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Rick's List

Setback in Senate for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Reform; Bill Clinton Speaks Out; Costa Rica at the Crossroads: Interview with Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla; Fundraiser in Chief Heads to New York; Salary Cut for NFL Players

Aired September 21, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: By the way, I want to let you know as well that as we begin this next hour, I want to welcome all of the men and women watching us right now on American Forces Network around the world. Here is the national conversation, hour two.

For those of you who are now checking in, number one, let's begin with what's being called a huge setback for people who want to get right of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. About an hour ago, and I'll take you through this as it happened, a defense bill that includes a repeal of that controversial rule, failed to advance in the senator.

So who voted against it on principle or for whatever reason? Our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash is watching this one for us.

Dana, take us through the details and take us through what the opposition is saying about this, why they voted against it.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You ask that question, and that's a great question, and it has a lot of different answers, depending on who you ask. I know that doesn't really surprise you.

There are some people who voted no on proceeding to this largest defense bill because, they say, you know, look, one of the most controversial items in there, the authorization for the Pentagon to ultimately repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, that's something that they fundamentally oppose.

There are some, especially on the Republican side, Rick, who have -- like John McCain, for example, who have said that he actually thinks it's a good idea to repeal that particular policy.

But they think that doing it right now, before the Pentagon is finished with its yearlong review that's supposed to be up in December is wrong. They want to let the Pentagon do its work and then for Congress to deal with it.

But then there are others who voted against it, like Susan Collins, the Republican of Maine, who up supports repealing the policy, supports the language in this bill, but voted no, much to the dismay of gay rights' activists, because she said that she didn't like the process that Democrats were using.

SANCHEZ: Well, let's listen, real quick, if we could, you and I, Dana, to what some of these representatives or senators said. I think we have that. Right, Dee? Yes. Go ahead. Let's play that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: This is all about elections, not about the welfare and well-being and the morale and the battle effectiveness of the men and women who are laying it on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan today.

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Because an election was coming up? Secretary Gates, a Republican, decides this policy much change because there's an election coming up? Of course not. It's because they reached a conclusion. The policy needs to change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: You know, as we listen to that, Dana, what is interesting is, is you and I -- and we have talked about this before -- have heard a lot of folks in the military come out and just say, look, maybe it's about time that we changed this.

These are guys who have fought in wars. These are guys who look at the systems that are used in other countries, for example. In the end, if our viewers are looking at you as the expert on this, and they said, what is the thing that is really holding this up, what would your answer to that be as far as you can tell?

BASH: Honestly, the way to sum it up right now is politics, politics on both sides. You just heard those sound bites. Both sides are accusing the other of playing politics. And both sides are right to a certain degree.

However, there certainly is -- as we talked about just a few minutes ago, there are people, mostly on the Republican side, that simply don't think it's the right thing to do to change this policy. And I have got to tell you, in talking to the lobbyist groups who are trying to deal with this, trying to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," that's one of the reasons why they are so upset today, because they saw this grand opportunity to do this now, meaning now, when there is a very large Democratic majority, and they are looking ahead to November, and saying, you know, it's just -- looking at the landscape, it's probably not going to look like this come January.

So, that is one of the big reasons that they are saying that. I just got an e-mail from somebody who is working on lobbying the Democratic leadership. They say that they have not lost hope, that perhaps Democrats can bring this up in the so-called lame-duck, the session that they take up after the election.

But, as we said before, there's a long, long list of things that everybody wants the Democrats to bring up during that time. So --

(CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: It may be difficult to pass some of these things post- November.

BASH: Yes.

SANCHEZ: We will see.

Thanks so much, Dana. Appreciate you bringing us up to date on that.

BASH: Thank you, too.

SANCHEZ: Take a listen to this, folks. Remember this? This is the outrage that we saw over those high salaries that some California officials were getting in Bell. Well, now there have been arrests, I mean, flat-out busts. It's unfolding as we speak. The information is coming in.

And, as it does, we're going to be sharing this developing story with you.

Also, dozens of people are seriously hurt, this after a bleacher collapses. This is a terrifying scene. We have got the video and I'm going to share it with you in just a little bit. Stay right there. This is RICK'S LIST, your national conversation. And we're coming right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: As you know, we do lists here, so time for one of our favorites and yours. This is the roundup list.

With number one, we begin. Remember those city officials in Bell, California, exposed for their high salaries? Eight of them, count them, eight current and former busted today in connection with this investigation.

The state's attorney general named the eight in a lawsuit which accuses them of fraud and just out-and-out wasting public funds. One of the accused, the former Bell city manager, was pulling down nearly $800,000 a year. This is in taxpayer money, folks. We are watching to see how this unfolds. And as the information comes in, we're going to be sharing it with you.

Also, number two, a coalition helicopter went down in Afghanistan with at least 13 people on board. They are all fatalities. Pardon me. There are fatalities. I misspoke. It happened in the Zabul Province, where coalition and Afghan troops have recently stepped up operations against the Taliban. We're told now nine of those service members were killed, again, not 13, but nine of the 13 killed in the crash so far.

Coalition officers are trying to find out what happened and they say that there were reports of enemy fire at the time. We will continue to drill down on that one for you. And here is number three. You watch those packed bleachers back there. Oh, my goodness. There it goes. Talk about a crash. This happened Sunday in Brazil. Racing fans were jammed in the stands watching the cars when the section of the metal structure just suddenly gave way. Amazingly, nobody died, but more than 100 people were hurt.

Here is number four. And it's official. Well, we will not hear the words President Wyclef Jean, at least not in this election season. The hip-hop artist formally ended his bid to be elected president of Haiti when he accepted the country's ruling that he was ineligible to run. Haiti requires all candidates to have lived there for at least five consecutive years prior to any election. The government reportedly denied his candidacy based on that law.

Wyclef Jean says he is going to refocus on his music.

Former President Bill Clinton is complimenting Sarah Palin. He says she's a force to be reckoned with, but he doesn't stop there. And now he's talking to CNN. That's ahead in just a little bit.

What does former President Clinton have to say?

Up next, a fascinating interview as well. I'm going to talking to the president of Costa Rica. Her name is Laura Chinchilla. She's the president's -- first female president. That's next right here on the LIST. You will want to see it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: I promised you an interview with the new president of Costa Rica. And we're going to have that for you in just a moment. The thing that we're waiting on now is some of the audio issues, apparently, so she can hear me and we can have this conversation. I guarantee you it's going to be something you will enjoy watching.

Before we do that, how about some funny pictures? You think you have a hard time merging in rush hour traffic? You don't know the half of it. Let's do "Fotos."

No, you can't park that thing in the fast lane. This happened yesterday right here in Atlanta, our home town. Can you imagine? I mean, do you know what it is like in rush hour in Atlanta? It's one of the worst in the world when it comes to traffic. You can't tell there because -- well, because they are going real slow because police officers have stopped them, just like police officers had to open that runway so that plane can actually land without clipping a car, without injuring anybody, without injuring the pilot.

Amazing. Job well done, Mr. Pilot and troopers who helped him do that.

And now let's take you to a couch potato/river raft. See that guy right there? Well, he's actually got a lot of ingenuity. That is a couch that he's using as a raft. It's a real couch. He's a UMass graduate. Steve Snell is his name. Friends and spectators cheered as he paddled onto to Northampton. It's a big deal up there?

Why? Well, because they can. And there he is now celebrating his fruit.

Bluefield, West Virginia, let's take you there. Autumn is right around the corner. Leaves are changing colors and falling. The weather is cooling and pumpkins are bulging. That's right, none as big as the ones in this patch, the smallest 500 pounds. The biggest? You ready for this? One thousand pounds.

That's right, just under 1,000 pounds, we're told. That is a lot of pumpkin pie, folks.

And those are the "Fotos" for this day. And you can see them whenever you want for yourself. I think I'm going to show Remi (ph) and Savannah (ph) that big pumpkin when I get home. How am I going to do that? I'm going to go my blog. It's at CNN.com/ricksanchez.

The president of Costa Rica joins me in just a little bit.

As we go to break, here's how to put today's newscast together. That's right. We get in early and we start figuring out what we're going to do. And every once in a while, we have a couple of laughs.

Here's the "Rick Vid of the Day."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: It bugs the viewer. Never put somebody on a tight shot with their lips moving while an anchor is talking over them, because the viewer is thinking, who do you want me to listen to, you or that person who is talking? And if you want me to listen to you, why are you showing me a person talking?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great piece from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, doctor detectives.

SANCHEZ: It took a bunch of doctors to come in and say, OK, we have tested them for malaria now four times, and it didn't show. What's wrong?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If only Sanjay Gupta had been your doctor --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Chinchilla will be on today. She's at the U.N. General Assembly. You will talk to her about what? What are some of your topics?

(CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: I don't know. I will work my way through it.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have the apostles -- Paul and Mark.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Hey, welcome back. Here we go.

There are countries in Latin America that there successful, that have free trade, that are doing quite well. Countries like Brazil, countries like Chile, and most recently, countries like Costa Rica, for example, which has always had this record, not to mention one of the most famous presidents whose won several awards. Well, the new president is President Chinchilla, and she's good enough to join us right now. One of the few female presidents in Latin America and we're honored to have here, Laura Chinchilla.

Madam President, thank you so much for being with us.

Let's start with this -- the idea that many Americans have of Latin America is drugs, leftist movements, insurgencies, and a lot of people don't know about the vibrant business sector in places like Argentina and Chile and your country, Costa Rica. Is that because the United States doesn't nurture Latin America? No trabaja -- doesn't work it as well as perhaps it should?

LAURA CHINCHILLA, PRESIDENT OF COSTA RICA: Well, thank you very much for this opportunity.

As you have mentioned, there are some countries in Latin America that have been doing a wonderful job. One of those countries is Costa Rica, but the amazing thing about Costa Rica is that we are a very small country and we have been a very successful story. We decided to invest in human development, we have been protecting the environment. So we have been able to perform impressive economic growth with a human development, social commitment, and of course, also protecting the environment.

SANCHEZ: Why is that, though, cause some people would ask? You're absolutely right. While we've seen insurgencies and problems and drugs and you name it in some countries in Latin America and Central America, including some of your border countries, places like Guatemala and Honduras and Nicaragua, why is it that Costa Rica has remained so stable for so long? What's the secret?

CHINCHILLA: Well, I would say that since the beginning we took the right decisions. For example, only 50 years after the independence, we decided to create a mandatory and free educational system for all of our children. That means that we decided to invest since the beginning in human development.

We also have a very stable democracy. We do not have an army, and that in certain way may explain our political stability.

Those are the reasons that Costa Rica is quite different from the other countries in the region. Democracy, economic growth, open -- a very open economy, and of course, probably the most important thing is human development. We, for example, have the best quality of the educational system, according to the economic -- World Economic Forum.

So those are most important advantages when we go out to compete with other investment destinations.

SANCHEZ: You know, as a Hispanic myself, I sometimes am troubled as an American journalist, I have to wear those two hats. And I find that most of my brethren here in the United States know very little about Latin America. We seem to know everything about the Middle East, everything about European countries and we are almost downright ignorant when it comes to countries like your own, Costa Rica, and some of the things that you just explained to us.

Does that frustrate you as well?

CHINCHILLA: Excuse me? Could you repeat that?

SANCHEZ: (speaking in Spanish)

They don't understand Costa Rica. Does that frustrate you sometimes?

(speaking in Spanish)

CHINCHILLA: Right. Well, I'm not quite sure if this is right, because during the last years, for example, we are receiving many people from the United States. We are one of the preferred tourist destinations of the American people. And each time I come to the United States, I find, for example, the business community, students, they are more and more interested, at least, in our country.

So I think that you will now find more people interested in what is going on in Latin America and also they know a little bit more about my country.

SANCHEZ: What is the -- one more thing I want to ask you, because we hear about this a lot and we hear about the pro-Chavez, pro-Castro movements in different Latin American countries.

If you were to give American government leaders, the president of the United States, for example, President Obama, some advice on making sure that these leftist movements don't make their way into Latin America more than they already have, what advice would you give them?

CHINCHILLA: Well, I think that what is important about the Latin American problems is to forget sometimes about ideology. Sometimes there is too much ideology in our regional politics and which is important to find the right solutions. And sometimes the right solutions comes from either the left or the right.

It doesn't matter which is the source, the important thing is to bring the right solutions to our people and that means a combination of democracy, respect of the rule of law, open economies, integration to the world economy and of course, invest in all that you can invest in human development.

SANCHEZ: Madam President, it's been a pleasure. We're so glad you're visiting the United States. I hope everything works out for you. And thanks for taking time for joining us here today on RICK'S LIST.

CHINCHILLA: Thank you so much for this opportunity.

SANCHEZ: All right.

Political candidates will pick apart an opponent in the past, but Democrats in one state went public with a big secret. That's ahead.

Also, Mark Preston and Paul Steinhauser are standing by with information just in from the world of politics that is crossing the CNN Political Ticker right about now. Well, you know, it changes just about every hour. We've got that for you as well.

This is RICK'S LIST, your national conversation. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Hey, welcome back. Time for a "CNN Equals Politics" update now. Paul Steinhauser, our deputy political director and Cato is joining him as well, that would be Mark Preston our senior political editor, part of "The Best Political Team on Television."

You know, you have to be of a certain age to even know who Cato was, right? But you know, right? Right, Paul?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, and I do know. I know you're speaking kindly and fondly of Mark. So he's going to take that as a compliment.

Rick, let's talk about campaign cash.

SANCHEZ: Tell us.

STEINHAUSER: Big campaign bucks. Let's talk about tomorrow.

President Barack Obama, he is going to New York, as we know, for the United Nations General Assembly and other meetings, but also there's some politics on his mind. Tomorrow night he's going to be teaming up with Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, and Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader. They are going to be holding a big fundraiser for the Democratic Party.

And I've been working the phones, I'm trying to find out how much they're going to raise and all these other details. And I'm going to crack this one, I'll promise you that. Listen, campaign cash is so important, Rick. Why? Because it pays for TV commercials and get out the vote efforts. So once again, the president playing the role of "Fundraiser in Chief," as presidents often do. He'll be playing that role tomorrow night.

Mr. Preston, to you.

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, Rick.

A lot of talk about Michelle Obama, what role will she play, if any, in the presidential -- or rather, in the midterm elections. We know what she'll do in the presidential elections. Well, less than a week before the midterm elections, she's going out to California. She's going to campaign on behalf of Barbara Boxer. This is a very big get for Boxer who is in a tough fight there with Carly Fiorina, the former executive out there for that Senate seat.

Let me put some numbers in perspective, OK? Michelle Obama's favorability rating right now, Rick, 62 percent, Sarah Palin's 38 percent and Michelle Obama's husband, 53 percent. So a lot of people like Michelle Obama and Democrats definitely like Michelle Obama.

And let me pass it back to the Green Hornet to close it out.

(LAUGHTER)

STEINHAUSER: All right, I've got another number. Mark was giving us a lot of numbers, I got another number -- $1 million. Yes. Take a look at this Jay McMichael (ph), my friend.

Up on the CNN Political Ticker, brand new this afternoon, a Tea Party group called the Tea Party Patriots, Rick, they're one of the major national Tea Party organizations, they announced today a couple things. That they got an anonymous $1 million donation, and you know what they said they're going to do with that? They are going to turn that money around immediately. They say, within the next weeks. Get it out to local Tea Party roots on the grass roots efforts to spend on the midterm elections.

Rick, a lot of campaign cash to talk about.

SANCHEZ: Wow. And you said, by the way, $1 million, right?

STEINHAUSER: One million dollars.

SANCHEZ: It's an Austin Powers thing. Once you have kids, you know all of the Austin Powers.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm of that age, thank you very much.

SANCHEZ: Oh, come on, nobody invited you to the party there, Brooke. No she's coming up --

BALDWIN: I'm standing back over here.

SANCHEZ: Mark Preston, Paul Steinhauser -- I love the fact that Mark picked right up on that Green Hornet reference, man. That's right, don't have to hit that guy with a brick. Thanks for joining us, fellas.

Your next political update in one hour. Remember, for all of the latest political news, go to CNNPolitics.com and on Twitter @PoliticalTicker.

All right, you ready, Brooke?

BALDWIN: No.

SANCHEZ: This is all about you.

Have you heard of this bedbug summit? I'm not kidding, there's actually a summit on bedbugs. It's all about the new ideas to fight these thing, to try and get rid of the problem with the bedbugs that are going on all over the country.

Also, Sarah Palin's daughter goes dancing on national television, it's trending as well. People are sharing the video, talking about it; some nice, some not so nice.

Here's Brooke.

BALDWIN: Friend, Austin Powers is my era.

SANCHEZ: Is that right?

BALDWIN: Not yours. Are you with me?

SANCHEZ: So you're in my kids' era. Is that what you're trying to say?

BALDWIN: Whatever, Oldie Goldie.

SANCHEZ: That hurts. We'll be right back.

BALDWIN: Good.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Drum roll, please. Ladies and gentlemen, Brooke Baldwin joins us with those "Trending" topics that she does so well.

BALDWIN: Okay. First one. What is the saying, "good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite." Guess what, there is now first ever bedbug summit. It looks like they are having a little fun with it, but it's serious! This is happening in Chicago today. Tomorrow, at the Hyatt Rosemont hotel. According to the event's Web site, it's completely sold out.

What does it offer? Basically, advice, seminars from 14 of the nation's leading etymologists, specifically bed bug experts. Also features the latest bedbug related products. I have to say that slowly. Hard to say. Bed begs. Bed bugs. Like little disks, I guess you can buy. You put them on the feet of your bed so you make sure that they don't crawl up in your sheets.

Bleeeeh! So, if you're wondering, because we were and we checked, the Hyatt Rosemont hotel is totally bedbug free --

SANCHEZ: Well, that's good to know. BALDWIN: This is kind of cool, actually. If you're going to a hotel and want to see if your hotel is bedbug free, go to this registry. Go to bedbugregistry.com. So, you type in the address. We typed in the address of the hotel in Chicago. The results, there are no bedbug encounters on record for this address.

SANCHEZ: Well, I'm going to a book signing in Pittsburg on Sunday and going to be in New York on Monday. So, if I give you the hotel -

BALDWIN: Way to get that in there, Sanchez? And yes, you go to bedbugregistry.com. And you type in the address of your hotel. And we also checked CNN in Atlanta. We're in the clear. But you know, Time Warner in New York. Not so much.

SANCHEZ: Are you okay? What did you do about your infestation?

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: I'm not infested. That's just what I thought you were asking me earlier.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: What a terrible thing to say. I'm kidding. I kid because I love.

BALDWIN: Ah, okay. I love sometimes.

Number two. "Dancing With the Stars." You watch this with your family, don't you?

SANCHEZ: Yes. My wife - yes. My wife loves it.

BALDWIN: So, did you watch last night? Everybody today is talking about the dancing, especially Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol, who made her dancing debut. She and her partner - they get judged, of course, by their dance moves. But they had a little fun, I guess, choosing their costumes and songs ahead of time. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Song, Tom Jones, "Mama Told Me Not to Come." How do you feel about that?

BRISTOL PALIN, DANCING WITH THE STARS: It's like Levi's and my relationship. Mama told me not to do it, but I did it anyways.

I've always looked to my mom growing up, but there were times that I haven't. So, this song is kind of a play off of that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I'm thinking is, you're in your dress, we're going to have Bristol dress up. Kind of like her mom, very conservatively, and then like, whatever this dress is, we'll tear off into something like ka-bam!

PALIN: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Oh, that sounds great.

BALDWIN: Let's rip off the dress which is precisely, if you were watching last night, what she did. She walked out in this like, suit thing and then it was wa-bow! And then it was this red number -

SANCHEZ: Wa-bow, huh? I love that.

BALDWIN: I'm on a roll today. I've been up early. Bristol also said that she was hoping not to imbrest Mama Grizzly, Sarah Palin --

SANCHEZ: Imbrute?

BALDWIN: Right. Right.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: Like I said, I got up early.

SANCHEZ: What time did you get up, by the way?

BALDWIN: 4:00, 4:30.

SANCHEZ: Oh, my goodness.

BALDWIN: You be the judge -

(LAUGHER)

BALDWIN: You made me laugh --

SANCHEZ: This is it? This is her?

BALDWIN: This is it. Her judges told that she looked good for her first - see? She's took off the suit, so she's got this red number underneath. They said she looked good her first night, but she might need to loosen up a little bit.

What did Mama Palin think? She, of course, took to the Twitter board as we will. She says, "Over the moon excited and happy for Bristol. Cheering her on at a Dancing With the Stars party in the Palin living room," and we've even got a Twit Pick.

Guys, let's show the Twit Pick. Do we have it? Waiting for it.

SANCHEZ: Click.

BALDWIN: Waiting for it.

SANCHEZ: And - it is there!

BALDWIN: There they go! There is everyone in the living room watching. Nobody was voted off the show last night. SANCHEZ: All right. Well, they had a party, and all of the Palins showed up.

BALDWIN: Right. You had David Hasselhoff, you had Florence Henderson, The Situation, Jennifer - I'm just rattling off the top of my head - Jennifer Gray. It sounds like a pretty decent season.

SANCHEZ: Hey, you know, I mentioned the book signing coming up in Pittsburgh.

BALDWIN: Hey, you have a book signing coming up in Pittsburgh!

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: With the folks with --

BALDWIN: I kid, I kid.

SANCHEZ: Anyway, we've got -- look at this. We're giving one away. Okay.

BALDWIN Oh, is this the tweet?

SANCHEZ: This is sent to me and to you. And it says, "My 11- year-old son is watching you with me and says, I never thought news could be so much fun." Isn't that nice?

BALDWIN: We like to have fun.

SANCHEZ: It's all about you.

BALDWIN: It's all about you.

SANCHEZ: All right.

Former president Bill Clinton is making headlines for his comments about the Tea Party movement and Sarah Palin, Well, now he's talking to CNN. Wolf Blitzer, to be exact. What is he saying, Wolf Blitzer? Wolf is going to be joining me in a little bit, and he's going to tell you about the secret that Bill Clinton said.

Also, there should be certain things that should be off limits at a political race. But Democrats got very personal on this race. And you know what? We're calling those Democrats out. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Hey, welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. So glad that you're here with us.

When you are running for office, everything is out in the open. Your history, your paychecks, that essay you wrote in college. But how about one of the most personal secrets that somebody can have? Time now for "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On." The Democratic party of Florida pulled a pretty outrageous stunt. Here's what you need to know. This is Republican Allen West. He's running against Congressman Ron Kline. The race is getting a lot of attention. President Obama is scheduled to stump for Klein next month.

Over the weekend, a Florida Democrat sent out a mailer for voters. The flier attacked West for tax lien paid in 2005 and other alleged financial problems. But on that mailer, Democrats printed his Social Security number. They even show his wife's employment I.D. number.

West says Klein and the Democrats have crossed the line. Here. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN WEST (R), FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: The initial thing is absolute shock. Because you know that this is a political campaign. That things can get you ugly. I understand that. But this is a new low. This is a very serious breach of my privacy and my security.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: By the way, to be fair, Democrats are apologizing and calling this a mistake. They are also offering to pay for identity theft monitoring for two years. But listen to this. They are calling West paranoid for worrying about it. They're even calling his concerns bizarre.

Look, there is nothing bizarre about this. Right? Let me give you some of the facts. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. It affects millions of innocent Americans every year. It costs billions of dollars. So, yes, I would say he has good reason to worry, wouldn't you? The Florida Democratic party moved straight to the LIST today. For this, "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On."

What does former president Bill Clinton think about the Tea Party movement and Democrats' chances of holding on to Congress? Just one of the questions that he's going to be addressing with Wolf Blitzer. We're going to get a preview in just a second.

We'll be right back. This is your national conversation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: We talked a little while ago in this newscast about what a rough time President Obama is having of things. We talked about some of the forces that are working against him and some of the things he may have done right or done wrong.

That's what a lot of people are talking about, including the former president of the United States. Here's some advice now from former president Bill Clinton to Democrats going into the November midterms.

Bill Clinton sat down, the former president did, with my colleague, Wolf Blitzer, just a short time ago. He's sent us some of the clips so we can hear them. So here's one of them right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Are the Democrats underestimating the Tea Party movement?

WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know. I think it would be a mistake.

I think what we should say is, those Tea Partiers -- 20 percent of them, by the way, say they would vote for Democrats if there were no Tea Party candidates -- in their purest form, the Tea Partiers are saying, I've been let down by big business and big government. I've been let down because the big banks were helped out, but nobody helped me. And the government that bailed them out, they're doing fine. They all have a job, making mortgage payments, have health care, send their kids to college.

I want reform in both. But the founders of the Tea Party movement tend to be pretty far-right extremists who want -- their goal is to destroy the power of government to mediate the power of corporations. And I don't really think that is a sustainable position.

My advice for the Democrats is, don't play games. Make this about the American people.

Tell them what we need to do and what you would do about it, and ask them if they really think you're more likely to do it than your opponent. I think we should just play it straight.

If they've got a Tea Party opponent who says something weird like the guy running for Senator from Alaska who says unemployment compensation is unconstitutional, or the man running for senator from Arkansas who says that we should have a 23 percent across-the-board sales tax instead of an income tax, which would raise taxes for 85 percent of us, or the governor running in Colorado who says Denver's bike (ph) pass or U.N. plot to take the sovereignty of Denver away from the United States, they might want to comment on it. But we shouldn't be cute here.

The American people are scared to death, and they are angry, and they want to know where we're going. My advice is, answer them, then throw them out after 23 months, give us two years. That would give us half as much time as you gave them. And if it's not better, throw us out.

You have to say, throw us out if it's not better. And then say, now, let's talk about what we're going to do, and who is more likely to do it.

Treat the American people with respect. Tell them what you're going to do, ask them who is more likely to do it. If it's a choice, we can win. If it's a referendum, it's not good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Wow, that's -- you know, I write about -- Wolf Blitzer is joining us now.

I write about this in my book, and it's interesting that the former president just picked up on that. And that is there's a difference -- he used the word "funders," which isn't the word that I used "Conventional Idiocy." There's a difference between the founders of the Tea Party -- "funders," he said -- and the Tea Party itself.

In other words, the grassroots and the people who tend to -- the word I use in my book is co-op the Tea Party. And he says if Democrats don't understand that, they are kind of doing themselves a disservice.

That's a heck of a (INAUDIBLE) that he's presenting there, Wolf.

BLITZER: Well, there's no doubt that he is very astute. He arguably could be one of the greatest politicians certainly of our time, if not the best.

He understands politics. He understands a lot of stuff.

But as far as what President Obama and the Democrats need to do, he's got some -- as you just heard, some very, very strong opinions on what they need to do. And remember, he went through something very similar back in 1994 after the midterm that followed his election to the White House, when the Democrats suffered a huge setback in those midterm elections, lost control of the House and the Senate. Arguably, though, that made him a better president the next two years, setting the stage for his re-election if '96.

So, you know, this is Bill Clinton. Vintage Bill Clinton.

We went through a lot of issues with him. This was a wide- ranging interview we did here in New York on foreign policy, on the Clinton Global Initiative, global poverty, everything else, including the U.S. economy.

And one fascinating insight I got was how he lost 24 pounds. It's something our viewers are going to really be interested in. He wants a long life. He wants to see grandchildren down the road, and he knows in order to do that, he's got to take care of himself physically.

SANCHEZ: Does he think that the present president of the United States, President Obama, is he getting his message out appropriately, or his handlers getting his message out appropriately? Did he have any advice for I guess what we call spin?

BLITZER: Yes. I did ask him if he thought the president of the United States, who was such a great campaigner in 2008, if he had lost some of his mojo. And he didn't think he did. But then he went into an elaborate explanation of what he thought the president needed to do. And I'll let the viewers listen to it themselves, because it's complicated, but it's in-depth and detailed on what advice the former Democratic president and for the current Democratic president and how to deal with all the challenges that the current president faces.

SANCHEZ: It looks like a really good interview. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

BLITZER: I think you'll enjoy it.

SANCHEZ: Well, yes, because you can tell sometimes when someone is very at ease. He looked like he was very at ease. He looked like he was in a mood to talk.

BLITZER: Well, let me tell you, this is the Clinton Global Initiative, the sixth year. And he's raising billions of dollars for people in Africa and Asia, all over the world -- Haiti, now in Pakistan. And this is his element.

We go through all of this stuff. We're going to have the whole interview over the next two hours. Some will run during the 5:00 p.m. Eastern hour, some during the 6:00 p.m. Eastern hour. But our viewers who stick around, they'll see the whole thing, and I think they'll enjoy it.

SANCHEZ: Well, I will for sure, Wolf. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Week three in NFL. The Dolphins are 2-0, by the way. But this time next year there might not be a season. I want to tell you what behind the big fight that may cost fans a lot of Sundays of entertainment.

And by the way, as we go to break, did I tell you, the Dolphins are 2-0? They are undefeated, number one in the AFC East? Did I? Oh, yes, I guess I did.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: All right. The NFL wants to cut players' salaries by something like 18 percent. Players are saying hell no. And owners are saying, fine. Then you know what? You can't come to work. That's called a lockout. And expected next season, a lockout. That's right.

Let me share something with you. What makes NFL players perhaps more deserving than most other athletes out there, you want to see it? Well, I won't even tell you. I'll let the picture tell the story.

Roll this.

Look at this. This is Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys. Right? He bangs his head on the turf on this play, suffers a severe -- look at him. He can't even walk. Right? He's obviously dizzy, seeing stars. You see him walk of the field a little dazed.

The Cowboys would not allow Witten back into the game. And you see him berating the medical staff -- please, please, I want to get back into the game. I want to get back in the game.

You know, let me tell you something, folks. You know what happened when he wasn't playing? The second string guy went in and made four catches, which means there's a chance he could lose his job. Right? I mean, not in his case because he's a superstar. Right?

Here's Max Kellerman joining us now.

Here's a league that doesn't guarantee the money for its athletes. Most of the guys in the NBA get guaranteed money. A lot of guys in baseball get guaranteed money. But here's the guys who get their heads bashed in for our enjoyment, week in and week out. And when you really look at it, it looks like they got the worst deal.

And now they want a fair deal, or at least keep what they've got, and the owners are telling them, no. You're going to hold us to that? We won't have a season.

It's hard to feel bad for the owners in this thing, isn't it?

MAX KELLERMAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Rick, you made a great point when you said Jason and Witten and the guy made four catches who came in to take his place, the second string tight end. And maybe -- and you say, well, not in Jason Witten's case. And you're right, not from a few plays in the case of Jason Witten.

But even in the case of superstars in the NFL, it's a performance league where they guy can come off the bench. Kurt Warner was the starter for the NFL champion St. Louis Rams, and he was considered an MVP candidate every year. And he got hurt one year. Marc Bulger came off the bench.

Eight games later, Kurt Warner was out of a job because they went on an eight-game winning streak. And that's part of the reason Americans like the NFL so much. It's such a pure meritocracy.

You know, it's not about who you know or -- it's really about, do you perform? Are you willing to lay it on the line?

But you're right. In this sport, there's no guarantee contract.

Rick, the one thing that's guaranteed is the bonus, if you can get a bonus. And one of the reasons the NFL owners have opted out of this collective bargaining agreement early is because they want to be able in certain circumstances to recoup the bonus. SANCHEZ: Oh, my goodness.

And, you know, it's funny, because it's a big money league. I mean, the NFL collects a lot of money from some of the television networks. You would think that they would want to find a way to compensate these guys, especially with what we're seeing now with all these concussions. I mean, it's one after the other.

Look at the situation with Kevin Kolb. I think we may even have some of that video as well.

He gets hit, right? And then you see him hit the ground.

My wife and I were at home watching. And his pupils are dilated, they roll back in his head. I mean, that stuff is gladiator stuff.

They put Michael Vick in now, and Michael Vick has one heck of a game, he wins the next game he plays in. I mean, we're looking at the possibility of Kevin Kolb losing his job simply because he got hurt, and there's nothing in the contract that guarantees his salary.

And yet, people say, oh, these guys are millionaires. Not in all cases, right?

KELLERMAN: And not in the NFL. The careers are very short.

In Kevin Kolb's case, he was supposed to be the next quarterback for the Eagles. It's the reason they traded Donovan McNabb. But they're offensive line -- for those who don't know, those are the guys who protect the quarterback -- is in such shambles, that he was (INAUDIBLE) in the first week of the season.

Michael Vick, who moves around very well, and has proven to be a much better overall quarterback than the guy I remember when he left the league, looks spectacular. And now even though it appears Kevin Kolb will be the starter again, how much longer will that really last?

And as you mentioned, Rick, it's the one sport where the money is not guaranteed. Even the part that's guaranteed the owners are now coming after.

That's the reason they opted out of the deal early. This is not like the collective bargaining agreement and the owners opted out early because they want an even better deal than the one they already have. Do you see the irony?.

SANCHEZ: You know what the irony is here? We now live in a country where the only time we talk about labor negotiations is when it's the labor negotiations of the so-called millionaires playing sports in the NFL.

Isn't there an irony to that?

KELLERMAN: It is. And the cliche has become it's millionaires arguing with billionaires, the players arguing with the owners. But as you mentioned, in the NFL's case, that's not so much -- that's not as true as it is in Major Legal Baseball and in the NBA.

SANCHEZ: Certainly in the NBA.

Max, always enjoy it. We'll see you again Thursday and we'll have another discussion about it.

Oh, and did I mention, the Dolphins are 2-0 and the Jets are 1-1?

(LAUGHTER)

KELLERMAN: I'm a Giants fan. They're also 1-1. Disgraceful this last week.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: Thanks, buddy. Look forward to seeing you once again.

Thanks so much for being with us. We'll look forward to seeing you again here on RICK'S LIST tomorrow at 3:00, 4:00, and 8:00. That's right.

Here's Wolf Blitzer now with that exclusive interview with the former president of the United States in "THE SITUATION ROOM."