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CNN Sunday Morning
Charlton Heston Remembered; Police Raid Polygamist Compound
Aired April 06, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CO-HOST: A Hollywood legend, an actor, an activist. This morning, we remember Charlton Heston.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY MANKIN, ELDORADO SUCCESS WEEKLY: It's like a flying saucer landed out there or some - like an alien culture moved in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: Inside a polygamist compound in Texas. The place is raided. And close to 200 people, many of them are children, are removed. We're live from the scene.
HOLMES: And the Olympic torch on the move this morning but not without some protests and a bit of controversy. They tried to put out the flame.
NGUYEN: Already.
HOLMES: Can you believe that?
NGUYEN: Has it made its way to China just yet?
HOLMES: It's getting started. We're going to get to that a little bit this morning and a whole lot more on this Sunday morning, April 6th. Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Yes, good morning, everybody on this Sunday. It is 7:00 a.m. here in the east, 4:00 a.m. out west in California. We do want to thank you for starting your day with us.
Well, in an era of epic movies, central casting could not have provided a more fitting star.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLTON HESTON as MOSES, "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" MOVIE: The Lord of Hosts will do battle for us. Behold him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Charlton Heston, everybody knows this movie and knows that scene. But he's being remembered today for breathing life into such heroic figures as Moses there, Michelangelo, as well as Ben-hur. The 84-year-old Heston died last night after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. His family says no one could ask for a fuller life than his.
NGUYEN: In later years, the legendary actor became active in conservative politics and served as president of the National Rifle Association. This hour, we're going to look back at Heston's many memorable roles on screen. We're also going to speak with Bill Powers, spokesman for the Heston family.
HOLMES: Also happening this morning, developments in the raid on that polygamist compound. So far, 183 people have been removed from the ranch near Eldorado, Texas. Most of them are children. Now, authorities have been looking for victims of possible physical and sexual abuse there. Late last night, they pushed their way into the most sensitive area of the compound, the temple.
Our Ed Lavandera has more from Eldorado, Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the shining temple on the West Texas polygamist sect compound. Late Saturday night, authorities entered the sacred temple. Ambulances and medical support were brought in as a precaution.
But law enforcement sources say, there were no injuries, no violence, and that investigators got inside after some sect members initially resisted.
Earlier in the day, buses full of children were brought out of the 1,600-acre ranch. State investigators say, they want to pull every child out.
MARLEIGH MEISNER, TEXAS CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES: We also have four workers as of this moment, that are in the compound, and they are trying to go from building to building with law enforcement, trying to find other children that may still be in the compound.
LAVANDERA: Child Protective Service investigators have removed 183 people including 137 children, 18 of those children are in legal custody of the state.
MEISNER: We have trained staff, special investigators who have come in from Child Protective Services offices throughout the state assisting. They are continuing to do one-on-one interviews with the women and with the children that are there, trying to obtain further information.
LAVANDERA: Investigators moved into the compound after receiving a tip last Monday that a teenage girl was being physically abused. The local district attorney's office tells CNN, this picture appears to be the man Texas authorities have issued an arrest warrant for. According to documents, authorities are looking for evidence that 50- year-old Dale Evans Barlow married and impregnated a 16-year-old girl.
Barlow is on felony probation stemming from an Arizona case where he was accused of conspiring to commit sexual misconduct of a child. Barlow is also the son of a former mayor of Colorado City, Arizona. That's the town where this polygamist sect is largely based.
When its members moved in to Eldorado, they startled residents who watched the mysterious, massive complex of residential buildings and a temple rise from the West Texas flatland.
RANDY MANKIN, ELDORADO SUCCESS WEEKLY: It's like a flying saucer landed out there or some - like an alien culture moved in. And we spent four years now trying to educate ourselves, educate the public, as to who our neighbors are.
LAVANDERA (on-camera): A law enforcement source tells CNN that Dale Barlow is not in the Eldorado area. We're also told that authorities are talking to him but that he has not yet been arrested. Meanwhile, the "Salt Lake Tribune" quotes Barlow's probation officer as saying that Barlow does not even know the teenage girl he's accused of getting pregnant.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Eldorado, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Mike Watkiss is with affiliate KTVK and Mike has been on top of this story since the beginning. First of all, explain to us who this Dale Barlow person is.
MIKE WATKISS, KTVK CORRESPONDENT: Well, if he is in fact the man that law enforcement officials are looking for, he has a notorious track record.
Mr. Barlow was indicted, one of eight men, they became known as the "Colorado City Eight." Eight male followers of Warren Jeffs who are indicted in Mojave County, Arizona a couple of years ago for taking underage brides. It was those cases that Arizona officials and Utah officials then built the cases against Warren Jeffs, and sent him to prison in Utah. He basically performed these marriages.
These eight men, including Mr. Barlow, were charged with taking underage brides. They were prosecuted in Mojave County. Mr. Barlow pleaded no contest to a charge and was given 45 days in jail, also three years probation. So, he's had some interactions with the law and the courts in Arizona, on probation.
So, if he is in fact the man responsible for abusing this 16- year-old girl at the center of all of this, that precipitated this raid, he certainly has a history with law enforcement and now allegedly accused of, perhaps, impregnating this 16-year-old girl and physically abusing her. So, a guy who would be looking for a lot of trouble if this indeed pans out.
NGUYEN: Mike, let me ask you this. Have there been any other problems at this compound?
WATKISS: Never. And I have covered this story probably longer than any reporter in America, come from a polygamist background. I follow this for nearly three decades. This community, there are some polygamist sects that have known to be prone to violence but this sect completely peaceful, to the outside world. And they have had some interactions with law enforcement where they tried to enforce laws but these people have no history of violence whatsoever.
I would argue that their violence is focused more internally on the women and the children of the community, but overtly, violence focused towards the outside world, there is absolutely no history of that.
NGUYEN: And, did I hear you correctly, you say you come from a polygamist background?
WATKISS: Yes indeed. I grew up in Utah -- Mormon family, long history and I come from a polygamist background myself. Yes.
NGUYEN: Well, talk to us about the connection between this group and Warren Jeffs.
WATKISS: This group is Warren Jeffs. This is the FLDS Church. Warren Jeffs' community began feeling a lot of pressure, in many ways, it was some activists and a handful of reporters started exposing these stories of abuse, during the last decade. It really pushed law enforcement officials in Utah and Arizona to start cracking down.
Warren Jeffs four years ago, saw the writing on the wall when one of his polygamist followers, a guy who is a cop, was thrown into jail in Utah. Warren Jeffs, I think this is -- perhaps the one area he was indeed prophetic, the prophet was indeed prophetic. He knew they were in trouble in Utah and Arizona.
He sent his lieutenants out to start buying up these compounds. This compound in Texas is the largest. They were hoping to move here as a safe haven. But now, Texas officials are also cracking down.
NGUYEN: Mike, let me ask you this very, very quickly. Because you have this polygamist background, maybe you can shed some insight, what was going on inside that compound, 183 people have been taken out, 137 of them are females, children in fact, under the age of 17?
WATKISS: Well, you know, it's my theory and my belief that to hold these communities together, they really have to force -- deprive the young women of any sort of meaningful education or opportunity so they can force them into these marriages. If they're educated, they are not going to sign on to being the fourth, fifth wife of some man who is decades older than them. There's going to be business as usual. What they have been doing in Colorado City and -
NGUYEN: What does that mean, business as usual?
WATKISS: Each man has to have three wives to get into the highest realm of heaven. The only man that can parcel out the wives is Warren Jeffs. So, he has this basically herd of women that he parcels out to his faithful men. Again, they've been doing this in Utah and Arizona for decades. They started to feel the pressure from law enforcement in those two states. They were hoping to move here and get away from all that. But now, Texas officials are taking a very strong statement.
NGUYEN: All right. We do appreciate your insight. Mike Watkiss with affiliate KTVK, thank you.
HOLMES: President Bush wrapping talks with his Russian counterpart. He's on the way back to the United States. The two leaders remain far, far apart on the U.S. missile defense system plan.
CNN's Matthew Chance is in Sochi, Russia, this morning for us.
Matthew, good morning to you. So, how did it go?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you as well, T.J. Well, this farewell summit between the U.S. and Russian presidents has now come to an end but without any real breakthrough on some of the key issues that have put a real diplomatic strain on relations between the two countries over the past several years.
It's the last opportunity for Presidents Bush and Vladimir Putin of Russia to meet each other as leaders of their respective countries, and they used the opportunity really to kind of emphasize the strength of their personal relationship. But I have to tell you, the whole thing has been overshadowed by the issue of missile defense and U.S. plans to deploy elements of that system on the soil of Eastern Europe.
Both presidents talked about the idea that there could in the future be some progress toward resolving that. But currently, the Russian government remains very much opposed to the plan and Washington is still very much committed to it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIA (translator): I will not conceal that on a number of the most -- one of the most difficult issues, one that remains the issue of missile defense in Europe, this is not about language, this is not about diplomatic -- not about diplomatic phrasing or wording. But this is about the substance of the issue. Let me be very clear on this. Our fundamental attitude to the American plans have not changed.
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES: One of the areas where we've agreed to work together is in missile defense. And obviously, as Vladimir mentioned, this is an area we've got more work to do to convince the Russian side that the system is not aimed at Russia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: It was not just missile defense, of course, but a range of issues that have merged, these major sticking points in relations between the United States and Russia. We're talking NATO expansion, the independence of Kosovo, even to some extent, concerns over Iran's controversial nuclear program.
These are issues that were discussed at the summit that were really have to be carried through with the next Russian president- elect, Dmitry Medvedev, and whoever takes over of course in the White House.
HOLMES: You mentioned the new president, how do we think President Bush is going to like the new guy since he did have a close personal relationship with President Putin even though that relationship was strained at times?
CHANCE: Well, they've met each other today for the first time since he was elected as the next president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev is his name. President Bush said that he find him to be smart and straightforward, and looked forward to getting to know him a bit better in the months ahead. But of course, the really important relationship with Dmitry Medvedev, the next Russian president will be the one he enjoys with the next U.S. president whoever that will be.
HOLMES: All right. Matthew Chance for us there in Sochi. Matthew, we appreciate you this morning.
NGUYEN: Well, how much life insurance is enough? Well, you may be surprised to learn that less can actually be more when it comes to this. And coming right up, we're going to explain that in Right on Your Money.
HOLMES: Also: To some politics, did Hillary Clinton stretch the truth in making her case for universal health care? An update from the campaign trail.
Also: We've got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. ARTHUR PRICE, PASTOR, 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH: As long as people come to the city and they want to know what happened, we the story to tell them and we will continue to tell that story.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Four little girls killed at church by a bomb on a Sunday morning. The pastor of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church joins us in Faces of Faith, to talk about the defining moment in the civil rights movement, then and now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: OK. So, car or home insurance coverage are possessions, right? But when it comes to choosing life insurance, your family's wellbeing could be on the line.
HOLMES: And Christine Romans helps you make a decision that's Right on Your Money.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Buying life insurance can be confusing. Some policies have six terms and others can be adjusted each year.
"Money Magazine's" Walter Updegrave suggests a bare bones approach.
WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SR. EDITOR, MONEY MAGAZINE: For most people, the answer is a term policy and that provides basic insurance protection. There's no investment component to it. And the nice thing about this sort of policy is that you get for a relatively small premium, you get a pretty large death benefit.
ROMANS: And when deciding what amount of life insurance to get, Updegrave says Web sites like Lifeline.org, IntelliQuote.com, and Insure.com can help.
UPDEGRAVE: You go to one of the sites that allow you to comparison shop for policies. You put in your age, the type of policy you're interested in and it will give you a listing of policies with different premiums.
ROMANS: Keep your budget and your priorities in check.
UPDEGRAVE: The idea with insurance isn't to try to create a windfall should somebody die. It's really to provide just enough protection so that your family can go on and maintain something close to its current lifestyle.
ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, boycotting the Olympic Games in China? The idea may be gaining traction in some high places. A journalist formerly based in Hong Kong will join us with his insights.
Plus:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They want to destroy something of (inaudible) I'd love to do, (INAUDIBLE) church.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Forty-four years after the Birmingham Church bombing, the memory is still fresh. We're going to speak with the pastor of the 16th Street Baptist Church about that tragic day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: An assassin's bullet took his life. That dream, of course, lives on. It's now been 40 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. was gunned down in Memphis. Racism and justice, the fight for equality ignited the civil rights movement, of course. But many say, it was another moment, the bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963 that really got things rolling. Take a look at the church then and now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: They died in Birmingham, at the 16th Street Baptist Church, rallying point of the Negro drive in the nation's most segregated big city. Dynamite exploded, killed four little girls in Sunday school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They want to destroy something there (ph) I'd love to do, (INAUDIBLE) church.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was really sad hearing about the four girls getting bombed out and dying from it.
ANNOUNCER: "We shall overcome" is the battle cry of the Negro revolt in 1963.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Blacks are segregated and they didn't have the rights that white people did.
REV. ARTHUR PRICE, PASTOR, 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH: As long as people come to the city and want to know, we have the story to tell and we'll continue to tell that story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And Arthur Price is pastor of 16th Street Baptist Church is here with us this morning.
Sir, we appreciate you being here. Like you said there, if people want to come, want to hear that story, you'll always have that story to tell. But, would you say today and what you do in that church, and your church's role in the community, is still defined by what happened some 44 years ago now?
PRICE: Well, I think that people still want to come to see the church today because of what happened 44 years ago, but because of the progress that we have made and race relationships. And now that the church is not really the focal point for African-American dialogue, because we now have leaders in elected office who are African- American, they have pretty much taken up their role.
But people still want to come to the church to see what happened 44 years ago. And they feel a sense of connection when they come to our church. But we still try to engage ourselves with the community.
HOLMES: Yes, do you find, I guess some people just naturally, might be surprised to hear it, and not taking anything away but the church is just like any other black church these days. It's playing a role in the community but sometimes do you get people expecting because of that church's history and its place in the entire movement, they expect the church to be playing more of a role in social issues?
PRICE: Oh, yes, they do, because again, 16th Street Baptist Church was the epicenter of the civil rights movement in Birmingham. Thousands of people gathered there every Monday through the month of April and May to hear Dr. King and Dr. Shellsburg (ph) to galvanize the people out to demonstrate and to protest.
Just on yesterday, we had a town hall meeting talking about family issues at our church. So people still expect us to talk about social issues in the community and they still use our church as a venue where they can talk about those issues.
HOLMES: What's that like for you? That's an awesome responsibility just given, again, the historic nature of the church. What is it like for you, a guy with the responsibility of leading that particular congregation?
PRICE: Well, I think it's an awesome responsibility. I think, we have been left an awesome legacy here at 16th Street Baptist Church and to try to continue in its tradition of Reverend John Cross, Reverend Shuttleworth, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, I think, is an awesome lots of responsibility and it's something that our church knows that we have to play a role in the community and it's something that we proudly wear as a badge of honor to do.
HOLMES: And, sir, do you -- you anticipate talking to your congregation. Do you plan on talking to your congregation today? Of course, we just saw the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. King. You're going to speak on on that today and what are your thoughts, given what the anniversary we saw, given that you, that church, that congregation and Dr. King will forever be connected in some way in history?
PRICE: Well, again, we, yes, we must talk about 40 years later. How Dr. King's death has affected America. In 1963, of course, he was in Birmingham trying to desecrate the parks and the school system in April and May, and then, of course, in August was the famous "I have a dream" speech. And 18 days after that speech, the church was bombed and four little girls lost their lives and two other young men were killed in that community.
So, we must continue to reflect on where we've come from and we need to reassess where we are today and refocus on where we need to go in the future. I think we have made many strides in America but I still believe we have a long way to go. When you talk about King's death, Dr. King was a revered figure in '63 but at the time he died, he was not that revered.
HOLMES: Yes, sir, and I have to ask you this, it would be the last thing here. But given what we've seen, and I know you've seen the controversy we've seen with Senator Obama's pastor, Jeremiah Wright there in Chicago, that a lot of people now are talking about and a lot of people being -- seeing some things going in the black church that some of them seem surprised by. Obama talked about his speech on race.
It might not sound right to an untrained ear. Do you think that some people have the wrong impression given all that hubbub we saw around Reverend Wright, have the wrong impression of really what goes on in a black church these days?
PRICE: Well, I think, number one, not all black - black church is not monolithic and I do believe that the black church always had a prophetic voice and always talked about the social ills of the day. And if one does not, especially have a trained ear and even when you go back to '68, Dr. King in his last few years on earth was really talked about the poor people's campaign, talking about the Vietnam war, and some of the things that Dr. King said in '67 and '68, I believe he would be vilified in today's media for the things that he said.
HOLMES: A very good point there. Kind sir, again, Arthur Price is the head of the church 16th Street Baptist Church there in Birmingham. Sir, we appreciate your time. Enjoy service. Have a good one this morning. Thank you so much for your time this morning.
PRICE: Thank you for having me, have a good morning.
NGUYEN: We're going to discuss this. Is it a sporting event or a political world stage? Protests greet the Olympic torch in London. And here are some live pictures right now from that area. Other countries considering boycotting the Chinese games, we're going to discuss those implications, plus this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLTON HESTON as MOSES, "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" MOVIE: The Lord of Hosts will do battle for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: An American icon passes away. A closer look at the life and times of Charlton Heston, that's coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Good morning everybody on this Sunday. Welcome back. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And hey there, everybody. I'm T.J. Holmes. Glad you could be with us this morning. And this morning we're talking about a legend. His movies, epics, his characters larger than life. Remembering Charlton Heston battling the bad guy in "Ben-Hur."
NGUYEN: Yes, the legendary actor died last night. And CNN's Brooke Anderson takes a look back at a half century of highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The lord of hosts will do battle. Battle.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Most people knew Charlton Heston as the actor who played god's right-hand man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Behold his mighty hands. ANDERSON: The man who would play larger than life characters on the big screen says his love of acting grew out of his lonely childhood known for his strong screen presence and his chiseled good looks, Heston was a natural as the handsome hero.
In 1959, that distinction and the movie "Ben-Hur" won him the Oscar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who are you?
ANDERSON: A rarity in Hollywood, his film career endured more than half a century. From technical or epics to science fiction, that granite carved profile intimidated opponents with a glare or a few choice words.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take his stinking paws off me you damn dirty ape.
ANDERSON: His talent commanded respect and conveyed integrity on the big screen and the small one. It allowed him to hone his craft.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my god.
ANDERSON: Heston boasted he'd acted on every continent except Antarctica. He was the longest serving president of the Screen Actors Guild. Later, he diverted attention to conservative politics and fought the forces of gun control. After four people were killed in a school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Heston took command of the declining National Rifle Association and turned it around with what became a polarizing phrase.
CHARLTON HESTON, ACTOR: From my cold dead hands.
ANDERSON: Tom Selleck called Heston a friend and mentor. The two appeared in the 1976 war drama "Midway."
TOM SELLECK, ACTOR: You know, when Chuck started heading up the NRA it put a face to an organization that whether you people disagreed with it or agree with it, had been effectively demonized for quite a few years.
HESTON: Let me make one more point.
ANDERSON: Heston was used to taking a stand. In the 60s he disagreed with segregation, supported Dr. Martin Luther King and campaigned for civil rights. In 2002, the man who had lived his whole life in front of the public, told America about his private battle. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
HESTON: I'm neither giving up nor giving in. I believe I'm still the fighter that Dr. King and JFK and Ronald Reagan knew. But it's a fight I must some day call a draw.
ANDERSON: Friends say Heston and his wife Lydia who he married when their careers were just beginning planned to confront the disease together. TONY MAKRIS, HESTON FAMILY FRIEND: They dealt with a lot and they'll deal with this as they have done the other things, holding hands, very much in love with their heads held high.
ANDERSON: In 2003, Heston was given the medal of freedom, America's highest civilian honor.
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Charlton Heston has become one of the great names in film history. Charlton Heston left his mark on our country as an artist, as a citizen, and as a patriot.
ANDERSON: Actor or activist, Heston loved the power he had with the crowd.
HESTON: Thank you for everything. Not only now tonight but on through all the years. It's been a wonderful run. I'm going to miss you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: What a man. What a history. We're going to move from that to this. Very different subject all together. We're going to try to get more information though on Charlton Heston, speaking with --
HOLMES: A family spokesperson, a friend as well, going to get on the line. I believe in L.A., of course, awfully early out there so we're still waiting to get in touch with some folks. But of course, a lot of people, no matter what, that's a legend, somebody who spans generations.
NGUYEN: 60 years.
HOLMES: All that time.
NGUYEN: Over 100 films. Like they said, he acted on almost every continent except in Antarctica.
HOLMES: And everybody no matter what age knows, the kids today, everybody knows Moses.
NGUYEN: All right. So, we will make this turn. The Olympic torch, it is moving through London today with 124 days to go before the Beijing games. Here are live pictures right now from London. Now, the torch is taking different paths through the city. One of those big red double-decker buses, and then later on a boat, and even bicycles. But we will tell that you we have seen demonstrators protesting China's policies in Tibet, and one protester in fact tried to grab the torch.
HOLMES: They said they actually had a fire extinguisher and tried to put the flame out. That's one way to do it. But yes, a couple tried to grab it, somebody tried to put it out. It's still going as far as we know. It's not like some regular match is going to go out with it. So, it's got a pretty strong flame. Developments happening there. We'll stay on top of that. The torch heads to Paris tomorrow where there is some controversy over the game's opening ceremonies.
The French newspaper reported that French president Nicolas Sarkozy would boycott the opening of the games unless certain conditions were met. Among those conditions China opening a dialogue with Tibet spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. But the government member who spoke to the newspaper now says the remarks were misinterpreted.
NGUYEN: While France may be backing off other countries are still considering boycotts. There is even a call for President Bush to skip the opening ceremonies on August 8. So would a boycott hurt China? Well, John Bussey joins us now, he is editor of "The Wall Street Journal" Asia based in Hong Kong. He is now their Washington bureau chief. Thanks for getting up early and spending a little time with us today.
JOHN BUSSEY, "WALL STREET JOURNAL": Pleasure.
NGUYEN: OK. So, let's get to it. French president says you know what, I may not go unless you meet certain conditions. The German chancellor says I wasn't planning on going in the first place. You got Nancy Pelosi asking President Bush, you know what, why don't you just skip these opening ceremonies. Is this a lot of rhetoric or I mean, is there a real possibility that different countries could boycott?
BUSSEY: I think that if things get serious in Tibet, you might see some of these threats actually come to pass. China is an authoritarian country and it might be an economic colossus on the rise but you're going to see through the torch ceremony through the opening ceremonies, a lot of protests, a lot of perspective on China that has nothing to do with the games, primarily because China sees this as a tremendous international coming out party for the country. And there are a lot of people who are going to use that as a spectacle and as a point of attention on China to raise their concerns about the country.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, let's look back at history. Because a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and if there were to be a boycott by the U.S., I mean what kind of political progress would be made there? Would any progress truly be made?
BUSSEY: Well, I think that China would be - would view this as an incredible international humiliation. It might be what the boycotters are after. The issue for the United States is whether or not it views a boycott of the Olympic games or the opening ceremonies as something that would advance the United States' own political interest, or, is it much better to find a way to pressure the Chinese to negotiate with the Dalai Lama and instead keep China on the U.S. side. Remember, the U.S. has a relationship with China now, it's probably the best ever. And as a result of that China's helping the United States in its negotiations with North Korea, and on a whole range of other issues. U.S. doesn't want to lose that.
NGUYEN: Well, Iran, too. I mean, it's those negotiations. BUSSEY: Exactly.
NGUYEN: Which gets me to my point. So, if there was a boycott, what would China do? What kind of, I don't know, retaliation, response, would there be?
BUSSEY: Well, I think that you know, if there were a boycott, if there were very serious affront to China, you would probably see a lot of the diplomatic help that the United States has gotten from China, there hasn't been massive, it's been incremental but useful to the U.S., you would see that dry up. China would view this again as a tremendous loss of face. But so far that hasn't come to pass. So far the leaders in Europe and in the United States for the most part are saying look, we're sticking to attending the opening games.
NGUYEN: Right now, we're looking at some protests in London. As you heard a little bit earlier in the show, someone even tried to put out the flame today. We've seen protests in different many countries. Is this at all plus the talk of a boycott pushing China to change in any way?
BUSSEY: I think the international pressure on China, a consistent drum beat of it, does in fact, raise Chinese concerns about those issues. It does make China think twice before it takes steps. But at the same time you see a kind of recalcitrant China arresting activists inside the country that have been critical of China in recent days, regarding the Olympics and having, you know, troop movements and a put down of protests in Tibet. This is the old China that the world worries about.
NGUYEN: Yes. And just very quickly, you know, there are those who argue that Olympics should be about the games, not politics. But as we're seeing, a lot of politics is really coming into it. So, could that change?
BUSSEY: I don't think so. I think you know, when are the games ever only about the games. I think that if there are issues that people wish to express opinions on, they will use very public moments to do so. And that's one of these moments right now.
NGUYEN: All right. John Bussey with "The Wall Street Journal" who spent a lot of time in China. We do appreciate your insight today. Thank you.
BUSSEY: My pleasure.
HOLMES: Very good point. Historically, the Olympic Games has been used in a lot of ways to establish social change, to make political statements. No reason to think this will be different.
NGUYEN: And it is a world stage after all.
HOLMES: Absolutely. All right. We're talking about pot holes, not on your roads, on the campaign trail. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both dealing with some word problems. Campaign event comments causing both to apologize. NGUYEN: Plus, Josh Levs has your political e-mails. We got some really good ones yesterday. I'm sure we're going to hear more today.
JOSH LEVS, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We're still pacing through this. We asked people for your take on the state of the democratic race and how it might actually end up affecting November. And you know what, by far most CNN viewers are agreeing on one thing. We'll explain. Coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Oh, words. Both the life blood and stumbling block for the presidential candidates. The democrats dealing with the fallout now from what people are saying on the campaign trail. CNN's Jim Acosta joins us live from where else, Philadelphia. Where he's been for the past several weeks, he's with the CNN "Election Express," his new home.
Jim, all right. Let's first get into these word games and stuff that's going on out there on some of these stump speeches and the apologies. But first, the western swing. They had to leave Pennsylvania for a little bit to go out west. We certainly give a good indication there that this is going on well past Pennsylvania.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, T.J., they were out in big sky country last night. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were the headliners at a Montana democratic party dinner. Montana and South Dakota both share the honor of holding the last contests on June 3rd. And despite the testy exchange between these two candidates over the last several weeks, this was a rather civil exchange. Barack Obama telling the crowd that he's done pretty well in some of these small states and he expects to do well in Montana on June 3rd whereas Hillary Clinton, she indicated once again that she is prepared to take this contest well beyond Pennsylvania all the way to Montana.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The last best someplace is going to help choose the next president of the United States. And oh, it will not be a moment too soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Now, as for Hillary Clinton, her campaign is now revising her stump speech after hearing from a hospital in Athens, Ohio, that a portion of that stump speech, a story that Hillary Clinton tells on the campaign trail may not be true. Hillary Clinton has told crowds across the country about a pregnant woman who died along with her baby because she was refused treatment at a hospital because she did not have health insurance. While Hillary Clinton has not mentioned that hospital by name, the hospital that thinks that Hillary Clinton is talking about them came forward and said no, that story is not true. The hospital saying that the woman did in fact have insurance, and the Clinton campaign says it is now going to revise the stump speech. We can also note that CNN does have video of a sheriff's deputy in that area of Ohio telling Hillary Clinton that story and the campaign is saying that is where it got the story from, this Ohio sheriff's deputy who first told Hillary Clinton about this woman who did not have health insurance, who according to the hospital did have health insurance. So, T.J., the Clinton campaign backing away from that story.
HOLMES: Oh, Jim. What in the world. This is the second time now in just the past week or so they had to change the story if you will, in her speech. Now, what are they really sticking with? Are they saying hey, that's what we were told? Are they saying maybe it's not true? Hey, it's not true? Hey, we think it's true? I mean, where do they stand on this?
ACOSTA: Well, the Clinton campaign says this is not like the Bosnia situation where Hillary Clinton claims that it was because of sleep deprivation and her misremembering as to why she was claiming she was coming under sniper fire and a couple of those speeches while visiting Bosnia during that country's, you know, problems with unrest back in the 1990s. They say it's a different situation because she was told this story by a sheriff's deputy. Now, you could say that the Clinton campaign did not do its due diligence in checking out that story in the hospital which was first reported on in "The New York Times" says it has implored the Clinton campaign, using that word, to stop using that story. So, it's going to come down to, I think, when exactly the hospital told the Clinton campaign this and whether or not the campaign was repeating the story after hearing from the hospital that this was not true.
HOLMES: My goodness. I guess it's that part of the speech. Yes. It just went along with her message and they went with it. Yes. And I think we're going to talk to you later. I hope we do because we want to get into what happened with Obama and McCain, another dust-up between those two, serious stuff being thrown around there. So, we'll be talking to you later. Jim, good to see you as always. Appreciate you, buddy.
ACOSTA: You bet.
HOLMES: Also, we got a reminder for you folks. CNN's "Ballot Bowl" letting you make the call, you can hear what the contenders saying out on the trail. Decide for yourself what the stories are telling whether they are true or not. "Ballot Bowl" 2:00 Eastern only right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: Wow. OK. Our e-mail inbox is overflowing this morning. It has nothing to do with that. But I'm sure we'll get to that shortly as well. But yesterday, this is what we asked you. Whether the ongoing battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton was good or bad for democrats? Josh Levs has been sorting through the responses. So, what's the trend?
LEVS: You know, people were so excited to talk about this. Because lawmakers keep saying that they know what the voters want. And the voters that we're hearing from are saying actually they are wrong. I mean, it's about 4-1, people saying they should keep going. You know, the battle...
NGUYEN: People want to see their vote count. People want to have a stake in this, a part in this election.
LEVS: So a lot of people are saying even if it means their candidate doesn't ultimately win, they would rather feel good about the process and feel like people took part in it everywhere. And that's what the big message we're getting from people all over the country. Let's take a look at some of these e-mails now. You're going to see this all over the place.
We're going to start with this from Chris Brunswick in Washington. "No one has yet won the nomination. Let the voters vote. We live in a democracy, don't we?"
Let's go to the next one. Judith Burnett "All the remaining primaries should be held and the votes of Michigan and Florida should be countered. Obama supporters are wrong to urge Clinton to drop out." This is in reference to a couple of lawmakers in the Obama side that are approaching her to get out.
Now to Arica Underwood, "I believe Senator Clinton should remain in the primary race until the convention. I'm curious to see if the democratic superdelegates will vote against the popular vote... much like what happened when Gore and Kerry won more popular votes but lost their respective election."
Now to Bob Scofield, "Even if the nominating process continues all the way to the convention, Barack Obama will have plenty of time to heal his bruises before the title bout in November."
Before I was mentioning it's about 4-1. Here is that one. "Hillary Clinton should and will withdraw when she loses either Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina. This will not make it to the convention. With this way we have many months in which to show why either candidate will be much better than John McCain." That's high up with this one.
From Carol Shrader who says "this close battle between two strong Democratic candidates is very good for the party and for the nation. And it won't be over until every state's voters have had a chance to make their will known."
So you're right overflowing but by far, most people saying look, forget the calls for her to step out, let the votes keep going. This is what they want to see the process.
NGUYEN: Well, exactly it's the process whenever we're talking about the superdelegates, will they vote the will of the people, and I think people not only want to see their vote make a difference but they want to make sure this process is going correctly if it's going to play out the way it's supposed to.
LEVS: We're hearing that from democrats on both sides. Obama supporters, Clinton supporters and we're hearing from republicans and independents. A lot of people pushing, just let the votes happen.
NGUYEN: All right, Josh. Thank you.
LEVS: Thanks.
HOLMES: So what's next? For the waterlogged south. Karen Maginnis, meteorologist, standing by patiently to tell us what she needs to tell us this morning. She has the forecast next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, people in Alabama, they are still drying off and you know what, as soon as they get dry they might get with some more rain.
NGUYEN: Just what they don't need. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is in now for Reynolds Wolf. And Karen, we talk about this every weekend it seems, rain and more rain. I know it's spring. We're supposed to see the showers but some folks just need a break.
KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: You're absolutely right. It does seem like every three or four days we start picking up these weather systems but we're in a little bit of a break right now, but maybe the middle of next week we'll start to see another round of this messy weather. Let's head up the eastern seaboard, leftover moisture from a frontal system that's trying to move away.
In New York City, they've got overcast skies, it's a little misty outside. And they do have a coastal flood advisory because we've got a new moon, higher than normal astronomical tides, and then you get that onshore flow. And then for Miami, we've got a thunderstorm bumping around there, but for the southeast, things clearing out. A little bit of a wedge in Atlanta keeping things gray.
And then a snow advisory, once again across the northern tier states where we're expecting between four and eight inches of snowfall possible. Well, let's show you some of the aftermath from the torrential downpours that they saw right around Mobile, Alabama. They are saying that some of the radar estimates were between 7 and 11 inches, there were record-setting daily rainfall totals in northern sections of Florida as well. But at least things are drying out just a little bit. So folks can recover.
We've got a pretty picture out of Chicago as well. Take a look at this. This morning, partly cloudy skies being reported there. The temperature at O'Hare is 39. The temperature at Midway is 45. And just about everybody's going to be warming up into the mid 60s as we go through the afternoon. And in sharp contrast to that in New York City, we're looking at temperatures there expected to only be about 46, it should be about 57. And the pacific northwest is also cooler than normal. Dallas is going to make to the 81. Betty, T.J.
NGUYEN: All right. Karen, thank you.
HOLMES: All right. I want to take a quick look now at some other headlines this morning. In Iraq, a peaceful end to a hostage taking. Police in northern Iraq now say gunmen have freed the 42 college students that were abducted. The abduction unfolded this morning south of Mosul, that's Iraq's second largest city. Police say the gun men stopped two buses loaded with students. One bus did manage to get away. At least four people however aboard were wounded by gunfire.
NGUYEN: New fighting to tell you about in Baghdad's volatile Sadr City neighborhood. The Iraqi government says at least 20 people were killed and 52 wounded. Iraqi officials say the battle is between the U.S. troops and Shiite militants from Muqtada Al Sadr's Mehdi Army. The U.S. military says it has no information about the fighting.
HOLMES: And coming up next hour, getting girls out of a polygamist compound in Texas. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Hey, there. Good morning, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, it's Sunday, April 6th here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. And we do want to thank you for starting your day with us.
First up, though, some sad news. In an era of epic movies, central casting could not have provided a more fitting star.
HOLMES: Charlton Heston is who we're talking about here, being remembered today for breathing life into such heroic figures as Moses, Michelangelo and Ben-hur. Well, the 84-year-old died last night after a long battle with Alzheimer's that he first revealed five years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HESTON: I'm neither giving up nor giving in. I believe I'm still the fighter that Dr. King and JFK and Ronald Reagan knew. But it's a fight I must some day call a draw.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Heston's family says no one could ask for a fuller life. Now, in later years, the legendary actor became active in conservative politics and served as president of the National Rifle Association.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HESTON: Thank you for everything, not only now tonight, but through all the years. It's been a wonderful run. I'm going to miss you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Heston resigned as NRA president in 2003, the same year or the year after rather, revealing he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease. Next hour, we're looking back at Heston's many memorable roles on-screen as well as off-screen.
NGUYEN: President Bush wraps up talks about his Russian counterpart and he's on the way back to the United States at this hour. The two leaders remain far apart, though, of the U.S. missile defense system plan.
CNN's Matthew Chance is in Sochi, Russia. Matthew, tell us about the importance of today's trip.
CHANCE: Well, it's really been an important trip because it's essentially a farewell summit between the U.S. and Russian presidents. But it ended without any real breakthroughs as you mentioned, on those key issues that have really been putting a strain on the relations between the two countries over the past several years. It's the last time that President Bush and Putin, Vladimir Putin of Russia, will meet each other as presidents of their respective countries and they used the opportunity to talk about the strength of their personal relationship.
But I have to say, the whole summit has been overshadowed by this issue of missile defense and U.S. plans to deploy elements of its system in Eastern Europe. The two presidents spoke positively about the possibility of progress in the future, but currently, they made, no doubt about it, that Russia's position that it was opposed to the plan and Washington's position that it wanted the plan to go ahead very much stood. Here's what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PUTIN (translator): I will not conceal that on a number of -- one of the most difficult issues issue, one that remains the issue of missile defense in Europe. This is not about language. This is not about diplomatic -- not about diplomatic phrasing or wording. But this is about the substance of the issue. I like to be very clear on this. Our fundamental attitude to the American plans have not changed.
BUSH: One of the areas where we've agreed to work together is in missile defense. And obviously, as Vladimir mentioned, this an area we've got more work to do to convince the Russian side that the system is not aimed at Russia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: It was not just missile defense, of course, but a whole range of issues that have emerged as sticking points in the often testy relationship between Washington and Moscow. We're talking about NATO expansion, Kosovo independence, Iran's controversial nuclear program. These are issues that were discussed at the summit, but will really have to be picked up by the next Russian president and, of course, the next U.S. president, as well. Back to you.
NGUYEN: Well, speaking of that next Russian president, the president elect, Medvedev, how was that relationship, or at least, how is it going and the early signs of maybe forming something that may be close to his relationship with Putin?
CHANCE: Well, perhaps, this was the first opportunity that President Bush had to meet the president-elect of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev and he said he found him a straightforward guy and very smart. And so, a good basis to proceed in the future. But I think the important thing is, you have to remember President Bush only has until, what, January to run in office in the White House. The key relationship is going to be the one formed between Dmitry Medvedev, the president-elect of Russia and the next U.S. president, whoever that is, Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes, no doubt. All right. Matthew Chance is joining us live. Thank you, Matthew.
HOLMES: Well, in Iraq, a peaceful end to a hostage-taking. Police in Northern Iraq now say gunmen have freed 42 college students. The abduction unfolded this morning south of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city.
Police say the gunman had stopped two buses loaded with students. One bus did manage to get away, but at least four aboard were injured by gunfire.
Also, this morning, at least 20 people killed, 52 wounded in fighting between U.S. troops and Shiite militants in the Baghdad section of Sadr City. It's not clear if Americans are among the dead and wounded.
Also: A suicide bomber targets a crowd of people at a marathon. This happened in Sri Lanka, this, as the race was starting. The bomb had killed at least 12 people including a former Olympian, also a local politician. More than 90 other people were hurt here. Government officials are blaming the blast on Tamil Tiger rebels.
NGUYEN: Well, it's an election mess in one African nation. Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe's ruling party is reportedly demanding a recount of votes in the presidential election. The ruling party says there were irregularities in the voting, that according to the state newspaper. It's been eight days since the vote and still no results announced. But the opposition party has declared victory.
HOLMES: Also this morning, developments in the raid on that secretive polygamist compound.
NGUYEN: Yes. So far, 183 people have been removed from the ranch in Eldorado, Texas. Most of them are children. Authorities have been looking for victims of possible physical and sexual abuse. Late last night, they pushed their way into the most sensitive area of that compound, which is the temple.
And our Ed Lavandera has more now from Eldorado, Texas.
BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA: This is the shining temple on the West Texas polygamist sect compound. Late Saturday night, authorities entered the sacred temple. Ambulances and medical support were brought in as a precaution.
But law enforcement sources say, there were no injuries, no violence, and that investigators got inside after some sect members initially resisted. Earlier in the day, buses full of children were brought out of the 1,600-acre ranch. State investigators say, they want to pull every child out.
MARLEIGH MEISNER, TEXAS CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES: We also have four workers as of this moment, that are in the compound, and they are trying to go from building to building with law enforcement, trying to find other children that may still be in the compound.
LAVANDERA: Child Protective Service investigators have removed 183 people including 137 children, 18 of those children are in legal custody of the state.
MEISNER: We have trained staff, special investigators who have come in from Child Protective Services offices throughout the state assisting. They are continuing to do one-on-one interviews with the women and with the children that are there, trying to obtain further information.
LAVANDERA: Investigators moved into the compound after receiving a tip last Monday that a teenage girl was being physically abused. The local district attorney's office tells CNN, this picture appears to be the man Texas authorities have issued an arrest warrant for. According to documents, authorities are looking for evidence that 50- year-old Dale Evans Barlow married and impregnated a 16-year-old girl.
Barlow is on felony probation stemming from an Arizona case where he was accused of conspiring to commit sexual misconduct of a child. Barlow is also the son of a former mayor of Colorado City, Arizona. That's the town where this polygamist sect is largely based.
When its members moved in to Eldorado, they startled residents who watched the mysterious, massive complex of residential buildings and a temple rise from the West Texas flatland.
RANDY MANKIN, ELDORADO SUCCESS WEEKLY: It's like a flying saucer landed out there or some - like an alien culture moved in. And we spent four years now trying to educate ourselves, educate the public, as to who our neighbors are.
LAVANDERA (on-camera): A law enforcement source tells CNN that Dale Barlow is not in the Eldorado area. We're also told that authorities are talking to him but that he has not yet been arrested. Meanwhile, the "Salt Lake Tribune" quotes Barlow's probation officer as saying that Barlow does not even know the teenage girl he's accused of getting pregnant.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Eldorado, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: My goodness. It's been a bad week for air travelers. Another airline has shut down, a fourth one closing down. Skyway airline has flown its last flight. Skyway ran Midwest connect. That's a regional service in the Midwest using Milwaukee as a hub. SkyWest Airlines comes in to fill the void now. But the move is still costing nearly 400 people their jobs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON GROSS, SKYWAY PILOT: This was all my hopes and dreams to come here. My family, we moved here to Milwaukee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, here is the list of the airlines that are calling it quits. This happened all in the past seven days. Skyway now is joining Skybus, ATA and Aloha. All of them are citing rising fuel prices as part of the reason they shut down. Other airlines are stepping in to try and help some of the stranded passengers. Overall, more than 4,000 airline employees are now out of work.
Well, stay here with us. Our money team has got you covered, of course, whether it's job, debt, house, saving, whatever it is, they got you. Join us for a special report. It's called Issue # 1: The Economy, all this week at noon Eastern only right here on CNN.
A protest in London as the Olympic torch is carried through the streets of the city.
Demonstrators scuffled with police. We'll tell you what the protest is all with.
Also: The road to the White House. Next big state: of course, Pennsylvania. But the candidates aren't there. Where are they? What are they up to?
A live report from the CNN Election Express is coming your way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Now: A look at some other stories making headlines this morning.
NGUYEN: In Minnesota, a bus carrying a group of high school students flipped over on a freeway. Look at this video. One student was killed. Dozens of others injured. Students were on their way home from a band trip in Chicago. There's no word yet on exactly what caused that accident.
HOLMES: Three students have been killed at a fire at this house. This house is near the campus of the University of Wisconsin. Police want to know why the students didn't make it out. They say the smoke alarm was so loud it actually woke the neighbors. They're looking in to whether alcohol was involved.
NGUYEN: The Olympic torch is being carried through the streets of London today. Here's a look at that. Well, the latest stop, of course, is here, where on the flame's world tour. But today, going past Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, we have seen growing numbers of protesters along the route.
There's even an incident when one protester tried to douse the torch. This is the new video coming in, you see a lot of people waiving the Tibetan flag and holding up signs. Of course, we'll continue to follow this as it makes its way through London today.
HOLMES: And we will turn to some U.S. politics now. Pennsylvania is the next big hurdle. But instead, the candidates are taking some time out west.
Our Jim Acosta, live at the CNN Election Express in Philadelphia this morning.
They didn't leave just because the weather's bad there in Pennsylvania. What is everybody doing out in Montana?
ACOSTA: Well, it's beautiful out west, T.J. A lot nicer than it is in Philadelphia this morning. We didn't even make it to West Philadelphia. We're actually in downtown Philadelphia.
But the candidates are out in big sky country in Montana because Montana, along with South Dakota, they both share the honor of holding the last contest on June the 3rd. And so, Hillary and Barack Obama were the headliners at a state Democratic Party dinner last night as a crowd of about 4,000 people were the Mansfield Metcalf dinner.
T.J., you've been to that dinner, as I understand it, is that right?
HOLMES: Yes.
ACOSTA: It's an event that ...
HOLMES: It stays on my calendar. It's an automatic each year.
ACOSTA: That's it. That's right.
And it's a dinner, by the way, that you can attend for $40. And Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were both charming the crowd out there despite the testy exchange of recent weeks. This was more civil exchange, Obama reminding the voters that he has done well in these small contests. Whereas, Hillary Clinton indicated once again last night during her remarks, that she is prepared to take this contest well beyond Pennsylvania, and all the way to those June 3rd contests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The last best place is going to help choose the next president of the United States.
(APPLAUSE)
CLINTON: And, oh, it will not be a moment too soon.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There have been people who have been saying Obama's winning all these small caucus states, these small little western states. I don't know about you, but I think they're pretty important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: And as for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton will be having an event in Missoula, Montana today, then she goes fundraising down in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Obama who has also been doing some fundraising lately, $40 million in the last month, he is attending a fundraiser in San Francisco. T.J.?
HOLMES: Yes, $40 for that dinner? That's my kind of dinner. I can handle that type of a meal. Tell us -- let's move on.
ACOSTA: I can afford that, yes.
HOLMES: Obama, he's battling Hillary Clinton and he's battling John McCain. That's a pretty big dustup between the two right now, and got the McCain folks fired up. Tell us what's happened.
ACOSTA: Well, that's right. Ed Schultz, the liberal talk radio host in North Dakota, was at a fundraiser with Obama. Obama claims that he did not hear these remarks. He was not there for those remarks.
But Ed Schultz, the liberal talk radio host, called John McCain a war-mongerer during that fundraiser and the McCain campaign quickly called on Barack Obama to repudiated those comments. And while Barack Obama has not said anything to that effect on camera, his campaign did put out a statement saying that John McCain is no war-mongerer. So, there you have it, T.J.
HOLMES: But, again, Barack Obama says he didn't hear it.
ACOSTA: He says he didn't hear it. That's right.
HOLMES: We will take him at his word.
Jim Acosta, there for us in beautiful Philadelphia. Good to see you again this morning, sir.
ACOSTA: Yes.
HOLMES: Now, of course, folks, if you want to hear what the candidates are saying? You can stay here with CNN. Our BALLOT BOWL is your ticket. That group there, on the left, the best political team on television is coming your way 2:00 o'clock Eastern only right here.
NGUYEN: Yes. And, you know, it's live television. So, anything can happen.
HOLMES: Anything can happen.
NGUYEN: It's expected.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: And if you've had only a year to live, just think about that, OK, one year left, what would you say to an auditorium full of people? We have one man's last lecture.
HOLMES: But first: We've got Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He has a look at when's coming up on HOUSE CALL.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, thanks, guys.
Could what you don't know about your doctor cost you your life? A troubling look at why one surgeon's private life became public.
Plus: Can going online take off the pounds? And: Tips for buckling up with a baby on board.
These stories and medical headlines are coming up on HOUSE CALL at 8:30.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Randy Pausch was given less than a year to live because of pancreatic cancer. That was last year. Since then, he's done something a lot of people find a bit extraordinary.
NGUYEN: Yes, it is. Josh Levs of the Dotcom desk has been looking in to this Internet phenomenon simply known as the "last lecture." And I remember watching this. This glued to my computer just as he gave this really poignant lecture.
LEVS: That's amazing. I mean, the one he gave in September was more than an hour long and then recently, he gave a shortened version on Oprah. It's all over the Web. He says now, more than six million people have taken a look at it.
And he's just done something last week. I'm going to tell you guys about now. First, for those of you who haven't seen it, let's take a look at a little bit of a clip from that "last lecture."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY PAUSCH, BATTLE PANCREATIC CANCER: This might be the last lecture. It's not about how to achieve your dreams. It's about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you. Have you figured out the second head fake? This talk wasn't for you, it's for my kids. Thank you all. Good night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: It's a good inspiration to a lot of people. I mean, here's a guy who had just talking openly about the fact that he's going to die and talking about his life and what matters most to him. And this is the last lecture, a lot of people looking at that online.
What he's done now in recent days, he's just recorded a PSA, a public service announcement, for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network because he wants to use his fame now to educate people. Let's take a look at a little bit of this new PSA. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUSCH: We'd thought I had hepatitis and I remember my wife saying pretty soon into the process, I guess you'd trade for hepatitis. And I said, honey, I'd trade for AIDS.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: All right. So, he follows up with this kind of information about pancreatic cancer and we're all learning about this. I'm learning a lot about this.
NGUYEN: He's made such a powerful statement in so many ways, not only with his lecture, but with that. I mean, a true testament to a man who is going to make sure that people know.
LEVS: It's amazing. And you know what, and I'm picking up on this lead right here. Guys, let's go to this full screen. I mean, I am learning about pancreatic cancer now, too. And so, we're going to show you some facts. I had no idea.
This is - based on what's happening each year, they're expecting more than 37,000 cases this year and the vast majority dies. So, the deaths aren't the same ones that get, you know, diagnosed this year, but each year, about the same number of new cases and deaths.
And also, a quick look here at some of the risk factors that exist. I was learning about this from the Mayo Clinic, a lot of people have a higher risk in general, men in general have a higher risk. Cigarette smokers have a higher risk. And this also, people with hereditary pancreatitis, they have a higher risks.
And more thing, people who carry around excess weight in general, if you're a little bit overweight, that can give you a higher risk of this. More and more people, millions literally now, starting to learn basics about pancreatic cancer because of this man which is just one element of his heroism here.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. All right. Josh, thanks for bringing that to us. We do appreciate it.
HOLMES: Also we've been talking about this morning an American movie icon has passed away.
NGUYEN: A closer look at the life and times of Charlton Heston. That's coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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HOLMES: As we've been saying this morning, Charlton Heston a leading man on-screen and willing to take the lead off-screen. He was active in civil rights early on, in the battle for gun rights as the president of the National Rifle Association. As we say, he has passed away.
And joining us now on the phone, a man who's known Charlton Heston for the past 25 years: Wayne Lapierre, the executive vice president of the NRA. He's talking to us here on the line.
Good morning. I appreciate you giving us some time. Twenty-five years you knew this man. What were your thoughts when you finally got the news? How did you get the news?
WAYNE LAPIERRE, EXECUTIVE V.P., NRA (by phone): Well, I got the news from the family last night. And my thoughts were probably the same as Americans waking up all over the country is we've lost a great American. We've lost a great patriot and just a wonderful, gracious person. And it's just a sad day for all of us that loved Charlton Heston.
HOLMES: And he in a lot of ways, has been, I guess, away from the spotlight for several years now after announcing that he did have those symptoms of Alzheimer's. What were his last days and even years like, and when was the last time you talked to him and so on?
LAPIERRE: Well, I'd see him from time to time, but it's the same as -- I mean, my dad died from Alzheimer's and it's the same as everyone else that's had a family member or relative that has gone through the Alzheimer's experience. I mean, it was that same experience. I mean, it's a gradual slipping away over a period of months and a period of years.
I once had a psychologist in relation to my dad say it's kind of like cattle trails in the mud. And you know, with each rainstorm, a little bit more slips away and it's just a terrifying disease and it's a sad thing for any person to have to go through and any family to have to go through.
HOLMES: Of course, he made great contributions and so many of his roles in movies, in theater, as well. But he also had many different hats and he got involved in politics as we know. He was involved, a lot of people might not know, he marched with Martin Luther King back in the day. He was active with the NRA of course.
Which of those roles -- does the cinematic roles or his roles in politics and playing a role in some social issues, did he really relish the most? Of course, we know, both are important. He made serious contributions, but what did you see him really relishing the most?
LAPIERRE: All three of them. I mean, he loved his family and his wife, Lydia, more than anything in the world. I mean, whenever he was on the road, he was always thinking about getting back to her. I mean, it was a true American love story. He sent her violets every birthday, I think, from the time he was in college with her. And I mean, it was a true love story.
He also loved his acting career. I mean, he was a larger-than- life actor, and he loved that profession. He also felt it was the duty of every American citizen to speak out politically. And Charlton Heston, I mean, his political career was amazing. I mean, you're right, marching with Martin Luther King in Alabama and Mississippi, leading the artists contingent with a march on Washington in '63. And he believed that the sanctity of American freedom was defined by the Bill of Rights, and the Bill of Rights is what made the United States different from every country in the world. And you ought to go out and defend it.
HOLMES: You are absolutely right. A lot of things people don't know about this man, but he played so many different roles, not just on screen.
Mr. Lapierre, I wish we could spend some more time with you. Maybe we'll get you back this morning. We've got to let you go now, but, again, Wayne Lapierre, executive vice president of the NRA, knew Charlton Heston for 25 years. So we appreciate you giving us some time and sharing your thought about this man, who was a close friend and colleague of yours. Thank you so much and sorry for your loss.
LAPIERRE: Bye-bye.
HOLMES: And we're going to have a whole lot more on Charlton Heston's life and career at the top of the hour coming up again at 9:00 Eastern Time. But right now, we're going to turn it over to Dr. Sanjay Gupta and "HOUSE CALL."
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