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CNN Sunday Morning
Florida Senate Candidates to Meet at Debate; Tropical Storm Heads for Honduras; Outside Groups Spend Big on Campaign Ads; Iraqi Rowers Team with American Veterans
Aired October 24, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
It is a pink penalty. Breast cancer - cancer-awareness month. You've seen pink all over the place. People trying to show their support for the cause. That's what some high-school football referees thought they were doing. But just a little pink could get them now suspended.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, we're used to seeing Americans training Iraqis on the battlefield. But now, it is the other way around. A look at how Iraqis are helping U.S. veterans in the water - no guns, no armor, no helmets needed. Just a pair of oars.
HOLMES: And we, as always, want to start by welcoming our troops who are watching on the Armed Forces Network in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Thank you for being here. Thank you for what you do.
From the CNN Center, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Six a.m. here in Atlanta; 1 p.m. in Baghdad. I'm T.J. Holmes.
MALVEAUX: I'm Suzanne Malveaux.
It - well, it is coming up over the next 90 minutes, so we want you to vote - nine days to go to the midterm election, and one group is trying to convince some voters to stay home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)
ANNOUNCER: Don't vote this November. This is the only way to send them a clear message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, you heard that right. We have been telling you how important these midterms are. But now, another group is telling you not to vote. We'll tell you who paid for that ad and who exactly they're trying to target.
Also, Celine Dion has two new members of her family today after giving birth to twins. We'll tell you how mom and sons are doing.
Also, she is a world-class athlete. She's a model. She's an actress. And she's also a double amputee. We talk to the woman who is redefining disabled this morning. But again, we get back to these midterms now. CNN is always your place for all the politics you are ever going to need. And we are - we are counting this down. We are just nine days away now.
MALVEAUX: Lots of politics. And on the day after, we could wake up to a totally different balance of power. So that is why we see Republicans, Democrats, the White House, all pulling out the stops in a last-ditch effort to take control or to keep it.
Now, he's the way it looks in the Senate: As many as six seats are considered tossups. Republicans need 10 to take control. The House looms as the GOP's biggest payoff. Forty-five races are considered tossups; Republicans need 39 to take control. Thirteen governor's races will also be decided on November 2.
And the president, of course, very much aware of what is at stake. He only has nine days to turn the momentum his way. And the calendar, of course, is a constant reminder of the Democratic wave that swept into office in 2008 - well, threatens to turn into a Republican riptide that could drown his administration in the midterm elections.
The president absolutely needs young voters to come out again in large numbers. So at a rally at the University of Minnesota just yesterday, he laid it out on the line, telling the crowd, 'I need you to keep fighting.'
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It looks like you're kind of fired up.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And I need you fired up, because in just 10 days, you have the chance not just to set the direction of this state, but help to determine the direction of this country, not just for the next two years, but the next five years, the next 10 years, the next 20 years.
And just like you did in 2008, you have the chance to defy the conventional wisdom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Meanwhile, Sarah Palin is using the president's own words as she urges Republicans to keep working until the very last minute. President Obama says he thinks Americans are frustrated and not thinking straight about the midterm elections.
At Palin's rally, 2,000 - yes, that's right - 2,000 Republicans in Orlando just last night, and said voters are right to be worried. She says the president's policies are scaring people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are afraid, knowing that your economic policies are driving us off a cliff, and knowing that your fundamental transformation of America is turning into a nightmare.
This is not the America that the rest of the people want. This is not the America the patriots fought and died for and are still dying for today. This is not the Americans that Floridians fight for, to protect, to persevere through every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Palin is supporting Marco Rubio, the Republican, locked in a three-way race for Senate from Florida -from the Florida rally in Florida last night to a debate there this morning.
HOLMES: Yes, a big debate taking place there. It's - our Election Express rolled into Tampa, where this debate is going to take place. We are set up there and set up there strong for what is going to be, or should be, a pretty intriguing debate, because the race itself has been pretty intriguing.
We mentioned Marco Rubio, the Republican. Well, the two others running for Senate, Governor Charlie Crist and the - he's the independent there. And Congressman Kendrick Meek, the Democrat, are debating this morning.
Our Candy Crowley is going to be moderating. You can see it only here on CNN.
And Candy sets the stage for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, T.J. and Suzanne.
A couple of hours, 9 a.m. Eastern, we're having a debate here at the University of South Florida in Tampa. It is for the senatorial race here in Florida. It's been a big one because it's got great characters in it, frankly.
Marco Rubio, who is the new kind of "it guy" in he Republican Party. He's gotten a - a lot of money coming in here. He was originally fueled by "tea party" activist.
We also have the governor, Charlie Crist. He used to be a Republican and basically got chased out of the Republican primary because Rubio was doing so well. Crist now running as an independent.
And then we have the Democrat, who is looking for some room between Rubio and Crist, trying to find some traction. He has been sort of consistently placing third, but the Meek camp is hoping that they can, frankly, draw some blood here in this debate coming up. They - they think, because time is running short, that they really have to go after Marco Rubio, who at this point is the front-runner.
In any case, we expect some fireworks, but we also are expecting some substantive debate. I can promise you this: There are substantive questions.
I hope you'll watch.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Always substance with Candy Crowley.
And again, you can see that debate coming up here when we sign off on our CNN SUNDAY MORNING at 9:00 Eastern Time. She'll be up next with that debate, our Candy Crowley hosting the Florida Senate debate, 9:00 Eastern Time, right here.
Now, school, teachers - you expect your math teacher knows math, the science teacher knows science, the English knows English.
Well, that might not exactly be the case.
MALVEAUX: And still to come, why some English teachers, and once they may be on the receiving end of the test-taking.
You'll see.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: You want to take weather?
HOLMES: Yes, let's talk some weather.
And - and we're taking some pictures. Often times, we appreciate our i-Reporters, who help us tell stories sometimes that we can't get to.
Now, this is one of our i-Reporters from India - has some pictures you've just got to see here. Take a look at this coming down. That's hail, dime-sized, we're told, those pellets you're seeing.
The storm happened yesterday morning in the Indian state of Punjab. It fell (INAUDIBLE) thoroughly fascinating for the 37-year-old i-Reporter. Says this is the first hail storm ever was caught in. Glad he was able to videotape it. Sometimes these things can be a little dangerous if those pellets are a little larger. But they seemed small and innocent enough.
So I guess, Suzanne, that's why he could enjoy this one, at least.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: He was mesmerized by this. Obviously. It was nice pictures. Good pictures.
We are also looking at Asia, much of it still dealing with a typhoon. That's their equivalent to a hurricane. Closer to home, Tropical Storm Richard looks to make landfall soon, possibly at hurricane strength.
Let's go and get the latest on the storms from meteorologist Bonnie Schneider at the Severe Weather Center.
Hey, Bonnie. How are you?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Suzanne and T.J.
We are definitely looking at Richard strengthening before it makes landfall. This is really (INAUDIBLE) storm even though it's close to land.
Tropical Storm Richard's maximum winds are at 70 mph. Remember, when they get 74 or greater, that's when we have a hurricane. And right now, the storm is really bearing down on Honduras.
You can see the bright flashes of purple and orange on the map. That indicates the highest cloud tops, where we have the heaviest rain. And some of that rain could be in excess of five inches of rain.
So the forecast takes it to hurricane strength in the next 24 hours. But as it works its way across Belize, where incidentally, there is a hurricane warning right now - then, it'll emerge over the Bay of Campeche and likely dissipate as it approaches Mexico. So this could be a lot worse. It is not going to be a good situation though for Central America, as Richard bears down with - notice the winds. The gusts are as high as 85 mph, and that takes it to above hurricane strength. That's why we have hurricane warnings for Honduras and Belize.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MALVEAUX: Well, Canadian diva Celine Dion is the proud mother now of twin boys this morning, and we wish her all the best.
They haven't a name yet, but the babies came into this world weigh 5 pounds, 10 ounces and 5 pounds, 4 ounces. They were delivered by Caesarian section at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
HOLMES: Now, apparently they are doing just fine. Everybody's healthy.
Didn't come without a scare, however. Dion had to be admitted to the hospital a week ago to prevent the premature delivery of the twins. Now, she had a tough time getting pregnant this time around, and also she has a 9-year-old, I believe, with her husband as well, but had a tough time both times getting pregnant. In this latest round, she had to have six rounds of in vitro fertilization. She has been very vocal about her difficulty in getting pregnant.
But it has paid off for her now. Celine Dion now the proud mother of two - two baby boys.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Well, 14 minutes past the hour now.
We're coming into these final days before the midterm elections. A whole lot of money going into advertisements by all sorts of groups you probably never heard of. But they are pushing their agendas.
MALVEAUX: And analysts say that the total could be in the billions. That's a heck of a lot money, Josh.
Of course, Josh Levs here with a look at how this is playing out all over the TV screens across the country, advertising going on.
Josh, we have seen an amazing number of ads this go-round.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Amazing, yes. And there's an analysis out there that says that ultimately, issue and ad spending in this election season might be end up being $3 billion. It's that incredibly high.
Now, because it's the midterm, a lot of these are - are targeting specific voting groups or specific states.
Let's take a look at the latest one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)
ANNOUNCER: ...November, we need to send a message to all politicians. If they didn't keep their promise on immigration reform, then they can't count on our vote.
Democratic leaders must pay for their broken promises and betrayals. If we just go on supporting them again this November, they will keep playing games with our future and taking our vote for granted.
Don't vote this November.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: Don't vote. Those are the key words that got people talking.
Now, this ad was also made in Spanish. It sparked controversy after it aired a few times on the radio, actually. It was slotted on Univision, but the Spanish-language TV network pulled it.
The group behind this is Latinos for Reform. I spoke with the head of that group, Robert De Posada, and he told me that they are up of just about 10 businessmen. This is a relatively small ad.
But it is part of a large phenomenon, a huge phenomenon in this election cycle, to presumably conservative-backed third-party groups getting money for ads this year.
CNN's consultant on political advertising, Evan Tracey, explained. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EVAN TRACEY, CAMPAIGMN MEDIA ANALYSIS GROUP: It's a role reversal from the past two elections. Clearly, Republican money had been on the sidelines in 2006. They weren't happy with the way things were going.
In 2008, obviously, they weren't happy with John McCain, who had been trying to put these groups out of business. And you had Democrats really energized and motivated.
This year, because of things like, there's no single-payer in the health-care bill, the cap-and-trade bill didn't pass, you really didn't see any Democratic money coming into the process, but you're starting to see it now. I think the president's have been really - has been really hitting on this issue, and he's probably gotten some of that Democratic money off the sidelines and back into these races.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: Yes, and in fact, there are some third-party ads pushing for Democrats as well.
The ad I showed you before focused partly on voters in Nevada. Here's one, also in Nevada, pushing for Harry Reid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)
ANNOUNCER: Our school was 46 miles away. They said going would be impossible. So he walked and hitched his way. Forty-six every Monday, forty-six back come Friday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: He's telling the story of him and saying Harry Reid has always been willing to do what seemed impossible.
This is from votevets.org, which is made up of veterans. And just like most of the groups behind these ads, they keep showing up on your TV screens. It describes itself as nonpartisan.
And as you heard, one of the reasons for that is where this money is coming from. Also, something else that I'll just mention, that there's a Supreme Court decision that we've talked to you about not long ago, called Citizens United, which ended up freeing up corporate funds, which then ended up sponsoring, basically, some - some more of those ads that are out there.
We have been hearing from you about this. Here's how you can weigh in, at Facebook and Twitter. We're talking about these third- party ads, and whether they are influencing your vote or not.
We'd love to hear from you. We'll have some of your responses in the 8 a.m. hour today.
So Suzanne and T.J., it is a staggering sum of money, and that there is why so many people are seeing so many new issue ads this time around. Very different from anything we've ever seen before.
MALVEAUX: And you got to wonder if it's really going to work for the voters.
LEVS: I know.
MALVEAUX: You wonder if they just kind of tune all this stuff out after awhile. So we'll see how this plays out.
LEVS: And if it does, we can see a lot more of these two years from now and two years from then. This might be the beginning of something huge.
MALVEAUX: OK. Josh, thank you.
HOLMES: Thanks, Josh.
LEVS: You got it, guys.
MALVEAUX: Well, some Iraqi Olympians in the United States back to - paying back veterans who fought in their country.
HOLMES: Yes, this is an interesting one here. Something you probably wouldn't really imagine. But U.S. forces trained Iraqi forces. But Iraqi athletes are now training Americans here. We'll explain.
It's 18 minutes past the hour. Stick around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC, BEATLES, "COME TOGETHER")
HOLMES: Well, welcome back. It's 22 minutes past the hour.
Welcome in our Nadia Bilchik, our editorial producer here. Always gives us something a little interesting. And this is interesting. We're used to hearing about Americans training Iraqis. But Iraqis are now training Americans right here.
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Yes, in terms of rowing.
HOLMES: Rowing?
BILCHIK: Because the Head of the St. Charles (ph) (sic) Regatta, which is one of the biggest rowing events, if not the biggest rowing event in the entire world. Now, over 900 competitors from 21 countries.
And they're all kinds of teams that compete. There's even a disabled team competing today.
But what's very unusual is we have two teams; one is a group of Iraq/Afghanistan war vets, and they have been training by an Iraqi team who has come from Iraq, an Iraq rowing team, to train this team.
Now, Iraqis have to train on the Tigris River. So it's very tumultuous.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: So they're superb rowers.
HOLMES: Probably good (INAUDIBLE).
BILCHIK: Yes.
And in 2008, there were four Olympic athletes competing at the Olympic games, and two of them were rowers. Because remember, during Saddam Hussein's time, you didn't particularly want to be athlete; you were tortured...
(CROSSTALK)
BILCHIK: Do you remember those times?
HOLMES: Yes.
BILCHIK: So these are six Olympian rowers who are training the American team.
And let's hear from Bob Smith, (ph) (sic) from the Community Rowing, as to why he thought this was such a brilliant idea.
HOLMES: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUCE SMITH, EXEC. DIR., COMMUNITY ROWING BOATHOUSE: We're not there to fight. We're there to build the peace. And anything we can do to build relationships, even if it's just a tiny little thing, is - is better than shooting a bullet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILCHIK: And rowing is such a wonderful teambuilding event. Because think about it: You have to work together.
HOLMES: Yes.
BILCHIK: Then, you have to create and go through obstacles together. So maybe our team should be a rowing teambuilding.
HOLMES: Yes, we need some teambuilding around here, Lord knows.
But the Iraqis, they - they are here to compete in that particular race (INAUDIBLE)?
BILCHIK: They are. Last week, they were training. The last couple of weeks they've been training the American, but only the veterans - the Afghan-Iraq veterans.
And today - yesterday and today is the competition, and they have been competing against each other. So we don't yet know who's going to win.
HOLMES: We don't know how they did.
BILCHIK: No, we don't yet know. So we'll let you know. Maybe by 8:30 we'll know.
HOLMES: We'll have an answer. All right. That is very cool.
And - and that sound byte you used there really sums it up, about partnership, working together - anything you can do to improve the relationship I think is great.
BILCHIK: And they are enjoying it and thriving, and apparently...
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE)
BILCHIK: ...was the most incredible bonding experience.
HOLMES: All right. Nadia Bilchik, we always appreciate you, always giving us something interesting here.
Well, we got more interesting stuff coming your way. It's 25 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, good Sunday morning - or probably still Saturday night for some of you folks in San Francisco, where it's about 3:30 in the morning, taking a live picture down on the Embarcadero. I'm not sure which pier I'm looking at there, but looking back with the Bay Bridge in the background.
San Francisco. A lot of folks I know still partying out there.
MALVEAUX: You know, it wasn't too long, we woke up in the dark and it was - it was still dark out here when we got to work.
HOLMES: It is.
Hello to you all. Wherever you may be, whether you are just getting up to make a bowl of cereal or just stumbling in from the club - wherever you are, glad you're right here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
MALVEAUX: Did you stumble in from the club, T.J.?
HOLMES: No, I did not.
MALVEAUX: OK. Good. I just...
HOLMES: I don't stumble, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Oh, you just - debonair. You just strolled...
HOLMES: I strolled in. I stroll in.
MALVEAUX: ...out of the club. All right. Well, I didn't come from the club.
I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Thanks for staying with us this morning.
HOLMES: Well, we have been talking a lot about politics, and I know you might be getting sick and tired of it. I certainly hope not. We are fascinated by this stuff, but we only got nine more days to be talking about it. Probably still a lot to be talking about leading up to the midterm elections.
The president is on the road, a lot of candidates out there on the stump, and they will be because a lot is at stake. The control of Congress is up for grabs.
MALVEAUX: And I want to show you. Here's - here's what we're talking about here. Right now, six Senate seats are considered a tossup. You've got 45 races in the House that are considered too close to call. And on the state level, 13 spots for governor are in play.
Now, with the clock ticking, both parties rolling out the big guns to win over undecided voters.
Our CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is taking a look at the week ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, good morning, Suzanne, T.J.
A busy political week ahead on the campaign trail. Remember, this is the last full week before the November 2 midterm elections.
Let's start with President Barack Obama. He is in Rhode Island on Monday helping out fellow Democrats. At the end of the week, he makes stops in the Midwest.
Vice President Joe Biden also out on Monday. In fact, it will be his 100th campaign event of this election cycle.
Also stumping for Democrats this week ahead, the First Lady Michelle Obama and the former President Bill Clinton.
But there are plenty of people on the Republican side as well, some big, top names, including Haley Barbour of Mississippi, who's the chairman of the Republican Governors Association. This week, he kicks off a 13-state, five-day tour and he's going to have some other big guns on the Republican side helping him out as they campaign for fellow Republican candidates.
Also this week in Kentucky, a big debate showdown, the last one in that Senate contest, and which is a divisive contest between Rand Paul, the Republican nominee, and Jack Conway, the Democratic nominee. And also, on Wednesday, our last CNN and Time polls of this election season. We'll have five state polls in five crucial battleground states.
A busy week ahead.
Suzanne, T.J., back to you.
HOLMES: Thanks to our Paul Steinhauser, as always.
One of the important battleground states out there is always Florida. It's going to be that way again. Usually a key battleground in the presidential elections, but interesting in this midterm period as well. It could play a role in the balance of power in Washington, D.C. as 25 Congressional races up for grabs, but the big one is the Senate race, rather, that everybody is going to be keeping a close eye on.
We are going to be having a debate between those three this morning. You want to stick around because this is going to be pretty much unpredictable.
Charlie Crist, the governor there, is going head to head against Kendrick Meek, the Democrat, and also Marco Rubio, the Republican in the race. Candy Crowley is going to moderate the Senate debate between those three.
You're going to see that live here this morning where you normally see Candy during her show. But you will see that live this morning instead. You're going to see that Senate debate right here, 9:00 Eastern time.
Then tomorrow night, the focus, we're going to keep it on Florida, the gubernatorial debate here. The Republican Rick Scott going up against the Democrat Alex Sink. They are really tight in the polls.
Our chief national correspondent John King is going to moderate that debate, again, Monday night, 7:00 P.M. on "JOHN KING, USA" in - right here on CNN.
MALVEAUX: You and I have been talking about this story as well. This is really kind of surprising.
HOLMES: Yes.
MALVEAUX: High school football referees now, they could be penalized for their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
HOLMES: Yes.
MALVEAUX: I think it's hard to believe.
HOLMES: It's simple. It was subtle. And you see it. A pink whistle.
Why would that get referees suspended? That's a possibility, folks.
It's 32 minutes past the hour. That story coming your way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. We're coming up on 35 minutes past the hour. Bonnie and Suzanne here with me to talk about a couple stories that got our attention. Not the biggest breaking news stories, but still some stories that are making headlines.
This story upset a lot of folks. I know you all have been seeing - we've all been seeing the pink everywhere for breast cancer awareness. And that's the cool -
SCHNEIDER: Right. This month.
HOLMES: Yes. The coolest thing, the NFL - have you been watching? Oh, you're not a big sports fan.
SCHNEIDER: I watch a little.
HOLMES: A little? But the NFL has been - had their guys in pink and everything.
So look at this here. You're seeing video from a high school football game in Washington State. A hundred and forty high school football referees just got together, and you know what? Let's just use pink whistles in the game.
They didn't wear pink hats, pink shoes, just something subtle - pink whistles, to raise awareness, and they were also dedicating, guys, their game checks to breast cancer awareness.
So, what happened now? That's a violation. They didn't get permission from some official association to use the pink whistles. So these guys could get suspended for two games, meaning they would lose their pay checks for those two games as well.
Now, both of you all are sitting here with (INAUDIBLE) on your faces.
MALVEAUX: I hope - I hope they reconsider, I really do. I mean that just seems, you know, like these guys were trying to do something good, good hearted.
SCHNEIDER: And you saw the fans were displaying the pink.
MALVEAUX: Yes. Right.
SCHNEIDER: This is a big deal, and I think it sets a bad example if they get reprimanded or punished for doing something good for breast cancer research.
HOLMES: They are saying the exact opposite.
MALVEAUX: Yes.
HOLMES: The association says it's a bad example if you don't punish them for not following rules. They say the example needs to be set for the players that to break rules, there are consequences.
But take a listen here to some of the reaction that's been coming in to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD STORDAHL, WASHINGTON OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONER: It sends the wrong message to the kids that are playing the game that if they can choose to break the rules, why can't other people do the same thing?
TERI NAISH, COACH'S WIFE: I think that's a shame. I - I think the message they're sending is - is simple. We're looking for a cure for breast cancer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: So everybody clearly is -
MALVEAUX: I agree with her.
HOLMES: Comes on that down - comes down on that side. We don't know what's going to happen exactly yet, but we'll hang tight and see what happens to those guys.
But they did it on their own, a simple gesture.
MALVEAUX: It's nice to see people just, you know, coming and - and really responding to this month, because it's such an important cause.
SCHNEIDER: Absolutely.
MALVEAUX: You know? They have the - the pink lights. The White House was pink for a day. That was really cool to see.
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
HOLMES: All right. Well, let's move to a next one here. Here this is something we were talking about earlier. You expect your math teacher to know math, the science teacher to know science, English teacher to know English.
But in Rhode Island, the State Education Commissioner wants to test all teachers now to determine if they can write and speak English fluently. They want competency tests to be a part of the State Teacher Certification Program.
It hasn't been approved yet, but they say they're responding to some of the concerns of parents. Parents have had some complaints that maybe the teachers aren't so proficient in English.
Some, of course, clearly offended by this, but all of us would think, naturally, should a teacher have to? If you're teaching in this country, should you -
MALVEAUX: It's a - it's a -
HOLMES: -- have to?
SCHNEIDER: You would think they would. I mean, to get through the - getting a masters degree in teaching, in education.
MALVEAUX: Well, what -
SCHNEIDER: I think -
MALVEAUX: Well, I mean, the White House, the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, they're talking about, you know, standards for teachers to keep their jobs. We saw in D.C. they fired a whole bunch of teachers for not being proficient. You know, English is one of those things.
HOLMES: It - it seems like a given, I guess.
SCHNEIDER: It seems basic. Right.
HOLMES: I seem like a given. Everybody, of course, should have English.
We'll see if they decide to go through with that.
Now, this video, I haven't seen this. Everybody's been talking about this in the Newsroom all morning. So let's go ahead and roll this and tell you what you're looking at.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES (voice-over): You're looking at some guys at a football stadium in Australia, tossing basketballs from all over the stadium and making their shots.
Now, these guys clearly are pretty - OK, this one here. You would assume -
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): That's crazy.
HOLMES: -- would have to be doctored.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Not believe it (ph). These must be rigged. I don't know. These must be -
(CROSSTALK)
SCHNEIDER: -- it's following the ball. I was thinking the same thing, but you could see the ball moving.
MALVEAUX: OK. No, no, no, no. No. there's got to be like a little metal pellet inside the ball and a magnet. Don't you think?
HOLMES: These guys have been practicing this.
But, the thing is - yes, we all thought it was a fake. But the news station down in Australia actually went out and put these guys to the test with their own cameras. So this is news video. These guys certainly didn't rig it some kind of way.
Now, to your point, Suzanne, maybe. Something's got to be up.
MALVEAUX: I'm looking at this, and I can't - I'm sorry. There's something - there's something -
SCHNEIDER: I keep looking for a trick edit, but you're right. There isn't one.
HOLMES: But - and excited as they are. Here's another. He's tossing off a bridge, and they're making these shots.
Now, these guys do this stuff. These are some hot shot shooters, I think they call themselves "How Ridiculous" or something. But they're actually raising money for charity through these efforts.
But their reaction as well. They seem pretty excited when they make it. So that seems genuine.
I mean, the hugging and - is that serious? But, hey.
MALVEAUX: I think that's part of the act.
SCHNEIDER: Yes. They seem like surprised that they were making every one.
MALVEAUX: I don't know.
SCHNEIDER: All right. I made another one.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. You said it this morning.
All right, 39 minutes past the hour. Quick break. We're right back on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
MALVEAUX: They've got us all fooled (ph).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well at 41 minutes past the hour now.
They are the movers, the shakers, from the White House to the boardrooms, even the catwalk, and they're offering up some words of wisdom on all the hot topics of the day.
MALVEAUX: Yes. Well, I was the one who got a chance to actually talk to these women. "Fortune" magazine held a women's summit in Washington recently, and I sat down with some of the most powerful women in the world to get their opinions on business, how to break the glass ceiling - I mean, all kinds of interesting -
HOLMES: Impressive group. MALVEAUX: A very impressive group.
It's all a part of our series on women who rule the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): They are mothers.
DEBRA LEE, CEO, BET: My passion is I have to feed my kids.
MALVEAUX: Models.
TYRA BANKS, BANKABLE ENTERPRISES: And they were like oh, you could never be a successful model because you're a black girl.
MALVEAUX: Media moguls and movers and shakers.
INORA NOOYI, CEO, PEPSICO: I rule the company with my head, heart and hand.
MALVEAUX: Women who rule the world.
MALVEAUX (on camera): What do you rule?
KAY KRILL, CEO, ANN TAYLOR: I rule Ann Taylor.
NOOYI: I run PepsiCo.
KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, SECRETARY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: I am the secretary of Health and Human Services.
LEE: I rule BET networks.
MELODY BARNES, DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY: Right now, probably just my household, and even my husband would probably question that.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): We sat down with some of "Fortune" magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women and their featured speakers, many of them CEOs, to get their take on the big issues, starting with any words of wisdom for President Obama.
MALVEAUX (on camera): What do you think about the Obama administration's economic policies? Is it good or - is it good for big business like yours?
KRILL: The health care reform is going to be tough for a lot of big businesses.
LEE: This administration needs to do a lot more and understand business a little bit more. And I think with Larry Summers leaving and some of the other turnover in the White House, maybe this is the opportunity to get more business leaders involved in the discussion.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Getting into the discussion has meant figuring out how to punch through the glass ceiling. ANDREA JUNG, CEO, AVON: I think I think slightly differently, but I think I think differently than other women, not just other men.
BARNES: Knowing your subject matter, being the expert.
NOOYI: I bring a lot of emotion to work. I look at all of my employees in PepsiCo as members of my family.
BANKS: If I find people telling me that I couldn't do it, you know? And it's been like that throughout my entire career. And it used to frustrate me, and now it excites me.
MALVEAUX: The excitement comes from following their passion. For some, it was instilled early in life.
SEBELIUS: My dad ran for office when I was five, and I grew up thinking that's what people did. They, you know, went door-to-door, put up yard signs.
MALVEAUX (on camera): I understand that you sold cupcakes for McGovern?
BARNES: I did. I did. I was about eight years old, and my parents were always very active in the community.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): For others, it was a hard-earned struggle to be on top.
BANKS: I was very strategic in figuring out how to break through. And I was like, just be yourself. Also being myself had to do with gaining a little weight.
MALVEAUX: As mothers and wives, balancing professional success with family life means sacrificing.
SEBELIUS: Well, we've been married for 35 years and we're sort of now in a commuter marriage.
KRILL: I try to leave there by 5:00 or 5:30 at night because I really want to have dinner with my boys.
MALVEAUX: So any advice to young women today?
SEBELIUS: I think women have to be willing to take a few more risks.
BANKS: Not be ashamed of your dream, to not be ashamed to want to be the best.
MALVEAUX: One thing they all have in common, they love what they do.
NOOYI: To me, you know, (INAUDIBLE) the CEO, and I think it's true for all CEOs today, work is life and life is work, and we actually love it. I love my job.
MALVEAUX: If your job is hanging out with P. Diddy, what do you do for fun? LEE: That's a good question. I guess my job is fun. You know? I enjoy it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Well, you're about to meet another powerful woman, the editor of "Essence" magazine, eight million readers a month. Angela Burton Murray. She is live here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We'll talk to her.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Many American businesswomen are the driving force behind topnotch companies and we've got one right here. That's right. Angela Burt-Murray is Editor in Chief of "Essence" magazine, which is owned by CNN's parent company, Time Warner.
Angela, thank you for joining us now.
ANGELA BURT-MURRAY, EDITOR IN CHIEF, ESSENCE MAGAZINE: Thank you.
MALVEAUX: "Fortune" magazine, they had the top 50 most powerful women.
BURT-MURRAY: Yes.
MALVEAUX: You were 51. I was 52. We didn't get the list. We're in the magazine.
BURT-MURRAY: We'll make it next year - next year we're there.
MALVEAUX: You are powerful in your own right, of course. What do you think? What is - what is the one thing that you face that is different than, say, others?
BURT-MURRAY: Well, I think it's interesting. When you think about women in leadership roles and driving the strategy behind these Fortune 500 companies, it's really about vision and making sure that you have the strategic vision to be able to lead the organization. Can you also get by and across the organization for your vision to make sure everybody is moving in the same direction?
And then it comes to execution. Can you get the ball across the goal line and make sure that you're going to have those bottom line results that are going to, you know, result in profitability and increase shareholder value? And I think all these women that you had the opportunity to talk to are great examples of doing all of that.
MALVEAUX: Now, a couple of them who I talked to, Debra Lee, CEO of BET, Kay Krill with Ann Taylor. I asked them about what do they think about the Obama administration -
BURT-MURRAY: Right.
MALVEAUX: -- in terms of they've got large corporation, big business, is the Obama's economic policies, the administration friendly to -
BURT-MURRAY: Right.
MALVEAUX: -- big business? Well, what do you think?
BURT-MURRAY: Well, I think, as evidenced by, you know, what some of the women had to say, there are some concerns by big business that the administration has not quite had been as sensitive and cooperative to help them address the issues that they're looking at. They were talking about health care earlier in the segment and what a challenge that's going to be for businesses to absorb those costs. So I think there's been -
MALVEAUX: Does it affect your business?
BURT-MURRAY: Yes, our business, Time Warner -
MALVEAUX: True.
BURT-MURRAY: -- you know, it does have an impact, and it has an impact on the readers of our magazine as they think about, you know, what are the challenges that they're facing not only in the workplace but personally.
MALVEAUX: How so?
BURT-MURRAY: Well, it's about, you know, for women, you know, when you look at how the changing landscape of women and what they're doing, you have a lot of situations where women are now the largest bread winners within the families. That's a lot of responsibility that's being heaped on them. So they've got to worry about making sure they're making enough money. Do they have the adequate health care to cover their family?
And also, work-life balance, you know, how am I able to do it all and still have quality of life?
MALVEAUX: Now, you can't - I mean, I've heard this before where people say, can you have it all? Can you have it all? Maybe you can, but not all at the same time?
BURT-MURRAY: Right.
MALVEAUX: What is your experience?
BURT-MURRAY: I think that's what it really comes down to. Not all at the same time. I mean, you and I were talking before the break about how, you know, you're trying to juggle all these things. You love what you do as a career. But obviously, your family is your first priority, and you want to try to be in a corporate environment that allows you to succeed at work, but also have a personal life and spend time with your children.
But when you talk to women at all levels of the organization, they're all struggling with that issue.
MALVEAUX: One of the things that I noticed when I talked to these women is that they all - they have a passion for what they do.
BURT-MURRAY: Of course.
MALVEAUX: They love their jobs.
BURT-MURRAY: Right.
MALVEAUX: When young women look at you, I mean, what - what do you tell them in terms of -
BURT-MURRAY: I tell them it's all about passion. If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. And when you're passionate about it, you're going to run through a brick wall to try to get it done. And I think that's what's important.
And passion is also infectious. That will, you know, go throughout the organization, and people will be just as excited as you are about the project or, you know, joining your team. And that's what people want. They want a leader that's passionate about what they're doing and is going to make sure that everybody wins.
MALVEAUX: All right. We're excited to see you here this morning. I know you're passionate about what you do.
BURT-MURRAY: Yes, I am.
MALVEAUX: So, thank you very much, Angela. I appreciate it.
BURT-MURRAY: Thank you, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right.
Well, she is a world class model, an actress, one of the best athletes in the world. She is also disabled. The inspirational story of Aimee Mullins is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Kanye West will say it best. It's amazing.
Aimee Mullins - she's a world class athlete. She's a model and an amputee. And she credits her so-called disability for her success.
HOLMES: She tells her story to CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta in today's "Human Factor."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aimee Mullins wants to redefine "disabled".
AIMEE MULLINS, ACTRESS, ATHLETE, AMPUTEE: The thesaurus entries I found when looking up "disabled", it was shocking. You know, it starts off with wrecked, stalled, maimed - maimed, lame, mutilated. And at first, it was almost humorous to me. I was reading and thinking you can't be serious. GUPTA: At one-year-old, Mullins became a double amputee. She was born without fibula bones in her legs and doctors amputated what was left. Having never met another amputee until she turned 18, life with prosthetics was challenging.
MULLINS: When I was a teenager, you know, at junior high, I would have traded prosthetics for flesh and bone legs in a heartbeat.
GUPTA: But look at what she's accomplished. As I said, Aimee is redefining the very term "disabled".
MULLINS: The shift for me was going through this process of, you know, wishing I was something else, to acceptance, and then to celebration, having fun with it. To then deciding actually I determine what my strengths and weaknesses are.
GUPTA: It's that determination that propelled Mullins to become a successful actress, a model and athlete. She was named one of "People" magazine's 50 most beautiful people in the world. She's modeled high fashion in London. She broke world track and field records in the 100 meter, 200 meter in long jump events. And when she's not competing, she spends her free time working with the Women's Sports Foundation.
MULLINS: And we - we use this phrase a lot and say, you know, in spite of having prosthetic legs -
GUPTA (on camera): Right, right.
MULLINS: -- she's been able to accomplish X, Y and Z. And I find I was able to articulate why I was always frustrated with that this year, and it was - it's because of having prosthetic legs that I've been able to accomplish X, Y and Z.
GUPTA (voice-over): To Mullins, her prosthetics are a source of strength, not disability. And that's a message she wishes everyone could hear.
MULLINS: Ultimately, one day, if I could just be Aimee Mullins, it doesn't have to be prefaced with disabled athlete or whatever.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Just nine days to go until Election Day. Both sides, Republicans and Democrats, are putting out their star players to get you to the polls. So which side is going to win?
HOLMES: And we've got a big group to sing the same tune. Choirs from all around the world chime in to sing the same spiritual hymn. Take a listen.
(PLAYING VIDEO)
HOLMES: Well, from New York to Florida, California, Toronto even, we'll tell you how they made this happen.
Hey there, folks. From the CNN Center, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING, October the 24th. I'm T.J. Holmes.
MALVEAUX: I'm Suzanne Malveaux.
It's 7:00 A.M. in Atlanta and 5:00 A.M. in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Thank you so much for starting your day with us.
HOLMES: Nine days to go now until these critical midterms. Everybody is out there campaigning, stumping. The candidates are, of course, and the president is out there as well even though his name is not on the ballot, he's trying to help some folks stay in office or get elected. Control of Congress is up for grabs.
MALVEAUX: There's a lot at stake here. I want to show you right now what we're looking at. Many - as many as six Senate seats are considered a toss-up. Forty-five races in the House are also just too close to call. And on the state level, we are talking about 13 spots for governor that are up for grabs.
Well, Florida's battle for the U.S. Senate seat is a three-way race.
HOLMES: The candidates here are going to square off this morning. Actually, just a couple of hours for now on a debate that you can see and only see right here on CNN.
Our senior political editor, Mark Preston, is in Tampa. He is going to be there covering this debate as well.
Mark, hello to you, as always.
Florida always is pretty interesting spot. Why in this case? Why so much attention on these three? It's been a lot of ups and downs in this whole race.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes. And, look, this has been one of the premiere Senate battles of this election cycle, and the reason being, T.J., is because you have a three-way race, as you said.
You have the governor, Charlie Crist, a former Republican. He was supposed to walk into this seat. However, he was pushed out of the primary by the Tea Party favorite Marco Rubio. Now, Crist hasn't given up. He's running as an independent. He still wants that Senate seat.
On the Democratic side, we have Kendrick Meek, he's the Democratic nominee. And, of course, as you said, in a couple hours, right behind me, they will do battle on this stage -- again, a week until Election Day. So, a lot on the line. And, of course, this is a Senate seat that Republicans really want to hold on to because it's imperative, as they try to march to try to take over the Senate in November.
MALVEAUX: Mark, why should we care about Florida -- if you're somewhere else watching this race?
PRESTON: Well, you know, yes, let's look at it in the macro terms. Not only do we have this Senate race that is very important, we also have a gubernatorial battle down here between the Democrat Alex Sink and the Republican Rick Scott. And, of course, that debate is going to be tomorrow night on "JOHN KING, USA," at 7:00 p.m.
You also have a lot of House races that are on the line. A lot of Democrats are in trouble.
Thirty-nine seats for the Republicans to take back control of the House of Representatives, and Republicans think, if they can pick up four or five seats down here in Florida, they'll be well on their way to taking back the House majority, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And, obviously, you're not the only one who's in Florida. Sarah Palin just yesterday -- how was she received?
PRESTON: Very well. But, Sarah Palin, when you have people show up at these rallies, they tend to be the real activists. They're the ones that are really excited. Of course, her goal yesterday and the previous week in California is to try to encourage Republicans to keep the enthusiasm up.
There is a little bit of concern in the Republican Party right now that the enthusiasm gap will wane before the November elections. And they want these voters excited. They want these voters to not only go to the voting booth on November 2nd. They want them to get their neighbors to go to the voting booth. They want them knocking on doors.
So, Sarah Palin yesterday in Orlando, just to the west of me here, was rallying the troops. Of course, we've seen President Obama on the campaign trail. We'll see lots of Republicans on the campaign trail.
A lot on the line in these closing days of this midterm election -- Suzanne, T.J.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Mark.
HOLMES: And, of course, it's always unpredictable when you're talking about politics and live debates. And we've got a live one coming your way. Those three candidates we were just telling you about -- Crist, Meek, and Rubio -- are going to be facing off right here on our air. In the next two hours, you will see that.
Our Candy Crowley is going to moderate the Florida Senate debate, live, 9:00 Eastern, where you would normally see her and her show, "STATE OF THE UNION." Well, "STATE OF THE UNION" has a special today for you. It is going to be the Florida Senate debate. Don't miss it, two hours from now.
Coming up: We will continue with our political coverage, two of my favorite people to talk to from the left and from the right, because they can handle a civil conversation. Look at these -- look at that. Those two faces right there. Those two people aren't going to be yelling and barking at each other, are they?
We're going to be talking to Lenny and Maria after the break.
It's four minutes past the hour. Stick around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, five minutes past the hour right.
Each party trying to get the base excited about the midterms. And a recent poll suggests the Republicans are doing a better job at that. Take a look here.
According to the people we talked to, 54 percent of Republicans say they are either extremely or very enthusiastic about voting this year. And as you can see, only 34 percent of Democrats say they are enthusiastic.
Let's get some reaction from both sides, two people we really enjoy talking to here. Joining us from Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Democratic strategist Maria Cardona.
Hello to you, ma'am.
And also, in Charlotte, North Carolina: Republican analyst, Lenny McAllister back with us as well.
As always here, ladies first.
Maria, to you, where -- is there an October surprise? Are we done with that? Everything is going to stay true to form, or can anything happen now -- between now and a week and a couple days from now that can be a game-changer?
MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, I think the October surprise, T.J., is that Democrats are going to do much better than everybody thinks, than everybody has been giving them credit for. We saw a lot of polls, including a "Newsweek" poll this past weekend, where President Obama is at 54 percent approval rating. But importantly, the generic ballot has Democrats up 48 percent to 42 percent.
We also see early voting is very, very positive for Democrats right now. We're beating Republicans by 10 percent across the board. Our Democratic candidates, importantly, the ones that were very targeted by Republicans and should have been out by now, are hanging on. They are in the fight. They are talking to their constituents.
So, I think we're going to have a pretty good day on November 2nd.
HOLMES: Well --
CARDONA: I think you'll see that we're going to keep the House.
HOLMES: Well, I'll give you that. Lenny, that would be a surprise to a lot of people if -- if she's correct.
LENNY MCALLISTER, REPUBLICAN ANALYST: Well, it would be a surprise if she's correct.
But, you know, early voting is not something that the Republicans done well yet. So, that's not a surprise.
And with President Obama coming back out on the campaign trail, there's going to be a bump there. But there's still enough time for it to go down.
The difference is: Republicans have been campaigning against this Congress for two years. The Democrats just started campaigning 30 days ago, and the Democrats' message has changed.
Two years ago, President Obama was all about hope and change. Now, he's out there campaigning on fear and apprehension. That's a completely different message. It sounds an awful lot like the Republicans who got thrown out of office two and four years ago, that's how they used to campaign: scaring you into voting for them versus voting for the other guy.
HOLMES: OK.
MCALLISTER: President Obama doesn't do this that well.
HOLMES: OK, fear and apprehension. Maria, let me bring you back in here.
Are we as bad off as a country in our communities, in our neighborhoods, as you would think when you turn on the TV? I was out all last week talking to people in communities, and I was actually encouraged to find they're not bickering and going back-and-forth like we see a small percentage of people doing, namely politicians, who seem to sometimes hijack the air waves.
Are we as bad off as you would think if you're listening to politicians?
CARDONA: Right. Well, I think you hit it on the head, T.J., which is that, absolutely, there's a lot of angst. There's a lot of anger out there with what Washington has done and what Washington hasn't done.
But to your point, the American people have always been very, very positive. They want to look forward. They want to move forward, which is why the Democratic message has really been resonating of late because President Obama and the Democratic candidates are talking about how it's been the Democratic policies that have moved the country forward, trying to get us out of this ditch, this hole that Republican failed economic policies were the ones to put us here in the first place.
So, Democrats are really hoping that that message of hope, of moving forward, of progressing and fighting for the middle class against the special interests, which is the only thing that Republicans have fought for, you know, historically, is going to make sure that our core Democratic constituents and disaffected independents across the board will come out and vote for us and understand what is at stake.
HOLMES: And, Lenny, on that point, you see what I'm getting at? I talked to folks who sat across the table from each other. I don't agree with a doggone thing that guy over there is saying on religion, politics, taxes, or anything, but I'll buy him his cup of coffee. I saw that kind of agreement that was different from what I hear from politicians and pundits we have on TV day in and day out.
MCALLISTER: I agree with that. And I think that what needs to really happen from a nonpartisan point of view is that energy needs to take over politics. Unfortunately, what transpires is you find a lot of people, usually it's the fringes, the people that stay involved in politics all the time, that 10 percent that does, and now, you get people that are jumping on the bandwagon because the midterms are coming up in nine days. They'll get involved, and they'll go away.
And then who ends up running the energy politically once again? It becomes the same politicians and the same mindset.
Again, we have this hyper-partisanship coming out of Washington and coming out of the state capitals throughout the nation that needs to be cooled down by the people.
Now, if it there's anything that Maria and I can both agree upon, it's that we need to take politics back to the people at a higher level so that we have the decorum that we're supposed to have in American politics.
HOLMES: But, Maria, is the best thing that could happen to President Obama and his re-election bid is to lose Congress? He will have somebody -- he will have an enemy to run against. He can say, they stood in my way, and he can hold them accountable next time around when it's time for him to start campaigning. Could that be a good thing for this president in that regard, at least?
CARDONA: Well, I know that there's a lot of pundits who like to say that, but I think the bottom line is: no, I don't think that that would be either best for President Obama, or more importantly, best for the American people. President Obama and the Democrats have a very positive agenda of trying to move this country forward for economic progress, for education progress, for the future of our families, the future of our country. And the only way to really do that is to make sure that Democrats keep Congress so that they are able to help this president move that positive agenda forward.
HOLMES: But, Maria --
CARDONA: Unfortunately, what we've seen these past two years is that Republicans want to obstruct that progress.
HOLMES: Maria, and, Lenny -- I'll bring you in -- I hear what you're saying now. I know that Democrats believe in their agenda, but there's another half of the population that doesn't believe in that agenda, and that half believes they should have a say and have some kind of check on this president and this Congress, Lenny?
MCALLISTER: T.J., you know what, if the agenda was that positive, how come Democrats are not running on that agenda? People have not forgotten about the Cornhusker kickback, Gatorade, and everything else. They're not running on their accomplishments. They're not running on the stimulus. They're not running on health care.
They're running on, jeez, do you really want to give Congress back to the Republicans? That's a positive message. That's not a message that's moving forward. That's a message of scaring you by looking backwards to the Bush administration.
I don't know if it's going to play out as well as it did in 2008. And that is something we really would like to move away from. I do think the Republicans are going to take over Congress.
I hope that makes President Obama move to the center, get some stuff done with more cooperation, because people call the Republicans obstructionists, but people forget that there was a super majority, and they had an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives as well. They got their health care package. They got their stimulus package.
HOLMES: OK.
MCALLISTER: You can't blame Republicans on those two passages of legislation.
HOLMES: OK, Maria. Go ahead. I know you couldn't wait to jump in there. And you're going to have to wrap this up for me, but you were shaking your head and giggling the whole time while my man Lenny was talking. You go ahead.
CARDONA: The bottom line here is that Democrats are on the side of the middle class and working class families in this country. What we've seen from the Republicans and what we will see again, if they take over Congress, they will fight for the special interests, for the insurance industry, for big oil, for the financial companies, for credit card companies, who are the ones who have basically made life very tough for middle class families historically.
It's been Democrats that have stood on the side of middle class families in trying to move forward with economic progress. We hope Republicans will join us in fighting for the middle class in this country. That's what has made this country so great. We need to go back to that greatness, to that positive energy, to that positive image and work together to solve our greatest problems.
We would like nothing more than for Republicans to work with us on that.
HOLMES: All right, 15 seconds, Lenny. MCALLISTER: Well, I mean, the thing that Democrats in America need to remember -- they keep looking back to the Bush administration and the years prior to this, but, look, Tom DeLay isn't coming back to Capitol Hill. Marco Rubio is.
CARDONA: It's the history.
MCALLISTER: It's a different type of Republican. You can get different type of leadership. We've got to move forward, Maria, not look back, remember?
HOLMES: Lenny, Maria --
CARDONA: We tried your way. It didn't work.
HOLMES: On that point, though, will you guys come back next weekend so we can pick up right there?
MCALLISTER: Absolutely.
CARDONA: Absolutely, T.J.
HOLMES: Right on that point. We can look back all day long. But a lot of people would say, yes, this is a different crop, a different breed of politicians that are coming in. Who should get a chance as well? Don't just look at the "R" or the "D" next to the name.
So, we will start with that question next week if I can get you guys back. Good to see you as always. You'll enjoy the rest of your Sunday, all right?
MCALLISTER: Good to see you as well.
CARDONA: Thank you, T.J.
MCALLISTER: God bless.
CARDONA: Good to be here.
MALVEAUX: Get them back next week. You know, it's a civil conversation. That's refreshing to see.
HOLMES: It is. We try our best.
MALVEAUX: The R's and the D's doing the best they can.
HOLMES: We try our best here.
MALVEAUX: When CNN put out the call for church choir across the country to sing in one voice, the response was overwhelming.
(VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA DAWN JOHNSON, MORNING MOTIVATIONAL MINUTE: Good morning and welcome to another beautiful day. It's Melissa Dawn Johnson, your global branding and personal transformation strategist, and this is your morning motivation.
Well, one of the most undervalued but essential meals of the day is breakfast. You know, sometimes we get so busy in the hustle and bustle of our day that we forget the essentials of a very good and balanced breakfast.
So, as you get on with the week, I would encourage you to take a few tips. Number one: take time to eat. Make it a priority. If you've got to prepare your meals in advance, that can be a good thing as well.
Number two: make sure that hydration is a part of your day. Water is an essential part of keeping you energized and keeping you balanced.
And, finally, number three: take time to sit down. Oftentimes, we are so busy, we eat on the run. We're standing up. We're eating in the car. Taking time to enjoy a meal can do your body good.
All right. Until next time, please visit us at our Facebook group called Morning Motivation. I'd love to hear your tips on how you're staying motivated each and every day.
We'll see you soon. Make every day brand-tastic.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HOLMES: We're just letting it ride for our moment. But our mike has been open for a few seconds. But I just love this song, "Lovely Thing."
MALVEAUX: I love the song. This was a campaign song, too. One of those campaign songs you can jam to.
Well, church services across the country this morning, there are dozens of gospel choirs that are celebrating something new.
HOLMES: Yes, they participated in a worldwide project that was organized by us. When I say us, I mean Suzanne and I. They brought all their voices together to sing as one. It was actually CNN, but we're a part of it.
Josh Levs is with us with a song that should get us all going this morning.
JOSH LEVS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, you know what happened here. I mean, they reached out all over the world and they got really amazing response. More than 50 choirs took part in this project ultimately. And it's in association with "Black in America" this year, "Almighty Debt," which focused in part on the role of the church and the importance of the church.
So, our folks at CNN iReport reached out to all these choirs and said, hey, go ahead and send us your tape singing this song, and they put them all together. Let's take a look, and I'll tell you more about it.
(VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: We'll just let this keep going and I'll tell you a little bit of more while we watch this. They're singing "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" by Andrae Crouch. And what happened her was we, basically, the iReport team told everyone what key to sing in, to use the best quality mikes they could get to get some really good audio and they were encouraged to sing a cappella, all with limited instrumentation, which makes it easier for us here at CNN to mix it all together. The way you're hearing it.
They were encouraged to sing in a place of worship or in a location that they felt represents their hometown in a good way. So, in the end, more than 50 different choirs raising their voices. Let's listen to a little bit more, and I'll show you where the whole thing is.
(VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: That really is a beautiful thing.
All right. I know you want to hear the whole thing, which is why I've linked it up for you at Facebook and Twitter. Here my addresses: I'm at Facebook and Twitter, JoshLevsCNN.
Take a look at it right here. Good thing for you to see on a Sunday morning.
And, of course, be sure to tune in tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern for "Black in America," "Almighty Debt" with our Soledad O'Brien. One of the things we look at is the role of the church.
So, guys, you were absolutely right about that music. Good way to kick off Sunday morning and wake people up a little bit, huh?
HOLMES: I think I'm going to go to church this morning. I think I might.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: I feel like I have been to church -- have gone to church this morning. It's been nice.
HOLMES: This is not going to do. You still need to go.
LEVS: That didn't count.
HOLMES: Hear the word, OK?
MALVEAUX: Come on, it's beautiful.
HOLMES: Josh, we appreciate it.
LEVS: You got it. Thanks, guys.
HOLMES: Thanks.
Well, coming up: a 13-year-old that was battling a terminal disease. This is a great story, though. That sounds like a bad beginning to it. But the child is getting a wish fulfilled.
MALVEAUX: And we are actually with her as she takes a special trip to Alaska on a Coast Guard training helicopter, and she's wearing flight suit and all.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good Sunday morning to you. I'm meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. You're looking at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., enjoying a gorgeous sunrise. It really does look quite nice out there for today.
We're looking at some rain, though, sweeping across much of the nation's midsection. Lots of heavy downpours to the north of Chicago where it rained yesterday and to Michigan, all of that is sweeping to the north and east. So, New England will see wet weather.
And I hate to say it, even Boston, second day of the Head of the Charles, gorgeous weather yesterday. Oh, it's hard to get a perfect weekend Head of the Charles, last week. Last year, it actually snowed at the start of the race.
So, we'll be looking at rain sliding to the South as well into the Long Island area. Temperatures, though, look good.
I want to take a quick check of the tropics because we're still monitoring Richard out there. And here's Tropical Storm Richard bearing down on Honduras, Belize. Both of these countries have hurricane warnings in effect because the storm is just near hurricane strength.
And if you see the track, you'll see some good news with the storm. It's likely to dissipate when it reemerges into the Bay of Campeche. But before then, it will bring torrential downpours through Central America, three to five inches of rain. And we can't rule out mud slides.
We'll keep a close watch on Richard throughout the day.
Stay tuned, we have a lot more coming up, straight ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MALVEAUX: We have a really touching story that we want to share with you this morning. The girl in the flight suit you'll see is 13- year-old Claire Winland of California, and Claire is terminally ill with cystic fibrosis, but her dream was to visit Alaska, which she got a chance to do.
HOLMES: Yes, she got a flight aboard a Coast Guard helicopter. Rescue swimmers fit her with a custom flight suit that had her own name tag on it. She said the flight was amazing, and it was invigorating. She was so proud she wore her flight suit home during the commercial flight back to California. She probably has that thing on.
So, cool to see people go out of their way, Coast Guard helping out to make a dream like that come true.
Well, coming up by the top of the hour, more live news here as CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.
MALVEAUX: But first, "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." begins right now.
