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Rick's List

Assassination Attempt on Rebel Leader in Taiwan; FBI Investigating Civil Rights Violations in Seattle Police Beating; Who Financed Faisal Shahzad?; Arizona Culture Clash; Grinding Miley Cyrus; Teacher Assaults Student; New York AG Announces Wall Street Fraud Investigation

Aired May 13, 2010 - 15:00   ET

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

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We have just learned that the U.S. Embassy in Thailand is going to be closed tomorrow because of a political assassination. We have got it on video. That's at the top of RICK'S LIST.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ (voice-over): OK. Here's what is making today's LIST.

Who financed Faisal Shahzad? Who helped him? Raids today in Boston to answer those questions.

Arizona's head of schools says no to courses on ethnic studies?

TOM HORNE, ARIZONA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION: Students should learn about all different cultures, but they shouldn't be ghettoized into separate courses where they learn only about the culture of the race they happen to have been born into.

SANCHEZ: Ghettoized? We're on it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who is watching here?

SANCHEZ: You maintain your car. Why didn't they maintain their rig that's caused this disaster? I'm asking.

What seems like a classroom prank in the beginning quickly turns into a full-on beating by a teacher. What's going on in this charter school which caters to troubled kids?

SANCHEZ: Miley, Miley, Miley. Disney's sweetheart bumping and grinding on a grown man? And you say what?

The lists you need to know about. Who's today's most intriguing? Who's landed on the list you don't want to be on? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a list.

Pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And hello again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez. Topping the LIST right now -- You're about to see what certainly appears to be an assassination attempt. OK, let's go through it.

Here it is. This man, shot in the head, is the leader of a rebel movement in Thailand. He used to be a general in the Thai military, but he appeared to defect. He left, joined the other side. Now someone has done this to him, watch.

They say the bullet entered one side of his head and came out the other. There's an exit wound.

They rushed him to the hospital. This guy, by the way, this renegade general, I need to tell you about him. He goes by the name of Seh Daeng. And he's reportedly alive, but very much in critical condition at this point.

It's critical to know as well that he and his troops had broken off from the military, and they were protecting this group of anti- government squatters who call themselves the Red Shirts. You may have heard of them.

So, maybe the government's out to get him, but it also turns out that a lot of these Red Shirts don't like him either. In fact, a lot of people think that he may have played a role in this himself, or the Reds, at least, the Red Shirts.

Take a look at this, and then we will explain. I mean, this has been the scene in Bangkok now for a good while. This was back on April 10. And what we're looking at here is absolute chaos. As I told you, this renegade general, his troops are there to protect these anti-government demonstrators, supposedly.

But there's deep suspicion in the midst of this chaos that he may have been involved in some of the deaths of several dozen protesters himself.

OK, now, fast-forward back to today, and here's the scene hours ago, as this renegade general is brought to a Bangkok hospital. I mean, this is the story that is being told all throughout this part of the world. The pictures are still coming in. We just got this in from Dan Rivers. He's our correspondent who's been there at the scene on the streets monitoring this.

Watch this -- watch this report he just filed in to us a little while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the scene on the streets of Bangkok this evening. It's pretty anarchic. As you can see, it's basically mob rule on this corner of Lumpini Park.

About 100 or 200 meters down here, there have been some gunshots heard and at least one protester we know who has been shot and killed. But that doesn't seem to be persuading this group of protesters to go home. They're here. They have been searching cars. This is the main intersection carrying the Rama IV road going to the east of Bangkok, and you can see the protesters have occupied this central traffic island, stopping and searching trucks primarily, with the idea they want to get a look inside to see if there's anything in the back, presumably looking for soldiers.

We understand the army's position is up the end of this expressway flyover here, that they are down towards the western end of the park. And that is where the renegade army commander Seh Daeng was shot through the head while he was being interviewed by the media.

We obtained some very dramatic footage just seconds after that shooting showing him being carried away to hospital. But now that shooting seems to have inflamed tensions here on the streets, and now this crowd seems exceptionally defiant, and the mood here is really one of anarchy and mob rule.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Bangkok.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: You know, as you look at those pictures, you wonder what must it be like for the people who are living in Thailand right now?

Let's go to somebody who lives in Thailand. He is an American living in Bangkok. His name is Adam Darrow. He's good enough to join us now to bring us the very latest on what's going on there.

Adam, you there?

ADAM DARROW, U.S. CITIZEN: I'm here, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Hey, I'm just wondering, as you walk out onto the streets -- we look at these pictures, and, of course, they're very isolated, but our perspective is, it's chaos, and it must be very dangerous, and people must be very scared. Is that the case or not?

DARROW: As you just said, it is, in fact, isolated to these -- these main areas, mostly in the business districts, where they can make the -- the biggest impact.

I live inside of Bangkok, and, with a few exceptions, I haven't had any problems in my daily life. I haven't had any -- any interruptions going to and from work, and I haven't personally seen any violence myself.

SANCHEZ: Isn't that interesting? And, yet, as we look at these pictures, it does look, at least during these instances, like a country in chaos.

Now, you're obviously familiar with the Red Shirts. You're familiar with this -- this general who apparently has been assassinated, or at least an assassination attempt, as we look at these pictures. What is the word on the street there about this? DARROW: Well, I can tell you, from my vantage point, I have a lot of friends living here in Bangkok, and I would say a good 90 percent of them come from the Northeastern region of Thailand, which is where these Red Shirts are -- the majority are calling their home.

And from what -- from what they're all telling me, that -- from what I can gather, is -- is most of them are pretty uninformed on what is actually going on. It's a pretty confusing situation here as far as the general public is concerned.

SANCHEZ: Huh. Well, let me ask you this, then. As far as you can tell, are the people there still loyal to their king?

DARROW: Absolutely, 150 percent. That is something -- that is something that will never change.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting. And what has the king said about these demonstrations on the streets? Is he taking sides on -- for one side or the other?

DARROW: No, I wouldn't say that at all. He made a brief appearance on local Thai television a little over -- oh, I think it was last week. And from what I could gather, he was basically just asking for both sides to bring the situation to a head and to bring peace to the nation, which I think is what a majority of the people in Thailand are calling for.

SANCHEZ: What -- you know, it's so interesting to get the real perspective, for someone who lives there, who's on the street and who's got the real skinny on something like this.

Adam Darrow, fantastic. Thanks for staying up late. What is it, 1:30, 2:00 in the morning there?

DARROW: It's about 2:00.

(LAUGHTER)

DARROW: And it's my pleasure. No problem.

SANCHEZ: We -- we apologize for keeping you up. Go back to sleep now. And it's great that you have been able to give us this insider's perspective on what's going on in this country.

I thought it was especially interesting to hear you say how the people still revere the king, and he's asking both sides to just bring peace and, not taking -- picking one side over the other. How fascinating.

We will stay on top of this for you, folks, and as more pictures and more information comes in or, of course, any information on this general and what his condition is, we will bring it to you immediately.

Meanwhile, take a look at this. Yes, that's Beyonce there in a video that is now being mimicked by schoolchildren. And some on my staff are appalled by it. Here's the question -- are you?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DETECTIVE SHANDY COBANE, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, POLICE DEPARTMENT: I not only embarrassed myself, but I have truly damaged my colleagues, colleagues who, without thinking twice, would lay their lives down for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: He apologized for kicking an innocent man and calling him a "bleeping Mexican." Now we're learning that he was not alone in doing such a thing. This is a story you have responded to in a very big way. That is next.

This is your national conversation, your LIST. This is RICK'S LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. This is your national conversation, RICK'S LIST.

You have asked us to keep a list of outrageous police behavior, and, in some cases, it does seem to get worse at times. Remember the video of that police officer who was beating someone in Seattle, kicked him in the head?

Well, now I can show you a short clip of it. Remember, there was a lot to say in this video, first of all, because he kicked somebody in the head; second of all, because the person that he kicked in the head was then called a "bleeping Mexican"; and third, because it turns out that the person he kicked in the head was completely innocent, had nothing to do with the crime that they were even investigating, happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Police said, hit the floor, so he did. He waited to see if police would investigate. Instead, the guy kicked him in the head and called him a "bleeping Mexican."

OK, let's look at this. Dan, here it is. You see that right there? It was a stomp, wasn't it? The scene shows that the detained men are facedown. The male detective shouts slurs and then kicks one of the men in the head. And then watch as the female officer from the left walks over and stomps him on the man's leg. Can we -- can we back that up and look at that one more time?

OK, there's a -- the male officer who has apologized. And then you're going to see the female officer come in at the end. That's the stomp that we're talking about. There's the kick.

And now you are going to see the female officer walk in from the left. There she goes. And, boom, right there.

All right, before the head kick, the male detective threatens to -- quote -- "beat the 'blanking' Mexican's 'blank' out of him." Well, both police officers have been identified, both have been placed on administrative reassignment.

Well, get this. The FBI is now involved in this investigation, investigating whether this video shows a civil rights violation, of all things, or even a hate crime. By the way, again, the guy on the ground, the guy who was kicked and stomped and threatened with a racial slur and profanity, the video also shows police letting him go, because it turns out he really had nothing at all to do with the crime that they were investigating at the time.

All right. You see that video right there? That's from TMZ. That is Hannah Montana, and I'm told that what she's doing is called grinding. What's the problem here? You decide. That's ahead.

Also, who helped Faisal Shahzad with the Times Square bomb plot? There are a mass of raids taking place today, and now the FBI is holding three people. What did they do? Are they singing? What are the answers? That's what I'm here to share with you, because we have got it. That's coming up next right here on your LIST, RICK'S LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Raids have been taking place throughout the day, and I want to bring you up to date on them, the latest now on these -- Times Square bombing investigation and the suspect, Faisal Shahzad.

OK, feds are looking for who may have sent him money, A, or who may have helped him in some way, whether it was related to money or not.

Susan Candiotti is all over this story. She's joining us now to bring us up to date.

Susan, what have they learned? Who have they picked up, and what are they saying about them?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, remember the Watergate movie "All the President's Men" and the famous line in the book "All the President's Men" when Deep Threat said, "Follow the money."

Well, of course, that's what's happening in this case. So, that's what authorities are trying to do. As a result of that, they have conducted a series of raids in at least three states, in Massachusetts, in New York, and in New Jersey.

So, let's see. Let's talk about Massachusetts first. We know, first thing this morning, they were there at least two locations, one at a house and another search warrant was served at a gas station, or at least they were concentrating on a car there.

But here, the house -- we know that two people in Massachusetts have been arrested in connection with these raids. We know that a third person was picked up by -- in Portland, Maine, as well. These three people have been identified to us as Pakistani nationals.

However, the charges in at least -- in all of the cases have to do with immigration charges, not in direct connection with this case. But they are as a result of this, again, as authorities are looking at money connections.

Then, Rick, let's move on to -- let's see -- Long Island. We know from the FBI that they are searching and have searched two locations there also in connection with the case.

And, in New Jersey, Southern New Jersey, specifically Camden, they're looking at -- searched a house, as well as a print shop. Now, the homeowner, I am told, owns the print shop, so it's connected to one individual.

OK, what's it all about in regard to the money? We know that sources are...

(CROSSTALK)

CANDIOTTI: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Let me just stop you there, because, you know, you just told us that there are three people apparently that he knew, that he's being picked up, and that they're being charged with -- or not charged, but investigated for immigration things.

And just as a fair-minded person, one can't help but think, he may have known a lot of people, but they didn't necessarily know what he was planning to do or if they borrow -- or, if they gave him money, maybe they didn't know what he was going to use the money for. So, that's important in this investigation, right, the quid pro quo?

CANDIOTTI: Right. Yes, sure. And it's unclear at this time whether the three people charged actually knew him, or were these people who simply had money transactions that they had with -- with Faisal Shahzad, the suspect in this case.

SANCHEZ: Right.

CANDIOTTI: Again, because they're looking at how did he get the money to finance this? And was there money brought to him from overseas? How did he get the money?

You know, we have talked about, it didn't take much money to put together this car bomb that was a big flop, but there was a -- he had to pay rent. He had to buy the ingredients. He had to do a lot of things.

And he, himself, we also know is still talking to authorities. Remember, he's been read his rights, but he is still cooperating with authorities. He's still talking. In fact, the FBI again confirmed it. The U.S. attorney general himself confirmed that today, that he's still cooperating, as well as the U.S. attorney here in New York, who's overseeing this case.

SANCHEZ: Well, it's quite simple. If they had something to do with the plan or the plot and any knowledge of it, then they should pay for it. And, if they didn't, then so be it. They should -- we should move on. But I'm glad that you're on it. Thanks so much. Appreciate it, Susan. Let us know if you find out anything else.

CANDIOTTI: Will do.

SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, take a look at this. Yes, it's, when do you need police to stop a hockey fight? This goes beyond a little blood on the rink. That's ahead on our sports list.

And then we're learning, the oil disaster in the Gulf could and should have been prevented, with some very simple steps.

Also, the Gulf story's part of our own list today. Who's the most intriguing person in the news today? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.

Brooke Baldwin has just walked into the studio, I will have you know. And her presence is forthcoming.

Time to check the list of the most intriguing person in the news today.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: This guy's one of my favorites. He's got six Grammy Awards, but so what? Lots of people have Grammys, right? This superstar, though, this guy right here, he's not standing idly by.

While a environmental disaster wrecks the lives of families along the Gulf Coast, he is doing something to help. He's got a piano. He's got a microphone and a message. And this weekend's, he's all about raising money for the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Good for him, people who are about to get hammered, or so we're told, by this oil slick that seems to be headed their way.

There he is. Who is he? That's John Legend, folks. He and an awesome bill of A-listers are performing at a beach festival on Gulf Shores, Alabama. It is starting tomorrow, with every penny going to help get ahead of the monumental cleanup and restoration effort that will likely affect the Southern states for decades.

John Legend, just one of many selfless and most intriguing musical artists making the most intriguing list on this day.

And looky here. He tweets, too. In fact, let's do that. He tweets. We follow. "This is my Gulf Coast weekend. I will be at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, Louisiana, on Friday and the Hangout Festival on Gulf Shores, Alabama, on Saturday."

Is that Bossier City? It's probably Bossier City. If I mispronounced that, tweet me, and let me know, and I will correct myself.

Meanwhile, take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's an attack on -- on the Mexican- American communities and all ethnic communities within the cities. And it's completely outlandish, horrendous, and diabolical.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Diabolical -- well, that's one perspective. Where is it? Arizona, again. This time, it's the state head of schools, who is supporting a ban on ethnic studies. And the message that it seems to be sending is once again not what many in Arizona -- not all -- but many don't want. But the argument is sound on both sides, and we will look at it.

Oh, what are the best videos on this day? Well, Brooke's going to join me here in just a little bit, and we're going to take you through them. And you know what we're going to call them? "Fotos."

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.

We're going to do trending topics with Brooke in just a moment. And I'm very excited about that today.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, boy.

SANCHEZ: It's a talker.

BALDWIN: We've been talking about this all day.

SANCHEZ: Yes. This is big.

BALDWIN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: This is big.

BALDWIN: I'll stay put right here.

SANCHEZ: OK. Meanwhile, let's do this.

BALDWIN: OK.

SANCHEZ: If they're playing, they're fighting. Too many fights in sports these days, it seems, right? Here's our video segment, "Fotos."

What do they do when their team loses? They cause trouble. What do they do when their team wins? They cause trouble. It's the weird thing about this. They win, they go to the streets. They lose, they go to the -- either way, they cause trouble.

It started as a booze-fueled celebration in Montreal after the Canadians bested Pittsburgh's penguins in a play-off game. But it ended with tear gas for heaven's sake, broken windows and looters cloaked in garments that they allegedly stole.

Now, look out, Justin Bieber, you got some competition here.

BALDWIN: Look at this guy!

SANCHEZ: He's four years younger, he's from Oklahoma.

BALDWIN: He's got the same hairdo.

SANCHEZ: And he's covered Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" at this sixth grade talent show. Let's listen to him, shall we, Brooke?

BALDWIN: Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: What do you think?

BALDWIN: Look at the girls in the background, they're, like, speechless. Watch out, Justin Bieber, is right. People tweeted me about it this morning.

SANCHEZ: He's good. The acoustics are horrible and you can tell the microphone is far away. His 12 year old Grayson Michael Chance. He tickled the ivory and the fancy of all these young girls, as Brooke was alluding to.

BALDWIN: Yes. Look at him.

SANCHEZ: And it's funny, they started out skeptical, but they ended up swooning.

BALDWIN: Swooning is right.

SANCHEZ: The crowd went wild, the video went viral, and Grayson went to Los Angeles for a spot on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" to be seen at a television near you.

Also police wrapped up a search for a crook that they say wrapped himself in -- get this --

BALDWIN: What?

SANCHEZ: Toilet paper. Don't squeeze the Charmin. He allegedly robbed a Lincoln, Nebraska, convenience store and took cash from the safe and the register. I guess you could say he really wiped the place out.

Interesting disguise, crappy escape. Police tracked the suspect using a canine who followed the scent, yes, the scent --

BALDWIN: Who wrote this? SANCHEZ: -- of the discarded toilet tissue. And there you go, it's one of those stories we had to tell you about.

(LAUGHTER)

You can see all of our -- you can see all of our best videos and "Fotos del Dia" on my blog. Just go to it anytime you want, CNN.com/ricksanchez.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: All right, let me ask you a question. If they were your kid, right, if they were your kid, what would you do? I mean, it certainly looks like his teacher is betting the hell out of him. Wait until you hear what we have found out about this teacher. Remember, we told you this story just a couple days ago, right? Well, we've got information that may shock you about her. That's ahead.

Also, look at this video from TMZ. Disney princess, 16-year-old Miley Cyrus, doing something my staff told me is called "the grind" on a grown man. This guy's 44 years old. The reaction -- not good for Hannah Montana. This is trending. Boy, is it ever. Trending big time.

We follow the trending stories, too, we've got a list of those. No, Brooke Baldwin has a list of those. And here she is.

BALDWIN: I love it, "My staff tells me it's called grinding."

SANCHEZ: Is it?

BALDWIN: I think so.

SANCHEZ: Are they right?

BALDWIN: They're right. They're always right, Sanchez. We'll be right back.

SANCHEZ: Thank you for helping me out. We'll be right back.

(LAUGHTER)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: These are the stories that are trending. In other words, the stories that people are talking about out there. And, boy, is Miley Cyrus ever at the very top of this trending list because of something she did and the video that's now out there that we are going to be able to show you.

BALDWIN: Miley, Miley. So, you said it, she's been the princess of Disney. She's been this uber-wholesome Hannah Montana for years. And we're seeing a very different image projected of Miley Cyrus. We have this video courtesy of TMZ. She's getting down on the dance floor.

My question to you is, is it typical kids' behavior, or is it downright inappropriate? You be the judge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Yes, so that's Miley and then it kind of keeps going. I'll talk over the video. She was 16 at the time. This is her wrap party, wrapping up her movie in Georgia. She's dancing with a 44- year-old, 45-year-old producer who is described, hey, as a friend.

And, you know, it begs the question, is she simply been portrayed as this wholesome Disney 16-year-old Hannah Montana, or is this kind of inappropriate, you know? Reports, people shot the video, they were offended by the dirty dancing, including the lap dance. I did pick up the phone, called Miley's rep, they said no comment.

But what do you think?

SANCHEZ: That -- that -- see that right there?

BALDWIN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: I know we didn't want to hold that for too long, but could I just speak for a moment as a father and as someone who has an eight-year-old?

BALDWIN: The little one, Savannah, yes.

SANCHEZ: That's troublesome. And just the physicality of it alone and the fact that she's 16-years-old. And this isn't posing for a Hollywood magazine or a picture, because we understand that when you get into that arena, you got to play along with that game kind of thing. I am troubled viewing that.

BALDWIN: Do you know what, though, I put this out on my twitter board the first thing this morning it practically exploded. People saying Brooke, gosh, she's 16, though, and so many 16-year-olds this is nothing.

I want to read one tweet. I got two different tweets, and I want to read one of them from Lady Kayaker. She says "Yikes, I haven't seen Miley Cyrus dance and don't want to." But I got another one that says "Don't you folks in the ivory tower realize that every teenager dances like that when there's no camera on?"

SANCHEZ: Let me tell you this. I will tell you that I have given her the benefit of the doubt that many of the stories that we've done. I know that our staff goes argues about these things. We've been going around and around on it -- BALDWIN: We've been going around and around all day.

SANCHEZ: -- all day. It started on the phone and went even into the afternoon. If I walked in a party may daughter was having, and if that were Savannah, Savannah would be dragged, and I don't care if it's kicking and screaming for behaving that way. Maybe it's me. Maybe it's crazy.

BALDWIN: I haven't seen anything coming forward with regard to her father.

Anyway, point number two, we're talking about some salacious video here. This may get you. Younger girls than Miss Cyrus causing quite an uproar with this dance video. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Obviously impressive dance moves, but take a look at what the six and seven-year-olds are wearing, some of their moves. This is the dance performance at the World of Dance Performance, kind of like "America's Best Dance Crew" featuring these young women.

And if you go to this dance competition's message board, here are the comments. "The little girls are very talented but whoever thought it was appropriate to have them sexualized like this needs to have their head examined." "They are performing an extremely sexual song. Just wanted to put the video out there. A lot of people are talking about it. Beyonce was wearing more in her video." Just saying.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting.

BALDWIN: Just saying.

SANCHEZ: And the question, of course, is it just an act, but are they too young to be wearing something like that? That isn't too suggestive? And should the dance have been choreographed a little bit differently? All good questions. I'm not sure I have answers for them.

BALDWIN: Yes. Send me tweets. I want to hear from you.

SANCHEZ: Well, they're coming.

BALDWIN: They are?

SANCHEZ: I just noticed the board was lighting up as we did the two segments. Surprise, surprise, as Gomer Pyle would say.

All right, listen to this. This was taken moments before he was shot in the head during an interview. This is the guy we've been talking about, a general in Thailand, commander now of a rebel group. This has ended violently. Wait until you see the pictures that are coming in, folks, I'll be sharing those with you. That's ahead here on "The List."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Basically saying to get after it, if you come out, you don't deserve to work in this town. That kind of cuts against what America's all about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Hollywood is upset with a "Newsweek" writer who said a gay actor, who is out, is hard to believe as a leading romantic straight male actor. It's a heck of a thing to say, and he's getting a lot of heat for it, maybe as expected.

Who's right on this one, though? Stay right there. We're going to tackle that as well. This is "RICK'S LIST."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Oh, yes, we told you they were going to be coming in, and they certainly are. Let me take you through a couple of these right now if we possibly could. These are the people that responded in just the last couple minutes to what you saw in the video about Miley Cyrus, so many of you are getting in on this.

Do I need to bring this down? Is that's what's going on? I don't under what's going on here. Let's take a break from that. Let's go ahead and go to the next story, if we possibly could.

All right, take a look at this video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Why are these students being told that they can't go to classes about other cultures? That seems to be the new controversy. And what state do you think is banning ethnic classes? You get one guess.

Also this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Also wait until you find out what we have found out about this teacher. You, too, will ask why she was allowed to teach in the first place. That's next right here on "The List."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SANCHEZ: All right, let's see if we've got the favorites to refresh. We did. I picked a couple of these out because I know so many of you have been interested in the situation with Miley Cyrus, and everybody has something to say. And many of you disagree with me completely, which is cool. Let's go from the top.

"Miley video does not surprise me at all." Number two, "What kind of 40-plus-year-old man would dance with a 16-year-old like this?" Heck of a good question, thank you. Three, "Miley Cyrus is a teenager and that, however much you may disapprove, is not bad dancing for teenagers. Go to the prom and see." OK.

Four, "We all have gotten old. What did we do as young kids?" And five, "That's typical teenaged behavior, been seeing that since I was 10 years old. Everyone dances like that in this generation." OK, everyone has a right to an opinion on something like this.

Now, on the outrage list, the Houston teacher caught on video waling on a 13-year-old student at a school for at risk kids. Some of the other kids who were in the room are talking about what they saw, including the student who captured this whole thing on her cell phone. Sisters Sheliashia and Janiqua Johnson talked with their mother's permission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHELIASHIA JOHNSON, STUDENT: I was teaching a girl how to dance, I was like you record it and I'll teach you how to dance. So I was teaching her how to do stuff, and then she was bouncing around and messing with her, and that's when Ms. Davis came in there and she went crazy.

JANIQUA JOHNSON, STUDENT WHO SHOT BEATING VIDEO: She busted open the door, and she was like, you want to fight a girl? You want to fight a girl? And she started backing up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: The girls say that they were shocked by what they saw. They described Davis as everybody's favorite teacher. The charter school where this happened calls the whole thing unacceptable. The principal says the school has terminated the teacher and has made an apology to the student and his mother.

"This incident violates every principle by which he operate," Jamie's house charter school. Steve Perry joins us now. He's a CNN education contributor.

Let me just get Steve to a couple of points here. A, we have found out that -- let me make sure I get this right. We have found out the "Houston Chronicle" is reporting the teacher didn't even have a teaching certificate. Apparently there was a loophole in the Texas law and charter schools don't have to hire certified teachers in a situation like this. What say you to that?

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: Certification isn't necessarily the issue, because at many private schools faculty don't have certificates. The issue here is this -- how on earth does this happen in a classroom where children should have been sitting and learning, dancing videos, and then a teacher comes in and wants to knuckle up against a little child.

Somehow in this school, this behavior is at least acceptable for a moment, because no one of the children seem like, hey, what are we doing dancing in class? This isn't "Fame."

SANCHEZ: When you look at this video, as I saw it, especially in the very beginning, it almost looks like she's just playing. But then it gets like this. See how she's doing that with her arms, like "I'm going to get you, sucker" kind of thing, like kind of playing a game like we would do with our kids, wrestling around instead of actually fighting.

But then as you continue to watch it, it looks like she's striking him, hitting him with a knee. And coming up right here, she actually pounds his head into the wall and into the ground. It's almost completely inexcusable once it gets to this level, right?

PERRY: Rick, I honestly thought that the video was a fake at first. I'll have to be honest with you.

And if this had been a white teacher beating a black kid like this, we would be in the streets in horror. But for some reason it seems like it's acceptable enough for us not to be outraged. Why are people in Houston not taking to the streets and saying this woman needs to be arrested. She's a common thug, that's all she is.

She came like she was dressed to fight. She is not someone who should be teaching. She has infiltrated teaching ranks and she's and embarrassment to herself and anybody who she knows.

SANCHEZ: It's interesting that you would bring the race angle into this, and I know it's something we've got to be real careful with, but do you think she was more comfortable because it was a black child and she felt like, you know what, I know what to do about you. You're kind of one of my own, an I'm going to resort to whatever I had done to me?

I don't know. I'm guessing here, but maybe you can help me with this.

PERRY: I don't know why a crazy person is crazy. Really, she's out of her mind. She's a woman in a classroom with children, literally knuckling up to fight a child.

I've worked in youth detention centers. And even when you have to say to a child, look, son, you sit down or I'm going to put you down, you're not going to put your fists up. There are ways to restrain a child if that was the case.

This child was not in a position to be restrained. He was in a defensive position, she's straddling him, she's punching him in the head. There is no explanation. She's out of her mind. I'm disappointed in the community for not standing up and making this a huge issue.

SANCHEZ: The African-American community?

PERRY: Absolutely.

SANCHEZ: Interesting point. You always have a fresh way of looking at things and I appreciate that, Steve. We'll get you back soon. Good to see you again.

PERRY: Nice to see, Rick.

SANCHEZ: All right, could gold set another record today? And why is it so hot, I mean, gold. Poppy is joining us in just a little bit and she's got her list and we're going to bring it to you. There she is, as a matter of fact.

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