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Drama Unfolding in Casey Anthony Trial; Tracy Morgan Makes Amends; Saving Lives From Hotel Soaps; Demanding the Right to Drive; Should Women Be Allowed to Serve in Combat?

Aired June 17, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: It is 2:00 here on the East Coast. I'm Randi Kaye.

We want to start this hour with the Casey Anthony murder trial, which has so many of us captivated, fascinated by the drama unfolding this hour inside this Orlando courtroom. These are live pictures inside the trial for you in what is day two of Casey Anthony's defense.

Flies and trash found inside Casey Anthony's car are the focus right now. Prosecutors say it's proof the decomposing body of Casey's 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, was inside the trunk, but Anthony's defense lawyers are trying to squash that theory with their own bug expert.

The bizarre details and explosive theories have us all on edge, so it's no wonder the Casey Anthony murder trial is becoming somewhat of an obsession.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let him go! Let him go! Let him go!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: This is the scene this morning outside the courthouse. You can see there grownups -- yes, grownups -- actually fighting, clawing their way in line for one of those seats that are reserved for the public inside the courtroom.

Let's bring in "In Session" legal contributor Sunny Hostin to talk about the case.

Sunny, I want the viewers first to listen to what the defense's bug expert said about those flies in Casey's trunk, and then I want to get your expert opinion on it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM HUNTINGTON, FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY CONSULTANT: I said there's nothing that I can see that would indicate to me a decomposing body had been in this vehicle.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: So, we hear that, and that is really, Sunny, the exact opposite of what the prosecution's expert said. In fact, the defense's bug expert seems to be implying that the flies are from trash, not Caylee's dead body.

And the thing is, Huntington, we've learned, is a student of the prosecution's expert. So, it's like using the student to sort of disprove the teacher here.

So, given that, Sunny, I mean, can the jurors take this defense's bug expert seriously?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: I think it's very possible, Randi, and let me just clear something up. What we just heard, that little sound bite, wasn't -- the jury hasn't heard that yet. That was a proffer made outside of the presence of the jury.

But this witness, when he is in front of the jury, has done quite well. And he is the student. Perhaps there is a juror that thinks that the student is a new and improved, perhaps better version of his professor, a more current version.

What he has told the jury is, in his opinion, had there been a decomposing body there, there would have been hundreds, if not thousands, of blow flies, which are attracted to decomposition. The prosecution's expert, Dr. Neal Haskell, who was his professor, said that he only found one leg from one fly in the trunk.

So, really, diametrically opposed versions of what happened. It's become a battle of the experts in the Casey Anthony trial in that courtroom. And I have to tell you, this expert appears to be quite credible. I mean, he's a bug guy, and he looks sort of like that nerdy, young bug guy that you may identify with, that someone may believe.

KAYE: And when you talk about creating questions or doubt, I mean, the experts yesterday said that they didn't find any blood or DNA in the car, or on Casey Anthony's clothes, really, and now you have this bug expert. There certainly wasn't any blood on the Duct tape, either, or her remains.

So, is this all enough to throw a wrench in the prosecution's theory and raise doubt with jurors?

HOSTIN: I think it very well could be. I mean, Randi, you usually see sort of two tactics by defense attorneys. One is, the prosecution hasn't proven its case against my client, so my client is not guilty of the charges. The defense usually then pokes holes in a case. The other tactic that's used is, my client is innocent of these charges, and let me tell you about what really happened.

Now, I think we all thought, given Jose Baez's explosive opening statement, alleging that Caylee Anthony didn't die -- wasn't murdered by her mother, she died accidentally by drowning in the pool, we all thought he was going to use the sort of, this is what happened, my client is innocent. But what we're seeing for the past two days, Randi, is the former theory, which is, let me poke some holes in this prosecution's case.

And I will tell you, many courtroom observers, myself included, think that he's doing a pretty good job of that. He has a long way to go, but poking holes in this prosecution's circumstantial case, largely based on forensics, is a pretty good tactic to use. And I think he's been quite effective.

KAYE: So, the defense has only been at it two days, so maybe it's too early to say, but is there any sense of who is winning this so far, from your perspective?

HOSTIN: Well, certainly, the defense needs to be winning at this point because it's the defense's turn, it's the defense's case in chief. Like I said, he's got a long way to go, because there is a lot of circumstantial evidence, no direct evidence tying Casey Anthony to this horrific crime. But certainly, in terms of the circumstantial evidence, I think the defense is doing pretty well at poking those holes.

They've poked holes at the Duct tape. They've poked holes at the crime scene. They are now poking holes at the potential of the body being in the trunk of the car because of this bug expert. So, I will say, perhaps score a few for the defense in these first two days -- Randi.

KAYE: OK. Sunny Hostin, thank you. Have a nice weekend.

HOSTIN: Thanks.

KAYE: Casey Anthony's defense team, by the way, is still making its case to the jury. HLN will have wall-to-wall coverage of the Casey Anthony murder trial throughout the day, if you want to catch some more of it.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is happy to be out of the hospital and spending some time at her Texas home. That is the latest from her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly.

You'll recall that Giffords was shot in the head in January. She was released from a Houston hospital on Wednesday. Her husband spoke today about his wife for the first time since then, and it is our "Sound Effect."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK KELLY, ASTRONAUT: She wanted to leave, but she was a little bit apprehensive, a little bit of a sad day. But she was happy to get here.

You know, we had a very busy lifestyle, different places. So, you know, in any given year, she was here very rarely. But it's very familiar to her, so that's nice. She's really looking forward to getting back to Tucson.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Giffords and her husband are staying at their Houston suburban home, which is near the Johnson Space Center.

Jared Lee Loughner is charged in the mass shooting which injured Giffords and killed six people. A federal judge has ruled that he is incompetent to stand trial at this point. His next court date is set, though, for September.

In Indiana, the body of a missing Michigan woman has been found in a swamp. Police say the body of Dawn Marie Fattal (ph) was stuffed inside a suitcase. She had been missing since Monday.

An extradition hearing is set today for her boyfriend, Greg Nowak (ph). He was arrested Tuesday in Indiana and charged with murder. Police believe he killed Fattal (ph) in Michigan, drove across state lines, and dumped her body in that swamp.

The U.S. Army is reporting that May was the worst month in a year for suicides and potential suicides. The Pentagon says there were 21 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers last month. One has been confirmed. The others are still being investigated.

The numbers for May were the highest for one month since June, 2010. An Army spokesman says the service isn't sure why suicide cases seem to be rising at the same time as the Pentagon is trying to solve the problem.

Rush hour traffic was made even worse today around the Pentagon due to a security issue. An abandoned red Nissan found near the Pentagon was searched, but no explosives or other suspicious materials were found.

A man officials say was acting suspiciously was also detained. His backpack contained what the FBI says were bags of non-explosive, unknown material. According to one official, the man is of Ethiopian background.

The FBI also searched a house connected to the investigation in Alexandria. Officials determined there was no immediate concern after that search took place.

The United Nations Human Rights Council today passed a resolution supporting equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. The State Department calls the move a "historic step." Introduced by South Africa, the resolution is the U.N.'s first ever measure on the human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. The vote was 23 in favor, 19 opposed, and 3 abstentions.

The resolution also will commission the first U.N. report on the challenges that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders face around the world.

Oil prices plummeted to a four-month low today. In electronic trading, oil for July delivery fell nearly three percent to $92.12 a barrel. That's the lowest level since February.

Analysts attribute the decline to fears about Greece defaulting on its debt. In response, the Greek prime minister today reshuffled his cabinet, and European finance ministers are scheduled to meet Sunday to discuss a possible bailout package.

Comedian Tracy Morgan made a lot of folks upset with his anti-gay tirade earlier this month, but today he is making amends again.

Coming up, I'll speak with a gay teen who Morgan just spoke with moments ago. Find out what Tracy Morgan told him and if it was enough.

That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Welcome back.

He fashions himself a comedian, but comments Tracy Morgan made during a June 3rd stand-up routine in Nashville were anything but funny. By now, you've probably heard about his anti-gay remarks and the firestorm they created.

For his part, Tracy Morgan has since made several public apologies, and he has promised to travel back to Nashville next week to apologize. But he's taking his penance a step further.

Today, Morgan met with teens at New York's Ali Forney Center, a group that provides housing and support to homeless gay and lesbian youth, a meeting brokered through GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

So joining me now, some of those Morgan met with today.

First, Jayden, who is a teen at The Ali Forney Center; the group's founder and director, Carl Siciliano; and Elke Kennedy, who lost her son to a hate crime in 2007.

Thank you so much to all of you for coming on the show today.

Jayden, I'd like to start with you.

What did Tracy Morgan say to you today? And more importantly, what did you tell him?

JAYDEN, HOMELESS TEEN: Well, I started out with telling him a lot about my story, my background. And basically, what he was telling me was being apologetic a thousand times over for the statements that were said.

Also, he told me a lot about his background and how much he's like me. We both grew up in not great areas, not great neighborhoods. And then, also, he has backgrounds with me with Jehovah's Witnesses.

KAYE: And Jayden, were you satisfied with what he said to you? Did he ever say, "I'm sorry"?

JAYDEN: Oh, yes. Well, yes, he apologized. He definitely did.

It's not that I'm not satisfied. I just want to see exactly the changes that he says he's going to make. He also -- he spoke about a lot of good things that he's going to be doing, especially with, like, GLAAD and PSA announcements.

KAYE: And Carl, I want to ask you, I mean, how was Tracy's visit viewed by those at The Ali Forney Center today? And why do you think this was so important, this visit?

CARL SICILIANO, FOUNDER, THE ALI FORNEY CENTER: When he made those terrible statements, especially the statement about stabbing his son to death if he was gay, we were all very upset. At The Ali Forney Center, we work with thousands of kids who have been rejected by their families, often very violently, for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. And it was important for us to have him there, because we wanted him to understand the human suffering that's caused when parents won't and can't accept their gay kids. We wanted him to understand it's a matter of life and death that parents be able to accept their gay kids, be able to love and embrace them, and not throw them out into the street, as happens to so many of the young people we work with.

KAYE: And Elke, I understand that your son Sean was killed in 2007 after a hate crime. So you certainly know firsthand the consequences of this hate-filled rhetoric.

ELKE KENNEDY, FOUNDER, SEAN'S LAST WISH: Yes.

KAYE: Did you speak with Tracy Morgan today? And if so, how did that conversation go?

KENNEDY: Yes, I did, and I was able to share my story with Tracy, to tell him that my son was the victim of a hate crime in 2007. And he apologized for what he said. And also, he made a commitment to do something about it, to use his place in the media in order to be able to be supportive of the LGBT community.

KAYE: I'd like to read just a part of Tracy Morgan's public apology.

He said, in part, "When all of this set in, I realized how hurtful my words were. In my heart, I know that the words I used are indefensible. I appreciate the love from my friends and fans, but I was wrong. Period."

Elke, did you find him to be truly remorseful?

KENNEDY: I did. I think he realized, actually, quite immediately. He mentioned that as soon as he made those remarks, people were leaving the show, and that was the first time in his career that that actually happened, and that really touched him a lot.

And he also said that his son was very disappointed in him. And listening to my story, he realized very quickly that it could be one of his sons that could be murdered in a hate crime very easily, and so that really touched him very much.

KAYE: And Carl, do you think that apologies and meetings with groups like yours is enough?

SICILIANO: No, I don't. Look, I think it's an important first step.

There are thousands of people that have hurt our young people -- parents who have rejected them, religious leaders and political leaders who promote the homophobic climate where parents are ashamed of their kids. Nobody's ever come and apologized before, so I give Tracy Morgan credit for that. But no, we've got to work much harder to create an environment in our country where families can love, accept and embrace their LGBT children, and we've got a long way to go.

KAYE: And Jayden, what would you say is the takeaway in all this? I mean, yours and Tracy's? And what lessons do you think, really, that Tracy has learned through this?

JAYDEN: Well, you know, basically, I feel as if my story that I tell him is going to help a lot of others. That's why I wish that he would share my story and Elke's story, because this is very important.

There is a kid anywhere who's on the edge because his parents might not accept him and his friends might not accept him. And so, he might want to commit suicide like the ones that we've had in the last past month. And it's very sad.

I want to share this story because I want them to know that there is so much hope, and you just do not need to give up. And that's what I want him to share with people.

KAYE: Well, Jayden, you're a very brave young man for coming on. We appreciate that.

And Carl and Elke.

Thank you all.

Elke, thank you for sharing your son Sean's story as well.

KENNEDY: Thank you.

KAYE: Well, it is hard to forget this kind of devastation. Take a look. Communities obliterated by an outbreak of tornadoes. The heartbreaking costs in just a couple of minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It's hard to forget these images, Joplin, Missouri, and more than a dozen other states across the Midwest and South, the death and destruction where homes and businesses used to be. This was a familiar scene in May, as Mother Nature unleashed an outbreak of devastating tornadoes.

In today's "Taking the Lead," we're getting a better understanding of the loss and the cost of these disasters. Today, Allstate says all those tornadoes cost them $600 million last month. When you add in all the disaster losses in April, the insurance giant estimates all the catastrophic weather events this quarter totals $2 billion.

For Allstate, that makes this quarter the most expensive due to catastrophes since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. But keep in mind that these numbers only include the people Allstate insures. If you account for other insurance companies, one firm that tracks and estimates the loss from disaster says the severe storms that carved their way across large portions of the South in April caused up to $5 billion in damage. In May, we're talking up to $3 billion in insured losses in Joplin alone.

These are just estimates from the past two months. It does not even include the uninsured and other disasters like the flooding from the Mississippi. According to a number of estimates, this year is on track to be the costliest tornado season in U.S. history.

Up next, the heat's been stifling, but the South might have some more stormy weather ahead. Reynolds Wolf has the outlook for us just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Well, I probably don't have to tell you this, that it has been hot, hot, hot all over the country. Of course, you're probably wondering, is there any relief in sight?

Here's the man with the answer, Reynolds Wolf.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And the answer is yes.

KAYE: Oh, that's good.

WOLF: There has been a little bit of relief in places like Alabama, in Birmingham, Alabama. Today was a very warm, very muggy day.

They have had a cool down. In fact, temperatures were in the 70s, but there has been a price to pay for it. The price, some strong thunderstorms now rolling through parts of Alabama. In fact, we've got a severe thunderstorm watch that's in effect for parts of central and southern Alabama until about 6:00 local time. That also includes just a little bit of Mississippi.

Unfortunately, though, you'll notice some of the rain beginning to fade as it gets closer towards Atlanta. Atlanta, we had some heavy rain falling just a few days ago. We could use more. Unfortunately, that may not be in the mix.

Something else that's very unfortunate is, although we're getting plenty of rainfall in parts of the Southeast at the time being, where we've really need it is out towards the West, where they've been battling the wildfires, especially in New Mexico and, of course, Arizona. Take a look at the video. It's been just a rough time there. The blaze, now about 33 percent contained. Still, nearly 500,000 acres up in smoke. And with the wind expected to increase later this afternoon and through the weekend, with very low humidity, conditions are going to be very rough for those battling the blaze.

Meanwhile, for the rest of the nation, we could see some more storms develop across parts of the nation's midsection, back through the heartland, even into the great lakes and points just little bit to the south in the Ohio River Valley. Could see some there.

And towards the West Coast, a mix of sunshine and clouds. Pretty nice for you in the Pacific Northwest, where high temperatures on the West Coast and into the upper plains are going to stay fairly comfortable, mainly some 70s, some 80s in most spots.

Look for some rain to develop in parts of the Northeast and along parts of the outer banks, possibly, too, into the Carolinas. Things are going to be kind of hit and miss in terms of your sun and clouds, with possibly a boom of thunder into portions of Virginia.

OK, that is a snapshot of your forecast. Of course, I'll be back this weekend to share a bit more with you on Saturday and Sunday -- Randi.

KAYE: And Reynolds, I want to wish you an early Happy Father's Day as well.

WOLF: Thank you so much. Very kind of you.

KAYE: All right. Have a good one.

So, what happens to soap in your hotel after you check out? Generally, it's thrown away, but this week's CNN hero has a life- saving idea for it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DERRECK KAYONGO, CNN HERO: A child of war can be simply described as a kid caught between a rock and a hard place. It's finding all your pieces and trying to put them back together.

I do have something in common with these kids. You wake up every morning thinking, we just want to survive.

Sanitation is a priority. We have about two million kids that die of sanitation issues, mainly because they don't wash their hands.

I'm Derreck Kayongo. I'm a former refugee. Now I help people fight disease with sanitation.

Do you have some soap for me? This is great.

The issue is not the availability of soap, but the issue is cost. Can they afford it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Housekeeping.

KAYONGO: Eight hundred million bars of soap that the hotels throw away in the U.S. alone every year. We're able to get a lot of soap which we can process and make brand new soap out of it. We clean it, melt it, then cut it into final bars, box it and ship it.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Welcome. Welcome. Welcome.

KAYONGO: Being here in Kenya at this orphanage is (INAUDIBLE), but with good news. It's very important for them to have the bar of soap, but also to use it so they can fight off diseases.

Those are clean. That's very good.

What I think I have learned from the kids is a sense of resilience. To know that they have this central hope and joy is remarkable. Do I feel like I'm having an impact on them? Yes, I think so.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Derreck and his volunteers have distributed more than 100,000 bars of soap to nine countries for free.

And we want you, of course, to remember this -- that every one of this year's CNN Heroes are chosen from people that you tell us about. So, you can nominate someone that you know is making a big difference in your community. We make it real easy for you just by going to CNNHeroes.com.

Can what you wear on an airplane land you in jail? One University of New Mexico football player found that out the hard way. His story and all the details, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It is half past the hour. Here's a look at some of the news you may have missed:

A big traffic jam around the Pentagon this morning as police closed the roads to investigate a car left abandoned in the bushes. While the vehicle was at first deemed suspicious, no explosives or any other harmful devices were found in the red Nissan.

Police also detained a man at nearby Arlington National Cemetery. No charges have been filed. They say the investigation is ongoing.

Casey Anthony's defense team opened the second day of its case by calling an insect expert to the stand. Dr. Tim Huntington (ph), a forensic entomology consultant countered the testimony of the state's bug expert.

I want to remind you, these are live pictures inside the trial as it's happening right now this hour.

The prosecution's witness testified that flies found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car were consistent with a body having been stored for days. Huntington, though, concluded that in this case, the amount of insects present was not consistent with body decomposition.

Anthony is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

A University of New Mexico football player forced off a U.S. Airways flight and then arrested, get this, for refusing to pull up his saggy pants. Police say after the flight crew's unsuccessful attempts to get Deshon Marman to pull up his pants to cover his underwear, the captain asked him to leave the airplane. Eventually, Marman walked off the plane where a struggle with police officers followed. He was arrested for trespassing in the end and battery on a police officer.

Ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner has a job offer. Where? "Hustler" magazine. Yes, the founder, Larry Flynt, is offering him a job. The offer came within hours of Weiner's resignation yesterday over a sexting scandal.

Here's the offer, take a look. A 20 percent raise above his salary in the House of Representatives, medical benefits matching those he received while in office, and get this, Flynt also offered to pay Anthony Weiner's moving expenses. What a guy.

Flynt made the job offer in a letter published in "The Huffington Post."

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a nearly $600,000 civil penalty against United Airlines for violating drug testing policies. The FAA alleges that United failed to perform mandatory drug testing before transferring 13 people to safety- sensitive positions. United Airlines has 30 days to respond to the FAA.

Well, talk about a slap in the face. You're barred from driving because you're a woman? How they're fighting the ban in Saudi Arabia. We'll talk about it with Michael Holmes, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: A lot of women in Saudi Arabia are saying enough is enough! They're hitting the roads in cars as a protest against the ban against women drivers.

Here with us with his take on a protest that is also being driven by social media, of course, is Michael Holmes.

So, let me just get this straight, it's not illegal for women to drive there, technically.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: No.

KAYE: There's no law on the books against it.

HOLMES: There's no official law against it. It's a religious edict in Saudi Arabia. It's the only country in the world that has such an edict, as well.

And the clerics and the conservatives there say that women driving on their own, they've got more chance of them mixing to men who aren't part of their family, it could lead to all sorts of horrible things.

Now, where this also came to a head recently was there was a lady called Manal al Sharif. She went driving. Actually, she needed to get somewhere and her husband wasn't around, her son wasn't there, so she got in the car and drove. She videoed it and put it on YouTube.

She then gets picked up by the authorities, locked up for nine days, which by itself created a big row on Twitter. All sorts of people were out there. There was something like 30,000 comments about this arrest within days on Twitter. It sort of shows the social media thing all over again.

That then led to a group called Women Who Drive, which today held a protest of women get out there and drive. And lots and lots of women have been out and about driving.

KAYE: Yes, from what I assume, hundreds of them were expected to be out there.

HOLMES: Yes.

KAYE: But now, some of these women, obviously, don't have licenses, right? You can't get -- it's not legal for them to get a license?

HOLMES: No. Other ones have been, because they don't get a license. But a lot of them have licenses they got from outside of the country. I mean, one woman today was telling us that she got her license while living in the United States, for example.

KAYE: And that would be valid, I guess?

HOLMES: That would be a valid. I mean, yes, I can come here and drive on an Australian license, which I did for a while.

KAYE: Really?

HOLMES: Yes.

KAYE: Are you sure that's legal?

HOLMES: I hope so.

KAYE: You are kidding (ph).

HOLMES: You know, it's interesting that, you know, you're talking about -- here's one fact, just to talk about how the religious edicts go. There was a fatwa reported by a newspaper there that commanded people to avoid driving, LOL, laughing out loud, on their Internet messages, and the reason was because the idea of a woman laughing might arouse male strangers. KAYE: Wow.

HOLMES: That's the sort of thing you're dealing with there. But there's a big push from women now to get license, be allowed to drive.

KAYE: So, that was a big hit on social media. And because we're on this social media beat today, little bit here, the "Globe Trekking" segment, I love this story. Obviously, his wife doesn't love it, though.

But one of China's billionaires, one of the most famous businessmen there, decides to end his marriage on their version of Twitter, right? Because Twitter is illegal or banned from China.

HOLMES: Twitter is banned in China, yes.

KAYE: So, they have their own social media and he went out and said, I'm running away with my mistress.

HOLMES: It's called Weibo. It's the name of it. They are huge.

KAYE: Who does that?

HOLMES: It's got 140 million followers. Well, it's Wang Gongquan, he's one of China's most famous investors. So, yes, he was embarrassed, you know, he was embarrassed to tell his wife, so he tweeted. He said I'm giving up everything and eloping. I feel ashamed and I'm leaving without saying good-bye. I kneel down and beg for forgiveness.

Good luck with that one, Wang.

KAYE: Yes.

HOLMES: Yes. And headed off with his mistress.

KAYE: But this went viral, right?

HOLMES: Absolutely did.

KAYE: He got like 60,000 views or something like that?

HOLMES: It was 60,000 times it was retweeted, and 30,000 comments, all within a couple of days.

It's not surprising really. The guy is known around China and puts it out there on Twitter, or their version of Twitter, Weibo.

KAYE: Yes, their version of it.

HOLMES: Yes, yes.

KAYE: What's so interesting, though, is from what I understand, I mean, I read a little bit about it. They -- this is a really big deal. I mean, not just what he did and what he said, but even just this social media there, because people there now can voice things about the government.

HOLMES: That's right.

KAYE: And they're having opinions they were never really allowed to have.

HOLMES: Private opinions, political opinions, things like that. What these social networks have given Chinese people, where before they haven't had a platform or a forum in which to express themselves, they're now able to do it, even if it is in 140 characters.

And don't get me wrong, these are censored. If you go too far, it's cut out, and there are censors monitoring all of this.

So, the Chinese authorities in some ways don't mind it because it gives them a way of monitoring public sentiment as well. So, they're using it to keep an eye on the people. If the people go too far, boom, they censor is anyway.

KAYE: It's fascinating. I know, it's a fascinating story.

All right. Well, Michael Holmes, thank you. Good to see you.

HOLMES: Good to see you, Randi.

KAYE: Have a great weekend.

HOLMES: You, too.

KAYE: Thank you.

He is a therapist, a social worker, writer, and he is HIV- positive. Alexander Smith's emotional story right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: HIV is not a death sentence. This week, we've been focusing on AIDS as we mark the 30-year anniversary of the disease.

There is a huge stigma on the disease, creating an environment of fear for many survivors of HIV/AIDS. And that stigma is unfounded, and quite frankly, ignorant. People with the disease live healthy, productive lives.

If you were standing next to someone who is HIV positive, you likely wouldn't even be able to tell.

And to help blow that stigma out of the water, I want to introduce you now to Alexander Smith. He is 37 years old. He is a therapist and licensed clinical social worker for the state of Utah.

Alexander is also HIV-positive. He contracted the virus about eight years ago. He also developed a Web site, blessthisvirus.com, and he joins us live now from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Alexander, thanks so much for coming on the show. I want to start with how you contracted HIV? And how did you react when you first found out? What was that like?

ALEXANDER SMITH, THERAPIST: Certainly. I contracted HIV from sex. There's only a couple ways you get it, and I had unprotected sex, and eight years ago, I was not in a place vibrationally to have safe conversations for myself. I had left my religion. I had repressed years of repression, repression, and I caught the virus on an unlucky diagnose day of March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, 2003.

KAYE: Most people, when they test positive for HIV, are filled with shame, and you have started this Web site, blessthisvirus.com. How did you go about making peace with this?

SMITH: It's blessyourvirus.com. And that was the whole concept for me. Initially, I stepped right into the diagnosis and right into the story. I mean it was terrifying. I think most people understand that.

Fortunately, we're in a time, and I have the privilege to have medications, to support myself and to take care of that. But initially, stepping into it was very terrifying.

And so, for me, stepping in -- and it took about six years to finally make peace. A girlfriend of mine one day said to me, have you ever said hello to the virus living inside of you? And I stopped for a minute and thought, why in the world would I want to do that? It terrifies me.

KAYE: But not anymore.

SMITH: So, that was the beginning. No, not anymore. That's where it changed for me, as I realized from what she said, there's truth.

And that's what I believe in now, is that making peace with the things that scare us, blessing your virus. We all have viruses. Mine is HIV. I've had other viruses. A lot of other HIV-positive people out there, a lot of other people who are negative who have their own viruses.

But blessing things, wrapping our arms around, creating compassion, love, understanding, conversation -- it changed everything for me. My health is great. Yes. I look great, I feel great.

KAYE: I was going to ask you, how do you feel?

SMITH: You know, Randi, I feel fantastic, and this week has been an amazing experience, coming into this opportunity to stand up in my place of privilege to share this blessing. I feel healthy. I feel alive.

And we're sitting at a time 30 years into this where there's an opportunity for a cure. You know, the Berlin patient, Timothy Brown, has been cured. He's HIV-negative. And it's going to be a process to get there, but that's what this blessyourvirus.com is all about, is how can we create an environment where the cure can arrive for me and for all of us?

KAYE: Yes. As we've been talking, we've been looking at some pictures of you, and you are full of life. There is no doubt about that.

But what would you say to people who are watching right now who are HIV-positive? I mean, what would you say to those family, friends, co-workers of people who are positive as well?

SMITH: I would start by saying I bless you and I bless the virus that you carry, and I ask you and I challenge you to turn in and define courage and to find small moments, small steps, small thoughts, to turn in and find the blessing within yourself, because we need your hope.

Those who carry the virus have such a magnificent ability and understanding. And so, I would say, hang in there and find a way to bless and love yourself and find life.

KAYE: Alexander Smith, great advice and great talking with you. Thank you and be well. Take care of yourself.

SMITH: Yes, thank you.

KAYE: And to connect with Alexander and to check out his Web site, Bless Your Virus, head to our blog, CNN.com/Ali. We'll also connect you to Alexander's Facebook.

Is the United States and its military ready for women to serve in combat? Today's Stream Team will tackle this topic, next.

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KAYE: A Pentagon commission on diversity has recommended that the U.S. military end its ban on women serving in direct combat roles. The group says that the restriction is discriminatory and out of touch with the demands of modern warfare. In its report, the Military Leadership Diversity Commission said that the military should gradually eliminate the ban in order to create a, quote, "level playing field" for all qualified service members.

So, our question for today's Stream Team is this: should women be allowed to serve in combat?

With us today: Lieutenant General Russel Honore. He was deputy commander, 1st Cavalry for two years at Ft. Hood.

And Elaine Donnelly, she joins me by phone as well. She's the founder and president of the Center for Military Readiness.

Thank you, both.

General, I'd like to start with you. Should women be allowed, do you think, to serve in combat?

LT. GEN. RUSSEL HONORE, U.S. ARMY (RET) (via telephone): Well, Randi, if you asked me that 10 years ago, I would have a lot of speculation about that. But since the beginning of the year, during the Afghanistan campaign, I employed over 430,000 troops, and over 30 percent of them were women, and they served admirably in Afghanistan and Iraq.

And if Afghanistan and Iraq are the future of what combat's going to look like, the women did well.

But it ought to be optional for women, if they want to be in those job occupation skills to go directly into combat. I think it ought to be optional.

KAYE: And, Elaine, you're not in favor of women in combat. I mean, is it the physical aspect of the job that concerns you and gives you pause?

ELAINE DONNELLY, FOUNDER, CENTER FOR MILITARY READINESS (via telephone): Well, first, we need to define what the word "combat" means. It's not just being in danger. And yes, as the general says, all the women in Afghanistan and Iraq are serving well. They are all in danger.

But direct ground combat means attacking the enemy. We're talking about the infantry, the armored special operation forces, the tip of the spear. You cannot do this on an optional basis.

The commission that studied this issue in 1992, on which I served, looked at that, and there's no way you can make it optional. It would be mandatory for the majority of women who want nothing to do with being in direct ground combat.

The diversity commission is all about diversity. It's not about combat effectiveness. It was started by the Pentagon, but it's primarily a group of people who are pushing equal opportunity as if the military is just another equal opportunity employer, but there's no such thing as a level playing field in combat. You attack the enemy or you get attacked by the enemy.

KAYE: Right.

DONNELLY: You'd better win.

KAYE: General Honore, is it possible, do you think, though to allow women into combat without maybe having training standards be lowered as a result?

HONORE: Contrary to popular belief, we have the same standard. Women have to complete the same tasks as men. The difference is, is in your combat unit, when you're wearing the 70-pound, 80-pound, or 90-pound rucksack, as she was talking about going into combat, those are situations that in a majority of the cases, that would be a stress on the average woman, but there are some women that are capable of doing it.

That being said, we're running a volunteer army and military. And until everybody is serving, those who serve and have the capability to either be a military policeman, to be an artilleryman or those type skill, there are many more skills that women can do than they're doing today. To outright cease (ph) this is act of Congress, not one that the military would decide on its own.

KAYE: Elaine, I'd like you to weigh in on that as well.

DONNELLY: Sure.

KAYE: Do you think that standards would need to be lowered?

DONNELLY: Sure. I understand what the general is saying. But every attempt to keep standards the same or identical for men and women has failed, and it goes back to the same diversity crowd that's pushing to have women forced into infantry and special operations forces or areas where they're not really suited.

The reason is gender norming. Standards are always adjusted to, quote, "make it more fair." That's because women don't have the same strengths, physical strengths and capabilities that men have. Certainly, they're as smart as men, as courageous as men, but physical differences matter in those direct ground combat units, such as the infantry.

So, treating women equally would really be quite unfair, and we know that the Army has not been complying with regulations as they are. But if this continues, we're going to see a situation where civilian women would have to be subject to registration for the draft because the ACLU are going to court on behalf of men and say, well, look, let's make it equal, let's force women into the military, into combat in time of war, registration for it, selective service. There are a lot more factors here than meet the eye superficially.

And, by the way, I do have to add this -- we're all proud of our women who serve. None of this is their fault.

But the policymakers have to keep their priorities straight. Then we can use women to the best capability that they have, and that would be best for everyone.

KAYE: Elaine Donnelly, General Russel Honore, thank you both for weighing in on this hot topic.

And it is time now for a CNN political update. Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry joins me now from the White House.

Ed, big golf match scheduled for tomorrow for the president and John Boehner.

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Randi. It'd be interesting. Vice President Biden will be joining these two leaders, along with John Kasich. He'll be playing on the Republican side with John Boehner -- obviously, Ohio governor from John Boehner's home state.

Jay Carney today told us they're going to allow us to take some pictures of this foursome, but they're still holding back on whether or not they're going to release the scores. That may have something to do with the fact that John Boehner, particularly, a little bit better than the president. His handicap is much, much lower. He gets out there a lot and is known for being pretty good on the links. So, we'll see how that plays out.

I think more importantly, what both sides are saying is that this is a chance at a time of great division between both parties for them to try to get together in a social setting, maybe try to work out some big problems. We shall see.

Meanwhile, in terms of Republican presidential politics, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is denying a report in "The American Spectator" which suggested she's closing in on a decision about whether or not to run. Obviously, a lot of people are still waiting to see whether or not she's going to get in.

And, finally, Texas Governor Rick Perry announcing he's going to be getting minor back surgery early next month. People are watching that closely. Obviously, any health moves, anything going on in his schedule, because a lot of Republicans now, perhaps because of some concern that maybe the Republican presidential field is not strong enough, turning their eyes to the Republican governor of Texas, thinking maybe that Governor Perry would be strong.

He's been out there on the road last couple of days, and he's going to be out in New Orleans this weekend speaking at a Republican gathering, may be testing the waters. And a lot of people watching and waiting to see whether he'll get in, Randi.

KAYE: All right. Ed Henry for us at the White House. Ed, thank you.

HENRY: Thanks, Randi.

KAYE: And your next update from "The Best Political Team on Television" is just one hour away.

San Francisco's latest crusade, fighting for the rights of goldfish? We could not let this story get away. What you'll hear, next in my "XYZ."

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KAYE: Time now for my "XYZ," and I don't even know what to make of this next story, honestly.

In San Francisco, the Animal Control and Welfare Commission is proposing a bill to ban goldfish. It's reportedly meant to discourage impulse buys. The commission also hopes to renew a ban on pets like puppies, kitties and hamsters.

I sort of get it. I mean, I'm a huge animal lover. I've always adopted from shelters and spayed and neutered my pets. I certainly don't want to see pets return to shelters, but goldfish?

The proposed ban includes not only goldfish, but guppies and other tropical fish because of what proponents call inhumane suffering of fish and the way they're harvested. That is certainly concerning, but banning goldfish and guppies -- it just sounds bizarre, doesn't it?

As you can imagine, pet store owner are furious. They apparently feel the city is looking to just take too much control. And for those who argue, hey, it's just a goldfish, the animal welfare folks, boy, they get serious. Their response -- where do you stop then?

That will do it for me. Have a great weekend.

CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with T.J. Holmes, in for Brooke Baldwin.