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41 Children Killed in Day Care Fire; 10 Dead in SUV Rollover; Iraq, U.S. Debating Fate of U.S. Stabbing Suspects; 17 Bodies Recovered in Air France Crash; President Turns Focus to Health Care; Palin Looking Ahead at 2012?; North Korea Returning to Terror List?; New Orleans Mayor Quarantined in China; Early Declaration of Victory in Lebanon; H.S. Principal Delivers Commencement from Iraq; First Black Female Rabbi Ordained; 23-Year-Old Wins $232M Powerball Jackpot

Aired June 07, 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: Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.

It's almost too horrible to even believe. Children screaming for their lives as a vicious fire engulfed a day care. Tonight, 41 of those children are dead. Their parents are devastated. Many of them watched hopelessly consumed the ABC day care center in Mexico.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez begins our coverage tonight with a story of how many more children would have died if not for a lone hero in a truck.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the first hearse drove up to the mass burial, this mother cried out, "My child, what will I do without you?" His tiny coffin was carried to the gravesite. People gathered around the family. Many like Evangelina Terrazas, complete strangers who shared their pain.

She says, "I don't know any of the families, but it doesn't matter. I'm a mother of four, and I feel for all of them."

The mother cried, "Don't leave me. Don't leave me." No one could control her grief.

Officials believe Friday's fire started in the nearby building, then quickly spread. No one is sure what caused the flames to engulf the day care center. One hundred forty-two children, the oldest 5, the youngest only 1, were trapped inside as witnesses say fire rained upon them.

Twenty-three-year-old Francisco Lopez watched in desperation as the day care center burned. With no accessible windows and only one door open, he jumped into his pickup truck and rammed into the building three times. When he finally punched through one of the walls dozens of children were able to escape, but not 2-year-old Paulette Padilla. The toddler died in the fire.

Her mother, Maria Jesus, played her youngest daughter's favorite music. She told me, when she kissed Paulette good-bye Friday morning, she never imagined it would be the last time she saw her. (END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Thelma joins us now live tonight from Hermosillo in Mexico. And Thelma, as I understand, they're about to hold a press conference and possibly we may get new information tonight?

GUTIERREZ: Yes, Don, that's exactly what we were told would happen. A government official who works with the federal agency that runs the low-income day-care center is expected to talk to the press very soon. There are so many unanswered questions, Don. Like why there were no emergency exits on that day-care center that was once a government warehouse? And, also, why those smoke detectors just didn't go off.

LEMON: CNN's Thelma Gutierrez. Thelma, thank you.

Right back here in the United States, we have a developing story to tell you about. Ten people are dead after an SUV apparently filled with illegal immigrants rolled over in Arizona just before midnight. The information has just coming out on this. Look at picture.

This is what the 2000 Ford Excursion looked like after that accident. Police say all 22 occupants were ejected from the vehicle. It happened just before midnight. Just outside of Sonoita, Arizona. The cause of the deadly crash is still under investigation. But officials with Arizona Department of Public Safety say the people inside were stacked like wood.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You drive up on it, and it looks just like a war scene.

CHIEF JOSEPH DEWOLF, SONOITA, ARIZONA POLICE: This scene here will affect our department for years to come.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, here's what officials are saying. They're not releasing the names of the driver, the passengers or the owner of the SUV until they get a positive identification and families are notified. The collision is also being reviewed for possible criminal charges.

In Iraq tonight, Iraqi and American officials are going back and forth over the fate of five Americans detained in the green zone. The Iraqis believe they're involved in the stabbing death of an American contractor in the green zone last month. U.S. officials say it is not true.

Now among those detained, Donald Feeney, owner of a North Carolina-based security company. Tonight his son, John, is also calling the allegations completely false. He tells CNN, "We are pretty sure they will be questioned -- there will be question there in the next couple of days and released with no charges." They are being treated well. And the State Department and the FBI are also involved. No one has been charged here, but they could be the first Americans to face Iraqi justice under a joint security pact.

And CNN's Phil Black is in Baghdad tonight. Phil, this is a dangerous and uncertain territory we're treading in here.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Don. Yes, that's right. From here now, the Iraqi judicial process kicks in for these men. They are supposed to meet with an investigative judge who will decide if there is enough evidence against them to charge them, and if the matter should then go to trial. We have reports from the family members of one of the men that they may have already met with the judge and due to do so again today. And he should rule on what happens to them in the short-term future, Don.

LEMON: Phil, if these American men are tried and convicted of murder in an Iraqi court, in an Iraq court, what could their punishment be? The ultimate, probably?

BLACK: Well, death. Iraqi courts here are notoriously tough. They hand down very strong punishment. The hand down the death penalty, readily. Iraqi courts were criticized recently in a United Nations report. They are being prepared to sentence too many people to death by hanging - Don.

LEMON: Phil, these charges, do they change the way that U.S. contractors do business in Iraq from now on?

BLACK: The reason these men are being held by Iraqi authorities is because of that new security pact between the United States and Iraq. It's started at the beginning of this year. It means that U.S. citizen, contractors, are now subject to Iraqi law. It's the first time it's being tested. It's the first time Iraqis flexing its sovereign muscles in this way by holding U.S. citizens.

It was feared that just the fact that this capability existed, we've seen exodus of contractors from Iraq that hasn't really happened. But should this case go badly for these men, perhaps then there are fears that could still happen yet - Don.

LEMON: All right. Thank you, Phil Black. The details coming out on this story. They're going to be many more to come. We'll be following it. He's joining us now live from Baghdad.

Let's go now to far out in the Atlantic Ocean tonight where 17 bodies from Air France flight 447 have now been recovered by French and Brazilian officials. The bodies were found floating about 700 miles from the northeast coast of Brazil.

CNN's Karl Penhaul joins us live now from the search and rescue headquarters in Recife, Brazil, with the very latest on that.

Karl, this is around-the-clock effort, isn't it?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's certainly a 'round-the- clock effort. And that around-the-clock effort has now been going on for almost a week. I say almost a week, because it was almost at exactly this time one week ago that that Airbus 330, the Air France 447 flight, ran into difficulties. And went down for some reason that has still not been explained, into the Atlantic Ocean.

Now, yes, Brazilian authorities say that they've now recovered 17 bodies, but they also say they've sighted, they've spotted many more out there in the ocean, and in the coming hours, they will be making efforts to recover those as well. So, at least they can give some kind of closure to grieving relatives. They've also said that they've recovered hundreds of pieces of debris and also luggage. They're not giving any descriptions about the luggage for fear of raising expectations and also distress among the relatives who recognize descriptions of loved ones possessions.

But certainly what will go on in the next few hours is that there will be an effort to bring those bodies back to dry land for forensic examination. Both those bodies arrive back on dry land along with the wreckage and debris. And French crash investigators will kick into play and start piecing together the clues as to exactly why this plane went down - Don.

LEMON: All right. Karl Penhaul, thank you very much. And still they have not determined what caused this plane to go down.

We're also following a string of reported tornado touchdowns tonight across several plain states. A reported twister has caused the damage you see right here around Denver. Take a look at those pictures. No reports of serious injuries tonight. Parts of the area were also pelted with hail as big as baseballs.

Let's go straight now to our Jacqui Jeras in the severe weather center to give us an update on that.

Jacqui, serious stuff.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: CNN's Jacqui Jeras. Jacqui, thank you so much for that.

Now that President Barack Obama is back on U.S. soil, look for health care reform to be his next major initiative.

Plus, Sarah Palin takes in a Yankees game. But some say the contest she's really interested in, and she has her eye on, is the 2012 presidential election. We'll talk about that.

Also, a gunfight and bodies on the streets in one of America's most popular Mexican tourist destination.

And check this out, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and iReport.com. That's how you can be a part of the show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: President Barack Obama back on U.S. soil from his international goodwill trip. Foreign policy was the focus, but now his top advisers say it is on health care reform.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: Everyone should be interested in health care reform. Health care costs are crushing families, crushing businesses and ultimately it will crush the federal budget. As we've seen, this costs are growing way above the rate of inflation and have been for a very long time. So we need health care reform. I think the American people know we need it, and I would hope people in both parties would get together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Lynn Sweet is the Washington Bureau chief for the "Chicago Sun-Times" and a columnist for PoliticsDaily.com.

Lynn, is it time for the president to deliver on health care reform?

LYNN SWEET, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES": Well, really, it's Congress more than the president. It's up to them. And what President Obama is trying to do is pressure Congress to come up swiftly with a plan.

Now this weekend, his political arm at the Democratic National Committee organizing for America, did a lot of house parties, but what is -- the whole point here to remember, Don is the whole point is what the details of the plan is about. We're not just dealing with broad principles now. Congress actually has to decide, make a lot of tough decisions and it's up to the Obama administration to kind of also help Congress by sending exactly what they want.

So, we're in a little bit of a murky area now. Obama wants a plan. The White House still has to work a lot with Congress to figure out what the White House wants as well as Congress and then see how many Republicans they can bring in.

LEMON: Yes. And Lynn, the president says he wants it on his desk by October, at least something. Some major movement by October. But opponents in the GOP are already pouncing on government involvement.

Listen to Newt Gingrich on "Face the Nation" this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: A health board to ration health care so the government will decide whether or not you live and very severe restrictions on health care and a government plan so the government can ultimately take over and run the whole system. If you think the government can't run General Motors, why would you think they can run health care?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So you said, Lynn, he's got to win over some folks in the GOP. Is this going to be a huge sticking point?

SWEET: Well, no. And the thing is, you have to remember, Newt Gingrich, I believe, is giving out misinformation. I hope I don't get into a lot of trouble here, but one of the things that President Obama has said all along is that if you have a health care plan now that you're happy with, things won't change.

And that talk that Newt Gingrich was talking about, it's like retrospect to 1993. We are having a different health care debate right now because one of the things the Obama team has learned is from the Clinton health care debate back in the '90s. And that they are talking about giving people who don't have insurance here some choices. Not necessarily rationing it.

What Gingrich is trying to do is have inflammatory conversation instead of a rational one that Congress can craft a plan and a rational conversation. And sure, there are concerns about costs and services that you will get, but for people who have no care right now, something is better than nothing.

And a lot of people need to be aware of this. So many people are losing jobs. And issues of portability and health insurance and paying for this is a very big issue that cuts across all kinds of...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Social and economic -- yes, yes -- stratospheres. And most of the comments that we've gotten says exactly what you're saying. That anything is better than nothing.

And I want to get your opinion on this, Lynn. Sarah Palin brings out the crowds in New York this weekend. Her every move was followed by hoards of cameras, sort of like the campaign trail, right?

Plus, we're going to have this for you. Are they political pawns? Two American journalists on the trail in North Korea.

And one day, his mobile home is repossessed. The next, according to the record, lottery jackpot. Who is this lonesome cowboy?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. She's getting a lot of buzz on her weekend trip to New York.

Lynn Sweet, the Washington Bureau chief of the "Chicago Sun- Times" and a columnist for PoliticsDaily.com.

Lynn, Mitt Romney is also out. And some are saying that this is the unofficial start to the 2012 Republican presidential race. We're going to talk about that in a bit.

But, first, my colleague Mary Snow caught up with Governor Palin tonight.

Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So Mary, she's at this event. She went to a ball game, also attended an event yesterday where some 20,000 people showed up. How was she received tonight at the event that you attended?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes people are very excited to see her. They said they came earlier than they have planned because they wanted to try and meet her. And certainly, there was a lot of buzz. A lot of questions about whether or not she is going to try and run again, this time for president.

LEMON: Yes. And certainly, some say that this is an indication, especially doing these events, drawing these types of crowds. When she criticized reportedly, yesterday, the president's foreign policy, economic policies, did she do that at the event you attended?

SNOW: She did not say anything tonight about the administration. Her comments were really not political here tonight. She focused on the organization that was honoring her, that helps to save disabled people. The only comment she made was that, you know, because they came in second on the ticket out of two, people still have advocated her for the disable.

LEMON: Well, I understand she made another comment, because at the ball game, you shouted a question. Tell me about it.

SNOW: Yes. I tried to pull her over. I knew she was at the Yankee game this afternoon with Rudy Giuliani. And I asked here how was the game? And she just said very quickly, we won. As if she's now a New Yorker, after being here for three days.

LEMON: Very interesting. OK. Some say these are signs of things to come. The Republicans out and about. Sarah Palin drawing big crowds. And Mary Snow was there.

Mary, we appreciate it. Thank you.

SNOW: Sure.

LEMON: OK, so, Lynn, you saw it. Yesterday, 20,000 people, when she was in Auburn, New York, she drew a crowd of 20,000 people. Do you think -- and then Mitt Romney was out doing the same thing. And, you know, they were talking about the president's health care and talking about foreign policy.

Is this a coincidence?

SWEET: Well, I don't know about coincidences or not. But I know that both of them are doing what needs to be done if they're even thinking about 2012. Well, they have different issues and problems, but one of the things that Sarah Palin has to do is reintroduce herself. She is going to be picking up chits, making appearances at organizations such as this one that reinforce causes that she feels strongly about such as disabled children. She knows what's that's about. You know, she has a big to-do list before she even thinks seriously about running for president. And she's doing some of the things you see. Getting out. She has to figure out ways to articulate what causes and concerns, if you might want to be concerned with. I think she has to settle down, whether or not the father of her daughter's child, if he's out and about saying wild things. You know, see how that settles down.

And for Mitt Romney, Don. He's doing what do you at this stage. He's going out and working for the Republican candidates. Getting chits, helping people raise a lot of money. So that they will, you know, be a little indebted to him when it's his time to decide seriously if he's going to run again. Though with Romney, it seems a lot further along right now in the process.

LEMON: Than Sarah Palin is.

SWEET: Yes.

LEMON: So, in the short time we have left here, it looks -- and some are saying this is the unofficial start of the campaign for the Republicans. Do you believe this?

SWEET: I do, sure.

LEMON: Yes.

SWEET: Especially for a party out of power. You don't have a natural front-runner right now. There's no one who, you know, who anyone would say has a better chance than anyone else. You know, with the exception, I suppose, to Mitt Romney, because he's done it before. And he has a word to put together at campaign, but it is very, very early, but what the Republican potential presidential candidates have this time. That's why Governor Pawlenty of Minnesota, if he decides to want to run for president, the one thing he'll have, a big asset, is time, because he's not going to be running for governor again.

And, Don, time to go aground to Republican organizations, to campaign for their candidates, to get people get to know you, spend time in Iowa, though no one sounding yet. That's how the process works and started. Most of the time, not all the time.

LEMON: Let's not forget, it's only 140 days into the current administration. So we still have a long way to go.

Lynn Sweet, we appreciate it.

SWEET: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: In our first Sunday morning broadcast, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admits that she first passed on the president's offer to become the nation's top diplomat. So, what changed her mind? Well, she was on ABC this morning with George Stephanopoulos.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: When your president asks you to do something for your country, you really need a good reason not to do it. Number two, if I had won and I had asked him to please help me serve our country, I would have hoped he would say yes. And, finally, I looked around our world, and I thought, you know, we are just in so many deep holes that everybody better grab a shovel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, she went on to say that President Obama has proven to her that he is ready to take that 3:00 a.m. phone call. It was a point that she questioned during last year's presidential campaign.

The U.S. wants them freed immediately. But North Korea has other things in mind. Two American journalists in a closed-door trial. Are they pawns in a much more dangerous game?

Plus, one of the most vocal mayors in the U.S., Ray Nagin, under lock and key in China. What happened?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: On the heels of missile test, threats and rescinding their 56-year-old truce with South Korea, North Korea may find itself back in familiar territory on a list of state sponsors of terror. The Obama administration is considering other moves to silence the saber rattling from Pyongyang.

Here's CNN's Elaine Quijano.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After North Korea's provocative actions, including its missile and nuclear tests last month, the regime could wind up back on the U.S.'s list of state sponsors of terrorism, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

CLINTON: Well, we're going to look at it. There's a process for it. Obviously, we would want to see recent evidence of their support for international terrorists.

QUIJANO: Clinton says the U.S. is just beginning to look for that evidence, but if officials do press ahead, it would ratchet up tensions even further. The move would mean South Korea could possibly intercept North Korean ships suspected of supplying missiles and nuclear materials to other countries. Actions Kim Jong-il's regime has warned would provoke retaliation.

Still, President Obama, on his trip to Europe, made clear the U.S.'s patience with North Korea is wearing thin.

OBAMA: I don't think that there should be an assumption that we will simply continue down a path in which North Korea is constantly destabilizing the region. QUIJANO: Without naming his predecessor, President Obama criticized the Bush White House, which took North Korea off the terrorism blacklist last fall. Mr. Obama said his administration doesn't plan to continue the policy of rewarding provocation.

CNN foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty says, behind the scenes, U.S. officials are grappling with how best to deal with the region.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: There's enormous frustration about how to really put the pressure on them and get them to do what they have promised to do, which is end their nuclear program.

QUIJANO: For now, the U.S. wants tougher United Nations sanctions.

CLINTON: If we do not take significant and effective action against the North Koreans now, we'll spark an arms race in Northeast Asia. I don't think anybody wants to see that.

QUIJANO: Complicating the picture, the state of two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, now facing trial in North Korea.

CLINTON: I have taken every action that we thought would produce the result we're looking for.

QUIJANO (on camera): North Korea says the reporters entered the country illegally. They're accused of unspecified hostile acts. Secretary Clinton says their detention is a humanitarian issue, separate from political matters, and says the women should be let go.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And then there's the president's speech this week in Cairo. Some say his addressed to the world of Muslims did a world of good for America's image, and some say, not really.

So, joining me now, Warren Ballentine, Ben Ferguson, both radio hosts. So, Ben, let's start with you. What do your listeners saying about this? And what do you think of the Muslim speech.

By the way, I talked to a lot of people here. I asked those folks about did they see the speech. And many people here in the U.S. didn't really pay attention to it.

BEN FERGUSON, HOST, "THE BEN FERGUSON SHOW": No. And I think a lot of people around the world paid attention to. But what I think is, I don't really care, and a lot of my listeners tonight as I got off the air just 30 minutes ago said to me it's not so much about what we think. What really matters is what was going on in the minds of those in the terrorist world and the Muslim world? And I think what they use the speech as, as a recruiting tool for them. I was optimistic. I liked the fact the president -- I'll be honest with you. But my main point is, if you look at the messages that came out from Osama bin Laden over the last two weeks. If you look at the other messages that come up from terrorist networks, in chatter, they use this to anger and frightened and to get those people angry about it.

WARREN BALLENTINE, RADIO HOST, "WARREN BALLENTINE SHOW": Wow.

(CROSSTALK)

FERGUSON: And I think what Barack Obama...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: OK, hang on, hang on. Ben, Ben, Ben, hold on, hold on. Brevity please. We don't have much time. And so, I want to get Warren in, and we have a bunch of other topics to cover.

LEMON: But Warren, hang on, before I get that. Why did you say that it mattered to the people there and not Americans?

FERGUSON: Well, I think a lot of Americans know there's a war on terror. And no matter what you say, I think there's a lot of Americans understand that terrorists are going to be terrorists...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: But the White House does not use that term "war on terror" anymore?

FERGUSON: Well, I think, again, I think this is where this White House has totally missed the mark, which is -- it doesn't matter what you call it. Terrorists are still going to be terrorists, and they still don't like it.

(CROSSTALK)

BALLENTINE: Won, this is why...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Hang on. There are a lot of Muslim-American whose live here.

Warren, go ahead.

BALLENTINE: This is why the Republicans are so confused. That speech did great things not just overseas but here in America to strengthen and build bridges to get us back internationally and nationally strong with everybody in the world.

See, we keep looking at this saying, we deserve this, we deserve that. How about everybody else?

(CROSSTALK)

FERGUSON: I didn't say we deserve anything.

BALLENTINE: Well, I'm not talking about you, Ben. I'm talking about the Republican Party as a whole. And I'm sick of the Republicans. I'm tired of you. I'm tired of Hannity. I'm tired of Limbaugh. In fact, you know what, I challenge all of you to a debate. You seem to know everything. Let's do a presidential series of debates, Republicans and Democrats, because you guys - all right, you guys keep talking like kids, instead of talking...

(CROSSTALK)

FERGUSON: You missed the point here. We're talking about party and policy.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Let him in.

Hey, listen. Hang on. Both of you, stop, stop. Ben, stop. Warren. We're not going to be talking over each other tonight, OK? So if I ask you to stop, please, stop. And let the other guy get in.

So, Ben, go ahead respond with Warren.

FERGUSON: No. I think the point that he just prove is is he doesn't understand that this deals with terrorism. Everything you just talked about had nothing to do with terrorism.

(CROSSTALK)

BALLENTINE: We got terrorism. We have terrorism here.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Hang on, Warren. Let him finish. Let him finish, please. Go ahead.

FERGUSON: Everything that he just talked about was an attack on conservatives and Republicans. It has nothing to do with national security, has nothing to do with keeping people safe around the world, has nothing to do with dealing with al Qaeda.

(CROSSTALK)

And the fact of the matter was the speech that was given by Barack Obama -- again, I'm optimistic that it helped us with people and make friends, but what did it do with those that are Jihadists and terrorist.

(CROSSTALK)

BALLENTINE: Ben, we have terrorist here.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: All right, Ben, let him. Go ahead, Warren. This is going to be the last word on this.

BALLENTINE: Ben, we have terrorist here. We have KKK. That's terrorism. With have gang members, that's terrorism.

FERGUSON: I don't even know what you're talking about.

BALLENTINE: We have terrorists here in this country already. You want to talk about terrorist acts, this whole country was founded with terrorist acts.

FERGUSON: You don't even know what happen in 9/11.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: OK, hang on. All right, hang on.

I think what he's trying to make -- and Warren is upset about this. But I think what he's trying to say, there's domestic terrorism as well. People who prey on American who live here in America. So, I understand...

(CROSSTALK)

BALLENTINE: Gang members. I'm not talking about just KKK member. Gang members as well.

LEMON: But he was in Cairo, and he was addressing Muslims. And many people, you know, thought it was a speech that reached out to other people and that could change things. So it's very interesting you guys have two different takes on this.

OK, let's talk about the GOP and let's talk about Sarah Palin being out this week and a number of people from the GOP being out this weekend. The unofficial start, they say, of the Republican race for president in 2012 - Ben.

FERGUSON: Well, I mean, I think every time you look at any of these guys, they are always going to be running for something. But part of it is, is just with your own career, you have to be out there. So, is it the official start? I think as soon as you and your mind think that you could be president, you've already started. If you're in politics and you're a governor, you've already started. So, do I look at this and add more weight to it? No. They were out this weekend. They are out there.

Is this going to make a difference a year from now or two years from now? Honestly, no.

LEMON: And Warren...

FERGUSON: But it's interesting, I think you know who the front- runner is because of how the media is covering it. And people say, does Sarah Palin have it? Well, I think, (INAUDIBLE) that question. I think everybody is covering.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: I don't know if it's a front-runner or it's just that Sarah Palin is Sarah Palin and we cover her because people are interested in her.

(CROSSTALK)

Warren, hang on -- but Warren, I think -- let me get in here.

I think that what your listeners are saying is that is exactly the ticket that they want, a Sarah Palin ticket in 2012.

FERGUSON: No, I don't think they're saying that. I think they still like her as much as they did last time.

LEMON: I'm talking to Warren. I'm talking to Warren, Ben.

BALLENTINE: You know, my listeners would love that because they think that President Obama would have an easy road to the White House. But I don't think she's coming out right now for 2012. I think they're coming out for 2010, for the mid-term elections. I think they're trying to strengthen her base.

This has nothing to do with 2012 right now. I think this has to do with 2010. And the Democrats, especially the White House, they better start re-upping and reassuring that base or they're going to lose some congressional seats, especially from my audience's point of view.

LEMON: OK. Warren Ballentine, Ben Ferguson, we appreciate it. Thank you very much, guys. Thank you.

Well, here's what some of you are saying. You heard what the radio host said. Here's what JerryinChas says, "I would like to see any Republican who will easily lose. So, in the correct order, Palin, Huckabee, the other one. Lol."

MADNews101 says, "I have a ton of respect for Romney and Huckabee. But I would like to see Sarah Palin as the GOP presidential candidate for 2012."

And CTguy2675 says, "Health care reform is essential. There is no reason why anyone in the United States should be without health coverage."

TexasKox says, "Not a priority. Too spendy. Not necessary. The Kennedy plan is garbage as well. No one says how the program will be paid for."

Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com is how you get responses on the air.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin takes a trip to China, and they won't let him leave. We will tell you why.

Plus, a high school principal, also an army reservist on assignment in Iraq. That didn't stop him from delivering his commencement address all the way from Baghdad.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: An early declaration of victory in Lebanon's crucial election today. Tonight, the country's pro-Western government says it has fended off a major political challenge by the militant group, Hezbollah.

President Jimmy Carter is in Lebanon heading a team of international observers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY CARTER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Many of the Lebanese experts say this is a first time and free opportunity that the people have had since 1972. I think that's 37 years. And so, I believe that the people of Lebanon have enough confidence and enough pride in their own country and enough dedication to democracy and freedom so that they will carry out these elections as sincerely and as honestly as possible. So, I don't have any doubt about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, supporters of the pro-Western government have been shooting guns in the air and setting off fireworks, but official results aren't expected to be in until tomorrow.

Eighteen people were killed last night in the Mexican resort town of Acapulco in a wild gun battle between the Mexican army and the group of unknown gunmen. Two of the 18 killed were soldiers. Five surviving gunmen were arrested with dozens of weapons reportedly confiscated. A Mexican government statement links the gunmen to organized crime. Despite being a popular tourist destination, Acapulco has a history of violence related to drug cartels.

LEMON: Another story developing tonight. New Orleans's mayor, Ray Nagin, his wife and a member of his security detail have been quarantined in Shanghai, China after possible exposure to the H1N1 virus commonly called swine flu. We received a statement from Mayor Nagin's office just a short time ago, tonight. It says Nagin's plane carried a passenger who might have the virus, but so far the mayor is symptom-free. Nagin is on an economic development trip.

A high school principal, also an Army reservist is shipped off to Iraq. That doesn't stop him from delivering his commencement address all the way from Baghdad.

Plus, she is the first African-American female rabbi, and she's from a Pentecostal family. Her interesting story. Her name, Alysa Stanton. Rabbi Alysa Stanton. She's an African-American first.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

A Michigan principal is able to address his graduating class even though he was recently deployed to Iraq. It's all thanks to satellite technology. But wait until you see the other surprise Lieutenant David St. Aubin had in store for the graduating class at Goodrich High School near Flint.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID ST. AUBIN, HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL & LIETENANT COLONAL, ARMY RESERVE: I'm proud of all of you and what you have achieved. And I am proud to call myself a marshal. And I'm proud to say that I am your principal. I'm also very proud to wear this uniform, because this uniform represents the greatest country in the entire world. I love our country, and you should, too.

Be proud to be an American. Be proud to live in the land of the free. Just don't take these for granted. Remember, others, like our Iraqi friends, don't have the same freedoms to see these things as a gift, and I just want to do a short chant for you -- USA!

AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

ST. AUBIN: I miss all of you. I wish I could be there to share this day with you. Be safe tonight and be smart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's such an amazing person, who comes from such a small community in Goodrich, and then go to Iraq and do so much good for everyone. It's incredible.

ST. AUBIN: I'd like someone to come out here and say hello to you.

STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE COLBERT REPORT": Congratulations, Class of '09. Stay strong! Whoo!

ST. AUBIN: Yes!

God bless you all. And don't ever forget where you live, in the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Did you guys recognize him? Stephen Colbert.

Well, congratulations to Goodrich High School's Class of 2009. And good luck to the principal and Lieutenant David St. Aubin on your mission in Iraq. We appreciate your service.

That was great. Enjoyed that story.

Alysa Stanton is the first African-American rabbi in U.S. history.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RABBI ALYSA STANTON, FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE RABBI: If I was the 50,000 African-American person doing this, I would still be on this journey. It so happens that I'm one of the first, and I'm honored.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: I should say African-American female rabbis in U.S history. Rabbi Alysa Stanton in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Tonight in our special series "Up From the Past: African- American Firsts," I spoke with Alysa Stanton, the first African- American female rabbi. She was ordained at a ceremony on Saturday. Stanton often says she was born Jewish, just not to a Jewish womb. Well, this from a woman who was raised Christian Pentecostal. I asked her about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. So listen, I got to ask you this question. So you grew up Pentecostal in a Christian family. I will ask you about what led you to that first. But how did your family members react when you said you wanted to convert?

STANTON: Well, I think, I was a seeker from early on. And I think in the beginning, they thought, OK, this is part of Alysa's journey, she's going to explore this religion and go on into something else. And then as they announced last night during my celebration, as I became more and more serious, they realized that this was the real deal.

LEMON: Yes. So they eventually got on board as most families do when they love you, they support you.

STANTON: My family is amazing.

LEMON: Yes. So then, what drew you to Judaism?

STANTON: Judaism, I wish I could say there was a pivotal moment, but there wasn't. It's been a journey. And Judaism is a way of life. It's not just socially, culturally, religiously, spiritually. It encompasses all of me.

LEMON: In the beginning, when you were thinking about converting, you said this is like some 20 years ago, the Jewish community, you said, was not very welcoming.

STANTON: Actually, it was 22 years ago that I converted.

LEMON: OK. So, why do you think they weren't very welcoming to you?

STANTON: It was -- I mean, there were not any other African- Americans where I was at the time. And I think I was, quote, "the other," it was different. And sometimes difference makes people uncomfortable, unfortunately.

LEMON: And now?

STANTON: Now, I'm a rabbi. LEMON: And the community welcoming? I'm sure you still get looks, you get questioning looks or eyes, people may ask you, you know, maybe more apt to ask you than someone else who converted, why they converted?

STANTON: That's true. That is true. I must say overall the Jewish community has grown over the years, and people have been excited about my ordination. We still have room to grow, and I'm excited that bridges are being built, and that's wonderful.

LEMON: OK. So we have you here as an African-American first, right? How do African Americans react to the fact that you converted and that you're now Jewish?

STANTON: Well, when I first converted, many of my African- American friends thought I had, quote, "sold out." Some African Americans cannot understand me being a Jew and me being a rabbi. But for the most part, people have been wonderful. And I've been concentrating on those people who are positive and those institutions that are working together to build towards hope and change and not the negativity. That's not what I'm about.

LEMON: OK. And you believe that there's going to be more like you in the future, a lot more?

STANTON: More like me in what way?

LEMON: Of course, converting African Americans, converting to Judaism.

STANTON: I don't know. I mean, I can't speak for all African Americans, I cannot speak for all Jews. I can say that I'm a Jew. I'm a rabbi. I'm proud to be both. I'm African American. I'm a woman. I'm proud to be both. None of them are exclusive in my life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Our weekly series, "Up from the Past: African-American Firsts" continues next week. I'll introduce you to Kathy Hughes. She runs the largest African-American-owned radio broadcasting company in the U.S. She also has a television network as well.

A reminder, CNN presents "BLACK IN AMERICA 2," two nights, two prime-time documentaries, all new stories right here on CNN, July 22nd and 23rd.

A 23-year-old rancher hits it big in the lottery. What's he going to do with all that money?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. He is single, and he is very, very rich. Thanks to a winning record $232 million Powerball jackpot. But this young South Dakota rancher hasn't always walked around with pockets full of money. Tonight we're getting a clear picture of Neal Wanless, who came from a poor family, who was one of a few white kids in a mostly Native American school, and recently had his mobile home repossessed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's one of these ones.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a big deal. First South Dakota.

ERV FIGERT, LOTTO WINNER'S NEIGHBOR: We are purportedly, reportedly one of the poorest counties in the United States.

JOSH LARSON, LOCAL RESIDENT: It couldn't have happen to better people. They're just a great family. They've really needed the money over the years.

FIGERT: They did lose their home. His parents. It was repossessed, and they have been living in a camper trailer out there at the plains.

JOE PRUE, LOCAL RESIDENT: There was a sign out there that says, the ranch that God built. And for a while, you know, you can say things like, "Where was God when everything was coming apart?" And now maybe God turn around and help.

MIKE PRUE, HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATE: You know, he's a real a hard worker. He always worked hard. He didn't really have the athletic ability but he always just worked his butt off.

STEVE PLANK, HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATE: It's crazy, that's all I know about it. He's pretty wild kid. It's fun to be on the bus and hang out with.

SHAWN ULMER, SOLD WINNING TICKET: He's kind of the cowboy type, you know. He's like a rancher.

M. PRUE: Has a cowboy hat all day. I mean, everything -- we're all natives. He just stood out of the crowd with his cowboy hat, his jeans and everything, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This would make him one of the most eligible bachelors in the area.

ULMER: Yes, it would.

Wonder if he likes older women? No.

PLANK: He was really smart.

M. PRUE: He was really smart. One of the top in our class. Really, really smart. I was always trying to copy off him.

Yes. Give me the answer, Neil.

PLANK: He helped with homework, yes. He'd be willing to help you out.

(CROSSTALK) M. PRUE: He's on the team. That's the main thing. Come on, Neil, give us that answer, man.

J. PRUE: We're happy for them. You know? A lot of people would be envious and go ask him for money and all that stuff. We're happy.

The majority of the people on this reservation are happy that someone from around here got something bigger.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Well, Wanless say he bought his winning ticket in a town called Winner, and he says he will not squander his winnings. He plans to help those who helped his family during hard times.

Our Jacqui Jeras has been monitoring a tornado threat all night. She's got the latest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're following some severe weather tonight including a string of reported tornadoes touched downs. Jacqui Jeras from the severe weather center with the latest - Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: Wow. Let's look at -- thank you, Jacqui, for that.

Let's look at some of your comments here. I'm going to bring them up live. We have a little bit of time left at the end of the show, because I cut the radio host. They're a little crazy. I cut them short.

I asked some of the people what they would do with all that money? Some said, "I'll pay off the mortgage. Trust fund for an 8- year-old daughter. Quit job. Start my own enterprise."

Someone said, "Donate to HBCUs. Pay bills."

Someone said, "Oh wow, that lady Kathy is a rabbi. Wow, like Sammy Davis Jr."

Sammy David Jr. was not a rabbi, and her name is not Kathy. But we appreciate you watching us.

I'm Don Lemon. I'll be back next weekend. John King's "STATE OF THE UNION" starts right now.