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Countdown to Election Day; U.S. Swimmer Found Dead; Facebook CEO Gives Big Money; Brains Behind "I'm Not a Witch" Ad; Lessons from Juan Williams Firing; Bed Bugs Cramp Love Life
Aired October 24, 2010 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right. It's the top of the hour, everyone, I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for joining us.
When it comes to politics, it doesn't get any tougher than this. Today's showdown in Florida, perhaps the most bitter debate of this political season, seen right here on CNN of course. It is a race for Florida's open Senate seat and Governor Charlie Crist running as an independent and Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick -- Kendrick Meek. Crist and Rubio especially were gunning for each other and Meek got it started with remarks on the budget deficit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KENDRICK MEEK (D), FLORIDA SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: The real issue is the fact that he's saying that he's a deficit hawk but at the same time he's saying let's give tax cuts. It was a different economic time, Speaker when the tax cuts were temporary given at the beginning.
No one ran on hey, I'm going to give billionaires and millionaires a tax cut. It was temporary, there were surpluses, there are no longer surpluses. So we're digging a deeper hole.
MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I think that the votes are going to be there to extend this. The only thing standing in the way of it is the stubbornness of the White House and the liberal leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": but isn't that what's wrong with Washington is that the White House thinks you're stubborn and you think they're stubborn.
RUBIO: Well, I don't think the White House are just stubborn so do other Democrats who have now signed -- and you have five senate Democrats saying we've got to vote on this thing and extend, and it says the taxes are extended for everybody. It's not me just saying that.
CHARLIE CRIST (I), FLORIDA SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Adam. Adam. Adam. Let me just say this. Let me just say this. Let me just say this -- that this is the kind of big back and forth not being able to figure out what to do. Ideological arguments without common sense you know compromising to do what's right for the people. You're seeing it right here, right now. That's why I'm running as an independent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, our senior political editor, Mark Preston was just off the stage for the debate there in Tampa. So Mark, what's the background for this bitterness in this race?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, you know, they're not just political enemies, Don. They are personal enemies. And it's like a domino effect.
Let me just give it to you very quickly. You have Charlie Crist, who is now an independent, who was a Republican, who's mad at Marco Rubio who pushed him out of the Republican primary.
And then from there, you have Kendrick Meek, who's upset at Charlie Crist who's running as an independent who is siphoning off Democratic votes and according to the new CNN/Time Research Corporation Poll, it shows that he's down 26 points. So when I say he, Kendrick Meek is down 26 points to Marco Rubio.
So, I think what we saw this morning was a very long, bitter campaign play out here on the campus of the University of South Florida on CNN. And really I -- I -- I -- the nerves were quite raw, Don certainly at the end.
LEMON: I know the whole thing and even when you were explaining it sounds like, I know you are, but what am I or whatever. So it's just kind of weird.
I want to switch topics here a little bit for a second Mark, because we all know about the Republican's momentum heading into the election just nine days from now. But Democrats all over the Sunday shows insisted that they are turning things around and that the polls are looking better for them. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. TIM KAINE (D), DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: We saved the auto industry, we saved the financial sector. We have in passed a bill, enabling women to get equal pay for work and done historic health care reform among many other bills. So we feel very good about the accomplishments and that's why I think you see the polls closing. People understand that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Is it a matter Mark of overconfidence by Republicans or is it Democrats saying, you know, this is for all the marbles now or maybe what the president's doing, the former president and the first lady, is it working around the country? What's going on here?
PRESTON: Don, can I answer that question and I think it's all of the above. When you're going into the -- the end of an election, in the closing days, what you see is the Democratic base fired up. You see folks like Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, out on the campaign trail really amping it up. We see Michelle Obama on the campaign trail. Activist are starting to really tune in. The problem for Democrats though, is Tim Kaine's correct there. President Obama did everything he said he was going to do in office, but the big problem for him is the unemployment rate is 9.6 percent. Where I stand here in Florida, the foreclosure mess has been a total disaster.
So -- for everything that he has done, and yes there were some very bold initiatives, American voters are very upset because they're unemployed right now. So the Democrats are swimming upstream against a very tough economy right now Don.
So it's not just spin then, Mark.
PRESTON: No, you know, look, here's -- here's the rub, we'll see what happens after the election. Republicans, look, they're not going to like me saying this, but they didn't have any real bold ideas over the past year in Washington, Don.
Yes, mainly, what we're going to see on Election Day is we're going to see anger at Democrats because Democrats are in power. They control the White House, they control the House, they control the Senate. So when voters head to the polls they're going try to take it out on those who are in power and it just so happens to be Democrats this time.
LEMON: It's very interesting and it gets closer, things keep changing at first it's going to be a landslide, they're going to take the House, they're going to take the Senate. Now, we don't know, it's a nail biter. Thank you very much, Mark Preston.
PRESTON: No, we don't know.
LEMON: Yes, we appreciate it.
And remember the spotlight is going to stay on Florida. Make sure you watch tomorrow night at 7:00 Eastern. It is a special "JOHN KING USA" the Florida gubernatorial candidates debates. John King moderates a showdown right here only on CNN.
Let's move on now and talk about what's happening in Haiti. It's devastating; still reeling from last January's massive killer earthquake, a new killer is now stalking the impoverished island nation. Cholera, already the fast moving infectious disease has killed at least 253 people and sickened thousands more.
Now, it is in the crowded capital of Port-au-Prince. And our Paula Newton is at a hospital rapidly becoming overwhelmed by the sick and the dying.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): So there is that chaotic scene outside. Inside, we're now on the grounds of the hospital here at St. Nicholas and people are lining up to try and get the treatment they need. And many times they are feeling terribly, they are vomiting, they have diarrhea. As you can see down here even children are just sprawled out in the open air just waiting for something, for someone to come and help them. There are many people here just lined up, we've spoken to many people who haven't had care for several hours in some cases one or two days.
The staff here are doing the best they can, but as you can see, people continue to line up. I want you to follow me now into the triage area. And you can see people line up. And then, Medicine Frontier (ph) are starting to help them as our local staff here determine who is most ill, who is most at risk and trying to get them rehydrated and perhaps with some antibiotics as soon as possible.
Paula Newton, CNN, St. Mark, Haiti.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Paula, thank you so much for that. And make sure you stick with CNN. We're going to follow that story throughout the week.
A 26-year-old American swimmer with six NCAA championship titles dies suddenly during a race overseas. Right after the break, I'll talk to his coach. We'll find out what happened.
Plus, a U.S. Congressman calls on YouTube to remove hundreds of videos posted by known terrorists often called the bin Laden of the Internet. And we want you to be a part of this program right now and make sure you send us a message on Twitter or Facebook. Check out our blog it's at CNN.com/don or you can check in with us on FourSquare.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The swimming world tonight is mourning a former NCAA champion who died today during a race overseas. Fran Crippen (ph), a standout really in swimming. He was an open water swimmer. He died during the 10-kilometer marathon swimming World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The 26 year-old's death is under investigation.
Now, the sports-governing body says the death is the first ever in a sanctioned competition. Swimming was Fran Crippen's life, even when he wasn't competing he touched many lives as a volunteer coach at a Germantown Academy outside of Philadelphia, where he once starred as a swimmer.
His coach is Richard Shoulberg. Dick Shoulberg joins us now from -- by phone from Port Washington outside of Philadelphia. First of all Coach, my condolences to you and to the family and entire community. How are you holding up?
RICHARD SHOULBERG, COACH OF FRAN CRIPPEN (via telephone): We'll get through it. It's tough. But thank you.
LEMON: Yes. Tell us about this young man. SHOULBERG: Well, when his sister, Maddie, and a friend tagged along when he was about 5 and started to swim in our pool at Germantown Academy and went on to break a national school record in the 500, national champion two times before he we want to UVA after graduating Germantown Academy, he not only was a world class athlete, national champion, he got in the pool with GA and helped the little kids as a volunteer coach.
They loved him. We all loved him. We're all going to miss him immensely. He's been a great friend. The last few years, we had a cup of coffee after every morning practice and we chatted about local sports teams.
Just a great guy. The open water community is small and close knit. The swimming community is larger and equally close knit and we're all in shock and dismay and saddened.
LEMON: Yes. I can only imagine. Twenty-six years old -- really in the prime of his life. Do we know what happened, coach?
SHOULBERG: No. We do not know. Whatever it says on the Internet is guessing and nothing has been concluded and we're hoping his body will be brought home within the next 48 to 72 hours and there is a stream of swimmers from all over the world coming here to spend time with the family and (INAUDIBLE) at Germantown Academy. Very, very sad.
LEMON: So Coach, listen, you know we've been hearing things that maybe it was exhaustion; maybe it was a heart attack. As you said, we don't know until the investigation is complete.
But knowing -- you've known this young man for virtually his entire life. Did he ever complain about anything? Did he have any health issues?
SHOULBERG: No. None at all -- none, absolutely, none at all to my knowledge; he was fit as a fiddle. Last year, as a fun thing, he decided to run the New York Marathon and raise money for some I think it may have been for either the troops or for cancer and he ran his first marathon three hours and six minutes, so that gives you an indication of what type of athlete he is.
And just didn't swim, he did a lot of fitness work and lot of running and played water polo in high school. As a kid, did everything, every sport. And then he had -- his passion was swimming. And his passion was helping young kids become better swimmers.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Well, Coach, I want to ask you this real quickly because usually for just lap swimming, the water is always kind of cool. 87 degrees, that's pretty warm -- do you think that may have contributed to this?
SHOULBERG: I hope not, but I worried more about the content of salt in water because the higher the content of salt, the quicker the athlete becomes dehydrated. That's the thing that's ringing the bell in the back of my mind, but I'm not a physiologist, I'm a swim coach.
LEMON: Yes, so you don't know. Listen, from a little bitty boy, as they say -- itty-bitty boy -- to 26 years old, what are you going to remember most about him?
(CROSSTALK)
SHOULBERG: Pardon me?
LEMON: What are you going to remember most about him?
SHOULBERG: I love him. I'm just -- I'll remember that. I love him.
LEMON: Coach Richard Shoulberg, thank you so much. We appreciate your time and again, our thoughts and prayers go to you, the family and entire community, ok?
And still ahead here on CNN tonight, the state says they're allowed to get married, but the state's biggest newspaper won't print their wedding announcement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The union leader is a big voice in New Hampshire and they seem to be so out of touch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Up next, we'll hear more from the same-sex couple and the newspaper at the center of this controversy.
Plus, a $100 million gift to help schools in a major northeast city created a stir when announced it was announced on "The Oprah Show". Now, it has generated some controversy. We'll explain that one.
And should YouTube have to remove videos from a known terrorist? One congressman thinks so and we'll tell you what he's doing to make that happen.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Checking top stories on CNN, New Hampshire's biggest newspaper is standing by its decision not to publish marriage notices for same-sex couples. The publisher of "The Union Leader" of Manchester says it's not anti-gay, but opposes same-sex marriage. Joe McQuaid wrote, quote, "This newspaper has never published wedding or engagement announcements from homosexual couples. It would be hypocritical of us to do so, given that our belief that marriage is and needs to remain a social and civil structure between men and women."
Same-sex marriage advocates say the newspaper is out of step with the times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREG GOULD, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE SUPPORTER: I was really disappointed because "The Union Leader" is a big voice in the state of New Hampshire and they seem to be so out of touch. To specifically exclude same-sex couples in wedding announcements seems particularly vindictive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Another top story tonight, videos of the so-called Osama Bin Laden of the Internet could soon be a thing of the past on YouTube. New York Congressman Anthony Weiner is asking the Web site to remove videos featuring Anwar al-Awlaki removed. He's accused of using the site to find new recruits and promote Islamic extremism and violent jihad against Americans. YouTube hasn't responded yet to that request.
An attempted theft ends in death. Police in South Gate, California say a man was electrocuted while trying to steal copper wire from an electrical transformer that exploded. Officers say his accomplice was severely burned when she grabbed her husband trying to save him. Two children believed to belong to the couple were found in a truck near the scene. They were unharmed and taken into protective custody.
A huge donation by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to the public schools in Newark, New Jersey drew a lot of attention last month. Now it is creating some controversy.
CNN education contributor Steve Perry went to Newark to investigate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): The announcement made big news on Oprah.
MARK ZUCKERBERG, CEO, FACEBOOK: A $100 million challenge grant.
PERRY: Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg donated $100 million to Newark, New Jersey schools. On stage to accept: a Republican governor and Democratic mayor.
But to critics, the gift raises many questions.
(on camera): Do you feel like it could help the school district?
BOB BRAUN, "NEWARK STAR LEDGER" COLUMNIST: We have no details on that -- on the gift except that it was $100 million in stock that's going to be given over five years.
The $100 million gift helped Chris Christie change the subject from his loss of $400 million in federal race to the top funds which might have -- would have come to New Jersey.
Corey Booker has not come up with an education plan, but shortly before the big rollout on Oprah, lost a very serious political battle.
PERRY (voice-over): A battle over budget cuts. Newark public schools are failing. Currently, the state controls the school district. Under the new plan, the governor authorizes Mayor Booker to develop a comprehensive education plan.
Democrat state senator Ronald Rice says that's wrong.
RONALD RICE, NEW JERSEY STATE SENATOR: It's the endowment conditions. One condition is that Mayor Booker must be the person to more or less be in charge here.
PERRY: We asked Mayor Booker and Governor Christie for answers but they declined. In a statement, Booker said he would take a formal role in running Newark schools. He said he wants to lead full committee engagement in shaping Newark's educational future.
Supporters say the Booker-Christie-Zuckerberg deal will help failing schools and for local leaders against the deal, what are you going to do to improve teaching and learning in Newark's public schools?
RICE: We're starting to look at how to do legislation to encourage or for parents -- we can legally mandate, get parents more involved in these school system.
PERRY: Steve Perry, Newark New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: It is a political ad that the candidate herself says she regrets doing. Up next, we'll hear from the man behind the infamous Christine O'Donnell "I'm not a witch" ad. Why he made it and what's he hoping to achieve.
Plus, we're just nine days from the midterm elections and the former head of the Democratic committee is calling his party a bunch of wusses. We'll talk about that comment and whether these negative campaign ads we're being bombarded with right now actually do work.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: No doubt you probably had to sit through enough political ads to know there is an art to creating a successful one, or is it just luck? I don't know. And you might have the next morning in America, right? Do it wrong and it could backfire on you big time.
Our Jessica Yellin introduces us to the brains behind one of the year's most talked about political commercials.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE O'DONNELL (R), DELAWARE SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not a witch. I'm nothing you've heard. I'm you.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell now says she regrets that ad. Fred Davis made it.
FRED DAVIS, REPUBLICAN AD PRODUCER: My goal was just to give people the same impression of Christine O'Donnell that I had the first second I met her. She didn't sound crazy. She didn't sound like a witch. She didn't sound like any of those things and I wanted the rest of the world to hear that as well.
YELLIN: And to you critics, that's not smoke in the background.
DAVIS: It's a projector. Very simple little projector, projecting a light on a black background.
YELLIN: Davis's ads helped elect all these Republicans and could boost a few more this year.
BEN QUAYLE (R), CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Barack Obama is the worst president in history.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R): And complete the dang fence.
RICK SNYDER: It's time for a nerd.
YELLIN: Davis lives in Hollywood, California. This is his office. He says ideas often come to him in bed.
(on camera): In the middle of the night?
DAVIS: Well, often in the middle of the night. I sleep with a legal pad every night. I'm very exciting
YELLIN (voice-over): The nerd ad helped unknown Rick Snyder win his primary for Michigan governor. And it came from a first impression.
DAVIS: I shook his hand. I said, "Hi, Rick. Nice to meet you." He goes, "Hi, good to meet you." And then your heart sinks.
YELLIN (on camera): That's not the voice you want.
DAVIS: It's not the voice you want. But then I started talking to him and he's just a real, really bright guy. And so I'm thinking, let us try and do -- make him sound differently. Let's use what he is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: F-C-I-N-O. Fiscal conservative in name only. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
YELLIN (voice-over): In his most famous video, Davis turns a moderate Republican into a Wolf in sheep's clothing.
DAVIS: I didn't think five people would ever see it and millions have seen it and for the rest of my life, I'll be introduced as the demon sheep guy.
YELLIN (on camera): Is there an essence to a good political ad? What it needs to have? DAVIS: Well, you have to stand out and you have to talk about it. And the thing that makes you talk about it, I think, is being different.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's one tough nerd.
YELLIN (voice-over): Fred Davis -- definitely not your typical spin doctor.
Jessica Yellin, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: That "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" ad was kind of creepy, wasn't it? You know you're only going to see more political ads over the next nine days, but do they actually work?
We've got the perfect panel to talk about it right now: Princella Smith is a GOP strategist and communications specialist -- welcome to you; and Steve Kornacki is the news editor for Salon.com.
So, candidates are spending millions on the air waves, guys, to get our attention. These ads must work, right, Princella?
PRINCELLA SMITH, GOP STRATEGIST: Well, you know, a good political ad reflects the mood of the country and of the electorate. Right now, the mood is very weird. It's very angry and it's very anti-incumbent and anti-establishment. So many of these ads look very weird and angry and moody because that's how people feel right now.
Whether or not we think they're weird, they're apparently seeming to work. They've launched what seemingly seems to be a lot of novice- type candidates into a grandiose spotlight. And so right now, the mood of the electorate is largely -- it's not as much partisan as it is anti-establishment.
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: If you look like you're an establishment, it's time for you to go. So that's what these ads are speaking to.
LEMON: So Steve, to the point as well. Do these ads work in your estimation?
STEVE KORNACKI, News Editor, SALON.COM: Well, it depends, I think, what kind of ad you're talking about. I think, you know, Christine O'Donnell's ad where she's forced to declare that she's not a witch didn't work. Any time you sort of feel compelled to run an ad like that, it kind of proves you have flaws that really can't be corrected no matter what.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: But Steve, can I stop you right there. Can I ask you --
KORNACKI: Sure. LEMON: -- that maybe this ad -- because some say it was bad, but maybe it was so bad that it was good because it was spoofed everywhere and it may have gotten her even more attention and publicity than if the ad had been a good one.
KORNACKI: The problem with Christine O'Donnell though is that more attention and more publicity doesn't correlate with more support in the polls. She's now down about 20 points and that race is pretty much hopeless. It is a lost cause.
And if you look at that from the Republican standpoint, Delaware at the start of this year when it was assumed that Mike Castle would be the Senate candidate there was supposed to be an automatic pick-up for the Republicans this year. But because Christine O'Donnell has so much attention focused on her, she's become a liability and she's sort of disrupted this sort of Republican plan to capitalize on the political climate.
LEMON: All right. (INAUDIBLE) Listen changing gears, right now, often, they're criticizing like Democrats for being weak willed. I know that Ed Rendell is saying, I think he's calling them wusses or something.
So I want you to listen to this exchange from CNN's "PARKER/SPITZER," Ed Rendell.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIOT SPITZER, CO-HOST "PARKER/SPITZER": So where is the Democratic story that's an affirmative story that explains how we're going to solve the problem?
GOV. ED RENDELL, PENNSYLVANIA: Well, you're absolutely right and I have said consistently during this campaign season, we're a bunch of wusses. We're running from the things that we've done, running from the things we believe, instead of saying, here's what we stand for. If we're going to lose, let's go down fighting for what we believe?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: So Princella, is Ed Rendell right? I mean, do the Dems need to do what Sharron Angle said, as she would put it (INAUDIBLE).
PRINCELLA SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: I think with all due respect to Mr. Rendell, he has it absolutely wrong because he thinks that this fight is still partisan and ideological. This is not an ideological fight. This is a philosophical fight. And I think that's where the democrats have it wrong.
In 2008, they viewed it as a mandate for the democratic policies and it wasn't. 2008 was a call for real change and that's what the Democrats have seemingly forgotten. Let me give you three quick examples of races that people are talking about very much but it's going to prove my point.
In Wisconsin, you have Mr. Johnson there, who's getting ready to beat long-term Democrat incumbent, Russ Feingold, in a very blue state. In Louisiana, you have Joseph Gall, a Republican poised to win at 75 percent (INAUDIBLE) 64% African-American and Democrat. Again, he runs on a platform of what he's done for the district.
LEMON: And was the only one to initially support the health care plan. The only Republican.
SMITH: He did, but he voted against it the second time. But it's been a moot point now. He's running on what he's done for people. People want results. Let me give you the third example. I'm working in Arkansas and I'm working primarily on state level races. And let me give you a statistic that people don't know. In 95 state legislature races throughout the country, the incumbent lost in a primary. Jason Rapert in Arkansas 18th district is poised to win the largest state Senate district in the entire state and he has no political experience. This mood is anti-incumbent.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: That's in a lot of different races though. If you look at the Christine O'Donnell race and if you look at many other races around the country, a lot of people don't have a lot of experience. Virtual unknowns who are challenging people who have been in office forever. Listen, Steve, Princella, this is more philosophical, is it even that or is it really just as they say, the economy. It's the economy, stupid.
KORNACKI: Yes. It is. We like to talk about you know, what message the candidates should be using. You know, should this be the strategy or that be the strategy? What we don't always like to admit I think is that there's really a boring explanation, you know, for what's going on (INAUDIBLE) -
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Yes, all this talk that we do when it's really about the economy and jobs.
KORNACKI: When you have 9.7 percent unemployment and one party controls the White House and one party controls both chambers of Congress and that party just had two elections in which it won a lot of very marginal districts in a lot of very marginal Senate seats, there's going to be a sort of blow-back. There's going to be a very rough follow-up. That's what we're seeing this year. I think Ronald Reagan experienced it two years in his presidency. We all forgotten but you know, there was 10 percent unemployment. His party just took a beating in the 1982 midterms, but he bounced back when the economy bounced back. If it bounces back now, Obama and the Democrats will bounce back.
LEMON: OK. Listen, Steve and Princella, there is a well-known political figure whose loyalties are up for grabs. So I want you to watch this, it is from HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" and then we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BILL MAHER, HOST, "REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER": I don't even know if you're a Republican or a Democrat.
LEVI JOHNSON: We're debating that one. I'm up and down. Back and forth here.
MAHER: All right. I'll get you high after the show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So Levi Johnson is looking for a party to join. Princella, Steve, any takers?
SMITH: Well, the Republican party -
KORNACKI: This might be one where -
SMITH: Sorry, go ahead, Steve.
KORNACKI: Go ahead.
This is one of those cases where I think it helps the other, whichever party he joins, it probably helps the other one more.
LEMON: Princella.
SMITH: I'm going to agree with Steve.
LEMON: And you'll leave it at that, right?
SMITH: We'll leave it at that.
LEMON: Enjoyed the conversation, guys. Have a good evening. All right.
You know, CNN is your place for politics as these midterms heat up. Be sure to watch CNN tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. It's special "John King U.S.A.," the Florida gubernatorial candidates debate. John King moderates the showdown right here on CNN.
And up next on CNN, we're just getting word of major damage from tornados in Texas. Our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras will be here with the very latest for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Before the break, we had some developing weather news. Our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is her. What's going on, Jacqui?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we've got a number of tornado warnings in effect. Some of the warnings have already caused damages as of this evening. We're getting reports out of Lone Oak, Texas, as well as Wright, Texas of significant damage to some homes there. Also, the Wright High School reporting some damage.
And now, a second tornado may be moving through that area. This includes you in Navarro county. So be seeking shelter now. There are about all these purple boxes here, about half a dozen tornado warnings at this time. And so this is a very dangerous situation that's been developing about 40, 50 miles east of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, stretching on up towards Arklatex. So this is quite an outbreak in such a small area across the U.S..
Here, you can see the tornado watch which remains in effect until 11:00, local time. The other area, I'm kind of keeping my eye on and I don't like what I'm seeing here, in the southern part of Alabama and the panhandle of Florida, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a watch being issued in this area or some isolated tornado warnings. So if you live here across parts of Alabama, be aware of that. And the damage threat more likely for wind up in the northern parts of Mississippi and then stretching on up into the Ohio River Valley, the strong storm season heads off to the east.
Now we've got another incredibly strong storm system on the West Coast. But this is having a much different impact, take a look at the trail of moisture that's been stretching all the way into the western Pacific Ocean, believe it or not. We've been getting heavy rain, as much five to six inches in the foothills of the Sierras, heavy snow across parts of the Cascades into the Wasatch, pushing into Colorado Six to 12 inches of first significant snowfall of the season. And Loveland Ski area decided to open up today in celebration of that.
One of the big concerns with the storm system is not that it's so strong but that the winds are going to be incredible, gusting with this thing 50 to 60 miles per hour is possible in some of the valleys and the rich tops of the mountains could see easily in excess of 100 miles per hour. This system is going to stick with you into the west, at least through Tuesday before things calm down and it's going to make its way into the Midwest. We got Richard out there too, by the way, which shouldn't impact the U.S..
LEMON: Those skiers are going -
JERAS: I know. It's not even Halloween yet.
LEMON: Right.
JERAS: You know.
LEMON: Bring on the powder. All right. Thank you, Jacqui Jeras. We appreciate it.
We've been doing a lot of talking about the Juan Williams' story and it has heated up this week. And he is now calling his firing from NPR, censorship. Up next, we'll hear from two members of the Muslim community about his termination.
Plus, would you break up with somebody because they had bedbugs? We'll take a closer look at just how big a problem these little critters have become.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: The man who has been the talk of the nation continued to be on the Sunday talk shows. Juan Williams defended his statements that led to his termination from National Public Radio on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUAN WILLIAMS, FMR. NPR SR. NEWS ANALYST: There's nothing wrong in telling someone how you feel and to be punished for that is unfair and amounts to censorship and the idea then that they would then engage in character assassination against me about my professional behavior given the work I've done I just think was regrettable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And as you heard, Williams said he felt his character was attacked after a suggestion from NPR CEO that he uses a psychiatrist while she explained why NPR fired. NPR said Williams' comments Wednesday during an appearance on Fox News were not consistent with its editorial standards and practices. Here's what got him in trouble.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAMS: When I get on a plane, I got to tell you if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they're identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.
LEMON: OK. So NPR says the protest over Juan Williams firing shut down its e-mail servers. Among those against his termination are two Muslims. Maz Jobrani is a comedian and actor and Zeba Kahn is a writer and social media consultant. She said she once supported NPR's decision until she looked deeper and realized the context of what Williams was saying. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZEBA KAHN, WRITER & SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT: I think without giving it a really good investigative look, I sort of heard the sound bite that most people heard and thought, well, you know, it's somewhat offensive for him to assume all Muslims are - I read that as an offensive statement, but then when I took the time to look into it, read the whole transcript, watch the whole interview, in fact, Mr. Williams was basically trying to tell Bill O'Reilly to not paint Muslims with a broad brush stroke and he was acknowledging that "yes, I have some fears." And by the way, he's not alone in that. There is a significant population in this country that also shares those fears. However, irrational it may be, they're real fears. He's trying to say to Bill O'Reilly that you have to be accountable for when you make broad statements like Muslims are terrorists.
LEMON: Zeba, I want to say that you know, what you said that a lot of people have those fears, a lot of people do and a lot of people I spoke to called and said, you know, "Don, I have those fears, whatever." But the question is, as Maz, I'm looking at you, nodding your head, is appears to be in agreement to what Zeba is saying, is it OK for him to say that out loud?
MAZ JOBRANI, COMEDIAN "BROWN & FRIENDLY" TOUR: Yes, I think that it is. I think that - the good thing was he was expressing an opinion and his opinion. His feelings that he has when he sees somebody like that on an airplane. First of all, my thing is that obviously if someone's going to hijack a plane, Al Qaeda, they're not going to be dressed in Muslim garb.
You know, I jokingly have said that I'm not afraid of the guy dressed in Muslim garb, I'm more afraid of the guy who is, you know, dressed up with the Yankee cap going, "hey, buddy, the Yankees are going to win the Super Bowl this year. That's your guy right there.
Yes, but more importantly, I think the issue is, Don, that this is out there and we can't deny that it's out there. And I think Juan was putting it out there as well. And I think the problem is -you know, the bigger problem is there's been discrimination because of this. There was an airplane with some imams praying before they got on the plane and the pilot wouldn't let them on the plane because he was afraid of something happening. There was another airplane, AirTran, there was a Muslim family walking down the aisle talking about the safest place to sit on the plane.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: The question is, then, by firing him, did NPR just completely, abruptly end the dialogue that could have taken place or maybe have in some strange way, had done the public a favor and Muslims a favor, by bringing even more light to the situation? Zeba?
KAHN: I mean, I would hope that there's an opportunity still, the teachable moment here that (INAUDIBLE). I think that NPR should have given him a chance to explain himself more so than they did. From what we're hearing from Mr. Williams and how he was fired. It was a quick phone call. I think he should have a chance to explain, you know, his fears and explain that this is a fear rather than a context, which people seem to forget.
Hopefully, you know, in fact, I think there is an opportunity because now, he is at the news desk of Fox News and it would be even more informative for someone at that station in particular to say, "hey, let's talk about this, why I have these fears and let's talk about why I have them."
JOBRANI: I think the problems we have in this day and age is that people look at the sound bite. They make up their mind. You know, they hear something and go, I'm offended. That's it. They don't give the full review. I actually watched the full segment. If anything, Bill O'Reilly said a lot more, you know, bigoted, racist comments in that segment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Maz Jobrani and Zeba Kahn, thanks to them. Up next, a man accused of trying to board a plane with a loaded gun. We'll have the latest details for you. Plus, how bad is the bedbug problem in New York City? How bad?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STACIE HANDWERKER, REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was dating a guy and he asked me, he said, do you have bedbugs in your apartment because if you do, you won't be seeing me. I love you but I'd miss you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Would you break up with someone because they have bedbugs?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE) says yes. Let's take a closer look at how bed bugs are affecting people's dating lives. Real people.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Time now to check your top stories. An elderly man is accused of trying to get a loaded gun on a plane flying out of Chicago's O'Hare airport. Chicago say, police say a TSA agent found a .380 semiautomatic pistol in the carryon bag of Francis Cook. It happened yesterday. They say the gun was fully loaded. Cook who is 67 years old and from Michigan was headed to Dallas.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is defending his decision to disband most private security firms working in his country. Both the U.S. and U.N. worry the move could development groups vulnerable to attack. The only exception would be firms protecting embassies and diplomats. Without the protection, some aid groups may pull out of Afghanistan.
Three beaches in Southern California remain closed right after a shark killed a body surfer this weekend. The beaches in Santa Barbara county will be closed at least until tomorrow if not longer. The shark bit the 19-year-old surfer severing his left leg. Oceanographers say based on the surfer's injury, the shark was most likely a great white.
Would you break up with someone simply because they have bed bugs? It is a real problem and we're going to take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Being single, good looking and successful might not be enough to get a date these days. You have to be able to say, I don't have bed bugs.
Here's CNN's Richard Roth on how the blood sucking little parasites are causing havoc in the dating world. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Stacie Handwerker is always on the lookout for a good man.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cheers!
ROTH: But for Stacie and millions of other singles in New York looking for love, there's a new fear to add to romance anxieties.
STACIE HANDWERKER, REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY: I was dating a guy and he asked me, he said, do you have bed bugs in your apartment? Because if you do, you won't be seeing me, I love you, but I'd miss you.
ROTH: Love means never having to itch.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know somebody who broke up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because they were scared to death of bugs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they broke up -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She wouldn't date him because he had bed bugs and she freaked out and said I'm out.
DONNA BARNES, LIFE & DATING COACH: Bed bugs are definitely a very creepy aspect to dating at this point.
ROTH: Relationship coach Donna Barnes saw one client who admitted having bed bugs.
BARNES: She was horrified. I think if that's the case, you're better off to not date for a little while and to clean out the problem before you then go out.
TIMOTHY WONG, M&M ENVIRONMENTAL: I have here some samples of bed bugs.
ROTH: Tim Wong is the exterminator. His company is getting more calls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know it's a shock when you first hear you have bed bugs but you know, half the city does, so you're not alone.
ROTH: Calls with a boy versus girl blame game.
(on camera): you exterminated that relationship?
WONG: I did not exterminate that relationship. I got rid of the bed bugs but wasn't able to salvage the relationship.
ROTH: So I guess bed bugs are now giving a new meaning when a woman might say to a man, you're really starting to bug me.
(voice-over): For some, the prospect of bed bugs is even scarier than a sexually transmitted disease.
HANDWERKER: Well, a condom can't protect you from bed bug, that I think is for sure.
ROTH: With couples of all kinds in bed at night, it's the female bed bug who seems to have the most fun.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chase me, mate with me, seduce me.
ROTH: Actress Isabella Rosselini captured bed bug sex in her Sundance Channel film series.
WONG: And they can go on with this whole cycle of about 100 to 150 eggs before they need to mate again. So it's actually not fun being a male bed bugs because they don't get to mate for at least, maybe another six months.
ROTH (on camera): Does the female at least get to have a cigarette afterward?
(voice-over): It's love and fear at first bite warns another bug company, who is worried more though when you get under the sheets.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Men and women are different because a woman would care if a guy had bed bugs, but a man, if he met a hot girl probably wouldn't care if she had bed bugs.
ROTH: Confirmed further down the bar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come back to my place.
HANDWERKER: All right. Let's toast to bed bugs.
ROTH: Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: You can't even break up with them in person, you do it by text or something. Because you don't want to get close to them. Come on, let's be real here.
Coming up tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN, working moms and drug and alcohol addiction, just how common is it? The answer may surprise you. An in depth look at a mom who is a recovering alcoholic.
Also we're following some breaking news when it comes to the weather, we're looking at tornadoes in Texas and all over the south. Our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras standing by in the CNN severe weather center to update us. In the meantime, I'll see you back here at 10:00 p.m.
I'm Don Lemon, at the CNN World headquarters in Atlanta. My colleague Soledad O'Brien has a very special report for you. It's called "Black in America, Almighty Debt." And it starts right now.
