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Dick Cheney on Torture; Obama and the Correspondents; Pope is on Historic Visit to the Middle East; Severe Weather in the Deep South, Central Plains; Chicago Deadliest Place in America for Kids
Aired May 10, 2009 - 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: Stirring the pot: Blunt comments today from former Vice President Dick Cheney about President Obama, Colin Powell, Rush Limbaugh and torture. He doesn't hold back -- and you'll hear it.
The joke's on who? President Obama's comedy routine last night. He was definitely an equal opportunity insulter and he didn't even spare himself.
Too young to die: Why are so many children being murdered every single week in Chicago? A city's tragedy through the eyes and voices of one desperate family.
Body of works: The man who revolutionized the fashion industry one sizzling photograph at a time. Why Tyson Beckford is a history- maker.
And queen for a day: It's mom's turn to be pampered but the economy might be stealing her joy. I go on a Mother's Day delivery to find out.
The news starts right now.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
Call it a political smackdown between two political heavyweights. On one side, Colin Powell, the widely known and widely respected former secretary of state and Joint Chiefs chairman; and on the other side -- well, former Vice President Dick Cheney. At issue: The future of their own Republican Party.
Powell crossed over to endorse candidate Obama last year. Now, he's calling for more moderation among fellow Republicans.
Cheney strongly disagrees. In fact, he is questioning Powell's loyalty and says Republicans should listen to Powell's biggest critic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD CHENEY, FMR. U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: If I had to choose -- in terms of being a Republican -- I'd go with Rush Limbaugh, I think. My take on it was that Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Well, that is tough talk, considering Cheney and Powell worked for two Republican presidents.
Let's talk more about the GOP and the internal battles that are playing out in public -- very much so in public. Our Paul Steinhauser, deputy political director here at CNN, and he joins us now from Washington.
Man, those are some tough words he had for Colin Powell.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I'll tell you, Don, this is a great political story. The Republican Party as they try to come back from the political wilderness. They got beaten in '06, they lost, you know, control of Congress. In '08, just this past November, they lost even more seats in the House and the Senate. Of course, they lost the White House.
So, what do they do and how do they come back? Well, they don't agree -- obviously, as you can see right there. The former vice president is a member of the conservative wing of the Republican Party and they dominate. And they think maybe, the way to do it is to re- energize the base.
But there are others like Colin Powell -- and you saw, you know, Dick Cheney fighting back against Colin Powell. A lot of the people in the party, though, think it's time to reach out to moderates, independents, maybe younger voters, female voters, they didn't do well with in November. So, this is a real struggle, Don, between these two wings of the Republican Party.
LEMON: And he said, you know, Colin Powell just needs to go ahead and close the loop and become a Democrat, instead of claiming to be a Republican interested in reforming the Republican Party. He also had some very harsh words -- not harsh words, but he spoke out about terrorism, about terror, and whether or not the country was safer under Obama than it was under President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: At the heart of what we did with the terror surveillance program and the enhanced interrogation techniques for al Qaeda terrorists and so forth was collect information. It was about intelligence. It was about finding out what al Qaeda was going to do, what their capabilities and plans were. It was discovering all those things we needed in order to be able to go defeat al Qaeda.
And, in effect, what's happening here, when you get rid of enhanced interrogation techniques, for example, or the terrorist surveillance program, you reduce the intelligence flow to the intelligence community upon which we based those policies that were so successful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The former vice president also saying he has no regrets. And, as a matter of fact, he would give testimony, saying that the U.S. should continue those terror techniques.
STEINHAUSER: Remember back in March, the former vice president went on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION WITH JOHN KING," and he said, "You know what, this president is making the country less safe." And you're hearing this message, Don, from others as well, others in the Republican Party. Just this weekend, Senator Kit Bond of Missouri gave the Republican response, the radio response, and he said, basically, the closing of Guantanamo Bay puts security at risk and puts style over security.
So, you are seeing Republicans push back. House Republicans introduce a bill this week as well, critical of the president when it came to the closing of Guantanamo Bay.
Take a look at this, though, this is CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll we did about a month ago, and we asked is the policies, the president's policies, President Obama's policies increasing chances of a terrorist attack here in the U.S.? You can see only about one in four think that. A little more than seven in 10 say no.
So, this is an argument from the Republicans, you're hearing lot in the last couple of weeks, but as of now, according to our national poll, Americans don't agree with them right now, Don.
LEMON: All right. Paul, stick around because you have some personal knowledge of the next story we're going to talk about. We'll see you in just a second.
President Obama has taken some hits in his young administration. But last night, he proved he can dish it out with the best of them. He took to the mike at the annual White House Correspondents dinner, unleashing a wave of one-liners at reporters, rivals, and even his own administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
PRES. BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES: I would like to welcome you all to the 10-day anniversary of my first 100 days.
(LAUGHTER)
WANDA SYKES, COMEDIENNE: Whose idea was it to give the queen an iPod? What an awful gift. I mean, what is she going to do -- download Lady Gaga? What are you going to give the Pope -- a Bluetooth?
OBAMA: Michelle Obama is here.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: First lady of the United States.
(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: Hasn't she been an outstanding first lady?
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: She's even begun to bridge the differences that have divided us for so long, because no matter which party you belong to, we can all agree that Michelle has the right to bear arms.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
SYKES: It's harder to poke fun at the president, you know, because he is so likable. Everybody likes him. You know, t-shirts and bumper stickers. Even the media, you know, you guys have been very favorable towards the president. You know, it's funny to me that they've never caught you smoking but they somehow always catch you with your shirt off.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: All this change hasn't been easy. Change never is. So, I've cut the tension by bringing a new friend to the White House. He's warm, he's cuddly, loyal, enthusiastic. And you just have to keep him on a tight leash. Every once in a while, he goes charging off in the wrong direction and gets himself into trouble. But, enough about Joe Biden.
(LAUGHTER)
SYKES: You taking the first lady out on dates. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I walked past the White House and see you out there mowing the lawn.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: I believe that my next 100 days will be so successful I will be able to complete them in 72 days.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: And on the 73rd day, I will rest.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That was some pretty edgy stuff there. I'm not sure if it's causing any controversy.
Both Paul Steinhauser and our Kate Bolduan were both there. They are in Washington tonight.
Kate, we'll start with you.
As I said, it was pretty edgy to hear that coming from the president. But all in all, it was a good laugh last night.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All in all, it's a good laugh. From what we've heard, you know, everyone, of course, coming out, the first critic -- everyone getting out there and giving their review of it. Generally, a good review of the president, you know, he was using self-deprecating humor which is always well-received, poking and making jabs at his vice president, the Republican Party, his critics, even making a joke about his daughters and trying to make light of that mishap -- that photo mishap, saying that the girls were grounded and that's why they weren't at the dinner. He says it doesn't matter whose kid you are, you can't go joyriding in Air Force One ...
LEMON: Right.
BOLDUAN: ... around Manhattan. Of course, alluding to that Air Force One mishap over Manhattan when they were doing those publicity photos we've heard so much about in the last week. Overall, President Obama, good reviews.
Wanda Sykes, she was a little more raw. She's known to be kind of raw in her humor. Some of her remarks -- I would say her remarks are a little more on the controversial side if we had to compare them. But the president was well-received.
LEMON: Yes. And Paul Steinhauser, it is sort of a dance. It's really a fine line especially with the tough times that we are dealing with now and the topics that we are dealing with. And they've touched, you know, terror. They touched on a little bit, same-sex marriage, and, of course, the economy.
So, they had to be very careful and I'm sure they were wondering themselves what the fallout would possibly be today because of those jokes.
STEINHAUSER: Yes. And the president, too, at the end of his speech, after he gave his one-liners, he was a little more somber and he talked about the newspaper industry which is struggling right now as well.
LEMON: Right.
STEINHAUSER: So, he did that bring that up as well.
LEMON: Yes. And he was -- you know, he's usually the one that's ,you know, faces the heat here, but he got to do it and no questions asked. You guys and the reporters did not get to fire back, Kate. Nor you as the deputy political director, right, Paul?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, no questions at this one. It's all about the president. And, you know what? There was so much attention. This is like -- for D.C., this is our Academy Awards and there was so much more attention this year than the years past.
LEMON: Yes. It was amazing to see so many celebrities. I think that was unprecedented when it comes to a White House Correspondents dinner. BOLDUAN: Yes. Paul and I were talking about it. You know, it felt like a real red carpet compared to years past. I mean, you and I -- Don, you and I were talking last night. I mean, there was a lot of A-listers coming through there, a lot of Hollywood glamour.
LEMON: Yes. Paul Steinhauser and Kate Bolduan, both in Washington -- I hope you guys had a great time last night. Thank you so much for joining us. You can sleep now. Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: And looking ahead, President Obama has a very busy schedule this week, one filled with pomp and circumstance and championship teams.
Tomorrow, he welcomes the University of North Carolina men's basketball team to the White House. He predicted that they would win the championship. On Wednesday, the president goes to Arizona State University where he'll deliver the commencement address, but won't receive an honorary degree. Thursday, he hits Albuquerque, New Mexico, to talk about credit card reform. And on Friday, Mr. Obama welcomes the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies to the White House.
Heavy flooding in Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia. Our Jacqui Jeras will joins us with the latest and look ahead at when things will dry out, and if they'll dry out soon.
And the final frontier: space tourism. We'll take you to the new edge in travel.
Also, we want you to be a part of our show tonight. Here's how do you it: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com. You guys had some very interesting and funny comments about the White House Correspondents dinner last night. Keep 'em coming.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Some rough weather recently when it concerns thunderstorms and tornadoes, a threat of severe weather is looming over parts of the mid-south tonight. But residents of Little Rock, Arkansas, it could be replay of past 48 hours. Strong storms rolled through the area, leaving downed trees and power lines in their wake. More rain would add to already swollen waterways, some on the brink of flood stage.
And the flood concern is real in middle Tennessee, where you can see boating has become more popular. Heavy rains have been stocking parts of that state, like Sumner County where one businessman found two feet of water after the latest deluge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know what the totality of everything is yet. I'm still trying to wake up from the fact that I went to sleep with a business and lost everything in the morning. So ... (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Boy, you can understand that sentiment.
Jacqui Jeras joins us now in the CNN severe weather center.
Jacqui, are these folks really out of the woods yet when it comes to this?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No. You know, our weather pattern has just shaped up, where we're going to be seeing storm after storm after storm. And, you know, we kicked off the weekend with a lot of severe thunderstorms in terms of tornadoes and wind damage. And now, our big story is really turning to the flooding, because the ground is so very saturated.
These pictures are out of West Virginia. We're just getting new information there now that the National Guard, more than 300 troops have been called out into coal country, down to the southwestern parts of West Virginia to help out flood victims here. Hundreds of homes have been damaged. Bridges have been washed out and many, many roads are impassable. Those waters are still a bit on the rise and we may see some more showers and thundershowers moving into parts of West Virginia in the next 24 to 48 hours. So, a very serious situation shaping up there.
Unfortunately, we're also been seeing some flooding across some parts of the Deep South, there you can see all that rain which have been pushing from the west. The heavier showers and thunderstorms down here across parts of Arkansas into Louisiana and into Mississippi where we have a severe thunderstorm watch in effect and we will see a good one to two inches of rain with these thunderstorms as they move on through.
Now, we don't have any watches in effect here across parts of Georgia. Here, you can see the Atlanta Metro area. It's south of here, but there is a cluster of thunderstorms producing severe weather. And that purple box right there, that is a tornado warning for Taylor and also Talbot counties.
So some Doppler radar -- oh, look at that, it just popped up, nice to see that that expired. So, it looks like that tornado threat is over with for now, but still, a lot of lightning and maybe some damaging winds. You still need to stay inside until these showers and thunderstorms do pass and we'll continue to see all that weather push eastward in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Additional rainfall totals -- check this out -- and it's really anywhere in the green to the yellow and orange colors here. That's where we are going to be seeing anywhere between one and three inches of rain. So, certainly, not good news to see all that begin to push on in.
And look at all the green on the map here, too. This is where we have all the flood watches and warnings. In the Texarkana area, we've seen six to eight inches of rain just in the last 24 hours there. And the lighter green area, that's where the watches are. So, we got that heavy rain moving into northern Mississippi, Tupelo, you're under that flash flood watch. So, be on alert for those rising waters.
Don?
LEMON: All right. Jacqui, thank you. We appreciate that.
Well, the box-office smash of the new "Star Trek" movie, 75 million bucks this opening weekend.
You know what? NASA may get some residual interest in tomorrow's scheduled launch. Take a look at this -- this is the space shuttle Atlantis. You see it right there, on Pad 39-A, at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, awaiting a 2:00 p.m. Eastern liftoff. NASA the weather looks ideal so far.
The Atlantis crew has an 11-day mission to the Hubble telescope, which is in serious need of repair. Of course, you can watch the shuttle launch live right here on CNN -- always amazing to see that.
Of course, you could be space-bound too, you know. That is, if you can handle an out-of-this world price. CNN's Deb Feyerick takes us to the edge of discovery.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSHUA BUSH, "SPACE" AGENT: Yes, I feel good!
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By the looks of it, Joshua Bush is going to space. But he is not in a spaceship, at least not yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just relax, enjoy the ride right now.
FEYERICK: When Bush takes his spin in this human centrifuge, one of the most realistic flight simulators of the world, he feels the pressure of powerful G-forces on his body, and even a brief moment of weightlessness. For about $6,000, almost anyone can get a similar experience at the National Aerospace Training and Research Center called NASTAR.
GLENN KING, NASTAR CENTER: It's realistic. The same forces that will happen during the real flight happen here during training.
FEYERICK: But for Bush, this isn't just a thrill ride.
BUSH: One of the reasons why I'm here today is to gain a better understanding of the NASTAR Center and how their products can relate to my clients.
FEYERICK: Bush is an intergalactic travel agent, selling tickets for Richard Branson's newest out-of-this world adventure. For $200,000, you can get high-tech training and a front row seat on the world's first spacecraft, designed specifically for tourism.
BUSH: So, it's going to be almost an eerie but calming silence as you look out one of the huge port holes at the curvature of the earth, the edge of the atmosphere, and you'll be -- you'll be floating.
FEYERICK: Building and testing are under way now. If all goes according to plan, the first space tourists will be soaring by 2011.
(on camera): Well done, all right.
BUSH: Great ride.
FEYERICK: Deborah Feyerick, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: The growing divide over President Obama's new Cuban travel policy. We'll hear from two exiled Cuban artists with two very different opinions.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Two exiled Cuban artists -- they share a passion for their homeland, but they split when it comes to President Obama's new Cuban travel policy.
CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti reports on a growing divide.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Grammy Award-winning musician Paquito D'Rivera defected from Cuba 28 years ago. Painter Geandy Pavon left a more than a decade ago after his father, a political prisoner, was released from jail and granted a visa. Yet, both artists hold different views about a recently lifted travel ban for Cuban-Americans to visit family on the island.
D'Rivera says despite the joy unlimited visits can bring, it is wrong, unless the Castro government changes.
PAQUITO D'RIVERA, MUSICIAN: Lifting sanctions, you know, to such a horrible and cruel and long-lasting regime, it's like, you know, taking the kids that fail everything in the school and then you take them to Disneyland.
CANDIOTTI: Despite that exile view, President Obama's decision to wipe out three-year restrictions imposed by the Bush administration has charter flights soaring. One Miami company, CNT Charters, reports more than three times the passengers heading to Cuba last month, compared to April a year ago.
A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows overwhelming support, 64 to 34 percent, for lifting a travel ban to Cuba so every American can go there. Painter Pavon applauds taking a step in that direction.
GEANDY PAVON, ARTIST: Obama is calling the bluff on the Castro's regime.
CANDIOTTI: Easing the travel ban for family visits he hopes will chip away at Castro government policies. As a painter, he says he has had his work confiscated.
PAVON: Morally, it's good for the United States to show like what Obama is doing, that he is willing to have a conversation.
CANDIOTTI: But Paquito D'Rivera argues, so far, it's a one-way conversation.
D'RIVERA: What type of business? I give you everything and you give me nothing. Watch out, President Obama.
CANDIOTTI: For Pavon, it's one step at a time.
PAVON: For me, it's very hard to think that there is no hope. I prefer to think there is hope.
CANDIOTTI: Two portraits of Cuban exiles, who share a hope for change -- but disagree on how to get there.
(on camera): What a treat.
(voice-over): Susan Candiotti, CNN, Union City, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Well, that is a treat, too. And I agree with you.
OK. Here are your comments, time now for that.
BubbleFreeze says, "President Obama has a bright future as a standup comedy -- as a standup comedy -- probably should be a standup comic at 'Saturday Night Live' after his terms -- term." She said terms with an S. Chill97 says, "It was very entertaining. I like how he joked about things that the Republican we were criticizing him about. Mountainsister says, "I enjoy it thoroughly but I think it went over the edge with the comment on Cheney's kidney's failing. We might think it but."
Kmcooley says, "Pres. Obama's speech was just what we needed. He described it best, 'A new, warm and fuzzy White House.'" Yzerman19 says, "The speech was great. He really pushed the line with certain topics. I think he is awesome."
Send your comments, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com. Really, we want to get them on the air just like those guys.
OK. Up from the past and blazing a trail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
LEMON (voice-over): Polo model Tyson Beckford is not just a pretty face. There is also the rest of him, 6'2" and one of "People" magazine's sexiest men alive.
Women love him.
TYSON BECKFORD, MODEL: Here you go, ladies.
LEMON: Men secretly or openly want to be him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks a lot.
BECKFORD: Hi. Nice to meet you.
LEMON: Not a bad thing, considering what Tyson has accomplished at just 38 years old, one of the most recognizable faces and bodies on the planet.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: You can see my entire interview. That was just a small part of it. Tyson Beckford. It will happen in the next hour on my special series, "Up from a Past: African-American Firsts," next hour, 7:00 p.m., right here on CNN.
The refugee crisis grows in Pakistan, hundreds of thousands of people fleeing for their lives.
Plus, an historic visit to the Mideast and a call to treat women with respect. Pope Benedict celebrates mass for 20,000.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: In northern Pakistan, fighting between government forces and the Taliban has displaced up to a half million people. Imagine the entire population of Atlanta suddenly forced out of their homes to seek safety wherever they can. That is what is happening right now in Pakistan. And the country's prime minister has issued an urgent appeal for massive international aid to deal with the refugee crisis.
CNN's Reza Sayah is in Islamabad with more on the government's offensive against the Taliban.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Day four of the Pakistani army's military offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley. And the Pakistani army says over the past 24 hours, another 200 militants have been killed and a number of strategically important areas have been taken back from the Taliban. We should note, CNN cannot independently verify this information because reporters are banned from the battle zone.
CNN can also report more civilian casualties over the weekend and we are getting conflicting reports how this is happening. Locals who fled the area are telling CNN, many civilians are dying because of indiscriminate fire from the army, but the Pakistani army is saying it's the militants who are killing the civilians by planting improvised explosive devices and using civilians as human shields.
Also, the humanitarian crisis deteriorating as more people are fleeing the battle zone. On Sunday, for nine hours, the military lifted the curfew, opening the door for more locals to heave the area. The U.N. says 500,000 civilians have either left the battle zone or on their way out. The Pakistani army says despite this humanitarian crisis, the operation will continue against the Taliban.
Over the past year, a half a dozen military offensives have been launched against these militants in the Swat valley. The two sides have always fought to stand still, but this time you can the Pakistani army insists things will be different. This time, they say, they will stay in the region until the Taliban is defeated.
Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Thank you, Reza.
U.S. forces have conducted air strikes against suspected Taliban positions in Pakistan in the past. But on CNN's "State of the Union" with John King today, General David Petraeus insisted there had are no plans to send U.S. ground troops into battle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I think we have been unequivocal in saying this is not about us putting combat boots on the ground. This is about us providing assistance as we do in numerous nations around the world, a bit more robust in this case, certainly. But we provide some training assistance. We provide ammunition. We provide spare parts, help with maintenance systems, processes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an unannounced visit to Iraq today. The one-day stop in Baghdad comes as the U.S. military plans to gradually withdraw troops. Pelosi met with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. She says they discussed how a smaller U.S. military presence must be accompanied by a, quote, "strong intelligence presence."
You can see more of the John king's interview with General David Petraeus tonight at 8 p.m. eastern on "State of the Union."
Pope Benedict XVI is on an historic visit to the Middle East. His first stop, Amman, Jordan, where today he celebrated an open-air mass of 20,000 people.
CNN's Ben Wedeman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SINGING) BEN WEDEMAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A song of welcome for a pope who's come on a perilous pilgrimage to the Middle East. But in this Amman stadium, Pope Benedict, conducting his first mass in the Arab world, was preaching to the converted and to the loud.
The pontiff stressed the church will not neglect the Christians of the region in troubled times.
POPE BENEDICT XVI: The Catholic community here is deeply touched by the difficulties and uncertainties which affect all the people of the Middle East. May you never forget the great dignity which derives from your Christian heritage or fail to sense a loving solidarity of all your brothers and sisters in the church throughout the world.
(SINGING)
WEDEMAN (on camera): This mass has drawn thousands and thousands of people, not just the Jordanian Christian community, but also people from the ancient Christian communities of Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian territories and Iraq.
(voice-over): Among the children to receive Holy Communion was Peter Miko, an Iraqi whose family has taken refuge in Iran.
PETER MIKO, ATTENDED MASS: It's just a great gift from God. He made me wait all those years just to take it from the pope himself. So it's a good gift from God.
WEDEMAN: For the Iraqi children, it was an unforgettable day.
CECILLE ADAM, IRAQI REFUGEE: I feel great. It's like a dream come true today.
WEDEMAN: The mass was part of a statement of the enduring, if diminished, strength of the Arab Christian community, and part a family celebration. And some took away from the pope a message that was almost Biblical, love thy neighbor.
MICHELLE HIJAZIN, ATTENDED MASS: I do want to show everybody that Christians and Muslims are brothers, and the pope himself emphasized that.
WEDEMAN: Many Christians have emigrated abroad, fleeing war and sectarian tensions. but others are determined to stay in their ancestral homeland.
MICHELLE CHADVICK, ATTENDED MASS: Over 2000 years, we still exist over here. I think we'll carry on. It's a strong faith. It will be here always.
WEDEMAN: On a day like this, the future of Christians in the Arab world doesn't seem so bleak after all.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Amman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The pope leaves Jordan tomorrow for Israel. He will also visit the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, city of Bethlehem, where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was born.
Flooding in parts of West Virginia. Our Jacqui Jeras will join us to tell us when they are going to dry out. Hopefully, that will be soon, but maybe not.
And stamp prices -- man, going up again. We will tell you how much and when.
And on this Mother's Day, some special greetings from our troops overseas. Look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PFC DAN PERDUE, U.S. ARMY, TIKRIT, IRAQ: Hey, what's up? My name is PFC Dan Perdue, here in Tikrit, Iraq. I want to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom. Yo, what up, ma. I miss you, love you. I'll be home soon.
SGT. DENISE CABELL, U.S. ARMY, BAGHDAD: Hello, my name is Sergeant Denise Cabell from Charlie Company 299 BSB, Camp Liberty, Iraq. I'd like to wish my mom and everyone back in Chicago a happy Mother's Day and thank you all for supporting me while I'm out here. Thank you, Tanisha and mom. I love you.
SPEC. MICHAEL SMITH, U.S. ARMY, TIKRIT, IRAQ: Specialist Michael Smith here in Tikrit, Iraq. Just want to say Happy Mother's Day to my mother, Nancy, in California. Love you, mom. You've always been there for me. You made me who I am. I love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Paying your bills, tough enough these days, but starting tomorrow, it's going to cost you more to mail them. The U.S. postal service is raising the price for a first-class stamp by 2 cents. Postcard stamps will go up a penny. Other rate hikes go into effect as well. Earlier this month, the postal service reported a second quarter net loss of $1.9 billion. Boy.
Someone who never mails it in, she's always working hard.
And the weather's keeping you busy today, all week, right?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is. But it's still not a bad deal, less than 50 cents, right, to get mail somewhere? Somebody's delivering it for you.
LEMON: I guess, you know, we are used to the cheap stamps. You know, for those of us who are old enough to remember. But it seems like they keep going up, not every year, every couple of months.
JERAS: Yeah.
LEMON: They have to stay afloat though.
JERAS: They do. Speaking of a threat.
LEMON: Yeah.
JERAS: You can use that as a transition, right? But flooding has been a huge problem this weekend. We started out with a lot of severe weather Friday night and the last two days, it has been heavy, heavy downpours. We do have some severe thunderstorms across parts of the south, across Louisiana, on into Mississippi. A large hail and damaging winds will be our biggest concern here. Look at all this coming down along the I-20 corridor, moving toward Jackson. You're probably maybe about 45 minutes away from some of these stronger storms pushing to your area.
Now, we don't have a watch here across parts of Georgia and then also into Alabama. You can see the Atlanta area right there. And down here toward Macon and Warner Robbins, got two thunderstorms that are severe, wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour likely. You guys need to stay indoors until these storms do pass in this area. Those, too, are going to be putting down pretty heavy rain.
Let's go ahead and show where you all the flood watches and warnings are. We have seen a lot of rain here down toward Texarkana, six to eight inches. We showed you pictures earlier in the hour what has been going on, West Virginia, where the National Guard has been called in because there is so much flooding in that area.
Now, tomorrow, we are going to continue to see some of this rain in these areas, the Deep South and south central plains, but we could see the severe weather firing up, too. I think tomorrow is going to be more of a wind day than getting a lot of rotation.
Now, speaking of tomorrow, we want you to watch Rob Marciano in the middle of extreme weather. And he is going to be giving us some extreme information about a new research project called "Vortex2." That's tomorrow morning on "American Morning."
I would also like to you send me some messages. I'm on Twitter now.
Don, you talked me into it. I'm doing the Twitter thing.
LEMON: Oh, good for you.
JERAS: I know. It took me a while. I need your help, so send me your reports, tell me what is going on with the flooding and fires and how you are being impacted. You can also find me on Facebook or on iReport.com.
LEMON: Link up to me. We need to get our gardening -- your gardening segment on our blog.
JERAS: That would be good. Now, the birds bugging me. LEMON: Where is that picture of Rob? He is out in the intense weather?
JERAS: Let's see.
LEMON: Someone said in my ear, Magnum or blue steel. You know that movie.
JERAS: Oh, he's not up there anymore. There he is.
LEMON: There he is.
JERAS: There he is. Look at him. He is so gosh darn handsome. I know I say that every time. People love Rob Marciano. There he is. Look at him. So serious.
LEMON: Great meteorologist.
JERAS: Extreme weather. He certainly is.
LEMON: As you are as well, my friend. Thank you very much.
Do you remember who spoke at your graduation? I don't. Vice President Biden, though, spoke passionately to Syracuse graduates at this afternoon's commencement ceremony. Hey, listen to what he has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have done many commencement speeches. But I can say with absolute certainty, without fear of contradiction, since I have been in public life, there has never been a graduating class, graduating into a moment where they actually have a chance to make more than incremental change. Ladies and gentlemen, that's where we are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Some Syracuse students wrote Biden, inviting him to their school. Biden's first wife taught there in the late 1960s while the couple lived in Syracuse during his law school days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFEY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFEY SHOW": We all need makeovers from time to time in our life. Graduates, I know this, that if you can see the possibility of change in your life, of seeing what you can become and not just what you are, you will be a huge success.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Words to live by from an icon. Oprah Winfrey spoke to Duke University graduates in Durham, North Carolina, earlier. She was also the recipient of her own honor, an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.
Her Godson, best friend Gayle King's son, is also part of the class of 2009. Congratulations to him.
Yesterday was graduation day for many college students in New Orleans, but it's not your typical commencement exercise. That is because these Dillard and Xavier graduates are known as the Katrina class. They began college just days before Katrina devastated the city. While the storm disrupted life on campus, didn't stop these students from pursuing their degrees. Good for them and congratulations to all those graduates.
This next story may bring to mind the '80s movie "Footloose." Remember that? A northern Ohio teenager will likely be suspended for the remainder of the school year for attending his girlfriend's prom last night. But here's the reason. He goes to a Christian school that forbids dancing and rock music, also holding hands and kissing, while his girlfriend goes to a public school. So 17-year-old Tyler Frost says he told his principal about his plans earlier in the week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYLER FROST, STUDENT: I kind of expected maybe he would say something to me about you know, him not approving of it, but I didn't think it would be anything this serious.
TIM ENGLAND, PRINCIPAL, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN: At a prom, there will be many young ladies who will be dressed in the current styles, which would be low-cut dresses and things like that, that will be dancing. How does a man protect his mind and not have wrong thoughts or lustful thoughts in a situation like that?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Tyler also won't be graduating with his class. He says he can't take his final exams until the week after his classmates receive their diplomas.
OK, still ahead, a look at the deadliest place in the country for school-aged children right now. It is a story we all need to know about, no matter where we live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. Guess where this is, the deadliest place in the country for school-aged kids right now? It is Chicago. It is the third-biggest city in America, but leads the nation in murders of children and teens. So far this school year, 36 have been killed. And that's more -- there's more than one a week happening there. And if that's news to you, if the nation isn't taking note, many in Chicago say that is a crime in itself. And for the victims' loved ones, their lives will never be the same.
Our "Special Investigations Unit" Correspondent Abbie Boudreau has been working the story for weeks and has this perspective from one broken family.
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVSTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Don, we wanted to hear how this violence was affecting families in Chicago. We gave a video camera to a mom and her 10-year-old son for a couple of weeks to show how difficult life is after losing a young family member to gun violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM BOSLEY, VICTIM'S MOTHER: Tell me your name?
TREVON BOSLEY, VICTIM'S BROTHER: My name Trevon Bosley.
BOSLEY: And how old are you?
T. BOSLEY: I'm 10 years old.
BOSLEY: You have fun with your brother?
T. BOSLEY: Yes. Yes.
BOSLEY: Do you miss him?
T. BOSLEY: Yes.
BOSLEY: OK. So the day when all of this took place, you was there, right? You went to the hospital?
T. BOSLEY: You called it.
BOSLEY: Let's talk. You went to the hospital. Come on, Trey. It's too hard? This too hard?
T. BOSLEY: Yeah.
BOSLEY: OK. OK.
So you do miss your brother. This is a hard thing to do for you. Hard to talk about him because everything has changed, right?
T. BOSLEY: Yes.
BOSLEY: You don't have that same happiness in your house anymore?
T. BOSLEY: No.
BOSLEY: No more music?
T. BOSLEY: In our community, no one likes to talk about that because we're scared of guns. And guns -- we're scared to walk in our alleys, to play basketball, to play football, to play any games. Since I lost my brother, I've been sad and I've been angry. I've been sad of losing him. And I've been angry at the person who did it. And I'm angry at guns.
BOSLEY: Everybody, this is my baby. This is where I have to visit my son at -- in the cemetery. This is unfair for any mother to have to visit their baby here. It doesn't make sense. He doesn't deserve this, wasn't in a gang, selling drugs, or nothing. And I'm here at a cemetery to see my baby. And my kids can't come out here and see their brother. It's crazy. This is not the type of life that no mother should ever have to go through.
I'm looking forward to when God calls me home so I can go and be with my baby. Actually, I tried on my own, even though I was raised in the church -- the first year, I was trying to commit suicide. I couldn't take the pain. I tried, but I thank God he did not allow me to go out like that, because my other two boys are already suffering.
T. BOSLEY: When I grow up, I want to be president so I can take more guns off of the streets so I can save more lives. I have to get hope over fear, a powerful message that change is coming to America. I did -- I had to learn that speech because I want to be president just like Barack Obama.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOUDREAU: There's so much more to this story. We also spent time with Chicago's gang task force and interviewed the city's mayor about the rise of student deaths. We'll have the full report next Saturday -- Don?
LEMON: That is right, Abbie. Thank you very much.
Next week, right here in the "NEWSROOM," we're taking closer look at the crisis crippling Chicago. What if anything can with done?
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFF SGT. BESSY MAGARIN, U.S. ARMY, KUWAIT: Hello, my name is Staff Sergeant Bessy Magarin, and I'm from Kuwait. I want to wish Aunt Janie in Fresno, California. I just want to really appreciate you for taking care of my daughter. It means a lot to me. Happy Mother's Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: How cute is that? Happy Mother's Day to all of the mommies out there. And you know our folks, men and women overseas in the armed forces, we appreciate what you're doing. So all of the moms in the armed forces, happy mom's day to you.
We were wondering about the economy these days. Would mom be getting her due when it comes to Mother's Day presents? We wanted to check it out. I went on a Federal Express ride here in Atlanta to see how moms were faring this Mother's Day. Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON (voice-over): Before mom's flowers end up on the big white truck and at her front door, chances are they go through a sorting spinner in Miami where Michael Conner is a FedEx senior manager. MICHAEL CONNOR, SENIOR MANAGER, FEDEX: If you look at the belts behind me, you see there's flowers are coming off of every belt in this consistent flow of volume.
LEMON: Then Atlanta, where couriers are scrambling to keep up with extra plane loads of packages, most of them Mother's Day gifts and flowers.
CONNOR: Everybody wants to take care of their mother on Mother's Day.
LEMON: The recession has hit every industry hard. The National Retail Federation does expect Mother's Day spending to drop from $139 per person on average to $124. People are still buying flowers, but less expensive ones.
CONNOR: I don't know if anything is recession-proof, because it's based on a mother, it's as close to recession-proof as we can get.
LEMON: There's nothing like a mother's love.
FEDEX DRIVER: Hey, Don.
LEMON (on camera): Hey, good to meet you.
LEMON (voice-over): So I took a ride on the big white truck to make sure that even in tough times, moms were getting their due.
(on camera): Let's go. You ready?
FEDEX DRIVER: Ready. Let's go.
LEMON: How many do you have to deliver?
FEDEX DRIVER: About 65.
LEMON: You'll be doing most of those by yourself? All right, let's go.
(LAUGHTER)
We're out.
FEDEX DRIVER: First stop.
LEMON (voice-over): No one home.
FEDEX DRIVER: So she'll be surprised. Another surprise waiting for her at her door.
LEMON (on camera): Oh, yes.
(voice-over): Off to the next one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIUBLE). She's not home. FEDEX: It's Rico, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, that's right.
LEMON (on camera): OK, tell Jennifer we said happy Mother's Day.
FEDEX DRIVER: We have one package for her?
LEMON: Thank you.
FEDEX DRIVER: Thank you.
LEMON: Bye-bye.
FEDEX DRIVER: Bye-bye.
UNIDENIFIED FEMALE: What is going on?
LEMON: Doug, can you open the door? Why is Jody so popular with flowers for Mother's Day?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's a great mother.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a disaster right now.
LEMON: That's OK. You look great.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, do you know, these are from you.
(LAUGHTER)
Did you send these to mommy?
I never get flowers, no. I never get flowers. And this is definitely way up for us.
FEDEX DRIVER: That's what it's worth. That's why this job is great, days like today.
LEMON: The economy is not great, but we're still delivering a lot of stuff for mom today.
FEDEX DRIVER: Moms are recession-proof. You can't not stop sending mom a gift.
LEMON: Do you know what a dog house looks like?
FEDEX DRIVER: Oh, yes.
LEMON: You know what it feels like?
FEDEX DRIVER: Yes.
LEMON: Yes.
(LAUGHTER) FEDEX DRIVER: And we stay out of it. Make mom happy and have a happy home.
LEMON: Yes, dear!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Oh, happy Mother's Day, mom. I love you.
Now if you want to see -- there it is. You want to see what I sent my mom? There it is. Check out our blog right here, our team blog. Everyone contributes here. Let us know what you think, what you sent your mom. The address, CNN.com/NEWSROOM and just click on Don. Click on my ugly mug. You'll get right to our blog and you can comment to us. Really appreciate that.
Again, happy Mother's Day to all of the moms, especially my mom. Love you.
OK, so he is a face of Ralph Lauren, an actor and an inspiration, Tyson Beckwith, the first male African-American supermodel to rule the runway. Recently, I sat down with him for my series, "Up From the Past, African-American Firsts," and he told me what it was like as the new kid in a new country here. You can see my entire interview. Tyson Beckwith coming up next hour right here on the CNN NEWSROOM.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
