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U.S. Marines Killed in Base Assault; Feds Interview Anti-Islam Filmmaker; Polls Show Obama Ahead in Key States; NYC Bans Sugary Drinks; Is NYC Soda Ban Too Much Regulation; Prince William, Kate Arrive in Solomon Islands; Presidential Candidates Say U.S. to Cut Down on Foreign Oil; Chris Stevens More Than Diplomat
Aired September 15, 2012 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone, I'm Don Lemon. You are in the CNN Newsroom. We're going to get you up to speed on the day's headlines. The Taliban say, they're responsible for the deaths of two United States marines, that's happened in Helmand Province.
And overnight, an assault at a joint U.S. and British base, where British Prince Harry is stationed. The Taliban has threatened to capture or kill Prince Harry during his deployment. Coalition says, all of the Taliban fighters except one were killed.
Throughout the Arab world, voices are still raised in anger against the United States. But the protests in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt are smaller in size and lower in volume. A mob started to form near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo today. But security forces broke it up. A U.S.-made film that's considered insulting to Islam put a deadly fire among Muslim protesters this week.
Pope Benedict is calling for religious freedom in the Middle East. Crowds in Lebanon cheered for the pope on the second day of his visit there.
The pope praised Lebanon as an example of how Christians and Muslims can co-exists peacefully. Marriages between Christians and Muslims are not uncommon there. But the area has seen violence. Police saw one person yesterday after armed men stormed a restaurant during protests in Tripoli, Lebanon.
Scenes of carnage, in Aleppo, Syria today. The opposition claims 72 people were killed across the country. At the time, Syria's president met with the international envoy to discuss how to end the violence. Bashar Assad accused other nations of funding terrorist who he says are responsible for bloodshed.
More rallies in Chicago today, by striking teachers, including a march to the streets this afternoon. The two sides have reached a tentative deal, union officials are meeting tomorrow putting the terms of the re-worked contract proposal to a vote after a week of off school. The parents are hopeful, the students will be back in the classroom come Monday morning.
It's quite a day on the campaign trail, a quiet day, I should say. Mitt Romney and President Obama stay close to home today. The President mourned four Americans killed in Libya in his weekly radio address. New polls show Obama with a slightly advantage in several battleground states. You will hear more on this at the bottom of the hour.
Hundreds of students rallied for injured Tulane football player, Devon Walker, his neck was broken when he collided with another player last week. The quarterback Ryan Griffin is pulling for his teammate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN GRIFFIN, TULANE QUARTERBACK: Devon is a great guy, you know, he started as a walk-on, he earned his scholarship really a testament, a kind of guy he is. He's (INAUDIBLE) and he just loves being out there and he's 100 percent every time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Students videotaped the rally and plan on mailing it to Walker, who is recovering from surgery.
More now on that Taliban assault in the coalition base in Afghanistan, two U.S. marines were killed. It's the same base where Britain's Prince Harry is deployed. Anna Coren is in Kabul and she has details.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are serious questions being raised among U.S. and NATO forces is to how the Taliban can infiltrate the heavily fortified Camp Bastion in Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban members armed with small weapons, rocket propelled grenades and suicide IED vests, were able to get through the perimeter, killing two U.S. marines and wounding several others.
The Taliban says, this is in response to the inflammatory video that outraged much of the Muslim world. Other Taliban members say that Prince Harry was a target. Prince Harry of course is based at Camp Bastion but officials say, he was nowhere near the assaults and never was in danger. He is on a four-month-rotation here in Afghanistan as a Ghana on Apache attack helicopter.
In other big news, there's been another green on blue attack this time. An Afghan police officer turned his weapon on NATO soldiers killing two of them, that takes this year's death toll up to 47. It is a huge concern for the coalition who are in the process of transferring power and security to the Afghan armed forces. Anna Coren, CNN, Kabul.
LEMON: All right, Anna, thank you very much. CNN has been digging, looking into the man behind that video that sparked protests around the world. That report is next.
Also, Libya's government says, it will bring those who attacked the U.S. Embassy to justice. But the Libyan president hints at just how difficult things maybe there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Currently you cannot control these groups, currently?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: You're not far from the truth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Ahead, a first and look at the embassy ruins and the latest on what is being done to find those responsible.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK, I have this just in, I had just gotten this from the state department, from a department spokesperson. And it says, given the security situation in Tunisia and Khartoum, the State Department has ordered that all family members, the departure of all family members in non-emergency personnel from both posts. And they are also giving a parallel travel warning to American citizens.
So again, personnel have been ordered from the embassies in Tunis and Khartoum, and there's also another travel warning for American citizens, as well. All of this steaming from Tuesday night's attack on the Libyan consulate of course. We'll keep you updated here on CNN.
You know, we're getting our first hand glimpses of the suspected creator of that anti-Muslim film that has ignited widespread protests throughout the Muslim world. Los Angeles deputies paraded the man out of his Southern California home early this morning. You see pictures, there he is with his face covered right there. They say the man wrapped in that towel is Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. They wanted to question him about possible probation violations. Now, Nakoula served prison time for bank fraud and is banned from using a computer. The film, "Innocence of Muslims" was uploaded to YouTube, investigators say, the man is not in custody, nor, is he under arrest.
And we still have not seen his face, but the world's eyes are firmly fixed on the 55-year-old, as we learn more about his checkered past. And to shed some more on some light on this Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, we are joined now by Miguel Marquez, Miguel, we know he was taken in for questioning today. What is that all about though?
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was a voluntary effort on his part and federal authorities' part. He is still under -- he's on a supervised probation for five years until 2015 for that bank fraud conviction back in 2010. They are concerned that he may have broken some of the rules. There are 26 different conditions tied to his probation. The one that they seemed to be perhaps most focused on is whether or not he was accessing the internet in ways that he should not have been. He can access the internet, I want to be cleared. But he has to do it with his probation officer's OK.
He is also not allowed to own any devices, whether it is a Smartphone or anything else, that can access the internet without his probation officer saying, OK. LA County deputies came in last night late, I think because of the media out front, because of threats that may have been made against him, and others regarding the film. Went there late last night. It was a coordinated effort with probation officers. There was more than one person that he went to. He left his home, got in the squad car, went to go talk to these officers. What next, is the big question? Whether or not this guy will have a full-on probation hearing is something that we'll have to see in the days ahead -- Don.
LEMON: Can you tell me a little more about and our viewers about this guy, these former charges, and the time he spent in prison?
MARQUEZ: Yes, he, in 2008 and 2009, the charges were brought, he was indicted in 2009. But it sounds like several years before that, this is a guy who developed a series of different aliases, names, he had documents. He had -- we count 17 different aliases he used. He had birth certificates, passports. It was unbelievable the number of identities he would steal, he would open up an accounts, he would use those convenience checks from credit cards companies, deposit them in an account, and then take the money out with an ATM to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.
He was ordered to pay almost $800,000 in the settlement when he was -- in settlement when he was convicted. This is a guy who was up to it -- to his ears in trouble. He got out of prison. And it was shortly thereafter that this film took off. There are others that he made this film with. Because you know, the more we look into this, we wonder how in the world could this guy have produced this film and got all of this stuff together? Even though it was a very poorly produced film, he still got stuff on camera, got actors to come in, got things done, got a permit to make it. There were others involved with him and all of them have kind of gone into hiding at this point and waiting to see how this thing shakes out -- Don.
LEMON: So, this was completely voluntary, and again, the question is, could he face charges over this film, I mean, does he broken any laws or conditions of his probation?
MARQUEZ: Yes. The probation is one thing. The film is another. It is possible that he may have gone over the line on some of the conditions of his probation. That is what investigators are looking into now. His probation officer and others are looking into now. There may be a full probation hearing, at which time we would see him in court and we'd hear a lot more about what he has been up to the last several months.
The film itself, one thing that federal authorities are very quick to say is look, we don't want to dampen free speech rights. People do have the right to say certain things. But I mean, as we all know, freedom of speech does comes with some responsibilities. But doesn't mean that he can't make this film. But they certainly want to know everything about this guy and what he has been up to, given the uproar that has been created from it.
LEMON: All right, Miguel, thank you, Miguel. Now this.
The unspeakable sadness of Americans killed overseas and their return to U.S. soil. This is a transfer ceremony that brought home the United States ambassador to Libya and his three colleagues. They were killed Tuesday night in a rocket attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and Eastern Libya.
CNN's Arwa Damon managed to get inside the building where those four Americans died.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid the ash, soot and debris, remnants of a life that was. And what it meant to those stationed here. Scrawled on this sheet, Libya is so important. Traces of blood stain the walls. What is now a blackened ruin was a pleasant compound in an upscale Benghazi neighborhood. Libyan officials say Tuesday night's attack was planned by Islamist militants. And quickly overwhelmed the Libyan and American guards. The compound's first line of defense, easily breached.
(on camera) According to one of the Libyan guards who was stationed at the gate, armed with only a radio, the assault happened simultaneously from three different directions. He says that he initially heard chanting, growing increasingly louder, and then suddenly, the gunfire, the rocket-propelled grenades, and other heavy machine gun fire all began attacking the compound. He is so terrified of repercussions that he refusing to appear on camera. He says at one point the masked men came over and threatened to kill him at gunpoint for protecting the infidels. He only survived because another individual within their ranks intervened and managed to lead him away.
(voice-over) A rocket-propelled grenade took out the power and set the main residence on fire. Here, the bedroom where U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens stayed, part of a small suite. We are told this is where the ambassador, after being separated from his guards in the chaos, smoke and darkness died of smoke inhalation.
(on camera) What we're being told is that the ambassador's security detail brought him into this location, shutting the door, trying to insure his safety. And then we were being told that when the situation finally calmed down, the ambassador's body was then taken out through this window by a group of Libyans.
(voice-over) Other consulate staff were evacuated to what was supposed to be a safe house. But then, it too was targeted. That is where two more Americans died. Libya's government has vowed to bring the perpetuators to justice. But the country's president touring the site admitted that would be difficult.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We'll do our utmost, whether we succeed or not, God help us, but we expect help from our friends.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Currently you're not capable, currently, you cannot control these groups, currently?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: You are not far from the truth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAMON: The question is whether the United States under estimated the threat from hostile groups here.
(on camera) One Libyan security official told me that he met with American officials in Benghazi three days before the attack took place. He says he warned them, not for the first time, that security in Benghazi was deteriorating. He said, quote, "We told the Americans the situation was frightening. It scares us." The ambassador, too, seems to have been aware of the general threats from Islamists militants. But no one anticipated the terrible violence that would take his life and the lives of three other Americans on Tuesday night.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Benghazi, Libya.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
All right. Arwa, thank you very much for that. What is next for the Middle East and Northern Africa?
Make sure you join Fareed Zakaria tomorrow morning for a discussion. GPS airs at 10:00 Eastern and again at 1 p.m. Eastern.
So, how does a video on YouTube turn into clashes in the streets? We'll ask an expert. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: As the world watched, Muslims in many countries reacted to an anti-Muslim film being posted on YouTube. Protesters enraged over the film that demeaned the Prophet Muhammad clash with police and burned buildings. And of course, the unrest is blamed for four American deaths in Benghazi, Libya including a U.S. ambassador.
Dr. Henry Cloud is a clinical psychologist, he's in Los Angeles now. And Doctor, has our world become so angry that it is a powder keg, just waiting to blow? Or are we sometimes have seen people who well, I guess they're looking for a reason to lash out, as somebody suggested here?
DR. HENRY CLOUD, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Well, I don't think it is the whole world. But I think you've got pockets and there are pockets of a lot of anger about various issues, you know, sometimes it's political. Other times, it's religious, and it just depends. But you do have this increasing ground swell out there where people feel whatever they feel. And then what happens is, this kind of gets to the mob part of this, with technology that becomes one big sitting cauldron as they're kind of feeling this instantly in a lot of places.
LEMON: Are all of these protests basically by the same design? I mean you're a bit removed from them, but I mean, someone pushing their ideology, or pushing back against another?
CLOUD: Well, you know, generally what you got to have to make this happen, is you've got to have this seething, you know, heat about something. And in the absence of leadership, in an organized movement. The idea becomes the symbol and the idea becomes the leader. So in this instance, you've got bad U.S., you know, America is the bad one. And that idea begins to coagulate people. And what happens, Don, in this kind of behavior, when people come together in this oneness, and it happens technologically, then they give up the individual boundaries and they kind of become this group thinking around this one enemy. And when people lose their individuality, that is when all the bad things start to happen.
LEMON: All right, Dr. Cloud, thank you, we appreciate your expertise.
CLOUD: It's good to be with you.
LEMON: Thank you, protests like the ones we were just talking about are not the only ones flaring up around the world. There had been clashes in China. And demonstrations in Russia, what is going on? I'm going to get you up to speed. That is next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Don't forget you can stay connected, you can watch CNN live on your computer, you can do it from work, just go to CNN.com slash TV.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK TRAUM, CNN HERO: Working out in Central Park is the best time of the day for me. It gives me an opportunity to test myself. You feel like you could do anything.
Back in 1965, I got hit by a car, and I ended up losing my leg. I didn't see it as holding me back. It just wasn't a big issue. In 1976, I became the first amputee to run the New York City Marathon. It was probably the best day of my life. And I just felt this joy can be shared with others.
I'm Dick Traum, and I help people with disabilities achieve their potential through sports.
How many people here are doing the New York City Marathon? Virtually everybody who is a member of Achilles has a vulnerability. People come to Achilles and we match them with a guides.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: He just did 16 miles!
TRAUM: The atmosphere is social. There is jokes and laughter. It truly is a family.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I had a stroke in 1980. When I started, I could only walk one post to another post. And now I did 20 New York City marathons. Dick helped me realize I can do anything in my life many.
TRAUM: We change the way people perceive themselves. And you see the glow. There is nothing in the world that I have more fun doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, all year we have introduced you to remarkable people who are changing the world. Next Thursday, we will be announcing this year's top ten CNN heroes on CNN.com. And you can get to help decide which one will be the CNN hero of the year for 2012. All ten will be honored live at CNN heroes all start tribute hosted by our very own Anderson Cooper.
It is almost the bottom of the hour right now. We're going to get you up to speed on the headlines. This is just in to CNN, the U.S. State Department is putting out brand-new strong warnings to people either in the countries of Sudan and Tunisia, or are planning to travel there. State Department says, get out if you're there, and stay out if you're not. Now according to the official, U.S. government travel warning, terrorists groups have made threats against Americans in those countries.
Also today, the families and dependents of U.S. government employees in Sudan were all ordered out again for safety reasons.
Throughout the Arab world, voices are still being raised in anger against the United States. But the protests in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt have been smaller in size and lower in volume today. A mob started to form near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, but security forces broke it up. A U.S. made film that's considered insulting to Islam with a deadly fire among Muslim, Muslims protesters this week.
The Taliban says, they are responsible for the deaths of two United States marines, it happened in Helmand Province, and overnight assault at a joint U.S. and British base, the same base where British Prince Harry is staying. The Taliban has threatened to capture or kill Prince Harry during his deployment. The coalition says, all the Taliban fighters except one were killed.
It's a quite day on the campaign trail, Mitt Romney, President Obama stayed close to home today. The President mourning the four Americans killed in Libya, in his weekly radio address. New polls show that President Obama is a slight advantage in several battle ground states. You'll hear John King's in-depth report on battleground states and just a couple of minutes here on CNN.
A dispute over an island chain led to a heated protest in Beijing today. Protesters aimed -- with anger at the embassy there. They want Japan to abandon its claim to a chain of islands in the East China Sea. Both nations say, the islands belong to them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SHOUTING)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The Russian opposition is sending a message to President Vladimir Putin: They're down, but they're not out. Thousands marched through Moscow today. Some protesters raised banners that read, "Putin is a parasite." It was the opposition's first major rally against Putin since June. It's no secret that the election in November will come down to a handful of states. In those places, the numbers currently do not look good for Mitt Romney.
CNN's John King does the math for us -- John?
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Several new national polls and a half dozen state polls from key battlegrounds tell us this, heading into the final seven weeks, still a close race for president, but you have to a slight advantage for the incumbent, President Obama, heading into the critical states.
Let's look at these battleground state polls. Let's start out in Colorado. A very tight race here. An American Research Group Poll has the president on top. That is within the poll's margin of error. You have to say a dead heat in Colorado, perhaps a slight advantage for the president.
Now let's come to the Midwest and start with Michigan, the state where Mitt Romney was born there. His dad once was governor. The Republicans really thought they could put this battleground state in play. But look at this poll from Epic MAR this weekend. 10-point advantage for the president. That probably explains why Republican super PACs that had been spending in Michigan decided to pull out. The Romney campaign says it has not given up. But a decided advantage in the state of Michigan.
Which makes Ohio all the more important. No Republican in modern times has won the White House without winning the state of Ohio. A mixed verdict is you look at the new polls out of the state of Ohio. An American Research Group polls showing a dead heat. the president with a slight advantage but that's within the poll's margin of error. The Romney campaign says this is how they see the state of Ohio. But an NBC/"Wall Street Journal"/Marist poll, at the close of the week, had a seven-point advantage for the president. The Romney campaign says the numbers are off. The Obama campaign encouraged, they say, they insist Ohio is trending their way. That is a key voice in the Midwest.
Let's come over toward the smaller battleground state. up here, the state of New Hampshire. Again, Romney has a vacation home here. Five-point advantage for the president in the state he carried back in 2008. A state Romney doesn't necessarily have to win, but it figures prominently for him. And a slight advantage, yes, close, but another slight advantage for the president.
And in Virginia, what do you see again? A five-point advantage for the president. This is the NBC/Marist/"Wall Street Journal" poll. This is very close, competitive. But you have another battleground state, yet another battleground state where the same thing is happening. A slight advantage for the president.
And not to sound like a broken record, but let's bring up the state of Florida. what do you get? Yet again, a five-point advantage for the president in a very, very key battleground state there. You add it all up, coming to Colorado, to the east, down to Florida, in each state, yes, they're very competitive. The president has an advantage. What does that do to the race that matters most, the race with to 270 electoral votes? We start with the president at 237. Dark blue, strong Obama states. light blue, leaning Obama. 191 for Governor Romney. Same think, dark red, strong for Romney. Light red leaning his way.
Here is why the polls tell us so much, it matters so much going into the final stretch. The president leading in Ohio. Governor Romney has to win this state. If we turn the state blue, it puts the president on the door step of winning re-election. if the president carried Ohio and if that Florida poll also held up, if nothing else changed, game over. That would put the president over the top. Those two states, biggest prize of the battleground states are key going into the stretch.
Let's stretch it out. Hypothetically, let's say Governor Romney carries the state of Florida. Even then, look, if the president keeps Ohio, he's at 255 so he could get there easily. If he wins Ohio, all he needs is to take the state of Wisconsin, and again, game over for the president.
That is why, as I put these back where they are, toss-up states. That is why Ohio is so important for Governor Romney. If he loses this state, the math is almost impossible. So as you head into the final stretch and see all the battlegrounds, you see slight advantage for the president, still competitive, what does it tell you? Governor Romney can fight them state by state, or change the race with some national change in the dynamic. His best opportunity for that -- next month's three debates.
LEMON: John King, magic wall. Thank you, sir.
Get an up-close-and-personal look at the two men vying for the White House. Find out tonight, beginning at 8:00 eastern with "Romney Revealed: Family, Faith and the Road to Power," followed by "Obama Revealed: The Man, the President" at 9:30 tonight on CNN.
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg says no to big sugary drinks in the Big Apple. But is this the nanny state at work? And what's next?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It is being called the nanny state -- the city of New York during Mayor Bloomberg's 10 years in office. The latest in a series of controversial bans. Well, this time it is a sale of sugary soda drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces in restaurants and other venues.
But instead of putting it to a public vote, the mayor sent it to the Board of Health for approval, and it passed.
More now from CNN's David Ariosto.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, (I), NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: I, Michael R. Bloomberg, do solemnly swear --
I, Michael R. Bloomberg, do solemnly swear --
DAVID ARIOSTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gotham's three-term mayor has pushed bold health initiatives before. New York was one of the first big cities to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. Later, city parks and beaches became smoke-free.
In the years since, many states have adopted some form of a smoking ban, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg was often credited with helping start the trend.
JULIAN ZELIZER, PROFESSOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: In general, his earlier initiatives were quite successful. Now he is in an area that is much more controversial in terms of the regulation of food and what people eat in the campaign against obesity.
ARIOSTO: Among those controversial regulations, a ban on trans fats in restaurants, and a requirement by some restaurants to post calorie counts.
Controversial at the time, McDonald's now says next week it plans to put calorie info on the menus nationwide.
The ban on sugary drinks, the first of its type, restricts beverages to 16 ounces in restaurants and other venues.
BLOOMBERG: This is the single biggest step any city I think has ever taken to curb obesity, and certainly not the last step that lots of cities are going to take. And we believe it will help save lives.
ARIOSTO: It is yet another policy win for the New York City mayor. But for some, including comedian, Jon Stewart, the idea may be hard to swallow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING)
JON STEWART, HOST, THE DAILY SHOW: I am sorry. I'm still adjusting live under Mayor Bloomberg's new soda restrictions. I just --
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARIOSTO: If, like the smoking ban, the new soda reg is copied elsewhere, it would likely bolster Bloomberg's credentials as a trendsetter on the national stage. But is the country battling the bulge really ready for new restrictions?
ZELIZER: In many parts of the country, that won't sit well with people, and they will see it as too much interference, and too much of a say by government in terms of what you can do. ARIOSTO: The mayor says 58 percent of the city is overweight or obese, which wreaks havoc on New York health care costs. But others say he has overreached, placing personal decisions in the hand of governments.
The ban takes effects in six months at restaurants, movie theaters, and other venues.
David Ariosto, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, David, thank you very much.
Criminal defense attorney, Holly Hughes, is here.
OK, so this week's soda ban -- listen, I heard the mayor. He said it is about educating New Yorkers, getting people to understand portions and all of that. But is this too much regulation? Does this go beyond --
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY & FORMER PROSECUTOR: This is ridiculous. This just interferes with people's right to choose and common sense. And you better believe that when he tries to put this into action, all of the big companies, like Pepsi and Coke and all -- they're going to try to get the court to stop it.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: But when smoking was banned inside, there were warnings put on smoke --
(CROSSTALK)
HUGHES: I keep hearing all that, Don, but here's the thing. When you smoke, it affects others around you. So you, as a person, are subjecting everybody else in the restaurant to second hand --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: But if you get sick, that affects your family, your job. if you're overweight --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: -- that affects your family, your job.
HUGHES: But this is completely different. Smoking affects everybody else. So you are forcing everyone else to inhale second-hand smoke. When you get yourself a big 32-ounce Big Gulp, and start to drinking, that is about you. That is your decision to put that into your body.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Maybe you're offending somebody else's sensibilities.
HUGHES: OK.
(LAUGHTER)
There is a Supreme Court opinion and it contains the quote, "You can't legislate morality."
LEMON: Right.
HUGHES: You also can't legislate common sense.
LEMON: The board -- what is it, the Board of Health?
HUGHES: Right.
LEMON: They're appointed by the mayor.
HUGHES: By him. So, oh, surprise. the people he put into the position and essentially pays are going to agree with him? Come on. that is ridiculous.
LEMON: New York City, as a municipality, as a city --
HUGHES: Right.
LEMON: -- does it have the authority to do this?
HUGHES: It has the authority --
LEMON: As much as it sticks.
HUGHES: in as much -- yes, it won't stick. I mean, he can do it, but it is not going to stick. because, like I said, there will be injunctions filed, saying you are messing with free commerce, our right to trade, our right to earn money. And it's also going to be unduly burdensome because what he is saying is, you can't buy one 32- ounce soda but feel free to buy two 16-ouncers and take them in with you.
LEMON: Or to buy a pitcher of beer.
HUGHES: It's more.
(LAUGHTER)
The cost is more because they have to pay for an extra cup and an extra straw. How do you think is the payer on that burden?
LEMON: Thank you, Holly.
HUGHES: It's not going to happen.
LEMON: Got you all fired up.
HUGHES: Yes. This -- seriously, Don, there is nothing else in New York City that needs addressing?
LEMON: All right.
HUGHES: Now, he is going to tell you, that you can't buy a 32-ouncer?
LEMON: Mayor, talk to her.
HUGHES: Oh yes.
LEMON: Thank you.
HUGHES: He can call me. That is OK.
LEMON: Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
We'll move on now.
Half of an island's population is expected to come out and see William and Kate. But readers of an Italian magazine are about to see even more of a topless Kate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Solomon Islands, ever heard of them? Just north of Australia, you have New Guinea, and just off the coast there, lies the chain of the Solomon Islands. And they're getting the royal treatment, as Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, arrive tomorrow.
CNN's Max Foster has a look at what the royal couple can expect during their stay.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The atmosphere really is building here in the Solomon Islands. This ice cream store, offering free ice cream to William and Kate if they pass by. We were not offered the same deal, unfortunately. Just two free potential ice creams.
Now the couple will come here, to the capitol. they will experience the hubbub. They're also going off to a paradise island as well.
(on camera): Half the population --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
FOSTER: -- are going to turn out tomorrow?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, (INAUDIBLE).
FOSTER: That's pretty exciting stuff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we want to see them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're happy to see them. It's the first time ever. FOSTER (voice-over): On Saturday, though, they headed into the jungles of Borneo, climbing and experiencing the wildlife there. Extraordinary scenes, really. And well out of the communication loop, as well, which will be a huge relief, because the world is buzzing, still, about the images of Katherine on holiday, topless.
(on camera): The palace is taking legal action against the magazine in France that published the photos. William is clearly is very angry about this. Kate is upset. But the tour continues. They're dedicated to it. we'll see them here on Sunday.
Max Foster, CNN, the Solomon islands.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, Max, thank you.
Mitt Romney and President Obama say the U.S. needs to cut back on foreign oil. But they have very different ideas on how to do it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: This probably won't come as much of a surprise. President Obama and Mitt Romney don't agree on much. But, as our Ali Velshi tells us, both think we need to cut back on foreign oil, but have very different ideas about how to do it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America's dependence on foreign oil has gone down. In fact, in 2010, it was under 50 percent for the first time in 13 years.
MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In eight years, we're going to get North America energy independent, where we don't have to buy any oil whatsoever from the Middle East or Venezuela.
(APPLAUSE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're both right. 45 percent of the oil Americans consume is imported. That's way down from the peek of 60 percent in 2005. And it's largely due to lower demand since the recession and America's new energy boon. In fact, the United States is the third-largest producer of oil in the world today. And oil production has jumped 14 percent in the last three years alone largely due to advances in technology. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, can now extract oil and gas trapped deep in shale rock.
But even with those advances, America, the world's biggest consumer of crude oil, still needs more than it produces. 29 percent of America's imported oil comes from right next door, much of it from the rich oil sands of Canada. Another 19 percent comes from Mexico and Venezuela. Only 14 percent actually come from Saudi Arabia. Both Obama and Romney want to wean America off its dependence on foreign oil. And they agree expanding domestic oil production is crucial. But there are key differences in their approaches.
OBAMA: Meeting the goal of cutting our oil dependence depends largely on two things. First, finding and producing more oil at home; second, reducing our overall dependence on oil with cleaner alternative fuels and greater efficiency.
VELSHI: President Obama wants to curb consumption. In August, his administration proposed fuel economy standards for cars that would average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. And he favors alternative forms of energy to replace oil. At the same time, he has opened up new areas of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and says he'll do the same in the Arctic.
Romney says he'll move to open up the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to drilling, something President Obama opposes.
ROMNEY: We're going to open up federal lands to really take advantage of those resources.
(APPLAUSE)
ROMNEY: And this is not just talk.
VELSHI: Romney's "drill everywhere" approach is unlikely to reap much new bounty though. According to the Congressional Budget Office, more than two-thirds of the country's oil and gas is currently available for drilling.
America is working towards energy independence in the long run. But for the time being, it will still depend on imports regardless of who's in the White House next year.
Ali Velshi, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Ambassador Chris Stevens, more than a diplomat and a leader. For one CNN journalist, he was a friend. You're about to hear the personal side of this man from her perspective.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: There have been many tributes across the country, across the world to Ambassador Chris Stevens. He was known not just as an avid skier and runner, not just as a man passionate about Libya, but also as a father and a husband.
And to CNN's Zain Verjee, he was a friend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I first met Chris when I was in Libya four years ago. He was deputy head of mission in Tripoli but happy to play tour guide. He took the CNN crew to the port city where amazed us with his detailed knowledge of spectacular Roman archaeological ruins and a breath-taking amphitheater.
After a deep in the ocean and some not-so-good pizza, he talked to us about the potential Libya had for tourism, for investment, for change. That was before the revolution.
In February, 2011, when Libyans rose up against Colonel Gadhafi, it was a different story.
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: In the early days of the Libyans revolution, I asked Chris to be our envoy to the rebel opposition.
VERJEE: This was a formidable assignment, to lead America's mission to a rebel movement in the midst of a civil war. But Chris loved his job and was committed to spreading democracy in Libya above all else, which is why, when Gadhafi was gone, he was named America's top diplomat in Libya.
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA: My name is Chris Stevens, and I'm the new U.S. ambassador to Libya.
VERJEE: It was to be the final posting in what had already been a distinguished career.
After graduating from Berkeley, he served in the Peace Corps in Morocco teaching English. He was fluent in Arabic and French and served as a diplomat in Damascus, Cairo, Jerusalem and Riyad.
During the revolution, Chris and I stayed in constant touch over the phone when he was the U.S. point man in Benghazi.
Chris displayed a deep understanding of the complex nature of Libyan society and tribal politics.
When you talked to him, you felt he cared. He empathized about your point of view, your anxieties, your hopes. He made you feel he was on your side. And he followed through.
Chris was soft spoken, mild mannered, much more comfortable in jeans and a sweater than a suit and tie. He did the protocol, the cables and all the other trappings of diplomacy, but he told me he preferred to be on the streets talking to people.
And when he didn't agree with the word from Washington, Chris was not afraid to push back.
The last time I met Chris was in London. He talked of his excitement about becoming an ambassador in a country he knew so well. He was aware of the dangers, talked of his concern about the growth of Islamic extremist in Libya. But he had hope and wanted to see freedom and democracy as the spearhead of change in the Arab world.
He spoke affectionately to me of his family, his passion for running, for tennis and skiing.
This friend of the Libyan revolution fell victim to the forces it unleashed.
OBAMA: It's especially tragic that Chris Stevens died in Benghazi because it is a city he helped to save.
VERJEE: His death is a blow not just to the United States but to Libya and diplomacy.
There have been hundreds of tributes to Chris Stevens this week. I'd like to remember Chris from some words from William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," "His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, this was a man."
Zain Verjee, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Of course, he will be missed. And his work in that region will be missed as well.
I want to tell you what we're working on for NEWSROOM at 7:00 tonight. The sudden outrage from the Muslim world against the U.S. Was it really about that YouTube film, or was it something deeper? Is there something deeper going on? Fouad Ajami, a senior fellow at Stanford University and an expert on the Middle East, is going to join me live for some insight. You don't want to miss that.
I'm Don Lemon at CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. Thank you so much for joining us tonight. I'm going to see you back here in one hour from now.
In just a couple of moments, my friend, Wolf Blitzer, of the "THE SITUATION ROOM" will begin.
