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Should English Be the Official Language of the U.S.?; Italian Mob Boss Captured

Aired April 12, 2006 - 14:30   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we've heard about border security, we've heard about jobs. But there's another issue in the immigration debate: language. A number of states have passed English- only laws. Ohio may be the next to speak out.
Kurt Ludlow of CNN affilate WBNS has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The sound here is eight.

KURT LUDLOW, WBNS REPORTER (voice-over): Jill Kramer (ph) looks at her students and sees faces of the world.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have people from Africa, Asia, Middle East.

LUDLOW: Pinpoints mark their countries on a map, immigrants who have come to learn English and discover America.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They need to be able to read signs, they need to be able to read a prescription label, they need to be able to read an advertisement, they need to be able to write a check. So we want to teach them what in English they need right now.

LUDLOW: None of the students has to be here. They come they want to.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put on sale and make the price down.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wanted to improve my English, and I wanted to -- I would like to go get a good job, too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know when you come into this country, you want to learn the language from the country, because you want a communication, you want to talk to some people.

LUDLOW: And that's why the Columbus Literacy Council says it's not necessary to make Ohio English-only. And besides...

UNDIENTIFIED FEMALE: Who's going to pay for the classes for individuals if this bill should pass? We serve about 1,200 students, and there's 120,000 individuals in Franklin County that need literacy services.

(END VIDEOTAPE) PHILLIPS: Well, state representative Courtney Combs is a sponsor of Ohio's official English bill. Ezra Escudero is the executive director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. He opposes the bill.

Gentlemen, good to have you both.

Representative Combs, why don't I start with you. And why did you propose this legislation?

COURNTEY COMBS, OHIO STATE HOUSE: Well, the basic proposal for the legislation is to encourage immigrants to learn English. My bill is an English unity bill. It's not official language bill. It's different from some of the other states. And basically, what it's about is to encourage all immigrants to learn English.

I believe that for Americans who come into this country, who want to become Americans, should learn English. It's a proven fact that their standard of living will go up. They can make more income, and they can realize the American dream if they learn English. Also, education benefits for higher education. Those who do learn English can continue on and go through college, which is very, very important.

I believe that with this bill, we are saying that we encourage all immigrants into the state of Ohio to learn English and assimilate into the culture.

PHILLIPS: Now, this all sounds -- it makes sense. I have a feeling that Ezra will probably support a lot of what you're saying. But you actually were -- I mean, the incident that triggered this legislation for you was actually about something that happened in your district with a 9-year-old girl. Is that true?

COMBS: That is correct.

PHILLIPS: What happened?

COMBS: In my district, we had an unfortunate situation with the rape of a 9-year-old girl in a multicultural neighborhood. And one of the things that was just a tremendous problem is neighbors could not communicate with each other. They didn't speak the same language. It caused problems. And this really encouraged me to go forward with this bill. If we do not state that we need people to speak English, I don't see it happening.

I know I've been told from the other side -- and I respect Ezra. Ezra and I have worked for 15 months on this bill. I initially introduced this bill in January of 2004. I went to the Hispanic/Latino Commission, asked them for support. We worked on this bill for several months. The bill was modified because of their input. We worked very closely together, although I came to a point -- I told them -- I said I didn't think that they would ever agree to the bill.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's ask Ezra about this. Ezra, you know, what is your reaction to the case of this 9-year-old girl which seems to have prompted the representative to write this legislation, and what do you think of his legislation?

EZRA ESCUDERO, HISPANIC/LATIN AFFAIRS COMM.: You know, it truly is a tragedy when we have these communication challenges, and we can't get communities to come together. You know, we definitely agree that we need to promote better communication. And of course, English is the most important language in the state of Ohio and in our country.

But it really makes no sense to legislate the obvious. What we need to do is be committed to proposing a program, positive posing solutions that can help take new American communities and mainstream them. Help them take the steps they need to learn English and to become more integrated with society and the United States.

You know, my parents immigrated here from Mexico, and they learned English. My sisters and I learned English. That's not in question. The question is are we going to propose a symbolic bill or we going to actually step up and propose some solutions that can help us mainstream this population?

PHILLIPS: But, Ezra, are you convinced that everybody would take advantage of those opportunities, those classes, those programs, versus being forced to abide by a law?

ESCUDERO: Well, that's an interesting question. The Ohio Englis Only Act doesn't impose a language requirement. And Representative Combs can correct me if I'm wrong on this. It is a mandate for state government to conduct official business in English. And as director of a state agency that has -- a third of our constituents are non- English-speaking, I can assure you today we already conduct all of our official business and all of our official meetings and records completely in English. So, again, why would we want to legislate the obvious, and that which is already in place?

PHILLIPS: That's interesting -- well, no, that's an interesting point. Representative, respond to that. Because that seems to make more sense. If you required everyone to take a class, an English class and learn the language, versus just making everything in English, how do you bring everybody up to the level where they should be? You need the education.

COMBS: I agree exactly. We do need the education. And Ezra's right in the fact that this bill has requirements in it. It requires state and local governments to transact business in English. There are exemptions to that. Federal law, safety, welfare, those types of things are exempted from the bill. So it's still possible to reach out to non-speaking immigrants, non-English speaking immigrants.

What my situation is, you know -- it was just said that, well this is a known problem that is being handled. It is not being handled. I know in my own district, we have several churches who provide English classes. YMCA, YWCA. I've had teachers who have approached me, retired teachers, who have agreed that they'd be willing to teach English. And I think this is what I'm after. I'm looking to proceed with this bill.

The immigrants who come to this country and learn English are far better off than if they don't, and they assimilate and they become Americans. I want them all to feel comfortable here and if they speak the language, they're all better off. That's the point of the bill. It's an English unity bill. I have a difficult time understanding why anybody would say you don't need the bill, why are you doing this, everything's taking care of itself. It's not being taken care of in my own district. .

PHILLIPS: Ezra, is that true? Is it not being taken care of, Ezra? And if that's the case, what needs to be done?

ESCUDERO: Well, it's true it's not being taken care of, but if you look at the legislation, it doesn't go far enough. It makes English the language of state government proceedings, but it doesn't offer any resources for education classes. And we agree, English is important, and we want to work together to put together a meaningful bill, a bill that will go ahead and expand these opportunities in the private sector. You know, I think it makes sense for a public/private partnership to expand these opportunities and to really help our new American community learn English and be more productive, as the representative said.

PHILLIPS: Ezra Escudero, Representative Courtney Combs, we'll follow the legislation. We want to see what happens. And hopefully we'll talk with you again, both of you.

ESCUDERO: Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, gentlemen.

COMBS: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Amid the chatter of English first and English-only, there is an organized movement to make English the official language of the U.S. Here's a fact check.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Twenty-seven states now have some form of English-only legislation. A spearhead of the movement is the Washington-based group U.S. English Incorporated. Founded in 1983, the group says it's the nation's oldest organization dedicated, in its words, to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States.

Immigrant and California Governor around Schwarzenegger is a member of the U.S. English Advisory Board. Other celebrities on the board are actor Charlton Heston and golfer Arnold Palmer and former Defense Secretary James Schlessinger (ph).

U.S. English isn't limiting its efforts just to the state level. It's mounted a campaign on Capitol Hill to pass a law making English the official language of the United States. U.S. English and a similar group called Pro English argue that English as official language laws will help immigrants learn English and thus succeed in this country. The American Civil Liberties Union and other critics say English- only laws do nothing more than discriminate against and punish those who have not learned English.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Some Italians calm him "The Tractor," others "The Ghost." Most are just relieved to call him arrested. The inside story from Corleone coming up on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: So what's the Italian word for Chad? We may soon learn in the wake of this week's very close and very messy parliamentary elections. Incumbent Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he won't concede until a review of the voting is complete. He says the whole thing was marred by irregularities.

Official returns show a center-left coalition former Prime Minister Romano Prodi winning by a very narrow margin. Prodi says that he is confident those results will stand.

More now on the case of the captured capo from Corleone. Italian police nabbed three alleged associates of the boss of all bosses, whose four decades in hiding came to an unexpected end early yesterday.

CNN's Carol Lin has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Bernardo Provenzano, the undisputed Mafia boss of bosses, has been on the run since 1963. Italian police captured him without a struggle just outside his hometown in Sicily, the village of Corleone, the same town made famous by author Mario Puzo in the three movies in "The Godfather" saga of the Corleone crime family.

But the really story of Bernardo Provenzano is in some ways more dramatic and mysterious, more brutal than any movie. Italy's interior minister says Provenzano's arrest is the crowning of great success against organized crime.

The gray-haired, 73-year-old Provenzano may not look the part, but he's accused of growing up as a local thug and Mafia hitman, and ordering the murder of two top anti-Mafia judges 13 years ago. Law enforcement authorities say he ran the Cosa Nostra with an iron fist since the arrest of his childhood friend and then top mob boss, Tito "The Beast" Reana (ph) shortly after those murders.

"Murderer" the crowd screamed at Provenzano as he was bundled into police headquarters, a glance to the side but no response from the man some dubbed "The Ghost" for his legendary ability to allude capture and the rumors that he was dead. The last known photograph of Provenzano was taken almost 50 years ago. Police used sketches and computer-generated images to illustrate what he might look like today. They say they never believed Provenzano was dead, convinced he was running the Mafia from hiding, never using a phone, his orders passed to underlings through precise, tightly-folded paper notes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN ITALIAN).

LIN: The man in charge of pursuing Italy's Mafia says no informer gave Provenzano up, that he was caught with old-fashioned, dedicated police work. They thought he was just being sheltered by locals, and that's just where they found him in a farmhouse in the rolling hills just outside his hometown.

Police say the lucky break, a package of laundry sent by Provenzano's wife, who lived openly in Corleone. "The Ghost," alive and finally under arrest done in by clean shirts.

Carol Lin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, it was a plane with no passengers but plenty of luggage, which will now be known as evidence. The plane's co-pilot is one of the three people arrested in Mexico after authorities found five-and-a-half tons of cocaine in 128 suitcases. The pilot escaped. Mexican officials were acting on a tip from the Venezuela military.

Straight ahead, entertainment news with A.J. Hammer of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." A.J., what's on top?

A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Kyra, wannabe American idols take to the big screen. An American classic is honored, and a stalker is stirring up things for a co-host of "The View." I've got all that and more when LIVE FROM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: What's in a name? Cash, cash, and more cash if you're the former Cassius Clay. Muhammad Ali is forming a company that will market his name and likeness. Never one for modesty, he's calling it GOAT, which stands for Greatest of All Time. Ali will own 20 percent, but a company called CKX Incorporated, is buying the rest for $50 million. CKX also owns the marketing rights to Elvis.

It's a bit of "American Idol," social commentary and comedy rolled into. And it's coming to a theater near you. A.J. Hammer of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" joins us from New York with all that and other entertainment news. I'll tell you what, it was one of the topics of the meeting, A.J.

HAMMER: This particular movie?

PHILLIPS: Actually, the whole "American Idol" situation and the movie. HAMMER: Well, this film is really interesting and it really does remind us of "American Idol," but it definitely has a twist about it. Now, there weren't any "American Idols" or Secret Service for that matter walking the red carpet last night at the Los Angeles premiere of "American Dreamz," that's the film we're talking about. But there were plenty of stars on hand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANDY MOORE, ACTRESS: It's a little scary when more people each week are voting for "American Idol" than the last presidential election. I think I'm just proud to be part of a film that at least is going to create a dialogue to get people talking and asking the proper questions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Actually started out as a singer and several years ago, she had a hit song you might remember called "Candy." Well now she is acting and her character is hoping to win the fictional "American Dreamz" contest to become the next big singing star. The comedy also stars Dennis Quaid as the president of the United States and Marcia Gay Harden as the first lady. And newcomers Sam Golzari and Tony Yalda as aspiring crooners. They just happen to have ties to a terrorist cell. We're putting it all together, Kyra. And the parody "American Dreamz" will be in theaters nationwide April 21st.

PHILLIPS: I saw the trailer, it looks pretty funny. All right from one wanna-be idol, to one that has been around for what, 80 years?

HAMMER: Eighty years now and this American idol got something better than honey, which for this character, hard to believe because we're talking about Winnie the Pooh, who was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday. Of course his friends had to show up, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit. They all left Hundred Acre Wood for the ceremony, everybody coming out to play. The unveiling of the cement monument coincides with the 80th anniversary of Pooh's very first appearance in the London evening news.

PHILLIPS: All right, now onto a more serious topic, it involves Elisabeth Hasselbeck, right? One of the co-hosts of "The View."

HAMMER: Yes, this is actually pretty scary stuff, Kyra, especially for Hasselbeck. She's 28-years-old, she's the mother of a one-year-old. She's been getting threatening calls from an anonymous caller. This person is apparently a woman and has been making false allegations against her and her husband, who is New York Giants quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, regarding their daughter Grace.

She is claiming to be a close friend and is reporting them, the Hasselbecks, to child protective services. Well the authorities have declared the charges to be false. And for celebrities who are in the public eye, this is really often a very chilling reality. We're going to be digging deeper into this particular stalker scare tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" with the inside story on all the calls that are being made, the threats that are out there, and why Barbara Walters herself is speaking out. And Kyra, you know, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" can be found at 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN "Headline Prime."

PHILLIPS: And we never miss it, all because of you. Thanks, A.J.

HAMMER: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well you remember that Italian mafia boss we told you about just a few minutes ago? Well if he's at the tippy top of the crime figures totem pole, this guy's at the very bottom. Surveillance tape shows him trying to grab the cash at a Walgreens in Denver and the outraged clerk throwing the drawer at him. The suspect got away with some money, but he also has a stolen right eye. Now police want the public's help tracking him down.

Now a story that will send a chill down any parent's back. A school bus driver in Tennessee accused of driving drunk on the job. Let's go right to the police video of the sobriety test.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, I'm drunk, I'm drunk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll move to another one. Let's see if we can find a...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... I'm not going to pretend, I'm drunk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now, elsewhere in the video, Reddy tells the investigators that she drank vodka at home before heading out. She's charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident. Police say she sideswiped a car and just kept going.

Punished for his online posting, ahead of LIVE FROM, a college student uses his Web page to announce that he's gay. Now he's expelled. The reaction both on and off campus, when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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