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North Korea's Next Leader; Breakthrough in Miner Rescue; 12 Overdoses with Spiked Drinks; The O'Donnell Effect; Trying to End the Use of "N" Word
Aired October 09, 2010 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Right now on CNN, drugged for sex. That's what police say happened to nearly a dozen young women at a college party. At least one suspect caught in the act when the cops arrive. And update from police and the university moments sway.
You know, time is running out in a good way for those 33 miners trapped for months. Late today we learned their freedom may only be days away, even sooner than expected. We're live tonight in Chile.
And a dating Web site really like none other. It caters to not so pretty people, the so-called Ugly Schmucks. It's having a lot of success for users who say they are lonely no more.
But we're going to begin tonight in North Korea. The reclusive, secretive country is right now holding a huge and unprecedented public spectacle in the capital. North Korea's only the size of Mississippi, but it is a nuclear power with one of the largest militaries in the world. More than one million people in uniform. Pyongyang is constantly a thorn in Washington's side. CNN is there live which is extremely rare. Our Alina Cho joins us now live from Pyongyang.
Alina, this is all about the succession of power from Kim Jong-Il to his son Kim Jong-Un. What's happening right now?
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're absolutely right, Don. A good morning from Pyongyang, North Korea. We are in the center of Kim Il-Sung Square named for the founder of North Korea. And what you are witnessing right here behind me is what's being billed as the largest military parade in that country's history. It is officially the 65th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers Party of North Korea. It is also a national holiday. But in effect, what this really is, is an elaborate coming out party for the man, the heir apparent, the man who would become the next leader of North Korea Kim Jong-Un. He is the young son of ailing leader Kim Jong-Il.
A little about what is happening today, security is incredibly tight. There were numerous checkpoints. Even our government minders were checked. And just to give you an idea, Don, my notebook and my pen were checked. So security is tight. You're not allowed into this square without an invitation from the government, but having said that, this is an extraordinary site here in Pyongyang. There is no other way to describe it. Some 100,000 people, members of the elite North Korean society are here. As well, there is an international delegation and it is extraordinary to see some of the western faces in the crowd, as well. But most important, the two most important guests here today are, Don, Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea and his son, the heir apparent, who are just to my right and above me here in Kim Il-Sung Square. Just an extraordinary site here in Pyongyang today.
LEMON: Alina, can you describe for our viewers what it was like before Kim and his son arrived? We understand -- and we have been watching your feed, we're fascinated by this. It was dead silence, wasn't it?
CHO: It is an extraordinary site here. I have to tell you, Don, in the West, we have seen a video over the years of military parades, but to actually witness it here in person, I must tell you is quite a sight. It is just perfectly choreographed. The troops, both men and women, all branches of the military marching in lockstep, goose stepping if you will. Just an incredible sight.
And what you see behind me is a show of the military might in terms of hardware, if you will. The missiles rolling behind me, the tanks, the shoulder-fired rockets. It is just an incredible site. Keep in mind, North Korea is the size of the state of Mississippi, and yet it has one of the largest standing armies in the world. A population of just 24 million people and a million of them, more than a million of them are in the army. So just an extraordinary site, Don.
What is so extraordinary as well about this time in North Korean history is that we are witnessing what will eventually be a transition of the power. For the first time in communist history, we will see the torch passed, if you will, from first grandfather to his son Kim Jong-Il, and then from Kim Jong-Il to his son, the third generation Kim Jong-Un.
And what's incredible really is we know very little about this young man. We don't even know his age. He is said to be somewhere between 27 and 28 years old. We believe he was schooled for a time as a teen in Switzerland, and that he knows some English, German and French. He is said to have a fondness for basketball, and Michael Jordan, James Bond and Jean-Claude Van Dame. But will that translate into Western policies? Will North Korea open up, if you will, under his rule? By all accounts the answer to that question is no.
He will be watched very closely by elders in the government. Regents, if you will. But he is also said to be a chip off the old block, a spitting image of his grandfather, Kim Il-Sung and very similar in body and personality to his father. So a lot of questions remain about what North Korea will look like under his rule, but clearly, Don, a very important time in North Korean history.
LEMON: Alina Cho with a rare live broadcast from Pyongyang, North Korea. Alina, thank you.
And I want to tell our viewers to stay tuned to CNN all weekend as we watch this transition of power in North Korea. Make sure you stay tuned. We want to go now to another developing story. This one is out of Chile, where officials are saying Wednesday could be the day, could be the day when the first of 33 trapped miners returns to the surface.
Our Karl Penhaul describes the joy when the drill finally broke through.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This bell sounds the moment, 8:05 a.m. This is the final countdown to the time they'll be reunited with their loved ones.
"They must be happy, just look at us up here. Imagine how they must feel," this miner's wife says. Eight-year-old Brian Arana (ph) hugs a flag dedicated to his miner granddad, Esteban Roxas (ph).
"When the mine collapsed, I shouted, god, why has this happened to me. I have been a good boy. I didn't deserve this. I didn't think there was any hope," he says. But the bell chime stirs new hope inside little Bryan. He has the words ready to welcome granddad home.
"I Love You, Papito," he says. Bryan's grandma is celebrating, too. When the mine caved in on August 5th, no one knew if the 33 were alive. But 17 days later, a test probe located them. It came back to the surface with this letter from Mario Gomez to his wife.
"Dear Lila, I'm OK, thanks to god. I hope to get out soon. Be patient and have faith. We will make it out. We will be happy forever with our family. We will see one another again soon. Good- bye, my darling, a kiss."
Mario Gomez and his 32 comrades have fulfilled that promise. Against all the odds, they survived. And soon they'll be coming home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And CNN's Karl Penhaul joins us now live from the mine site in Chile.
Karl, the digging is done, so why aren't rescuers going in there right away?
PENHAUL: Well, really -- and we heard this a couple of hours ago. In fact, from the mines, (INAUDIBLE), what he says is that the rescuers have got to first of all encase the first 100 yards or so of that rescue shaft because at the top of that rescue shaft, there is a risk of some rock fall lower down, though. He says the good news is that that rescue shaft is absolutely solid. So no problems.
They'll then going to have to test a little bit more the rescue capsule, the so-called Phoenix Capsule, and then what they've got to do is move across some heavy lifting gear, some winches and some pulleys over that. They want to go slow to make sure everything is absolutely right. And so he says about a day and a half to put a casing in. He says about two days to put the winches and pulleys in, and that takes us to Wednesday, and that will be the day that the first Phoenix Capsule goes down and the first miner comes back up -- Don.
LEMON: All right, CNN's Karl Penhaul live for us in Chile tonight. Thank you for that, Karl.
We're following a developing story out of Washington State tonight, where nearly a dozen young women were hospitalized after overdosing at a party. Police are now investigating whether they were targeted for sexual assault.
Plus, as midterm elections get closer, campaign ads are getting nastier and nastier. We'll take a closer look at some of them and whether they work.
And don't just sit there. You'll all be a part of the conversation. Make sure you join us on Twitter or Facebook. Check out our blog at CNN.com/Don. You can look for me on FourSquare.com, as well, too. We want to hear from you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A house party with underage people leads to at least 12 overdose victims and a possible sexual assault. Someone may have spiked the drinks. That is according to police in Washington State. The party happened last night in this house in Rosalyn. About 50 people showed up. Most of them students from Central Washington University. The police chief says the victims, all female except for one, did not take enough alcohol to cause their drunken and unconscious states.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF SCOTT FERGUSON, CLE ELUM-ROSLYN POLICE (via telephone): Well, what made it sexual is as the officers were sweeping the house for victims, one of the members of the sheriff's department walked in and actually observed an individual, a male individual, engaged in sexual activity with a semi-unconscious female. That's where the sexual assault had occurred.
LEMON: And that was the only person who was believed to be sexually assaulted or were the other victims who were taken to the hospital, do they believe to be sexually assaulted as well?
FERGUSON: No, no indication of any other -- any other situations or incidents similar to that. No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Witnesses tell our affiliate KOMO, the people who got sick all used the same bottle of vodka. The person who threw the party, police say, is a student at Central Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KYLE GAEDKE, CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT: It happened to our school and it just makes us look so bad for that. Like so many other colleges in Washington are just people are dying and people are doing (EXPLETIVE DELETED). We don't want our school to look like that at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, only one of the overdose victims remains in the hospital and that person is conscious.
Earlier this week CNN's Jim Acosta caught up with controversial Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell. It was her first interview, in fact, since she vowed not to speak to the national media. Among other things he asked her about Sarah Palin. Why don't you take a listen?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Is Sarah Palin qualified to be president?
CHRISTINE O'DONNELL (R), DELAWARE SENATE CANDIDATE: Is she running for president?
ACOSTA: I don't know, you tell me.
O'DONNELL: Well, again, hypotheticals. I mean -
ACOSTA: I heard you talk on the phone with her. Does she advise your campaign?
O'DONNELL: She does not advice our campaign.
ACOSTA: Does she give you advice?
O'DONNELL: She gives me, "you go, girl" advice. Don't listen to them.
ACOSTA: Does she really tell you to speak through Fox News?
O'DONNELL: Well, I heard that. She didn't tell me personally, but I heard her say something like that on O'Reilly. You know, if anyone knows about the politics of personal destruction it's women candidates, women politicians like Sarah Palin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, the rise of Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell is one of the big stories of this year's political season, and she's been a hot topic for the hosts of CNN's newest program "PARKER SPITZER," which airs weeknights at 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIOT SPITZER, CO-HOST, "PARKER SPITZER": I think when we look at the substance of what she says here, a lot of people are going to say, "you know what, we're not sure she's ready for the Senate."
KATHLEEN PARKER, CO-HOST "PARKER SPITZER": You know, I feel for the girl a little bit.
SPITZER: Right.
PARKER: She was a sweet girl when she was on the "Bill Maher Show," right? She was 20 years old. She actually - if you look at some of those tapes, she had a lot of personality. She's spunky and cute. You know, she was just saying things I don't think she intended to be taken terribly seriously.
SPITZER: I agree with that.
PARKER: And now it has taken a life of its own.
SPITZER: I think all that is not only fair to her but accurate. And I even defended her with that sort of crazy ad, "I'm not a witch." Because you know, she's trying to diffuse a tough situation. But then when you step back and as you get closer to November 2nd, then you say, wait a minute, there are serious issues here. I don't think she passes that threshold.
PARKER: Now, there are a lot of people who are cute and spunky that I don't want running the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Make sure you watch Christine O'Donnell go toe-to-toe with her rival Democratic candidate Chris Coons at the Delaware Senate debate. Our very own Wolf Blitzer will co-host this 90-minute political showdown live on CNN, Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
Coming up tonight on CNN, the "N" word. Many kids today say it, but do they truly understand the source of its controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well it would bother me when I heard young kids using the "N" word, when it was kids as young as 5 or 6 years old. They had no concept of civil rights, no concept of slavery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Coming up, how one man is on a mission to educate young people on this demeaning word.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Time now for "What Matters." And in tonight's "What Matters," a spotlight on the "N" word and its use among young blacks. We must warn you, though, this report contains language some people may find offensive. That's a warning.
Jarrett Mathis is a young Dartmouth grad who goes into community centers in New York and holds workshops educating young blacks about the "N" word, and why they should stop using it. CNN's Tony Harris has more on his mission.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JARRETT MATHIS, FOUNDER, EMPOWERING OURSELVES: I just wanted to start us of talking about the "N" word, the word "nigger."
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is an uncomfortable subject to talk about, but Jarrett Mathis is on a mission to change that.
MATHIS: And a lot of this stuff is tough material.
HARRIS: Jarrett's goal is to teach black youth about the origins of the "N" word and rekindle awareness of their history through education and empowerment.
MATHIS: Good job.
I became sort of frustrated with I think the lack of consciousness among black youth.
Before slavery, we were kings and queens.
HARRIS: Jarrett channeled his frustration into what started out as a college project to develop "Empowering Ourselves" now. A series of workshops to invite and encourage dialogue among young people by closely examining elements of black history that are often left out at school books.
MATHIS: This man's arm is cut off on the ground, all right? And again people are standing around smiling.
What would bother me when I heard young kids using the "N" word when they were kids as young as 5 or 6 years old. They had no concept of civil rights, no concept of slavery.
CODEY FORREST, EMPOWERING OURSELVES PARTICIPANT: I'm not going to lie to you, I never used the word. I see people getting hanged, then people laughing and calling them niggers and stuff like it's cool. And right now it got me to a point that I would never even want to let the word pass my mouth again.
DELORICA SCARBORO, 12 YEARS OLD: Pictures of the people getting hung and stuff, and they're having a party about it. It's horrible.
MATHIS: Can someone tell me what the word dehumanizes?
HARRIS: But discussions can be candid, something that Jarrett fosters by letting participants expressed themselves.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Getting somebody less than what they actually are.
MATHIS: A lot of kids who experience the workshop often argue that it's just a part of the language, but then I argue that the word is so negative and it was so retched and such an intricate part of dehumanizing our people that you can't take something that so negative and make it to a positive. HARRIS: Tony Harris, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Very interesting. In addition to holding workshops, Mathis has produced a 75-minute documentary which he posted online in July. It is available free for students and teachers.
Coming up tonight on CNN, a dating Web site for ugly people. Yep, we'll hear from the founder and one of its members.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Time to check top stories on CNN.
After eight arrests, police in New York are now hunting for the last suspect in a series of brutal anti-gay hate crimes against several men. The suspects are accused of holding and beating three men in a vacant apartment before sodomizing two of them. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg described the crime as, quote, "Torture."
Bank of America is putting the brakes on foreclosure sales. The bank says it will stop those sales as part of a widening investigation into flaws in the process. There are reports that some mortgage lenders seized homes without proper documentation. Foreclosure freeze is expected to last several weeks.
A dating Web site for ugly people? It might sound like a gimmick, but supporters say it's all honest intentions behind UglySchmucks.com. Well, it launched about three weeks ago here and in Canada, and its creator Joey Deluca told me he's had great response. And a member Keeli Wheeler told me why she joined.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEELI WHEELER, UGLYSCHMUCKS.COM MEMBER: Yes. Well, I joined because I'm looking inwards at the people that I want to meet. I find beauty is within the soul. And besides that, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So I leave that to each person to decide.
LEMON: So what do you think on the traditional Web sites, they were too focused on beauty and bodies and all that stuff, and so you decided to do this?
WHEELER: Yes. And you know, they not only focus on beauty, but also on material possessions, your income, things like that, that are so irrelevant to me.
JOEY DELUCA, CREATOR, UGLYSCHMUCKS.COM: This is a really unique idea. So far we've had 2,000 registered members on the site. But we've only been live for about a month now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, Joey Deluca is making sure membership stays exclusive. Members can vote a person off if they think the dater is too attractive for UglySchmucks.
Ten votes will get a person booted. But so far no one has been rejected.
I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. See you back here tomorrow night at 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. Eastern. "WHAT THE WEEK WITH PETE DOMINICK" is next.
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