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New York City Subpoenas Filmmaker; Statue of Christopher Columbus get a Renovation; Vice President Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will Face off on Thursday; Venezuela is holding Presidential Election Today;

Aired October 07, 2012 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: All right, Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We will start with a deadly shooting on Alabama college campus. The campus police officer shot and killed an 18-year-old at the University of South Alabama overnight. School officials say Gilbert Collar was naked and acting erratically and say he confronted the officer, rushed him several times and ignored warnings to back off. The school says the officer shot the young man in the chest once. And the young man's friends say they are shocked at what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLGAN MEANOR, FRIEND: You could ask anyone that knew him. He was a great, loving guy. Always made people smile. You know, is not the kind of guy that people knew him and said he would do something like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN legal contributor Paul Callan said Alabama Lawn may well comes into play in this case down the road.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Alabama also has virtually the identical stand your ground law that Florida has. So, do you know that the officer in this case can probably say he was -- he felt he was in danger of his life and he was standing his ground and shooting? So, I'm betting as these proceeds, you may see that law that we heard so much about in this case in Florida rear its ugly head in Alabama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The officer involved in the shooting has been put on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns is defying a subpoena issued by the city of New York over his latest film "Central Park 5." It's a movie about the five men who were ultimately exonerated in the 1989 central park jogger rain case. The city wants his outtakes, but Burns wants investigators to prove they need them.

Susan Candiotti has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This documentary, the latest project of filmmaker Ken Burns, whose daughter is co-director, tells the story of five black and Latino teenagers. They were convicted of raping and brutally beating a white female jogger in New York's central park in 1989.

SARAH BURNS, FILMMAKER: It was a huge media story. There was a lot of coverage, but everything got it wrong at that time.

CANDIOTTI: The five teenagers confessed to the crime after what they said was an unfair interrogation. They were charged even though none was a match for a DNA sample found at the scene. Turns out it belonged to this man.

BURNS: He commits at least five more rapes that we know of after the central park jogger.

CANDIOTTI: But the serial rapist did not confess until after the five teens already had served sentences ranging for 7 to 11 years. A judge threw out the convictions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The verdicts have been set aside in their entirety.

CANDIOTTI: A victory for the five men. Yusef Salaam, now 38, was one of them.

YUSEF SALAAM, 38-YEARS-OLD: After being exonerated, it's almost like somebody running through free through the grass and just throwing their hands up yelling. You know, it's such a -- the feeling is of over joy and happiness.

CANDIOTTI: Harder to overturn was public perception. The case inflamed racial tensions in the city. The teens were called animals and savages. Donald Trump took out a full-page ad asking to bring back the death penalty.

SALAAM: If they had their ways, we would have been hanging from some of these lovely trees in central panic.

CANDIOTTI: The five men file aid federal lawsuit a decade ago accusing the city of violating their civil rights and by coercing the confessions. The city has defended the way it conducted its investigation, and now its lawyers are seeking outtakes from the Burns documentary to bolster its case. The filmmakers refuse citing shield laws that protect journalists.

BURNS: We believe we were protected under the shield laws as journalists, and don't think it's fair for the government to intrude in our research.

CANDIOTTI: A lawyer for the city says the film isn't journalism because it advocates for the five. In a statement the city says quote, "if the plaintiffs truly want an open airing of the fact, they should encourage the filmmakers not to hide anything." The filmmakers claim the documentary sticks to the fact.

What do you make of the city trying to go after the outtakes?

SALAAM: The city needs to stop dragging their feet. I don't think that they would find anything other than what they already know. Now, we were innocent, and this is just going to continue to further restate that.

CANDIOTTI: Yusef Salaam says no matter the outcome, he may never fully escape his nightmare that started in this park.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama is in Los Angeles at this hour. He's there raising cash at a fund-raiser. You may recall he just set a record of $181 million in September. White House correspondent Dan Lothian is traveling with the president.

So Dan, at this point he's on record to raise almost a billion dollars now, and that's not including those outside super PACs. How much is he expecting to raise tonight?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, millions of dollars, and we'll try to break that down later on in the evening, exactly how much they're expected to raise. But, they really believe this is important money that they need for a couple of reasons. First of all, the race is very tight. When you look at the national numbers, the race is very close. And then you break it down to those key battleground states in Ohio, in Florida, in Colorado and Virginia. Very close there as well.

And so, they need it this money to really beef up their ground operation going into Election Day and also saturate rather the air waves with all those television ads going after the GOP opponent. And so, a lot of money, they're bringing in millions of dollars. A lot of that money also is going out the door as well, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So Dan, you know, a lot of questions have been asked of the president, and everyone else since the debate about, you know, a nearly unrecognizable Obama during the debate. But then, the next day he kind of came alive. He was on fire again, et cetera. Has his camp said anything about his new strategy or returning to the old strategy, anything to that degree?

LOTHIAN: Right. Well, they have talked about the president responding to the Romney that they said showed up at the debates. The president very aggressive now and all indications are that is the strategy into the next debate as well.

But, one thing we're seeing is that top advisers for the president are also still attacking Mitt Romney for his performance during that debate. In fact, on the Sunday morning shows, a couple of top advisers, David Axelrod, also Robert Gibbs calling it him dishonest. Another one is saying that Mitt Romney has a strange relationship with the truth. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to take away from Mitt's master folk, theatrical performance. He did a superb acting job, you know. He did everything but learn tap dance.

DAVID AXELROD, OBAMA CHIEF CAMPAIGN STRATEGIST: I think he was dishonest absolutely when he said he never proposed $5 trillion in tax cuts. That was dishonest. He said on the broadcast to 70 million Americans, I will repeal Obama care, but I will still be able to cover people with pre-existing conditions. And ten minutes after the debate, he sent someone into the pressroom to say he really didn't mean that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: Ed Gillespie, cop adviser of the Romney campaign, essentially accusing the Obama campaign of being sore losers on ABC this morning. He compared them to 7-year-olds who lost the checkers game and cleared the board off the table -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Now, let's talk about the president's plans. He will be returning to Ohio. He spent a lot of time in that swing state feeling that it's particularly vital, much more vital than other swing states like, say, Florida?

LOTHIAN: It really is. I mean, in order to win the White House, you really have to be able to win Ohio. So, this is key for the president. I've said this now for quite some time. If you want to know the states critical it to winning the White House or regaining the White House, you just have to look at the president's travel schedule. And he has been in Ohio. He's done bus tours in Ohio. We were just there at the end of last week. He will be returning on Tuesday as well. And so, this is a critical state for the president.

And one of the things that he has been able to really push there is the auto industry recovery. A lot of jobs there are than the national average. And so, the president has been talking these key elements up there, hopeful that that will drive the voters there to vote for him come Election Day. Again, it's a critical state not only for the president but for Mitt Romney, and that's why you see them both spending so much time in the state of Ohio.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dan Lothian, traveling with the president there on the west coast, thanks so much.

So, Republican Mitt Romney is spending the weekend in Florida where he's talking to crowds and trying to win their support. He spent yesterday preparing for the next debate. It's a must-win state if he wants to capture the White House. And today Romney again went on the offense against President Obama on health care.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If he is re-elected, he will install Obama care. And with it your premiums will go up an extra $2,500 above what they already are in your current healthcare plan. That's according to the congressional budget office. My plan is that I will finally get control of the excessive costs in health care by repealing and replacing Obama care with real reforms.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Romney and Obama will debate again just nine days from now, October 16th.

All right, you can watch the vice presidential debate right here on CNN this week. Joe Biden/Paul Ryan, go at it on Thursday. Our coverage begins at 7:00 eastern time.

The rumble in the air-conditioned auditorium lived up to the name last neat. FOX News host Bill O'Reilly and "the Daily Show" host Jon Stewart faced off in a debate at George Washington University. And some found this debate more entertaining than the presidential one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL O'REILLY, FOX NEWS HOST: In man has offended -- this man over here has offended every single American. Are you go to stand there -- are you sitting or standing?

JON STEWART, HOST, THE DAILY SHOW: I read the bible.

O'REILLY: We are only as good --

STEWART: I am short, but when you tell me I'm short, I don't blame the liberal weights or measures bureau. I don't suggest that my numbers are skews and I'm really 6'1" if only the lame street media would tell people. I trust I'm 5'7".

O'REILLY: That's right. And you don't know this, but the feds pay for that lift, all right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: If you missed it last night watch it online at therumble2012.com.

All right, people in the United States are lining up today to for president, but the man they are hoping to elect is actually in Venezuela. We will go there live.

And the countdown is on in Florida for a launch into space, but NASA won't involve in this mission tonight. The military wives go topless in support of their husbands. We'll show you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's Election Day in Venezuela and people are going to the polls to vote for their next president. President Hugo Chavez hopes to hold onto power. His challenger in this election is a centrist state governor.

International security correspondent, Paula Newton, is live from Caracas now.

So Paula, why the Venezuelan presidential election so important particularly for the U.S.?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, it may not be something that people think of, but what happens in this country could affect us when we go to the gas station. Venezuela remains the country with the largest proven reserves in the world. That is the largest producer of oil in the western hemisphere and it accounts for anywhere from eight to nine percent of all gas sold in the United States.

But more than that, Fred, you know, Hugo Chavez has been such a critic of the United States, more notably when President Bush was in office. But, you know, he has kind of made that really a rallying pride for the independents of this country saying he is fighting against the materialist and for excuses from making - from nationalizing everything from the steel industry to the oil industry.

And so a change here would mean a lot for the United States, in many different was. Not just oil and energy companies, but really, in our relations with South America in general.

WHITFIELD: And so, would election results come in a matter of hours or perhaps days after polls close?

NEWTON: Hopefully not days. They have a very organized election system here. The line-ups have been long, I can tell you that. By the same token they expect results in the wee hours. But, you know, perhaps six or seven hours from now we should know what's happening.

And you know, there is some apprehension, this election could be very close. Some people filtered out exit polls already, and they're vastly different depending on the canvassing of the opposition or the government. Each side is saying they're going to win.

But, Fred, I want to listen now to a young voter that I spoke to earlier today, and listen to what he told me when I asked him about voting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: You don't want to say who you're voting for?

JESUS BETANCOURT, VOTER: Yes, because the vote is secret. And the important thing is that every Venezuelan is going to vote and make his or her decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: You know, many people say this vote will be momentous if people that want to vote for the opposition actually get out there and vote. There is a suspicion that the government will know how you voted and hold it against you later on. I mean, everyone from the opposition to the government to the electoral commission has been telling people to vote. It will stay secret, but still, a lot of suspicion here.

WHITFIELD: All right, Paula Newton. Thanks so much in Caracas.

So, Venezuelan ex-patriots in the U.S. are also voting. There were a lot of long lines in the early hours of the morning in New Orleans.

Senior Latin affairs editor Raphael Romo is here with we now. Pretty sizable crowds there in New Orleans.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: And people here in the United States may wonder why in New Orleans, right, because there really aren't that many Venezuelans in New Orleans. But, the answer is because Venezuelans in the United States mainly concentrate in Miami, but what happened in January of this year, President Chavez decides to close down the consulate because the consul there is declared persona non grata. The opposition says it is because that's largest contingency of opposition voters abroad.

And so, regardless, Venezuelans organize and they go to New Orleans, in caravan. They charter flights, and they go in masses, as many that can. There are 20,000 registered voters in Miami. I don't know if everybody was able to go to New Orleans, but that's the reason why you see those lists there in Miami. Now, we had an opportunity to speak to some of the voters, and this is what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREGORIO DRYER, VENEZUELAN VOTER FROM GEORGIA: I think it's impressive the effort that many people have done, especially coming on the bus here to New Orleans, a trip that may 16 hours. And they arrived here to New Orleans just to vote and take the bus back to their homes. I think that that is commendable.

GREGORIO BRITO, VENEZUELAN VOTER FROM FLORIDA: We're going to prove to the world that we can do a change of the situation in Venezuela with the vote, everybody. We drove 23 hours to be here. And we can tell the people in Venezuela, there's no reason to stay in their houses. It doesn't matter who you vote for. You have to vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Keywords there, change the situation in Venezuela, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: I heard that.

ROMO: That's the reason. He's saying that because President Hugo Chavez is a polarizing figure. A lot of the exiles here in the United States, and there are about 100,000 voters, abroad, 70 percent here in the United States. Most of them are in the opposition, and they change, we want to change the situation, we want to change the government and kick President Chavez out of power.

WHITFIELD: And if they didn't feel that way prior to, I guess, the consulate in Miami closing, then that kind of cemented a new sentiment, didn't it?

ROMO: Just to give you an idea before this election there were 56,000 Venezuelans in the United States register it had to vote. The number went up to 100,000. And I also, wanted to show something, Fredricka. This is the actual ballot that Venezuelans are using. You see a lot of little pictures of President Chavez on the up top, a lot of little picturing on the opposition candidates --

WHITFIELD: Notice there's just two candidates here.

ROMO: What happens is that, all of these parties have aligned with one or other candidate. It's not like here in the United States where you go Democrat or Republican. You have more than a dozen parties, and it all depends who you're with that the candidates appear with me. The problem is that some of these parties are no longer in circulation. Some are not representing one candidate, and if the voter just happens to ride across on top of it, the ballot is going to be invalid. So, -- but, I just wanted to show you how difficult this is.

WHITFIELD: That's fascinating. All right, thank so much.

Rafael Romo. Appreciate it.

All right, "star trek" called space the final frontier. Well now, it also has galaxy-sized business possibilities and a company will take the first plunge with an important launch, and that's tonight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Space travel will officially begin as a business with an important launch tonight. That's the SpaceX rocket on the pad ready to carry cargo to the international space station.

Our John Zarrella is live for us in Miami. So, is this a pretty big moment?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It really is, Fredricka. This is a big deal. If the weather holds and it's iffy right now, some cloud cover at the Kennedy space center. But, up at Cape Canaveral, the falcon 9 rockets with the dragon capsule on top are ready to go, 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time launch. Everything looks to go smoothly on its way to the re-supply mission to the international space station.

Now, if you are out there, you say what's the big deal? Didn't they do this already? Well, yes, they did back in May. SpaceX became the first commercial company to ever send a spacecraft to the international space station, birth with the space station and that return that vehicle safely to earth.

But that was a demonstration flight. In essence, this is the real deal, and you're flying basically without a net. Now, Bob Cabana who is the head of the Kennedy space center and a foreman shuttle astronaut said in a news conference that in essence, this will usher in a new era at the Kennedy space center. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT CABANA, DIRECTOR, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER: Overall, tremendous progress towards really becoming what was once science-fiction but a multi-user space port with horizontal, vertical launch, landing capabilities slicing the SLF, as well as the facilities that we have available from shuttle along with this outstanding work force that's available down here to help make that transition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, the dragon capsule is carrying about 1,000 pounds of cargo, everything from food to scientific experiments. And if for some reason, Fredricka, they can't get off the ground tonight, if the weather interrupts them, they will try again tomorrow, which is Columbus Day, which is kind of would be fitting, exploration on Columbus Day.

WHITFIELD: OK. I see the tide. That's sounds good.

All right, John Zarrella. Thanks so much.

All right, it sounds impossible, but a seasoned skydiver is out to set a world record when he jumps out of a balloon 23 miles up. And both presidential campaigns are aimed at undecided voters. We will size up that important group.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's almost called the duel in Danville. The vice presidential candidate will meet in Kentucky for the first and only debate Thursday night. As Athena Jones explains past debates have produced plenty of memorable moments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who could forget that wink? Then Governor Sarah Palin winking during her 2008 debate with fellow vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, not just once but some half a dozen times. Then there's Senator Lloyd Bentsen's dig at Senator Dan Quayle in 1988.

LLYOD BENTSEN (D), 1988 ICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

(LAUGHTER)

JONES: Memorable moments, but hardly game-changers. While presidential debates can affect the outcome of an election, vice presidential debates, like this week's upcoming match-up between vice president Biden and his GOP challenger Paul Ryan, are a different animal.

MARGARET HOOVER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You need to be able to see that each vice presidential candidate has hit the standard of readiness; that they will be ready in an emergency in a national crisis to be able to step into the oval office and to take the reins of the presidency. But, beyond that, in terms of the actual debate itself, unless there is a stark killing or stark catching moment, it rarely changes the course of the debate.

JONES: Democratic strategist Donna Brazile says the first rule here is to do no harm.

DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: In terms of substance, try not to break any new ground. This is an audition for 2016. This is about 2012, and the top of the ticket.

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't like a damn thing about him.

JONES: Biden, who participated in more than 20 debates and forums in the 2008 campaign, said the contests are never easy.

BIDEN: What I've been doing mostly is quite frankly studying up on Congress Ryan's positions on issues. And Governor Romney has embraced at least everything is can see. I don't want to say anything in debate that is not completely accurate.

JONES: So, what are the candidates' biggest strength? Others will say for Ryan, is his ability to speak in details about policy issue. For Biden, his ease in talking about how national policies affect ordinary people.

Here's Congressman Ryan's take on Biden.

REP. PAUL RYAN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's fast on the cuff. He is witty guy. He knows who he is and has been doing this for 40 years. So, you're not going to rattle Joe Biden. Joe is very good on the attack. Joe is very good in trying to confuse the issues.

JONES: When it comes to advice for the candidates?

BRAZILE: Try to be comfortable in your skin, be rested. Look into the camera and smile from time to time.

JONES: And a little humor always helps.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can see my wife, and I think she's thinking, gee, I wish you could go out in the private sector.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Allow me to try to help you do that, Joe.

(LAUGHTER)

JONES: Athena Jones, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And you can watch the vice presidential debate right here on CNN. Joe Biden and Paul Ryan go at it Thursday evening. Our coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. All right, this close to the election, who remains undecided? Polls show it's just a sliver of the electorate, but they could help determine the race. Josh Levs is here to show us a unique look at undecided -- Josh.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fred. Let's start off acknowledging, there are a lot of people out there joking about the idea of being undecided this late in the race, including "Saturday Night Live." Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before you get our vote, you're going to answer some questions. Questions like --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When is the election? How soon do we have to decide?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are the names of the two people running? And be specific.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who is the president right now? Is he or she running? Because if so, experience is maybe something we should consider.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: Oh, my goodness. But, I'll tell you what. When you hear from people you're about to hear from, it might give you a different impression of undecided voters. Take a look of what I have got right here. This is a brand-new tab at cnn.com/undecided. Our crack team really dug into the figures and looked at who are the undecided voters in America. And they ended up focuses on six groups of people, millennial, catholic, long-term unemployed, women, Latinos, single women, and evangelical voter that make up many of the remaining undecided voters.

And then, we went out to different states and interviewed someone who represents that group. I want you to hear from a man who is a member of the long-term unemployed and what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE STOLTZ, UNDECIDED VOTER: When I voted for President Obama, I really felt that things were going to get better. He really instilled a lot of hope in me and my family. And then I started to lose that hope and was unsure about where he's leading our country. A really, good, detailed plan for the economy will definitely sway my vote one way or the other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: And who isn't looking for a really detailed plan? I will tell you what. You can hear from a lot of more of them when you visit this spread at CNN.com. And I want to let you know how far out we went on this. We talked to this people about what it is that they are looking for from each candidate? Why they're torn? In some cases they voted for President Obama before hand as that man did. In some cases they did not, and now just are not sure for various reasons.

And our team went so far as to look at what their favorite clothes are and their jewelry and favorite shoes are. This really be intense profiling, I will tell you. It's opened my mind and will open a lot of minds out there.

CNN do CNN.com/undecided help you understand who people around the country that could help really sway the election, Fred.

WHITFIELD: So, are we saying those favorite things, jewelry, clothes, et cetera, has something to do with your political persuasion?

LEVS: I don't think so. When we look at what we did here, ultimately, it's a very, very good, very intense profile of several voters out there, six voters out there who represent different categories. Now, I don't think the shoes you wear determine it. But, the more you get to know these people, the more you start to, you know, want some details. It's interesting to dig into their lives.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right, fascinating stuff. We like that. Thank you so much, Josh.

LEVS: You got it.

WHITFIELD: All right, a man is going to attest his physical endurance and hopefully set a world record for sky-diving by jumping from a balloon 23 miles up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Here's a balloon ride into history. A daredevil with the nickname fearless Felix hopes to set a new record by free falling from the rim of space. The bad weather has forced a delay until Tuesday. He's already tried it from a lower altitude. This time he rides a balloon 23 miles into the stratosphere before jumping out.

Brian Todd is live in Roswell, New Mexico.

Boy, he has nerves made of steel, doesn't it?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He sure does, Fredricka. There are a lot of potential risks in this mission. You know, when you talk about that kind of altitude, you mentioned 23 miles above the surface of the earth, 122,000 feet above the surface of the earth.

All sorts of things could go wrong on this mission. He could have an uncontrollable spin whereby, he has to somehow, try to gauge the horizon and stabilize himself. The temperatures up there are very severe, very hostile. We were told that it gets to maybe as low as 70 degrees below zero up there. So, if his high pressure suite is compromised somehow, that could be a problem for him. He could become unconscious, and in that event people at mission control, here in Roswell will have to activate his parachute for him once he gets to a certain height.

And also, if his pressure suit is compromised at those very high altitudes, there's a chance that the lack of pressure that far up could actually just drain the air from his lungs and his blood could actually boil. I'm not sure the scientific -- the equation beyond saying that, but that's what we've been told by experts here.

So, lots of risks here, but this team has spent five years preparing for this. They have every scientific detail just down to the T, and they're looking forward to this mission at this point, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so, he is doing this to potentially set two records?

TODD: That's right. What he's got going first is the potential for the record for the longest freefall ever. When he jumps from 122,000 feet, he goes about 117,000 feet in free fall. And he will set his parachute going at about 5,000 feet above the earth. So that's one record that he'll set.

The other record that he is going to set is for speed. He's going to be breaking the speed of sound, 690 miles per hour outside of a space vehicle. No one has done that before wearing nothing but a helmet, a space suit and parachute, so 690 miles per hour, a speed record. He is going to be breaking the speed of sound if all goes well.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And just looking at that balloon, you sort of start thinking about the melting potential or perhaps even, you know, the thinness of the space suit. You talk about the helmet, how all those things are going to be able it to, you know, respond to the environment.

TODD: Well, you know, that's a big question, too. But, they have designed his suit and the balloon and the capsule to withstand all this. We are going to actually show you where the balloon is going to be launched. Our photo journalist mike love and I kind of pivot over to the field over here.

This is where the balloon will be launched with the capsule. The balloon, by the way, is going to 55 stories high and there it is going to pull him up to the edge of space. The plan is for, you know, once he steps off and starting the free fall, the balloon and capsule will fall back to earth on their own and retreat. So, the plan is to preserve those two things for history, and hopefully that will happen and all of this can be preserved. It's going to be very exciting. It is only going to take about 20 minutes total, so we'll see.

WHITFIELD: All right, you are poised to witness it all.

All right, thanks so much, Brian Todd, keep us posted. Again, this might now happen on Tuesday pending weather.

All right, some military wives knew this would get your attention. Going topless, but there's a series cause behind what they're doing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Some military wives in Tennessee are taking a unique approach to raise awareness about post traumatic stress disorder. They're going topless for their cause.

Julia Bruck with our affiliate WSMB shows us how the wives came up with the idea to battle bare.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BRUCK, REPORTER, WSMB (voice-over): Ashley Wise uses this eyeliner to bring attention to more than just her eyes. She pens a battling bare pledge on her back of army wife Jennifer Brown for a photo to add to the group's facebook page.

ASHLEY WISE, FOUNDER, BATTLING BARE: This pledge that you're making for your spouse is just as important as marriage vows.

BRUCK: Wise said she came up with the pledge and battling bare at a desperation which she says grew as she try today get help at Fort Campbell for her husband with PTSD.

WISE: I felt like striking general drawing because there may be a naked woman would get attention and they wouldn't sweep me under the rug. I decided to instead, do a photo campaign and it was what I call a God moment, pledged picture and ten minutes later, it was on facebook.

BRUCK: This is a picture Wise took wearing her husband's hat and holding his gun. But Wise said her husband was not her only inspiration.

ALICIA MCCOY, WIDOW: These are my husband's dog tags. They were found in his car when they retrieved his car and brought it back to me after they found my husband's body.

BRUCK: Alicia McCoy's husband, Sergeant Brandon McCoy committed suicide in March. She says her husband sought help for PTSD but it wasn't enough.

MCCOY: Our soldiers have a lot to say. They have a lot bottled up inside of them. And no one's listening. I feel like they're afraid to be able to be able to say what they need to say because they're afraid it's going to hurt their record.

BRUCK: It's a silence Wise and the other women hope to slowly break with battling bare's mission.

WISE: Insuring that the stigma of PTSD goes away and people talk about it. And that's really the biggest thing. And in talking, there's healing. And not ignoring it because ignoring it, people are dying.

BRUCK: One picture, pledge, and soldier at a time.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Melissa Bourgeois is one of those wives. Her husband is an army sergeant who suffers from PTSD. Experts say one in five who returned from deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq have PTSD. And among those who served in just the past six years, that's 300,000 military men and women.

Melissa and Eric are joining me right now on the phone from Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Melissa, you first. You know, what made you jump on the battling bare campaign?

MELISSA BOURGEOIS, BATTLING BARE, PERSONNEL COO (via phone): I had joined the battles bare campaign right after the picture went live, and once I seen her picture and read that pledge, it was a pledge for me was something that I felt but was never able to verbalize.

So immediately after I read the pledge I sent the message it to Ashley telling her that, you know, anything I can do let me know. And they were just getting off the ground at that point. So she said, you know, just come on over and we'll get a picture taken and take it from there.

WHITFIELD: So the pledge was one thing. Were there other specific messages to convey through writing on your body?

MELISSA BOURGEOIS: Just that we're here it to support our husbands, and we are going it to fight this fight until the end, that we will fight for our husbands. And we will not let this die or go away. We are here to stay, and we are here to fight the fight.

WHITFIELD: So, Eric, you're with me as well. Give me an idea how this has impacted you. It's one thing to be able to convey to your wife, to other loved ones what you've been experienced through PTSD, and it's another to then see this pledge, see these messages that so many wives are writing on their bodies in honor of your experience and that of others.

ERIC BOURGEOIS, SERGEANT, SUFFERS FROM PTSD (via phone): I think it's a bold movement as far as the spouses are concerned. A lot of the military men can get help where the spouses just don't have the outlets to do it. Finally, they have a source to go to.

WHITFIELD: And how does this make you feel about your own personal plight and healing?

ERIC BOURGEOIS: It definitely helps with the healing. As long as I can do it with somebody, it helps out so much more than doing it individually.

WHITFIELD: Eric and Melissa Bourgeois, thanks so much for your time from Fort Campbell. We appreciate it.

All right, New York's Columbus circle is getting a new makeover, so why are some people upset about that? We will have that for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, CNN NEWSROOM with Don Lemon coming up in just a few minutes. Why does it feel like it has been weeks/months?

DON LEMON, CNN HOST, NEWSROOM: Because it has.

WHITFIELD: I know. Where you been?

LEMON: I'm using up my vacation. I don't take any time of and at the end of the year they are like can you take this vacation? I'm usually off like a whole month of December. But, I have been taking it. And I went to a great wedding last weekend in New York with Thomas Roberts and his partner, very nice wedding.

WHITFIELD: He is a former of HLN.

LEMON: Yes, former in HLN, and his partner.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Nice wedding.

LEMON: Yes, very nice wedding. Congratulation congratulations, guys.

OK. Let's talk bull media, politics and media. Ann Romney co-hosting "Good Morning America" next week on a Wednesday, Wednesday, the 10th, the Thursday before the vice presidential debate. That debate is in Danville, Kentucky of course on Thursday, the 11th.

But, should the wives or even the husbands of candidates be sitting next to the reports who are supposed to be interviewing them? Does it change the dynamics of the journalism, the journalist and candidate dynamic, the relationship?

It's been a big debate, even discussed this morning on the Sunday talkers. And by the way, GMA has reached out to the first lady. And we are going to talk about this in depth of my show.

And then later on, Fred, tonight, remember that Wisconsin anchor caused a storm of controversy after responding to an e-mail about her weight from a viewer? Well, why did she do it? And was it fair to call it bullying? Was it fair, America seemed to rally around her but there are some people who actually say, she was the bully. Yes. Last night I discussed with Wendy Walsh and then full-figured model, Emme.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOCTOR WENDY WALSH, HUMAN BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST: Calling it bullying is insane because we loosely use this term now because it is hip in the pop site culture. The truth is these were two human beings communicating with each other and they - each tried a different method of communication. He had an e-mail. He could blog, and put it on the Internet if he wants it so the world can see it. She had her television microphone and camera. These were adults communicating their opinions.

EMME, MODEL: There was a line as a reporter crossed. However, it was perfect timing with the culture of being as hot and as really urgent for body culture, the obesity situation, how stereo types really hurt. Words hurt. And I think it was the last straw.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And here's the other question, Fred, was the viewer right? Do we enable people in this country who are addicted to food and overeating? Some people it is medical, but most people in the country are overweight because of food choices, bad food choices, bad lifestyle choices. And I'm going to speak to an addiction doctor who says the whole thing about thyroids is usually an excuse. There are very few issues, people have - there are very few number of people with issues and their thyroids. It's usually an excuse for something else.

WHITFIELD: All right. We are going to be watching it all.

LEMON: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Well, feisty dialogue that would be exchanged. I'm sure.

LEMON: Thank you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Don, good to see you. I'm right here. Boy, I'm right here.

LEMON: All of you, looking good.

WHITFIELD: Anyway. Good to see you. All right, we will see you in a couple minutes.

All right, New York's Columbus circle is getting a new makeover just in time for Columbus Day. And guess what? It is upsetting a lot of people. We'll have that for you.

LEMON: When I was in New York, I saw that. It was cool looking?

WHITFIELD: Did it upset you?

LEMON: No, I like it.

WHITFIELD: OK.

LEMON: We'll talk.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: After years of being left out in the cold, a man has been given a new home. So, is everyone happy about Christopher Columbus' new accommodation?

Our Richard Roth finds out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christopher Columbus has stood talk in New York's Columbus circle since 1892. One big problem though. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been living in the city since 1966, Columbus circle has always been there. But you don't look up? You can't see it, it's so high.

ROTH: Faster than you can say, Nina, Pinta (ph), and Santa Maria, the city and a public art group set sail to bring the people to Columbus.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch out.

ROTH: Columbus had to make an extremely long ocean voyage to discover the Americas. To discover Christopher Columbus' statue here, you can walk up six flights of stairs, of which to me is a lot more argue instead of boat ride. We are about to see them up close and personal in a living room.

Columbus may have discovered the new world, now, New Yorkers and tourists enter another new world to re-discover Columbus. Columbus appears to have time travelled into the future standing on a coffee table in living room America, couch, cable TV and wallpaper starring Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Columbus staying where he was and this all took shape around him.

ROTH: Only Columbus has seen these views before of major New York avenues.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like to think of it as Christopher Columbus finally getting a piece of the American dream, his unharmed front row dress circle in New York City.

ROTH: Japanese artist Tatsunishi (ph) who specializes in transforming public spaces brought Columbus out of the cold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am so happy to have my work in New York City.

ROTH: Some people are not happy an Italian icon is hidden away in a living room.

ROSARIO IACONIS, ITALIC INSTITUTION OF AMERICA: If they wanted to exalt the admiral of the ocean, they wouldn't have encased it in this boxy frame that is before in macerating his art.

ROTH: So I walked up more steps at Italy's New York consulate to discuss what was done to Italian sea captain by a Japanese artist in Manhattan.

NATALIE QUINTIVALLE, ITALIAN CONSUL GENERAL OF NEW YORK: Arts is a language supposed to unify people and different cultures.

ROTH (on camera): Now I ordered Chinese takeout, will the delivery man come up here to the living room so I can watch TV here along with Chris?

(voice-over): You can explore this exhibit until November 18th. Then the ancient mariner freed from New York pigeons gets major cleaning and repairs.

Richard Roth, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: OK, that's pretty fascinating. That's going to change the view of Columbus Circle, at least for another month.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, you're like, I'm not sure about blocking the view, it's beautiful, right?

WHITFIELD: You know, the story-telling was great, but I've seen the concept, it's interesting and different.

LEMON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Take it away, Don.

LEMON: Enjoy your weekend. Appreciate it.

WHITFIELD: You too.