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George W. Bush Memoir; International Fight Passenger Disguised; Charlie Sheen Divorce; Obama Makes History in India

Aired November 06, 2010 - 12:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, well we're going to begin with President Obama starting his visit to India today by sending a message about terrorism. He's staying at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel where terrorists killed 30 staff members and guests two years ago on November 26, 2008. The president says that's no coincidence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We'll never forget the awful images of 26/11 including the flames from this hotel that lit up the night sky. We'll never forget how the world, including the American people, watched and grieved with all of India. With the resolve and the resilience of the Indian people during those attacks, stood in stark contrast of the savagery of the terrorists. The murders came to kill innocent civilians that day, but those of you here risked everything to save human life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Today's schedule for the president includes a visit to the museum dedicated to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, a leader of the Indian independence movement and a disciple of nonviolence. The president called Gandhi a hero not just to India, but to the world.

And back in this country still stinging from Tuesday's election results, President Obama is stressing the economic aspects of his overseas trip. Exit polls show many voters hold him responsible for high unemployment. In an op-ed piece for the "New York Times," the president said he'll use his tour to increase U.S. exports. And he wrote this, "I set a goal of doubling America's exports in the next five years. To do that we need to find new customers in new markets for American made-goods. And some of the fastest growing markets in the world are in Asia where I'm traveling this week."

The president met with Indian business leaders today. The White House says newly negotiated trade deals will produce jobs in India and in the United States.

And just four days after winning the Florida Senate election, Marco Rubio is a rising Republican star. He delivered the weekly GOP media address today declaring that Americans sent a message and Republicans will take action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR-ELECT MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: For many of us coming to Washington for the first time and others returning to serve, it's a long way from home. A long way from the people whose eyes we looked into at town halls, at diners, or round tables and promised that this time it would be different, that if you elected Republicans to office again, we would not squander the chance you gave us. And we must not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Rubio defeated Republican turned Independent Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek in Tuesday's election.

And Former President George W. Bush has been staying out of the spotlight for the most part since leaving office, but expect to see more of him now once his memoir "Decision Points" is released on Tuesday. Our Sandra Endo has obtained an advanced copy.

So, what have you found most interesting, Sandra? We know a few things have been talked about publicly, but specifically on 9/11, what did he have to say?

SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely. Here it is, Fred, is new book. It's a 481 page book called "Decision Points" and former President George W. Bush talks about everything, from his early political life, his battle with drinking, reflections on domestic agenda and of course, you mentioned, the war on terror.

Now, about that pivotal moment on 9/11 when he found out the country was under attack, he writes, "My blood was boiling. We were going to find out who did this and kick their (bleep). In a single morning, the purpose of my presidency had grown clear, to protect our people and defend our freedom that had come under attack."

Now, we all know those events on 9/11 led to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. And in his book he writes about when he was asked by CIA director George Tenet for permission to use enhanced interrogation techniques including water boarding. This is when he writes, "I thought about 2,973 people stolen from their families by al Qaeda on 9/11. And I thought about my duty to protect the country from another act of terror. 'Damn right,' I said."

Now, there are a lot of other issues, Fred, that he goes into in the book as far as his domestic policies. And he says he would have focused more on immigration reform rather than Social Security reform during his second term, so definitely a lot of meat in this book.

WHITFIELD: And did he reveal much about his regrets or spell out any regrets in this book?

ENDO: A little bit, Fred, specifically his second term saying that, look, he should have focused more on immigration reform than Social Security. Right now as you know, immigration reform is such a hot topic right now. And he says it wouldn't have been so polarizing as it is right now had they got it done. So, certainly reflection there from the former president.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sandra Endo from Washington with that advanced look at "Decision Points" by former President George W. Bush. Thanks so much.

ENDO: Sure.

WHITFIELD: All right, let's move to Oakland, California now where authorities insist that protesters will not be allowed to "tear up the city." More than 100 people were arrested last night after protesters outraged over the sentencing of a former transit officer reportedly turned violent. The transit officer, who was white, was given the minimum possible prison sentence for killing an unarmed black man on the platform last year. Police say protesters tore up fences and threw rocks and bottles. The city's police chief says violence won't be tolerated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF ANTHONY BATTS, OAKLAND POLICE: You cannot continue to allow this to happen in the city of Oakland. We had this happen in January 2009 for many days. We had this happen in July and we're having it happen now. And I'm trying to send a message that is clear you don't have a right to do this. You have a right to protest, you have a right to have freedom of speech, you have a right to voice your opinion and your discontent, you do not have a right to tear this city up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Defendant Johannes Mehserle claimed he thought he had grabbed his taser gun, not his actual gun, when he shot Oscar Grant. He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison.

And then onto the East Coast now, jurors in Connecticut are back deliberating this Saturday. They're trying to decide whether to give Steven Hayes life or death. Hayes was convicted last month for the brutal killings of a mother and her two daughters during a home invasion back in 2007. The father survived the attack and testified against Hayes. An alleged accomplice will be tried later on. We'll update you on those deliberations.

And a man apparently boards an international flight disguised as someone else entirely, completely different age bracket, as well. CNN broke that story. We'll talk to the investigative producer who got the tip, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Canadian authorities are investigating how a man apparently boarded an international flight in disguise. Confidential intelligence alert obtained by CNN says a passenger boarded an Air Canada flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver last week looking like an elderly Caucasian man, as you see there. And then he went to the bathroom, once on the plane, came out as a young Asian man. Well, he was taken into custody after landing in Canada. So officials are calling this independent an unbelievable case of concealment.

Joining us right now is CNN senior investigative producer, Scott Zamost, he actually broke this story.

So Scott, how did you break this story?

SCOTT ZAMOST, SR INVESTIGATIVE PRODUCER: Came from a source who has access to confidential sensitive information. And I have to tell you, when I saw this confidential bulletin, I looked at the photos in the bulletin and thought, is this real.

WHITFIELD: So, you were spent cal, as I'm sure investigators were when they get first got wind of this. But what seemed to legitimize this case and how will authorities, whether in Hong Kong or even in Canada trying figure out how could this happen? How did this young man get away with this?

ZAMOST: Well first, as far as legitimizing the story, these photos were contained in this confidential bulletin, so I made some calls and confirmed that this was, indeed, real. Because you look at the photos and you see that you have a photo of an elderly man, obviously a disguise and a young Asian man. As you said, the man got on the plane, during the flight, he changed, he took off the disguise, he was in the rest room took off the disguise, got back in his seat, and all of a sudden he's a younger 20ish Asian man.

WHITFIELD: And people onboard saw this were aghast for those who actually noticed it, who knows what time, you know, sometimes you're on an international flight and zonked out right away, but before you even get to being on the plane in Hong Kong, which is a very high security airport, it is huge, the major transit port, you wonder, did his I.D. reflect how he looked as an older man, meaning it was somebody else's I.D. or was it his I.D. and somehow security didn't match up the face on the picture, if he was allegedly in disguise at that point, and the photo?

ZAMOST: What we do know is that he went through multiple security checks at the Hong Kong Airport. We don't know if he was in disguise during the checks. It would probably -- from the facts it would make sense he was in disguise. It would make sense that he put on the disguise after he got through those checks at sometime between that and the time he boarded. We do know that he used a boarding pass of a U.S. citizen.

Now, the boarding pass does not contain a photo I.D. so apparently the photo was not checked and he got on the plane just using this boarding pass and what is called an aero plane card, which is a frequent flyer card. So he's on the plane in disguise.

WHITFIELD: So we only have 30 seconds left, but two things, A, what is his motivation -- was that motivations? Why would he allegedly do this? And then second, is there another person that authorities believe may have been traveling with him or in some way been an accomplice to this?

ZAMOST: We don't know right now if this U.S. Citizen was an accomplice, what his role was, the man is in custody. That's the question, what was his motive? What was he trying to do? Authorities are investigating that and he'd going to be facing a immigration hearing in Canada shortly and we might get some more answers, but at this point neither the airline nor Canadian authorities are saying what his motive was.

WHITFIELD: Wow, it's an extraordinary story. Of course that makes a lot of people very nervous as we head into a heavily traveled time of year. Scott Zamost, Special Investigations Unit producer, thanks so much, appreciate it.

ZAMOST: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Passengers pranked. This is a very different story and this after a TSA workers jokes about the passenger actually having cocaine in his luggage. Our legal guys say it is no laughing matter.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, actor Charlie Sheen wants a divorce from wife Number threeand he wants the kids despite his alleged recent troubles. Let's get straight to our legal guys. They are with us now. Civil rights attorney, Avery Friedman in Cleveland, and criminal defense attorney in Richard Herman in Las Vegas.

Good to see you gentlemen.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Boy, you love that Vegas, don't you, Richard?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes, it's really pretty. In the 80s out here, now.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's nice. That's nice. OK, well you first since you're closest to Charlie Sheen's hometown in the California, Los Angeles area. So, wait a minute, this is very interesting, because he's now pursuing custody of the kids. What's the likelihood of that given the recent track record and given the recent allegations, particularly as it pertains to New York behavior?

HERMAN: Hey Fred, with all due respect, it's not interesting, it's pathetic. It's disgusting. You know, this guy -- look, let's face it, when you file for divorce, there's like a standard form that you file and just plug in certain facts. So one of the areas on these initials filings are, yes, I want custody, I want all that stuff, too. He just put that in there as a bargaining chip. There's no way his attorney or him can reasonably and rationally believe that this drug addict drunk is going to get full custody of these children. It's never going to happen.

WHITFIELD: But somehow attorney is onboard with this plan. Right, Avery? That there is this serious pursuit by Charlie Sheen to do so. Why does he feel like he's got a pretty good chance?

FRIEDMAN: Well, I don't know that he has a good chance. Right now, in fact, his chances are nil, Fredricka. But you know what, the truth is, whatever problems Charlie Sheen has, there are two little ones, year-and-a-half, two-and-a-half years old, that deserve a dad. So, if this guy gets his act together, gets himself cleaned up, in rehab, these children are entitled to a father and therefore he is entitled to some level of custody. But I don't think there's any question, I agree with Richard, there's no chance right now. On the divorce issue, that, again, is very interesting because a lot of money involved. The question though is, there's a prenup and to what extent will the prenup impact on what Brooke Mueller walks away with in this case?

WHITFIELD: Oh, interesting stuff. All right, let's move on now to the East Coast and this young girl, Jennifer Wee -- I hope I'm pronouncing her name properly.

FRIEDMAN: Mee.

WHITFIELD: Oh, Mee, I'm sorry. So, we know she had been known as the hiccup girl, she had these uncontrollable hiccups for a long time and now her mom and her family is saying she just got mixed up with the wrong crowd. She is now up for some very serious charges, Avery, and her defense is saying, you know, murder, she didn't know what she was doing being part of this scheme to lure this young man and then he'd be killed, she just ran with the wrong crowd and, oh by the way, she has Tourette's syndrome and that is going to be the defense that they're going to lean on. This is a very kind of a murky and very sad story. What's the defense's chance on this sort of strategy?

FRIEDMAN: Well, it is a sad story, but I don't think it's murky and let me tell you why. I don't know, for some reason the defense lawyer said her Tourette's, which actually caused these unending hiccups, is actually part of the problem she faced as part of this trio in a murder.

Well, the scientists, that is the doctors and health officials have flipped. They have said, look it, there's no evidence Tourette's has anything to do with formulating a murder. And actually, I think it's a terrible defense. The science is on the side of the prosecution and the only argument that can be made, I think, for the defense is that she didn't have the capacity to intend to lure, which strikes me as virtually impossible.

WHITFIELD: OK, Richard, she and her family said she had no idea she was being roped into something like this.

HERMAN: Yes. It's a desperate attempt by a desperate attorney in desperate circumstances. She lured this individual behind a building where the two other friends of hers were waiting...

WHITFIELD: Which she met on a social networking site, correct?

HERMAN: Yes. But she lured the victim, Fred. She was the one that made contact with the victim and actually lured her behind the building where her two friends were lying in wait and then the attack occurred.

WHITFIELD: So, from a prosecutor's standpoint that would make her as equally culpable as those who were accused of carrying out the murder?

HERMAN: Absolutely, Fred. And Avery is right, Tourette's has absolutely nothing to do with this.

WHITFIELD: OK, let's move on to Philadelphia now where some TSA workers thought this would be kind of a fun little prank on this 22- year-old traveler, claimed that she, a college student, had cocaine in her bag and actually have a prop to look like was cocaine obtained from her baggage. So I wonder now, Richard, what kind of case she has against the TSA, because, what, apparently their workers then admitted that it was a prank, we're just trying to, you know, have a few laughs, here.

HERMAN: Yes, this worker was a bomb appraisal expert. That's who he was, a bomb appraisal expert who was planting little packets of fake cocaine, white powdery substance in luggage of at least three passengers walking through security. It's ridiculous, it's outrageous. Do they have a case? They probably don't have a case, Fred, to sue the federal government. There's usually immunity.

WHITFIELD: They don't have a case? Wait a minute.

(CROSSTALK)

But Avery, you know what's interesting, you -- if there's a case made against you if you prank or joke around about, you know, a bomb or anything.

HERMAN: That's criminal. That's criminal.

WHITFIELD: How come it doesn't go the other way around?

FRIEDMAN: Well, we're talking about civil, though. I think there is a civil case. The fact is that (INAUDIBLE) disqualified immunity. Well, I don't agree with it, I think chuckles the bomb assessor in a world of trouble, right now. And the fact is even if he's fired and has no money, I think she should pursue the case, because it's a matter of principle, it's a righteous thing and I think she should go after this guy. Bad news, it's not funny. And she got hurt in this process.

WHITFIELD: No, that is not funny. I would not find that funny. And I've got a great sense of humor, but you're joking with me and suddenly there is some drugs that you're finding this stuff. Oh no, I'm upset.

HERMAN: If you're on a plane and say you've got a gun, you know, they're going to arrest you. So maybe this guy should be prosecuted criminally. But civilly there's no damage. There's really no case.

FRIEDMAN: That's interesting.

WHITFIELD: It is fascinating. OK, and we're going to talk with you again about something that should make everybody smile, Happy Meals, but these days in San Francisco, it's kind of like a sad meal. But we're going to talk about why that's a legal case or potentially a legal case with you guys when we see you next. Thanks so much.

All right, meantime after 35 years an award winning play about African-American women is know a movie, and it's getting a whole lot of buzz. We're going to actually hear from two of the stars, right there. Kimberly Elise and Kerry Washington sit down with me face-to- face. Find out why they say this movie changes their lives.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Day-1 of President Obama's tour of Asia and he's already using it to send a message about terrorism. The president arrived in India and checked into the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. That hotel was the site of an attack that killed 30 staff members and guest two years ago in Mumbai. Mr. Obama says he wanted to show the U.S. and India were united in their stand against terrorists.

Also today, the president met with Indian business leaders. The president says he's trying to expand markets for U.S. exports.

And authorities are taking some unusual steps to make sure President Obama is protected from just about everything during his trip to India, even coconuts and monkeys. Josh Levs is here to explain.

At first you kind of want to laugh about it, but it really could be a very serious matter.

JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It could be, but it's still the lighter side of this trip. I mean, come on. We're talking about them going around chopping down counts. But hey, it's a good thing, right?

WHITFIELD: Yes, so you don't get hit in the noggin? That could hurt.

LEVS: That would be rough, especially if it was the president of the United States. He shouldn't have to worry about things like that, falling counts landing on his head. So what happened was apparently this is a problem, can be a real problem in Mumbai, so officials have had workers cut down dry coconuts that surround the Gandhi Museum, one of the places that's on the president's itinerary, because apparently that's one of the places where they fall and have caused problems. So authorities made sure to speed up the cleaning process in the president's path, so there shouldn't be any falling near him, either.

Hey take a look at our incredibly high-tech visualization from our editors of what the problem would look like if coconuts suddenly started to fall all over the president. Except this is apparently in the Oval Office or something. Thanks to the editors for that.

All right. I think you get the point. Here's another problem that we can hear about in India, monkeys. And actually we talked about this not long ago in Commonwealth Games. There are parts of India in which wild monkeys can cause some serious mayhem. So authorities are taking special steps, including using specially trained especially money catchers. Monkeys that prevent nescience monkeys from coming into certain areas.

We had actually heard about these guys during the Commonwealth Games last month. So they are out in full force, these monkey-catcher monkeys, to keep nuisance monkeys away.

And, Fred, listen to this. There is going to be a first, in India, for the president's trip when he speaks to the India's parliament on Monday. It is the first time ever that a teleprompter set up in that building.

As we know presidents generally-U.S. presidents, generally use prompts for speeches. But there's never been one ever in India's central hall of parliament. Our partners at CNN/IBN are reporting that the president will be using one. It will be historic. It will be a first there.

Of course, we have all the details on the president's trip for you, here on CNN and CNN.com, including breaking down that myth, busting that myth, about it costing $200 million a day. We'll explain where that came from and why it's wrong. Keep an eye here and on CNN.com, for all the details throughout the trip.

WHITFIELD: You have to wonder if the teleprompter, used once, if they see it and say, hmm, very effective. We like that. It might be used again.

LEVS: Maybe it will become a gift to the people of India, from the U.S.

WHITFIELD: You never know.

All right. Thanks, Josh, see you later on.

LEVS: You got it. Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right. San Francisco, it is out to stop childhood obesity. It could put a frown on many kids' faces when they open their Happy Meal. We'll explain how those two collide-not our Richard and Avery-but the issue of Happy Meals and obesity, and no toys. That is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK, a minute away from our "Legal Briefs" part two.

Happy Meals may not be so happy, after leaders in one city vowed to make kids healthier. Will the fast-food industry actually fight back?

A move to keep violent video games away from children goes before the nation's highest court.

And can you claim medical leave to help a family member to seek spiritual healing? You will want to hear from our legal guys after a look at our top stories.

President Obama says his visit to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India, is intended to send a message that the U.S. and India stand united against terrorism. Terrorists staged an attack at the hotel back in 2008, and other sites, killing 164 people in all. The president and first lady are staying at the Taj and signed a memorial guest book for the victims. India is the first stop of the president's 10-day Asian tour.

Mexican military officials say a major cartel leader and at least four of his henchman died in a gun battle with Mexican naval troops in the border town of Matamoros. Investigators say three naval officers were also killed in the clash. Because of the violence, two American universities nearby canceled classes and scaled back weekend events.

A 1996 World Series hero, Jim Leyritz is on trial for DUI, manslaughter in Florida. His mother, Betty, told CNN sister network, TruTV that she is confident justice will prevail, knows, quote, "he is going to be freed". Leyritz, a former New York Yankee was charged after his SUV collided with another car at an intersection back in 2007. The woman in that car, a young mother of two, was killed. Police say Leyritz's blood alcohol was nearly twice the legal limit.

So in many states kids under 18 cannot buy sexual materials. California wants to put the same restriction on violent video games.

Welcome back to our legal guys, part duo. Avery Friedman, in Cleveland, and Richard Herman in Las Vegas.

All right, gentlemen, good to see you. This is a First Amendment issue, isn't it, Avery? There are restrictions on a lot of things, sexual material, cigarettes, alcohol. Kids under a certain age are not allowed to buy, so what's the big deal putting a ban, or restriction on kids who might want to buy a violent video game? Give me a distinction of the differences here.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Very simple. The definition of violence by the California legislature, at least we heard in arguments before the Supreme Court, is just too vague. In fact, Justice Scalia, one of the most conservative members of the bench said, you know what, we have violence in fairy tales, we even have violence in the Bible, so are we going to ban all of this? Look for an absolute invalidation of this law by the Supreme Court, it may be unanimous.

WHITFIELD: Richard, what happens when a parent or other family member buys it and still exposes it to a young person, a minor?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: As Avery said, the law is going to be repudiated, Fred. It's been on the books since 2005 in California, and it's finally made its way to the Supreme Court. Again, Justice Scalia, one of the most conservative justices had problems with the definition. If you're going to impose criminal titles to activity, you better be crystal clear in the statute. The statute is too vague, the definition is bad. It's going to get thrown out. Parents will be able to buy it. Kids will be able to buy them, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Let's talk about a case in Massachusetts where a woman said my husband is about to go on a spiritual healing trip to the Philippines, and I want to accompany him, this is so he can feel better and get better. And I am going to use the Family Leave Act. My employer said it was OK, but then, somehow Richard, maybe the employer says, no, this is not considered Family Leave Act time. We're not going to endorse this. Does she have a legal case?

HERMAN: Well, she has a legal case because we're talking about it here.

WHITFIELD: Is it viable one? That is a better question.

HERMAN: That's the thing. Everybody is testing the waters on these types of statutes. Here she wanted to accompany her husband, and she did, to the Philippines for seven weeks because apparently he's ill. He didn't seek any medical treatment, he didn't seek any spiritual healing, they just went on a seven-week vacation. Now she's claiming she was able to leave her job for that. It's ridiculous. I think she's going to get banged out on this one.

WHITFIELD: So, Avery, you disagree with the merits of the spiritual healing trip? What are you oh-ing about?

FRIEDMAN: I agree with the result. I disagree what happened. It was spiritual healing. The employer said, bring me medical evidence. So, Maria, and her husband's name is Romeo.

WHITFIELD: Romeo?

FRIEDMAN: Yes, Romeo. Hired Doctor Dong, and Doctor Dong indicated, that he didn't say anything medical but said it was a good idea they go together. A three-judge panel, a federal appeals case will throw the case out. That's happens when you hire Doctor Dong. I think it was a referral from Clarence Thomas.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness!

Let's move onto San Francisco, and McDonald's and what may or may not happen there. The city says, we want to do something about this child obesity problem. Every time a kid gets a Happy Meal, they are getting high calories. We're going to remove incentive by taking a way the toy, almost like a form of punishment, Richard. You get fries, no toy. You get apples, you might get a toy. What's right or wrong about this?

HERMAN: The San Francisco board of governors. This is the state that has more legal medical marijuana facilities in Los Angeles than Starbucks. They are getting so close to making it not criminal to have marijuana, making it legal in the state of California, now they want to take away Happy Meals for kids because the sugar content is too high and there is no vegetables and fruits included in the Happy Meals.

It's a marketing technique. It's not going to reduce childhood obesity. McDonald's spent about $300 million on this. They grossed about $1.2, last year, on this marketing campaign. I think it's going to stay in place. WHITFIELD: Can you do this?

HERMAN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: I mean, can you legally do this? Avery, single out a particular restaurant? I know there are some other fast-food restaurants they might be pursuing as well. But whatever happened to free enterprise? Is that the protection, the McDonald's or any other fast-food restaurant will be able to lean on?

FRIEDMAN: Well, free enterprise will have to shift. It's a good time for the great taste of rutabagas. Believe it or not, this law is likely to survive constitutional challenge. Because since 1924 the Supreme Court has given local government that authority, if they can back it up with science, I think they have, believe it or not, no more Happy Meals. Maybe it could be worse meals, there, in San Francisco. But that's about it, absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. All right. Avery, Richard, thanks so much. Always good to see you guys.

HERMAN: Always fun.

FRIEDMAN: I'm going for happy meals. I'm buying for everyone.

HERMAN: Yes, before that law goes into effect, buddy.

FRIEDMAN: Right.

WHITFIELD: Good luck. Take care, y'all.

All right. The White House, tone deaf, question mark? We'll tell you who said that and why. CNN's political update next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Time for CNN equals politics. And update now. We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines at the CNNPolitics.com desk.

Here is what's crossing right now. Speaker Nancy Pelosi's plan to run for House minority leader may be more popular with Republicans than Democrats. Republicans attacked Pelosi as part of their successful strategy to win control of the House. Pelosi now wants to be House Democratic leader. But some Democrats say they won't vote for her. Republicans, on the other hand, appear to be delighted. They put up a big banner at GOP headquarters and it says, "Hire Pelosi".

A losing Democratic candidate is accusing the White House of being, quote, "tone deaf". Alex Sink lost to Republican Rick Scott in the Florida gubernatorial election. She says the Obama administration is partly to blame. In an interview with the Politico web site Sink says the White House ignored her advice about how to handle the Gulf oil spill and it never acknowledged political problems with the health care reform bill. There's finally a declared winner in the race for governor of Connecticut. Election officials say Democrat Dan Malloy defeated Republican Tom Foley by about 5600 votes. Foley is still trying to decide whether he'll challenge the results.

Now for Haiti, one nightmare after another. Tomas brushed past the country as a hurricane destroying houses and turning roads into rivers as you see there. Right now no word of any deaths. Around 1 million in Haiti still live in tents after January's earthquake. A terrible mess there. So sad.

Reynolds Wolf is in the Weather Center now with the latest on Tomas, where it might be off to next.

What is it doing?

REYNOLDS WOLF: The good news about Tomas, is well, two things. Number one, it has left Haiti. It is now leaving the Turks & Caicos, the center of circulation now to the northeast of the Turks & Caicos. Something else that is great about it, this little factoid that we have right here, 65 miles an hour. It is no longer a hurricane, it has continued to weaken. It is also picking up speed to the northeast at 16 miles per hour.

Question is where is this thing going to go? As we search for answers we turned to the forecast from the National Hurricane Center. The sustained winds, as we mentioned, 65 miles an hour, that wind, again, movement northeast at 16. Expected to continue its march more to the northeast and then zip off more to the east northeast as we fast forward into late Saturday, Sunday and then into Monday, turning into a depression and farther off to the north.

That's good news. However, mudslides will be a threaten Port-au- Prince, Haiti, for quite some time, possibly, through the middle of next week.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

WHITFIELD: As a stage play in the '70s, it was a touchstone for African-American women. Well, now it's a movie. We'll talk with two of the stars of "For Colored Girls."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So 35 years after the Tony award-winning play, "For Colored Girls" was on Broadway, the same powerful story lines depicting the troubled lives of women of various generations, this weekend, hitting the movie theaters.

The movie was shot in just 30 days. Pretty hard to believe. I talked to two of the stars face-to-face, Kerry Washington and Kimberly Elise. They describe how the 1975 play's universal messages resonate today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Kerry, Kimberly, great to see you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You, too.

WHITFIELD: People have been anticipating this, "For Colored Girls", for a long time now. If you remember in the '70s, this was a collection of poems, 20 poems that talked about black women, primarily their struggles, what they were encountering. And how they were trying to get out of these struggles. Give me an idea how challenging it might have been for you. Fast forward 2010, these are images, these are subjects that are still very real today, very current.

KERRY WASHINGTON, ACTRESS: Yes, it is kind of amazing you can do material that is over 30 years old, and that the issues are still alive.

(MUSIC, SINGING)

These women are dealing with very human struggles around love, around self-respect, around identity, heartbreak, health, healing, being a mother. These are universal human issues. We even joke that the title "For Colored Girls" is not really about black women, it's about the colors that we experience as a human being. When you have the blues, or when you are red with rage, or when you are green with envy. That's, for us, what the colors are about. That's what the film is about.

WHITFIELD: Kimberly, how did you prepare yourself for this. You likely read the poems. But to bring yourself to these kinds of emotions that are exuded on the screen, how do you prepare yourself?

KIMBERLY ELISE, ACTRESS: I had to allow myself to go into some very dark places. I live a very happy, joyful life. It's scary and painful to push that aside, and allow this other woman, and her life, and her pain, and her grief, inhabit my body and tell the story.

I made the choice because I knew the voice need to be heard, needed to be heard. There's a whole collection of women who are in a lot of pain and who are silenced because of it.

(SINGING): So, you take the pain inflicted again and again

WHITFIELD: So Kerry, you're playing Kelly, social worker, married to a character being played by Hill Harper. What's that relationship like?

WASHINGTON: You know, Tyler Perry, who directed the film, and co-wrote the film, he felt like he wanted there to be an example of healthy communication and love between a black man and woman in this film. And Hill Harper and I have the wonderful task of being that couple.

Again, I mean, the men in this film-the women are getting all the acclaim right now because of the title, but we have some incredibly talented men in this film. Hill Harper does an amazing job playing a very compassionate and caring and open, unconditionally loving husband. And for me -- WHITFIELD: (INAUDIBLE) in this equation, isn't he?

WASHINGTON: Well, I don't know. I think he's doing the best he can to love himself and his partner in the situation. All of us in the film do it differently. We all are able to love and not love, or receive love and not receive love on varying levels. We have to tell their stories so other people have an opportunity to learn from these women in their complicated journeys. We're in this film with these incredible women, Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, Tandy Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Maci Gray, Tessa-I mean, we lose track.

WHITFIELD: Which is an incredible cast. Which makes me think, offset, it's kind of, you know, it is girlfriend talk. It's fun. Then when you're back on set, you're back into character. While these women are helping one another in so many different ways, it's a very different relationship. Was it difficult to kind of turn off, turn on, or was that simply at the root of this craft?

ELISE: We definitely had magical moments in hair and makeup. That was our space to let it out. It was also a place to inspire each other.

WASHINGTON: That's right.

ELISE: You know, we think of it as-like we ran a big, long marathon together. One girl would go and run as hard as she could, and pass the baton to the next. She would run as hard as she could. She saw how fast she was running. We've got to get around here and tell the story. Everybody brought their A game and supported each other, and applauded each other. It was magnificent.

WASHINGTON: It really was. We were very supportive of each other's process, too. You knew when somebody was doing a difficult scene, and you'd give them their space and create a warm area for them afterward. So we were very supportive artistically, emotionally. It was such a gift, this film.

ELISE: We understood that this is so much bigger than us. We're just instruments. We are just individual instruments on something so much bigger than us. We had a responsibility to take care of each other. I need Kerry, Kerry needs me, and we need Tandy. It was all of us together, so we had to take care of each other. We're little, little pieces for the larger good.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Are they not fantastic and riveting. More face-to-face with Kimberly Elise and Kerry Washington in the 2 p.m. Eastern hour. They both talk about being so immersed in their characters that Kimberly's hair actually started to go gray. She will expound on that in the 2 o'clock Eastern hour. You don't want to miss that.

Then, next week, face-to-face with music, fashion and business mogul Russell Simmons. His new reality show "Running Russell Simmons" debuted this week. He explains why he wants you to know about his work, his charities, his team, and his spirituality. I asked him about one aspect of his new show in particular.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: You have a couple interns who are profiled very heavily in the show. You even tease in the next episode there's a basic instinct moment.

RUSSELL SIMMONS, BUSINESSMAN: That wasn't a tease. That was a little bit upsetting. But it was kind of funny.

WHITFIELD: But decisions are made about whether to include that kind of material and if that the distract from the message that you're trying to send.

SIMMONS: It will add to ratings, so the message can be-

WHITFIELD: Well, then is that a conflict? The ratings versus the message?

SIMMONS: You have to have a balance, you have to have one foot in, and one foot-one foot in this world, and one food in the real world. I notice Kim Kardashian has more Twitter followers than the president. I sent her to Africa, to my school, and we raised a lot of money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: You have to hear the rest of that conversation. Next Saturday face-to-face with Russell Simmons. Of course, you want to hear the rest of the face-to-face today with Kerry and Kimberly, as well.

All right. Coming up, in one hour, some tips on taxes, with the end of the year in sight, at 3:00 o'clock, here in the NEWSROOM, presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, talks about the memoir from President George W. Bush.

And Doctor Bill Lloyd joins me to talk about winterizing your body. You think about winterizing your car and your house, what about your body? That is at 4 o'clock, Eastern.

I'm Fredericka Whitfield, in Atlanta. "YOUR $$$" starts now.