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Joy Behar Page
Petit Family Killer Found Guilty; Reality with Lisa and Harry; O`Donnell: "I`m Not A Witch"; Dog`s Best Friend
Aired October 05, 2010 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOY BEHAR, HLN HOST: Senatorial candidate Christine O`Donnell put out her first campaign ad. Here`s a clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE O`DONNELL, DELAWARE SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I`m not a witch. I`m nothing you`ve heard. I`m you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Well, in the spirit of equal time, I put out my first ad, too. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Christine, you`re not me. I`ve never dabbled in witchcraft or lied on my resume or taken campaign funds for personal use. And you don`t have hot flashes, bloating, night sweats, or a mustache.
I`m Joy Behar and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming up on THE JOY BEHAR SHOW jurors find Steven Hayes guilty in connection to the Petit Family triple murders. Now the only question left, will he get the death penalty?
Then Margaret Cho makes a political statement on "Dancing with the Stars" last night. Will voters make a statement by sending her to the next round?
Plus, the dog whisperer Cesar Millan will give Joy and her dog a few training tips.
That and more starting right now.
BEHAR: Today there was some justice for the Petit family. Steven Hayes, the man accused of invading the Connecticut home and killing Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters was found guilty on 16 of 17 counts including murder, burglary, kidnapping, and sexual assault. Hayes was convicted of six capital felonies, making him eligible for the death penalty. The sole survivor, Dr. William Petit, responded to the verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. WILLIAM PETIT, ATTACK SURVIVOR: There is some relief, but my family is still -- still gone. It doesn`t bring them back. It doesn`t bring back the home that we had. But certainly the guilty verdict is a much better sense of relief than a verdict of not guilty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Here now with the latest is Beth Karas, correspondent for in session on TruTV; Leslie Crocker Snyder former New York State Supreme Court justice; and Howard Varinsky, a jury consultant who was involved in the prosecution of Martha Stewart, Scott Peterson, and Michael Jackson.
Beth, let`s start with you. Hayes was guilty of 16 of 17 counts. What exactly was he convicted of and what did he manage to avoid?
BETH KARAS, TRUTV CORRESPONDENT, "IN SESSION": Well, the majority of the counts are murder counts. Six of them are capital felonies so there are six types of murder and then three more murders which are intentional murders but not capital. Then there`s also burglary, and rape, assault of Dr. Petit, and there is an underlying larceny as part of the burglary. So he was convicted of all of these but he wasn`t convicted of one charge
BEHAR: Ok.
Leslie, does this make him eligible for the death penalty?
LESLIE CROCKER SNYDER, FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, NEW YORK: Absolutely. He is now eligible. He`s been convicted of every capital count, every capital crime. And this is going to be the really interesting issue in the case because I don`t think anyone really doubted that he would be convicted of most if not all counts.
BEHAR: Right.
CROCKER-SNYDER: And he could have been convicted of the arson. I think the jury didn`t really understand it.
BEHAR: Well, we`ll get there.
Ok. How did the murderer react, Beth, to the verdict? How did he react?
KARAS: Well, Hayes stood there with his head down. He really didn`t emote. He hasn`t emoted much during the trial. The Petit and Hawke families were calm, a little bit teary. Once the jury left they were hugging each other and some were dabbing their eyes.
The jury was also pretty stoic; they kept their eyes on the clerk during the reading of the verdict. The foreperson would say what the verdict was, each of the 17 counts. So the judge had asked, of course, as all judges do, that there be decorum and no outbursts, and there were none.
BEHAR: Does Hayes have a family? Does this guy have any relatives?
KARAS: He does. He does.
BEHAR: Were they there?
KARAS: Well, not that anyone was aware of. He has a couple children. He had a woman in his life at the time of the crime so he does have some family in the area and it`s possible that there will be witnesses at the penalty phase and they were thus sequestered and not allowed to be in the courtroom.
BEHAR: Ok. Howard, the jury deliberated for a little over four hours. Is that long or short? I mean, I could have done it in four minutes frankly.
HOWARD VARINSKY, JURY CONSULTANT: That`s short. That`s really short. I mean what they did was --
BEHAR: That`s short.
VARINSKY: That`s short. They went in and they elected a foreperson and they just went over things just to make sure and took a poll. And I think a death penalty case and a case of this nature, they are pretty conscientious and they make sure they have everything. Four hours is very fast.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Well, you know, I`m not so sure it`s that fast in this kind of case because the defendant, this defendant, Hayes, basically conceded his guilt of almost every count.
BEHAR: Yes.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Although he tried to pin the mastermind on his co- defendant who is yet to be tried.
BEHAR: What`s his name?
(CROSSTALK)
CROCKER-SNYDER: Komisarjevsky -- something like that.
BEHAR: Yes. Komisarjevsky.
CROCKER-SNYDER: But I think that it really, the jury just wanted to appear to be very conscientious and they asked a question and they looked at that arson count. But basically it was so overwhelming.
BEHAR: It was an open-and-shut case?
CROCKER-SNYDER: Pretty much. As much as any case could be.
VARINSKY: And there were -- but there were a lot of counts to go through and to make sure of.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Yes. That`s true.
BEHAR: And it was --
KARAS: Well, can I --
BEHAR: Go ahead, Beth.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Hi Beth.
KARAS: Can I just mention, about the arson count it turns out he was not charged as an accessory or accomplice in the arson only as a principal and the jury had a question yesterday. They said one of the elements is start a fire, is pouring gasoline the same as start a fire? The judge said no. He poured the gasoline. Had he been charged as an accomplice he would have been convicted of that.
BEHAR: So you can`t be convicted of arson if you don`t actually light the match? Is that how that works.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Well, it`s a little more complicated than that. I mean basically, he should have been charged as an accomplice as Beth was saying. I don`t understand -- I`m sure in a number of counts he must have been charged as an accomplice which would make him equally guilty whether or not he lit the match.
BEHAR: I see.
CROCKER-SNYDER: But apparently he was not charged in that count that way.
BEHAR: Ok. Howard what about the -- let`s talk about the jurors. Some even asked to be excused. I think they must have been having a hard time with this because it`s such a horrific case. Tell me about that. Do they need therapy after this or what?
VARINSKY: Yes. Some do. Some do. After the Scott Peterson case and after that death verdict, there were several people that needed therapy. There was a divorce that occurred. This is very hard.
People come into these trials and they have no idea what they`re going to go through, what they`re going to see, what they`re going to feel. It`s very tough on them. It`s tougher than they could ever imagine in the beginning.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Well, you know, in this case there had been so much publicity that I think a lot of the prospective jurors knew it was going to be horrible. What is going to be a real challenge is picking the jury for the co-defendant because everybody will know about this case and the verdict. And the judge is going to have a really tough time of --
BEHAR: Getting objectivity.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Yes. And it`s going to take a very long time to pick that jury.
BEHAR: A lot of people are going to want to be on the jury so that they can convict this guy, the second one.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Well, that could be, too.
VARINSKY: You know what? What the jurors -- I`m sorry -- what the jurors don`t understand, however, you know, there is a lot of publicity but they don`t understand they`re going to see autopsy pictures. They`re going to see crime scene pictures. They`re going to see the family react to that stuff. They`re going to see very deep, tragic emotions and pictures.
BEHAR: Let`s talk about the death penalty for a second. This decision to sentence him to death has to be made unanimously. Is that correct Leslie?
CROCKER-SNYDER: That`s right. Yes.
BEHAR: What would make them not give him the death penalty?
CROCKER-SNYDER: In this case I can`t really conceive of any reason but, you know, the death penalty is very difficult for jurors to impose on someone. It is the ultimate penalty and it`s rarely given. And here they`re going to have to find that the aggravating factors, such as his previously having been convicted of burglary and the particular cruel and heinous way this crime was committed. They`re going to have to find that those aggravating factors overwhelm mitigating factors.
And supposing he brings in his family, Hayes, supposing he says he was abused emotionally or even that he is mentally ill. In this horrendous case I don`t know that jurors can find enough mitigation ever to overcome the aggravating --
BEHAR: Beth, say they decide to give him the death penalty. How long would it be until he`s actually put to death?
KARAS: Well, let`s put it this way, Joy. He probably has a better chance of dying of natural causes than being put to death by the state. He`s in his late 40s. They do not execute very often in Connecticut. There are ten people on death row. There was a person executed in 2005 but it had been decades before that, the most recent lethal injection or execution before that.
BEHAR: Well, what about solitary confinement? Would they put him in there?
CROCKER-SNYDER: It`s possible. But I don`t know that that`s --
BEHAR: Well, death row.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Yes. Death row is solitary confinement.
BEHAR: Is that solitary when they`re on death row?
CROCKER-SNYDER: Right.
BEHAR: It is. Ok.
The other suspect is set to go on trial next year. How do -- Komisarjevsky -- is that his name?
CROCKER-SNYDER: Yes.
BEHAR: Yes. How do his charges differ from this guy, Hayes?
KARAS: They`re basically the same charges and the same witnesses. One could argue they should have been tried together but they each made statements incriminating themselves in part but pointing the finger at the other guy.
They did contemplate one trial with two different juries but logistically it was difficult. They were going to borrow a courtroom in the federal courthouse down the street and decided it wasn`t possible so unfortunately they have to have two trials.
CROCKER-SNYDER: It is too bad because this is incredibly expensive but more important than that is the pain that everyone is going to have to go through a second time.
BEHAR: Yes.
CROCKER-SNYDER: So it really is a shame because they`ve done the two- jury trial in a number of cases that have been difficult. They have to do two juries --
BEHAR: Does the family have to be there though?
CROCKER-SNYDER: No, as a matter of fact --
BEHAR: The Petit family I mean? It`s so painful.
CROCKER-SNYDER: They want to be there.
BEHAR: They want to be there.
CROCKER-SNYDER: I was actually surprised, Beth, who covers all these trials and is a fantastic reporter, whom I`ve known for years -- I was surprised they allowed Dr. Petit to stay in the courtroom although you certainly felt the sympathy because for jurors to see his emotions is -- is very unusual. Usually if you`re a witness you`re excluded.
BEHAR: Yes. What about --
KARAS: He testified early on, though.
BEHAR: Yes.
KARAS: He testified early on so he was permitted to come back in. However, he didn`t show too much emotion. He`s pretty -- he`s pretty stoic.
BEHAR: Well, I know he could --
(CROSSTALK)
KARAS: He`s stoic in front of the jury.
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: Well, maybe he`s still in shock.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Well, I don`t know how the man survives.
BEHAR: Really.
CROCKER-SNYDER: I mean, it`s just -- he`s incredible --
BEHAR: I mean the nightmares alone. My God.
CROCKER-SNYDER: Oh God.
BEHAR: Ok. Thanks, everyone. We`ll be back in just a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming up a little later on THE JOY BEHAR SHOW Christine O`Donnell tells voters she is not a witch. We`ll have the latest on her bizarre new campaign ad.
And dog whisperer Cesar Millan drops by to give Joy and her dog some valuable training tips.
Now back to Joy.
BEHAR: Reality Star Lisa Rinna says her silicon injected upper lip started to define who she is so she had surgery to reduce it.
Joining me now to talk about going under the knife and much, much more is the beautiful and lovely Lisa Rinna, actress and author of "Starlit" along with her gorgeous husband Harry Hamlin actor and author of "Full Frontal Nudity: The Making of an Accidental Actor".
I see that you cover your little private parts there, Harry, as a baby.
HAMLIN: Little? I mean -- what?
BEHAR: Yes.
HAMLIN: Now -- come now.
BEHAR: Ok.
HAMPLIN: So you wanted -- you wanted to talk about Lisa`s lip. And here`s the thing --
BEHAR: Well, she looks great now.
HAMLIN: She looks fantastic.
LISA RINNA, AUTHOR, "STARLIT": Good.
BEHAR: She looks very nice.
RINNA: I`m happy.
HAMLIN: And I just went into the kitchen one day and sharpened up all the knives and I said, Lisa, here is a shot of 151. Lean back, baby, because here I come.
BEHAR: Now Lisa, what did do you? You first of all, I read that you had silicon in your lips.
RINNA: Twenty four years ago on a stupid whim, it would be like going and getting a tattoo. I, myself and a girlfriend went out and thought, this would be a cool thing to do, which of course it wasn`t because it was permanent. And so after a while, maybe after ten years, it started to form scar tissue and it got lumpy and bumpy and it didn`t look good.
And so when I wrote my book "Renovation" I came out in the book and said that I had done my lips. So I`ve never talked about it before. So once I came out it just was like everyone went crazy. They just did. They just went oh, my God. How horrible. I -- I --
BEHAR: Because it`s silicon. Why not collagen? It comes out collagen.
RINNA: Well, I -- that doesn`t last forever. I thought, well what a great idea? Let`s get something that lasts forever.
BEHAR: I see. I see.
RINNA: And I don`t have to do it all the time. It was stupid.
BEHAR: It`s like nuclear waste.
RINNA: Exactly.
BEHAR: It lasts forever.
RINNA: Exactly.
So I never thought there was anything you could do about it but during the show "Harry Loves Lisa" and the journey that I ended up taking on this show that I never thought I would take, this happened. And you will see this play out in the show.
BEHAR: Oh I love that idea.
RINNA: It is -- and you know what?
BEHAR: It`s a -- it`s an original kind of idea for a reality show. You don`t really see you know, people to talk about stuff like that.
RINNA: Well, mostly people are blowing up their lips right now. I happened to reduce mine so it`s kind of a new story as it is but I just felt like, you know, I didn`t want my lips to be the thing that defines me for the rest of my life and I really felt like it was starting to.
BEHAR: Right.
RINNA: And I said, you know, screw it.
BEHAR: So you`re happy about that right? Harry, have you had anything done? Not that you need it.
HAMLIN: No, you mean, the face lift?
BEHAR: Yes any lips, any buttocks, any hair plugs, anything, no?
RINNA: No, God.
HAMLIN: Oh no that was --
RINNA: He barely washes his face, he really, no seriously. This man does nothing. When I met Harry he was putting baby oil on his face. I swear to you that was it.
BEHAR: All right, let`s have a sneak peek of your new reality show. Ok? Here it is.
RINNA: I`m sorry.
BEHAR: "Harry Loves Lisa."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RINNA: I just said I apologize if my words were taken out of context in the press. Well that`s just now made headlines, my apology.
HAMLIN: I say you cannot respond in any way.
RINNA: I know.
HAMLIN: You say, I hear you.
RINNA: I know.
HAMLIN: You`re right. And I won`t. And then you do.
(CROSSTALK)
RINNA: Well --
HAMLIN: And then look what happens.
RINNA: I think Twitter is a problem for me. I can`t keep my mouth shut.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Now, this show is premiering tomorrow night.
RINNA: Wednesday night on TV Land at 10:00 p.m.
BEHAR: Ok. Now, you know, they say that a successful reality show needs to be a train wreck like "Jersey Shore".
RINNA: I know. I know.
HAMLIN: This is not a train wreck.
BEHAR: And -- the "Kate Plus 8" and all of that.
RINNA: Yes.
BEHAR: So this is not going to be a train wreck?
HAMLIN: Well, I don`t -- I don`t watch reality TV so I don`t know really how to compare it but it`s impossible to be alive --
RINNA: Yes.
HAMLIN: -- in this day and age and not know about reality TV. So I know about these shows.
BEHAR: Yes.
HAMLIN: They have blood all over the walls --
BEHAR: Yes. Yes.
HAMLIN: -- and there are people throw plates at each other and stuff.
RINNA: Yes.
HAMLIN: And -- and when we went out and when I went out to sell this show I said, no. This is going to be a show like "Father Knows Best" like "Ozzie and Harriet" like "Leave it to Beaver", like "I Love Lucy." We`re going to -- we`re going to take that and kind of post war (INAUDIBLE) guys then pull it into the 21st century. And I -- I said, if anybody wants that show that`s what we got.
BEHAR: I see.
HAMLIN: And we had a bunch of people who wanted it.
BEHAR: Ok.
RINNA: And -- and we were called the anti-Kardashians in "Entertainment Weekly" which I thought was kind of cool because anything the Kardashians touch turns to gold even to be listed with them.
BEHAR: Yes.
I think it`ll be interesting to see a married couple, you`ve been together 18 years --
(CROSSTALK)
RINNA: Eighteen years.
BEHAR: -- to see how you do it when you`re -- it`s instructive in a way to see how people get along in everyday life with conflict and with obstacles.
RINNA: Well and it`s real.
BEHAR: Yes.
RINNA: I mean, we pull the curtain back and we say, look. We are a middle class couple even though we happen to have this job. You can relate to what we go through. Absolutely.
HAMLIN: Yes, we don`t have -- we don`t have chefs and butlers and private jets.
BEHAR: You know oh, God I wish we did.
HAMLIN: No.
BEHAR: So you don`t do that.
Harry, I heard in the show that your acting coach suggested that you try doing stand up to -- to stretch your creativity, I guess, to build confidence.
HAMLIN: Oh -- oh and what a nightmare.
BEHAR: That`s a mistake. That does not build confidence. It destroys confidence frankly. I`ve been there.
RINNA: Yes.
HAMLIN: Well, you know, but it -- but ironically, it worked in my case.
BEHAR: Oh, tell me. Yes.
HAMLIN: And ironically, I had to write my own material. I had three days. I found out I had primetime at the Improv 8:30 p.m. on a Friday night. I had ten minutes and I had to fill it up and I had to write my own stuff.
BEHAR: Right.
HAMLIN: And so on Thursday night I was like madly trying to come up with something funny. I`ve never done this before.
BEHAR: So how did you do?
RINNA: He was great.
HAMLIN: I killed it. I mean I don`t know how --
RINNA: You`ll see it in the first episode. You`ll see it, he killed it.
BEHAR: I`m really looking forward to seeing that.
RINNA: He was self-deprecating and that`s what I think did it for him.
BEHAR: That`s right.
HAMLIN: Yes I mean --
BEHAR: When a good looking guy who is a successful actor gets up there and puts himself down its adorable.
RINNA: He was funny.
HAMLIN: I don`t -- I don`t have to put myself down it just happens naturally.
BEHAR: Ok. We`re going to take a break and we`ve got very much more on the way with Lisa and Harry.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
I`m back with reality stars Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna. You`re called a reality star now.
RINNA: That`s so weird.
HAMLIN: No one has ever said that before.
RINNA: Never.
BEHAR: Ok. Well actors also. I mean you`re actors.
As a matter of fact, Harry, I was going to ask you about this film you did in 1982 called "Making Love" where you had to kiss another man. 1982, that was very advanced for gay sort of kissing. Did that hurt your career at all? Because now people do it more.
HAMLIN: Well, I mean, it was way, way, way ahead of its time. And it was a great script. Arthur Hiller directed it, one of the great directors. It was for Fox, 20th century Fox. I had done tons of films, not tons but four or five films up to that point for other studios, and that was the last studio picture I ever did.
BEHAR: So it did hurt you.
RINNA: Yes, it did.
HAMLIN: Well, I mean --
BEHAR: Wow.
HAMLIN: You can connect those dots if you want. I don`t say it hurt me. I say it`s the last studio picture I ever did but I would do it again. It was that good of a story.
RINNA: Way before its time.
HAMLIN: It was before the whole AIDS epidemic so that wasn`t part of it. It was a very innocent story because of that.
BEHAR: Yes.
HAMLIN: It was before that whole thing happened, you know.
BEHAR: You know, it`s hard for actors to do those types of parts.
RINNA: It is.
BEHAR: People say it`s hard for a straight actor, a gay actor to play gay. That`s interesting. Straight actors nowadays can play gay but gay actors can`t. That`s what they say. So people think you`re gay, I guess you can`t do a gay part.
RINNA: Yes.
BEHAR: Ok. Now, you`re a very sexy couple. You`ve been together.
RINNA: Thanks.
BEHAR: There is a new survey -- a sex survey. I want to just your input. They report that 85 percent of men believe their sexual partner had an orgasm -- 85 percent.
RINNA: Right.
BEHAR: While only 65 percent of the women actually had an orgasm. So there is something -- what do you think is going on? Is it bad communication? What do you think?
HAMLIN: Have you ever faked one?
RINNA: Well, not with you.
HAMLIN: You say all the right things.
RINNA: I haven`t, no, I haven`t. I have faked them before but not with him.
BEHAR: Why would you fake it with anyone? I`m curious.
RINNA: Because of the pressure and not wanting to let the guy down and at the time not even knowing how to have an orgasm with a man. I had to learn that.
BEHAR: So did you fake it when you had one alone?
RINNA: No, because I figured how to do that. No, I could figure out my own orgasm. I just couldn`t figure out how to have an orgasm with a man for a while.
BEHAR: But wouldn`t it be better to tell the guy, look, it`s not working for me, try something else?
RINNA: I think it`s too much pressure because I don`t think women exactly know how to have orgasms. Not everybody knows.
HAMLIN: What kind of show is this?
RINNA: Wow. It`s good. I like it.
BEHAR: It`s a hot show, Harry. It`s a hot show. Maybe you`ll test out these waters on your new reality show.
HAMLIN: Oh, ok.
BEHAR: Now, one more question. How much time do I have? 30 seconds.
Ok. Michael Bolton got into a snit recently on "Dancing with the Stars".
RINNA: Yes.
BEHAR: Because Bruno was nasty about him.
RINNA: Yes.
BEHAR: And you guys were both on "Dancing with the Stars".
RINNA: Yes.
BEHAR: What is the pressure there?
HAMLIN: Well, the pressure is unbelievable.
RINNA: The pressure is unbelievable.
HAMLIN: Absolutely. I mean, I did it for the challenge of it. I had to fire my agent to do it. He said I won`t be able to work with you after this and I said I`m doing this because I want this challenge right now in my life.
BEHAR: I see. You make your own decisions, Harry. You are a maverick.
RINNA: He sure is.
BEHAR: I like that about you.
RINNA: But again, I`m going to say one more thing. I thank god for Michael Bolton because if it weren`t for Michael Bolton, I would not be sitting here with this man and I would not have the children that I have.
BEHAR: Oh, you met him, I know. I know that story.
RINNA: I always say even though he is a dog in a dog house I still thank him.
BEHAR: You two are a delightful couple and I love your new lips. That`s all I have to say.
RINNA: Do you like them? They look pretty good don`t they?
HAMLIN: What about our books? Come on.
BEHAR: Lisa, kiss me, darling. Kiss me.
RINNA: How do they feel?
BEHAR: The new reality series "Harry Loves" Lisa premieres tomorrow night at 10:00 p.m.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming up a little later on THE JOY BEHAR SHOW Margaret Cho makes a political statement on "DANCING WITH THE STARS" but will it work with viewers? And Dog whisper Cesar Millan drops by to give Joy and her dog Tulula (ph) some helpful training tips. Now back to Joy.
JOY BEHAR, HLN HOST: The show is nuts. Delaware senate candidate Christine O`Donnell wants to clear up a few things so has hit the airwaves with a new campaign Ad. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE O`DONNELL, (R) DELAWARE SENATE CANDIDATE: I`m not a witch. I`m nothing you`ve heard. I`m you. None of us are perfect, but none of us can be happy with what we see all around us. Politicians who think spending, trading favors, and back room deals are the ways to stay in office. I`ll go to Washington and do what you`d do. I`m Christine O`Donnell, and I approve this message. I`m you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Somebody needs to throw a bucket of water on her. I`m melting. I`m melting. Here to discuss this bit of film noir and other interesting topics are AOL`s popular columnist, Rob Shuter, comedian and author of "I`m Not High" Jim Breuer, yes right, host on "The Thread" "Yahoo" Sarah Bernard. Hi, guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello.
BEHAR: So Sarah, what`s, you know, she has lied about going to Oxford, her degree, her -- she`s misused campaign funds, she doesn`t believe in evolution. Is she going to win anyway?
SARAH BERNARD, HOST, "THE THREAD" ON YAHOO: Oh, my goodness, I hope not. Thankfully there is a huge gap between her and her competition but I feel like we were all giggling when that went on. I just can`t imagine anyone thought that was a good idea let alone all the people obviously telling her to do this. It reminds me of the "I`m not a crook." you don`t say what you`re not.
BEHAR: Exactly.
BERNARD: It is literally the opposite of what you should do.
BEHAR: She goes, I`m not a witch. It`s like saying I`m not gay. Isn`t it like that?
ROB SHUTER, AOL`S "POPEATER" COLUMNIST: And I am not making fun of this. I think they`re brilliant. I think a lot of people that don`t know the back story here have a woman look in the camera and say she`s not a witch and I think it means that somebody was calling her a name. I think they`re really, really emotional and this is really going to help her.
BEHAR: Really?
JIM BREUER, COMEDIAN: I think she made a tragic mistake and "Fear Factor" works in this country and she said have said, yes, I`m a witch. And I am the devil and I will put curses on all of you. Unless you back me.
BERNARD: Well, you know why she said that. I think it was Bill Maher said she was on a long time ago and said she actually went on a date with a witch but didn`t realize it though they went to a satanic altar. I mean that`s why she is saying the witch.
BEHAR: I mean who was her date, Dick Cheney?
SHUTER: We know the back story but a lot of people out there in her state don`t know the back story. And I think when you say, I`m not a witch which rhymes with bitch I think people are looking at her saying who has been calling her names? And I, if you don`t know the back story I think this is going to be very effective.
BEHAR: But it`s been all over the place. If they watch any news shows --
SHUTER: But they don`t know, Joy. They`re watching other shows. This will pop up after "THE PRICE IS RIGHT" and --
BEHAR: You know he has a point. Maybe comedians are too hard on her. We make fun of her mercilessly and that could backfire on everybody.
BREUR: Joy if you play that backward you can clearly hear her saying, "I`m the devil and I have fooled you all." ha, ha, ha. Suckers!
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: She also says, I`m you. She is not me.
BERNARD: It makes me furious.
BEHAR: Why does that make you so angry.
BERNARD: Because first of all, my views couldn`t be further from hers and second of all I don`t want her and I don`t really want me in politics either. I want someone who has a much more heightened understanding of how Washington works and, you know, someone like our president, maybe, who has a way better chance of getting things done than I do.
BEHAR: But your point is in a way because she made $5800 last year. She can`t pay off her college loans. She is like a lot of people in this country so in a way I`m you kind of resonates doesn`t it?
BERNARD: But don`t you want someone who is a little more organized?
BEHAR: I do yes. I think there should be a stupid test. You know I really do.
BREUER: I think she just passed it.
SHUTER: You shouldn`t be able to vote if you didn`t have an education. I think people can vote without an education.
BEHAR: Yes you can.
SHUTER: I think this is going to be very -- very impactful.
BEHAR: If you`re an American citizen you can vote.
SHUTER: I really believe this and think she is me and with Neil Sedaka playing on the piano. So pretty.
BEHAR: Is that the new deal?
SHUTER: But it sounds so pretty -
BERNARD: Neil will be mad at you.
BEHAR: I think she is talking to what they call the real Americans. That I find offensive. That I find offensive. OK let`s move on to something else. While Bristol Palin is on "DANCING WITH THE STARS" her baby`s daddy Levi Johnston is snuggling with a sexy R&B singer in her new music video. Here is a look in Levi action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I believe will allow you to fly on the - on the beaches. On the blue will rise will allow you - rise on the - it will be all right, I`ve got -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Before we start, can I just say it`s a darned shame the way that Johnston/Palin relationship ended. I`m just glad John McCain isn`t alive to see this. He is? Oh, I`m sorry. My bad. My bad, OK. Now, believe it or not, the story in the video revolves around a couple who is forced to break up over the girl`s disapproving mother, sounds familiar. Doesn`t it?
BERNARD: Very familiar.
BEHAR: Do you think that was on purpose?
BERNARD: Absolutely on purpose. I mean, honestly, this guy`s the ex- boyfriend from hell. This is just so bad. The only thing this makes me feel is so bad for Bristol Palin. I am so glad she has a bigger show and while this is going on she has a vehicle for herself. She even said that this was really the turning point in calling off their engagement. He told her he was going to --
BEHAR: Hunting.
BERNARD: Right.
BEHAR: A hunting show.
BERNARD: I guess he kind of was hunting, right?
BEHAR: What is his opinion of her? He must think she`s really stupid if she is going to believe that.
BERNARD: How is that not going to come out?
BEHAR: Exactly.
BERNARD: Really? This was an invitation. Actually Britney what`s her name, I can`t even remember, was very smart because she said oh, we thought maybe we`d get some YouTube hits if we had him on our video. Now look what`s happened for her.
BEHAR: Yes, right.
SHUTER: It`s something. We`re all talking about it. She got him on. I don`t believe this video broke up their relationship. I think it almost symbolizes everything that was the problem. He wanted to be famous. They weren`t clean and honest with each other. This was a disaster. They are both sort of willing to use the Palin family to get publicity. She is doing it on "DANCING WITH THE STARS" and he is doing it in pop videos.
BEHAR: Right Jim.
BREUER: I really think they are the new modern day Osbourne family to be honest with you, just prettier.
BERNARD: Ah.
(LAUGHTER)
BREUER: I mean, every one of them are nailing it in the entertainment business.
BEHAR: They are very, very popular. Do you think we`ll see more acting in his future, maybe a remake of "The Titanic?" What do you think?
BREUER: I also think that was his sneaky way of saying, well I have a voice, too, Sarah.
BERNARD: That wasn`t acting. I mean, if you watch the whole thing the whole time he just looks like, I can`t believe this is happening to me. That`s what he looks like.
SHUTER: It`s a pop video. Naomi Campbell used to make a cameo or Kate Moss. Now we have Levi Johnston.
BEHAR: Right. And I don`t know if you watched "DANCING WITH THE STARS."
SHUTER: Loved it.
BEHAR: Well it goes up against us so don`t watch it anymore.
SHUTER: I`ve never watched it.
BEHAR: Finally, comedian Margaret Cho delivered a serious message Monday night while doing a samba on "DANCING WITH THE STARS." take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here name was Lola. She was a show girl. We wanted to celebrate pride. We wanted to show ourselves off. It`s a tough time for the gay community. A lot of gay teenagers have committed suicide so we want this to end now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Is it a little strange to put suicide and samba? I mean the two words together I thought were odd. Even though I liked the message she is trying to put out there.
SHUTER: It does feel odd but you have to admire her. She has the biggest stage in the world at the moment -
BEHAR: To do it.
SHUTER: And she did it.
BEHAR: we love her for that.
SHUTER: A lot of people would love to do it but she did it.
BEHAR: Right, we love her for that.
BREUR: Margaret has always, always found places to voice her opinion. She - she is brilliant at that. I praise her for that. She really is.
SHUTER: Fearless.
BREUER: She is fearless. I saw her at a Disney thing years and years ago when she was first on and they told her to lose weight so she went in front of the president and CEO. It was me and her, to promote our new shows, and she went on stage and went, first of all, I hate all of you people because you told me to lose weight. I`m not going to let you -- Lincoln park zoo weight. I sat there, the show is going to get canceled. The show is going to get canceled. But she --
BEHAR: Well, Sarah, it`s interesting that the story for her dance, Bristol`s dance, rather, we didn`t show that, but her story was about giving handouts to a homeless man and her dance partner played a homeless man. Isn`t her mother against handouts? I mean isn`t that odd?
BERNARD: Oh that`s interesting.
BEHAR: Not everybody can shoot their dinner. OK? OK Bristol?
BERNARD: This was a little bit of an odd night I thought on "DANCING WITH THE STARS." it was story night so each of the dances told a story. Some were more poignant than others. But, you know, I think it made, even though they were trying to take a serious subject in Bristol`s case it seemed very comical. I didn`t think it was nearly as effective as Margaret`s. And you know, the Yahoo search statistics have just reported that searches for Margaret Cho since that episode has aired have completely spiked and also searches for is Margaret Cho gay have completely spiked because now people are interested in her.
BEHAR: I don`t know -- what`s the point? Who cares.
BERNARD: She says she is married. She has come out a lot. She says I`m queer in my lifestyle.
SHUTER: I`ve also showed last night Bruce Sussman who wrote "Kokkai Cobana" with Barry Manilow and he was thrilled.
BEHAR: Is that your main squeeze?
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
BEHAR: Do you really use squeeze. You`re not going to tell me who is gay but we know who is. OK. Thank you, guys, very much.
BREUER: Thank you.
BREUER: Cesar Millan, "The Dog Whisperer," joins me next. I have a question, if he is training a St. Bernard does he whisper or yodel? We`ll find out.
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to wait until she stops so she can see what is it we want to do with her? We don`t want to hurt her. We want her to experience a hand in a calm way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whoa. Like a Gila monster.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Remember the movie "The Exorcist?" Isn`t she gorgeous?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Oh, you know he is a bestselling author and the star of "The Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan has built an empire on teaching people how to communicate with members of the canine persuasion. His new book "Cesar`s Rules, Your Way To Train A Well Behaved Dog" and he is here with me now and so is my dog Talulah who is a union member. So we`re going to -- we`ll see. Because I have a few things I want you to do a little later with Talulah. She is actually a perfect dog in many, many ways. Is she gorgeous or what?
CESAR MILLAN, ACTOR: I love it. Yes, ma`am.
BEHAR: She just doesn`t come when I call and I need her to do that because it`s dangerous.
MILLAN: How is the door situation at your house?
BEHAR: The door?
MILLAN: Remember, we ring the bell and the dogs go ballistic?
BEHAR: They go berzerk when the door bell rings. You`ve been to my house.
MILLAN: Yes.
BEHAR: So anyway, I want you to show me some tips about that later on in the show.
MILLAN: OK.
BEHAR: Now, you always say that dogs should be, owners should be the pack leader, the alpha dog. I should be the alpha dog. Now, and presidents are natural pack leaders aren`t they?
MILLAN: In the human world.
BEHAR: Presidents of the United States. That`s a natural -- the pack is their country.
MILLAN: Their pack is their country.
BEHAR: And yet, how does Obama do with his dog Bo?
MILLAN: The first day not too good. You know? Bo was in front of him pulling him.
BEHAR: He was pulling the dog.
MILLAN: Pretty much all the dogs in the White House pulled the presidents. Yes. That is very common, you know, since I came to America 20 years ago. This has been my observation. You know, dogs pretty much controlling presidents.
BEHAR: Well do you think that now that Rahm Emanuel is gone he should buy an attack dog?
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: I mean, that would help him, wouldn`t it?
MILLAN: Probably. I don`t know.
BEHAR: What about Bush and his dog?
MILLAN: Barney.
BEHAR: Barney. Who bit a reporter. Maybe he didn`t like Bush`s politics.
MILLAN: It is never the dog`s fault.
BEHAR: It`s never the dog -
MILLAN: No, no, many times people approach dogs with eye contact and moving too soon and see this creates tension in a dog. See? A lot of people do this behavior.
BEHAR: Yes.
MILLAN: Especially here in America. The dog has an amazing nose. He can smell you from a mile away. You don`t have to do this.
BEHAR: Especially some people. Which -- how should you approach a dog? My dogs, I have another one similar to this one.
MILLAN: Yes.
BEHAR: If someone comes over to her, and they`re standing, they will bark but if you get down on the floor they don`t.
MILLAN: Especially if you let them approach you. It is more relaxing for them to come and analyze you. You see, this is much more natural to them.
BEHAR: Yes.
MILLAN: When a human comes to them, it overwhelms them. Especially with little dogs. With a larger breed if you approach that way it`s an immediate challenge.
BEHAR: Uh huh what about children? A lot of times they don`t like children.
MILLAN: It is not that they don`t like children. They don`t like the way children approach.
BEHAR: They are scared of a small person.
MILLAN: Because kids are like, can I pet him? Please? There is the projection that they share. But this is a cultural behavior. In Mexico kids don`t get bitten as often as kids in America.
BEHAR: Is that so? Why not?
MILLAN: Absolutely. In Mexico, they tell you, don`t touch. No eye contact. In America they tell you, go pet the dog.
BEHAR: Oh, right.
MILLAN: You see, that means moving into his intimate space which is challenge.
BEHAR: And so it`s not just that they`re short. In other words if Danny Devito approached -
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: It`s not the same thing.
MILLAN: Mr. Danny Devito, no touch dog, no eye contact.
BEHAR: Let`s talk about you a little bit. You go up on your grandfather`s ranch in Mexico.
MILLAN: Yes, yes.
BEHAR: Is that where you first realized you had a special gift for what you do?
MILLAN: No, actually I realized I had something different when I came to America 20 years ago because as I came to America I wanted to learn from Americans how to train dogs and then I realized americans were disconnected with dogs. This is why Americans use a leash, when they tell a dog come, they never come. In third world country you don`t use a leash.
BEHAR: No?
MILLAN: Nobody uses a leash.
BEHAR: Well we like a leash here.
MILLAN: It`s a rule.
BEHAR: They can get hit by a car.
MILLAN: I understand from a physical point of view but over there, dogs walk in the streets. They avoid cars.
BEHAR: Yes.
MILLAN: Here dogs get a lot of affection, a lot of excitement.
BEHAR: Yes we like to make out with our dogs here. You know, we nuzzle them.
MILLAN: I love America. I`m telling you.
BEHAR: We rub their tummies. We really feel like we love them.
MILLAN: Well that`s the way you interpret love but the way they interpret love is completely different. I always suggest exercise, discipline, affection.
BEHAR: That`s how I treated my first husband.
MILLAN: Exercise, discipline, and affection.
BEHAR: Very good on him.
MILLAN: Oh he worked for affection? He behaved well then? Why did you let him go?
BEHAR: The leash was great also. But, you know --
(LAUGHTER)
MILLAN: The leash all the way to the top.
BEHAR: The other thing is that I was reading in one of your books that you actually crossed the border illegally.
MILLAN: Yes.
BEHAR: I love that story, tell me how that happened.
MILLAN: You want me to show you how?
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: Yes show me. Did you crawl under the fence?
MILLAN: You crawl, you run, you go in the water.
BEHAR: What did you do.
MILLAN: I mean, it took me two weeks.
BEHAR: How old were you?
MILLAN: I was 21.
BEHAR: Twenty one.
MILLAN: Yes.
BEHAR: And what, were you alone?
MILLAN: Yes, I was.
BEHAR: You came all by yourself at 21 and tried to cross the border in Texas? Where were you?
MILLAN: No, no, in Tijuana.
BEHAR: Oh in Tijuana.
MILLAN: No, I`m from Mazatlan so us to the Pacific Coast is the way we go.
BEHAR: I love to say Mazatlan.
MILLAN: Mazatlan.
BEHAR: It`s great. So you came through Tijuana. So how come they didn`t catch you?
MILLAN: They did. It took me two weeks.
BEHAR: They kept sending you back.
MILLAN: Oh absolutely.
BEHAR: So what do you think about what goes on now at the border? Don`t you think there is a problem down in Arizona? People are so angry.
MILLAN: It`s not going to solve the problem. Building the physical wall doesn`t solve the problem. I think education solves the problem. For America to teach us why to stay at home I think would be the best. You will save money. America will save money which is something I`m doing right now.
BEHAR: How will they save money?
MILLAN: Education.
BEHAR: Education.
MILLAN: I mean, you educate people. And then people realize how to work with their own goods.
BEHAR: But you know what, if the jobs level goes down any further they won`t even want to come here.
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: So that`s one way to solve the problem.
MILLAN: America doesn`t have jobs - end up in deep water.
BEHAR: Exactly, OK when we come back Cesar -- can I call you Cesar?
MILLAN: Whatever you want.
BEHAR: What do you say Cesar -
MILLAN: Cesar.
BEHAR: Cesar, will give me some tips on how to make Talulah come when I call her just like my first husband.
(LAUGHTER)
NANCY GRACE, HLN ANCHOR: Hello, hello, stay with us friends, we are speaking justice.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BEHAR: I`m back with "Dog Whisperer," Cesar Millan, and he is hopefully going to give me some tips to get my dog Talulah to come when I call her. OK. Cesar, so she is very -- she is crying over there because she wants to go out.
MILLAN: I was explaining earlier there are three ways you have to understand how dogs function. Right so if the dog is distracted by smells and then scent and if by sight do something visual. In this case it`s sight and sound. So what we can do, see, if she reacts to it. No, she`s not reacting to it.
BEHAR: She`s not reacting to the noise.
MILLAN: She`s not reacting to, so then we bring scent. All right. Come on, Talulah.
BEHAR: Oh suddenly she is your best friend.
MILLAN: Yes. But then we bring scent so now we create an attraction to us. If we start -- we used sound and it didn`t work. You see it.
BEHAR: No why didn`t sound work?
MILLAN: Because she was way too far -
BEHAR: Too distracting.
MILLAN: Too distracted. So then we bring the scent which is actually the most powerful sense they have which is - 60 percent of the brain is controlled by their nose.
BEHAR: OK so -
MILLAN: Then you reward the behavior.
BEHAR: Now you reward.
MILLAN: Very good. So don`t give it to her right away as soon as she comes. Let her work a little bit more so that way she stays a little longer.
BEHAR: Well what if she is like really far, like let`s say you have a big yard and she`s at the end of the yard and you want her to come in the house?
MILLAN: You have to work a little more.
BEHAR: Oh you have to get closer.
MILLAN: You have to get closer just for the scent so you can trigger or create the habit you`re looking for. You follow? But it is very important. I`ve seen you often repeating a command or behavior, like sit, sit, sit. Come, come, come. Just do it once. Just do it once and let the calm energy touch the brain.
BEHAR: The calm energy is where I have a problem.
MILLAN: That`s where all New Yorkers have a problem.
BEHAR: It`s a New York thing.
MILLAN: Yes.
BEHAR: Sit, sit, sit. So let`s say, Cesar, you don`t have any food on you.
MILLAN: That`s the thing you have to learn about -
BEHAR: Yes now, what do you do.
MILLAN: Weaning the dog away from food but in the beginning you have to create a habit. Good girl.
BEHAR: Oh, see that`s a good trick, because the first time you do the food. And then she knows where to go. Then when you do that you connect the food with the sound. Right? Is that what you just did?
MILLAN: Now we are not going to give toy or food. Now we`re going to give affection. So now she learns to work for affection not the toy, not the food.
BEHAR: Oh.
MILLAN: Make sure you don`t always use the toy or food. That way she knows I`m going to get something.
BEHAR: See that would work for a frigid person because you - no, seriously. First you give them food. And then they respond to affection later because it`s like a dog. The same idea.
(LAUGHTER)
MILLAN: Yes you can use my methods with people. I`m fine with it.
BEHAR: OK the other thing is --
MILLAN: The people whisper show.
BEHAR: What? The people whispere show.
MILLAN: Yes.
BEHAR: Do you -- why don`t you do that show?
MILLAN: Let`s do that together.
BEHAR: Yes, OK. So what else do you want? Teach her something else.
MILLAN: Here we have the attention. Now you can start triggering the behavior. Tallulah, come on. Just one time. You see it?
BEHAR: Yes.
MILLAN: Then you move. Come on. There you go. So you ask her to do it a few times.
BEHAR: Yes.
MILLAN: Tallulah. There we go. Sit.
BEHAR: Oh.
MILLAN: What I did, I asked for three behaviors.
BEHAR: See how you whispered, sit. You don`t say, sit!
MILLAN: Sit, sit, sit, sit. You know, there is no need. You`re going to see the dog walking really fast. She is learning how to sit and how to be excited too.
BEHAR: Very good.
MILLAN: You want the calmness part of it.
BEHAR: I know. That is very good, Tallulah. Do you say it now?
MILLAN: Just feel the good girl.
BEHAR: Good man, Cesar. Sit. OK.
MILLAN: Not yet.
BEHAR: OK. Catch Cesar on the new season of "THE DOG WHISPERER" premiering Friday at 8:00 p.m. On the National Geographic Channel. Good night, everybody. Sit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
