor, Angus T. Jones of "two and a half men." Thought he found it out the hard way and internet video surfaced of him urging viewers to stop watching his hit show because it lacked Christian values.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGUS JONES, ACTOR, TWO AND A HALF MEN: Jake from "Two and a half men" means nothing. He is a nonexistent character. If you watch "two and a half men," please stop watching "Two and a half men." I'm on to "two and a half men." I don't want to be on it. Please stop watching it. Please stop filling your head with filth, please.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: I saw that and I just kept going, take the words back. That caused quite a controversy. It got everybody talking. Jones had issued a statement saying, I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed. I never intended that.

So, let's hit to Holly Weird right now, L.A. specifically, two people who know what it's like to walk as Christians in Hollywood, the one and only Pat Boone, is here. I said, Pat, if I introduce you, all I have to say, Pat Boone is here. Yes, that Pat Boone. Not kidding you. It's Pat Boone. He is among the top ten recording artists of all time, the original American idol. His album is called the true spirit of Christmas and it is in stores now. Director and producer David White also joins us. He is an actor and co-founder of the Christian move studio Pure Flicks Entertainment. And one of his latest films, he stars alongside Ali Landry in "Me Again." It is available on DVD. So, we got all the plugs out of the way.

So Pat, you were a teen star. Do you sympathize with this kid?

PAT BOONE, ACTOR, ENTERTAINER: Oh, yes, very much. I know that he started that role when he was much younger. And I think I've heard him say that he did the lines he was given to say without knowing exactly what they all meant or what the show was going to be.

Actually, I think he was -- when he was doing the show, he was too young to watch it. But I empathize with him because he finds himself in a situation now that he particularly has gotten serious about his faith where he has having to try to make a choice between what his faith calls him to and what his job -- what he's being paid to do. It's a mess. I understand.

LEMON: Yes. Let's take a look real quick at "two and a half men."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So many kids of divorce are so angry all the time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, well, it's kind of hard to stay angry when you smoke as much pot as we do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Truth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, listen, that was just last season or this season. I mean, he is old enough to know what pot is and he smokes it on the show. You see it.

So David, listen, this show can be crude. There are a lot of drugs, a lot of double on tenders. Most kids would probably not get the jokes if it goes right over their head. And besides, Angus Jones is still under contract for a reported $350,000 per episode. And it is acting, isn't it?

DAVID A. R. WHITE, ACTOR, PRODUCER: Yes. You know, I mean, there's always that balance of -- I think what happened is anytime somebody comes to faith, you know, that they've kind of become -- there's that -- they look at it like black and white, you know. It's almost like you become a zealot with what you feel like you're supposed to be as opposed to just kind of taking time with your newfound faith and you know, weighing it out and trying to work it out a little bit. And I think Angus, you know, by saying what he did, he probably should have spent some time and, you know, not just jumped right in and kind of hurt the people that he's been around for the last ten years.

LEMON: Before I go back to Pat, David, how hard is it to be a Christian in Hollywood?

WHITE: You know, we have a company called Pure Flicks Entertainment and we do faith and family films, you know. And so, we distribute directly to stores. And so, we are independently financed, independently funded and so we're not really in the Hollywood system so much. So it hasn't been that hard for me and our company.

But, I definitely think there's probably like the Christian closet, you know, so to speak, that some people are afraid to be open with their beliefs just because if it's unpopular or if they're going to offend somebody. I think Jim Caviezel is a perfect example of that after he did "the passion of the Christ." One of the most, you know, the top grossing movies of all time. He was like put in kind of a Hollywood jail. He didn't work consistently for almost ten years before, you know, like they started letting him work again. So, I think it definitely exists.

LEMON: I want to move on now. I want you guys to listen to this because you bring up a very good point, David. Kirk Cameron is another former child actor who's outspoken about faith. Here's what he told our Kareen Wynter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRK CAMERON, ACTOR: God gave me a very strong faith in something that would promise to lead me in positive directions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, Pat, Cameron gets criticized. Some actors have mocked Angus Jones. What if he joined - what if they joined a different faith, say, Islam? Would other actors be making fun of them?

BOONE: That would be a very sensitive issue now because Christians don't generally threaten your life. But in some cases, there are those who, if you -- as we know, make any kind of fun or say anything that seems disparaging about Islam, there will be those who may threaten your very life.

LEMON: But Pat, let me jump in and play devil's advocate here, because people would say it may not be direct where, you know, threatening someone saying, I'm going to harm you, I'm going to kill you, but certainly things like repaired of therapy or telling people that something is wrong with them because they're homosexual or they're not what is called the normal in society or what's expected, that can kill people just as threatening them can do as well.

BOONE: Well, we have got a lot of subject. I wanted to tell you about a decision I had to make as an actor some time ago. I was under contract to 20th century FOX and they wanted me to make a movie with Marilyn Monroe. And we were both doing very well at the box office. And I had to turn the script down and say, I can't do this. I risked suspension because it was a very immoral story. And it was somewhat like bust - written by William Inch (ph). They went ahead and made the movie eventually with Joanne Woodward, I think, and Richard Beamer. But it was about a kid who had an affair with an older woman, a beautiful woman but older, couldn't go anywhere. It was immoral. And I had young fans and I just said, hey, I can't do this. And the head of the studio said, we can suspend you and you won't work again. And I said, I understand, you have to make your decisions based on your priorities. And I was only like 24. And I said, I'm sorry, I just cannot make this film.

LEMON: Yes. BOONE: So -- but I was known as a Christian from the beginning. I'm not in Angus' kind of a situation where he's recently become a serious Christian. Now, he's in the middle of --

LEMON: Hey Pat --

BOONE: Yes.

LEMON: Yes. We have to run because I have to get to a commercial break or the computer is going to cut us off and I can't pay the bills. I'd like to keep my job. So, but I want you to stick by, stand by.

David, we're going to let you go. I want to stick by, Pat. We didn't plan to do this, but we are going to do it because we started talking a few minutes ago about, you know, prostitution right before the break. And Pat has a very strong opinion about it.

So, after the break, we'll talk about this, about you know, the legitimization or legitimizing, I should say, prostitution, regulating it. What does Pat Boone think about that? He has got to try in next.

Thank you, David.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK SOMERVILLE, NEWS ANCHOR: Some protesters went home --

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Frank Somerville is a news anchor in Oklahoma. He is use to hearing from the public. But when he posted a picture doing his daughter's hair on facebook, he and his wife, Donna, were overwhelmed.

FRANK SOMERVILLE: The facebook page just lit up. And it kept going and going and going.

DONNA WRIGHT SOMERVILLE, ADOPTED BLACK CHILD: I think it hit a racial chord. I think it also hit a father/daughter chord.

CARROLL: Eight years ago, the Somerville's adopted Callie, a decision that raced tough questions about themselves.

FRANK SOMERVILLE: We also thought, you know, there's a baby out there that needs a mommy and a daddy. If we all of a sudden back out because we are scared that this happens to be a black baby, what does that say about us?

CARROLL: They cherish watching Callie's play time with older sister Sidney. But no, with Callie gets older, there will likely be unique challenges. Studies show trans-racial adoptees can suffer a lack of cultural identity.

MARCUS SAMUELSSON, AUTHOR, YES, CHILD: We dealt with this. My mom always turns everything that that was an obstacle into confidence. CARROLL: Facing identity issues head on helped world renounce chef, Marcus Samuelsson. He is Thespian adopted by Swedish parents.

SAMUELSSON: Don't be naive about the questions that are going to come like race definitely has a place.

CARROLL: Brought up with the strong sense of self, Samuelsson now feels at home in Harlem where he lives and has a restaurant. The Somerville says being open about race and having black role models in Callie's life will help when the challenges do come.

DONNA SOMERVILLE: There are differences and celebrate the differences.

FRANK SOMERVILLE: For now, for this family, that is enough.

Jason Carroll, CNN. Oakland, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Thanks, Jason. Soledad O'Brien examines provocative questions about skin color discrimination and race in "who is black in America?" The documentary premiers next Sunday here at 8:00 p.m. eastern, only here on CNN.

So, earlier in the hour, we were talking with a Brothel owner and he just won a political seat in Reno, Nevada. Some see it as a tactic, a test, excuse me, acceptance of prostitution.

Pat Boone is with me. He, I don't believe, sees it that way at all.

Pat, you're itching to jump in on this. Here's your chance. What do you think?

BOONE: Well, yes, it was reminding me -- first, the whole idea of legalizing prostitution, women selling themselves and debasing -- being debased the way they are and abused the way they are, trying to legitimize that is ridiculous. But I was on with Bill Maher on "politically incorrect" some time ago with Chris Rock. And he made the audacious statement, you know, prostitution is the world's oldest profession. And I said, wait a minute, stop saying prostitution is the world's oldest profession. It is not. He said, what is? I said gardening, going back to the Garden of Eden. And he says, I set Pat Boone up. So it was funny.

But the idea I have four daughters and ten granddaughters. And the idea of any female, any man's daughter, and they are all somebody's daughter, that's their profession, their business, offering themselves in the most intimate way, exposing themselves to abuse or disease, pregnancy, whatever, all these other things --

LEMON: Pat, I get what you're saying.

BOONE: It's absurd. LEMON: I get what you're saying. I also have to address something as well. We're over our allotted time. There were people, and I did as well, when you said it, who took offense of what you said about Islam, when you said about Muslims being threatening.

BOONE: Well, I was asked the question. You asked me the question.

LEMON: Go ahead. I want you to explain yourself here. Go ahead.

BOONE: Yes. You asked is there any difference between Christians being criticized or, say, for taking a stand religiously or if Islam, somebody in Islam made the same kind of a stand. And I said the difference might be that if you criticize, right now, it's very sensitive criticizing Islam. And if you do, it is possible that you could be, you know, you could be threatened with harm in some way. And actually I'm not defending criticizing anybody's religion because I think that's wrong. And the whole idea of the constitution is to let everybody have a free say about what they believe. And we should, whether we agree or not, at least respect opinion and their desire to serve God as they see him or in some cases her. And have the freedom to do that without being ridiculed.

LEMON: You're not saying Islam as a whole is a threatening religion --

BOONE: No, I said some. If you go back and you will see. I said, there might be some elements. There are terrorists. We know there are terrorists. We know there are others who, if you criticize Muhammad in a cartoon as they did in Scandinavia, the guy was killed. He shouldn't have done it to begin with.

LEMON: We got to run, only for time purposes. I appreciate you coming on. And of course, there are terrorists and there are fundamentalists in every single religion.

BOONE: Yes. And there are Christian terrorists, too. I know.

LEMON: Thank you very much, Pat. Appreciate it. Hope you're still wearing those white bucks.

BOONE: I do a lot.

LEMON: All right. Pat Boone, everyone.

Hey, a picture is word a thousand words. But to some people it says even more than that. A body language expert is going to take a look at some of our political leaders and what they might really be saying.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The fiscal cliff, the talks, trying to follow them requires some emotional flexibility. One day everyone's all, bipartisanship, let's make a deal, Dems and Republicans, practically hugging and all that. By week's end, fiscal cliff talks were at a standstill. It was all doom and gloom and, they're not serious, what's wrong? We hate them again.

So, let's bring in our body language expert, Susan Constantine to help us sort this all out.

Susan, I love the body language experts when they come on. I love this. So, let's get right to it. And we want to start with House speaker John Boehner. He was so tripper on Wednesday saying he was optimistic about a deal. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Republicans are committed to continuing to work with the president to come to an agreement to avert the so-called fiscal cliff. Optimistic, that we can continue to work together to avert this crisis and sooner rather than later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Very next day, Boehner is suddenly grim, talks having accomplished a thing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOEHNER: No substantive progress has been made in the talks between the White House and the house over the last two weeks. This is not a game. Jobs are on the line. The American economy is on the line. And this is a moment for adult leadership. Campaign-style rallies and leaks in the press are not the way to get things done here in Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. Susan, you're looking at the monitor. You are looking at his body language. What does it says? What is it telling you?

SUSAN CONSTANTINE, BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT: Well, he's an intense guy to begin with. But when he's emphasizing a point, you see his eyebrows flash up, just a very quick little flash. It's a micro- expression. And then, after that, you will see his eyebrows pull together in frustration and anger. Not that he's actually angry. It's more of a frustration, kind of the beginning stages of it. So his emotions kind of fluctuate throughout his entire conversation. He kind of looks over his eyebrows a lot. He's a very intense guy. But when he's really making a point, he'll flash his eyebrows to let you know what points are very important to him.

LEMON: OK. So let's go to photos of Obama and Boehner from the first and only face-to-face meeting on fiscal cliff talks since the election. Start with Boehner, raising his eyebrow. Susan, what does that tell you?

CONSTANTINE: He's got a critical eye. So, you see him looking at from side, he's going, I'm watching you. And so, his eyes go off to the side with that little critical eye. You see it lifting up on that left-hand corner.

LEMON: OK. Let's switch gears here. There's a photo of Mitt Romney. This is the one I really wanted you to look at, Mitt Romney having lunch at the White House this week. Bitter rivals, now trying to make nice, at least for a photo op. So, what does this photo tell you? How is President Obama treating the man he just beat?

CONSTANTINE: Well, let me share something with you. This was a painful picture to look at because you can see Boehner - you could see he's actually having an emotional reaction --

LEMON: Hang on. Hang on. Do we have the picture -- there it is. Let's put the picture up. OK, I'm sorry, Susan, go ahead.

CONSTANTINE: All right. His chin kind of wrinkles up -- this is not the clip. We were talking about the Boehner one we just had.

LEMON: No. I'm talking about Mitt Romney and President Obama meeting.

CONSTANTINE: OK. All right, with this one right here, I call this, rigid Romney, you know, because his body language never changes. And you also, when you look -- they're looking at each other's eyes. But look at where Romney kind holds his body language, his hand in towards his torso. And President Obama's the one that actually reaches out -- he's the initiator of the conversation and shakes the hand. But Romney doesn't move.

But also, too, his hand is on top of Romney's. So, he's pressing down as in the dominant role. But look at where their feet are planted, OK? President Obama is standing on the potential seal and he is basically saying, I'm the one who's the chief and commander here. And of course, we got Mitt Romney is standing out. But then, we look at the angles of their feet, and their feet are not joined together. In another words, they're not nearing each other's body language. They're basically saying, let's do this, and let's go and let's get out of here.

LEMON: Wow, so much from one picture. Susan, will you come back? I love it.

CONSTANTINE: I would love to. Thanks for inviting me.

LEMON: Body language expert, Susan Constantine. Appreciate it.

Tomorrow night, the best of the best take center stage. It's our CNN Heroes all-star tribute. And we are talking to one of these amazing people. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: They will be honored tomorrow night, our CNN Heroes, an all-star tribute, our annual event, saluting the top ten CNN heroes of the year. Nischelle Turner is with CNN hero Scott Strode, joining us live from Los Angeles. Bad English, we were joking in the break, Scott Strode, you is a hero.

(LAUGHTER)

NISCHELLE TURNER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Scott Strode is a hero. He is. We've got his picture right here behind us, you know.

Scott, I asked you if you'd gotten a chance to go in and see the stage and kind of start feeling everything around you. What do you think is going to happen tomorrow night? Are you very excited?

SCOTT STRODE, 2012 TOP TEN CNN HERO: I'm really excited. I think it's going to be an amazing event. It's wild to see it come together. I definitely have some butterflies going, a little nervous but I'm excited.

TURNER: How did you feel when you found out you were going to be honored as one of our 2012 CNN heroes?

STRODE: Just really touched. I think it is just that CNN was willing to do a story about substance abuse and the positive side, a story of recovery. It was really special.

TURNER: I love your story. Scott's story, if you guys don't know, he was a user and he was a drinker from a very young age and then decided, you know what, this was not the life to live. He got straight. He's getting everyone else straight that wants to be. And we're going to honor him tomorrow as one of our CNN heroes 2012. So got your monkey suit ready?

STRODE: Yes, tie and everything.

TURNER: He's ready. He's going to be here with me tomorrow. I'll be on the red carpet, Don. And this program starts at 9:00 p.m. eastern time.

LEMON: Tell Scott get ready to answer my e-mails and phone calls because I'll need a trainer after the holidays because I plan to eat out.

TURNER: Did you hear that Scott?

STRODE: All right.

LEMON: Thanks. Good luck, you all. Thanks a lot.

You know, it all starts tomorrow night, 8:00 eastern with our CNN Heroes pre-show special, sharing the spotlight. And then it is CNN heroes, an all-star tribute live from Los Angeles hosted by our very own, Anderson Cooper.

Comedian Dean Obeidallah weighs in on my guest appearance on "the Wendy Williams show" this past week. There it is, me and Wendy, could be brutal. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The week in entertainment, let's take a look. Comedian Dean Obeidallah joins me once again. He's in Boston tonight.

And Dean, this is role reversal for me. Now, since you're like a professional TV guest, I'm going to run this one by you. This is my appearance on "the Wendy Williams show." We talked about the sex scandal surrounding the puppeteer who performs as Elmo. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WENDY WILLIAMS, TV HOST: Question for the panel, do you think that Sesame Street should permanently retire Elmo as --

LEMON: No, no, no.

WILLIAMS: OK, Don, the "CNN newsroom."

LEMON: I ran into Elmos last night in Times Square. I asked all of them -- there they are. I asked them, I said, should you guys be retired? And they said, no. And actually the Elmos asked me for tips.

WILLIAMS: Lindsay Lohan was arrested last night, 4:00 in the morning. You know the story. And I want to know your thoughts. I'm going to go to you, Don, first from "CNN newsroom."

LEMON: OK. I'm going to be honest. I think she needs some help. I think she needs an adult figure in her life, someone to go in and do what they did for Britney Spears, take control of her finances, take control of her -- she needs a guardian.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK, my initial thought, Dean, is, wow, they have some great lighting on "the Wendy Williams show."

DEAN OBEIDALLAH, POLITICAL COMEDIAN: They do. Why does she keep seeing in the "NEWSROOM." You're not in the "newsroom." You're next to her. But, you want my honest opinion? Can I do with Simon and pressure (ph)?

LEMON: Sure. Go, for it.

OBEIDALLAH: No. That was actually - it was really funny. You did a good job. I'm not just saying that because you won't ever have me on again on a Saturday night ever again. But, I thought you did a good job. You were connected well. I don't see the outage. You're not letting us see the bad parts, Don. You are only showing us the good parts. So, let's be honest. Where are the bad parts?

LEMON: No, no, no. We don't have the whole thing. I mean, I thought it was -- well, there was one part that was a little bit weird. And there's no time in the show for that, though. That's what my producer just said that in my ear and it comes right out.

So, we did talk about Lindsay Lohan which it is something that I wouldn't usually tackle because I think it's too tabloidy (ph). But I do think that Lindsay Lohan needs some help where she could end up in a very bad place or not be with us any longer if someone doesn't take control of her like they did with Britney Spears.

OBEIDALLAH: I agree with you. I mean, I was a lawyer for six years and I think she's been in court more than I was in those six years. She should sit for the bar exam. I think, she has so much experience. And while I can be flippant about this, the reality of what you said is truthful. And I fear that one day, we'll wake up and hear on the nudes she's no longer with us. And no one's stood up in her family or the people around her to say get your life together. She has drug and alcohol problems from the past. And they seem to be plaguing here today. I'm not saying they are. They seem to be still plaguing her tight. And people like Robert Downey, Jr., Britney Spears overcame problems, Angelina Jolie had some drug problems, they all overcome it. She can do it, you know. She needs help and support of people, not just jesting her to death, and letting her do what she wants.

LEMON: Let's take a look at this. I want to take a look at this one. It is Peter Jackson filmed his "lord of the rings" movie and how Hobbit movies in New Zealand, of course. So, it should be no surprise to see his crew help with an air New Zealand safety video. Here's a clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome aboard the flight. Before we set off on our journey, I would like to impart a story of safety.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Should you need a light in darkness to help you find your way, the escape path lighting will lead you to an exit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please power off all electronic devices during take-off and landing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He, I feel like that on the plane all the time. That might be the coolest in-flight video ever though, Dean.

OBEIDALLAH: I fly all the time. And people, I feel bad for the flight attendants. No one listens to what they're saying. And I'm a performer. I know they must feel that no one's looking at them, click the seatbelts. That's fun. We should have other ones, maybe like a hangover one where you see the pilots drinking and hanging out with strippers and stuff like that. Let me see how people react then. That would be a much better video. That would be a good video. N one listens to me.

LEMON: Dean, you have problems. Do you remember how we first met in person? OBEIDALLAH: On the plane, Don. And you know, I try to block that day from my mind. But apparently it continues on. But nothing happens by accident. That's what Don says in his book. So, that's what brought us together.

LEMON: Nothing happens in what -- by accident?

OBEIDALLAH: Nothing happens by accident.

LEMON: Absolutely. I 100 percent -- I'm so honored and flattered that you're reading my book. I called you today just to chat with you about something and you said, I'm on the train to Boston and reading your book. Thank you.

OBEIDALLAH: And you're amazed that I can read which is impressive.

LEMON: Yes. And you -- even when you're not on television.

OBEIDALLAH: You know, there is a lot of small word. I liked it. You should have more pictures because it is very hard - it has a lot of words but a lot of small ones. And I liked it very much, actually.

LEMON: Yes. Dean, thank you. We've enjoyed having you on the show. This is your last appearance. Talk to you later.

OBEIDALLAH: Thanks, Don. Good to know. I'm going somewhere else, anyway. Bye, bye. FOX News, here I come.

LEMON: Well, good luck there. Liberal.

Our moment of the week is coming up. Glen Campbell, the rhinestone cowboy rides one last time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Glen Campbell closed a hall of fame career Friday night with his last scheduled concert. Campbell announced in 2011 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. And he went out as well as you know him, a star. It is our moment of the week.

I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for watching, everyone. Good night.