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Education Secretary Sorry for Slam; Princeton University Closer to Giving Students Meningitis Vaccine not Approved in U.S.; Paying Tribute to Lincoln's Legacy; Virginia State Senator Stabbed; Execution Tomorrow for Larry Flynt Shooter
Aired November 19, 2013 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Do you regret making the comments or saying them the way you did?
ARNE DUNCAN, EDUCATION SECRETARY: Well, I didn't --obviously I didn't say them perfectly and apologies for that.
MARSH: But he's not backing down.
DUNCAN: My point is that children from every demographic across this country need a well-rounded, world class education. And frankly, we have challenges not just in our inner cities but in our suburban areas too.
MARSH: Forty-five states have signed on to the voluntary initiative. To protest, critics kept their kids home from school Monday. But Duncan says tougher standards are a good thing.
DUNCAN: Well to be clear this is a state-led effort. And it's actually in many places going extraordinarily well and raising standards is hard. What I've said repeatedly is far -- for far too long in this country and we actually lied to parents and lied to families. Told them their children are being successful when they weren't. And why did that happen; to make politicians look good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARSH: All right. Well, some states already started implementing Common Core. Others are in the process of doing that and the debate surrounding this is passionate. There's a wide range of criticism, some calling it a government takeover of education, some saying it's too stringent, others saying it's not stringent enough.
We can tell you that Duncan will be speaking about this very issue later on today right here in Washington D.C., as he will be at an event honoring high performing schools. John and Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And you know Rene, it is -- he has talked about this lying to -- we've been lying to ourselves, we've been lying to parents, we've been lying to school districts about how good they are for so, so long because of politicians. I mean, it's something that he is really, really been passionate about over the past couple of years. Turn of phrase not so fortunate right at that moment. So he's saying he's sorry. All right Rene Marsh, thanks.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Raising standards is not going to be easy under any situation when you use that language even harder.
ROMANS: Yes.
BERMAN: Renee thanks so much.
All right, Princeton University students are closer right now to getting a vaccine to ward off a dangerous and potentially deadly strain of meningitis. The CDC is preparing to recommend its use but there are still one problem.
CNN's Alexandra Field joins us now from Princeton in New Jersey. What's the latest Alexandra?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well -- so John, well, that vaccine is not licensed here. The Princeton University leaders and health officials have now agreed that it is necessary here for moving forward with a plan to import the vaccine and they say when it gets here they'll recommend that most Princeton University students take it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FIELD (voice over): Princeton University leaders say they're ready to offer thousands of students a vaccine that is not approved for use in the United States. It's an effort to stop an outbreak of a dangerous and contagious disease that's showing up on campus.
MARTIN MBUGUA, SPOKESMAN, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Pending final CDC approval, the university is prepared to accept these recommendations and make arrangements to provide access to this vaccine as soon as possible.
FIELD: Since March, seven cases of meningitis B, a rare and potentially deadly disease, have been linked to the Ivy League University.
Now, the Centers for Disease control is preparing to recommend doses of the vaccine Bexsero for all 5,000 Princeton undergraduates, as well as graduate students who live in dormitories and members of the university community with certain medical conditions. Vaccinations will be free and voluntary.
ELIOT TAN, PRINCETON STUDENT: If, like, the CDC approves it or -- and the school said it's OK, I'd take it.
FIELD: Bexsero is the only vaccine available to protect against meningitis B. It was approved this year for use in Europe and Australia but it is not yet approved in the U.S. It's been administered to 8,000 people. And the CDC says it's considered safe. Some doctors say it's key to stopping the outbreak that started when a student returned to school sick following spring break.
DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER: There are a number of people we don't know what proportion in that student population that are carriers of this bug back in their throats. They're -- they're feeling fine. Nobody knows that they have it. But they can spread it and give it to others.
FIELD: The CDC has FDA approval to import Bexsero as part of an investigational drug program. It will only be available as an option at Princeton University. But there's no estimate on how many students will take it.
EVAN DRAIN, PRINCETON STUDENT: I want to do a little more research and find out exactly what the -- what the vaccine entails.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIELD: There are still a lot of moving parts to all of this. A CDC review board will have to sign off on the plan before the CDC officially recommend, implementing the vaccination program. And still Christine and John, the University says they hope to have the first doses of the vaccine available in December.
BERMAN: Listen, Alexandra everyone in your piece kept on saying the vaccine is safe. Then the question is, why hasn't it been approved yet in the U.S.?
FIELD: OK, so John this is a new drug again approved just for the first time in 2013. And medical experts are explaining to us that that is because the company decided to go first to Europe and Australia but licensure it's quite likely that they would have brought the drugs to the U.S. for approval next story in the near future.
BERMAN: All right that's an explanation Alexandra Field at Princeton for us today thanks so much. Appreciate it.
ROMANS: OK, still to come this morning. A milestone in American history: the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. We're going to speak with a man who wants all Americans to learn the words to Lincoln's famous speech by heart. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns joins us next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Welcome back everyone.
For President Obama, the road to the White House began six years ago in Springfield, Illinois, where he announced his candidacy in a town that was the home town of Abraham Lincoln's political career, Springfield, Illinois. Obama calls Lincoln one of his heroes. He took the oath of office twice on Lincoln's bible and he assembled his own team of rivals, like Lincoln did picking former opponent Hillary Clinton the secretary of state not to mention Joe Biden as his Vice President.
ROMANS: But on a day when one of Lincoln's key speeches "The Gettysburg Address" is marking its 150th anniversary, the president is notably absent there. But the president along with his predecessors did pay tribute to this anniversary by taking part in a special project designed to honor this important part of Lincoln's legacy. It's called "Learn the Address".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Seven years ago --
JIMMY CARTER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our father's brought forth on this continent --
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A new nation conceived in liberty --
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equally.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now we are engage in a great civil war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.
DAVID GREGORY, MSNBC HOST: We are met on a great battlefield of that war.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Joining us now is the man behind this project, he is the documentary film maker and director Ken Burns. Good morning Ken it's so nice to see you. Why do you think --
KEN BURNS, DIRECTOR, "THE TENTH INNING": Good morning, Christine.
ROMANS: -- why do you want American's to learn Lincoln's words by heart? Why is this so important today?
BURNS: I just finished the film called "The Address" about boys with learning difficulties at a small boarding school on Vermont. And as I was editing it each year they're asked to memorize and then publicly recite the Gettysburg Address. I said if they can do it, we can do it. And why can't we all do it particularly in this fractured time.
And so I reached out to all the living presidents, to leaders in business and stars and media, and other places, Taylor Swift. And they immediately responded. And we started an idea learntheaddress.org. So that people are now beginning over the last week that the campaign was launched to upload their own versions. And we've got wonderful things: stadiums reciting it. The entire U.S. soccer team. Everybody is there so it's been a wonderful moment.
This is the most important speech in American history where Lincoln doubles down on the declaration and says we really do mean that all men are created equal. He gave us our marching orders and we're still on the marching orders that he gave us that day exactly 150 years ago this moment. BERMAN: You know 270 words that made history just two minutes long with such a lasting impact. President Obama has often looked to Lincoln for inspiration. So many leaders have looked to Abraham Lincoln for inspiration.
BURNS: Yes.
BERMAN: President Obama is not at the ceremony today. What would his presence have meant there today, do you think?
BURNS: Well, look I think it's the other way around. He's an extraordinarily modest man and I spoke to him about it. And he has invested so much time and energy with Dr. King's speech, the arguably the second greatest speech in all of American history back in August for it's 50th anniversary, I think he didn't want to feel like he somehow would own both these speeches. He helped us tremendously on this. And it's been an amazing thing.
His presence would have turned this into a zoo. This allows folks to come here and commune with Lincoln, to walk the battlefield and understand the terrible sacrifices that happened here.
This is the greatest and bloodiest battle in all of American soil. 10,000 dead, 56,000 casualties and Lincoln came four and a half months later to dedicate this place and to reinvigorate our American promise. It's their extraordinary words, presidential poetry at its finest. And we hope inspired by these young boys with learning differences, that the rest of us can learn it.
And I don't just mean our school kids. I mean you guys, John and Christine, I want you to learn it, I want you to memorize it. And we can do something together, we all like to sing in church, we like to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". when we do things in unison, we feel better. And in these fractured times being reminded of this union that Lincoln gave his life to preserve is an important, important exercise. And this isn't just wrote memories and we internalize the meaning of these words.
ROMANS: Ken we have a lot to live up to, that's what I think when I hear those words, those 270 words and what --
BURNS: Absolutely.
ROMANS: When you think about what they were going through at that moment in the American experience, we still have a lot to live up to, don't we?
BURNS: We do indeed. I mean, Jefferson had said all men are created equal but he owned slaves. Now, Lincoln was coming back and saying now we freed this place but we have a great deal more work to do. He refers to the past in the first sentence. Who tells you where you are in the second sentence.
And then he looks to the future he looks over the horizon. So these words have meaning for us and inspiration for us now 150 years later. And I think, when we learn them, when we can recite them, "that we here highly resolve that these dead have not died in vain and the government of the people" -- all of these things are the key words of our democracy. We internalize the best of ourselves and we rededicate ourselves as Lincoln wished to a higher purpose.
BERMAN: I think we're still living that new birth of freedom no doubt about that.
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: All right, Ken Burns.
BURNS: We are. This is the pursuit of happiness. Yes it's exactly what our catechism is. We're trying to form a more perfect union.
ROMANS: Thank you so much, Ken Burns, for joining us this morning. Thanks.
BERMAN: We'll be right back.
BURNS: My pleasure thanks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Here's some breaking news for you now that's really shaking the political world, especially in Virginia. CNN has learned that Virginia state senator, Creigh Deeds has been stabbed and another person at his home is dead.
Now Creigh Deeds is a well-known figure in the state of Virginia. He ran for attorney general and lost by just 300 votes in 2005 -- also ran for governor, really well known around the state, well-liked by so many people around the state. Question now is what happened at that house.
CNN political director Mark Preston joins us now with more on this. What do you know Mark.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, you know, a terrible, terrible news that we have just learned from the Virginia state police; that in fact Senator Creigh Deeds has been transported to the hospital from his injuries sustained in an assault at his home in Beth County.
To give you a little perspective of where that is -- that is in a far western part of Virginia -- John -- almost on the West Virginia border. He ran for governor back in 2009. He lost. But he's the kind of person as someone who is very close to him -- I just got off the phone, it was explained to me as a very decent, kind person the type of person that you want to see in politics.
Creigh Deeds right now at the hospital. We should hear more details about what had happened at noon. Virginia state police is going to hold a news conference in Charlottesville. But yes, terribly disturbing news right now John out of Virginia.
ROMANS: And Mark, the police -- the Virginia state police in a press release says that there's a second individual at the residence that is deceased. What do we know about what happened at his house -- if anything at this point?
PRESTON: Well we know that an assault took place and we do know somebody did not survive the assault. There is other reporting from other news organizations, Christine, that is saying that in fact the other person is a family member. CNN has not been able to confirm that. We hope to learn that as soon as we can -- certainly we will know more details at noon. But it does look like it was a rather violent scene from what we've learned from the state police just now -- Christine.
BERMAN: All right, Mark Preston for us in Washington. We will stay on that. And already prayers have been sent in from politicians on both side of the aisle in Virginia and around the country for Creigh Deeds now in critical condition. Thanks, Mark, appreciate it.
About 50 minutes after the hour right now. Some other news -- the self-confessed killer who shot Hustler founder Larry Flynt and left him paralyzed is set to be executed just past midnight. Joseph Paul Franklin admits to killing about 22 people. His reason, he says, to spark a race war.
CNN's Kyung Lah paid a death row visit to Franklin as his most high- profile victim fights for him to stay alive.
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JOSEPH PAUL FRANKLIN, DEATH ROW INMATE: I put that magazine down and called the people and thought, I'm going to kill that guy -- you hear me.
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The single unwaivering drive in Joseph Paul Franklin -- murder. His target Larry Flynt, infamous pornograher, founder and publisher of "Hustler" magazine which in 1977, the magazine featured this controversial photo spread.
FRANKLIN: And I saw that interracial couple that he had photographed there having sex, you know. And it just made me sick.
LAH: Franklin, his hair wild, his gaze unwaivering unblinkingly recalled from death row his murderous spree -- driven by a hate for Jews, black, and any whites associated with them. He was a sniper carrying his rifle and scope in guitar cases.
In St. Louis, he staked out a synagogue and gunned down Gerald Gordon. In Madison, Wisconsin a young interracial couple. In Salt Lake City, Franklin killed two young black men who were jogging with white female friends. In Cincinnati, Ohio children were not spared -- 13 and 14- year old cousins, even civil rights leaders, Vernon Jordan, shot with Franklin's sniper rifle but survived. Larry Flynt would be a trophy killing for the white supremacists.
(on camera): So you hunted him down?
FANKLIN: Yes. I was hunting him down. I could have none of that. LAH: You remember the shots ringing out?
LARRY FLYNT, PUBLISHER, "HUSTLER" MAGAZINE: Yes. Sort of like a hot poker hitting me in my stomach.
LAH: Flynt will never forget March 6th, 1978 as he walked to a courthouse where he was facing obscenity charges. The shots like most of Franklin's targets, came from a distance. Flynt would barely survive the two bullets that struck him. He would never walk again.
By the time police finally arrested Franklin in September of 1980, at least 22 people were dead. Days away from his execution, Franklin spoke to me from death row about his three-year killing spree.
FRANKLIN: Three years. Just the same length of time Jesus was on his mission. From the time he was 30 until he was 33.
LAH: And what was your mission?
FRANKLIN: Well, to try to get a race war started.
LAH: Franklin showed me a tattoo. Faded with time, you can still make out that it's the grim reaper.
Do you think you're a hero to those sacred?
FRANKLYN: That's what they tell me. Well, I would rather people like me than not like me, just like anybody else. I would rather be loved than hated.
LAH: Even if they are the Nazi party and other hate groups.
FRANKLIN: Yes. And they're not the only one who loved me though.
LAH: Do you feel any hate looking at me?
FRANKLIN: Looking at you -- of course not.
LAH: I'm not white.
FRANKLIN: yes, I know but you're -- I have no feeling whatsoever toward you. Especially not a female, you know what I mean.
LAH: Well, you shot plenty of women.
FRANKLY: Yes, I know. You've got a point.
LAH: Franklin says he's no longer a racist, that he was wrong and he's sorry for his crimes. He now wants mercy. Fighting his upcoming execution any way he can. There's almost no one in his corner, except if you could stop it, would you stop it?
FLYNT: Oh, yes. I would say put him in prison for the rest of his life.
LAH: Why? Principle. He's against the death penalty. Amazingly Flynt has filed the lawsuit trying to stop his own shooter's death. But don't mistake all this for mercy.
Is that how you see this? You're for giving him at all?
FLYNT: I'm not showing him anything. If it wasn't Joseph Paul Franklin and it was some other person who shot me, my feelings would be the same.
LAH: And what does Franklin think about the man he tried to kill but has never met and is now fighting for his life?
FRANKLIN: My old pal Larry.
LAH: Your old pal Larry?
FRANKLIN: Yes, yes.
LAH: I'm not sure he would refer to you as your old pal.
FRANKLIN: I like Larry.
LAH: But it appears even Flynt's efforts won't stop what awaits Franklin.
FRANKLIN: Most people -- I mean they're heading toward a burning hell and they don't know it.
LAH: Do you think something lies for you on the other side after the 20th?
FRANKLIN: Yes. But it's not a burning hell though I'm servant of the lord.
LAH: I think we're about out of time.
FRANKLIN: Well, let's not say that.
LAH: Time is important to you now, isn't it?
FRANKLYN: Oh, yes. It has been for a long time. And maybe we'll meet again sometime.
LAH: Kyung Lah, CNN, Bonne Terre, Missouri.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: That is chilling to hear those words. Franklin says he's repented for all of the murders. And that if his execution isn't stopped he won't be burning in hell but he says he will be in the kingdom of heaven.
ROMANS: Creepy. Kyung Lah thanks for that.
All right, checking top stories right now. Unofficial Xs mark the spot where President John F. Kennedy was shot 50 years ago. Those Xs have been removed now. BOLDUAN: And the city of Dallas said they just wanted to lay down new asphalt to level off the streets and remove safety hazards ahead of Friday's commemoration ceremony. Thousands of tourists are expected to pack Dealey Plaza, throughout this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, daddy, teacher said every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right. That's right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: More than 65 years after the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" became a Christmas Classic, a sequel is in the works. According to (inaudible) magazine, the new movie will focus on the grandson of the character, George Bailey. The actress who played Bailey's daughter will return as an angel in the new movie. "It's a wonderful life". The rest of the story expected to hit theaters in 2015.
BERMAN: I think the Bailey Building and Loans are going to get a TARP bailout. That's what I think happens in the sequel. Why not?
ROMANS: All right. Thanks for joining us this morning. I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: And I'm John Berman. "LEGAL VIEW" with Ashleigh Banfield starts right after a quick break. Stay around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Ashleigh Banfield. It's Tuesday, November 19th. Welcome to "LEGAL VIEW".
We want to begin with breaking news. Virginia state senator Creigh Deeds is in critical condition right now -- this after being stabbed in his own home in western Virginia. Mark Preston is live with me now in Washington, D.C. There are a lot of stories that are floating out there. But what do we know for sure right now Mark.
PRESTON: Well, Ashleigh we're being very careful at this point. We do know that Creigh Deeds, he was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee back in 2009. He lost the race to current governor, Bob McDonald.
