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Protestors Gather Across World, President Call Relieves Tensions, Health Care Plan Dispute, Massachusetts Health Care System, Michael Jackson Doctors Investigated
Aired July 25, 2009 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, well justice for the blood that has been spilled. Freedom for activists thrown in jail, that's what demonstrators are demanding on this global day of action to support Iranians fighting for Democracy.
A small group turned out in Seoul, South Korea, they carried pictures of the brutal crackdown on the protests that followed Iran's June 12 presidential election. A much larger group showed up outside the Iran embassy in London. They waved green flags and wore green wristbands. The color is for the opposition movement in Iran.
Another big protest set in New York and that's where our Reza Sayah has been standing by.
Reza, what's it look like, right now?
REZA SAYAH, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Fred, in about an hour this portion of Times Square, where we're standing, is going to see lots of green. Green, of course, the official color of the opposition movement in Iran and today we're going to have a rally in support of that opposition movement. If you look behind us, the volunteers and crews ready to set up a stage, here at Times Square. Once they have some speakers address the crowd, they're going to rally and march on to the U.N.
This rally, part of what's being called the Global Day of Action. Rallies all across the world, in fact, we believe we have video of the rally that took place earlier in Berlin, rallies taking place in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Paris, Amsterdam. All of these groups are calling for the release of hundreds of detainees arrested after the disputed vote on June 12.
And with me right now is the son of one of those detainees Mehdi Saharkheez.
Tell us what happened with your father.
MEHDI SAHARKHEEZ, SON OF DETAINEE: Well, a few -- I think it's almost two months back, they raided our house, and they tried to get my dad arrested, but they went home and it was only when my father -- when my daughter -- when my sister was home alone, and they threatened to break the door, so they let in. They took some of his campaign stuff, which he was working for Karroubi, and ever since then my dad went into hiding. Almost three weeks ago, because we don't know the time of the arrest or the kidnapping, they found him, tracked him down using his cell phone, Nokia, and they -- in the process of arresting him, they broke a couple of his ribs. And now, he called in two days ago and explained that he's in solitary confinement, we don't know what prison, he has no access to a lawyer. And he said that they will have him there for a long time, and we should not wait for him.
SAYAH: Mehdi, thank you. Mehdi's father, again, among hundreds that are still in prison, arrested after the vote on June 12. And this group here wants the U.N., wants the Obama administration to put some pressure on Iran's leadership to do something and that's why they're here today. The rally starts at 1:00. They're going to march on over to the U.N. We'll be here throughout the afternoon -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Reza Sayah, thanks so much. We'll check back with you throughout the day. Appreciate that.
All right, something else the White House keeps a close watch on. The president has been trying to tamp down the controversy surrounding the July 16 arrest of Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates. Well, the president admitting that he may have added to the firestorm by saying the Cambridge police, "acted stupidly." Well, yesterday the president clarified his position.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think, I unfortunately, gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge police department or Sergeant Crowley, specifically. And I could have calibrated those words differently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So, in an e-mail to our own Don Lemon, here's Professor Gates' reaction to what the president had to say. Saying, "I was very pleased that the president called me today, and I was pleased that he proposed that I meet with Sergeant Crowley at the White House, since I had offered to meet with him since last Monday. I'm eager for this to be used as a teaching moment to improve racial relations in America. This is certainly not about me." Those words from Professor Gates.
Meantime, CNN's Elaine Quijano is joining us now from Cambridge -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, President Obama's comments were well received, here in Cambridge. As you might expect, this is front page news here in the Boston area. Take a look, the headline in today's "Boston Globe" reads "Obama moves to quell Gates' furor."
Now yesterday, as President Obama was delivering those impromptu remarks in the White House briefing room, all eyes, here in the Cambridge area, certainly were glued to their TV sets, police officer watching intently, one of them was Sergeant Leon Lashley.
Now, he was actually one of the officers who responded, along with Sergeant Crowley, to the call of the break-in at Professor Gates' house. Well, yesterday Sergeant Lashley talked to our Don Lemon and said that he supports Sergeant Crowley's actions 100 percent. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. LEON LASHLEY, CAMBRIDGE, MA POLICE: From what I seen -- and I was there -- he did nothing wrong. This situation, right here, was not a racially motivated situation.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And you know people, obviously, they're going to pay closer attention to you, because you're an African- American man, I'm just being honest, and you're supporting this white officer, that it was put out there by some that he was, you know, racially profiling Dr. Gates. They're going to pay attention to you.
LASHLEY: I hope they do. They called him a -- I heard one of the comments, they called him a rogue cop. There was something rogue about him. He was doing his job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, we should sell you that Sergeant Lashley says when President Obama spoke yesterday, there were cheers and high-fives, people obviously welcoming the comments from President Obama. Sergeant Lashley said it had like the air had been let out of the bubbles.
And after that phone call that president Obama made to Sergeant Crowley, the coalition of police unions released a written statement saying that Sergeant Crowley is profoundly grateful that President Obama took the time to try to resolve this situation. And the statement went on to say that "it is clear from this conversation that the president respects police officers" -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Elaine Quijano in Cambridge. Thank you so much.
Of course, we'll be talking more about this issue, and the president says he hopes this is a teaching moment, Professor Gates says the same thing. We're going to be joined by a noted blogger, Sofia Nelson, who also is blogging for "The Root," which happens to be the online publication where the editor-in-chief is Professor Gates. She'll be joining us out of Washington to tell us exactly how Gates and others think this is going to be used as a teaching moment.
All right, let's talk about something else happening overseas. The Taliban launching multiple suicide attacks on government buildings in Afghanistan, today. The attackers hit a bank, an army hospital, and a police center in Helmand Province and the city of Khost. Afghan officials say the fighters were wearing suicide vests and were armed with rocket-propelled grenades. At least 14 people were wounded and seven militants killed. Today at 4:00 Eastern, we're taking an in-depth look at the U.S.- led offensive in Afghanistan, "The Faces of the Conflict," the drug trade fueling it and the U.S. strategy in what has been dubbed "Obama's war." As you watch the war evolve, what are your observations, your concerns, your questions, post your comments on blog at CNN.com/Fredricka or on Facebook at FredrickaWhitfieldCNN. Or you can call us. Here's the number: 877-742-5760. We may use your comments today, 4:00 Eastern Time.
A Border Patrol officer was killed chasing suspected Mexican smugglers near the border. It happened in Campo, California, about a mile across the border with Mexico.
The 30-year-old officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Officials believe the suspected smugglers were moving either drugs or people into the U.S. They say the smugglers probably crossed back into Mexico after being confronted by the Border Patrol. The FBI is now offering a $100,000 reward for any information in this case.
All right, health care coverage for all? Well, hear how that type of plan is working, or perhaps not working, in the state of Massachusetts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The battle over health care reform, it's the center of the president and the GOP's weekly addresses. The GOP saying Mr. Obama's plan will cost America jobs. Meanwhile, Democrats are divided over the plan, which is stuck in committee. Kate Bolduan is at the White House with the latest.
What is the president, or at least what is anyone at the White House saying today?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: hi there, Fredricka. Well, similar to what the White House has tried to focus their attention on and the country's attention on this week, the president used his weekly radio and internet address to push and to make his pitch for health care reform. Listen here to a little bit from the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: This debate is not a political game for these Americans, and they cannot afford to keep waiting for reform. We owe it to them to finally get it done and to get it done this year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Today's address comes after -- after a setback in the health care debate for the president. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announcing Thursday that the Senate will not -- will miss the president's timeline of having a vote on -- on health care bill before the August recess.
Now, Congress is really struggling, as we've been talking about, over this debate. It's not just a struggle between Democrats and Republicans. This is also a struggle between Democrats themselves, specifically liberals and more fiscally conservative Democrats, on exactly what to do and how to make this health care reform work.
Some of the big issues, Fredricka, are there are disagreements over how to bring down skyrocketing health care costs, in general. Also disagreement about the government-run, public option, insurance option, that is being proposed. And in general there's disagreement on how to pay for it all, especially in these tough economic times -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And the Republican response?
BOLDUAN: Well, the Republicans today, you can hear the president, he was talking in his address, talking about trying to use the example of highlighting how small businesses would benefit from the White House's health care reform plan. Well, Republicans simply say that's just not the case. In the Republican response, Republican congressman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, she says that the Democratic plan will hurt small business and the public more than it will help. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS (R), WASHINGTON: The Democrats' health care plan, crafted largely behind closed doors, isn't the right thing. It's a prescription for disaster, one that will put Washington bureaucrats in charge of your family's personal medical decisions. Medical decisions that are some of the most personal decisions you'll ever make.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Now, the president will try to continue -- will continue trying to build momentum and get more support around health care reform this week. He's traveling to Virginia and North Carolina to take his pitch directly to the American public and talk about health care.
WHITFIELD: Kate Bolduan, thanks so much, from the White House.
Well, before lawmakers in Washington decide on a health care coverage plan styled after the one in Massachusetts, they might ask, well, how is it working there? We're going to ask one of the people who helped lead that program, Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, later on in this hour.
All right, the Gates' debate. Our legal guys are ready. They're ready to weigh in on the Harvard professor and the police, and now the president.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, before lawmakers in Washington decide on the health coverage plan styled after the one in Massachusetts, they might ask, how is it working there? We're going to ask one of the people who helped lead that program. She's joining us right now, Dr. JudyAnn Bigby is the Massachusetts health and human Services secretary, good to see you. Join us from Boston.
DR JUDYANN BIGBY, MA, HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES: Good afternoon.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dr. Bigby, let's set the record straight for once. Two years ago, right, Massachusetts gave nearly everyone in the state access in the state to health insurance, but now there are complaints in a very big way that health care costs are simply wrecking the budget. So, how do you assess how this health care plan, universal health care plan, across the state is working or not working?
BIGBY: Well, I think it's fair to say that it is working. Massachusetts has a rate of uninsurance that is the lowest in the country, about 2.6 percent, which means that more than 97 percent of people have insurance. Every state is facing an economic downturn and struggling with that, but we've actually been able to maintain coverage for individuals, and I think it's not correct to say that this is wrecking the budget. We think we're saving money by covering these people.
WHITFIELD: Is it not true that health care spending has increased 10 percent for that state and that's why now the state is looking at millions of dollars from which you have to try to figure out how are we going to pay or keep up with the rising costs of care to make sure that everybody is covered?
BIGBY: No, I think it's important to remember that before reform, Massachusetts had one of the highest health care costs in the nation. That has not changed. In fact, for some of the public programs, we've been able to moderate the increase in costs, and that's at four percent or five percent. So, it isn't true that health care spending in the budget has increased beyond expectations.
WHITFIELD: So, do you think what Massachusetts is doing, should this be the model for the type of discussion that's taking place nationwide, coming up with some sort of health care plan where it means every American is covered? Should they be looking to Massachusetts as this is an example of success? This is what we want, nationally?
BIGBY: I think we do have a potential model. I think the important things are that for low-income individuals, who are not going to be able to afford premiums or who don't have access to employer-sponsored insurance, we have a state subsidized plan for those programs. Individuals who can afford coverage are offered it by their employers. We have not seen employer-sponsored insurance being driven out by the public...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Because that's what -- that's been an expressed concern nationally. People are afraid that if you offer this public health care system and it's cheaper then a lot of employers are going to drop private insurance, thereby people who are happy with their existing coverage, they may no longer have it.
BIGBY: So, one of the things we've done in Massachusetts is to try to make sure that that doesn't happen, is not make that plan available to people who have access to employer-sponsored insurance.
WHITFIELD: And so your recommendation would be...
BIGBY: And employers don't offer...
WHITFIELD: Your recommendation would be that perhaps ought to be on a national scale, that public health insurance should not be offered to certain corporations so that they don't drop the private insurance plans they already have for their employees?
BIGBY: That's right. There should be checks and balances to make sure that people don't try to game the system.
WHITFIELD: OK. So, when you hear the GOP today who said, you know, this is a prescription for disaster, meaning a public health care plan, might they also be talking about the Massachusetts health care system, that some are complaining, including, what, Boston Medical, who says that they're suing the state because they are being forced to cover too many poor people and it's putting them in jeopardy?
BIGBY: Well, Boston Medical is suing the state because there's a disagreement about how much money they should be getting from the state. But they've actually benefitted largely from this program.
WHITFIELD: OK. Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, thank you so much. Join us from Boston today. Appreciate it.
BIGBY: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk about some legal cases that have a lot of people talking, namely, also out of the area of Boston, out of Cambridge, Professor Henry Louis Gates and what transpired between he and Sergeant Steven Crowley. Of course, our legal guys can't wait to delve into this one. Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor.
Good to see you.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTY: Hi, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Richard Herman a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor.
Good to see you, as well.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTY: Hi, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Ok, so there's a whole lot to talk about as we talk about this Gates' case, but let's, you know, not try to rehash all that did or did not happen, but where we are right now. So, based on the fact the charges were dropped, if Henry Louis Gates, his attorney, were to pursue something down the legal path on this, Richard, could they?
HERMAN: Fred, anybody could buy an index number for $225 and start a lawsuit. There's no legal case here, Avery. There's nowhere to go with this. It's absolutely been blown out of proportion. If the professor would have just sat back, after it was determined he lived there, did not follow the police officer out the door, antagonizing him, going after him, he never would have been charged with the disorderly conduct.
FRIEDMAN: Holy smokes.
HERMAN: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: OK, Avery -- so, Avery, there were some words exchanged, it's still unclear exactly what words, et cetera, except Professor Gates did say, you know what, I'm going to file a complaint on this. And you say that shouldn't have precipitated his arrest, if that is what perhaps agitated the officer, because that is a protected right, to be able to say that.
FRIEDMAN: Exactly right. In fact, you know what, Fredricka, that's exactly what Professor Ogletree, his point was. But you know what? I think the reality is anybody can file a lawsuit. I agree with that part of it. I think it's only hard to put yourself in the shoes of someone who is Black and knows about the history of profiling. But you know what, it really get neutralized because everybody's going for a beer at the White House. It's going nowhere.
WHITFIELD: I know. So, this really may not happen. I mean, it sounded like it was a possibility when we first heard from Professor Gates on Wednesday, but as the week kind of evolved, the president came out and said, OK, maybe we all can, you know, have a moment together that maybe this case is gone.
FRIEDMAN: Yeah, that's a Rodney King.
WHITFIELD: This particular issue.
FRIEDMAN: That is a Rodney King response. Can't we all get along, and that's why he's offering beer to these guys.
HERMAN: How many presidents would have retracted the comment immediately? I mean, he's spectacular. The police acted stupidly, and then the next day he retracted that to make the peace, I mean really tremendous. Kudos to President Obama for...
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely right.
WHITFIELD: And even if they all do have a beer together or meet again, we're not saying that this is an insignificant case. It has started some dialogue. We all know that incidents do happen where it does involve racial profiling.
AVERY: Sure.
WHITFIELD: And, you know, this is certainly still a problem that exists in America. But let's talk about, now, Michael Jackson and the developments there. Weeks now, the month following his death, and now it seems to be taking a whole nother (ph) direction as well. His doctor, at least two of his doctors' offices were raided by police, and his attorney -- and I'm talking about Dr. Conrad Murray -- his attorney said investigators were looking for evidence as it relates to manslaughter.
Richard, why would they say that?
HERMAN: Well, because they believe that Dr. Conrad Murray did something which precipitated the death of Michael Jackson. That's why. That's breaking news, that the search warrant stated the investigation was now for manslaughter. This doctor is a target in that investigation, they're looking for Diprivan, they're looking for other drugs in there. And, you know, there was tons of Diprivan in the house with Michael Jackson. I don't know that administering Diprivan on its own creates that, but the fact that...
FRIEDMAN: Well, isn't the issue really reckless disregard? Aren't we really looking at manslaughter in the sense that the doctor knew or should have known? I mean, he was being reportedly paid $150,000 a month to care for Michael Jackson. So, the question is, in the administration of medication, that's where the focus is going to be.
WHITFIELD: How might it branch out to other doctors? Because this is not his only doctor, you know, in recent years. This happens to have been the doctor that the recent concert promoters helped hire because he said he was comfortable with this person. But there have been other doctors in the mix, so might they be under the microscope, too?
HERMAN: They're going to be going to be. But, right now you have to look at the AMA standard for administering Diprivan. This was done in a hospital setting, as we learned, in Michael Jackson's room, I don't know that it's going to be reckless -- and the doctor's going to say if Michael Jackson had other drugs in him, like 40 Xanax, he's going to say he never knew about that and that's what caused his breathing to stop and the cardiac arrest, not the Diprivan.
FRIEDMAN: We're still waiting for the toxicology report.
WHITFIELD: Right, which sure is taking a long time, or at least a long time to be made public.
AVERY: Well, no, it's actually not a long time, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Really?
AVERY: No, it should be coming out very shortly. But this is pretty much typical of that...
WHITFIELD: I thought it was 10 days, generally, 10 days before they got results. But maybe they are holding it close, not ready to reveal it to the public. All right, we're going to talk about a lot more, because I know you guys can't wait to talk about virtual voyeurism as it pertains to ESPN's Erin Andrews, and your favorite topic, Richard and Avery, Michael Vick. Hmmm, not a legal case, but we're going to talk a little sports.
HERMAN: He's back! He's back!
WHITFIELD: All right, talk to you guys soon, a few more minutes. Appreciate that.
All right, so, is the arrest of a Harvard professor kicking off constructive conversation about racial profiling, or is it just another media blitz? Intelligent discussion, straight ahead, I promise.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. 29 minutes after the hour. Here's what's happening, right now.
Protests around the world in support of Iranians fighting for Democracy. Rallies are being held in dozens of cities from Washington to Seoul, South Korea. These pictures from Germany's capital where human rights activists braved the rain to show their solidarity.
And president Obama talks up his plan to overhaul health and the benefits that he sees for small businesses. Republicans call it a prescription for disaster, while Democrats are at odds with each other over it.
All right, let's talk with our Reynolds Wolf.
We're not at odds on anything, are we?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely not. Never would be.
WHITFIELD: In complete harmony. I love what's taking place outside.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: No circumstance could ever (INAUDIBLE) that would make bad things happen.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: All right, for days now, you can't turn on the news without hearing about the arrest of a Harvard professor. So, here's just a sampling of the week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY LOUIS GATES, PROFESSOR, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: I would be prepared as a human being to forgive him. That would not deter me from using this as an educational opportunity for America. Because if this can happen to me, in Harvard Square, this can happen to anybody in the United States, and I'm determined that it never happen to anybody again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. JAMES CROWLEY, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS POLICE: I really didn't want to have to take such a drastic action because I knew that it was going to bring a certain amount of attention, unwanted attention on me. Nonetheless, that's how far Professor Gates pushed it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES OGLETREE, GATES' ATTORNEY: He says, why are you doing this? Is it because I'm a black man and you're a white police officer?
TJ. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Now, was he saying it as calmly as you're saying it to me?
OGLETREE: Well, the recordings will show. But you can imagine that he's feeling this sense of indignity that people feel every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think, I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge police Department or Sergeant Crowley specifically. And I could have calibrated those words differently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So, all of this perhaps a springboard for more discussions? Sophia Nelson is Washington-based blogger. Her editorial about the Gates' arrest actually appeared in today's "The Root," an online magazine whose, by the way, editor-in-chief happens to be Professor Gates.
Sophia is joining us right now. Good to see you.
Hey, Fred, good to see you. WHITFIELD: OK, well, you write in your blog today that the words from the president were politically necessary. You make reference to his conversation about race back in 2008 as being measured, well, not this time. Yesterday when he spoke out, he was a lot more direct. So, does this -- is that the moment that helps to precipitate these lessons that should be pulled from what we witnessed this week? Making this a teaching moment?
SOPHIA NELSON, EDITOR, POLITICALINTERSECTIONBLOG.COM: Well, I do think it's a teachable moment. I think the president was correct. And what I argued in the piece today was that I didn't feel that the president should have apologized, and I was glad that he did not offer a direct apology, but instead he walked back his comments a little bit and put them in context.
But I do think he was more direct than we've probably ever seen him on race. At the press conference on Wednesday evening, I think he was -- there was a little bit of righteous indignation there. I think he was offended as an American and as a black man, frankly. And I think that's when the "they acted stupidly" comments kind of rolled out and I kind of cringed when he did that, knowing it was going to bring him a backlash.
WHITFIELD: Because it really was more of an emotional response. I think everyone -- did it not even humanize the president, because he immediately got it, you had to assess when you heard the word coming out of his mouth "stupidly" that you know what, he's been there ...
NELSON: Yes, yes.
WHITFIELD: ...he understands this in a much more, you know, graphic kind of way?
NELSON: Yes, I think that's true. And my hope is is that when they have this gathering at the White House with the officer, with Professor Gates, and the president that, as I mentioned earlier, I don't want to see a backslapping, beer-drinking moment. I really want to see a dialogue open up where perhaps the president speaks about some incident in his life that perhaps happened.
WHITFIELD: In a very private setting, or you're saying that this needs to be on a stage for all to see?
NELSON: Oh, I think it needs to be on a stage for all to see. I can't imagine that they're ...
WHITFIELD: But then, you have to question how genuine is that?
NELSON: Well, you know, I think it's a delicate balance, Fredricka. I mean, if he's going to have them to the White House, you know that the Press Corps is going to be there and everybody's going to want to know what happened. And so, what I'm saying is let's use this as an opportunity, as the president said, for to it be a teachable moment.
Blacks and whites, this past week, as you can see, see this very differently. And it shocked me, frankly, how differently blacks and whites see this issue of whether this was racial profiling or whether Gates went over the line. And it's really been disturbing, in fact, to see how far apart we still are despite all the progress we've made.
WHITFIELD: Blacks and whites saw it very differently this week, yet at the same time, even within the black community, you heard a lot of folks who said, wait a minute, Professor Gates, you didn't handle this one right. You actually got what was sort of coming to you, because everyone knows, especially young black boys brought up to know that, you know, when confronted by a police officer, there has to be some deference.
NELSON: OK, well, I have a issue with that ...
WHITFIELD: And it's still that way, sadly.
NELSON: I don't agree with that at all in this instance because the man was in his home. If you go to page two of the arrest report, and I talk about this in "The Root" piece today. The officer says in his own words, I was led to believe he was lawfully in the house, but I was taken aback by his reaction to me. That says to me as an attorney, as an officer of the court myself, that he should have left it alone. Once he determined he was lawfully in the house, he needed to exit the residence and he needed to leave.
WHITFIELD: So, when we talk about this being a -- so, when we talk now about this teachable moment as people try to extrapolate what he said, what he said, what happened, what didn't, how is this a springboard for a teachable moment? Does this mean that people have to learn now a certain way to behave in front of an officer, or does it mean police officers have to behave a certain way when approaching someone who is in their home?
I mean, there are a lot of different areas that this discussion has taken us, but how do we consolidate it and say this is a teachable moment and this is what we have to hang on, this what we have to carry through?
NELSON: I think we need to exercise some common sense here, frankly. I mean, to be honest with you, Fred, I think a little testosterone got involved here on both sides. I think Gates was upset. I think the officer didn't like being humiliated. Gates was talking about his mama, and I think that we need to use some common sense in this at some point and talk to each other.
WHITFIELD: I don't mean to laugh, but it's always ...
NELSON: I know.
WHITFIELD: ...funny when you hear it because it's like ...
NELSON: It's true.
WHITFIELD: ...when it comes down -- when you start injecting mama into ...
NELSON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...the situation, things get out of hand, you know.
NELSON: You know, I understand how the officer felt. He talked about his mama, I mean that wasn't right. I agree with that. I do.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sophia Nelson, thanks so much. You do so many things, the hat that you're wearing today for us as the blogger of "The Root."
Oh, and I forgot to ask you, wait a minute. So, have you talked to Henry Louis Gates, or how much more difficult did this make covering the story, writing about it when the editor-in-chief of this publication happens to be the man at the center of this firestorm?
NELSON: Well, I'm a contributor to "The Root" and I do more opinion pieces. But, yes, we did have an exclusive interview. If you -- if the viewers ...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
NELSON: ...want to see it, go to theroot.com and you can see where Terence Samuel and some of the other editors of "The Root" did have an interview with Skip and they talk with him about it. And of course, it makes it more difficult because we all love him and think well of him, and we don't like the way he was treated in this instance.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sophia Nelson, always good to see you. Thanks so much.
NELSON: You too. Thanks, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Take care.
And of course, we want to hear your thoughts on this story, because we know you have them, many. Post your comments on our blog at CNN.com/fredricka or on Facebook at fredrickawhitfieldCNN. And you can also call us. The number is 877-742-5760. We may want to use your comments on the air.
We're going to be talking about this in different forms and fashion throughout the day because as the president and others said, we want to this to be a teachable moment as well, and so it is eliciting dialogue. Later on today, we're going to be joined by an author of "Makes Me Wanna Holler" Nathan McCall. We're also going to be joined by Roland Martin and others. So, we do want you to be part of that conversation.
And just a reminder, if you missed a minute of "Black in America 2," you can see it again in its entirety. We're running it tonight and tomorrow night at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
OK, ESPN viewers know Erin Andrews as the hot -- well, that's what the guys say, hot -- sports reporter. Now, anyone with Internet access can see, and really see her, undressed in what should be the privacy of her hotel room. It amounts to an electronic peeping tom and our legal guys are mad as heck about this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Now, a chance for you to impact your world. Many children in Haiti have little hope for a bright future. They face poverty and a long-tolerated system that many of you may find quite disturbing.
Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, was recently there, and he met one young girl desperately hoping for change.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For 15-year-old Dina (ph), there is nothing but work. In Haiti, Dina is what's called a restavek, or child laborer. Others simply call her a slave. Dina makes this water trip at least seven times a day. In return for all of this, she's paid nothing, only scraps of food and a mat on the floor that serves as her bed.
The child labor laws are vague in Haiti. In fact, Dina's owner is doing nothing illegal. We wanted to ask the minister of social affairs how this is possible, but she declined our request for an interview.
JEAN ROBERT CADET, RESTAVEK FOUNDATION FOUNDER: If you are a restavek, you are at the mercy of everybody.
GUPTA: Jean Robert Cadet knows all too well. He's a former restavek himself. In 2007, he founded the Restavek Foundation which pays for the tuition, uniforms, supplies for nearly 400 restaveks in their program. But it all starts with building awareness with the owners.
(on camera): If someone could give you a wish, what would you wish for?
(voice-over): "For someone to remove me and continue to pay for my school so I can become somebody in life," she says. Until then, Dina will wake up tomorrow and walk this mountain another seven times, waiting, hoping, for something to change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: So, for more on Sanjay's story, check out CNN.com. You'll also find a link to the Restavek Foundation. It's your chance to get involved and impact your world. Again, just logon and go to CNN.com/impact.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: OK, so, you're in your hotel room. Someone's watching you and they actually take images and they put it all over the Internet for the world to see. It's called virtual voyeurism and it actually allegedly happened to ESPN's Erin Andrews, and our legal guys are back with us to tell us where could she go with this. Avery Friedman, civil rights attorney and law professor, Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor as well.
OK, Richard, I'm going to begin with you because certainly it seems immediately an invasion of privacy. But now, you got to figure out who's culpable here. Does she go after the hotel? Does she go after, you know, security or lack thereof? The Internet? I mean, who's policing that these days? What recourse does she have?
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Hey, do you think when Al Gore discovered the Internet, he thought things like this would happen? I don't know. But she's going to bring a massive lawsuit. I think she's going to sue the hotel. She's definitely -- they're going to find this person who did this. They're absolutely going to find him. They have a screen name. There are footprints left by this.
There's going to be civil lawsuits at a minimum against people. They're going to try to bring criminal lawsuits. You know, it's one thing to be a peeping tom as an individual. It's another thing to -- to broadcast this stuff over the Internet.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Right.
HERMAN: The crimes are much more severe, and she's going to have her day in court.
WHITFIELD: But then ...
HERMAN: The question is is this guy going to have any money to pay?
WHITFIELD: Yes. And then, you know, Avery, I wonder what about the publication ...
HERMAN: Or woman.
WHITFIELD: ...what about those who kind of -- yes, what about those who kind of jumped on the bandwagon with her image? They may not have been complicit in actually getting the images, invading her privacy, but they kind of cashed in so to speak by showing her image?
FRIEDMAN: Well, you're right. CBS actually showed the video. What an outrage.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: I mean, look, there is no way this can be justified. It's got to make your blood boil. From a criminal perspective, what's interesting is in researching it, there are only 19 of the 50 states, Fredricka, that actually have laws expressly banning this.
But I agree there is civil liability. We're going to catch those guys. I think it's somebody on the inside here, there's invasion of privacy suits. I do think, you know, on the hotel, somebody had to drill a hole in the door or the side -- where are the cameras?
WHITFIELD: Yes, I was going to say what hotel rooms have peep holes, I mean unless it's a very, very old hotel.
FRIEDMAN: Well, they don't. I think somebody drilled it is what happened. And I think you can get on the inside. There is civil liability and they're going to catch this guy. There's going to be justice for this young woman.
WHITFIELD: All right, still talking about ...
HERMAN: And legislatures are going to have to enact laws for this, Fred.
FRIEDMAN: I agree with that.
HERMAN: This is just changing on a daily basis.
FRIEDMAN: I think it's time to change the law, right.
WHITFIELD: Yes, we're in a new day, a new age, new world. New virtual world, too.
OK, we're still talking sports, but in a different kind of way. We're talking about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, boy, it's hard for me to say his name. OK, he says, you know what, these rape allegations, what, a year after the alleged facts are false and vicious. Apparently, this young lady says that she is pursuing, not a criminal case against ...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...him, but instead a civil suit. So, Richard, can you have a civil case with any legs to stand on when there isn't some precedent of a criminal case? Usually one follows the other.
HERMAN: Well, you can have one when your target defendant is a multi, multi-millionaire who doesn't want this kind of press. You know, she didn't report this a year ago. There's no medical records to corroborate it. There's nothing else to -- she didn't go to the hospital. There are no medical records here. She's going to bring this lawsuit. She's trying to shake him down.
WHITFIELD: But then, what are the grounds?
FRIEDMAN: Wait, wait, wait, hold it!
HERMAN: There's going to be a confidential settlement here.
WHITFIELD: Where do you go with -- I mean, where can you go with this civil case? Don't you still need to have some sort of evidence or credence in it, Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Well, of course, of course.
HERMAN: It's her word.
FRIEDMAN: Of course there has to be evidence. But you know what, this disregards the reality of what women face dealing with law enforcement all over the country. The story here is that ...
HERMAN: Law enforcement?
FRIEDMAN: ...she tried to report what went on. She was turned away. She was discouraged. I'm not saying the case is valid or not, but I think it's unfair to disregard the problem that women face in America when they deal with these kind of issues. I also agree there will be a civil suit. I also agree that despite what Ben said, it's going to settle quietly.
WHITFIELD: Yes, and sometimes intimidation is a reason why, you know, alleged victims don't pursue a criminal case.
FRIEDMAN: Sure.
WHITFIELD: But the -- yes. Again, we don't really know what happened here, but ...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...this is where we're going. It just -- it strikes folks as odd that there's a civil case a year after the fact when there could have been a criminal case. There we go.
FRIEDMAN: And when the cops push you away, which is what she said ...
HERMAN: We need (ph) a motive.
WHITFIELD: All right, so -- OK, another NFL case, sort of, kind of, well, it's becoming one again, right? Michael Vick before we go, because they're screaming at me. And ...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...once again, we got so much, so little time. OK, so, reinstated yes or no? Going to happen, Richard?
HERMAN: One million percent like I said way, way, back when.
FRIEDMAN: No, ask me, ask me.
HERMAN: He's going to be at the NFL, he's going to be reinstated this week.
FRIEDMAN: Ask me.
WHITFIELD: OK, Avery, yes?
FRIEDMAN: No.
WHITFIELD: No?
FRIEDMAN: It is not going to happen this year.
WHITFIELD: Why? FRIEDMAN: No psychological -- he's still on probation.
HERMAN: Please.
FRIEDMAN: Won't take the minimum. Say hello to the United Football League.
WHITFIELD: But you've already done the -- you've already done the time. Why is there still ...
HERMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...a potential extension?
FRIEDMAN: We're a forgiving people. We -- he has paid his debt to society. Not enough time. Maybe next year.
WHITFIELD: OK, United Football League instead?
HERMAN: Like "Animal House" -- it's like "Animal House." Double secret probation. He gets reinstated this week in the NFL.
FRIEDMAN: Not going to happen.
WHITFIELD: OK, this is going to be interesting.
FRIEDMAN: We'll see.
WHITFIELD: Which means we're going to talk about it again next week, probably, right?
HERMAN: OK, probably.
WHITFIELD: All right, Avery, Richard, thanks so much. Good to see you all.
HERMAN: OK, Fred.
FRIEDMAN: Good to see you. Take care.
WHITFIELD: All right, have a good one.
All right, the ousted president of Honduras vows to set foot back into his country. And guess what, he has. So, where is he now? CNN crew traveling with him will update us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The battle over health care reform leads our look at stories happening right now. President Obama says small businesses pay up to 18 percent more than big companies to insure their employees. And he says that will change once he signs reform into law.
The Taliban launched multiple suicide attacks in Afghanistan today. They hit a bank, an army hospital and a police center in Helmand province and the city of Khost. At least 14 people were wounded, and seven militants were killed.
Manuel Zelaya, ousted as president of Honduras has been saying for a month that he actually will be back. Well, despite threats of arrest, he has been making plans to do just that, from neighboring Nicaragua.
And CNN's Karl Penhaul has been following his every move.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was back in his homeland. It was a victory that amounted to just a few steps and a few short minutes. President Manuel Zelaya stayed just long enough to pose, hoisting a rusty chain that divides Nicaragua and Honduras, but not long enough for the Honduran military that ousted him in last month's coup to carry out their threat to arrest him if he tried to return.
Zelaya called on supporters inside Honduras to rise up against the military coup, but urged them to use peaceful means. "Look, we have no guns. We have no guns," he said.
(on camera): But it's difficult to see how Mr. Zelaya can really hope to advance any deeper into Honduras, because all along the route, there are roadblocks like this one, with soldiers under orders to arrest him.
(voice-over): A few kilometers away inside Honduras, crowds of his supporters scattered, as violent clashes broke out with soldiers and riot cops. Hundreds of troops blocked the advance, stopping them from meeting Zelaya and backing his bid to reclaim the presidency.
"This is only just beginning. This is not a question of one or two days. We'll be here for as long as it takes," he said. Earlier in the day, scores of journalists shadowed Zelaya's every move, as he started out in his bid to return to Honduras. In his trademark white cowboy hat, a black leather waist coat and cowboy boots, Zelaya had a gunfighter's swagger.
But he was keen to play the victim's role. A Democratically elected president, toppled by a military coup.
"Soldiers, defend your democracy. Reject the coup and save Honduras," he said. Before taking the risky step of crossing the border, Zelaya first phoned Honduran army colonel Luis Ricarte. The pair agreed to meet face to face.
"I'm in charge of this frontier, and you have my word of honor," the colonel said. A handshake across the border chain, and brief words, before the colonel's superiors phoned and apparently ordered him to shut up and back off. It was a day when political theater had merged with media circus. Zelaya lapped up the limelight, and Honduran soldiers scowled under the strain.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, on the Honduras/Nicaragua border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Today at 4:00 Eastern, we're taking an in-depth look at the U.S.-led offensive in Afghanistan, the phases of the conflict, the drug trade that's fueling it, and the U.S. strategy in what's being dubbed "Obama's War."
And as you watch this war evolve, what are your observations, concerns, and questions? Post your comments on our blog at CNN.com/fredricka or on Facebook at fredrickawhitfieldCNN and we may use your comments today at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
And stay with CNN throughout the day for the latest-breaking news.
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