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Glenn Beck Holds Rally at Lincoln Memorial; Sarah Palin speaks at Beck's rally; President Obama to End Vacation

Aired August 28, 2010 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, a live look, a busy, busy day in the capital. Look with me, two options on your screen.

On the right side, a rally about to start. It's a Lincoln Memorial, being touted as a restoring honor rally led by conservative TV host Glenn Beck.

On the left-hand side, looks like a football field. It's a high school in Washington. Actually it's the backdrop for a rally on behalf of Reverend Al Sharpton, marking this day, by the way, is the 47th anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. He's leading that rally. That's also happening in D.C. That's starting an hour from now.

Busy morning in Washington. Let's get going from the CNN Center. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING it is 10:00 a.m. right here in Atlanta, 9:00 a.m. in New Orleans and 7:00 a.m. in San Diego.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. T.J. Holmes gets the morning off.

Also, busy morning. Coming up over the course of the next 90 minutes, we're talking hurricane season. Take a look with me, the season already heating up. We're talking D-E-F, Danielle, Earl, maybe even Fiona. Reynolds Wolf tracking that. We'll talk to Reynolds.

Also -- hang on. You're making omelets for breakfast? There are new questions about those salmonella tainted eggs. A congresswoman says critical time was lost in warning the public of the danger, and she wants answers.

And out in California, inmates are rioting at this legendary prison. I know you've heard of it. Guards actually opening fire, we're talking about Folsom prison, the latest from that.

But the big story we're on this hour here at CNN, conservative talk show host Glenn Beck. He's holding this, as many are saying, controversial rally in Washington, D.C. today. Beautiful Washington monument there. Perfect day for a rally, I'm told, in D.C.

And it's being held, the historic steps of the Lincoln Memorial, that very same spot where Dr. King gave than "I have a Dream" speech 47 years ago today.

As I mentioned, at the same time, this counterdemonstration is being held just a couple of miles away by civil rights leaders. We have team coverage of the event. CNN's Kate Bolduan joins me live from Beck's rally. Also we have our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser. And just as I mentioned a couple blocks away, Sara Lee is at the counterdemonstration.

But I begin with Kate in the thick of things. If I can peer over your shoulder, looks like it's fairly crowded already. This thing is getting started right now. Kate, have you talked to people? What are you crowds like there?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We have talked to people this morning. Let me first give you a lay of the land, Brooke what you're looking at. Behind me, the Lincoln Memorial. Crowds gathered here. The portion of the crowd you're seeing behind me at Lincoln Memorial started gathering early this morning.

Also we have video. Paul Steinhauser will talk extensively about the crowd. But from my vantage point where we can see it -- and they're starting as you probably hear, starting right now. From my vantage point, 9 crowds, large crowds extending from the Lincoln Memorial along the reflecting pool to the World War II memorial.

And the program, the rally is really set to kick off any minute, if it isn't at this very moment. While the full program is a little vague as to what exactly all of the elements and speakers are, we do know the headline speakers that you've been talking about it this morning.

FOX News host rally organizer Glenn Beck speaking as well as Sarah Palin. She is set to speak today, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King's niece, Alveda King. And that is significant. You mentioned why. Let's get right to that, the controversy. Glenn Beck faced criticism, strong criticism from civil rights groups, and Democratic lawmakers among them, saying that, some saying these hijacking this day. This being a symbolic day, the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech, a symbolic day for the civil rights movement.

Civil rights leaders like the Reverend Al Sharpton saying what Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin represent is not what the civil rights movement in this day is about. But we should note one person, Dr. Martin Luther King's niece, she is defending this rally and defending it being on this day, and she spoke to CNN last night to describe her feelings. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALVEDA KING, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S NIECE: You know what, I don't have to reclaim the civil rights movement. I'm part of the civil rights movement. I marched in the '60s. I went to jail. My dad, our home was bombed. Daddy's church was bombed. And so I've been accused of hijacking the dream. Well, the dream is in my genes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: This rally is called "Restoring Honor Rally" Brooke. Glenn Beck said this is a non-political rally, and he's emphasized that and his people surrounding him emphasized that.

And almost to prove their point they asked and pushed for the people attending to not bring signs of any kind. I will say there have ban few signs, nothing in comparison with other rallies that we've seen here in the past year especially.

Glenn Beck saying this is all about honoring the military and military families and to benefit them, not about politics. At the same time, when you have a headliner like Sarah Palin coming to speak at your event you know people are going to talk about that.

We went into the crowd and talked to several people. I will say every person we spoke to this morning, they spoke specifically about politics. Many of them part of the Tea Party movement saying they are here to join together to have their voices heard against big government, against big spending.

And some of the same things we do here from the Tea Party movement and have for a long time now, and that's what we've been hearing at least today from the crowd here. The program, expecting to get under way anytime now. Brooke?

BALDWIN: All right, Kate Bolduan with a little bit of commentary as far as the crowds, political or not, there. It sounds like the rally under way. Kate, thank you for that.

Meantime, pundits, as you can imagine, very busy analyzing Glenn Beck's motives for holding his rally on such a historic occasion, this being the 47th anniversary of the "I have a Dream" speech. We decided to bring in our own political pundit, John Avalon, the senior political communist for the "Daily Beast," a CNN contributor, and will be joining me, or he is joining me -- he will be joining me I'm hearing now from Washington momentarily. Let's go to break. CNN SATURDAY MORNING will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Some people are calling Glenn Beck's rally political simply because of the t party involvement. Apparently bus load upon bus load of tea-partiers will be there.

But Glenn Beck saying this is not political. CNN's Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser is in the midst of this rally. He's had a chance to talk to some people. Either they're talking about troops or talking Tea Party politics. Paul, do me a favor. Set the scene.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Brooke. We are about a couple hundred yards from where Kate was by the Lincoln Memorial. Let me give you a little tour. We're about a third of the way down. There's the Lincoln Memorial. Here is the reflecting pool.

We'll let you hear, thought the crowd would reach down the reflecting pool to the end, to the World War II memorial. It's definitely done that. A heck of a lot of more people here than when we first got here about five hours ago. And this crowd, we've been talking to them about a lot of things, and asking them especially why they came here, whether they thought this was a political event. They faced criticism it's a political event. That said, the people I spoke to did not consider this a political event at all.

But we did see a couple people in colonial patriot outfits march by talking about kicking butt in November. So you've got that. Democrats, the lead Democrat in the house, Chris Van Hollen, he said this is a blatantly political event, definitely difference of opinion whether it is political or not.

It's noisy now. Expect back in a few minutes. We'll be back. Here all day, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Paul, thank you. In the thick of things in the Lincoln Memorial.

Pundits, they are having fun analyzing Beck's motives for holding such a rally on this historic occasion. We wanted to bring in John Avalon, the senior political columnist for the "Daily Beast" and one of our own CNN contributors. And he is joining me from a much less rowdy crowd it seems in Washington.

John, I have your article. I think it's maybe from yesterday. Your piece entitled "I have a Nightmare." And I want to, the first line says "Time to suit up tomorrow," being today, "The 2010 wing nut super bowl kicks off." So, John, elaborate? Wing nut super bowl?

JOHN AVALON, SR. POLITICAL COLUMNIST, THEDAILYBEAST.COM: You've got Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin. All the critical components are in place. But this is really been billed by Glenn Beck almost something akin to a religious revival, a mix between religion and politics even though he's doing a good job saying no politics allowed. You can't have Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck on the Lincoln memorial on the 47th anniversary of the "I have a Dream" speech without politics getting involved.

BALDWIN: And John, to be fair to Glenn Beck, if I may, he says you know he booked the Lincoln Memorial without realizing the historic significance of this day.

AVALON: Correct.

BALDWIN: Are you buying that?

AVALON: Well, every time I try to book the Lincoln Memorial I check against historic events. But look, he does say it was a coincidence.

But you know he also modestly chalked up to up divine providence, which gives a sense of the tone he's setting for supporters and followers, that this is a divine providence to overlap and reclaiming the civil rights movement, raising a lot of controversy with that, and the question, reclaiming it from whom? BALDWIN: I was about to ask the same question. I guess it's a rhetorical one. Who is he reclaiming that from? And also, John, it's officially touted, this event is non-political, this whole salute to the troops. I don't are article you write how you smell trouble including you mentioned, right, Sarah Palin is speaking at this event. I smell perhaps politics a-brewing?

AVALON: Well, even the Republican Party, some national leaders have expressing nervousness about this. There's a very specific request that signs not be brought to the event fear some of those signs might send the wrong message.

Obviously, there's nothing wrong and everything completely admirable with the salute to the troops. But the issue, of course, is statements that Mr. Beck has been making on-air. It's tough to reclaim the civil rights movement if you're calling the president a racist, someone way deep-seeded hatred of white people. That cognitive dissonance shouldn't be too tough for folks to figure out.

BALDWIN: And what about, John, you know, whatever, however, whatever your perspective of Glenn Beck, let's say, I talked to bunch of people trying to wrap my head around this whole rally, and we're looking at live pictures of Glenn Beck himself. Some have said this is a brilliant move. We're covering it. Other networks potentially are covering it. What do you make of that?

AVALON: Look, Glenn Beck is a self-identified entertainer and a very talented broadcaster. But he's been using the classic talk radio tools of conflict, tension, fear, and resentment to try to stir up his audience.

And he has been able to develop a very intense, devoted, niche audience of people who listen to the message, who believe with a sense of apocalyptic urgency they're here to save the country, that they need to take our country back from a path they associated with president Obama which they might fear to all the isms. The isms change on any given day.

But no question, he's a talented entertainer, broadcaster, managed to create a conservative populist happening here on the Washington Mall being covered by networks across the country.

BALDWIN: And as you said it, the 2010 wing nut super bowl. John Avalon, thanks for giving your perspective. Much appreciated sir, live from Washington.

Folks, CNN SATURDAY MORNING will be right back. It's 14 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Homes totally wiped away. We all remember the pictures. People standing on rooftops waiting to be rescue, and bodies just laying in the streets. We've seen the video from hurricane Katrina. But five years later FEMA is still trying to repair its battered, less-than-stellar image. CNN's Jeanne Meserve is live in New Orleans with more on FEMA. Jeanne, I know you've been there, talked to people. How do people who live there feel about this federal agency?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They still really do not like FEMA at all. They feel it wasn't here for them when they needed the agency. If you walk around the gift shops here in the French quarter, you find a lot of shirts still that have very negative things about FEMA inscribed on the front of them.

But when you talk to the experts in Homeland Security, they say the agency has come a long way. Has it come far enough? Well, that's another question.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: We want help!

MESERVE: FEMA was the symbol of the inept and inadequate response to hurricane Katrina.

GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: And Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job.

MESERVE: FEMA Director Michael Brown became a punch line, the agency, a punching bag. On this anniversary, the new FEMA administrator has come to New Orleans to visit recovery projects.

MESERVE (on camera): Are hoping to refurbish FEMA's image to a certain degrees?

CRAIG FUGATE, FEMA ADMINISTRATOR: A lot of people worry about that. I will worry about if we are ready for the next disaster.

MESERVE: Craig Fugate, Florida's former emergency manager, has attracted other seasoned professionals to his team reversing the brain drain that left a quarter of FEMA jobs vacant when Katrina hit.

JAMES CARAFANO, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: They are nonpartisan, they want to get the job done. They have a sense of business practice reform, organizational reform.

MESERVE: Then FEMA fumbled supply distribution. Now government investigators say that logistics planning has significantly improved. Then toxic trailers and shelter snafus turned evacuees into nomads. Now governments can share and update shelter information online.

Then many elderly and disabled were left in harm's way. Now special plans are in place for their evacuation. Then FEMA waited for state and local officials to ask for help. Now the agency is leaning forward anticipating what will be needed.

CRAIG FUGATE, FEMA ADMINISTRATOR: If we wait until we have a request it will be too late. MESERVE: FEMA got high marks for its response to the Tennessee floods and other recent disasters. But a Homeland Security expert still has concerns.

STEVEN FLYNN, CENTER FOR NATIONAL POLICY: While FEMA has been improved, still a lot of keystone cops. There isn't clarity across the federal government who is responsible for what once you get beyond the initial evacuation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: Now it is really wet here in New Orleans today, but the nation hasn't really had the kind of big event like a Katrina that would really test whether FEMA is ready or not. Brooke, back to you.

BALDWIN: Let's all say it together. We hope they never do. Jeanne Meserve, thank you.

As we take about a hurricane from five years ago, look, let's talk about a hurricane perhaps brewing now. Tropical troubles in the Atlantic. Hurricane Danielle, at least downgraded to a category two while tropical storm Earl picking up some steam.

And then there's another storm with hurricane potential. Reynolds Wolf watching ought this. Where should we be concerned right now?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: To tell you the truth, this time of year concerned with everything in the Atlantic. Back up a little bit. Let me show you something else interesting. We've been seeing heavy rainfall in New Orleans, an area of low pressure right off the coast of Louisiana.

The reason I mention this, not only the rain, the national hurricane center gives it a 10 percent chance of tropical development. A very slight chance it may become something, possibly a depression. We'll keep a sharp eye on it.

The bugger stuff now. We have one wave moving off the coast of Africa that may be Fiona. At the same time we have Earl here, then of course Danielle. Danielle you mentioned has weakened a little bit to a category 2, expected to pull more to the north, northeast and more to the northeast moving into cooler water. When it does that, it moves over the cooler water away from its primary water source, water temperatures 83 to 88 degrees.

Weakening passes Bermuda not expected to make landfall in the U.S., but we will get heavy waves.

Let's move on to Earl. Earl is an interesting storm. It is a strong one. Maximum sustained winds at 60s, gusts up to 70. It is expected to continue to push to the west. When it does, move into an area with very little sheer. Strong winds rip these systems apart.

So it is expected to intensify moving northeast of the leeward island, joining an area of warm water. As we come to Wednesday, possibly a major hurricane category three winds of 125 miles per hour. Delay path we have, look at the line. It should move very close to Bermuda. Look at cone of uncertainty, a chance the storm could move a bit more to the east, perhaps to the west. Maybe making landfall at the U.S. We don't know now.

It could come fairly close. We'll watch carefully. So are the big three areas of concern for us. That's the latest. Wrap it up and send it back to you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: A picture perfect day, you've said, for Washington, D.C. right?

WOLF: Unbelievably pretty.

BALDWIN: Unbelievably pretty, perfect for both of these rallies. It's kind of the tale of two rallies today. Look at these pictures. On the right side of your screen, that's Lincoln Memorial, someone speaking at the Glenn Beck restoring honor rally.

And then on the left side, kind of slow, kind of quiet. That's because that rally has not begun yet. That is spearheaded by NAACP and the Reverend Al Sharpton commemorating Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. It was in 1963 that he gave that speech at the exact location of where the rally on the right-hand side of your screen is taking place.

We're going to continue following both of these stories. We'll talk to a reporter at that Washington, D.C. high school NAACP rally, if you followed me, on the other side of the break. Stay right will.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right. Before we get you to Washington, we want to look at some of the other stories we're waging.

This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of hurricane Katrina just slamming into the gulf coast. The scars very much so still evident in that city, in fact, all across the region neighborhoods are still filled with vacant lots where homes once stood.

And in California, officers say a riot at the old Folsom state prison is under control now. About 200 prisoners, though, took part in some sort of uprising. Guards were injured. Guards actually injured seven inmates, the guards when they opened fire. The prisons made famous back in 1968 when Johnny Cash recorded that album out of Folsom prison.

And new developments, have you been following this? The 33 trapped miners, half a mile underground. We're seeing new video of them trapped. Officials say they have finally told these men that it could take three to four months to reach them. We're talking Christmas time.

Rescue crews at least are working on plan b, hopefully getting them out much earlier than that. Now as promised, big, big morning in Washington. First just want to get a sense of what's happening at the Lincoln Memorial. This is the rally, this is the restoring honor rally that is being put on by FOX News conservative TV host rally organizer Glenn Beck. We're watching that rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

But we're also taking awe couple blocks away to this rally headed by NAACP, reverend Al Sharpton, at Dunbar high school. And it's funny it's all happening on this same day. Civil rights leaders are calling Beck's event offensive, because, if you know your history, you know his event is being held on the Lincoln Memorial, precisely where Dr. King delivered that "I have a Dream" speech.

So National Action Network leader Reverend Al Sharpton, like I said, holding his rally in, may or may not be in response, but calling his rally "Reclaiming the Dream Rally."

CNN's Sarah Lee joins me from that event. And just so I'm clear, Reverend Sharpton was planning his rally totally independent of Glenn Beck's, right?

SARAH LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is right. The organizers here are saying, Brooke that is correct. They insist this is not a counter-rally, that this is an annual observance that his organization does set up each year, and, in memory of the "I have a Dream" speech.

Now, we are at Dunbar high school in northwest Washington. It's important to note the venue for this rally, because the rally is -- they're focusing on education, bringing back education standards in America, whereas the other rally that going on this morning hosted by conservative talk show host Glenn Beck over at the Lincoln Memorial is getting a lot of attention because of the date and because of that venue.

So here they insist they're talking about education and reclaiming the dream of standards for students, because Paul Dunbar High School was established early 1900s and it was segregated school for high-achieving African-American students.

Later on today as this rally gets started, in about 40 minutes, of course, the Reverend Al Sharpton will be speaking as will members of the clergy, civil rights leaders, and the new secretary of education Arne Duncan.

So that will begin around 11:00 this morning. They'll be speaking on the stage behind me where you can see the band is getting warmed up. Then around 1:30, when they wrap up, they'll begin a march from here, Dunbar high school in northwest Washington, to about three miles away to the proposed site for, or the future site, rather, of the Martin Luther King Memorial.

And that, as you know, Brooke from your time in Washington, D.C., is very, very close to the Lincoln Memorial. No they says there is no plans to interact with the other rally. But of course, CNN will stay with that. We'll march with them and be at that end of the march when they get there. Brooke? BALDWIN: OK, Sarah. I'm holding my hand to the ear. It's hard enough for me you with the band. I'm sure people at home are thinking, what? Maybe next time get the band to turn that music down. But I appreciate you keeping your composure through that. We'll check back in with you as we maintain covering both rallies.

Keep in mind, coming up in a couple minutes, at 10:30 a.m. eastern, 7:30 pacific, we're going to have two sides of this debate over today's events in Washington. I'll hear from two black conservatives, one of whom supports Glenn Beck's rally, calls him brother Beck, one asked to attend, asked to sit on that stage, but declined. We'll talk about that.

Also, what do you think about today's rallies? Josh has been hearing from you throughout the show and he is here with some of your views. People are tweeting me like crazy, Josh. What do they have to say to you?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: They are all over it today. Yes, we're going to be telling you how to weigh in.

A doubleheader here -- we're going to show you some of your views and lay out the geography for both rallies. You can see how the paths intertwine or don't.

Let's start off with what you're saying today, start off with Facebook. Some the responses we're getting here, "It's anyone right to petition and hold a rally. What bothers me most is how the Beck rally is being labeled as racist. It hasn't happened yet, and it's being judged."

Also on Facebook, Joyce says "He's just a writer-host using people to cash in." "He has the power to help people vote against their other interests. I'd call that a threat." That's Bob Greene's take on Glenn Beck and the rally today.

Lorrie says "Restore honor to America sounds like a great plan to me. I'm especially pleased to see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece will join Beck and Palin in support."

One more from Facebook here. "His rally caused me to go back and remember true American heroes at the Lincoln Memorial 47 years ago."

Let's get to one tweet here. "Glenn Beck says he didn't realize until later the date was the same as MLK. Only certain history important to certain people."

Show you on the screen where you can weigh in, my Facebook and twitter pages on it and having a conversation. I encourage people to make sure you're listening to each other. Make sure you're taking part in the conversation there. Keeping respectful but definitely be passionate as well.

All right, switch the screen here, pull a switcheroo looking at addresses. See what's happening today, the live pictures. Live pictures for a second and I'll lay out the geography to see where rallies are today.

This is what's going on at the Lincoln Memorial now. The way the Lincoln Memorial is designed, we're hearing a little bit of this from Paul Steinhauser. It's here on my screen from Google Earth.

The events are right here at Lincoln Memorial. You see the steps and what can happen, a crowd can be smooshed together into this area here. This whole long thing, more than 2,000 feet long, is the reflecting pool. Where the crowds are here is at either side the reflecting pool.

As you keep going farther back more than 2,000 feet you get to the World War II memorial and then this whole area, the national mall leading up to the White House.

In terms of crowd estimates and police keeping an eye on this, they're looking to see how far the crowds get. How far in this area they get. How much do they pack?

Now to this video. This is where the other rally is taking place. You're going to start off at Dunbar high school. It's going it zoom us over to where they're ending. What that is, the future site of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Doesn't exist yet. They're working on it. Look at that, Brooke. You know from spending time in Washington, around it's corner from the Lincoln Memorial.

So the event for the other rally begins at that high school but marches through town, gets over to that future MLK site and will end up right near the Lincoln Memorial. Even if they're not calling them counter-rally, they have contrary points of view in some ways and will be right next to each other at that point today, Brooke, in the nation's capital.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Josh, thank you. I've been talking to our control room. Also found out that Glenn Beck I guess rushing back up to the podium and at some point perhaps in the next few minutes, we could be seeing and hearing from Sarah Palin as she will be speaking, and so I'm hearing we may be taking -- yes.

According to the schedule, hearing in my ear, she's moments away. As soon as we see her step up there we may take a portion of that live for you here on CNN.

For now, we will go to break. Is 33 minutes past the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Despite a 28-year-old ban, sea turtle poaching is still a huge problem in Mexico, especially along the northwest pacific coast. This week CNN hero Oscar Aranda is losing sleep literally in his fight to protect these endangered animals.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OSCAR ARANDA, CNN HERO: In a way it's sad the way the turtles are endangered because of us. Last year we can have 200,000 turtles coming to lay their egg, but this year we are 50 percent less.

In Mexico, it is the people is not supposed to poach them, but the people believe the eggs offer aphrodisiac. So this is happening always and everywhere.

My name is Oscar Aranda, and I'm patrolling the Puerto Vallarta beaches to protect the turtles. Many animals depend on turtles to survive. When I saw how the poachers take them for selling in the black market, that was really the spark that showed me how important it is to help them.

You have to be there all night. A turtle comes, and if you are not there and poachers say, well, let's take it. After they lay their egg, that's it. The babies are alone. She returns into the ocean.

It was right here. We find the nest. We get the eggs and bring them into a safe place, like a turtle hatchery. As soon as the babies hatch we want the people to see them and learn. Release a baby turret that they will never forget.

My motivation is how brave the turtles are to survive. Against all odd they continue coming. It's amazing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: And now, as promised, I want to take you back to Washington to what's happening with regard to that Glenn Beck event. Here she is as promised, Sarah Palin.

Let's listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SARAH PALIN, (R) FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: -- all men are created equal.

Now in honoring these giants, these giants who are linked by a solid rock foundation of faith in the one true god of justice, in honoring them we must not forget the ordinary men and women on whose shoulders they stood, the ordinary called for extraordinary bravery.

I am speaking, of course, of America's finest, our men and women in uniform, a force for good in this country, and that is nothing to apologize for.

(APPLAUSE)

Abraham Lincoln once spoke of the mystic cords of memory stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land. For over 200 years those mystic cords have bound us in gratitude to those who are willing to sacrifice to restrain evil, to protect god-given liberty, to sacrifice all in defense of our country.

They fought for its freedom at Bunker Hill. They fought for its survival at Gettysburg, and for the ideals on which it stands liberty and justice for all on 1,000 battlefields far from home.

It is so humbling to get to be here with you today, patriots, you who are motivated and engaged and concerned knowing to never retreat. I must assume --

(APPLAUSE)

I must assume that you, too, knowing that, no, we must not fundamentally transform America as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor.

(APPLAUSE)

BALDWIN: Sarah Palin speaking about honoring our troops. She said they're the force for good in this country.

I want to let you know, we have people who are listening to her every word, and we will have perhaps a little bit more of a synopsis as to what Sarah Palin has been saying, but we will not take the whole thing live.

Stay here. More on the rally there at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and also the rally at Dunbar high school that is orchestrated by the Reverend Al Sharpton. Much more from Washington right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Glenn Beck's rally supposed to be a roll call for conservatives. But one of them is a no-show. We're talking about Lenny McAllister. He is a Republican analyst and political commentator and syndicated writer who declined an invitation to speak at that event today. We're going to be talking to him.

Also Tea Party activist Lloyd Marcus is joining us from Orlando. He believes Beck's views and values are far more consistent with Dr. King's vision than the views of most civil rights leaders today.

Gentlemen, good morning to both of you. But Lenny, if I may, I want to begin with you, because you're the guy who said thanks but no thanks when it comes to attending this event, right? I mean, set it up for me. Someone from the Tea Party approached you and asked you to perhaps sit onstage during this Beck event. And you -- you decided to decline. Why?

LENNY MCALLISTER, REPUBLICAN ANALYST, N.C. REPUBLICAN PARTY: I did, because if we look at August 28th, this is a -- it's not just a matter of rubbing against the imagery and legacy of Dr. King on August 28th, 1963, but people are effecting that the other high-water mark point of pride in African-American history, which was the nomination speech of Senator Barack Obama also occurred on August 28th.

So now we're asking folks in black America to take two of the high-water marks in our history at a time when we need pride and unity to turn around the crisis in black America and replace them with Sarah Palin supporting Dr. Laura's "n-word" rant, with Glenn Beck saying Barack Obama has a deep-seated hatred for white America and this type of vitriol and division type of rhetoric.

It's not type of thing we need in America and racism is bubbling up. And I felt I could not sit onstage and cosign that type of irresponsibility and indifference.

Even if you look at Sarah Palin's statements just now, she spoke to the bravery of our troops which I believe in, but the bravery we should be speaking of today on August 28th is the bravery of African- Americans from slavery through Jim Crow, the civil rights movement and today to fight to make sure that we're all treated equally and the crisis that we find in urban America is eradicated, not talk towards the black civil rights mafia and demonize folks trying keep on the legacy of the civil rights movement today.

BALDWIN: Lenny, you wrote this whole essay entitled "Why I said no to this invitation," and if we could put the full screen up. I chose this snip and want to read it. You wrote "Overlooking the significance of August 28th at the Lincoln Memorial through divine providence supporting the First Amendment right to use the "n-word" over the obligation of a national figure to support equality and decency and failing to move America past incendiary animosity and into insightful advancement is not the place to restore honor especially when occurring at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial." Would you say what they're doing is disingenuous?

MCALLISTER: I think that when Glenn Beck says he did not understand the significance of August 28th when he is a self- proclaimed historian and what he does is "Historical facts and figures." He did a great job at the CPAC speech earlier this year of quoting history throughout his presentation, but now he forgets the significance of August 28th, the significance of the Lincoln Memorial and through divine providence this came about is disingenuous. I'm not falling for it.

Black conservatives, the way we bring back black America and build the bridges between Al Sharpton, Glenn Beck and bring people together is making sure we hold everybody accountable in a 360 fashion.

I have one of the privileges to be able to talk to folk both, Al Sharpton, Ben Jealous and leading conservatives throughout America. And I can tell you, if we don't' hold all sides accountable, we'll never fix the situations we're seeing in America and will continue to slip into a second rate type of nation in the 21st century.

BALDWIN: Let me ask about your own conservatism. You are a black conservative, and where would you say you fall on the political spectrum? Some listen and say, look, either you're in or out? You're either a Republican or you're not. In terms of the broad political spectrum, where would you say you're falling, a little less of right?

MCALLISTER: No. I think it's pretty ironic you would say that, Brooke, because I made it a point to make sure I wore my Republican pin today to signify that I am proud young conservative and a proud young Republican, but I also understand that I am an African-American man. And in the 21st century we need people to change the crisis we're seeing in black America. That's why as a proud Republican I go to the jail ministry, speak to the kids in the streets, make sure I have the humble conversations with people on both sides.

I'm able to have a tough conversation with the Ben Jealouses and Al Sharptons of the world to make sure they understand we are all produce Americans but have to have the tough conversations to move forward. I'm never going to lay down being a Republican or conservative just as much as I will never lay down being a proud African-American in the 21st century.

BALDWIN: Well spoken. I'm going to ask -- I won't call him your counterpart. Lloyd Marcus, as you chuckle, I move on. Here he is. And Lloyd, let me get to you. I mean, you listened to Lenny, I'm assuming. I'm presuming you're disagreeing with what he's saying, his whole point, this whole rally, this is restoring honor, Glenn Beck rally is disingenuous. You say what?

LLOYD MARCUS, TEA PARTY SPOKESMAN: Go, batman, go. What are you guys talking about? This thing has nothing to do with race. I think this rally is a tremendous tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King.

BALDWIN: How so? How so?

MARCUS: The Al Sharpton -- well, because he's talking about restoring our honor in America. That's a wonderful thing, and if Beck was black, would we be having this same conversation? Because he's a white boy doing this thing on Dr. Martin Luther King's day, oh, there's something horrible wrong there.

This is a fantastic rally, a fantastic idea. The people at those rallies aren't racist and could not give a hoot about race. This is about restoring honor.

Glenn Beck features blacks on his show all the time talking -- because he's attempting to show America all of the fantastic contributions blacks have made in the founding of our country.

BALDWIN: Look, I've seen -- let me interrupt you. I've seen Lenny on this show. I've seen Lenny on his show, and you're right, he's featuring young African-Americans. I want to get to what you've written. I want to be fair. What you're written, "Glenn Beck's values and principles are far more consistent with MKL's values than are those ever the black civil rights leaders," I see you nodding your head, "who have sold their souls for political power to the anti-god, anti-America progressives." Who sold their souls?

MARCUS: Ben Jealous and the NAACP. Al Sharpton, the fact he's leading anything is amazing to me. Benjamin Jealous, he's a liar because he says he saw signs personally that said lynch Barack Obama and lynch Eric Holder.

BALDWIN: You want to call Ben jealous, head of the NAACP, you are calling him live on CNN a liar?

MARCUS: I am calling him a liar. Yes, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

BALDWIN: Wow. Final note, what do you say to the people --

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Hang on a second -- what do you say to the people who say, look, this is MLK, historic location, the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. It should not be --

MARCUS: It's perfect to have a restoring honor rally.

BALDWIN: An honor rally. And you do not see any kind of political motivation in this rally? It's entirely about the troops and about restoring honor?

MARCUS: Yes. You know, it's about restoring honor, I guess about bringing god back into the public square. That's one of the things I love about Beck, because he's one of the few people on national television who freely talk about god anymore, like that's become a horrible thing now.

I love what Beck is doing. I love what Beck stands for. I love what Sarah Palin stands for, too.

BALDWIN: All right.

MARCUS: This has nothing to do with race, and the fact that there's so much talk to make it about race is heinous, wrong, and evil.

BALDWIN: All right, Lloyd Marcus. We wanted to give you your air time as we did Lenny McAlister. You call him "Brother Beck." I appreciate you coming on and talking to me. Perhaps we can get some reaction from Ben Jealous to your comment that he is, in fact, a liar. We're working on that, I'm told.

Be right back. It's 50 past the hour. You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

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BALDWIN: The first family wrapping up a week-long vacation in Martha's Vineyard, and tomorrow is back to work, back to business for the president. He is, in fact, slated to speak in New Orleans on this fifth anniversary of hurricane Katrina.

And the president's schedule apparently gets busier as the week progresses. White house correspondent Dan Lothian has been traveling with the president and he's in Martha's Vineyard for us this morning. Dan, bring us up to speed as far as what's next for the president. When does he leave for New Orleans? Dan Lothian, are you with me?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We're here in Martha's Vineyard, the last full day of the president's vacation. They've spent the last few days after the rain dried up and went away out on the golf course. They've also been out on a bike ride. Had a chance to eat out with their friends here on the island.

But White House aides telling us while the first family has been vacationing, the president stayed very much engaged getting his national security briefings. In addition to that he's been getting economic briefings. That will be a big push, the White House says, next week when the president goes back as he tries to put pressure on Congress for a small business lending bill and also the continuing expansion of trade. This is all the White House believes needed to help the economy recover.

But, of course, the big news next week, the president having that oval office address on ending the combat mission in Iraq and also those Mideast peace talks later in the week. Back to you.

BALDWIN: All right, Dan Lothian for us from Martha's Vineyard. Thank you. And again, we will look for the president speaking Sunday from New Orleans. Stay with us. It's 55 minutes past the hour. You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

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BALDWIN: And good morning once again. Taking a look at a rally underway in Washington, D.C., you're looking at beautiful Lincoln Memorial. The Glenn Beck rally, the "Restoring Honor" rally has been underway about an hour.

And we heard from Sarah Palin. She just, I'm told, left the podium, talked about basically saluting the troops. No politics. Just troops talk. That's what's going on there in Washington.

And just a couple blocks away, there's a theme -- just a couple blocks away, Dunbar high school, looks to just maybe be kicking off. Maybe just testing microphones, I don't know. It this is where the NAACP-led Reverend Al Sharpton rally is happening commemorating this significant day, this day in 1963 when Martin Luther King, Dr. King, gave his famous "I have a Dream" speech.

We're keeping our eyes on both of those rallies and will be right back this morning with more news here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

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