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President Obama Says He Will Not Negotiate With Congress; Security Council Agrees on Syria; House to Vote Tonight on Spending Plan; Conversation with Arsenio Hall

Aired September 28, 2013 - 18:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Our next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

So, everyone, thank you for joining us. I'm Don Lemon. We are watching the clock. We are watching Washington. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

You know, the clock is ticking and we are getting closer and closer to a government shutdown. This could happen at midnight on Monday unless Congress can cut a budget deal and do it soon. Right now, the ball is in the House's court. It is to vote this evening at anytime on a Republican spending bill to add controversial measures that would undermines Obamacare. The plan includes a one-year delay on fully implementing the president's health care plan and a repeal of a new tax on medical devices that would help fund it. Any House GOP plan faces almost certain death in the Senate.

Senate Democratic Harry Reid has said any bill that would change Obamacare is absolutely unacceptable. We have this whole thing covered for you. We are on top of it, every angle of the shutdown struggle.

On Washington, our chief political analyst is Gloria Borger. She is standing by. And at the Capitol chief congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, standing by as well.

Gloria, I want to go to you first. Because why would House Republicans push changes to Obamacare in a revised government funding bill if Senate Democrats insist, insist it's a nonstarter?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, have you ever heard of a show vote, Don? I think that's what this is. Precisely because they know that it isn't going to go anywhere in the Senate. This gives a Republican party, which has been divided over strategy if not substance on the question of using continuing the continuing resolution as a way to defund Obamacare an easy vote. And so, they can all unite around the fact that they don't like the president's health care plan. They know the president's health care plan is not very popular in this country. So they can show a unified front and a vote to defund the president's health care reform bill knowing full well it's going to go over to the Senate. It is not going to fly there. And they can say, by the way, we are not voting to shut down the government. We don't want to shut down the government. We are funding the government. But you have to defund Obamacare as a way to get there. So they can say, you know, not my problem, their problem. LEMON: That's what both sides are saying.

So, here is the thing. I think Jay Carney, according to our Jim Acosta, released a statement. But the president so far is not really directly engaging Republicans to try to find a solution. I mean, he came out yesterday in the briefing room and was very animated, had some very strong words, but really, not to engage with them personally and more directly for solutions. Is that a mistake?

BORGER: Well, you know, not at this point. I think, look, this has been a Republican fight internally. I don't think the president could pick up the phone and call John Boehner and say hey, John, what can I do to help you to work this out with your Republicans? You know, that isn't going to go anywhere. Boehner has decided, in fact, that he wants to play to his, this group in his Republican Party right now to get them on board, show united front, toss it over to Harry Reid in the Senate. I think the president spoke his piece. At a certain point, of course, the American public looks to the president for leadership. And I think he is going to have to intervene at some point and try and knock heads, LBJ, if that can work at all this time, who knows. But I think for right now, there's nothing he can do so he's sitting back.

LEMON: He's kind of sitting back.

Hey Gloria, I want to look at, there is a new poll I want to take a look at here. "New York Times"/CBS poll, it shows 87 percent of surveyed Americans would be frustrated if the government shuts down. The poll found 87 percent of the surveyed Americans would be frustrated, 10 percent would be satisfied.

BORGER: Right.

LEMON: Let me break it down by political party before I let you get in there. By political party, 85 percent of the Republicans and 92 percent of Democrats would be frustrated if the government shuts down. So --

BORGER: Nobody --

LEMON: Yes. Go ahead.

BORGER: Nobody -- look, nobody is happy, you know. And the question is, who are they going to blame more for this? But, I think, why shouldn't the American public be frustrated? They don't want to shut the government down. They don't like Obamacare, O, a majority doesn't. But that doesn't mean they want to shutdown the government over which is why so many Republicans have been saying to their fellow Republicans, be careful what you wish for because you are going to get it. You are going to get the shutdown and the public may well blame you.

So, you know, this is all about jockeying right now over who gets blamed and who will get blamed. And right now, if you look at some of the polls, the public will blame the Republicans more. That will gradually shift but they are going to look for leadership. LEMON: I thought it was interesting in the poll that it's not as high as one would think that they are going to blame Republicans. But also, they would blame the president, not really blaming Democrats. Democrats really aren't involved in this, are they? It's the president and Republicans.

BORGER: Well, you know, I mean, the Democrats are going to meet this afternoon in the House. And Harry Reid, the leader of the Senate Democrats says he's not going to come back, you know. They are not blaming the Democrats right now because the Democrats are just sort of sitting back and it is the Republicans who are actively saying we will shut down the government unless you defund Obamacare.

So, you know, right now, the Democrats are like the president, not the major players in all of this. It's been the Republicans trying to figure out how to deal with this. At a certain point though, by the way, all of Washington will get blamed because everybody recognizes this is just no way to do business.

LEMON: OK. All right. Stand by Gloria Borger. I appreciate that.

I want to go to Dana Bash now.

You have with you Congressman Jeb Hensarling of Texas. And we are going to talk to him for a little bit. And I want you to do most of the interviewing here because I really want to know what's going on in their heads and what's going on in the halls of Congress.

Dana, go ahead.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Don.

We are honored to have you. Thank you very much for coming, Congressman Hensarling.

I just want to start with maybe the obvious question. You all, major point, you voted to defund Obamacare. It went to the Senate. They rejected it. Why bring us to the brink by doing something else that you know, that Senate Democrats said is a nonstarter there?

REP. JEB HENSARLING (R), TEXAS: Well, what we are asking for is somebody will sit down and actually negotiate it. It's kind of our constitutional duty to have the power of the purse and yet the president says I will negotiate with Iranians and Syrians and Russians. But apparently he won't negotiate with Americans if they happen to be Republicans.

BASH: What do you want to negotiate over?

HENSARLING: We want to negotiate. We are already negotiating. What we said and what we are going to put on the floor of the House of Representatives later this evening, OK fine. We understand you believe in your health care program. But it's not ready for prime time. I mean, just two days ago, the president was speaking about the roll out and 20 minutes later, they have yet another delay on top of the employer delay. We now have the small business exchange delay. So, regardless whether you believe in this or not, something as big, as important as the health care, something that we believe is harming the economy and economic growth, can we at least agree it's not ready for prime time. It is not even ready for 3:00 a.m. infomercial.

And so, that's what we have asked. And importantly, there's at least one tax, a tax on pacemakers, a tax on artificial hips that frankly 79 members of the United States Senate have already voted on. Harry Reid, himself, called it a stupid idea.

BASH: Which he corrected himself on for the record.

HENSARLING: Was it actually a foolish idea, an idiotic idea? The bottom line is it's already been voted on. So, were they against it before they were for it?

Listen. Lots of Americans are working this weekend. I don't understand why the president can't work and I don't understand why those in the United States Senate can't work.

BASH: I will tell you the reason they give and this is from Jay Carney just few hours ago. He said any member of the Republican Party, you, who votes for the bill is voting for a shutdown.

Given the reality of the raw numbers, yes, you have the House, you don't have the Senate and you don't have the White House. Isn't that what you are doing?

HENSARLING: Well, maybe they are shutting it down because now they are against something that they already said they were for. And in addition to First United Sates Senator who is a Democrat, Senator Mansion of West Virginia, he says, you know what, we ought to lay it for a year. So the first Democrat, every single day that people are having to deal with Obamacare, it's getting less and less popular.

I can't pick up my own constituent now. I mean, just today, I had a guy said, you know, I just got cut back to 29 hours. I had another constituent say, you know what? My health care premiums went up $1,500. Is this affordable? So, can't we at least delay it because it's not ready? And why can't the Senate work on a weekend and why can't the president get off the golf course and negotiate?

BASH: But even if they work, it's still run by Democrats. That's what the voters decided and actually, they are going to reject what you said. So, I guess my question --

HENSARLING: How do we know until we try? I mean we have a Democratic senator already saying that he believes in delay.

BASH: And he says he's going to vote against it.

HENSARLING: We got one of the prime architects, Senator Baucus from Montana calls it a train wreck.

(CROSSTALK) HENSARLING: We understand they rejected defunding. Well, here is something different. We are trying to be reasonable. We are trying to negotiate and they are saying it's my way or the highway. And so, aren't they the ones that are bringing shutdown? Obviously, the American people have to judge. I hope it doesn't come down to that. But people care about their health care. They care about their jobs and they want us to fight for them.

BASH: Let me ask you about fighting for them. I mean, it's pretty obvious that Republicans almost unanimously do not like this law. They didn't vote for it. They ran against it in two campaigns. But, it's also clear because some of your Republican colleagues has said so publicly, lots of them has said to me privately and others that they didn't want to have this strategy. The idea of attaching this to something as important as a bill funding the government is the wrong way to go and they feel that they were pushed into this by your senator from Texas, Ted Cruz. So, is there some truth to the fact Ted Cruz has more power over your caucus than John Boehner goes?

HENSARLING: When you talk a spending bill, the last budget score from the congressional budget office is almost $2 trillion. How can you sit here and ignore the president's health care problem if you are voting on a spending bill? This is part and parcel of a spending bill.

In addition, I don't think you can talk to hardly any small business person in America who doesn't tell you that one of the greatest challenges they have is dealing with Obamacare and its small business is the job engine of America. That's what brings in revenue.

So frankly, I think we are derelict if not negligent and our duty, if we didn't try to deal with Obamacare. OK, we get it. We get it. They rejected defunding. So mow, we are putting on the table delay.

And by the way, the United States Senate, they can be the slowest institution in America. And when they want to, they can be the quickest. They can snap their fingers and deem a bill. We have all weekend. We invite them to come back from the golf courses and work on behalf of the people in America like we are doing.

BASH: What happens on Monday morning if the markets open and they tumble or if they even get obviously spooked? Will that be enough to get everybody here spooked as well?

HENSARLING: We are here. I mean, the House is here. The Republican House is here.

BASH: To be here is one thing, but the vote to fund the government is a completely different thing and a clean as Democrats want.

HENSARLING: Republicans have voted to fund the government. We are going to continue to vote to fund the government. So, it's those who, again, won't sit down and negotiate and using all this great hyperbole who apparently aren't listening to the same constituents we are that small businesses can't hire and that Obamacare is not ready, you know. Why have we delayed this for employers but we won't not delay it for employees? I mean, it's just crazy. All we are asking for, if it's not ready for prime time this before us, don't force it on the American people.

BASH: Thank you, Congressman. I appreciate it.

LEMON: Dana, before you let him go --

BASH: Yes.

LEMON: I have to ask the question, because I'm sure people at home are asking the same thing. I hear over and over Republicans coming out and saying that Democrats are voting. They are voting to shut the government down. I don't understand that logic or that rationale. Can you explain that to me, Congressman?

HENSARLING: I frankly don't understand the contrary. Again, Republicans have voted to keep the government open. So, thus, if they don't take up the bill, the main thing is we are trying to sit here and work and negotiate. The American people don't want the government shut down. But at the same time, every single day Obamacare gets less and less popular.

OK, I understand we can't agree on defunding it, but can't we at least agree -- I mean, if we have 1100 different waivers of the program, if just two days ago they delayed again another key aspect of the bill, that being the small business exchange rollout. It's a program that is not ready on the American people.

LEMON: I understand that --

HENSARLING: It takes two bodies to come together and the president to sign it. You seem to be sign to side only one party.

LEMON: No, I'm just asking the question because I don't understand and many people don't understand and many Republicans don't understand why you would say that Democrats want to shut the government down when Republicans are the people who are the party that is threatening to shut it down. But you answered my question -- hang on, hang on, hang on, you answered my questions by talking about Obamacare and not -- go ahead.

HENSARLING: No, no. You just made an assertion that my party was threatening to shut it down. So, where is your fact? I haven't heard our speaker say that. I haven't heard on --

LEMON: You are the party that attached Obamacare to shutting the government down.

HENSARLING: We are sitting here trying -- it's part of the budget. It's part of the budget. We are debating a spending bill. Obamacare is part of that. What you are saying --

LEMON: And who put it in the bill.

HENSARLING: Perhaps, on behalf of your party, is that we just -- hey, whatever the president or the Senate offers. Well, you know, I understand people elected the president, I understand they elected to have the Senate and Democrats. But guess what, the same people elected to vote the Republicans in the House. They expect us to negotiate. They expect us to negotiate in good faith. The president refuses to negotiate. The Senate went home for the weekend and that's regrettable. There's time to work this out. But, again, Obamacare is a key part of the economy, not just our health care, but a key part of our economy. It's a key part of our debt. I would hope again that the president and Harry Reid would wanting to negotiate in good faith. That's what we are hoping for.

LEMON: Congressman, thank you for much. I have to get to the White House now because there is some breaking news. But you probably want to hear this. So Dana, Congressman, stand by.

I want to get to CNN's Jim Acosta now who is standing by at the White House.

Jim, you have developing news for us, what is that?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Developing news but probably not a big news flash to everybody. The White House has issued a veto threat saying the president would veto. This has just come down in the last several minutes. That the president would veto that this House, a continuing resolution package that is expected to be voted on later this evening. And just to read a quote to you, Don, from that. It says "by including measure that is have no place in a government funding bill and that the president and Senate already made clear or unacceptable, House Republicans are pushing the government toward shutdown." That echoes what White House press secretary Jay Carney said earlier this afternoon in a statement and we can out that on screen. It says the president has shown he is willing with to improve the health care law and meet Republicans more than half way to deal with the fiscal challenges but he will not do so under threats of government shutdown that will hurt our economy. Any member of the Republican Party, the statement say, who votes on this is voting for a shutdown. It is time for the House to listen to the American people and act as the Senate has in a reasonable way to pass a bill that keeps the government running and move on.

So, Jay Carney there, saying the House Republicans move on. I wanted to throw that out there to you, Don, because that basically sums what the position is here. And that is, and we have been talking about this all day in the last several days, the president says, as said, he will not sign anything into law that delays or defunds Obamacare. They feel like that's been litigated not only in elections but the Supreme Court. And that he will not tinker with Obamacare under the threat of a government shutdown or debt default. That is their line and it's a red line or whatever you want to call it. And they say they are not budging, Don.

LEMON: It's just so frustrating. I'm just sort of channeling what the viewer, the what the American people must be sitting at home thinking as they are watching us, as they are listening to all of these people come out from both sides giving their talking points. It's just very frustrating for Americans.

Thank you, Jim. We appreciate that. We will get back to you. We will get to Jim at the White House.

And as we wait on word of a vote on Congress, yes, on a Saturday, time is running out to avoid a government shutdown. My last two guests, my next two guests last hour, we sent them to their separate corners after their bout. They are back I'm talking about Ben Ferguson and Maria Cardona. And we are going to talk about that, the veto threat, what the congressman just said, all of it right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: This is really crunch time right now. The House is expected to vote soon on a spending bill that would delay Obamacare for a year.

I want to bring back now CNN political commentator and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona. Also in D.C. radio host Ben Ferguson, he is also a CNN political commentator.

OK. So Maria, I realize that Obamacare is law. The Supreme Court has even weighed in. But it's also very unpopular. I want you to look at this. Fifty-seven percent of Americans now oppose all of -- all or most of Obamacare. And the more they learn, the less they seem to like it. Should the president be more receptive to proposed changes to the law?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, first of all, Don, let's also be clear that in all the polls that show the American people don't like Obamacare, 15 to 20 percent of those polled say they don't like it because they are liberal and progressive and they don't think it goes far enough. So, those polls are not to be believed on their face. They actually do think that they don't like Obamacare because they think it should go a lot further than it does.

Number two, if you actually look at other polls that have been done state by state of where some of the benefits of Obamacare have actually been implemented, the majority of folks in those states want Obamacare to give it a chance to work. They don't want it to be repealed. They want to give it a chance to work. And importantly, they want leaders to work together if there are things about it that can and should be fixed.

And here is to your talking points. The president said very clearly, that he is open to Republicans ideas if they have any on how to better implement the affordable care act, but they should not and cannot make it something that is connected to the government shutdown. That's ridiculous.

LEMON: Ben, I was reading your mind --

CARDONA: The Obamacare, then yes, let's talk.

LEMON: I know what Ben is going to say. They didn't let us at the table when they were putting this law, when they passed this law. Why would they do it now? That was then, though, Ben. This is now. You can't keep going back.

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I can keep going back because that is the reality.

LEMON: I realize you want negotiations. You say we don't live in a dictatorship. But I mean, the reality is Republicans don't have the votes, period. So, why even bring up the -- put us on the brink of a shutdown. This is like hostage taking?

FERGUSON: Again, who is in charge right now? The president of the United States of America is in charge. And if he chooses to not negotiate at all, then he is choosing to shut down the government by not negotiating at all. That is the fact. You want to try to act as if the Republicans are to blame because they do have the votes in the House.

LEMON: How is the president not negotiating?

FERGUSON: And the American people wait for this. I mean, first of all, he just said I will not negotiate with the Republicans. So, that would answer your first question, Don.

CARDONA: On this!

LEMON: On this. What is there to negotiate?

FERGUSON: There's negotiating one, what they are looking at now which is are we ready for Obamacare and if we delay it by one year. California is saying that they are not going to be ready to get insurance companies the applications for at least 60 days.

LEMON: All right, hang on, let me get in here. So, why not say hey, listen, we need to negotiate on Obamacare. But we are not going to tie it to a government shutdown. Let's keep it to two separate and then work on Obamacare.

FERGUSON: Don, you are smart, you know this. Barack Obama does not negotiate. And it's obvious, for the last five years on Obamacare. He has refused to move any at all. That's one of the reasons why so many Democrats like him because he has refused to negotiate for five years. The reality of where we are right now and the majority of Americans --

LEMON: What happen single payers?

FERGUSON: Single payers should that be negotiated? I think it should be negotiated.

CARDONA: It is negotiating out of the bill because of Republicans.

LEMON: That's exactly.

FERGUSON: Look today at what the president said coming from the White House. They are now threatening a veto. And they have already said whatever you do in the House, we don't care that you have the majority, we don't care that that the American, the majority of them are against Obamacare. We refuse to listen to American people. So, how can you blame the Republicans for that being the shutdown when he is the guy who is saying I refuse? LEMON: Ben, I think you have a great point when it comes to Obamacare that the American public would like to work it out. They will work it out in the polls and the election if they don't like it. They will vote whoever in and out of office. But it is not the same thing as the government shutdown.

So, you have a great point when it comes to Obamacare. But then, you are using it as -- it's like taking people hostage saying we are going to drive you over the cliff unless we get our way.

FERGUSON: Don, you are acting as if somehow the voters didn't already vote. When they took away the majority from Barack Obama's party in the House. You can't overlook that. The government is working the way it's supposed to work when people don't like things. Hold on -- the Republicans are in charge in the House because they didn't like the Democrats in charge. So, you have to respect that. The president, apparently, does not respect what the American voters said when they said we don't want you in charge of all branches of government.

CARDONA: You know what else you can't overlook?

LEMON: Quickly Maria.

CARDONA: The 2012 election. What was the majority domestic topic in the 2012 election in addition to the economy? Obamacare. For God's sake, the American people -- they did awful.

FERGUSON: They did awful until the bill was passed.

CARDONA: The American people reelected this president.

Don, let me just quickly point a scenario out to you.

LEMON: I have to go though, Maria. Hurry up.

CARDONA: What about the -- what if they just demanded, instead of getting rid of Obamacare, for President Obama to step down. That's really what they want. That's crazy right?

FERGUSON: No, it is not. And that's ridiculous because we are not asking for that.

CARDONA: That is equal to what they are trying to do.

LEMON: OK. We have to go.

Ben, you wouldn't want the president to step down? Come on?

FERGUSON: No. I want him to finish out the term because he is elected president. I respect the voters and who they pick.

CARDONA: Elections? Elections have --

FERGUSON: You respect the voters that is like the Obamacare.

LEMON: If you respect the voters then, stop telling the voters you are going to shut down their government if you respect them so much.

CARDONA: Exactly.

LEMON: Ben.

All right. Thank you. I listen. I am not on either side here. It's just frustrating. The people at home are really upset but, I'm not. I really not think -- but I just think it's ridiculous.

FERGUSON: Don, come on.

CARDONA: That's true. That's right.

LEMON: No, seriously. I think it's ridiculous that people are threatening are holding the American people hostage over something because they are mad at someone, because they don't like something. Then negotiate on the issue and not over the American public's economy. People can't get loan homes. People can't get passports. I mean, come on, guys.

Thank you. See you soon. All right.

It sort of came out of nowhere for anyone alive the past 30 years. It seems too almost too hard to fathom, Iran and the U.S. can we get past the past? Well, some can on both sides of the Atlantic. Some are not happy about this. That's next.

And coming up, ten people fall victim to Chicago violence. It's just overnight. Can something called a gang summit be the answer?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The United Nations Security Council did something late last night that is very rare for them. They actually agreed unanimously on a toughly worded resolution aimed at Syria. Even Russia voted yes, demanding Syria eliminate its entire arsenal of chemical weapons and do it quickly.

The resolution does carry consequences if Syria doesn't go along with it.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is here. He is our senior international correspondent.

The Security Council couldn't find an agreement for years on how to end the civil war in Syria. What's different this time?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's tough consequences. It just outlines the next step if Syria doesn't (INAUDIBLE) chemical weapons program fast enough. I mean, they already actually agreed frankly by joining the Chemical Weapons Convention about two weeks ago, to give up that stockpile. This resolution just puts together a faster timetable and kind of lay out what would happen in the event people think they're not moving fast enough.

LEMON: You said there are consequences if Syria doesn't comply. Are they spelled out in this resolution?

WALSH: Not at all. The point was the Americans wanted a sort of trigger in there that would authorize force if they didn't comply with the resolution. What this does is say, if they didn't comply and then we'll come back and we'll talk about it again and have another vote. That's basically the issue. That's the watering down that Moscow managed to get in the resolution.

It spells out very clearly what kind of conversation they would have if Syria doesn't comply. But it doesn't actually say these are sanctions we'll take. It gives a Russian a chance to veto that again.

LEMON: An important player in this is Iran. So, how much is Iran going to help in this, I guess, partner in helping in the civil war if they are going help at all?

WALSH: Well, Hassan Rouhani said in his press conference, he said he was against foreign intervention in Syria, but he wanted the people to have a chance to be able to work out their own future. Now, Iran is still standing by Bashar al Assad. But an important part of that resolution was that it recognized something called the Geneva Protocol.

And that is the document agreed last year which basically says it's agreed by Russia, America and everybody. For this to have a peaceful solution, we need a transitional government. Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has to step aside.

So, by putting that in the resolution, effectively you're saying the U.N. Security Council agrees there should be a transitional government inside Syria.

LEMON: Before I let you go, I want to talk now that the resolution is passed, how long before the work physically begins removing weapons, inspectors on the ground, making verification on all this thing?

WALSH: Twenty guys arrive on Tuesday in Damascus. Inspectors, they start the process. If they come across things they can dispose of, then they can get on it next week. But they are getting the process.

And within a month, they have to put some of the mixing devices out of order. And by the middle of next year, they have to basically put on use everything else.

LEMON: Nick Paton Walsh, appreciate it, sir. Thank you, sir.

Some are saying it is inevitable the government shutdown we have been warning you all about, it may just happen. They are going to vote soon. What that could mean to you, next.

And Arsenio Hall is back. He's got a new late night talk show. He tells me how hard it was to get here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The White House threatening to veto any bill containing a Republican plan to undermine Obamacare. Here is a statement from the executive office of the president. "If the president was presented with H.J. Resolution 59 as amended by these amendments, he would veto the bill."

Nevertheless, the House is set to vote tonight on a Republican plan that includes a one-year delay on fully implementing the president's healthcare plan and a repeal of a new tax on medical devices that would help fund Obamacare. That plan faces rejection from both the Senate and President Obama.

Unless there is a budget deal by midnight Monday, the government will shut down.

It is a new documentary called "The Muslims are Coming." And the co- stars and co-directors of the film are here to talk about it. Oh my gosh. Dean Obeidallah. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. It is a sad truth that in some places in America, Muslim is a dirty word, even, maybe especially for people who don't even know a Muslim -- all this for the followers of the world's second most popular religion.

Our next guests are trying to debunk some misconceptions about Muslims in the documentary. It's called "The Muslims are Coming."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our idea for Lawrenceville, Georgia, was to set up an ask a Muslim booth right in the town center.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me why I haven't seen Muslims who are not extremists criticizing Muslim's who are extreme?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are not the people of peace speaking out against the people doing these things?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I kind of resent sometimes when people are like Muslim's need to prove to us that they are not dangerous. Why? Why do I have to prove to you that I'm not dangerous? Historically, you are the dangerous one. I actually should be more afraid of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, our next guests are co-stars and the directors of the film. Dean Obeidallah is a political comedian -- if you want to call him a comedian and contributor to "The Daily Beast", if you want to call him a contributor. Negin Farsad is a comedian, writer, and an actor and she does it very well.

Dean, I'm not so sure about you.

So, when people walk out of the theater, what is the takeaway here?

NEGIN FARSAD, CO-STAR, "THE MUSLIMS ARE COMING!": Well, I mea, the takeaway is, we see so many images of Muslims. And, basically, we know them to be violent, dusty dudes walking around the desert with AK-47s. That's what we think of when we think of Muslims.

And what we want to change that. We want to give people a counter example for what Muslim's are. Sometimes, Muslims hang out, they go bowling and they are fun. And they might even be hilarious.

LEMON: You are talking stereotypes, right? What is the stereotype that you want people to rethink that's not accurate about Muslims?

DEAN OBEIDALLAH, POLITICAL COMEDIAN: We want them to think that Muslims are hilariously funny. That's the number one thing we want people to do. We don't want you to think that we're a terrorist.

Don't roll your eyes. We're funny. Look, compared to Congress, we're moving way up. Congress is worse, Muslims are looking a little better as Congress fight with each other. Obviously, the stereotype is violence. It's terrorism. We are trying to fight that.

And, as we found out in our "ask a Muslim" booth, people asked questions about why don't we see them denounce terrorism enough? And we try to do that. I have done it on your show. There's 1 percent of this country, that's part --

LEMON: We have had that -- remember we had an ask a Muslim segment when we talked about the same question. Did you get that idea from our show?

OBEIDALLAH: This was two years ago, Don. Unbelievable.

(CROSSTALK)

FARSAD: Come on. Come on.

LEMON: That you used to appear on so much.

So, no holes barred, that show. We tackled a lot of great topics, including this, why don't Muslims speak out against the extremists. And you say they do all the time.

FARSAD: They do all the time. I mean, at this point, I don't know what to do? Do we set up a Tumblr? Is there a daily tweet we're supposed to do? I mean, Muslims come -- part of the reason they don't get coverage is a bunch of reasonable people denouncing violence is not great news.

LEMON: Are you getting --

FARSAD: I don't think that it gets as much attention.

LEMON: I get your point. Are you getting support in your community? Are there Muslims who say I don't want this film? Are you getting full support?

FARSAD: Well, I mean, we have been very lucky. People in the community have been extremely, extremely supportive. Now, is this movie designed for everybody in the Muslim community? Absolutely not.

LEMON: Why do you say that?

FARSAD: Well, there's some cursing. There's some discussion of genitals. And my genitals, specifically. So, it's not -- it doesn't work for everybody.

But it's a comedy film and comedy is subjective. And also, I think I would offend conservative Jews and conservative Christians in equal parts.

OBEIDALLAH: But Don's face is part of the reason is the part of the reason for this film. It has the spectrum of American Muslims, from preacher (INAUDIBLE) is very conservative, who prays five times a day, to all the way across to Nagin who's extremely secular. I'm pretty secular.

People have not seen that face. They don't think American-Muslim and secular. And that's -- they think of the Christian and Jews. They don't think of us like that.

LEMON: Can we see the movie where? Where can we see it?

OBEIDALLAH: ITunes. Amazon. It's available now.

FARSAD: It's still playing in New York and Boston. It will play in Nashville.

We are going to be in D.C. So -- in theaters, cable on demand.

LEMON: Every time a guest enters a building, right, I get an e-mail that says your guest is here. It says the Muslims are coming and I got the email.

OBEIDALLAH: People check out the film. If you convert to Islam, you get in free. That's the bonus we're doing. Here's a little card for it. It's fun on the marquee to see that. I'm not kidding.

LEMON: You know what BRB means on social media?

OBEIDALLAH: No, I'm going to have to Google it when I get back.

LEMON: Be right back.

OBEIDALLAH: Oh!

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. Here we go again. Another 10 people wounded overnight in the streets of Chicago, all while the gang summit is going on this weekend, attempting to curb the violence that has plagued the city for years.

One of the most egregious cases was earlier this month. We covered it extensively on this show -- a shooting that injured 13 people including a 3-year-old child. Luckily everyone survived this. This man right here, 22-year-old David Logan is the fifth suspect arrested in connection with the shooting.

CNN's Rosa Flores joins me now.

You just talked to Chicago police. What are they saying? Could this gang summit actually held?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, the police, of course, they are very positive. But when you see in one night 10 people wounded, and hear this, folks, some of these people drove themselves or walked themselves to the hospital. That's why local and national leaders are in Chicago today hosting a gang summit. The goal is to solve the issues impacting the community there. So, they are having workshops, panel discussions and will be talking to youth about jobs and internships.

In other words, they are trying to show them a way out of the streets. Now, if you look at the demographics, Don, of this, there's nine males, one female. The age range is between 15 and 22.

And some of them tell the police they were simply out there on the street. They heard gunshots and then they realized they were wounded. They, of course, in some cases are very skeptical about that. But in all of these cases, no one is in custody.

LEMON: It is interesting, though, that no one is in custody in all the cases. Some of these cases are related, right?

FLORES: Well, they are saying that perhaps they're not related, even thought they are regionally or geographically related.

They say, you know, it takes a long time for time to actually go to the scene, figure out and identify suspects.

But, you know, they are having this gang summit. And, you know, and I have talked about this a lot. CNN has covered a lot of crime. It's happening in a lot of different cities. So, it's sad. They are having a gang summit, trying to solve the issues and you see this overnight.

LEMON: We were there covering it a few years ago, we were interviewing the person that had the solutions, so to speak, and then there was a shooting as we were doing the interview.

FLORES: So sad.

LEMON: Thank you, Rosa Flores.

FLORES: Of course, anytime.

LEMON: Appreciate your recording.

He says he loves his life so much, he doesn't even need an alarm clock to wake up because he can't wait to start his day. Ahead, Arsenio Hall talks to me about his career and his comeback to late night.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: His late night talk show was a phenomenon in the 1990s. And now, he is back. Arsenio Hall bringing the humor, the charm, and, yes, even the posse back to late night TV. I sat down with him on his seat in Los Angeles and you may be surprised to know just how much the funny man really is a family man.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARSENIO HALL, HOST, "THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW": Here is something I never said to anybody. Every day that I was away, either by phone or in person, I had to hear Annie Hall say to me, sure wish you would go back and do the talk show. I can watch that boy. I wish you'd just go back and do the talk show, when I didn't think I was going back.

It's like ma, I'm out, you know? I'll do something else. But, that's not going to happen, because I didn't think it was possible. But, she's the happiest of all the people in America's dog pound.

One of the great things about fatherhood is it made me appreciate parenthood more. I didn't know, you know, because I do it with a lot of blessings that my mother didn't have, you know? It's easier for me to parent. I'm a very successful man.

I remember the times when my mother said I'm not hungry, you eat. She was lying. There just wasn't enough food. I could tell you stories -- I was about to say stories you wouldn't believe but I know a little about you. You would believe it.

And as a father, I appreciate what she did more, because my mother worked a lot of jobs and you know, had baby sitters. I was a latchkey kid. There were times when I had a publicist ask me recently if my mom had pictures of me in Little League or trick or treating, Halloween costumes because they were doing a thing on celebrities and childhood.

I knew I didn't have any. My mother wasn't taking pictures. I don't know if she had a camera. But she wasn't taking pictures because she wasn't there. She was at work.

And you know, when your mother works so hard to get you where you are, and you know what? I didn't make it easy. You know, I didn't make it easy. I was an active kid. I was an imaginative kid. I was bad sometimes. I know how hard it was to raise me, therefore --

LEMON: You have seen a lot in your 30-something years.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Is there -- are things -- things are different than when we were kids, right? Do you have any advice for young people?

HALL: I don't have advice for young people.

LEMON: Their parents?

HALL: I have advice for daddy, they need you.

My mother said the other night, she says, oh, I love that your show is back on. When you walk to say hello to Robin DiMaggio, you walk like your daddy used to walk in the pulpit. I'm so glad is show is back on.

LEMON: Don't you love that, though? It just gives you everything. It gives me everything when I hear that. You look like your daddy on TV.

HALL: Yes.

So many problems in our society can be cured if fathers realize how important they are. Notice I didn't say black fathers.

LEMON: Right.

HALL: I said fathers.

LEMON: Right.

HALL: So many dads don't know there's a yin and yang. There's a 50/50 equation. And if you're not there, there's a hole in a child's soul.

And, by the way, from drug abuse to crime to -- you name it, so many things in our society could be changed for the better if fathers knew how important -- I don't say that because of the father I am. I say that because of the child I was.

You know, my mother and father got divorced when I was 5 years old. I don't think that he knew that the 10 things that I'll remember that will get me by will be things you said to me, dad. If there's anything I regret about my childhood, it's that I wish I had more dad in here. You know? I wish I had more conversations.

You ever have that dream that he came back for one more conversation? I have that dream all the time because I longed for it. So many questions I wish I could ask my father. That's why I realize, it's more important than he realized.

He has made me but he has no idea, he has made me the dad I am today. I'm not a perfect dad. I'm not a great dad, but I'm there.

LEMON: Who do you think you are?

HALL: My mother used to say that a lot. Who do you think you are? My answer then is the same as it is now. I'm Reverend Fred Hall's son from Cleveland, Ohio, and a child of God.

LEMON: That's it? That's it.

HALL: I hate you --

(LAUGHTER)

HALL: You make it very hard, man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: We are not done yet. That's Arsenio Hall. He's going to be. He's back with his late night talk show after almost 20 years. More of my conversation with him tomorrow in our 5:00 p.m. Eastern hour here on CNN.