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Schwarzenegger's Movie Career on Hold; Former IMF Chief Set to Leave Jail; Threats Against "South Park" Creators; Obama, Netanyahu to Meet at White House; Obama Speech Angers Israel; Strauss-Khan Posted $1 Million Bail; Comedians Poke Fun at Schwarzenegger; College Grads: No Jobs, Try Military; Obama's War Powers Time Running Out
Aired May 20, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Checking top stories now.
The aftershock of Arnold Schwarzenegger's bombshell affecting his movie comeback. His acting career is now on hold while he deals with his personal mess.
We're keeping a watch on Riker's Island in New York. The former head of the International Monetary Fund should be leaving jail any minute now. Dominique Strauss-Kahn is charged with sex crimes including attempted rape.
And a radical Islamic leader charged with threatening the creators of "South Park." We'll hear what he has to say at the bottom of the hour.
In just over an hour, President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sit down for talks at the White House. Tension between these two world leaders has been building for the past two years.
Today maybe it will reach an all-time high. In President Obama's big Middle East speech yesterday, he angered the Israelis with this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Our senior White House correspondent, Ed Henry joins us now. Ten seconds out of a 45-minute speech and pre-1967 borders. Boy, this should be an interesting meeting today.
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It really should be. You know, Carol, you make a great point though that this was really less than 1 percent of a 45-minute speech. This was supposed to be a broader vision after the Arab spring, what does the president want for the entire region.
In fairness to him, he did lay all of that out. We're focusing on this, but also the Israeli prime minister is focusing on this, even though it's really not new U.S. policy. There had not been a U.S. president to sort of put it so front and center in a formal address like this, number one.
Number two, it's of course as you say, the timing of this coming right before the Israeli prime minister just a few hours before he landed here in the U.S. They have got a meeting here now in the oval office just less than an hour from now.
Certainly we expect it to be tense, but I think we should also note that they plan after their statements to the media to go behind closed doors in the White House residence to have what they're calling a working lunch.
So while we focus on some of the negativity back and forth, there may also be an opportunity here for these two leaders, now that some of these differences have been aired, to try to go behind closed doors and get to work on the tough battles ahead to try to get the peace process going again, Carol.
COSTELLO: And today's meeting is just the beginning because both Obama and Netanyahu, they have some big meetings in the days ahead.
HENRY: Absolutely. You've got President Obama going to the American Israeli group on Sunday morning for a speech here in Washington. Monday, the reason why the prime minister is here, he's giving a speech, a big speech on Capitol Hill Monday and then President Obama goes to Europe all next week.
He's going to be at the G-8 summit in France with a lot of his colleagues on the world stage who have a big stake in the Mideast peace process. I think the bottom line is the strategy behind all this is the president was hoping to get the Palestinians to the table by talking about these 1967 borders.
But the Israelis are in no mood to talk about that and give a concession like that when the Palestinian government recently got into reconciliation with Hamas, the terror group.
So the bottom line after all of this talk is that the peace process is woefully off track right now. Maybe this flurry of activity will start, and I stress start, to get it back on track.
COSTELLO: And maybe, Ed Henry live at the White House. Thank you.
We keep telling you about Israel's pre-1967 borders and how controversial they are, but if you're still wondering why, CNN's Ali Velshi breaks it down for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: When the president talks about returning Israel to its pre-1967 borders, let me give you a sense what he's talking about. Now this might look nice and neat when you look at it like this until you zoom in on the West Bank where Jewish settlements started cropping up in the 1960s.
You can see those little diamonds. More started cropping up in the '70s. Then in the '80s, they were supposed to stop after the Oslo 2 agreement in 1995, but they continued growing, as you can see. The red and the orange round circles are all the extra settlements.
Those are unauthorized settlements, 300,000 people, Jewish people have now populated that area outside of Israel's official boundaries. Then you've also got Jerusalem, which you can see right over there. Well, that -- both Israel and the Palestinians see that as their capital city.
That is a point of great contention. It's a city that the Palestinians hope to get some claim to in the two-state vision and it's something that President Obama alluded to in his comments yesterday. That is certainly going to be a hot button issue in his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel later today.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Ali Velshi. After this morning's talks, President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu will issue a joint statement. That is schedules for 12:15 Eastern and of course, we'll bring it to you.
The former head of the International Monetary Fund could leave jail at any minute. Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been staying at Riker's Island in New York and we're watching for him to leave prison.
He's been indicted on sex charges including attempted rape. His accuser is a maid at that Manhattan hotel. Susan Candiotti has been following this story.
Susan, once he leaves jail, what happens then?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he'll leave there under armed escort, presumably. I just spoke with the jail. He has not posted his bail yet. That's a $1 million cash bail plus that $5 million bond as well.
Until he does, the jail says he won't be getting out. But as part of that deal, he has to be escorted by armed guards who will bring him over to an apartment that his wife is now leasing in Manhattan where he is not allowed to leave.
Not allowed to leave unless he is called to court or has asked the court for permission on occasion to attend religious services. Carol.
COSTELLO: So he's going to be wearing that ankle bracelet, but he's going to have this guard outside of his door 24/7. Who pays for that?
CANDIOTTI: A guard as well as cameras and he has to foot the bill for that. Now, it was said in court that it may cost him more than $200,000 a month. But this is a man of means, and so presumably he won't have any trouble doing that. But if he doesn't stick to the terms of this agreement, he'll be in trouble and the judge gave him this admonition. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE MICHAEL OBUS, NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT: Mr. Strauss- Kahn, I assume you are going to be posting this in due course. You will be subjected to and you will have the benefit of the protection of the criminal court system, the criminal justice system of this state and this country. I expect that you will be here for the occasion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Now, Carol, the other thing is that he will be allowed to have visitors at his house and that would include obviously his wife will be with him. She was in court yesterday.
He smiled when he saw her, even blew her a kiss at one point during a recess. His daughter was also sitting in the front row. He got a chance to see them. So naturally he will be allowed to have family visits.
Certainly members of the defense team can come and see him and he's also asked for permission for close friends to come and pay a call on him from time to time.
COSTELLO: Susan Candiotti reporting live from New York. Thank you.
A few days ago Hollywood was abuzz about a possible triumphant return to the big screen for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now it looks like those plans are on hold. Your entertainment news is next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've even tried to apply at local banks as just a basic teller and because I haven't ever been given that experience of anything more than handling a restaurant cash register. I can't even get those jobs right now in this market.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He has four years of college and a diploma and he can't get a job, but Uncle Sam is coming through. The surprising decision, more educated and underemployed Americans are now making. That story is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: For comedians, the Arnold Schwarzenegger sex scandal is a gift that keeps on giving. Jimmy Fallon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY FALLON, COMEDIAN: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver have put their former mansion on the market for $23.5 million. And it's not that clean, though, because they had a maid, but she was always busy doing other stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Looks like Schwarzenegger's plans to return to the movies and other projects now on hold. Details from "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT's" A.J. Hammer. He joins us from New York. So A.J., what is Schwarzenegger saying?
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Well, you know, Carol, just yesterday everybody else was saying that Arnold's return to Hollywood and his career there was still a go, but then I think somebody realized maybe that's not such a good idea, so Arnold's entertainment attorney released this statement.
Here's what they're saying. At the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger, we asked Creative Artists Agency to inform all his motion picture projects currently under way or being negotiated to stop planning until further notice. Governor Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or time lines.
This includes "Cry Macho," "The Terminator" franchise and other projects under consideration. We will resume discussions when Governor Schwarzenegger decides. Of course, it may not be entirely up to him.
The producers behind Arnold's cartoon series, "The Governator," have said hasta la vista to that project. Just a day after saying this thing was still happening. Obviously they have rethought their position.
Comics legend Stan Lee released a statement. Here's what he's saying, in light of recent events, A Squared Entertainment, POW, Stan Lee Comics and Archie Comics have chosen not to go forward with "The Governator" project.
And I think all you can say at this point, Carol, is can you blame them?
COSTELLO: I mean, there could be other stuff coming out, who knows, right?
HAMMER: It's definitely true, but let me get to what's coming out today because there's plenty of unpleasantness here. The story, unfortunately, can really get a lot more uncomfortable for everybody involved, which is a real shame. You've got to consider there are five children in the mix here.
But let's get to today's unpleasant revelations. TMZ reporting some creepy new details about the relationship Arnold had with his housekeeper, Mildred Baena. Now the web site is reporting that Baena was obsessed with Maria Shriver to the point she would dress in her clothes, wore her jewelry.
TMZ even saying that when Maria would leave the house, Baena would take the chance to crawl into the marital bed as they put it with Arnold. It doesn't stop there. According to the web site, they say that while Baena was reportedly pregnant with Arnold's child, she would ask Shriver for advice on her pregnancy.
And she even went to Shriver for advice about her love life. As for Shriver herself, people.com is reporting she hired divorce attorney to the stars Laura Wasser so you know she's serious about something here.
Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie and Christina Aguilera have all been represented by Wasser and a close friend to Maria and the children have revealed to CNN that Maria and the children have, as they put it, circled the wagons and they say that Arnold is outside of that circle right now.
Right now, though, Carol, I have to say people is also reporting that Maria has not made a decision as to whether or not she's actually going to file for divorce, but with Laura Wasser involved, you can bet that filing is coming soon.
COSTELLO: I can't imagine she wouldn't, but I guess stranger things have happened. That's just really ugly and sad. A.J., thank you.
Want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world? A.J. has it tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at 11:00 p.m. on HLN.
Time now for a CNN in-depth. What does it say about the state of our economy when college graduates look to the military as a career choice, not because they desire a career in the military, but because they can't find anything else to do?
CNN's Pentagon correspondent, Chris Lawrence takes us from campus to boot camp.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ben Harris left campus thinking I'll get a good job and a place of my own. But he graduated Ohio State in 2008, smack dab in the middle of an economic meltdown.
BEN HARRIS, OHIO STATE ALUMNUS: For the past couple of years, I've been finding myself mainly working in the food service industry.
LAWRENCE (on camera): Did you have any idea it was going to be this hard to get a job when you graduated?
HARRIS: No. That's the thing. I've even tried to apply at local banks as just a basic teller, and because I haven't ever been given that experience of anything more than handling a restaurant cash register, I can't even get those jobs right now in this market.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): So Ben talked to a recruiter and enlisted.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, do you plan on using that degree in the U.S. Army?
HARRIS: Yes, I do.
LAWRENCE: He's not alone. Some of these recruits are also trading campus for boot camp.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 13.37.
LAWRENCE: In 2007 just before the economy tanked, about 3,500 soldiers joined the Army with bachelor's and master's degrees. By last year, well over 6,000 were signing up. The Air Force and Navy have seen increases too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The average recruit is 24 years old.
LAWRENCE: And that, recruiters say, is making the military smarter.
STAFF SGT ANDREW THATCHER, U.S. ARMY RECRUITER: They come into the Army with more experience, hands-on practice on some of the technology that we're using that a high school kid would.
LAWRENCE: Sounds good, except when you compare the U.S. to China. Their defense minister says more than 100,000 college students apply to enlist last year alone.
He says the educated students have improved the combat power of China's increasingly high-tech army and help bring less educated enlistees up to speed.
America's numbers are naturally lower, but U.S. Army recruiters say they have got enough quality college grads like Ben.
HARRIS: I just want to place myself in the best position for me as far as what my education will allow, which would also in turn probably help me most benefit my country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Ben's eyes are wide open. I mean, he knows that he could be sent to Afghanistan within the next year, and you might think, well, all college grads would want to be officers, but that's not necessarily the case.
Some want to go enlisted because sometimes they can better specify a specific job they want to do and get more hands-on skills than they would, say, from more of the officer ranks. Carol.
COSTELLO: What's his degree in?
LAWRENCE: He's got a dual major actually in political science and communications.
COSTELLO: A double whammy.
LAWRENCE: Yes. COSTELLO: Well, good for him. Maybe serving his country, ain't nothing wrong with that. Chris Lawrence, reporting live from the Pentagon.
All week we've been digging deep on America's job hunt to learn where the jobs are and how to get them and how to keep them, check out the all new cnnmoney.com, powered by CNN driven by you.
Today marks the 60th day of the U.S. military action in Libya. If the president doesn't get congressional approval soon, he may be on the brink of breaking the law. We'll explain just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In Libya, NATO is launching an attack on Moammar Gadhafi's warships.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO (voice-over): An air strike hit eight of them this morning. NATO says Gadhafi forces were increasingly using naval vessels to launch attacks against civilians and hamper the flow of humanitarian aid. Libya blames the United States.
The clock is ticking for U.S. military action in Libya. A deadline looms for Congress to approve U.S. involvement or end American involvement within 30 days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: More on that from congressional correspondent, Dana Bash.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. military action in Libya began two months ago. Now the president may be on the brink of breaking the law, if he continues the mission without congressional approval.
REP. BRAD SHERMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: Bring democracy to Libya while shredding the constitution in the United States.
BASH: At issue, the 1973 War Powers Act, which says if the president does not get congressional authorization 60 days after military action, the mission must stop within 30 days.
The president formally notified Congress about the Libya mission in this letter March 21st, which makes Friday, the 60-day deadline. Inaction is roiling lawmakers on the left.
SHERMAN: He cannot continue what he's doing in Libya without congressional authorization. When a president defiantly violates the law, that really, really undercuts our effort to urge other countries to have the rule of law.
BASH: With rare agreement from the right.
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: I mean, no more important decision sending someone to war who could lose their life and yet we're not going to have a debate on it? The people's representatives would not be allowed to debate on it, I found that really appalling and it's a terrible precedent.
BASH: To be sure, presidents in both parties often ignored another part of the War Powers Act, that had commander in chief should get congressional approval before military action.
But it's virtually unprecedented for a president to continue a mission beyond 60 days without a resolution from Congress. The administration is deliberating what to do.
JAMES STEINBERG, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: We are actively reviewing our role going forward. Throughout the president has been mindful of the provisions of the war powers resolution and has acted in a manner consistent with them. He will continue to do so.
BASH: Angry lawmakers in both parties say part of the problem is their own congressional leaders are not raising a stink.
PAUL: Very few people are talking about this. They're just letting the president do whatever he wants and I think that's Congress advocating the rule of law and advocating constitutional restraints they should obey.
SHERMAN: Some of my colleagues would just as soon not do their job because this is a difficult part of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Now, Carol, the administration could try to get around violating today's 60-day legal deadline for congressional approval on Libya.
They could argue the U.S. only has a minor role in what is NATO's mission in Libya or even ask for an extension, but the "Washington Post" editorial today saying, quote, "ignoring the law of the land is not the way out."
Some Republicans say they may take this issue to the Supreme Court, which has never ruled on the War Powers Act -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Dana Bash reporting from Washington.
A radical Islamic leader charged with threatening the creators of "South Park." That was Jesse Curtis Warton in 2009. Our Drew Griffin breaks down the charges he is facing now, that's after a break.
And a day after he called on Israel to return to the pre-1967 border scenario, the president meets up with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu was pretty steamed. What will their meeting be like today? Our political buzz coming your way next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A New York native who is the co-founder of a radical Islamic group is now facing federal charges, accused of threatening the creators of "South Park."
This is Jesse Curtis Morton (ph), aka Unis Abdullah Mohammad (ph), he's a Muslim convert. His group, "Revolution Muslim" tries to recruit followers on the streets of New York and online.
He seems to think "South Park" insulted the Prophet Mohammed when the writers portrayed the prophet wearing a bear suit. That episode aired last year.
But our own Drew Griffin caught up with him in 2009 and the interview was quoted in an affidavit so here's part of that report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Commanded to terrorize --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Koran says very clearly in the Arabic language, which means terrorize him. It's a command from Allah.
GRIFFIN: So you're commanded to terrorize --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't define terrorism as going and killing an innocent civilian. I define it as making them fearful so they think twice before they go rape your mother or kill your brother or go onto your land and try to steal your resources.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Koran commands that you disavow and make hatred between democracy, between nationalism, between secularism, and that you see Obama as the enemy he really is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Drew Griffin from our Special Investigations Unit is joining me live. So what is the FBI saying about Morton?
GRIFFIN: Well, the FBI is saying that when these guys put their warning, quote unquote, "warning" to the "South Park" creators online, on their web site that they actually violated federal law by communicating a threat over interstate commerce, namely over the internet.
And they're basing that not only on just what was said on that web site, but on what we now learn is intercepted communications, e- mails, telephone calls that the FBI says it has, which shows the intent. The intent was to communicate a threat.
COSTELLO: So is he under arrest?
GRIFFIN: He is living in Morocco, not surprisingly, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. At this point he is not under arrest. We'll have to see what the Moroccan government will do. Certainly he is now isolated and will not be able to come back to the U.S. until and unless he faces these charges.
COSTELLO: You got a hold of him though, right?
GRIFFIN: Yes, late last night, actually early this morning. Unis Mohammad who is Jesse Curtis Morton did sent send us an e-mail response to this, as you can imagine attacking the United States.
And in part saying this case is an example of intimidation forcing silence, while the U.S. goes on killing millions of Muslims and defaming the sacred tenets and people of the true religion. That was from Jesse Morton about 4:00 a.m. this morning.
COSTELLO: So have the creators of "South Park" responded to this?
GRIFFIN: I have not seen a response from them yet. They have kind of laid low. This was a comedy sketch that they did last year, but we'll keep monitoring and see if they have anything to say.
COSTELLO: Fascinating. If that guy ever leaves Morocco so he can be placed under arrest. Drew Griffin, many thanks.
Checking stories cross country now, years before he was convicted as the so-called Unabomber, the FBI now wonders if Ted Kaczynski had anything to do with the 1982 Tylenol murders that left seven people dead in Chicago. Authorities want Kaczynski's DNA as part of their probe.
Actress Rosie Perez is suing the producers of "Law and Orders" claiming she was severely injured while taping an episode in 2009. A spokesman for NBC declined comment.
Police in Summerville, South Carolina, say a 38-year-old suspect is accused of assaulting a cop and then stealing his squad car. They say he admits to being high on crack during the chase and the capture. The whole thing caught on tape. Police say the suspect has a long criminal history.
The president's speech stirred up a bit a hornet's nest in Israel. His push for Israel to go back to the pre-1967 borders was not something the prime minister wanted to hear. But Jay Leno had some fun with it, don't you know it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Earlier today, President Obama gave a speech outlining his vision for peace in the Middle East. He suggested that Israel go back to the pre-1967 borders.
And of course, native Americans jumped right on this. They said why stop there? let's go back to the pre-1492 borders.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: What a way to set up our Political Buzz, a lightning- fast conversation hitting the hot political topics of the day. Each of our brilliant political observers gets 20 seconds to answer our questions. Dana Loesch is a Tea Party supporter and conservative. Robert Zimmerman is a member of the Democratic National Committee. And comedian Pete Dominick lends his own unique perspective.
Okay, first up. President Obama meets up with Israel's prime minister today one day after Obama called on Israel to return to the 1967 border scenario. Benjamin Netanyahu not happy, so describe the atmosphere in that room when President Obama sits down with Benjamin Netanyahu. Dana?
DANA LOESCH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Oh, I think it's going to be incredibly tense. But I'm hoping that maybe this time Netanyahu can go through the front door and won't be left alone while he's eating his lunch.
But still, I think that Netanyahu's going to essentially ask, dude, why did you throw me under the bus like this in your speech. Because even Congress in 2004, House and Senate both concurred with President Bush that there's absolutely no reason whatsoever to go to the '67 borders, period.
COSTELLO: Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Look, probably the best rapport in that room is going to be between the U.S. and Israeli food tasters. But the situation simply is this. Prime minister Netanyahu has every reason to demand appear explanation from the president because all of us, both Israelis and Americans who want peace in that process know it can't happen with conditions being imposed upon Israel or with -
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
ZIMMERMAN: -- Hamas not being held accountable.
COSTELLO: Out of time. Pete! Sorry. Pete.
ZIMMERMAN: Just made it.
PETE DOMINICK, COMEDIAN: I'm no Washington insider, but I think this is all political theater. I think domestic politics influences the foreign policy and our relationship on both sides. I think President Obama and the prime minister are Israel are probably laughing and Benjamin Netanyahu is probably saying thanks for not going too hard on me.
I really - I don't buy any of this personally, but what do I know, Carol.
COSTELLO: What do any of us know really?
Question two, he was a big Obama supporter during the campaign but now Dr. Cornel West doesn't seem to be feeling the love. In a recent interview, West said, and I quote, "I think my dear brother Barack Obama has a certain fear of free black men. It's understandable. As a young brother who grows up in a white context, brilliant African father, he's always had to fear being a white man with black skin. All he has known culturally is white. When he meets an independent black brother, it is frightening."
What is up with that? Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Cornel West has now replaced the birthers and right- wing demagogues as someone who is trying to really in fact, try to discredit and delegitimate the Obama presidency. And Cornel West's rhetoric on this issue is just as bigoted and just as racist as the right-wing extremists.
COSTELLO: Dana.
LOESCH: I'm trying to -- where do these crazy people come from? I think it's something that black conservatives like Herman Cain and (INAUDIBLE) Crenshaw and Allen West have been hearing for a really long time. I just hope now that everybody can get together and say talk of this kind is not helpful at all, period. It's just not.
COSTELLO: Pete?
DOMINICK: Well, I certainly can't speak to the racial aspects of this, and apparently Cornel West, you know, is a little bitter. I guess he was slighted by the president.
But listen, Cornel West is a brilliant guy who is respected among the African-American scholar community and many others throughout this country. He teaches, I believe, at Princeton. It's pretty tough rhetoric, but I -- somebody has got to -
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
DOMINICK: Oh, really!
COSTELLO: Darn it! Final question. According to a radio preacher and his followers, tomorrow is doomsday. So in ten seconds, what are your last plans for the last day on earth? Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Well, just in case, Carol, he's wrong, I'm using Newt Gingrich's credit at tiffany's to be on the safe side.
COSTELLO: Dana?
LOESCH: I would break into the nice scotch that I have and enjoy all of that and throw a big party for my friends.
Where do these people come from? They're crazy!
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Pete?
DOMINICK: I plan to be left behind with the rest of the heathens. I know what I'll be doing. I'm be performing tonight and tomorrow night at The Stress Factory Comical in New Jersey, and we'll all be raptured together. I did a piece coming up later on in the NEWSROOM -
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
DOMINICK: -- just this idea.
COSTELLO: Nice plug for yourself, Pete. You almost did it in 10 seconds. Thanks to all of you participating in Political Buzz today. We'll be back on Monday.
New accusations of illegal doping are leveled had at a former American cycling champ. Yep, Lance Armstrong. We'll tell you what he's saying about it next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A former teammate of Lance Armstrong tells CBS's "60 Minutes" Armstrong used a banned substance in 1999 when he first won the Tour de France. Tyler Hamilton says Armstrong used the drug EPO to win that race. Hamilton said he took it too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYLER HAMILTON, CYCLIST: I saw it in his refrigerator, you know. I saw him inject it more than one time.
SCOTT PELLEY, CBS CORRESPONDENT, "60 MINUTES": You saw Lance Armstrong inject EPO?
HAMILTON: Yes, like we all did. Like I did many, many times.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Mark Fabiani, counsel to Lance Armstrong, released this statement. "Tyler Hamilton just duped the "CBS Evening News," "60 Minutes" and scott Pelley all in one fell swoop. Hamilton is actively seeking to make money by writing a book, and now he has completely changed the story he has always told before so that he could do so - so that he could get himself on "60 Minutes" and increase his chances with publishers. But greed and a hunger for publicity cannot change the facts: Lance Armstrong is the most tested athlete in the history of sports. He has passed nearly 500 tests over 20 years of competition."
Jason Giambi is a former AL MVP. Now at the age of 40, he's mostly riding the bench for the Colorado Rockies. But Todd Helton had a sore back so Giambi took the call in last night's game in Philadelphia, and wow, he answered right away. Top of the first, two runners on, Giambi takes Kyle Kendrick keep to right field for - that was a three-run shot. Giambi back up in the third sends another Kendrick pitch into the right field seats. A two-run homer this time.
Now top of the fifth, he sends a third shot right out of the park, another two-run homer. Giambi becomes the second oldest player in MLB history to hit three home runs in a game. He drives in all seven of Colorado's runs. The Rockies win.
Giants closer Brian Wilson trying to get the last out, but the Dodgers have the bases loaded. Jamey Carroll hits a line drive to right field and Nate Sheerholtz makes the diving catch that ended the game. If that ball got past him, the Dodgers would have tied it up or won.
I love seeing that.
Dr. Cornel West was a big supporter of Barack Obama in 2008, but now West has some harsh words about how he feels - how he about the president and how the president is treating the black community.
West claims the president also -- we're going to get into all of this next. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Dr. Cornel West has started a war of words online and off. Maybe you heard about it. He gave an interview to "The Washington Post," and he said this. And I quote, "I think my dear brother Barack Obama has a certain fear of free black men. It's understandable. As a young brother who grows up in a white context, brilliant African father, he's always had to fear being a white man with black skin. All he has known culturally is white. When he meets an independent black brother, it is frightening."
Now, that statement has not only caused waves in the black community but, well, just about everywhere. Mark Lamont Hill is an African-American studies professor from Columbia University. Mark, welcome.
MARK LAMONT HILL, PROFESSOR, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: Good to be here.
COSTELLO: I know West is miffed at the president for perceived slights, but why take it this far?
HILL: Well, let's be clear first. Professor West isn't just upset at perceived slights. He's also profoundly frustrated with the Obama administration's approach to addressing issues of poverty, equality, marginalization --
COSTELLO: Yes, but why bring race into it?
HILL: Well, I think it's a racialized conversation. He's upset with the way the president has responded to poor black people, for example. So, you have to talk about race.
Now, that said, I do disagree, even from a strategic representative, that we want to say the president is a mascot or that he's afraid of free black men. Even if it were true, which I don't think it is, I think it takes away from Professor West's more substantive point, which is the Obama administration has to take a stronger stance of addressing issues of marginalization among America's most vulnerable people. COSTELLO: And of course, there are other African-Americans who think that the president is overlooking poor black Americans. I talked to Tavis Smiley not long ago, and this is what he had to say about it.
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TAVIS SMILEY, HOST, PBS's "TAVIS SMILEY": The president has not done enough about black unemployment. In part, I think because respectfully, he's afraid of being accused of being tribal if he does in fact help the African-American community in specific and unique ways.
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COSTELLO: So, there it is again, Mark. I mean why bring race into this? Because, you know, Barack Obama is president of the United States. He's president for all of us. Not just one segment of the population.
HILL: Right. But black people are citizens of the United States, and other constituent groups are allowed to be named. You can talk about LGBT groups. You can talk about Jewish brothers and sisters. You can talk about the middle class. You can talk about all sorts of folk, but whenever black people get named, it becomes an entirely different conversation.
And I think that Tavis Smiley is right to say that President Obama is in a unique position. Because every time race talk emerges, he goes from being a president who's black to becoming a black president. And whenever he becomes racialized that way, he becomes less popular among the majority, read: white Americans.
So, he does have a racial conundrum that he has to address. There's nothing wrong with bringing race into the conversation. Race is a central part of the American project. We have to talk about it. The question is can we talk about it in constructive ways --
COSTELLO: Right. Constructive ways, because he's not Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., right? He's the president of the United States.
HILL: That's for sure.
COSTELLO: Aren't we expecting a little too much of him?
HILL: No. I mean, I expect a lot from Barack Obama not because he's black but because he's the president and because black people voted for him. So, I think he owes black people a whole bunch.
The question, though, is what strategic approach do we take? I think the approach is to challenge President Obama but for us to organize and drag him back to the left. Other groups dragged him to the right. We saw him push to the right on offshore drilling, we've seen him drag to the right on free trade, we've seen him drag to the right on Wall Street reform. Let's drag him back to the left on issues that matter around unemployment. That's what we need to do. So, does Barack Obama have a responsibility? Absolutely. But I would love to see those of us who are critiquing President Obama organize and form movements that force him the other way. That's the real work that has to be done.
COSTELLO: Well, in just talking about those critiques, something else is interesting that's going on. Every time Barack Obama makes a decision, we tend to psychoanalyze him. Oh, it's because he had a white mother. Oh, it's because he had a Kenyan father. Oh, it's because of this. Why do Americans -- a lot of them -- insist on doing that? Why can't he just make a decision because he's a politician?
HILL: Well, part of it is because we have tons of free time in the air of 24-hour cable news. We have a lot of time to fill up, and so we need to do a lot of psychoanalysis just to fill time, I think.
But the other piece of this is that your culture, your identity, your background, it does inform how you make decisions. No one is independent of their history. We all are constituted, we are all made by all sorts of things. So, Barack Obama is no exception.
Does his upbringing form how he governs? Absolutely. As do his advisers. As do the opinion polls. There are a lot of factors. Considering his identity is one of them is not a wrong thing to do.
The question, though, is how accurate is that analysis? Is it too simplistic to say because he has a Kenyan father and a white mother that he's governing this way or that went to a particular church or make a particular policy decision? That's a tough call to make.
But I would say that we have to consider it because he's been very transparent about saying that he's struggled with racial identity, that he struggled with cultural identity, that he struggled to belong. Knowing that does matter.
COSTELLO: Mark Lamont Hill, I could talk about this all day. It's a fascinating topic. Thank you so much for being with us this morning! We appreciate it.
HILL: My pleasure. And can you introduce me as a free black man next time?
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COSTELLO: I will. I will! Thanks so much for being with us.
HILL: My pleasure.
COSTELLO: He's a Kennedy and with that name comes a lot of pressure, lots of it. And if you can't deal with it, a mental crash could be inevitable.
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PATRICK KENNEDY, FORMER CONGRESSMAN: The Kennedy family is known for being persevering, on the football field, active, winners. So, of course, how did I feel? I felt like a loser. I felt like, oh, God, I'm not living up. What a shame.
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COSTELLO: Coming up next, Dr. Sanjay Gupta's exclusive one-on-one with a Kennedy who's coming clean about his addiction and his famous father and the pressures of life inside a legendary family.
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COSTELLO: He had been in office since the age of 21. A member of America's most storied political dynasty. But now, without anymore elections to worry about, Patrick Kennedy is coming clean in an exclusive conversation with our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
And Sanjay, so many interesting things came out of this interview. You know, when it comes down to it, none of us know what it's like to be part of the Kennedy family.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, in some ways what Patrick described as candid as I think anyone will ever have heard him speak, it was very challenging for him to be a member of the family. And, you know, he was in rehab while in high school for cocaine, to give you an idea how far back this extends. Most people remember the embarrassing moments.
But even as a sitting Congressman, as you might guess, a lot of this behavior was taking place. And just the full extent of it, I don't think people have heard. I asked him specifically about that, Carol. Take a listen to this.
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GUPTA: How many times did you need to go to rehab?
KENNEDY: I would say I've been to rehab easily over half a dozen times.
GUPTA: Was there a time when you said this isn't working, and this just doesn't work?
KENNEDY: Well, one of the things that I knew I needed to do was to live a life that could support my recovery in a way that was more conducive to long-term recovery. And that's why I chose not to run for re-election because, frankly, living in the public eye and in political life was not conducive to really getting that kind of long- term, steady recovery that, you know, is absolutely got to be the number one priority in my life.
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GUPTA: I tell you, I mean, he basically is saying he left office because he could not get clean while a sitting congressman still.
COSTELLO: So, he was taking hard-core drugs while he was a congressman consistently? GUPTA: Well, he's been off and on really since he was in high school doing this. And we don't know exactly which times, but he did say -- I thought it would be quite the opposite when I asked the question, Carol, about his drug use while in office because he is a candidate, because he's under such scrutiny as a sitting congressman.
But he said in fact it was easier in some ways because people try to curry favor with him as a congressman and part of what they knew he wanted was drugs. I found that really remarkable.
But he left office in part because you knew his father, Senator Ted Kennedy, died of a brain tumor not that long ago, and he took that really hard. He and his father were very, very close. They were in the office at the same time together. They worked on legislation together.
You really could see the pain is just underneath the surface still for Patrick Kennedy as we talked.
COSTELLO: And he has this new campaign going on about, you know --
GUPTA: He does. It's fascinating. May of 1961 is when his uncle said, look, we're going to put a man on the moon. Now, it's 50 years later this month, and he wants to use that same enthusiasm to talk about brain disease in general. He wants to come up with new ways of mapping the entire brain, coming up with diagnostics and treatments for all sorts of brain disease. Addiction and mental health two issues close to him personally. But also brain cancer, traumatic brain injury and the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. All sorts of different things.
It's very audacious. And it's funny, Carol, we had this conversation when I had I would hate to be the guy in the Oval Office when your uncle said the thing about putting a man on the moon and somebody said, "Oh, come on, that's not going to happen." But I'm sure somebody said that. And people are saying that to him again now because he wants to do some pretty ambitious things. But that's his life's work at this point.
COSTELLO: Well, I'm sure it's a fascinating interview. Thank you so much for the preview. We appreciate it.
A reminder: you can see the Sanjay's special: "PATRICK KENNEDY: COMING CLEAN" at Sunday evening 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. out West.
Plus, tune in tomorrow morning for the in-depth investigation on cell phone safety. Is your cell phone really safe? Find out tomorrow morning on Dr. Sanjay -- I'm sorry, I got the title of your show wrong.
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COSTELLO: He wasn't even glaring at me because he's so nice!
GUPTA: My mom does the same thing sometimes, Carol. It's OK. COSTELLO: Oh, your mom does it? OK, whatever. "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D," 7:30 a.m. Eastern. Thank you, Sanjay.
New today on CNN NEWSROOM with Suzanne Malveaux, House majority leader Eric Cantor will be in the studio. We'll ask him everything from Medicare to the Middle East, and see which GOP presidential candidate he's supporting for 2012.
Plus, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is set to be released on bail today. A legal expert explains what strategy he would use to defend the sexual assault charges against him.
And Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama meet at the White House today. They'll make public comments around the noon hour. That and more today on CNN NEWSROOM with Suzanne Malveaux.
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COSTELLO: Okay, maybe this will come as no surprise, but the former Minnesota governor, Tim Pawlenty has -- actually he will officially announce on Monday he is running for president in 2012. He joins a growing field.
Suzanne Malveaux will have much more on this. Are you ready?
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SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: You caught me getting ready! We're going to have more on this in the next couple of hours, Carol.
COSTELLO: You've got to get everything done because doomsday is coming.
MALVEAUX: I know! We're going to talk more about that too, huh?
COSTELLO: Yes, we are.
MALVEUAX: All right. Thanks, Carol.
