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CNN Sunday Morning
Fatal Accident at Disneyworld; Former NFL Quarterback McNair Found Shot to Death
Aired July 05, 2009 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And hello there. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING for this July 5th. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Brooke Baldwin, in again for Betty this Sunday morning. I'm losing track of my days.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: They all kind of wind together all those ...
BALDWIN: It all rolls together. It is 8:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 6:00 a.m. in Nashville, 5:00 a.m. in Los Angeles. Thanks for being with us.
We've got a lot going on.
HOLMES: Yes.
BALDWIN: Let's first start with what's happening out of Orlando here, continuing our breaking news coverage. Breaking news out of Disneyworld, in central Florida, an accident.
Here's this amazing picture we got from one of our iReporters. This accident, this crash involving two monorail trains, killed one of the operators. It happened just about six hours ago.
A witness, I spoke with him on the phone, told us that within the past hour, one of the trains -- past couple of hours -- one of the trains ran into another train that was just already stopped there on the tracks. The details still sketchy, still coming in. There were several riders on at least one of the trains.
A witness tells CNN he heard this massive crashing noise and saw debris falling from off that track.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The picture you're looking at right now, that's actually on the -- one of the trains back to the loading dock. And when we first saw it, we were just getting off the ferry. We were probably one of the last visitors (ph) in Disney because it closed today at 1:00 in the morning. And were trying to -- we were actually leaving the park, and we -- I guess we got off the ferry. We were going toward the exit which is where they were getting tickets. As we were about to get in the middle (ph), I guess, the roof, and we heard a loud explosion. When we looked back, we noticed that the two trains had crashed. And pieces of the monorail actually fell into the floor beneath it and a bunch of people were running from the like under it.
BALDWIN: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then like about 10, 15 seconds later, they moved the trains towards the loading dock.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That is what we heard from our iReporter. Now, let's hear from Disney's vice president of public affairs getting a statement in here to CNN. I want to read it for you.
Quote, "Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and those who have lost a friend and coworker. The safety of our guest and cast members is always our top priority." They go on to say, "The monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the appropriate next step."
HOLMES: An autopsy scheduled today for the body of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. He was found shot to death yesterday in a Nashville condo. Police say he had been shot a number of times, including once in the head. His body was found along with the body of a young woman. She was also shot and a gun found not far from her body.
So far, no arrest in the case. Police is also saying that they're not looking for suspects just yet in this case.
McNair retired from the NFL last year after playing 13 seasons. Our Don Lemon now tells us about how he went from a small college superstar to NFL MVP.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Steve McNair was a small-town boy with big-time dreams and a throwing arm to match. As a star quarterback in Mt. Olive, Mississippi, McNair was recruited to play football at several major universities. But they wanted him to play on defense.
Determined to play quarterback, McNair went to Alcorn State, a historically black university where he became one of the most prolific passers in college football and was nicknamed "Air McNair." During his senior year, he was featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated," finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting and was the third overall picked in the 1995 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers.
McNair became a starter in 1997, the same year the Oilers moved to Tennessee. In 1999, he led the team to the franchise's first and so far only Super Bowl, becoming just the second African-American quarterback to start on the game's biggest stage.
It was a thrilling game which ended with the Titans coming up just short of the goal line for what would have been the winning score. McNair never would get back to the championship game, but was the NFL's co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003. He left the Titans after 11 seasons and played two more with the Baltimore Ravens before injuries took their toll.
McNair retired after the 2007 season with more than 30,000 yards passing. Good enough for 28th on the all-time list.
Titans' owner Bud Adams said of McNair, quote, "He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we have never reached."
Steve McNair was 36 years old.
Don Lemon, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Some new legal trouble this morning for former Washington, D.C. mayor, Marion Barry. The U.S. Parks Service arrested Barry on an accusation of stalking.
You'll recall, Barry was arrested on drug charges back in 1990 as part of a federal sting operation. A sergeant for the U.S. Park Police told us Barry was not the target of any investigation this time around.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. DAVID SCHLOSSER, U.S. PARK POLICE (via telephone): The simple issue is that the United States Park Police enforces the law regardless of who people are and I think it's very important to note that we absolutely did not pick Mr. Barry out.
BALDWIN: Absolutely.
SCHLOSSER: And we were flagged down by this person who is the complainant in this case.
BALDWIN: Correct.
SCHLOSSER: And was seeking the assistance of a police officer and that person happened to be in the area of the jurisdiction of the United States Park Police.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, Barry has had several run-ins with police over the year after he did get busted on that 1990 drug charge. He actually lost his job as mayor but then was reelected some years later. Currently, he is serving as a member of the city council there in Washington, D.C. He's now being charged with misdemeanor stalking and was later released. No word yet on when his court date would be. BALDWIN: It is a holiday weekend, but no celebrating happening in the small town of Gaffney in South Carolina. Why? A serial killer is on the loose there. Five deaths now are being blamed on one man. Our Richard Liu has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD LIU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Abby Tyler, a much loved 15-year-old died Saturday morning, two days after being shot. The Cherokee County sheriff says she is the fifth victim of a serial killer within one week.
Her pastor remembered Abby.
CLYDE TOMAS, VICTIM'S PASTOR: Very religious (ph). Very -- a quick smile. She lived her faith every day. She got that faith from her mother, her father, her grandparents. They passed that faith to her and she lived that faith every day of her 15 years. She was a good model for all of us.
LIU: Abby was with her father at the family business on Thursday when she was shot. Her father was pronounced dead at the scene. This picture of her family is from her church.
The killings shootings began a week ago with the shooting of peach farmer Kline Cash at his home. On Wednesday, the bodies of 83- year-old Hazel Linder and her daughter were found, bound and shot.
Police have issued this sketch of a suspect -- a white male in his 40s with salt and pepper hair.
The town of Gaffney, population: 13,000, is on edge -- trying to celebrate the holiday weekend under a blanket of fear.
Taking precaution but also scared, one shop owner and resident told us how his son reacted to the concern of a serial killer.
BRIAN ZIEFELHEAFER, GAFFNEY RESIDENT: He was -- he was actually fearful and scared and asked me not to stay up late because he was afraid something would happen at the house because of what he hears. It's constantly in the news. People are talking. It's what they've been hearing for the last two days.
So he was fearful, he was scared. And he was concerned for my safety.
ROBERT BROWN, GAFFNEY RESIDENT: Everybody that works up here, somebody has a firearm at all times out here just for protection.
LUI (on camera): Do you always wear it?
BROWN: No. Just working up here, an open lot there, so I wear it up here working. It stays in my truck all the time in the glove compartment of my dash. I do carry it in my car all the time.
LIU: And that is a more common reaction in this town, as dozens of federal, state and local investigators work to track down the killer.
Richard Liu, CNN, Gaffney, South Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, about 1.6 million people are keeping an eye on their inboxes today because they'll find out if they have tickets to Tuesday's memorial for Michael Jackson which, of course, will happen out in L.A. Now, those confirmation e-mails will start going out around 2 o'clock Eastern Time, 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Now, there are some measures put in place in here to keep tickets from being resold, that include special wristbands being issued just to pick up the tickets. So, on Tuesday, if that wristband is damaged, you won't be able to attend the service.
The family is yet to decide if Jackson's body will be on display. But yet, the last word we heard from organizers was that, in fact, his body would not be there. Burial arrangements also are still pending.
All right. If you don't have a ticket for the memorial ticket, all day, Tuesday, however, we will bring it to you. We'll bring you worldwide coverage as family, friends and fans say good-bye to the King of Pop. We'll sign on at 6 o'clock Eastern Time. So, stay with us here for special coverage of that Michael Jackson memorial.
We'll turn to the president now. He is preparing to head overseas this evening. His first stop will be Moscow, for meetings with the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
BALDWIN: After that, it is on to Italy for the G-8, the economic summit. And then, he'll have a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican in Rome, and then on to Africa, specifically to Ghana.
CNN senior White House correspondent Ed Henry has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: T.J. and Brooke, the president leaves Sunday for his fifth foreign trip since taking office. The first stop in Moscow is all about trying to warm up the U.S./Russian relationship. As you know, it got downright chilly in the Bush years because of tensions with then-President Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Obama has said he wants to reset that relationship. And so far, his outreach to current Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is bearing fruit. Russia recently signed on the sanctions against North Korea, and this week, both sides will officially announce that Russia has agreed to let American troops and weapons headed for Afghanistan to fly over Russian territory. It's a big deal as U.S. ramps up efforts to finally finish that war.
Now, the U.S. and Russia are also hoping to announce major cuts in nuclear arms on both sides. And Mr. Obama appears to be trying to work through the sticking points this week by driving a wedge between Medvedev and Putin, who is still in the mix, of course, as prime minister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The old Cold War approaches to U.S./Russian relations is outdated. It is time to move forward in a different direction. I think Medvedev understands that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Mr. Obama is also lobbying for Russian cooperation in dealing with Iran's nuclear program, a subject that will also be a major topic in the middle of the week at the president's second stop, Italy for the G-8 summit. Other major issues there will be the financial crisis, climate change and efforts by the industrialized nations to wipe out global poverty.
Next Friday, the president will have his first audience with Pope Benedict before heading to Ghana. An historic moment that is sure to garner international attention.
T.J.? Brooke?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: The president will be wheels out (ph) in Washington this evening with the whole Obama clan to hopefully, weather-wise, it will be nice for him as they head out to Moscow.
Reynolds? Yes?
HOLMES: Reynolds?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, it's going to be OK for him. It's going to be all right. Certainly better in parts of the southeast, although it's going to be looking pretty this evening if you're, say, you happen to be in Atlanta. If you look outside, you see gray skies, pretty gloomy in few places, but that's not a bad thing.
We got some scattered showers that are coming in through stretching from the foot of Lookout Mountain clear down to, say, downtown Atlanta, back in Gedson (ph), parts of Florence, just north of Birmingham and over towards Hoover we're seeing rain. Some heavy storms just the west of Tupelo, that, of course, Elvis Presley's home town, don't you know. And back in Clark (ph), still seeing some scattered showers, everything leaving Memphis for the time being.
And the reason why we're seeing that precipitation is actually pretty simple. We got a stationary front, actually a warm front and a cold front right over parts of the Carolinas and just south of that, we got plenty of moisture coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. It's going to be, that source of moisture combined with the daytime heating and this upper-level low that's going to give us a good chance of storms into the afternoon hours.
So, cloudy skies now, scattered showers moving in. Then Later in the day, a chance of stronger thunderstorms and not only there but could see some storms in the front range of the Rockies and back near parts of Denver, even Boulder, again, will have a chance of showers there. Relatively dry out along the west coast, and with that temperatures mainly in the 60s and 70s in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, 110 in Phoenix, 84 in Kansas city, 81 in Memphis, and Atlanta, 83, getting a break from the intense heat.
That is wrap on your forecast. We're going to send it back to you, guys.
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds.
BALDWIN: I like how you do that. Just push it off.
WOLF: Yes, I know you ...
BALDWIN: Nice move. You're smooth, Reynolds.
WOLF: Hey, that's what they call me.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: Thank you. From the lower 48, let's talk Alaska, shall we? How does Sarah Palin follow up her bombshell announcement that she'll be stepping down as the chief of the state by the end of this month? We'll have the latest statement a la her Facebook page.
HOLMES: Yes, that's where we're getting information these days.
Also, after months and months of waiting, Al Franken finally knows that he is the winner. But he can't just sit back and celebrate. Now, he actually has to go to work. We'll tell you what's ahead for the senator-elect.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: At long last, we can close the book on the 2008 elections. Democrat Al Franken has been declared the official winner of Minnesota's junior Senate seat, ending a long legal battle with the incumbent Norm Coleman. So, now what?
Our Paul Steinhauser, CNN's deputy political director, joins us now to look ahead to the week Franken and the Democrats have been waiting for in the week ahead.
Paul, hello. My goodness. I'm glad this is the last time you and I are going to have to discuss this particular race. We've been just talking about it for a while.
So, when is Franken finally going to get to work? When is he get sworn in and get to work?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, he's going to be here tomorrow, T.J. In Monday, Congress is back and he will be on Capitol Hill tomorrow. But on Tuesday, that's when he can lose the senator-elect and Tuesday is when he's going to get sworn in officially and become a U.S. senator. And, like you said, he's going to get to work immediately. He's already got a lot of his staff in place, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. And we've been going back and forth about the legal battles and this battle over this seat for so long, we forget what Franken is actually about. So, remind us, what is he about?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, you know what? It's all about the issues. And on the issues, he seems to be pretty much of a progressive Democrat. At least that's the way he ran last year on the campaign on health care which is such a big deal and a big issue the Senate is going to be dealing with.
He supports universal health care and he wants the states to mandate health coverage for all of their citizens and for the federal government to help pay. On immigration, which could be a big one later this year, he supports immigration reform and maybe a pathway to citizenship for some illegal immigrants in the United States, T.J.
HOLMES: And you're call him progressive there, Paul. But is he going to be a "yes" man and, I guess, a pretty committed "yes" vote for Democrats and pretty much all of their issues?
STEINHAUSER: I think he could -- you know, he's definitely on the more progressive side rather than on the moderate side. So, I think you could say -- he's maybe not a safe vote for President Obama ...
HOLMES: Yes.
STEINHAUSER: ... but he should be a pretty reliable vote overall. And listen, he's replacing a Republican, of course, Norm Coleman, who is a moderate Republican.
And, T.J., right off the bat, he's going to be right in the middle of some of the big fights. He is on -- he's going to be joining the health, education, labor and pension committees. That's one of the two Senate committees, T.J., that's dealing with health care reform. We know how big a fight that is.
And he's also on a judiciary committee -- and a week from Monday, T.J., the Sotomayor confirmation hearings begin for the Supreme Court. Al Franken will part of that, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. He's going to be in the mix almost immediately. But we can't go without talking about the guy he defeated, finally, Norm Coleman. What's he going to do?
STEINHAUSER: You know what? Let's not cry for Norm Coleman, because, you know, he -- there may be a job opening very soon in Minnesota that he may have his eye on. The governor -- the current governor, Tim Pawlenty, has announced he will not be running for reelection next year.
So, fellow Republican Norm Coleman has thought to be -- may be considering this. He was asked about it at the news conference last week, he said, "Guys, you know, nothing yet. Maybe I want to go fishing. This is for something down the road."
But people in Minnesota, T.J., they say if Norm Coleman wants to run, he could very quickly be considered a front-runner next year, T.J.
HOLMES: Oh, well. All right. Don't cry for Norm just yet.
Paul Steinhauser, a friend of our show here on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING, deputy political director -- thanks so much. Good to see you.
STEINHAUSER: Thanks, T.J.
BALDWIN: After unexpectedly stepping down as Alaska's governor just this past Friday, Sarah Palin has taken to Facebook to tell us why -- sort of. On her page, she says she is leaving for -- in her words -- a higher calling. Although she didn't actually say what that higher calling is.
She did have harsh words for those who've criticized her for stepping down. Here's what she's saying, according to Facebook. "How sad that Washington and media will never understand, it's about country." Palin goes on to write, "And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling, and without finishing a term, of course, we know by now, for some reason, a different standard applies for the decisions I make."
So, that is Sarah Palin on her Facebook page. What are you getting?
HOLMES: What she says. Let's go right to it. It's over there. We can give you a look.
People -- they're varied. This might be one of the biggest responses I've gotten to anything we have posted on our pages here. One is saying, "She's clearly gearing up for a run in 2012 and being governor clearly stood in her way." That's kind of a popular sentiment on the air.
But here is another. It's says, "It's about money for Palin. If she quits, she can make more money. I'm no fan but if she can make money, it's a rescission. So make as much as you can."
Hey, that's point. And then one rival of that says, "She got a taste of the real world and she don't want to go back."
Someone said that as well. But again, she was operating up there, in relative obscurity. Nobody really know she was in the lower 48.
BALDWIN: Until last year.
HOLMES: Until last year, and it's a nasty game out there, politics. BALDWIN: It is a nasty game. And we'll just have to wait and see. We talked to one of those radio talk show hosts in D.C. yesterday, betting on the fact that she is in some kind of TV game. Perhaps she's getting ready to make a run for 2012. Perhaps something else, we just don't know yet.
HOLMES: But we know we haven't heard the last of Sarah Palin.
BALDWIN: That's right.
HOLMES: Meanwhile, California handing out IOUs. The city is laying off workers all over the place and just how the local government is playing to get their budgets back on track.
BALDWIN: Who knows that? Josh Levs is looking into it.
Hey, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Doing my best, breaking it down over here. Hey, guys. We're looking at what's getting cut, which taxes are going up, but also, how your state compares to all the others. We're about to show you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, as states move to save money, some programs, no doubt, took and end up being cut.
BALDWIN: Yes. Josh Levs is watching that very closely. He got a breakdown of what exactly is getting lost -- Josh?
LEVS: Yes, it's interesting, guys, because, you know, the whole country is in the same boat in terms of the recession but individual states are doing very different things. Different people are going to lose different programs.
Quickly, I want to zoom in on this. It's interesting. It's in CNNMoney.com and all you need to do is click on your state. It shows you the size of the budget deficit in any given state. And then, on the accompanying story, some breakdowns on what's getting lost.
Let's go to the graphics, I want to give you guys the big picture here. Some of the big cuts here, this is according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That's a Washington-based research group that tracks states spending.
You have public health programs getting cut in at least 21 states. Programs for the elderly and disabled also in at least 21 states.
Next, public education and higher education. You got public education programs in at least 24 states, higher ed in at least 32 states. Those programs are getting cut.
So - and one more thing here: state work forces. You know, this is one of the biggest things that's getting cut. But state work forces all over the country, at least 40 states, are going to be cutting back on jobs. Obviously, you can picture how bad that is, given unemployment already in America.
But they have to do something with the shortfall, guys.
BALDWIN: So, in addition to the cuts, you're talking a lot of states also adding new taxes.
LEVS: Right. New taxes. That's the other way they're trying to make up for some of these -- some of these big holes. And we got some examples there, too.
Let's go to this. I'll show you just a few. It's interesting what the individual states are doing. More than half of them are raising some taxes.
Here, you got some examples here. Hawaii, first of all, what they're doing, they're increasing their hotel room tax rate one whole percentage point to over 8 percent. So, if you visit Hawaii. It's going to effect there.
Massachusetts, a 25 percent sales tax increase.
And let's do two more. We got Florida here, which shows that they are adding an additional dollar in cigarette taxes. And Vermont extending sales taxes on digital downloads. Just some examples.
We want to hear from you. Let's show on how you can weight in. We have CNN.com/Newsroom, talking about it today. That's our blog, also Facebook and Twitter/JoshLevsCNN.
Let us know what's happening in your state and how you feel about it. We want to share that with everyone else and get a little discussion going online.
But, obviously, Brooke and T.J., for a lot of people, you know, it's going to be a tough time and even already in this recession, many got even more programs cutting back. But the hope is, that big picture, it helps with the rescue.
BALDWIN: Digital download taxes.
LEVS: Yes, right?
HOLMES: That would be a problem for me.
BALDWIN: Yes.
LEVS: Yes. A new one.
BALDWIN: Me, too. Me, too.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: All right.
BALDWIN: Thanks.
HOLMES: Thanks.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
BALDWIN: Coming up: We will talk to John King about presidential trips, Sarah Palin quitting, conversations with Colin Powell. All of that coming up on John King's "STATE OF THE UNION."
HOLMES: Of course, always good to talk to John.
BALDWIN: Yes.
HOLMES: And then a little later, a new show giving gospel singers a chance to become stars. Yes, there's an "American Idol" connection here but it's "American Idol-esque," this show is. Take a quick listen here.
(VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, hello there. And welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BALDWIN: It's good to be with you I'm Brooke Baldwin, in for Betty this morning.
HOLMES: Go right ahead, please yes, we were all over this story this morning. And we've also been talking about this for the past couple of hours because we just got word about two monorail trains that crashed at Disney World, in Orlando.
This happened early this morning, one driver was killed. In a statement, Disney officials are saying the monorail has been shut down and the company is working with law enforcement officials to determine what happened. No Disney guests, we are told, were injured in the crash.
BALDWIN: Police in Gaffney, South Carolina, looking for this man. Take a close look at this sketch. Police believe a serial killer is at work there. Five people now have been killed within just one week time. The latest victim a 15-year-old girl shot Thursday along with her father at a family-run furniture store. She died just yesterday.
An autopsy scheduled today for former NFL quarterback -- star quarterback Steve McNair. He was found shot to death inside a Nashville condominium just yesterday, a gun and the body of a young woman were also found nearby. It is still not clear exactly what her relationship is with McNair but we're told she is not his wife. So far no arrests have been made.
HOLMES: Well, a showdown is set to take place today in Honduras a little later today. The President Jose Manuel Zelaya or ousted president I should say, he's scheduled to return to the capital city between 1:00 and 2:00 this afternoon.
He was ousted -- Zelaya was -- in a coup more than a week ago. Supporters of that ousted president, they were demonstrating in the streets yesterday. You've seen this video. Congressional leader Roberto Micheletti who was sworn in as president after the Mr. Zelaya was removed has vowed to arrest the former president if he returns. Now, late last night the Organization of American State voted to suspend Honduras, it set a Saturday deadline for Honduras to return Mr. Zelaya to palace.
BALDWIN: Summer floods have forced more than 320,000 people from their homes and left at least 16 people dead in southern and central China. News reports say heavy rains have damaged a dam there; 15,000 people downstream have been moved to safety and are now living in tents.
HOLMES: Well, President Obama with some thoughts on Iraq this holiday weekend. He invited 1,200 military families to the White House for the traditional barbecue and hot dogs. The president said it has been the hard work of the American troops that has put Iraq on the path to control its own destiny.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because of the courage and capability and commitment of every single American who has served in Iraq, a sovereign and united Iraq has taken control of its own destiny.
Iraq's future now rests in the hands of its people. As extraordinary accomplishment as that is, we know that this transition won't be without problems. We know there will be difficult days ahead. And that's why we will remain a strong partner to the Iraqi people on behalf of their security and prosperity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: The president there, hosting military families.
Also, Vice President Joe Biden returning to Washington this morning after spending his Fourth of July weekend with U.S. troops in Iraq. In Baghdad, Biden swore in 237 U.S. service members as new American citizens and he also praised U.S. troops for their efforts in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And because of your service and their sacrifice, Iraq is emerging from the terror of sectarian strife to a future of progress and, God-willing, prosperity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Well, reacting to the surprised resignation of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Biden said he respects her decision. He said he is taking her at her word. Well, Michael Jackson fans who registered to attend his memorial services in L.A. this coming Tuesday we'll find out this morning at 11 a.m. Pacific time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern time if you're name was actually randomly draw to win one of these tickets to the service.
Meanwhile, a different side of Michael Jackson to bring to you this morning, the political side; as CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider reports he had a definite impact and appeal along party lines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Michael Jackson was not just an amazing talent. He was also a cultural phenomenon.
More than half of all Americans describe themselves as Michael Jackson fans. Who are they? Jackson's appeal is racially ambiguous. 42 percent of whites call themselves Jackson fans and almost three- quarters of minorities.
His appeal was gender ambiguous. Nearly half of men called themselves fans. A majority of women do. Older Americans didn't get Michael Jackson. They were probably offended by his defiance or cultural norms. Young people got him although the post-"Thriller" generation, his greatest album that came out 27 years ago may have known him more as a curiosity than an entertainer.
Was Jackson political? Not really. His closest known connection to politics was to accept an honor from President Reagan in 1984 for supporting the campaign against drunk drivers.
MICHAEL JACKSON, "KING OF POP": I'm very, very honored. Thank you very much, Mr. President and Mrs. Reagan.
SCHNEIDER: But here's a surprise. Jackson's fan base can be defined more than anything else by politics: 63 percent of Democrats are Jackson fans; but just 35 percent of Republicans.
Of course, you might say African-Americans are overwhelmingly Democratic but it's not just race. White Democrats are far more likely to be Jackson fans than white Republicans. In his music and his behavior, Jackson pushed the boundaries of convention and that in itself was a political statement.
(on camera): Michael Jackson was a cultural icon who defied racial and gender categories. That made him a partisan in the nation's culture wars without uttering a political world.
Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, you know "American Idol," you know that show well probably but...
BALDWIN: I think I've heard of it.
HOLMES: ...there's an "American Idol" for gospel singers as well. Who will be the next king or queen of gospel? Some hopeful singers get a chance to live the dream. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Well now, let's go ahead and check in with John King, host of "STATE OF THE UNION" coming up in just about 20 minutes here on CNN.
John, let's first talk about Sarah Palin. We're all abuzz about her and her decision to step down. And we heard about it on Friday and we heard from Joe Biden saying, he respects her decision. That he's taking her at her word.
What do you think? The beginning of something else for her or just the end of her political career?
JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Well, she put a Facebook posting up yesterday that left wide open, in fact, maybe reopen the door and making clear that she sees a higher calling and many take that as that she plans to be very active. Whether that's just in the public debate or whether that's running for public office remains to be seen.
The way she did this has raised a lot of eyebrows. She has repeatedly in the statement and you're seeing pictures of it there in Wasilla, calls herself unorthodox and this was very unorthodox. Everyone expected her not to run for re-election and then to start building the pathway, travel the country and see if there is an appetite among Republicans for her to run for president in 2012.
But leaving in the middle of her term is what has shocked people. Because she will now be a less than one-term governor and if she wants to run for president, people will say she doesn't have the experience, an argument she tried to use against Barack Obama.
So it is unconventional to say the least. The big test now is let's watch -- Republicans are starting to raise money for the 2010 midterm cycle. Will Governor Palin be out there? Will she be raising money for other Republicans? Will she be giving speeches, will she be in say, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, places like that?
So it will be fascinating to watch her in the weeks and months ahead. Many say, well quitting she'd never be president if you quit. But if you go into the core Republican base, she does have a committed base of support. Is it enough? We may find out.
HOLMES: But you talked to her, John, about that lack of experience. But I guess the knock was -- that even if she did stay in office, she won't be getting that much experience in Alaska. She kind of has a waiver on things.
KING: Right. HOLMES: She can't travel around the country like she really wants to. So we've heard -- some people say this might be the smartest or the dumbest thing she's ever done.
So you take me through both of those for a second, if you can. How would this move be brilliant? How would this move be just idiotic?
KING: Well, those who say it's the dumbest thing she could have done says she'll be running against former Governor Mitt Romney, who ran a state, ran the Olympics, ran a business and he will say, what have you done?
Former Governor Mike Huckabee finished his terms in Arkansas. Other potential candidates on a resume of elective office would have a more impressive, if you accept that word, list of elected office and achievements.
So some would say how can you run against those guys if you haven't even completed one term as governor?
Those who say, this could be the smartest thing she could have done, to that point T.J. say, let's see if she's not only travels the country but travels the world. Take some time now that she doesn't have to worry about the school budget, the state budget, the state police, the oil industry in Alaska.
Study world affairs, learn up on China, learn up on Russia, learn up on the other issues so that when she comes to the table in a future presidential race she will be better prepared than perhaps she was in the last race.
So she has the freedom of time now to both study big issues, national and international and to travel the country and the world to raise her profile if she so chooses.
BALDWIN: Well, someone who's about to learn a little bit more about Russia, President Obama and the entire first family heading to Moscow this evening. John, what are we looking for as he heads to Moscow in L'Aquila and Ghana? What one highlights are we really watching for with the president?
KING: Well, to see the President in Ghana will be fascinating, to see him back in Africa.
In Russia, I would focus on these two things. You have the two countries that have most, about 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons saying, they are going the try to significantly reduce their arsenals. Let's see what number if they come to a number in their negotiations there.
And the most significant short-term thing what we'll see out of these summit is the Russians have agreed to allow shipments into Afghanistan. Military shipments, weapons, re-supply food, other items needed by the U.S. troops now in the middle of some very risky missions in Afghanistan. The U.S. military says, that is some help -- and you're showing the President and the Prime Minister there.
Relations at the end of the Bush administration got pretty frayed and so it will be interesting to see if President Obama can -- as he says he wants to do -- hit the reset button in U.S./Russian relations.
HOLMES: And John, the viewers of our show here and viewers certainly of the "STATE OF THE UNION" that's coming up of course, at 9:00 will notice and see you right there. And they think that either you're trying to get a little mood lighting or you all are cutting back on the light bulbs or something there. But no, you're actually in a different studio. You're in L.A. today. Explain to us why.
KING: I am in Los Angeles because I'm out here for a little personal time in addition to my work time. My wife's grandfather who is an amazing man who escaped the Nazis many years ago turns 95.
HOLMES: Wow.
BALDWIN: Wow.
KING: And we are here for Frank Weinman's birthday party, to enjoy a little bit of time off and to do my day job.
HOLMES: And the day job. What is that day job going to include today? What do you have coming up...
BALDWIN: Yes.
HOLMES: ...at the top of the hour?
KING: We've got a fascinating show. We have General Colin Powell on; he'll talk about his commitment to community service. Questions -- remember he voted for Barack Obama even though he's a Republican -- some questions about the Obama agenda, specifically the price.
We'll also talk to Admiral Mike Mullen who has the job General Powell once had, he's the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, America's top military officer. He will help us break down -- at my magic map -- he'll break down the missions in Afghanistan and Iraq going forward.
It's a fun packed day on "STATE OF THE UNION."
HOLMES: You've got a map there too?
BALDWIN: Yes, I was about to say the map travels with you?
KING: We can travel the map if we have to; that's classified though.
BALDWIN: John King coming up in 15 minutes, top of the hour, "STATE OF THE UNION."
KING: Thank you guys.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
Stay here, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. If you're going to audition for the show "American Idol," you know you've got to have faith. You're probably thinking now, this is "Faces of Faith" why are you talking about "American Idol." But stay with me here.
Any contestant, you've got to have faith to think you're going to make it. But there's another show out there with the whole premise of "American Idol," but here's the twist. They perform gospel music. That's where the real faith comes in.
It's a reality show called "Gospel Dream." You'll recognize one of the hosts. Her name is Kimberly Locke and she was a contestant herself on "American Idol."
Take a listen to my conversation with her.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIMBERLY LOCKE, HOST, "GOSPEL DREAM": Well, the show, "Gospel Dream" it's only one dream.
HOLMES: Just one dream; not dreams.
LOCKE: Just one dream.
LOCKE: It's very genre specific, so it is gospel singers. It's about -- it's like "American Idol;" it's a competition. They have to go through the round, and every week someone is cut. In that way it's very similar to "American Idol."
I thought that the judges would be a little nicer in this genre...
HOLMES: You would think so.
LOCKE: You would think so, but not so much.
HOLMES: Really? So you have -- everybody would wonder -- you have assignment among you in the...
LOCK: Yes. Mitchell Solarek is our Simon judge and he's an executive in the business. And he is -- he gives it to them straight. He doesn't really try to fluff it for them.
HOLMES: It's not just gospel. You're telling me it's inspirational music.
LOCKE: You know what? I think this show is -- what they do on the show is very interesting. Because what they do is they expose the public to different -- different categories of gospel music. When people think of gospel, they think of black gospel, and they think of church.
Yes, most of us singers started in church. I started in church. I think nowadays when there's so much crossover music that there are so many inspirational songs that don't necessarily fall under the gospel category, but they're inspirational.
And that's what this show is about. It's about inspiring people. Making you -- it's a feel good show.
So these contestants -- the age ranges are from 16 to 40 -- so they're very serious about what they're doing and why they're there.
HOLMES: You don't get just a trophy and congratulations. They get something there. There's a big price at the end of the show as well.
LOCKE: Yes, they get a record deal. They get signed to a label. You know, just like "American Idol," you know, as a singer, that's what we all aspire to. That's what we want. That's like the money in the bag. That's what we need.
And at the end of the show, one person wins and they are signed to the deal.
HOLMES: How critical is it? And you said you have a background. We know so many singers have that background coming up from church. Besides just singing in the church choir and that being good practice and training up through the years what else does that instill in a singer? That just gives you a little bit of an edge; a little bit of some soul to you.
LOCKE: Yes. It gives you confidence. Let me tell you. When you're sitting -- let's say we all go to church with our family, our aunts, our uncles, our grandmother, our grandparents and they sing, baby, the thing about sing in church is that you can never make a mistake and when you do make a mistake, they're going to encourage you. They're not going to let you walk away. You're not going to walk away until you finish the song.
HOLMES: Kimberly Locke, so glad we can get you here. Thank you for taking the time out. And really, good luck with the show, "Gospel Dream," and, please, it's "Gospel Dream." Tell the guy to take it easy.
LOCKE: Oh, honey, you've got to watch. It's pretty -- it's pretty good.
HOLMES: Thank you for being here.
LOCKE: Thanks, T.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: She's gorgeous.
HOLMES: You would think like she was saying there at the end -- you would think "Gospel Dream," you think of church things, gospel. She said the guy there is just as brutal as Simon is on "American Idol." So there you go.
BALDWIN: There you go. That'll be interesting.
A student who was left feeling she was facing discrimination at one university. She's officially left school but she hasn't given up her fight just yet. We'll tell you why she is now speaking out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A Muslim doctoral student and a visiting instructor at Georgia State University says she experienced discrimination for wearing a head scarf and she says she was punished for speaking up. Now she wants justice from a court in Georgia along with a college professor who was also the head of the Middle East Institute at Georgia State who actually quit her job over this very issue.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SELMA SHELBAYAH, FORMER GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT: I feel like they're very angry at me.
BALDWIN: Because why?
SHELBAYAH: Because I complain and stood up for myself.
BALDWIN: Ever since she was 16, she has worn her hijab, a symbol of modesty in Islam. Not once she has anyone ever discriminated against her appearance until this school year when she says her communications professor made a comment about her head scarf.
SHELBAYAH: She turns back to me and looks at my scarf. And I kind of had it back, maybe a little further back so you could see my bun and she points to it and she said, "What is that? A bomb?"
BALDWIN: According to the doctoral student that was the first of several comments Dr. Mary Stuckey made. Other comments she alleges in the complaint she filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission include, "What you have under there? Bombs? Are you carrying any bombs on you today? By the way, don't worry, that's the head dress, not a bomb."
SHELBAYAH: So much of my work was given to Georgia State. It hurts that they didn't think twice before retaliating against me.
BALDWIN: Shelbayah says her professor did eventually apologize but then as she calls it the retaliation began. She was told she could not continue on at GSU as both a doctoral student and visiting instructor and she was stripped of her title as director of a study- abroad program.
DONNA STEWART, DIRECTOR, GSU MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: Total, total shock.
BALDWIN: Donna Stewart was the director of Georgia State's Middle East Institute until this week and these allegations of discrimination.
STEWART: The way in which the college has retaliated in the aftermath has sent a signal around the university that if you're a faculty member or if you're in a position of power, it's okay to discriminate. For me this is not necessarily a Muslim issue; it's a civil rights issue.
BALDWIN: In an 'e-mail to CNN, Dr. Mary Stuckey said, quote, "I have to refer all inquiries to the university."
The university released this statement. Quote, "The student's complaint against Professor Stuckey was addressed using university procedure and appropriate action was taken in September of 2008. It was Donna Stewart's decision to resign as director of Middle East Institute. While she has resigned Dr. Stewart is still an employee of Georgia State University and was recently promoted to full professor with the dean's support. In no way was retaliation taken against Professor Stewart nor the student as a result of the complaint."
As for Shelbayah, she says she is seeking justice. Right now, she finds comfort in family, colleagues and student support.
SHELBAYAH: We love you and are behind you (speaks in native language) -- means my teacher.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Selma and Donna Stewart have the same attorney. They told me they're still continuing with this federal filing but they're hoping they can settle with Georgia State out of court. And Selma told me tearfully that she'll be leaving Georgia State.
It was a tough decision. She got her undergraduate degree there but she will be leaving to hopefully find a different program that accepts her.
HOLMES: Well, we know we'll hear the follow up from you.
BALDWIN: Yes.
HOLMES: And I want to say thank you. Brooke Baldwin, sitting in for Betty Nguyen this weekend; it's been a pleasure. Thank you so much for being here.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
HOLMES: We should shake on it? All right.
BALDWIN: We should shake on it. It was a deal. Thanks for having me.
HOLMES: Thank you so much.
Stay here. We've got John King up next with "STATE OF THE UNION" including an interview with Colin Powell. But I do have a few headlines I want to pass along to you right now. Now in the news, two monorail trains crashed at Disney World in Orlando, Florida early this morning. One driver was killed. Disney officials say the monorail has been shut down and the company is working with law enforcement officials to find out exactly what happened here. No Disney guests were injured in this crash.
Also an autopsy scheduled for today on quarterback Steve McNair. He and a young woman were found shot to death inside a Nashville condominium yesterday. So far, no arrests made in this case.
Police in Gaffney, South Carolina, are looking for this man. Police believe he's a serial killer. Five people have been killed within a week there. The latest, a 15-year-old girl was shot Thursday along with her father at a family-run furniture store. She then died yesterday.
Jackson family spokesman says more than 1.6 million people registered for Michael Jackson Tuesday memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 8,750 people will be notified by e-mail today, actually in a matter of hours about how to get their tickets.
Also, the Alaska governor offering clues about her future after announcing her resignation on Friday. She had a Facebook message that says she has a higher calling. The lieutenant governor whose name is Sean Parnell, he will replace her at the end of the month. A whole lot more to talk about on Sarah Palin coming up right now on "STATE OF THE UNION" with John King.
