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Former IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn Gave Statement on the Sex Scandal He Involved In; New Development On The Plane Crash At Reno, Nevada; World's Largest Afro; OMG Meiyu host, A Hit; Tips On How To Find Job While Being Employed.
Aired September 18, 2011 - 17:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Former IMF Chief Dominique Strauss- Kahn says something inappropriate and of moral weakness happened in that New York hotel suite in May. But he says it was not violent or aggressive. Strauss-Kahn gave his first post sex scandal interview today in Paris and I spoke with CNN's Jim Bittermann about that a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We were expecting a very short interview, but it went on for about 20 minutes, covered a lot of topics including what happened in New York, also what he's facing here, what his political future is, and all that sort of thing. But on the specific case in New York, he gave some details, but not a lot of details. Here is the way he looked and sounded tonight as he was talking about the case in New York.
DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN, FMR. IMF CHIEF (through translator): What happened, what happened was, was neither violent nor constraint included in this, nor aggression, nor any act and any illicit act. That's what the prosecutor has said. What happened was not only an inappropriate relationship, but more than that, an error, a mistake.
BITTERMANN: On his political future, he says I am a candidate for nothing. I'm going to rest and reflect. I'm going to take time with my friends and family. Time to think for my whole life has been spent trying to be useful to the public and for the future, he said, we'll see.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Jim Bittermann reporting from Paris.
Here in the U.S., investigators may have found clues that could help them figure out what caused the deadly plane crash at an air race in Reno, Nevada. They have recovered parts from the plane's tail. It is believed to be a damaged part called an elevator trim tab and it may have played a role in the crash. Right now the death toll is nine.
CNN's Dan Simon is in Reno. So Dan, give us an update on this investigation. DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, we learned that the NTSB plans to hold a news conference in about five minutes from now so stay tuned for that. So far most of the attention has been placed on the tail of the aircraft. A piece of it was found by federal investigators as they searched the wreckage. What is called the elevator lift tab, according to some of the photographs and the video evidence that has been digested shows that that elevator lift tab broke away from the aircraft during midflight. And there has been a lot of speculation that that's what caused the plane to go down.
In the meantime, this is a community that has been reeling over this tragedy. This would be the final day of the event. There would be thousands of people behind me attending the air races. This is a community that takes a lot of pride in this event. This has been going on for nearly half a century. And we attended a church service in the nearby town of Sparks, Nevada, at the summit Christian church. I want you to listen to what the pastor had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. STEVE BOND, SUMMIT CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Our community is suffering really from the aftermath of the accident at the air races. We want to lift up those who have lost loved ones and we pray for the grace of Jesus to powerfully minister into their lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON: Well, that church as well as many other places in the community, they have been holding blood drives and the response has truly been overwhelming. There have been lines out the door with people wanting to donate blood. I know there was a concern early on, but at this point, it seems that the victims, the hospitals do have enough blood at this point. Again, we're expecting this news conference to begin in just a few minutes Fred, so hopefully we'll have an update soon.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Dan Simon. We'll go to it as it happens. Appreciate that.
Michael Joseph Wogan was one of the people killed in the crash. The 22-year-old seen right here in the middle was there with his father on vacation. Michael had muscular dystrophy and was in a wheelchair. In a statement, his brother says, quote, "he was about moving past that disability and always driven toward independence. His motto in life was the only disability in life is a bad attitude."
Federal investigators today are sifting through the debris of another plane crash, this one at an air show in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The pilot of the T-28 had just completed an aerobatic demonstration yesterday when the plane made a fatal plunge. Investigators are now talking to witnesses there. A preliminary report could be issued in ten days.
An American woman is an internet star overseas. She explains the funny and the weird things that we do in America, but wait until you learn who is actually paying attention to what she has to say. Also, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gets the crowd roaring and does a little dance there, a little jiggy (ph). Well, he makes his latest announcement.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The lawyer for two American men locked up in Iran says a bureaucratic hurdle stands in the way of their freedom. Hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were convicted on spying charges after straying across the Iranian border two years ago. Their bail has reportedly been paid but a judge who must sign off on their release is on vacation until Tuesday.
In Venezuela this weekend - that is President Hugo Chavez, not only is he dancing a little bit to a cheering crowd, but also telling people in Caracas there that he's heading back to Cuba for his fourth and possibly final round of chemotherapy. As you saw there, he just won't stop dancing. Chavez is pledging to run for re-election next year, dismissing speculation that his illness could force him out of politics.
All right, this might be a challenge for you. How good would you be at explaining odd little slang sayings in the English language, but your audience is of a foreign, I guess, language. How good would you be at doing that via computer et cetera?
Well, take a look at this. This is Jessica Beinecke. She's from Ohio, lives in Washington, D.C. and works at VOA, the Voice of America. She is a big hit on the internet starring in clips viewed by hundreds of thousands of people. But you probably have never seen her unless you actually speak mandarin. Take a listen.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
WHITFIELD: All right. So, there she is explaining. I would love to know some of the things she's trying to explain. Ralitsa Vassileva is here from CNN International. So, what are some of the things she's trying to convey to mostly Chinese about the U.S.?
RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what she's explaining is something you won't see in textbooks, won't be taught in school. If you were a Chinese student going to school and trying to learn English, the way people speak, the way kids speak here, teenagers. You won't find, for example, somebody asked her what say muffin top on her site, which is very interactive. So, people ask her things and she tells them, you know, what that really means. So muffin top, if you go up to a dictionary, means a real muffin, you know the muffin you eat and the top of the muffin. She wouldn't know that other meaning that we really don't like to have on our bodies.
But you know what, she's very talented. If you look at her, she's very animated. She studied mandarin only five years -
WHITFIELD: Oh, really?
VASSILEVA: At Ohio University and also she spent a little bit of time in China. She developed a fascination with the culture. But she's really connecting with young Chinese who are desperate to find out about real American teenagers, how they live, what and how they speak.
WHITFIELD: So, is this unusual? I mean Voice of America, a lot of people maybe not don't know the voice of America, it is through the U.S. state department, and this is a channel in which to convey information.
VASSILEVA: Promote U.S. culture.
WHITFIELD: Yes, exactly. So she's working for the VOA. She has come up with this idea or this technique of trying to convey to people through mandarin?
VASSILEVA: Yes. It is a little show, daily show, which she just started in July, two months ago. And some of her segments on this show, they're like two, three minutes every day, she just does a show on a theme based on questions, people ask her about something, for example, her most famous one, the one that has gone viral is about boogers.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: It sounds really nice when you say it.
VASSILEVA: Somebody asked what do you call the thing in your eye when you wake up? And she goes from the thing in your eye to the thing in your nose. So - and that you know things like that, they're silly but entertaining. You really learn something you won't find.
WHITFIELD: And really educational.
VASSILEVA: Life in America.
WHITFIELD: I think we have a little bit more from her, yes?
VASSILEVA: Yes, we have - I asked her actually how she makes a choice of what she's going to talk about. And here is what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA BEINECKE, HOST, OMG MEIYU: After the first week of posting these videos in July of this year, every single episode has been a suggestion by a user; every weekend I say, (foreign language) which is what do you want to study next week? So I wouldn't know what to say without their suggestions. I get hundreds every weekend and I pick five really fun ones.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VASSILEVA: That was about texting, basically, people asked her about texting. She translated what OMG, what LOL and things. I actually learned a few texting.
WHITFIELD: All right. We could all stand to learn a lot. VASSILEVA: Yes. I could stand to learn a lot.
WHITFIELD: Right, right. Vey fun, appreciate it. Thank so much Ralitsa for bringing that interview to it us. Appreciate it.
All right, coming up, a bus that will never have you late for school. It goes up to 320 miles an hour. In a few seconds, we'll have it for you in the chat room.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, time to enter the chat room. We're leaving the new rooms for a little bit. Chat room, kind a lighter side of things. Things are off radar we think should be on radar.
We have so much to talk about.
JAQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: What do we have? We have lots.
WHITFIELD: We have lots. Well, Guinness book of world records came out with new records this week. And we have - I went online actually their Web site, you got to see some of the pictures.
JERAS: We have some for you here. But there is more online if you want to see it, like the longest fingernails, the longest tongue last hour. This is the world's largest afro.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my god.
JERAS: Look at that.
WHITFIELD: I love it. That is -
JERAS: She's a beautiful woman. Is she not?
WHITFIELD: That's a beautiful fro. I like it.
JERAS: This say 36-year-old social worker from New Orleans. Her name, I hope I say this right, how would you say that, Avan Dugas?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
JERAS: I'm sorry if I'm saying your name wrong.
WHITFIELD: I'm fascinated by the fro. I love it. I wish at the disco ball there.
JERAS: Four feet, four inches in circumference.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh.
JERAS: She said she has problems with having a fro that big. You know, it is hard to take care of, for starters. And she says she gets it caught in tree branches and things and like, one time, she got it caught like coming in the car door. She closed the car door and it got stuck. (LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: I hadn't thought of that. A lot of hair always means big problems.
JERAS: It does.
WHITFIELD: I can testify.
JERAS: It is all about maintenance.
WHITFIELD: It is. It is. OK, now, let's talk about a little drag racing in a very different way.
JERAS: I know, don't put your kids on this bus, right?
WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Oh, but kids would love this.
JERAS: Look at how fast that thing is going.
WHITFIELD: How fast is that thing going?
JERAS: 320 miles an hour.
WHITFIELD: No way.
JERAS: Yes. It needs a parachute to stop. A man in Nebraska did this. He actually converted it, 42,000 horsepower engine in it.
WHITFIELD: That's incredible.
JERAS: Why would you do this? That's what I didn't -
WHITFIELD: For fun.
JERAS: For fun?
WHITFIELD: Yes, for fun. I mean obviously, this was like a speed enthusiast who said, you know what?
JERAS: Look at the fire shooting out of it. Did you see that?
WHITFIELD: Why do the predictable you know chevys? Why not go ahead and soup up a school bus. That's fun.
JERAS: You know they don't have seat belts on school buses.
WHITFIELD: Depends on the year.
(LAUGHTER)
JERAS: Would you go for a ride?
WHITFIELD: Yes. Because -
JERAS: You would, with your little - (LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Yes. That would be fun. OK. What else do we have? More dogs.
JERAS: We love dogs.
WHITFIELD: Except for this one. I love dogs too, but this one almost got his owner in a little trouble. The owner inherited a sizable amount of money.
JERAS: A check right, $49,000, two different inheritance checks.
WHITFIELD: That's right. The dog decided to eat the checks.
(LAUGHTER)
JERAS: Mom, the dog ate my homework.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness, $49,000. It really does happen. Sometimes you know dogs they don't know the value of things. They grab what is handy. Well, I guess the good news in all of this is he did get the checks re-cut.
JERAS: Yes. It took a few weeks. Yes. The dog's name is jack, by the way, a Scottish-Terrier.
WHITFIELD: Bring that back.
JERAS: I know.
WHITFIELD: Very cute stuff.
JERAS: I know.
WHITFIELD: All right, cute. Thanks Jacqui.
JERAS: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Thanks for being in the chat room. We'll see you again a little bit later.
JERAS: OK.
WHITFIELD: OK.
All right, straight ahead, can blinking your eyes actually get some work done? You have to see to believe.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, using a computer or smart phone might be easy for you, but for thousands of disabled people these are tools they just can't use. Now, one company is helping them communicate by blinking. Gary Tuchman has this week's "technovations".
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Drew Miller was 43 with no major health issues until ALS limited his ability to speak and move. Now, though, he's able to communicate and connect online with the blink of an eye.
BARBARA BARCLAY, TOBII: Eye tracking is revolutionizing life for people with disabilities. Now they have a communication tool. They can take part in social media.
TUCHMAN: For Drew, and people with similar disabilities, eye tracking technology is a huge part of their lives. And it could become part of everyone's, sooner than you think. New computers allow you to flip through folders, scan over maps even select music with a glance of your eye.
BARCLAY: The next five to ten years, eye tracking technology will be in almost every device you use on a day to day basis.
TUCHMAN: This could mean using your eyes to adjust settings in your car, scroll through the web, and even play games.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes!
TUCHMAN: It looks like a lot of fun, but can also give insight into how we think.
BARCLAY: So many things about the way your eyes move is related to how your brain is working.
TUCHMAN: It is also helping doctor's spot early developmental problems in children and rehabilitates children with traumatic brain injuries. It is the technology of tomorrow, with advantages you can see today. Gary Tuchman, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And making workers healthier while trimming the city's budget at the same time. A wellness program is unveiled in Chicago. We find out what it means for city workers and their health and their wallets next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories. A rally of support for death row inmate Troy Davis, Marchers say Davis was wrongly convicted. His execution is scheduled for Wednesday. Georgia's parole board is expected to hear a clemency request tomorrow. Most of the witnesses have recanted their testimonies about the murder of a policeman 20 years ago. Davis maintains hiss innocence and so does his sister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIMBERLY DAVIS, SISTER OF TROY DAVIS: He's always maintained his innocence and you know he told us he was not the one that shot the police officer. And we stand behind that innocence and stand behind his word. I am emotionally prepared as well as Troy. Because Troy said that if the state of Georgia does succeed in executing him, they will only take his physical body, because he's already given his soul to God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The mother of Mark Macphail, the police officer troy Davis was convicted of killing, is speaking out. She was in court when the jury reached the verdict in 1991. And she said she's suspicious that so many of the witnesses have changed their testimonies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN MACPHAIL, MOTHER OF MARK MACPHAIL: I was in court when it all happened. The jury, I mean, was emphatically saying he's guilty. Now after 17 years, they're saying the other thing. Somebody is on the back and I knew before they were because it came back. We have family in Savannah. We know what they were doing. So, but I really don't know what happened on Monday. What it's going to be. I'm been very, very cautious because it's the first time. And every time something else comes up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Macphail says she's not out for blood, just justice.
A giant satellite is expected to soon begin its plunge to earth. Space junk experts now believe that will happen Friday. NASA expects at least 26 pieces of the satellite to survive re-entry and hit the earth's surface. But just where they may land is anybody's guess right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ZARELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is called the upper atmosphere research satellite launched by the space shuttle in 1995 to study the earth's atmosphere. It ran out of gas, literally in 2005 and its orbit has been degrading ever since.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: If you're a smoker, overweight, have high cholesterol, or diabetes, the city of Chicago is giving you an ultimatum. City workers must sign up for a new city wide wellness program or have their medical insurance increased by $50 a month.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel boasts the city is the first to implement this kind of program. The Deputy Mayor Mark Angleson joins us today. So Mister Angelson, what made this administration decide to do this?
MARK ANGELSON, CHICAGO DEPUTY MAYOR: Fredricka, first of all thank you for having me. Second, this is something on which the mayor campaigned. And something with about which he spoke with Jorge Ramirez, the head of the Chicago federation of labor in his very first conversation with him as mayor-elect. This is something that has come actually from the labor movement in Chicago. They have been talking about it.
WHITFIELD: But why? What has been the problem?
ANGELSON: It is very simple. We have an opportunity to offer all of the employees of the city of Chicago and their spouses and to the extent that they want their children healthier lifestyles, longer lives, better lives. It is also a good business decision. We have a budget crisis and this will save us some money. But it is about healthier lives and saving lives.
WHITFIELD: OK, so what does it mean to sign up for this wellness program? What am I getting myself into if I'm a city employee and I sign up for the program?
ANGELSON: Well, first and foremost it is completely free. So you get an annual health screening assessment. You get periodic check-ins with a health counselor. If you're perfectly healthy, we have an in obtrusive ways of helping you to keep healthy. If you should have a chronic condition, such as and there are many of them, I won't mention them all, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, if you're a smoker, et cetera, you get free programs to help you manage those situations.
WHITFIELD: So in large part this is to try and help offset you know high health costs, it means people are not able to come to work if you're not feeling well, if they're sick, et cetera. How are you going to be able to monitor whether signing up for the health plan works, if it is encouraging people to lead healthier lives. If it is going to make a big difference in whether people come to work and what the performance is like once they come to work?
ANGELSON: Sure. There is, you know, there is not going to be a measurement other than a measurement of participation. This is a glass half full, a glass half full program. The employees will be engaged. They will participate. They will try. The only financial penalty is for not trying.
WHITFIELD: OK. And if you don't, that penalty is you're going to pay about $50.
ANGELSON: As you said, it is, that's exactly right. But that's exactly right, but nobody has to do that. Everybody is encouraged to sign up.
WHITFIELD: OK. And so far, have the majority signed up, are you feeling encouraged this is moving the city in the right direction?
ANGELSON: Well, as you know, the mayor just announced this on Friday afternoon. We have had lengthy conversations with the - all the labor leaders about this. I am very encouraged based on my conversation with them. They and we in turn will have an opportunity to have, to roll this out to have conversations with their rank and file, our employees. And so, yes, I'm very encouraged.
WHITFIELD: All right, all the best. Mister Angleson thanks so much.
ANGELSON: Thanks very much, again, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK.
When searching for a job, while you're still employed. There are some rules you need to follow. We share some of the rules with you right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Every week we focus on ways to get a jump start on the workforce. For this week's reclaim your career, I talked to life coach Valerie Burton and she gave us some tips on how to search for a job while you're still employed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALORIE BURTON, LIFE COACH: It's really important to start off by not talking about it. This is really -
WHITFIELD: Don't tell everybody.
BURTON: It is really obvious, but sometimes people start talking and you actually don't know what on earth is going to come of that, right? Your co-workers can start talking about it and you become a low priority for raises and promotions and if there are layoffs or reorganization, you'll be first one on the list.
WHITFIELD: Oh, really?
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: You got to be really careful. So, you don't want to share with your co-workers that you're looking. But a lot of times people are on the computers at work, they're searching or sending information, big old no-no.
BURTON: Big, big no-no. So, you want to make sure, one, you're not talking about it. Two, you want to make sure you're not doing the obvious gestures. So, you know if you work in a casual environment, don't show up in your three piece suit and take a two-hour - simple things.
But also, yes, making sure that you're not doing the searches online and this is where a lot of people get tripped up. So they say, well, I'm not using my work e-mail, which is kind after an obvious one, right? But you may be checking your personal e-mail on your work cell phone or laptop at work. And so that can still be searchable. And certainly if you're checking those job sites at work, that's a huge no-no.
WHITFIELD: OK. So how do you do it delicately then?
BURTON: Well, you know what, you have to do some old-fashioned methods f you already have the job, if you're concerned about HR running across your resume on one of the big job websites, you know what, it is about those relationships, talking to people. It also might mean that it is e-mail, not necessarily posting it on a big job board.
WHITFIELD: OK. All right. So, you know, a lot of times there are company resources that might, I guess, point you in a right direction, maybe promotion within the company, et cetera. But you don't want to use that while you're searching outside of.
BURTON: Yes, again, this is so - this sounds like obvious. It's obvious but people do it all the time.
WHITFIELD: Really?
BURTON: Yes. It is like, oh it is Saturday. I'm at work. I can print out my resume. Don't do it. Glitches happen. Monday morning, it's like what's this? Make sure you're not using company resources at all.
WHITFIELD: That's right, period, OK. And then just be happy with what you got, right?
BURTON: You know, sometimes you have to put your happy face on. Sometimes a job is like a relationship. You think the grass is greener on the other side. So you know what, your boss is getting on your nerves at this job. But who is to say at the next job it won't be something else. So, you want to make sure to find the good and research actually show has we're very poor predictors of how happy something new is going to make us.
WHITFIELD: Interesting.
BURTON: So, before you make that leap, you want to make sure, if you're an optimist, eternal optimist, call in your pessimistic friend to help you get a reality check.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, Valerie Burton there. So, you have no doubt heard this before. It is all about job creation when it comes to restoring the economy. But how do more jobs get created? Is it all up to Washington?
CNN's Fareed Zakaria spoke with Jeffrey Immelt about that very topic, not only is he the CEO and chairman of GE; he is also the chairman of President Barack Obama's counsel on jobs and competitiveness. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FARRED, ZAKARIA, HOST, FAREED ZAKARIA GPS: You're a Republican, right, registered Republican. What do you say to Republicans where you now see the entire party, largely unified around the idea that the only thing that the government can really do to create jobs is to cut the budget, cut the deficit, slash spending, very little appetite for any kind of a formative government policy let alone investment. Is that the right balance?
Jeffrey Immelt, CEO, GENERAL ELECTRIC: Look, in my essence I make aircraft engines and gas turbans and sell them to customers around the world. I'm not really a politician. You know, I don't really want to set public policy. But I believe in balance. Does the debt deficit need to be reduced? Absolutely. Is government too big in many ways? Absolutely.
But does the country still need to invest in education? Does the country still need to invest in infrastructure? Does the country still need to invest in the types of innovation and R&D? That will make this country competitive in the 21st century? Yes, we do.
You know, the advantage I have is I live my life in Beijing, in Rio, in Paris, in Moscow. And I see the rest of the world investing in competiveness. I see the rest of the world wanting to gain share versus the United States. And so I think a balanced approach ultimately is what most business people, most CEOs would like to see.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That was Jeffrey Immelt. He and other American leaders give their take on unemployment on Fareed Zakaria's primetime special "restoring the American dream: getting back to work" tonight at 8:00 Eastern here on CNN.
The glitz and the glamour of the Emmys. We have a live preview from the red carpet right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Hollywood is all abuzz for the 63rd annual Emmy awards, airing tonight, you know. Kareen Wynter is joining us from Hollywood. She is there on the red carpet. And already quite a few stars behind you, right? You're a star too, but you know, also behind you.
WYNTER: Absolutely. Things are definitely getting started, Fred. You got it. You're always on it, lady. Where should I start? The cast members from "the office" just got out of their limo. I can see a few down the red carpet. My colleague, Megan Clifford just interviewed a couple of cast members from "Mad Men" and "Modern Family." And guess what? Guess who we spotted on the red carpet, making her way back, Fred, Christina Hendricks from "Mad Men," She's of course nominated in a supporting actress drama category. She looked beautiful, wearing a metallic dress, metallic clutch purse. And what is so beautiful about the, not just a sighting but her being here tonight is she's making someone's wish come true. A boy named David from make-a-wish foundation, his dream to attend the Emmys. And so, she's parading the red carpet with him. And it is a beautiful scene.
But let me tell you, the party isn't going to get started until Charlie Sheen arrives. That's a big buzz we're hearing. Would he crash the show? And just overshadow things as only Charlie can? Nothing's confirm but there is so much buzz going on right now that Charlie who isn't nominated in any category, but his former co-star John Cryer is for "Two and a Half Men." Charlie baby here, we have to see.
There is a lot going on. He's a busy man these days. You know Ashton Kutcher replaced him on "Two and a Half Men" but he's shopping this new sitcom "Anger Management." He's going to be presenting it to buyers. Tomorrow is a big day.
Guess what, Fred? Not only does a new season of "Two and a Half Men" premiere but it is going up against Charlie's show, the comedy central roast of Charlie Sheen. So, they're going to be going head to head. We'll see how that fares. But again, a spectacular time on the red carpet, let me see who is behind me.
Some cast members from "the office," it is starting to heat up and not to mention Jane Lynch. She's hosting this year. She says she has her material down. She's ready for the show. She's going to take things in a different direction. You know, last year when Jimmy Fallon hosted, the ratings were up from the previous year when Neil Patrick Harris hosted. So, they're hoping to continue that momentum, maybe seeing a little song, maybe seeing a little dance from her. She sings on "Glee" so just expect the unexpected.
WHITFIELD: Yes. I think we are expecting the unexpected. So real quick, I know you have your pretty periwinkle blue, I understand a lot of the ladies, maybe guys too, are going to be wearing a lot of color on the red carpet. Are you seeing that?
WYNTER: I have to tell you, Christina's gown blew me away. But she's one of the first one to walk in with the metallic color. I have to say, and this is crazy, because it feels like 200 degrees out here, we're seeing a lot of black, a lot of short black dresses. But the night is early spotting a little green in the backdrop. You know somebody will dazzle and we'll talk about them tomorrow. But so far, a little bit too much more black than I would have expected for an event like this. It is hot, scorching, scorching, but fabulous time, Fred. Wish you were here.
WHITFIELD: Me too. We'll work something out, maybe next time, Kareen. Save me a spot. All right Kareen Thanks so much.
Black is always hot on the red carpet.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I love you ladies talking fashion. I was just listening to you guys. It was great.
WHITFIELD: Hey, Don.
LEMON: Lots of black. Simple black dress is always a hit.
WHITFIELD: There was so much buzz beforehand about the color and all that stuff had to know.
LEMON: Christina Hendricks, all I can say about her, ba-ba vroom.
WHITFIELD: Did you have to do that part?
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: All right. So one of the topics coming up on my show, coming up at the top of the hour, Fred, we'll be doing a lot of talking about a lot of things, but this one is really important. I'm sure you'll be talking about it.
How is the president going to pay for the new jobs plan? Will the so- called Buffett rule, a new tax on millionaires and you know how Republicans and the tea party feel about that, and they don't like it. That's what he's expected to unveil tomorrow. Big supports from people like its namesake, Warren Buffett and then also President Bill Clinton as well. But Republicans are calling it class warfare, even calling Mister Obama Robin Hood, robbing from the rich to help the poor.
Also, Fred, this amazing story from Libya.
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LEMON: Journalists caught in the cross fire, leaving one of our producers injured and even though he's all right, there is an extraordinary twist to this story that happened when they reached the hospital. It even surprised some very seasoned journalists. We'll show you that story. Take you to the middle of the war zone. And then, also, death row inmate, Troy Davis. We'll talk about that case. I'm going to introduce you to the parole board and then we are going to talk evidence and we are going to talk chances because we know it happens, not long from now, on Monday, the parole board meeting.
WHITFIELD: Right, clemency hearing on Monday, scheduled execution Wednesday.
LEMON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: All right. We'll be listening and watching for your va-va vroom too.
LEMON: Va-va vroom. You could be on the red carpet any day. Fred dresses like this in her sleep.
LEMON: Go on. Don, see you in a few minutes. Thank you so much.
LEMON: Bye, Fred.
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WHITFIELD: All right, holiday season right, its right around the corner. And I'll show you some of the hottest video games that are about to hit the market. I know you're crazy into gadgets, Don. So, you want to stick around for this.
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WHITFIELD: All right, time for a CNN equals politics update. We're keeping on eye on all the latest head lines on CNN politics.com desk. And here's what is crossing right now.
Don and I was just talking about this one, tomorrow President Barack Obama will propose a new tax rate for people earning more than $1 million a year. It will be called the buffet rule, named after billionaire Warren Buffett who believes wealthy Americans pay less than their fair share in taxes under the current code. The White House says the new rate will be included in the president's deficit reduction plan. The idea is getting, however, mixed responses from lawmakers.
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SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Well, certainly on those who are wealthy and comfortable and wouldn't even notice it, yes. Warren Buffett has been honest and other people who I know who have been fortunate in life and wealthy have said for goodness sakes you can raise my taxes if that is go tock help the economy move forward.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The tax code should be reformed for one purpose, to generate more revenue to run the government and create jobs. And when you pick one area of the economy and say we are going to tax those people because most people are not those people that class warfare.
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WHITFIELD: In the race for the White House deal, P-candidate Ron Paul is celebrating a victory in a delegate rich state. Paul won California's GOP straw poll. The Texas congressman captured nearly 45 percent of the vote beating Rick Perry and Mitt Romney who finished second and third respectively. Paul is also boosting his campaign treasure chest. The Republicans facebook page says an on-line weekend fund-raiser has netted about $750,000.
All right, holiday season is around the corner and the latest video games will be soon hitting the market. Earlier I talked to our gaming and gadgets expert Marc Saltzman and he gave us a preview starting with unchartered three, drake's deception.
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MARC SALTZMAN, WRITER, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY: There's a lot of hype for this game. It's the third main game in this coveted series. Once again, you play as Nathan Drake, an adventurer this time setting off to find a lost city.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my.
SALTZMAN: And much like its predecessors it is very cinematic. It's played from a third person perspective. You always see Nathan on the scene and there have huge set pieces, lots of combats and stealth and puzzle solving as well. And along with the single player campaign, there will be multi player modes as well, both colas (ph) and competitive.
One of the biggest games from Microsoft coming out for 360 this fall is called Kinect Disneyland adventures. And OK, so it is not for the "call of duty" crowd. This is obviously a family-friendly game. It is actually a simulation where you walk around 85 acres of Disneyland, you know digitally rendered in this game and you partake in more than a dozen mini games based on famous Disney rides and movies. So, everything from Peter Pan, to Pirates of the Caribbean, to Alice in Wonderland, you will partake using your body and voice walking around this virtual version of Disneyland interacting with characters and mascots, you know about 40 of them in total.
You are probably seeing video here. You know high fiving Mickey Mouse and hugging Snow White. So, I think this is going to be a great game for the family and certainly a cheaper alternative than packing up the family and bringing them to Disneyland.
WHITFIELD: I guess, that's so it seems in so family. Maybe some of these manufacturers are trying to think about the family now. They are probably a lot, they making them a lot more appealing for the families.
SALTZMAN: Yes. Well, without question the biggest game of the year will likely be "call of duty" modern warfare 3 coming out I believe November 8th. But that is obviously an M-rated game. That's a military shooter so I wanted to focus on some family-friendly ones from each of the three big consoles. But there's a lot of content regardless of your age or taste.
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WHITFIELD: All right, Mark Saltzman thanks so much.
OK. The weekend is ending on a wet note in parts of the country. So that means, I guess good reason to be inside playing more video games.
Back to Jaqui Jeras in the Weather center.
JERAS: Watching CNN. Come on.
WHITFIELD: That's right.
JERAS: Good. It is wet but it is welcome wet for a lot of these people. Places that haven't been getting a lot of rain places like Texas for example. Some of these thunderstorms are severe. So, that is something we will keep an eye on. Severe thunderstorm watch is in affect for part of Texas on in to Eastern Oklahoma and kind a clipping the northwestern corner here of Arkansas towards Springfield. But that includes the Dallas area. Expect heavy downpours, lots of lightning, could be a little wind damage, 60 mile an hour gusts are possible with these storms and also maybe even very small hail.
Now, the northern tier of this thing is just you know kind of a steady light rain for you. It is not a lot in terms of severe weather but 'it's enough to you know cause some problems maybe the nuisance for you. If you are traveling it has been a nuisance here.
Ops! There is goes. Come back here. Chicago O'Hare airports where the delays have been more than two hours and now we've got a ground stop at Houston as well, at Houston Hobby and that is because of the thunderstorms I was telling you about.
The other big story, the cool temperatures, you are really feeling it across the upper Midwest and across all the East. Well, look at this. This is a new the cold front that is going to be arriving for tomorrow in to the parts of northwest. It will be making its way across the country throughout the week. And look at this, by Friday we are talking about temperatures once again about 10 to 20 degrees below normal. So, if you like this taste f fall that we have had Fredricka, we have another one coming around the corner.
WHITFIELD: All right, we're almost officially in to fall, right?
JERAS: Yes, Friday.
WHITFIELD: OK. There we go. More of it coming.
JERAS: It is.
WHITFIELD: We are welcoming it. Thanks Jaqui.
JERAS: Sure.
WHITFIELD: All right. That's going to do it for me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Much more news will continue at the top of the hour with Don Lemon. Have a great week.
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