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Presidential Powwow; U.S. Unemployment; HBO Documentary
Aired November 08, 2008 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CENTER: Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield and you're in the CNN Newsroom. Two big stories we're following this hour, president-elect Barack Obama gives his first radio address to the nation since his election. We have the latest on Obama's transition to the White House.
But first, rescuers are racing against time to find children trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in Haiti. Let's go to Haiti right now. An amazing rescue taking place today. Workers pulled two uninjured children from the rubble of a collapsed school. The death toll from yesterday's disaster is now more than 80; as many as 200 others may still be trapped. I'm joined right now on the phone by Rebecca Gufsten, public affairs officer from the U.S. Agency for International Development. An agency team arrived on the scene within hours of the collapse. But give me an idea what you were able to see and what you're seeing right now because I understand you are back at that location where the collapse took place.
REBECCA GUFSTEN, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEV., VIA TELEPHONE: Yes, I am back here at the school. This is actually my first visit to the school. Tonight we had teams from Fairfax County, Urban Search and Rescue in Virginia and we flew in from Ellis Airport last night and we have just arrived at the school with the first team of searchers.
WHITFIELD: Describe for me what you are seeing. We understand that it was just earlier today when two children uninjured miraculously were pulled from the rubble. What have you been able to witness?
GUFSTEN: What we are seeing right now is workers up on the roof of the school, which looks very precarious at this point. Our workers are trying to figure out the best way to get help to the people that need it and hopefully find some miraculous children who have survived.
WHITFIELD: Because you are describing the structure to be very precarious, we have been seeing a lot of the Haitians who have just been using their bare hands to move boulders to try to get to people. What are you and other rescue teams able to use -- can you use any apparatus, any equipment at all?
GUFSTEN: Well, I'm actually looking at one of our specialists, who's looking at the structure right now, and he's viewing which -- I think some goggles and they're looking into the structure to see what they can use. Obviously Fairfax County comes with heavy equipment when necessary and some lighter equipment when needed. We brought the lighter equipment for this response because heavy duty equipment was not able to fit into this location. WHITFIELD: Are you using dogs as well? Do you have k-9 units with you?
GUFSTEN: Yes, ma'am, we have four dogs who came in with Fairfax County last night. We have two that are here with this team at this point.
WHITFIELD: You dealt with a lot of search and rescue missions before. How does this compare or perhaps how does this differ from what you're used to?
GUFSTEN: Well, what I can tell you is that every search and rescue mission is one of harrowing heartbreak. Obviously, we're locking for the survivors and also trying to comfort and help those families who have lost loved ones. So it's always very difficult no matter where we are in the world.
WHITFIELD: Especially dealing with children as young as kindergarten age. It would be hard to not be emotionally attached to this rescue effort under way, right?
GUFSTEN: Yes, ma'am. Here on the street, I came out to the street a little bit away from the school. What I can tell you is there are families and friends and neighbors who have come and are standing very close to the school. Obviously, we are trying to keep order here and our colleagues are working hard to ensure -- it's very difficult.
In a situation like this, everyone wants to help. Obviously, that's what we as the United States government is here to do and the USA is on the ground and we will be here until we are not needed anymore.
WHITFIELD: Well Rebecca, thank you so much for your time. We will let you get back to the important need right there of helping the people there at that collapsed school there in Haiti. Thanks so much. She's with the U.S. A.I.d.
Well the U.S. military also is donating; it's trying to help by donating $10,000 in medical supplies to Haitian hospitals. Many are experiencing serious shortages of supplies after dealing with hurricane Ike and other tropical storms that have taken place this year alone. Teams from doctors without boarders are also on the ground trying to help as best they can.
And this developing story. Three men convicted in the Bali nightclub bombing were put to death just a short time ago, this in Indonesia. The 2002 attack killed more than 200 people and left dozens of others wounded. Many were tourists from the U.S. as well as Australia. U.S. intelligence linked the attack to an Indonesia terror group with ties to al Qaeda. The men had asked to be beheaded, saying it was the Islamic way. But they were executed by firing squad instead. The men showed no remorse in recent CNN interviews as well.
Well, a big sigh of relief perhaps. The family of the Obamas is now enjoying some down time this weekend. They are out of public view. They are spending their time, however, in their Chicago home. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is in Chicago now with more on the developments coming from there. While we know they are enjoying some down time, we also know there's still a lot of business at hand for which the president-elect has to address.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Fred. Barack Obama is spending some well-deserved time with his wife Michelle and two daughters Sasha and Malia. We also saw him very briefly outside going to one of the gyms that he likes to frequent.
But, yes, he's going to be spending some time with his family this weekend. He also delivered the first Democratic radio address today to the American people. And this comes after real extraordinary week Fred, a lot of things that he's trying to accomplish but he's also trying to lower some expectations as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX (voice over): Capping off an historic week, Barack Obama held his first news conference as the president-elect. But after 21 months of bashing President Bush, along with his opponent John McCain, Obama was uncharacteristically deferential.
SENATOR BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDETNIAL ELECT: The United States has only one government and one president at a time, and until January 20th of next year, that government is the current administration.
MALVEAUX: While Obama said Americans face the greatest economic challenge of their lifetime, he made it clear until he becomes president; the responsibility is still on Mr. Bush.
OBAMA: I have spoken to President Bush. I appreciate his commitment to ensuring that his economic policy team keeps us fully informed as developments unfold. Immediately after I become president, I'm going to confront this economic crisis head on.
MALVEAUX: Surrounded by his top-level team of economic advisers, including former treasury secretary, governors and Federal Reserve chairs. Obama urged Congress to support his $175 billion economic stimulus package before he takes office.
OBAMA: If it does not get done in the lame-duck session, it will be the first thing I get done as president of the United States.
MALVEAUX: But not president yet. Obama is cautious. While the campaign is the candidate who would talk to America's enemies, he demurred as to how to respond to a letter of congratulations from Iran's president.
OBAMA: Obviously how we approach and deal with a country like Iran is not something that we should simply do in a knee-jerk fashion. I want to be very careful that we are sending the right signals to the world as a whole that I am not the president, and I won't be until January 20th.
MALVEAUX: January 20th will usher in a new first family, and the prospect of Obama's two young daughters getting a new puppy provided a moment of levity. OBAMA: Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic; on the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog. Obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So it's just one of the many decisions that he is facing. Some big, some small. As you know, Fred, but he will be at the White House with President Bush and the first lady along with his wife Michelle. They're going to get a tour of the residence on Monday. But they're also going to sit down and talk about some of those issues that he was referring to, the war in Iraq as well as how to deal with the financial crises.
All of those things to try to make this transition go as smoothly as possible. Fred, you know everything here in Chicago is all about Barack Obama. My producer picked up these here, Obama-bling. Measures how much time before he gets to the White House and figured you would appreciate it, Fred. You might want one.
WHITFIELD: I guess if you have one on each wrist, Suzanne, you would never be late anywhere, right?
You got a backdrop. Those are cute.
MALVEAUX: Thanks, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Pick one up for me!
MALVEAUX: You got it.
WHITFIELD: Thank you, Suzanne, there in Chicago, where that town is extremely excited about their guy.
More on America's financial crises as well, specifically the wave of unemployment that is hitting millions across the country and how those looking for work are surviving. That's straight ahead in about 20 minute's right here in the newsroom.
President-elect Obama is wasting no time apologizing for a slip of the tongue. It happened during his first news conference yesterday. He saw some of that news conference. Reporters asked if he spoken to the former president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: In terms of speaking to former presidents, I have spoken to all of them that are living. Obviously, President Clinton. I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, Obama phoned Mrs. Reagan to apologize for what his staff called a careless, offhanded remark. Mrs. Reagan was ridiculed in some corners for consulting astrologers during her husband's presidency.
These are the words -- jerks, cowards. That's what Sarah Palin thinks of some former aides to John McCain. Her outrage was in response to anonymous criticisms, including allegations that Republican lawyers were headed to her Alaska home to reclaim her high-priced campaign wardrobe. Palin talked about the dustup with CNN's Gary Tuchman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Are you angry about this, that people were so disloyal to say things and without their name?
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R) ALASKA: Who's they, though? I don't know who they are. It's tough to respond to. But we know that, for instance, with the whole clothes issue, the RNC purchased clothes. Those are the RNC's clothes. They're not my clothes. I never forced anybody to buy me -- never asked for anything more than maybe a diet Dr. Pepper once in a while. I never asked for anything. These are Sarah Palin's clothes. You know, we don't take anything with us. So until that stuff is cleared up by you guys doing your job, what else can I say? What else can John McCain say about all of this, except these are false allegations?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. Onto California now. Three people are under arrest after taking part in a protest march triggered by the passage of a state measure banning gay marriage. Police say they made their arrests after people tried to pass a police line last night. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in San Francisco and in Long Beach. The protests were mostly peaceful but lots of verbal clashes between gay rights activists and supporters of proposition 8.
OK, so check out our political ticker for all of the latest news. It's still there. Just logon to CNNPOLITICS.com. Your source for all things political.
Now onto Florida, where thousands of volunteers are searching for 2- year-old Caylee Anthony, who has been missing since July. Her mom faces capital murder charges in the child's disappearance. Jessica Sanchez, of CNN affiliate WKMG, joins us now from Orlando with the latest on this search. Jessica.
JESSICA SANCHEZ, WKMG: There are a little more than a thousand volunteers that showed up today to help for the search, which is well below the projected 3,000 that they were hoping for. But they still appreciate the show of support. That is a tremendous show of support for the search for this little girl. You can see that right at this hour volunteers are continuing to show up. They are continuing to sign up. But they have only a few hours of daylight before the search will end for the day and resume again tomorrow.
These volunteers are being divided into teams and they are heading out on a mission that is basically a catch 22. They are hoping to find something but at the same time almost hoping they don't. And these volunteers, we are talking about a colorful group from 30 different states from as far away as Canada and Puerto Rico. They are armed with rubber boots, walking sticks and a desire to bring the Caylee Anthony saga to a close.
Now the search is focused in between two cell towers where Casey Anthony's cell phone was found around the time of her daughter's disappearance. That terrain over there is thick with trees and brush. Volunteers are told if Caylee's body is out there, it has gone through the summer heat and the floods from tropical storm Fay. It would be badly decomposed. Animals would have likely scattered the bones.
Students from the crime scene technology program at Palm Beach Community College, they also out here going out with each group and they are lending their expertise. Like I said, there are more than 1,000 people here. They have thrown their hearts into a search for a little girl they never met but feel like they have already known.
They are doing it without the blessing of the Anthony family. George and Cindy Anthony have made it clear they believe Caylee Anthony is still alive and they do not support a search for her body. Reporting live in Orlando, I'm Jessica Sanchez. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Jessica, thank you so much for that update.
Well, it is a powerful category 4 hurricane that just rolled through the Cayman Islands. We'll tell you where Paloma may be heading next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SARAH PALIN, (R) ALASKA: You bet you, drill baby, drill and mine, baby mine. You bet ya, drill baby drill and mine, baby, mine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Is there an echo? We're talking about the 2008 campaign stretching over two grueling years. We've condensed it into a quick five minutes for you. See it at 3:50 Eastern time. Set your watch. What a campaign. "The Road to the White House" coming up in the newsroom.
We're also watching severe weather in the Caribbean, as hurricane Paloma moves toward Cuba now after slamming the Cayman Islands. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is watching it all for us. Karen.
KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka, we are watching a system that we have not seen the likes of since hurricane Linney. Around this area they called it wrong-way Linney. It was moving from the west to the east back in 1999. Now hurricanes in November are not rare. They are uncommon. But what is very uncommon and very rare is to have a hurricane quite this strong. It's a category 4 hurricane.
Now earlier this morning it was a category 3. So it moved over the still warm waters of the Caribbean and now is going to be slamming into the southeast or south central sections of Cuba, perhaps as we go into the next six to 12 hours. Right now winds supporting this at 140 miles an hour. We've got an I-reporter brave enough to show us some pictures out of the Grand Cayman Island area. This is from Will Jacobs. He said during the storm, he estimated the winds at just about 80 miles an hour.
Now he maintains power at his home but he said lots of other people did lose power at their position. He said after the storm blew through, after Paloma moved by, he dared to go outside. He said, yes, there was plenty of debris in the roads. He maintained power, as I said, but he said back in 2001 with Ivan, he said a lot of folks lost power for three months.
All right, just kind of a different perspective. It moved over the Cayman Islands, now expected overnight to push across Cuba, then into the old Bahama channel. Take a look at what happens. This will be fairly frustrating but at least, according to the computer models, it looks like it will weaken once it moves over Cuba and just kind of swirl around in the vicinity of the Bahamas.
Well, for the southeastern Bahamas, Turks and Calicos, we are looking at tropical storm warnings. Here's the latest position still supporting winds of 140 miles an hour. In its wake, 10 to 15 inches of rain. Fredricka, they are saying that on Cayman Island, they estimated rainfall totals there at just about eight inches.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my, that's a lot. Thanks, Karen. We'll check back with you.
The tragic story had many American veterans from the battlefield to being homeless.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): The world forgets the veterans.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): They are in shelters, they are in emergency rooms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Veterans in focus in the newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. PETER BLENDONOHY, NATL. GUARD WITH COMBAT AVIATION BRIGADE: Hi, I'm Col. Peter Blendonohy with the 34th Combat Aviation Battalion. I would like to thank everybody back home in Buffalo, New York, for the support of our troops and all our love you're sharing with us. Happy Veterans Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: We are saluting America's veterans this weekend in honor of Veterans Day come Tuesday. One problem that has plagued the veteran community for decades is homelessness. Photo journalist Emanuel Tobakis profiles a vet who has overcome the problem with a little help from some new friends.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE O'BOYLE, VETERAN: They are $2.
EMANUEL TOBAKIS: Veterans Day is always about --
O'BOYLE: It's an important day for me.
TOBAKIS: Lest we forget.
O'BOYAL: The world forgets the veterans.
TOBAKIS: Among the homeless population, about 20 percent are veterans.
O'BOYLE: I joined the navy in 1972. My name is Joe O'Boyle.
TOBAKIS: I'm the founder and executive director of Pathways to Housing.
O'BOYLE: I forget a lot of things.
TOBAKIS: They are in shelters, they are in drop-in centers, they are in emergency rooms, and they are in jails. They have never had a moment of privacy.
O'BOYLE: Off and on I was homeless about 15 years.
TOBAKIS: It's all public space, crowded conditions.
O'BOYLE: The worst part about being homeless is trying to find a place to sleep at night. It could be a park bench. It could be anywhere. You have to sleep with one eye open and watch your back. I was hoping somebody would end it for me. Finally found Pathways to Housing, and they gave me a beautiful apartment but I have trouble being by myself.
TOBAKIS: He needs assistance because he had issues with rule following --
O'BOYLE: I have been in programs --
TOBAKIS: Such as sobriety or mandatory treatments, in order to get into most housing programs for people who need help, he would have remained on the streets forever.
O'BOYLE: Psychiatric hospitals.
TOBAKIS: We figured out a way to quickly house them. Put them in housing first and then provide services for them.
O'BOYLE: Ever since I got my apartment, I feel -- I feel like I can do anything. TOBAKIS: Veterans have made that contribution and that as a society, as a country, as a government, we ought to honor that.
O'BOYLE: For the first time in my life, I'm happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: President Bush is expected to pay his respects to veterans on Tuesday with a stop at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. The carrier-based facility reopened today after nearly two years of renovations and repairs right there in New York. Mr. Bush's visit will mark only the second time a sitting president has toured the museum. He's expected to be presented with the Intrepid Freedom Award. He's given to world leaders who embody the ideals of freedom and democracy.
Many veterans and their families are sharing their stories with us. You can read all about them at CNN.com/specials. Just click on the veterans in focus tab and you can read much more.
How many of you remember this moment from eight years ago?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S: I am humbled and honor, I can't thank the president enough for his hospitality. He didn't need to do this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: President Clinton passing the baton to George Bush. So what will Monday's meeting be like between president elect Obama and President Bush?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, 3:30 now in the East. Here's are some of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM. In Haiti, the number of dead in the collapsed school climbed to at least 80 today, 700 people were thought to be in the building. The Red Cross said two children were pulled from the rubble, amazingly unharmed. And the search continues for any other potential survivors.
Hurricane Paloma is on track to hit Cuba, late today, the fourth hurricane for the island this season. Paloma is a dangerous Category 4 storm, rare for November.
Security Pacific Bank, meantime in this country, will reopen Monday with a new owner and a new name. It's one of two banks seized by federal regulators on Friday, the other is in Texas. The bank failures will cost taxpayers close to $2 billion.
All right, President-elect Barack Obama says he wants to hit the ground running in January to fix America's problems. He's getting an early start already. Mr. Obama and his wife are expected to have an informal powwow with President Bush and Laura Bush on Monday. Our Elaine Quijano has a preview. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Democrat, Barack Obama and Republican, George Bush, will come together Monday for the start of the time-honored tradition of American Democracy, the transfer of presidential power. This year it is steeped in history, he first transition post- 9/11, the first African-American president- elect.
GEORGE W BUSH (R), UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: It will be a stirring sight to watch President Obama, his wife Michelle and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House. I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have waited so long.
QUIJANO: Just as George Bush did with Bill Clinton in December of 2000.
BUSH: I am humbled honored, and I can't thank the president enough for his hospitality. He didn't need to do this.
QUIJANO: The incoming president will have a chance to seek advice from his predecessor.
BILL CLINTON (D), FMR US PRESIDENT: Get a good team and do what he thinks is right.
QUIJANO: This time as President Bush sits down with President-elect Obama in the Oval Office, the two will have an agenda.
BUSH: We face economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in. We're in a struggle against violent extremists, determined to attack us, and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people.
QUIJANO: The two leaders will also have the delicate task of balancing decision-making and consultation in the coming weeks, as president- elect Obama's views come into sharper focus.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SR POLITICAL ANALYST: And it's more complicated this time than ever before because we have an economic crisis on our hands, and he may be called upon to make decisions about priorities and about policies during the transition.
QUIJANO (on camera): Monday's meeting will also allow the current and future first ladies to meet, as their spouses confer in the Oval Office, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama will tour the private residence, a chance for Mrs. Obama to get a closer look at the place that will become home for the Obama family.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, topping the list for the president-elect, economy. Unemployment, by the way, 6.5 percent, a 14-year high. Ten million Americans are without jobs, the most since 1983. So, part of that is due to the flurry of pink slips this week alone. Circuit City topping the layoff list with 7,300 positions slashed. And it's not just retailers that are hurting, the auto industry as well, finance, even pharmaceuticals. The total number of jobs lost this week, 15,000. An astounding number.
With so many people looking for work in an ever-shrinking job market, it makes life pretty difficult, to put it very mildly. How are people coping? Here now is CNN's Ed Lavandera.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over here, hoeover here! Get him!
ED LAVANDERA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If there's a silver lining to unemployment, this is it for Alan Cannefax, helping coach his son's football team.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get him, Connor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, don't move.
LAVANDERA: ??? lost his job as an internet creative director six months ago. The severance package runs out next month. He and his wife are making a list of what will be cut from the family budget. The stress is building.
ALAN CANNEFAX, UNEMPLOYED WORKER: A couple of days ago I just went through a bout of anxiety and thinking you know, oh, my gosh, where are we going to go? What are we going to do? This is my Web site...
LAVANDERA: Cannefax created a Web site to showcase his work, ThisDudeRocks.com. He networks and picks up freelance work. He's only been invited to two interviews. He finds companies are laying off just as quickly as they might hire.
CABBEFAXl It's tough. Once the door you see is open, and all of a sudden you walk up to it, and it's suddenly shut.
LAVANDERA: Business doors across the country are closing, tens of thousands of jobs disappearing, leaving workers everywhere feeling desperate, like at this job fair.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My usual response I'm getting these days is my resume looks good, but people don't have the money to hire me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I've already consoled myself to the fact that I'm not probably going to find the same type of paying job.
LAVANDERA (on camera): Many people looking for work say they're amazed at how many different types of people are hurting, and those who do have jobs say they constantly worry that they'll be the next victim of the latest rounds of cutbacks or layoffs.
ASHLEY PORTFILIO, UNEMPLOYED WORKER: I know it might have to be entry level, but... LAVANDERA: Ashley Portfilio (ph) has seen her commission-based income cut in half. She works in the mortgage industry and even with a master's degree, the job hunt is dismal.
PORTFOLIO: I'm not hearing back from anybody. I've applied for 150 jobs.
LAVANDERA: Alan Cannefax says he'll look for temporary retail work this holiday season so until the next year comes around, Cannefax will enjoy football season.
CANNEFAX: Connor, Connor, Connor, he got away. He got away. It's OK, son. Come on.
LAVANDERA: Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The black list, it's not what you think.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), US VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT: I love it with John McCain and Sarah Palin get up before audiences like this, and they say "hey, maverick."
BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES PRESIDENT-ELECT: He hasn't been a maverick, he's been a sidekick.
GOV SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: John McCain is known as a maverick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy, the campaign that we have talked and written about for years to come. We've got some highlights for you. You don't want to miss them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A huge mark in American history made this week with the election of Barack Obama. President-elect Barack Obama in his victory speech helped paint a picture of America's journey, rocky and smooth, over the past 100 years. An HBO documentary helped do the same thing, through the perspective of 22 African-American icons. It's called "The Black List: Volume One." Here's comedian Chris Rock on his modern-day evaluations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS ROCK, COMEDIAN: In my neighborhood there's like three, four black people in my neighborhood in Alpine. OK, it's, me, Gary Sheffield, Mary J. Blige, Patrick Ewing. Hall of famer, hall of famer, greatest R&B singer of our time, decent comedian. Who lives next to me, what's the white man next to me? He's a dentist. He didn't invent anything. He's just a dentist. That's what America is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right, the documentary, which first aired on HBO in August, also features basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pulitzer prize winning writer Toni Morrison and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, among others. It will air again beginning in about two weeks. Well, joining us right now, the director of "The Black List" portrait photographer, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders in New York.
Good to see you.
TIMOTHY GREENFIELD-SANDERS, PHOTOGRAPHER/DIRECTOR: How are you?
WHITFIELD: I'm good.
And the producer of "The Black List," former "New York Times" film critic, Elvis Mitchell, in Los Angeles. Good to see you, as well.
ELVIS MITCHELL, PRODUCER: I got a tan, can you notice? Can you see it on the air?
WHITFIELD: You look good. You both look good. All right, well, Elvis, let me begin with you. And let's talk about the timing of this documentary. Yes, it started kind of in the summer, but we get to see it again in a another couple of weeks. What do you say about this timing and the history made this week of the president-elect?
MITCHELL: It just feels like it took America a long time to catch up to "The Black List." I'm sorry, did I say that? What it feels like, it was just the right moment to do this. As Timothy can tell you, we started this in the fall of '06. We filmed Tony Morrison, who is a friend of his and then we shot Thelma Golden. And I met Obama in the fall of '06 at a magazine conference in Phoenix and he was affable and great to talk to. He said, I don't know if I'm going to run. I mean, there's all this talk.
And so, for this to happened in a little more than two years, to see this kind of quantum shift take place, but also to see that he won the election so quickly is like the country itself saying we needed time to heal and "The Black List" just kind of shows the country is - it really is a look at the 21st century African-American experience...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Given that you met him, sorry to interrupt you, but given you met him, was he a subject that you wanted to put in this documentary, even though we didn't know the outcome of the presidency, but, you know, he's done quite a few other things before this election. Was he one you wanted to tap?
MITCHELL: Well, certainly, he would have been an ideal candidate at the beginning and then I think every English-speaking person in North America interviewed him by now, so what would you have asked him? So, maybe if we can get him for Volume Two, and that's certainly a hope, then he'll have a whole other perspective by then. WHITFIELD: All right, so Timothy, how did you nail down the people for this documentary? An astounding array of people who range in so many different levels of expertise and fields of industry, et cetera, how'd you get them to say yes?
GREENFIELD-SANDERS: Well, we reached out to our friends. You know, Elvis is friendly with Chris Rock and Keenan Ivory Wayans and Tony Morrison, someone I have been photographing for many, many years and Thelma Golden and Richard Parsons at Time-Warner are friends of mine. So, we reached out to people like that first and then once we got some momentum going, we were really able to ask other people and kind of get a real broad cross section of experiences. That's what we wanted for "The Black List."
WHITFIELD: All right, let's take a look at some of the subjects that you interviewed. And they really delve into things that are beyond the obvious of experiences and observations. Here's Faye Wattleton, who used to be the president of Planned Parenthood. Let's take a look and listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAY WATTLETON, FMR PRES PLANNED PARENTHOOD: If I could help one woman in the African-American community not give birth to an unwanted child, I feel that I've made that contribution to the advancement of my race and the people who came to this country through a path that was not of their own making.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Elvis, was there any one who kind of surprised you in terms of what or who they said were their inspirations?
MITCHELL: Well, I have to say, really, everybody was -- had some amazing insight to offer. But, for me the biggest shock was Al Sharpton. You figure, Al Sharpton has probably been on this show already today a bunch of times. He's been everywhere. And he's always -- he's kind of the guy you break the glass and Al Sharpton is the alarm on it if you want somebody to comment on the black experience. And so to get ready for that, I did a week of preparation and I just thought, well, what has nobody asked Al Sharpton about. And it's like, oh, he's Reverend Al Sharpton. So, I asked about his favorite Bible scripture. And he's the only segment, his answer is the first thing he said on camera...
WHITFIELD: I think we have that queued up. Do you mind if we listen to it?
MITCHELL: Let's go to that. What a great -- I love television.
WHITFIELD: I know. Presto, let's press the button.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: I think that's what you're seeing in the hip-hop generation, this disconnect, this dislocation. We told them you're free now, It's beyond race, you don't need all of that. And we gave them nothing to replace it. And then we look up in 10 years, what's wrong with these kids? What's wrong with them is there's nothing grounding them. So, there's nothing to violate, there's no legacy to continue. You're connected to nothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And here he's actually talking about rap music and his definition of the evolution of, et cetera. Surprised to come out of his mouth when you all asked him the questions?
MITCHELL: Well, for me, it's just that -- early -- he said it earlier in the segment. He said, you know, I've never said this publicly. At this point we went, OK, we have a film here. When Al Sharpton say he's never said something publicly before, that's when we knew we'd made a breakthrough. And we treated each of subjects this way. I mean, I wanted everybody to say the kinds of things they hadn't really said before, kind of treat this as a way to sort of bring what's in effect of the black underground to the mainstream and starting with the title, which is a way, sort of, reclaim the negative connotations of black. You know, you always hear the "black list" that's a bad thing or "black mark" or "black heart" or "black water." I guess we won't be hearing that one anyone. But, it's a way to sort of reorient it to show the black experience, there's been so much about taking the negative and reclaiming it and spinning it into the positive. And I think, again, Obama is an exemplar of that. He's our president-elect, Obama.
WHITFIELD: That's right, president-elect Obama until January 20.
All right so Timothy, just looking at the technique of how these stories are told, these personal stories are told, there is nothing to distract from their message. That was very deliberate of you as a director to -- to make these subjects the subject and their message as such. Was it difficult to execute this, I guess vision, to actual documentary? Did it seem complicated at the surface?
GREENFIELD-SANDERS: Not really because it's based on my portraiture. So, this is not only a film, it's a series of portraits I took. We wanted these to be living portraits. So, the film looks like a Timothy Greenfield-Sanders portrait come to life with an Elvis Mitchell person not seen talking to them. And you're hearing just them talking. And then there's an exhibition of the portraits opening next week at the Brooklyn Museum, here in New York and also there's a book out all across the country, which is called "The Black List." So, the portraits, along with Elvis' interviews are in that book and then the portraits themselves are a traveling exhibition.
WHITFIELD: Wow. It really is tremendous. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and Elvis Mitchell, it's on HBO. If you missed it this summer, or at least part of the summer, you can catch it again, what, in two weeks. There you go, and there's a book, on book stands soon, right? I'd say one of my favorite ones was Serena and her real tribute to her sister talking about, you know what, while I was at the U.S. Open, Arthur Ashe Stadium, it wasn't just me there but Venus was there as well because of how she helped prep her sister. Just really... MITCHELL: Wasn't it great also when Serena talks about the fact it is the 21st century and black athletes are still thought of being basically primitives, incapable of thought. And that's why it was important to asked that question.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, and that she's a thinker on the court, yeah.
MITCHELL: Yeah, she's a thinker, she's a cunning tennis player. It's not just power. She laughs and say, I haven't even hit as hard as I can yet. And that's what this is really about, I mean, to unlock these kind of things that can -- still as a people we're two- dimensional. There's still a kind reductive kind of conversation...
GREENFIELD-SANDERS: So fantastic and so much more to talk about. I wish I could have you guys on again, maybe a volume two. That's a deal. And let's talk more about the book. I like that book.
GREENFIELD-SANDERS: Can you see that?
WHITFIELD: I can. It's beautiful.
GREENFIELD-SANDERS: There you go.
MITCHELL: Timothy, your subtlety is legendary.
WHITFIELD: Timothy, thank you so much. My producers are yelling at me now. They're like, all right, already. Cut. We got to hit a commercial break. Anyway, good talking to you guys, really appreciate it. "The Black List" on HBO. All right, how's that for an extra plug?
All right, how about memories of the 2008 campaigns from maverick to the pig with lipstick and to, "yes, we can." Yes, we've got it all.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, history in the making. We have some backstage snapshots to show you, pictures taken of the Obama family election night. These are from the Obama campaign's photographer, David Katz. Take a look right there, they show the Obama family watching the returns in Chicago. They're, of course, backstage before the victory speech.
And something very striking, say many, is how calm, perhaps, the family looked as they were watching the results trickle in. And there with the vice president-elect. All right, so the presidential election is over, the election part over, nation moving on. But, let's take a few minutes now to remember the sights and sounds of this very historic campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OBAMA: So, let us begin. Let us begin this hard work together. Let us transform this nation.
SEN JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I'm not running for president to be somebody, but to do something.
QUESTION: President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years.
MCCAIN: Maybe 100.
Thanks for the question, you little jerk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, dear.
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: I believe that Barack Obama will lead with a sense of strength and conviction.
SEN HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Advocating for women.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Conservative credentials, same values.
OBAMA: Talk to Iran and Syria.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three-state solution in Iraq. Bring the troops home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We must act.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Islamic terrorism.
MCCAIN: Mismanage.
CLINTON: Energy costs and the healthcare costs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Money from lobbyists.
CLINTON: Strong support.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Economic stimulus plan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fair tax.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stimulate the economy,
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dirty tricks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody seems to care.
CLINTON: Blank check.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bumper sticker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not that time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bilingual nation. Immigration.
MCCAIN: Border states.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love Iowa a whole lot.
OBAMA: Our time for change has come.
BILL CLINTON (D), FMR US PRESIDENT: This whole thing is the biggest fairytale I've ever seen.
H CLINTON: I just don't want to see us fall back.
MCCAIN: Tonight, we sure showed them what a comeback looks like.
H CLINTON: I found my own face.
OBAMA: Yes, we can! Thank you, New Hampshire!
SEN EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: It is time now for Barack Obama!
MCCAIN: We are the Republican Party front-runner for the nomination.
BUSH: If he wants my pretty face standing by his side at one of these rally, I'll be glad to show up.
ANNOUNCER: It's 3:00 a.m. And your children are safe asleep.
H CLINTON: I remember landing under sniper fire.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Incendiary sermons at his own church, threaten to undermine the premise of Barack Obama's campaign.
OBAMA: The remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial; They expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We both know that if Senator Obama did not say what he said, he would ever get elected.
OBAMA: Reverend Wright does not speak for me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you going to help the American auto workers?
OBAMA: Hold on for a second, sweetie.
I'm calling to apologize for using the word "sweetie," that a bad habit of mine.
I will be the Democratic nominee.
Generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children, this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.
H CLINTON: I will be making no decisions tonight.
Today I am standing with Senator Obama to say, yes, we can! Unity is not only a beautiful place...
OBAMA: The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand.
MCCAIN: Not long ago, a couple one thousand Berliners made a lot of sound for my opponent. I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys any day, any day my friend.
OBAMA: This country of ours has more wealth than any nation. But, that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on earth, but that's not what makes us strong.
MCCAIN: When you get to know her, you're going to be as impressed as I am.
PALIN: Senator, I am honored to be chosen as your running mate.
You know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.
MCCAIN: We're Americans and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history, we make history.
The fundamentals of our economy are strong, but these are very, very difficult times.
Tomorrow morning, I'll suspend my campaign and return to Washington.
PALIN: I may not answer the questions the way that either the moderator or you want to hear but I'm going to tall straight to the America people and let them know my track record.
BIDEN: The issue is how different than John McCain's policy going to be than George Bush's?
MCCAIN: You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one.
Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. My old buddy, Joe, "Joe the plumber..."
OBAMA: I'm happy to talk to you, Joe.
MCCAIN: People like "Joe the plumber."
Joe, I want to tell you, hey, Joe, you're rich.
BIDEN: You can't call yourself a maverick if all you've been the last eight years is a sidekick.
MCCAIN: Joe's with us today. Joe, where are you? Where is Joe? Is Joe here with us today? Joe, I thought you were here, today.
All right. Well, you're all "Joe the plumbers."
Now, let's go win this election and get the country moving again. OBAMA: This is where change begins.
MCCAIN: I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been. This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life.
OBAMA: Where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people -- yes, we can! Thank you. God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Wow. Magic of television. Two years condensed into 5-1/2 minutes, there. All right, well she says there were times when the media was just downright cruel. Who am I talking about?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PALIN: That's cruel, it's mean-spirited, it's immature, it's unprofessional and those guys are jerks if they came away with it, taking things out of context and then tried to spread something on national news. That's not fair and not right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right, Sarah Palin firing back. Next hour, right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
