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What the Week: Embryonic Stem Cell Trial Begins; Pols Blame China; Chilean Miners Freed
Aired October 16, 2010 - 22:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PETE DOMINICK, HOST: It's been five days since Carl Paladino practically accused Andrew Cuomo of being a "Cuomo-sexual," four days since the Obama administration lifted the ban on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and three days since the Chilean miners saw the sunlight. And it's been 90 minutes since I dropped my cell phone in the toilet.
Buckle up, kids! We're about to tear through all of it. Welcome to WHAT THE WEEK.
There's a difference between news and noise. I'm Pete Dominick, and I'm not just another pretty face, folks. On this show, we're not interested in celebrity gossip or virtual-reality reality shows. Forget Brett Favre, or whatever his name is, and forget "Dancing With the Kind of Stars." Are they really stars? I'm interested in the stories and issues that hit home.
So I'm taking the cameras to the streets to hear what Americans really think of the news that shaped the week. Time now to catch up on the week that was. Hit it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARL PALADINO (R-NY), CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: We don't want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New York's Republican candidate for governor, Carl Paladino, lashed out against gays.
PALADINO: Andrew Cuomo took his children to a gay pride parade. And I certainly wouldn't let my young children see that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And a power parade, the succession process under way in North Korea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Long live Kim Jong-un," they shout. His father, Kim Jong-il, the current ruler of this secretive state, visibly ailing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Obama administration lifted the ban on drilling imposed after the BP blowout almost six months ago.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a story that has totally gripped the entire world. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never have any men been underground for so long.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got these critical mid-term elections coming up.
CHRISTINE O'DONNELL (R-DE), SENATE CANDIDATE: You were just jealous that you weren't on "Saturday Night Live."
CHRIS COONS (D-DE), SENATE CANDIDATE: I'm dying to see who's going to play me, Christine.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: These ideas of my opponent are really extreme.
SHARRON ANGLE (R-NV), SENATE CANDIDATE: Man up, Harry Reid!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are you talking about?
BILL O'REILLY, "THE O'REILLY FACTOR": They killed us on 9/11!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So Bill O'Reilly said no one he knows wants to insult Muslims but that people, he said, are tired of political correctness.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joel Burns is an openly gay city councilman in Ft. Worth, Texas. He actually revealed for the first time his own experience with bullies that he didn't plan to share until the recent rash of teen suicides.
JOE BURNS, FT. WORTH CITY COUNCILMAN: I know that life can seem unbearable. But I want you to know that it gets better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINICK: Well, that's what's swimming up mainstream this week, but there are a lot of undercovered stories, as well, mainly because of the incredible coverage of the Chilean mine rescue. The big ones that come to mind -- a federal judge this week issuing a stay on "Don't ask, Don't Tell," the accused Ft. Hood shooter facing victims' families, and a federal district court judge in Florida ruling states challenging the constitutionality of President Obama's health care plan -- they can proceed with their lawsuits.
But for us here at WHAT THE WEEK, the most undercovered story that has ripple effects in so many areas, the beginning of the first human embryonic stem cell trial. I took a camera crew and went lunch crashing to see what you think.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Do you support embryonic stem cell research?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I mean, life begins at conception, so I mean, anything that stops that would be stopping life from forming. So it's pretty cut and dried.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So as soon as the egg is fertilized, which in this case it is, that's conception, and you can't destroy that. You can't it for anything -- I should say use it for anything but to create a life?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just an egg.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a fertilized egg.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But it's not actually alive yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It don't have a heartbeat, does it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just a -- really a zygote. It's just a tiny cell.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I see nothing wrong with it if you're trying to help somebody else.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But potentially, it's a life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It could be. If it was put into a womb, it would grow into a life. And that's the debate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I say go for it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, if it's going to cure or help cure diseases, then we've got to -- we've got to do it. I mean -- I mean, it would just only help, to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On a religious standpoint, life begins at creation. And taking something like that is considered a life.
DOMINICK: So to you, the fertilized egg, whether it's in a womb or in a petri dish...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is life.
DOMINICK: ... a fertilized egg, that is life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
DOMINICK: And you cannot destroy that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way I look at it is, life in general, for me -- because I've got three kids -- is so important. And to look at stem cell research on how that's going to help -- sort of help prolong life and help people in certain situations -- I'm all for that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I honestly, to make opinions about that, would have to have a little more research and news to go both ways and understand it more. I think one of the things is having ignorance to a lot of things and people just come up with their own opinions without really knowing the full the story, so -- you got to know everything before you make a decision.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DOMINICK: Yes, great point. You do have to know everything before making a decision on something as complicated and controversial as stem cell research. So give me 60 seconds to catch you up on what stem cells are and why this debate is so heated.
Stem cells are your body's master cells. Every other cell in your body stems from them, hence the name. Why is that important? Because there are cells in your body that don't normally get replaced. If they get sick or die, you could be out of luck. But scientists believe that stem cells could be used to replace them, leading to cures for conditions as devastating as Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, strokes, burns, heart disease, diabetes, and so on.
Sounds great, right? Well, here's where it gets complicated. There are two types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. Adult stem cells are less flexible than embryonic stem cells. But embryonic stem cells, however, can become anything and hold more potential. Unfortunately, they can only be found in a fertilized human egg or embryo, and that embryo is destroyed in the process.
Many see that as the destruction of a potential human life, and they want embryonic stem cell research stopped. It's a tough debate. To learn more about it, visit the National Institute of Health's Web site at Stemcells.NIH.gov.
Next, a sickness is spreading through our nation's politicians and no flu shot will clear it up -- or stem cell. That won't help, either. Our political "Plague of the Week" is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DOMINICK: So the economy has tanked, unemployment's nearly 10 percent, and you're running for office in a tough district. What do you do? Blame China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is Baron Hill running for Congress in Indiana or China? Baron Hill supported the $800 billion failed stimulus package that created renewable energy jobs in China. His big spending programs will force us to keep borrowing money from, you guessed it, China. So Hill's creating massive new debt here while he created renewable new energy jobs over there. Baron Hill, for Indiana or China?
(END VIDEO CLIP) DOMINICK: Well, some might call that ad strange. Heck, you may even say it's a little racist. But it's hardly out of the ordinary this political season. In fact, this week, "The New York Times" reported that no less than 29 candidates from both sides of the aisle are trying to accuse their opponents of being in bed in China.
So why the sudden upsurge in anti-China sentiment? And why would voters be so scared of China in the first place? I hit the street again to talk it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
When I say the word "China," what do you think of?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anti-American.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The job problem.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't buy in China (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Kung Fu movies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Their politics is still horrible.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Crowded.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like Chinese people and I like Chinese food, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Millions of jobs have gone from America to China.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's the first step towards a one- world government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You hear all of the people running for office complaining about, We've got to get jobs, We've got to get jobs, We've got to get jobs, We've got to get jobs, the president not doing jobs -- it's not the president, it's outsourcing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm very concerned about that. And I think the technology is here. We just don't use it. Everybody's looking to save a little bit of money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't blame anyone but progress. I think it's just the ebb and flow of the way business is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We created our own monster. We keep buying cheap. We don't care who it's from.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I buy what pleases me. I don't really look where it comes from.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you're dressed -- you're sharp. DOMINICK: Do you made a conscious effort to consume "Made in America" stuff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can you when 99 percent of all things are made in foreign countries?
DOMINICK: Clothing made in America?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Made in America.
DOMINICK: Your car?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My car is not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a Honda CR-V.
DOMINICK: Look at that, a union guy with a Honda CR-V. Why not a Ford, union-made in America?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happens is our workmanship is deteriorating.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Outsourcing and all the rest of it, I really couldn't even give you any information about. I just like to pay my bills.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DOMINICK: Well, joining me now to talk about it, Jesse Ventura, former Minnesota governor and host of truTV's "Conspiracy Theory," and Peter Sagal, host of NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me."
You got to admit, guys, on paper, China's pretty scary. We owe them over $800 billion. They've surpassed us as the world's worst polluter. And according to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, a non-partisan independent group, we lost 2.4 million jobs to China between 2001 and 2008. Still, is something more sinister going on here in these advertisements, shades of xenophobia maybe?
Former governor Jesse Ventura, you went to China when you were the governor, right? Are you afraid of communist China?
JESSE VENTURA (I), FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR: No, not at all. I found China to be very interesting. I found the people over there remarkable. And you know, I think the problem here, Pete, is this, when you talk about a superpower. The worst thing, in my opinion, a superpower can do is get involved in a bunch of wars around the world. History's proved that's what'll bring a power down.
You don't see China involved in all this stuff. They're taking care of their people. They're taking care of their economy. They're doing everything they should be doing. While we here in the United States are being the world's policeman. We're involved in a war in Iraq. We're involved in a war in Afghanistan. I'm sure Iran may be on the barometer soon enough. But to me, the worst thing you can do as a superpower is get yourself involved in wars throughout the world. It'll bring you down. And it's bringing us down right now.
DOMINICK: Well, Peter Sagal, are you afraid of communist China? Are they a threat? Are these ads just trying to scare people?
PETER SAGAL, HOST, "WAIT WAIT DON'T TELL ME": Well, I don't think -- I mean, I think you heard Governor Ventura admit actually what's going on here, which is not so much fear and hatred but sort of a sense of inferiority. It's like America is the scrappy, small high school in "Hoosiers" and China is the big powerhouse. Except in the end of our movie, they keep beating us.
And I think that's what you're hearing. It's, like, they're so much nicer and they built that really nice bird's nest stadium, and we don't have anything like that. And their back-scratchers are really great and better than our back-scratchers, which is why we keep buying them.
(LAUGHTER)
SAGAL: I think, basically -- I think if you were to scratch those politicians and poke them a little, they'd start weeping and wishing they were Chinese.
DOMINICK: All right, guys, let's switch gears and talk about our "Political Plague of the Week." This week, it's ADD, or Asinine Debate Disorder. One example, how about the debate you saw right here on CNN between Delaware Senate candidates Christine O'Donnell -- you know, the one who's not a witch -- and Chris Coons -- you know, the one who's not bearded Marxist. I don't know about you guys, but I felt like this was just like watching an hour-long attack ad, at some points about issues people don't even really care about.
Let's take a quick listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COONS: They jokingly called me a "bearded Marxist." If you take five minutes and read the article, it's clear on the face of it, it was a joke. Despite that, my opponent and lots of folks in the right- wing media have endlessly spun this. I am not now nor have I ever been anything but a clean-shaven capitalist!
(LAUGHTER)
O'DONNELL: Well, I would -- I would -- I would stand to disagree because, first of all, if you're saying what I said on a comedy show is relevant to this election, then absolutely, you writing an article -- forget the bearded Marxist comment, you writing an article saying that you learned your beliefs from an articulate, intelligent Marxist professor and that's what made you become a Democrat -- that should send chills up the spine of every Delaware voter because then, if you compare that statement to your policies...
COONS: If it were accurate, if it were true, I'd agree.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINICK: Jesse Ventura, you did a lot of things before you were a governor. You're an independent. Does it matter what people did in high school or early college years? Because if it did, how hard of a time would you have had?
VENTURA: Well, I don't think so because, you know, we all change. You know, if we're running for office and we're 22 years old, 25 years old, then, yes, it does matter. But you know, I ran for office when I was nearly 50 years old. And I think all of us do things when we're young that maybe we regret at times, or we look back and say, Gee, that was sure stupid of me. But that's all part of the growing process, of maturing and all that.
So I don't really believe you can hold somebody responsible for what they did way back when they went to college and things of that order.
DOMINICK: Peter Sagal, do these debates add anything? I mean, were there -- are there really important issues and answers and solutions being discussed, sir?
SAGAL: Well, they were, both in that one and in the debate in Nevada, but of course, nobody paid any attention to them. They paid attention to how well each candidate performed. You know, did they give out their talking points with a credible degree of enthusiasm? And that to me is weird. We're judging these fairly important political debates or contests with the same standards we apply to "American Idol." How well did they do? How well did they hold the stage? And if we're going to do that, I say, let's go to Delaware and make Crystal Bowersox senator because she deserves something.
DOMINICK: And you're an independent, Jesse Ventura. These two parties, they dominate the whole political system. Should there be a third voice at these debates?
VENTURA: Well, I don't support a third party anymore, Pete. I believe that the Republicans and Democrats have so corrupted our system that if a third party does rise up, in order to compete, it likewise will have to be corrupt.
I stand now in a new position. I'm for the abolishment of political parties. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and especially John Adams, would agree with me. John Adams stated that the fall of America wouldn't come from an outside source, it would come from within. And he said precisely what it would be, when political parties take over our government. Pete, I think we're already there.
DOMINICK: Jesse Ventura, always honest. Peter Sagal from NPR, why don't you moderate one of these debates? Come on!
SAGAL: I -- you know, I'm waiting for the phone call. I'd be happy to. I'll say this about Governor Ventura, though... VENTURA: You'll never get it!
SAGAL: When he ran for governor -- no! When you ran for governor of Minnesota, though, sir, actually it was the debates that propelled you because you came across as so much more of an interesting person than your two opponents at that time. And I think you tapped into the deep-seated, hidden Minnesotan urge to finally, finally be interesting. And that's how you got into office.
VENTURA: Oh, absolutely.
SAGAL: So I don't think you should scorn debates.
VENTURA: Oh, no, no, no. Absolutely. Debates won my election because I was polling 10 percent when the debates started, and I finished in a three-way race...
DOMINICK: Well, that's because...
VENTURA: ... and won with 37 percent.
DOMINICK: That's because you're so honest. Guys, thanks for coming on. Of course, watch Jesse Ventura in his new season of "Conspiracy Theory" on truTV. And Peter Sagal, NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me." Great to have both of you guys.
Men in a hole for more than two months, and one may have thought twice about coming back up. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DOMINICK: Step up, step in the Chilean mine capsule, $1, kids! Good job!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go Chile!
DOMINICK: You having fun? You want to stay in there for a little while?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!
DOMINICK: Good job. Now, you're going to have to stay in there for, like, about an hour. All right. You know what? Have a good life.
This is my wife and my mistress. You can just call me miner 21. Ladies, I'm sorry it worked out this way. Don't fight over me. Don't fight over me! Let's all get in the capsule, ladies! All right, everybody else got a chance.
Now it's time for me to check out the Chilean mine capsule, rescue capsule, whatever we're calling it. Let's see. This is no big deal. Plenty of space. Let me get out. Hey. Hey! Hey, you guys!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Unless you've been living under a rock, like these guys, you know all 33 miners have now been rescued after more than two months underground, 69 days. And that's the subject of our segment "You Are Here."
Let's take you through it. OK, August 5th, the main ramp of the mine collapses. No word if there are any survivors. But tribute are popping up immediately. Seventeen days later, the 22nd of August, a probe finds the miners, comes back with a note saying, "We're OK." Yes, but they were eating tuna and mackerel only once every 48 hours. I don't know if I could take that aboveground.
Four days after that, the 26th, while you and I are probably setting up our slip-n-slides (ph) for a mid-summer frolic, we get video of the miners, and they actually look pretty good. I think that guy is smiling.
Now, August 31st, a few days after that, work on three rescue tunnels begins. They call it A, B and C, plan A, B and C, not 1, 2 and 3, because the alphabet lobby always wins.
And last week, tunnel B actually reaches the miners, which brings us to this week. All 33 miners are aboveground, safe and sound, except for maybe that miner 21 who -- apparently, his mistress was there instead of his wife. I'm thinking he was probably hoping that capsule goes back down.
Well, late-night comedians were on fire this week. Which politicians got roasted the hardest? We'll tell you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DOMINICK: Each week, people do great things. Sometimes it makes the news, sometimes it doesn't. Either way, here's a look at four people this week who are much "Better Than Me."
This is Aisha. She's an Afghan woman whose nose was cut off by her husband under the Taliban's rule. She was left for dead and managed to make it to an American military medical team, who rescued her. She received the Enduring Heart Award at a benefit for Grossman Burn Foundation -- amazing story, amazing person. Aisha, you are much better than me.
Well, this isn't a person, but it's a dog and he's still way better than me. A 4-year-old Labrador receiver -- she -- sorry -- it's Pearl. It's a female black lab, and the once abandoned dog helped bring 12 people to safety with the LAPD in Haiti. And Pearl, you are way better than me. You know what? I'm going to give you a bite of my donut.
This -- this is Chance Anthony, a one-handed high school football player. This week, he finished off last season of high school football, the third year he's been a starter for the Breckinridge County Fightin' Tigers. I didn't even start my senior year of lacrosse, but that's because the coach started his son over me. But I'm not bitter. Chance Anthony, you're way better than me.
You know this guy. It's Pat Tillman, one of the greatest Americans ever. He's had a new completely built bridge over the Hoover dam was named after him this week, while this morning, I actually scratched my initials in Wolf Blitzer's locker. Fallen hero, football star, fantastically good-looking -- Pat Tillman, you are way better than all of us.
All right, well, you've heard the expression "Any publicity is good publicity"? Well, not if you're running for office. Each week, we highlight the harshest political commentary from the world of comedic television. We call it "Roasted." And nobody seems to have been roasted harder this week than New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. Comments he made on the campaign trail regarding his views on homosexuality were front-page news all over the country this month. And Paladino apologized, but my fellow comedians aren't letting him off the hook.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PALADINO: I don't want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option. It isn't.
JON STEWART, "THE DAILY SHOW": That's Carl Paladino making the case to orthodox religious folk that gay people will brainwash their children into dressing and acting in an unconventional manner. Gay people.
STEPHEN COLBERT, "THE COLBERT REPORT": I did not see Eric Cantor condemning New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino when he mass e-mailed a bestiality video. Of course, the bestiality video wasn't bad for children because it was a woman and a male horse. Nothing gay!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINICK: My old boss, Stephen Colbert. Carl Paladino trails Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo by double digits in the most recent poll of New York voters. And all that attention from late-night comedians -- it's not helping him!
Well, thanks for watching WHAT THE WEEK. Remember, stay engaged, think for yourself, and have a great weekend. We'll see you here next week.
