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GOP Going Trunk to Trunk; Space Shuttle Atlantis Lands in California; From the Front Lines
Aired May 24, 2009 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone, I'm Randi Kaye, in for Don Lemon.
Every family has its feuds, but this one is playing out in front of the entire country. Republicans, out of the White House and out of power on Capitol Hill, have some decisions to make. Move to the political center, stay true to the conservative base, or find a way to appeal to both while bringing in new converts.
Retired general, Colin Powell has been at the center of this debate, a long time Republican; he endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for President. Today he called on his party to open its doors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. COLIN POWELL (RET.), FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I have always felt that the Republican Party should be more inclusive than it generally has been over the years. And I believe we need a strong Republican Party that is not just anchored in the base, but has built on the base to include more individuals.
And if we don't do that, if we don't reach out more, the party is going to be sitting on a very, very narrow base.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Comments like that one have sparked a strong response from strong conservatives, namely former Vice President Dick Cheney and radio host Rush Limbaugh. Cheney, in fact, has questioned whether Colin Powell even considers himself a Republican anymore.
Today Powell offered a response. And a former House Speaker said it's time for Republicans to focus on ideas instead of each other.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: Rush will not get his wish and Mr. Cheney was misinformed. I am still a Republican and I'd like to point out that in the course of my 50 years of voting for Presidents, I have voted for the person I thought was best qualified at that time it to lead the nation.
Last year, I thought it was president now Barack Obama. For the previous 20 year, I voted solidly for a Republican candidate.
NEWT GINGRICH, (R) FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I don't want to get in an argument over Rush Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh is being Rush Limbaugh. And let's not, you know -- he does what thinks works for his radio show.
But I think Republican leaders ought to focus on what they think will work for America and they should offer ideas for America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Lots to chew on here.
Let's bring in CNN political editor, Mark Preston. Mark, the Republican Party seems to be divided right now and Rush Limbaugh still getting a whole lot of attention. What's the problem here?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well you know Randi, what we're seeing is a struggle right now in the Republican Party, a struggle over the direction.
After what happened in November with so many more losses added to the GOP column here on Capitol Hill right behind me, as well as the loss of the White House, you're seeing a struggle between social conservatives who want to move the party more to the right.
They want to talk about issues such as abortion. They want to see stands against stem cell research, they want to talk about the end of same-sex marriage or stop it in its tracks.
At the same time, we're hearing the likes of General Powell, the likes of Governor Tom Ridge who is on our own the air today talking about a big tent party. These are centrist who say that the party can only grow that the GOP can only flourish if they allow more people in the party and are not exclusionary.
KAYE: So where is the Republican Party actually heading?
PRESTON: Well, you know Randi, I think there's going to be a very, very tough fight over the next few months about the direction of the party. I'll tell you I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of Republican National Committee members who were here in the D.C. area for a meeting this past week and really it comes down to this. I think that people are understanding that they need to be pragmatic about winning.
If you look at public polling right now, Americans have more confidence in Congressional Democrats and in President Obama to deliver on issues.
And as we heard the former House Speaker right there, Newt Gingrich, the Republican Party needs to start talking about the issues. They need to start talking about how to improve the economy. They need to start talking about how to get us out of this mess right now.
So in the end, I truly believe that the centrist would probably come out on top, although it's going to be a tough fight with the social conservatives. KAYE: All right Mark, stand by for just a second.
The debate over closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is the other big talker on the Sunday talk shows.
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he agrees with President Obama's plan to close the facility, but he says it won't be easy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADM. MIKE MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: I've advocated for a long time now that it needs to be closed. President Obama made a decision very early after his inauguration to do that by next January. And we're all working very hard to meet that deadline.
It focuses on very difficult issues of what you do with the detainees who are there. There are some really bad people there. And so figuring out how we're going to keep them where they need to be, keep them off the battlefield, as well as close Gitmo itself is a real challenge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Mark Preston joins me again now from Washington.
Mark, he wants to close Gitmo by January, but President Obama can't even get Democrats to support his plan.
PRESTON: No Randi. And I think it's safe to say that this has been one of the major set backs in this very young administration. The fact is President Obama set out to close Guantanamo Bay, but what he didn't do is give a plan and when he didn't present a plan to Congressional Democrats, they realized there would be a lot of heat on them back home.
So that's why we saw that Congressional Democrats came out and they voted against the $80 million that was needed to close Guantanamo.
So right now, President Obama needs to come up with a plan right now in order to close Guantanamo. Otherwise it's just going to be one of these issues that's sitting out there when he has to deal with all these other issue. He has to deal with health care. He has to deal with the economy. He wants Guantanamo out of this -- out of this bright spotlight.
KAYE: I'm sure.
Well, on the Republican side, it's not just former Vice President Dick Cheney speaking out judging from the morning talk shows. He's got some company. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARL ROVE, FMR. BUSH WHITE HOUSE SR. ADVISER: We're eight months from his self imposed deadline. You cannot take 200 and some odd people out of Gitmo and find someplace for them and wait until eight months.
So he really has got to be -- he's got to layout his plan to be able to start to move that plan in the next two or three or four months in order to meet his self-imposed deadline.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Layout his plan, lay out his plan, lay out his plan. That's all we keep hearing about really from Republicans and Democrats when it comes to the plan for what to do with these detainees now that President Obama has announced that he wants to close Gitmo by January. So is the plan coming and why hasn't it come already?
PRESTON: Well, I'll tell you Randi, if you're a Congressional Democrat, you hope that plan is coming very soon. It's not very often that you hear Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid and Karl Rove actually agree on the same issue, but it is on the idea that there needs to be a plan.
Look, you have to give Republicans a lot of credit for seizing on this issue. They've been hammering home on this issue and they really have been successful in painting President Obama as somebody who cast an idea out there but didn't have a plan.
And really a lot of pressure on Congressional Democrats right now from their constituents who don't want to see these terrorists relocated in to their communities, regardless if it's going to be in a super max prison.
KAYE: Mark Preston for us. As always, thank you.
PRESTON: Thanks Randi.
KAYE: President Obama is spending most of the day with his family at Camp David. But he'll be back in time for a Memorial Day tradition, laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. On Tuesday, he heads to Las Vegas and Los Angeles for fund-raisers and other events. Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas visits the White House.
New details now on a developing story we've been following. NORAD and the FAA say the restricted air space around Camp David was violated this morning by what's described as three small slow-moving aircraft. President Obama and his family are at the western Maryland Retreat and will return to the White House tonight for those Memorial Day commemorations.
The air space violations are being called minor and fighter jets intercepted each of the aircraft. A NORAD spokesman says the incursions happened at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. backtracking on an earlier report that they happened in rapid succession. No details on who the pilots are. At least one of the aircraft was a Beechcraft Bonanza we're told, which is a small plane. If you thought the H1N1 outbreak was waning, well, think again. New York City's Health Department is reporting its second death linked to the virus commonly known as swine flu. The latest victim is described as a woman in her 50s who had various other health problems we're told. Assistant public principal Mitchell Weiner became the city's first death from that virus just a week ago.
Mission accomplished for space shuttle Atlantis.
Also, Memorial Day wishes from our troops serving overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. MAURICE DEWITT, U.S. ARMY, BAGHDAD: Hello, my name is Capt. Maurice Dewitt with 425 Civil Affairs. I'd like to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day. Hello, family and I hope to see you soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: After two days of delays at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, NASA had to head west for clear skies to land the shuttle Atlantis.
CNN's John Zarrella has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After 13 days in space, in the spectacular mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the shuttle Atlantis returned safely to earth, not where NASA wanted to bring it home, but safely nonetheless. The shuttle landed at Edwards Air Force Base under beautiful blue skies.
The problem at Kennedy Space Center was, again, weather. NASA had waited a couple of days to try and to get Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center, but to no avail. Thunderstorms both Friday and Saturday prevented the landing then. And again on Sunday morning, thunderstorms at the Kennedy Space Center.
So rather than continue to wait in space for Florida's weather to clear, Atlantis came home to Edwards Air Force Base after 13 days in space and that spectacular repair mission of the Hubble Space Telescope.
During which five spacewalks were performed. Astronauts spent more than 35 hours in space upgrading and repairing the Hubble Space Telescope, giving it a good five to ten more years of life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED WEILER, NASA'S SCIENCE CHIEF: It's a great American comeback story, the big problem in 1990, and then the miracle in space in 1993, and a long period of success. Well, it just dawned on me, and we're now entered the second chapter of the great American comeback story.
This mission that just completed successfully was canceled January 16th, 2004. I remember that day because it's the day after my birthday. If you would have told me on that day that I'd be sitting here five years later, the totally successful five EVA mission with a brand new Hubble once again, that will probably operate well into the third decade of its life, I wouldn't have bet you penny.
But Hubble is the great American comeback story.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: And as one astronaut astronomer told me, he said the Hubble instrument is now a thousand times better than it was when it was first launched in 1990.
So, again, the shuttle Atlantis after 13 days in space and a repair mission of the Hubble Space Telescope back on earth today, landing at the Edwards Air Force Base landing strip in California.
John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Well, it wasn't just the shuttle. Bad weather is creating problems all over the place. And, Jacqui, I guess the word is we should order in on Memorial Day?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not a bad idea. Cook the burgers on the stove top.
KAYE: Everything is going to be rained out, is that what you think?
JERAS: You know, a lot of them. I guess the best thing I could tell is you that it's not a complete washout. Most areas that are getting wetted periodically throughout the day; it's kind of splash and dash showers or thundershowers, but over all not a lot of niceties.
We do have some nice weather across the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, interior parts of the northeast and the farther you are out to the west, the better off you are if you're looking for dry weather this holiday weekend.
It's been unreasonably wet really across the southeast. And you see how our radar is just lit up and some really strong thunderstorms pushing across central and southern Georgia on into Florida yet again. Good they decided to go with California for that shuttle landing because we don't think tomorrow is going to be whole lot better than today unfortunately.
If you are traveling and trying to do that, it's been a problem for you; big headaches. Hello, we're thinking about you. DFW, you have a ground stop until 6:30, Denver International, until 5:30, over an hour at JFK, Boston Logan about 45 minutes, LaGuardia, 45 minutes -- this list keeps getting longer, by the way, Randi -- 45 at Newark, Philadelphia 45, and 30 minutes in Atlanta.
If you are not traveling today, and want to know what you can expect for tomorrow we're anticipating lengthy delays. The northeast we think should clear out, so that's a little bit of good news for you, but Atlanta, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Denver expecting some thunderstorms again tomorrow and San Francisco looking at some delays, mostly in the morning, though, just because of the fog and low clouds.
There's a look at Flight Explorer that just kind of gives you a sampling of all the planes that are in the air right now; about 4,300 of them. Sometimes we'll see as many as like 5,500 planes. So that's a little bit on the slow side maybe because of some of this travel weather that we do have.
Memorial Day forecast then for tomorrow, we'll show you many of the same areas that are getting wet weather today are likely going to be seeing that again for tomorrow; again, hopefully not all day. Hopefully you might be able to get a little bit of outdoor activity, but just remember whenever you hear that noise, you hear that thunder, see lightning crack, make sure do you go inside.
Temperature-wise, we'll stay relatively mild and a lot of this is just depending on your cloud cover. The cloudier, the cooler you're going to be. Get some breaks of sunshine and that will pop your temperature up: 79 in Minneapolis, 70 in Chicago, 76 in Atlanta, 96 in Phoenix. So hot out west, but not looking at those triple digits. So it could be worse.
KAYE: All right. Jacqui Jeras for us, thank you.
If you are driving this holiday, you probably noticed gas prices are on the rise. Triple A reports a gallon of regular gas now costs about $2.42. It's a continuing trend. A month ago the average price was $2.06 a gallon. Not great, of course, but better than last summer's record high price. You remember that one -- $4.11.
A firsthand account from the front lines in Iraq from a member of the army special forces.
Plus, Memorial Day wishes from our troops overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. ANDREW KILCHEMEN, U.S. ARMY BAGHDAD: Hey, this is Sgt. Kilchemen of 118-F3 in Baghdad, Iraq. I want to wish a Happy Memorial Day to my beautiful wife, Jamie (ph), and my three lovely kids, Kai (ph), Allen (ph) and Arianna (ph). Happy Memorial Day, I love you guys. See you soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Thousands of vets and bikers rolled into the Washington area this Memorial Day weekend. About a half million motorcycles roared through the nation's capital for the 22nd Annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom which raises awareness of POW and MIA issues. The bikers loudly reminding us not to forget the service men and women who were lost or taken captive in all previous U.S. wars.
Memorial Day weekend is a time for America to reflect on its fallen heroes, but CNN's Lisa Sylvester profiles a decorated U.S. soldier of the Iraq war who lived to tell his heroic story and gave us an inside look at the front lines.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Master Sergeant Robert Flournoy didn't plan to make the military his career but he served in the army for 20 years.
MASTER SGT. ROBERT FLOURNOY, U.S. ARMY: Jumping out of planes, getting to blow up some stuff, shoot some stuff, do all those things that a lot of young type a personality males like to do. It definitely fit the mold.
I've been happy 99.9 percent of my time in the military. In fact it's a lot safer in the military because not everybody's happy with their jobs all the time.
SYLVESTER: As a member of the 10th Special Forces Group, Flournoy first tour in Iraq had him working closely with Iraqi Defense Forces. When he returned for a second tour in 2008, he saw that his work paid off.
FLOURNOY: I could see them become a lot more self supportive with all the missions that they were doing, whether it be humanitarian type stuff for the villages and kind of take care of their neighborhoods, policing themselves and actually conducting military and police operations.
I really saw them stepping up to the plate and taking -- trying to give their government some legitimacy.
SYLVESTER: But that second deployment also brought a challenge for Flournoy when his convoy was attacked.
GLOURNOY: The first vehicle was struck by an explosively-formed projectile and it disabled the first truck and basically put it off into a ditch where it was on fire and I had three soldiers in there. And we were pretty much out in weather that was very non-conducive to any type of air support or quick reaction for us. We felt that an ambush was going to be likely due to where we were at with the palm groves and everything.
SYLVESTER: With his troops providing security, Flournoy and another soldier pulled two of his men out of the burning vehicle and applied first aid until a Med-evac could arrive.
He was awarded an army commendation medal with valor for his bravery and leadership in saving the lives of two soldiers.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Celebrities honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedoms.
Performers like actress Katie Holmes, Trace Adkins and Gary Sinise were joined by former secretary of state Colin Powell for PBS's Annual Memorial Day concert in the nation's capital.
"This is My Country" is just one of the many patriotic songs performed by the star-studded group. This marks the 20th year the nation's memorial service honors the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.
There could be big changes at the State Department as the battle over gay rights rages on.
And the stage is set for California's Supreme Court to rule on Proposition 8.
Plus, it's the time of year for our fighting men and women to say "Hi, mom."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFF SGT. NICHOLAS MODRANO: I'm Staff Sgt. Modrano with 316 Field Artillery; I'm at CC Scania in Iraq. I'd like to say hi to my family back in Phoenix, Arizona. Happy Memorial Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Two bombings to Iraq today to tell you about. First in Mosul, an Iraqi medical official says one Iraqi was killed and nearly 50 more were hurt when a car bomb exploded near a U.S. military convoy. Mosul is considered the last urban stronghold of al Qaeda in Iraq.
And in Baghdad, two car bombs injured four people. A string of bombings since April raises worries over Iraq's ability to handle security once the United States withdraws.
A trilateral summit of sorts in Tehran today. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with his counterparts from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The leaders discussed regional security issues and signed a new gas pipeline agreement.
President Obama will welcome his Palestinian counterpart to the White House on Thursday. At the top of that agenda: the ever elusive Mideast peace process. And the proposed two-state solution which President Obama says he supports.
Just this week, Mr. Obama hosted Israeli Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Both meetings precede the president's scheduled speech next month in Cairo, Egypt. President Obama is expected to announce his pick for the Supreme Court this week. A decision could come by Tuesday. We're told the nominee would succeed retiring Justice David Souter. The nominees stand on abortion rights is sure to be a hot button issue and former house speaker Newt Gingrich says it will dramatically effect the President's working relationship with conservatives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I think that will be one of the most defining moments of his administration because if he picks a radical, it will prove that the Notre Dame speech had no meaning and that in fact this is a really radical administration. If he picks a moderate, he will reinforce the message he sent in Notre Dame and force many of us to find ways to work with him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
President Obama also explains what he's looking for in a candidate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want a judge who has a sense of how regulations might affect businesses in a practical way. I want somebody who has the intellectual fire power but also a little bit of a common touch and has a practical sense of how the world works.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Same-sex couples in the U.S. diplomatic corps could receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples if Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has her way. A senior administration source tells CNN that Clinton is preparing to send a notice to state department employees; the notice calls the present policy unfair and says it must end.
Clinton wants same sex partners and diplomats to get the training, benefits and allowances and protections already given to heterosexual partners. But the source says the proposed change is not a done deal and an agency review is required.
Recognizing gays in the diplomatic corps might be just the beginning. Gay rights activists believe this could be the best time to push their agenda forward including getting rid of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE (voice-over): On the campaign trail, he promised to fight for gay rights.
OBAMA: Those are the kinds of basic rights that I think everybody should enjoy.
KAYE: do those rights include serving openly in the U.S. military?
At this rally in Washington, pressure on the President to do away with "don't ask, don't tell," which bars gays from openly serving in the military.
ZOE DUNNING, FORMER U.S. NAVY COMMANDER: So I had the opportunity to serve for 13 years as an open lesbian in the military and I can tell you the entire military did not come crippling down to its knees by my mere presence.
KAYE: President Obama says he plans to repeal don't ask don't tell. Richard Socarides advised President Clinton on gay and lesbian issues.
RICHARD SOCARIDERS, FMR. CLINTON ADVISER: I think the polling now suggests that the majority of Americans favor letting them serve in the military.
KAYE: The last CNN poll showed four out of five people wanted don't ask don't tell scrapped. Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council is unmoved.
TONY PERKINS, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: I think they see the military as an organization that's there to defend our nation, defend our ideals. It's not a place of social experimentation.
KAYE: But the gay rights issue goes far beyond the military. Two federal judges in California say employees of their courts are entitled to health benefit for their same sex partners. But a branch of the federal government said no, citing the 1996 defense of marriage act which defines a spouse as someone of the opposite sex.
(on camera): If you were advising President Obama, what would you tell him today?
SOCARIDES: I think now is a very good time to tackle some of the more controversial issues. People are somewhat distracted quite frankly. I don't think we're going to have a big debate about that now while we're trying to find ways to solve the economic crisis that we're in.
KAYE (voice-over): While in the senate, Mr. Obama sponsored legislation to provide health benefits to same sex partners of federal employees and the White House says he supports repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. But conservatives say he'll alienate a lot of people if he moves on this issue now.
PERKINS: This mandate was to address the economy, and as he goes off and side tracks into these controversial social issues, I think two things happen. One, he takes his eye off the ball of the economy, slowing down the economic recovery and, two, he loses the support of the American people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: An estimated 12,000 service men and women have been dismissed from the military under the don't ask, don't tell policy. That's according to the Log Cabin Republicans, a group working within the GOP to promote equality of gays and lesbians. Charles Moran, a spokesman for that group. He also has a long history in California politics.
Charles, welcome to you. Let's talk about the same-sex partner benefits for U.S. diplomats that's being proposed. Right now domestic partners aren't covered by their partner's health insurance and they can apply early for jobs at embassies like heterosexual spouses can, how big a deal will this be?
CHARLES T. MORAN, FMR. DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY: Thank you for having me on this afternoon. Absolutely, this is a major problem states government is having in terms of dealing with its employees. National companies, Fortune 500, CEOs and organizations know that staying competitive with issues such as employment nondiscrimination and extending these benefits to same sex partners is key to keeping good and talented employees with you. And that extends into the United States federal government.
This is a huge issue not just because it's an employment situation, but because it's a life situation. And President Obama has already stated that, you know, these are civil rights issues, we're waiting for him to basically repeal the Defense of Marriage Act because of the fact that it makes it impossible for the federal government from the Department of Agriculture all the way to the Foreign Service sectors to be able to extend these types of benefits that are given to heterosexual couples to partners of the same gender.
KAYE: Right. But now this had does require an inner agency review before this can happen at the State Department, but if it does happen for U.S. diplomats, wouldn't this open the floodgates for same sex benefits for everyone else? Why just U.S. diplomats? Wouldn't there be an outcry for equality across the board here?
MORAN: Absolutely. And that's the problem here. Why doesn't President Obama fulfill his promise to the gay and lesbian Americans that voted for him along with all Americans who are concerned about keeping the best talent working for our government and just repeal the defense of marriage act? That's what he promised to do and this whole problem would go away if he just fulfill his promise.
KAYE: So this seems like a real tricky situation here. If the state department makes an exception to the Defense of Marriage Law here which defines marriage as a man and a woman, if the federal government approves that here, then what happens to the fight for same-sex marriage across the country? On Tuesday we're probably going to learn about Proposition 8, the ban on same-sex marriage in California. We're going to learn if that's upheld by the state Supreme Court. It just seems everyone may not exactly be on the same page here.
MORAN: I hate to have to say it, but these days it's all gay all the time and really what this boils down to is a further discussion in America about gay and lesbian civil rights. Basic human rights and rights to us guaranteed under the American constitution under the, you know, pretense of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is just continuing that conversation.
California is absolutely going to be a firestorm here in a few days on Tuesday when the ruling comes out on Prop 8, continuing to have the discussion in America over civil rights for gay and lesbians. And, again, the defense of marriage act and the prohibition of the federal government for recognizing same sex relationships when it comes to benefits of these, it's an extension of the same argument.
KAYE: I have to ask, what happens to the 18,000 marriages that were performed before the ban, the Prop 8 ban, went into effect in California? Do those people have any rights if the ban is upheld?
MORAN: We don't really know and that's something that the court is going to address. We're hopeful that the Supreme Court of the State of California is going to rule on the behalf of gay and lesbians here in California and repeal Proposition 8. And but if they do end up upholding Proposition 8, they will also be ruling on those 18,000 couples who did end up getting married. We are hopeful that even if the Supreme Court justices keep Proposition 8 enforced, that those 18,000 couples will still be able to stay legally married in the state of California.
KAYE: All right. Charles Moran, thank you for your time. A republican working to go promote equality of gays and lesbians. Thank you so much for that conversation today.
MORAN: Thank you so much. Thank you.
KAYE: We want to share some of you have been twittering with us all afternoon on so many topics. So we're going to get to those in just a moment. But coming up, making a mark for over 50 years on stage and in her life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDITH JAMESON, ALVIN AILEY'S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: So what does that say, pray, prepare and proceed. You know, I grew up in that. So there are no barriers. There are none. Unless you put them up in front of you and that's hard for a dancer because you're kicking something over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Alvin Ailey's artistic director Judith Jamison keeps breaking all sorts of cultural barriers. She's an African American first.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: For the last 50 years, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has danced their legacy into history books with class, sophistication and a style that is always in vogue. In our special series, "Up from the Past," Don Lemon spoke with artistic director, Judith Jamison, who became the first African-American woman to direct a major modern dance company. And you're about to see why she was more than capable stepping into those shoes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Judith Jamison hit the stage, audiences couldn't take their eyes off of her. And in 1965, legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey knew it and made the statuesque classically-trained ballet dancer the center piece of his unique burgeoning modern dance troop.
JAMISON: I felt very aggressive in what I wanted to do. And what I wanted to do was make sure the company that I was with dancing would make a mark that would never be forgotten. And I would be a part of that history.
LEMON: When Jamison joined, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was just seven years young. She was 22. A Philadelphia girl who had until she started touring avoided southern bigotry.
JAMISON: Of course the civil rights movement was a mess.
LEMON (on camera): Were you ever not allowed to go into a certain place because you were a black dancer or because you were black?
JAMISON: I remember being on tour and not being able to be served in a restaurant when we were just touring in Boston with, you know, the props and everything. The luggage was on the bus, we were on the bus. The props were on the bus, the lighting was on the bus. Everything is on the bus.
LEMON (voice-over): The turmoil forged an exceptional bond among Ailey's group.
JAMISON: I believe Alvin was guided. I believe all of us are here for a purpose and that purpose will come through no matter what.
LEMON: Their dream was to change the world's perception of black people through the art of modern dance, a dream in motion.
(on camera): Do you think that helped people especially African- Americans see themselves as beautiful when they saw these dancers up on stage?
JAMISON: Absolutely. The idea was to celebrate our experience and our cultural expression because it wasn't seen as we would have it seen.
LEMON (on camera): Was there resistance, this isn't the way we do it, you have to do it the way the established - the establishment has decided?
JAMISON: Don't tell me what I can't do. This is wonderful. That's such a challenge to all artists. Alvin said the most beautiful thing in the world is your individuality, what do you have to contribute and not in a pompous way, but in a most giving and generous way. LEMON (voice-over): By the 1970s, the struggles of the '60s gave way to world tours, presidential performances, and even a school with the Ailey name.
JAMISON: What is that saying, the minister say pray, prepare and proceed. You know, I grew up in that. So there are no barriers. There are none. Unless you put them up in front of you. And that's hard for a dancer because you're going to kick something over.
LEMON: She kicked over a racial taboo in 1976 by dancing with one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century, Mikhail Baryshnikov. And when she went in alone, a Broadway hit soon followed with sophisticated lady. But in 1989, the death of her mentor, Alvin Ailey, brought her back to the company as its artistic director.
LEMON (on camera): It's his dream, but you're just as much a part of it as he was. Your face is out there.
JAMISON: I am the face that you identify with Ailey but there are so many more faces and so many more hearts and minds and spirits that are out here. I just happen to be at the helm guiding the ship.
LEMON (voice-over): Under Jamison's direction, the Alvin Ailey dream is celebrating 50 years of reality in a new $54 million school building in Manhattan.
JAMISON: He left us this celebrate the past, stay in the present, but also look towards that future. What that door has opened is incredible. It's a force and it's a force of creativeness and a force that doesn't lay back on its laurels, but that it's completely propelled into a future that is without bounds.
LEMON: At 66 years old, she has won awards from the Kennedy Center Honors to the National Medal of the Arts to "Time" Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2009.
JAMISON: There's this gospel song I know (inaudible)
LEMON: That's why Judith Jamison is an African-American first.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And next week in "Up from the Past, African-American First," we will feature Alice Dixon who served in the only unit of African-American women to serve overseas during World War II. We have so many tweets to share with you, a lot of folks twittering about all of our topics tonight.
This one says the one main real issue is the cost of same sex benefits, not the lifestyle and fears of it. Personnel is the first cut cost. This one, simsgeek424, same-sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. They should be treated as equals. Gilboslice says I think it's all OPEC. I think that the U.S. economy forecast is getting better and OPEC will always take advantage. Thetrudz says it disgusts me to see the level of disrespect shown to Colin Powell by his party. I think he earned the respect he should get. Penelope311 says I notice it every year when gas prices rise during holiday weekends. It is like a summertime clock. And this one from follow1stlady, supposedly the oil companies have a summer blend, less pollutants.
Log on to Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, I-report.com, whatever you wish, tell me would you're thinking about that and you can also send tweets to me at RandiKayeCNN.
College students all across the country are struggling to pay tuition. Now many are turning to the military to help pay the bills. Also, Memorial Day wishes from our troops overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFF SGT. LEO ALLEN, U.S. ARMY, BAGHDAD: Hello. My name is Staff Sergeant Leo Allen on 639th Quartermaster here in Baghdad, Iraq. I'd like to say hello to everybody in Arizona, Navajo Nation. You all have a good and safe Memorial Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: As we remember the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, tonight we hear with the men charged with making sure American troops killed in the war zone are returned home with dignity. CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence took a trip to Dover Air Force Base.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When you handle the remains of a fellow soldier, you don't flinch and barely blink.
VOICE OF SPEC. WILBERT STEINBORN, U.S. ARMY: The standard is zero - unless the command is given you do not move.
LAWRENCE: Soldiers Will Steinborn and Brenton Bush are part of the army's old guard.
PFC. BRENTON BUSH, U.S. ARMY: The position I'm in, I don't even have handles. I'm carrying from the bottom of the case.
LAWRENCE: A case packed with ice and the soldier's body, weighing up to 500 pounds.
STEINBORN: Your fingers hurt more than become numb. We wear white ceremonial gloves on a cold, steel transfer case and it's almost like pins and needles.
LAWRENCE: But the grip is firm, eyes straight, jaw tight.
STEINBORN: You learn how to keep your mouth closed throughout a yawn. You learn how to control coughing fits.
LAWRENCE: Each branch has its own team but they all take the service member's remains from the plane as part of a dignified transfer process. Some days are quiet, when it's peaceful in Iraq or Afghanistan.
(on camera): And when it's violent there, several bodies are brought here to Dover. The team never makes eye contact with anyone but they know the families are watching.
STEINBORN: It was very emotional. I mean, I don't know if it was sadness or pride or what, but it was, honestly, the most difficult and touching thing that I've ever done.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Not that it shows. They call it being locked up. What they feel, we don't see.
BUSH: For instance, I wanted to sneeze since I started talking to you, but I just won't do it because it's just a creature of habit.
LAWRENCE: But even those trained to kill can only see so much death.
STEINBORN: I mean, we're soldiers, too. We are infantry men. We could easily be in their place. We went through the same training that these men did. It is hard. You honestly think, you know, you see your wife or your girlfriend sitting where the next of kin is. I mean, you can imagine yourself being there.
LAWRENCE (on camera): The teams don't get a lot of information about the soldier who has died. Sometimes a name and rank, sometimes not. But they all say they prefer it that way, that knowing each and every soldier personally would make the job too hard. Chris Lawrence, CNN, Dover, Delaware.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And we'll be back at Dover tonight covering the dignified transfers of two more soldiers killed in Iraq. Sergeant Brian Naseman of Racine, Wisconsin died Friday in a non-combat incident. He leaves behind a wife and two sons. On Thursday, Army Medic Paul Brooks of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, was one of three U.S. soldiers killed in a suicide blast in Baghdad. He leaves behind a wife and eight children under the age of 16.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Soaring tuition costs have outpaced family incomes and college grants that's forcing a growing number of high school graduates to postpone entering college or take on more jobs or look to the government. CNN's Don Lemon has a lesson on a new course to higher training.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON (voice-over): To make ends meet. Hello, Ma'am.
LEMON: Clark Atlanta University sophomore Thomas Dinkins clerks part time at the school's registrar's office, but these days even that is not enough to cover his $30,000 a year tuition.
THOMAS DINKINS, SOPHOMORE, CLARK ATLANTA UNIV.: Actually, I have been in the financial aid office pretty much a lot this semester.
LEMON: So the ritual phone call to mom and dad -
DINKINS: Hey, mom, what's up?
LEMON: Are dominated by financial words of wisdom.
DINKINS: Nothing too much. On the internet thinking about taking out another loan for some extra cash.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don't you think about getting a job.
DINKINS: I have a job.
LEMON: A job and an army of relatives who help support a family scholarship fund for Thomas and all his college-bound relatives.
(INAUDIBLE)
LEMON: So the armed services is where Navy Reservist Eldon Creer and many students across America are going for tuition relief. Facing dwindling job opportunities and a mountain of student debt they get financial help in exchange for serving their country.
ELDON CREER, SENIOR, BERRY COLLEGE: After looking at my expenses, it was the best decision. I did something to get more money or I couldn't stay in school. So the military was always an option.
LEMON: But help could soon be on the way for Reservist Creer and his classmates if their administrators at Berry College in Georgia get their way. They want to make it possible for every student here to graduate in four years, debt free. A bold move, indeed. One third of the student's tuition is paid for by donors, 1/3 by the university but the student has to make up the rest by earning his keep at a part time job on campus. Berry College president Steve Briggs says it's a partnership.
DR. STEVE BRIGGS, PRESIDENT, BERRY COLLEGE: Our whole goal is that some of our students will actually become co-managers in some of our operations and some of our enterprises because if they operate and become manager and they are really ready to enter the work force.
DINKINS: You attended in 1988, correct?
LEMON: Ready for the work force, the armed forces and today's financial climate.
CREER: Even though my parents were hesitant because, you know, they didn't really expect that path for me. So I kind of had to make a tough decision and decide my goal was to stay in school.
LEMON: The new reality to a higher learning.
Don Lemon, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And before we go, we want to share some of the tweets that you have been sending us, all evening here. Nakedboynews writes to help high school grads and any U.S. citizen, the U.S government should make a nationalized college system with tuition paid by taxes.
Derekeb says this, they should do what we did, work part time, get Pell grants, student loans and work hard to make it happen. Neriv says as a married lesbian in Massachusetts who experienced a health crisis it is important to be able to protect my family. And this, from Patchoulii, Miss Judith Jamison is so fierce. Debsvision, yes to benefits for same sex couples, the same as common law if marriage is not an option.
So keep those tweets coming our way. We appreciate them.
I'm Randy Kaye at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. I'll see you back here at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. "State of the Union" with John King begins right now.
