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Sandusky Accuser Screamed for Help; U.S. Weighs Options for Syria; Gay Couple Featured in Father's Day Ad; Sisters and Surrogates; Egypt's Election Turmoil; Abe Lincoln Hunts Vampires in New Flick

Aired June 15, 2012 - 09:00   ET

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

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Soledad. Have a fabulous weekend.

O'BRIEN: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Hello -- thank you very much. Happening right now in the CNN NEWSROOM, raging wildfire. Colorado becoming a tinder box this morning. New evacuations and new fears as a deadly blaze rages through the mountains.

And it's not your father's Father's Day. Discount chains, hotels, even JCPenney bucking into traditional Father's Day ad and going gay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYAN FISCHER, AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION: JCPenney needs to go back and focus on selling knit socks and T-shirts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: This morning, the praise and the criticism of the campaign.

The rental as relief. Industrial lofts, garden apartments, swanky penthouses, all making a comeback. Why the rising rents are actually good news.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For whatever else I am, a husband, a lawyer, a president, I shall always think of myself first and foremost as a hunter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Abe Lincoln, you know him as honest. Maybe not a vampire hunter. Or was he? The skinny on the 16th president.

"NEWSROOM" begins right now.

Happy Friday morning, everyone. I am Kate Bolduan in today for Carol Costello. Hope you're all having a good start to your day.

Well, let's begin with the latest unfortunately haunting testimony from the Jerry Sandusky trial. The words will hang over the proceedings until Monday, when the prosecution is expected to wrap up its case.

Eight alleged victims have testified against the former Penn State football coach. The last witness provided the most violent, brutal, and really troubling descriptions of abuse. The man said during one assault in the basement of Sandusky's home he screamed for help. He said he hoped that Sandusky's wife would hear him and come to his rescue.

CNN's Susan Candiotti is outside of the courthouse for us this morning.

Susan, it was tough to read what this testimony was. How damaging do you think this testimony from these victims has been to Sandusky's defense?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Kate. Certainly for four straight days, jurors have heard what had to have been painful testimony from alleged victim after victim, each one telling their story on the stand. And of course it was riveting, as you said.

But prosecutors were also trying to prove consistency among them. Trying to prove that a serial predator, Jerry Sandusky, is at play here. Trying to prove that he groomed each young man, that he showered them with gifts, and that, yes, he gave them love, but that love came at a price.

But perhaps as damaging as that testimony from alleged victims was testimony from two witnesses, including graduate assistant Mike McQueary and a janitor. Both who said, and they have no stake in this, that they saw, they witnessed, Jerry Sandusky raping two different victims in this case. So, Kate, a lot for these jurors to think about.

BOLDUAN: A lot for these jurors to think about. They now have really kind of a three-day weekend to mull it over. So what's in store? What are you hearing is in store for the trial when it resumes next week?

CANDIOTTI: Well, Kate, we fully expect the prosecution to rest on Monday and also for the defense to begin. They acknowledge this has been a very difficult week for them. And of course we've already had a window into their case through their cross-examination, trying to prove inconsistencies or point them out, trying to imply that the alleged victims in this case are only in it for the money, that some of them have hired lawyers and intend to sue Jerry Sandusky and Penn State.

But the big question is, of course, will Jerry Sandusky himself take the stand? We'll find out possibly next week.

BOLDUAN: All right. Until then, thank you so much, Susan Candiotti. We'll speak with you soon.

Now we want to go overseas to the crisis in Syria. The opposition reports at least four people killed today. These are government troops pinned down in the capital city and coming under heavy fire from rebel fighters as you can hear it as I'm speaking. As Syria descends into civil war, opposition leaders and senior U.N. officials say the world community needs to step in and stop the bloodshed. And the U.S. is weighing its own strategy.

Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon for us this morning.

Hey there, Barbara. What are the options that are being considered now, Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kate, for the record, the Pentagon, the administration will tell you, they haven't moved off where they have been for weeks now, which is they are looking at the diplomatic option, sanctions, diplomacy, anything they can do to stop the violence. The question, of course, is whether any of that is working in the face of this unfolding tragedy.

Behind the scenes, however, the Pentagon has finished its contingency planning if, and it is a big if still, if it was called to do something. If there was a U.N. resolution, if there was an international coalition, if the Pentagon was called to step in. What are the kinds of things they've been planning? What have they been looking at?

Look, Kate, it ranges from things like a no-fly zone, which clearly would be an international operation, would involve many countries flying aircraft over Syria. They'd face opposition from Syrian air defenses. Protecting chemical and biological sites in Syria. That is critical. Right now, they are said to be under government control. That always could change. The U.S. could have to step in there.

But all of these scenarios, even assisting other countries with humanitarian relief and refugee flows, very difficult. The assessment is, it would involve a large number of troops, be very expensive, and be a very complex long operation -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Of course. And of course the question remains and has been all along, if and when, when will be this tipping point for the international community to take more forceful steps to step in. Obviously, that's a lingering question today.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you, Barbara.

Let's turn to presidential politics. Next hour, Republican Mitt Romney kicks off a big bus tour. Over the next five days, his campaign will roll across six battle ground states. New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. In each state, he'll visit several small towns.

Both Romney and President Obama dueled yesterday -- we talked about it quite a bit -- in opposite corners of the state of Ohio, which may be the crown jewel of the swing states. The presumptive Republican appeared in GOP friendly Cincinnati, hammered the president on his handling of the economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Talk is cheap. Action speaks loudly. Look what's happened across this country. If you think things are going swimmingly, if you think the president's right, when he said the private sector is doing fine, well, then he's the guy to vote for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: We'll have much more on this coming up in the next couple of hours.

Also, Aretha Franklin among the president's supporters at a star- studded fundraiser. Actresses Meryl Streep and Olivia Wild also shelled out the $40,000 to attend the swanky dinner. It was hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick in her New York townhouse. The lavish affair a far cry from the president's middle class message in Cleveland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Recovering from the crisis of 2008 has always been the first and most urgent order of business, but it's not enough. Our economy won't be truly healthy until we reverse that much longer and profound erosion of middle class jobs and middle class incomes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Before the president spoke, we got a reminder of just how contentious, if you needed a reminder, the campaigns really are. This Romney bus continually circled the Cleveland site honking at the crowds assembled to hear President Obama. The Obama campaign called the move, quote-unquote, antics more at home in a second grade classroom. Obviously than on a campaign trail.

I'm sure this is only getting started, folks. So here is a sign that it's not your father's military anymore. The Pentagon says beginning this year June will be recognized as Gay Pride Month. It comes just nine months after a landmark change in military policy to allowing gays to serve openly. A Pentagon spokesman says that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta wants to recognize the contribution of gay men and women in uniform.

Navy Captain John Kirby says, quote, "Now that we've repealed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' Panetta feels it's important to find a way this month to recognize the service and professionalism of gay and lesbian troops."

Probably don't need a reminder or if you do here is your reminder, Sunday is Father's Day. And some advertisers are talking a bold -- taking a bold risk to update the traditional celebration of family. They are profiling gay couples and some conservative groups are outraged.

CNN's Carol Costello explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Public relations executive Cooper Smith helps clients shape their public image. But images of families like his are rarely in public view. Until now.

COOPER SMITH, FEATURED IN JCPENNY AD: I'm told that this is one of the first if not the very first time that a national retailer or actually a national advertiser has used a same-sex male couple with children in a mainstream ad.

COSTELLO: He and his partner Todd and kids Claire and Mason are featured in JCPenney's Father's Day campaign. One of several spring ads featuring gays.

HERNDON GRADDICK, GAY LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION: We do this kind of tracking, tracking of LGBT images in advertising regularly. And this time last year we had just a few. And this -- now this year, we see this sort of wealth of inclusive advertising. So we do believe that it's a trend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELLEN DEGENERES, TV HOST: Why so many coupons? This is ridiculous. Was it always this way?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That's not what you might expect after Christian conservatives attacked JCPenney for choosing Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson.

FISHER: JCPenney made a deliberate decision to pay her a lot of money to be the public face of JCPenney. They knew that she was an active and out lesbian. JCPenney has doubled down on their May catalog. They featured a lesbian couple with their children.

COSTELLO: It's not the only company who's doubled down. American Apparel is using transgendered models. Marriott Hotel is celebrating gay pride. Then there's the GAP, Urban Outfitters, and the Discover America travel ad with a gay male couple. Johnson & Johnson and Walgreens have even enlisted Ellen's mother, Betty DeGeneres.

FISHER: JCPenney needs to go back and focus on selling knit socks and t-shirts and take a neutral position in the culture war.

COSTELLO: But advertising has never been neutral.

MIKE WILKE, FOUNDER, COMMERCIAL CLOSET: In about 2003, we started to see a little bit of imagery that represented gay families as parents.

COSTELLO: Mike Wilke covered the advertising industry for 20 years and began tracking gay images after seeing this IKEA ad.

WILKE: Advertisers don't see as much of a risk today as they would have years ago. Again, because of the increasing comfort level that the general population has shown in poll after poll.

COSTELLO: American Family Association is urging moms, though, to make these businesses pay a price.

FISHER: If this campaign is going to back fire on anybody, it's going to back fire on JCPenney. The reality is, according to UCLA, less than 2 percent of the American population identifies themselves as exclusively homosexual. So JCPenney here is catering to 2 percent of the American population and running the risk of offending the other 98 percent of the people that they want to shop at their stores. It's just bad business.

COSTELLO: Carol Costello, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: And we wanted to do a quick fact check on one claim made right there by Ryan Fisher of the American Family Association. He quotes this UCLA study as saying only 2 percent of Americans describe themselves as gay. The actual number in that study is nearly double that, 3.5 percent. Our team found some other studies, albeit it more controversial, go as high as 10 percent.

As for JCPenney, the retailer says it's included all kinds of diversity in their Father's Day campaign, including dads in wheelchairs, single dads, dads from many racial and ethnic backgrounds.

So are you shocked when you hear a politician curse like a sailor? But would you pay more attention to a presidential debate if the candidates were allowed to do just that?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Checking some of our top stories right now.

Tokyo police are holding a 19-year-old American on suspicion of killing an Irish exchange student. Nicola furlong was found dead in a hotel room last month. The suspect is not being named, though, because he is a minor under Japanese law. Police have charged a second American man with groping the dead woman's friend.

And activists in Egypt are calling for protests against military rulers today on the eve of the country's presidential runoff. State media reports that the runoff will still take place, despite a court's decision dissolving parliament. Military leaders plan to announce an assembly today to draft a new constitution. Activists accuse those leaders are trying to maintain their hold on power.

And in money news, Allen Stanford, remember that name, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Stanford received a life sentence of 110 years. He was convicted of bilking thousands of investors out of $7 billion.

Prosecutors said Stanford used the Ponzi scheme to fund his lavish lifestyle.

And in sports, the Miami Heat have pulled even with Oklahoma City in the NBA finals. The Heat never trailed in last night's game, but the Thunder missed a chance to tie with 10 seconds left. The Heat won 100-96. The series is tied at one game apiece with game three Sunday night in Miami.

So if politicians swore like characters out of "Pulp Fiction" would voters feel like they were more authentic? After all most of America does swear, and just look at troubling (INAUDIBLE) on TV, in books, in movies, everywhere.

But it seems every time a politician is caught cussing, the public lashes out in disapproval. Remember how people reacted to these moments?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

(APPLAUSE)

BIDEN: This is a big (EXPLETIVE DELETED) deal.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar. We talk to these folks because they potentially had the best answers so I know whose ass to kick.

(EXPLETIVE DELETED)

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

BOLDUAN: So what if Obama and Romney had a debate on a channel like HBO or Showtime where they could drop the rehearsed talking points and drop something else? Cuss words, without censorship?

Political comedian Dean Obeidallah proposes we do just that on an article on CNN.com that had us talking. So, he joins me now from New York.

Dean, first I have to say, I love the article. It was very refreshing. Definitely got some conversations started on our end.

DEAN OBEIDALLAH, POLITICAL COMEDIAN: Thanks.

BOLDUAN: So what exactly is your point here? Don't you think that elected officials should be held to a higher standard?

OBEIDALLAH: No. Not at all. They are us. They are not religious figures. They are not even role models anymore to be honest with you.

They are -- they reflect us. We curse when we're angry. When we're impassioned, we use language that evokes emotion.

Yet these guys, it's all like focus groups, sterile language. It becomes boring and dispassionate.

So, my point is, the cursing is not the end all. It just allows them to show some of their human side that we would use if we wanted to get people to be inspired and moved and believe us.

BOLDUAN: So I do need to take you to task on one part, because I found this really interesting. You wrote in the article, quote, "We have neutered or politicians intensity and passion by limiting their choice of words and then we wonder why so many of our elected officials, and especially our presidential candidates, seem so bland and hard to relate to."

When I read that, I was thinking, do you really think that a lack of foul language is why people can't relate to our elected officials these days?

OBEIDALLAH: It can hurt. Look, we have this debate on HBO. It would be the highest rated debate ever and the most quoted debate in the history of debates. And let's be honest. What is more moving and what is more sincere and authentic, some saying, I won't raise taxes, or I won't raise expletive taxes, I'm not expletive kidding?

Believe me, that second person is going to be like -- you're going to be like, that's the guy I'm going to vote for, that's the woman I'm going to vote for, in my book at least.

BOLDUAN: I would say for our viewers, of course, we would love the debate on HBO. HBO's parent company Time Warner is also the parent company of CNN, I should say. But give me an example that is P.C. enough for television viewers.

What would you like to hear different from Obama and Romney in said theoretical HBO expletive debate?

OBEIDALLAH: I can only say the word "expletive." So people at home you have to imagine a curse word that might work appropriately here, like maybe Romney says, vote for me, I will get the expletive economy going, I'm not expletive kidding. Perhaps that will work.

Maybe Obama says in the debate, you know, I killed bin Laden, expletives, vote for me and I will keep you safer, expletive. I mean, this is the way we would talk when we are emotional and passionate. And that's lacking.

BOLDUAN: True. But one thing, there is so much talk right now, I hear it all the time in Washington, how the political discourse has hit an all-time low. Civility is completely gone in these hyper- partisan times. Wouldn't this just be adding fuel to that fire?

OBEIDALLAH: This is just the beginning, Kate. After this, I want to have a steel cage match. Really bump it up. Obama and Romney, steel cage, two men go in, one man out. That's the president.

The old days in Congress, they would fight. Look, I'm not saying they should curse each other out. My whole point is let's get away from this dispassionate focus group talking. We are all bored with it. It's all so safe.

Let's see a human side -- and that helps the candidates too. It shows us who they really are. I would love to know more about Mitt Romney and I'd love to see President Obama get angry sometimes. And I think some liberals would like to see for him to show real passion and fire in the belly.

So, curse if you have to. Don't do it in front of children. I've got their back. I'm with them. I'm not expletive kidding.

BOLDUAN: I was going to say just that. No one is faulting you for not thinking outside of the box this fine Friday.

All right. Dean, thank you so much.

You can read more of his article and other op-eds that we have on CNN.com. It is a pretty fun one this Friday. Thanks so much, Dean Obeidallah.

OBEIDALLAH: Thanks.

BOLDUAN: So how far would you go for your family? Sanjay Gupta has the incredible story of a woman who's become her sister's surrogate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: What's the best gift you've ever given your brother? Perhaps it's the gift of fatherhood.

Our CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is joining me with -- this amazing story of a family, kind of embarking on this journey of surrogacy. It's fascinating.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is. And just the whole process of surrogacy, I learned a lot in reporting this story. It can be very intricate.

But try and keep up with this because this is really interesting. Take a look at this family specifically. And you're going to understand how sister surrogacy could potentially work.

I think we have a full screen here. But there's a brother and a sister. There you see the brother, James, he's in the striped shirt. His sister over there is Tiffany.

His wife -- James and Natalie, they have a son. But after that delivery, Natalie had significant bleeding and had to have a hysterectomy, had her uterus removed. So her dreams of a large family were shattered.

And that's where Tiffany, James' sister, stepped in and said I think I can help, I can be the surrogate for my brother and sister-in- law's baby. That's just the starting point. Take a look at how it all came together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: October 30th, 2010, I was brought into the hospital because I was two weeks late. I had to be induced. After he came out, I got to see him. We got to -- he was put on my chest, and I basically started to not feel good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bleeding slowly I think over 45 minutes started to get worse and worse as time went on. And basically, they had to take your uterus out after trying to save it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALEE: We chose surrogacy as our first option because I still had my eggs left, and we were able to have our own child. It would be James' and my child.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After a couple of days in the hospital, my sister felt compelled to tell us that she would be more than happy to carry a baby for us. It just really brought tears to our eyes that my sister was that willing to do this for us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have good news for you today. You are pregnant.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yay! We're going to have a baby!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: I was almost getting emotional, it's so sweet to see that moment when they actually find out. But we were talking about this, you know, in the break. It's an amazing thing, an amazing gift to give, but it also raises a lot of questions. It's not like they can shake hands and say, let's go for it.

GUPTA: Right. And besides, you know, they both have children of their own. So, now, he has a son, and then Tiffany also has children. So, just in terms of pregnancy and how different moms react during that.

BOLDUAN: And what they are preferring to do. How did they -- did they enter into some kind of agreement?

GUPTA: Well, it's very complicated. I mean, first of all, they have to go through medical and psychological exams, which you might expect. But then are lawyers have to be involved and papers signed before the baby is delivered. So, I mean -- even though they are brother and sister here, there's still lots of different, you know, legal issues.

There's also financial issues just paying for everything, who will pay for what and how does it all come together. So it's very involved. And we're going to follow them along through this whole pregnancy.

BOLDUAN: This is going to be a series of reports. That's awesome. I can't wait to follow along with you.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you. It's great to see you in person.

GUPTA: You too, Kate. Thanks.

BOLDUAN: And you can hear more of this amazing story this weekend on "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." Be sure to watch. That's tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 Eastern, and on Sunday evening at 7:30 Eastern, right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Good morning again. I am Kate Bolduan, in for Carol Costello this morning.

Wall Street now opening for business with the opening bell ringing just seconds ago. Futures indicate stocks will take a cue from Europe and rise. Overseas optimism is tied to central banks saying that they'll put more cash -- put up more cash to banks dealing with the European debt crisis. Watching that this morning.

As well as Attorney General Eric Holder offers to release more records from the Fast and Furious program to Congress. A House panel has threatened to hold him in contempt in a dispute over the records. This has been going on for quite some time now. ATF agents lost track of hundreds of weapons in operation Fast and Furious, a botched sting attempt targeting drug cartel leaders.

So China will send its first female astronaut into space tomorrow, along with two male crew members. The 10-day mission is highlighted by a docking with an orbiting Chinese space lab. If successful, China would become the third nation after the U.S. and Russia to complete a manned space docking.

So, it is a critical weekend in Egypt as well as in Greece as voters head to the polls in two widely watched elections. For Greece, it's all about the economy as the outcome there could determine that nation's future in the eurozone.

In Egypt, the supreme court dissolves parliament, throwing that country's political future really into doubt.

Today is the final day of campaigning for Greek politicians hoping to grab control of a country burdened by debt and filled with scenes like these, as angry citizens continue to express their outrage over steep budget cuts. The goal of this Sunday's vote, a permanent government after a May election failed to give either of Greece's two main parties a majority.

The current contest is between supporters as well as opponents of the bailout, with polls showing a slight lead for those who are against the measure. We'll be watching that very closely.

But turning to Egypt now, where this weekend, voters will take a part in a presidential runoff between two leading candidates. Mohamed Morsi, a member of Muslim Brotherhood, as well as Ahmed Shafik, who served as prime minister for former President Hosni Mubarak.

Ben Wedeman is in Cairo for us. He's been there all along.

A very chaotic in Egypt there, Ben. Can you -- what can we expect this weekend? Any resolution really?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's two days of voting, in this the second round of presidential elections in Egypt. Now, yesterday there was initial outrage at this decision to dissolve the parliament, which of course is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. But so far, the street reaction has been fairly muted. There's been a large demonstration up in the northern port city of Alexandria. But here in Cairo, because it's so hot, we are not expecting any demonstrations until the evening.

Now the military has said they are prepared for all eventualities in terms of maintaining law and order during the elections, during the first round of the presidential election, and during parliamentary elections earlier this year, the vote went of very peacefully. There were no major incidents.

But given that so much is at stake, the worry is that this time around, it could be different. The Muslim Brotherhood, despite the fact that they have lost their pillar of power in the Egyptian parliament, they have gone ahead and said they will contest these elections over the weekend. But many of their members are very unhappy at this turn of events. And this unhappiness could be resulting in violence at the ballot boxes -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: And, Ben, real quick, I heard you describe this yesterday in regard to the dissolving of parliament, that some are saying that it's moving back to the Mubarak model, just not with Hosni Mubarak this time. What do you mean by that?

WEDEMAN: Well, if you look at what's happened over the last 48 hours, day before yesterday, the justice ministry came out with a decree that the military police and military intelligence can arrest, detain, and interrogate civilians. This is really a resumption of martial law without actually calling it that.

And since parliament has been dissolved, the supreme council of the armed forces, which took over from Hosni Mubarak in February of last year, they now have full legislative and executive power. And the military is also going to hand pick the 100 members of an assembly that's been tasked with writing up a new constitution. So really they control the whole show.

Now the election will of course result in another president having executive powers. The military has committed itself to handing over power to civilians by the end of the month. But we'll have to wait and see if that actually happens -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, Ben Wedeman watching this developing story for us in Cairo. Thank you so much, Ben.

They are young and sweet. But one toddler is quitting the TV reality series "Toddlers and Tiaras." So why is Isabella Barrett giving up her chance at the crown?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Hold the phones, everybody. There is turmoil on "Toddlers and Tiaras."

If you don't know about it, it is the hit reality show on TLC. Last year, it faced controversy over a contestant posing as a prostitute. Now, a mother is pulling her daughter out of the pageant.

Showbiz correspondent Kareen Wynter joins me now from Los Angeles.

Kareen, what is this all about?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I know. Exactly. We'll break it down for you, Kate.

It really seems like this is a fight for control over a little girl's image here. It was just a few months ago, in fact, that Kate that, 5-year-old Isabella Barrett was touted as the new "it" girl on TLC's "Toddlers and Tiaras."

Well, this week, Isabella's mother, Susanna, she's coming out against the show. Susanna says she's pulling her daughter off the show for good, and she explained why. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUSANA BARRETT, CONTESTANT'S MOTHER: It's really just we are a victim of what everybody else does on the show, we're a victim of. And what I mean by that is that if, you know, some of the mothers do things that we certainly don't agree with. And we're just put in a pool just like all of the other mothers and we are scrutinized.

You expect that if you're a good person and you put good out there you get good back. And then, you know, with "Toddlers and Tiaras," it's really in the editing. They are there to sell a show. They weren't there -- they dropped the ball for us when we need them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WYNTER: Now, of course, Kate, mom is still pushing an Isabella jewelry line which will sell brag bracelets or accomplishment bracelets. So, you know, she's not exactly unhappy with all the attention. She just seems to think that the world of pageants is getting a bad rap from the show.

Oh, the business of reality TV, Kate.

BOLDUAN: There is a risk we need to remind everyone when you want to jump on a reality show. The good may come with a little bit of the bad.

So, thank you very much. I'm a bit speechless after that one.

WYNTER: Thanks, Kate.

BOLDUAN: But we will be back and we'll talk to you in the next hour with more show biz headlines, including the courtroom drama between actors Kevin Costner and Steven Baldwin. We're not talking about a movie, though. This was real.

Also, Abe Lincoln is known for the Gettysburg address and the emancipation proclamation. But have you ever thought of him as a vampire hunter?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eighty miles from here to Gettysburg, 80 miles will decide whether this nation belongs to the living or the dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: We are taking a look at the new movie "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter." Is it a respectful depiction of an American hero or laughing in the face of history?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Let's get another check of our "Top Stories" right now.

Tokyo police are holding a 19-year-old American on suspicion of killing an Irish exchange student. Nicola Furlong was found dead in a hotel last month. The suspect is not being named because he is a minor under Japanese law. Police have charged a second American man with groping the dead woman's friend.

And in money news, there's new hope for the depressed housing market. Analysts say the rising price of rental properties may spur more renters to buy homes. A new report from Harvard University shows rental rates rising nationwide with the largest increase in the northeast.

And in sports, the Miami Heat have pulled even with Oklahoma City in the NBA finals. The Heat never trailed in last night's game, but the Thunder missed the chance to tie with 10 seconds left. The Heat won 100-96. The series is tied at one game each, with game three Sunday night in Miami. Game three in Miami. So --

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You knew Lebron and the boys are going to come back after game one.

BOLDUAN: I'm sensing that you are a Heat fan. I'm kind of --

(CROSSTALK)

MARCIANO: Well you know I can't -- really can't discriminate, because you have the Thunder, weather-related.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

MARCIANO: And you have the Heat, also weather-related. So --

BOLDUAN: Did we plan this?

MARCIANO: I didn't, no. But weather geeks among us are very excited about this final for other reasons besides sports.

BOLDUAN: We'll keep watching that. In the meantime, can you also tell us what's going on?

MARCIANO: There will be some thunder and -- and some heat in the plains today. And that's not helping the fire-fighting situation out near Fort Collins, Colorado. This is the expanse of those fires. And if we have any fresh video, throw those up as well because it did jump up overnight to 52,000 acres.

And you see where Fort Collins is just to the west there in the foothills or the front range of the Rockies and just over the ridge there into the Roosevelt National Forest is where this thing is burning.

They had thunderstorms in the area last night. You would think that would be a good thing, but it's not typically because, you know, the amount of raindrops that come out of these things are not very many. So what you get are gusty and erratic winds, and that will fan the flames like you see right there.

All right, let's talk about the stats of this thing. We've got it at 52,000 acres; 200 new evacuation orders were ordered last night with that -- that's fire jumping highway 14. So we've got more evacuations. We've got slightly more containment.

But the thing it just keeps on growing; 81 square miles burned so far. This is the third largest wildfire in Colorado modern history. Current conditions, 52 degrees winds generally calm. But low levels of humidity as you would imagine. And the thunderstorms although dissipating right now are expected to re-fire around this part of the country later on today.

Some of these could become severe. Not only for today, but tomorrow as well and as I mentioned most of the thunderstorms that do develop near the fire zone will be dry thunderstorms meaning just lightning and also gusty winds.

So that's not what we want to see and we will see that for the next two days. Temperatures in the lower 80s and then once we get to Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, we turn the heat back on and more sustained winds are a problem.

So weather not necessarily cooperating but this time of the year it's tough to get weather to cooperate. This fire is so large, Kate. Over 1,000 personnel are trying to battle the flames and they are just having a tough go of it (inaudible). BOLDUAN: And the conditions are just not working with them. The wind keeps coming there's not -- I mean, the wind. I mean, I keep feeling that it keeps going and going and going. And you'd think that they could get their hands around it. But --

(CROSSTALK)

MARCIANO: Well -- well, we set it up this year with -- with a pretty low snowpack. The past few years we had incredible snowpack.

BOLDUAN: I know that.

MARCIANO: And that's the key to fires out west especially if you get a decent snowpack, that's a longer runoff season. And we didn't have that this year. So that's making the fire season that much longer.

BOLDUAN: Ok, Rob Marciano, thank you.

MARCIANO: You bet.

BOLDUAN: Ok. Just in time for Father's Day, advice for young fathers from a man who grew up without a dad in his home -- in his own home.

In about 50 minutes, I'll talk to Etan Thomas, the NBA veteran, will explain how a positive father figure can keep children on the right path and be a success.

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BOLDUAN: So forget about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". It's time for "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter". That's right, it's a new movie depicting the 16th president as an axe wielding menace bent on destroying an army of vampires.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I presume you know what I can do with this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know what you can do against one vampire. But against 20?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: This is all based on the book by the same name from the author who wrote "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Seth Grahame- Smith, he says producers worked hard to stay respectful of history and say they never wanted to make Honest Abe look like quote, unquote, "an idiot".

The film even consulted with the Abraham -- the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The video is kind of distracting.

Joining me now from Springfield, Illinois to talk a little bit more about this is Dave Blanchette, the Deputy Director of that museum. Thanks for coming in this morning, Dave.

Clearly --

DAVE BLANCHETTE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM: Good morning, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Good morning. Clearly this movie takes creative liberties we should say with Lincoln's life. But from your perspective, as kind of one of the experts on this, how close does the movie, since you've gotten a bit a tease of it. How close does this stick to the idea of Honest Abe?

BLANCHETTE: Well, there are a couple of facts that are accurate in the movie. There was a guy named Abraham Lincoln. He was president during this thing called the Civil War --

BOLDUAN: Ok.

BLANCHETTE: And he was handy with an axe.

But let's face it. It is a fantasy. The producers and the author admit that it's a fantasy. So our main interest in this is that we hope people will be entertained enough by the movie to want to learn about the real Lincoln and the real Civil War and visit places like the Presidential Library and Museum to find out the real story.

So we're hoping that it generates interest in Lincoln and the Civil War.

BLANCHETTE: I mean, you have said that previously that it's -- this kind of -- this movie kind of gives you a rare opportunity to -- to maybe reaching a new audience. Have you had that reach yet and what's the reaction been?

BLANCHETTE: Oh we've certainly reached that audience. When Seth Grahame-Smith debuted the book, we hosted a book signing and we had a record crowd at the Library and Museum. There's certainly a lot of people that came to that that are interested in vampires who otherwise wouldn't even think of setting foot in a presidential library. And so we're reaching a new audience and we're turning them into history buffs as well as vampire buffs.

So that's part of our mission is to teach people about history and any way we can open the door to that educational lesson, we're certainly willing to try to do that.

BOLDUAN: I'm sure kind of people hearing that Abraham Lincoln, vampire slayer -- or vampire hunter, would not think that the first group that would be a fan of the film would be the history buffs. So what do you think of this film? Is it a fun take on a well-known historical figure, or is there some level of this kind reaching a level of mocking what many consider to be a great president?

BLANCHETTE: Well the author and producers were very careful. As they said, they didn't want to make Lincoln look like an idiot. They make him look like a kind of a super hero. And really, when you look at Lincoln's real life. That's not too far from the truth.

I mean he was a wrestler. He was an inventor. He was a literary genius. He helped keep the nation together during one of the worst crises in our history. So painting Lincoln as a super hero is really not that far off the mark.

Now what -- you know, killing vampires, of course, that's fantasy, but we encourage people if they enjoy the movie to come and learn about the real Lincoln and we think they will be really entertained by Lincoln's real life as well.

BOLDUAN: Well, we will see. I'm definitely entertained and intrigued. The movie does hit theaters June 22nd. Dave Blanchette of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, thank you so much for coming in this morning.

BLANCHETTE: My pleasure.

BOLDUAN: Sure.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM begins after a quick break.

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