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University of Notre Dame Protests; Latest Swine Flu Death; Selecting a Supreme Court Nominee
Aired May 17, 2009 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight in the news: Pomp, circumstance and protests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES: Since this is Notre Dame, I mean ...
(CROWD BOOING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The president tackles the abortion issue head-on at Notre Dame's commencement ceremony.
Job security: Is there any for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as she beats back calls from conservatives to step down.
And city in crisis -- Chicago in the midst of its deadliest school year ever. Why are so many public school students being murdered?
The news starts right now.
Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
We start tonight with breaking news out of New York. The city's first death associated with swine flu. The victim was a 55-year-old Mitchell Wiener, an assistant principal at a middle school in Queens who had been hospitalized with the H1N1 virus commonly called swine flu. A hospital says he died today. But it is not clear yet if the virus caused the death or if it was some other medical condition.
Now, as I'm sure you recall, swine flu first burst onto the national scene about three weeks ago. And since then, it had appeared to be on the wane. But now, New York state health officials warn the virus could be spreading. Health commissioner and incoming CDC director, Thomas Frieden said, quote, "We are now seeing a rising tide of flu in many parts of New York City."
As a precaution, eight city schools are closing for several days.
Ty Chandler of our affiliate New York 1 joins us now with the very latest from New York.
What are you hearing about the assistant principal, Ty? TY CHANDLER, NY1 REPORTER: Yes, the assistant principal, you know, he spent more than 30 years in education, but, you know, he's -- a lot of people definitely very saddened by this loss. You know, there's experimental treatment he received yesterday. A lot of family members were hopeful that that would make a difference, but it just wasn't enough to save Mitchell Weiner's life.
He spent five days in ICU. His kidneys had collapsed. He was on a ventilator and barely conscience over the last five days while in ICU. And during that time, in the ICU, families were definitely pulling for him and we definitely got to speak to one of those families who was very saddened by his loss.
LEMON: OK, Ty, we're hoping to hear from the family members there but we don't have it. If we'd get, we will bring it to you.
But what I'm wondering about from these families, the families who are in ICU with him, their loved ones -- are they concerned about exposure? If so, what are they saying?
CHANDLER: Well, Don, they said that no one was allowed in that room without masks or without gloves. But still, very much concerned about the threat of this virus by those family members. And not just there, also throughout the city. With so many schools now shutting down, this lists of schools just continue to grow, three additional schools have been ordered closed today. Those schools not opening until at least after Memorial Day.
So, very much a concern throughout this area as this virus just continues to spread rapidly and now we see that the illnesses are not just mild in every case -- Don?
LEMON: Ty Chandler, reporting our breaking news tonight from our affiliate New York 1. The city's first death associated with swine flu.
Thank you very much for that, Ty.
Meantime, let's go to President Obama now and his controversial commencement speech at Notre Dame. He told graduates today that two opposing views in America's abortion debate cannot be reconciled, but he says Americans can debate and discuss the issue using what he calls "fair- minded words."
Notre Dame's decision to award Mr. Obama an honorary degree is what stoked the controversy in recent days, attracting protesters who say it is wrong for the nation's preeminent Catholic institution to honor a president who favors abortion rights.
At least three people shouted at the president during his remarks and he acknowledged that the two sides will never fully agree.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away, because no matter how much we may want to fudge it -- indeed while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory -- the fact is that at some level the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The president's appearance at Notre Dame has drawn protests for days in South Bend, including today. Some students decided to skip their long-awaited graduation and dozens of protesters were arrested. Here's CNN' Susan Candiotti.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Don, for weeks Notre Dame seniors debated the president's invitation on campus while outsiders weighed in. Today, the controversy came to a head.
(voice-over): On campus, a small group of students who boycotted the president's speech spent the day mainly in prayer, and stood by their decision to be no-shows at their own graduation.
EMILY TOATES, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME GRADUATE: I want to be with some of them going in, marching in with the other engineers that I'd been studying with for the last four years. But at the same time, I feel a really kind of peace about my decision not to go.
CANDIOTTI: At one service about 30 students wore a symbolic cross and baby's feet with their caps and gowns and t-shirts. Near the university, streets were lined with demonstrators carrying signs. Also off campus, nearly 40 people were arrested for trespassing.
Including Norma McCorvey, more commonly known at Jane Roe, the name plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. She now opposes it. Some wanted to hear the president despite his disapproval over the abortion pose.
Some graduates decided to hear the president firsthand despite their disapproval over his abortion policies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He approached the issues in a spirit of dialogue, which is how we approached this debate throughout the last two months.
CANDIOTTI: Many seniors didn't like this.
OBAMA: And we must find a way ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought it was disrespectful to the president and to our university and to all the graduates.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it means the university is ready to talk about challenging issues and not back away from them, and I'm very proud we're now ready to do that.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Now graduates may find they'll have to face those same challenges issues in their new role, now that they're leaving this campus -- Don?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Susan Candiotti, thank you very much.
We're going to be hearing a lot more about this in the weeks to come. President Obama is expected to name his choice to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter very soon.
And CNN senior White House correspondent Ed Henry reports the president has chosen Stephanie Cutter to help shepherd his nominee through the confirmation process. Cutter, apparently, an adviser in the Treasury Department, is considered a skilled player in behind-the- scenes politics and negotiation.
President Obama is expected to name his Supreme Court nominee before his trip to Egypt early next month.
Well, let's get some perspective on the president's speech from our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin. I spoke with him just a little bit earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST (via telephone): He has often said that he feels the issues like abortion are very '90s, as he said. And he doesn't like to think of himself as a '90s-style politician.
But when it comes to the Supreme Court, there is no more important issue than whether Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 decision that legalized abortion -- should be overturned. There are five votes to keep it on the courts. Souter was one of them.
I think we can be certain anyone Obama appoints will also vote to uphold abortion rights. And certainly, there will be a lot of questioning about that during the confirmation hearings of whoever the nominee is. But the fact is, Obama is a pro-choice politician. He is going to pick a pro-choice or pro-abortion rights nominee, and he's likely going to get confirmed -- he or she.
LEMON: Here's a question that I have for you is that -- all of the circumstances surrounding this controversy in the speech here, might this accelerate the talk about who the next Supreme Court justice will be? Will it mean anything next week? Does it speed up the process in any way?
TOOBIN: I think the process is very speeded up, anyway. I've been talking to people in the White House, and they say the nominee will be announced either this week, before Memorial Day, or right after.
LEMON: A woman?
TOOBIN: That much, I have not gotten. I think it is widely believed. I certainly believe it's likely to be a woman. The legal profession is nearly half women now, and the Supreme Court is 1/9 women. That does seem like a disproportionate ratio and I think Obama will certainly make a strong effort. And he's got a lot of qualified women to choose from.
So, I think it's very likely he'll pick a woman.
LEMON: Jeffrey Toobin is our senior legal analyst and the book is called -- Jeffrey ...
TOOBIN: "The Nine."
LEMON: "The Nine" which is about the Supreme Court.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Thank you, Jeffrey.
And you have heard the president's comments on abortion, but what's behind the words? Mark Preston, Lynne Sweet -- well, they'll break down what he said and how he said it.
And this -- check it out. It's happening in the president's hometown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUNFIRE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Children who attend Chicago public schools are being violently murdered in record numbers. What is going on?
Also, Americans on trial in Egypt for trying to adopt twin orphans?
We want to know what's on your mind tonight. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com -- your comments could get on the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: President Obama has long supported a woman's right to choose whether to have an abortion. Well, that is in direct conflict with Catholic doctrine. And it's a primary reason some students and faculty opposed Mr. Obama's invitation to the commencement at Notre Dame.
Rather than skirt around the issue during his speech, the president addressed it head on and tried to find some common ground.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: So, let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions. Let's reduce unintended pregnancies.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Let's make adoption more available.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women. Those are things we can do.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. It's time to take this now to our political panel, Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief with "The Chicago Sun- Times" and a columnist for PoliticsDaily.com. Hello, Lynn.
And our very own Mark Preston, CNN political editor.
Thank you both very much for joining us tonight.
OK. So, Lynn, we heard a lot about common ground today. I'm sure you're going to be writing those exact words tomorrow. The folks who are in broadcast are going to be saying them a lot. The president said that this was the way for people to come together without demonizing opposing views on this.
LYNN SWEET, POLITICSDAILY.COM: Don, this speech and this whole controversy over Notre Dame is, in a sense, made-to-order for a lot of what Obama thinks is his specialty, trying to -- trying to take away the sharp edges, and the differences. And he said, let's try to find a way to live together as one human family. I think that's another sound bite that will stay from this speech, because this -- all of this uproar and this commotion over abortion gave him a chance to say in a speech, in a big way, what, I think, Obama-ism is about.
LEMON: Yes.
SWEET: Finding this common ground.
LEMON: And you know what, Mark? It's very interesting when you look at the president -- I mean, in time, I guess, it could be on his side in many ways when he goes overseas. Things happen there and he ends up being the center of attention.
Now that this happened in Notre Dame, now he has to pick someone for the Supreme Court and this is going on. Does this accelerate -- as I asked Jeffrey Toobin earlier -- any talk about who's going to be the next Supreme Court justice? MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: You know, the talk has already begun. And the White House, as we know, has already been looking at who could possibly replace Justice Souter. And again, as Jeff said, I think we could know that in the next couple of weeks if not by the first of June. Look, the Congress has to move very quickly on this pick.
You know, this is going to be a long, hot, bothered summer over these confirmation hearings.
LEMON: But, Mark, this idea of common ground and reaching out to the other side. Did this resonate far beyond Notre Dame today with the American public?
PRESTON: You know what resonates or what I think is going to resonate beyond is the fact that President Obama said that, you know, both sides need to work together to try to reduce unintended pregnancies. The fact is, you know, you're going to have both sides, they're not going to be able to come together and finally give in instead that the other is right.
So, how do you find the middle ground?
(CROSSTALK)
SWEET: But the point is -- the point is to reduce this inflammatory rhetoric that has surrounded this issue for as long as it's been around.
LEMON: And, Lynn, he's go to do it before he goes to Egypt. He already said that.
SWEET: Right. This -- and the Supreme Court appointment will be out sooner, the uproar and national disagreement over abortion will not go away, as he said.
LEMON: All right. Lynn Sweet and Mark Preston, stick around, because we have another, you know, very controversial topic to talk about, and we're talking about the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi on the hot seat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're accusing the CIA of lying to you in September of 2001.
REP. NANCY PELOSI, (D) HOUSE SPEAKER: Yes, misleading the Congress of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And also ...
PELOSI: Misleading the Congress of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: She backtracked, she rambled. Now, is this tongue-tied House speaker? Is her job in jeopardy? We'll find out.
And most people look forward to relaxing during retirement, but not Barbara Hillary. She has trek to the top of the world. We'll tell you about her.
And you've heard of "Dancing with the Stars." Well, these are the real stars and they prove you don't need eyes to dance. We'll tell you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The issue that is not going away soon. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's attempts to explain what she knew about the government's use of harsh interrogation techniques like waterboarding. Republicans are accusing her of lying, and her press conference to put the issue to rest -- well, it backfired. Brace yourself. Here's how it went.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: The only mention of waterboarding at that briefing was that it was not being employed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just to be clear, you're accusing the CIA of lying to you in September of 2002?
PELOSI: Yes, misleading the Congress of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And also ...
PELOSI: Misleading the Congress of the United States. The CIA was misleading the Congress. At that same time, the administration was misleading the Congress on the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, to which I said -- the intelligence does not support the imminent threat to which the press asked the same question you just did now. "Are you accusing them of lying?" I said, I'm just stating a fact.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the idea that we got from you was that you were nerve are told that waterboarding was being used. Now we know that, later, in February, you were told. It wasn't in that briefing, but were you told. So ...
PELOSI: No. By the time we were told, we are finding out that it's been used before. You know, in other words, that was beyond the point.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, why did you tell us at that press conference ...
PELOSI: And I told you what my briefing was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That you had been told, just not in that particular briefing,
PELOSI: No. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've been very adamant that you didn't know that waterboarding was used.
PELOSI: No. That is right.
The point is is that I wasn't briefed. I was informed that someone else had been briefed about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK. Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief and also with PoliticsDaily.com; and our very own Mark Preston, CNN political editor.
Mark, the last press conference, I can really remember like that was Roland Burris, that was close. But, you know, her credibility definitely is on the line here. What about her job security?
PRESTON: Well, Don, you know, she's not a -- that was not a shining moment for Nancy Pelosi this past week, but, you know, her job is OK. I mean, she represents a district that is certainly not going to throw her out of Congress and she'll have enough votes to support her.
But you are absolutely correct. Her credibility has been put on the line. And when the Obama administration and congressional Democrats are talking about trying to fix what's going on in Afghanistan, try to get out of Iraq, try to handle the economy, try to push through health care, they don't need to be sidetracked like this.
LEMON: And, Lynn, more than likely, though, Democrats are going to stand behind her. I don't think -- and I could be wrong -- that she's going to lose her position over this.
SWEET: Oh, no, no, no. Not at all. But what I think the Pelosi people will try -- are saying already is that the other bigger question -- this wasn't her finest hour, she should have said things better, not had these conflicts -- the bigger question is: Should there be a tribunal or a truth commission to take a look at everything?
Yes, the Pelosi situation would be a chapter in the bigger book of what happened, why the Bush administration allowed enhanced interrogation techniques, et cetera to go on. Democrats, not the White House, though, want this. Look, Pelosi will now use this to push for a tribunal, and believe me, that will change the subject from her back to the Bush administration where a lot of Democrats want to be in Congress, not where the Obama White House wants to be.
LEMON: OK. Standby guys and listen to this, because I want to play some Newt Gingrich and also, John Boehner, both out this weekend, talking about the speaker -- basically, calling her a liar.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NEWT GINGRICH, (R) FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: I don't see how she can serve as speaker if it turns out that she has lied about national security both to the House and to the country. I mean, I would expect at that point, a motion of censor, and I think, under the rules of the House, you can't serve for the rest of that term if you've been censured.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: I think I have outlined what I would describe as a different approach, that if, in fact, she believes she was lied to, that is against the law. She ought to make that information public and turn it over the Justice Department so they can prosecute these people.
JOHN KING, HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": But do you think she has lied to?
BOEHNER: But if she did -- but if she does not produce this and she changes her mind, well, then she ought to apologize. That would be the appropriate course of action.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK, Mark. Probably the real truth in this, I would venture a guess here, we'll never know exactly.
PRESTON: Yes. I don't think we'll ever exactly know what Nancy Pelosi knew and at what time. But, you know, what we just heard right there is Republicans smell blood in the water. They're trying to seize upon it.
But let's point out two things. One, we do know that Newt Gingrich is interested in running for president in 2012. So, this is a great issue for him to grab on and we do know that John Boehner wants to take back control of Congress. And that's why we see him going after Speaker Pelosi.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: And, Lynn, perception is reality, right?
SWEET: Yes, and that's been -- look at Boehner, really. He didn't call for anything. He didn't call for an inquiry. He didn't call for this censure business, which I think Gingrich was way over the top for -- what is it, the most -- a serious misunderstanding over who said what, when. And that's -- it's interesting that Boehner did not really call for anything stricter than an apology. I think that's really instructive as to what might be going on.
LEMON: OK.
PRESTON: But, yes, but there's a reason for that, though, Lynn, because John Boehner's been around long enough to know that he should just walk up to the line and not cross it.
SWEET: Absolutely.
PRESTON: He was very critical this past week as well of Nancy Pelosi.
SWEET: Right.
LEMON: Let's talk about another Jon here, Mark. And we're talking about Jon Huntsman and someone who is seen as a moderate Republican, and now, he's going to be out representing the U.S. when it comes to dealing with China. It shows that the president is open to putting Republicans in his administration.
But here's a question, though: When you look at this man who was touted as being the 2012 opponent for Barack Obama, is this in some way saying there is no place for moderate Republicans in the GOP at this point?
PRESTON: You know, Don, I think that there are centrist Republicans, looking at what has happened in the past few weeks when they saw Arlen Specter leave the Republican Party to become a Democrat, where they see Jon Huntsman -- who was on a lot of people's short list to run in 2012 -- decide to join the Obama administration. There is this real fight right now in the Republican Party. Should it become more socially constructive or should it take a more centrist tact? And I think that there are a lot of centrists right now sitting at home, wondering if there is a place for them in the party.
LEMON: Lynn, jump in here.
SWEET: Well, I think, the other thing that you can't forget is that Huntsman has very unique qualifications especially in speaking the language and having a family there. And, yes, the Obama administration had been looking for another Republican to have a high- profile place. Remember, they tried to get Senator Judd Gregg and they failed on that.
And I don't think this is a -- this doesn't necessarily take Huntsman out of play in 2012, it just slows him down a bit what he really wants. He is not exactly that well-known throughout the nation, and he wound have a lot of work to do so he takes him out of commission (ph).
But the Obama administration made, I think, a very good pick in picking somebody that is very, very familiar with China and makes Obama, again, look like he is reaching out to the other side of the aisle, even though he can't score votes from the Republicans, he can't score, actually, Republicans.
LEMON: And, Lynn, your point well-taken. Not exactly known around the country because everyone was wondering, who is this guy -- talk about the governor here. And ...
SWEET: Right. It's hard to say you're 2012 material when a lot of people really didn't know who he was.
LEMON: OK.
SWEET: It probably will do more for his profile now by taking this job and doing something with it as much as anything else. LEMON: And he speaks Mandarin Chinese.
SWEET: Which is a very big -- a very big deal.
LEMON: Thank you very much to you both, always good seeing you.
SWEET: Thank you.
LEMON: All right. I'll talk to you guys next week.
Let's go to Chicago now, where 36 school kids had been murdered this year. What is going on and what's being done to stop the violence there? We're digging deeper on this subject for you.
Also, the Hubble repair. That job sounds like, you know, a do- it-yourself to project on earth here. Well, in other words, it is not going exactly as planned. We'll tell you where the trouble lies there.
And, goal! President Obama's big speech today didn't keep him away from the soccer field. Who is he rooting for?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Tonight, a Chicago mother's grief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM BOSLEY, VICTIM'S MOTHER: To everybody, this is my baby. This is where I have to visit my son at -- at the cemetery. This is unfair for any mother to have to visit their baby here. This don't make sense.
He didn't deserve this. No gangs, didn't sell drugs, (INAUDIBLE) and I'm here at a cemetery visiting my baby and my kids can't even come out until they grow up. This is crazy. This is not the type of life that no mother should ever have to go through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, it's heart-wrenching at that is, there are many more parents who lost their babies to the senseless violence grips Chicago. Thirty-six public school children killed so far this year -- the city's deadliest school year on record.
And last night, CNN special investigation unit correspondent Abbie Boudreau joined me to speak with the community activist and mom of a murder student about the problems and the possible solutions. We also spoke to the police chief for Chicago's organized crime division about their biggest challenge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICIA BROWN, VICTIM'S MOTHER: When I found out the issues that the youth deal with, when I found out the issues they have to deal with, I'm sorry, I was overwhelmed myself. I could not even believe the -- the daily things that they faced just to make it to school, just to come outside. It's crazy. And we ought to help them. We ought to make sure that as a community, to be that safety net, to help those youth who are dealing with so many problems.
LEMON: Patricia Brown, what do you -- do you see solution in this?
BROWN: We need to teach these children how to respect themselves. You know -- you know, and teach their parents who don't know how to be a parent, you know, to be a parent. A lot of these young men and women that I come encounter, they're angry and they don't even know the reason why they're angry. No one showed them how to be respectful; no one has taught them how to grow to be an adult.
So, they're just walking around here like zombies because they don't know what to do and when to do it. You know, that's the reason why I host a lot of blood drive so I get to meet a lot of different people and stuff like that. You know, and a lot of folks like, well, you know, I didn't know this was going on.
I think that the whole notion of a code of silence or stop snitching, I think that idea, that culture has to be done away with and realized that we stand to lose as one of the parents said, an entire generation, and we have to step forward as a community to give up those gangbangers.
We're not importing gangbangers. Gangbangers living right in the neighborhood, the shooters live right in the neighborhoods and I think it's essential that decent folks stand up and point them out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Our special investigations unit will continue to look into this story. And if you want to know more about it, you can go to our investigations unit blog there: Abbie Boudreau's "Debrief blog" at CNN.com/SIU. You can also check out the story as well on our show blog here CNN.com/newsroom and you can click on Don.
So, what can be done to stop the killing in Chicago? We'll discuss it with our radio hosts Warren Ballentine and Martha Zoller, your drive-time buzz about this subject and more -- next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Before the break, you heard from the police chief for Chicago's organized crime division talking about the youth on youth violence in the city of Chicago. The numbers are simply overwhelming. A record 36 public school children killed so far this year.
Time now to turn to our radio hosts Martha Zoller and Warren Ballentine. They join me live tonight. Thank you so much. Warren is in Chicago, Martha joins me here tonight in Atlanta.
Let's start with you, Martha. I'm not sure if -- in your broadcast -- if they're talking about this violence that's happening in Chicago, because it's not just Chicago. It's happening all over the country, but Chicago's a flashpoint right now.
MARTHA ZOLLER, HOST, "THE MARTHA ZOLLER SHOW": Well, it's true. And there's gang violence. In fact, we have a lot of problems with gangs and gang violence in north Georgia as well as around the state of Georgia.
And what's got to happen, I think the police chief is exactly right. You've got to somehow undermine this code of silence. They've got to be talking. These kids know what's going on. Some are getting caught in the cross fire, but we've got to start at the community level. That's where you're going to solve this.
LEMON: And people say it starts at home. But, Warren, did you not go to Chicago public schools?
WARREN BALLENTINE, HOST, "THE WARREN BALLENTINE SHOW": I did go to a Chicago public school.
LEMON: So, what is your take on this, having inside -- knowing the inside of Chicago public schools? And I know people are talking about it on your broadcast.
BALLENTINE: Well, Don, this is my take on it. Simply this -- and I said this at the education rally this past Saturday -- we need to make part of the curriculum learning the laws. I think if we teach the children the law of the land, we are a country of laws, that we teach them the laws, we could scare some of these kids straight.
I think, if they knew the ramifications of what they were doing with the killings, of the drugs, of the violence, it would scare a lot of these kids to not doing the wrong thing, and we need to start at age 10 and 11 not when they're 17 and 18 but when they're young adults.
LEMON: All right. Hey, listen, I'm not soliciting you anything, but if you want to talk about this issue on your radio show, let me know -- because, you know, me being from Chicago, spending time there ...
BALLENTINE: Yes.
LEMON: ... you're being from there, your audience especially interested in this. You have this show as well -- a Chicago-only show.
BALLENTINE: Yes.
LEMON: So, let's talk about this and keep this going until we figure exactly what's happening.
Let's turn now to Republicans, Martha, and the speaker of the House. Conservatives, Newt Gingrich, John Boehner -- they smell blood when it comes to Nancy Pelosi.
ZOLLER: Well, and also, Leon Panetta wasn't too happy either. So, the problem that Nancy Pelosi's got is not just with Republicans, is with Democrats also. And, you know, when the person -- when the head the Democratic Party says her job is secure, she'd better start worrying because that's usually a precursor.
I believe there will be a Speaker Hoyer by the end of the summer.
LEMON: Did you hear that, Warren?
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Because, Warren, you said it last week.
BALLENTINE: Yes.
LEMON: You said on this show, Nancy Pelosi knew, Don, she knew.
BALLENTINE: Well, I agree with Martha. I think she's absolutely right.
LEMON: Is she going to lose her job, though, do you think?
BALLENTINE: I don't think she's going to lose her job, but I do think that she lost all credibility with America, because we know that she knew what was going on and she let it happen.
LEMON: OK, Martha, back to you -- because we have been talking about Republicans speaking out this weekend. Another Republican right to the top, RNC Chair Michael Steele speaking out on "Meet the Press" this morning.
Let's hear what he said there, but I want to talk to your interview -- talk to you about your interview with him recently. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, NBC "MEET THE PRESS")
MICHAEL STEELE, RNC CHAIRMAN: As the chairman of the party, I want Rush Limbaugh, I want -- I want, you know, Colin Powell and I'll even take Tim Kaine. I mean, he's pro-life. He's pro-business. You know, he's pro-Second Amendment.
TIM KAINE, DNC CHAIRMAN: My father-in-law was a Republican governor, but I'm a proud ...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Talking about where the party's going to go, who's going to speak with the party next. When you spoke with him, he said it's in the hands of the young people and they need to bond together for 2010.
ZOLLER: Absolutely. And if they need to get out there and not ask for permission, they need to work. And also, that he wants to reach out and he is very conservative, very conservative values. And I think that in light of what we heard from the president in Notre Dame today, you know I think you heard the president come a lot closer to my point of view on abortion than to the point of view that he ran on.
So, Michael Steele is seeing that and he's reaching out.
LEMON: It's certainly interesting to watch the president's comments and listen to them, and to look in this monitor right here and see Warren Ballentine smirking and giggling. Why are you doing that?
BALLENTINE: I'm giggling because I can't believe that she just said Michael Steele is reaching out. I don't think he's reaching out. I think he's grasping at straws.
LEMON: But even with that -- even with that, is that enough of a ground swell that, you know, from young people with getting, helping to elect President Obama? I mean, is that enough for Michael Steele to come out and say it?
BALLENTINE: No, it's not. He doesn't need young people in the Republican Party. What he needs to do is tell the truth about the Republican Party. Look, the Republican Party, if they want a makeover, what they need is really stick to the issues and say, "Look, Chicago and Detroit and all of these other urban areas that's been Democratic for 30 years, you have not gotten any better, let the Republicans give you a try to make things better."
LEMON: OK.
ZOLLER: Exactly.
BALLENTINE: If they do that, then they will have an opportunity. Right now, he's just grasping at straws.
ZOLLER: He's not grasping at straws.
LEMON: Martha, final word to you. We're up against the break. You say Steny Hoyer by the end the summer?
ZOLLER: By the end of the summer, he'll be the speaker.
BALLENTINE: No. You're wrong.
LEMON: OK. We'll see.
ZOLLER: We'll see.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Remember, it's on tape. It is on tape. So, we will see.
Thanks to both of you.
ZOLLER: Thank you.
BALLENTINE: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: We'll talk to you again next week. Have a great week, everyone.
BALLENTINE: Thank you.
LEMON: Americans on trial in Egypt for trying to adopt twin orphans. We'll explain why that's going on.
And new tonight, the death of a New York City school assistant principal. It is link to the swine flu.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We're going to update our breaking news for you tonight. New York City has recorded its first death link to swine flu. The victim was a 55-year-old assistant principal at a middle school in Queens. Mitchell Wiener died today after about a week in the hospital for treatment of the H1N1 virus often called swine flu. Hospital officials tell CNN tonight that he died of apparent complications from that virus.
A string of bad luck. How did astronauts trying to repair the Hubble space telescope today?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Make sure they don't wear out a bit (ph). Trying to get one of ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. But let's go back with it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Holding on 22 (ph).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, Shuttle Atlantis astronauts had to remove 111 tiny screws during tonight's space walk. That's hard to do when wearing bulky space gloves, but that task paled in comparison to other unexpected difficulties such as a stripped bolt that delayed them for two hours. And after that, a battery for one of their power tools -- well, it just went kaput, setting them back another half hour. The delays mean astronauts may not be able to complete all planned repairs for their fifth and final space walk on tomorrow.
Boy, oh, boy. Jacqui Jeras is certainly having some problems up there. And we're having a couple problems here because we're going to get some really cold weather in May.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, yes. Brrr is the word tonight. I'll tell you that, Don.
Across the northeast, you want an extra blanket on the bed. You want to cover up any of your vegetables that you tried planting in the garden, because temperatures tonight are going to drop down below the freezing mark in all of these purple areas -- across Vermont, into Upstate New York, western Pennsylvania, including you in the Pittsburgh area, and across parts of Lower Michigan. We're going to see those cold temperature, as well as seeing that chilly conditions in Cincinnati on over towards the Indianapolis area.
The exact opposite goes on across the southwest where we've had record temperatures this weekend. We're still looking at triple digits, not yet, in the Las Vegas area, 97 in Sacramento. Now, the reason why we're seeing such a flip-flop in the weather has to do with our upper level pattern. We've got strong cold front which has been pushing across parts of the east and bringing you lousy conditions all weekend long and bringing things wet. That high is going to start to build in and clear out a little bit.
So, better travel weather expected up and down the eastern seaboard tomorrow. Still, some delays tonight though in San Francisco and Newark -- Don?
LEMON: Jacqui, thank you very much.
Persecution against Christians -- that is the claim of an American woman who is being tried with her husband on charges of child trafficking in Egypt. They've been jailed since March, but attorneys will argue their case in Cairo this week. The couple was arrested after trying to adopt twin orphans. Islamic law forbids adoption. Friends of the couple say they did not know adoption was illegal in Egypt.
A Nobel peace prize winner goes on trial for an uninvited American guest visit. Democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi has been held in prison or confined to her home for the past 19 years by Myanmar's military rulers. Well, tomorrow's trial stems from an incident where American John Yettaw swam across a lake into Suu Kyi's detention compound and stayed overnight.
Suu Kyi was blamed and now goes on trial for his unsanctioned visit. Her supporters say the trial is simply an excuse to extend her house arrest.
She is a spunky and determined 75-year-old, and she is not afraid of the cold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA HILLARY, FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO REACH NORTH POLE: I had doubts at times. I had frustrations. I'm human, but never, no. I was determined to stand on the top of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The first African-American woman to reach the North Pole. You're going it meet her.
Also, dancing with their hearts. A special program teaches visually impaired children how they can be dancing stars.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC) LEMON: All right. When you think retirement, a few things come to mind -- relaxing, maybe picking up a new hobby, maybe even a second career, if you want to. But how many 75 year olds who are cancer survivors -- how many of them do you know who attempt to reach the North Pole? It is our special series, "Up from the Past: African- American Firsts."
I spent the day with Barbara Hillary who did just that. She is a first.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: What were you thinking?
(LAUGHTER)
HILLARY: Your brain is too frozen to think! No. I was thinking, what am I doing here? Why am I here? Do I really need this in my life? Plus, the raw excitement of being there, and being able to consume and enjoy this -- a rare occasion that fulfilled my life.
LEMON: Did you ever think it was a colossal mistake?
HILLARY: No. I had doubts at times. I had frustrations. I'm human, but never, no. I was determined to stand on the top of the world.
LEMON: Then why did you do it?
HILLARY: When I retired, I was looking for something to do, and I look around, and I saw, take a cruise. And to me, to be stuck on a ship with boring married people, I could think of nothing worse.
Therefore, I suddenly found that there were polar bears that you could photograph. So I immediately went north, up to Manitoba, photographed polar bears, and I fell in love with the north. And after that, I just went on to learn to operate a snowmobile and dogsled, and learn to drive a dog team.
And as a natural progression, I kept hearing about Matt Henson and Admiral Perry, and yet there was no mention of a black woman. And that's how I sort of backed into this.
LEMON: You thought, you mean there's never been a black woman to do this? Was that a shock to you? A surprise?
HILLARY: It's a mixture. Because -- we have to be honest, when is the last time you've seen a black person frozen on the side of Mt. Everest? It ain't going to happen. If you see it, take a picture, because you won't see it again.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: We don't like to be cold.
(LAUGHTER) LEMON: So, you didn't look at things that were -- you know, you being ill, having lung cancer, any of those things. You didn't look at that as a -- like most would say, "Oh, I can't do it because of this. Oh, I have cancer. I can't out there."
You took it and you flipped it in your head?
HILLARY: Yes, and the high point of being negative, and I heard, "You're going to die out there." And my position is, death is inevitable. So, therefore, if I'm going to clock out of this world, Barbara Hillary's going to go out doing something she likes.
LEMON: Have you always lived your life that way?
HILLARY: I've tried. It's been a series of progressions.
LEMON: Tell me what that means.
HILLARY: It means that one should -- the basic tenets of your life, the fiber, should come from you. You should live in terms of what is meaningful in your life -- because this is all you know. You don't live for people. You must carry something of meaning and merit into your own sunset years.
LEMON: I'm going to stick with your trips. You dedicated it to your mom.
HILLARY: My father died when I was a year and a half, and my mother, this was at the height of the Depression, raised my sister and I by herself. And when I stood on the pole, it was firmly reinforced that the fiber, the substance, the way she raised me, that was the engine that got me to the pole.
LEMON: Is there a moment where you dedicated -- did you stand on the mountain or at base camp or -- once you reached, did you say anything to her?
HILLARY: When my guide said to me, "Barbara, you're now standing on the top of the world." After the explosion of emotion, I said, "I'd like everyone to please respect that I would want to dedicate this moment to the memory of my mother."
LEMON: Emotional?
HILLARY: Emotional. Yes.
LEMON: A lot of people told you, "No, you couldn't do this," which is one reason you did. A lot of people said, "You can't do this." You had no support, basically.
HILLARY: None. At times, it did hurt, especially from the black community. It did hurt, but you lick your wounds and you go forward.
LEMON: You've lived to see the first African-American president. You accomplished what you did as the first black woman, not long after the first black president. HILLARY: I think that we -- in my lifetime -- that I had seen the first black president is a great honor. However, realistically, this is a -- this is a -- this is an occasion that will last for hopefully eight years.
LEMON: Where is Barbara Hillary in 10 years?
HILLARY: I guarantee one thing: I'll be alive.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: What a treat. Thank you, Barbara Hillary.
And next week -- my conversation with dancer, choreographer and artistic director for the world famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ms. Judith Jamison. That will be next week.
You, the viewer, has a lot to say tonight. Your feedback -- coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I'm sure you've heard this before. What are you talking about? What's the word? What are people talking about?
We're going to tell you right now -- because Lohem says, "If I am going to Egypt to adopt a kid I am going to make sure everything is good before I go." Jessied44 says, "Not a fan of Pelosi, but this is Republican red herring. Who did the torturing and who ordered it?" That's the question.
TLANDS says, "It's horrible how America turns a blind eye to crimes against blacks. If these were white kids, it would be stopped." Talking about Chicago there.
MusicalQT says, "The story about the kids in Chicago is outrageous. Did things change when Obama left? Just wondering." I'll answer that later.
Log on to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com -- tell us what you're thinking. We'll get your responses on the air.
Some very talented 5-year-olds performed an opera version of a children's classic. But, I have to tell you that this isn't your traditional opera and these aren't your average 5-year-old cuties. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(KIDS SINGING)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an opera fit for a 5-year-old. Think that "Three Little Pigs" with a twist.
(KIDS SINGING)
BALDWIN: They sing, they dance, but would you guess -- these kids can't see?
(on camera): Give you a round of applause.
TATYANA LARBI, VISUALLY IMPAIRED KID: You'll just be so proud of yourself.
BALDWIN: Tatyana Larbi is one of 10 children enrolled in the BEGIN Program at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta.
Anne McComiskey serves as director. She says the program's purpose is twofold. One, teach these parents how to be their child's best advocate, and, two, show these children how to adapt to lives without perfect sight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Oh, my gosh. I just want to squeeze their little cheeks.
You have to see the entire story. It's on our blog. Go to our Website. CNN.com/newsroom, and take a look at the story of these little cuties.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Goal! That was Sasha and Malia's dad this weekend, a proud soccer dad.
I'm Don Lemon in Atlanta. Good night. Goal!
