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Facebook Founder Donates $100 Mil to Schools; Steve Colbert Testifies on Migrant Farm Worker Conditions; From Nightmare to Stability; Top 10 Jobs of the Future; Police Investigate Diplomat's Death
Aired September 24, 2010 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: You know, I'm enjoying my time today at work here at CNN, but it's just not the same without Ali Velshi, so Ali, hurry home. But enjoy. Take it away from New York City.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Don, always a pleasure to see you. Thank you, my friend. I will -- I'll be back next week. Don Lemon, you have a great afternoon and a great weekend.
I'm Ali Velshi. I'm here for the next two hours today and every weekday, I'll guide you through the maze of information that is coming your way. Together, we're going to learn what's going on at home and around the world. I'll give you access to folks who can best explain what it means today, the impact beyond today, and I'll showcase the best ideas in innovation, philanthropy. And I'm going to start today with public education. My mission is to help you figure out how what's going around you fits into your life, so let's get started. Here's what I've got on the rundown.
His country has seen unspeakable tragedy, but under his leadership, the people of Rwanda are on the road to recovery. President Paul Kagame in New York because of the United Nations joins me live. Look back on a dark past and ahead to a brighter future.
Plus, a bloody crime scene, a baffling mystery. Police in New York are hunting for suspects in the slaying of a Nicaraguan diplomat. We've got the latest on this mystery.
And when you hear the words "Congressional hearing," your eyes probably glaze over. Not this time. Stephen Colbert on Capitol Hill and the straight-laced written statement he submitted to lawmakers was not the one he actually delivered.
But first, I told you, I'm going to start with education. This one actually crosses a few categories that we often cover on this show. A young entrepreneur donates a ton of money to a struggling school district. On the face of it, pure philanthropy. But in the case of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, a lot of people see his motives as more PR than philanthropic. Zuckerberg injecting $100 million to Newark, New Jersey's public schools. The announcement coming today on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Breaking news. Why Facebook's young CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, says enough is enough and putting his money where his mouth is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: The big donation, the same day a big movie about Zuckerberg and Facebook premiers. It's called "The Social Network." You'll probably be able to see it next week. Folks who have seen it say it doesn't come off all that well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Worth millions of dollars.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Millions?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You stole our Web site.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're saying we stole the Facebook.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know what he said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what cool? A billion dollars.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to get left behind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sue him in federal court.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't wait to stand over his shoulder and watch you write us check.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys were the inventers of Facebook? You're not Facebook.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Now, regardless of what Zuckerberg's motives are, Newark -- Newark, New Jersey -- that's across the river here -- can really use the $100 million shot in the arm. Newark public schools are in a lot of trouble. Let me tell you a little bit about them. It is New Jersey's largest school district, over 40,000 students. And it was taken over by the state in 1995.
The headline of today's "Newark Star-Ledger" says, "Is This Really the Way to Fix Newark Schools?" Let's bring in Tim Moran. He's the editor of the "Newark Star-Ledger's" editorial page.
Tom, I'm sorry. Thank you for joining us. Good to see you.
TOM MORAN, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, "NEWARK STAR-LEDGER": Glad to be here.
VELSHI: OK. First of all, are you -- where do you stand on this issue of whether this is PR or a good thing? There are some people who think he's trying to do it to offset the negative publicity of the movie. And there are others who say -- don't really care whether he is or not, if he's giving $100 million to Newark schools.
MORAN: I don't think anybody in Newark cares whether he is or not. And I can't peer into the man's heart.
VELSHI: Right.
MORAN: But this is not only 100 million; it's a challenge grant. So we're hoping for 200 million. That will be a big help.
VELSHI: So the newspaper says, is this really the right thing for Newark schools? What's that meant to promote?
MORAN: Well, there are some concerns about it, but most people I'm talking to are overjoyed about this, just to be clear.
Newark at this point, spends a billion dollars a year on its school system. This will be spread out over four years. So for some perspective, that's $20 million a year on top of a billion. So it's not revolutionary in terms of the money. But the hope is that money will be used to leverage real change along the lines that the mayor has laid out, which are overlapped tremendously with what President Obama wants and what Governor Christie wants.
More charter schools. Weakening tenure performance; you can get rid of bad teachers. Merit pay for good teachers. Accountability based on student performance.
VELSHI: How is this going to work? As a $100 million transfer, as a check?
MORAN: He's establishing -- that's just taking shape today.
VELSHI: Right.
MORAN: So they're actually having press conferences as we speak to explain some of the details. What we know is its $100 million in stock that will be dispersed over five years. Presumably, that will mean $40 million if the challenge grant is met for Newark. Now, the mayor's role in this is not clear. Right now, the state runs those schools.
VELSHI: And where does the governor stand on this, because really, it's the governor and his people who control how this money is spent.
MORAN: Right. And the governor is going to maintain legal control. What he's saying basically is I'm going to bring Booker in and basically do what he says. But legally, all the power still resides with the governor.
And if I can add, people in Newark, some people are concerned about this, because the way the law works, once control goes back to Newark from the state --
VELSHI: Right. MORAN: -- the people of Newark have a referendum, and they decide, "We want mayoral control, like New York City, Chicago, others."
VELSHI: Yes.
MORAN: Or do we want an elected school board to control the schools? So some -- there's some feeling in Newark that this short- circuits that process, and because someone from the outside is putting a big chunk of money on the table, the voters of Newark are getting cut out of the deal.
VELSHI: Now, if you live in New York, you know a lot about Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark. Maybe some of my viewers don't. Tell us about Cory Booker's role in this, because Mark Zuckerberg's got nothing to do with Newark.
MORAN: Right. Cory Booker must have turned him. He's a remarkably charismatic guy. He got elected four years ago knocking out a machine that was run by Sharp James, who was -- later went to federal prison. You know, remarkable political talent.
But just one re-election, by a much smaller margin. Had a few of his people knocked off the city council. After the election revealed that there's a gigantic deficit that's going to force deep cuts. His popularity has wanted a bit.
Still, in the first four years, he was not in control of the schools and also said he wanted to be. His focus was on crime. He succeeded, to a great degree, there. He says next term, "I want to do with the schools what I did with crime."
VELSHI: This is not a no-strings-attached donation. It's a foundation. I think we're going to be hearing that Mark Zuckerberg or whoever it is he puts in charge of that foundation is going to retain the authority to not continue to give money over the course of the five years if something isn't working all that well.
How does it feel that Newark may benefit a great deal? It's a good deal of money. There's no question. But that there are strings attached, and those strings are to a private company?
MORAN: That's awful, especially if the mayor and the governor try to launch some reforms, and they're halfway through, and they pull the rug out from under them. I don't see how that can work. I think they'll have to have some sort of answer to that to guarantee a steady flow.
I mean, we're talking about the kind of reforms that are starting to really impact people in this city. I talked to the head of the school board. It's an advisory body now. But the middle class in Newark was largely created by good jobs in the school system and in the city government. What the kind of reforms they're talking about is going to result in is in firing a lot of people who aren't performing. So there's a lot of nervousness in the city about that.
And to have someone from outside the city be controlling the leverage is not going to go down well in Newark.
VELSHI: Right. So a lot of people, a lot of my viewers who may have nothing to do with Newark are probably watching this to say, is this a potential solution? Is finding philanthropists a way to make this work? Do we know if there's any quid pro quo here?
MORAN: We don't know that yet. Our whole staff is digging behind the scenes. Tune into NJ.com, and you'll get your answers.
VELSHI: And have you done any straw polling of people in Newark to see how they feel about this?
MORAN: No. It's not to that stage. But I'm telling you.
VELSHI: You haven't heard a lot of people saying, "We don't want the money"?
MORAN: Exactly. People have little concerns, but $200 million, thank you very much.
VELSHI: We'll take it. All right. Tom, good to see you. Thank you very much for joining us. We appreciate it.
MORAN: Thank you.
VELSHI: OK. Straight ahead, truthiness comes to Congress. Stephen Colbert tells lawmakers about a day he spent down on the farm. I'll tell you about it when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: When you think about migrant labor, naturally, you think, Stephen Colbert. No, of course you don't. But today you might, because today the upright, uptight host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" appeared before the United States Congress -- for real -- on the issue of immigrant farm workers.
His testimony had its roots in a United Farm Workers' campaign called "Take Our Jobs." It's aimed at providing employment opportunities to unemployed Americans while spotlighting the grueling conditions many farm workers face for pitifully-low wages.
Back in July, when Colbert interviewed UFW president Arturo Rodriguez, only three unemployed Americans had signed on. Colbert became the fourth. He spent a day picking beans and corn on a farm in upstate New York.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, COMEDY CENTRAL'S "COLBERT REPORT" (voice- over): Sam gave me a bucket to pick some beans.
(on camera) Are there any beans that are in the shade?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No beans in the shade.
COLBERT: No beans in the shade. Do you mind not crowding me here, Grandpa?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: On the farm, Colbert met the Democratic congressman, Zoe Lofgren, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, and a spectacle was born.
I want to read briefly from Colbert's prepared testimony. This is the script he submitted before today's appearance. Quote, "At the request of Congressman Lofgren, I am here today to share my experience as an entertainer-turned-migrant worker and to shed light on what it means to truly take one of the millions of jobs filled by immigrant labor," end quote. Pretty straightforward.
Here's what Colbert actually said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLBERT: I am happy to use my celebrity to draw attention to this important, complicated issue. I certainly hope that my star power can bump this hearing all the way up to CSPAN-1.
As we've heard this morning, America's farms are presently far too dependent on immigrant labor to pick our fruits and vegetables. Now, the obvious answer is for all of us to stop eating fruits and vegetables. And, if you look at the recent obesity statics, you'll see that many Americans have already started.
Unfortunately, my gastroenterologist, Dr. Eichler (ph), has informed me in no uncertain terms, that they are a necessary source of roughage. As evidence, I would like to submit a video of my colonoscopy into the congressional record.
Now, we all know there is a long tradition of great nations importing foreign workers to do their farm work. After all, it was the ancient Israelites who built the first food pyramids.
But this is America. I want don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan and served by a Venezuelan in a spa, where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian. Because my great-grandfather did not travel across 4,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean to see this country overrun by immigrants.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Colbert -- Colbert's staying in character. He knew he'd get flak as a celebrity dabbling in real-world controversy, so he points out that Republican Congresses, too, have invited big stars to testify.
Elmo, for instance, testified in support of music education back in 2002. He even bought a suit for the occasion.
Have you ever wanted to be a space pilot? How about a fetus healer? We've got the ten best jobs of the future, and believe it or not, they are not what you expect. I'll bring them to you after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: It is time now for "Your $$$$$." The price of gold peaked at a little over $1,300 per ounce. This is actually gold futures. It's the price for gold that you will take delivery for in December. Why is gold doing this? Well, a weak dollar, high unemployment, massive government debt. People's perceptions all contribute to the price surge.
Gold is mostly used as a store of wealth. It's not the industry uses of gold with not as important to the price of gold. It is unlikely that gold will outright skyrocket unless the dollar, the U.S. dollar were to collapse. The all-time high for gold was in January of 1980. If you adjust for inflation, that price today would be over $2,000.
And now for some fun stuff. We're all about the future on this show. "Popular Science" magazine is out with their top ten best jobs of the future. The list is actually pretty hilarious.
First of all, there's space pilot hiring in 2020. With all the commercial space travel coming in the next few decades, this field is expected to be a hot one. You'll need to go to aviation school or the Air Force to qualify.
Second, there's what's being called an animal migration engineer. It's coming down the pipe in 2030. According to "Popular Science," animals are going to be on the move as their habitats are destroyed, so we'll be looking for people who know where animals should go and how to get them there. They suggest interning with a group like Operation Migration. I'm not making this stuff up.
This is a strange one. Fetus healer. They will apparently cure health problems before birth, and the hiring is slated to begin in 2020. You'll want to get your training at a fetal treatment center.
Forecaster of everything. Basically, you'll be analyzing data to predict the future. The demand for statistics workers is expected to spike 20 percent in the next decade. That makes sense, when you hear about all the data we created -- how much data we actually create every day because of this digital world in which we live. According to "Popular Mechanics" [SIC], you'll need to get schooled in computer science and statistics for this one.
Number five on the list, is an organ designer. Has nothing to do with music. It's about making organs from scratch, body organs. The population of seniors in this country is expected to double in the next 40 years, meaning a greater demand for organ transplants. To get a job as an organ designer, you will need to study bioengineering.
And next, we move to something called a human-robot interaction specialist. It's a career for folks who want to help robots and people get along. According to "Popular Mechanics" [SIC], you'll need to study artificial intelligence somewhere like MIT, Carnegie-Mellon University, or Stanford. That brings us to number seven on the list of best jobs of the future. It's called world watcher. Satellites will be used to check everything out from buried ancient cities to temperature and populations. Start with studying archaeology or geophysics, then grad work in earth imaging.
Next, galactic architects. You'll be building cosmic outposts by 2025, when President Obama says we'll first -- we'll reach out to our first asteroid. You'll need a master's in space architecture, which is actually offered right now at the University of Houston.
Number nine from "Popular Mechanics" [SIC], a job called fusion workers. People in this industry will manage fusion reactors. Fusion jobs are expected to rocket up, much like nuclear power ones. You'll need to study at the U.S. Burning Plasma Summer School.
And last on the list of best jobs in the future, thought hacker. By 2030, we'll be hiring people to read the thought of others. Just this past year, lawyers here in the United States tried to introduce evidence in the form of a lie-detecting functional MRI scan. And while it wasn't approved, that sort of technology is only going to get better with age. You'll need to study neuroscience or computer science.
This list came from this month's "Popular Science." For a link to the list and more information on each one of these jobs -- and seriously, they're not making this up. This wasn't a Colbert segment. Go to my blog, CNN.com/Ali. I'll point you in the right direction from there.
"YOUR $$$$$," by the way, we talk more about things to do with your money Saturdays at 1 p.m. Eastern, Sundays at 3 p.m. Eastern with my friend, Christine Romans, who is back.
Let me bring you up to speed with some of the stories we're covering right now on CNN.
President Obama won't get his wish of having some tax cuts extended before the midterm elections. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Democrats would take up the issue after the election.
The president wanted to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for households making under $250,000 a year. Republicans want to extend the tax cuts for everyone.
President Obama is calling the U.N. speech by Iran's president "offensive, hateful and inexcusable." Several diplomats walked out during yesterday's speech by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Among his more inflammatory statements was the assertion that American -- the American government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks to save a declining economy. He also criticized the West for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the Midwest, evacuations are being ordered due to severe flooding in some areas. The governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin have declared states of emergency. Flooding there has washed out roads and left entire towns under water. People are being told to expect more rain.
And the grizzly death of a Nicaraguan diplomat in New York is casting a dark cloud over the gathering of the General Assembly of the United Nations. "Crime and Consequence." We'll give you details on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: On today's "Crime & Consequence," police are now hunting for suspects in the apparent slaying of a Nicaraguan diplomat in New York. When his driver came to pick up Cesar Mercado Thursday at his Bronx apartment, he discovered Mercado's body just inside the door with his throat slashed. This hasn't been officially called a murder by New York police, but gruesome details about the scene keep emerging.
Susan Candiotti has been following the story since it broke. She's got the latest -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, in fact, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, in fact, was saying it may have been a murder. However, they are now saying that they have not ruled out a possible suicide being involved here.
And this part is new. He's describing wounds not only in his stomach -- they were 12 stab wounds in the stomach -- but also what Kelly now describes as a hesitation wound in the neck. So the question is, what is a hesitation wound? Well, in fact, it's described as something when, if there's a wound from an assailant, Kelly says it's generally more direct. But in this case -- it's in one motion. But in this case, he said, it was not in one motion. They were described as not being -- all being cut into his throat, frankly, at one time.
Hard thing to discuss, but that's what they're looking at right now.
So in addition to that, they're also saying that -- and we're talking about the diplomat, whose name is Cesar Mercado, 34 years old, having worked here for eight years.
VELSHI: Right.
CANDIOTTI: He said that also, human hands were found -- human hairs were found --
VELSHI: Right.
CANDIOTTI: -- in both of his hands. So that's something to consider, as well. They have not yet determined whose hair that was.
VELSHI: Right.
CANDIOTTI: So a lot of work still to be done. Autopsy is complete. They're talking about two knives having been found in the bathroom. Described as a very bloody scene. Blood in the sink. One knife was a 12-inch steak knife, the other one a much smaller paring knife. And both found in the sink.
Video cameras were in the building, but not working, unfortunately. So that's not going to be helpful. And they're still trying to determine prints they found in the apartment. Whose prints were they? Going through that forensic evidence, as well.
Also, there was talk and, in fact, CNN producers talked with some people who were in the building who said that they heard some commotion, yelling, banging, in that apartment the night before. However, the police commissioner says, "We have not yet determined the credibility of that information." So --
VELSHI: Wow. What a remarkable mystery. Just lots and lots of information, but it doesn't -- it doesn't coalesce yet into something that makes sense.
CANDIOTTI: You know, they've got -- certainly have done quite a bit in the last 24 hours since we last and first spoke about this. But sure, there is still a lot of analysis yet to be done.
VELSHI: Yes, usually when you start to see these things, it starts to form a pattern, and then subsequently, police confirm that. This is a tricky one, because there's just no information and nothing yet either from the consulate or from anyone else about any possible motive, if this was a murder.
CANDIOTTI: That's right. No new information yet from the embassy in Washington.
VELSHI: Wow. OK, Susan. You'll stay on the story. Thanks very much. If you get any updates, let us know. We'll get it right on to TV.
CANDIOTTI: OK.
VELSHI: Susan Candiotti.
He helped end Rwanda's nightmare, the massacre of some 800,000 people. Now, President Paul Kagame is bringing stability and economic growth to his country, but his critics say he rules with an iron fist. He joins me live for "Globe Trekking" after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: OK. Time now for "Globe Trekking." Our destination, Rwanda and its journey from the depths of mass murder to a country today of relative stability and economic growth.
In 1994, the world looked on in horror or just didn't look at all as Rwanda's majority Hutus massacred 800,000 mostly Tutsi, the country's ethnic minority. It was sparked when a plane carrying Rwanda's then president and his counterpart from Burundi was shot at on the runway. Both of them were killed, and some consider mass killing the worst example of genocide since World War II.
The bloodletting finally came to an end when a Tutsi-dominated rebel group led by now Rwandan President Paul Kagame ousted the Hutu government. That, in turn, triggered some 2 million Hutus to flee to what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, including some of those responsible for the massacres who began attacking local Tutsis. Rwanda responded by invading refugee camps dominated by Hutu militia men.
A recent United Nations report accusing Rwandan troops of conducting mass killings of Hutus in Congo during that period. President Kagame denounced the report as immoral and unacceptable. Kagame was first elected president in 2003. He was reelected in August of this year. His supporters credit him with rebuilding the economy and restoring order. The World Bank has named Rwanda the world's top reformer in 2010. Critics accuse Kagame of human rights violations and throwing opponents in jail.
Well, he's here to talk to me now. We've spoken many other times not on television and I've always invited him to come by.
Mr. President, thank you for being with us.
PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF RWANDA: Pleasure.
VELSHI: You have a country that is about as far as it could have been 16 years ago during the civil war. You have prosperity, you've stamped out corruption in many cases, but there are still issues about how that gets done. There are critics who say it is not a free and open society in terms of politics and democracy.
KAGAME: Well, but here we need to, first of all, ask ourselves, who should be making the judgment. Is it just some individuals outside Rwanda or wherever they read the books from or is it the Rwandans?
If you hear from the Rwandans, the majority of them will tell you they are very happy with the process of recovery and given where they have been and where they are today, they are extremely happy and they have been part and parcel of that process.
So I don't think the critics really have good grounds on which to stand to make any criticism.
VELSHI: To the outside world, though, right or wrong, democracy is often used as measure of progress. How would you characterize democracy in Rwanda today?
KAGAME: Democracy, like many other things in Rwanda, has seen very vast strides taken, just like economic transformation. And I have this argument that, in fact, it is not easy to have social and economic transformation without corresponding progress in a governance, in democracy and rights of people because as the same time, it is the same people that are part of this process that transforms their lives. So, I don't like the whole idea of, first of all, of these critics who really don't take time to understand the situation as I understand it, the context and even understand the processes that they are talking about.
VELSHI: Let's talk a little bit about human rights. This is a country that's been so strife, it's been so stricken with violence between ethnic groups. Are we any further toward harmony in Rwanda today?
KAGAME: Absolutely. I think it's even a wrong characterization, first of all, to keep referring to Rwanda as a nation just along the division of ethnic, tribal lines. It doesn't make sense. We are Rwandans, and that is what were before colonization that saw divisions and now that's where we are getting to again.
So the rebirth of our country where Rwandans see themselves as Rwandans and we've made tremendous progress in the last 16 years where Rwandans are taking on their responsibilities and building their future, the future they deserve to have. VELSHI: OK, so you've talked about progress a couple times. I want to take a quick break. When I come back, I want to talk about how you've made progress in Rwanda, the kind of things that have improved the lives of ordinary Rwandans.
And you're right in the heart of Africa, I want to talk to you about some things that are going on around you because the stability of Africa is obviously important to the stability of the world.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda joins me on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: So when you think about the growth, the economic growth in countries, we refer to it by GDP, gross domestic product, the broadest measure of all economic activity in a country. And if I tell you that there's a country that's going to have 10 percent GDP, most people will tell me the answer to that is China. Rwanda.
KAGAME: Yes.
VELSHI: Your economic growth is substantial.
KAGAME: Yes, we've seen average growth, our GDP growth, at 8 percent in the last 10 years. And this year we're going to release (ph) that 10 percent.
VELSHI: All right, off a small base obviously, much smaller than China, but you had about $230 million in direct foreign investment last year. And I was speaking to somebody from the World Bank last night who studies Africa, works in Africa, and said that you've managed to deal with corruption in a way that is otherwise endemic in Africa.
What have you done? How do you deal with petty corruption?
KAGAME: Well, we've been serious about building institutions and not only building institutions but making sure they work. And we have also put laws into place that govern our country, so our country is a country of laws and these institutions ensure that their laws are respected and everybody's behind it. It's their understanding of -- (INAUDIBLE)
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: How do you -- how do you prevent the bribery of customs officials and police? And it's that petty bribery that doesn't allow some institutions to be built.
KAGAME: It's a combination of issues. It's education, it's understanding how dangerous is to the economy and the lives of people. It's also making sure that there are incentives in terms of responsibilities people have in execution of their daily work and it's also making sure that everybody understands that we all are going to be held accountable.
VELSHI: And you've thrown people in jail. I mean, people have been jailed for corruption.
KAGAME: Well, the justice -- the judiciary does that. They are supposed to make sure that laws are respected. There are institutions that are responsible for that and all institution is in their respective responsibilities to make sure that we respect to what we are there to do.
VELSHI: What happened in Rwanda was probably one of the worst things humanity has seen in a very long time. You know, Africa has remarkable growth. It's a place of opportunity for investors over the next few years, but then we see -- and you've probably seen this new U.N. report that over 300 civilians were raped in the Congo this summer.
What do we need to know about stability in Africa and governance so that things like this stop happening? And I think Rwanda is a great example to use because you've come through such horror that you must have learned things.
Is stability spreading through Africa or do we still have to face things like this?
KAGAME: I think stability is spreading in most parts of Africa, not in all. You still have pockets of instability and insecurity. And in fact, places where there is (INAUDIBLE) or countries are close to being (INAUDIBLE), we still have those.
But the majority of Africa is seeing this progress in terms of stability, in terms of governance, in terms of economic development. So there are many good stories out there, but there are these other stories and these are the stories that we also that we need to focus on and work together on the continent to try and address that. So it all comes down to governance, to institutions, to leadership and making sure that we understand what needs to be done and what our responsibilities are. Unfortunately, not -- we don't find all of these everywhere we go, but -- .
VELSHI: When do you think Rwanda is going to be ready for full, conditionless democracy?
KAGAME: Well, it's a very difficult question. I think one needs to look at history of the countries that have bolstered (ph) stability and full-blown democracy. They have probably taken not decades, but hundreds of years to be that.
So it will be, I think, unfair to just think that you would be there in the fortunate (ph). But you need to be on the move, you need to be on the journey to being there. And you have -- and that's where Rwanda is. If you look at what you have achieved in the last 16 years, there is no doubt that we should be there sooner than later.
VELSHI: President Kagame, good to see you again. Thank you for stopping by to talk to us.
KAGAME: Pleasure.
VELSHI: President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
OK, snails in the kitchen -- a delicacy in France, now a big idea from India. They may be the hot new thing. I'm going to show and tell you about it after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Time now for "The Big 'I'" and this one is a winner. That's not just me talking, the jury has spoken in this year's Electrolux Design Lab Contest, the eighth annual global search for the household appliances of the future.
Last month, we brought you the finalist. Now, meet the concept that left all the others in the dust. It is something called The Snail. It attaches to a pot or mug or whatever and heats the contents with magnetic induction.
Get this, you don't plug it in. It's powered by the high density, sugar crystal battery. The energy comes from sugar, just like when you give it to your 2-year-old.
It's the brain child of Peter Alwin, the student at the National Institute of Design in India. Alwin's prize, 5,000 euros, about $6,700, along with a six-month paid internship at a Electrolux Global Design Center.
Second prize, if you're keeping score at home, by the way, goes to the BioRobot refrigerator. I like this one! You may remember instead of cooling your food in a box, like a fridge, you shove it into this panel of green goo, like the one in front of you. It kind of molds around it and cools it or whatever. In third place, Elements Modular Kitchen. Essentially, a wall mounted appliance that cooks and chills your food while lighting and air-conditioning the room. Look at that! That whole unit is that third place winner.
For more information on this, by the way, head to my blog, CNN.com/ali.
Voters are ready to send the message, send some message in the midterms. Your CNNpolitics.com update is next.
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VELSHI: Just in to CNN. We are hearing of a possible compromise involving Middle East peace talks and the thorny issue of Israeli settlement building. Foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty is in Washington with an update on this. Jill?
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ali, you know, the problem is this moratorium on settlements in Israel is expiring. And so, what do you do? How do you bring the Palestinians and the Israelis together, continuing the talks that they have been involved in without having either side look as if it's caving?
And the diplomatic sources that CNN is talking to say that this is how it could work. The idea would be you would let that moratorium expire. But, the settlers, the Israel settlers who would want to do any type of construction would have to get a license. They'd have to apply for a license. That would buy some time. And then, now, what would the Palestinians do? Well, they would have to pledge they wouldn't use that issue of construction as an excuse or a threat to walk away from the talks.
Now, there's no guarantee this will work, but that could be the idea, and we also understand from those sources that Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, isn't opposed to extending that delay. But only again, if the Palestinians were and Mahmoud Abbas were to stay at the table. Ali.
VELSHI: OK, so the moratorium, bottom line is moratorium could be lifted, but building may not actually take place. That's the -- that's how they're presenting this to the Palestinians?
DOUGHERTY: Exactly. Yes. In other words, it kind of slips by. Sunday comes -- the deadline, by the way, is Sunday. Sunday comes. The moratorium is lifted.
But in effect, it continues because those settlers would have to get approval. They'd have to get the approval to do any type of construction. And that would slow things down, buying some time.
VELSHI: OK. Very interesting. I mean, there are a lot of naysayers about this new round of negotiations. This is the sort of third thing in the rode -- third roadblock they had, and they seem to be working through it. One can only hope.
Jill, thanks very much for bringing us the update. If you get any more, let us know.
DOUGHERTY: OK.
VELSHI: Time for a "CNN Equals Politics" update. Right now, CNN senior political editor Mark Preston at the CNNPolitics.com desk in Washington.
Mark, what have you got going on? And who is this guy in front of you?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: We'll get to him in a second. I'll tell you, I'm right in the middle of it all. I have Jill right here. I've got Francis to my right and I got Alex Mooney in front of me.
But let's talk about some poll numbers that Democrats aren't very happy about, Ali. First of all, we talked last hour about how Republicans have a nine-point lead on the generic ballot. Let's take a quick look at that number. Fifty-three percent to 44 percent. The GOP has that lead over Democrats 39 days before the election day.
But are they pro-Republican voters? Let's take a look at the next numbers. Support for Republicans, 44 percent. Opposition to Democrats, 49 percent. So, what we're seeing here is an angry electorate, an anti-Democratic electorate, an anti-incumbent electorate. So, that's what Democrats are swimming up against as we head into November, Ali.
Let's talk a little bit more about the midterm elections. Republicans think that they can take up the seat that was once held by Senator Robert Byrd. Of course, Senator Byrd passed away earlier this year. A placeholder has that seat right now.
And a very popular governor, Joe Manchin, is running for that seat. However, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is really the campaign arm for Senate Republicans, is spending $1.2 million over the next two weeks to try to beat up Manchin and compare him to President Obama. President Obama doesn't have a great favorability rating in West Virginia. In fact, in the 2008 election, John McCain won that state.
And Alex Mooney is going to have a story for us in the next hour about Meg Whitman. We'll get back to that with Alex next hour.
But let's talk about this story. Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, Ali, came out of nowhere. Showed that chivalry is still alive in politics. Certainly in New Jersey. Meg Whitman, who is running for governor in California, was heckled at an event that Chris Christie was at with her. He stood up, he stared down the heckler. And Ali, I tell you what, if I am in a bar room fight, while I think I'd like to have you by my side, I want Chris Christie to have my back. Ali.
VELSHI: Have you forgotten about the bar room fights we've been in in our cross-country journeys on the CNN Election Express?
PRESTON: What happens on the road -
VELSHI: I saved you many times.
PRESTON: -- stays on road. Please, Ali. Keep it on the road.
VELSHI: So, you were promoting Alex Mooney because he's going to have something later on?
PRESTON: He'll have something for us at 2:45 about Meg Whitman, something she's not necessarily going to be happy about.
VELSHI: All right, very good. We look forward to seeing you both. Thanks very much, Mark.
Be sure to stay with CNN for complete coverage of the key races and key issues heading into the critical midterm elections. Your next "CNN Equals Politics" update is just an hour away.
Well, music to drive by. One auto engineer has some ideas on a play list that'll puts your car stereo to the test. We're going to check it out.
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VELSHI: I don't know about you, but for me, the most important feature of my car is the stereo, whether it's talk, rock or something in between. I'm a big radio-listening guy.
So, when you're thinking about buying something new, take the tunes into account. Matt Kirsch is an audio engineer for GM. He put out a list of top tunes to test drive your radio. At number four is the Eagles' "Hotel California." The opening guitar solo, powerful drums are the key to this one.
Number three, Alicia Keys' song "No One." Her vocals should test the clarity of your sound system. It's the same story with "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez. Also, check out the instrumental interludes on that one.
The number one testing tune - didn't know this -- "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones. Makes sense. Matt Kirsch says you should feel her natural voice hitting you in the face.
That's an interesting way to put it. You can find the complete top ten at CNN.com.
Now, if you know me, you know not only do I love the stereo. I love good food. I actually just love food. So, imagine my excitement when I saw the new addition to the menu at the fair in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Fried butter and jelly beans. Fried butter and fried jelly beans. I am not the only one who thought, "Oh, yes."
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I walked in. I saw fried jelly beans. Never heard of it before. Said let's give it a try. And they're amazing.
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VELSHI: OK, there you're looking at it. The butter and the jelly -- look at this thing! The butter and the jelly beans are wrapped in dough and then deep fried. You throw on some powdered sugar and you have an award winner. Or an artery clogger.
In St. Joseph county, Michigan, they use cinnamon sugar. OK. So, this made us think of some other fried fair food out there. In San Diego county, it is fried White Castle burger, fried avocados and a zucchini weenie, which is a hot dog stuffed inside a zucchini and then deep fried.
But the Texas State Fair takes the cake -- and the fries -- probably fried as well. They have all the standards, but for a nice dinner, you can start with the deep fried club salad, then a fried Frito pie and wash it down with a beer. Which, by the way, is also deep fried. That's not your drink of choice, they also offer a fried margarita.
I used to think all this stuff was fascinating until I realized that all you have to do is put everything into some kind of a batter or a dough and then fry it.
