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Dow Near All Time High; Joan Rivers Joke; Fat Letters Sent Home

Aired February 28, 2013 - 14:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: As we are looking at the Dow, remember we were watching very closely, that last high, October 9th of 2007, it was 14,164. We are creeping right around that number. Alison Kosik, let me bring you in at the New York Stock Exchange. We're close. We're close. Not there yet.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: We are close, not there yet. You know, it's exciting for someone like me who watches the numbers, but to someone like as maybe like watching paint dry. But we are about -- the Dow about 20 points away.

It's been a kind of an interesting session because stocks have been really dipping into the negative column most of the day. Now clearly you are seeing that more decisive move to the upside.

Investors have a bunch of economic reports on their plate today including one showing GDP economic growth in the final three months of 2012 only went up a smidge in the last three months.

There was another report that came out showing a sharp drop in jobless claims last week. You know, it's been a pretty strong few days for the market, nothing to really give it a certain one reason why we are seeing this momentum continues for the Dow.

It could just be that. It could be momentum. It could be the excitement of possibly seeing the Dow reaching that all-time high of 14,164 -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes. They were great numbers. Yesterday, we talked to Teddy Weisberg, who as you know, been working the floor for 45 years and he told me I am stumped. I am stumped by this momentum. Alison Kosik, thank you. We'll be talking a little later and see how close we are to that magic number, if you will.

Coming up next, the hot topics face off. On tap today, Joan Rivers getting some heat for a joke about the holocaust. Did she go too far this time? We're going to go there.

Plus parents getting the so-called fat letters from schools, telling them sorry, your child is obese.

And it's being called STZ bingo. I'm not making this up. Wait until you hear what college is doing to raise sexual awareness. My panelists are standing by for the big reveal, next.

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BALDWIN: Here we go, I'm Brooke Baldwin. For the next 20 minutes, we are going to talk about the stories generating a lot of chatter. The ones you will be talking about around the dinner table.

So first up, Joan Rivers, we know the comedian can be hard core. She is now taking a hard line over one of her punch lines and refusing to apologize. This is all according to the "New York Daily News." This all involves a joke about the holocaust.

Rivers on her show "E Fashion Police" was commenting about this dress that model Heidi Klum wore to the Oscars. To this event on Oscar night, Klum is from Germany, keep in mind.

OK, here is the joke from Rivers. Quote, "The last time a German looked this hot was when they were pushing Jews into the ovens." The Anti-Defamation League, they're not laughing.

The National Director Holocaust Survivors are saying this, quote, "Of all people, Joan Rivers should know better. This remark is so vulgar and offensive to Jews and holocaust survivors and indeed to all Americans that we cannot believe it made it to the airwaves. Making it worse, not one of her co-hosts made an effort to respond or condemn this hideous statement."

Let's go there. Dolvett Quince is a trainer on the "Biggest Loser" here joining me, also Mary Davis, Atlanta radio and TV personality, fitness expert and author, Donna Richardson Joyner and David Begnaud, host of "NewsBreaker with David Begnaud," host of the show there. Welcome to all of you.

David, let me begin with you. Did this joke go too far?

DAVID BEGNAUD, HOST, "NEWSBREAKER WITH DAVID BEGNAUD": Yes, look, here's the thing. The ADL should know better. They say Joan Rivers should know better. I mean, she is a shock jock in all terms. Her husband lost family in the holocaust, OK.

She is Jewish. I mean, she gets it, but this is her shtick, Brooke. This is what she does. I wouldn't do it. Yes, it's insensitive. You can argue that. What is interesting to me is what E! did about it because this was taped. It wasn't live.

So if they wanted it taken away and they didn't want it to air -- but they let it air. That's what is interesting to me. Not Joan Rivers saying it.

BALDWIN: Who says the joke is fine? That this is just a part of the shtick.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't agree.

DOLVETT QUINCE, TRAINER, "THE BIGGEST LOSER": It goes back to the days of Richard Pryor making fun of himself and making fun of his culture. You know, it's comedy, sure. I can understand the sensitivity, but it goes to comedy. I have to agree with Richard from the perspective. E had control. They didn't have to air it. They chose to air it. So who are we going to be pointing the finger to?

BALDWIN: Let's look at the source. David brings up the point because, listen, Joan Rivers is Jewish. This is what she said. She is not apologizing, but she had said this in response.

Quote, to the Hollywood reporter. Quote, "My husband lost the majority of his family in Auschwitz and I can assure you that I have always made it a point to remind people of the Holocaust through humor." She is Jewish. Does it make it better or does it make it worse?

MARA DAVIS, RADIO AND TV PERSONALITY: Hang on a minute.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't agree. Yes. She is an equal opportunity comedian. However, she doesn't have to be equally mean and insensitive.

DAVIS: I was going to say that E! is loving this. They are getting the best publicity and talking about it here today. This is Joan Rivers. They know who they are dealing with. They know what they are doing. Listen, a lot of people laughed at that joke. It's one of those jokes that's so outrageous, you know she can't be serious. She makes jokes like this all the time.

BALDWIN: David, go ahead.

BEGNAUD: Somewhere in L.A. Joan is TiVo-ing this and loving that we are talking --

BALDWIN: Here's another point. A lot of us are apologetic culture and I remember this Bill Maher, "New York Times" op-ed from sometime last year. So I went back and I found it. Here's what his point was. This is his op-ed. It was called, please stop apologizing.

Part of it said, quote, "If you see or hear something you don't like in the media, just go on with your life. Turn the page or flip the dial or pick up roll of quarters and leave the booth."

Then goes on, "When the lady at Costco gives you a free sample of its new ham pudding and you don't like it, you spit into a napkin and keep shopping. You don't declare a holy war on ham."

So I don't know how Bill Maher feels about this Joan Rivers joke, but in general, do the Bill Mahers of the world have a point?

QUINCE: Absolutely. I believe so. It's up to you. It's up to you to determine whether or not you allow something to affect you. At the end of the day, we have choices. We are all adults. We are free thinking. You know, you allow it to affect you. You don't have to let it affect you, but too many people I think are extremist in that regard.

BALDWIN: David, last word, I hear you wanting to jump in. BEGNAUD: Yes, look, the last time the ADL told Joan Rivers they were offended by something, she said go bleep yourself. This is what she does. This is awesome for her. She is loving the controversy. It was a joke and I think most people realize that.

BALDWIN: Let me move on to something else. Some students in Massachusetts as young as first graders got letters from their school telling them they were obese. Is it the school's responsibility or did they go too far. We will discuss, next.

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BALDWIN: Students in one Massachusetts school district are getting graded for not just how much they know in class, but how much they weigh. If their BMI, that's body mass index, is too high, a letter is sent home.

Actually if it's too low as well they're going both ways. So this is the deal, the parents in North Andover are getting what's being called fat letters about their kids. In fact, we have been showing you this little guy who is a 10-year-old who got one. This is Cameron Watson says he is not bothered by it, but his dad is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAM WATSON, STUDENT WHO RECEIVED BMI LETTER: I know I am not obese so I didn't really care about the letter I just crumpled it up.

MATT WATSON, FATHER: No one wants to get a letter being told that they are obese. That's a very strong, uncomfortable word and you know, we just didn't see it fitting with our son, you know, who is very active. He is very strong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: On the flip side, let me make sure get in with the Massachusetts Department of Health told the "Huffington Post" quoting them here, "BMI screenings are intended to raise parents' awareness about the issue. Parents and guardians are given the opportunity to waive their child's BMI screening at school by submitting a written request.

The results of the screening are directly and confidentially communicated to the parents or guardians of each student." And we should also point out as I did at the top, you know, the district also is sending home letters if students are under weight as well.

So let me will bring you all back in. Donna, let me start with you as a fitness expert. School going too far or good for them?

DONNA RICHARDSON JOYNER, AUTHOR AND FITNESS EXPERT: You know what? I think that we have a health epidemic. When you have 2/3 of adults overweight or obese and 1/3 of children are overweight or obese, we have a problem.

So yes, adults and parents need to know about the health status of their children, but also think that schools need to be more proactive and increasing physical activity and good nutrition. So I don't know if it was a letter that should have been sent out.

I would have recommended a PTA meeting so that you can discuss the problems and come up with solutions. I am so excited because First Lady Michelle Obama is on her campaign called "Let's Move." It is about decreasing childhood obesity.

And there is a program called "Let's Move Active Schools." It educates and empowers the school officials to create healthy and physical active environments.

BALDWIN: David, head shake, talk to me.

BEGNAUD: Yes, look, I mean, come on. You want to send letters out, send it to bad teachers. This is ridiculous. Stay out of the lives of my child. I'm not a dad, but if I had a kid, I don't want to get a fat letter from the school.

I mean, that's none of the school's business. That's a personal discussion. The kid we just saw on the video can do pull ups. I can't even do pull ups. You think the kid is fat? Come on, I think it's ridiculous.

BALDWIN: Dovett, let me ask you because, look, if you watch "The Biggest Loser," your co-trainer, Jillian Michaels, she likes to get a little tough and scream, right, at some of the contestants. I mean, is this sending the letter home to parents and let me go there. Could this be a form of bullying for these kids?

QUINCE: I have two schools of thought. On one hand you are dealing with the issue of the BMI gauge. That is so wrong. Those numbers are inaccurate. That's first and foremost. So the tools that we're using to gauge the word obesity are wrong. You are not weighing in lean body mass. You're not weighing lean muscle.

BALDWIN: What should they be doing?

QUINCE: They should be weighing lean muscle not necessarily the circumference of the child. Children grow very fast. The other thing is, guess what? We're bringing awareness to parents and in some cases parents who are uneducated on proper diet and nutrition.

So it's almost like yes, the report card. By the way, busy parents, you don't know that your child is an A student or a B student because you're so busy. Also busy parent, your child is eating a bunch of stuff that is unhealthy.

So I have two schools of thought, on one hand, yes, there are some bad things at this, but there are also some awareness, good things to this.

BALDWIN: Mara, you are saying no? Why?

DAVIS: With all due respect, Dovett, listen, parents, all they have to do is look at their kids to know there is a problem going on. Between bullying in schools and gun violence and everything kids are dealing with and then you are going to have a letter sent home with an I grew up --

QUINCE: That's part of the problem, Mara --

DAVIS: I grew up that way --

BALDWIN: Keep going.

DAVIS: I grew up that way and it was a problem for me constantly. You know what? I had kids in school saying, fat girl or fatty. You don't need a letter being sent home to remind your parents --

BALDWIN: So then what would have helped you?

DAVIS: Listen, your parent as a parent, you have to do your best to be healthy for the kid. The child that was shown clearly was in great physical shape.

QUINCE: What about the parents that don't know any better? What about the parents themselves that are not educated?

DAVIS: We're ought to educate and empower the entire family.

QUINCE: Exactly.

DAVIS: We have an epidemic and it starts with the parents.

BALDWIN: Everyone agrees parents need to be involved. I hear you.

Coming up next, this was a public university hosting a condom casino tour. STD bingo and all kinds of stuff, students actually gamble to win condoms like five-card foreplay poker. We are going to talk about that. Is this a good idea to raise awareness? I see thumbs up. Back in a moment.

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BALDWIN: Last topic for the panel, a condom casino tour, is this sex games? Not what you're thinking. It's happening though, tonight at Central Michigan University. This is according to campusreform.org, college kids get some sex education by playing games like with STD Bingo, War which is an acronym for working and raising a child, and a game called "Beer Gaggle Black Jack."

You go to this web site, there's a video and they explain what they are all about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just like regular black jack, but someone will be wearing goggles to see that you are drink. You will realize if you can't count to 21, you are probably not making a decision with no real life goggles on. The result is a sexy no-no. They will talk about ethics and the cold hard facts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Did he just say a sexy no-no? Did you hear that? He said no ethics and morals and they said the whole thing is to raise awareness and not pass judgment about what can happen if the college student has sex and they have been around for about two years.

I hear clapping and I know there was a thumbs up earlier. All right, clapper, what do you think, David? Are you clapping because this is ridiculous?

BEGNAUD: It's awesome. When I first heard of it, I thought only people with STDs could play the bingo. They might on to something here. It's not high school kids or elementary kids. I think it's brilliant and I tell you my grandmother who love bingo, Brooke, if she knew they were going to talk about STDs in the bingo hall, she would be shaking her head.

QUINCE: I love the fact that they are taking steps to educate people. Kids don't talk about sex and talk about protection.

BALDWIN: These are college students. You don't think they talk about sex?

QUINCE: They are going to have to go about this.

JOYNER: I think it's creative. Yes, but I as a fitness expert probably would have gone a different route. I would have probably said let's play sports and games where the focus is physical activity and health education and you win prizes. And then when I think of STD, when you think of AARP as reported that 55 and over, there's an increase of 43 percent of those cases. I would have then maybe re- educated some of our seniors and we could have done like love bingo and safe --

BALDWIN: Let me jump in. One of the concerns and reading on the web site and talk about the college hook up culture and to them it was there this, do you have concerns the group is promoting promiscuity on its tours.

Here's the response from the creative of this tour. No. Research proves that college students are sexually active. The purpose of the program is to bring awareness to the colleges and universities for the potential consequences.

What happened to the good old lecture with the doctor or nurse and explaining?

(CROSSTALK)

DAVIS: They learn about stuff like this and a lot of these people are not educated. What's the harm? They are going to be promiscuous anyway.

QUINCE: It's similar to my profession. Some people love to work out and others hate it, but you have to make it fun. It's a great chance you will do it. We did that with the kids on the show. Keep it fun and interesting.

BEGNAUD: Brooke, will you play?

BALDWIN: And next. And then we go to break. Mara Davis. I ask the questions. Not you people. So great to have you on. I know how you all feel about casino bingo. Thank you all so much.

We will take a quick break and look at the Dow when we come back. It's 60 minutes away from the closing bell here, will it hit that 14,164 mark. We shall see.

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