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Fallout on Obama Same-Sex Marriage Stand; Attorney for Travolta Accusers Speaks; Gay Community's Fund-Raising Power; Prosecutors to Wrap Up Edwards Case; Does Killer Work at Churchill Downs?; How to Stretch for the Big Race
Aired May 10, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Soledad, and good morning to all of you.
Happening now in the NEWSROOM, division and donations on this morning after President Obama, the fallout and the followers from the black community to the gay community, we're asking, was it evolution or flip-flop? Well, some African-Americans abandoned the president and just how powerful is the message behind the money?
Sex suit. A CNN exclusive in the John Travolta case. The attorney for the two males -- two male masseurs going on camera with brand new details. What the lawyer is saying about what really happened that night at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is barn number eight where the body of Adan Perez was found and the barn backs up to the racetrack itself. This is the backstretch. You can see the twin spires in the background there. This is where the horses ran on the backstretch of the Kentucky derby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Behind the track. CNN gets unprecedented access at Churchill Downs. The murder and the mystery. Is the killer living among those who work here?
NEWSROOM begins right now.
And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. We begin this morning with the repercussions happening already after President Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage. Most of the outrage coming from his largest group of supporters, African-Americans, who some believe may bail on him. Take North Carolina for example. Mr. Obama captured 95 percent of the vote from black supporters in 2008. But the same-sex marriage issue is not popular among African-Americans. The majority of black voters defended Amendment One, defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman. Also critics accuse the president of flip-flopping to energize his liberal base. He denied that on ABC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it would be hard to argue that somehow this is something that I'd be doing for political advantage because, frankly, you know, the -- you know, the politics, it's not clear how they cut. But I'm not going to be spending most of my time talking about this because frankly my job as president right now, my biggest priority is to make sure that we're growing the economy, that we're putting people back to work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The president's announcement, however, has already prompted a flood of donations from the gay community. And a fundraiser tonight at actor George Clooney's Hollywood home sure to be filled with same-sex marriage supporters is expected to raise a whopping $15 million for Mr. Obama's re-election.
Still it's unclear how the president's historic endorsement of same-sex marriage will play out. Pastors in black churches across the country will no doubt talk about Mr. Obama's evolution in church on Sunday.
Baptist Bishop William Shields tells the "Atlanta Journal Constitution," quote, "I disagree not on political reasons but biblical reasons. It's not anti-gay this or anti-person this, it's pro-marriage. It's a 3,000-year-old institution," end quote.
And that is how the majority of African-American pastors feel about same-sex marriage but not all.
Carlton Pearson is a bishop at New Dimensions Church in Chicago. He joins us now from Chicago.
Welcome, Bishop.
CARLTON PEARSON, BISHOP, NEW DIMENSIONS CHICAGO: Thank you, Carol. Very happy to be here.
COSTELLO: We're happy you're here.
You support gay rights but you sure paid a price. You say you lost everything at one point when you came out in support of gay rights. Tell us about that.
PEARSON: I preach a Gospel of inclusion and I believe that all human beings are equally loved by God and redeemed by Christ through the finished work of the cross. I take the bible seriously. Just not all literally. I think it's more important what Jesus said about God than what the church tends to say about Jesus. So I did experience a fallout. But it's shifting now.
Like the president said, many African-American pastors and many pastors period are slowly and eventually evolving into a broader and more expansive consciousness where we realized that homosexuals and homosexuality is not going away. And while we would have preferred the traditional values, we know believe that in these changing times it's important to stand for what we pledge to the allegiance, liberty and justice for all.
COSTELLO: Well, Bishop -- Bishop, let's go -- let's go back to fallout and what happened to you when you came out in support of gay rights just to -- as an illustration of how passionately that many African-Americans feel about this issue.
PEARSON: Sure. Well, I got what I call -- some people call it the left foot. Sometimes it was the left finger of fellowship. They just said we're not interested in you. And they basically -- many millions of -- still support me but many in my church about 5,000 or 6,000 just eventually walked away. We lost the property. We lost the building. And that's the risk that people take.
They don't want -- a lot of preachers actually don't have a theological issue. It's a business decision. They can't afford to lose their man -- their parishioners or their parsonages and their salaries. So they stay quiet. The president may have considered that until the pressure was on him to go ahead and come out before the election and state his support of same-sex marriage. I took a risk. And a hard risk.
COSTELLO: And you did pay a price. But as you say, you're coming back. Historically, though, the black church has always been on the front line of civil and human rights issues. There would be no civil rights without black people and black preachers. But like you say, when it comes to gay rights, African-Americans have played a more religious role. So -- I mean, I know you said you think it's a business decision but really is it?
PEARSON: In many cases from the conversations I've had with hundreds of pastors, in fact I had a whole lot of pastors calling me and texting me last night when they knew I was coming on. I asked them, what do you think about this? Many don't support marriage but they support the president. Others support both because they realize that their congregations are filled with same-gender loving people, their staffs often.
The music and particularly the black church has been led by many same-gender loving people who have to stay in the closet or get excommunicated. So we're conflicted on those kinds of things. We understand biblical morality. We understand human and civil right -- President Obama, the first African-American president, kind of takes on what Abraham Lincoln did when he signed Emancipation Proclamation.
By the way, he was a Republican. He -- it was very unpopular, to some people, on scripture because the scripture clearly says slaves obey your masters. So he took an unpopular position and -- but millions of us including the president's descendants are now free to be the president of the United States. So I think it's very a responsible role. The church has always been involved in some aspect of civil and social justice. And the black church particularly should be at the headlight, not the taillight on this issue. We should be the first to saying, let's give freedom and justice to everybody even though it may be against some of our personal preferences.
COSTELLO: Bishop Pearson --
PEARSON: I'm -- yes.
COSTELLO: Finish your thought. I'm sorry.
PEARSON: Well, I'm just disappointed that there aren't more pastors coming forward but I'm also excited that there are really hundreds and all across the border and all the different denominations who are really supportive of the president's bold decision to support same-sex marriage.
COSTELLO: Bishop Pearson, thanks for joining us this morning.
PEARSON: Pleasure. Thank you.
COSTELLO: Also in the news this morning the nation's intelligence community under the microscope. James Clapper, the director of the National Intelligence Service, launching an internal search for leaks that publicly exposed al Qaeda's plot to bomb a U.S. bound airliner. Clapper wants to know if the secret information came from the 16 agencies under his watch.
There's a new face on the nation's most wanted list. The FBI is adding Adam Mayes. The Tennessee man accused of abducting two girls and killing their mother and older sister. Twelve-year-old Alexandria Bain and her 8-year-old sister have been missing since late April. A reward of $175,000 now being offered in the case.
In the next hour, jurors resume their deliberations in the Jennifer Hudson family murder trial. William Balfour is the entertainer's former brother-in-law, is accused of killing Hudson's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. Prosecutors say Balfour was in a jealous rage and have built their case on circumstantial evidence.
Complete fiction. That's what a lawyer for John Travolta calls a federal lawsuit that accuses the actor of sexually assaulting two male massage therapists. But the attorney representing those therapists are hitting back. In an interview you will see only on CNN -- Kareen Wynter did that interview. She joins me now live from Los Angeles.
Good morning.
KAREEN WINTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. You know, it's pretty shocking. Lewd displays, unwanted advances and sexual assault. These aren't clock points from a lurid screen play but a real life drama involving actor John Travolta. An attorney representing two male massage therapists, Carol, claims the famed actor sexually assaulted his clients in separate incidents in January. The first incident allegedly on January 16th in Beverly Hills. And the second at a fancy hotel spa in Atlanta on January 28th.
Now in both cases the attorney claims Travolta brazenly stripped nude before the men, demanded a sensual massage, and grabbed the men by their genitals. The plaintiffs who identified in the lawsuit only as John Doe number one and John Doe number two, they're suing for $2 million each claiming assault and sexual battery.
Now their attorney, Okorie Okorocha, spoke with us exclusively, describing what allegedly happened to John number two when he was called to give Travolta a massage in his hotel room. This is what he said, Carol. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OKORIE OKOROCHA, ATTORNEY TRAVOLTA ACCUSERS: My client reluctantly goes up there. He's in the bedroom setting up his table. Gets his table set up. And, you know, John Travolta comes into the room and gets completely naked in two seconds, and then my client tells him, well, I guess get on the massage table. Puts a sheet over him. The guy is kicking it off with his legs. Travolta keeps taking it off. My client keeps putting the sheet back on.
Travolta keeps taking it off, saying it's sticky, it's uncomfortable. You know, my client doesn't know what to do. He has a high-level of responsibility in terms of his job there and he's trying to, you know, remain professional but Travolta goes into, well, he like a lot of glute (ph) work and he like his glutes done, meaning his buttocks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: And Carol, believe it or not, there are some other details that are even graphic in this lawsuit. Okorocha admitted neither man filed a police report or tried to press charges against Travolta and one of the masseurs shared details of the alleged encounter with the "National Enquirer."
Now we've spoken at length with Travolta's attorney, Martin Singer, who flatly denies the claims by those men and is threatening to counter-sue. He provided what he said was evidence including a restaurant receipt that, he says, shows Travolta was in New York at the time of the first alleged assault, not in L.A. as the lawsuit claims but pretty wild stuff -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes. OK. So there are two accusers now. Any chance there could be more?
WYNTER: Well, the attorney for the masseurs basically told us this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as Travolta goes. He read to us what he said were e-mails, texts, from other men who he said are coming forward with similar allegations. I pressed him for more details on that. Okorocha said they would come out at trial. Here's what he also said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OKOROCHA: Travolta will have to get on the stand and answer my questions as to where he was and I will parade the 100 or so witnesses that we've located so far.
WYNTER: More people are coming forward?
OKOROCHA: In droves. I can't even keep track of all of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: This is just an incredible case, Carol. Travolta's attorney says Okorocha, that man right there, is just seeking his 15 minutes of fame. He just denies any misconduct by Travolta and says the masseurs in this lawsuit are just trying to get money out of the star. So we'll have to see where this ends up legally -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Kareen Wynter reporting live for us from Los Angeles.
Still ahead, same-sex marriage and the power of gay money. We'll look at how President Obama's reversal is prying open donor's wallets.
And the families of two people who died in a duck boat accident will split $15 million and there are more settlements in the case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's just about 15 minutes past the hour. Time to check our top stories.
Two explosions ripped through the Syrian capital of Damascus. State media reporting more than 50 people killed and nearly 400 injured in what they describe as a terrorist attack. Two opposition groups blame the regime for the blast.
And there's been a settlement in the Philadelphia duck boat accident. The families of two Hungarian students who died will split $15 million. Twenty accident survivors will divide $2 million. The barge towed by a tug boat crashed into the tour boat sending those on board under water.
An online petition calls on the Democratic Party to move its national convention from Charlotte. The move follows Tuesday's vote banning same-sex marriage in North Carolina's constitution. Democrats say the convention is staying in Charlotte.
Later this hour, President Obama heads West for a star-studded reception. His re-election campaign is raking in some $15 million from George Clooney's fund-raiser and those checks were written before Mr. Obama voiced his support for same-sex marriage.
It's not just liberal Hollywood celebrating his new stance. A political site BuzzFeed estimates that $1 million in contributions poured in within the first 90 minutes of the president's announcement. In fact, many campaign analysts predict the single issue will draw a windfall of gay money. That's a term being kicked around in political circles.
Darlene Nipper is the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Darlene, welcome back.
DARLENE NIPPER, NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE: Thank you for having me.
COSTELLO: We're glad you're here.
So the president evolved. The money is coming in. Is this it or will gay rights groups fight for more?
NIPPER: Well, as you know I said the other day this is a very important step for the president to take and I believe that the community will be celebrating this for quite a number of weeks and months to come. And I also believe that there's a lot more work to do and that we have to continue to move forward on that work.
COSTELLO: Like, what kind of work? What's the next step?
NIPPER: Well, one of the most important issues that we've been talking about is about workplace protections for the LGBT community, for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. I mean, we still continue to face discrimination in the workplace and in employment, and as you mentioned recently, this is a very important issue for all Americans, for all American families. And of course, that means it's important for us to have the opportunity to go in and have gainful employment and contribute fully to society.
So, that's a very important issue that we need to keep pushing Congress toward, making sure that we enact a law that actually protects us against discrimination in the workforce.
COSTELLO: So, some might say the president put himself out there politically because we don't know how this will affect his re- election campaign. Why ask him to do more? Why not leave this where it is?
NIPPER: Well, the reality is that, you know, this is one among the very important issues that affect our lives. But what the president came out for when he stood for marriage equality was actually fairness and equality for all people in this country.
The truth is that we still don't experience fairness. The people who would choose to get married are a small segment of our community, but the vast majority of us still continue to experience discrimination. So, we have to keep moving forward until we actually experience justice in society.
COSTELLO: I want to touch on Defense of Marriage Act. That's a 1996 law that bans recognition of same-sex marriage at the federal level. The president has ordered the Justice Department not to defend that. And also when he came out with his statement in support of same-sex marriage, he says he'll leave that issue up to the states.
So, what would you like the president to do? Should he fight harder to take back the Defense of Marriage Act? I mean, what --
NIPPER: Absolutely. I think the president has said that clearly in his actions with the Department of Justice, it's clear that he thinks that it should be repealed and he needs to fight for Respect for Marriage Act to be passed in Congress.
COSTELLO: Darlene Nipper, thank you for being with us this morning.
NIPPER: Thank you.
COSTELLO: John Edwards' defense is gearing up for its chance to prove the former presidential candidate is not guilty. The prosecution expected to wrap up its case today. We'll tell you what kind of fireworks to expect.
And thousands of college students are graduating this weekend but they're going to have a tough time finding a job. Still ahead, a look at what new grads can do to get a foot in the door.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Federal prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case today in the John Edwards trial. It's been an emotional roller coaster. The jury heard from a witness who broke down in tears while she talked about Elizabeth Edwards' last days.
Joe Johns has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the prosecution is expected to rest its campaign finance case against former senator John Edwards here in Greensboro today. The government is not expected to call to the stand, Rielle Hunter, his former mistress, the woman with whom Edwards fathered a baby girl.
The government started winding down their case on Wednesday with testimony from deputy White House communication director Jen Palmieri, who was an adviser to John Edwards during his run for president. Palmieri was also a friend of Edwards' late wife, Elizabeth, and testified before Mr. Edwards sat with a big TV network interview for the case she said she warned him not to do so if he was going to lie.
Palmieri also broke down crying on the stand and she recounted her friend, Mrs. Edwards, last days dying of cancer, saying she'd worried that she was going to die without a man around her who loved her.
Palmieri also talked about a meeting she was summoned to attend in late 2007 with Mr. and Mrs. Edwards benefactor, Fred Baron with his wife, where she said the topic of Rielle Hunter was openly discussed. That conversation suggests that Edwards and his wife had knowledge about the Baron couple's attempts to keep the affair quiet before Rielle Hunter's baby was born.
The conversation is also important because Edwards' knowledge is one of the things the government has to show in order to prove its case to the jury -- Carol.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. The question this morning: what is your reaction to President Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage? Now that the dust has settled after his announcement, the question is how will this affect the way Americans vote? It's hard to say. There may be some signals.
For one thing, the president needs support of African-American voters, some of the same voters who helped overwhelmingly pass North Carolina's amendment banning same-sex marriage. Obama's announcement worried some black supporters.
Edward Dubose is president of the Georgia state conference of the NAACP tweeted, "This strategy will not turn people who are strictly Democrat for Romney. What it does is, it keeps them home and that's even more dangerous than anything else."
A recent Gallup poll shows Americans are split equally on same- sex marriage, but polls also show that young voters and independents more in favor of legalizing it and Obama needs those voters to win in the fall. And in telling ABC's Robin Roberts why he changed his mind, it sure didn't hurt. The president mentioned his ever popular wife and children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Malia and Sasha, they've got friends whose parents are same sex couples. It wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently, and frankly that's the kind of thing that prompts a change of perspective. You know, not wanting to somehow explain to your child why somebody should be treated differently when it comes to the eyes of the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Keep in mind the president also gave himself some wiggle room, saying the matter should be decided not by the federal government but by states.
So, the talkback question for you today. What's your reaction to President Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.
Also after the break, we'll talk about how Mr. Obama changed his mind on this issue. Was it an evolution or a textbook flip-flop?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Students across the country are graduating this month and in a new study shows they're going to have a tough time finding a job. So, hey, nothing's change.
Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. Has it gotten worse or a little bit better? Or --
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESONDENT: You know what? It's not getting any better. And, you know, for just about everybody who doesn't have a job who wants a job, it's hard out there. No doubt about it.
But when you look at these young people, they are actually having a harder time finding a job than other age groups. The underemployment rate is a lot higher. Now, what underemployment does is it goes a step further than the actual unemployment rate. It counts both people who are out of work and those who are working part time but want to work full-time.
And when you look at that age group of 18 to 29 years old, 32 percent of those people are underemployed. If you look at every other age group, that underemployment rate is under 14 percent.
And this is a big worry. Underemployment rate for young people is getting worse and why is this happening? Because there aren't enough jobs being created. Also employers, they are nervous about the economy. They're not looking to hire full-time workers. They are looking to hire more part-time workers because it's cheaper to do that, because they don't have to pay benefits, they don't have to make a big commitment. So, it's definitely hurting that certain age group there -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Alison Kosik reporting for us from the New York Stock Exchange.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello.
Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM:
The nation's intelligence community goes under the microscope. James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, is launching for internal search for leaks, that publicly exposed al Qaeda's plot to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner. Clapper wants to know if the secret info came from 16 agencies under his watch.
In just about 30 minutes, jurors resume their deliberations in the Jennifer Hudson's family murder trial. William Balfour is the entertainer's former brother in law. He's accused of killing Hudson's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. Prosecutors say Balfour was in a jealous rage and have built their case on circumstantial evidence.
And the Olympic torch was lit in Greece today for run-up to the 2012 Summer Games. Next week, the torch arrives in England for a nationwide relay before reaching London for the opening ceremonies.
Let's talk more about the political story everyone is talking about today: President Obama's support for same-sex marriage.
Here's a look at how his stance evolved over the years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: There are a host of things that are civil rights and then there are other things such as traditional marriage that I think express a community's concern and regard for a particular institution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, marriage is not a civil right as far as you're concerned?
OBAMA: I don't think marriage is a civil right.
My feelings about this are constantly evolving. I struggle with this.
There's no doubt that as I see friends, families, children of gay couples who are thriving, that has an impact on how I think about these issues.
I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.
(END VDIEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So, there you have it. Let's bring in Will Cain and Roland Martin, both CNN contributors.
OK. You heard the president. Was this an evolution or a classic flip-flop? Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I'll tell you what it is. Substantively, or actually, symbolically for those that support gay marriage like myself, it's a big deal. It's a big deal symbolically that the first sitting president of the United States has personally endorsed gay marriage.
Substantively, he punted. He endorsed federalism for just about the first time in his career. It's something appropriate for states to decide which is same position that Dick Cheney has maintained personally for quite some time.
Now, finally, we're using this word evolved. This isn't an evolution. There is a consistency. And all of President Obama positions through time that you just showed, he sided on the side that was political advantageous to him. He chose to support gay marriage when it was political advantageous.
So, I think President Obama deserves credit symbolically for this. But what you definitely need to understand, this is a politically motivated position.
COSTELLO: OK. Roland, do you agree? That it was a politically motivated position, because some people say this might hurt President Obama because --
CAIN: It will.
COSTELLO: -- it would energize the conservative base.
CAIN: Both can be true.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Look, this is very simple. The president on this issue was a political hypocrite. Now I know people out there are saying my god, Roland, you are criticizing President Obama.
But, look, when he was running for the state senate, he filled out a questionnaire himself, signed it himself, stating he was a supporter of same-sex marriage.
When he decided to run for U.S. Senate and then when he decided to run for president, he changed his position. If we're going to criticize Mitt Romney and Republicans for changing their minds for political reasons, we should be bold enough to criticize Democrats.
This is what happens unfortunately in politics, where politicians will take a position because it benefits them politically.
So now that he's -- look, no one was under any kind of belief that he didn't support same-sex marriage. Everybody knew from the moment back before '96 why he was actually doing this. So, now, he's simply come out and made it clear in terms of no more evolution, no going back and forth, no more wobbling, here it is.
But, yes, he did it absolutely for political gain. We know it. Let's just accept it as reality.
COSTELLO: OK. So, Roland, of course, you lean left. And, Will, you lean right. This is a surprising conversation.
MARTIN: I'm sitting pretty much straight up.
COSTELLO: OK. Ha, ha, ha.
Will, let me roll this by you. How is President Obama's evolving views on gay marriage different from Governor Romney's evolving views on abortion? Can you boil it down to the same thing that both men came to this conclusion for political reasons?
CAIN: Look, whenever you're dealing with a politician, I think you should look at their espousing of principles very, very early. They usually take a position with a greater hope of taking an actual position in government.
You know, earlier, you asked me if so many people suggest this has a political cost to President Obama, how could it be a politically advantageous thing for him to do. It's because he's previous position has become untenable. This riding the fence wasn't working anymore. It didn't work specifically after Joe Biden forced his hand.
Now, this will come at a political cost. Roland and I have been talking all morning on and off TV. This is going to hurt President Obama in many, many states that have had referendums by the voters to reject gay marriage. His previous position just wasn't one that was sustainable anymore.
COSTELLO: OK.
MARTIN: The problem that Mitt Romney has, Carol, is that President Obama's supporters will accept his position on this. Mitt Romney is trying to get people on the right to accept his evolving position. That's been his biggest problem. Not the general but really his own party. That's the biggest problem here.
COSTELLO: All right. Roland Martin, Will Cain, another interesting conversation. Thanks so much.
MARTIN: Thanks so much, Carol.
COSTELLO: Howard Stern, is he too raunchy to be a judge on "America's Got Talent"? Some people think so, and they are telling advertisers to drop the show right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: He began his career as a barber in London and went to transform the way women around the world style their hair.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIDAL SASSOON: You have that individual style. So do my hair care products. Use them. They work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): If you don't look good, we don't look good. We take pride in you. If you don't look good, we don't look good Vidal Sassoon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I remember that commercial like it was yesterday.
Los Angeles police say he's died of natural causes at his Los Angeles home. He was 84 years old. Sassoon helped develop signature hairstyles like the bob, also created a successful hair care line that had his name, he's survived by his wife and his three children.
Howard Stern known for raunchy shock jock antics may not be for spotting talent, but he's also the newest judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent." The new season starts on Monday, I should say.
And now, the Parents Television Council is telling advertisers to jump ship, but Stern told NBC, he's a good show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD STERN, JUDGE, "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT": Someone should be fired for putting me on a family show. Listen, I am a serious judge on "America's Got Talent." And they came to me when Piers Morgan left the show and they said, you know, we think you'd be a good judge.
I watched the show. I'm a fan of the show. I'm not going on the show to disrupt the beauty of "America's Got Talent" because I love the show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: A.J. Hammer, he's host of "Showbiz Tonight."
Do you believe him? He's kind of a loose cannon, isn't he?
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": You know, he knows what to do in the right venue. His radio show is much different from this television show. Howard knew that this would happen when he took the job on "America's Got Talent" because there are people who don't him and who he really know who he really is from his radio show. But even though he's been joking that whoever hired him from the show should be fired, he's kidding about that -- he's always been a fan in support of "America's Got Talent." He's working for that show. He says he's a serious judge who won't disrupt what works.
And that's not stopping the Parents Television Council. They're trying to turn advertisers against the show to force Stern out. They say his vile antics could ruin what they call one of the few family friendly shows on television.
The PTC has been going after Howard for years. And for his part, Stern is not concern with them all. In fact, he's practically thanking them, Carol. He told Matt Lauer on the "Today" show that NBC should be paying the PTC millions of dollars because the more they keep complaining about him, the more interesting and controversial he becomes.
And I'm thinking maybe the PTC should actually watch the show before predicting what he'll do. Anyone who really listens to Howard knows there's so much more to him than the reputation that PTC parades around and complains about.
Remember Richard Pryor? Richard Pryor was this great comedian. But when he did his standup routine, it wasn't cleanest. Sometimes it was raunchy. Yet, he still was able and allowed by people do family friendly movies and go on the tonight show.
Everything in its appropriate venue, and you're going to see a much different side of Howard if you don't know him from his radio show when you watch "America's Got Talent." I think he's going to rock it.
COSTELLO: OK, we'll see. A.J. Hammer, many thanks.
Don't forget our talk back question today. The question for you: what's your reaction to President Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage? Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your responses after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Forty-five minutes past the hour. Time to check top stories.
The day after being the first president in history to publicly support same-sex marriage, the president heads west today. He'll be fund-raising in Seattle and Los Angeles, wrapping things up tonight with a reception at actor George Clooney's home. It's expected to raise a whopping $15 million for his re-election campaign.
Two explosions ripped through the Syrian capital of Damascus. State media reporting more than 50 people killed. Nearly 400 injured in what they describe as a terrorist attack. Two opposition groups blame the regime for the blast.
There's a new face on the nation -- on the nation's most wanted list. The FBI is adding Adam Mayes, the Tennessee man accused of abducting two girls and killing their mother and older sister. 12- year-old Alexandria Bain and her 8-year-old sister Kyliyah have been missing since late April. A reward of $175,000 is being offered in the case.
The son of the man who was found dead hours after the Kentucky Derby says the killer must be one of the stable workers. Wilson Perez spoke exclusively to Ed Lavandera.
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ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The mystique of Kentucky Derby day draws tens of thousands to watch a millionaire's game. The glamorous fashion, a tip of the hat to a bygone era.
(on camera): What many people might not know about horse racing is that on that side of the racetrack it's a completely different world. That's where all the fanfare and the beauty of race day takes place. It's a different story on this side of the track.
(voice-over): This is the forgotten side of a horse track. It's called the backside, a secluded world of transient workers in the horse racing industry. Some 600 people live on the backside of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It's where 19-year-old Wilson Perez worked alongside his father, Adan Perez until Adan's body mysteriously turned up in barn number eight just hours after one of the most famous horse races in the world.
Wilson Perez is speaking about his father's murder for the first time.
(on camera): How difficult have these last days been?
Wilson says, "It's been very hard supporting everyone in my family. I need to stay strong."
Wilson Perez is one of Adan's seven children, their family lives in Guatemala. Wilson begged his father to bring him to the United States two years ago so they could work together. They groomed horses. Son walking in father's footsteps.
Wilson says the last time he spoke to his father was around 11:30 Saturday night just a few hours after the final race of derby day. Wilson says his father called from a restaurant. He was out with friends.
He said everything sounded normal in that phone call and he called to ask him where he was and what he was doing and everything sounded normal.
(voice-over): About five hours later Adan Perez turned up dead.
(on camera): This is barn number eight where the body of Adan Perez was found and the barn backs up to the racetrack itself. This is the backstretch. You can see the twin spires in the background there. This is where the horses ran on the backstretch of the Kentucky Derby.
Stable hand Hugo Hernandez shows us where Perez's body was left. Access to the backside of Churchill Downs is mostly restricted. Workers are registered and carry special identification which heightens the mystery. Is the killer living among those who work here?
KEN BOEHM, CHURCHILL DOWNS CHAPLAIN: The outside world doesn't see this world. They -- they don't know what the backside of a racetrack is like.
LAVANDERA: Churchill Downs Chaplain Ken Boehm says this mostly Hispanic immigrant community keeps to itself. Workers here are transient move from horse track to horse track. The work is exhausting, seven days a week, no vacation. Some clean barns, groom and feed horses. Workers can live for free on these grounds. Most come from Central America.
Workers tell us most people earn between $250 and $800 a week. Wilson Perez hasn't stopped working even as he tries to get his father's body buried in Guatemala.
(on camera): He says he wants answers for what's happened here and he wants whoever is responsible to be found guilty.
He can only wait for investigators for solve his father's mysterious murder.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Louisville, Kentucky.
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COSTELLO: Harley for sale. Front end damage is a mystery. But you have your chance to own the motorcycle that led to Bobby Petrino's downfall.
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COSTELLO: We asked you to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning, "What's your reaction to President Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage?
This is from Lisa. "Regardless of how it plays out politically, I did not vote for Obama and never would, it was the right thing to do".
This from Richard, "I campaigned for President Obama, but now I will not vote, I'd rather go to work".
This from Suzanne, "Get real people and leave religion out of this. It's all about equality."
This from Will, "He's just pandering, he comes out in support after North Carolina voted against same-sex marriage to make himself look like a hero. With that said, I don't care what others do, live and let live."
And this from Mark, "Proud to be a supporter of President Obama, I am glad he said what he did."
Please, keep the conversation going, Facebook.com/CarolCNN.
We're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with George Howell.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm George Howell in Atlanta. the search continues for a man wanted for killing a mother and her daughter and kidnapping the other two girls. And now there's a lot more money on the table for his capture. Details coming up at the top of the hour.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange. In just a few minutes, we're going to be getting the latest report on mortgage rates. I'm going to tell you where things stand and what it means for the economy.
COSTELLO: Thanks to both of you.
Also faster airport security lines could become reality. The TSA is expanding its pre-check program to 35 of the nation's biggest airports. The question is, are you willing to give up a lot of personal information to speed through security? We'll have that story in 20 minutes.
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COSTELLO: In today's "Health for Her", let's talk Fit Nation. How to get you moving because that's our goal here. Ever wondered when or how to stretch before that workout. I know for me it can be a little intimidating at times. So I spent some time with our Fit Nation athletic director and she has some great tips for you.
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COSTELLO: So do I stretch after I run or before I run?
APRIL GELLATLY, CNN FITNATION ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: I like to do it at the end of the day, not surrounding my workout. I like to do a dynamic warm up. You know stretch, stretch things up before I start. Put in static stresses, like we're doing right now, I like to do it at the end of the day.
COSTELLO: So I'm in a gym and as you can see I can't get that very far on the stretch. But the person beside me, her face is on the ground and it irritates me. Is she more fit than I am? Is she more flexible ---
GELLATLY: More flexible than you are. Stretching is important but it doesn't -- you don't necessarily have to be better than her at that. You know, it doesn't necessarily have to be a --
COSTELLO: It's not a competition?
GELLATLY: It's not a competition. It's not a flexibility competition.
COSTELLO: Everything's a competition.
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COSTELLO: Oh, yes, if you want to get in shape with me every Thursday, I'll have a tip on how you can get there. It's part of the 2012 FitNation triathlon challenge with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, right here on Thursdays.
We have heard these words before, the Miami Heat moving on, the New York Knicks are coming home. The stars came out for the Heat last night. Lebron James for 29 points. Dwyayne Wade and Chris Bosch added 19. Miami never in trouble, the finals 106-94. The defending Eastern advance to play Indiana. New York has not won a playoff series in 12 years.
The most famous motorcycle in Arkansas history is now for sale. A Web site is offering up Bobby Petrino's damaged Harley. Petrino's accident on that bike triggered an investigation revealing an inappropriate relationship that lead his firing as Razorbacks football coach.
Texas Ranges Slugger, Josh Hamilton followed up on his epic, four-home -- well how about a little flipping fly.
Hamilton and the Rangers had some fun on the tarp at Camden Yards last night. The game with the Orioles was rained out.
