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October 23, 2009
Posted: 03:27 PM ET
He's fighting extradition.
He's fighting extradition.

Can you imagine, Roman Polanski, finally being brought back to the United States?

Read the latest on the Polanski case by clicking here.

Can you imagine the scene when, I guess if, that actually happens?

Guess what? As of today, it's a step closer to happening.

31 years ago, he pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles, but he never did the time.

Instead, he skipped town.

The facts of the original case are keeping the story in the headlines, which is a problem for Polanski. Like the fact that he got the little girl drunk and got her high with quaaludes.

Polanski was busted last month when he went to Switzerland for a film festival.

He's desperately trying to fight extradition, but experts say it doesn't look good.

As of today, the U.S. has officially filed papers to have Polanski brought back to face justice.

We'll keep you posted.

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October 16, 2009
Posted: 12:14 PM ET

Earlier this week we provided quotes attributed to Rush Limbaugh to illustrate why some people and players felt that Limbaugh was too divisive to be an NFL owner.

One of these quotes, which was in a column in the St. Louis Post Dispatch and in a book largely about conservatives, was refuted by Limbaugh. We have been unable to independently confirm that quote.

We should not have reported it and for that, I apologize. I feel it is important to hold folks accountable when they make mistakes, and that should include myself and my team.

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October 1, 2009
Posted: 02:45 PM ET
Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski.

The growing defense in this country, coming mostly from the entertainment industry, of filmmaker Roman Polanski is nothing short of astounding.

Her deposition, for me, is the clincher. It leaves no doubt that this man got a 13-year-old girl drunk and stoned and then had sex with her many different ways.

Read details of the Polanski case, and what he's accused of doing here.

You can also read the original 1977 indictment by clicking here.

Polanski was finally arrested in Switzerland when he went there to receive a lifetime achievement award last weekend. Authorities have wanted to nab him since the 1970's.

I told you on CNN about some of the high-profile names in Hollywood who are defending him. And, we also showed you what Whoopi Goldberg said Monday on ABC's "The View."

We often use clips from "The View". And Whoopi Goldberg has always been very astute and transparant about coming on my show.

I understand from her people she was upset with me for doing this report and not including her newest comments. She's right.

Whoopi clarified her comment with the (correct) point that Roman Polanski was not CHARGED with rape. That was not the charge that he skipped out on when he fled to France.

Whoopi Goldberg is still wrong. What Polanski was willing to cop to and what he did are two completely different things.

It's right here, the facts:
He was 43. She was 13.
She was in his care.
He got her drunk.
He provided her drugs.
He got her naked in Jack Nicholson's hot tub.
She said "No" many times.
He sodomized her several different times and several different ways.

Really though, this all comes to one number: 13.
She was 13 years old.

Whoopi Goldberg denied our invitation to appear. We certainly understand.

No harm, no foul.

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July 21, 2009
Posted: 03:49 PM ET
PFC Bowe Bergdahl shown in a Taliban-released video
PFC Bowe Bergdahl shown in a Taliban-released video

I've seen and heard a lot in this business, but this one may take the proverbial cake, and it was said on national television.

Here's the set up: U.S. Army PFC Bowe Bergdahl is being held by the Taliban, and they're threatening to kill him.

He's an American, and there are questions about how he got captured, which I raised on CNN with my own analyst.

But look at what a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel said on the air on another network.

"If (Bergdahl) walked away from his post and his buddies at wartime...I don't care how hard it sounds, as far as I'm concerned, the Taliban can save us a lot of legal hassles and legal bills."

The whole interview is on the web on several of those clip-sharing sites. I've watched it a dozen times, and I still can't believe it.

A former U.S. military officer, Ralph Peters, saying that he would be OK with the Taliban executing PFC Bowe Bergdahl if he is, in fact, a deserter.

Is the military saying he's a deserter? No! Ralph Peters suggests he is.

PFC Bowe Bergdahl has a family and an entire town praying to God for his safety and release from the enemy.

I don't know what it's like to be in combat as a soldier. I don't know what it's like to be captured and held at gunpoint and threatened with death.

Maybe Ralph Peters does. After all, he seems willing to talk about it on national television.

Peters was an Army intelligence officer. As far as we can tell, he's never been captured by the enemy, pehaps hasn't even been in combat.

I'd like to ask him, but he won't return our calls.

Tell me what you think about this. Please.

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July 20, 2009
Posted: 03:33 PM ET
Michael Vick in August 2007.  Getty Images
Michael Vick in August 2007. Getty Images

For animal abuser Michael Vick, today really is the first day of the rest of his life: he's officially off house arrest.

Yes, as you've told me, he's proven to be selfish, egotistical and stupid, and you've even used a word I hate because more often than not, it has a racist connotation, the word "thuggish".

All that said, this guy used to have it all. Superstar, multimillionaire, and a talent so unique he really had no equal.

Then this phenomenal athlete, accused of doing one stupid thing after the other, finally is convicted of the stupidest act of all.

It was so brutal and so malicious.

I know, many of you say, "Yeah, but how about other NFL stars accused of crimes?"

Generally speaking, here's the difference:

What Vick did was willful.

It wasn't a drug problem, it wasn't a bar fight, or a car accident. (Key word there: "accident") It was willful!

In other words, he had to know when he heard the screams of dogs being beaten or electrocuted to death that what he was doing was awful, but he continued doing it.

But here's what else we know. He was busted for that, and he paid dearly. He lost his livelihood, his fortune and his freedom.

Still, you overhwelmingly told me on Twitter today that you're rooting for Vick to play again, even over media darling Brett Favre.

USA Today asked the same question. Vick's around 25%. Favre 18%. The rest voted both or neither.

In America, you seem to be saying to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that people who pay their debt deserve another chance.

You know what? I tend to agree.

What do you think?

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July 16, 2009
Posted: 03:39 PM ET
Adela Fernandez.  My mom.
Adela Fernandez. My mom.

Most of you thought that our visit with the "wise Latina women" in Miami was a cool and fresh idea. (Scroll down to see the clips) But some of you have written with some pretty harsh criticism about the fact that my mom doesn't speak English.

I'd be lying if I told you that didn't sting a little bit. But hey, I understand that many of you are more than a hundred years removed from your ancestor's arrival in America and that gives you a different perspective.

Rather than sharing research or historical analysis, let me just take this opportunity to share with you my perspective:

My mom can't express herself in English, because I can.
She isn't accomplished or wealthy, because I am.
My mom missed meals when I was growing up so that I could eat.

You see, my mom didn't bring me to America so she could become successful or educated. She brought me to America so I could become successful and educated.

She couldn't go to night school, because she spent 10 to 12 hours a day in a factory sewing leather shoes while my dad washed dishes and cleared tables at Miami beach hotels.

Their story is the story of millions of immigrants who came to America, maybe even the story of your ancestors. They struggled, went without and even sacrificed their own betterment, so that we could thrive.

I welcome your thoughts.

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May 28, 2009
Posted: 04:31 PM ET
Getty Images
Getty Images

Nothing out of context here!

Critics have been jumping on a quote from Judge Sotomayor's 2001 lecture given at a conference at the University of California at Berkeley.

Here's the quote, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

If you want to read the quote in context, you can read her ENTIRE speech right here: CLICK HERE.

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May 22, 2009
Posted: 08:42 AM ET

Occasionally, in this biz, we get to do something that cuts thru the bla, bla, bla. While I try everyday, some stories really matter and can change lives. The story of a dying Guatemalan 18 year old who many of you decided to help after seeing his story on our show, is one of them. His mom and dad will now be able to come and be by his side perhaps for one last time. This is the America we are. An update today at 3pm east.

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April 22, 2009
Posted: 09:56 AM ET

LWM

(Getty Images)

This is a picture of a 2007 demonstration by Brazil's Landless Workers' Movement, but their cause remains as strong as ever.

During one of our newscasts this week, I showed you some amazing video of a shootout between wealthy land owners in Brazil, and some disenfranchised peasants who occupied the property. These peasants are members of Latin America's largest social movement, the Landless Workers' Movement.

For copyright reasons, I can't post the video of that shootout on this blog, but it's out there, and I encourage you to find it and watch it.

Foremen from the wealthy land owner's ranch said they were protecting their property and fired in self-defense. The LWM activists said they were trying to free several of their own who were being held on the property against their will.

Members of the LWM frequently clash with ranchers when they occupy some land they feel is unevenly distributed. Often, those clashes turn very violent.

According to the LWM website, more than half of Brazil's land is controlled by less than 2 percent of the population. It's the classic HAVES versus HAVE NOTS.

I want to know what you think. Should you be able to take something away from someone, simply because you think they have too much?

I challenge you to read about this Landless Workers' Movement in Brazil. Find and watch some of their protests and clashes.

Then let me know how you feel about them.

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April 20, 2009
Posted: 03:46 PM ET

Miss California

(Getty Images)

This is Carrie Prejean, Miss California 2009.

If you haven't seen clips from Sunday night's Miss USA pageant, I'll bring you up to speed:

Miss California was one of the five finalists. She was asked by one of the judges, blogger Perez Hilton, whether she felt that every state in the union should follow the example of those states that have have legalized same-sex marriage.

She replied, "I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

Cool. She was asked her opinion, and that's what she gave, right?

Well, Carrie did not win the pageant, she was runner-up. Do you think her answer to the same-sex question impacted the outcome of the pageant?

Tell me what you think.

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