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Petraeus Senate Confirmation Hearings Set for Next Week; BP Gas Station Owners Plea to Public: "It's Not Our Fault"; Mexican Drug Cartels Target U.S. Police Forces
Aired June 24, 2010 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, other top stories at the top of the hour.
As you know, probably, it's day 66 of the Gulf oil disaster, and we could learn later today if a deepwater drilling ban will go on. Obama administration lawyers have asked the judge to delay lifting that ban until an appeals court ruled on the case. The judge tossed the ban Tuesday saying it was harmful to the local economy.
Senate confirmation hearings begin next week for General David Petraeus to become the top commander in Afghanistan. Petraeus will take over for General Stanley McChrystal who was relieved of duty yesterday. Secretary of Def Robert Gates was overruled on his bid to keep McChrystal on the job.
We have talked about a lot on this show, about bullies and the victims of bullying and how bullying is such a problem that it's driven many kids to suicide. Right now, in D.C., a House panel is looking for solutions, what schools, parents and communities can do to help keep our kids safe. They're getting input from Dr. Phil and also from our friend (INAUDIBLE) who is an online security expert you have seen here on our air a number of times. The focus today, cyber bullying and we are following this hearing just for you.
Now, U.S. troops in Afghanistan could soon be getting their marching orders from a new man, General David Petraeus, the leader of U.S. Central Command is the president's choice to replace General McChrystal after some locker room talk from his camp made its way into print.
But still General Stanley McChrystal had some powerful people advocating for him to stay in command. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is following the developments for us -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, what we now know is Defense secretary Robert Gates, according to two officials, initially advocated for Stan McChrystal to keep his job, that Secretary Gates was furious about the "Rolling Stone" article but he felt that the war was at such a critical point he couldn't afford to lose McChrystal.
What we are told is that as this drama unfolded and it become very clear this controversy was not going away, and that General McChrystal did not have the support of the White House, Secretary Gates acknowledged all of this inside the administration circles and supported the president's decision to relief McChrystal of duty.
Now, of course, life moves on. General Petraeus will take over. His confirmation hearing is scheduled for early next week, but he's likely to get a number of tough questions about how the war is going, that July 2011 withdrawal date, the rise in violence and what his plans may be to change any of the policies in Afghanistan -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Defense secretary Robert Gates, joint chiefs chair Mike Mullen scheduled to hold a press conference, I believe it's at 1:00 Eastern time, right, Barbara? What can we expect out of that?
STARR: Oh, I think it's going to be all about this change and what their views are. Because you remember, Kyra, it was just several months ago that Gates and Mullen appeared in the press room and announced that General David McKiernan had been fired from the same job as the head of the war in Afghanistan and they absolutely had to have General McChrystal.
So this is just about the most unwelcome news they could have. They will try and put a good face on this. They will say Petraeus is moving into place, everything's fine, the war is uninterrupted, but the bottom line here is Secretary Gates knows, has acknowledged the war is at a very critical point, and it's anybody's guess how it all shakes out from here.
PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks.
So why pick Petraeus to take over the nine-year-old war? He has got a record of success, helping turn the tide in Iraq. During his 19 months in charge there, Petraeus sent 30,000 extra troops into Baghdad and fostered deals with insurgent leaders. Yes, the same guys who had spent four years killing Americans. It led to a big drop in violence that has held pretty steady ever since.
I spent a lot of time with this decorated general and observing firsthand how he gained so much respect not only from his troops but the Iraqi soldiers as well. Let's take you inside the Iraqi war zone 2007.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS (voice-over): This is one of the most dangerous places in Baghdad.
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, CENTCOM COMMANDER: The door (ph) area is one in which there has been clearly a death squad, as you heard and that activity has declined dramatically actually since the units started the Baghdad security plan, but we think they're still there. And so they do have to root them out.
PHILLIPS: Rooting out Al Qaeda and demolishing torture chambers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, I got three battalions, Iraqi battalions that I partnered with, two national police and one Iraqi army.
PHILLIPS: Commander of all U.S. forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus gets briefed because today we're going there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That would be south over here.
PHILLIPS: Destruction from extremists riddles Dora (ph) market. It's still not safe.
(on camera): You talk about the Al Qaeda threat here. You are wearing your soft cap. Interesting message, you're trying to send.
PETRAEUS: Yes, I'm very comfortable with these guys. I mean, they got plenty of security around here. We'll be fine. They are not - you are not wearing (INAUDIBLE). It would ruin your hair do. You know, it ruins the image.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Joking aside, because of the death squad that operates here, the area is flooded with security.
LT. SAMIR KHALEL-HASSAM, IRAQI ARMY (through translator): People are scared of militias in here.
PHILLIPS: Iraqi Army Lieutenant Samir Khalel-Hassam tells Petraeus the militias have been brutal but locals are starting to have faith.
(on camera): Does he want to take over his area and U.S. troops go home?
(voice-over): The lieutenant tells me we're looking for the day we take over and provide complete security here and do it on our own.
Petraeus has these Iraqi forces going through a warrior leader course. They're going to need it.
PETRAEUS: The challenge then frankly will be suicide vest bombs. This is an enemy that will stop at nothing. And we have seen demonstrations of that in recent days.
PHILLIPS: Another tactic insurgents are using to make life unbearable. Another tactic, Iraqi Lieutenant Colonel (INAUDIBLE) will have to fight in the battle for security.
(on camera): How are these men doing?
(voice-over): The colonel tells me we're learning how to execute raids, carry out searches and conduct patrols. 120 shops have reopened in Adora (ph) market. There used to be 600. We still need more security, the shop owner tells us and then we will do even better. I just opened today, just started getting going.
Petraeus says U.S. troops can't leave Iraq until areas like Dora (ph) are secure and self-reliant.
PETRAEUS: We can study all of the language and culture that we want. We're never guying to have the feel for it that a lieutenant colonel like this has right here.
PHILLIPS (on camera): And lieutenant colonel, what does it mean to have General Petraeus here in this market?
(voice-over): This market was dead in the past and we brought back life, the colonel tells me. The general is seeing that for himself. Bringing back life for now, but like everything in Iraq, the question is, will it last?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Same question being asked in Afghanistan. Once again, we want to remind you that Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joints Chief Chair Mike Mullen will be holding a press conference 1:00 Eastern time. We will bring that to you live.
Day 66 of the oil disaster. BP says its collecting oil again from the broken wellhead. The containment cap was off for most of yesterday. An undersea robot bumped into a vent on the device but by last night the cap was reattached and siphoning oil to a ship on the surface.
The largest invasion of oil on Florida's coast has come ashore on Pensacola beach. More than nine miles of white sandy beaches have been soiled by the thick, gooey oil. A swimming ban and a beach health in place. BP crews were even out last night shuffling the muck. Oil also washed up on nearby Perdido key.
And there's a glimmer of hope for wildlife on the Gulf, 63 rehabilitated birds were released today from a wildlife refuge in Texas. It's the biggest release of clean-up birds since the oil leak started. Another release set for this weekend. More than 100 birds could go back to the wild.
So have you driven by a BP station and thought, no, way, I'm not buying gas from there? A little payback from the Gulf. Gas station owners have a message for you - "it's not our fault." They say a boycott hurts local people more than it hurts BP. Check out this story from Jim Strickland of Atlanta's WSBB.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM STRICKLAND, WSBB REPORTER: Tell me about the bottom part of that sign.
TOM BOWER, BP STORE OWNER: This is an effort by us to just let people know that this is not a BP corporate site.
STRICKLAND: Petroleum dealer Tom Bower bought about half of BP's Atlanta presence when the company got out of the gas business two years ago.
BOWER: Our company employs 400 people, so that's 400 families, they are impacted if you go ahead and don't come to our sites.
STRICKLAND: Bower says on average sales are down eight percent since the Gulf disaster and he says it's like piling on.
BOWER: Already with this economic downturn, we've been hurting. STRICKLAND: Bower owns 23 BP stores but he supplies fuel to more than 100 of them. He says the trouble with the oil spill has hit his business hard enough to idle some of the drivers but he is refusing to lay them off. They're still getting paid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That can be all for you?
STRICKLAND: Tom McDonald owns a single BP store in Newton County.
MELVIN WHITE, BP CUSTOMER: I always buy BP (INAUDIBLE) I use in the truck, better to run with.
STRICKLAND: McDonald could use more customers like that. He's lamenting a five percent decrease in gallonage.
TOMMY MCDONALD, BP STORE OWNER: I have a lady come in and say I'm going to buy your inside things but I'm not going to buy any gas.
STRICKLAND: BP retailers are now sounding a single drumbeat. Don't punish us for the corporation's troubles. You get the feeling that McDonald has been trying to distance himself from British Petroleum for some time.
This is the sign in front of his store. He's had it up for three years. Reporting in Covington, Newton County, Jim Strickland, Channel 2 Action News.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Kill U.S. officers, the mission of Mexico's ruthless drug cartels. Drug lords want to sell their wares in the U.S. and they are ready to shoot and kill American police officers who tried to stop them. A chilling report from the U.S.-Mexico border.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Mexico's ruthless drug cartel leaders say they want to kill U.S. officers all because cops want to stop them from drug trafficking. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reports from the Nogales, Arizona near the U.S.-Mexico border.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): On the (INAUDIBLE) of the bus, two off duty officers were out here roping cattle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're roping cattle.
GUTIERREZ: They noticed something suspicious. What did they see exactly?
OFFICER MARIO MORALES, NOGALES POLICE DEPARTMENT: From my understanding, they saw a vehicle drive in rather suspiciously. They went to the tree line. I believe they saw when it was loaded and popped the trunk and they were bundles being thrown in the trunk and back seat. And as the vehicle exited, they were intercepted.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): The off duty officers see 230 pounds of marijuana that evening. Two days after the bust, Nogales police chief, Jeffrey Kirkham says his department received an ominous message through an informant in Mexico.
CHIEF JEFFREY KIRKHAM, NOGALES POLICE DEPARTMENT: That message was brought forward that the drug runners through the cartels that we were to look the other way when we are not working, when we're off duty, we're not in uniform and that if we didn't, that our officers will be targeted.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): Targeted? As in killed?
KIRKHAM: Yes.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Kirkham says the two off duty officers were named in the threat and so was the Nogales Police Department.
(on camera): Is this the first time that you received this type of a threat since you've been police chief here?
KIRKHAM: Well, not only since I have here but this is the first time that the police officers individually and as Nogales Police officers have ever been threatened by anyone in drug trafficking.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): The chief says his force is on heightened alert and is even asking officers to carry their weapons off duty and encouraging them to wear body armor.
MORALES: It does worry me because from the information we gather, that a lot of these people are former military trained army personnel. I know they said any officer while being off duty, he better just look the other way.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): How do you square that? How do you deal with that?
MORALES: You're an officer 24-7, just like a doctor. Doctor, 24-7, 365 days a year. I mean, you see something, we have to react. It's an oath that we take.
GUTIERREZ: But now they say we people will come after you. We will target you if you do?
MORALES: That will not stop us from doing our job.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: Kyra, there is lot of take about National Guard being deployed to the Arizona border, just take a look at where I'm standing right now. I'm in Nogales, Arizona, and 250 yards away, you can see the border fence and beyond that is Nogales, Mexico.
Chief Kirkham says he welcome any man power that could come out here that could help him protect his community but he says if any of those plans are being made in Washington, he hasn't heard about it out here in Arizona. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Our Thelma Gutierrez, thanks so much.
Well, new developments in the case of those five young American men, who showed up in Pakistan. Investigators say they wanted to plot a terrorist attack. Their lives now forever changed.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It's day 66 of the oil disaster. The containment cap back on the damaged well siphoning oil to the surface. That cap was removed yesterday after an undersea robot accident.
Meantime, the government plans to appeal a judge's decision to toss out the temporary deep water drilling ban.
Senate confirmation hearings begin next week for General David Petraeus to become the top commander in Afghanistan. Petraeus would take over for General Stanley McChrystal, who was relieved of duty yesterday. Defense secretary Robert Gates was overruled in his bid to keep McChrystal on the job.
Five men from northern Virginia have been sentenced in Pakistan on terror charges. Each will spend 10 years in prison. They were arrested in December after their parents back home reported them missing.
The code talkers, their story is one of the great chapters of World War II. The last of those heroes has passed away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A wildfire that has torched more than 14,000 acres near Flagstaff, Arizona is still burning this morning but the firefighters are making progress. The fire is now about 25 percent contained, and the people who had to evacuate are finally being allowed back into their homes. That fire is being blamed on an unattended campfire.
Bonnie Schneider, how many times have we heard that story before? So many of these causes are manmade?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's true. Hot, dry, windy conditions again for Arizona for today and I tell you the Midwest has been seeing a lot of severe weather. Chicago, in particular, wow, we had over 200 reports of wind damage across parts of the Midwest yesterday.
And check out this I-reporter, I want to zoom in on this. You'll see, this iReport sent to us by Trudi in Chicago shows the lighting due to an intense thunderstorm. As I kind of scroll through these iReport, the last picture show - see this, the bright flash of lightning. Trudi says it was raining literally cats and dogs yesterday in Chicago. Not the first time but this has been consecutive where we had severe storms across much of the Chicago land area. Let's take a look at where those storm systems working its way right now. It is sweeping across the northeast. In fact, the northeast is going to be our trouble spot for severe weather today. We can see some damaging winds right here, all the way from Virginia up to Maine. So that does include the i-95 corridor, for those of you who are traveling. As you know, we get into the summer. (INAUDIBLE) and a lot of people are traveling. Just to note, it's also going to be really hot out there.
Kyra, we're looking at a heat index of up 102 degrees for Wilmington, Delaware, Philadelphia, hot temperatures across the country. But the4 storms coming through today, incidentally even though they're going to be severe, eventually they'll break the heat wave which is good news.
PHILLIPS: All right. Bonnie, thanks.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Stories across America now.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick could be facing more prison time. Kilpatrick was indicted yesterday on 19 counts of federal fraud and tax charges. Prosecutor says Kilpatrick used donations to a social welfare fund to pay for personal expenses. Kilpatrick is now serving five years for violating probation in a 2008 case.
Ground zero first responders sick from the dust will finally be compensated. A judge has signed off on a payout settlement for thousands of people that could share in that settlement. The total amount of money, up to $712 million. If 95 percent of the plaintiffs agree to the plan, the first checks will go out in November.
Sturgis, South Dakota, the last of the World War II's code talkers laid to rest. Clarence Wolf Guts was one of the 11 Native Americans who made a contribution to the war effort that only they could make, transmitting secret Army messages in the (INAUDIBLE) languages. The Germans and the Japanese couldn't break that code. People from across the country came to the Black Hills National Cemetery to pay their final respects.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATHEW TOMASKIN, RIBAL MEMBER: He served his country, and it's an honor for us as tribal members to observe that and it's also I guess, a higher honor to have observed it as the way he did as a code talker.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And you may remember that story was made into a movie several years ago called "Wind Talkers." Clarence Wolf Guts was 86 years old.
And coming up next --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, we're gay in America and we want you to hear our stories.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A ground breaking CNN documentary set to air 8:00 p.m. Eastern tonight. It's called "Gary and Tony have a baby." That show follows the journey of gay couple trying to become parents and it's hosted by our by our Soledad O'Brien who is joining me live from New York.
Soledad, this couple had a lot of hurdles to jump.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we really wanted to follow their personal story, their personal journey. This is not the story of every gay person in America but it is the story of two men who decide they want to do something that is uncommon, which is to have a baby with a surrogate, and so we were able in this documentary, to profile their childhood struggles, the legal hurdles they have to go through, not only Gary and Tony but of course, their egg donor, Holly and Cindy, who is their surrogate.
And Kyra, at one point, both men talk about their childhood struggles. In this case, Tony tells us about at what point he decided he had to come out as gay when he fell in love with Gary. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TONY: When I met Gary, I realized I couldn't live my life happily. I had to come out. There wasn't an option anymore.
O'BRIEN: What did you say literally, what did you say?
TONY: I said, mom, remember I told you I was seeing somebody. His name is Gary.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I was a little surprised, and I said, "but are you happy?" And he said, he was crying, and tears were running down this cheeks, and he was happy.
She said, do we have to tell your father, and I said, eventually, yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: It's funny in the couple of screenings that we have, Kyra, when people hear that line, eventually, yes, there are a lot of laughs. I think it's a common experience for people to come out to parents. Do we have to tell anybody else beyond the one person we told so far?
The story is really funny, and it's their path, their journey to do something that they had decided is important in the next step of their lives.
PHILLIPS: You know what? Your documentary inspired us to go out to a very special gay teen mentoring program, Soledad, and something that just stood out in what you just showed us from your documentary -- it was Tony's mom, right, that showed such support and love for her son.
It's pretty heart-wrenching what we found in Connecticut. There is a large amount of foster kids who are actually rejected and abandoned by their parents. Not so lucky to have a mom like Tony. Do you mind just watching this piece with me?
O'BRIEN: I'd love it.
PHILLIPS: OK. Let's take a look at the piece, and we'll talk about it on the other side.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are the stereotypes we deal with?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lesbians fall in love after, like, a day and move in two weeks later.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay men can't play sports. They can't play football. They can't do anything that is identified toward masculinity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gay men speak in high voices.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay people like every person they see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay people are the reason why we have HIV.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you think your life is difficult, imagine being a gay teen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I get called names. I get called faggot, and sometimes people throw things at me at school. and nobody does anything about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got hit with a bottle outside. Somebody threw a bottle at me outside (INAUDIBLE) the cars.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Kamora Harrington , otherwise known as "Mom" or "the gay fairy godmother" is the daughter of activists. She is biracial, gay, and never holds back.
KAMORA HARRINGTON, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, TRUE COLORS: Your mother can love the heck out of you. Your father can love the heck out of you. Your aunts and uncles and teachers can be there. But if they haven't walked the same walk, they don't know what it's like to be discriminated against because of your sexuality.
PHILLIPS: Kamora is helping these at-risk teens identify with being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who you are is not wrong. Who you are is the way you're supposed to be because that's who you are. PHILLIPS: This is True Colors, a rare teen mentoring program that gives gay teens who have been abandoned, rejected or discriminated against a sanctuary.
HARRINGTON: For a lot of my kids, they have been so beaten up by the world that they don't know how to put their best face forward.
PHILLIPS: No matter your color, background, and sexual preference, in this place, everyone is treated equally, and taught, as Kamora puts it, to walk their truth.
SHENAE, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: I think it's really the sense of family. When I met Kamora, the first thing she did was say hi and give me a hug.
DAVID, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: True Colors just makes you feel like -- how do you say this? They make you feel like someone. Honestly, I don't want to make anyone feel bad, but they make you feel better than what your family makes you feel.
PHILLIPS (on camera): This is more of a family here than your biological family?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Today a meeting on bullying. Eighteen- year-old Rose is transgender, and was chosen by True Colors to speak to other high school teens. It was liberating.
ROSE, TRUE COLORS SPEAKER: It's gotten to the point where I know who I am and I just don't care what other people think.
PHILLIPS: True Colors supporter and psychologist Richard Stiltson is encouraged by Rose's progress.
DR. RICHARD STILLSON, PH.D, TRUE COLORS SUPPORTER: I love hearing your story because you have moved away from this shameful place of "I have to be hiding and feel fearful and feel terrible about who I am."
You are not at that place anymore. I have been at that place where you are full of shame and you avoid and you live in fear. Because that's what it was like for me when I was in high school, and they called me faggot.
PHILLIPS: Almost all of these teens go from one foster home to the next, products of families that have either disowned them or just can't understand their sexuality.
RISHEBA, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: My parents are very well off. They're very wealthy. My brothers, my two brothers, still live with my parents, and the only reason why I was put into foster care is because my parents were not accepting of my sexuality.
PHILLIPS: Their stories are heart-breaking.
RISHEBA: My mom was like, if you were never born, I would never have this. I would never lupus. It wouldn't have flared up. It would have never been there.
ERICA, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: If I am straight, then I'm good. That's what I kept thinking. I went out with a girl and had sex with her. She got pregnant. And then she was like, I want to marry you and be with you. Blah, blah, blah. I said, "Um, sweetie, I'm gay." And then she punched me in my face, and she then aborted the baby.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is like true confessions here.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): A rare, light-hearted moment in a complex discussion marked more with stories of pain and prejudice.
KYLE, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: I don't know if words would hurt me that much, but the looks on people's faces would. My father --
DAVID: I would be really scared to just go outside talk to my friends.
PHILLIPS (on camera): Were you scared to go outside into your community because you were gay?
DAVID: Yes.
PHILLIPS: I was blown away by the backgrounds. These kids have been forced into prostitution, been rejected by their family for religious reasons, lived in all-black neighborhoods and as a black male don't feel comfortable saying they're gay. They've been threatened by family members that they'd be killed for being gay. How do you handle all of that?
HARRINGTON: Because there's a need. Because True Colors exists to create a world where our kids are affirmed and allowed to go off and be who they are. And I get to be here to do this.
As a gay community, we have ostracized from our birth families. So, we've had to created these chosen families. We've had to live and depend on this extended family model. And this is a wonderful place where through a program, I can share that piece of this culture with my kids and say hey, this is who we are.
We have our leaders and honestly, every last one of you in here is a leader. You guys impress the heck out of me. My leaders are here. Loud. Yes, y'all are loud. When we get to stereotypes, loud. Spunky, posh, caring, strong, silly, laughter, we have it all. I don't see gay. I don't see lesbian. I don't see faggot. I don't see dyke. That's not our main identity. That's what other people put on us. But we're way more than that.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Way more empowered --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know he put me on this earth for a reason. I'm here for a reason and also to make a difference. PHILLIPS: -- far more ready to walk their truth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:: It's about concentrating on the parts that are not gay. How to develop ourselves and shape ourselves so we become strong, independent people. Then it won't matter if someone says, hey, you're a fag. You're a dyke. Really? Well -- you're straight. Whoop-de-do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Soledad, I've got to tell you, I was so moved and so incredibly inspired by how strong these kids are, but the discrimination they go through is heartwrenching.
O'BRIEN: Yes, it's really tough. We heard very similar stories from Tony and Gary as we did the story of their journey forward to create a family. We also looked at their childhoods, and both really struggled. They had a tough, tough time. We talk about it in the documentary.
Tony went to a school where on every desk, on every chalkboard, somebody had written "TBIG." And I said what does that mean? He said, "Tony Brown is gay." It was so painful for him. He had to drop out of the school, and his family had to come and talk to the headmaster. Years later, he went back, and he didn't realize that one of the leaders in the school sat down and spoke to everybody and said, this is not okay. At that time, back in the '70s, that was progressive for somebody in that kind of circle to talk to a bunch of young boys and tell them, you cannot hurt another person.
So, I think that these young people, for them to be able to stand up and say, I'm gay. It's such a struggle for some of the people I've talked to. They really never had that opportunity. Tony and Gary came out of the closet, and now they feel their next step is to have a baby.
PHILLIPS: And just to button this up, you know, we all understand how kids can be cruel, right? I mean, we have all gone through it one way or another. But when you meet these kids, that's why I was so inspired to see Tony's mom be so supportive in your piece. Because these are all foster kids, where the parents have said, "I don't want you. I don't want you because you're transgender, you're lesbian, you're gay."
And that just -- that really tugs at the heartstrings because we all -- you and I had such fabulous parents that made us feel inspired and strong and that we could own this world, and these kids need that. They need love from their parents.
O'BRIEN: Sometimes you need to go out and form a different family (INAUDIBLE) other people around you for support. And I think that -
PHILLIPS: Point well made.
O'BRIEN: Tony and Gary looked at their son and say, we will -- we will parent differently from how other people have done it. They come from loving households, too, but they are different than other people.
PHILLIPS: Soledad, thanks so much.
O'BRIEN: My pleasure. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
And of course, watch "GARY AND TONY HAVE A BABY" tonight. 8:00 p.m. Eastern, hosted by our Soledad O'Brien.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories.
Day 66 of the oil disaster. The containment cap back on the damaged well and siphoning oil to the surface. The cap was removed yesterday after an undersea robot accident. Meantime, the government plans to appeal a judge's decision to toss out the temporary deepwater drilling ban.
Senate confirmation hearings begin next week for General David Petraeus to become the top commander in Afghanistan. Petraeus would take over for General Stanley McChrystal, relieved of duty yesterday. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was overruled in his bid to keep McChrystal on the job.
President Obama holding a lunch meeting at the White House today with the Russian president. The two will also attend a U.S.-Russia business summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Yesterday, the Russian leader announced a billion-dollar project -- investment project, rather -- with Cisco Systems.
Apple fans camping out in iPhone-ville, finally getting their hands on number 4. We will check out -- or check in, rather -- with our Dan Simon, who actually survived the screaming throng of Apple fans.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE COLBERT REPORT": This might shock you, folks, but I actually agree with the president's decision to replace McChrystal. After all, under General Petraeus's command, we have already defeated one hostile Muslim nation. I'm referring, of course, to Algeria.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Score!
(APPLAUSE)
AUDIENCE: U.S.A! U.S.A.!
COLBERT: U.S.A! U.S.A.! (END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And people still cheering about that last-minute win at World Cup by Team U.S.A. over Algeria's star player. Landon Donovan knocked in a deflected ball in the 91st minute to push the U.S. to a 1-0 win. Donovan told CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" the victory should help boost soccer in the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANDON DONOVAN, TEAM U.S.A.: I've been at this for a while, so I understand very clearly that every four years, we have an opportunity to gain some fans and to put ourselves on the map a little bit more. We keep it in perspective because we're competitors, and now Saturday's the most important thing. But when all is said and done, I think I'll look back on the moment, I think I'll be proud of what we accomplished.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Donovan and Team U.S.A. will now face Ghana on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut played and played and played for ten straight hours at Wimbledon. By the way, that's more than enough time to fly from New York to London. Sometime soon, hopefully, Isner and Mahut will play again to finally decide the winner of the longest match in Wimbledon history. The play was actually suspended for a second day in a row yesterday when the darkness fell. The fifth and final match stands tied 59-59.
It's kind of like the Beatles in '64, David Cassidy in '71 and Justin Bieber just yesterday. The iPhone 4, a wireless rock star with screaming, adoring fans.
Let's check back in with our Dan Simon. He's in San Francisco with actually, the guy who was the first to upgrade. Dan?
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. This is our buddy, Keith. He was in line for two whole days, sleeping out here, hanging out with his friends. He finally got his phone. Question, how do you feel?
KEITH, FIRST TO UPGRADE TO IPHONE 4G: Tired. Very tired, but I'm excited I got it. Excited I got it. It's been worth it so far. I haven't found one problem, you know. It's crisp, built well, excellent speeds. I'm glad I did it. It was a good experience.
SIMON: There you go, Kyra. Apple, this is amazing marketing for them when you think about it. The reporters, obviously, from all of the local stations and all over the country at various Apple stores doing the same thing we're doing, showing all these people in line.
This line over here, we should point out, which just stretches on, I don't know, it's hard to say, like almost a quarter of a mile, I guess. But this line, these are people just hoping to get their phones today. They did not preorder them. They just showed up. At a certain point -- apparently they will get their phones because Aple is going to start telling people to go home when they get short on inventory.
Obviously, they are pretty well stocked. You see the food cart here, Kyra. Apple providing their customers with coffee and bagels. We've seen some other people from various other stores passing out cupcakes and things like that.
So obviously, the energy here is pretty high, people just excited to be part of this. This is part of pop culture, and people hoping to get their iPhone 4's today, Kyra. So, we're going to be here in line. I'm actually going to get in line myself. I preordered, but I hope I'm not here until 9:00 p.m. That's when the store closes. Hopefully we'll get to the front of the line in a few hours. But we'll keep you posted.
PHILLIPS: All right. Go ahead and move over, find somebody friendly. Go ahead. Tell them they're live on CNN, if you could kind of get in line to get your phone.
SIMON: All right.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Let's see if there's a nice person here.
SIMON: You know what? That's a good idea.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Look for a friendly face.
SIMON: Would you mind? We're with CNN, and I'm talking with Kyra Phillips, and she is suggesting that we ask you if you wouldn't mind if we just kind of got in front of you to wait in line. Would you be okay with that?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's fine.
SIMON: No problem? OK, here we go.
PHILLIPS: There you go, Dan. OK, fabulous!
PHILLIPS: We'll just stand and wait right here.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: We're going to check back with you and make sure you're still alive and you have your phone. Love you, Dan.
SIMON: You got it! Thanks.
PHILLIPS: Don't ever say I never did you a favor. Okay. Well, did you ever think, boy, I wish my school had given me a condom when I was in the first grade? Yes, me neither. So, why is one school giving them out to any child who asks for it?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: The tools of first grade: pencils, erasers, a PB&J in a Justin Bieber lunchbox. Condoms? Trojan, maybe Durex condoms? Excuse me? Yes. Check out the cool new stuff that a school in Massachusetts is giving to all the school kids who ask. And then we will talk.
Story from Rondella Richardson from WCVB in Boston.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RONDELLA RICHARDSON, WCVB-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When you have sand between your toes, neurotic toys are readily available on Main Street, it's hard to not be laid back. But Provincetown get an even bigger notch in its liberal belt because school-age children will soon be given free condoms if they ask.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that's going a little too far.
KATELYN GOLSBY, PROVINCETOWN RESIDENT: I would definitely say some kids will have sex in elementary school, and it's important for them to be able to protect themselves.
RICHARDSON: Yes, even first- through sixth-graders get condoms, and each one comes with a talk about the birds and the bees.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's pretty sick.
RICHARDSON (off camera): Can you think of an reason why it is a good idea to give these out in elementary school?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
DR. BETH SINGER, SUPERINTENDENT FOR SCHOOLS: What makes you think a 5 or 6-year-old is going to be interested in this? Perhaps if you are excluded, it would become interesting to you.
RICHARDSON: The policy says the school does not approve of sexual activity by students. Still, tourists are taken aback.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's ridiculous and absurd, disgusting.
RICHARDSON: Local opinion? Mixed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First graders would probably take them out and fill them with water and throw them at people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the parents aren't teaching them, somebody's got to.
RICHARDSON (on camera): In the policy, even as a parent, you can not ask that your child not receive a condom.
SINGER: They could say it, but we wouldn't honor it.
RICHARDSON (off camera): Why is that?
SINGER: I would prefer to hear parents say to their children, you're not allowed to have sex as opposed to you're not allowed to have a condom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, there is no option out?
RICHARDSON: That's it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow.
CHARLIE HANSON, TOURIST FROM SOUTH DAKOTA: I think it should be a parent's decision, to decide whether they should have condoms available to them or whether they are even going to be put in that situation.
RICHARDSON: All 66 high schoolers and 89 students in the lower grades can start asking for these latest school supplies in September. There will be no paper trail. The school isn't taking names and will not report back to parents.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: First graders getting condoms. Am I a conservative old prude, or is this just wrong? I can't believe it's happen. Well, here's what you think.
Liz says, "Why not? Thinking that distributing condoms will encourage promiscuity is like saying wearing a seat belt encourages bad driving.
This coming from Michael, "Giving kids that young condoms would be like giving them a brand new bike they just can't wait to try out."
And this one coming from Roberta. "So, they must be the only public school that has excess budget. Why not provide smaller classrooms instead?"
Remember, we love hearing from you. Just log on to CNN.com/kyra, share your comments, and I'll read your comments on the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: As you probably know now since the release of that "Rolling Stone" magazine, General Stanley McChrystal is out. General David Petraeus is in, and our Dana Bash caught up with the general just moments ago.
Dana joins us on the phone. What do you have, Dana?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra. Well, I believe this is the first time that General Petraeus has said anything since he assumed the command after General McChrystal was fired. And I spoke with him as he was coming into the United States Capitol to make the rounds about his confirmation, which we now know the hearings will be on Tuesday. But he told me it's a privilege to serve.
And without me even asking him about General McChrystal, he offered that he thinks it is quote, "very sad that I have to assume it in this manner." And he said, we obviously -- this is a quote, "We obviously all have enormous respect and gratitude to General McChrystal for all he did." Again, I'm still quoting General Petraeus, "He's played a key role on helping get the inputs right in Afghanistan." As I described, on Capitol Hill, he joked. That was the second day he testified because remember, the first day, he passed out the first day.
Another interesting note on the policy. I asked him if he sees himself doing anything to change the 2011 deadline to begin troop withdrawal. We heard already Republicans are saying that they hope he does away with it, Democrats are saying, no, no, we have to keep it. The answer was, no. "No. As I said, I support the president's policy will provide the best professional military advice as we conduct assessments. And then with that, he walked into the office of Senator Robert Byrd to have a meeting about his own confirmation.
One quick note. I asked about the fact that how does his wife feel about this new assignment. He's going back into the theater. He smiled and said, "She's a great Army wife, Army daughter, and an Army mother. And that was it.
PHILLIPS: Yes, very politically correct there. It's got to be tough on the family, no doubt.
Dana Bash, thanks so much.
That does it for us. We'll see you back here tomorrow.
Our Tony Harris, our main man in the house here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Are you ready, Tony?
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Your show rocks, Kyra. We hope to hang in there.
Have a great day.
PHILLIPS: All right.
