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Rick's List

NAACP's Feud With Tea Party Escalates; No Oil Leaking Into Gulf

Aired July 16, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

ALISON KOSIK, CNNMONEY.COM: Well, but that's exactly why we see this sell-off, because a lot of investors don't want to hold on to their positions throughout the entire weekend.

You never know what's going to happen. Overseas, the European debt issue could come back into play. You never know. All of that uncertainty plays into that huge sell-off that we have today -- Don.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Alison Kosik there with the developing news on the stock market...

KOSIK: Sure.

LEMON: ... and the bell, closing bell, just now.

KOSIK: You got it.

LEMON: Thank you very much.

A busy Friday. On the LIST, we're watching a garage collapse in New Jersey and the escalating feud between the NAACP and the Tea Party. Could there be news of a truce?

Plus, there is this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON (voice-over): Here is what's making the LIST today.

Having trouble with your iPhone? Who you going to call? Can Steve get the job done? Has it become, "iCan't"?

The pressure is rising. And that is a good thing.

DONALD VAN NIEUWENHUISE, GEOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON: The monitors inside the well are -- are actually being transmitted through transducers to the surface, and highly accurate digital gauges. And those digital gauges are what they're actually using to watch the pressure.

LEMON: Now will it hold?

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When the oil stops gushing, everybody feels like we're done, and we're not.

LEMON: And guess who tops the list our fashion victims in "Fotos"?

The lists you need to know about. Who is today's most intriguing? Who is making news on Twitter? It's why we keep a list. Pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. Rick is off on this Friday.

It is hour two. It is time to pick up the pace of today's LIST for those of you now just checking in.

Number one on the LIST: the BP 48-hour test of its new oil cap. We're 24 hours into that test right now. This is what it looks like a mile under the Gulf. Look at that. What a beautiful picture. It's a welcome sight, because you don't see oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, after nearly three months of that oil gushing from this damaged rig.

People along the Gulf are saying they are feeling a bit of hope right now. The president urged caution and he said cautious optimism today and promised BP isn't off the hook though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: BP is going to be paying for the damage that it has caused. And that's going to involve not only paying for the environmental disaster and clean-up, but also compensating people who have been affected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: David Mattingly down in New Orleans, where, of course, there is a whole lot of interest in this test.

Is it fair to say, David, touch and go, because every six hours, they're on pins and needles, going, OK, let's hope this is holding?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I don't know if they're on pins and needles or not, but this morning we definitely got the idea that they were satisfied with what they were looking at when we got the technical briefing from BP. They were pretty much saying, so far so good. No surprises here. No signs of any oil that's leaking.

And that was great news for the continuation of this test. They brought it up past the 6,000-pounds-per-square-inch mark. And they are continuing to go up to 8,000 pounds. So, they are continuing to raise the pressure in there. They are continuing to watch for leaks of oil.

They're running seismic testing. They ran seismic testing again this morning. And they're going to look and see what came back from that. But they're all watching this just so intently right now, just every step of the way, as they ratchet that pressure up to decide, is there a leak down there? Is this the best we can do? Or is this wellbore really in good shape and can we cap this well the way we want to?

So, this is a very tense time for everyone who's watching. They know that this well could have sustained tremendous damage from the explosion, but they're not sure how much, if any. So, this test is going to tell them all of that, the answers that they have been missing for so long and it's going to tell them whether this cap is going to work the way they want it to.

(CROSSTALK)

MATTINGLY: So, in that respect, everyone watching very closely. Pins and needles, I'm not sure that I would go that far.

LEMON: Well, I am. And my mom is from there and I'm from there. And we're on pins and needles because we hope it is going to hold, because you never know. We have had so much bad news when it comes to this process.

But, David, let me ask you, the cap that they have on now and the relief well, between that and the relief well, if this holds until then, is that the fix? Or is there a chance that they are going to have to remove this cap or do something differently and oil will start flowing again?

MATTINGLY: Well, the scenario that Admiral Thad Allen keeps preparing us for is that they're going to open this thing back up and open it up for production, and send all this oil up to the surface to be captured by all the equipment they have assembled up there.

This new cap will allow them to capture most, if not all, of the oil that's now coming out of there. That's their goal, to capture all the oil. They're looking at the cap just as a temporary stopgap in case a hurricane comes through, and they have to disconnect all those collection devices at the surface and make them move out for safety.

So, they're looking at the cap more as security in case a hurricane comes through for temporarily stopping this up just until they have that permanent solution in place, when they drill that relief well, make that intersection, fill it up with cement.

LEMON: And, you know, David, how we have the routers here set up. You can watch pretty much anything on television in the building that you want. You can pull it up. And a lot of people at their desk -- at their desks will have the router to this well underwater just watching the oil not flowing, because it is so nice to see that -- you know, the Gulf of Mexico not being polluted by oil.

Here is a question. You're down there on the ground. You have been talking to the people, all the officials. Is there a certain sense of relief? Can you feel it around New Orleans? Are people going out more? Are they happier? Are they smiling?

MATTINGLY: Right, right, well, not just in New Orleans, but everyone that I have talked to that I have had contact with around the Gulf Coast.

That was the first day -- when they shut that flow of oil off, that was the first day that people were able to look at this and think, well, maybe tomorrow is going to be better in this disaster. That's a luxury they haven't afforded themselves throughout this entire mess.

So, they're being very careful to say, we know this isn't over. We know we're going to be dealing with problems from that oil in the Gulf for months, possibly years to come, but, finally, to be able to turn that corner and not see oil flowing into the Gulf was a huge, emotional day for so many people here.

LEMON: David Mattingly, thank you. You know, I work weekends. But if I had the weekend off, I would go down to New Orleans, to the Gulf Coast. Thank you very much, sir.

So, earlier this week, we had a statement from former Vice President Dick Cheney about the device doctors implanted in his chest. And the blogs just went wild. Well, just what is that device? And does that tell us much more about his condition than his official statement does?

And, you know, that teen dubbed the Barefoot Bandit back in court today. What did the judge do to the suspect who is so popular? And he has more than 80,000 Facebook fans -- next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, right now, everybody, time for the roundup list.

At least one person has been spotted in a collapsed parking garage in New Jersey. It came down earlier today. As many as three people from an adjacent apartment building are feared trapped in that rubble, the condition of the person found right now unknown. There's also fear of a possible secondary collapse.

Number two, nearly 30 people are dead after a hotel fire in Northern Iraq last night. Some jumped to their deaths trying to escape the flames in the five-story structure. The victims are from several countries. They include women, children, and one American. Investigators say the hotel had no side stairs for an emergency exit. A short-circuit is blamed for starting the firing.

Number three now: the Barefoot Bandit. He faced a Miami federal court judge today, who ordered him back to Washington State. And that's where 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore will face charges. They include allegedly breaking into homes and stealing cars and airplanes in the last two years, all while apparently not wearing shoes. He is expected to be transferred within two weeks.

All righty. Ahead: Why would state workers need to know a pregnant woman's due date? Now, what if I told you the pregnant woman is allegedly an illegal immigrant? Got your attention? I will tell you about a controversial list that is causing trouble in Utah. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK WILLIAMS, ORGANIZER, TEA PARTY EXPRESS: Racists have their own movement. It's called the NAACP right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right, that comment from Mark Williams. Just -- he's just thrown the gas on the proverbial fire. After those comments on CNN, now you got to hear what he wrote on his blog in the style of a black man writing to Abe Lincoln. You don't want to miss it on the LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK.

Just when you thought this story had gone away, it somehow wound up back at the top of our follow-up list.

The war of words between the NAACP and Tea Party movement activists heating up today. This time, a letter written by Tea Party Express spokesman Mark Williams has lifted this controversy to a whole new level now.

I will read a large portion of that letter to you in just a moment, but, first, here's what prompted Williams to write it, Ben Jealous speaking this week at the NAACP Convention in Kansas City.

Roll it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN JEALOUS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NAACP: Expel the bigots and racists in your ranks, or take full responsibility for all of their actions.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

JEALOUS: We will no longer allow you to hide like cowards behind signs that say lynch our president or anyone else!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The civil rights group passed a resolution for the Tea Party movement to condemn -- condemn racism in its ranks.

Conservatives like Michael Steele and Sarah Palin fired right back, calling Jealous' statement destructive, untrue, appalling, among other things. Again, we will get to this new letter soon, but first I want you to meet the man who wrote it.

Here is Tea Party Express spokesman Mark Williams on THE SITUATION ROOM earlier this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) WILLIAMS: Racists have their own movement. It's called the NAACP.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. Yes, that was Williams calling the entire NAACP racist.

So, now the letter. It's Williams penning a letter to Abe Lincoln. He's channeling Ben Jealous, the head of the NAACP.

And here's what he writes.

He says: "We coloreds" -- coloreds -- "have taken a vote and decided that we don't cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us colored people, and we demand that it stop."

And then he talks about bailouts. He says: "The Tea Party position, to end the bailouts, for example, is just silly. Bailouts are just big-money welfare. And isn't that what we want all coloreds to strive for? What kind of racist would want to end big-money welfare?"

He goes on to say: "What kind of massa would ever not want to control my life? As coloreds, we must have somebody care for us. Otherwise, we would be on our own, have to think for ourselves and make decisions."

He then writes about lower taxes: "Perhaps the most recent -- the most racist point of all in the Tea Party -- Tea Parties is this demand that government stop raising our taxes. That is outrageous. How will we coloreds ever get a wide-screen TV in every room if non- coloreds get to keep what they earn?"

And here is how he signs it: "Sincerely, precious Ben Jealous, Tom's nephew, NAACP, head colored person."

So, since going to air, we have noticed a new note on Williams' Web site. On it, Williams says that Ben Jealous has offered something of an olive branch to him. Williams says that he has e-mailed Mr. Jealous his phone number and hopes to talk to him man-to-man.

We will keep you updated on this story.

"Coloreds." Hmm.

All right, you heard about Dick Cheney's latest heart procedure, but do you know what an LVAD is or what it means for most heart patients? It's more serious than you might think. We will drill down on this one with a heart doctor straight ahead.

And BP, well, they hit a new benchmark today. I will tell you how much they are paying to the victims of the oil disaster and who is in line to get the most money. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: BP is all over the LIST today.

This one tops our questions get answers list. The guy who controls the $20 billion oil spill claims program met with Gulf residents last night in Louisiana. His name is Ken Feinberg. We have been telling you about him.

He explained what people will have to do to get paid. And, earlier, we showed you a tweet from BP saying, August, August, maybe they will get paid. If there is one word to sum it up, sum up all of that word, it is verify, or, better yet, two words: Show me.

Let's listen in on a Q&A, a question-and-answer, from a shrimper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even though we had a record year, this here, it was here. (OFF-MIKE) 30, 35 boxes of shrimp in 24 hours. I think BP ought to look at them. We had a record year. We lost it. That is very important.

KENNETH FEINBERG, INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR, GULF SPILL INDEPENDENT CLAIMS FUND: Very important.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got the tickets to prove it. We got the tickets to prove it.

FEINBERG: Now, here's the answer to this -- this (OFF-MIKE). This gentleman says it was going to be a record year.

Prove it. Come in, demonstrate that it was going to be a record year, and get paid for it. But don't speculate. I can't be paying speculative claims. You have got to come in and show me not that you're a good fisherman and, you know, life treats you fairly.

I want to know, it's not speculation, Feinberg. We can show you what we lost because of this spill that is damaging.

And I will pay it. But you have got to show me now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Show me. That's what Feinberg told the crowd over and over and over again. Show me and get paid in 24 to 48 hours. That's his promise. But proof is needed. He warned, this is not free money.

Here's another Q&A.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: BP told me I could no longer get paid my $5,000 a month because we're working for DRC.

FEINBERG: Are you making $5,000 a month for DRC? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

FEINBERG: They're right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. That's what I wanted to clear up.

FEINBERG: Look, if you lost $5,000 a month because of the spill, but you're making $5,000 a month in replacement business, your wage loss is zero. You're not going to get more. You're not going to get double.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Hmm. President Obama selected Ken Feinberg to oversee the $20 billion claims program, but the process is independent of the federal government and also independent of BP.

You know, in the words of David Alan Grier, I wrote a little song about it. Want to hear it? Here it goes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): If you don't want an iPhone 4...

UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS (singing): Don't buy it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): If you bought one and you don't like it...

UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS (singing): Bring it back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): If you don't want an iPhone 4...

UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS (singing): Don't...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Oh, that is Apple's answers to their critics over the new iPhone 4 reception problems have plagued that latest model, of course.

And, at a news conference today, Steve Jobs announced free fixes to anyone who already bought one already. Now, this story has been a top trender online all day, and we're following it for you as well. I'm sure you are, too. A lot of you probably have iPhones. If not, you're thinking about getting one, or maybe not anymore.

You know, every drop of leaked oil means BP's on the hook for more penalties. That means more money, of course. Right now, the gusher is contained by a lid, but a pivotal procedure takes place this weekend, and we will break it down for you in just about a half-hour here on the LIST.

And Pink dropped in on her concert in the worst possible way, dropped in on the crowd there. We will tell you what sent her to the hospital. Why did Pink go to the hospital at a concert -- after a concert -- during a concert? (LAUGHTER)

LEMON: That's next on the LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It's time for our version of what not to wear. You guys want to do "Fotos"? Let's do Fotos."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aye dios mio.

LEMON: Saint Andrews, Scotland, quiet on the course, loud on the legs. What is that, too much whatever for the pants? You know, that's too much color for the pants right there. Golf great John Daly, well, treated spectators to a rare sight at the British Open, hot pants -- hot pants. He calls them his good luck start pants. He's been doing it all week.

Golf score is one thing, but we give him first place for fashion don't. Don't do it, people. Don't.

Singer Pink, well, adopting some new colors and talking black and blue. Hope she's OK. I think she is. She fell off the stage during a performance in Germany yesterday. The harness was supposed to lift her into the air. Instead, it launched her into the crowd and into a metal barricade. Listen to this. Nah, don't worry. She tweeted to her fans that she was fine.

And you can see all of our "Fotos," las "Fotos Del Dia," on CNN.com/ricksanchez.

I just heard -- I like it when you say that, Angie -- your tweets. Hey. No, it's your tweets. It's the people's tweets, the viewers.

Let's look now. You guys are weighing in on iPhones. You're also weighing in on BP.

"Don, I'm on BP's side on this -- on this issue. They will pay, but I think every lowlife who prey on people -- or people's mystery will come out of the woodwork."

Thank you very much, Nardo58.

Here is what Debbie says. She says: "Massa owned slaves."

Yes, Debbie, I think that's why he said it. That was the point of it.

"Where can I read a copy of that letter?"

You can do a search for it or you can go in -- I believe it's on CNN.com. We will check that for you.

Another one says, "That guy is a sick man." And one says -- Lady Kayaker says: "I'm just a mouthy aging white chick, and that letter infuriates me. Admire Jealous's self-control, remaining civil."

"Mark Williams, Tea Party words ugly, regardless of NAACP's Jealous, ugly, ugly language, spoken like a true racist."

Your comments, not mine. That's what coming in on Twitter about the stories that we're putting on the LIST today.

Plus, we have this for you: Hundreds of alleged illegal immigrants end up on a controversial list, state workers keeping track of their personal information, even their due dates, the ones who are pregnant. Does immigration status trump privacy?

And making our follow-up list: former Vice President Dick Cheney's heart surgery. He has received another implant, one normally reserved for people who don't qualify for transplants. And that's got the blogs wondering about just how sick is the former vice president -- next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Now a list that shows where privacy collides with personal politics and public jobs.

This all started with a mystery phone call. Then came the list.

It's being compared to a virtual arrest warrant. It reveals information that most of us guard like Pit Bulls. I'll tell you what's on it, who's its target, and who is suspected of putting it together.

But first, I want you to listen to some of this phone call.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You need to have a meeting with the workers -- $840,000 is the minimum the state of Utah wasted on illegal births last year. It's not fair that this family gets food stamps. They get financial, but their husband is in the home doing drugs.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: OK. The man who got that call is a Latino activist in Utah. And, by the way, Utah is expected to consider an immigration law like Arizona's.

Two weeks after that call, someone circulated the list. It contains the most personal information belonging to 1,300 people who it alleges are in this country illegally.

Listen to this. Names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, pregnancy due dates, and get this -- the state says the list came from its own computers. Of course, nothing you do on a computer is secret to your boss. I hope you guys know that. And state honchos have just identified two state workers suspected of compiling and leaking the list.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTEN COX, UTAH DEPT. OF WORKFORCE SERVICES: People who were identified certainly have some strong political opinions and seem to be frustrated with some of the issues around immigration. Regardless of what their frustration is, if they work for the Department of Workforce Services, or for state government, they understand what the rules are, they understand the protocols, and if they want to go rogue they need to quit the department. I think it's immense hypocrisy to talk about taking people to task for being illegal and doing so by breaking the law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The two workers on administrative leave now and could face more punishment. By the way, investigators believe there are a couple more people involved in this. They also know who made that phone call. A state employee has reportedly admitted to it. Now, we don't know whether she has anything to do with the list or just has some bad timing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOE MANCHIN (D), WEST VIRGINIA: Let me introduce officially the newest member of the United States Senate, Carte Goodwin.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Who is filling Robert Byrd's Senate seat? And what do we really know about this person?

That's coming up on THE LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: We want to talk now about the vice president, because it was at this time on Wednesday when word came down that Dick Cheney had undergone another heart procedure. The former vice president is believed to suffer from congestive heart failure, and he was fit with something called a left ventricular assist device. Cheney said in a statement it should allow him to have an active life again.

Joining me now from New York, cardiologist Hina Chaudhry.

Dr. Chaudhry, thank you for joining us. Good to see you.

DR. HINA CHAUDHRY, CARDIOLOGIST: You're very welcome, Don.

LEMON: What exactly is this device? I think it's called -- is it an LVAD?

Yes. We call it by the acronym for left ventricular assist device, which is the short term is LVAD.

LEMON: OK. So --

CHAUDHRY: And an LVAD basically --

LEMON: Go ahead.

CHAUDHRY: It's basically a pump that takes over the function of the heart itself when a patient gets into a condition known as end stage heart failure. That means that the heart pumping function is no longer capable of supporting the work the heart normally does.

LEMON: So this thing is doing all of the work for him. And he is not eligible, is that correct, for a transplant? So that's one reason that he has this device?

CHAUDHRY: Well, that's not exactly true. Most centers that do heart transplants will not perform heart transplants in patients over the age of 65. But a few specialized centers around the country will perform heart transplants under certain conditions up until the age of 72.

LEMON: OK.

Here's what I found interesting, is that this thing is connected to -- either you have to plug it in or there is a battery that has to be used in order for this to work. So, in order for him to survive, he has to be powered, so to speak?

CHAUDHRY: Exactly. It's really a device that's run by an external battery pack. And there is a wire that basically goes into the body that runs a pump that's planted inside the body. And that pump is taking blood that enters the heart, and it pumps it into the aorta so that the blood is pumped to the rest of the body. And the heart is basically in a complete resting state while this pump has taken over complete functioning of the heart.

LEMON: First few days with this are critical. It is very painful. And people can -- because of complications, people can die if this doesn't work.

CHAUDHRY: Definitely. There are a number of complications that can result from LVAD placement. One of the most serious complications is the risk of stroke because blood clots can form within the pump or within the vessels that are leading to the aorta and from the heart. And those clots can travel to the brain. And therefore, stroke is one of the biggest and most major complications.

Other complications also include possible infection. And patients can also undergo multiple organ failures such as kidney failure and respiratory failure.

LEMON: So, Doctor, I mean, you're saying it in so many words, but just tell me, what does this say about the former vice president's health? The health of his heart, at least?

CHAUDHRY: Well, he is in a serious condition known as congestive heart failure. And this is pretty much end stage congestive heart failure, such that he would not be able to survive very long without the use of the pump or without a heart transplant.

LEMON: Yes. And it's --

CHAUDHRY: And these pumps are now very effective in prolonging people's lives. And the latest generation pumps have been shown to prolong survival for quite a bit. In fact, more the half the people that receive pumps live for more than two years with the pump itself.

LEMON: It's not cheap. And we're just talking about just the device, $100,000.

CHAUDHRY: Exactly. It's not cheap at all.

LEMON: Yes.

All right. Thank you, Doctor.

Hina Chaudhry from -- a New York cardiologist from Mt. Sinai Hospital.

We appreciate it.

We're going to talk politics next on CNN, next on THE LIST with Wolf Blitzer. First day with the new mouth.

THE LIST scrolls on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, everyone. THE LIST is scrolling on here. And we have gotten so much feedback from the story about Mark Williams, one of the Tea Party representatives, writing a letter to Abe Lincoln and channeling Ben Jealous in this letter.

So, here's what you guys are saying.

Someone says here, "This guy knows he's a racist. That's why he kept using the word 'colored.' And he doesn't care who knows it."

Someone else says, "The NAACP is racist as well. I bet if I sat down with them for a polite chat, they would throw me out. Yes, I am white!"

Someone says, "Don, I know a certain place Mr. Tea Party can stick that letter to Abe Lincoln -- ignorant piece of crap. I mean, the letter and him."

"Trash is trash. It doesn't matter what color it is. The best thing to do is throw it out."

And someone says, ,"Finally revealed: Tea Party spokesman is a racist. Wolf in sheep clothing. Abe Lincoln will return lender to sender."

And finally, the last person says, "Don, there is no Tea Party. It's a mob. The three parties are still here: Dem, Repub and Independent."

Do we have time for one more?

Someone says, "Giving these RWNJs" -- I would imagine that means right-wing nut jobs -- "publicity is what they live for. Ignore these racists and they will go away."

All right. More to come.

We're going to go -- President Obama of course vacationing. We want to talk to you a little bit about that. I think he's just arriving.

And we have this for you as well -- this week we have seen the NAACP and the Tea Party movement volley charges of racism against one another. It is ugly of course, those tweets. That's how people feel. But it is ugly and a wakeup call for Americans who thought we turned over a new page on race relations with the election of an African- American president.

But I want you to take a look at this. She's going to take a look at race now with an African-American president. Here's CNN's Carol Costello.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On "LARRY KING LIVE," a discussion turned bad about the NAACP's accusation the Tea Party movement tolerates racist elements.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know what? It wasn't truthful --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's not engage in defamation and libel. Let's not do that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me, I'm talking, so shut your mouth.

COSTELLO: It was a meltdown, just like an earlier discussion on Wolf Blitzer's show. CNN contributor Roland Martin on one side, Tea Party Express spokesperson Mark Williams on the other.

ROLAND MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: You should come out and say you're not welcome here and --

MARK WILLIAMS, TEA PARTY EXPRESS: Racists have their own movement. It's called the NAACP.

MARTIN: Oh, that's nonsense.

COSTELLO: Observers say it is the same racial stalemate America's been stuck in for years. Still, not so long ago Americans were kind of hopeful. On the day before President Obama's inauguration, a "Washington Post" poll showed nearly six in 10 Americans said his presidency would advance cross-racial ties. But by January 2010, only about four in 10 believe that.

WILLIAM JELANI COBB, AUTHOR, "THE SUBSTANCE OF HOPE": Any time that we've seen racial progress in the United States, we've also seen racial backlash.

COSTELLO: William Jelani Cobb who wrote "The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress," says even President Obama doesn't believe his election will bring about racial harmony. He said so himself.

OBAMA: I have never been so naive as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidate, particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.

COSTELLO: The president said that in a major speech about race in America in March of 2008. The only other time he broached the race issue in a substantive way was in July of 2009 during the now- infamous, and some say disastrous, beer summit. Observers say don't expect the president to play peacemaker this time around.

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: The Tea Party is the number one enemy of the Obama administration, and the NAACP is very strong behind President Obama but you will not see our president trying to somehow use this moment that's going on right now in a healing way. He's going to ignore it and stay above the fray.

COSTELLO: It brings us back to our question -- have we taken a few steps back when it comes to race relations? Cobb says we have. And as for whether the election of America's first black president will have a lasting positive influence on race relations?

COBB: We won't really know what the real significance of this is for many years to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was CNN's Carol Costello.

What is going on, people? Come on. 2010. Get with the program.

All right. You're seeing oil not gushing into the Gulf of Mexico right there, live pictures. About 24 hours after the containment lid stopped the oil leak for now, experts are focusing on the next 24 hours.

We're going to drill down on that with an oil expert. That's next on THE LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So, listen, this new development here to CNN, we want to report it to you on THE LIST. Hey, Wolf Blitzer is joining us from Washington. Let's put Wolf up.

Wolf, the new development is the president -- we're getting an e- mail. A news alert is saying the president is planning to sign that financial regulatory reform bill into law next Wednesday, and that's according to a senior administration official.

Tell us about it, Wolf Blitzer.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's a very significant piece of legislation whether you love it or you hate it. It is going to change the way big business, especially the big banks, the big investment firms, have to operate.

There will be greater protection for consumers out there, a lot more disclosure. And the theory is that the bailouts won't be necessary again.

We're not going to know for years and years, until there's another major crisis, whether all the regulations are going to work, but it did get the 60 votes yesterday in the United States Senate, previously passed the House. The president will sign it into law next Wednesday at a big ceremony over at the White House.

LEMON: All right.

Hey, Wolf, Mr. Goodwin going to Washington young. He's a kid.

BLITZER: The new senator from West Virginia. I think he's going to be the youngest senator after Senator Byrd was the oldest senator. So Bobby Byrd, ,as we all know, died not that long ago. So this is going to be a change.

I don't know how much time he will actually be a Senator, because there is going to have to be an election in November. And we'll see what happens. We'll see if the governor decides that he wants to run and become the next U.S. senator from West Virginia.

What it does do though, it guarantees the administration another Democrat, solid Democrat, who is going to support, I assume, a lot of the president's agenda, Harry Reid's agenda in the U.S. Senate. So that's what they wanted. They wanted another Democratic senator. They didn't want to obviously leave that seat vacant until November.

LEMON: So it's going to be November, a special election. That doesn't mean a special time for the election, but it will happen.

BLITZER: No, they're going to have to have an election in November to see who the senator for six years from West Virginia will be.

LEMON: So, Wolf, you and I have spoken about this. I know you are friendly with my mom. You and I talk, you give me advice. You're a good man.

BLITZER: Thank you.

LEMON: You have a group of diverse people in your life. What is going on with the whole Tea Party and the NAACP thing and the hateful messages? I don't understand it.

BLITZER: Look, there's always been a fringe element out there on the far left and the far right of crazies, let's say, people who are just making all sorts of obscene statements. And they filter in. And this is a big country, 300 million people. There's going to be a lunatic fringe out there, and people are going to say crazy things.

The responsibility for leaders and for average folks is when they see that, to disassociate themselves from that kind of hate and to repudiate it and to reject it. And everyone has got to be forceful in making that point.

And I'm encouraged now that we're seeing a little bit greater dialogue, because so many accusations, you know, have been wild. You know, and we need a little sanity as you and I have discussed over the years. We need people to just calm down and deal with it in a respectful, positive way.

LEMON: Yes, I agree with you. And I think, you know, my mom always says that when I was a kid, the house was like the United Nations because I had every different sort of person over. But I was interested in learning about people who were different than me. And I think it makes you a better person.

BLITZER: Well, you have a wonderful mother. I've spoken to her. She is very proud of you, as she should be. And you can tell her if she's not watching -- hopefully she is watching -- I'll tell her right now, you have a great son. And, mom, we love you very much as well.

LEMON: And thank you very much, Wolf. And you are one of my mentors. Obviously, you can see Wolf is a white man. I'm a black man. We never even talked about that part of it. We just like each other.

Can't we all just get along?

BLITZER: Can't we just get along? That's right.

LEMON: Wolf, thank you. We'll see you at the top of the hour. We appreciate it.

BLITZER: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: You know, we want to get back to our conversation about what we can expect from the new cap BP put in place just 24 hours ago. Want to take a look now at the underwater cam. It's a good site to see.

Gone is that bubbling tan muck that we've watched gushing out of the well for nearly three months now. Nothing but blue. Good to see.

But the president today urged a wait-and-see approach to this latest development.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I think it's important that we don't get ahead of ourselves here. You know, one of the problems with having this camera down there is that when the oil stops gushing, everybody feels like we're done. And we're not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Don Van Nieuwenhuise is a petroleum geoscience professor at the University of Houston.

And he says -- the president says it looks like we're done but we're not. It's sort of wait and see about how this pressure, these pressure tests are going to end up.

VAN NIEUWENHUISE: That's correct. And what we need to just wait and find out about is how high that pressure gets.

The last I've heard, of course, is that it's at 6,700 PSI. And what they wait for is, when they shut the well in the well, the well, while it was flowing, had a major drop in pressure due to the flow. And, of course, when they stop that flow, it takes a while for the reservoir down in the earth to push all that pressure back up again and bring it back up to the full pressure that it has.

Now, one thing that they haven't mentioned is when a well blows at 30,000 to 40,000 barrels a day, it can also lose some of its own reservoir energy. So, if it doesn't quite get to 8,000 PSI, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It could have something to do with the fact that the reservoir has lost some of its own internal energy. On the other hand, if they do have any problems and need to relieve the pressure, they can open up the cap or -- excuse me -- they could open up a choke line and start to produce as much oil as possible, and probably within short order be able to produce enough oil that they could close the entire cap.

LEMON: So, Don, Admiral Thad Allen -- this is according to -- I didn't actually hear the quote, but our David Mattingly did, and he said that he wanted to prepare people that oil could start -- they may have to open it back up again and oil could start gushing freely into the Gulf of Mexico because it's part of the process in order to fix the entire thing.

NIEUWENHUISE: Right. And so it's not a good thing to see that oil, but it does not mean something bad is happening. They will want to relieve the pressure after that test, and that can also help them see indication of other issues that might be occurring in that well.

LEMON: As far as the environmental impact on this, we won't know for years, will we?

NIEUWENHUISE: We won't know the full impact, obviously, for years. You're absolutely correct about that. And I think one of the things that is important, though, is that as we're now coming probably close to the end of oil flowing in there, the quantity and the volume is now being capped. And now we just have to clean up what's out there and take care of the issue. And it's not going to be a bigger issue because they finally have been able to get their hands around this and control this well.

LEMON: Real quickly -- I have about 10 seconds left here -- is there a point where we can go, "ah," and exhale?

NIEUWENHUISE: When you find out that cement is coming out of the top of the Macondo number one well, you will know that is dead.

LEMON: Ah.

NIEUWENHUISE: And that's what I'm looking for.

LEMON: That's what we all are looking for. I'm sure BP is looking for it, and especially the folks down South, and our viewers as well.

Don Nieuwenhuise is a petroleum geoscience professor at the University of Houston, and we thank him for his time.

Thank you, sir.

NIEUWENHUISE: Thank you.

LEMON: In the meantime, I'm Don Lemon.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Here now, Wolf Blitzer and "THE SITUATION ROOM."