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New York Senate Vote on Same-Sex Marriage; McCain in Hot Water for Immigration Comments; Supreme Court Blocks Wal-Mart Lawsuit; Blind Man Sues Over Law School Exam; Americans Without Savings; McIlroy Wins The U.S. Open; ATF Director Expected to Resign Under Pressure

Aired June 20, 2011 - 12:59   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Suzanne. Thank you.

The contentious issue of same-sex marriage is taking center stage today in New York and at the White House. With the clock ticking, the New York senate is set to vote today on a bill that would legalize gay marriage in the state. Gay rights supporters rallied in support of the measure in New York City yesterday. The summer break for lawmakers is due to begin after today's business.

The measure was passed by the state assembly last week and right now 31 senators, including two Republicans, support the bill, but backers need one more Republican to vote in favor for it to pass. Critics say voters, not lawmakers, should have the final say. If the measure is approved, New York would become the sixth state to allow same sex marriages. The others are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Gay marriage is also legal in the nation's capital.

You can bet President Obama and his advisers are watching events in New York very closely. With next year's election campaign already heating up, a big question is will the president come out and endorse same-sex marriage? He's always said that he favors civil unions but has kept his cards close to the vest on same-sex marriage. That may be about to change.

This week he will headline a $1,250 a plate gala with the gay community in Manhattan. And on June 29th, he'll host a gay-pride reception at the White House. Now, to talk more about this, we're joined on the phone by Richard Socarides, the president of Equality Matters and a former senior advisor to president Bill Clinton on these issues.

Richard, what outcome do you expect in New York, and if this is approved, what do you think Governor Cuomo did right to pull this off his way?

RICHARD SOCARIDES, PRESIDENT, EQUALITY MATTERS (via telephone): Well, we're very optimistic, although it's not a done deal until both houses of the legislature approve it. But I think what he did is he was able to very skillfully take advantage of the poll numbers which show increasing support for marriage equality across the country and that's even more so in New York, and he very skillfully went to each legislature and said, I need you on this, and wouldn't take no for an answer.

So, it's very capable and confident political leadership where he's really bringing the state in a direction. It might not be there yet, but this is the direction he is leading us in.

KAYE: And I want to ask you about President Obama, what do you think you might expect to hear from him when he speaks in New York this week? We've mentioned that he's headlining this gala, but does this event put pressure on him, do you think, to come out for same-sex marriage in favor of it?

SOCARIDES: Well, I think there is a lot of pressure on him, especially now with New York moving, and you know, we're in gay pride month. But he -- he says his position is evolving. I would tell him, if I were advising him, that you know, the future is now, stop trying to have it both ways, as I think he's having -- he's doing a little bit of right now, so that he'd know where he is going to come out on this, because he's a future-oriented president and he's always been for full civil rights for gays and lesbians.

He's done many, many wonderful other things, including getting a repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" through, and the justice department is now taking the, well we believe, to be the correct stand on these cases in the federal courts. So, this would be kind of the last thing he needs to do, and I would just tell him to get on with it.

KAYE: And what are the gay community and gay advocates saying these days about the president? After huge support from this community, the president was criticized, we both know, for being pretty slow to act on issues like "Don't Ask Don't Tell", and others that are -- that are so important. I mean, is there a satisfaction with the president's actions on issues like this?

SOCARIDES: Well, I think as you said, he was off to a very slow start, after promising a lot during the campaign, two years went by without much really substantial, there was incremental things he did with regulation and so forth.

But I think people are feeling better, I think, you know, the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" was hugely popular across the country. I think that, you know, it kind of fed on itself. I mean, I think President Obama saw how popular it was and it made him want to do more. And now, his instructions to the justice departments no longer defend the federal anti-gay marriage law has been substantial.

So, I think, you know, we will continue to see great things from this president but we'd like him to come out for marriage equality, which where I think the country is heading and we'll hopefully get a big victory in New York this week.

KAYE: All right, Richard Socarides, it's always great to have you on the show, appreciate your insights. Thank you so much.

SOCARIDES: Thanks, Randi.

KAYE: Turning now to another hot button issue, illegal immigration. Republican Senator John McCain is in hot water over his comments that have appeared to blame illegal immigrants for massage wildfires in Arizona. McCain was asked about the possible cause of the wallow fire in a news conference Saturday, and that's today's "Sound Effect."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We are concerned about particularly areas down on the border where there is substantial evidence of some of these fires are caused by people who have crossed our border illegally. They have set fires because they want to signal others, they have set fires to keep warm, and they have set fires in order to divert law enforcement agents and agencies from them. So, the answer to that part of the problem is get a secured border.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: McCain didn't offer any information about what the evidence is that might implicate illegal immigrants, but Latino civil rights activists were quick to denounce McCain's remarks says, quote, "careless and reckless." Arizona officials say the wallow fire may have been started by an abandoned campfire.

We are keeping a close eye on those explosive fires in Arizona, today, and dangerous fire conditions actually all across the southwest. The monument fire in southern Arizona, now the nation's number one priority, according to the U.S. forest service chief. But things aren't too much better in New Mexico and Texas.

Let's go straight to Chad Myers for the latest on that. Chad, we're hearing calmer winds --

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

KAYE: -- higher humidity are helping the firefighters a bit in Arizona today, but what, the conditions are still pretty in volatile in several states.

MYERS: Right, the weather -- the wind has moved to the east into New Mexico, Texas, even into southwestern Kansas, so all of this big red zone here from Houston through Dallas, that's where it's a red- flag warning. What that means is that the air is dry, the winds are blowing -- and dry means the humidity is low as well. And you think, why does it matter? It just matters if it rains.

No, actually when the humidity dries the plant -- and the fuel out, the fires can go much faster and when the humidity comes up, sometimes the humidity will slow the fires from at least progressive -- obviously you need water to get it out. And Amarillo right now, winds 20, 24 I saw gusts there. Down toward el Paso, about 24 miles per hour as well.

We're going to watch this for the rest of the day. We're also going to watch what happened to that storm as it's moved off to the east. And it will also produce severe weather just a little bit farther to the northeast, Omaha, Kansas City, Wichita, even Oklahoma City under the gun for the potential for tornados out ahead of the wind that's behind it in Texas -- Randi.

KAYE: All right, Chad. Thank you very much.

MYERS: You're welcome.

KAYE: The supreme court ruled in favor of Wal-Mart in what would have been the largest job discrimination lawsuit in U.S. history. The court ruled today that the lawsuit could not proceed because it just was too large. The high profile lawsuit involved up to 1.6 million women and was seen as among the most important cases dealing with corporate verses worker rights. The ruling essentially means the women who were involved in the lawsuit may have to pursue their claims on their own or in a smaller group.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: So, it's not like the supreme court said Wal-Mart does not discriminate. They didn't make any finding about whether Wal-Mart discriminated, all they said was the structure of this case with, as you say, potentially a million plaintiffs was simply too big under the rules for class action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Some major drama today in the Casey Anthony murder trial. It's not Anthony but the lawyers in the spotlight right now. The defense was expected to begin calling its last witnesses, but the judge was forced to cancel the testimony for today, calling out both sides for bickering and what the judge called gainsmanship between the attorneys.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF JUDGE BELVIN PERRY, ORANGE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: There is a friction between attorneys. Enough is enough.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: The trial will start again tomorrow morning, but in the next hour, we will take you inside the courtroom and the fight between the defense and the prosecutors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do we want?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Judge (inaudible.)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When do we want him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: In Atlanta today, supporters and critics of Georgia's controversial new immigration law squared off in federal court. Several immigrants and civil rights organizations filed a class action law suit earlier this month to stop the law from taking affect July 1st. The judge is expected to make a (inaudible) into the month. The law would allow police to check the immigration status of suspects they are questioning and would crack down on illegal workers using fake IDs to get jobs.

Well, you know the saying, they say justice is blind, but a blind man who wants to go to law school says the admissions process is stacked against him. He'll tell us why next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: A blind man who wants to be a lawyer is suing the American Bar Association. Angelo Binno says he can't get into law school because the law school admission test discriminates against blind people. He joins us from Detroit, now, along with his lawyer, Richard Bernstein, who also is blind. Thank you so much for coming on the show. I want to start with you, Angelo. You've taken the test for law school, the LSATs as it's called. What made it so hard for you, as a blind man, to pass this test?

ANGELO BINNO: Good afternoon, Randi. The hardest part about the test is section three of -- it's the logical games where in the directions, it tells you to draw out a diagram. And I'm blind, I can't draw charts or diagrams, so I am not able to perform as a sighted person could perform on this test.

KAYE: And the test doesn't require -- as far as I understand, doesn't require applicants to draw the diagrams, though, it simply says it may be -- in answering some of the questions, it may be useful to draw this rough diagram. Is that an important distinction for you or you still think that it -- that it's just not a level playing field?

RICHARD BERNSTEIN, ATTORNEY, SAM BERNSTEIN LAW FIRM: Well, Randi, as the attorney, you go to what the law says. The only standard that we have to look at is does having a blind have to draw a diagram which is actually put in the instructions of the exam place a blind applicant at a competitive disadvantage? And we have national experts coming in to testify that of course it does. But that's the only question is if others are able to draw a diagram and a blind person can't, does that place the blind applicant at a disadvantage? And I think the answer is clearly yes.

KAYE: And Richard, the law school admission test is administered by a private nonprofit group, the law school admissions council. So, why not sue them instead of suing the ABA, as you are?

BERNSTEIN: Well, absolutely, the reason is because when I went to law school back in '96, I really am grateful to Northwestern Law School because they took the position that this was an exam that was inappropriate for blind people. So, the exam was waived for me.

What happened after that was that the American Bar Association at the urging of the law school admissions council passed a resolution that stated that if any law school was to waive the LSAT again as they did for me, that that law school would immediately be stripped of the accreditation.

So, that's what this is about. We just simply want to allow for law schools like Northwestern who are progressive when it comes to disability issues to make their own determination as to what is appropriate in their admissions process.

KAYE: Angelo, as far as I understand - I mean, you're no slouch, I mean you're fluent in three languages, you finished high school early, so how did it feel to you to take a test that was so difficult for you?

BINNO: Well, it was frustrating because I knew no matter how hard I worked, no matter how much I studied, I couldn't prepare any more for this test. I couldn't any better that I had done the previous two times.

KAYE: And why are you hopeful that one day you will get into law school and will become a lawyer? What is it that you'd like to do?

BINNO: I love -- I want to practice in the area of civil rights, because I love fighting for oppressed people, and by limiting the amount of blind lawyers you have, you are limiting the amount of lawyers that you have in the practice in area of civil rights, because a blind lawyer would best know how to represent a disabled person or a blind person in the area of civil rights because he or she has been in that person's shoes.

KAYE: All right. Angelo, Richard, thank you so much for coming on and talking about this. And please keep us up-to-date on the lawsuit and where it goes. Thank you both.

BERNSTEIN: Thank you for giving us a chance.

KAYE: We contacted the American Bar Association to get its response to this lawsuit, but so far, we have not received any reply.

How many Americans do you think have no emergency savings? That's no extra money available in a checking account, savings account or money market. 12 percent, 24 percent, 36 percent, or maybe even 48 percent? We'll give you the surprising answer right after the break, so don't go anywhere. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: So just how many Americans do you think have no emergency savings? That's no money available in a checking account, savings account or a money market? Here are the options, 12 percent, 24 percent, 36 percent or maybe even 48 percent. Well, according to bankrate.com, 24 percent of Americans have absolutely no savings. That's 75 million Americans with a cushion of 0.0 should they face a financial emergency.

Alison Kosik joins me live now from the New York Stock Exchange to talk about this.

Alison, it doesn't take an expert to realize many of us are not prepared for the worst. Just how many Americans have the right amount of savings?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know what, Randi, the sad reality is, not many Americans have enough money that's socked away in that rainy day fund. In fact, financial experts, they recommend you have enough of a cushion to last you at least six months. But, look, only 24 percent of people have that much saved. But the good news here is that 44 percent, they've saved at least something. But the reality is, they haven't saved enough.

So the question is, why this six-month timeframe? Well, the reality is, that's long-term employment -- unemployment, rather, is a common thing these days. Six million Americans are out of work for six months or more, so you really need to be prepared for that emergency, whether it be unexpected medical bills or if you blow your transmission out in your car. And analysts say any one of those things could mean bankruptcy for people who are living on the edge.

Randi.

KAYE: And savings, though, is still really hard, though, for a lot of people. I mean where do they start. A lot of people are wondering, how do I start, how do I save, you know, five cents, $10, $50, whatever it is? I mean, so how much should they have at this point?

KOSIK: It's a little bit like that. And, you know where you start, you start with discipline. Bankrate says, you know what, have a specific goal. And it's really going to depend on what your situation is. You know, how much money is that six month supply of money really enough for you. And when you figure this out, only count expenses. Don't count, you know, vacations or clothes shopping.

You know, and start small. What you said, Randi. Even if you're putting away only $50 a week or whatever you can squeeze out of your paycheck, then work your way up.

Here's a trick also. Treat it like a bill. Have it automatically transferred to actually keep that money separate from your regular checking account, you know, so you're not tempted to dip into it. So make sure you may be put that in a separate savings account.

Randi.

KAYE: You know what's interesting, though, Alison? At the same time, another study shows that people were donating more and more to charity. Those numbers are actually up. So, I mean, is that the silver lining that we should all take away from this?

KOSIK: Yes, you know, it is kind of interesting because, you know, how much Americans give really tends to depend on how the economy is doing. So, you know what, maybe it is a good sign that people are being more charitable these days. It's a sign of confidence, especially when you look at this.

In 2007, charitable giving was at its peak. But this is right before the recession. But, you know, once the recession hit, donation, they dropped like a rock. Now donations to education, for example, they're up for the first time in two years. Givingusa, that's what put out this study, says, you know what, it's heartening. The economy is still weak but people are finding ways to donate. But, remember, non- profits, they need your help, too. So if you can swing it, donate. But you really need to make sure you're OK first. You know what that's all about. It's work on building that emergency staff for yourself before you go ahead and give to -- give to charity.

Randi.

KAYE: All right, Alison, all excellent advice and I hope our viewers were listening and taking notes because that's very good information.

KOSIK: You got it.

KAYE: Thank you so much.

About 22 minutes past the hour. Time now for some top stories.

You're used to seeing websites ending in dot com or dot org, but a group charged with overseeing the development of the Internet voted earlier today to allow domain names using any combination of letters and numbers. This could include dot kids, dot food and, yes, dot xxx. The group will begin to accept applications for new domain endings in January 2012.

And coming up later in the hour, we're going to have much more on this with our Silicon Valley correspondent Dan Simon. He will walk us through it.

A new study in the "Journal of Pediatrics" found 8 percent of children under 18 in the United States have at least one food allergy. Even more striking, among those with allergies, about 39 percent had a history of severe reaction, 30 percent were allergic to multiple foods. The most common food allergen was peanuts, followed by milk and shellfish.

The New York senate is just one vote shy of approving same sex marriages. Currently 31 senators, including two Republicans, are in favor of the bill and the final vote could come as soon as today. A recent poll found that 58 percent of New Yorkers support same-sex marriage.

A U.S. open to remember for one 22-year-old on the rise. We'll check in to see how Rory McIlroy's home town is handling his success.

Plus, an apology from NBC after leaving God out of its open telecast. We'll explain next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Rory McIlroy. Know the name? Well, he's the new U.S. Open golf champion. He won the title in record style, shooting the lowest score in Open history, beating the record held by Tiger Woods. And at 22 years old, he is the youngest U.S. Open champ since the legendary Bobby Jones. But one of the more enduring stories of his win may be his father, who walked all 18 holes of the final round. It was a special day for both father and son.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RORY MCILROY, 2011 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: To have him here, you know, to witness the first time me winning my first major on Father's Day is -- you know, it's very, very special. And I'm sure it's a moment that we'll never forget.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: And it was a pretty sweet moment watching the two of them hug and him telling him "happy Father's Day" after the big win. Rory McIlroy is from northern Ireland. So what do people there think of his big win on American soil? Our Dan Rivers asked around.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Spectators at the 19th hole erupted with joy as Rory McIlroy sank the last putt. They already knew the local boy was brilliant, now he was on his way to becoming a golfing legend. And the party went on through the night.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a fantastic. I'm really, really proud of Rory and his family. He represented Ireland and Hollywood. He's put us on the map.

RIVERS (on camera): It may lack some of the glamor of its U.S. namesake, but Hollywood ,northern Ireland, now has its own star. The youngest winner of the U.S. open in 88 years is already the talk of the town, but he's also now a global golfing hero.

RIVERS (voice-over): On the course where it all started for McIlroy, his uncle told me Rory was a natural from a very early age.

COLM MCILROY, RORY MCILROY'S UNCLE: He probably, you know, had a club in his hands when he was about two or three. And he actually, up in the clubhouse there, his father was bar manager and he used to -- you know the wee plastic golf club, plastic balls up and down the (INAUDIBLE), you know, and he started there and then, you know, he just -- just played. You know, you could never get him off the course, you know.

RIVERS: And friend, Pete Murray, says fame won't change him.

PETE MURRAY, RORY MCILROY'S FRIEND: He's always had his feet on the ground and, you know, he's always the same person. He always comes back, plays football with us and has a drink and I'd say it's great to see that, you know, the success hasn't gone to his head.

RIVERS: His career has been followed closely here. Everyone knew he was destined for stardom.

JOHN STEVENSON, RORY MCILROY'S FORMER TEACHER: His teachers would say he was a bright guy. He could have stayed and done a whole clutter (ph) of GCSEs (ph) and gone on to the A level of (INAUDIBLE) University if that's what he wanted. But everyone knew from a very early stage that Rory's talent lay on the golf course.

RIVERS: On the first tee at Hollywood Golf Club today, youngsters were realizing that their dreams can come true.

PETER MCTIMPSEY, GOLF STUDENT: He's been here since he was very young. And like I've just -- I'm just trying to follow his footsteps, like most other juveniles up at the club.

CONOR MARKS, GOLF STUDENT: Well, he's a big inspiration because I started out here and I just hope one day I could be like him.

RIVERS: But there is a dawning realization that no one is quite like Rory McIlroy. They're already calling him "the Celtic tiger." Here they think they have a new Hollywood icon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And Dan Rivers joins us now from Hollywood, Ireland.

Dan, what are you hearing? What's next for the big new golf star?

RIVERS: Well, we understand he will be back here on Wednesday morning. One would imagine to a pretty amazing reception as the local boy may (ph) good (ph) comes back a major champion. And then I suppose all focus will be on the British Open here. Rumor has it that his father and a few mates that got together and had a bet seven years ago that he could take that title before he was 25. If he manages to do it, his father and his friends will take home several tens of thousands of dollars, because the odds were 500 to 1 when they placed that bet.

KAYE: And, Dan, as he was handed his trophy yesterday, he predicted that a lot of Guinness was being poured there in Ireland. Is that true? Did you do your research on that one?

RIVERS: Yes, I think the shelves are empty here in the golf course in the golf club. And certainly he, himself has tweeted a picture having a big, long drink from that trophy with the caption underneath saying, "It tastes good."

KAYE: Oh, I'm sure he did.

All right. Dan Rivers, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Well, NBC apologized for a piece of video shown during its coverage of the U.S. open. Pay close attention. Here is it.

(VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Did you notice what was missing? The phrase "under god" was actually edited out. That drew a whole lot of complaints, and later in the broadcast, NBC apologized saying it regretted the decision to edit out the words and never meant to upset anyone. Two senior federal law enforcement sources say acting ATF director Kenneth Melson is expected to resign under pressure. This is breaking news, just into CNN.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us now with much more on this.

I guess, Jeanne, this goes back to the fast and furious operation and the guns that were sold to smugglers?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's our understanding, yes. Our producer Terry Freidan (ph) says two federal law enforcement sources told him that Kenneth Melson the current head, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is expected to resign under pressure, perhaps -- and I emphasize the word perhaps -- in the next day or two.

We're also told that Attorney General Eric Holder will be meeting with Andrew Traver, he's head of the ATF field office in Chicago about potentially serving as acting director of the ATF.

You're right, Randi, this is about fast and furious. It was a program under which ATF agents assigned to the Phoenix office watched people called straw buyers go into gun stores and purchase weapons.

According to whistleblowing ATF agents who testified on Capitol Hill just last week in a very fiery hearing, they were told to stop following the weapons and not to make any arrests. The theory behind this program, they said, was that when these guns surfaced at a crime scene in Mexico, then they might be used to make a larger case against a larger armed smuggling organization.

These whistleblowing agents said this was contrary to the usual ATF policy and several members of Congress, notably Senator Charles Grassley, and Congressman Issa were highly critical of the ATF. And in the hearing last week, they suggested that higher ups within the organization knew, there was testimony that Melson, this acting director of the ATF had set up a video feed in his office so he could watch some of those straw buys taking place.

Back to you, Randi. KAYE: So this really shows the extent of the political damage here, wouldn't you say, that this might have caused?

MESERVE: Yes, this has been quite an explosive issue here in Washington. Senator Grassley first made news with this a couple of months ago. The hearings last week on Capitol Hill were really something quite unusual to behold in Washington, given the strength of the comments from the Congressmen. They said they wanted to know who in the ATF approved this and Congressman Issa said he also wanted to know who at the Department of Justice might have known the program and who approved it.

One of the ATF agents said, you know, we were not putting guns into the hands of people who were hunting bears, we were putting weapons into the hands of people who were hunting other people and they expressed considerable outrage within their own department for doing this.

So, yes, it's been a very big issue and the Department of Justice last week at the hearing did put somebody forward, but he was skewed by the members of the Congress on the committee, especially the Republican members of that committee. So, yes, a big political issue here and apparently from Terry Freidan's sources, Kenneth Melson is now going to be forced to resign from his position apparently.

KAYE: All right. Jeanne Meserve, thank you so much for bringing us up to date on that.

All right. We want you to take a look at this wildfire. Hot, blazing flames racing through Arizona, leaving behind a charred landscape and destroying homes. So are firefighters any closer to winning this fight? We'll bring you up to speed right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Thirty-five minutes past the hour and here's a look at some of the news that you may have missed.

Check out the thick, black smoke spreading over Sierra Vista. The monument fire in Arizona is still raging, but firefighters are hoping forecasts of calm winds and higher humidity this week will help them contain that blaze. Thousands of firefighters are battling the inferno that has charred nearly 27,000 acres. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer declared an emergency in the area. Homes in the area have been evacuated and critical conditions have been forecast for several states in the southwest.

Flashing lights from emergency vehicles replace disco lights after a Texas rave party spun out of control this weekend. A 19-year- old man died and some 20 to 25 people were taken to a local hospital for treatment, one in critical treatment. Rescuers rushed to the scene after a series of 911 calls from the Electric Daisy Carnival Event in Dallas. The emergency calls were made from drugs, alcohol and heat-related issues. A city official says all proper procedures and safety measures had been in place.

Saxophonist Clarence Clemens died Saturday of complications from a stroke. He was 69. And singer Bruce Springsteen and the music world are mourning the passing of this legend. Clemens had been part of Springsteen's E Street Band right from the very beginning. "The Big Man" as he was called by friends was 6'4, because of his height, of course, last performed with Lady Gaga on "American Idol" in May.

People with AIDS can live long, healthy lives these days with the help of drugs. But why are they so difficult for so many Americans to get? We'll get an answer next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: For the past week we've been bringing you a series of stories to mark the 30th anniversary of the discovery of AIDS. Well, today we turn our attention of a nonprofit that's been making AIDS history for the last 25 years. AmfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, has invested $325 million in lifesaving medications. That has led to the development of four of the six drug classes that help people with HIV/AIDS live longer, healthier lives. AmfAR also pioneered treatment that has virtually eliminated mother to child transmission of the disease.

Joining me now is amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost.

Mr. Frost, thank you for coming on the show.

In just the last few days, your organization announced more than $1 million in research grants. Can you tell us about it?

KEVIN ROBERT FROST, CEO, amfAR: Hi, Randi. I'm sorry, I'm having a little trouble hearing you, but I think to answer your question, the million dollars that we've invested is a reflection of the enthusiasm that we're feeling around AIDS research these days and specifically around research for the cure.

KAYE: And what about the cost for drugs for people living with AIDS? I mean, are they any more affordable today than they were years ago?

FROST: I'm sorry, Randi. Could you repeat the question?

KAYE: I was asking, are drugs for people who have HIV/AIDS, are the drugs to treat people living with AIDS any more affordable?

Well, I think they are in certain parts of the world. But they're certainly expensive, particularly here in the United States where we have more than 8,000 people who are on waiting lists throughout the United States just to get access to these drugs. And that's a reflection of the fact that states can't afford to purchase the drugs for everybody who needs them.

KAYE: AmfAR, we all know, has been a leader in AIDS policy and research for 25 years. I mean, what is the stark choice, would you say, that you're facing now?

FROST: Well, I think the issue really has to do with the future of the epidemic and whether or not we want to continue along the path that we're going recognizing that we can't treat our way out of this epidemic. For every two people that get access to the treatment worldwide, three more people become more affected. So that's a losing game.

The only real way out of this epidemic is through a cure or a vaccine and I think that there's some recognition, there's a growing recognition that we now have the tools in the prevention field, at least, to radically change the epidemic.

Our hope is that this administration will recognize that these tools are available to us and if we can make the right investments and marshal the right kind of political will, we could actually radically change the epidemic and drive down infections to a rate unimaginable just a few years ago. KAYE: You mention the word cure. That got my attention, probably a lot of other people's attention watching this.

Do you believe a cure for AIDS is possible during our lifetime?

FROST: Yes. In fact, I think it is possible in our lifetime and I think there's growing recognition in the scientific community that it's possible in our lifetime. The last couple years research has increased at a pretty impressive rate. And we've seen research breakthroughs in the world of AIDS that I think were unimaginable just a few years ago.

So I think that there is a real sense that this is doable if we can make the right kind of investments in the right kind of science. It's definitely doable in our lifetime.

KAYE: Kevin Robert Frost with amfAR, thank you so much for your time today.

A young girl kidnapped from her home and forced into the international sex slave business. How a hospital nurse saved her life at the risk of her own life. An incredible story that you don't want to miss. We'll have it for you right after this.

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KAYE: The international trade of young women as sex slaves. It's one of the most common forms of human trafficking. The lucky victims are those who escape or are rescued before they die or are killed. It may surprise you to know that the first people to encounter the victims and possibly help them are not police or other law enforcement officials, but hospital nurses.

CNN's Jim Clancy looks at a unique training program underway that lands (ph) its (INAUDIBLE) hospital. It's part of CNN's year-long Freedom Project aimed at helping to end modern-day slavery.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

"EVA" (pseudonym): I knew if I did not do something for her immediately, that she would go out the door and she would be lost, And she would eventually be a sex slave or something bad would happen to her.

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A nurse we'll call Eva cares passionately for her patients. Her story, one of courage and dedication in the face of fear. Almost a case study for medical workers in the front-line fight against human trafficking. We are not identifying her because of her concerns she might be targeted by traffickers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Victims are obviously kept isolated to restrict them from seeking help. They are often moved frequently.

CLANCY: These health care professionals are more likely than most to come face-to-face with victims of trafficking. Grady Hospital is one of the largest public hospitals in the U.S., serving millions of residents in the Atlanta area.

Until now, they have never been trained to look for those victims or how to respond.

PATTIE HAGERMAN, TRAINER, MEET JUSTICE MEDICAL: What I would really like for my trainees to understand is that they are on the front lines of this battle, and that they can make a difference in the lives of trafficking victims.

CLANCY: Training doctors and nurses can show them the scope of the problem in their area. How to recognize the controlling relationship between trafficker and victim, how they have the authority to intervene on behalf of the victim, and who to notify for help. Without that training, Eva uncovered the story of a pregnant 17-year-old's four months as a captive.

"EVA": She was taken away from home, from Mexico, when she was coming out of school. And he just grabbed her and took her and brought her to this country illegally, and was keeping her in an apartment.

CLANCY: Eva took extraordinary risks by bundling the girl out of the clinic, telephoning her parents in Mexico. She feared the suspected drug trafficker who was holding the girl as a sex slave could retaliate against the Eva's own family. Without formal training, she didn't know who to call. She only knew she had to act.

"EVA": You have to have somebody alone, and you have to ask right questions and you have to reassure them that they are not -- that if they trust you, and they are not going to have to go back to the same situation. That you are going to do something immediately to help them. They will not have to go back to the abuser.

CLANCY: Eva can tell the story of a girl saved, but there are thousands of other victims lost.

CRAIG TINDALL, SENIOR V.P., GRADY HEALTH SYSTEM: Often times when they finish the training sessions, they ask the question, how many of you do you now think you may have seen somebody in this situation? And hands are all in the air. So, again, it's all about awareness of the problem and what we can do to impact.

CLANCY (on camera): She did get the girl safely home to Mexico. In the year since, Eva has witnessed police, lawmakers and educators working together to give those on the frontlines better options. It's something she will never forget. Eva told me it's heartwrenching, a crisis. A crisis happening right in front of us.

Jim Clancy, CNN, Atlanta.

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KAYE: And you can find out much more about modern-day slavery and the CNN Freedom Project on our Web page. That's CNN.com/freedom.

All right. So, Forget.com, .org and .net. Soon, it'll be dot- whatever you want it to be. Maybe even .Randi Kaye or . your name. Much more on this next.

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KAYE: Welcome back. In today's "Big I," forget dot-com, dot-org and dot-net. In the new world order, it will be dot whatever you want it to be. Internet regulators today finalized rules for a major expansion of domain names.

So, let's talk about these changes with our CNN Silicon Valley correspondent Dan Simon. He's joining us live from San Francisco. Dan, is this a way of becoming king or queen of your domain? What's this all about here?

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's basically a way to allow companies and individuals to brand themselves differently online. So, to give you an example, right now, if you wanted to check out Pepsi online, it's www.pepsi.com. Well, in the future, in theory, they could buy dot-Pepsi and use that in anyway they want to. It's just a different way of doing business, and this is what the authorities in Singapore who regulate this kind of thing came up with?

KAYE: So, how much will this cost, to buy a domain name?

SIMON: Well, if you were going to buy your own domain name right now using dot-com, you could do so for $10 or less in some cases. But if you want to get your own Internet suffix - Randi, if you want to be dot-Randi Kaye, it's going to cost you $185,000. That's just for the application -

KAYE: Wait, $185,000?

SIMON: -- approved and then $25,000 - it's $185,000. So, this is definitely for the well-heeled, so to speak. It's for major corporations and individuals who have a lot cash, who would like to have their own Internet suffix, that's what you call this.

KAYE: Yes, at that rate, I don't know if it would be that important to me. But how many characters, do you know, can your domain name be? I mean, both of us have relatively short names. But what about characters?

SIMON: They can be up to 65 characters, which could get kind of complicated, if you think about it. That's of course, why we have Google to really search anything we want.

It could also get complicated because you might have competition for the same Internet extension. Say for example, the apple industry, meaning the fruit, they may want to have dot-apple. Well, Apple the computer company may want it as well. In that case, they would have to duke it out with an auction, and the highest bidder would win the suffix.

KAYE: All right. Dan Simon, it could be interesting in 2012 when these all go up for sale. We'll keep an eye on it along with you. Thank you. And for more about this story, you can check out our blog, CNN.com/ali. And don't forget to tune in tomorrow. Same "Big I" time, same "Big I" channel.

President Obama is taking control of his Twitter account to start speaking for himself. Your Political Update is next.

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KAYE: Time now for a CNN Political Update. Another candidate is ready to join the Republican crowd running for president. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joining me live from Washington. Paul, who is Jon Huntsman, and how are Democrats viewing this candidacy that he's preparing to announce?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. He is the former governor of Utah, also the former U.S. ambassador to China. Tomorrow, he makes it official, tomorrow morning at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. That means he's going to have the Statue of Liberty as his backdrop.

But Democrats aren't waiting until tomorrow, Randi. In fact, they're out there today, they're up witha video, kind of saying basically Huntsman is a flip-flopper on the issues, and they have a conference call in a few minutes.

Listen, I think maybe they're a little concerned about Huntsman, if he would happen to win the nomination, that he could be a pretty formidable candidate in a general election. So, stay tuned on that one, Randi.

KAYE: Yes, we will. President Obama, of course, doing a little campaigning himself. What do you know about his agenda today?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, I guess you can call him fundraiser-in-chief tonight. He's going the main attraction at two fundraisers right here in Washington, D.C. Both of those, whatever the money is raised from those two go to the Obama re-election campaign plus the Democratic National Committee.

Listen, President Obama as well as the top Republicans are picking up the fundraising, the level right now because we're coming to the very end of the second-quarter fundraising. Beginning in July, all the candidates have to show their money. Sources tell me that the Obama re-election campaign trying to raise $60 million for this second quarter. Randi?

KAYE: And speaking of the president, what are you hearing about him getting more personally involved in social media?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, good story today on our 1600 blog on CNN.com. You know what? The @barack obama handle has been out there for a long time, but now the president himself is the one who is writing those statements on Twitter, and his campaign says you're going to see more of that. He did it for the first time last year, and just this past weekend he talked about Father's Day, saying "being a father is sometimes my hardest but most rewarding job. Happy Father's Day to al the dads out there." So, more Barack Obama on his Twitter account.

KAYE: yes. And the way I understand it is you know it's from Barack Obama himself if he signs it B.O. Otherwise it's from his team of handlers -

STEINHASUER: B.O.

KAYE: So, I'm watching my Twitter feed, Paul, waiting. Waiting and hoping I get a B.O. signed tweet from the president. We'll see. I'll keep you posted! Thanks, Paul!

STEINHAUSER: Yes, thanks.

KAYE: Your next update from The Best Political Team on Television is just an hour away.