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The Recession is Officially Over; Sex Scandal at a MegaChurch
Aired September 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. It's 10:00 a.m. in the east. And we have a lot happening this hour including Stephen Colbert. He's testifying before a house subcommittee on immigration. You may remember he did a piece on his Comedy Central show called "Taking Back Farm Working Jobs for Americans".
It was sarcastic and bombastic; his usual stick but we understand he's going to play it pretty straight before the house committee.
Now Colbert really did go to a farm -- go to a farm, rather - and get an idea of the work that immigrants do. Take a look and tell us if you think you should switch careers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, "THE COLBERT REPORT": Sam gave me a bucket to pick some beans.
Are there any beans that are in the shade?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No beans in the shade.
COLBERT: Do you mind not crowding me here, grandpa. I'm trying to pick beans. You're on my turf here.
Can I punch him? Did he say something bad to me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
COLBERT: Did he say anything bad? What did he say?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, scoot on over.
You need to get back to work.
COLBERT: I'm just playing a little Farmville. OK. I just want to ship my crop and I'm done. What did I miss? Are the beans gone? Did I miss something?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: But, you know, Colbert has nothing on our Gary Tuchman who actually went into a California field a few weeks ago and he did some real work with migrant workers without any shtick. Gary's with us from New York to talk more about his experience. And Gary, you said at the time you were the only American working on that team. GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, Kyra. I was watching the "Colbert Report" last night and I saw him work, and I thought this was great. And the first thing I thought of he was a lot funnier than I was when I was working in the fields. It was absolutely extremely hard work, unbelievably monotonous and boring.
We anticipated that but we wanted to work a full eight hours in the fields with illegal immigrants to see what their lives were like. And here's what we saw.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Benjamin Rodriguez (ph) has worked in the California fields for 32 years and he knows his grapes, which are called uvas, in Spanish. And he's teaching me the trade.
(on camera): Here's what I'm learning. You got to get rid of the green ones. Sometimes the green ones are way down, and if you miss them and they get to the grocery store and you go to the grocery store and buy grapes and get the green ones, you'll complain to the store, and the store will complain to the ranch, and the ranch will complain to me, the worker.
(voice-over): You make $8 an hour minimum wage and split $0.30 for each big box of grapes you pack between three partners.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: So Gary, you know, it's hard work and minimal pay. What struck you? In addition to that, what else struck you about this type of work?
TUCHMAN: There's a lot of arguing about whether illegal immigrants take jobs from Americans. They do in some industries. This particular industry though is a lot different. There are very few Americans who apply for these types of jobs. I mean, the argument is among some people, you raise the salary, you pay them more and then Americans will take the jobs.
But in a migrant field, as you'll see, it's very rare that Americans apply for jobs. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN (on camera): Quantos Americanos?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
TUCHMAN: I asked him how many Americans he has seen in his 32 years in the field. He has said zero. For 15 years you have been hiring labor crews to do agriculture work?
SANTOS MONTEMAYOR, LABOR CONTRACTOR: Right.
TUCHMAN: How many Americans have you hired over the 15 or 16 years? MONTEMAYOR: None, not one.
TUCHMAN: I mean has one ever expressed interest?
MONTEMAYOR: No. Not to come and work in the fields. No.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: It made me realize participating for eight hours at 105 degrees in Delano, California, which is between Fresno and Bakersfield in the desert. It made me realize - I know it sounds trite, but how lucky I am to have a job I love where I just don't look at the my watch waiting for the whistle to blow at the end of the day. I must have looked at my watch, Kyra, 45 times. Like one minute goes by, three minutes go by. I mean, the work was hard but it was harder with the tedium and the boredom. These people do it every single day. And if you don't do enough production, you are out. You really have to work hard and they work their butts off. They really do.
PHILLIPS: And even in this bad economy, you mentioned that Americans won't take these jobs because the pay is so low, but even in this bad economy, when so many Americans are out of work, are you still seeing that attitude, Gary, that, no, I'm not going to do it, low pay and it's so tedious, I'm just not going to do it?
TUCHMAN: In that particular field, the migrant work, it's very rare for Americans to even apply for jobs. It's just a very rare thing. Like I said, if the salaries went up, there are many Americans would then apply for the jobs. By the way, when I say work your butt off, am I allowed to say butt on TV?
PHILLIPS: Yes, you are allowed, and it's true. They do work their butts off. I grew up in California, and I respect the work that they do. It is not easy.
TUCHMAN: Yes.
PHILLIPS: And you showed us that firsthand. Gary, thanks.
Well, the leader of one of the largest churches in the U.S. says that he'll address his sex scandal Sunday from the pulpit. Bishop Eddie Long has 25,000 followers at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Three of them, all young men have filed lawsuits saying that he coerced them into sex when they were teens.
Long's attorney denies the allegations and dismisses these photos that have emerged in the wake of that scandal. Attorney B.J. Bernstein who represents the three men named in the lawsuit says Long actually sent these two photos of himself wearing tight shirts to a fourth man who is not named in the litigation.
She says it's just an example of inappropriate conduct. Now, later in the day, Bishop Long posted a twitter message to his supporters. It reads, "thanks for all your prayers and support, love you all." At the bottom of the hour, we are actually going to hear from a church member who sees Bishop Long as his spiritual father. He'll share his thoughts on the accusations and the impact that it's having on his church.
A new film called "Waiting For Superman" has nothing do with the strong man wearing a cape. It has everything to do with education in America. Hollywood takes on the problems with our schools. The people who made the movie hope it sparks debate and change.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Got breaking news out of Coral Gables, Florida, it's just outside of Miami. Pictures coming to us from our affiliate, WPLG. This is what I can tell you so far. It's a Bank of America located, for those of you that know the area and may know someone who works there or banks there or you might be working close. This is the 1500 block of South Dixie Highway.
Apparently it's a hostage situation we're being told. No injuries reported so far but negotiators are on the scene trying to work something out, not sure how many individuals are in there, how many hostage-takers are there inside the Bank of America. We'll try and get you some more video in just a second.
We're just getting this tape fed into us from our affiliate there, WPLG, out of Miami, but they believe that the hostages are bank employees and customers. Once again, not sure how many subjects are inside or how many hostage-takers there are. They are trying to contain the situation. Like I said, negotiators on the scene trying to make contact. No injuries so far.
It's been going on for about two hours. We'll keep you posted. Once again, it's the Bank of America in the 1500 block of South Dixie Highway. I'm told that U.S. 1 is close from Red Road to Mariposa Avenue in case you are trying that way, you can see actually the backup of some of the traffic there where police have closed off the area. We're working this for you.
Once again, a hostage situation of a Bank of America in Coral Gables. We're following it for you. We'll bring you as much information as we can as we get it.
All right. A filmmaker hopes that his new movie "Waiting for Super Man " will do for education what an "An Inconvenient Truth" did for climate change. "Waiting for Superman" actually opens today, and we want to take a closer look at what it means and the debate that it's creating. From our CNN entertainment correspondent Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you think that most kids are getting a crappy education right now?
MICHELLE RHEE, CHANCELLOR, D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Well I don't think they are. I know they are.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim has a message for America.
DAVIS GUGGENHEIM, DIRECTOR "WAITING FOR SUPERMAN": If we don't fix our public schools, we're in trouble.
WYNTER: The 46-year-old director knows how to get his message across. His last film earned $50 million at the box office, won an Oscar and sparked an international debate over global warming. If lightning strikes twice, his new film "Waiting for Superman" would do the same thing for public education.
CNN caught up with Guggenheim at the Sundance Film Festival where his movie was the first acquired by a major studio.
GUGGENHEIM: The system we built works really well for the adults, like the unions and the bureaucracy, and even the parents, but it's not working for the kids.
WYNTER: The film follows the lives of five children as they wait for their number to be called in a lottery, a bingo-style to determine which kids get into the best schools. An eye-opening moment for Guggenheim.
GUGGENHEIM: I drive past three public schools on the way to take my kids to a private school. And when I drive by the schools, it haunts me that we aren't doing enough for every kid.
GEOFFREY CANADA, EDUCATION REFORMER: something is wrong in the education system.
WYNTER: Education reformer Jeffrey Canada and billionaire Bill Gates tell CNN they participated in the film because of their concerns.
CANADA: We have a school day that's too short, a school year that's too short and we have lots of teachers who should not be teaching children.
WYNTER: And to offer solutions for the future.
BILL GATES, PHILANTHROPIST: Today the internet gives you that opportunity to watch the best lectures in the world. They're out there for free. If you take advantage of those resources, you can be broader and deeper than any of the kids were in my generation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Among 30 developed countries, we rank 25th in math and 21st in science, and almost every category we have fallen behind.
When I'm watching these things, you have to have some skepticism.
WYNTER: Wary of one-sided documentaries Jay Fernandez from the "Hollywood Reporter" says "Superman" has more to do with aspiring change than assigning blame. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The filmmakers and the studio are hoping that this doesn't just spark public debate but actually sparks some reform.
WYNTER: Fernandez, a father himself, says his greatest concern is that moviegoers' guilt might actually keep them from buying a ticket.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's almost like I know this is out there, but do I really want to go and stick my face in it because then I either have to do something or I'm a total schmuck.
WYNTER: Hoping to avoid this problem, the film has struck deals with several corporate sponsors to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars in books and school supplies for every 10,000 people who see the film. This way every day people can be the super heroes public schools are waiting for.
GATES: It takes a lot of outrage and a lot of good examples to say, yes, we can do this.
WYNTER: Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, not all of the reviews are rave reviews. At least one educator says that the movie is full of contradictions and half truths. Now later this hour, we're going to talk with the movie's producer about that.
All right. More trouble from the tropics. Tropical storm Matthew actually gaining strength and moving toward Nicaragua. Rob Marciano is keeping track of all that for us.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey Kyra, this thing really flared up yesterday and accelerated - well, not accelerating but it's moving quickly towards Honduras and Nicaragua. It's going to make landfall tonight. You can see this thing moving westerly at about 16, 17 miles an hour and really more of a due west component.
Right along the Honduras-Nicaragua border is where it makes landfall later on tonight. I'm sure they're already getting tropical storm force winds and some rain with this. You're going to get some surge but the problem with Honduras, Nicaragua, it's really mountainous. So they always get hammered with these things. They get hammered with mud slides and landslides. So that's going to be a huge issue.
The interesting thing for us is going to be that it kind of takes a turn or at least forecast to take a turn this way. So let's break down the actual forecast from the National Hurricane Center. Here it is, and this will be updated actually in the next half hour for tropical storm, Matthew. Right now, it has winds of 50 miles an hour. It's forecast to kind of scoot the coastline here. They may move this a little bit it south but the question is - what does it do in this area next week? And we really don't know but there are indications that it gets into the gulf and traverses up towards the north. So we'll have to watch that very carefully. What's going on a little bit closer to home? We are looking at rainfall that has moved across parts of the midwest.
Luckily for the folks in Minneapolis and Wisconsin, the rains have stopped but the rivers are swelling. And some of these are forecast to crest over the weekend, notably the Wisconsin River, which we could see flooding near the 1993 stage.
96 degrees with a high temperature yesterday in Memphis. There are a lot of red on the map here, Kyra, 97 expected in D.C. today. This does not feel like the first week of fall, that's for sure. Summer continues across much of the East Coast. Back over to you.
PHILLIPS: All right. Rob, thanks.
The great recession. Experts say it's over. Many Americans say, really? We're going to take a closer look through their eyes after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Let's check our top stories. The Obama administration says an immediate end to the military's don't ask, don't tell policy could threaten combat operations. The government made the response to a judge's ruling to keep gays from serving openly is unconstitutional.
The state of Virginia has executed Theresa Lewis in a murder for hire case. Lewis is the first woman executed in Virginia in nearly a century. She was convicted of plotting the killing of her husband and stepson.
And the FDA is slapping severe restrictions on the controversial diabetes drug, Avandia. Only type II diabetes patients who have no other option for their illness can take it now.
Out with the tater (INAUDIBLE, in with the salad. The self named renegade lunch lady is making a nutritious mark on school lunches.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Celebrity chef Ann Cooper calls herself the renegade lunch lady and she's making her mark by striving to make school lunches more nutritious, and now she's promoting salad bars in schools.
CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta actually caught up with her back when she began turning tater tots into broccoli.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Chef Ann Cooper is on a mission, to revolutionize the national school lunch program that feeds more than 30 million children a day.
CHEF ANN COOPER, "RENEGADE LUNCH LADY": (INAUDIBLE) lunch in America is chicken nuggets, Tater Tots, chocolate milk with (INAUDIBLE) corn syrup.
GUPTA: This celebrity chef who has turned into a Renegade Lunch Lady, has already brought her school lunch revolution from cafeterias in Harlem, New York to Berkley, California and Boulder, Colorado and she tells us she isn't stopping there.
COOPER: It's really - I mean, not easy to change but really changeable. I mean, you can change those chicken nuggets to roast chicken, the Tater Tots to roast potatoes. You can add salad bars.
GUPTA: Parents who came to hear her Cooper speak at an elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia, experienced school lunch, Chef Ann style. According to the CDC, one in three children born in the United States will develop diabetes, one in three and 30 percent of them are overweight. The cost to treat diabetes, $174 billion every year.
COOPER: We're going to pay now or we're going to pay later. We're going to pay for healthy foods and healthy kids or we're going to pay later with an obesity and diabetes crisis.
GUPTA: Cooper has launched a free web site called the lunch boss.org with 80 recipes to spread the healthy lunch revolution to schools all across the country.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And next week on CNN, it's eatocracy week. We're going to actually trace where our food is coming from, how government regulates it and much more. Starting Monday right here on CNN.
The recession officially ended 14 months ago but it doesn't feel that way to a lot of Americans facing high unemployment and a crippled housing market. CNNmoney.com's Poppy Harlow joining us from New York. Poppy, a lot of skepticism about whether the recession is really over still.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: That's exactly right, and what matters is how people across America feel. We talked to folks all the way from New York to California about whether their personal recession is over. You know, it's interesting Kyra, even this week, Warren Buffett said in an interview that he doesn't think the recession is over.
So the economists that say it's over, well, they certainly are not on par with the Americans that feel like it is not over. Take a look at these numbers. Not a surprise, but, still, a big struggle for American people out there. Nearly 15 million unemployed Americans, almost nine million underemployed Americans. A big jobs crisis. We talked to folks about how they feel. Is the recession over for them? Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess the top economists don't live in the communities everybody else lives in. I think the recession is ongoing. I think some communities it's more like a depression.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is nowhere near over. I do some inspections for people, housing inspections, and I feel that the market - it's going to take four or five years to recover.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a law student right now, and so until I either get a job or get a job interview, it's not over.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have a Masters degree and I haven't found a job yet. I graduated in May and I'm working retail and also my other roommate is working retail and we do live paycheck to paycheck.
Jobs are very hard to get, and a lot of people don't want to get jobs because they're getting too much given to them for not working.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look around. I don't know. I don't see many people here at the restaurant, so it may be coming back, but it's coming back slow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: Coming back show to say the least. Kyra, that person at the beginning saying for him it doesn't just feel like a recession. It almost feels like a depression. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Well, obviously, jobs, that's the key here. We're seeing unprecedented help from the government, but what about private companies? You know, when will those start hiring again?
HARLOW: That's a great question because it's the private sector that is the engine of job growth in this country. The government can only do so much. What we know is that the Federal Reserve has said that we have $1.7 trillion of private sector money sitting on the sidelines waiting to hire.
In the meantime, look at what the government has done, $787 billion stimulus program, more than $500 billion of that already spent. Criticized for not creating enough jobs, some say. We have had an unbelievable move in terms of extending unemployment benefits, Congress has extended eight times since 2008 to help people and small businesses getting $242 million in aid, Congress passing that bill this week and should be signed by the president relatively soon. So (INAUDIBLE) private sector is a lot of money that they're not putting to work to hire. We'll keep a close eye on that. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Sounds good. Poppy, thanks.
Next, church member who sees Bishop Eddie Long as his spiritual father. It's an interview you won't see any place else but on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: The embattled pastor of an Atlanta area mega church says that he will address a deepening sex scandal from the pulpit. Bishop Eddie Long has 25,000 followers at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He says that he'll talk to his congregation at the church on Sunday.
As you know, three men have filed lawsuits claiming Long coerced them into sexual relationships. Long's attorney denies those allegations and dismisses the photos that have now emerged in the wake of the scandal. Attorney B.J. Bernstein who represents the three men named in the lawsuit said that Long actually sent these photos of himself wearing tight shirts to the fourth man not named in the litigation.
She says it's just an example of inappropriate conduct. Church members say that the image of Long that they embrace is the mentor and the spiritual counselor who has helped young people in need.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BISHOP EDDIE LONG, NEW BIRTH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH: God told me to tell you - he just told me to shake your hand and it is a sign he is giving you a new hand. Whatever hand you played before, he's dealing you whole new fresh hand. Go where he directs you. Your yesterday can't bother you, in Jesus name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have been shot three or four times. Three times. I sold all of the drugs you could ever sell and made all of the money could you possibly ever make. BMF is tattooed on the back of my neck, Black Mafia Family. That's the life I used to live, and God brought me from that.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE; I have been going -- even when I was in the life, I have always come to New Birth. I always came no matter what.
This has always been my dad when I didn't have no dad. This has always been my dad. I might (INAUDIBLE) call him. I might not have his number or his text or nothing, but this is my father right here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Pretty powerful stuff. Late yesterday, Bishop Long posted a message to his supports on Twitters. It reads, "Thanks for your prayers and support. Love you all."
Well, Eddie Long built his church from a mere 300 members to the 25,000 people who now call it their spiritual home. And our next guest actually joined the church because he believed in Bishop Long and has come to see him as his spiritual father. Cornelius Best, Jr. is also studying to be a minister. He's a grad student at the Interdenominational Theological Center, and he goes by C.J.
C.J., thanks for being with us. C.J. BEST, NEW BIRTH ATTENDEE: Thank you -
PHILLIPS: I know this is not an easy thing to talk about.
BEST: It's not.
PHILLIPS: And let me ask you. There is no doubt that Eddie Long has helped hundreds and hundreds of young men. You're one of them.
BEST: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Tell me what drew to you Bishop Long, and what kind of impact he made on you?
BEST: What drew me to New Birth initially was the fact that he delivered the Word in such a way I was able to understand it. I was not only able to understand it, but I was able to identify with the struggles in the Bible. And he is a very sound preacher, and I do respect the fact that he is a very sound preacher.
PHILLIPS: Now, were you a troubled kid? We just saw the healing that was going on there in the church. He said he was shot. He was a part of a gang, and he didn't have a father, that Eddie Long was his father. What kind of background did you come from? Did you need a spiritual father in that way or was it different for you?
BEST: It was different for me because I was fortunate enough to be raised in a two-parent household. My parents instilled great values within me growing up. So, from that aspect, I wasn't in need of that. But one thing I do take hold of as a future preacher, because I'm at the Interdenominational Theological Center, I do take hold to leadership and ministry. I felt like that church was a great example of what a ministry should be.
PHILLIPS: So, it's been a very positive experience for you?
BEST: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Now -- and I'm going to get to some tough questions, and you be as candid as you can with me. A lot of these allegations coming forward. These boys saying they went through a covenant ceremony, a marriage ceremony where Eddie Long became their father and it was this whole -- they were given gifts and special blessings and material things.
Is that true? Is that what happens with each one of you as you become a part of his youth ministry?
BEST: I have never experienced that since I have been there, and I frankly don't know about that. But being a member of the church --
PHILLIPS: You never heard about that?
BEST: No.
PHILLIPS: That came out of the blue to you? BEST: Yes.
PHILLIPS: OK. But being a member of the church, what type of relationship did he build with you? Did he give you any one-on-one attention?
BEST: Oh, yes, I met Bishop on two different occasions, but I never had a one-on-one encounter with Bishop as far as us having a conversation. But from the time that I did meet him, hugged him and shook his hand, he was a very nice guy, very stand-up individual.
PHILLIPS: Anything inappropriate or uncomfortable in your eyes?
BEST: No. No.
PHILLIPS: OK. So, now we're seeing these pictures, hearing these allegations. How does that make you feel when you see that? What goes through your mind? Are you doubting -- are you in no way believing it? What is your first instinct?
BEST: Well, as number one, a believer of the faith, you don't want to see that. You don't want to see your pastor go through this situation, and more importantly, you don't want to see the young men go through this. But more than anything else, my heart has been for his family and the family of the individuals, the families of the young men because of the fact that we're focusing on Bishop, but the bigger issue here is he's married. And the fact that he disobeyed the covenant of marriage, if this is true --
PHILLIPS: Right.
BEST: Now, that's, of course, assuming it's true. We're going to see how it all plays out. As a believer, we don't want to believe it's true. We don't want to.
PHILLIPS: OK, so let me ask you, what if he comes forward and says, I'm gay? How will that strike you?
BEST: Well --
PHILLIPS: Have you thought about that? and is that in the back of your mind that it's very possible he may have a confession?
BEST: Yes, and very well so. And I think -- I believe that this is a time where the church needs to have that conversation as a whole. So often we shy away from it, and now I think it's time for us to address it.
When Jesus came on the earth, Jesus included everybody within salvation. And it goes back to the age-old question of whether homosexuality is right or wrong. And I'm not going to get into that. But the fact is, no matter where we come from in life, no matter who we are, it is our job as preachers to deliver the Gospel in a way that include everybody. That no one is excluded from that. No matter what your struggle is -- you lie, you cheat, you steal, Jesus is offered to you. PHILLIPS: So, you're going to go to church on Sunday --
BEST: Yes.
PHILLIPS: He's going to be at the pulpit. What is it you want to hear from him?
BEST: I want to hear the truth. I want to hear the truth, and whether the truth is that it's false or whether the truth is if it happened. But no matter what happens, it's not what I want to hear, it's what the congregation needs to hear. My heart is for the bigger picture.
It's not for me personally, because my relationship with God is independent of my relationship with Bishop. Bishop has been an agent to deliver the word for my faith. And I want to differentiate that difference that he's the agent to deliver the Word. My relationship with God is my relationship with God. I hope that when it's all said and done that those who have relationships with God, that they're not affected and they get the full truth of the matter.
PHILLIPS: You know, you mention something very interesting. You say that the issue of homosexuality is something that needs to be addressed. Is this something that in the black church -- because I've heard it from a number of people, obviously, within a number of megachurches that this is an issue that black men just don't want to talk about. It is just on the down low. Is that true, and why do you think it needs to be talked about more?
BEST: And I think is comes down to the fact that we must be, number one, comfortable with our own sexuality. And I think that the reason we don't want to talk about it is because it's an uncomfortable conversation to have. And the uncomfortability of it is we don't want to view it as condoning homosexuality or we don't want to be viewed as, you know, I'm homophobic. It's two different sides of the spectrum.
So, you know, the church takes a careful stance within that. But I do think in fact that as we have that conversation, we can put those things in the forefront. And you would be surprised as to what can happen if you address the issue at hand. If you just kind of -- if you don't address it, you never know what can happen, what the effects can be. But if you just address it, it can have that much of a difference.
PHILLIPS: It's like the truth can set you free.
BEST: Exactly.
PHILLIPS: If, indeed this is true. And in no way are we saying that it is. We're talking about the allegations, and if indeed they do prove true, it's going to have a huge impact on a lot of people.
BEST: Absolutely. Yes, ma'am.
PHILLIPS: How do you think the church will respond? Let's say he steps up to the pulpit and says, I've sinned. I did do this with these young men, but I need your forgiveness and I need your support, and he is truthful, if, indeed this is true? Yes.
How do you think the church will respond? How will you and the other young men that he has mentored will respond?
BEST: Well, I would expect for the believers in the faith, not even just members of the church but faith as a whole, to look at the bigger picture to understand that if it is true -- we don't want this to be true, but we have to look at this on a bigger scale and say if this is happening to the point that it's going on with young men, what makes me think this is not happening on a bigger scale?
So, I believe that if this comes out to be true, then it's going to be an eye of scrutiny from believers, which I believe that when it comes down to it, is all depending upon your relationship with God. It's all about your independent relationship of God independent of what your relationship with Bishop is.
So, I think if it's true, it's going to shake things up, and it's going to be a shaken membership and I think a lot of people are going to question a lot of leaders. And that's why I believe it's the responsibility for future leaders like myself and other preachers to uphold the integrity and uphold the moral and ethical standards that were set in the New Testament with Jesus.
PHILLIPS: I'm thinking of other really well known, in particular, I'm thinking of Tone (ph), the gospel singer. And he sold out at these megachurches; he was huge within the black churches and the gospel community. And, you know, he came forward and said, I'm attracted to men, and he dealt with that, and he was completely shunned. And a lot of people thought, well, maybe that, because of his influence and power within the community that that would change minds and start a conversation.
Is it going to take someone like Bishop Long's stature, his reputation -- someone like that to actually start a conversation that will -- I don't know, maybe be more revealing or honest on this subject matter?
BEST: Well, the Tone situation was big for the reason that he was basically saying that I'm homosexual, and I still serve the ministry. So, basically embracing the life-style of homosexuality, which comes down to the place-old question of is homosexuality wrong or right.
PHILLIPS: Got it. Which gets into the whole biblical discussion.
BEST: Exactly. Which is a theological situation to have, but now I believe that if the Bishop Long situation, if it does come out to be true, what comes to surface is the fact that OK, it does happen. This has happened. We can no longer avoid. We can no longer side- step this. This is a prominent leader. This is a great man of God, and this is what he's struggling with. And from that aspect, it's eye-opening. PHILLIPS: I tell you what. You're going to church on Sunday. You're going to listen to what he has to say. Will you come back on Monday and tell us how it went, how you're feeling, if its changed your mind, and where your heart is at that point?
BEST: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: OK, good. I'll see you on Monday, C.J.
BEST: Thank you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks.
Going to take a quick break. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.
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PHILLIPS: Let's check in on the stories crossing the wire from our Best Political Team on Television. And, of course, Candy Crowley is the leading force of that team. Hello, Chief!
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CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: How are you?
I have a little blast from the past for you, moving it forward into the future. We have a new political Web site, which is certainly what cyberspace needs at this point, but it is backed by Sarah Palin. It's called "Take Back the 20." And some of it is going to sound very familiar. This is aimed at the 20 conservative Democrats who are in districts that McCain/Palin won in the last election who all voted for Obama-care. So, that's what they all have in common. Palin has resurrected in this Web site talk of the death panels.
Also, you will see something that looks familiar. And that is on each of the districts she is targeting and those she suggests as better candidates, you will see that there are targets, literal targets, over them. And Palin took a lot of heat the last time that showed up on one of her Web sites. People saying that she was inciting violence. So, it'll look familiar to you, but again, it's called "Take Back the 20."
Also, out in California, there's new field poll out that we're taking a look at that shows Barbara Boxer, who in a race with Carly Fiorina, who is now about -- Boxer about six points up. Fiorina is looking at her internal polling; shows that about two-thirds of her support is an against-Boxer vote, as opposed to a pro-Fiorina. So, that's an interesting race that we have been looking at, and one the Republicans actually think they might be able to take up.
And then, if you have had enough of 2010, I want to move to you 2012. We are tracking some of those people who are, in fact, out and about who often get mentioned. Mike Huckabee is going down to Kentucky to campaign for Rand Paul. Mitt Romney is headed to New Hampshire along with Haley Barbour. And Tim Pawlenty all going to New Hampshire. That tells you a little something about at least the Republican lineup for 2012. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. And we'll see you Sunday on "STATE OF THE UNION."
CROWLEY: You will indeed.
PHILLIPS: Candy Crowley, thanks so very much.
All right. Hollywood takes on the problems with the schools. The people who made the new movie "Waiting for Superman" hope it sparks debate and change. It's already sparking controversy. We are talking with the producer, next.
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PHILLIPS: Time now for "Home and Away," our daily tribute to our men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq or Afghanistan for all of us. Today, we're lifting up Specialist Ryan Walker. He was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad in January of 2006. Joining us on the phone today from Albany, Oregon is Ryan's brother, Steven Walker.
Steven, thanks so much for calling in.
STEVEN WALKER, SPECIALIST RYAN WALKER'S BROTHER: Well, thank you for having me.
PHILLIPS: This was a hard thing for me to hear, that he had -- your brother had his bags packed. He was ready to come home, but he insisted on doing one more mission. Why?
WALKER: Well, he just felt that the medics that were there to replace him just weren't ready to take his place. And Ryan also had a big sense of duty to his fellow soldiers, and he wanted to make sure that he was there for them, and so that's why Ryan did that.
PHILLIPS: So, basically, he was ready to come home but felt that he needed to stay on the battlefield because there was still so much chaos? I mean, what was it that just changed his mind?
WALKER: Well, he -- some of his soldiers were actually already headed home. And so Ryan decided they wanted to make sure his soldiers were okay on that last mission and felt that those medics weren't ready to replace him. And so, he felt he need to be there for his soldiers and make sure they came home okay.
PHILLIPS: Yes, but it's just that he didn't come home okay. But I'll tell you, his legacy is living on and this truck that you have souped up in his honor. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this, Steven. Tell me about this truck and why you did this and everything on it.
WALKER: Well, I built the truck for several reasons. I bought it when Ryan was at boot camp, and he always wrote to me and asked, how is my truck running? As if - yes. As if my truck was actually his. He planned on buying one of his own when he came back from Iraq, but he never had that chance.
And another reason I did that was I felt the traditional memorial was not enough. I wanted to bring this memorial out for everyone to see, to give a face to a name and an insight into his life. He gave his life for this country. The least I could do for him was build a truck.
So, pretty much he has two parts to his life. Essentially, he was a firefighter and then he was also a medic in the Army. So, one side is the firefighter side, which is a picture of my dad and my brother putting out the flames on the front of the truck. It was actually like a family day, so my dad put on the gear and helped put the fire out with my brother.
And then other side has the medic side where there's a medevac helicopter escorting a couple of wounded soldiers that are being escorted out, and kind of a ghostly image of my brother as a battle angel watching over, making sure those wounded soldiers get into the helicopter okay.
And so, I mean, that's kind of what we did. And then on the back is, of course, picture of Ryan in his state firefighter gear when he was in school, but, yes.
PHILLIPS: Well, I tell you what, that battle angel is still up there looking over you and your family and everybody that he's touched.
Steven, thanks so much for calling in.
WALKER: Thank you for having me. Appreciate this.
PHILLIPS: You bet. It was our honor.
Please log on to CNN.com/homeandaway. Tell us about your hero. We'll lift him up.
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PHILLIPS: Well, every dog has its day. And now, some talented canines are starring in a new video that has exploded on the Web. From a band that proved it knows how to make a really good video. Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who cares about sits and stays when your dog gets to play in a music video? The band is "Ok Go." And they go to the dogs in one continuous take using a dozen mostly shelter dogs in their video called "White Knuckles". Oh sure there were plenty of mistakes, it took 124 takes; they wound up using take 72. The band says the dozen dogs loved it. DAMIAN KULASH, OK GO BAND MEMBER: You could see, like, yes, I've done my job and like it was so, it was so, so fun.
MOOS: Ok Go is known for its complex, one continuous take videos like the one featuring a rouge Goldberg like contraption big enough to fill an entire warehouse.
But that was engineering. This required training each dog had its own trainer giving it cues.
(on camera): We were wondering, what had the dogs so focused? Looking like they were at the U.S. Open. The answer, tennis ball with cheese on it. By the way the brown dog on your right --
KULASH: That's my dog Bunny.
MOOS (voice-over): The doggy choreography featured everything from leaps to shelves. Note the band member feeding Riot the dog a treat. A couple of dogs walked the planks. How did Tin-Tin the Chihuahua and the rest of the gang react to Ok Go's music?
TIM NORDWIND, OK GO BAND MEMBER: Basically dancing to a -- to a click.
KULASH: It was like a metronome but with the vocals over it so we knew where we were in the song.
MOOS: It took six weeks spread over a year to train the dogs, train the people and get one continuous great take. Did we mention Ranger the goat?
KULASH: You don't potty train a goat.
NORDWIND: No, you don't potty train a goat.
MOOS: The video ends with a pyramid that the band called a dog- amid. That was the hardest part of the dogs getting commands to go up and down in unison.
KULASH: I think it was pure luck that he's barking to the beat.
MOOS: But the band leader's favorite part is called popcorn featuring Spike, the latest canine pop star.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
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PHILLIPS: That does it for us. Have a fabulous weekend. I'll see you back here on Monday. Don Lemon in for Tony Harris today. Don?
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We're in the wrong business. We have to do something else besides this.
(LAUGHTER) PHILLIPS (off-mike): Synchronized anchors!
LEMON: Have a great weekend, Kyra!
