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CNN Sunday Morning
Senate Readies for Sotomayor Hearings; Obama Has Tough Love for Africa; South-Central U.S. Broils as Temperatures Soar; Georgia Town Enjoys Big Turnaround; Ladybug Swarm Turns Large Tree Red
Aired July 12, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN Sunday morning. How you doing, T.J.?
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: What was that for? How you going to start with me like that, Betty?
NGUYEN: If you only knew what he just said to me.
HOLMES: Oh stop.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And hey there. I'm T.J. Holmes. It's 6:00 here in Atlanta. It is 5 a.m. in New Orleans; 3 a.m. out in Oakland, California. Glad you could be here with us.
Well, we got a big week coming up this week. We've got (INAUDIBLE) confirmation hearings for that lady right there, the president's pick for the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor. Her confirmation hearings start tomorrow.
We know how this pretty much goes. The Republicans expected to grill her pretty good; Democrats expected to prop her up, make her look good and support that nomination. We'll be taking a closer look at this nominee. Of course, she would be the first Hispanic on the high court if confirmed.
NGUYEN: And want to give you a live look at space shuttle Endeavor on the launch pad this morning. What a site that is.
Well, you know, yesterday's blast was a no-go. So we're going to tell you why it was delayed and when the next attempt will be to send it into outer space.
HOLMES: Well, it's been a long week for the president last week. He's finally made it back home with the family. This is a shot of them arriving at the White House. This was just after midnight last night. The overseas trip included arms talks in Russia, negotiations with the world's largest economies. That was in Italy for the G-20 - well, the G-8 this time. Excuse me. I'm getting my G's mixed up.
The last stop, of course, was the 17th century castle in Ghana that held Africans who were then made slaves. Coming up in 30 minutes, Anderson Cooper gets a one-on-one exclusive with the president in Ghana.
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(SINGING)
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NGUYEN: Around 5,000 people gathered in Hattiesburg to remember former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. And among them, Titans quarterback Vince Young.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VINCE YOUNG, TENNESSE TITANS QUARTERBACK: Steve was like, you know, a hero - a hero to me. And, you know, heroes are not supposed to die.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Emotional there.
Well, Nashville police say McNair was shot and killed by his mistress on July Fourth. He leaves a wife and four children behind.
HOLMES: Mexican officials say three federal officers were killed in a series of six planned attacks by drug gangs in at least eight cities across Mexico. Eighteen officers also wounded. The attacks all happened yesterday and are believe to be retribution after police arrested a high-ranking member of a drug gang.
HOLMES: As we mentioned a moment ago, confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, they start tomorrow. They will be before the Senate Judiciary Committee as always. And we do have a witness list.
NGUYEN: Yes, we do. Republicans, they are expected to bring a firefighter from Connecticut. He was the lead plaintiff in a reverse- discrimination case rejecting by Judge Sotomayor. Sotomayor's ruling was recently overturned, in fact, by the Supreme Court.
And the Democrats' witnesses include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former FBI Director Louie Freeh. And according to a new CNN Opinion Research poll - check this out: 47 percent of Americans want Sotomayor confirmed; 40 percent say they are opposed to her confirmation.
So if she is confirmed, Sotomayor will become the first Latina to serve on the high court.
HOLMES: And this is always high drama, these confirmation hearings. You can see them all right here on CNN starting at 10:00 Eastern time. Follow the pointed questions. Yes, sometimes these things are entertaining just because a lot of these senators...
NGUYEN: They can get heated.
HOLMES: I think they're just grandstanding. They're making more speeches than asking questions sometimes.
NGUYEN: Mm-hmm.
HOLMES: So it's always interesting. Tune in for it. See what happens, live on CNN. Again, we'll have it all this week.
Also, the president just wrapped up his overseas trip and a little tough love....
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: ...to the parliament in Ghana when he made that speech yesterday.
NGUYEN: You watched that live here yesterday morning. And perhaps the first family's most poignant stop was at Cape Coast Castle. It held enslaved Africans before they were forced onto boats, never to see their homelands again.
CNN's senior White House correspondent Ed Henry wraps up the president's overseas trip for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A day of extraordinary moments, none more powerful than the first African- American president visiting a former slave fortress with his family.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think it was particularly important for Malia and Sasha, who are growing up in - in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history can take very cruel turns.
HENRY: After touring Cape Coast Castle, which the British used as a slave dungeon, President Obama compared its power to his recent stop at a German concentration camp.
OBAMA: It is reminiscent of the trip I took to Buchenwald because it reminds us of the capacity of human beings to commit great evil.
HENRY: The president used his personal connection to deliver some tough love in a speech to the parliament of Ghana earlier in the day.
OBAMA: We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africa. I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world.
After all, I have the blood of Africa within me. And my family is...
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: My family's own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story. HENRY: He chastised African leaders over corruption, saying they can't blame the West for their economies winding up in shambles.
OBAMA: No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top.
(MURMURING)
OBAMA: Or the head of the port authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery.
(MURMURING)
OBAMA: This - that is not democracy. That is tyranny.
HENRY: Mr. Obama's father was from Kenya, and he visited that country as a senator. But he chose Ghana as his first stop in sub- Saharan Africa as president because he wanted to highlight its stable democracy and growing economy.
So he mixed the stern lectures with some inspiration, the day having the feel of Mr. Obama taking last year's campaign to a whole new continent, in shirt sleeves playing with babies, working rope lines, even ending his parliament speech with a familiar slogan.
OBAMA: The world will be what you make of it. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease and end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes, you can.
HENRY (on camera): This wraps a weeklong trip that took the president from Russia for arms talks to Italy for high-level negotiations with the world's largest economies. But Mr. Obama said he also decided to stop here in Ghana, to show that the 21st century will not just be shaped by what happens in Moscow and Rome, but what also happens in tiny capitals in Africa. Ed Henry, CNN, Accra.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, while President Obama has been concentrating on global diplomatic issues in Russia, Italy and Ghana, his domestic agenda has been taking a bit of a hit.
For more on that, let's bring in CNN's deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser.
Paul, thanks for being with us today.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. Let's start with the latest CNN poll. How has public opinion changed when it comes to the president?
STEINHAUSER: You know, his numbers are still overall pretty high. Our - our - our poll this week, CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, as you mentioned, national poll. You know, eight of 10 Americans like Barack Obama as a person.
But take a look at these specific things we asked about it. Strong leader; seven out of 10 say he's a strong leader. But that's a slight deterioration from February, down 10 points.
Is he tough enough to handle world crises? Sixty-four percent, that - you know, down - down 9 points from February.
And has he a clear plan to get the country out of the problems it's in? Down 11 points from February. Still very good numbers, Betty, that any politician would like, but we are seeing deterioration.
NGUYEN: Well, let's talk about the economic crisis and his handling of that.
What are people saying about it when it comes to his effectiveness?
STEINHAUSER: Take a look at these numbers, because that - we asked just that. And you can see, we asked specifically, about whether he can manage the government effectively. And six out of 10 Americans say yes. And that's an important number, because right now, he is juggling so many things, from the economy to health-care reform to cleaner - clean-energy reform. And six out of 10 Americans still say that they think the president can manage the government effectively.
NGUYEN: You know, pretty good numbers still, but we're seeing a little bit of a drop off. Is that a bit of a cause for concern, or somewhat typical for a first-term president?
STEINHAUSER: A little of both. Because you know, when a president is first sworn in, he's shiny and new. It's like a brand-new car and everybody approves.
But you know what? Once you get in power - and he's been in power for about six months now - you know, numbers naturally come down a little bit. And we've seen that with this president. We've seen it with past presidents as well.
But this president's numbers are still high enough now that he can use that as clout when he tries to get through some major things like health-care reform, energy reform and maybe even immigration reform through Congress.
So as of now, yes, his numbers are still high enough that it makes him effective.
NGUYEN: Yes, you're going to need a lot of clout to handle those issues.
STEINHAUSER: Mm-hmm.
NGUYEN: So let's talk about that. When it comes to instilling confidence, where do the poll numbers put the president?
STEINHAUSER: And this is important, too, because you need to inspire confidence in Americans if you want to get things done. And we asked just that in our poll as well.
Take a look at these numbers - and you can see, a little more than seven out of 10 Americans say the president inspires confidence. And that number is not down very much at all from February, when it was 75 percent. And that's important, because the president needs characteristics like this to be able to get things done.
We've seen deterioration in the president's numbers on the economy, on dealing with the deficit. So there are some serious drops in some places. But not when it comes to inspiring confidence.
NGUYEN: As always, we appreciate your insight. Paul Steinhauser, deputy political director for CNN. Thank you.
HOLMES: Well, Attorney General Eric Holder is considering whether to appoint a criminal prosecutor to investigate Bush administration methods of interrogating terror suspects. If he does this, this move would run counter to President Obama's wishes to leave controversial Bush-era practices in the past.
Any probe would focus on whether the CIA tortured terrorism suspects after September 11, 2001. Holder is expected to make a decision within the next few weeks. This is our top story right now on CNN.com. For more, by all means, check out our Web site.
We were just talking about this movie. We were talking about it yesterday, and we went to - you and I were there at a screening last night for "Do the Right Thing." It is 20 years old.
NGUYEN: Hard to believe. Yes.
HOLMES: It's actually - it was part of President Obama and Michelle's first date.
NGUYEN: Isn't that interesting?
HOLMES: Very interesting.
NGUYEN: Chose - the movie was "Do the Right Thing."
HOLMES: That is their movie. And we were doing our thing yesterday here in the - here at "CNN SATURDAY MORNING." We had Spike Lee, as you can see. Had him in with us yesterday. Talked to him about the last effect on race relations that his movie had.
So it's still relevant today, a lot of people would say.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
Well, you know, we're also going to talk about a small town on the verge of disappearing. Well, now it is coming back.
So here's the question: How is business actually booming in his kind of economy? We're going to show you.
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(MUSIC, GLENN FREY, "THE HEAT IS ON")
NGUYEN: Yes, I know. I called this one, folks. I said, 'Where's 'The Heat Is On'?' And there you go.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Ask and you shall receive on this show.
In fact, the heat is on in parts of the South. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is in for Reynolds Wolf today.
All right. Afraid to ask, but go ahead: how hot is it going to get?
KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it's going to be pretty hot across the south-central United States. That's where we have the big heat warnings and heat advisories out.
Take a look at this: Oklahoma City looking 106 degrees this afternoon. Tulsa could be around 107. Heat advisory out from Dallas southward all the way to Houston.
We also saw it across the Southwest. Now, the desert Southwest excessively hot. Now, typically you would think the desert Southwest is hot. But temperatures are running five to 10 degrees above where they should be for this time of year.
Let's take a look at these pictures out of Phoenix yesterday. They soared 107 degrees yesterday, and today on part to hit that same mark as well. So the excessive heat continues there.
Tucson yesterday, for the first time this year, has made it to 105 degrees. And they'll be just about 106 degrees for this afternoon.
All right. Our other big story is the rainfall expected to move off the Northeast Coast finally. Let's take a live picture out of Boston, having some showers earlier this morning in the Boston area. But you'll be clearing out just a little bit. And thankfully, things will be warming up as well.
Our big story also will be the thunderstorms rumbling across the north-central United States.
Take a look at this, from the Dakotas into Minnesota, also right along this border between Nebraska, also into Kansas, look for the threat of some big thunderstorms there as well.
Betty, T.J, back to you.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Karen.
HOLMES: Thank you.
NGUYEN: You know, we've heard too many stories about communities just crumbling after a major employer like an automaker pulls out.
HOLMES: But not this one we're about to introduce you to.
CNN's Alina Cho reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN, CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the heart of the South, the face of tiny West Point, Georgia, is literally changing. The old Pizza Hut is a Korean barbecue; the old KFC, Young's Garden.
Jobs once scarce are finally returning.
MALCOLM MALONE, M&M CAR WASH: It's just like Christmastime. It's like Christmas.
CHO: Christmas in the middle of a recession? In West Point, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We jokingly call it Kiaville.
CHO: Kia, the Korean car company is about to open a sprawling manufacturing plant, thanks to $400 million in tax breaks. Even in the midst of a recession, the company will hire 2,500 new workers. Add suppliers and new businesses, and the mayor says West Point, population 3,500, stands to gain 20,000 jobs over the next five years.
Divine intervention.
MAYOR DREW FERGUSON, WEST POINT, GEORGIA: The economic activity here is incredible. The trickle-down effect of -- in the local economy has been staggering.
CHO: Remarkable for a city that was slowly becoming a ghost town. Textile mills that once defined West Point shut down in the 1990s, leaving many out of work...
MARGARET MCMANUS, DAENAN GEORGIA SOLUTIONS: It's not going to go in.
CHO: Including 52-year-old Margaret McManus, laid off last year, now working again at one of Kia's suppliers.
(on camera): Did you ever think you would be making car parts?
MCMANUS: No, not at all.
CHO: Not in a million years
MCMANUS: No.
CHO (voice-over): New construction is everywhere. At Roger's Barbecue, business is booming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We always say, if we can get them in here one time, we can get them back. And they've come. They're coming back. They're enjoying it.
CHO: Malcolm Malone's car wash business is up 70 percent. And down the street at Irish Bread Pub, Ruth Anne Williams invested her life savings in the business.
It's paying off.
RUTH ANNE WILLIAMS, IRISH BREAD PUB: I came here because of Kia. I wanted to come down to this area because of Kia. We have jumped in with both feet and we have not looked back one time.
CHO: So how is this tiny rural community adapting to the new Asian infusion?
(on camera): Does West Point feel more like a melting pot now?
CHRISTY MAGBEE, WEST POINT RESIDENT: Yes, you've got the culture coming in. You know, you don't have to travel to Atlanta anymore.
CHO (voice-over): From mill town to manufacturing mecca, a bright spot in an otherwise gray economy.
Alina Cho, CNN, West Point, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And for more "Money & Main St." stories, check out "AMERICAN MORNING" Thursday mornings starting at 6 a.m.
All right. So what are CNN.com viewers watching the most these days?
HOLMES: What are they watching, Josh?
NGUYEN: We want to know.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You do want to know. Good morning, guys.
Check this out: It looks like red barf. But it's actually a ladybug infestation just outside someone's house. Plus, an out-of-body experience that might help amputees.
We'll show you.
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(MUSIC, NO DOUBT, "SUNDAY MORNING")
NGUYEN: That works.
HOLMES: I love that (INAUDIBLE) Gwen Stefani.
NGUYEN: Yes. OK.
Well, imagine - while you think about....
HOLMES: Yes, you just...
NGUYEN: Just you imagine this: That you wake one morning, you look outside and a tree has turned red, bright red. Either you had a long night...
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Perhaps too much fun, or something's wrong.
HOLMES: Well, this happened to a couple in Colorado. Now, it's one of the most popular videos on CNN.com.
Josh Levs explains this one. Good morning, Josh.
LEVS: Yes, good morning to you guys. It's No. 1, and it was late yesterday. It still is through this morning. People are clicking on this like crazy, getting so much traffic.
You can see it here behind me. Now, this comes to us from KUSA, our affiliate. And you know what? We have some video. Let's just go to it. I'll tell you about it.
They're actually not giving away the name of the couple who lives in this property because this couple doesn't want everyone coming and staring. But basically, this just happened and they don't understand why. It's these millions of ladybugs that have decided to have this giant infestation on a tree right outside their house in Jefferson County, Colorado. And as you can see, they've covered all the bark. And the people who did see it are gawking.
And anyways, it's pretty incredible. Check it out, CNN.com.
All right. Now, talk about incredible, Betty and T.J., I told you guys about a month ago about this new thing happening at the Sears Tower, where they have these glass balconies, and you look straight down at the ground.
Take a look. Can we zoom in on this picture. I want to show everyone these iReport photos we've gotten. Also, one of our most popular features here on CNN.com today. You go up, it's in the 103rd floor. It's only glass. You look straight down, all the way down to the ground. And Voitech Gill (ph), who is one of our frequent iReporters, went up there, took these iReport photos of people checking it out and looking at the scene. Obviously, some people very afraid of it.
Other...
NGUYEN: That is frightening.
LEVS: Yes, see - would you guys - you - you said you wouldn't want to go, right?
NGUYEN: No, I would do it. But I would still be - I mean, what if I got - does he think he's Superman or something? He's flying over the city. What is he doing?
LEVS: Well, you know, actually, this guy Voitech, who took the pictures, says that now they have to these cleaning crews come and clean up all the nose prints and handprints from the ground because people have decided that this is the new...
NGUYEN: Can you imagine?
LEVS: ...cool thing to do in Chicago.
Yes, it's a - it's a new one.
All right, one more cool thing I want to show you. This is kind of wild. This is coming to us from our Gary Tuchman. There's this virtual-reality system that these Swedish researchers have set up - again, one of the popular stories on .com. And when you have those goggles on, they show you video of a dummy next to you, and it makes you feel like the dummy's body is yours.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First, the subject wears a head-mounted video unit. Then, researchers play video they want the person to see. When she looks down, this is what her eyes see.
The researcher then touches her body and the dummy simultaneously. With this video, the test subject's brain makes a connection. And presto, she's the dummy.
Harrison (ph) said the possibilities are endless. Cameras could show how you appear to others and help improve low self-esteem. Amputees could use the therapy to give their new prosthetic limb a sense of feeling.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: Isn't that amazing? Anyway, more details at CNN.com.
But these are the kinds of things people should check out this morning, guys.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. That is kind of neat.
HOLMES: Thanks a lot.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you. Appreciate it, Josh.
LEVS: Bye.
HOLMES: Cool. We should - all kinds of stuff we need to check out there.
NGUYEN: Yes, it's just kind of going through our mind right now...
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: ...what could be done with all of that, the technology with that is quite incredible. All right, thank you.
You know, we do want to hear from you this morning. We've got a really good story that's coming up. And here are the ways that you can reach us: Facebook, Twitter, iReport, CNN - weekends@CNN.com.
But here's the story just in a nutshell. Essentially, there are two zoos in Boston that are on the verge of closing. They are running out of funding. And if they close and they can't find homes for some of the animals, up to 20 percent could be euthanized.
HOLMES: Mm-hmm.
NGUYEN: So is that really the only solution out there? Weigh in. What do you think about it? Reach us at Facebook and Twitter. Our pages are out there. There's plenty of ways to get in touch with us. And we'll read some of those responses on the air.
HOLMES: And we'll have a little more about that story. But yes, just - I was wondering if you were going to go ahead and give them a little - a little nibble. But that will get people really wondering.
NGUYEN: Oh my goodness.
HOLMES: And that's - you know...
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: That's what we've been talking about all morning long.
HOLMES: It got us going this morning. They're going to kill tigers (ph) or ...
NGUYEN: The animals?
HOLMES: Who knows what?
But also, it was an emotional visit for President Obama and his family. They toured what used to be a shipping port for enslaved Africans. You saw all that live right here yesterday morning with us.
And our Anderson Cooper was there with the president. He has an exclusive interview with the president from Cape Coast, Ghana. That is coming your way in just a few minutes.
NGUYEN: Also, she could be the first Latina to serve on the United States Supreme Court. So is she a good fit? Well, we're going to show you what people are saying.
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HOLMES: Well, hello there, everybody and welcome back to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Hello and good morning. Thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: Well, let's give you an update on the story that has a lot of us just scratching our heads and have a lot of people wondering what in the world is going on in Florida. They are questioning two people now in connection with a murder of a couple known for adopting special-needs children.
Look at that picture and look at that family.
Police say they've located a red van likely used in the slayings. Byrd and Melanie Billings were found dead in their home in Beulah, Florida Thursday evening; a third person now being sought for questioning.
NGUYEN: About 400 San Diego county jail inmates -- they are quarantined after one tested positive for swine flu. Sheriff's officials say the inmates have been isolated and given antiviral drugs. Now visits to county jails have been suspended. The CDC says swine flu has killed 211 people in the United States.
HOLMES: And the First Family, arriving back in the States just after midnight. They arrived back from Africa of course; their last stop before leaving Ghana was a fort used as a shipping port for enslaved Africans.
CNN's Anderson Cooper met the president during that visit to the fort and he asked the president a whole lot of things but he also asked him about America's history with slavery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, "AC360": Do you think what happened here still has resonance in America? That the slave experience still is something that should be talked about and should be remembered and should be present in everyday life?
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I think that the experience of slavery is like the experience of the Holocaust. I think it's one of those things you don't forget about.
I think it's important that the way we think about it and the way it's taught is not one in which there's simply a victim and a victimizer and that's the end of the story. I think the way it has to be thought about, the reason it's relevant is because whether it's what's happening in Darfur, or what's happening in the Congo, or what's happening in too many places around the world, you know the capacity for cruelty still exists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And you can catch Anderson's exclusive interview with President tomorrow night at 10:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: Well, in about 24 hours Judge Sonia Sotomayor finally faces a Senate committee that could make her this country's first Latina Supreme Court Justice.
Now, a majority of those questioned in a new CNN Opinion Research Corporation Poll say that 47 percent believe that the Senate should approve her nomination. However though, 40 percent say, "no way." And 13 percent, well they are still unsure.
So for more about public sentiment on the eve of her hearing, let's bring in CNN's deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser. Hi there Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning Betty.
NGUYEN: All right, so is there a divide in the Sotomayor support along party lines?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, our poll shows a big partisan divide. Take a look at these numbers. CNN Opinion Research Corporation, this was a National Poll and you can see almost seven out of ten Democrats feel the Senate should confirm Sonia Sotomayor. Independents they appear to be split and Republicans only about one in four think that Sotomayor should be confirmed.
But look at that numbers at the lower right there Betty, 65 percent of Republicans say they don't think she should be confirmed. Our polling director Keating Holland, he points out that number is a lot higher than the number of Republicans who didn't think that Judge Ginsburg should have been confirmed back in the '90s and it's higher than the number of Democrats who four years ago felt that Alito and Roberts should not have been confirmed -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Ok, let's move from that to those hot button issues that of course we are going to hear about. Could that stand in the way of her getting a confirmation?
STEINHAUSER: It could. Because Americans -- it seems they have a different opinion now than they used to back in the days.
Take a look at these numbers as well. We asked if Sonia Sotomayor is qualified, should -- could senators be justified in voting against her because of her stands on the issues. And some of those issues, as you know affirmative action and gun rights could come up big time this week.
Americans nowadays are split and that's very different than it used to be back in the day. They think that if somebody was qualified, they should be approved.
NGUYEN: Ok, Democrats and Republicans split -- Americans split, we've seen the poll numbers. Is there anything they agree on when it comes to Sonia Sotomayor?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, one thing. But maybe not so good, take a look at this.
We asked what do you think is going to happen -- coming up on the confirmation hearings and you can see six out of ten say a major fight between the parties and less than four out of ten think it's going to be a bipartisan agreement kind of week; a Kumbaya week. So, there could be some fireworks this week -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Well we will be watching very closely starting tomorrow morning at 10:00 A.M. when those kick-off. Paul, thank you so much.
STEINHAUSER: Thank you.
NGUYEN: And as we mentioned, you can see Sotomayor's confirmation hearings right here on CNN, follow the pointed questions about her background, rulings, even those controversial comments and speeches; all right here live on CNN all this week.
HOLMES: All right, animal lovers out there, you know what? You don't really even have to be that big of an animal lover.
NGUYEN: Not really.
HOLMES: This one doesn't sit right with you. Betty just mentioned this; we're talking about Boston's Franklin Park Zoo...
NGUYEN: Right.
HOLMES: They have some budget issues there and may have to close the zoo. Now, not just that, 165 people might lose their jobs. But there's more to it than that. Some of the animals might have to be euthanized at the zoo.
NGUYEN: Up to 20 percent they're saying; if they cannot find homes for these animals. But this is also takes into account that if these zoos indeed do close. Now, we're not for sure if they are going to just yet...
HOLMES: Not sure yet.
NGUYEN: ...they could, they're on the path to closing. And if they close and they can't find homes for some of these animals, 20 percent, up to 20 percent could be euthanized.
HOLMES: And that just doesn't sit right with a lot of folks. That just sounds horrible. The governor, it's part of his budget, it could -- actually could -- we have a veto here, has overturned. I guess, the legislature could step in and overturn what the governor is trying to do which essentially they had a $6.5 billion budget is being cut to $2.5 billion.
NGUYEN: Right.
HOLMES: That is a big, big deal. So take a listen here first of all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to (INAUDIBLE) into Canada, a legislator I talked to there; several legislators the other day they said that they're going to do what they can to try to override the veto of the governor on this...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I suspect that whatever they figure their budget to be was not based on the limes -- even lobsters...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: Well, there you go, you get the idea there. Again, more than 1,000 animals at the zoo, officials there estimate they might not find homes for 200 of them. And it's hard to imagine that to walk -- we all go to zoos -- we've been going since we were kids.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: And to walk through there and just to think that any zoo -- if they have to close -- so some of these animals are going to be put down. That is just...
NGUYEN: Yes. Absolutely, it's hard to think about, but at the same time if you can't pay for the food and upkeep of these animals...
HOLMES: What do you do?
NGUYEN: Where do you take a giraffe? It's not like you can put him in your backyard.
HOLMES: It's hard to unload an elephant.
NGUYEN: Exactly, but I have a feeling that people out there, if this doesn't...
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: ...resolve itself people out there will step in.
HOLMES: They will think of something else.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: So this is what we want to hear from you on; this and a lot of other topics. But please, if you have any ideas -- what should they do there at the zoo? Do you have a way they can some money and make some money or some of you might think -- you know what? Tough times right now, the zoo is not a priority.
Please let us know what you think, Facebook, Twitter, iReport, you know all that stuff right now.
NGUYEN: Yes, plenty of ways to reach us. We'll read your responses on the air. HOLMES: Well, the space shuttle "Endeavour" still sitting and waiting to go somewhere, because of -- and I believe we have video of it -- talking about lightning.
NGUYEN: Wait for it.
HOLMES: Wait for it.
NGUYEN: We're waiting. We were just told to hang on by our producer. There you go. We got a little still photo of it. Ok, so there you go. And the video is moving now. Lightning is a beautiful thing, but not so good when you're trying to launch a spacecraft.
Check out the weather in Cape Canaveral, Florida. We're going to talk with Karen Maginnis about the next possible liftoff time.
And also this, the life expectancy of black men is eight years shorter than the national average.
HOLMES: Yes, and we're going to meet a man who is working to change that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, "Maroon 5" this morning.
We're talking about rain is falling. Well, rain is actually the reason why the shuttle "Endeavour" was delayed yet again yesterday. They've tried to do this what -- three times now?
KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That was the third time; this time as well there were lots of lightning strikes within about a third of the mile of the pad.
NGUYEN: Look at that wow.
MAGINNIS: Very spectacular. That's the iReport -- that's not the shuttle. That is from Colorado -- there we go.
NGUYEN: There it is.
MAGINNIS: Now we've got the NASA video. You can see visibility was next to zero. And they have lots of parameters, depending on what happens around the pad. They don't want the winds too high above 48 miles-an-hour they also don't want the temperature above 99 degrees. That's in the warm weather.
But typically we're looking at the hot weather season now, and yes it looks like for this evening we're anticipating that launch to go off around 7:13 for this evening.
Take a look at the excessive heat watch that we're looking at right now across the South Central United States. In Oklahoma City 106 the expected high reading.
Heat advisory yes -- all the way from Arkansas into portions of Louisiana, extending across much of east Texas including Houston with 104 degrees expected there.
I want to show you the daytime high temperatures across the South Central United States. Now, for Atlanta, temperatures running around three to five degrees cooler than they typically should be. Boston should make it to about 80.
But I want to point out what's happening in Phoenix. Looking at 114 degrees for this afternoon and yesterday, Tucson for the first time this season they made it to 105.
Also, we've got some big storms expected for this morning, for this afternoon, across the northern tier states -- the upper Midwest could see the possibility of some frequent lightning, heavy downpours and lots of rainfall especially right across this region where Nebraska and Kansas kind of meet. We're looking at big storms there.
T.J., Betty, lots going on in the weather. We'll keep you updated.
NGUYEN: All right Karen, we do appreciate it.
HOLMES: And he is the youngest to serve as president of the oldest civil right organization in the country. Ben Jealous we're talking about here; I talked to the head of the NAACP, about his present, his past and yes, where's he going in the future.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Listen to this story. African-American men tend to die earlier of preventable diseases compared to other men in the U.S.
HOLMES: A pioneering men's health clinic in Chicago -- Chicago's South Side, specifically -- is trying to stop those trends by any means necessary.
Our Soledad O'Brien went to Chicago to find out what they are doing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. PETE THOMAS, PROJECT BROTHERHOOD: I'm Dr. Thomas. What's going on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you doing?
THOMAS: Good, good. Deep breath, in and out for me.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN WORLDWIDE (voice- over): Dr. Pete Thomas is a black pioneer.
THOMAS: And so what sort of medical problems did you have before you got shot?
O'BRIEN: He's committed to the health and well-being of black men whose life expectancy is eight years less than the national average. THOMAS: We're going sort of try to really work with your diet.
Ok, what's going on with your leg?
Stop smoking.
O'BRIEN: Dr. Thomas has found an innovative way to get health care to black men and to get black men to the doctor. It's called Project Brotherhood.
THOMAS: Well, you had the courage to come in and see the doctor. Appreciate you.
We know how to get men to the health centers. And it's not by advertising free colonoscopies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's free. You know what I'm saying.
I'm trying to get everybody to come down there.
O'BRIEN: Project Brotherhood begins here in this and many other Chicago barber shops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a great thing to share with people.
O'BRIEN (on camera): But why barber shops? Why are they so critical to you?
THOMAS: This is a staple in our community. Men feel comfortable coming into the shop and more importantly, they feel comfortable talking about whatever health issues that they may have.
O'BRIEN (voice-over): Whether it's a fear of being exploited, going back to the Tuskegee experiment, the economics of it all including a lack of health insurance or the fact that most doctors don't look like them, black men are notoriously reluctant to go the doctor.
So, with clippers in one hand and an HIV testing kit in the other, the barber is Project Brotherhood's first line of defense against problems that plague the black community; like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and HIV.
COREY SMITH, LEAGUE STYLES BARBERSHOP: It was kind of like gut wrenching as far as the numbers...
O'BRIEN (on camera): About HIV and AIDS?
SMITH: HIV. Who is infected and all that? And therefore we make an impact in the community so it was definitely something that I want to see grow to the next level.
O'BRIEN (voice-over): Barbers like Corey Smith do more than just educate while they cut and trim.
SMITH: It's good if you see the doctor to see what's going on with you.
O'BRIEN: They also recruit, encouraging their client to go see a doctor.
Every Thursday, men come to Chicago's South Side for free hair cuts, conversation, classes, meditation and, yes, free doctors' visits.
Project Brotherhood's goal, to treat the whole man.
MARCUS MURRAY, CO-DIRECTOR, PROJECT BROTHERHOOD: It's like a public telephone post, so health to us is not physical; it's social, economic, spiritual. If one aspect is off in a man's life he's not completely healthy.
THOMAS: Hello. How are you doing Mr. Winston?
O'BRIEN: Their patients run the gamut from those with serious medical issues.
(on camera): You have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 -- you take 12 medications.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
O'BRIEN (voice-over): Two others who receive preventative care.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I want to just check for -- take an STD test also and just make sure everything is kosher because I haven't been to the hospital in years.
O'BRIEN: This clinic has six doctors, all of them black; a remarkable number given that blacks make up only 4.5 percent of this country's physicians. But it's all so critical because black men are more likely to trust a doctor who is black.
For Dr. Pete Thomas the fight is personal. Both his father and brother were victims of poor health care. His father died in 1989 after years of unregulated high blood pressure and his younger brother, Juan, contracted HIV in the early '90s. The disease progressed and he passed away from AIDS in 2001.
THOMAS: I thought to myself if I could choose a career that could help to address these chronic diseases that were affecting both Juan and my dad; and so men's health became the most natural thing for me to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And CNN continues its "BLACK IN AMERICA" series. You want to watch stories of people stepping up, taking charge and creating solutions "BLACK IN AMERICA 2" premiers July 22nd and July 23rd only on CNN.
HOLMES: President Obama, of course, back from Africa this morning. But he has a busy week including what may be a historic speech. We'll be talking to our political expert live from D.C. in a bit.
NGUYEN: And you sat down with Spike Lee yesterday?
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE) yesterday.
NGUYEN: Yes. He was here in the studio, in the house in Atlanta, in fact, as well; talking about the 20th anniversary of the movie "Do the Right Thing."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the man talking.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, all right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Doctor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always do the right thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got it, I'm gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: That's it. Do the right thing, simple as that.
SPIKE LEE, DIRECTOR: Always try to do the right thing.
HOLMES: Always try to do the right thing; 20 years. I'm here with Spike Lee, the director of that groundbreaking film. It's been 20 years. Can you believe it's been 20 years?
LEE: Twenty years is gone.
HOLMES: Gone.
LEE: With the quits.
HOLMES: What has that film -- do you know in '89 when it first came out, how has that film kind of evolved and maybe even picked up steam along the way these past 20 years; still relevant today?
LEE: When I was writing that film, it was really -- I think it took the temperature, the racial climate, specifically in New York City at the time. It was very, very polarized. NYPD was at the height of its brutality. Mayor Ed Koch did not help alleviate the situation. So really that's where my mindset was when I wrote the script.
HOLMES: And you also said, you weren't sure at the time -- you knew what you were thinking but you didn't know if the message you were trying to get across would come across but...
LEE: Well, I knew it would come across and how it was going to be. Here's the thing as a film maker I found 20 years. You cannot predict how the audience is going to react. You just have to put it out there and let God take care of everything else. I could not predict what the reception would be.
HOLMES: Can you believe that?
LEE: No.
HOLMES: I mean that 20 years later we're still talking about what this movie did?
LEE: I think that's a testament to the power of the film and I'm glad it happened. And 20 years went fast too. At the time I was not married, now I have two children.
So a lot of things have happened. I never thought there would be an African-American President 20 years ago. I didn't think that, three years ago.
HOLMES: And on that point, I'm going to roll a clip here from -- in a second -- from the movie.
But you brought the president there. What was it now? It was his first date or the first movie he had seen with his wife?
LEE: That was their first date.
HOLMES: Their first date; went to see your movie?
LEE: Michelle and Barack.
HOLMES: How's that feel?
LEE: He told me that when he was running for that thing in Illinois. I didn't even know who he was.
HOLMES: You know now, don't you.
LEE: Well, I said, "It's great".
HOLMES: Let's take a look at one of the clips here. A lot of people will remember a lot these characters (ph). Let's take a quick look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How come you don't have brothers up on the wall?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ask Sal all right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Sal, how come you don't have brothers on the wall here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want brothers on the wall. Get your own place; you can do what you want to do. You can put your brothers and uncles and nieces and nephews, your stepfather, stepmother, whoever you want. But this is my pizzeria; American-Italians on the wall only.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That might be fine Sal but you own this. Rarely do I see any American-Italians eating in here. All I see is black folks. Since we spend much money here we do have some say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: A lot of the characters you created and conversations you sparked, if that movie was released something similar today would it play the same in 2009 as it did in '89 and why not?
LEE: I don't know. I'm in a different place than I was. The world is different than it was back then. I really kind of stay away from those hypothetical what-ifs. But the film is still relevant today; even with a black president it's still relevant today.
HOLMES: Now why do you say that?
LEE: Because I don't agree with this post-racial whatever that thing is. To me that's insane. I mean, it's not like this thing has disappeared because Barack is in the White House. We still have a lot of work to do. At the same time I acknowledge this country has made great progress.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right.
He's had a long career; had a career. A couple of movies before "Do the Right Thing." And he's had 20 years of work afterwards. I asked him, what is your proudest piece of work, "I love them all."
Maybe you know his kids, just everyday, maybe that's the ultimate Spike Lee joint; that's what kind of put him on the map. It maybe everybody's favorite but to him, he said, "They are all works I'm proud of."
NGUYEN: All of them. Absolutely. The thing about it too, he's only what -- 26 years old when he made that.
HOLMES: Young, yes.
NGUYEN: Wow.
HOLMES: And he had final cut.
Sometimes we were talking to him last night about it, that sometimes he went in and with the bigwigs, the executives are like, "Lord have mercy. You're going to wish you could do this; it's going to be a problem." He still got final cut on it and that was his final product and he didn't have to compromise one bit on his work.
NGUYEN: And people are still talking about it to this day.
HOLMES: To this day.
Whatever you may think about that movie, send us your comments about this or anything else you may have heard today. You can send it to us at CNN.com/newsroom. You can send it to us on Facebook, Twitter -- you know how to get hold of us.
NGUYEN: Hello, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, Sunday, July 12th. Good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. It's 7:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, Georgia, 6:00 a.m. in Memphis, Tennessee. And 4 p.m. in California. Thanks for starting your day here with us.
President Obama is starting his day at home for a change this morning. He's back in the White House after a week-long trip overseas. He and the first family visited Ghana yesterday. You are seeing a picture here of them getting off that helicopter, Marine One, last night. That was the last leg in Ghana of his trip in which he also attended the G-8 summit in Italy.
NGUYEN: And the tough economy putting a serious toll on two Boston- area zoos. Listen to this story. A $4.5 million cut to state funds may force officials to not only close the zoo, but perhaps even euthanize some of those animals if those zoos close and they can't find a home for them. We have the story.
HOLMES: Yes, we're getting some responses. Some interesting suggestions about should happen.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: We'll talk about that shortly.
But first here, filling a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, Appeals Court judge, Sonia Sotomayor goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation hearings starting tomorrow morning. President Obama nominated Sotomayor to the court in May. You can see the confirmation hearings starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow right here.
There's a lot that's going to come up. Always surprises when we see these things. But you can follow it all right here on CNN live this week.
NGUYEN: Well, California officials could be close to resolving a massive $26 billion budget deficit. After bargaining for more than two hours yesterday, top California lawmakers say a deal could be on the table this week. Now, just a week ago, because of the state's financial crisis, thousands of vendors had to be issued IOUs. State workers also had to take three days off a month without pay.
HOLMES: Officials have exhumed one grave at Illinois' Burr Oak Cemetery as they continue to investigate the desecration of hundreds of graves. Four cemetery employees accused of digging up hundreds of bodies to resell the burial plots. The Cook County sheriff says they found just one body in the exhumed grave despite early reports that two bodies were there. Police have declared parts of the cemetery a crime scene.
NGUYEN: Well, after a whirlwind diplomatic visits to Russia, Italy and Ghana, President Obama is back in Washington this morning and most likely getting ready for a busy political week ahead -- and so is deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.
Hello, again, Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning, again, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. So, what's on top of the president's political agenda this week?
STEINHAUSER: Well, two things. You just mentioned Sonia Sotomayor and those hearings. The White House is going to be keeping a real close eye on those. But the other big thing, Betty, this week and for the rest of this month for the White House and for the president is health care -- because legislation is slowly making its way through five different committees on Capitol Hill and there's been some push back, and I think you're going to see the president and his team, of course, get deeply involved with health care the rest of this month.
The president said at a news conference on Friday over in Italy that he wanted to see -- he still wants to see legislation gets to the floor of both the House and Senate before Congress takes its big summer break at the beginning of next month.
Another thing, Betty, the economy -- the president heads out to Michigan on Tuesday and he's expected to give a speech and, reportedly, it will be about the economy -- Betty?
NGUYEN: And speaking of speeches, isn't he headed to New York to give a historic speech? What's that message?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, the NAACP convention gets under way today in New York. Now, they're going to close it with a big speaker on Thursday and that will be Barack Obama. And it was last year that then-candidate Barack Obama spoke at the NAACP convention in Cincinnati. He praised the leadership for the civil rights battles of the 1960s but he did say that African-Americans need to get more involved with their children, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. I want to ask you about this. There's also a fierce political battle on the way in New Jersey. And one candidate actually may need all of the president's clout just to keep his office. Explain what's at stake there. STEINHAUSER: Oh, a lot is at stake in New Jersey. And that's why we're going to see on Thursday, after the president speaks to the NAACP, he's going to be campaigning on the campaign trail with Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey, a fellow Democrat. Governor Corzine is up for reelection and he is behind in the polls.
And so, this will be the first time this year the president will actually gone out on the campaign trail and helped a fellow Democrat. He's been doing some fundraisers but you've got two very close races in New Jersey and in Virginia. And the president and his team, of course, would like to see both those seats stay in Democratic hands, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. Deputy political director here at CNN, Paul Steinhauser -- thanks so much, Paul.
And we are going to talk more politics later with Wolf Blitzer. He fills in for John King on "STATE OF THE UNION" this morning. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will join Wolf to talk health care, of course, and the latest on swine flu. "STATE OF THE UNION" this morning starting at 9:00 Eastern.
Also this -- Anderson Cooper was with President Obama on his historic trip to Africa. Monday night at 10:00 Eastern, don't miss the "AC360" special report as Anderson shares his exclusive access to the president on his journey to Africa. That's tomorrow night at 10:00 Eastern, only on CNN.
Attorney General Eric Holder is considering whether to appoint a criminal prosecutor to investigate Bush administration's methods of interrogating terror suspects. And if he does, the move would run counter to President Obama's wishes to leave controversial Bush era practices in the past. Any probe would focus on whether the CIA tortured terrorism suspects after September 11th, 2001. Holder is expected to make a decision within the next few weeks.
HOLMES: The president, as we mention this morning, back in the states from his trip to Ghana, but on Thursday, as we just heard Betty and Paul discussing, the president is going to be speaking at the NAACP convention in New York.
The group is celebrating its 100th anniversary and it's celebrating with a new leader at the helm, a new young leader by the name of Ben Jealous -- the youngest the NAACP has ever had as president. He has a new perspective and he has new priorities.
I asked him about them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN TODD JEALOUS, PRESIDENT & CEO, NAACP: A lot of folks would want to say the 20th century is the century of the NAACP. But the reality is that our generation knows in our hearts as much as we have benefited from the dreams of our ancestors and all their hard work, we're the most murdered generation in this country, most incarcerated generation on the planet. And when you ask yourself who's going to fight those battles, it's hard to imagine them being won unless the NAACP is in full force. And that's what I'm here to do.
HOLMES: Why do you think they wanted you? You're a young man from a different era running the oldest civil rights organization in this country.
JEALOUS: The person who was youngest before me was very early in the tenure of the NAACP. That was Walter White. He was 38 years old. And he played an integral role in his generation to really embrace the organization and its mission and build it up and really lay the ground work that Roy Wilkins and Ben Hooks built upon.
This is a moment like that. It was -- you know, this is a pivotal point where we got to get a generation of people to really buy in to the NAACP -- buy into this association, its vision for civil rights and human rights in this country and to define ourselves as players for as long as it takes. We don't just fight on an issue for years, we fight for decades, right?
The battle of Jim Crow, you know, 22 years. Desegregate the military was 30 years. Desegregate corporate America is 40 years, in some ways, ongoing, in the case of Eli Lilly right now. So, you know, and the battle to level the political playing field, we started that really in earnest in the kind of mid-1950s and we're still celebrating victories. I mean, Obama is the first black president. We're almost as excited that Philadelphia and Mississippi just got their first black mayor. So, it's a lot.
HOLMES: What does NAACP expect from President Obama?
JEALOUS: We expect him to fulfill his promises. We also expect him to go back to work. I mean, we're -- let's be real clear. As a lot of people pushed to bail out Wall Street and bail out Main Street, we need to make sure and we intend to make sure that he also fixes back street.
If we get back to where we were a year ago, two years ago, black unemployment was well above 10 percent. That's just not acceptable. That's just not acceptable.
HOLMES: How was he doing so far?
JEALOUS: So far, he's doing pretty well. But the transition in Washington has been more slowly than a lot of people have expected.
HOLMES: How patient is the NAACP going to be?
JEALOUS: We've been patient and they keep giving us, you know, reasons to keep the faith.
HOLMES: A lot of people look and say there is a black president -- a black man is in the White House. How in the world can you say a black person can't make it? Obviously, black people can make it, if you can make to it the White House. JEALOUS: You know, I actually grew up in one of those families, I mean, like most black families. We were told at the end of the day we didn't have any excuse.
And so, when you look right now at the situation, yes, you have to say: you know, no excuses, young man, you have to push as hard as can you. But you also, in the same breath, have to say: no excuses for not fighting the fight on behalf of all your brothers and sisters, in behalf of your cousins or half the family that's not doing as well as the one that you have privilege to -- you know, don't think for a second that when you succeed and you did this by yourself, or that your success is yours alone, or that success doesn't come with a responsibility to make a way for others.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. And, again, feel free to chime in on what you just heard there from Ben Jealous or any other topic here. You're going to find Betty and I on Twitter, Facebook, also, Weekends@CNN.com and CNN.com/Newsroom.
NGUYEN: Newsroom -- trying to get all straight.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: There are many different methods of reaching us today and we'll read some of your responses on the air.
HOLMES: What -- what did you print?
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Well, it's just starting to work now. So, I think it's past prints from people yesterday apparently.
HOLMES: OK.
NGUYEN: We're killing trees here, folks.
HOLMES: All right. Well, yesterday, we also asked if the NAACP was still relevant. I got some responses from you on that as well. But again, we do want you to keep those coming in.
And he answered that question kind of. How can you talk about...
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: ... a black person can make it. It isn't just not that the mission changes along the way, it's not the same as when the NAACP was started. But still, there's a need at least he claims.
Also, a lot of people think that gay marriage is a civil right issue, one that the NAACP should take up. Well, they're not necessarily taking it up. What exactly is their national policy on gay rights? Well, it doesn't have one. You may be surprised to hear why. Next part of the conversation is coming up in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: Also, Steve McNair laid to rest by his family and friends. So, how will the case surrounding his death affect his sports legacy?
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HOLMES: Five thousand people attended Saturday's funeral for former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. The McNair family provided buses for people from his hometown of Mount Olive, Mississippi, to attend that service.
Nashville police said McNair was shot and killed by his mistress a week ago. He leaves behind a wife and four children.
Well, a lot of questions surrounding the death of Steve McNair, but one of them is having to do with his sports career. What about the chances of him getting into the Hall of Fame?
Let's talk to our sports business analyst, Rick Horrow about this and a couple of other things.
Rick, good morning to you. This is -- I don't know, what kind of a damper has this put on his legacy, a guy certainly, he did his thing on the field but he also had a reputation for, you know, what, being on the up and up off the field.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Yes. And we'll see about the Hall of Fame. He's eligible in 2013.
But remember, he rewrote the record books at Alcorn State. He lost out to Rashaan Salaam, a big school Colorado guy for the Heisman Trophy. A magnificent 13-year NFL career.
Remember, T.J., he was couple feet away from winning the Super Bowl in 2000 Super Bowl XXXIV, right there next to in Atlanta when the Rams just beat the Titans off the field. He had deals with AirTran, the state of Mississippi. He was consistently in the top 25 in jersey sales, opened a restaurant called Gridiron 9 in Nashville.
Listen, he will be missed both on and off the field. You know that.
HOLMES: What -- how did you take some of the comments? I don't have them here for our viewers to listen to. But some of comments some of his former teammates made essentially about an adjustment to life after football. I don't want to say they were trying to excuse necessarily some of maybe his behavior after he got out of football, dealing with his mistress as she's certainly called and believed to be now.
But how did you take some of those comments that, you know, maybe he was having some kind of a tough time?
HORROW: Well, nobody should judge whether these are excuses or whether it's a tough time or not. He left behind clearly a loving family. And when you listen to Vince Young and Ray Lewis and Brett Favre, who were all at the funeral, including 5,000 other admirers, whatever happened in that whole incident, it probably shouldn't detract from his Hall of Fame resume, his Hall of Fame pedigree, quite clearly.
And the NFL could do a better job of preparing people generally for life after football, and we know that's one of Commissioner Roger Goodell's top priorities in any event.
HOLMES: All right. Let's turn now quickly, we talked about baseball, then some negative news here about athletes and drugs and steroids and so on and so forth, the Major League Baseball, but there's a positive here that's coming up. We're at the halfway point. It's time for all-star break and there's money involved here in cities that very much could use it.
HORROW: Sixty million positives. That's the dollars that St. Louis expects this weekend, an economic impact. Two hundred fifty thousand people are coming in from other places to go to this game in St. Louis for 50,000 seats.
That's why they are about six grand a piece by the way -- 2,500 journalists, 250 countries, 12 languages. We'll have the game, and most importantly the Cardinals are in first place. It's a big deal economically for St. Louis.
That's why I'm wearing red, go Cardinals, by the way. Thank you St. Louis and thank you all-star game for something...
HOLMES: Oh, wow.
HORROW: ... that the city badly needs economically.
HOLMES: Any more thank yous?
HORROW: Thank you to you for putting up with me.
HOLMES: Oh, wow. All right. Betty, you got anything?
NGUYEN: That's a big thank you.
HOLMES: All right.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: You put up with a lot. Thanks, Rick.
HORROW: Yes.
HOLMES: Oh, Rick, always good to see you, buddy.
NGUYEN: He wasn't sincere at all. All right. Electric cars -- they might be the wave of the future, but our Josh Levs found out that for now, they have their limitations.
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JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey guys, we're about to drive an actual electric car through the streets of Atlanta and this is a pretty serious speed limit on this. Let's see how it goes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Yes. We're going to see how Josh in his little yellow car did.
Stay with us.
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NGUYEN: Nice theme song for car that's not red. It doesn't come nearly as fast as a Corvette.
HOLMES: You know, I'll always give you a hard time because any time we go somewhere, you make me drive, all right?
NGUYEN: That's true.
HOLMES: You get one of those, you don't ever have to ask again.
NGUYEN: Because you won't be getting in it.
HOLMES: I will always -- I'll always drive.
NGUYEN: Oh.
HOLMES: No problem driving if that is the car you own.
NGUYEN: Got you.
HOLMES: All right. We're talking about this little electric car. Automakers are busy developing these things these days, hoping they may be the wave of the future.
NGUYEN: That's true. Well, you know, some electric cars are already on the market though they might not be the answer to all your driving needs...
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: ... like if you need speed. Our Josh Levs takes one for a spin.
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LEVS: So, we got the Anvil here today.
MIKE TOMBERLIN, CREATOR, ANVIL ELECTRIC CAR: Correct.
LEVS: Tell us what we're looking at. What is this?
TOMBERLIN: You know, it's a LSV, which means a low speed vehicle. It is certainly a lot more creative than what you're accustomed to seeing, wide-track technology. We made it a little more aggressive. Big automobile wheels.
LEVS: Let's break this out for our viewers. Wide-track technology means it's a broad care. It's a wide car.
TOMBERLIN: Very wide -- which gives you more features inside, a better cockpit.
LEVS: So, where is all the electric gears? Underneath it? Is it all packed into here into a much smaller unit?
TOMBERLIN: Some of it.
LEVS: I didn't just break it by knocking on it, did I?
TOMBERLIN: No, you did not.
LEVS: OK.
TOMBERLIN: It's very durable.
LEVS: OK, good.
TOMBERLIN: Smart charger up front. You got the battery pack underneath the seats and the drivetrain in the back.
LEVS: What honestly distinguishes this from a glorified golf cart?
TOMBERLIN: Well, let's say a golf cart may have seven horsepower. This has up to 50. A golf cart has maybe a 46 inch wheel path. This has 60 inches.
We're not going to rub shoulders inside. We got heated seats. Full automotive gauge. More intuitive movements. It's great.
LEVS: Let's give it a shot.
First of all, you have this, which is forward and reverse instead of a gear shift.
TOMBERLIN: Right. And then on the left side here, the first button there with the T, it works as a boost or a turbo button. So, it gives you 30 seconds of peak horsepower.
(MUSIC) LEVS: It feels like an average car. It's a little bit harder to speed up. But once it does, it just carries on its own. You don't need to hit the gas or anything.
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LEVS: We're driving on the kinds of roads that are best for this kind of car. Since it only goes up to 25 miles an hour, it's best to be on roads that only go up to 35 or only up to 30.
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LEVS: And tell me why would someone buy this car when they can spend the same amount of money and get car that has side windows and is completely covered and has air conditioning.
TOMBERLIN: Certainly, it's green. It's doing the right thing. It's fun to drive and it doesn't use any fuel.
LEVS: If you're a family, you have a couple of cars, but you want to do the right thing and save money on gas, get this as a third car.
TOMBERLIN: Absolutely. And that's happening every day -- within 6.9 miles of residential homes, Americans are driving about 15 billion miles a week. We can make a difference in that segment. And hopefully, the consumer will drive the demand.
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NGUYEN: Tell me T.J., you might get one of those.
HOLMES: I might. But I might not.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Josh Levs...
HOLMES: I might go try it out.
NGUYEN: ... joins us now on set. I don't he's fallen for it at all.
LEVS: Hey you, guys. You're not hopping on the band wagon, are you?
NGUYEN: Well, OK. Hello. Part of the car is missing, right?
LEVS: They say they're going to develop all weather enclosures like the way you can close it...
NGUYEN: Yes, that might be helpful, especially, I don't know, if it's raining outside.
LEVS: Yes, or cold or extremely hot.
NGUYEN: Yes.
LEVS: Something to watch out for.
You know what? Just look what's behind me actually. Now, if you guys want a real electric car, you know, like, you can spend $110,000 and get a Tesla.
Let's go up to CNN Money. You can see a few electric cars that are out there. But, you know, if you want something that's actually affordable, you're pretty much down to what we're talking here, $7,000 to $13,000 for a similar called the GEM.
Check all this out, you know? That's the thing, if you want something that's affordable, you're pretty much going to get something right now that is missing a lot of basic things you're used to getting in a car.
NGUYEN: Yes.
LEVS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Key things, too. OK. Thank you, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: We have to look into that at that a little more.
NGUYEN: Give it a little time, they'll soup it up a little bit.
HOLMES: It's essentially a bike. I mean, you're just outside, right?
NGUYEN: Yes, or a golf cart, kind of.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: Yes, what's that.
All right. We'll move on to this -- President Obama met with Pope Benedict this week and he gave him a gift. What is it and what is the significance? That's in our "Faces of Faith" segment at 8:00.
HOLMES: Also coming up, in just a little bit, our Wolf Blitzer is going to be joining us live next hour to talk to us about the showdown at the Supreme Court, what questions Sonia Sotomayor may face during hearings that are coming up tomorrow.
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NGUYEN: All right. So, all you animal lovers out there, you might cringe at this story.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: Officials at two zoos in Boston say because of budget cuts and the fact that they need funding and may not get it, one: they may be forced to close, and two: they might have to even euthanize some of the animals there if they can't find homes for them.
So, is that really the answer? We are hearing from you today.
Let me take you to my Facebook page. Thomas says, "What? Aren't zoos supposed to be animal refuges? What are we in the 19th-century again? This is completely ridiculous."
So, we're hearing some outrage here.
And quickly on the Twitter page, if I can get that pulled up here -- the beauty of technology. Joe says, "So much more the subtle approach. It sounds like something a kidnapper would say, 'Pay up or we're going to kill 'em.'"
HOLMES: Oh, wow. That is one way to put it.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: CruisingGranny -- I just like her name -- on Twitter. She responded saying, "Of course, there's a better way to do this." Her suggestion is to fire some management and get volunteers to help out. Lots of people would help the animals.
Also, WhurdsDeRodan says, "If the zoo says that that's what they should consider, then they should be fired. That's ridiculous." Essentially saying anybody who even suggests that doesn't have the good sense to be running a zoo.
NGUYEN: Yes, those are good points. But at the same time, I think some people would say, "Look, if we can't afford to keep them and feed them, what do we do with them?" Because it's not exactly easy to, like you said, unload an elephant or a giraffe. But, hopefully, someone will step in and that they won't have to go to that.
HOLMES: Well, Betty and I will step back in here in 30 minutes, at the top of the hour with more live news.
But first, "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta starts right now.
