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Memorial Day Weekend at Arlington National Cemetery; Shuttle Atlantis Landing Delayed Until Tomorrow; President Obama Could Name Supreme Court Pick This Week; Defense Secretary Robert Gates Gives Commencement Address at West Point
Aired May 23, 2009 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: A live look this morning, live pictures from Arlington National Cemetery. This is what Memorial Day weekend is all about. Yes, you're spending time with family and friends and maybe cooking out, but don't forget what this weekend is all about. Time to set aside time to honor the men and women in uniform who served this country.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: Many of them, you know, are in New York City this weekend for the annual Fleet Week celebration, really, quite a sight to see. You have to go to New York for this, if you haven't been. And you are looking live there at the USS Iwo Jima docked right on the Hudson River.
HOLMES: Also, another picture for you this morning, another live picture. You see right here, the defense secretary, Robert Gates. He's going to be speaking to the West Point graduates this morning.
He's scheduled to speak in just a few minutes. We will be taking you back there live when his comments do start.
So a lot to show you there. That's just a gorgeous shot there.
CHO: Yes. It really is. I've actually been to the graduation. It's something to see.
HOLMES: It is something else.
CHO: Yes.
HOLMES: Well, hello from the CNN Center on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING on this Memorial Day weekend, I'm T.J. Holmes.
CHO: Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho. Betty has the morning off. So glad you're with us and it is a busy Saturday morning.
HOLMES: Yes, and a moving story and a moving target on when the Space Shuttle Atlantis is coming home. This is what we're going to start with.
They can't get a break right about now. Today's landing for the Atlantis has been scrubbed because of weather. You remember, it was scrubbed yesterday as well because of weather. Now, NASA says it will try again tomorrow. NASA spokesman George Diller on the phone with us again this morning.
Sir, you called it when I talked to you a little earlier this morning, said you all were going to decide what to do. You did decide today is not an option.
GEORGE DILLER, NASA SPOKESMAN (via telephone): It's certainly not. The rain is now coming in off the ocean and it's raining here now. We've got thundershowers and rain all around us, so it did just as forecast.
Does it look any better tomorrow? Well, maybe a little but not much. But because the weather looks good out west at Edwards Air Force Base, we've got nothing to lose by waving off, staying up another day and looking at it tomorrow when it might be just a little more stable and we don't want to have gone to Edwards today and then wake up in the morning and discover it doesn't look all that bad here, we could have landed.
HOLMES: Yes. And explain to people why it's still a better option just to leave them up there for another day than to go ahead and bring them home today, but home to California.
DILLER: If we go to Edwards, then we've just added about another 10 days' time to get Atlantis ready for its next launch. In addition, we have to send a large crew of people out there to get it ready and fly back on 747, which costs money and it's not entirely without risk either.
So, since it's a lot more practical to land here since this is where Atlantis is based and where we are preparing to remove all of the payload hardware from the Atlantis payload bay, it's really more practical to land here. But Edwards is always available. It's a great place to land because the weather is good most of the time and you have lots of room out there.
HOLMES: All right. And finally here, sir, and we're not to this point just yet -- you're going to try this again tomorrow. But the weather doesn't look necessarily great tomorrow, and I think maybe even into Monday and Tuesday of next week.
So, I guess, how much time would you give it? How much time do they have up there that they could just hang out?
DILLER: You could conceivably go to Monday.
HOLMES: OK.
DILLER: I'd be surprised if they push it that far. I think probably, tomorrow, they're going to head in and most likely make a decision to land either at the Cape or at Edwards, but they won't decide that until tomorrow.
HOLMES: All right. George Diller, NASA spokesman -- sir, we appreciate you coming on this morning and giving us those updates. Thank you so much.
DILLER: You bet.
CHO: Well, obviously, when you're talking about a shuttle landing, the weather is the most important thing as NASA just alluded to. So, we want to get to Reynolds Wolf for a look at that.
So, Reynolds, what's it looking like?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not too good. You know, he absolutely nailed it. Today and tomorrow, both look unfavorable for landing and the reason why is pretty simple. You know, all the rain you've had in parts of Florida, especially near Ormond Beach, where they had over two feet of rain just this past week. The rain continues to fall. You see it moving right off the coast.
But the bulk of the moisture is now moving into parts of the Gulf of Mexico, back towards Mobile, Alabama, even into Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana for that matter. This is all part of an area of low pressure that is going to continue to pull that moisture from the Gulf of Mexico moving away from Florida, but still, just the outer range of that storm are going to keep things pretty stormy for parts of Florida for the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, as we fast-forward and look ahead to the big holiday, of course, I'm talking about Monday, Memorial Day -- looks like it's going to be great for parts of the northeast. I mean, just picture perfect -- plenty of sunshine for Michigan, back into the Ohio Valley.
The southeast is going to be splashed with rain showers. When you get into the central plains, a good chance of rain, also as far south as the Texas into the Red River Valley. But then when you get out west, west coast is going to be picture perfect -- plenty of sunshine, not a bad way to spend the holiday.
That is a look at your forecast, let's send it back to you guys.
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds. We appreciate you.
WOLF: You bet.
HOLMES: We'll be checking in with you again soon.
CHO: All right. Well, Memorial Day weekend -- many people are thinking about barbecues and fun in the sun. But let's not forget that it is a time to remember the men and women who died serving our country.
When President Obama spoke at the Naval Academy yesterday, he promised not to send troops into harm's way unless absolutely necessary. It's a vow he's repeating today in his weekly address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our fighting men and women and the military families who love them embody what's best in America. And we have a responsibility to serve all of them as well as they have served us.
And yet, all too often in recent years and decades, we, as a nation, have failed up to live up to that responsibility. We failed to give them the support they need or pay them the respect they deserve. That's a betrayal of the sacred trust that America has with all who wear and all of who have worn the proud uniform of our country.
That's why we're building a 21st century Department of Veterans Affairs, with the largest single-year funding increase in three decades. It's a commitment that will help us provide our veterans with the support and benefits they have earned, and expand quality health care to a half million more veterans.
That's why, this week, I signed a bill that will eliminate some of the wastes and inefficiency in our defense projects -- reform that will better protect our nation, better protect our troops and save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.
And that's why we're laying a new foundation for our economy, so that when our troops return home and take off the uniform, they can find a good job, provide for their families and earn a college degree on a post 9/11 G.I. Bill that will offer them the same opportunity to live out their dreams that was afforded our greatest generation.
These are some of the ways we can, must, and we will honor the service of our troops and the sacrifices of their families.
But we must also do our part, not only as a nation but as individuals for those Americans who are bearing the burden of wars being fought on our behalf. That can mean sending a letter or a care package to our troops overseas. It can mean volunteering at a clinic where a wounded warrior is being treated or bringing supplies to a homeless veterans center. Or it can mean something as simple as saying "thank you" to a veteran you pass on the street.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: This Memorial Day, 130,000 American troops are serving in Iraq; 38,000 in Afghanistan. General Jon Logan declared the first Memorial Day on May 30th, 1868, honoring Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. In 1971, Congress declared the day a national holiday. And, of course, we celebrate on the last Monday in May, getting us that famous three-day holiday weekend.
HOLMES: A three-day weekend, but it's certainly about friends and family, but trying to keep in mind what this weekend is all about.
CHO: That's right. That's right. We shouldn't forget.
HOLMES: As the country continues to honor its fallen heroes, we're taking a closer look now at a special section in Arlington Cemetery which some call the "saddest acre in America."
CHO: That's right. CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr takes us to something called "Section 60," a hallowed final resting place for hundreds of young men and women who died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Captain Marissa Alexander brings Avery and his twin sister Aaliyah here to visit the father they never knew. Staff Sergeant Leroy Alexander was killed before they were born.
This is Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. It's been called the "saddest acre in America." More than 500 troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are here.
CAPT. MARISSA ALEXANDER, WIFE OF FALLEN SOLDIER: They need to know what their father was about. Have that connection with him.
STARR: Marisa is trying to make Section 60 part of her children's lives.
ALEXANDER: Myself and the children came here, and we released balloons to him. And we explained the story of how he passed.
STARR: Families, buddies, friends come here. They mark their visits, leaving stones, notes, pictures. Some items, reminders of memories we do not know.
ANGIE CAPRA, WIFE OF FALLEN SOLDIER: You put the blue rock there?
STARR: Angie Capra, widowed with five children is visiting husband Tech Sergeant Tony Capra's grave.
CAPRA: I got the news that day, and I had talked to him about 12:30 my time, and by 3:30 my time, they were knocking on the door.
STARR: Today, a drawing, and Yoda has been left. Tony was a "Star Wars" fan. With her youngest, Adriana, Angie is now part of the Section 60 family.
CAPRA: Other widows will come by and put something on for me if they don't see me out there, they'll set something. It's kind of a community.
STARR: Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley just attended a funeral for a fallen soldier. He has other men buried here.
LT. GEN. BENJAMIN FREAKLEY, U.S. ARMY: They're still standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their brothers and sisters at ranks.
STARR: A place of grieving but a place for young children to learn of parents they never knew.
ALEXANDER: Knowing that this place gives them a happy remembrance of their father, rather than something that's so tragic and so sad that they feel very comfortable to come here and be able to have that time with him and his memories.
STARR: Barbara Starr, CNN, Section 60, Arlington National Cemetery.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. We just want to know, what you're seeing at the bottom of your screen there, a live picture there that we will keep up, we're waiting to hear from Defense Secretary Gates speaking to the graduates, the cadets at West Point this morning, giving them a commencement address today.
So, when he starts speaking, we will go there live to listen in for just a second.
Meanwhile, get ready for the president to make his Supreme Court pick as early as Tuesday -- that's the word we're getting, at least, from Democrats. They just got that word actually before the holiday weekend.
CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us again live from the White House this morning.
I liked how you put this earlier. Everybody wants to know how close we are. I like what you said. We're closer.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We're closer. That's exactly right. In fact, a top aid to the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent out an e-mail to Democrats basically saying -- get ready, President Obama's pick to replace retiring Justice David Souter could come ...
HOLMES: Elaine, I'm sorry, I've got to jump in here and cut you off because we were waiting on Secretary Gates.
QUIJANO: OK.
HOLMES: Let's go ahead and listen to him giving the commencement address at West Point.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
ROBERT GATES, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Some of you may even have been awake at the end. A British nobleman Lord Birkett, known for his long windedness once said, "I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking, but I strongly object when they start shaking them to make sure they're still going."
As someone who presided over some 40 commencements as a university president and who has given a number of graduation speeches since my -- assuming this current post -- I am well aware that at this point I am about the only thing standing between you all and a great party.
In contrast to when I spoke here last year, my remarks today are not about the great and challenging policy issues of the day. Today, I want to talk about you and your families. Because when you signed up, you also signed up all those who love you most. To the parents, four years ago, you dropped your son or daughter off on these grounds with no shortage of pride, as well as anxiety about the famed rigors of the U.S. Military Academy, about the known dangers that come with the profession of arms at this time. That pride was well-founded. The anxiety hopefully, at least, partially relieved. And I thank you for everything you have done to make them the outstanding young people they are, and for supporting them on the honorable, yet arduous path they have chosen.
To the faculty -- in addition to being scholars and teachers -- many of you are also veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and shared those experiences with your students. They will be wiser and better- prepared leaders as a result. And I thank you for that.
To the graduating class of 2009, congratulations. Let me dispense with the easy and the fun part first, which is on behalf of the commander-in-chief, to grant full amnesty for any minor conduct offenses. I'll leave the definition of "minor" to the superintendent.
(APPLAUSE)
GATES: Consider that you were probably filling out your academy applications in the fall of 2004. At about the same time as the second battle of Fallujah, when thousands of marines and soldiers clawed their way through that city house by house, and block by block. As the class of 2009, you made your decision to serve knowing not only that America was at war -- as did every man or woman who joined the military after September 11th -- but that this war would be bloody and difficult, of indefinite length and uncertain outcome.
In doing so, you showed courage, commitment, and patriotism of the highest order. One of the reasons I look forward to coming back to this bend in the Hudson River is the history of this place -- a corner of the continent George Washington once called the key of America. Just down the road is Verplank's Point, the Continental Army encampment at the end of the Revolutionary War.
It was later recorded that a group of officers got together there and issued a creed. It read, "We believe there is a great first cause by whose almighty will we are formed, and that our business here is to obey the orders of our superiors. We believe that every soldier who does his duty will be happy here, and that every such one who dies in battle will be happy hereafter.
We believe that George Washington is the only fit man in the world to lead the American Army. We believe that Baron Steuben has made us soldiers and he is capable of forming the whole world into a solid column and deploying it from the center. We believe in General Knox and his artillery, and we believe in our bayonets. Amen."
Though the tools and tactics of soldiering have changed, the basic principles of soldiering and leadership certainly have not.
This former Air Force lieutenant and CIA officer cannot pretend to offer you much advice on soldiering. However, as someone who is now working for his eighth president, I can say that leadership is something I have observed and thought about for a good long time. I've come to believe that few people are born great leaders. When all is said and done, the kind of leader you become is up to you. Based on the choices ...
HOLMES: The defense secretary there, giving a serious message on a serious day, but also a celebratory day for some thousand cadets there at West Point graduating today, certainly talking about the times we're in and the fact that all of these -- these cadets signed up, you know, after war, knowing that what they were getting into.
So, a serious message there, but also start opening with, "I know I'm the only thing between you guys and a good party that's coming up."
CHO: Big party. And 950 cadets who will now become second lieutenants in the Army, many of them will go to Iraq or Afghanistan. Remember, this is a new administration and a shift in policy. You know, President Obama has vowed that he wants to get all of the troops out of Iraq by 2011, American troops, and shift 4,000 of them to Afghanistan.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: So, you'll see some of these cadets, second lieutenants now going to Afghanistan.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: But just an incredible pomp and circumstance to be there at West Point, at that bend in the Hudson River, as Secretary Gates said.
HOLMES: As he mentioned.
CHO: But just an incredible picture. We hope to see the hats toss later.
HOLMES: We will -- of course, we'll see the hats toss. When we get back, we will certainly show that you. That and a whole lot more to come on this Memorial Day weekend edition of CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFF SGT. NICHOLAS MODRANO, U.S. ARMY; FROM PHOENIX, ARIZONA: I'm Staff Sergeant Modrano with 3-16th Field Artillery. I'm (INAUDIBLE) Iraq. I'd like to say hi to my family back in Phoenix, Arizona. Happy Memorial Day.
STAFF SGT. LEO ALLEN, U.S. ARMY; FROM TESQI, ARIZONA: Hello. I'm Staff Sergeant Leo Allen. I'm with 639th, a quartermaster here Baghdad, Iraq. I'd like to say hello to everybody in Arizona and the Navajo Nation. You all have a good and safe Memorial Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHO: We're going to bring you those greetings throughout the weekend. So stick around. They're always great to see, aren't they?
HOLMES: They are. I hope the family members can see those.
And as we reported a little while earlier, President Obama encouraging Americans today to give members of the Armed Forces the support they need, the respect they deserve.
CHO: That's right. Perhaps nowhere is that attention more needed than in our homeless population. Listen to this. One in three homeless adults is a veteran. This Memorial Day weekend, we profile CNN Hero Roy Foster who's tackling this problem from the front line.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Heroes.
ROY FOSTER, CNN HERO: I actually joined the Army right out of high school. I became introduced to alcohol once I was out. It was just simply drinking and drugging and I would then stay in the streets. I was looking for a safe haven.
The places that I would introduce to were no better than on the street. It was humiliating. That's when the commitment in my heart was born.
How can I turn my back and walk away and leave you right here? I can't.
Nationwide, veterans are neglected, homeless, unacceptable.
What branch of service?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Army.
FOSTER: Army. So was I.
We are still brothers in arms. So no man left behind.
My name is Roy Foster and my mission is to help and empower homeless veterans. If you're going to work for sobriety, you've got to change.
Stand Down House provides services for veterans only -- a safe, clean place to live, all their meals, and to have services, the camaraderie, it is that internal glue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I got back from Iraq, it was difficult for me until I met Mr. Foster, who helped me.
FOSTER: Tell him one of his brothers in arms came out looking for him, and let him know, yes, we will be back.
They are the best and they deserve the best. What I do, I love. I love it. ANNOUNCER: Tell us about your hero at CNN.com/Heroes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, a convicted cop killer says he did not do it, and now, so do seven of the nine people who claim to witness the crime. Now, that inmate, trying to avoid a death sentence and he's getting some high-powered supporters to help him out.
CHO: Then on a much lighter day this Memorial Day weekend, getting from here to there on the cheap is not very easy. We're talking about gas prices, but guess what? Sometimes, all it takes is the right Web site. We'll show you where to go.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HOLMES: OK, we didn't put it up that time, but I do know this. That's Rihanna.
CHO: It's Rihanna, right.
HOLMES: It's "Shut Up and Drive."
CHO: "Shut up and Drive."
HOLMES: OK. I do know that one. All right. So ...
CHO: Usually we have that thing on the corner of the screen to help us out there. Anyway ...
HOLMES: Not this time.
CHO: Not this time. Just as millions hit the road for this Memorial Day weekend, you know, you may have noticed the gas prices are up a bit.
HOLMES: Yes, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded stands at $2.41 today. Just a few weeks ago, it was around $2. As we enter the summer driving season, we want to know, is there any cheap gas to be had out there? And it's all relative. What's cheap these days, right?
CHO: Not 4 bucks a gallon, like last year.
HOLMES: It's not four. So, this seems cheap anyway.
CHO: I think it does.
HOLMES: Josh Levs is here to show us this. Good morning to you.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you. I like that song. That worked out well for us.
OK. You, guys, are saying $4 a gallon. Let's just go right to this poll, because this surprised me. A lot of the Americans are expecting that gas is going to get pretty bad again. Look at that. This is our latest poll with Opinion Research Corp.
And they're saying that three-quarters of people polled think that it will hit 4 bucks a gallon this year. One quarter think it will actually hit 5 bucks a gallon this year, which is a very unlikely based on what all the experts are saying, but I understand the skepticism that's out there.
Let's zoom in on the board behind me, one of the CNN Money headlines we've got going right now, "Summer's here" -- well, not technically but it's getting here -- "So are higher gas prices."
So, here's what we want to do, I want to show you how you can look for the best gas deals in your area. There's only one Web site you should really know by heart and it's on your screen right now: FuelEconomy.gov. And the reason -- let's zoom back in, I'll show you -- that it links you to all sorts of gas prices all over the country. Like, for example, right here, it gives you a map, you click on a state, I clicked on Pennsylvania and it brought me over here. And you can zoom to your city and click on all sorts of Websites.
There are three different Web sites they gave me for Philadelphia -- all of it through FuelEconomy.gov right there. But, these things aren't always up to date; they don't always work as well as they should.
So, we want to hear from you. Let's go to that full screen. You have this here. The way to contact us, let us know if this is working for you. CNN.com/newsroom, we have this whole blog post going about this. Also, my Facebook page, it's Facebook.com/JoshLevsCNN; Twitter.com/JoshLevsCNN. Let us know -- are these gas Web sites working out for you? Which ones do work for you -- let's all give each other some advice, guys, as we head into the summer driving season with those higher gas prices.
CHO: Is that the photo that you use for all of your ...
HOLMES: Oh, wow.
CHO: ... Facebook, Twitter ...
LEVS: I don't know what photo did they use? I have no idea. Sorry. Why? Should I use a different one? All right, we'll talk.
CHO: You must spend a lot of time answering questions and so forth -- everywhere.
LEVS: Oh, I see which one they used. No, they took that one off of my Facebook -- I don't know, I'll have to go and call graphics and see where they got that.
HOLMES: All right, Josh.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: All right. Thank you. We will talk to you again here soon.
LEVS: See you, guys.
HOLMES: And see an updated picture, maybe we will, maybe we won't.
We will turn now to some of our other top stories for today. A like pick here, of course, Memorial Day weekend, a live picture here of Arlington National Cemetery. President Obama will be there for ceremonies on Monday. This holiday weekend also marks the unofficial start of summer.
CHO: That's right.
The Shuttle Atlantis' astronauts will have to wait just a little bit longer to start their summer. Today's landing has been scrubbed because of bad weather at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA says, well, they're going to try again tomorrow.
But this time, they may be forced to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Not really their first choice, it's expensive to bring that shuttle back to Florida, and Florida, of course, Kennedy Space Center is home base.
So, we want to take a look at the weather situation.
So, it's looking like Edwards, isn't it, Reynolds?
WOLF: You know, it does, right now, because we're going to be seeing some rain in parts of Florida today and tomorrow. Here's one of the big reasons why -- this upper level low that for a while appeared it might become something bigger, maybe a tropical depression. At this point, it does look like the development will not occur. It's not going to become anything bigger.
But still, it's going to bring some heavy rainfall to parts of the gulf coast. In fact, it's going to continue to spin and bring rain to parts of Alabama back to the I-10 corridor, in Florida, Louisiana, even Mississippi.
And as we ease into the rest of the weekend and certainly into early next week. You can expect some rain, I would say from the Gulf Coast through parts of the central plains into the northern plains. However, you get back over to the east coast, things look like. It couldn't be better in the Great Lakes and back to New York and Boston.
In the southeast, a splash of showers a possibility and then when you make your way out to the West Coast looks great. The great basin back to California, even into Oregon and Seattle coast, looks pretty good there for the Puget Sound. It should be picture perfect for the holiday weekend. Let's send it back to you guys.
CHO: They do a lot of wind surfing over there.
WOLF: They do. Lake Samamish. They do a lot of that stuff out there. Should be great up near Seattle. Certainly ... CHO: My old neck of the woods.
WOLF: I know. There you go. Good deal.
CHO: Hey, Reynolds.
WOLF: Yes, ma'am.
CHO: It's Memorial Day, does that put you in the mood for burgers?
WOLF: Everything puts me in the mood -- it's a food product and it's close by, chances are, it's history. I'm like a buzzard.
CHO: Yes. I'm with you. I hear you.
WOLF: There you go.
CHO: Well, we've got the place for you.
HOLMES: Yes. Reynolds is quite familiar with this place, because he found it. He didn't find it, maybe, but still, he's going to be telling us about this place. The restaurant that has deceptively simple recipe of bun with an elegant surprise inside is how -- hey, a burger is a burger. But it is pretty good. I've eaten at this place.
CHO: Oh, good.
HOLMES: Also, Michael Vick, the disgraced quarterback, he wants to get his job back. At least back in the NFL. Does he have a chance?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: The public outcry to stay the execution of convicted cop killer, Troy Davis, are growing louder. The question now, will it get loud enough to save his life? Seven of nine witnesses in his case have withdrawn their testimony. Now, 27 former judges and prosecutors are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant a new hearing for the Georgia death row inmate. They say it could prevent a potential miscarriage of justice and a lot of activists agree.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, ACTIVIST, TROY DAVIS SUPPORTER: The only evidence that convicted him was not physical evidence. It was the evidence of witnesses who have now, seven of the nine, recanted. Then how can you say that's enough to take a life?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, Davis is now 40-years-old, and sentenced to die for the 1989 killing of an off duty Savannah police officer. His execution has been postponed now three times since 2007. Well, former Georgia Republican congressman Bob Barr, one of the people working to block the execution of Troy Davis. The former congressman is a practicing lawyer here in Atlanta, a former 2008 presidential candidate, ran as a libertarian. Bob Barr, good to see you back in studio here with us. Why did you get on board with this case?
BOB BARR, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2008: I got on board with this case because the system as it stands now is not working properly. Our system of justice, and I'm a supporter of the death penalty in appropriate cases but it has to be used very carefully, very rarely and where you have as in this case overwhelming evidence that there was a miscarriage of justice. All we're asking the government to do, all we're asking the courts to do is just take a look at it. That's all.
HOLMES: And you say overwhelming there. Of course you know a lot of people disagree, but some say he shouldn't have been convicted in the first place. We're talking about eyewitness testimony, no physical evidence. So the evidence that would support his innocence, you would say, is the fact that so many of those witnesses now have come back and recanted their testimony and said, now, he's not the one who killed the officer.
BARR: It's not unusual. I mean, I'm a former prosecutor, it's not unusual, particularly in a death penalty case, where you'll have a witness recant later on.
HOLMES: Yes.
BARR: But seven of nine witnesses were the only evidence that convicts a man is eyewitness which has been proven to be very unreliable over the years. According to scientific studies, where have you that situation, I think it's incumbent on the government, which has an interest, they say, in seeing that justice is done, to simply make sure that they are not making a wrong decision. Because once you make that decision, ultimately you can't go back.
HOLMES: If we didn't have, and this may be a scary thought, but how many other Troy Davises might there be out there, god forbid, if this country executes an innocent man, but how many cases would we see going forward like this do you think without this public outcry? We have this public outcry and it's getting attention here, but how many others are sitting on death row facing a similar situation?
BARR: There probably are any number. And the tremendous advances that have been made in DNA testing over the years have clearly indicated that, that a large number of death row occupants, where they've gone back in recent years and submitted the evidence that convicted them to DNA testing, they found that they in fact did get the wrong person.
HOLMES: What are Troy Davis's options now? He's running out of legal options.
BARR: He is running out of legal options, unfortunately, and the remedy that his lawyers are moving forward with now is an extraordinary one. That is a petition directly to the Supreme Court for a habeas corpus petition. HOLMES: This is really rare, that they ...
BARR: Very rare. I think it's been used just two or three times in the last century. Normally what you do is you file your habeas petition with the local federal court, sometimes a state court. But going directly to the Supreme Court is very extraordinary. But the circumstances here, and the evidence of innocence is extraordinarily strong also.
HOLMES: All right. And you talk about finally here that that is the next option, it sounds like the last option. Would you say that is absolutely it, if the Supreme Court refuses, is it over?
BARR: Well, that's really up to his lawyers. My role in all of this is, I have a concern as a citizen, as an attorney, as a former prosecutor, like many others have, to simply see that every option is taken advantage of to convince the court system not to allow a very likely innocent man to be executed.
HOLMES: All right. Bob Barr, we appreciate you, and important to note here, you are a supporter of the death penalty but certainly do not want to see it implemented for a man who is innocent. Bob Barr, we appreciate you being here once again.
BARR: Thanks, as always.
HOLMES: All right. Alina.
CHO: All right. T.J., well you had to know this was coming but just because you can, should you? The infamous Seattle teacher who had an affair with her student. Mary Kay Letourneau and her now- husband cash in with a "Hot for Teacher Night"? Is this for real? We'll tell you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: You know the story, you remember Mary Kay Letourneau.
HOLMES: Oh, yes, we all do.
CHO: The infamous teacher from Seattle who had an affair with her student. It started when he was 12-years-old.
HOLMES: Infamous is the best word. Yes.
CHO: They're married now.
HOLMES: They are.
CHO: And have been together for 13, 14 years. She's now 47.
HOLMES: He's 26, something like that.
CHO: He's 26-years-old and guess what?
HOLMES: What? Alina, what's the next twist to this story? CHO: Well, they're going to be hosting a "Hot for Teacher Night" at a bar in Seattle tonight.
HOLMES: What does that mean exactly?
CHO: She's going to emcee, he's going to DJ.
HOLMES: Oh, my goodness.
CHO: And they say it's all in good fun. But, you know, some might ask, is it ...
HOLMES: What question is that we should add?
CHO: Poor taste?
HOLMES: Poor taste.
But some say she has run out of options for employment. She's a teacher.
CHO: She was a teacher.
HOLMES: She was, excuse me, by training. Nobody is going to hire her ...
CHO: She served seven-and-a-half years in prison.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: You know.
HOLMES: So nobody is going to hire her. This is a way to make money. We understand this bar in Seattle there that's hired them for this has done this a couple of times before, but this is the one that's kind of gotten attention. They've been kind of low key before. Now this one is kind of out there. So ...
CHO: Yes. You get Mary Kay Letourneau to emcee a "Hot for Teacher Night" event at your bar, you've left the low key realm of things.
HOLMES: Yes. I think you have.
CHO: Anyway, we wish them well.
HOLMES: All right.
CHO: We do.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: Las Vegas, the Caribbean, the world. You can see plenty of hot spots for just a little cash if you know where to look.
HOLMES: Also, and does everybody's Memorial Day include a burger? A Memorial Day menu. Of course, you're going to have a burger in there.
CHO: A colossal burger.
HOLMES: Not quite. A milk shake with liquid nitrogen as well at this place. You won't settle for plain old hot dog and chips after seeing ...
CHO: Yes, (INAUDIBLE) looks good to me. It's my kind of place, you know that.
HOLMES: I know this place. We'll take you to this place.
CHO: OK. Good. Let's go.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jacob M. Amstan(ph).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, congratulations, Jacob. We just heard his name called on his graduation day along with about a thousand of his fellow cadets from West Point graduation happening there. You see flash bulbs from the back but also a threat for them today, you know, graduation, they get big speakers there, of course. You know, like Secretary of Defense, he was there. Robert Gates there a little earlier but yes they got about 950 of those names to go through. Congratulations to those cadets and they are on their way.
CHO: President Obama, of course, was at the Naval Academy. You know he rotates between the four -- naval, air force academy, West Point.
HOLMES: West Point, of course, and (INAUDIBLE) ...
CHO: Anyway, he wasn't at West Point this year, but nonetheless, just an extraordinary event. When we get pictures of that hat toss, we'll bring them to you.
HOLMES: Of course.
CHO: You know, for many people, Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer travel season, and there might be no better time to score some vacation deals. This is a good time to do it, you know, Melissa Long finds out where to get the most for your money on the go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA LONG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The weak economy has created great value at some of the world's most popular vacation destinations.
GABE SAGLIE, TRAVELZOO.COM: The fact that the dollar is strong in the Caribbean and the fact that pricing is lower now than we've seen in many, many years makes it one of these really top money- conscious destinations today.
LONG: There's also buying power in Eastern Europe.
SAGLIE: Prague is not under the euro, so the currency is actually to our advantage. You can do day trips to places in Hungary or other places in the Czech Republic very, very easily and still have Prague as your home base.
LONG: And you can catch savings on a getaway closer to home.
SAGLIE: Vegas is probably the biggest travel value domestically right now, hands down. I've seen rates to Vegas as little as $29, $39 each way out of major cities like L.A., Dallas, and high-end resorts under $50 a night. So that that makes staying and getting to Vegas as cheap as it's ever been.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Well, a stint in prison for dog fighting ended Michael Vick's football career, or did it? We're going to get the scoop from a PR expert, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back. Ten minutes before the top of the hour. One of the hallmarks of Michael Vick's NFL career as a quarterback was the way he could scramble, keep control of the ball and turn what looked like a setback into a touchdown. He's going to need that PR agility if he plans to resume his football career once he's finished his sentence for financing a dog fighting operation. So how does he do it?
Marshawn Evans is a sports and entertainment attorney. She has some insights into how superstars can rebuild their reputations after something bad happens. Hey, Marshawn, good morning and good to see you.
MARSHAWN EVANS, FOUNDER, ME UNLIMITED: Good morning.
CHO: You know, Michael Vick, as you know, is back at his Virginia home. He's under house arrest and serving out the rest of his sentence there. His football fate obviously in the hands of the NFL commissioner. We want to play for you first what his attorney told Larry King on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Billy, the commissioner has forgiven others, some with criminal charges as well. What do you expect him to do?
BILLY MARTIN, MICHAEL VICK'S ATTORNEY: I would hope that the commissioner will look to see whether Michael was indeed a changed person after serving 19 months. I think he will see that he is a changed person. I think that the commissioner will see that Michael Vick is very wanting of a chance to prove himself. (END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Now, Marshawn, I know you worked with Attorney Billy Martin, so get into his mind. Tell me what he is saying to his client, Michael Vick, now in terms of rehabilitating him and changing the public perception and showing people that he's really a changed man.
EVANS: Well, I think that one of the things that people have to do is get to know Michael Vick. The problem in the beginning I think is that there was nobody -- everybody was speaking on behalf of Michael Vick and we really didn't hear very much from him directly.
One of the things that Billy Martin is very good and very strategic about doing is being a strong advocate for his client. So Attorney Martin is on television doing exactly what he needs to do, because we have to change the public perception in order for the public to really receive Michael Vick the right way.
The only thing a lot of the public ever heard about was this dog fighting and they didn't hear about the good things that he was doing in the community. So really what he needs to be focusing on right now is how to have the proper transition, just like when he came out of high school, he has to transition into college. When he came out of from college, he had to transition to the NFL. So now he's going through the same transition but needs a new transition team.
CHO: But Marshawn, I mean, you know, he's teaming up with PETA to produce an anti-dog fighting campaign.
EVANS: Yes.
CHO: He's appealing to the Humane Society but don't you think, in a sense, that people are going to see through this and say, listen, we all know why he's doing this? I mean, are they really going to see this as something good?
EVANS: Well, you know, I asked a lot of questions over the past few days on Facebook and on Twitter and a lot of people responded that they want to see Michael Vick succeed, but the first thing they want to see is someone who is humble. And when I think what you hear when someone say they really want to see someone who is humble is they really want to see sincerity.
Americans are very forgiving if they see a truly humble, sincere and forgiving heart. So I think that's the first thing that's important. The second thing that's important is for Michael Vick to be very strategic and I would not have come out first and foremost talking about what he's going to do in the community.
The first thing that needs to happen is Mike has to go through media training. He's got to meet with -- he's got to meet with his publicist, he has to meet his attorneys. He's got to meet with someone who is going to be handling his community affairs and pick the right timeline to release that information. I'd be focusing more on having a one-on-one interview where Mike gets to tell his side of the story.
CHO: Marshawn, OK. I've got to jump in here because I don't have much time. I just want to know, bottom line, do you think he's going to be reinstated? Meaning, do you think he'll be able to play in the NFL again? And are we ever going to see a Michael Vick endorsement deal again?
EVANS: I think that Michael Vick will be just fine. I think that he's a very marketable player, if you go to the games with the Atlanta Falcons, you'll see that people still wear Michael Vick jerseys, number seven is probably one of the most popular jerseys that's ever been sold, so he's got to be strategic.
He's got to make the right moves. And there are agencies such as my own that would be more than happy to work with Michael Vick because we know that he's a good person at heart and that's really what you need to work with.
CHO: The last word. Marshawn Evans, sports and entertainment attorney. We thank you. We're back after this.
EVANS: Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: The backyard barbecue certainly to get a lot of use this weekend. You're hoping ...
HOLMES: Yes. I just need Reynolds, the weather ...
CHO: One hour window.
HOLMES: I need one hour to let the flame get going. After that I can cook in the rain.
WOLF: Or maybe it will happen, maybe it won't, Mr. T.J..
HOLMES: All right.
CHO: Depends on how nice you are to Reynolds.
WOLF: The weather is going to be fine.
HOLMES: It's going to be fine. OK.
WOLF: What's more important is what is actually going to be cooking on the grill.
CHO: That's right.
WOLF: Namely burgers.
HOLMES: Burgers will be there.
WOLF: Burgers are, you all know, it's a very popular American thing. Well, there's a company that I followed that actually is having a new twist on a pretty popular food.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF (voice-over): Milk shakes, quick frozen with liquid nitrogen. A beef tartar burger, a falapel burger, Flip Burger Boutique is giving iconic American fast food a serious makeover.
This Atlanta restaurant doesn't completely shun tradition, though head chef Richard Blais isn't shy about his desire to push burger boundaries with cutting edge techniques and flavors.
RICHARD BLAIS, CHEF & CREATIVE DIR., FLIP: What we really wanted to do was come up with, you know, what is the canvas of what a burger has to be. And we've come up with really one rule. Whatever we make a burger, it has to be ground and it has to be on a bun.
I need three fries, please. a WOLF: Flip opened in December of 2008. In the midst of a recession. Still, owners say the restaurant has experienced remarkable success.
BARRY MILLS, PRES. & CO-FOUNDER, FLIP: I believe in sort of feeding off five senses, I really wanted to take the burger, put it up, reinvent it and reinvent the restaurant around it. You know, people want to come out, they want an experience nowadays, not just walk into a place and grab a bite to eat and then leave, they really want more of an event.
WOLF: Customers have taken notice. Regularly packing the dining room.
ANTONIO MCDOWELL, FLIP CUSTOMER: I come here probably once a month or every other week or so. Just trying to get through the menu and try everything on it.
PRITI TAPARIA, FLIP CUSTOMER: If it's good, it's good. It's a good food and a good environment, and you kind of know when you come you'll be satisfied.
WOLF (on camera): Now, one thing you have to remember is that at a restaurant like this, you obviously have some of the key ingredients. You got burgers, you got cheese, you got buns, you have milk shakes, but do you ever think that one of the key ingredients would be this? Come over here and take a look at this.
You've got nitrogen, and I mean, when this stuff comes out, it gets mighty cold, and I think this is frozen. Here we go. Wow. Don't get any on you.
(voice-over): The chef's unique menu includes foie gras milk shakes and French fries cooked in duck fat. Even the onion rings are given special treatment.
BLAIS: As we take the batter, this is actually a mixture of vodka and beer. All right, the beer has a good flavor to it. The vodka actually when we fry it enables it to really stay crispy, but putting it in our little soda charger here, that it enables the batter to stay nice and bubbly, and so basically every time you get an order of onion rings here, the cook is making a fresh batter for you. Behind every dish, even though we might not say it on the menu. There's a lot of technique and a lot of science.
WOLF: Chef Blais, gastronomists, admits he failed chemistry twice in high school. But that hasn't deterred him from pursuing creations like, get this, sliceable catsup or nitro martinis. Ultimately, though, he attribute's Flip's success to the talented and devoted staff.
BLAIS: These are chefs in the kitchen. A lot of these guys have worked for me for three to five years at super high end fine dining concepts. Just because it's a burger, or fries or a milk shake doesn't mean the same care and the same energy could go into a burger that could go into a $75 steak.
WOLF: For this chef, it adds up to a recipe for success.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: So how do you compete with that? I mean in the Wolf house, it's basically bun, meat, catsup. That's it.
