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Lawsuit Challenges Airport No-Fly List; Egypt Prepares for Presidential Election; Long Work Commute May Lead to Worse Health Outcomes; President Obama States His Personal Support for Gay Marriage; Americans Support for Gay Marriage Increasing; Correspondent Looks at White House Pets; Reparative Therapy May be Outlawed in California

Aired May 12, 2012 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. You're in the CNN Newsroom. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

The no-fly list coming under fire from a group of Muslim-Americans. Fifteen men say they were put on the list, banned from flying, and now they have no way to get off. A federal appeals court is now considering their case. CNN's Jason Carroll joins us live from New York. Jason, four of these men are U.S. vets. Tell us what happens when you end up on a no-fly list like they did.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: According to these plaintiffs, Fredricka, it's a very uncomfortable situation. Imagine arriving at the airport, you've never done anything wrong. You're told you can't board the aircraft and you don't know why. That's the situation that a former marine found himself in. He was heading from Chicago to Spokane for his dog training business. Federal agents surrounded him and told him he couldn't go. He found out later he was on no-fly list. And months later he said the FBI offered to get him off the list in exchange for being an informant at his local mosque. He declined that offer.

He's not one of 15 people who, along with the ACLU, are suing the government over the no-fly list. A lower court threw out the case, but the appeals court heard the arguments yesterday in Portland, Oregon. Now, Michel says being on the list has really hurt him, hurt his family, and Fredricka, he also says it has hurt his business.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABE MASHAL, PLAINTIFF IN NO FLY LAWSUIT: It's a lot of power for them to disrupt somebody's life. You know, in all actuality, this company's for the people, by the people, so the government should be fearing the citizens. The citizens shouldn't be fearing the government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: A source told CNN in January that the no-fly list has grown to 20,000 people as government agencies share more information. The government says this list is vital for keeping the country safe from terrorism, and they say since the list has been created they've taken additional steps to improve the accuracy of it. A court spokesman said a decision will be forthcoming, but, Fredricka, could not say when. In the meantime these 15 plaintiffs cannot get on airplanes. You can imagine how frustrating it for them and their families.

WHITFIELD: And how long might that take, and once you are on the list, how long before you can get off the list?

CARROLL: There's a process where you can go on the web and attempt to clear you name. You start on the TSA website than directs you again to another website with the department of homeland security and basically what you do is click on a particular section that says "travelers redress inquiry process." And then what you do is submit your complaint. You're given a number. And there's a checklist that you look at that will list a couple of things there. For example, you see them there. I was denied boarding. I am unable to print my boarding pass. The list goes on and on. You click on whatever applies to you and then you submit your redress.

But the problem with that is there's no indication of how long lit take. There's no indication of what happens if you remain on the list, what you can do to still get off the list.

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. It's a nightmare nonetheless, I'm sure. Thanks so much, Jason Carroll in New York.

More trouble for the nation's biggest bank. The day after JP Morgan- Chase announced it lost $2 billion in the past six weeks it got hit with a credit downgrade. It's credit rating dropped from a double A minus to a single. Plus the bank's shares dropped nine percent on the news.

Attorney Gloria Allred is vowing to keep alive a lawsuit against Syracuse University and head basketball coach Jim Boeheim. Her clients, two former ball boys for the basketball team, filed the lawsuit after Boeheim accused them of lying about the assistant coach Bernie Fine. Boeheim later apologized for his comments. A New York State Supreme Court ruled his remarks were opinion and dismissed the suit. Allred is vowing to appeal.

Car designer Carroll Shelby has died. If you don't know the name, you have seen the work. He designed the Shelby Cobra racecar and the iconic Shelby Mustang that helped define the American muscle car era. More recently he had a hand in creating the Dodge Viper. He was 89 years old.

All right, turning now the chilling kidnappings and murders of a Tennessee family that rocked the nation and shattered the lives of two young sisters. The girls were found dirty, dehydrated, and starving Thursday. CNN's Martin Savidge takes us to where their hair owing 13- day ordeal came to an end.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The manhunt for Adam Mayes ended on a Mississippi dirt road. Despite the nationwide alert, authorities had always that Mayes really hadn't gone too far. And it turns out they were right, because here we are now is barely two miles away from where his victims' bodies were found at his home.

Authorities say it was a tip Thursday that led them there. As it happened, there was a SWAT team nearby. Police patrols have been through this area at least once before with no result. And it's easy to see why. Because of the thick underbrush it's possible for them to walk within a few yards of somebody and not even know they were there.

And other than some general directions we don't know where in the woods the final drama played out but there are signs we're getting close. I found this. It's a military style red smoke grenade. And if you take a look another the ground you can see where it was wet out. According to the FBI, when Mayes was found they set off red smoke to alert the other authorities in the area. They were close, but they were not there.

That's when I meet Ronald Roberts. He was having dinner when he realized something was up.

RONALD ROBERTS, WITNESS: Blue lights, sirens, gravel flying, spinning tires, all turning in front of our house.

SAVIDGE: Roberts knows these woods like the back of his hand. And we pick up a trail.

ROBERTS: There's a boot print right there.

SAVIDGE: Also looks like dog prints.

ROBERTS: You've got some.

SAVIDGE: According to authorities the SWAT team divided in two and made their way through the woods.

ROBERTS: See that?

SAVIDGE: A lot of boot marks.

ROBERTS: Yes, yes.

SAVIDGE: Stepped on branches and things.

The SWAT team knew they came on something when they saw the girl lying on the ground. Then they saw Mayes. They told him to put up his hands. Instead he pulled out a gun and shot himself.

ROBERTS: Walk down there and see what you can see. That's obviously been somebody down through there.

SAVIDGE: And suddenly there I was. Just the tip-off would have been all the flies, the exact place in the middle of the woods. So judging by this blood on the ground that we found here, this would be the spot that according to authorities Adam Mayes shot himself. Now, in keeping again with their account, the young girls would have been lying on their stomachs directly in front of him.

You quickly realize two things. That phone call tip that came in from the public probably saved the lives of Kyliyah and Alexandria Bains, but not before two girls who had witnessed the deaths of their mother and older sister had to watch one more person die.

ROBERTS: I wish the man could have been saved. I wish it hadn't happened. I wish those other two lives could be brought back. But you can't. They've met their maker. I hope they were ready.

SAVIDGE: Martin Savidge, CNN, Alpine, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And no doubt smugglers are shedding a few tears over a drug bust in Pakistan. Police found the heroin they had stuffed inside a shipment of onions. And wait till you hear how much the customs agents seized.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking international stories now. Today Syrians mourns dozens killed in twin bombings in Damascus Thursday. The government blames the violence on terrorists. Opposition leaders say several more were killed today by -- one by one, rather, by snipers.

Meanwhile two Turkish journalists missing for two months and feared dead were released as part of a prisoner swap between Turkey and Iran today.

And in Peru a bus crash killed 13 and injured seven more in a small northern province. The bus plunged into a ravine and broke in pieces. Police say they don't know what caused the crash.

Pakistani police seized 275 pounds of heroin bound for Malaysia. They found it in a refrigerated container of onions. But inside some of those onions the smugglers allegedly stuffed 830 pouches of heroin rather. Police have two people under arrest.

All right, presidential debates have barely been this riveting, but then for Egyptians this is something totally brand new. It's their first real taste of democracy after overthrowing Hosni Mubarak. Egypt has never had free elections until now. Here's Ben Wedeman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was two older men in suits and ties talking on television, but it's something Egypt has never seen ever, a real live presidential debate.

"I never expected anything like this," says Ahmed, a personnel supervisor.

Although there are 13 presidential candidates, in this the first debate, the two front-runners faced off, former foreign minister and general of the Arab league and an Islamist independent. The sparks didn't fly, but they did debate the economy, education, health, foreign policy, the role of Islam in society and politics, for about four grueling hours. For decades in Egypt presidential politics was a monologue. Several years ago Egypt did have its first multi-candidate presidential election, but it was essentially a one-man show. There were no debates, the presence of handful of challengers, mere window dressing.

So here we have Egyptians doing something that just a few years ago they could never have even imagined doing. They're arguing about who should be the president of Egypt.

In a pedestrian promenade near the Cairo stock exchange, hundreds filled the sidewalks watching and cheering for hours as the questions and answers kept coming. "It gives people the idea that freedom is coming, that there is freedom of opinion," says this stock controller. "This is new to us. It's nice. You can breathe freedom just sitting here watching them speak their minds."

Others weren't quite so enthusiastic. Student Mohammed came here to get a break from studying for final exams and relax over a water pipe. He blows off all the talk of democracy. "I'm fine with a dictator as long as he sticks to his word, as long as he's not corrupt," he says.

The candidates have had barely a month to campaign. Their posters are all over Cairo and other Egyptian cities. It's been a rough going in Egypt since Hosni Mubarak was overthrown, but for a while a lawyer was a moment to savor. What a difference a revolution can make.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Cairo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And back in this country, more reasons to dislike that long commute to work. A look how the longer drive time may contribute to a bigger waistline and more health risks.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, can you name the U.S. cities where you're most likely to get stuck in traffic? According to the U.S. Census Bureau New York City tops the list with an average of 35 minutes of drive time. Other cities in the top five are Washington, D.C., Poughkeepsie, New York, Bremerton, Washington, and Chicago, Illinois.

Which brings us to today's "Health for Her." A new study shows that long commute to work just may be killing you. That's according to the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine." Dr. Sujatha Reddy is a physician for premier care here in Atlanta. Good to see you. We know traffic in Atlanta is horrible, but how is it that it can really impact your health?

DR. SUJATHA REDDY, PREMIER CARE FOR WOMEN: Yes. Well this study shows that people who have longer commutes -- a longer commute is anything over 10 or 15 miles. We're talk in Atlanta, a 10 or 15- minute commute is 30, 40 minutes. So a long commute led to high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. These people were not physically fit. They exercise less. And even when they incorporated exercise, the people who had long commutes and exercise still had high blood pressure. There's something about the stress of the commute that is really affecting your health in a bad way.

WHITFIELD: So we know that takes place when you're behind the wheel. But what if you're on a bus or a subway, same kind of perils?

REDDY: That's a great question. They don't mention that. They mention if you have mass transit. Could it be different?

WHITFIELD: What should you do? What can you do to reduce the stress or make sure this is not a commute that's going to kill you ultimately?

REDDY: Exactly, because you're not going to be able to pick up sometimes and move. Things I tell my patients to do, make yourself do more exercise, whether it's take the steps, park your car far away from the door. Don't drive around looking for a closer parking space. Maybe it's a couple little different changes during the day. Get regular checkups. Know what your risks are. That makes a huge difference.

And I don't know how many fast food places you pass on your way to work. I count seven. Keep passing. It's a temptation, but if you can avoid that and make sure you eat healthier this, it's going to make a good difference.

WHITFIELD: Maybe put something more soothing on the radio or nothing at all. A lot of times I drive in silence.

REDDY: Don't be so uptight and rude like we were talking. Be relaxed behind the wheel.

WHITFIELD: People can be a little impatient. All right, Dr. Sujatha Reddy. Good to talk with you. Happy Mother's Day too.

All right, it's the one night when teens get to feel like a movie star. I'm talking about prom night when high school students dress up, pose for family pictures, eat a dinner and take a ride in a limo. But in these tough economic times not everyone can afford a prom experience. One organization is acting as fairy godmother to make every teen's prom dreams come true.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This kind of cobalt blue because dark blue don't really look too good on me.

WHITFIELD: Zena Williams is doing what many teenagers around the country are familiar with around the country -- searching for a dream dress that will make her the belle of the ball.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You like this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, this will be the first one you try on.

WHITFIELD: But she isn't shopping at the mall or spending hundreds of dollar. She has cerebral palsy and her mother is facing tough times.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The lighter colors would look nice on her.

WHITFIELD: As a single mom of three, she simply can't afford an excess expensive dress for her daughter, and that's where Operation Prom comes in.

KEREN CHARLES, ATLANTA CHAPTER DIRECTOR, OPERATION PROM: With today's economy, a lot of parents aren't able to afford the whole prom experience.

WHITFIELD: Operation prom is a national organization that helps qualifying teens get free dresses donated by retailers, companies, and private citizens. It also holds fundraisers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to say yes to the prom dress?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Say yes to this dress.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: Operation Prom is the brainchild of Noel D'Allacco, who founded the organization in New York in 2005. She says stories like Zena's are touching.

NOEL D'ALLACCO, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, OPERATION PROM: I'm so proud of the organization and what it's done for students. And here's a mom and daughter who thought that prom wasn't within their reach.

WHITFIELD: With several chapters across the country, Operation Prom reaches thousands of girls just like Zena.

D'ALLACCO: I know for a fact that they girls that receive the dresses are thrilled, and it really means a lot to them.

WHITFIELD: On the night of the prom, jitters and excitement run high. Zena gets her hair and makeup done for free compliments of Operation Prom. It's a magical night for Zena and her family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It just made my day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Proms these days do not come cheap. The average cost of going to the prom per person is $1,078. That's up nearly 34 percent from a year ago. Prom then cost more than $807 per person. Wow. That's an incredible hike in such a short amount of time.

All right, a tough truck looks as good as new, but it's come a really, really long way, logging more than a million miles. How long did it take to reach that milestone?

And if you're leaving the house right now, just a reminder, you can continue to watch CNN from your mobile phone. You can also watch CNN live from your desktop. Just go to CNN.com/TV.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In the San Francisco Bay Area a former police officer was convicted of shooting an unarmed man was back in court this week. Johannes Mehserle is asking to have his conviction overturned. He served a year in prison for killing Oscar Grant at a transit station. Cellphone video shows him shooting Grant in the back.

And after days of testimony, a very emotional moment for Jennifer Hudson. Yesterday a Chicago jury found the former brother-in-law of the singer and actress guilty of murdering Hudson's mother, brother, and seven-year-old nephew. Hudson broke down in the courtroom when she heard the verdict. William Balfour will be sentenced to life without parole.

In Michigan a general motors assembly plant honored the owners of a hard-working Chevy Silverado. It has been driven over one million miles in less than six years. The couple did a lot of post Katrina work going back and forth between Michigan and the Gulf coast. The couple says they've only had one real issue with the car, the injectors. They say ever since the problem was repaired it's been going strong ever since.

The San Diego Chargers will retire late linebacker Junior Seau's number 55. It will happen during halftime of the Chargers regular season home opener in September. Seau killed himself earlier this month. He was the most decorated defensive player in the San Diego Chargers' history.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered some advice to young voters today. He told graduates at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, the things you believe in and value matter, and he defended his position on marriage, saying it should strictly be between one man and one woman.

The public is also reacting to President Barack Obama's decision to support gay marriage. In ten minutes we'll hear what people are saying about that right now and how the president's announcement could affect the election.

But first this is what we heard earlier this week at CNN's "Open Mic" in Times Square.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think you did a good job at supporting same-sex marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't need to be talking about same-sex marriage. We need to be fixing America to be back to where it was years ago. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear Mr. President, I am so proud of you today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for taking a stand, for not playing neutral, for not trying to play both sides of the fence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And the resale market of timeshares has collapsed, so maybe you're thinking it's time to get a vacation luxury bargain. Not so fast. We'll explain why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, summer is just around the corner, and maybe you're ready to head to a resort and get away from all. Is it a timeshare that might be the best way to do that? The answer just might be maybe. It may be great for some but it has its pitfalls. Jane O'Donnell is a consumer columnist for "USA Today." Jayne, give me a quick breakdown of what a timeshare is and what are the real benefits. Why do people like them?

JAYNE O'DONNELL, CONSUMER COLUMNIST, "USA TODAY": They like them because so many of us go to the beach and say, gee, I'd love to buy a place here but I just can't afford it. So a timeshare which is basically a week or weeks at a set resort or condominium development often at the beach or a ski resort is the cheap way to do it, it sounds like. You can buy vacation intervals and points so you can go to perhaps any Hilton property.

But it does have a lot of problems like the recession hit and people couldn't afford to pay the maintenance fees or even the weekly or monthly costs that they were faced with.

WHITFIELD: So what are some of the other big risks that come with timeshares besides those maintenance fees, et cetera?

O'DONNELL: Well, one of the big risks is that, you know, maybe you can't even afford to get to the timeshare. So many people buy them in Hawaii or at a ski resort. And if you've got family, that might be really difficult to afford, getting out there once a year. You might not be able to even trade it. There are exchange companies where you can trade your week for somewhere else, but maybe nobody wants your week. And there are, of course, the scams that are very popular where people are taking advantage of people who want to get out of their timeshares.

WHITFIELD: What are these scams all about? How do you identify that this is a scam?

O'DONNELL: If somebody calls you out of the blue or you get a letter out of the blue and they say we have a buyer for your timeshare, you have to immediately be suspicious. You know, they could be perfectly legitimate, but you really do have to check them out. Never give money up front if you can possibly help it unless you completely check out the seller and you know what the refund policy is, because a lot of people have been prosecuted. People are going to prison for demand $2,000 up front to sell timeshares and then they walk off with the money and you don't have a buyer.

WHITFIELD: So if you're trying to sell your timeshare, you shouldn't be paying anyone up front?

O'DONNELL: Right. You definitely don't want to pay them up front. If you met somebody face to face and you checked them out and you knew they were legitimate, it might be OK according to the Federal Trade Commission, but most people say don't do any kind of transaction up front until you know they have the buyer.

WHITFIELD: So who's a timeshare right for?

O'DONNELL: Timeshares are probably the best for people who are retired, who know they'll be able to afford the cost of buying it. And by the way, buying it on the resale market, not selling it to a re-seller you don't know, buying one, you could probably get one for a few thousand dollars right now where it might have cost $20,000 from an original owner. So, yes, you can do pretty well. But you have to know that you're going be able to take this vacation once a year if it's a set week, and you have to know you're going to be able to afford the maintenance fees annually. And they can often go up and they can go up precipitously if the company sells to another company. There are people who have been like $60 special assessments because there was water damage in Hawaii. That could break the bank on somebody.

WHITFIELD: Jayne O'Donnell, thanks for the heads-up on timeshares, appreciate it.

O'DONNELL: My pleasure.

WHITFIELD: President Obama support for same-sex marriage has touched off quite the controversy. How does his decision compare with how the rest of America feels? We're breaking it down.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think you did a good job at supporting same-sex marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't need to be talking about same-sex marriage. We need to be fixing America to be back to where it was years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear Mr. President, I am so proud of you today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for taking a stand, for not playing neutral, for not trying to play both sides of the fence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Just some of the opinions on same-sex marriage from people at CNN's "Open Mic" in Times Square. President Barack Obama's announcement that he now supports same-sex marriage follows a huge change in where Americans stand on the issue over all. Josh Levs is here with a pretty surprising breakdown in the evolution over a short span of time.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It's kind of incredible. Let me jump right into this. I want you to see this. This is where the country has stood in the past on same-sex marriage and where it stands now. Take a look at this right here. We're going to zoom into it. It's a massive change over the last 15 years in this country. This right here is 1996 and this is where the country stood at the time, 68 percent opposing same-sex marriage, 27 percent supporting. Zoom ahead from 1996 up till now, you have the country split with several surveys showing a slight majority even of Americans supporting same-sex marriage.

So what happened? What changed things so fast? Pollsters say when you see a dramatic change it takes a long time, even decades. Part of it is overall growing acceptance of same-sex couples in this country. It's been reflected in media, pop culture. They say "Will & Grace" has done more to educate the public than anything else. So that is part of it.

But another piece of the public is the electoral is not just people changing their minds but talking about different people. I want you to see this here. This is support for same sex marriage in this country. These right here are the youngest voters, known as millennials, born 1981 or sooner. A vast percentage according to the Pew Forum. The older generation are 30 percent in support of same-sex marriage. So by far the youngest voters support same-sex marriage and fact of life more and more millennials are becoming old enough to poll and vote and the older generation is dying. So we're talking about a changing electorate out there that's part of this.

And another thing I want you to see while I'm breaking down these figures. Take look at how this might play out in the rest of the election season as President Obama and Mitt Romney having exactly opposing stances on same sex marriage. One thing to keep in mind is how it plays out racially in this country. By far African-American voters in this country are opposed to same-sex marriage. Only 39 percent in support and whites are about 50/50. So President Obama has the support of the vast majority of the black voters according to the studies, but will some be upset enough to stay home or go over to Mitt Romney?

One more to see on this -- it's a much more popular issue for women than men. Women are 50/50, whereas men it's lower, 42 percent. So we're not expecting either candidate to talk about this issue a lot in the months leading up to the election. But as they do, you'll see some of those dynamics play out and the constituents they're going for.

I've got a big breakdown. It's up at my blog at CNN.com/Josh, also Facebook and Twitter, JoshLevs, CNN. Fred, I'll tell you, when you dig into these numbers, you get the big picture of what goes on in this country.

WHITFIELD: It's fascinating. But if so many more Americans embrace the idea of same-sex marriage, then why is it so many states are defeating laws and votes right on the ballot that ask people their opinions about same-sex marriage and whether a state should recognize it?

LEVS: It's fascinating. We have 31 states that have voted on constitutional amendments, and in every case the state has voted for an amendment to prevent same-sex marriage. Here's what's happening. These surveys do not take into account regional differences. In some states the majority are opposed to same-sex marriage. Also, they don't take into account how many will show up to vote on a particular piece of legislation at a particular time.

But if we see these trends continue as we receive the last 16 years for more and more support for same-sex marriage we can expect more states to allowing it. And Fred, that would be a sea change in this country.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right, thanks so much Josh Levs for bringing us that information. We appreciate it.

So many of us at home have pets, dogs, cats, maybe even a hamster. You'll be really surprised about the exotic animals that have lived at the White House, including a one-legged chicken. Of course, you don't see it in this picture.

But first the "Fortune 500" list is out this week. One company on that list has changed the way we search for information. It's even become a verb.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Google has made its mark in the internet world and on the fortune 500 list. And 39-year-old Larry Page co-founded the company in 1998 while pursuing a Ph.D at Stanford University. Page was the first CEO until 2001, returning to the position last year, making him the youngest CEO on the "Fortune 500" list. Page's annual salary -- $1.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We love our pets, dogs, cats, cows, sheep, even alligators. But when it comes to presidential pets, the White House has seen it all. Tom Foreman takes a look at the animal residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue over the years.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ever since George Washington, presidents have been judged by the dogs they run with. No wonder Mitt Romney and President Obama are trying to laugh off cracks like these.

JIMMY KIMMEL, COMEDIAN: If Mitt Romney ever asks to go for a ride, call shotgun. And if the president tries to butter you, run.

(LAUGHTER)

FOREMAN: There is reason for them to take it a little seriously.

GARRETT GRAFF, EDITOR, "WASHINGTONIAN" MAGAZINE: Presidents and their pets have a long and storied history. Most of us don't get the politics of the Middle East politics and the rise and fall of the GDP. But we can get if you connect with a dog.

FOREMAN: Presidents have kept company with critters of all types. Theodore Roosevelt turned the White House into a zoo, with parrots, horses, ponies, bears, zebras, snakes, and even a one-legged chicken.

GRAFF: John Quincy Adams used to surprise guests in the White House with an alligator he kept in the bathtub.

FOREMAN: Calvin Coolidge had it all -- lion cubs, a goose, a bobcat, a raccoon, and a pigmy hippo named Billy.

GRAFF: Both Teddy Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge gave a large part to the menagerie at the zoo in Washington. Even today many if not most of the pygmy hippos in the United States are descendants of that original Calvin Coolidge hippo.

FOREMAN: But dogs have always been the most likely pick for first pet, for better or worse. For example, there was a story going around that during a tour of the Aleutian Islands, Franklin Roosevelt left his Scottish terrier behind and sent the Navy back to rescue him. It is a measure of how well the speech works that he would up as part of the FDR memorial. Richard Nixon pulled a similar trick, defending himself against accusations he received improper gifts by listing his kids' dog Checkers as one of them.

RICHARD NIXON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: And I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we're going to keep him.

FOREMAN: Voters ate it up.

It does not always go well. Lyndon Johnson picks his beagle up by the ears and animal lovers howled. Still, almost every president has had at least one dog and maybe, just maybe there's a reason beyond politics.

GRAFF: The presidency is a very lonely undertaking. I think there are very many moments in the White House where what you really want to do is take your pet for a walk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And if you want to know more about presidential pets, there is a photo gallery of all the pets who lived at the White House. Just go to Whitehouse.gov and follow the links.

Some people believe gay people can be turned straight. You'll hear from a young man who went through therapy designed to try and change him from gay to straight.

And if you're leaving the house right now, just a reminder that you can watch CNN from your mobile desktop. Go to CNN.com/TV.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This week President Barack Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage. It's ignited a lot of discussions. Some people think being gay is a choice, and when they see their children showing so-called feminine traits they hope something called "reparative therapy" will cure them. This week California may become the first state to ban this type of therapy. The vote is Tuesday.

Randi Kaye spoke with someone who grew up dealing with the therapy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: When Ryan Kendall was 13 his mother read his diary and discovered he was guy. That was the beginning of the most painful years of his life.

RYAN KENDALL, RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR REPARATIVE THERAPY: For years I thought that guy hated me because I was gay.

KAYE: Ryan says his parents were determined to change him. They signed him up for what's called reparative therapy with the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, otherwise known as NARTH. Reparative therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation has been used for decades as a way to turn potentially gay children straight.

KENDALL: Every day I would hear this is a choice, this can be fixed.

KAYE: And did you believe that?

KENDALL: I never believed that. I know I'm gay like I'm short and half Hispanic. It's part of my core fundamental identity. The parallel would be sending me to tall camp and saying if you try really hard one day you can be six foot one.

KAYE: Ryan says he was treated by Joseph Nicolosi, a clinical psychologist who today is still associated with NARTH.

KENDALL: He'd say this is something your family doesn't want for you.

KAYE: At his office outside Los Angeles we asked Nicolosi if he remembered treating Ryan Kendall.

JOSEPH NICOLOSI, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: I'm not familiar with the name at all.

KAYE: His parents have provided bills. There have been checks written to your office, but no record.

NICOLOSI: No.

KAYE: He said your therapy was quite harmless. He said you told him to "butch up," quote/unquote.

NICOLOSI: Never. It's not our language.

KAYE: When somebody says people like yourself, others are trying to get the gay out of people.

NICOLOSI: That's a terrible way of phrasing it. I would say we are trying to bring out the heterosexuality in you.

KAYE: Nicolosi says he's kept hundreds of children from growing up gay. He credits this man, George Rekers, a researcher and big believer that homosexuality can be prevented. Rekers worked as a doctoral student at UCLA in the 1970s in a government-funded program later called "Sissy Boy Syndrome." Rekers treated a boy named Kirk Murphy. To turn around Kirk's so-call sissy behavior, Kirk was repeatedly asked to choose between traditionally masculine toys like plastic knives and guns or feminine ones like dolls in a play crib. If he chose the feminine items, Kirk's mother would be told to ignore him. Kirk's siblings told Anderson his outgoing personality changed as a result of his personality.

GEORGE REKERS, PSYCHOLOGIST: He had no idea how to relate to people.

KAYE: George Rekers considered Kirk a success story, writing, "His feminine behavior was gone," proof, Rekers said, that homosexuality can be prevented. Kirk's family says he was gay and never recovered from attempts to turn him straight. In 2003 Kirk took his own life. He hanged himself from a fan in his apartment. He was 38.

Our producers tracked George Rekers down in Florida.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you say to the family if they say that the therapy that you did with him as a child led to his suicide as an adult?

REKERS: I think scientifically that would be inaccurate to assume it was the therapy, but I do grieve for the patients now that you've told me that news. I think that's very sad.

KAYE: According to the American Psychiatric Association, the potential risk of reparative therapy is great, including depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior. They association says therapists alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce the self-hatred already felt by patients.

Dr. Nicolosi says his therapy isn't harmful and he only treats people who want to change. Not true, says Ryan Kendall.

KENDALL: It led me to periods of homelessness, to drug abuse, to spending a decade of my life wanting to kill myself. It led to so much pain and struggle, and I want them to know that what they do hurts people, hurts children, has no basis in fact, and they need to stop.

KAYE: Randi Kaye, CNN, Los Angeles.

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