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Missing Tennessee Family; Dow Drops Sharply; Concerns Of Bomb Plot Leak; NC Amendment Targets Same Sex Marriage; Senate Giant Lugar Endangered; Pitcher Admits To Pelting Batter; Book Pulled From Library Shelves; Game Show Creator Dies; Travolta Accused Of Sexual Assault; Homeless Man Begs "Help Me" During Beating

Aired May 08, 2012 - 14:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Suspect here now under arrest. The wife here just now coming out saying she drove a vehicle containing four vehicles from Tennessee all the way to Mississippi. And Mississippi is where police now confirm two bodies found in a shallow grave. This town is called Guntown. They are that of missing mother, Jo Ann Bain, and one of her daughters, 14-year-old Adrienne. Authorities, though, are not yet releasing their causes of death. But I can tell you that helicopters, they have been over the home as crews unearthed these bodies Monday. Today, police say that home is connected to the man everyone right now is looking for, Adam Mayes, once described as a family friend. Take a good long look at this picture with me because he is now a suspect here in the kidnapping of that mother and her girls. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. And there are still two girls missing in this case here. Twelve-year- old Alexandria, and eight-year-old Kyliyah. A frantic search for these missing girls and Adam Mayes happening right now.

And I want to bring in CNN correspondent David Mattingly, who's been following this case for us very, very closely here.

And, David, as we mentioned at the top of the show, huge developments today. So we have now this wife and mother of Adam Mayes, they had a role here.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We're finding out that the wife of Adam Mayes tells authority, allegedly, that she actually was doing the driving when this mother and her three daughters were abducted from Tennessee and taken to Mississippi. We're also finding out that the mother knew about this. So we're finding out from authorities that these two not only conspired to be part of this kidnapping and knew about it, but Mayes' wife was actually the driver in the kidnapping. And now they've both been arrested. They're charged with the highest form of kidnapping in the state of Tennessee, which carries a minimum of 15 years in prison if they're found guilty.

BALDWIN: So these two now, it sounds like, linked. These facing these charges. You also have these details of items that were found in a search. Tell me about what you know.

MATTINGLY: That's right. And just when you thought that this case wouldn't get any sadder or any stranger, we're looking at these affidavits that came out with the charges that were filed. And we're finding out that Mayes himself not only had a home in Tennessee close to this family, but he was renting a trailer in Mississippi. And in that trailer, they found the belongings of the two younger daughters that were kidnapped. So, at this point, they know that those girls were alive when they were taken to that trailer possibly. And they are still, at this point, there have been no bodies discovered of those two girls. They are assuming that they are alive. We are hoping that they are alive. But at this point, their whereabouts and as well as the whereabouts of Mayes are still unknown.

BALDWIN: Final question. I know, David, it's still very, very early. Any talk of any kind of motive yet?

MATTINGLY: That's the strange thing about this, Brooke, no one knows exactly why. We know that Mayes was extremely close to this family. We've heard from relatives of the mother who was killed that Mayes believed that those daughters were his. We don't know if he was speaking figuratively or literally. But we do know that he was very close to this family, very close to those three girls and we just don't know why this could possibly be happening at this point.

BALDWIN: David Mattingly, we'll check back in with you. Thank you so much.

Also happening now, take a look at the numbers with me. We are watching Wall Street. As is Alison Kosik. The Dow, look at that, down 136 points. It is slipping.

Alison, why?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, for one, remember the debt crisis in Greece? Who could forget that. Well, it's kind of back in a different way today. Greece's government, at this point, is in disarray. Officials are literally trying to form a new government in Greece. So at this point, you know, there's no clear leader who came out of the elections that happened over the weekend. So the way Wall Street sees it, they're not sure how this political situation is going to pan out. There are a lot of questions that are really just rattling investors today.

For one, you know, will the new leadership that finally gets into place, will it blow up that debt deal that took so long to put into place, you know, in the first place? Also, will Greece drop out of the euro zone? That, of course, a huge concern for Wall Street? So all of that uncertainty, you pile all that on, it's not giving investors any reason to buy into the market. And you're seeing that uncertainty in Europe playing out right here on Wall Street with the Dow falling 145 points. Though the Dow is off its lows of the session. You can see the fear certainly ramping up today. That's the VIX (ph). That measures the fear and the volatility in the mark.

BALDWIN: Right.

KOSIK: That's up 6 percent. So we're keeping our eye on stocks for you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Fear and uncertainty manifesting itself certainly on Wall Street. Alison, thank you.

Also unfolding now, the terror plot against the U.S. as the feds look into other potential bomb plots targeting passenger jets. There is some commotion abrewing on Capitol Hill over who was kept in the dark and if anything was ever leaked. I want to go to Kate Bolduan who is on The Hill with us today.

And, Kate, some lawmakers say, you know, the way this went public, it could absolutely damage future investigations here.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Absolutely. And I guess first I should say why I'm on the phone and not on camera with you, Brooke, because I'm standing outside really what is the first official briefing on Capitol Hill. House Intelligence Committee members are being briefed here on Capitol Hill. And we should be hearing from some of the key lawmakers if they leave and hopefully will give us some more information about what they've learned. The Senate will also be receiving a briefing -- a similar briefing later this afternoon. So a very important opportunity for many lawmakers who have questions and concerns that they're going to try to get some answers to that.

Many questions really do remain. Not a lot of clarity at this point of how much people up here on Capitol Hill knew and when they were really informed. That's been a really key question. Chairman Mike Rogers, Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, he has raised -- he had voiced concern earlier today on CNN that information may have been leaked prematurely. One of his -- a colleague is Senator Susan Collins, Republican senator from Maine. She also voiced concerned over why they weren't --

BALDWIN: Informed of it.

BOLDUAN: Key members. She is a ranking memory on the Homeland Security Committee -- Why key members weren't briefed earlier. So there is some concerns being raised by some key members here on Capitol Hill of where the information flow was, why they weren't informed earlier. And those are definitely some of the questions being asked in these briefings that are ongoing right now, Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK. Well, as you mentioned, you're standing outside of that closed door meeting with the House Intelligence Committee. As soon as you see those leaders walking out that door, Kate Bolduan, let us know what they say to you. And if those key questions have been answered, we want to know as well. Kate, we appreciate it.

And part of really the overarching bit of the story is, so what happens the next time you head to the airport? Will security be stricter as a result of this thwarted plot? We're going to talk about this with the former Transportation Department inspector general, Mary Schiavo. That is next hour.

More news unfolding right now. "Rapid Fire." Roll it.

The U.S. government projected to make a hefty profit from the bailout of insurance giant AIG. I'm talking $15.1 billion. This is according to a congressional watchdog panel. AIG, as you know, bailed out to the tune of some $180 billion back in 2008. At that time, it was wrapped up in the faltering mortgage market during the housing meltdown, housing crisis.

In Oregon, prosecutors say one father's bloods alcohol level was almost triple the legal limit. That's not the whole story here. When his SUV was pulled over, a state trooper says his 10-year-old son was behind the wheel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GREGG HASTING, OREGON STATE POLICE: We feel bad for that 10- year-old boy that he was put in that position. Definitely unusual. And we're glad it's unusual. Glad this doesn't happen very often.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's just unbelievable. Completely unbelievable for parents to be that irresponsible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Ten years old. The father faces drunken driving, reckless driving, reckless endangerment. A myriad of charges there. Through a friend, this father told an affiliate KGW he was only fulfilling his son's desire to drive.

And the author of the classic children's book "Where The Wild Things Are" has died. A spokesman for Harper Collins Publisher said Maurice Sendak passed away today of complications from a recent stroke. Sendak illustrated close to 100 books during his 60 year career. His final book, inspired by his love for his brother, will be published next February. Sendak was 83.

And from Billy Graham to Bill Clinton. Heavyweights weighing in on the same sex marriage vote underway right this very minute in North Carolina. But is this amendment really about something else? Another issue? Hmm.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The chances of a teen driver getting killed in a crash spikes when there are other teens in a car. This is according to the new study released by AAA. It says that the chance of a crash increases with each additional young passenger in the car. And on the flip side here, the study shows the chances of dying actually goes down quite dramatically, 62 percent, when someone over 35 is with the young drivers in the car.

The border control chief lays out his new strategy for securing the U.S. border from terrorists, from drug smugglers and human smugglers, while curbing illegal immigration. Michael Fisher says the new plan would be less about blanket resources, more about targeting problem spots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL FISHER, BORDER PATROL CHIEF, DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY: The principal theme of our strategy is to use information, integration and rapid response to meet all threats. These pillars are central as we continue to build upon an approach that puts the border patrol's greatest capabilities in place to combat the greatest risks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: An accidental overdose of alcohol and Valium, that is what an autopsy now shows caused painter Thomas Kinkade's death. The report also shows he suffered from heart disease. Kinkade's brother tells the "Mercury News" the painter had sobered up in the months before his death but relapsed right before he died on April 6th.

North Carolina gay marriage amendment on the ballot today getting plenty of people speaking out about it. Coming up next, we're going to talk to Jay Thomas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: North Carolina voting today on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. And you may have known that, but did you also know this? All of the former confederate states, each and every one with the exception of North Carolina, have banned gay marriage by constitutional amendment already. Also, North Carolina has a law in the books that pretty much does the same thing already. Still, take a look at the lines here. Early voting we're told was massive. And heavy hitters on both sides of the issue, they are jump into this slugfest. Heavy hitter including here Bill Clinton. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT (voice-over): Its passage would also take away health insurance from children and could even take away domestic violence protections from women. So the real effect of the law is not to keep the traditional definition of marriage. They've already done that. The real effect of the law will be to hurt families and drive away jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So Bill Clinton jumping into North Carolina state politics there. Also, North Carolinian Billy Graham getting involved as well. The 93-year-old pastor says, and I'm quoting, "the Bible is clear -- God's definition of marriage is between a man and a woman." He supports this amendment, which, by the way, is expected to pass once it's all said and done here today. Now Joining me now live from New York, Jay Thomas, host of "The Jay Thomas Show" on Sirius XM Stars Two (ph).

Jay, nice to have you on and nice to meet you here.

JAY THOMAS, HOST, "THE JAY THOMAS SHOW": Thank you.

BALDWIN: You know, we just heard the voice of Bill Clinton. Also North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue. Both of them are suggesting here that North Carolina -- they already has a law -- they already have a law on the books that bans gay marriage. This specifically today, this is Amendment One, this is a constitutional amendment. They say this is really about something else. What something else do you think that might be?

THOMAS: Well, I'm born in Texas, raised in Louisiana and I've been in and out of Charlotte for 30 years.

BALDWIN: Yes.

THOMAS: And I -- if you already have an amendment against it, I guess they're saying, we are really, really, really against gay marriage and we mean it two times. So it's just like --

BALDWIN: Why do you need the really, really?

THOMAS: I don't know why you need -- I -- it may lead to dancing. I don't know what their problem is in North Carolina. But there have actually been a couple of pastors. I was surprised there was a Baptist pastor in "The Charlotte Observer" that was not against the -- you know said don't vote for this, we already have it. And that North Carolina is going to have to modernize at some point.

Here is the banking center of the south, certainly next to maybe Atlanta. It's -- it was, you know, running up on New York before the crisis. As you know, we have all these wonderful universities. This, to me, is almost as stupid and embarrassing as when a black person wasn't allowed on the same seat as a white person when I was a kid.

BALDWIN: But --

THOMAS: And black and white marriage wasn't, you know, wasn't allowed. It's embarrassing to be a North Carolinian.

BALDWIN: But, Jay Thomas --

THOMAS: Yes.

BALDWIN: You hear the people. You hear folks like the Reverend Billy Graham and, you know, a myriad of others who I've read over the weekend, "The Charlotte Observer," "Raleigh News and Observer," you know, all talking about how this is how we feel and maybe these young folks, you know, one day can repeal this. But, for now, if it was already banned, we want to make sure the, you know, the, you know, the door is locked and we're tossing out the key. That's how they feel. And they have a right to feel that way.

THOMAS: Let's look at -- let's look at how this really happened. Marriage was always civil. And then, in the middle ages, marriage was co-opted and was appropriated by churches long after the states, the city states allowed it. I mean so it was co-oped by religion.

You have the right, the pursuit of happiness, from the Declaration of Independence. We also have discrimination laws. And there's no reason that the state cannot marry people. You don't have to accept them into your church. That's fine. I'm all for that. But there's no reason why the state cannot marry people. It is a civil union. There are some people that say, call it a civil union and I'll vote and say it's OK. It's the word marriage that they find religious. Marriage --

BALDWIN: Well, not even those politically -- Jay, it's not even -- I mean Amendment One isn't -- we're not -- we're not -- we're past marriage in North Carolina. This is domestic partnerships, civil unions.

THOMAS: Yes.

BALDWIN: And that is what they specifically would be banning with this referendum. But let me take this bigger picture here because --

THOMAS: Sure.

BALDWIN: You have Joe Biden -- I'm sure you've heard the sound bite, he's gotten himself in a little bit of hot water, right, for getting ahead of the president saying he is fine with gay marriage. He takes it there. And I know a lot of folks -- you know, they seem to assume that the president feels the same way, but the president isn't quite going there. I think his word is, he's evolving. Why wouldn't the president get out front on this politically?

THOMAS: I knew what you were going to ask me today. Joe Biden knew what they were going to ask him on Sunday morning. That is nonsense that the president didn't know what Joe Biden was going to say. That's ridiculous. And I think that the president ought to be embarrassed also. It is discrimination. It is against the --

BALDWIN: Embarrassed?

THOMAS: Absolutely embarrassed. And I think the state of North Carolina should be embarrassed today also. And I don't know one of my Republican friends that could -- they could care less about gay marriage. So it really isn't something that the majority of people even care about. It is a -- it's a fringe thing. It's almost like this woman Brewer in Arizona. That's insane what she did against Planned Parenthood. It has nothing to do with reality. Nothing to do with reality.

BALDWIN: Well, enough people -- enough people perhaps in North Carolina care about it, because when you start looking at these numbers and the tremendous amounts of people who came out just to early vote because of Amendment One, it looks like this referendum is going to pass.

I want to switch topics, Jay Thomas, if I may. I know that you work closely with --

THOMAS: Right. Well, you know something else, though. Can I be honest?

BALDWIN: Go.

THOMAS: I believe every American has the right to make the biggest mistake of their lives and get married. I believe that. BALDWIN: Well --

THOMAS: So let me just say that as a -- as a little aside.

BALDWIN: I haven't done it yet. I haven't done it yet.

THOMAS: Well, there you go. Be careful.

BALDWIN: There we go.

THOMAS: All right. And by the way, remember, the more gays that marry, they will not marry your daughters in North Carolina. Remember that.

BALDWIN: Jay Thomas, we're switching topics. We're talking Howard Stern.

THOMAS: Sure.

BALDWIN: You know the guy.

THOMAS: Sure. Very well.

BALDWIN: He's under fire. Certainly no surprise. But he's not under fire for his radio show. Instead, the Parents Television Council asking dozens of companies to pull their cash from Stern's new role on "America's Got Talent." Jay Thomas, I want your thoughts on this one. We're going to go there. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right, let's bring him back. There he is, Jay Thomas, host of "The Jay Thomas Show" on Sirius.

THOMAS: Hi.

BALDWIN: Hi.

Your radio colleague Howard Stern, he's about to join --

THOMAS: Yes.

BALDWIN: What, like next week he's joining the panel on NBC's "America's Got Talent." Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD STERN: And they said, look, if you're really serious about me as a judge, I've got to tell you something. You might think I'm out of my mind. You might think I'm crazy. But I take judging very seriously. First of all, when these very young children come on, I'm going to want to talk to these mothers who bring -- march them out there. I said, you know, they've got to be prepared to lose and they've got to be prepared to hear the truth. Don't call me a scum bag because I'm going to tell your kid he has no talent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I mean the guy's kind of funny. I'll give you that. The guy is a funny guy. You know Howard Stern. My question to you is, is Howard Stern, is he ready for broadcast network television or perhaps, to flip the question, is network television ready for Howard Stern?

THOMAS: He is the richest and smartest entertainer of our time. He knows exactly what he's doing. He certainly is not going to do anything like me here on national television. He's not going to do anything untoward. And I think that NBC should send a $1 million contribution to the Parents Council. They have added millions of people to watching "America's Got Talent," which is basically, you know, like a karaoke talent show. So -- and, by the way, you know Howie Mandel's stage act, they have warnings out front. And Sharon Osborne isn't exactly a babe in the woods. So I think that it's wonderful for the show. And usually any group with the word parents in it means they're mad at everybody. I don't know what (INAUDIBLE) these people are.

BALDWIN: Well, let me back up, because people are saying, why is he bringing up the Parents Council.

THOMAS: Yes.

BALDWIN: So here's the -- here's sort of the nugget. This is why we're talking about this, because --

THOMAS: Oh, right, the Parents Council is (INAUDIBLE).

BALDWIN: The Parents Council -- conservative media group are amassing their forces against Howard Stern. Among them, this Parents Council, Parents Television Council. Their president, let me quote him, this is Tim Winter, has sent this letter to advertisers that reads, quote, NBC's decision to add Mr. Stern to "America's Got Talent" will likely result in a sharp increase in explicit content and we urge you to be mindful when considering a media buy."

So that's the crux of, I guess, the issue from this particular group, right?

THOMAS: Right.

BALDWIN: But does he have -- does he have a point? Because when I think about maybe the audience for your "America's Got Talent," it has to be kids, parents, hanging out around dinner watching, you know, TV. Watching this.

THOMAS: Well, Howard just said he was going to be honest when parents bring their kids on to a stage on national television and traps them out in front of the world. The kids had better be ready for honesty. Nothing dirty is going to be said to them, but --

BALDWIN: Nothing dirty is going to be said because it sounds like perhaps that's what some of these kids (ph) are worried about.

THOMAS: Hey, kid, you stink. How about that? Kid, you stink is worse than somebody saying a bad word to the kid. You're no good.

BALDWIN: He'll be brutally honest.

THOMAS: Yes, -- I hope the other judges are, too. And, please, Tim, if you're watching me, please write against me. Make the Parents Council go against me. You will make me rich. You will make me famous. As soon as you go against something, it causes people --

BALDWIN: The tune in factor.

THOMAS: To tune in immediately.

BALDWIN: Absolutely.

THOMAS: That's who Americans are and God love them. God love them.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. So, there you go, Howard Stern, nice job. Jay Thomas, thank you.

THOMAS: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Thank you so much. Talk to you again.

THOMAS: Thank you, Brooke. It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much.

BALDWIN: A pleasure. Thank you.

THOMAS: OK.

BALDWIN: So it is primary day in four states. And while much of the focus has been on gay marriage, the amendment we were just talking about, Amendment One in North Carolina.

In Indiana, a long-time senator, Richard Luger, is fighting to keep his job and it's because of the Tea Party?

And you've heard about the book. "Fifty Shades of Gray." Many women are enamored by it. Well, critics are calling this book mommy porn. Now one library is pulling it off the shelves.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: So there is a huge election taking place today in Indiana. Why huge? Because this primary race could spell the end of a long and very distinguished political career for that of Republican Senator Dick Luger, six terms in the United States Senate and a significant force behind efforts to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.

Dick Lugar's opponent is Tea Party fire brand Richard Murdoch who recently told "The New York Times", the quote, "The time for being collegial is past, it's time for confrontation." So you pretty get the flavor here.

We've seen this before. Republican stall were trying to fend off a challenge from Tea Party right. Let's go to Indianapolis to our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash.

Dana, let's just remind us who Dick Lugar is. We mentioned his six terms in the Senate. But tell me more about his stature both in Washington and within the Senate.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's no question that he has incredible stature and respect on both sides of the aisle and that has become a liability for Richard Lugar.

Also the fact that he has done all the work you just described on the international stage. Those are thing that he still to this day. We were out campaigning within this morning is talking about.

He's talking about his work with trying to get nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. But guess what? People here in this state these days. They care about what people care about all across the country, which is jobs.

They're also talking to voters' concern about the fact that he -- these are Republican voters. He has done something that he is proud of, reached across the aisle over and over again.

And so this is something that is hurting him in this primary and it's something I asked him about the fact that it seems to have become a liability for him to work towards compromise with Democrats. Here's what he said about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR DICK LUGAR (R), INDIANA: The public as a whole may be unhappy with one party or the other, but they're very unhappy with the Congress as a whole for the inability to make decisions and get on with it on behalf of jobs or on behalf of national security or on behalf of whatever.

I'm a person who makes sure we do get on with it that there is progress. With personal vigor, I argue with people, I try to persuade people, try to get votes on issues and I hope to continue to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: So Brooke, I basically asked, you're 80 years old, did you think about not fighting this incredibly tough uphill fight and just retiring and call it a stellar career what it was?

And he basically said I feel like I have a lot more to give on issues that other people aren't focussing enough on.

BALDWIN: So he says he's not ready to call it quits on the fighting. We have his opponent. We mentioned he's Richard Murdoch. Let's listen to just part of his ad. This is pretty much the thrust of his beef with Dick Lugar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick Lugar, no wonder he's called Obama's favorite Republican.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: There you go, sort of capitalizing. You mentioned it, as a liability. I mean, is Murdoch running on a record of accomplishment or is this just merely a throw the bums out kind of thing?

Dana, you with me? Dana Bash? I'm going to go with we lost her. We lost her. We'll follow up and see who wins that one that senatorial race in Indiana.

Meantime, welcome to the big leagues, kids, Sunday night, Phillies at nationals. Phillies' pitcher, Cole Hamels rockets a 92- mile-an-hour pitch right into the small of Bryce Harper's back.

And you know what? Hamels said he meant to do it. Take a look at it. No beating around the bush. I was trying to hit him. I'm not going to deny it.

That little move got him a five-game suspension, but even after getting beelined with a fast fall to the back, here's the best part. Harper on third. Hamels throws to first and off goes Harper stealing home. Yes, the sweet taste of revenge.

Possums hiding in a toilet enough to give you the creeps. They went from outside to hanging outside on tree branches to hanging out in this apartment. They were found in a fireplace, hiding in house plants and yes, in the bathroom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The 8-year-old go to use the bathroom. Sits on the toilet and something splashes on her. She turns around and look! There are possums in the toilet!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Not something you hear very often. Mama, there's possums in the toilet. So Animal Control, they're called in. They trapped nine of these critters. Not before a couple of them were stomped to death by the family's father.

Animal Control says this isn't the first time possums have been found on the property. Our affiliate in Atlanta WSB says apartment management is offering to waive the family's rent for the rest of the month, move them to a new place for free in June.

And there you have it, the possum predicament. Some call it mommy porn and some libraries are banning the book "Fifty Shades Of Gray." We're going to talk about why this is popular and whether this dirty little secret for moms is just too darn graphic.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK, ready for this? Mommy porn. That's right. We're talking about it today and how can we not? That is what some people are calling this book. It's called "Fifty Shades Of Gray." This is the bestselling book by E.L. James.

It's erotic, racy, downright naughty. It is flying off of bookshelves, but some refuse to actually put it on their shelves. Why the controversy? Here with us to talk about this is mommy blogger, Karyn Parsons, host of "Mommy In Chief," founder of Sweet Blackberry. Karen, nice to have you on.

KARYN PARSONS, HOST, "MOMMY IN CHIEF": Thank you.

BALDWIN: As I mentioned, this is a hot little ticket if you're looking for a good book apparently. This is number one on the "USA Today's" bestselling list.

So when I was reading about sort of the back and forth, you have moms whose husbands are saying thank you for reading this and spicing things up, I guess. And then you have those on the other end of the spectrum saying, porn! Where do you fall?

PARSONS: Honestly, I'm having a hard time understanding what all the controversy is about. Because eroticism and erotic novels having around forever. Maybe because it's geared towards moms or moms are responding so strongly to it and that's what's freaking people out a little bit is the idea of mom enjoying this stuff.

BALDWIN: Well, you bring up a good point, right? Because we're all talking -- aren't all those books on the grocery store shelves with the big guy and the woman --

PARSONS: Right the fabio.

BALDWIN: Exactly. Thank you. It's totally out there. I haven't read this thing so I had to read about it. This is about a virginal college student who gets into a submissive sexual relationship with a handsome young billionaire.

So we mentioned this, they're banning the books in its libraries, their public libraries there calling a porn. But I guess to your point, what is it about this book that separates it from all those other books or even shows like "Desperate Housewives." What is it about this that has so many plenty people in a tizzy?

PARSONS: Right, exactly. That's one of the things that made me think about it actually. I don't know why it has people in such an uproar, especially when you see "Desperate Housewives" and you see this kind of need obviously for escapism.

There always has been, but I think for this demographic, there's a need for escapism. Just like everyone else. But for this one, like I said, the only thing I can think of is, are they just thinking of mom as the apron-wearing Donna Reid character and that's why they're flipping out? I don't understand.

BALDWIN: Are we really still in this place though, Karyn, in 2012 where people can't talk about these things? Is that what this is about? This isn't actually about a book, but it's about like moms in the year 2012 reading about S and M?

PARSONS: Right, exactly. I think that that's the thing. I was wondering what everybody is flipping out about. Maybe it's the S and M part of it, but that I have to say for eroticism, I don't think that's anything new either especially in erotic literature.

So I'm a little bit perplexed myself. I think it goes a long way to say that we really do need to look at who's running the libraries. People are making the selections, but then to say we're taking this off of the shelves and that kind of censorship, right away, that's all the red flags. That doesn't make any sense to me.

BALDWIN: I don't know if we might see other libraries following suit, but you are a mommy blogger. Have you gotten feedback from fellow moms out there who say yay to the book or nay to the book? I mean, what's the feedback?

PARSONS: For me -- the only thing I'm seeing is positive stuff. I see people making a lot of fun and kind of laughing about it and talking about mother's day and getting really excited about it in a playful way.

But I mean, you know, playfully, people are having fun with this subject being out there that this is a trending subject that people are talking about. Everyone seems to be enjoying that.

So I don't know who these cranky people are who are deciding to take the books off of the shelves. Open up to Chapter 10 and relax.

BALDWIN: Final question, Karyn Parsons, would you read it?

PARSONS: Yes, I would read it.

BALDWIN: All right.

PARSONS: We passed around, you know, in school we passed around some book, Judy Bloom wrote a book for adults and we all had dog-eared the pages and passed them around.

BALDWIN: And so it continues. And so does the conversation even in 2012. Karyn Parsons, I appreciate you. Thank you, Ma'am.

PARSONS: Thank you very much.

BALDWIN: Appreciate it.

Coming up, an exclusive lawsuit against John Travolta involving a masseuse and accusations of sexual assault.

Plus, never before seen pictures revealed of Marilyn Monroe's final photo shoot. Nude photo shoot.

And just a quick note for those of you heading out the door, you can continue watching CNN from your mobile phone. If you're headed off to work, back to work. You can also watch CNN live from your desktop, go to cnn.com/tv. Tell your boss. It's educational.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: If you have ever cheered or jeered a contestant on a TV game show, you have Bob Stewart. Just think "The Price Is Right" "$10,000 Pyramid" and classics, all his babies created when TV was in adolescents.

Stewart hatched "The Price Is Right" actually after watching a storekeeper auction off souvenirs instead of using set prices. Did you know that? There's trivia for you.

Stewart was quoted as saying, quote, "Once you get people talking to their TV sets, then you're in. Bob Stewart died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 91 years old.

Topless photos of Marilyn Monroe, believed to be her last photo shoot being auctioned off in New York this afternoon. These photos were originally taken from "Vogue" magazine back in 1962 just about six weeks before Marilyn Monroe was found dead.

And movie star, husband, father, now John Travolta accused of sexual assault against a man. I want to bring in A.J. Hammer. He's the host of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." A.J., when you read these allegations, it's pretty graphic.

A.J. HAMMER, HOST, HLN'S "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": It is pretty graphic, but we really to make it clear right now, Brooke, that at this stage these are just allegations and they're coming from an unnamed accuser, actually accusers at this point.

The name count has stepped up, just in the last couple of hours. Travolta's attorneys are attacking this lawsuit and calling it a complete fiction and fabrication.

Now, in court documents that were filed on May 4th, a male massage therapist identified only as John Doe alleges that John Travolta committed sexual assault and battery during a massage, which took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel on January 16th.

Now, these documents claim among some other things that Travolta inappropriately touched the masseur also during the encounter. The suit also alleges Travolta yelled at the plaintiff saying sexual favors is how you get ahead in Hollywood.

Well, the massage therapist is seeking $2 million. As I mentioned, Travolta's attorneys are fighting back. I want to read to you what his reps are telling CNN.

They say none of the events claimed in the suit ever occurred. The plaintiff, who refuses to give their name knows that the suit is a baseless lie. It is for that reason that the plaintiff has not -- hasn't been identified with a name, even though it is required to do so.

On the date when the plaintiff claims John met him, John was not in California, and it can be proved that he was on the east coast. The plaintiff's attorneys filed this suit to try to get his 15 minutes of fame.

John intends to get this case thrown out and then he will sue the attorney and plaintiff for malicious prosecution. Now I want to point out, Brooke, we did reach out to the plaintiff's attorney who responded to us by saying this.

We were in discussions a long time before the case was filed. It would not have been filed if they indicated they even had a McDonald's receipt to show that he was anywhere but in California.

BALDWIN: So where do we -- where this go from here? I mean, as you mentioned this guy wants $2 million. What more do we know about him? We don't even know his name? Apparently, he's saying there are more plaintiffs here?

HAMMER: Well, here's the thing. Reports just started circulating, as I mentioned, about a second massage therapist making allegations against Travolta. The same attorney is handling both accusers. So we're working to get some specifics about just what is alleged in the separate case.

We're going to have to wait and see where this goes at all, Brooke, but Travolta obviously deserves the benefit of the doubt. You know, this is the discussion we're having tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

Sometimes it is best if a celebrity just lets these things play themselves out. They happen all the time. Lawsuits happen, claims are made. Sometimes it's good to make a big, bold statement.

You know what, I'm not going to take this sitting down. We're going to fight it tooth and nail and we're going to sue you back. Maybe that will quite any future lawsuits or claims from people who might then think twice about making a claim if it's untrue.

BALDWIN: Yes, it's quite a claim and as you point out, it is just an allegation. A.J. Hammer, we appreciate it. We'll check out your conversation tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

And in just a little bit, a couple of minutes, Plagan joins me live. Talk about why he says the same-sex marriage vote under way in North Carolina will hurt kids.

We're talking about Amendment One on the ballot today that referendum.

Plus a homeless man begs for his life as police officers beat him to death. He even cries out for his dad at one point in time. So should these cops stand trial?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: I want talk about this video. It's video of a vicious beating that ended up claiming the life of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas. He was homeless. He was schizophrenic.

And during the beating, Thomas is heard begging for help. In fact at one point in time, he can be heard calling out dad, they're killing me.

So this all happened at the hands of a group of police officers. We're talking Fullerton, California, this was last July. It was caught all on security camera. The video was shown during a pre-trial hearing yesterday for two of these officers involved.

We're going to play a little bit of this video. But as always, I just want to make a big warning here, this black and white video might be pretty tough for you to look at. If you have kids in the room, get them out.

This is from the Orange County District Attorney's office. It begins with an officer's threat to Thomas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please! Please! OK! No! No!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's on something.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad. Dad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want to take those off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Relax. Relax.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Daddy. Daddy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the goo it's name?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You can hear moaning just a little bit. Kelly Thomas never woke up five days after that beating, he was dead. And now there's a possibility that those two California police officers we told you about may stand trial in Thomas' death.

Legal analyst, Sunny Hostin on the case with us as always. So we mentioned it was day two of the preliminary hearing. That video, that had to have made an impression.

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: No question about it. I mean, it was difficult to watch, wasn't it, Brooke? And these cases are very difficult. They're facing charges that are very significant.

Manuel Ramos, he's a 10-year veteran with the Fullerton, California Police Department, second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. And then you have the other officer, involuntary manslaughter and felony use of excessive force.

So I think really the issue here in front of this judge is whether or not that force was reasonable, whether or not it was excessive. And I've got to tell you, Brooke, these are situations that police officers deal with every day.

Especially when dealing with emotionally disturbed persons. That's what they call them. They call them EDPs. But there are certain guidelines in place. There are proper police techniques that are supposed to be implemented when dealing with someone that's emotionally disturbed.

It seems to me just by looking at that video, Brooke, from my perspective it's going to be very difficult to defend this case as a reasonable use of force.

BALDWIN: How might they defend it? What are possible options if for these defense attorneys?

HOSTIN: Yes. Well, what happened at the preliminary hearing so far is any indication it seems the defense team is sort of trying to shift the blame on the medics, on the medical response.

They're saying that perhaps the breathing tube wasn't put in quickly enough so sort of a shifting of blame. But again, I really think that the defense in this case has to be that this was a reasonable use of force.

It's very much an excessive force case in my view, unlike sort of Rodney King. I think so many people are talking about that when they look at this video from California. It sort of harkens back to the days of Rodney King.

This is a bit different because you have the emotionally disturbed person piece. Again, I think it's going to be very difficult to defend this case on those grounds.

It just doesn't appear to be -- it appears to be a deviation when it comes to dealing with people who are schizophrenic and mentally ill.

BALDWIN: I know I've been out with police where they see members of the homeless community. A lot of them do suffer mentally. How will they be able to determine, I guess, questioning via the video whether or not they did, I don't know, go through those proper checks and balances when it comes to individuals like this?

HOSTIN: That's right. And I've been trying to find the guidelines for the Fullerton California Police Department because I think that's going to be a significant issue. Was there proper training?

What are the guideline and were these officers given the proper techniques and training to adhere to those guidelines? Those are all questions, Brooke, that are still out there when it comes to this particular case.

And I guess, we'll see. That should certainly be part of this preliminary hearing whether or not there was proper training, guidelines and whether or not these officers stuck to those techniques. It doesn't appear to me looking at that video that would be the case here.

BALDWIN: And just finally, 60 seconds here, it's stunning. You know, you look at these different cases and it was just because of this surveillance video that all of this happens to be caught on tape.

HOSTIN: Isn't that something? I mean, we keep on talking about big brother watching. There are eyes all over the place. But for the surveillance video, but for that video, I don't know that we would be here talking about it.

So, you know, just yet, Brooke, once again, something we often talk about. Just the fact that, you know, as a law enforcement tool, this type of video is just very, very important.

BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin, we appreciate you on the case with us here on this Tuesday.