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Facebook Leaks Sensitive Information; Kentucky Senate Candidates Go Rough; Bin Laden Living in Comfort; Botox: Not Just for Wrinkles Anymore; Tea Party Rallies in Nevada

Aired October 18, 2010 - 09:58   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, if you are on Facebook, listen up. The site says it's taking steps to fix a data breach where your name and your friends' names could end up in the hands of advertising and Internet tracking companies. The problem is with some of the site's most popular apps, like Farmville. Now that we know this has happened, the big question is will advertisers take advantage of this information and will they be responsible.

Let's continue our conversation with Paul Gillin, who has written three books on social media. He's a long-time technology journalist.

And Paul, you know, we started to touch on this a little bit in the 9:00 hour but I think that's what people are wondering. It's out there. The security breach happened. The information has been leaked. What do you think -- you work with advertisers and marketers all of the time. What do you think that they'll do? This is the perfect opportunity for them to get the information that they want but at the same time it's our private information.

PAUL GILLIN, SOCIAL MEDIA SPEAKER: And they know that, kyra, and I think they have to be very careful about how they use that information. Most advertisers have policies -- public policies against inappropriate use of private information that they may gather, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

And I believe that if they were to misuse this information by creating profiles that expose people's privacy to unsatisfactory or to dangerous use, I believe that the retribution will be swift and quick from other consumers, and ultimately, it's not in the best interest of advertisers to misuse private information.

PHILLIPS: And there really isn't anything that we could do about it. We can't buy software to protect our Facebook accounts. We can't log off permanently. Once we're there and we put some information out there, we've really got to know that nothing is ever going to be 100 percent protected, right?

GILLIN: It really isn't. The Internet was not designed to be secure and the services that people use on the Internet such as Facebook and Twitter are essentially public publishing services. So when we publish information about ourselves, we run the risk that other people will find out about it. We essentially put our fate in the hands of Facebook, our trust in the hands of Facebook to handle that information responsibly. I believe that Facebook intends to do that because it wouldn't be in its best interests to do otherwise. However, Facebook is managing -- is in uncharted territory. They are creating applications for use by potentially hundreds of millions of people. No one has ever done that before, and mistakes are going to happen. Breaches will occur. And I think we have to leave it to the -- we have to trust that the agencies that Facebook works with will be responsible in how they handle that information.

PHILLIPS: How did it happen? Can we even really figure that out or understand how the hole became so big?

GILLIN: Well, there are so many -- you were just talking about the gulf oil spill. And you imagine this is kind of a gulf oil spill for Facebook, in some ways. These projects are enormously complex. There are a great many moving parts to software applications, and almost anything that breaks can affect -- can have a ripple effect on other parts of the software down the line.

You know, when you consider Microsoft is still patching software today that was introduced 10 years ago -- and Facebook is doing this in the public realm. So I don't think we can assume complete security because the software itself is so complex. The best measures we can take are to limit the amount of private information that we post on Internet sites and that -- to trust that the -- Facebook needs to work with advertisers who will promise that if they become -- come into possession of this information, one way or another, that they will not misuse it.

PHILLIPS: Paul Gillin, great talking to you. Thanks, Paul.

Now, Facebook acknowledges the problem. "While knowledge of user ID does not permit access to anyone's information on Facebook" -- I'm actually reading a statement now. I better make that clear. They go on to say, "We plan to introduce new technical systems that will dramatically limit the sharing of user IDs. It is important to note that there is no evidence that any personal information was misused or even collected as a result of this issue. In fact, all of the companies questioned about this issue said publicly that they did not use the user IDs or did not use them to obtain personal information."

So what are you saying about this? A lot of you have been commenting about this on my blog. Let's take a look at a couple of what you had to say. Deanna said that, "Privacy concerns have absolutely made me cautious of what I post on line. It's best to assume that what is posted on line, whether later erased or not, can always be retrieved by someone looking hard enough, especially when using third party applications on sites like Facebook." Guess Roe writes -- or Gustroh writes, "I've never used Facebook or Twitter. I can see no use or benefit of sharing my life with strangers." Don says, "It's reinforced what I have been telling all my friends for a long time. If you think Big Brother isn't watching, you're a fool."

Well, if you have an opinion on this, head to my blog, CNN.com/kyra. Let me know what you think.

Well, things are definitely heating up in politics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY SENATE CANDIDATE: Jack, you know how we tell when you're lying? It's when your lips are moving, OK? You're accusing me of crimes. You just -- do you know nothing about the process? You're going to stand over there and accuse me of a crime from 30 years ago from some anonymous source? How ridiculous are you? You embarrass this race!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: From sea to shining sea and everything in between, politicians taking jabs and hitting below the belt

It's an issue plaguing families across the country and cause for many sleepless nights, the fear of losing their homes. We're live in Charlotte, where foreclosures and the economy are foremost on voters' minds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Fifteen days away from a mid-term election that could change the face of Congress. And one ugly Senate fight in Kentucky got even uglier last night. Republican candidate and Tea Party favorite Rand Paul faced off in a debate with Democrat Jack Conway. Paul demanded an apology from him for a new ad claiming that Paul was a member of a secret society in college, one that called the Bible a hoax. Paul called that claim a lie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: If you wish to enter into the debate, step up. Cast aside these attacks on my personal religion. Jack, you should be ashamed of yourself. You should apologize. Have you no decency? Have you no shame?

JACK CONWAY (D), KENTUCKY SENATE CANDIDATE: May I address that, Mark (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. We're going to move on.

(LAUGHTER)

CONWAY: I think Rand Paul has two questions to answer here tonight. You know, the president of Baylor University, before you went to college there, banned a group. He banned them because they, quote, unquote, were "making fun" of Christianity and Christ. Why did he freely join a group known for mocking or making fun of people of faith? And secondly, when is it ever a good idea -- a good idea, to tie up a woman and ask her to kneel before a false idol, your god that you call Aqua Buddha (ph)? Those are two fundamental questions I hope we get answered here tonight.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: Well, Paul refused to shake hands with Conway after that debate, bolting right past him at the end, we could see more fireworks in another debate tonight. This one in the New York governor's race. Andrew Cuomo holds a wide lead over Republican Carl Paladino, who's still facing questions over his comments on homosexuality last week.

Many voters are not waiting until November 2nd. Early voting has actually been under way in several states, and starting today, more Americans can cast ballots. Early voting begins in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Texas and the District of Columbia.

CNN's "Election Express" following the campaign trail, as well, this week in the Southeast. T.J. Holmes taking the pulse of voters there in Charlotte, North Carolina, today. Hey, T.J.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, there, to you, Kyra. During this whole economic downturn and we talk about politics, you always hear two streets thrown about by politicians sometimes. They talk about Wall Street and they talk about Main Street. Well, I need to throw another street into the mix. That street is right here in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's the street where Bank of America is headquartered, and so many other financial institutions. That's Trion (ph) Street. You may have never heard of it, but I assure you there's a good chance your money or even your mortgage is somewhere down here on Trion Street in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Now you throw into the mix this whole new foreclosure mess we have. So many foreclosures have been put on hold, and a lot of people have that now to deal with on the back of their minds as they get ready to vote.

We checked in with one of our local affiliate reporters here, Jim Bradley, and listen to him now introduce to you a family that kind of sums up this new confusion.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm told we don't have that up and ready for you here. But let me explain to you what I'm talking about. So many people already -- they're going through the mess of foreclosure, as we all know. But Bank of America and many other banks across this country have put foreclosures on hold, the claim being that some of those weren't processed properly, that, in fact, that maybe you got a foreclosure notice, and maybe you shouldn't have. It might be a small percent, but so many of those people who are trying to deal with possibly losing their home, now they're in a new limbo, not knowing if they will or if they won't.

The Obama administration has come out and said, Actually, we think those foreclosures need to go forward because that is now putting a clampdown on people who were buying those foreclosed properties. So that could kind of slow down and stymie this economy that's been fighting and scrapping to get back.

But again, that all brings me back to Charlotte, North Carolina. No matter where you are in this country, there's a good chance your money is tied up here. We're talking about $2 trillion-plus in assets are here because of Bank of America. Wachovia was based here. Wells Fargo took it over, of course. And five of the twenty-five largest banks in this country are right here.

The concerns, Kyra, that we are hearing here are the concerns we're hearing in a lot of places. But again, this is just our first stop, but we have been encouraged by what we found here in Charlotte, North Carolina, where many communities have taken it upon themselves to take care of each other. Yes, they're tuned in. Yes, they're paying attention to the mid-terms. But they, quite frankly, don't expect any new results after the election, so they've taken it upon themselves to support themselves.

So it has been so far, Kyra -- I know we're just getting started, but a little encouraging by some of what we found here. But no matter where you are in this country, you need to know Charlotte, North Carolina, because in Charlotte, they sure do know where your money is.

PHILLIPS: Yes, they do. They know where God is, too. Let me tell you what, some of the most holy people there in Charlotte. Thanks so much, T.J.

More news from our "Political Ticker" in 30 minutes. And you can always check out our Web site, CNNPolitics.com.

A journey back, perhaps in search of closure. Some of the Chile miners go back to the place where they were entombed for more than two months.

And new developments in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Why officials believe he's ditched the rugged caves for a much more comfortable life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, we've got a couple of stories developing this morning on the threat of terrorism. First of all, new warnings that al Qaeda is plotting a new strike, France saying that Saudi intelligence say that the terrorist group is targeting European and that France specifically may be in the crosshairs. France's interior minister says at least two attacks were prevented there last year.

We also have new intelligence that says the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks is living in a little bit of luxury, more than we thought. A senior NATO official says that Osama bin Laden is living more openly and comfortably. The source says intelligence agencies believe he's living in northwest Pakistan -- not in a cave, but in a home.

Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr, working her sources, joins us live from Kabul, Afghanistan. And I think what's more disturbing to know is that, allegedly, he's being protected by Pakistani intelligence, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kyra, this has been one of the theories for years. But this top NATO official I spoke to said that really pretty much is what at least the U.S. believes right now, that at least some members of the Pakistani intelligence services may be protecting bin Laden.

For the record, Pakistan has denied this repeatedly over the years. They barely admit publicly that Pakistan is the most likely place bin Laden's hiding. Let's be clear, the U.S. believes very strongly bin Laden is in Pakistan. This top NATO official said he's not living in a cave. None of the top leadership is living in a cave these days. They believe he's actually living quite close by Ayman al Zawahiri, his number two in al Qaeda, and that they are possibly somewhere in a place like the Karram (ph) Valley. This is a part of the tribal region of Pakistan that, oddly enough, is right across the border from Tora Bora, the part of Afghanistan bin Laden fled back in late 2001 in advance of a U.S. bombing attack -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, live from Kabul.

Also overseas, severe weather slamming the Philippines this morning. Typhoon Megi -- well, it's a big one, reaching super-typhoon status before making landfall earlier this morning. Experts call this the strongest storm on the planet in five years. One confirmed death so far, two more people reported missing. That storm is whipping wind speeds as high as 180 miles per hour and a foot of rain or more is possible.

Back here in the States, the wife of a missing American jetskier has faced a grueling new round of questions. Tiffany Hartley says she spent eight hours in Mexico answering questions from authorities. She says that she and her husband left a boat ramp in south Texas, but once they crossed into the Mexican side of Falcon Lake, gunmen in three boats opened fire, killing her husband.

Earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," she described Friday's interview session.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIFFANY HARTLEY, HUSBAND ALLEGEDLY KILLED ON FALCON LAKE: They were asking, just, you know, detailed information about the day, and you know, where we had stopped and who we talked to kind of thing. But I didn't feel like it was an interrogation. And I really hope that they do continue the search and continue their investigation. Ultimately, we just want David back, and as soon as we get him back, then everyone can kind of go back to their lives that they had before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Both U.S. and Mexican authorities have conducted extensive searches for David Hartley's body but have found nothing.

Checking top stories. A capful of cough syrup proves harmful to a Haverhill, Massachusetts, couple. Sherry and Stu Provalo (ph) bought a bottle of CVS nighttime cold and flu medicine that made them really sick. The couple went to the hospital. CVS apologized and removed the bottles from its shelves. The FDA is now trying to determine if this was a case of product tampering.

Steven Hayes already has been convicted of killing a mother and her two daughters. Beginning today, a jury in New Haven, Connecticut, will start hearing testimony on whether Hayes should be put to death. Hayes killed Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters in a 2007 home invasion.

In Baltimore, murder charges have been filed against a man who killed an off-duty police officer celebrating his 38th birthday. Officer Brian Stevenson died Saturday night after being hit in the head with a piece of concrete. Police say Stevenson and the accused, Sian James, were arguing over a restaurant parking space.

And also at the mines in Chile, Catholic mass was held yesterday for the miners and their families.

Well, it's good for wrinkles, and now it's apparently good for what ails you. How botox can help you put down the pain reliever for good.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, there is new guidance for would-be -- or would- be life savers, and the popular cosmetic drug, botox. You wouldn't think you'd put those two together. It's not just for crow's feet or wrinkles anymore, apparently. Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has more on a couple of stories for us, actually. But you want to start -- before we get to our friend here...

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

PHILLIPS: ... let's talk about the botox and migraines.

COHEN: Right. It's such an amazing story. When botox came out, people thought, oh, for, you know, just to get rid of those wrinkles around the eyes. But what they're finding is that it actually can help with migraines. When got botox around their head and their neck, it didn't get rid of the migraines, but it did give them fewer days of migraines in any given month.

PHILLIPS: Interesting. All right, now, CPR -- I guess it's -- what's wrong with mouth-to-mouth? That's just not good enough anymore?

COHEN: Well, what they -- I don't know if you learned this in Girl Scouts, but I know I learned it when I was young. You know, you do compressions, then you do the mouth-to-mouth...

PHILLIPS: Actually, I started in Brownies.

COHEN: Oh, there you go!

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: OK. So you were an early -- you were an early adopter.

PHILLIPS: Exactly. I started young!

COHEN: So you were supposed to do this and then do the breathing, supposed to do this, and then do the -- whoa!

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Got to be careful there. I'll hold it for you.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: Thank you! So what they're saying now is that they found that people were doing this and it was working well, and then they would stop for a few seconds to do the mouth part...

PHILLIPS: Right.

COHEN: ... and the blood wasn't circulating as well. So they said, Look, if you're not trained in CPR, just bang on the chest really, really hard. Don't worry about breaking a rib. And you want to do 100 beats per minute. So of course, you're not going to count. So instead, you want to remember the song "Stayin' Alive." You and I have talked about this many times!

PHILLIPS: And I'm not going to make you sing like they made you sing on "AMERICAN MORNING." We'll roll the song and give us kind of a feel for the song with the motion. And then maybe we can get a feel for it.

COHEN: OK. Right? Harder than I'm doing it. I'm probably not doing it hard enough. But you want to go really hard and straddle. I'm not going to straddle him, either.

PHILLIPS: OK.

COHEN: But you want to straddle the person and push really hard to the beat of "Staying Alive." And don't worry so much about doing the breathing. That's less important.

PHILLIPS: That song just is never going to go away, is it!

COHEN: It's not. But isn't it great? I mean, who knew that it would be...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: OK, good. So -- and so now, but this seems like this is changing over and over. I mean, it was just what, six months ago that you were telling me something else, and now -- why do these guidelines continue -- are they being upgraded or reevaluated? Or what's going on?

COHEN: You know, different groups are looking at them and they're looking for how to give advice to lay people versus to doctors versus to emergency responders. But they have been consistently in the same direction, which is to get away from the breathing, not completely, but to sort of deemphasize that and instead, emphasize just push, push, push.

PHILLIPS: Got it. All right. COHEN: And they say that 20,000 lives would be saved if more people did this.

PHILLIPS: Wow.

COHEN: That's a lot of lives.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is. I'm listening. All right. Just going to have to keep reviewing our "Saturday Night Fever" lyrics, I guess.

COHEN: Yes. I actually have the LP!

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Oh, my goodness! I think we had the eight-track, by the way. That's another story. I topped you!

COHEN: There you go.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Elizabeth.

All right, Wall Street got off to a pretty good start today, and a big reason why is that one of the nation's biggest banks is making money again. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange with the details -- Alison.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, you know, CitiGroup is the second bank to report positive results so far for the third quarter. That's the period from July through September. Even last week, JPMorgan Chase said it made $4.4 billion in that same timeframe, and today CitiGroup says it made $2.2 billion last quarter. This is all good news.

Now, one reason why we're seeing this good news is because losses from bad loans have improved. It's actually down 35 percent in the third quarter from a year ago. Citi is confident that this positive trend is going to continue because if you look into the details of this corporate report, it shows that it set aside less money for future credit losses, setting aside less money for that rainy day. It actually set aside almost $6 billion, which is really the smallest amount since 2007, before the financial crisis began.

Now, last week, JPMorgan Chase also reported fewer loan losses, as well, and what we're seeing is that banks are restructuring to get their balance sheets in line, and this could really be, you know, potentially good news for businesses and consumers, too, because if banks function better, it's going to help to keep credit flowing, and hopefully, jump start the economy.

As for Citi shares right now, they are jumping over 3 percent, and so is the broader market, the Dow Industrials up 50, the NASDAQ higher by 4. So we'll see if we can keep the good feeling going until the closing bell. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Alison, thanks. Well, chants and cheers and adoring crowds, bit speeches and catchphrases. Excitement. All that is so 2008. Next, we're taking a look at where all the love for President Obama went.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Countdown to election. Fifteen days away from an election that could change the political landscape, and today the "Tea Party Express" is launching its final tour before the vote. They're calling the tour "Liberty at the Ballot Box." And CNN's Shannon Travis join us from the first stop, Reno, Nevada. Hey, Shannon.

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Hey, Kyra. Yes, I mean, this is really the final push on what these activists see as essentially a political path to power that they're trying to blaze. This is war for them, and this is one of the final frontiers here in Nevada. Obviously, you and our viewers understand that Nevada is a pretty important battleground because these activists want to send the message, Fire Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, the most powerful Democrat in the Senate. They want to oust him. They want Nevada voters to out him. So they're holding a huge opening rally to this tour here in Reno.

And if you want to get out your message for Tea Party activists, who do you do it? Who does it best? Sarah Palin. She's headlining this event, much like she headlined the last kickoff of the last tour in Searchlight, Nevada. That's where Harry Reid was born. So it's going to be a big deal.

Right now, people are filing in. We've been here for the past few hours. People are just beginning to file in. We've talked to some of the organizers of the event. They're expecting maybe a crowd in the thousands. So there's no way to tell how many people will actually show up, but we can definitely say that the enthusiasm is here for this rally.

PHILLIPS: We'll be following it, that's for sure. Shannon, thanks so much.

Also, take a look at this. The president and the first lady spent the weekend trying to drum up support for Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What do you think about Michelle Obama?

(APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: She's kind of cute, isn't she?

(APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Yes, indeed!

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: That's a rally at the Ohio State University. It was the first time the Obamas teamed up on the campaign trail since November of 2008.

If you look at the calendar, November of 2008 was not quite two years ago, but in political terms it was ages ago. Whatever love there was back, well, it seems to have faded. Democrats sure would like a little bit of that now. Here's CNN's Carol Costello.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inauguration Day, January 20th, 2009.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

COSTELLO: The hearts of millions of Americans were ready to burst...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SINGING).

COSTELLO: .... with a Woodstock kind of love.

COSTELLO (on camera): You cannot believe...

COSTELLO (voice-over): In 25 years of reporting, I've not experienced an event like it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Love, the joy, their humor, the smile.

COSTELLO: Obama supporters nearly swooned over a First Couple that seemed so different.

Three hundred sixty five days later, that Woodstock kind of love went the way of the hippy's movement.

JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: We thought that we were at a new moment and go to a new place, but the level of resistance has been historical and ugly and very divisive.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, RUSH LIMBAUGH SHOW HOST: What is so strange about being honest and saying, "I want Barack Obama to fail"?

COSTELLO (voice-over): Drew Westen, a political psychologist and Obama supporter says from the get-go, some of the rhetoric did become poisonous. But instead of loudly fighting back, the president tried to bring Republicans into the fold, and it backfired.

DREW WESTEN, EMORY UNIVERSITY: You don't compromise with the people who completely disagree with everything you believe in. You clearly enunciate a vision and you say, this is my vision for America. And not, you know, my vision is, somewhere between what I believe and somewhere what people on the other side believe. COSTELLO: Like on health care reform -- instead, of telling Americans exactly what he wanted in a health care bill, President Obama left it up to lawmakers. Republicans used the president's strategy to create fear and confusion among voters. It also fueled the tea party movement.

This continued divisiveness is clearly something the president regrets. In an interview with "People" magazine he says, "What I haven't been able to do is bring the country together in a way we had done in the inauguration. That's what's been lost this year -- that whole sense of changing how Washington works."

All is not lost. For some, there is still a sense change will come. Recent polls show overwhelming support for the president remains high among African-Americans, even though standing in the unemployment line.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's helping. He's helping as much as he can. I don't know how much more he can do. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We gave Bush eight years, and look what it gave to us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel like he's trying to help people who are out of jobs right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we're looking for miracles, and he's not a miracle worker.

COSTELLO: Even the president himself admitted that exactly a year ago today.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America, they will be met.

(CHEERS)

COSTELLO (on camera): Keep in mind, it is only year one. Other presidents have suffered through their first year, like President Ronald Reagan. Now, look at his place in history, now considered one of America's best presidents.

Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Another politician expresses his view on homosexuality. Makes an analogy to alcoholism. Makes you wonder if the guys is running for office in 2010 or 1810.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking top stories.

A supertyphoon slams into the Philippines. Weather experts say its winds of up to 180 miles an hour, making it the strongest storm the world has seen in at least five years. So far, one person dead, two others missing.

Here's a man going to great lengths to publicize global warming. On Friday, Eric Larsen reached the top of Mount Everest. But climbing the world's tallest mountain is only part of his resume. He also visited the North and South Poles. It's the first time one person achieved all three feats in a single year. Earlier on "AMERICAN MORNING," he spoke from his base camp about the changes he's seeing on Everest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC LARSEN, ARTIC EXPLORER (via phone): If you talk to the locals on traveling up the (INAUDIBLE) Glacier, they talk about how much the glacier has retreated as well as just kind of the size of the ice pinnacles. How much they have decreased. Also, on our seventh day, I was near the south summit looking out across the vast expanse, and all around, you can see evidence of where glaciers had been, not where they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Larsen says that everyone can help minimize global warming simply by using more energy-efficient appliances and vehicles.

Finally, a hearing scheduled later today in the Octomom case. But it's not about (INAUDIBLE). Instead, it focuses on the fertility doctor who handled the invitro fertilization that led to eight babies. He faces a charge of being grossly negligent.

We thought dinosaurs were extinct. Apparently, they are alive and well in politics, but their brains haven't evolved so well.

Let's start our journey through Jurassic politics with a big hearty shout out to Ken Buck of Colorado. He's running for Senate as a Republican. And he's got the whole sexual orientation thing figured out, folks. Check out this little exchange on "Meet The Press." David Gregory asked him if he thinks people choose to be gay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEN BUCK (R), U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: I think that birth has an influence over, like alcoholism, and some other things. But I think, basically, you have the choice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: First of all, the alcoholism analogy. A bit harsh and a bit loaded. Secondly, does Buck really think that being gay is a choice? Does he think kids like Tyler Clementi chose to be gay, that he chose to be harassed to the point where they decided it was better to go jump off a bridge or go hang themselves from a rope or shoot themselves in the head? This is just another example of a bone-headed politician taking a topic and talking about it when he clearly doesn't know anything about it.

And he's not alone. Remember Carl Paladino last week? (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CARL PALADINO (R), NEW YORK GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: And I don't want them to be brain washed into thinking homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Brain washed. Another mind boggling choice of words. Of course, the GOP candidate for governor for New York caught a lot of heat for those comments and backed off. But the tone deafness is clear. Paladino and now Buck should know better than make generalizations about sexual orientation, especially in this climate of gay or perceived gay suicides.

The whole bullying problem is so sad, and it's proof that words can do unspeakable, permanent damage to kids who are not brain washed or making a choice but just struggling to figure out who the heck they are. It's why I hope more brave leaders, whether they're straight or gay, will come forward and speak out against antigay bullying and homophobia.

Leaders like councilman Joel burns of Fort Worth. He's gay, he's sincere, and he's been there. Kids bullied him when he was a young teen, something so traumatic that he never told anyone until a public council meeting. A rash of suicides made him break his long silence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOEL BURNS, FORT WORTH, TX CITY COUNCILMAN: I never told the story to anyone before tonight. Not my family, not my husband, not anyone. But the number of suicides in recent days have upset me so much and have just tore at my heart.

And even though there may be some political repercussions for telling my story, the story is not just for the adults who might choose or not choose to support me. The story is for the young people who may be holding back the (INAUDIBLE) or the rope or the pill bottle.

Give yourself a chance to see just how much life -- how much better life will get. And it will get better. You will get out of the house hold that doesn't accept you. You will get out of that high school, and you never have to deal with those jerks again if you don't want to. You will find and you will make new friends who will understand you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Burns is just what this national conversation about bullying needs. Influential people with a voice and a platform to step up and speak out, affect policy and set an example. Not people like Paladino and now Buck, whose words will only further confuse and ostracize struggling teen.

Mr. Buck, let me ask you a question. If sexual orientation is a choice, when did you choose to be straight?

Senator John McCain's daughter is pulling no punches when it comes to one Republican. Meghan McCain slams Christine O'Donnell, and the Delaware candidate's campaign pushes back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Senator John -- what?

Senator John McCain's daughter won't be stumping for Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell. That became pretty obvious when the author and blogger slammed the Delaware Republican on ABC's "This Week."

MEGHAN MCCAIN, AUTHOR, "DIRTY SEXY POLITICS": Christine O'Donnell is making a mockery of running for public office. She has no real history, no real success in any kind of business. And what that sends to my generation is one day, you can just wake up and run for Senate, no matter how lack of experience you have. And it scares me for a lot of reasons. And I just in my group of friends, it just turns people off, because she's seen as a nut job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS; The O'Donnell campaign pushed back with a statement mocking what it called "Miss McCain's vast experience in politics and running for office."

We're down to just 15 days before the big midterm elections. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser following the latest news from the trail. What you got, Paul?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I've got two of the top surrogates on the Democratic side. I'm talking about the president and the vice president. Heading west. And it starts with vice president Joe Biden tomorrow, Kyra. He's going to be in Washington state, and then he goes to California and Nevada.

What do all three states have in common? They've all got senators: Patty Murray in Washington state, Barbara Boxer in California, and the Senate majority leader Harry Reid in Nevada. All three of them facing challenging elections. The vice president goes first, followed by the president later this week.

The Democrats are playing defense. These are three seats they want to hold onto. Remember, the Republicans need to capture ten Democratic seats to reclaim the chamber.

One state where Republicans think they have a good shot is West Virginia. This was a seat that Senator Byrd since 1958, and he died earlier this year. It's a vacancy, open seat right now.

And there is a big debate tonight between Joe Manchin, the Democratic governor who's running for that Senate seat, and Racey, the businessman from West Virginia who is the Republican nominee. And Kyra, this debate could be pretty crucial, because polls suggest this is a very close contest. So, we'll keep an eye on that. If the Republicans win back the Senate, West Virginia is one of the places where they need to do it.

And finally, Kyra, you touched on this earlier today. Brand new on the CNN Political Ticker, a new story up a few minutes ago. You were talking about it; early voting. States today getting underway. Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, North Dakota, Texas, and right here in the district of Columbia. All of those states begin early voting today. So, you add those states and the other states that have already started. Now, 23 states plus the District of Columbia have early voting underway. You do you not have to wait 15 days until the midterms to vote in those states, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Paul, thanks. We'll have your next political update in just about an hour. And of course, you can always go to our Web site CNNpolitics.com for al the latest political news.

CNN's newest program "PARKER/SPITZER" is looking at the hot topics every weeknight. Check out this exchange on bringing down the deficit in war time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, CO-FOUNDER, "THE HUFFINGTON POST": You guys have to get serious about our military spending. If you are serious about the deficit, you can not ignore the fact that you are spending $2.8 billion a week on Afghanistan, on a war that's unnecessary. Propping up a corrupt regime. What's your excuse for that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not a military expert.

HUFFINGTON: Oh, come on! That's a cop-out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not copping out. But I will say this. We cannot have a functioning economy.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm answering your question!

ELIOT SPITZER, CO-HOST, "PARKER SPITZER": This is fun for me, just watching you two go at it!

HUFFINGTON: What's your answer on Afghanistan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. My point is if we don't win the war against terrorism, none of this other stuff -

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.

SPITZER: How many al Qaeda members are in Afghanistan:?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can we have a functioning economy if people are blowing up buildings and blowing up schools in -- HUFFINGTON: What does that have to do with Afghanistan where there are fewer than --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's when the terrorists are!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, for more opinions, ideas and analysis, don't miss CNN'S "PARKER SPITZER" tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Well, it's a source of strength for many Americans during a time of economic despair, but now many congregations are praying for miracles as churches across the country are falling victim to foreclosure.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: An Ohio grieving family welcomes home a soldier killed in war. Not in Afghanistan or Iraq, but the Philippines. His plane vanished during World War II, and the discovery of the wreckage solves a mystery that has haunted his loved ones for decades.

We get the story now from Chris Starnelli (ph) of CNN affiliate WKEF in Ohio.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS STARNELLI (ph), WKEF-TV CORRESPONDENT: Justin Parkhurst can't remember the last time he talked to his brother Arthur, the last letter they exchanged, but he does remember the last thing he sent to him.

JUSTIN PARKHURST, BROTHER OF LONG-MISSING WWII VET: A fruitcake. And we put it in the mailbox and sent it to Oklahoma. It never did catch up with him.

STARNELLI: Both served their country in the Army Air Corp. But at 20 years old, Arthur died when his cargo plane went down in the Philippines in 1925.

PARKERS: I was a junior in high school when Mom got the telegram. Mom opened it and read it. I can't remember the words she said. She read it out loud. But memory doesn't - something that I do remember her saying, or praying, that she would rather Arthur be killed in a crash than to be taken prisoner of the Japanese, who at that time had a real bad rap on cruel torturing.

STARNELLI: For the next 65 years, the Parkhurst family in the Miami Valley and in Evansville, Indiana knew next to nothing about Arthur's fate. Then in 2002, a farmer in the Philippines discovered the wreckage and what turned out to be Arthur's remains. The joint POW-MIA Personal Accounting Command took over from there.

PARKHURST: I didn't know it was going to happen in my lifetime that I would ever find out. So, that was the biggest wow in my life.

STARNELLI: And with family from Indiana here in town, Arthur's story will live on through the new generations of Parkhursts.

STEVE PARKHURST, AUTHUR PARKHURST'S NEPHEW: It's a legacy event, an historic moment where we can look at a person in our family that served above and beyond the call of duty and sacrificed in a way that none of us can really relate to.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

PHILLIPS: Well, everyday at this time, we honor the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan for us. And we call it "Home and Away." And today we are lifting up Lance Corporal Cody Steven Childers from Chesapeake, Virginia. He was killed August 20 of this year while on foot patrol in Helmand Province.

His mom, Wendy, wrote into us. She said, "Cody's dream since a little boy was to be a Marine. He fulfilled that dream and then some. He loved his country and loved protecting it." She says Cody's Marine brothers in Afghanistan were his family.

Cody's own family have set up a memorial in his honor to send up care packages to his unit while they're deployed. And if you'd like to help, you can just check out the Web site, www.wecaremarines.com.

If you've got a loved one you'd like to honor, here's all you have to do. Go to CNN.com/homeandaway. Type in your service member's name in the upper right-hand search field, pull up the profile and send us your thoughts and your pictures. We promise to keep the memory of your hero alive.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Faith and finances. Church giving, 38 percent of churches have seen a decline, leaving some congregations in a financial crunch and facing foreclosure. CNN's Stephanie Elam brings us more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Montpellia (ph) Baptist Church knows a thing or two about going through the storm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many of you came in today expecting something great to happen today?

ELAM: A freak tornado devastated the Atlanta church in 2008.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the storm came, it toppled that steeple over.

ELAM: After moving around for 18 months, the church finally reopened as The Higher Ground Empowerment Center. DORIS FEAGAN, CHURCH MEMBER: It was just horrible. Thank God we done came through that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I knew once we got back in the sancuary, people would come.

ELAM: But the church did lose members. Burdened with more debt, it faced another upheaval. Possible foreclosure.

(on camera): Have you heard of a church heading into foreclosure before?

PASTOR DEXTER JOHNSON, HIGHER GROUND EMPOWERMENT CENTER: No. This year has been very shocking to me. I believe that the banks are in business to make money, and understandably so. But when it comes down to a church, I think they need to look at it and work with them to ensure that that church stays in that community.

ELAM: Hundreds of churches have faced foreclosure in the last two years, something that was once unheard of.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know many of you have been stretching yourselves right through here because you know what we're up against.

ELAM: With their members facing higher unemployment and home foreclosure rates than white counterparts, black churches are being hit especially hard in their tithing baskets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will not with hold the tithe.

ELAM: So, after 107 years, this church is finding it harder and harder to serve the community. The pastor has even taken a pay cut.

JOHNSON: The tithes and offerings, that's how we do the ministry we do. And when the people don't have, they can't give like they normally give or want to give.

JONATHAN WALTON, PROFESSOR, HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL: For congregations then to have to come to grips with the fact that their sincere investments in the faith and in God are now being seized by banks, that can become a point of spiritual crisis for many.

ELAM: Banks that are surviving the downturn say there's enough blame to go around.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a "build it and they will come" mentality that kind of set in in the industry. And the reality is that a lot of the churches, perhaps in part due to the economic downturn, did not grow into their debt as they anticipated they would.

ELAM: The bank that holds Higher Empowerment property said in this statement, quote, "We have worked closely with the church for more than two-and-a-half years to reach a resolution that wuold allow the church to continue to occupy the property," end quote.

(AUDIENCE SINGING) Pastor Johnson believes his church will remain a rock for his congregation.

JOHNSON: I came here to say, Lord, I need you and I need you right now.

ELAM: There for people to lean on whether any storm comes their way.

Stephanie Elam, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And don't miss Soledad O'Brien's "Black in America" special, "ALMGIHT DEBT," focusing on the financial crisis facing the black church, premiering Thursday, October 21st at 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

Hope you got your Monday off to a good start. Looking forward to seeing you back here tomorrow. Tony Harris steps in from here.