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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

You Asked

Aired July 24, 2007 - 23:00   ET

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

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We'll also hear what you thought about the debate through videos you sent to I-Report.
So basically, tonight's special is about you.

We received a number of questions about the war in Iraq although not nearly as many as you might have expected. Many of the questions were creative. One even spoofed a well-known commercial. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can put more troops in. You can even take the troops out. You can divide it up into different regions between Sunnis, Shias and Kurds. But if you do withdraw the troops, the question still remains...

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What happens then??? Iraq

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, I'm Salti Grossman (ph). I teach geography in Olympia, Washington.

This is my shower curtain. And I was sitting here thinking, if we already have military bases in the gulf states, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Kosovo, then why do we need permanent bases in Iraq?

Are the bases built to wage the wars? Or are the wars being waged to build the bases? What will you do to remove our bases and their private contractor hired guns from Iraq and this volatile region?

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, my name is Eddy Rodriguez (ph) and I'm 23 years old. All of you have proposed ideas for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but have scarcely discussed the aftermath of such a withdrawal. With the U.S. in no position to leverage a settlement, what would your administration do to contain ethnic cleansing and civil war, something we all consider to be inevitable?

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COOPER: Although the candidates didn't get to answer those questions, they did talk about their plans for Iraq.

Take a look at how they responded to one participant's question.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dear presidential candidates, see those three flags over my shoulder? They covered the coffins of my grandfather, my father and my oldest son. Some day mine will join them. I do not want to see my youngest sons join them.

I have two questions. By what date after January 21, 2009, will our U.S. troops be out of Iraq? And how many family members do you have serving in uniform?

COOPER: Senator Dodd?

SENATOR CHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I have advocated, again, that we have our troops out by April of next year. I believe that the timeframe is appropriate to do that. I would urge simultaneously that we do the things we've talked about here, and that is pursue the diplomatic efforts in the region to at least provide Iraq the opportunity to get on its feet. But I believe our military ought to be out before then.

If I'm president in January, I would be advocating a responsible withdrawal that's safe for our troops who are there, to provide the resources for them to do it.

As I mentioned earlier, I served with the National Guard and Reserves. My brother served in the military as well. So, in my family, there have been at least two that I'm aware of. I have first cousins of mine that were submarine commanders. My uncle was a commander in World War II in the Navy. So there have been a number of people in my family.

COOPER: So you're saying that by January 21, 2009, all U.S. troops would be out?

DODD: Well, no, I've argued that it actually happen before then. I've been pushing... COOPER: Right. DODD: There were 11 of us back when the supplemental bill came up a few weeks ago that voted to cut off that funding here. There's no other way I know to bring this to a head than through that mechanism. So come January, I hope that would be completed. But, if not, then I'd advocate a timeframe that would be done responsibly. COOPER: Governor Richardson? GOVERNOR RICHARDSON (D-NM), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I'm trying to provoke a debate here, because there's a difference between the Senators and me on when we get our troops out. I've been very clear: Six month, but no residual forces. Senator Clinton has a plan that I understand is maybe 50,000 residual forces. Our troops have become targets. The diplomatic work... COOPER: Is that even possible? Six months... RICHARDSON: The diplomatic work cannot begin to heal Iraq, to protect our interests, without our troops out. Our troops have become targets. You are going to say six months, because there's a civil war -- it might provoke a civil war. There is a civil war. There is sectarian conflict. The time has come -- and I hope I get challenged. I have no troops left. One hundred are dying a month. COOPER: Senator Biden? SENATOR JOE BIDEN (D-DE), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Number one, there is not a single military man in this audience who will tell this Senator he can get those troops out in six months if the order goes today. Let's start telling the truth. Number one, you take all the troops out, you better have helicopters ready to take those 3,000 civilians inside the Green Zone where I have been seven times and shot at. You better make sure you have protection for them, or let them die, number one. So we can't leave them there. And it's going to take a minimum of 5,000 troops to 10,000 just to protect our civilians. So while you're taking them out, Governor, take everybody out. That may be necessary. Number three, the idea that we all voted -- except for me -- for that appropriation. That man's son is dead. For all I know, it was an IED. Seventy percent of all the deaths occurred have been those roadside bombs. We have money in that bill to begin to build and send immediately mine-resistant vehicles that increase by 80 percent the likelihood none of your cadets will die, General. COOPER: Time. BIDEN: And they all voted against it. How in good conscience can you vote not to send those vehicles over there as long as there's one single, solitary troop there?

COOPER: Senator Clinton? CLINTON: You know, I put forth a comprehensive three-point plan to get our troops out of Iraq, and it does start with moving them out as soon as possible. But Joe is right. You know, I have done extensive work on this. And the best estimate is that we can probably move a brigade a month, if we really accelerate it, maybe a brigade and a half or two a month. That is a lot of months. My point is: They're not even planning for that in the Pentagon. You know, Mr. Berry (ph), I am so sorry about the loss of your son. And I hope to goodness your youngest son doesn't face anything like that. But until we get this president and the Pentagon to begin to at least tell us they are planning to withdraw, we are not going to be able to turn this around. And so, with all due respect to some of my friends here -- yes, we want to begin moving the troops out, but we want to do so safely, and orderly and carefully. We don't want more loss of American life and Iraqi life as we attempt to withdraw, and it is time for us to admit that it's going to be complicated, so let's start it now. (END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: Iraq was just the start. We were able to cover a lot of topics. And you'll hear questions about many of them tonight. We also want to know what you thought about the debate, itself. Just head to our blog, CNN.com/360.

Here's an I-Report from one viewer.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think what we're going to find is a more engaged citizenry -- a citizenry that's more interested in the political process. Hopefully more young people will be interested and willing to participate and vote in the upcoming election. And also if you look at the questions that were asked, they were very thought provoking, very engaging and also very challenging. I think you can see that by the responses that some of the candidates gave. And just by watching those who might have hesitated or said um before. There were some who knew what they were going to say, they were very poised during their answers and the responses, which was also indicative of perhaps who is more prepared and prepared to take office in the White House.

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COOPER: Up next, the politics of race and gender and how they could play a big roll in the Democratic primary. We're going to hear more of your questions as well, like these:

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Marcy Smith (ph). I'm from the Tampa Bay area, Florida. And my question is for Hillary Clinton.

As much as I would love to see a female president, I'm wondering if you've given any thought to the fact that you'll be dealing with men from nations that do not respect women and I'm wondering what you'd plan to do if you're elected president to deal with these nations headed by men that don't respect women? Thank you.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, my brothers and sisters. My name is Professor Clifton East from Los Angeles, California.

My question to you all is, how do you all, my presidential hopeful brothers and sister Hillary, plan on promoting and expanding civil rights to help extend brother Martin Luther King's dream into the 21st century so that poor brother Anderson Cooper here doesn't have to do all the work by himself? Thank you.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, U.S. presidential candidates. We are here on behalf of the polar bears of the earth. Our question for you is, what are your plans to stop global warming? We also have another question. What are your plans to save and protect the large and increasing number of endangered species like us polar bears?

Don't forget us.

Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: You're very welcome. That was one of the many funny and creative questions we received.

We're going to have more on the environment tomorrow on part two of this special, "CNN YouTube You Asked."

Tonight we continue with another important subject. Race and gender. The 2008 election could be an historic one if Americans choose the first woman president, the first black president or the first Latino president. That did not go unnoticed by some of the YouTube participants. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, I'm Tina Bosi (ph) from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. And my question is for Senator Clinton. If elected, not only will you become the first female president, you'll become a beacon of hope for millions of women around the globe who aren't as fortunate as you and I. Or they don't have the same rights as their male counterparts in the Middle East. So as an Iranian- American, I'm wondering, if you're elected, what message, if any, would you send out to these women and how would you try to affect their lives -- for the better?

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Andrew Kennedy (ph). I'm from Long Island City, New York. My question is for Senator Clinton.

Senator, can you please explain why African-American voters should choose you instead of Barack Obama?

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COOPER: Matters of race did make it into the YouTube debate, and one of you asked a question in a way that, well, seemed to surprise some of the candidates. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Jordan Williams (ph), and I'm a student at KU from Coffeyville, Kansas.

This question is meant for Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. Whenever I read an editorial about one of you, the author never fails to mention the issue of race or gender respectively. Either one is not authentically black enough or the other is not satisfactorily feminine. How will you address these critics and their charges if one or both of you should end up on the Democratic ticket in '08?

COOPER: Senator Obama, how do you address those who say you're not authentically black enough?

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: Hey, it's not my question. It's Jordan's question.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, when I'm catching a cab in Manhattan -- in the past, I think I've given my credentials. But let me go to the broader issue here. And that is that race permeates our society. It is still a critical problem. But I do believe in the core decency of the American people, and I think they want to get beyond some of our racial divisions. Unfortunately, we've had a White House that hasn't invested in the kinds of steps that have to be done to overcome the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow in this country. And as president of the United States, my commitment on issues like education, my commitment on issues like health care is to close the disparities and the gaps, because that's what's really going to solve the race problem in this country. If people feel like they've got a fair shake, if children feel as if the fact that they have a different surname or they've got a different skin color is not going to impede their dreams, then I am absolutely confident that we're going to be able to move forward on the challenges that we face as a country. (APPLAUSE) COOPER: Senator Clinton, you have a minute as well since this question is to you. CLINTON: Well, I couldn't run as anything other than a woman. I am proud to be running as a woman. And I'm excited that I may... (APPLAUSE) ... you know, may be able, finally, to break that hardest of all glass ceilings. But, obviously, I'm not running because I'm a woman. I'm running because I think I'm the most qualified and experienced person to hit the ground running in January 2009. And I trust the American people to make a decision that is not about me or my gender, or about Barack or his race or about Bill and his ethnicity, but about what is best for you and your family. We have big challenges and big needs in our country. And I think we're going to need experienced and strong leadership in order to start handling all of the problems that we have here at home and around the world. (END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: From matters of race to matters of sexuality. Just ahead, what the candidates have to say about equal rights for gays and lesbians, and your questions to them like these:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, my name is Jake Gott (ph) and I live in Washington.

I have a question for Senator Barack Obama.

Senator, you have stated publicly you are not for gay marriage, but you are for civil unions as separate but equal institution. My question is, how is this any different from the Jim Crow laws that instituted a separate but equal school or drinking fountain for blacks and whites? Why is it OK for homosexuals and heterosexuals to be separate but equal, but not for blacks and whites? Thank you.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is James an I'm from Colorado and a former Air Force linguist.

I know from personal experience, as well as from some of my gay friends, that in general, commanders and co-workers don't care about a person's sexual preference as long as they can do their job. With the unprecedented faith of our national security and considering that recent polls indicate that most Americans, as well as service members themselves, are comfortable with homosexuals in the military, what are your reasons for continuing to oppose allowing homosexuals to serve openly?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My question for the candidates is as follows:

What is the capital of Honduras? And who is the head of state of Botswana?

This might not seem very important to the American voters, but the leader of the free world, they should at least have some idea of who that is.

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COOPER: The capitol of Honduras is Tegucigalpa, in case you're wondering. And the head of state of Botswana is President Festus Mohai (ph). That's a "gotcha" question that we didn't air during the debate, but we did ask the Democrats another question on what is sometimes a "gotcha" topic for the candidates -- gay marriage.

First though, more of the great questions we did not have time for.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello candidates, this is Scott from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I'm going to be voting in the next election, so I have a question.

Not too long ago, many states deprived the gay community of their right to marry who they want to -- unless they turn straight. All of the reasons for why this is justified to have a religious or personal bias, meaning that it shouldn't have even been on the ballot. So why aren't there already gay rights? And when will there be?

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pragmatic and well-intentioned people want to provide citizenship to an estimated 11 million to 20 million illegal immigrants.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the first two gay men legally married in the United States, though only recognized in the state of Massachusetts, our question to the candidates is this:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What year do you think the gay sons and daughters of American citizens will be afforded the same rights, responsibility and protection as that that which is being proposed for millions and millions of illegal immigrants?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What year?

Thank you and good night.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Alexander Nicholson (ph) and I'm a 26-year-old PhD student at the University of South Carolina. I'm also a former Army human intelligence collector who speaks five languages, including Arabic. Yet my unit was forced to discharge me just six months after 9/11 because the command inadvertently found out that I'm gay, all because of this lingering Don't Ask/Don't Tell law.

As president, how would you all go about getting this law changed to ensure that the military can recruit and keep Americans with critically needed education and skills like myself even if they happen to be gay?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Sadly, we couldn't fit those questions into the debate, but we did use one that got the candidates talking about equal rights for gays and lesbians. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Mary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Jen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we're from Brooklyn, New York.

If you were elected president of the United States, would you allow us to be married? To each other?

COOPER: Congressman Kucinich? REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mary and Jen, the answer to your question is yes. And let me tell you why. It's because -- because if our Constitution really means what it says, that all are created equal, if it really means what it says, that there should be equality of opportunity before the law, then our brothers and sisters who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered should have the same rights accorded to them as anyone else, and that includes the ability to have a civil marriage ceremony. Yes, I support you. And welcome to a better and a new America under a President Kucinich administration. (APPLAUSE) COOPER: Senator Dodd, you supported the Defense of Marriage Act. What's your position? DODD: I've made the case, Anderson, that -- my wife and I have two young daughters, age 5 and 2. I'd simply ask the audience to ask themselves the question that Jackie and I have asked: How would I want my two daughters treated if they grew up and had a different sexual orientation than their parents? Good jobs, equal opportunity, to be able to retire, to visit each other, to be with each other, as other people do. So I feel very strongly, if you ask yourself the question, how would you like your children treated if they had a different sexual orientation than their parents, the answer is yes. They ought to have that ability in civil unions. I don't go so far as to call for marriage. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. But my state of Connecticut, the state of New Hampshire, have endorsed civil unions. I strongly support that. But I don't go so far as marriage. COOPER: Governor Richardson? RICHARDSON: Well, I would say to the two young women, I would level with you -- I would do what is achievable. What I think is achievable is full civil unions with full marriage rights. I would also press for you a hate crimes act in the Congress. I would eliminate Don't Ask/Don't Tell in the military. If we're going to have in our military men and women that die for this country, we shouldn't give them a lecture on their sexual orientation. I would push for domestic partnership laws, nondiscrimination in insurance and housing. I would also send a very strong message that, in my administration, I will not tolerate any discrimination on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation. (END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: Just ahead, an issue that could very well shape this presidential election -- health care. Many of you are anxious about it obviously. Just take a look at some of the questions we received.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Theasha Henderson (ph). And I'm a writer from Cincinnati, Ohio.

I just took the scary step of leaving my job and starting my own freelance writing business. But even scarier was losing my health insurance. I take two prescriptions every month. So what will you do to make sure that I can afford medicine and go to the doctor?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN GRAPHIC)

I'm Mike Sharley, a disabled lawyer.

It's hard for the disabled to work and have health insurance. Medicaid and Medicare have income limits. How will you include the disabled in your health plan?

(END GRAPHIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, this is Michael Moore. And I have a question for all the candidates.

If elected president, which of you would be willing to follow the example now being set by Senator Brown of Ohio, and refuse to accept the free health care that you would receive as president of the United States, refuse to accept it until every single American is covered under a universal health care plan? Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Michael Moore with his own YouTube question about health care.

Health care is one of the fastest growing segments of the economy. It's also a source of growing anxiety and anger for tens of millions of us who don't have insurance, and many more who do but are simply fed up with the system. Every candidate has a plan, all came under questioning last night, on the air and in the unaired questions like this one. Check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Anthony Emibel (ph). And I suffer from chronic cluster headaches, known as one of the most severe of human pain conditions. A relatively effective abort for these headaches is medical grade pure oxygen, yet my doctor cannot prescribe it because the insurance company, Medicare and Medicaid, will not cover it.

My question: When will something be done in the U.S. health care system that will enable doctors to treat patients based on health needs as opposed to the dictates of the insurance companies? What will you do to change it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Jamie from Arizona. And I'd like to tell you a quick story.

A good friend of mine recently was sick for four months straight. She couldn't go to a hospital because she didn't have any health care insurance. She had just graduated college and didn't yet have a job. After that four months, she was able to get insurance, went to a doctor, which they cured her in only four days. However, she was lucky she didn't have anything that got worse over that time.

So I'd really like to ask you, if you became president, what would you do to help with the millions of uninsured Americans?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jim Pansier (ph), from Glendale, Kentucky.

If the place that I worked at for 35 years promised me health care insurance as part of my retirement package, they broke their promise. Now I'm on Medicare and Medicare Part D. My wife's in the donut hole and we get our prescriptions from Canada. Members of Congress have the best health care insurance money can buy, paid for with my tax dollars. Why should I pay for their health care insurance when they didn't both to protect mine? Thanks a million.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Those are some of the questions that did not make it on air.

Here now are some of the ones that did, providing the opportunity for Senator Obama and former Senator Edwards to square off. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mark and Joelle Strause (ph), Davenport, Iowa.

Not every parent has the luxury of two loving sons to care for them during Alzheimer's. My question for the candidates is people like us, the baby boomer generation, is going to see a boom of Alzheimer's over the upcoming decades. What are you prepared to do to fight this disease now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. These are my grandmothers, both of them suffer from diabetes and ultimately died of massive heart attacks.

This is my mother. She suffers from diabetes and she's also had heart attack.

The statistics for women with heart disease are staggering. What I'd like to do is how do each of you plan on addressing chronic disease and preventative health in your health care plan?

I would like my mother to be around to see her grandchildren.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. My name is Kim. I'm 36 years old and hope to be a future breast cancer survivor from Long Island. My chances for survival aren't as good as they might be, however, because like millions of Americans, I've gone for years without health insurance that would have allowed me to take preventative medicine.

What would you, as president, do to make low-cost or free preventative medicine available for everybody in this country? Thank you.

COOPER: Senator Obama, 45 million uninsured Americans.

Senator Edwards, it said your health plan doesn't really provide universal coverage, does it? OBAMA: Absolutely it does. John and I have a disagreement. John thinks that the only way we get universal coverage is to mandate coverage. I think that the problem is not that people are trying to avoid getting health care coverage. It is folks like that who are desperately in desire of it, but they can can't afford it. And I know from personal experience. My mother, when she was between jobs, contracted cancer, and she spent the last few months of her life trying to figure out whether or not she was going to be able to pay for the treatments. It is an outrage. How is that the wealthiest nation on earth cannot afford to provide coverage to all people? And that's why I have put forward a plan. But let's understand this. Everybody here is going to have a plan. John's got a plan. I've got a plan. Hopefully, everybody here will provide a plan for universal coverage. But we've had plan before, under a Democratic president in the '90s and a Democratic Congress. We couldn't get it done because the drug insurance -- drug and insurance companies are spending a billion dollars over the last decade on lobbying. And that's why we've got to have a president who is willing to fight to make sure that they don't have veto power. They can have a seat at the table, but they can't buy every single chair when it comes to crafting the sort of universal health care that's going to help the folks that you saw in that video. COOPER: Senator Edwards? Senator Edwards, does Senator Obama provide universal coverage? JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, because the only way to provide universal coverage is to mandate that everyone be covered. But I want to say, you know, I came out with a universal plan several months ago. A couple of months later, Senator Obama came out with a plan. He's made a very serious proposal, and I'm not casting aspersion on his plan. I think it's a very serious proposal. It just doesn't cover everybody. The only way to cover everybody is to mandate it. And the stories we have just heard, from diabetes, to Alzheimer's, to cancer -- there are millions of people in this country who are suffering so badly. And just this past week -- in fact, you were with me on the first day -- I went on a three-day poverty tour in America. The last day, I was with a man in western Virginia, in the Appalachian mountains -- 51 years old, three years younger than me. He'd been born with a severe cleft palate, and he was proud of the fact that someone had finally volunteered to correct it. He had not been able to talk -- I want to finish this. He had not been able to talk until it was fixed. Here was the problem. It was fixed when he was 50 years old. For five decades, James Lowe (ph) lived in the richest nation on the planet, not able to talk because he couldn't afford the procedure that would have allowed him to talk.

When are we going to stand up and do something about this? We have talked about it too long. We have got to stand up to the insurance companies and the drug companies that Barack just spoke about. It is the only way we're ever going to bring about real change. We should be outraged by these stories. (END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, a lot of you are concerned about the health of our relationships with other countries, especially after all the friction over the war with Iraq. We'll get to those questions next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Rebecca Griffin (ph) and I live in Oakland, California.

Right now, our government refuses to negotiate with Iran because they're pursuing nuclear technology, yet our government spends more money on nuclear weapons programs than we did during the Cold War.

I've heard a lot of politicians, including several of you, say that we need to keep all options on the table for dealing with Iran. But I haven't heard much talk about what the diplomatic options are. If you were president, what would diplomacy with Iran look like? And would you pursue direct negotiations with no preconditions? Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. I'm Darby Mazur (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I'm Rob Mazur (ph).

We're from Atlanta, Georgia.

We have a question for all the candidates.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. How can the United States be better friends with other countries? There seems to be lots of tension between our traditional European friends, the French and Germans and us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Also, it seems like a lot of smaller countries label us as imperialists. How can we maintain our own national interests, but still cultivate good will among our worldly neighbors?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can we make more friends and fewer enemies? Thanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The government of Sudan is blocking the deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping force to Darfur.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would you as president do to compel the Sudanese government to allow the United Nations to deploy its forces to protect civilians in Darfur and to protect civilians in eastern Chad?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Actress Mia Farrow and Activist John Prendergast, with a question echoed by a lot of people. Hundreds of thousands have died already, many more now live in daily fear for their lives. To put it bluntly, they're facing a kind of terror most of us, thankfully, will never know.

Some of the questions you're about to see try to drive that point home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, yo. My name and where I live doesn't matter. What matters is that this is no longer a tool anymore. This is a killing device. Now imagine all these little blades cutting deeply into your skin. I think you know what I'm talking about. Right now, millions face this in Darfur.

My question to the next president...

(GUNSHOT)

... OK, now imagine that gun actually was pointed at you. Doesn't feel so good now, does it? That's what millions have to face.

So my question once again, what are you going to do to stop the genocide in Darfur? Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, I'm Dr. Kristin Sturly (ph), and my mother was killed as a result of the terrorist acts of September 11th.

I firmly believe that building understanding across cultures and faith and providing an agenda of opportunity, including education, employment and a brighter tomorrow, will reduce the lure of terrorism.

The bipartisan 9/11 commission report also identified these as critical areas to address.

What would your administration do to build global understand and opportunity rather than continuing to place the emphasis on military and intelligence measures?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. My name is Barnaby Beankowsky (ph). And I'm from Rochester, New York.

I have a question for all of the Democratic candidates.

During the Republican debates, there was only one candidate with the courage to admit that our foreign policy mistakes have contributed to the terrorists hating us. So which of the Democratic candidates has the courage to admit that the blowback from our failed foreign policy has made America less safe? And which of the Democratic candidates has a plan to change our foreign policy from one that makes the Muslim countries hate us and into a foreign policy that makes Muslim countries respect us?

Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: All the candidates touched on this. The issue seemed to come it a head when a YouTuber asked about meeting directly with leaders of countries that America hasn't dealt with in years or in the case of Cuba, in decades.

Senator Hillary Clinton used the moment to draw a line between herself and Senator Barack Obama. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 1982 Anwar Sadat traveled to Israel, a trip that resulted in a peace agreement that has lasted ever since. In the spirit of that type of bold leadership, would you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries? COOPER: I should also point out that Stephen is in the crowd tonight. Senator Obama? OBAMA: I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous. Now, Ronald Reagan and Democratic presidents like JFK constantly spoke to Soviet Union at a time when Ronald Reagan called them an evil empire. And the reason is because they understood that we may not trust them and they may pose an extraordinary danger to this country, but we had the obligation to find areas where we can potentially move forward. And I think that it is a disgrace that we have not spoken to them. We've been talking about Iraq -- one of the first things that I would do in terms of moving a diplomatic effort in the region forward is to send a signal that we need to talk to Iran and Syria because they're going to have responsibilities if Iraq collapses. They have been acting irresponsibly up until this point. But if we tell them that we are not going to be a permanent occupying force, we are in a position to say that they are going to have to carry some weight, in terms of stabilizing the region. COOPER: I just want to check in with Stephen if he believes he got an answer to his question. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. I seem to have a microphone in my hand. Well, I'd be interested in knowing what Hillary has to say to that question. COOPER: Senator Clinton? CLINTON: Well, I will not promise to meet with the leaders of these countries during my first year. I will promise a very vigorous diplomatic effort because I think it is not that you promise a meeting at that high a level before you know what the intentions are. I don't want to be used for propaganda purposes. I don't want to make a situation even worse. But I certainly agree that we need to get back to diplomacy, which has been turned into a bad word by this administration. And I will pursue very vigorous diplomacy. And I will use a lot of high-level presidential envoys to test the waters, to feel the way. But certainly, we're not going to just have our president meet with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez and, you know, the president of North Korea, Iran and Syria until we know better what the way forward would be. (END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: Coming up, the search for a solution to America's education problems. It's got a lot of you talking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Lauren Ryan (ph), and I am from Oakland, California.

The salary of a teacher in Oakland, California, settles around $42,000. Now the salary of a garbage collector in Oakland, California, also settles around $42,000 according to pay scale.

Do you believe that teacher with a degree or many for that matter should be paid the same amount or less than an unskilled garbage collector? Do you support teacher pay being based on merit or years of service or extra pay for teachers in the schools with greatest need? And finally, do you think this country's primary educators should make more money than many unskilled jobs pay?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Mike Lally (ph). I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, and I have four school-aged children.

I would love to be able to direct some of my tax dollars towards the school of my choice. Accordingly I ask the candidates, would you support a national program that incentivizes local government to implement the school voucher program?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So many voters today speak Spanish and want to know if the candidates understand Spanish. So at this point in time, (SPEAKING SPANISH).

It's to find out if the candidates have any little knowledge of Spanish for the Hispanic voters because most of these questions are going to be in English and I wonder if an Hispanic who doesn't speak English very well wants to submit a question, how would they go about it? Would they have to say it in English or could they just say it in their own language in Spanish? Okay?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: A little Spanish lesson there and a concern over the language barrier in this country. Something that might be overcome through education. Many of you want to see improvements in our school systems and you wanted to hear what the candidates plan to do.

Just listen to some of the questions we received. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Allison (ph). I'm from Oakland, California.

Our country ranks 20th, at the rock bottom of countries who are advanced or developed in tests of high schoolers in math and science. And even if you look at our best students, we still rank a sad 19th out of 20th.

So my question for you is, how does your vision for American K through 12 education fit in with your vision for the economic future of our country and the future of our country as an international leader?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, I'm Zen Abraham (ph).

It's often said that as California goes, so goes America. But if that's the case, America is in a lot of trouble because as of this year California spends more on prisons than on educational institutions like the University of California at Berkeley.

As president, what will you do to change the state of affairs and make sure this doesn't occur in the rest of America?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: While most Americans want to see our education system improve, it's not easy to figure out the best way to do that.

Take a look at how some of the Democratic candidates tried to address the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (SINGING): So now you tell me, sir or ma'am, would you scrap the whole thing or just revise. Tell me the truth, don't tell me no lies. COOPER: Governor Richardson, you have had to implement No Child Left Behind in your state. Would you scrap it? Revise it? RICHARDSON: I would scrap it. It doesn't work. It is the law. It is not just an unfunded mandate, but the one- size-fits-all doesn't work. It doesn't emphasize teacher training. It doesn't emphasize disabled kids. It doesn't -- English learning kids don't get help. The worst thing it does is it takes districts and schools that are not doing well, takes their funds away, penalizes them. If a school is not doing well, we help that school. The last thing we need to do, relating to teachers, is the key to a good education in this country is a strong teacher. I would have a minimum wage for all our teachers, $40,000 per year. And I would emphasize science and math. And I would also bring, to make sure -- to make sure our kids that are not scoring well in science and math, 29th in the world, to unlock those minds in science and math, I would have a major federal program of art in the schools -- music, dancing, sculpture, and the arts. COOPER: Senator Biden, everyone on this stage who was in Congress in 2001 voted for No Child Left Behind. Would you scrap it or revise it? BIDEN: It was a mistake. I remember talking with Paul Wellstone (ph) at the time. And quite frankly, the reason I voted for it, against my better instinct, is I have great faith in Ted Kennedy, who is so devoted to education. But I would scrap it -- or I guess, theoretically, you could do a major overhaul. But I think I'd start from the beginning. You need better teachers. You need smaller classrooms. You need to start kids earlier. It's all basic. BIDEN: My wife's been teaching for 30 years. She has her doctorate in education. She comes back and points out how it's just not working. The bottom line here is that I would fundamentally change the way in which we approach this. (END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: There's no question that many of our teachers are heroes. So is the person you're about to meet. Our CNN hero, making a difference in the lives of others. The remarkable story is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Tonight on this special edition of 360, we've been showing how thousands of you have gotten involved in the race for the White House, asking questions of the presidential candidates, being proactive and calling for change.

Well, tonight's CNN hero has taken the same steps for different reasons. He's a former gang member who's helping others say good-bye to a life of crime. His name is Luis Ernesto Romero. And here is his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUIS ERNESTO ROMERO, CNN HERO: I thought I was going to die at the age 20 because somebody is going to shoot me.

I was living as a gang member and I saw other kids get into the gangs because they don't have no other opportunity.

(BEGIN GRAPHIC)

It is estimated that there are more than 12,000 gang members in El Salvador.

Source: National Civilian Police.

(END GRAPHIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When you're on the street, every moment you live, you live as if it were your last because you never know how that day will end.

ROMERO: Something powerful came up when my daughter was born. So I started like checking, hey, what am I doing? What -- what I'm going to offer to my daughter.

But then I find Homies Unidos in 1997, so I started like educating myself and now, you know, I help others. We teach them how to empower themselves, not as smoking weed, not in violence, not doing what they do.

In El Salvador, the kids are much discriminated. You have tattoos, he's bow headed. But when he start looking for a job, they don't give opportunity for him. We teach them how to do things in other ways.

They never thought they were going to have a bakery of their own, now they have a bakery and they're doing their own business.

(BEGIN GRAPHIC)

More than 5,000 Salvadoran gang members have received drug rehabilitation, health services, job training and education through Homies Unidos.

The program has helped almost 1,250 youths leave the gang life.

Source: Homies Unidos, El Salvador.

(END GRAPHIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We think different. I mean, we don't think going -- doing violence and doing killings. We do other things.

Homies is saving a lot of lives.

ROMERO: We come from gangs and now we are part of the solution so it doesn't matter how much I got to spend, how much time I got to be on it, but I need to do it for my kids and for the other kids of San Salvador.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: If you would like to make a contribution to Luis Ernesto Romero's work, or nominate your hero for special recognition later this year, go to CNN.com/heroes.

Tomorrow, part two of our 360 special, "You Asked," with more from the CNN YouTube Democratic debate and the questions you didn't get to hear.

We'll talk about Iraq, the environment, taxes and more. Hope you join us.

That does it for us tonight. Thanks for joining us and being a part of the groundbreaking debate.

For our international viewers, "CNN TODAY" is next. Here in America, "LARRY KING" is coming up.

We'll see you tomorrow night.

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