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State of Emergency in Arizona; New York's Gay Marriage Battle; Comedian Stopped at Republican Conference; Flooding in China; Moving Icebergs to Arid Areas; Progress Reported on NFL Lockout; Did Wade Get Caught Up in LeBron's Bad Publicity?
Aired June 19, 2011 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It is being called a top priority among all wildfires in the United States. The so-called "monument fire" in Arizona is on the move and threatening more homes and lives. Extreme winds have grounded planes and rugged terrain is making it hard to fight this inferno. All you have to do is look at the fire there and the efforts to contain it.
What could help? A monsoon? Our Jacqui Jeras will explain.
I'm Don Lemon in New York. Our Jacqui Jeras is with us. We have someone live at the scene. And we also have the fire public information officer going to join us now in just moments.
A severe threat to lives and homes rights now in the western United States, high heat, low humidity, strong winds -- add them all together and you have an extreme fire risk. Red flag warnings are up in parts of seven states -- seven states. Dozens of wildfires are burning as we speak.
But the most immediate risk is in Arizona -- where we find our Thelma Gutierrez right there on the ground. She is in Sierra Vista, a city threaten by the so-called "monument fire."
Thelma, give us an update.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, I can tell you that what fire officials say they're trying to do right now is to herd the flames away from the ridge of that mountain down onto the other side. They want to push those flames back, Don. And the way that they're doing that is that they've cut bulldozer lines along the base of the mountain.
And all that smoke that you see right behind me, what they're doing is they're holding a burnout operation. They're burning out all that tinder dry fuel, all the grass that hasn't burned for many years. It's very, very dry, and very dangerous. And they're trying to burn that out so that if those flames top that ridge, that there will be no more fuel on this side.
They've also told us they're trying to hold the line. You see this highway here. This is Highway 92. They're trying to hold the line at the highway. They want to make sure that fire doesn't jump this area. Now, east of this highway, you have a sparsely-populated area which is south of Sierra Vista, mainly county lands. In this area you, have a lot of livestock. And so, what the firefighters have done is they've evacuated all of these people who are pre-evacuated several days ago, now are under mandatory evacuation while they're conducting this burnout operation because they say the wild card in all of this, Don, is the wind. It could shift at any time. And that makes conditions very dangerous.
LEMON: Hey, Thelma, I'm glad you mentioned that because I want to bring in -- don't go anywhere, Thelma, I'm going to keep you there. I want to bring in our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras who has some information on this as well.
And one of our top producers, I want to bring -- I'm understanding that we have the public information officer now who is in charge of this fire. His name is Mr. Rich Szlauko. He is standing by on the phone.
So, Thelma, Mr. Szlauko, and Jacqui Jeras.
Jackie, you heard Thelma talked about the winds there. Update us and then we're going to talk to the public information officer.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, the wind has been the number one enemy today. And, unfortunately, those winds were so strong they had to ground some of the airplanes and helicopters earlier today. They're back up and flying. But the winds have been gusting as much as 50 miles per hour and there you can see the sustained winds.
So, up neither wallow fire pushing up to 30-mile-per-hour sustained and around 25 miles per hour down near where Thelma is, and that's been one of the biggest issues for today.
Now, this area of low pressure as we called, and this is going to be bringing in changeable conditions. It's bringing in those strong southwesterly winds for today. But with this is a trailing cold front that's going to be moving through. So, by tomorrow, it's going to bring in northwest winds. And that's actually some good news in the sense that we expect the air to be a little bit cooler. We also expect the humidity to be a little bit higher.
So, today is as bad as it's going to be getting in terms of those dry, critical conditions. We've got a lot of fires which are burning in the southwest. Not just Arizona but also New Mexico. We've got a number of fires also burning in Texas.
Check out these pictures from eastern Texas now. We have some video here from an area that has burned about 15,000 acres in the Groveton area. This fire is about 40 percent contained. Temperatures are around 100 degrees. Officials are saying that this is a very dangerous situation.
You know, wildfire is very common into northern and western parts of Texas, but this is a little unusual to see this in eastern Texas. And this is one of the biggest fires that that area has ever seen. Three million acres have been burning in Texas since November. And a lot of that having to do with this extreme drought that's been going on from Texas into New Mexico and Arizona, and there's just nothing let up.
And you asked, Don, about that monsoon?
LEMON: Yes.
JERAS: Well, monsoon, the technical term means that it's a seasonal reversal of the wind. What happens in the summertime is that it gets so hot here in the southwest that eventually it creates an area of low pressure basically. And so, the cooler air that comes in from the ocean starts to move in and kind of fill it in and replace it so we get thunderstorms. There is a rainy season in Arizona. And on average it starts about the fourth of July.
LEMON: And, Jacqui, is that what we're hoping for, the monsoon, right?
JERAS: That's what we're hoping for.
LEMON: OK.
JERAS: We need that rain.
LEMON: All right. Jacqui, stand by, because I think you may have questions here for the person who is in charge of the wallow fire. He's a public information officer and his name is Rich Szlauko.
So, I know that our Thelma Gutierrez is at the "monument fire" at the moment, but you're at the "wallow fire' which is pretty much contained. So, you know what the folks at -- you know that Thelma's dealing with and the people who are fighting that fire there are dealing with.
Tell us what they're up against and what you're up against as well.
RICH SZLAUKO, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFC (via telephone): Yes, it's tricky, Don. A lot of the fact and the winds she gave down there at that fire are very similar to what we're having here. We have the same 20 to 30-mile-per-hour sustained winds. Right now, we're sitting at about 511,000 acres or 800 square miles.
We're about 44 percent contained. We still have a good 3,600 people working on the fire. But it has -- it has broken one of our lines down by Luna. And it's the same exact circumstances she's giving us on the other fire.
LEMON: OK. Hey, Thelma, I want to bring you back in. Thelma, I've got about 15 seconds to sum it up here. I'm up against the break. Tell us about the evacuations.
GUTIERREZ: Don, an area just east of the fire right now has been evacuated. That's on the southern of the Sierra Vista. This fire is four miles away from town. Firefighters say they just want to move people out of this area to keep it clear as they conduct this back burn operation.
LEMON: OK. Hey, one quick second then, Mr. Szlauko, I want to ask you. What are you up against? I know it's mostly contained. Are you feeling good about this?
SZLAUKO: Yes. I think the fire crews have -- the north, south, really looking good. The east side is in a little lower elevation. So, I think they're going to get a good handle on it.
They have evacuated Luna just as a precaution, but everything starting to look pretty good.
LEMON: Rich Szlauko, thank you for your expertise.
And, Thelma Gutierrez there on the ground. We appreciate your reporting.
Everybody, stand by.
And Jacqui Jeras, of course, our meteorologist who told us about what they're up against. And they're expecting a monsoon that could help out.
When was the last time you heard about a monsoon in the United States?
Thank you so much to all of you. We'll continue to update you on that developing story.
In the meantime, New York could soon become the sixth state in the nation to legalize same sex marriage. The state Senate could hold a vote on the marriage equality act this week. We'll have details straight ahead.
And if you want any information about anything we have on the air, you have some story ideas, you just want to reach out to us and say hello. You can do it through social media, Twitter, Facebook, CNN.com/Don, and Foursquare.com/DonLemonCNN is where you can check in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
LEMON: New York could soon become the most populous state in the nation to legalize same sex marriage.
We show the parade there. I guess it's the only video we have of same sex couples.
Supporters say they're closer than ever to getting the bill through the state Senate, possibly as soon as Monday. But opponents insist they're not giving up. I spoke with Daniel O'Donnell, a key sponsor of the bill in the state assembly which passed a bill last Wednesday.
Brian Brown is against the measure. He is the president of the National Organization for Marriage. And since supporters claim they have the votes they need, I asked Brian a very direct question to start.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Are you worried? Are you nervous about it?
BRIAN BROWN, NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE (via telephone): Well, obviously it's crunch time right now. But, you know, again, in 2009, we heard from the lead sponsor, Tom Duane, that votes were there and the bill ended up being defeated 38 to 24. So, the notion that this ace done deal is simply wrong.
And what we're doing right now is -- there are thousands of calls going into senators. The legislature should not be deciding something as important as the future of marriage. The voters of New York should have the same ability as 31 other states. Every single state that this has been put to a vote, the voters directly have said no.
We know what marriage is. We know that it's unique and special. And we do not want it redefined.
LEMON: OK. Listen to this though. You said the voters will decide. But 58 percent -- this is recent poll here -- 58 percent of New Yorkers support same sex marriage while more than one quarter of voters say the measure, along with extending regulation laws -- it's a big deal here in New York -- is one of their top two priorities, 58 percent.
Are you sure you want to take it to the voters?
BROWN: Absolutely sure. We saw polls just like this in California and in Maine -- polls that were worded in a very biased way. I have absolutely no doubt that if the voters of New York had a free and fair vote and they could vote on the issue of marriage, they would vote to protect it.
LEMON: OK. All right. Let's go -- let's give Daniel O'Donnell a chance to talk there.
Daniel, what do you think? It's going to be gay pride in New York next weekend -- on Sunday is the big parade. Do you think that people will be celebrating then?
DANIEL O'DONNELL, NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY (via telephone): Absolutely. I'm confident that with the governor's leadership, we're going to get this done. No one ever asked me in 2009 whether or not it would pass. And I would have told you it wasn't going to pass.
This time, it's going to pass and I'm proud to be part of the process that's expanding the rights of New Yorkers.
BROWN: There was a letter just published by three of the greatest legal scholars of our time. Mary Ann Glendon at Harvard, Robby George at Princeton, and a number of other folks who actually support same sex marriage. None of them deny that there are major unintended consequences of same sex marriage. In Illinois, we heard these same arguments. It's not going to affect anyone other than the couples getting married. Wrong. In Illinois right now, there are three lawsuits because the Catholic Church, its adoption agencies are being told they have to shut down because they will not adopt children to same sex couples. It's as simple as that.
LEMON: So, you don't look at this as a civil rights issue, right?
BROWN: It's not a civil rights issue to try to redefine our most fundamental and basic institution, no.
LEMON: OK. All right. Daniel, go ahead, I'm sorry I cut you off there.
O'DONNELL: Well, the Supreme Court has ruled that marriage is one of our fundamental rights. In the end, this is not a question about anything other than equality. The state issues licenses. And they issue licenses to people. And they're called marriage licenses.
I'm not seeking a marriage in the church. I'm no not seeking a pew (ph) in a synagogue. I'm not seeking anything from any religion.
The cases that they have constantly referenced are not cases under the marriage law. There isn't marriage in Illinois. And so, if, in fact, people want to change the human rights laws or the discrimination laws, they should make proposals in legislative bodies to do that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: OK. And as we reported, the New York state assembly has already passed the bill. The state Senate is expected to vote by the end of the upcoming week. It could be within 24 hours on Monday.
Let's move on. We're going to talk about former Utah Governor John Huntsman was a no-show at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans on Saturday, but he came in second place in the straw poll.
We're going to ask, Will Cain and Jamal Simmons what was behind Huntsman's strong showing, and I'm going to talk to them about gay marriage as well, or same sex marriage, as people are calling it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. You just heard our conversation about the same sex marriage here in New York. I'm in New York City now.
So, I'm going to go to Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons. He's in Washington. Will Cain is right here in New York. He's our political analyst.
What's the Web site you work for?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: NationalReview.com.
LEMON: NationalReview.com. OK. So, what do you think as you heard those two gentlemen there talk about -- you were listening intently and you have some very strong opinions about it. What do you think? Is it going to pass? Do you agree with what either of them said?
CAIN: You know, the gentleman you had from the National Organization for Marriage said something interesting. He said, in every one of these states that this has happened, we've seen unintended consequences.
LEMON: Brian Brown.
CAIN: Yes. And as a conservative, let me tell you something -- I take very serious the concept of unintended consequences. You have no idea when you make legislative maneuvers what kind of things that can spin off.
But, Don, you know I feel this way. This is an idea whose time has come. Marriage is intricately tied to human happiness. And I think that's something we should now being ready to extending to all the people in the United States.
LEMON: Then, so why then do so many conservatives -- you are conservative and a proud conservative --
CAIN: Right.
LEMON: Why then are so many conservatives against it?
CAIN: You know, I mean, I think the marriage driving force --
LEMON: And I don't mean Democrat or Republican about that, because there are conservatives in certain communities who just, you know --
CAIN: That's an important point. Let's drop conservative and liberal because it's not Democrat and Republican. It's not conservative and liberal.
LEMON: OK.
CAIN: I think the major opposition to it stems from religious beliefs.
LEMON: All right. All right. That's good. That's a good distension.
OK. Jamal, what do you think? What do you make of it?
JAMAL SIMMONS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: You know, what I'm hearing out of New York is that this bill is going to pass. The Republicans are trying to hold up Governor Cuomo on a couple different issues before it gets done. But that people up there seem to feel pretty confident that the bill will actually pass tomorrow. So, we'll see what happens when the votes get taken.
LEMON: What does this mean for the rest of the country? What does this mean for Washington, D.C. then, Jamal, if this thing does indeed pass?
SIMMONS: Well, you know, gay marriage is one of these issues that is not really partisan because you've got Democrats, particularly a lot of African-American Democrats, who are not necessarily in favor of it. Some working class white Democrats who aren't necessarily in favor of it. So, you've got these cross currents that exist for politicians.
The problem with the polling on this issue is that a lot of people who are for it, many of them kind of are agnostic. They don't really care that much one way or the other. It's not really a voting issue for them. But the people who are against it are vehemently against it.
So, it makes it tough for politicians to kind of decide which way it is that they're going to go.
So, what does it mean for the nation? I don't know. But it looks like 10 years from now, this will not be an issue for the United States. I mean, the younger the voter, the more likely they are to be in favor of gay marriage -- which just says to me that it's really a time issue as much as it is anything else.
LEMON: OK.
SIMMONS: If you look at the trend line on the polls, it looks like every year, more and more people are in favor of it and fewer and fewer against it.
LEMON: OK, Jamal. All right, I'm going to move on now. We're going to talk about the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, and specifically about Jon Huntsman, because he came in second. Was he even there?
CAIN: No. He called out sick.
LEMON: So, what is this?
CAIN: It's meaningless is what it is.
LEMON: Well, is it meaningless? Or does it mean that Republicans are really not happy with the people who have already tossed their hats into --
CAIN: No, really, it means it's meaningless, Don. I mean, if there is a straw poll prior to an election, Ron Paul wins that straw poll. Then, come elections time, he garners about 9 percent of the vote. And add on top of that, the fact that "Politico's" reporting that Jon Huntsman's strategists might have paid people to attend and vote for Huntsman --
LEMON: OK.
CAIN: I mean, it's meaningless.
LEMON: All right. I've got -- Jamal, I've got 10 seconds here. Do Democrats fear Jon Huntsman the most out of any other candidates? SIMMONS: He's got to get nominated. He's got to get nominated first. I think working for Barack Obama is probably the thing that will hurt him the most in the Republican primary over time.
LEMON: All right.
CAIN: But the answer is yes, right, Jamal? You do fear him the most should he get through?
SIMMONS: I wouldn't say fear the him the most. I think he's a credible national candidate on the issues. The question is whether or not he can make it through the process and actually wage a campaign against the president.
LEMON: OK. Why are you always starting trouble?
CAIN: I'm not starting any trouble.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Jamal, thank you very much in Washington.
And thank you, Will Cain, here. I know you. Anyway, we'll talk about your conservatism. I'm not so sure sometimes.
CAIN: Oh, you're just making me lose fans all over the place.
LEMON: Thank you, sir.
When we come right back, we'll take a look at some of the big stories for the week ahead.
Plus, take a look at this computer simulation of a tugboat pulling a drifting iceberg. We'll tell you why that could be a big deal in some areas of the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Now to the big stories in the week ahead. From the White House to Tinseltown, our correspondents tell you what you need to know.
We begin tonight with the president's plans for the week.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Brianna Keilar at the White House.
Deficit reduction talks continue in high gear this week. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Democrats and Republicans in Congress three times this week.
Thursday, President Obama has three fundraisers in New York, including one on Broadway. A performance of "Sister Act the Musical" hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. Then, Friday, he takes his jobs message on the road to Pittsburgh where he'll make remarks at a manufacturing plant.
We can't forget about the first lady. She's making an official trip to Africa this week.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kate Bolduan on Capitol Hill.
Coming up this week -- General David Petraeus faces a confirmation hearing in the Senate Thursday for his new post as the director of the CIA. He could also, though, face some questions on Afghanistan, the size and timetable of the planned U.S. pullout this summer of U.S. forces there. Petraeus, of course, is currently the commander of the war in Afghanistan.
And the House? The House could be headed for a showdown with the White House over U.S. involvement in military operations in Libya. Speaker John Boehner and other lawmakers were not so satisfied with the White House's response to questions and growing concern up here that president did not adequately consult with the Congress on the ongoing efforts in Libya. Some lawmakers have threatened to use the power of the purse, possibly defunding the operation as an option.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I'm Paul Steinhauser at the CNN political desk.
Jon Huntsman formally declares his candidacy for president on Tuesday. The former Utah governor and former U.S. ambassador to China announces at Liberty State Park in New Jersey with the Statue of Liberty as his backdrop.
Later in the week, three other Republican White House hopefuls, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Herman Cain speak at the National Right to Life Convention in Jacksonville, Florida.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York.
A critical week ahead for Wall Street with the Federal Reserve set to meet. No major changes are expected on interest rates. But investors are waiting to go hear how the Fed plans to tackle the challenges of the slowing economic recovery. Since the central bank's last meeting, job growth has slowed, stocks have stumbled and prices have risen.
Also ahead this week, the latest home sales numbers. Those are critical.
And on Friday, we'll get the final revision of first quarter GDP so we can actually see how much the U.S. economy grew in the first three months of this year. So, a lot ahead for the market to digest. We'll cover it all on CNN Money.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, HLN'S "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I'm "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer. Here's what we're watching this week. More of the Casey Anthony murder trial. Could Casey actually be acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee? And we've got a showbiz newsmaker interview with "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe as the last of the "Harry Potter" films get set to come out.
"Showbiz Tonight" is TV's most provocative entertainment news show exclusively weeknights at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on HLN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. That is your week ahead. Thank you very much for that, guys.
A bomb threat creates some scary moments aboard a U.S. Airways flight in Ohio. We'll tell you what happened coming up.
But, first, it's time for a summer vacation. Boy, don't I know that? If you want the fun but not the crowds, our Joe Carter has some ideas in this week's "On the Go."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE CARTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Packed beaches and crowds at Cinderella's Castle. It's summer in Florida.
(on camera): But if you're looking to avoid those long lines and those huge crowds, then come to Clermont.
Just a short drive from Orlando, Clermont is home to Revolution: The Off-Road Experience.
No crowds here. Just 220 acres of room to play.
GARY JOWETT, REVOLUTION, THE OFF-ROAD EXPERIENCE: We've got the 4x4 Jeep experience. We go up over some manmade obstacles and the hills. We've got the ATVs and we have doom buggies.
CARTER: But for the water? Go to Winter Haven and Water Ski, without the skis.
(on camera): What better place to go for water ski than the lake the sport was invented on.
(voice-over): And learn from champion barefooter Paul McDonald.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's up. He's up.
CARTER: Or go for a dive in Crystal River with an endangered species.
(on camera): This place is the only place in all of America where you can legally swim with manatees.
SEAN BRADLEY, AMERICAN PRO DIVING CENTER: How neat is that when you get a 2,000-pound endangered animal comes over to you and gives you a kiss?
CARTER (voice-over): A small detour could mean big adventure on your next Florida getaway.
Joe carter, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: As you can see we have a lot of news here. We want to give you some of the headlines right now. The U.S. is having preliminary talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan. That's according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. But he doesn't expect any substantial movement in peace talks until the winter. President Obama plans to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan next month. Gates is retiring in less than two weeks. He'll be replaced by CIA director, Leon Panetta
Syria's military is inching closer to the Turkish border. This video appears to show a fire smoldering near the border. A poster on YouTube says Syrian troops caused the blaze by shelling the area, trying to keep civilians from fleeing to the north. Some 10,000 refugees have already sought shelter in Turkey.
CNN's Arwa Damon has more on the military action and civilians fleeing the area.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Video posted to YouTube, CNN authenticity we cannot independently verify, appear to show tanks and armored personnel carriers entering the town. This news has sent even more people fleeing for refuge in neighboring Turkey and also causing them to set up small makeshift camps alongside the Syrian- Turkish border but still inside Syria.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: In the meantime, back here in the United States a bomb threat creates some scary moments aboard a U.S. Airways flight. But it lands safely at Washington's Reagan National Airport. The FBI says the threat was made in Dayton, Ohio, where the plane took off. Authorities moved the plane to a remote area after it landed and all the passengers got off OK. Officials say the woman who made the threat was taken into custody and may have some mental health issues.
Now this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REGGIE BROWN, OBAMA IMPERSONATOR: Black History Month, you see, Michelle, she celebrates the full month. And, you know, I celebrate half.
(LAUGHTER)
My father is a black man from Kenya. And my mother was a white woman from Kansas. So, yes, my mother loved a black man. And, no, she was not a Kardashian.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Did you just laugh or cringe at what you just heard? This Obama impersonator was cut off at the Republican leadership conference Saturday because his act, organizers say, was getting inappropriate. So was it the right call here to talk about a comedian?
Dean Obeidallah, joins me.
Dean, listen, before I show you this clip --
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, COMEDIAN: Yes?
LEMON: I thought it was funny.
OBEIDALLAH: I agree it's funny. In a comedy club it's fine. There's nothing at all wrong with it. It's the setting frankly. He's performing at the Republican National Leadership Committee, predominantly, not all white people, and he's making black jokes. As the former spokesman for the National Committee said, while we don't have any black people in our organization, why do we have a black impersonator doing black jokes?
LEMON: All right, if he had done those jokes in front of a black crowd it would have been OK?
OBEIDALLAH: Fine. If he had done that in a comedy club, fine. It's the setting that makes it wrong.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Does that sound hypocritical? Why? What --
OBEIDALLAH: That's the clip that's getting played in the media. That's the message going out.
LEMON: They should have been more aware of who the crowd was? Is that what you're saying?
OBEIDALLAH: They knew who the crowd was. They knew every joke. It was completely choreographed. They had a photo for every joke.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: So funny isn't funny isn't funny?
OBEIDALLAH: I think when you look at the audience, that's the question. Are you going to put on a minstrel show? And this comes -- it's not a minstrel show but it's not far from that, where you have a guy playing a black guy -- he's not in black face, but doing -- talking about race and making jokes about it. Do jokes about real substantive issues. Do jokes about the economy. Do jokes about President Obama having problems with the teleprompter. Those are accurate. Those are fine.
LEMON: Listen. I'm not going to give my opinion here. But on that joke, I thought it was fairly funny.
OBEIDALLAH: I agree, it was funny.
LEMON: I just thought it was funny. But then, you don't see the crowd. So --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: -- I'll take you at your word.
OBEIDALLAH: It's the setting.
LEMON: All right. You were here. You spoke to Pete Dominick.
OBEIDALLAH: Yes.
LEMON: You know what Pete says. Sirius Radio says Pete Dominick says that the impersonator should have stayed on stage but he gets why organizers pushed him off. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE DOMINICK, COMEDIAN: They put him on there. The jokes are funny. The performance is excellent. But it's the place, Don. It's the place. It's the Republican leadership conference. There's a reason why over 80 percent of black people vote Democrat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK.
OBEIDALLAH: Excellent. A good point with Pete. One of many by the smart Pete Dominic. But here's the truth. He was not cut off from making those jokes. If you watch the tape, he was cut off 10 minutes later when he started making fun of Republicans --
LEMON: Republicans.
OBEIDALLAH: That was the problem. He started talking about Romney, Pawlenty. When he mentioned Michele Bachmann, they cut him off and shut his microphone off. This is the party that says we don't want regulations, except when you're making fun of us, we're going to censor you.
LEMON: OK.
OBEIDALLAH: What kind of message does that send? That's ridiculous to me. They knew the jokes he was going to say.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: All right. Listen, we have another clip and then you and I will talk about it. OBEIDALLAH: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Now, the Donald -- remember him? He chose not to run as a Republican. But he's now threatening to run as an Independent. But the only thing running independent of Donald Trump is his hair.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. That one was funny too.
OBEIDALLAH: Yes.
LEMON: See, that's supposed to be edgy.
OBEIDALLAH: That wasn't edgy. But that's a standard joke. I've done the same joke. Reggie has done a great job. He's a funny comedian. I don't know him personally. He did a good job. He did what they asked of him. All of a sudden, the crowd turned on the event when they started making fun of Republicans. Their skin was too thin. They didn't like it.
LEMON: I have to ask you this. Listen, this is just a question for the people at home. Because anytime I ask something about an African- American president and I'm critical, all of a sudden I'm not black. Just so you --
(CROSSTALK)
OBEIDALLAH: Right.
LEMON: People want to take my black card.
OBEIDALLAH: Sorry about that.
LEMON: I have to ask the questions about any president, regardless of the color.
OBEIDALLAH: Sure. Sure.
LEMON: Do you think we're too sensitive because the president is black? I've heard comedians and I've heard people who believe in free speech, most of us, this is free speech. This is comedy. We should not be so thin skinned. The president, after all, is a black man. So it's not a minstrel show. There's a black man up there dressed like the president doing a funny joke.
OBEIDALLAH: You can absolutely say whatever you want as a comedian. The question, will there be a backlash or not. This should not be directed at Reggie. Reggie had every right to say that. They knew his jokes. He did a great job, Reggie. But the truth is, they stopped him before -- he's a comedian. He was probably building to the Michele Bachmann joke. He probably was going to close with Sarah Palin. She's comedy gold.
LEMON: Yes. Yes.
OBEIDALLAH: So I feel bad for Reggie. He was going to close big. They cut him off because they didn't like him making fun of Republicans. That's not the message you want to send.
LEMON: There are a lot of Republicans and Democrats and politicians who really -- you don't really need a comedian to do that.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: -- already themselves.
Thank you very much.
OBEIDALLAH: Thanks.
LEMON: Appreciate it, Dean.
OBEIDALLAH: Thanks.
LEMON: I want to show you this, a computer simulation of a tugboat pulling a drifting iceberg. When we come right back, our Azadeh Ansari will tell you why this could be a big deal.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: That's not a spillway along an American river. It is runoff from a massive flooding in China. It's a top story now as we go globe trekking, checking out news around the world.
Our international desk editor, Azadeh Ansari, joins us now.
Hello, Azadeh, this flooding is forcing more than 700,000 people to evacuate? That's much bigger than anything we have seen in the U.S. this year.
AZADEH ANSARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK EDITOR: That's right, Don. I know it's hard to believe but once you see these pictures you'll see exactly where all this is coming from. These continual torrential rains have just bombarded southern and eastern parts of China. And it's actually the worst rainfall they've had in 50 years, since they've had this drought for 50 years, and then they've had this rainfall just like pound on them. So this idea is like where is this coming from? And they're looking at the fact they've already evacuated about five million people from this area. They're telling them to leave southern China. And there's some word that going into the next few days, there's going to be a tropical storm that's going to move their way and they can even get more rainfall.
LEMON: Oh, my gosh. It's either feast or famine, as they say. Look at those pictures. Unbelievable, Azadeh.
ANSARI: I know.
LEMON: Let's go on now to what sounds like such a good -- good yet impossible idea. Moving icebergs to arid areas? Is this for real?
ANSARI: The thing is that this is the whole key. Can we move these icebergs from -- they want to see if they can move them from Canada across the Atlantic to areas where they need fresh water. So we're looking at South America, we're looking at Africa as potential areas. But this is more or less a virtual simulation that's in effect. And this French company has taken this on. And they're saying, you know what, it could be possible, but let's see if, in reality, can this play out? So again, we'll have to wait and see. But when they said "going to the moon," you know, people also frowned upon that idea. But you know where we are now with that.
LEMON: Hey, listen, all good ideas start with an idea. So we welcome it.
Azadeh Ansari, appreciate it. Thank you very much.
ANSARI: Sure.
LEMON: When we come back, we'll talk sports. And the question of the day, will we see pro football in the near future? Our sports -- Tom look that way. Jon Wertheim --
(LAUGHTER)
I'm pointing. Look that way. -- from "Sports Illustrated" will join us in just a moment.
But first, making a living off nostalgia. With the construction business in the doldrums, a guy in Wisconsin discovered that items he has rescued over the years are helping him make ends meet. Our Tom Foreman shows us how he's doing it and how he did it in today's "Building Up America."
(BUILDING UP AMERICA)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Hear the birds chirping? Normally, this time of year, you would be starting to hear the sounds of players working out on NFL practice fields, like that one you saw in Tampa. But there are signs of progress to end the NFL lockout with the first pre-season game just seven weeks away.
Let's talk about it with Jon Wertheim of "Sports Illustrated."
There's this week's cover. You see the Mavs on there.
Jon, I get to sit with you in person this week. Thank you very much. The owners are meeting Tuesday in Chicago. Reason for optimism?
JON WERTHEIM, SR. INVEST. REPORTER, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Yes. Not exuberant optimism but optimism. There have been these meetings. It looks like we're edging closer. Someone said we're on the courthouse steps. That's where settlement really gets done, when desperation sets in. Still a group of owners that are not happy with the terms, these sort of hardliners. But it looks a lot better than it has any time since the Super Bowl.
LEMON: A small group of owners are holding out against the players, right?
WERTHEIM: Well, within the ownership ranks there seems to be this dissent so I think it's going to -- the more toward the center, the owners are going to have to get the hardliners to come around. but we're in a better place than we were a month ago, that's for sure.
LEMON: What would you say the deadline for an agreement before the pre-season games get canceled, when is the deadline?
WERTHEIM: That's a good question. We heard July 4th, but that ain't going to happen. Here, we're talking about the time table, which is one of the reasons that people were optimistic after last week. Realistically, might miss a couple of games. Late July this gets hammered out. Even if the season starts a week later than we thought, we still get football. Eight weeks, that's what I hear. NFL season, this last's more than eight weeks and they're going to scrap the whole season.
LEMON: OK, let's turn to si.com's top list of earners for athletes, for professional athletics. Tiger Woods still number one, barely, but he's still number one.
WERTHEIM: Long-term contracts.
LEMON: Oh.
WERTHEIM: Not a great year on the course for Tiger. I would venture to say not a great year on the course for him either, but you are locked into the deals. Phil Michelson, number two. So, parents, raise your kids to be golfers.
LEMON: Let's see, there's four NBA players, three NFL quarterbacks, two golfers and one baseball player in top. That's no surprise, is it?
WERTHEIM: The golfers are making it largely with endorsements, other athletes, for the most part, with large contracts. LeBron James, it will be interesting to see which direction he goes in in 2011.
LEMON: Are you going Wimbledon?
WERTHEIM: I am going to Wimbledon.
(CROSSTALK)
WERTHEIM: That's the next trip. Let's see, Williams sisters, big absences, but they're still the Williams sisters. We're going to see if Rafael Nodal can close in on Roger Federer's record. Serena hasn't -- won tournaments since last year, so a lot of good story lines.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Hey, Jon, I want you to stick around for "Sports Illustrated." All right? Because I want to talk to you about something.
Let's move on to the next story. One more sports note I want to tell you about. I got a one-on-one interview with Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade and I asked him about some things that no one else has. For starters, we talked about how a lot of people were rooting against the Heat more than for the Knicks. Dallas defeated Miami to win the NBA title. So I asked Wade if he thinks he got swept into the same negative publicity that surrounded his often controversial teammate, LeBron James.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DWYANE WADE, NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER: Obviously, no one likes to be not liked or hated, especially when you're not that person at all. But for me, I understand the world that we live in. I understand that everyone has an opinion. And LeBron is not only my teammate, he's one of my best friends at the same time. I have his back. I'm going to always support him. It's unfortunate that people feel the way they feel about certain things that he did or maybe said. But you can't worry about that.
LEMON: So I'm going to ask you the question that everybody wants to ask, even the sports guys, everybody. What happened? What happened to you guys?
(LAUGHTER)
WADE: We lost. You know, at the end of the day, we can say so many different things, but the Dallas Mavericks was a better team than us. They found a way to win, to come back when we have big leagues. We're going to learn from this. This is our first year together and we'll be back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Did he get swept up in the LeBron brush of bad publicity?
WERTHEIM: I would say if LeBron has the black hat, he has the gray hate. Not a great series for Dwyane Wade. Didn't get nearly as bad as LeBron. But that was great. You get these guys and interview them after the game and they're upset. You get them with palm tree in the back and --
(LAUGHTER)
You get some much different answers. That was interesting to hear, though.
LEMON: Yes. Which is -- what did you find interesting about it?
WERTHEIM: He's in a tough spot with LeBron James. He's become this incredibly polarizing figure. Dwyane Wade is probably more likable. Actually, in the playoffs, he would probably prove himself to be the better player. He's got to support his teammate. On the other hand, Dwyane Wade doesn't want to be sort of linked with LeBron too much because his image is what is strong at this point. LEMON: Yes.
WERTHEIM: Good interview.
LEMON: Thank you very much.
We'll be right back.
Appreciate it, coming from a sports guy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: He said he wouldn't step down, but in the end, the pressure was too much for Weiner, Congressman Anthony Weiner. Plus, the prosecution rests and now the defense in the Casey Anthony trial tries to convince the jury that she's innocent of killing her daughter. Prime topics for HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: So, Jane, let's start with the saga of Congressman -- soon-to- be former Congressman Anthony Weiner. After sending pictures of himself and sexting with a number of women, he has announced he is quitting Congress. What do you think, right move?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think it's absolutely the right move. Because the exchanges were incredibly graphic and of a sexual nature and, most of all, because he lied. He made up a phony story about his Twitter account getting hacked and then he had to admit that he lied. and also his wife it pregnant. He really needs to focus on the family right now.
LEMON: I want to ask you something about what happened during -- during the congressman's news conference. A guy working for the "Howard Stern Show" mixed himself into the crowd of journalists and started screaming rather vulgar comments at Weiner. And the same guy did the same thing two weeks ago at his first news conference. Jane, these pranksters, is it appropriate or not? Is it getting worse? Have we reached a level where interrupting serious news events have gone to a whole new level? Is it -- should it be stopped?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I do have to say that he himself was the one who brought the dialogue, the public conversation down to this level. His exchanges, which have been published, they seem like those of a hormonal teenage boy. So this guy is also acting, this heckler, in a very emotionally immature fashion. To me, it was like instant karma.
Should it be stopped? Well, this is a free society. Part of the problem with that is that not everybody shouting questions is shouting an intelligent question. But I think you would do more damage to try to control public news conferences by trying to weed out people that -- then who is going to decide what is appropriate or inappropriate. I think it was unfortunate, but we're in America. People can ask dumb questions if they want.
LEMON: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And scream out vulgar things if they want.
LEMON: Let's talk about the Casey Anthony trial. Speaking of theatrics, the prosecution rested last week and now the defense's turned to present its case right now. A couple of things to talk about, Jane. One, did the prosecution succeed or fail in its efforts to prove that Casey Anthony murdered her daughter, Caylee?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I think they made some excellent points about premeditation, particularly with her Internet searches long before her child vanished. I do not think they have proven motive. Even though they are not required to, technically, considering this is a death penalty case, I think that the jury should really try to understand and have the information to understand how could a young woman become so full of hate that she would kill, murder, plot and murder her own child. I don't think they've fully explained that yet.
LEMON: What about the defense's case so far, Jane?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think they have done some things that some people would say are not in good faith. Innuendo, it seems to be slightly trialed by innuendo. But it's a very tough case. And I think overall Jose Baez (ph) is doing a pretty masterful job given the fact that there is a lot of technical forensic evidence as well.
LEMON: Be sure to watch "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" every night at 7:00 p.m. eastern on our sister network, HLN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: I'm Don Lemon. Thank you so much for watching. I'll see you back here at 10:00 p.m. eastern.
A Sanjay Gupta, M.D., Father's Day special, "Dad to My Daughters" is next.
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