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Pres. Obama Stumping for Democrats; "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Restored; Celebrities Lend Voices to National Issues; French Protesters Clash in Streets Over Pension Changes; Caricature Artists in Iraq Becoming Popular as Government Becomes More Democratic; The Afterlife: A Fresh View; Scouts to Gay Dad: "Don't Wear Uniform"

Aired October 21, 2010 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

Twelve days until the midterm elections. Crunch time for the candidates and for celebrities, they're using star power to influence voters. You'll see who's stumping for what issue.

A dedicated father stripped of his Cub Scouts uniform. The price of being an openly gay father.

And a new view of the afterlife from a man who spent much of his life with the dying. If you have ever lost a loved one, you've got to hear this story.

I'm Kyra Phillips. Thanks for joining us. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We begin with 12 days until the midterm elections. Democrats struggling and the president stumping. He's out west lending his presidential clout to embattled Senators Harry Reid, Patty Murray and Barbara Boxer.

Their races may be essential for the Democrats to hold on to the Senate but does the president still have the star power to win those crucial votes?

President's on quite a campaign tour hitting five states in four days. CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry joining us now live from Seattle.

So, Ed, some of these incumbents really in an uphill battle.

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kyra.

I mean, if you look at the states the president is hitting, starting here in Washington this morning, bottom line is just about all these Senate races are too close to call. Dead heat. You've got Patty Murray here. The president stumping for her. A tight battle with Dino Rossi, the Republican.

Then tomorrow, the president -- tonight and into tomorrow will be California with Barbara Boxer, working in San Francisco and L.A. That's too close to call with Carly Fiorina.

And then you're right. Friday, big rally in Las Vegas for the Senate majority leader Harry Reid. I mean, look, he's been beating up on Sharron Angle for weeks if not months now, saying that she's a Tea Party favorite, she's too extreme, and yet the Senate majority leader can't seem to get beyond the mid-40s in any polls back home in Nevada.

So bottom line is this is a firewall the White House is trying to build. They know they're going to lose a bunch of Senate seats elsewhere on the map, and so they're hoping to save all three of these Democratic incumbents out west. But they are all nip and tuck. This is not guaranteed that he's going to save them.

PHILLIPS: Ed, the president not really stumping for new votes in other states.

HENRY: Yes. I mean, look. The president's time is so valuable. Especially with less than two weeks to go. He draws a lot of people. We were in Portland, Oregon, last night. He had thousands of people there at a Democratic rally.

And so you would hope, if you're the Democrats right now, that you would have him in maybe some Republican states, maybe in some of those so-called purple states, or the swing states that could go either way, and try to pick up some current Republican seats and flip them to the Democrats.

Instead, this is all about playing defense for the president in these final moments. That's where the Democrats are right now but when you talk to top White House aides, they say, , look, he still got the biggest megaphone of all. He's going to use it. He's going to use it aggressively.

Last night in Portland he was saying, you know, bottom line he thinks the Republicans are all about amnesia. They want the public to forget that they caused this economic mess and that if they get into power they're going to roll back Wall Street reforms, health care reforms, et cetera.

So that's his message. He's hoping that he's going to help pull out some of these tight races. We'll see -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Ed Henry in Seattle. Thanks, Ed.

It's time for a quick look now at a couple more races that are coming down to the wire. The U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania is tightening and the candidate are focused on the extreme politics.

And last night's hour-long debate in Philadelphia both they tried to portray the other as being on the fringe of their own parties.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE SESTAK (D), PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE: My opponent, for example, voted that if a corporation shuts down its factory here in Pennsylvania, fires its employees, and then invests in a factory in China, and then cheap goods come in, often illegally subsidized by China, then a -- no tax is given to the profit of that large corporation where jobs have gone overseas.

In fact he takes it another step. The corporations should have zero taxes so that's the difference. Small businesses create 80 percent of all jobs. He believes it's about corporations and helping them create jobs elsewhere.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Toomey?

PAT TOOMEY (R), PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE: Well, I'm the candidate in this race that's actually created jobs. Started a small business from scratch with my brothers. We owned and operated some restaurants and we employed hundreds of workers.

And I can tell you the biggest factor of job that's preventing us from having job growth at large, medium and small companies is this out-of- control agenda in Washington.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Pennsylvania has become a closely-watched battleground. Both parties pouring in campaign ad money through their national committees. Labor unions and business advocacy groups are also funneling cash into those campaigns in efforts get-out the-vote.

Now in Florida, the race for governor is getting more ugly and a lot more personal. Last night, the leading candidate spent much of the hour ripping into each other's qualifications and honesty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX SINK (D), FLORIDA GOV. CANDIDATE: Rick, we can't trust anything you say. You're out there. You've been throwing mud out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just hold it down, guys.

SINK: You've been throwing mud and negative advertisements ever since the Republican primary and your charges have been outlandish.

There is not a single provision for any kind of tax increase in any of my plans. My transportation plan, my energy or plan, my environmental plan, my economic development plan.

It's just not there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Miss Sink.

SINK: And this is just a fairytale fabrication.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A rebuttal?

RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA GOV. CANDIDATE: OK. You received a letter from Senate President Mike Haridopolos. You didn't respond. What is the number? You're proposing significant -- you have big promises. What is the number that you're proposing? Because we're walking into a $2 billion-plus deficit. Right? We know we have to save money. Obama math is not -- doesn't work here. I mean you can't -- you can't reduce it by -- so I'm going to save $700 million and then you're going to spend $12.5 billion.

What is the number and what tax will you increase?

SINK: I have to respond to that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will allow you to keep rebutting each other. Thirty seconds, please.

SINK: You know, I just -- I don't know what Obama math is. What I do know is that I was a 4.0 math major at Wake Forest University. And I know how to add numbers.

(LAUGHTER)

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Hmm. Sink is the state's chief financial officer. Scott is a political newcomer and is funding most of his campaign with his own money. Both have accused each other of being unqualified to lead the nation's fourth largest state.

Well, it was a pretty spectacular sight in Vegas. Bolts of lightning. One after the other. Just lit up the skies. It's part of the thunderstorms that actually pounded that area dumping about a quarter inch of rain in some parts of the valley.

Yesterday's storms sparked power outages and flooded a few streets, as well. We're watching all the tropical action in the Caribbean.

Rob Marciano is here with all that. Hey, Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: That's a quick check on the weather. Kyra, we'll send it back over to you.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right.

PHILLIPS: Gays and lesbians had about one day, one day where they could serve in the military and not hide their sexual orientation.

Boy, did that day go by quickly. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is already back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It took a short break, just a few hours, really. But it's back in effect at least for now. A federal appeals court actually blocked the ruling that let gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

That's what the Obama administration wanted.

Let's go straight to the Pentagon and our correspondent, Chris Lawrence.

So, Chris, what happens now? Because it's just this continuous back and forth. You wonder what -- when is it going to stick in.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you're right.

What happens now is they've got to figure out what happens between now and February. Here's what I mean by that. The Justice Department argued that an immediate end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would disrupt military operations and the Defense Department needed time to come up with policies and guidelines.

Now the gay rights group Log Cabin Republicans has until Monday to make a more detailed argument about why "Don't Ask, Don't Tell' should go away until February.

February is when the appeals court will hear final arguments and make a permanent decision. So what they're hashing out now is what happens, does "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" stay or go between now and February.

The irony here is that just last month it was Republicans in Congress who blocked a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Now it's the Republican gay rights group that's suing to abolish it.

The Democratic President Barack Obama says he wants to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," yet it's his Justice Department that's fighting to keep it in place for now. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right. So what happens then to the service members who came forward yesterday and said, I'm gay, I want to serve and filled out the paper work?

LAWRENCE: Short answer, don't know. Just asked a lot of folks here at the Pentagon. They said right now they're trying to come up with guidelines. Not only for those folks who tried to enlist during this past week when there was no "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but also for the recruiters who have to advice recruits going forward.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well then the Pentagon -- let's talk about once again its biggest concern when it comes to integrating gays in the military because we've heard all the way from the top, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff saying it's about time that we make this change.

So where -- what's the fight still centered on?

LAWRENCE: Some of it is -- are mundane issues such as showering facilities for straight service members and gay service members. Some are issues like what happens to the benefits that military members, the spouses get. Health, education benefits, how would that apply to same-sex couples.

Some of it is making sure that there is no harassment or discrimination. Although I talked to an officer this morning who said look, he believes, ultimately, the troops are going to follow the orders once they're clear from on top.

The problem is when the president is saying he wants to repeal it and yet the Justice Department is fighting to keep it. And the Defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff both say they want it to go away but yet not yet. He said right now, all you've got among the ranks is sort of this mass confusion.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll definitely keep following the story. Chris, thanks.

And you might have seen Lady Gaga and Alec Baldwin taking up gay rights as a cause. They're just two celebrities lending their voice to national conversations and issues, voices that get a bit louder the closer we get to the midterms just 12 days away.

Here's CNN correspondent Brooke Anderson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACK BLACK, ACTOR: Did you hear Obama's going to kill our grandmas?

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jack Black takes on critics of health care reform.

LADY GAGA, SINGER: I thought equality was nonnegotiable.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Lady Gaga is all over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: Gay New Yorkers don't have the right to marry the man or woman that they love.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Alec Baldwin just released a video backing gay marriage in New York state.

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: Just had a nice meeting with the president.

ANDERSON (voice-over): And George Clooney is speaking out on Sudan. In the build-up to the midterm elections, stars are getting political. But in this volatile political year, Hollywood Democrats are mostly steering clear of specific races. Variety's Ted Johnson blogs about Hollywood and politics.

TED JOHNSON, MANAGING EDITOR, "VARIETY": A lot of celebrities are thinking, you know, is it really worth it to get involved in these campaigns that have really gone negative? And have really gone negative very quickly.

ANDERSON (on camera): Instead of publicly endorsing candidates, many stars are focusing on issues instead. Lady Gaga rallied opponents of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

LADY GAGA: We're going to war for you, and you, and you, and you, and you, but not you because you're gay!

ANDERSON (voice-over): And stars posted anti-"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" videos to the website "Funny or Die," using humor to make their point.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think you can fit in the cockpit of an F-16 if you're wearing a tutu, and I don't think it's safe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's when Russia is going to get the drop on us, when I'm in the middle of some hot lesbo army shower action.

ANDERSON (on camera): George Clooney appeared on Capitol Hill to sound another alarm about Sudan, joined by a Republican senator.

JOHNSON: George Clooney isn't out there on the campaign trail for midterm candidates. He was at the White House talking to the president about Darfur.

ANDERSON (voice-over): A few left-leaning celebrities are wading into choppy partisan waters.

BLACK: Don't tell anybody. Obama's the devil.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Jack Black plays a devious character spreading misinformation about health care reform in a new series of web videos.

BLACK: Obamacare is a socialist plot.

ANDERSON (voice-over): And away from cameras, liberals like Warren Beatty, Annette Benning, and Steven Spielberg have attended fund- raisers for Democratic candidates. Celebrity conservatives are the ones actually hitting the stump.

JOHNSON: People like John Voigt, people like Janine Turner, people like Pat Boone, who had a Tea Party rally in Beverly Hills.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Another sign that this election, even in Hollywood, is far from politics as usual. Brooke Anderson, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: You just saw Lady Gaga's passion for U.S. politics. Wonder how she feels about French politics, especially since she had to cancel some of her European shows because of this. French protesters clashing in the streets over a possible hike in the retirement age. We're taking you there live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Can you believe that? That's the streets of Paris glowing red as crowds of protesters demonstrate against a government plan to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. The rally was captured by one of our iReporters, but this scene is playing out across France, actually.

Swarms of protesters blocking streets, clashing with police, and union leaders say that you can expect more action. Phil Black joining us, now, live in Paris. Before we get down to the specifics of what this is all about, Phil, tell us what's going on right now. Is it violent? Is it calmed down?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From what we understand, things are pretty calm so far. You might be able to hear around me, lots of sirens. We're seeing lots of police activity. Even lots of ambulances getting in place.

Where we are standing now is pretty much the final point of that protest that you're talking about. As we speak, a big crowd of people, mostly university students, are making their way through Paris to this point here.

It's a big protest, but it is also, or has become something of a regular sight in the city. Causing disruptions, blockages to road as these big crowds occupy spaces here to voice their protest about these planned changes to the retirement age. But not just in Paris, as you mentioned. Across cities, towns, even highways across the country, we're seeing this rolling, unpredictable campaign of rallies, strikes and blockades of key infrastructure.

Just this morning in Marseilles, at the southern city, at the airport there, the international airport, that was blocked for about three hours by a convoy of trucks. And, of course, there is also this ongoing blockade of the country's oil refineries, which is also really strangling the country's fuel supply. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: OK. And so, you put that all into perspective and there are people here in the States that might not understand the dynamic there, saying, wow, we're only talking about an increase of two years. Why is this turned into such a massive protest? And literally, shutting down big parts of this country.

BLACK: Yes, indeed. I don't think it's just people in the States that are making that comment. Around the world, the retirement age is already up around the sorts of levels that the French government is talking about. And many governments are talking about raising it even higher still. But here, it is almost impossible to overstate what a big deal this is to the French people.

Some of those reasons are practical. They simply don't want to work that long, and they think that it's particularly unfair for people who work in difficult to hard laboring jobs to add those extra couple of years on. But much of the opposition is really quite philosophical. The right to retire at 60 is a very much cherished right in this country. It is something that was hard-fought for and won by previous generations.

And the people here are just very reluctant to let it go. They see it as a core pillar of their social model. They talked about it being one of the foundations of their way of life, if you like. And so, as I say, they feel very passionately about this, and they simply do not want it to happen.

PHILLIPS: Phil, you talked about the union blockades at the oil refineries, but also there's other agencies shutting down, like trash pickup. You see the trash piling up on all numbers of street corners.

BLACK: Yes. The city of Marseilles is particularly hit by that. It is becoming something of a rubbish dump in and of itself. But it is the fuel blockade that is really affecting most people across France. Thousands of gas stations across the country are completely dry, and most of the others are running very low, and those are in very high demand. There are long lines at almost gas station, some stretching back hours at time, and French people having to wait that time, wait those hours, experience that inconvenience, just to fill up their tank and get on with their lives.

The strange thing is, because of the majority of French people oppose the increase in the retirement age, they support all the industrial action that's taking place. So, for the moment, they say, they're largely happy to wait in those lines because they oppose the changes so strongly.

PHILLIPS: Phil black live in Paris, Phil, thanks.

Art imitating life in Iraq. And maybe these caricatures reveal more than the artist ever intended. We're going to show you some conclusions that can be drawn about what is and isn't seen here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: In Iraq, the nine-year march toward democracy is evident in many ways. The nation's young constitution, its struggling government, its freedom of the press. It's also reflected in something as simple as the artistic caricatures that are stirring chuckles and criticisms and even some concerns. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom in Baghdad with an exhibition that's put other issues on display. What a great -- it's a great story, Mohammed.

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Iraq's caricature artists used to be hated by the government here. But what a difference a few years makes. Now they're being celebrated.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMJOOM (voice-over): Abdulrahim Yasser is one of Iraq's most respected caricature artists. From the futility of politics to the absurdity of war, Yasser has tackled all those issues and lots more. While his satirical works are usually in the pages of a newspaper, today, they're being appreciated on the walls of a gallery.

ABDULRAHIM YASSER, IRAQI CARICATURE ARTIST (through translator): "I'm trying with all my might to encourage a discussion," says Yasser. "This exhibition is a discussion with others. It's a discussion with the Republic. A discussion with those paying attention."

JAMJOOM (voice-over): The show, the biggest one of its kind to ever have been put on in Iraq, is bringing together some of the country's most prominent political cartoonists.

ALI ADEL, SPECTATOR (through translator): "This event is important because it talks about Iraq," says Ali Adel, a spectator, "about things in Iraq and issues facing Iraq."

JAMJOOM (voice-over): And it never could have happened in the days of Saddam Hussein. A time when journalists weren't allowed to speak out of turn. Here, though, satirical illustrations of some Iraqi politicians, like former prime minister Ayad Allawi and President Jalal Talabani hang proudly.

JAMJOOM (on camera): Organizers say no subject is off limits for these artists, but walk around this room and you won't see any caricatures of Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.

(voice-over): Also missing from the lineup, Iraq's leading religious figures, causing some to question just how much freedom the press here actually has.

YASSER (through translator): "There are taboos that, even now, exist," says Yasser. "You aren't allowed to delve into many issues. Not because the constitution doesn't allow you to do so, but because this country isn't finished being built, and is still not able to protect all these freedoms."

JAMJOOM (voice-over): An interesting twist. Some of the same artists that used to be afraid they'd be persecuted because the government was too strong are now fearful they won't be protected because the government is too weak. The kind of subject matter that would be perfect for one of them to tackle in their next political cartoon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JAMJOOM: Yasser also says that, while Iraq still has a ways to go before having a truly free press, he's hopeful that shows like this will only serve to encourage the next generation of caricature artists to keep this much-need art form alive and flourishing. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: So, how popular is it, and were people buying these pieces of art?

JAMJOOM: Kyra, it's very popular. You know, all the Iraqis we spoke to about this, not just the ones there at the exhibit, they knew these works of art, they knew works of art that had appeared in newspapers even a few years ago.

But more than that, they also knew the artists that had done this. These people are real celebrities here, and the reason they are is because they're seen as taking on the government, doing something that's very vital to a struggling democracy here and to this country that's facing so many problems.

So, all the Iraqis we spoke with, not just the people putting on the exhibit, also the fans that were there and the next generation of caricature artists that were there to learn say this is a very important art form, and they really hope it continues, and that these artists are really doing something heroic. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Yes, and it's an incredibly intelligent art form, as well. Mohammed, thanks. The question as old as life itself. What happens when we die? We found a man who found the dying have something in common, and he should know. He spent his life with them. If you've ever lost a loved one, you've got to hear his story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, we got new numbers out on the state of the labor market today and it's good news for a change. Fewer Americans joined unemployment lines last week.

Alison Kosik is live from the New York Stock Exchange.

Hey, Alison.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra.

The numbers are definitely moving in the right direction. New jobless claims fell more than expected last week, hitting 452,000. That's down 23,000 from the week before.

But, you know, we've been stuck in the mid-400,000 range since last fall. So, you know, it doesn't change the big picture very much. But it's still enough to keep stocks going this morning in the positive column.

Also coming in to play today, some solid corporate earnings are out. UPS, Caterpillar, McDonald's and Travelers earnings, they all beat expectations. McDonald's is actually benefiting from our appetite for cheap food. And Travelers is doing well because it wrote more insurance policies while getting fewer catastrophe claims. McDonald's and Travelers shares are up a little over 1 percent.

And news that China continues to grow at a strong pace is also helping things.

In the early going right now, the Dow Industrials is up 47 and NASDAQ composite up 12.

And finally, Kyra, I got a question for you. Listen up. Do you Netflix? I know you don't tweet. But do you Netflix?

PHILLIPS: No, I don't Netflix. As a matter of fact, I'm just sending an e-mail saying I want to see here after this weekend. I like going to the theater.

KOSIK: Well, if you -- do you know what? You may want to jump on the bandwagon. A lot of people are signing up.

You know, the company added 2 million subscribers last quarter. I mean, the total number of customers at, I don't know, at 17 million people. You know, that's about the population of Georgia and Washington state combined.

You know, Netflix also says it's considering a streaming-only service and that means, Kyra, when you only have to pay to watch video instantly online. You know, you get that movie right away instead of having to wait for it to be mailed to you. Or, hey, even going out of the house to go to the movie theater. What a concept.

PHILLIPS: But that's what I'm saying is that you don't always want to be stuck in the house, right? We got to get out and socialize.

KOSIK: True. But you can create that movie theater atmosphere in your house. You don't have to get off the couch. It's kind of fun.

PHILLIPS: OK. All right. Pop some popcorn. Have a party. Thanks, Alison.

KOSIK: You got it.

PHILLIPS: Well, a new movie "Hereafter" tries to answer that timeless question. What happens after we die? The movie features every day people confronting the idea that the end of the life could be the beginning of something else.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like everyone else; I thought people saw bright lights, people gotten (ph) a sense of -- because they were culturally conditioned to do so. But after 25 years in a hospice, working with these people, many of whom were pronounced dead, but then miraculously survived. The accounts of what they've actually experienced were so strikingly similar. It couldn't just be coincidence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: A man who spent his life around dying doesn't think it is a coincidence. David Kessler has written a book called "Visions, Trips and Crowded Waiting Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die."

And he's got an article up on CNN.com. Check it out. It's titled, "Do the Dead Greet the Dying?" It's been hugely popular. A lot of people are clicking on to read it.

John Roberts actually talked to him this morning.

Now, John, Kessler worked in hospice care. He spent a lot of time with doctors and nurses and caregivers, a lot of people who are around the dying. And he found that so many of these death bed stories really did have something in common.

And we should probably point out, too, he said, very respectfully, I didn't talk to mediums. I just stuck with those in hospice like doctors and nurses.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. He was dealing with traditional science.

But, you know, he could have been the character in that movie "The Hereafter" because he told us exactly the same thing, that there were so many similarities in the stories that people tell him. For example, the most common person that people who are dying are visited by is their mother and they tend to be in the corner of the room. He hears that from so many different people and he's written about that in his book.

But even though he had heard so many stories, he remained a skeptic for a while until one particular incident that touched his personal life. Here he is describing it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: Now, you've got extensive experience with this because you're the director of a hospice, you watch so many people pass on, and you got personal experience with it, as well, because of the situation that your father was in. Tell us about that.

DAVID KESSLER, AUTHOR, "VISIONS, TRIPS, AND CROWDED ROOMS": I have to admit, I was a skeptic early on and Kubler-Ross, my teacher and co- author, for years talked to me about this and I would hear about it from patients. But it wasn't until I saw my father who was at the end of his life, dying somewhat hopelessly and lonely and missing all of those he had loved, and all of a sudden, something changed.

And I said to him one morning, "What happened?" And he said, "Your mother, who died years ago, came to visit me last night, and she said we're going to be together again. All of us are going to be together." And I realized, he was now not dying into an emptiness but into a fullness. And his hopelessness went to hopefulness.

And it made me realize what if everything we know about dying isn't true? What if everyone we've ever loved, ever cared for, ever lost, we will see again? That would be a true heaven.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Hmm. Yes, it would.

What about the medical theories that, you know, the critics coming forward saying, oh, it's just the medication playing with your head? It's not a real vision. It's -- you're just in this, you know, state of euphoria.

ROBERTS: Yes. Well, people have postulated that maybe as you die, there's a lack of oxygen to the brain and that's why people have these visions. They're really hallucinations. He says that those conditions have been recreated by accident in the past, either through medication or maybe when somebody is having surgery and gets a little hypoxic in the brain.

And they do have that sense of euphoria. But the thing that they haven't described in situations like that is seeing a long-departed relative like your mother in your vision while you're in the living room with your family all around you. He says that that -- that has not been recreated before. And that's why he is a believer in this idea that perhaps people who have departed long before you have actually do greet you when you're about to pass on yourself.

So, we're going to the movies this weekend? PHILLIPS: Yes, definitely. I want to see this movie.

And we'll talk about our own -- you know, I got a story I want to share. I mean, I believe in this wholeheartedly.

ROBERTS: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Real quickly, too. Did he say anything about our enemies showing up in these visions or communications or dreams? Or is it only those that we have loved and cherished?

ROBERTS: He said that that was a significant part of this. That maybe if you had an abusive parent or an abusive relative or somebody in your life who's done you wrong, will that be the person who greets you as you pass on? And he said, literally to a person, anyone who has described any kind of vision as they're about to die, it has always been a person of comfort who is there to greet them and that the bad things in life just -- they don't enter into it -- which is a nice thing to consider.

PHILLIPS: It gives you lots of peace. Can't wait to see the movie. Buy the tickets. Bye.

Well, it's not always about who you want to vote for. Sometimes, it's about who you want to vote out. Just listen to Jon Stewart.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, COMEDIAN: I think Sharron Angle is an example of just how desperate people must be to remove Democrats from office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Get more from Jon Stewart. He joined our "LARRY KING LIVE," including the comedian's surprising take on Christine O'Donnell's witchcraft comment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's been a lot of talk about Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell's old interview where she said she once dabbled in witchcraft but comedian Jon Stewart isn't piling on O'Donnell. He actually told CNN's Larry King that voters shouldn't pay attention to the comment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART": Like I say, this is the -- I -- I -- it doesn't look like she is going to be victorious. But I also think, you know, the idea that she said some things on television 20 years ago and that's evidence that she is somehow off balance, you know, again --

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": You don't buy that?

STEWART: Well, I also think it's -- it's like everything else. You focus on the wrong thing.

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PHILLIPS: Well, we've got our focus on the midterm elections now just 12 days away. CNN political deputy director, Paul Steinhauser is following the latest stories in the campaign trail. So what's hot right now -- Paul?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Kyra, probably after Jon Stewart, that's a tough act to follow. I'll try.

PHILLIPS: Don't try and be funny, Paul.

STEINHAUSER: Yes, I'm not that funny. Let's look at the battle for the Senate. You were just talking about the Senate there. Of course, the Republicans need ten seats to pick up -- to reclaim the chamber. A tough task but they could do it. And here's one of the place that they probably will do it.

Check out our brand new CNN Time Opinion Research Corporations polls in the Arkansas Senate battle. And in the incumbent two-term Democrat, Blanche Lincoln, trailing by 14 points according to our poll numbers: 55 percent to 44 percent for Republican challenger, Jon Boozman, a Congressman from the northeast part of the state.

Let's zip right over to Alaska. This is a wild three-way race. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican incumbent but remember she's not the nominee up there. The Tea Party backed Joe Miller won that primary. Check out these numbers, deadlocked between Joe Miller who was also endorsed by Sarah Palin, 37 percent for him and 37 percent for Murkowski. And the Democrat Scott McAdams way back at 23 percent.

Remember, Murkowski is now a write-in candidate. And check out the next board. We asked Alaska voters, are you very confident, do you know the procedure up there, how -- how it would work for write-in candidates? 93 percent say, yes, they are very confident. They know how it works.

But Kyra, that six percent in the dead-locked race -- those six percent who say they are not so sure that could be the difference in that race.

And finally, let's talk about the governor's contest. Ok we don't give enough attention on the gubernatorial battles. Let's go to Ohio. This is a fascinating race. Ted Strickland is the Democratic governor there. Check out these brand-new numbers from our poll. And this is news worthy here because our poll suggests it's basically deadlocked with Strickland up by one point against Jon Kasich, the Republican challenger, a former Congressman. Other polls suggest Kasich is up. We're going to spend a lot of time in Ohio, Kyra.

That's what I got. Back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Paul thanks so much.

And CNN's newest prime time program "Parker Spitzer" goes behind the scenes of politics. And last night the hosts talked about the South Carolina senate race with write-in candidate, Natalie Dupree. You know her as a famous chef. Well, she decided just a few weeks ago to challenge the incumbent. Dupree said she'll cook Jim DeMint's goose.

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NATALIE DUPREE, SOUTH CAROLINA, GREEN PARTY SENATE CANDIDATE: I read this article about Jim DeMint refusing an earmark.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For the port.

DUPREE: For the port of $400,000 some earmark. Now this port is like -- generates 60 -- 200,000 and something jobs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

DUPREE: And it's terribly important --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sure it is.

DUPREE: -- to South Carolina. And I just got mad and so, I was standing at the foot of the bed. Well, first I was in bed and said to Jack, reading the newspaper, I'm going to run for the United States Senate against Jim DeMint.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to know what reaction -- what was Jack's reaction.

JACK DUPREE: I said, "What?"

(CROSSTALK)

DUPREE: Yes, dear.

J. DUPREE: Well -- no. On this one, I said, what?

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PHILLIPS: "Parker Spitzer" every night 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

The Cub Scouts tell a troop dad he is banned from dressing the part.

This morning, we're talking to him and his 9-year-old scout son about their future with the troop.

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PHILLIPS: Well, a father in Texas has been banned from wearing the Cub Scouts uniform because he's openly gay. Jon Langbert wore the trademark khaki button-down often, while building things, cooking and camping and fishing and fund-raising with his 9-year-old son Carter. The two have done everything you would expect a father/son scouting team to do -- earning badges of course and living up to that scouting law.

You know the one. It says, "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." Well, tolerant isn't on the list.

Jon also says he's been removed from his leadership position. But his local scout district says that's impossible because he wasn't listed as a leader in the first place. And the district executives says it's just following the rules.

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PAT CURRIE, SCOUT EXECUTIVE, CIRCLE TEN COUNCIL: We do have a policy. Boy Scouts of America has a policy that avowed homosexuals and atheists are not to be allowed to be registered as leaders or members of the Boy Scouts of America. It's a long standing policy.

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PHILLIPS: Jon Langbert and his son Carter join me live from Dallas. And Jon, you heard the scout executive there. I was kind of thrown back. How does it feel being lumped in with atheists?

JON LANGBERT, ASKED NOT TO WEAR SCOUT UNIFORM: Well, I've got to say when pat says avowed homosexual, he tries to make it sound like a bad thing, but it's really a good thing. If you look around, you have avowed homosexuals in the U.S. Congress, the mayor of Houston. Avowed homosexuals are bringing him his food, the doctors that are treating him and his family. I mean everywhere, we're out there and we want to be included.

PHILLIPS: Well and you're out there, and you've been an incredible scout leader and an incredible father. And Carter, you talked about that firsthand. What makes your dad such a fantastic daddy?

CARTER LANGBERT, CUB SCOUT: Well, really, he's fantastic because he says he loves me all the time. He does stuff that he likes, like take me on individual trips to Colorado so I can ski with him and my friend Carter, Carter Hodgeson -- not me, Carter Langbert. I really -- I just enjoyed being with him on those individual trips.

PHILLIPS: I can just imagine. I understand you guys even went to Peru, too. That's amazing?

C. LANGBERT: Yes, for four whole weeks.

PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh, four whole weeks. You're generous, dad. Well, CARTER, what else has made your dad such a great scout leader?

C. LANGBERT: Well, really, he really excites the Boy Scouts to sell the popcorn so they can fill out forms to get gift cards so they can buy stuff that they want, because basically everyone knows that kids want to get toys from like Toys R Us and Wal-mart and stuff from Amazon. And he really excites them to do their best to fill out the form and just like that.

PHILLIPS: And encourages them. Absolutely. And, Jon, from what I understand, you told the Boy Scouts from the beginning that you were gay and how was the response then? Did they say at any point, sorry, Jon, you can't be a leader?

J. LANGBERT: No. It was quite the opposite. When Carter was in second grade and he said he wanted to be in the scouts, I knew there had been issues in the past. I called the cub master. He said, no, no problem at all. You're gay, that's fine. Sign Carter up.

And we did. And we participated actively. It's a great pact -- we've had a great time these past three years.

PHILLIPS: So let me ask you this. You know, obviously in a statement here from the Boy Scouts, they said that you're not currently registered as a member of the Boy Scouts of America and therefore, you have not been removed from the organization or from your role in managing popcorn sales for the cub pack in which your son is a registered member.

Is that true? Because I was looking at this paper work and you have received e-mails from the Boy Scouts here addressing you as a pack leader. And then I saw here on the scout Web site under your duties list that you're referred to as a unit leader. So I'm confused here. Are you registered and considered a leader?

J. LANGBERT: Well, I've always thought I was and certainly was asked to be popcorn colonel. It's not the fanciest title in the world but it certainly sounds like you're in charge of something and I filled out every piece of paper that's ever been put in front of me. Of course, you can imagine an organization like the scouts has a lot of paper work. And we have been running the campaign fund-raiser successfully for two years.

I always thought of myself as a leader and I think they did because last week this time they were telling me you can't be a leader. I don't know why they would say that if I wasn't one.

PHILLIPS: Right. And all of a sudden now they are changing their tune.

Carter, let me ask you finally. Are you going to stay with Boy Scouts if they don't let your daddy be a leader? Have you thought about that?

C. LANGBERT: So far, I don't think I will because really if they're going to discriminate my dad when he's really to me being a very good Boy Scout leader for the whole entire pack, then it's just not fair to him because if he wants to be gay, he can be gay. It's not like they can just shove him to secondary just because he wants to run his life different.

PHILLIPS: Good for you Carter.

Absolutely.

C. LANGBERT: But I don't think I'll stay in if they won't treat him and me fairly and all the other gay parents.

PHILLIPS: Oh, Carter. You are a strong, strong young man. What a salute to you, Jon. You just continue to be an amazing father and we want to follow this story, of course.

So, Carter, let us know what you decide and Jon, keep us updated about your position as Boy Scout leader. And we wish the best to both of you. And Carter, we're just so proud of you.

C. LANGBERT: Thank you.

J. LANGBERT: Thank you, kyra.

PHILLIPS: You bet.

Well, ahead next hour, a money diet.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Retail, clothing, and eating out. That's where a lot of my money goes to.

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PHILLIPS: You work hard for your money, you're entitled to splurge a bit, right? Well, maybe not so much in this tough economy. Hear from an expert on what you should and shouldn't spend money on if you really want financial freedom.

And the girls of "Glee". Oh, my, high heels, not much else, inside next month's "GQ". It's been called disturbing and bordering on pedophilia. Next hour, we're going to examine the line between risque and overexposed.

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