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: Lawmakers Prep for Hectic Session; Simmons' Global Reach; Educating Through Soccer; Small Steps to Boost your Career; Mecca's Building Room; Axelrod Avoids Talk of Tax Break Compromise; Shuler Calls Pelosi an "Unacceptable" Choice; DeMint Suggests Time to Replace Steele; Free Trip for World War II Veterans; George's Take on the News
Aired November 14, 2010 - 17:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It's shaping up to be a rather large day tomorrow on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers reconvene for a lame duck session that will include making a decision on the Bush-era tax cuts. They're set to expire at the end of the year.
CNN's Kate Bolduan joins us now from Washington with more on this. So, Kate, how likely will this business get done in the next couple of weeks?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, gosh. What a good question, Fredricka. It's such a contentious issue.
And as you say, Congress returns for this lame duck session with some serious and tough business before them. Probably the biggest and the most contentious heated issue is what to do about these Bush-era tax cuts that are set to expire in January.
President Obama and Congressional Democrat want to make tax cuts permanent for the middle and lower class, but want to let cuts expire for individuals making more than $200,000 a year and families making more than $250,000 a year. Republicans feel differently. They want tax cuts extended for all Americans.
And today on NBC's "Meet the Press," President Obama's top adviser says the White House is sticking to his position, but he seemed to leave a little wiggle room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: I'm telling you what the president's position is. We need to move forward on the middle class tax cut. We cannot afford a permanent extension of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans which would costs us $700 billion that we don't have over the next 10 years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. But, I know - I know the arguments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Note that David Axelrod right there said we cannot afford a permanent extension. President Obama has recently said that he'd be open to a compromise on the issue, and this is kind of suggesting that maybe a temporary extension of tax cuts for wealthier individuals would be OK, something that they'd be amenable to.
But many Republicans want all the tax cuts, as I said, made permanent and emboldened by big wins in the midterm elections, they seem ready for a fight here. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I think they should be extended until we're out of this recession, as such time. Then we could look at - at other heights (ph). But we're in this serious recession. I cannot believe that raising taxes is a good thing on anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: All in all, we're likely to get a better idea really of the priorities and the tone that's going to be coming up in the lame duck session come Thursday, and that's when Congressional leaders on both sides plan to meet with President Obama at the White House. That would definitely be a very interesting lame duck session ahead, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Underscore interesting. All right. Thanks so much. Appreciate that. Kate Bolduan in Washington.
So, we may be getting a preview of the 2012 race this week, by the way, by tracking the travel plans of some Republican leaders. But that's not the only big political story to keep an eye on.
CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser has more.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Fred. It's been almost two weeks since the midterm elections, but they're still counting votes in Alaska. Election officials in the state say it could be the middle of the week before all the write-in ballots and absentee ballots are counted in the Senate battle. Republican senator Lisa Murkowski is running as a write-in candidate after she lost the GOP primary battle to Joe Miller who was backed by Sarah Palin and some top Tea Party groups. We'll also see how the state is counting the votes could extends the battle even longer.
Also this week, the next race for the White House, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who may make a bid for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination is in Iowa this week as part of a tour for his new book "Valley Forge". And anytime a possible presidential contender lands in Iowa, it rings an alarm bell since the state caucuses are the first contest in the road to the White House.
Later this week, the Republican governors head to San Diego to gather for an annual convention. Among those attending, Mississippi's Haley Barbour, Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty and Indiana's Mitch Daniels, all of whom may make their own presidential bids in 2012 - Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Paul. President Barack Obama is back home from Asia. On the flight back, he discussed a variety of topics with reporters including the need to reform the legislative earmark process. The president said he was focused on policy during his first two years, but is now ready to redouble efforts to get back to the core principles the American people want like bipartisanship.
And one day after she was freed from house arrest, Aung Sun Suu Kyi hopes to meet with Myanmar's rulers. Supporters mobbed the democracy advocate and Nobel Prize Laureate at the headquarters of her political party today. She told them she's anxious to talk with her former captors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AUNG SUN SUU KYI, FREED DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE: They have treated me well on a personal basis. But they have not acted in accordance of the rule of law, and that I shall always fight against. Because I don't think that any country can survive as a prosperous and dignified nation unless there is rule of law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Suu Kyi spent 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma.
A government-backed newspaper says she was pardoned for good behavior.
Millionaire, business mogul Russell Simmons' path to fame and fortune - it was anything but orthodox. My face-to-face interview with the hip-hop pioneer, fashion designer, yogi and philanthropist after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: He's a true force in the business world here in the U.S. and abroad. Russell Simmons is one of the most recognizable talents whose claim to fame includes making music, clothing, TV shows and that's just the tip of the iceberg. And guess what? Russell Simmons admits to forging ahead without ever making a business plan.
I talked face to face with the mogul who was modest about his successes, but excited to share some of the secret ingredients of his personal and business philosophies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Did you ever realize that your reach would be global to this degree?
RUSSELL SIMMONS, DEF JAM CO-FOUNDER/ENTREPRENEUR: You just do what's in front of you. And, of course, I was - I didn't have a business plan. I never have written a business plan. And when I invest in new companies these days, they write them. I don't read them. But I know what they are. The plan is to do well and focus every day and give as much as you can. WHITFIELD: I know you like to be modest, then. I wonder if I could ask, do you think there's like a certain ingredient, something about your approach to business that means almost everything you try is going to be a successful one -
SIMMONS: I think -
WHITFIELD: -- given your track record?
SIMMONS: Well, you know, I'm more famous than I'm rich. I read how rich I am. But, you know, my idea is really to just serve and keep serving. And so what do you mean by success is that we do cultural things that matter. It's because we love them. But I look for what's honestly hot or really needed, a vehicle for expression, Def Comedy. These kids and their poetry, the "Brave New Voices" show we just put on HBO. These kids need expression.
When I made rap records, there were no rap records. You know, when I did the Urban Clothing Company, there was none. So I have an honest passion and pursue it, and when you see the whole, you stay on it, you stay on your grind until it's done.
WHITFIELD: Back to all your ventures, so you had Def Jam Records.
SIMMONS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Def Jam Productions.
SIMMONS: You mean like movie stuff, yes.
WHITFIELD: You had Phat Farm.
SIMMONS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Baby Phat.
SIMMONS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Where else can I go here?
SIMMONS: You know, my big company is my financial service company that's going to change the world.
WHITFIELD: And then there's reality TV.
SIMMONS: That's fun.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Smile.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Giggle.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: Jewelry.
SIMMONS: Simmons Jewelry. Yes. As in - as in Kay Jewelers, all (INAUDIBLE).
WHITFIELD: And I remember you have the malachite jewelry.
SIMMONS: I don't have it on today, but that's for my school in Africa, free students. They're free college. So the money we're raising, it's going to that school.
WHITFIELD: And books. I am leaving anything out? That's a lot.
SIMMONS: I'm sure you left out a lot, but I'm not -
WHITFIELD: You don't keep track?
SIMMONS: I have lots of smart people around me, and they keep track and I keep track with them.
WHITFIELD: Do you ever get to the point where you say, you know, I'm just taking on too much. I've got to stop right here.
SIMMONS: I'm going to do the best I can. I'm not - and I'm going to try and stay focused on things that I start until they're complete. There's always going to be suffering and poverty and lots of it. It's the work that we do. Education for Africans in needs, all these kinds of things, they're all ongoing.
And, you know, it's just finding stuff to do until it's too late - all right, as best you can describe it, right? Keep doing it.
WHITFIELD: Have you had a failed business?
SIMMONS: Well, you know, you can't fail until you quit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. That's the philosophy that should stick with you, right?
More of my "Face-To-Face with Fredricka" and Russell Simmons next week. The hip-hop mogul talks about his transformation from a drug- dealing gang member to a philanthropist raising millions for charities. I'll also ask him his opinions of music today and his newest undertakings in fashion and jewelry. That's next weekend right here on CNN.
Refugee children in a small Georgia town are learning a new way of life. But they have a familiar and favorite sport to lean on. In today's "Human Factor", our Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us how soccer is being used to educate kids in need.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At first glance, they just look like a bunch of kids playing soccer, but take another look - a closer one. This is the Fugees family.
GUPTA (on camera): Anybody who wants to be part of this family can be?
LUMA MUFLEH, FOUNDER, FUGEES FAMILY: Any refugee that wants to be part of this family can be.
GUPTA (voice-over): And that is what binds them together. They are all refugees, 86 children and teens from more than 28 countries.
MUFLEH: Any country that's had a war in the past 20, 30 years we've had kids from those countries.
GUPTA: What started as a casual soccer team six years ago is now a school full of students, most of whom have never been in a classroom before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). I come to Russia - from Russia I come to America.
GUPTA: Robin Dikori, sharply dressed in the school's uniform blue sweater and tie is an eighth grader at the Fugees Academy, something that would have been almost impossible in his native Sudan.
GUPTA (on camera): Right after you moved to the United States, if someone said, Robin, what are you going to do with your life, what would you have said?
ROBIN DIKORI, FUGEES FAMILY: I really didn't know what to say during that - during that time. But now, when I look at myself, I want to be someone like very good and make my people proud.
GUPTA (voice-over): Life in America has not always been good to Robin.
GUPTA (on camera): When you were an outsider from Sudan living in the United States, what - what is that like? What happens to you?
DIKORI: It's very hard, like, everyone is picking on you. Like, they treat you really different like you don't belong here.
GUPTA: What did you do?
DIKORI: I used to fight a lot. But nowadays, I really don't get into fights. I try to resolve them and not make people fight.
GUPTA (voice-over): And while there are refugees living all around the United States, the Fugees Family is the only group combining soccer with the hope for a better future.
GUPTA (on camera): Are there other organizations that you know like this around the country?
MUFLEH: No.
GUPTA: So this is it. MUFLEH: This is it. And we get e-mails every week from people around the country and around the world, why don't you bring the Fugees to us.
GUPTA: Wow. How many more years before you finish?
DIKORI: I have four more years because I'm in eighth grade right now.
GUPTA: Four more years and then?
DIKORI: Another four years -
GUPTA: Of -
DIKORI: College.
GUPTA (voice-over): Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Clarkston, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Time to reclaim your career. The six small steps you can take to make big moves on the job. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. You've heard it before. Going that extra mile at work can be a plus. We'll tell you what you can do to earn extra brownie points after this look at the top stories.
The U.S. could spend an additional $4 billion to modernize America's nuclear arsenal. A senior administration official says it's under consideration. President Obama is urging lawmakers to pass the new START treaty with Russia before the end of the year. Republicans have said that they're not convinced he's committed to a strong missile defense system.
Israelis are considering a U.S. proposal to jumpstart the Middle East peace talks. It calls for Israel to stop building new settlements in the West Bank for 90 days. Palestinians have threatened to walk away from the talks if the construction continues.
And trimming America's $13 trillion debt, well, members of the Deficit Commission say it has to be reduced if the U.S. wants to remain an economic power. They're proposing a $4 trillion cut by 2020, which could mean cuts in social security and Medicare plus higher taxes.
All right. Let's talk about boosting your position, your reputation and responsibilities all at work, and all of it actually can be done in six simple steps.
Well, joining me right now to tell us what those steps are, Valorie Burton. She's a life coach and author of the book "What's Really Holding You Back." All right. Valerie, convince me the six easy steps. That's all it takes.
VALORIE BURTON, LIFE COACH: You know, I think these are things that people who are young may not know, but a lot of times as we get older we forget them.
WHITFIELD: Maybe because you get kind of settled, comfortable with your job or life.
BURTON: Yes. You get a little comfortable. Or you get sucked into just whatever is going on at work and your frustrations and you forget to see the big picture, which is the first step that's so important.
WHITFIELD: OK. So this kind of like a refresher course. You know, for one you say, you know, you've got to think of ways that perhaps you can help others -
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: -- and that in turn helps you?
BURTON: Exactly.
WHITFIELD: Kind of like that "Jerry Maguire". Let me help you. Help you help me. Something like that.
BURTON: I mean, if you see the big picture, then you recognize it can't just be about me getting what I want if I'm trying to have influence. I've got to understand, first of all, what the company wants and how do I fit into that big picture, and then the people around me, whether it's my boss or co-workers, what are their goals and can I somehow help them? Because when you help others, they're far more likely to try to help you.
WHITFIELD: OK. Help me help you. That's it. That was it. That was it. "Jerry Maguire". OK.
Rise above the fray. Oh, it's so easy. You know, you're not happy with your job. You start hearing all the other rumblings of - and then you get roped in.
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Don't do it.
BURTON: Don't do it. Don't get sucked into the negativity. It's so easy, especially if you work with a lot of negative people. So you want to make sure you rise above the fray. You want to make sure that you're not the person that comes out looking petty. Because, really, if you're - if you're fighting battles that you don't need to fight, ultimately the question you need to ask is will this matter a month from now - will it matter a year from now? If it doesn't, drop it and move on and stay focused on what matters.
WHITFIELD: And it's exhausting, isn't it? That burns a lot of energy unnecessarily.
BURTON: A lot of energy. Drains your energy, in fact.
WHITFIELD: Yes. OK. So stay focused on solutions, that's the other thing. I mean, just don't harper on - or harp on the problems, but think about those solutions and make it easier.
BURTON: Think about the solutions and think about the decision- makers. A lot of times, people will come to people with just problems. Anytime you go to your boss, you need to go to them and before you tell them about the problem, you need to say, what are the three potential solutions that I can present to this problem. That will not only help you come across as someone who's about solutions, but it also helps them recognize that, you know what?
WHITFIELD: It takes a load off of them.
BURTON: It takes a load off them and you end up having more influence on their decisions.
WHITFIELD: Oh, fantastic. Tap into unofficial networks. What does that mean?
BURTON: Yes, yes. You know, there's - there's a good book by Mark Sanborn called "You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader", and it is so true.
So a lot of times people that are making a big influence at work aren't those that have the title but somehow they have influence. You need to know who those influencers are and you need to pay attention.
WHITFIELD: OK. And then start small. Boy, that is like the mantra of life, doesn't it seem to be? Sometimes it's about baby steps.
BURTON: Yes. A lot of times it is about baby steps. So if you're trying to have more influence, start with the things you know a boss may say yes to, or that you know you can get your co-workers onboard with, and you end up building trust and rapport and then you'll have more influence later on. You can ask for the bigger things.
WHITFIELD: OK. So it's kind of buttering them up, huh?
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: All right. And plan what you say.
BURTON: Yes. You've got to be strategic. It's not just about the company having a strategic plan. You've got to have your own personal strategic plans. So before you go in to have any conversation, even if it's just a minute or two to say what point am I trying to make here, what do I want the end result to be when I come out of this conversation.
WHITFIELD: Think about how you're going to say it.
BURTON: How am I going to say it? When's the best time to say it? Do I need to talk to a few other people before I talk to this person to make sure I have other people that are backing me up on this? So it's important to think those things through before you open your mouth.
WHITFIELD: So it's almost like rehearsing, you know, looking in the mirror and thinking about what you're going to say or maybe having a little cheat sheet or notes.
BURTON: Yes. And if you have someone else you can talk to, whether it's a mentor or a co-worker or someone that's already been there and done that, talk it through with them first.
WHITFIELD: Excellent. All right. These are great - great little keys to success or at least trying to kind of reinvent yourself -
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: -- in your particular occupation or your situation.
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Freshen up your outlook on things.
BURTON: It's so much more important today. I mean, we know the job market is tight, but you have got to be that person that's contributing something extra on the job, especially if you're looking at maintaining that job. If there are layoffs, they're going to look at the people who are really contributing more. And it's not that you wouldn't get laid off, but it's probably less likely.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And showing you value your job.
BURTON: That's right. You bring a lot of value to the table.
WHITFIELD: Valorie Burton, awesome. Thanks so much.
BURTON: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: Appreciate it.
All right. Islam's holiest city gets a makeover. Luxury hotels, Starbucks, religious tourism is proving to be good for business.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: OK. All right. Muslims are making their way to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. It's getting under way today.
So many people make the trip to Islam's holiest city. It's causing a business boom as well. Let's bring in Nima Elbagir, who joins us from Arafat, Saudi Arabia. So Nima, give me an idea while millions are descending upon this area this weekend alone, give me an idea how significant it is today.
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, today Muslims are literally following in the footsteps of the prophet Mohammed. They're congregating under the foothills of Mount Arafat where the prophet Mohammed himself stood in contemplation.
It's the central ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage. It's the day where Muslims are meant to take penitence and - and really look within themselves and try and make contact with their spirituality. It is the main ritual in Islam's main pillars as they're called the Five Pillars of Islam.
Every single one of the 1.8 billion Muslims around the world is expected to make this trip at least once in their lifetime. And I hope you can see behind me, they're already the pilgrims are starting to congregate outside the mosque here in Arafat in preparation for their dawn prayers so that they begin - they can begin their day of penitence - Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And so, Nima, give me an idea why is this also becoming big business?
ELBAGIR: Well as -- we spoke with the vice president of the Hilton group here in Saudi Arabia, and he said their tag line is there's only one Mecca. It's a requirement for every single Muslim in the world to visit at least one in the lifetime for the Hajj pilgrimage and many more Muslims will come many times for the smaller pilgrimage.
So as far as the hospitality industry is concerned, this is their biggest market. He says that it's outperforming every single other sector they have, and the Saudi Arabian government is obviously having to find a way to accommodate all of these pilgrims.
So they're seeking to join public/private partnerships with the hotel groups. So really for them in these uncertain times, in these uncertain markets, Mecca is providing a little corner of certainty.
WHITFIELD: And you're about how many hours from day break there?
ELBAGIR: We are now -- it's around 1:00 in the morning. The dawn prayer is around 4:30 in the morning so people have three hours. They're setting up in tent cities. For most of the pilgrims this will be a sleepless night.
Then they have to stand here in which means the standing in (inaudible) in contemplation and prayer until sunset before they move on to begin the ritual stoning of the devil, which really is an opportunity for Muslims coming here to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to try and find a way to overcome temptation and to think about how they have succumbed to temptation in the past..
WHITFIELD: Wow! Extraordinary. All right, Nima Elbagir. Thanks so much.
All right, back here in this country. Let's talk about some crazy weather taking place. Yes, the calendar says fall, but it's feeling like winter already. Jacqui Jeras with us now. In some places -- beautiful picture.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Just don't try to drive in it.
JERAS: Really, seriously, you know. Even for Minnesota it's tough because it's a lot at one time and there were a lot of accidents. This is the bulk where all the snow was across the twin cities metro area. We had some in Wisconsin as well in northern Iowa got hit pretty hard too. Some totals of a foot in Maple Grove, that's the suburb of the twin cities, 10 inches in Duluth as well as Mankato. Shakopee is 8 inches and a lot of people without power by the way, too, in the twin cities.
I just checked Excel Energy, and there are about 5,000 people or so that don't have power and it's cold, their temperatures in the 30s right now. The snow is over with, and that's pushing eastward across parts of Wisconsin into the U.P. of Michigan, a little bit of mixing.
So it's going to be a little slow going, a little bit icy here. All right, now the big thing to watch with this system now as it heads up towards Canada, the main low along with the snow is ahead of this we've got a cold front here and that's what been pretty seeing some showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Nothing big today, just kind of a nuisance, but what's going to happen is an area of low pressure is going to develop on the tail end of this front, and that is going to be our big weather maker for the week ahead across the southeast heading up into the mid-Atlantic and eventually into the northeast as well.
This will impact millions of people literally. This is actually good news across parts of southeast, because we need the rain. I know it's been gorgeous in the 60s and 70s, a little warm this time of year, but that rain is going to be coming.
Expect travel issues in New Orleans over towards Pensacola into Atlanta maybe even Memphis and Nashville for tomorrow. We think it will be OK in D.C. and Philadelphia until maybe late, and this will head into Tuesday for you guys there.
We want to talk about the tropics real quick, too because it's November and we're still in hurricane season, believe it or not. We always have to monitor any clusters of thunderstorms that we see. The western Caribbean showing some of this action here in the National Hurricane Center saying there's probably about a 50 percent chance or less that this could develop into our next named storm.
If it gets a name, the name would be Virginie so look at this we have 19 named storms. We usually have 10 in an average season. Things have been very, very busy in the tropic. We had a tower cam from the twin cities. Yes, snow? Did you just say tour cam. There it is. I was looking for snow.
WHITFIELD: That looks like Atlanta. It's all decorated for the holidays now.
JERAS: Yes, I know. Can you believe it already?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
JERAS: Rain tomorrow. Enjoy it today.
WHITFIELD: They put it up Thursday or Friday because I saw it yesterday for the first time. I thought, OK, this inspires me. Maybe I will put up holiday decorations before Thanksgiving.
JERAS: Really? Do you it with the nice weather though sometimes before it gets too cold.
WHITFIELD: I'm always so sad when the decorations go down, so I always wanted it to last longer. I'll start it sooner from now on.
JERAS: You know, months of holidays. Why not?
WHITFIELD: Why not. All right, thanks so much, Jacqui. Appreciate that.
All right. Time for a CNN Equals Politics update. Here's what crossing the CNN Political Ticker right now. David Axelrod says a temporary extension of tax cuts for the wealthy may be necessary for the White House to reach their goal of extending tax cuts for the middle class, but he made no mention of earlier comments hinting at a possible compromise deal on the issue with Republicans.
One Democrat is vocally breaking ranks with House leadership now. North Carolina Congressman Heath Shuler says Nancy Pelosi would be unacceptable as minority leader in the new Congress, but Shuler says he also knows he doesn't have the support to unseat her.
And Michael Steele's days may be numbered as RNC chairman if South Carolina's Jim DeMint has his way. He says new leadership is needed to capitalize on the success of the Tea Party candidates.
A World War II veteran never thought he'd again get a chance to see the D.C. Memorial in honor of the greatest generation. That's until 80-year-old Chris Maurer learned about Honor Flight. It's a program that provides veterans with a free round-trip ticket to Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome on board Honor Flight One. It is an honor, privilege and pleasure to have you on board with us today.
CHRIS MAURER, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED): We're going to see the World War II Memorial, Korean And Vietnam and whatever they have up there.
All right, all right, all right! All right. How about that? It's unreal how beautiful that is. I'm telling you what, that stands out from everything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Chris. How about it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good to see you.
MAURER: I'm fine, great. This is something fabulous. World War II I was 15. You were supposed to be 18 years old or older. I said I'm ready to go. The guy said you look too young. I said my ma said I could go. He said sign here for him, and that was it.
I was gone. Man, if this ain't fabulous. That is plum beautiful. Just can't fathom in your mind how many people that represents to definite our country. That's what it was all about.
It's got me flagger gassed I tell you. That's where I was raised at up there, in Louisiana. It's an honor to be here up here and still be alive. I can't express no words to describe everything. Something I'll take to my grave.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So after World War II, Maurer was shipped off to the Korean War when he was just 19. He was awarded a bronze star for his service there.
All right. In this young man has been called the new Mr. Las Vegas and one of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time. You know who I'm talking about. George Wallace right there.
And now he's member of our weekend NEWSROOM family. George Wallace joining us today to give us his take, George's take on the weekend news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Comedian George Wallace is in the house giving us his take on the news in a moment. A new segment in the NEWSROOM. You don't want to miss it.
But first, a look at the top stories. A deadly blast today at a popular resort in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico killing seven people, 20 others were hurt including two Americans. Authorities say a gas line or stove exploded.
Arizona voters have narrowly approved a measure legalizing medical marijuana. The vote was so close that it took until now to finalize the results from the November 2nd ballot. Arizona joins 14 other states and D.C. to allow medical marijuana.
The federal government collected more than $2 million by auctioning off some of Bernie Madoff's personal items this weekend. Madoff is in prison for swindling billions from investors. The proceeds from the auction will go into the victims' compensation fund.
All right, time to introduce to you now a new regular segment here in the weekend NEWSROOM every Sunday, 5:00 Eastern hour, George Wallace has been ranked as one of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time.
GEORGE WALLACE, COMEDIAN: Really?
WHITFIELD: Yes, did you know that?
WALLACE: No, I didn't. I thought I should be around number 20 or 22.
WHITFIELD: You were way up high on the list, but we don't want to leave anybody out in the 100. You just flew in from Vegas.
WALLACE: There's so much happening right now. Guess who I was on the stage with last night after 30 years, Diana Ross. Whoopi Goldberg and Usher. Vegas is going crazy right now. I get on a plane and come here. We need to bring smoking back on these airplanes.
WHITFIELD: Why?
WALLACE: We just need to.
WHITFIELD: Why? Are you a smoker?
WALLACE: No, but people are releasing odors on these airplanes. It's crazy. We need smoke back on the airplanes. Have you ever been on an airplane and all of a sudden out of nowhere, what the hell is that?
WHITFIELD: Something from the kitchen maybe?
WALLACE: Something. Everybody is looking at me like I did it, and I did do it. No. I'm here in Atlanta, and I'm glad to be here. Coming here, thank you for having me here. I got a taxi. This is the first time I took a taxi. I think my cab fare was higher than airfare to get here.
WHITFIELD: It's quite a fare hike from the airport to here. You've gotten it all in. You flew from Vegas and got to church and you've been here with us now. You've been thinking about news items all week long. Quite the hodgepodge.
WALLACE: I think I'll get in trouble for going to church today. I sang a song today and I think I did the wrong song. I stood up and sang "He touched me."
WHITFIELD: Maybe that's not the church --
WALLACE: I'm going to hell.
WHITFIELD: That's an interesting lawsuit.
WALLACE: I didn't hear about it in the background.
WHITFIELD: Is the Pastor Eddie Long saying anything about it?
WALLACE: He shouldn't say anything until it's over, because nobody knows. I'm going to stand behind him, because I believe in the word and not the man. We all make mistakes. That's what I like about Michael Vick. He's back. Michael Vick is great. Michael Vick, even O.J. called him and said, whoo.
WHITFIELD: San Francisco, one of your favorite places maybe?
WALLACE: Well, you know, my brother played football there for 13 years.
WHITFIELD: Well, now there's a city ordinance at that affects all McDonald's happy meals saying, you know what? You can't get a happy meal with a toy if it doesn't meet certain nutritional standards.
WALLACE: You know, it's kind of stupid, isn't it? Because if you really want to make the meal happy, take the hamburger out. Do you think the kids are going there for the hamburger? They're going there for the toys, right? Why don't McDonald's put in a bicycle in there. These new kids don't get exercise. .
WHITFIELD: I guess that's what the proponents of this measure were trying to say.
WALLACE: But they still want to sell the hamburger. It's just crazy. They got all these new diseases up there. The kids are obese. The problem is the kids don't play like we used to.
WHITFIELD: Yes --
WALLACE: Every Christmas, what do we have, a bicycle, skate, running out in the yard. Now all the kids at Christmas, you look out the window, you see nothing. All the kids are in their room.
WHITFIELD: Yes, they're on video games.
WALLACE: Yes, making a bomb.
WHITFIELD: No, no. Let's hope not. Just playing those video games.
WALLACE: They're crazy. They have to get rid of the food. Put a bicycle in there. All the people are crazy in San Francisco.
WHITFIELD: If you were on this carnival cruise line anytime last week, the Carnival Splendor, here it was making its way to the Mexican Rivera, and then there was an engine blowout, big problems, no hot water, no creature comforts of the 4,500 people on board. They had to be towed back for days.
WALLACE: I could not believe it. They had over 200 magicians. What good are the magicians? Why are they on the ship? They can make things disappear. They can make the odor disappear. They can make food disappear? You know the people were really mad. You ever been on a cruise?
WHITFIELD: I have not been on a cruise.
WALLACE: These people love to eat.
WHITFIELD: That is the focal point.
WALLACE: I was the smallest person on my cruise, and I was 190 when I went on the ship, but I ate so much, but these people love to eat. I'm telling you they were mad. They have no food. When the spam showed up, they taught it was a birthday. The fireworks went off.
WHITFIELD: At least it was something.
WALLACE: The Chileans caught in the tunnel down in Chile, what are these people complaining about? They have to sing that song Macarena and these people are complaining about the ship. It's crazy.
But I can imagine being on the ship, I just left a ship on a cruise in the Caribbean, and the people are crazy. Being on a ship is just crazy and just eating all of that food.
WHITFIELD: I haven't done it.
WALLACE: You got to do it.
WHITFIELD: I know everyone says you got to do it, but there's something about just --
WALLACE: I perform on the ships.
WHITFIELD: Being with everybody for a long time, same place just waiting for port. I don't know.
WALLACE: There's great entertainment on the ship. I perform on the ship. Every time I'm on a big cruises, I walk out on the stage and have a life jacket on and my luggage. People laugh at me. You laugh now, but I will be waving at you if anything happens.
The life jackets, that's another thing I was thinking about the other day. The people down -- they were talking about the oil spill in New Orleans people at my show last night at the flamingo and they were still angry at the president because he didn't do enough about it.
I had to explain to them that this never happened before. Nobody knew what to do. Call in the military. They didn't know what to do. He's the president. Do you want him to do? Put on a life jacket and get his little skinny butt on those and pick it up with sham wow?
What the hell you want from the man. He's the president. He's not an aqua man. I've got so much to say about him. I'm so proud of him.
WHITFIELD: We're going to get more of George's take after we take a short break here in the NEWSROOM.
WALLACE: We talk about anything.
WHITFIELD: Anything goes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. We're back now with the newest member of the NEWSROOM family, comedian, George Wallace, who will be here every week, every Sunday with his take on the news.
We're calling it "George's Take." We talked about already San Francisco and your changes or proposed changes on the happy meals. We've also talked about the pleasure cruise that was anything, but when folks had to lose hot water and they saw their ship being towed back into shore. What a drag?
WALLACE: Carnival has given them another cruise if they want to go back.
WHITFIELD: That's right.
WALLACE: So that's good. WHITFIELD: Vouchers and a refund.
WALLACE: Most of the white people are going, I'm going next year. Most of the black people are staying on the ship right now. I want my money back right now. They stayed on the ship and didn't leave.
WHITFIELD: My gosh. Let's talk about the month of -- the month of November now is considered kind of like a whole month long of Black Friday as opposed to Black Friday, big shopping deals starting right after Thanksgiving. Now it's almost the entire month.
WALLACE: Do you know that's what's wrong with the world today?
WHITFIELD: What do you mean?
WALLACE: Because they're celebrating a holiday like in Las Vegas. I know they do it in Atlanta and all over the world. August 31st, they're putting up Christmas decorations. That is not right.
I don't like it. When I was a kid -- the people my age that are listening, we celebrated one holiday at a time, didn't we, people, baby boomers? First we started with Halloween. I love Halloween.
WHITFIELD: There was a distinct probably separation between them.
WALLACE: I love it now because when I was a kid we didn't have money to buy costumes and things like that. We had to make do on what we had. I remember one year we changed clothes with the neighbors and they went as us and we went as them.
WHITFIELD: Really?
WALLACE: My mom didn't have gum and candy to give out. One year she gave out mashed potatoes. You could hear when they hit the bottom of the bag. Across the street there was gravy. It should be one holiday at a time.
WHITFIELD: That's not a trick. That's a treat.
WALLACE: This Halloween, I went dressed a butler. I went to a masquerade party dressed as a butler and they worked the hell out of me.
WHITFIELD: I bet you'll never do that again.
WALLACE: But next week, we got the real holiday coming up, Thanksgiving.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WALLACE: This is one I enjoy because you can sit around your table and look at your family and say thank God it will be another 365 days before I see these greedy suckers again.
WHITFIELD: You do not look forward to it? WALLACE: I look forward to going home. Most people are like me, you start eating at noon, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, by 6:00 you say I got to get the hell out of here. These people are getting on my nerves.
You sit there and eat turkey, the wing, the breast, the stuffing. That's something been bothering me for years, the stuffing. Who came up with that idea? Some guy came up with it in like 1986.
WHITFIELD: Stretch the meal maybe.
WALLACE: They had the turkey basted. Hold it. Wait a minute. Let's shove something up that turkey's butt. He said let's shove some --
WHITFIELD: You've totally ruined my appetite.
WALLACE: Let's shove it up that turkey's behind. Give me the onion, celery, grapes, oysters, box of baking soda, shove it up that turkey's butt, then you can put your Christmas decorations up.
WHITFIELD: Stuffing was good until I heard that it way. You can say the turkey cavity, but, OK.
WALLACE: That wouldn't be funny. Let me do it for you. Some guy a long time ago said the stuffing. Let's shove something up that turkey's cavity.
WHITFIELD: No, huh?
WALLACE: No, not at all.
WHITFIELD: More appetizing. You're going to be very busy on Thanksgiving, too. You are going to be on the road.
WALLACE: Thanksgiving night, Thanksgiving eve I'm going to be in Detroit at the Motor City Casino. Aretha Franklin is coming out and the judge, the big judge up there and my family --
WHITFIELD: A comeback for the Motor City.
WALLACE: Comeback. Very nice.
WHITFIELD: A little bit more business.
WALLACE: My cousin owns a funeral home called Cole funeral home. The dead people come down and everything. Saturday I'll be in Atlantic City at Harrah's. All the people in New York, Philadelphia, come out. We're going to gamble and win a lot of money.
WHITFIELD: Look. Don Lemon is joining us on the set.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Trouble is in the house.
WALLACE: I can't believe it.
LEMON: This is my life. I'm going to be there. I'm going to be there. You didn't invite Fred over for Thanksgiving. WALLACE: She can come to my house anytime.
WHITFIELD: I'm probably working. I can still make room for a meal.
WALLACE: We're going to stuff. You have the onion and celery and shove it up that turkey's butt. The paper stuff inside the turkey. What do you call it?
WHITFIELD: That's not good.
WALLACE: I didn't know it was in there.
WHITFIELD: With all the parts? Supposed to take that out?
LEMON: I'm stealing this iPad, that's what I'm doing.
WALLACE: Don Lemon is stealing something. He's such a nice man. I watch him on TV.
WHITFIELD: He is a great guy.
LEMON: She's awesome.
WALLACE: Where are you from?
LEMON: Louisiana.
WALLACE: I had some people in my show last night from Louisiana.
LEMON: I'm sorry. I apologize.
WALLACE: And I knew they were -- they had the trailer parked in the back.
WHITFIELD: George, we're going to see you again next week, right, Sundays.
WALLACE: I let them stay at my house. They've been five years at my house. Better be out by the time I get back over there.
WHITFIELD: We're now going into your hour for the NEWSROOM. But that's all right.
WALLACE: Such a good man. Has a great smile. Look at those teeth.
WHITFIELD: Yes. He's got some great teeth. Keep it right there. George Wallace, great to see you. We'll see you again next Sunday.
WALLACE: God bless you. I love you.
WHITFIELD: Don Lemon, we'll see you in the next hour.
WALLACE: You guys are here all the time. What's going on?
WHITFIELD: I know. One big family and now you're part of our family, too. WALLACE: Love you. God bless you. You're stealing my pad.
LEMON: I am. Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right. Much more of the NEWSROOM after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
