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Rick's List
Health Care Battle Escalates; Tough Week For Democrats?; Seven- Year-Old Calls 911 While Parents Held at Gunpoint; Carlos Mencia's Comedy
Aired March 10, 2010 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Here is what is making THE LIST.
President Obama taking back the bully pulpit, this time in Saint Louis.
Meanwhile, those who want health care reform are rallying for it again. Is this part of a new Democratic strategy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's some guy who is going to kill my mom and dad.
SANCHEZ: Look who is talking to police during a home invasion robbery, and he is only 7.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Hello. Hey, what about us? It is our wedding.
SANCHEZ: What happens when a black guy marries a Hispanic gal? Carlos Mencia has a new movie about life in America.
The lists you need to know about. Who's today's most intriguing? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a list, pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Hi, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Number one on THE LIST today in politics: the health care politics on many fronts, the most important of which of course is what the president is going to be doing during this newscast. He is going to be talking to the American people, and what he wants to do so is somehow take a big cut out of the fraud that takes care on Medicare and Medicaid to the tune of $98 billion.
Let me say that again, to the tune of $98 billion. And you know whose idea he is going to be using? Republican Tom Coburn's idea. That is what he is going to be using. You are looking there at the president. We are waiting for him to make his latest pitch on the plan.
He is going to be doing so in Saint Louis, incidentally, Saint Louis, Missouri. The president left Washington just a short time ago. He is going to Missouri for another really campaign-style trip, taking back the bully pulpit, if you will, less legislating and more talking to the American people. It seems to be a brand-new strategy.
It is the same thing that he did in Philadelphia recently. He's expected to hit insurance companies again. Mr. Obama has been hitting them on rate hikes recently, as I'm sure you have heard, new approach trying to win over Americans who already have insurance, as opposed to convincing them that they need to help those who don't have insurance.
He is also expected to hit the Republican issue today. He is going to hit it hard, Medicaid, Medicare fraud. And he is going to explain exactly what he is going to do the cut into that.
By the way, we talked a lot about protests yesterday. There were no protests today, certainly not like the ones that we saw yesterday in Washington, D.C., from people who say they are for what the president wants to do.
But there were, nonetheless, people trying to make their case on Capitol Hill. This is the video that we were able to gather for you, pretty much in a much quieter way. This is a group of health care supporters who said that they were victims of insurance abuse. They walked to Republican Whip Eric Cantor's office, and they stayed until they were able to talk to staff members there.
This comes as the hard work of trying to count the noses is under way. Now, we have been drilling down on this. Our own Gloria Borger was told by White House sources today, Democrats, that they do not -- quote -- "do not" have the 216 votes yet that they need in the House.
Source estimates that they are somewhat -- anywhere between seven and eight votes shy. That is divided between progressives and social conservatives either way. So, we are looking at both flanks opposing this thing.
Today, House Republican Leader John Boehner, he warned about deals that may need to be cut to get this thing through. Here is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: They are trying to find every legislative gimmick in order to shove this government takeover of our health care system down the throats of the American people, when the American people have made clear they want no part of this.
They are going to ask their colleagues to vote on the Senate- passed bill that includes the $500 billion in Medicare cuts, includes the $500 billion of tax increases, and backroom deal that was cut in the Senate. They are going to ask their members to vote for this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, there was a new effort today to block the bill. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is launching ads to say that the nation can't afford the bill. In speeches like today's, President Obama is trying to use his old campaign tactics, though, to block those trying to block the bill.
Remember this? This is one of the coolest photographs we remember from the campaign. This is in Saint Louis. It was the scene of one of the biggest rallies during Mr. Obama's campaign for the presidency. It was the scene in October of 2008 under the arch, when more than 100,000 people turned out to hear candidate Obama speak.
But a sign that even Mr. Obama's personal popularity is not always enough, the Missouri Democratic candidate for Senate -- think about this, the president is speaking in Missouri, and who is going to be missing? The Missouri Democratic candidate for Senate, Robin Carnahan, is not going to be at the president's speech today.
She says it is a scheduling conflict. She is in D.C. on state business, but it comes as a Republican opponent is trying to tie her directly with Mr. Obama on issues not always popular with the battleground state residents.
So, what are we going to do? Well, here is what I am going to do. I'm going to call out Roy Blunt. Roy Blunt is her opponent. He is the Republican who opposes the president's plan. And I am going to go toe to toe with him on exactly what it is that he is arguing against in this case, and he is gracious enough to join, just us as the president is ready to speak to his constituents.
All that a whole lot more. That is just the setup. Here's what else we got for you.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: Can you tell me what happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They tried -- they opened -- they ring the door, and they have guns to shoot my mom and dad.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This is remarkable. Can you believe that? Seven years old. He is 7 years old. He grabs the phone, saves the day by secretly calling police during a home invasion robbery at his home. You are going to hear from him and from the dispatcher just a little bit later. And it is going to be a bit of a treat for you as well.
Also, they found this guy, finally found this guy, I should say. You remember this story? It was at the airport. He breached security because he wanted to come on the other side of the gate. You see the arrow right there. He is walking across when the guard isn't looking, the security fellow at the airport?
Well, for the longest guy, they could not find this guy. For six hours, the airport was in a panic. They have finally found him, and now he has been, you might say, breached himself. We will explain.
Stay with us. That is next on THE LIST.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to THE LIST. I'm Rick Sanchez.
One of things we like to do for are keep lists of people who are relevant to news stories that we are following. So, today, we are tapping into our celebrity list on Twitter. And there is a whole lot of them that are tweeting today about the death of a very famous entertainer. Take a look at this. This one that we are looking at right now is from Soleil Moon Frye. You remember "Punky Brewster," right?
She's one of the many who are sending notes just like this, "Rest in Peace, Corey Haim. Nobody made listening to 80s's music back in the day look so good. Save a dance for me up there."
Yes, Corey Haim dead.
Then there's this. As we look at the stories that we follow, we also keep lists of things that are followed up. And, today, we have at the very top of our follow-up list this story. Do you remember this? Do you remember the guy who breached security at Newark Airport January 3?
He brought the entire terminal to a standstill, not to mention creating a panic at the airport. You see him in this video? You see right there the guard is barely paying attention, and he goes on the other side of the barricade, and he walks across when the guard is not looking?
Then he comes to the other side and he kisses his girlfriend. And then he was not seen again that day. Well, he was finally seen. He has been found. In fact, he was found a while ago, and now he has even been given his punishment.
His name is Haisong Jiang, pleaded guilty today to defiant trespass, has to pay a $500 fine and do 100 hours of community service. A breach in January shut down Newark's terminal for six hours, screwed up the nation's air travel for days, many insiders say.
Jiang, by the way, is a Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers University, but not a candidate for common sense.
Now this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Most open and most ethical Congress in history.
NARRATOR: Charlie Rangel stepped down after --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right, this is a GOP ad and they are nailing the Dems for some of the actions of some of its members recently. The Republican Party is going after the Dems by going after Massa and Rangel.
That is next on THE LIST. Watch it. And you tell me, is it fair or is it same old, same old Washington?
Also, how did they ever get this guy off of that bridge? Can you see him up there? He is stuck.
We are not -- we are scrolling on. Stay with us. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: Hey, Rick. This is Jerry (ph) again from Iowa.
I am calling to say that we don't want health care done by this Congress. This is the most corrupt Congress. We do not trust this Congress. The next Congress, maybe, but not this one.
Thank you, Rick.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Number two on our list of political news stories, let's talk about the Democrats, who seem to be having a really bad week, and the Republicans, who are jumping all over the Dems for that.
CNN's deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, has been tracking some of what is going on.
Paul, good to see you.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Rick. Good to be here.
SANCHEZ: Likewise.
The Republicans are pretty sure they have got a good issue here. And when -- politicians are like a dog with a bone when they see the other side hurting. They are going after a string of Democrats that are in trouble. Let's start with this.
I want you and the folks at home to take look at this ad. It is done by the Republican National Committee, and they are -- well, they're pouring it on a couple of these guys. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: Most open and most ethical Congress in history.
NARRATOR: Charlie Rangel stepped down after breaking ethics rules and failing to pay taxes. Pelosi defended him for nearly two years. Eric Massa resigned after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced. Pelosi called it rumor.
PELOSI: Most open and most ethical Congress in history.
NARRATOR: Pelosi is wrong. It is time to change Washington.
The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Almost looks like a cookie-cutter ad. By that, I mean that both parties do these. I have seen the Dems do them. I have seen the Republicans do them. The other guy has got a problem, so I'm going to jump all over it.
What do you make of this?
STEINHAUSER: Hey, listen, Rick, let's go back a couple of years ago. It was 2006. The Republicans ran Congress in those days, and the Democrats made a big deal of what they called the Republicans' culture of corruption. It is one of the reasons the Democrats won back control of Congress.
You saw that commercial. That clip was from Nancy Pelosi when she just took over as House speaker, said she was going to run the cleanest Congress ever. Let's fast-forward back to today. You mentioned it.
Just in the last week, three Democrats, all from New York, Rick, Charlie Rangel, Massa, and Governor Paterson up there, the Democrats have a host of problems right now, controversies, and the Republicans are going to try to turn the tables. It worked against them in '06. They hope it works with them in 2010, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Congressman Massa is in trouble? Really?
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: I didn't know.
STEINHAUSER: Former Congressman Massa now.
SANCHEZ: I didn't know.
STEINHAUSER: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: All I know is a certain broadcaster had him on his show yesterday, tried like heck to have the guy say something bad about anybody who had a D. in front of his name, and the guy refused to do so. And this certain broadcaster finally looked at the camera said, I think I have wasted an hour of your time.
It was something to behold. By the way -- go ahead.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: I would love to hear what you are thinking about this.
(LAUGHTER)
STEINHAUSER: You know, we are talking about the tough times the Democrats are having now with all these controversies that the Republicans are highlighting, but, remember, at the end of last week, you also had the Democrats going after the Republicans after that Republican national fund-raising story that kind of blew up, where the Republicans used an image of the president as the Joker.
So it is not all against the Democrats here. There are some controversies that are hurting the Republicans, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Speaking of people who hurt the Republicans, let's talk about Rush Limbaugh. He told his radio audience yesterday that, if health care goes through, he will leave the country. He even named the country he will leave to. He is going to Costa Rica.
And here is what Jay Leno had to say about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Radio host Rush Limbaugh says he will leave the United States if health care reform passes.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
LENO: Well, if that does not get the Democrats to rally, nothing will. Oh, my God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Now, what is interesting about this, as I'm sure you know, is, Costa Rica has universal health care, which is what many people call a socialist health care system, and yet they rank ahead of the United States in the WHO. They are 36, I believe, we are 37, in health care in the world.
(CROSSTALK)
STEINHAUSER: Yes, they also have nice weather. Maybe that is why Rush wants to go down there.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: And good golf.
STEINHAUSER: But, listen, Rush Limbaugh is the man the Democrats love to vilify. It was just last year where they were claiming that Rush Limbaugh was running the Republican Party.
And you know what, Rick? We did a poll last year about Rush Limbaugh. We found that only one in 10 Democrats had a favorable opinion of Rush Limbaugh, not a huge surprise. Six in 10 Republicans had a very favorable opinion of him. I guess he could unify the Democrats, no doubt about that, in hatred, maybe.
SANCHEZ: All right. Let's you and I now have a quantifiable conversation. Let's talk numbers, now that we have gotten all the fun stuff out of the way.
The House, I think they need 216 votes. It sounds like Gloria Borger was telling us that they don't have those 216 votes. Are they having problem in the flanks? Is that where the issue is?
STEINHAUSER: Well, listen, we know that last time they voted on health care, which was in early November, the vote was 220 in favor of the bill, 215 against it. So, it was razor-thin -- 39 Democrats, Rick, in that vote last fall voted against the bill.
You heard Congressman Chris Van Hollen, one of the top Democrats in the House. He was with Candy Crowley on "STATE OF THE UNION" on Sunday, and he said, we are close, but we haven't locked it in yet.
So, you are right. They have got problems with some on both sides. And you mentioned the earlier in the show, Rick. You've got some socially conservative Democrats who have problems with the Senate's bill abortion provisions that are not tough enough.
You've got some fiscally conservative Democrats who have problems with the bill, because it -- maybe it balloons the budget deficit. And you've got progressive Democrats who say the bill doesn't go far enough; where is the public option?
So, this is going to be an extremely close vote. And I don't think the Democrats are there yet.
SANCHEZ: And then you've got Stupak. What's going on with the Stupak measure? I love saying that guy's name.
(CROSSTALK)
STEINHAUSER: You like saying that name.
(LAUGHTER)
STEINHAUSER: Stupak and a couple of the other socially conservative Democrats feel that the Senate provisions don't go far enough, but he is hinting now that maybe --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: On abortion. On abortion, right?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, on abortion, on abortion, exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
STEINHAUSER: So, but he is hinting now that maybe there will be -- that there's some agreement coming there on that one. But, Rick, it is going to be an extremely close vote. They say they are going to do it before the end of the month, before the Congress goes on Easter break. Stay tuned.
SANCHEZ: Well, and, you know, Mr. Boehner is right when he suggests that this is the time you have got to watch these folks to make sure that they don't do some deals that we will all end up regretting or having to pay for in the end, so good advice. We will be doing just that here at CNN, and I'm glad we got you to do it for us or help us out.
Paul, good segment. I appreciate it. .
STEINHAUSER: Thanks, Rick.
SANCHEZ: All right. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: And this is Marcus' (ph) father, Brad (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You towed my car.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: There was a sign. You can't read?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I graduated USC magna cum laude.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This is fascinating, a new movie about a slice of life in America, the real America. This is a black groom with a Hispanic bride and then what happens with the families when that happens. And guess who plays the dad? Carlos Mencia, yes, our buddy. And he called us and he wants to come on and talk about it.
So, we said, sure, fine. We will make some room for you. So, Carlos Mencia is going to joining us here in just a little bit to talk about this most interesting movie.
Also on THE LIST, our most intriguing person today in the news. It is a woman who seems to have turned against America. Why? That is next on THE LIST. You stay right there. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. We are scrolling on here for you, folks, on THE LIST.
Now this. How did a woman born and raised in Pennsylvania Amish country find herself accused of recruiting terrorists? It is complicated, and most definitely intriguing.
This Pennsylvania woman born in 1963 is facing a possible life prison sentence for something that she allegedly began doing in 2008, communicating on the Internet with several others about their desire to wage Muslim holy war and become martyrs against America and other Western countries.
Federal officials say that she actively recruited men and women to commit violence in Europe and Asia in the name of Islam. She has been arrested and indicted for conspiracy to help terrorists and kill a person in a foreign country.
Her words intercepted -- quote -- "I will make this my goal until I achieve it or die trying."
Roger, show the folks what she looks like. She is American Colleen LaRose, calls herself online JihadJane. And she is in federal custody now, folks. The movement she supports and her violent message makes her the most intriguing person today in the news.
You remember that moment right there? Look at Alito. You see him shaking his head? He is angry at what the president is saying, because he seems to disagree with it. Well, somebody else is now coming out about what the president said on that day, Justice John Roberts throwing Alabamians some red meat by criticizing the president who criticized him.
Also, should this be a sport with international competitors? And, if so, why not? You tell me. That it is alligator "wrastling." It's not "wrestling." It's "wrastling."
By the way, you want to come out here and "wrastle" with us? I would love to have you. We invite folks to be on our set and help us do this newscast and prepare the questions, talk to Wolf Blitzer. All you got to do is call this number, 1-877-4CNN-TOUR, 1-877-4CNN-TOUR.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: This is from Dee Dee Lavada (ph). She says that she sits down the watch the news everyday while eating her lunch with us.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK.
Hi, Dee Dee.
SANCHEZ: So, how are you?
BALDWIN: Hi. How are you, Sanchez?
SANCHEZ: How are you, Brooke? Good to see you there, Baldwin.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Sanchez.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Let's do it. You ready?
BALDWIN: Yes. SANCHEZ: You are going to like this.
BALDWIN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Wrestling is what high school athletes do. You got that? "Wrastling" is what you do with a gator. For more translations, let's do "Fotos."
All right, this guy wants to introduce you to what he hopes is nation's newest extreme sport. Yes, right.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: The Freestyle Alligator Competition in Hollywood, Florida.
Somehow, James Holt has managed to make it to adulthood, despite wrestling gators professionally. This is about a mile-and-a-half from my house where I lived in South Florida.
BALDWIN: OK. These gators your friends?
SANCHEZ: No, no.
BALDWIN: Not so much.
SANCHEZ: No such thing.
The competition he envisions awards points in various points, but curiously keeping all of the legs and arms is not one of them. He says it is not cruel to gators. Animal rights people have a very different view.
Anyway, we will see if it catches on.
BALDWIN: As a sport.
SANCHEZ: I can't believe he is in the water with it.
BALDWIN: That's a death sentence.
SANCHEZ: OK, you know those movies where the guys standing on the drawbridge and it starts to go down and he is stuck? Well, guess what, that really happened today. There was actually a man on drawbridge in Pompano Beach, Florida.
BALDWIN: Your old hood as well.
SANCHEZ: Well, I had all of my friends send in video. Apparently the hydraulics failed on the bridges up and down thing.
BALDWIN: Technical term?
SANCHEZ: Yes. Whatever they call it. Suddenly shot four workers up over the inter-coastal waterway. Nobody was hurt and everybody got out safely, and thank goodness for the big ladders that the firefighters carry around.
All right. Ready for this one?
BALDWIN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: This is a little tough to watch. A Milwaukee sheriff's sergeant punches a handcuffed man in the face not just once or twice, but a lot, a lot. It is caught on the squad car's surveillance camera, and the sergeant doing the punching got into major trouble for this. Yes, he loses it.
He is going to jail for 18 months, felony misconduct and misdemeanor battery. And the suspect was kicking the car's windows and the sergeant told him over and over again to stop. The sergeant's defense, he says he suffers from PTSD from the army and doesn't remember even punching anybody. Nevertheless, he is in trouble.
That re "Fotos del Dia." We are out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you tell me what happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Um, they come. They opened, ring the door, and they have guns to shoot my mom and dad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Oh, my god! He is so cute and you want to hug him, but it is a real story. This is remarkable. Remember the movie "Look who is Talking" when little kids are talking? Well, this one is talking to police secretly, and it is during all a robbery in his home. He hides and grabs the phone and calls the cops. You have to hear this, folks, next on "The List."
Also, we are ready to see the president of the United States, there he is on Marine one, and there is Claire McCaskill with him. It is his big health care push. Remember this picture? This is where the president drew one of the biggest crowds when he was candidate or Senator Obama.
He is going back to St. Louis, folks, and this time he's going after Medicare fraud using a strategy that was introduced to him by Tom Coburn, a Republican. That is interesting. It is a bipartisan approach to the bully pulpit.
Stay with us, and we are coming back with Brooke Baldwin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Hand's down, topping the list for the most dramatic audio in the news, this quick-thinking seven-year-old who stops a home invasion in the tracks by hiding, picking up a phone, and calling the police. It happened in Norwalk, California. We have the tape by the way, and here is Brooke Baldwin to take you through it.
BALDWIN: Talk about a precocious seven-year-old. It is one of tapes that our whole team loved this story. I want to get you this 911 call in a moment, but first to set it up for you.
So, these three suspects, police are still looking for them, but there's a happy ending at least in this story in Norwalk. What happened is yesterday three armed men walked into the home, and yes, the front door was unlocked, and according to the sheriff's deputies, they held the parents up at gunpoint.
But these guys were totally unaware that the couple's two kids were in the house. The seven-year-old boy grabbed his sister, fast- thinking, and locked themselves in the bathroom and then dialed 911.
Listen to this call.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: Can you tell me what happened?
7-YEAR-OLD CALLER: Um, they come. They ring the door, and they have guns to shoot my mom and dad.
911 OPERATOR: Right now?
7-YEAR-OLD CALLER: Yes. Can you come really fast? And bring cops, a lot of them.
911 OPERATOR: Listen to me, I have them coming, hon. Listen to me, take a deep breath. I have the police coming. Listen to me, where are you at in the house?
7-YEAR-OLD CALLER: Inside of the bathroom.
911 OPERATOR: You are in the bathroom. Who is with you?
7-YEAR-OLD CALLER: My sister.
911 OPERATOR: How old is she?
7-YEAR-OLD CALLER: Six years old. Can you come really fast? Hurry up.
911 OPERATOR: Yes. Stay on the line with me. Don't hang up, and listen to me, we are coming to help you, but listen to me.
7-YEAR-OLD CALLER: OK.
911 OPERATOR: When you were in the house, tell me exactly what happened. Just stay where you are and don't hang up, whatever you do.
7-YEAR-OLD CALLER: OK. They -- the guys, they have --
(SCREAMING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So that makes your heart drop, right? At that precise moment is the point when these intruders found these kids and went into bathroom. That's where the screaming comes from, and they asked the boy, "Who are you on the phone with?" He says 911, and guess what, the intruders took off. No one harmed and nothing taken.
And the sheriff's department point blank have come out and said, look, if this young child, this seven-year-old had not been so brave, this whole thing would have been much worse.
SANCHEZ: Yes, but let's thank god that it didn't turn the other way and these guys didn't immediately try to eliminate witnesses --
BALDWIN: Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: -- including the children, as have happened in the past in cases like this.
BALDWIN: And what a sweet voice on the one of that 911 operator trying to keep him on the phone and keep him calm and talking and on the phone.
SANCHEZ: Let's do this, let's bring her in. Her name is Monique Patino. She is a 911 operator who took the call and she is joining us on the phone. Monique, are you there with us?
MONIQUE PATINO, 911 DISPATCHER (via telephone): Yes, sir.
SANCHEZ: Wow. I mean, you know, it's amazing to listen to this story. What did you think when you heard that delicate little voice on the other end of the phone? Are you trained to deal with children differently than how you deal with adults?
PATINO: I wish I could say we were. But, you know, every call is totally different. There is not one call that is the same. And basically, our main priority is where they are at, what crime we have, and keep them on the phone as long as possible and get police to them right away. So, that is the first thing that came to my mind.
BALDWIN: And Monique, when I was reading up on you, today, you are a mom of two, right?
PATINO: Yes, ma'am, two boys.
BALDWIN: I mean, that has to change things a little bit for you a little bit. Did you swallow a little extra hard knowing that you have children?
SANCHEZ: It probably helped you. It probably helped you, right?
PATINO: Yes, I was in tears just hearing his voice. I could feel the fear and how dramatic and scared they were. I really wanted to go through the phone line and hug him and take him out of that situation. All I can do is just let him know and comfort him and know we are on our way and if he can feel safe in a hard situation, than that is the best thing I can do was just be there.
SANCHEZ: But you know what I am thinking, at that moment when you hear the conversation end with him screaming, you must have been concerned at that point.
PATINO: I was in tears.
SANCHEZ: Take us through that and then how you finally found out it was OK, that no harm had come to the child.
PATINO: Well, at that moment during it I froze when I heard them screaming. And it was tough, so tough to swallow and hear. I was in tears. It took me a second to turn to my co-workers and let them know that, you know, they just took the kids out of the bathroom. And I was shaking.
You know, I had a monitor to line, because it was an open line. Until we got it was a long period of me trying to monitor and see if I can hear anything. It was so tough for me, I was shaky, and I don't know if you can hear, but I was crying.
BALDWIN: So what happened? He threw the phone down and you held on the line and police got there minutes later? How did you know in the end that it was OK?
PATINO: I didn't know. I monitored until we got there. I already knew they were there and setting up their containment, and using all of the resources for the department. I was just listening and waiting to see if I could hear they were still in the house, even if it was a little boy or little girl or anything.
I was shaken up and in tears and crying. It was hard for me even after. I had to walk out of to station in the back and just take a walk, because I was very shaken up, and I didn't know if they were OK. That was hard to stomach.
BALDWIN: Have you -- I know you are holding or part of a press conference in two hours. Have you met him yet? Please give him a big high five for both of us.
(LAUGHTER)
PATINO: No, I have not met him yet, but I am hearing that I might meet him today at 3:00, yes.
BALDWIN: And when you do, what are you going to do?
PATINO: I am going to give him a big hug and pick him up.
SANCHEZ: Just we all wanted to do when we were listening to him. We all felt for the little guy.
BALDWIN: Bravo. SANCHEZ: You guys made a great team. Congratulations.
PATINO: Thank you so much.
SANCHEZ: We always do stories with the problems of police and officials and 911 operators, and here you come along to give us reason for us to give you praise, and I am glad we were able do so, Monique.
PATINO: It is definitely not given often enough, and I greatly appreciate it, thank you.
SANCHEZ: God bless. Thank you. And thank you. Great stuff.
BALDWIN: Great story.
SANCHEZ: Look at this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: We want health care! We want health care!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right, are the tea party protests getting competition by, from the pro health care protests? What is going on?
Also, what happens when a black guy marries a Hispanic gal in America? And the father of the bride is that crazy guy right there? That's Carlos Mencia and he's in a new movie that apparently everybody is saying will be a hit. Do you want to stick around when we talk to Carlos?
BALDWIN: Sure.
SANCHEZ: All right, Brooke, is going to stick around, Carlos. I want to know everything about this movie and I want to know what kind of dad you are. Stay there and we will be back with Mencia meister.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: All right. Guess who is joining us, besides Brooke? Carlos Mencia, and he is standing by.
I think we have a couple of clips we are going to go to. Carlos has a new movie out, and in this movie -- this is an interesting storyline. I like it, I think it's fascinating, the real America. Black guy falls in love with a Hispanic gal, and the two of them get married, and the poor guy has to deal with Carlos, because he is America Ferrar's dad, who is the Hispanic gal. Here's a clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You, you towed my car.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What the big deal, brother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not your brother, hombre.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are getting married.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yep, we are. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just wait until you meet him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Buenos dias.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do not ruin this for her. She is in love and wants to get married. It is a traditional Mexican American wedding.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we have a lot of African-American traditions, like the electric slide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is going to be like speedy Gonzalez running all over the place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: I love this. It is like the intersection of two cultures, and it is bound to explode. You have Forest Whitaker. What is he, the other dad?
CARLOS MENCIA, HOST, "MIND OF MENCIA": Yes, he is other guy.
SANCHEZ: You are the Hispanic dad and he is the black dad.
MENCIA: Yes. I wanted to play the black dad and have him play the Hispanic dad. I thought that would have been great casting.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: That would have been obvious.
MENCIA: But they would not go for it.
SANCHEZ: And you have America Ferrer from "Ugly Betty," the bride. And Lance Gross is the dude, the guy.
MENCIA: Right.
SANCHEZ: This is a heck of a cast. Now, here is one more clip, and we will start to talk about it. One more clip. Do this one, too, Roger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When this is Marcus' father, brad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You! You towed my car. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a sign. You can't read.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I graduated USC magna cum laude.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Calm down, brother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not your brother, hombre.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead and say it. Embarrass yourself in front of your daughter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is a jerk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad -- what is going on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you even know each other?
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This is real, man. This is like real life is like. And I don't care the color of your skin, any time you go to get married to someone else and you have to try to get along with another family, crap like this will happen. Take us through it.
MENCIA: You know what, I identified so much with this because, as you know, Honduras, and I grew up in east L.A. where everybody is Mexican. And I remember I thought I was like everybody else until I started dating Mexican girls.
And I will never forget. I went to this guy's house and everything was great. I met the dad and everything was fine. And he inevitably goes, "Where are you from?" I am like, "Honduras," and he is like, "What? No, no, no!" I am like, oh, my god, what did I do?
He's like, we are different, you are from Honduras, and that's a whole different place. And I was like, wow, I can't believe this. So, this is so much a part of my growing up. My sister Olga only dates black guys, so that scene in that movie has occurred in my house many times for real.
SANCHEZ: But was a -- how are you able to take what is a very uncomfortable thing, which is relations between races and nationalities and make it funny, or do you play it like it is, the truth, and the truth is funny?
MENCIA: Yes, we played the truth, but also Forest and I kind of -- we created this relationship with each other that was really fun, and because of that relationship on camera, we were able to kind of push it a little farther being honest and real but not being mean.
You know, prejudice really means a prejudgment of another human being without knowing them, and I think that we were prejudice, but not hateful. And that is a really fine line to draw -- I don't know who you are, but I think that who you are, so I am going to act to you like I think who you are as opposed to who you are.
That is the thin line we were walking.
BALDWIN: Is that the takeaway of the movie, would you say?
MENCIA: I love the classic line that you yelled at each other and you yelled at each other, when Forest Whitaker yelled at you and then you yelled back "You people." And that is the one -- "What do you mean, you people?"
BALDWIN: That makes people mad.
SANCHEZ: And you are somebody in a group.
BALDWIN: Absolutely. Talk about different racial lines, and deconstructing stereotypes? Is that kind of the take-away of the movie, Carlos?
MENCIA: It is also the prejudgment of it, because I towed his car. I'm not mad at him for being black. I'm mad at him because he's one of those guys that parked in a no-parking zone, and he's getting mad at me because I'm towing his car.
So I'm saying to him, like "you people, you know the kind of people you are."
SANCHEZ: The people who park illegally.
MENCIA: Exactly. But he automatically takes it like, you're talking about black people? I'm like, no. What are you talking about?
But then when he says to me "hombre," I'm like, what are you trying to say, I don't speak English? But I think at the end of it what this is, it is an American story in the fact that all of us in this country who are having kids, our kids don't see color. Our kids don't see race, background, ethnicity. Our kids are coming home with everything.
And this movie shows that. And in the end it's really about when two kids fall in love, you got to just back them up and hope that it turns for the best, because love is really hard to find, man. That's what it's really about.
SANCHEZ: My wife's granddad -- god bless him -- to the day he died called me Julio.
BALDWIN: No!
SANCHEZ: What are you going to do? I love her.
MENCIA: I know.
SANCHEZ: Yes, it is what it is, right?
MENCIA: Yes. You know what it is? The truth is that when you deal with this subject with humor and reality -- but like that scene of the generational scene, you see, my daughter falls in love with a black guy. She's cool with it. I'm kind of OK with it but kind of fighting some of it. Grandma faints.
BALDWIN: That's interesting.
MENCIA: Right? You can see the levels what have we're doing. That's real.
My mom and dad, they're kind of racist, because I remember my sister Olga brought a black guy home. And they were kind of politically correct. They were like, look, we don't care that he's black. We just want you to know he doesn't speak Spanish, he's different. If you have kids, they're going to look different.
When I introduced them to my white wife, they were like, good for you, Carlos, way to go! I was like you guys are racist. You didn't treat the black guy the same. You're upgrading though. She's white.
SANCHEZ: We could do this all day, and it's great. I think people love it because we're talking about real conversations that people really need to have, but we are out of time. Carlito, Good luck, congratulations on the movie. And stay in touch, my friend.
MENCIA: Love you, brother.
SANCHEZ: Likewise.
Thanks, Brooke. That was fun.
BALDWIN: He was great.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
We got a lot of stuff coming your way in just a little bit, including the president of the United States is getting ready to give his big bully pulpit speech on health care reform, and we are going to take you to it and through it. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: We're continuing to check on our lists. Our celebrity list today, of all the people who are talking about the death of actor Corey Haim.
Here's one from Alyssa Milano, who actually dated him. "Just woke up to the sad, sad news that Corey Haim passed away. Rest in peace, sweet boy."
We will monitor these and continue to share them with you, and also bring you the very latest on Corey Haim's death and all the reports that are coming out on that as well. Meanwhile, take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's your best time?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The best time is at night. Nighttime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Yes. Best time is at night, nighttime. "Dating Game," remember the show, one of the first reality shows, really, in the 1970s. A contestant on "The Dating Game" turned out to be a serial killer. That story is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
