for all of us here, we thank you for watching. good night from new york. now "campbell brown." tonight, here are the questions we want answered. who killed the parents of 16 children in their own bedroom? >> total number of people we are looking for are six to eight. >> the execution-type killings were carried out with military precision. why would anyone target this family? plus, is sonia sotomayor a lock for the supreme court? >> unless you have a complete meltdown, you're going to get confirmed. >> some republicans want her out, because of her wise latina comments. wait nlt you hear from one of the most controversial nominees in recent history? judge robert bork is tonight's "newsmaker." was michael jackson murdered? that's the claim his sister, la toya's making. police say it was overdose or homicide. we may see the toxicology report

this week. what will the investigation reveal? also, president obama gets personal. >> i think it's the most profound decision that i've made since i've been president, and i think about it every day. >> anderson cooper joins us live with his exclusive interview. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com hi, everybody. those are are our big questions tonight. but we start as always with the matchup. our look at the stories making an impact right now and the moments you might have missed today. we're watching it all so you don't have to. we start with this deepening mystery tonight. surrounding the murder of bryd and melly billings, the parents of the 16 children. they were gunned down in their pensacola home. shocking new details about what exactly may have happened.

>> authorities said up to eight people were involved in a commando-style assault on the house. the cup. lived with 9 of 16 children. >> reporter: five masked gunmen dressed ninja child went inside. five minutes later the couple was shot dead. >> it leads me to believe this was a well-planned and methodical operation. >> there's video surveillance set up at the house that shows men entering the front and rear of the building. the sheriff's department believes there are six to eight people involved in the break in at this house and the murder of the couple in their home. this was taken at a walmart parking lot a couple of weeks ago. this person in the middle is one of the men that has already been arrested and charged with murder in this case. investigators want to know who these two men are. >> melanie billings' 26-year-old daughter said she is in disbelief. >> they had so much love in their hearts.

this is something they chose to do together as to adopting the children. their children were special to them. their children were perfect to them. >> we're going to have a lot more on this case that police are saying reads like a movie script. in washington, today, lights, camera, action, as the sonia show kicks off on capitol hill. the day-one mission for judge sotomayor and senate supporters, keep it simple, stay on message. >> the progression of my life has been uniquely american. >> truly american story. >> it represents an american success story that we all can be proud of. >> my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the constitution according to its term. >> judge sotomayor's record bespeaks judicial modesty.

your record leaves no doubt you have the intellectual ability. >> we should focus on your record. >> you're the most experienced nominee to the supreme court in 100 years. >> more federal judicial experience the supreme court than any justice in over 100 years. >> any justice in the past 100 years. >> judge sotomayor describes her judicial philosophy as simple. just in her words fidelity to the law. republicans, though, want her to prove it. today they were sounding pretty on message, themselves. >> president obama says that personal empathy is an essential ingredient in judicial decisions. >> empathy. >> empathy. >> empathy. >> empathy for one party is always prejudice against another. >> we must be confident that judge sotomayor is absolutely committed to setting aside her

biases. >> we'll faithfully interpret the law and the constitution without bias. >> not be swayed by your personal biases. >> judge sotomayor's now-famous statement that a wise latina would come to a better conclusion than others. >> your wise latina comment. >> the wise latina woman quote. >> this wise latina comment has been talked about a lot. if i had said anything remotely like that, my career would have been over. >> so, no free ride from republicans, but no delusions from them either. >> unless you have a complete meltdown you're going to get confirmed. >> no pressure there, judge. later, tonight, some fascinating perspective on this from a man all too familiar with confirmation battles. judge robert bork is going to join us a little later. while sotomayor's nomination is expected to go through, health care? another story. today, some tough words from

president obama. >> i just want to put everybody on notice. because there was a lot of chatter during the week that i was gone. we are going to get this done. inaction is not an option. and for those naysayers and cynics who think that this is not going to happen, don't bet against it. >> the white house hoping congress will pass health care reform before their august recess. but is that going to happen? that depends on who you ask. >> we don't expect it to be signed into law by -- we expect the house and senate to have passed bills, yes. >> there is no chance that it's going to be done by august. >> we will be on schedule to do as we have planned to vote for this legislation before we leave for the august recess. >> i think that's highly unlikely since the finance

committee doesn't have a bill drafted yet. >> there really is plenty of time. congress is going to be in session until christmas eve. >> there is no reason to rush. we need to get it right, not add debt, not have a washington takeover. >> is there a possibility you won't get legislation by august as you had hoped? >> maybe. i don't know. >> we'll go with maybe, too. in alaska tonight, sarah palin in the money. news that her political action committee raised more than $700,000 in the first half of 2009. now, that is not too shabby. it is campaign money, not personal pay. that is what palin is really after, at least according to her almost son-in-law from hell, levi johnston, on the "today" show this morning talking smack about the gran mother of his child, again. >> you're saying she resigned because there was too much good money on the table for her to stay as governor?

is that what you're saying? >> i'm not saying that's the only reason. i'm sure there's multiple reasons for what she's got going on. that's definitely part of it she hadn't mentioned. i know she was coming stressed out. that's my take on it. >> you went so far as to say i think that the fame got to her head. do you stand by that? do you think the fame got to her head? >> yeah ux a little bit i think so. >> i think first dude up in alaska, todd palin ought to take levi down to the creek and hold his hair under water until the trashing stops. >> seriously, levi, just stop talk. our palin free punch line tonight courtesy of conan o'brien. check out his take. when a president meets a pope. >> president obama had a private 35-minute meeting at the vatican with pope benedict. yep. that's right, folks. the man considered by millions of followers to be infallible

had a meeting with pope benedict. or as foxz news is reporting it, obama caught with old man in dress. >> conan o'brien, everybody. that is tonight's "mashup." tonight's "newsmaker," president barack obama stat down with anderson cooper in ghana. the interview coming up. the big question tonight, who killed the parents of 16 kids in their own bedroom? police say a group of men carried it out with military precision and that the case is more bizarre than a movie script. >> i will tell you this. we are very anxious to share the stories with the citizens of es cam beya county and the world. it's going to be a humdinger. i'll tell you that. she wants to make up.

we decide to turn in early. we just know. announcer: finding the moment that's right for you both can take some time. that's why cialis gives men with erectile dysfunction options: 36-hour cialis or cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment is right. tell your doctor about your medical condition and all medications and ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. don't drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision

stop taking cialis and call your doctor right away. announcer: cialis for daily use or 36-hour cialis. ask your doctor if cialis is right for you, so when the moment is right, you can be ready. president obama is just back from africa. but during his visit this weekend he stopped to give an

exclusive interview to "ac 360" anchor, anderson cooper, joining me with a sneak preview. this is the last stop on a big foreign trip. there was a lot of ground to cover. one of the topics you talked about was afghanistan. he spoke about the situation on the ground there right flow. >> commanders on the ground say there's a limited window for success with the current operation. they really need more afghan troops on the ground. i asked the president if he had a timetable. he wouldn't go that far. he talked about the personal impact of sending troops into combat. watch. you sent u.s. troops into combat 21,000, 4,000 marines involved in helmand province. does it make you think differently about the conflict knowing you were the ones to send troops in? >> absolutely. i think it's the most profound decision i've made since i've been president. i think about it every day. you know, i have to sign letters for those who are fallen. we have seen a rampup of

fighting taking place in afghanistan. during the g-8 summit i was with gordon brown as he received news reports that you had additional british soldiers killed. the entire coalition is making enormous sacrifices, and obviously our soldiers are fighting hard and so i want to make sure that we've got the best possible strategy to succeed in a very limited aim, and that is to ensure that al qaeda and its allies cannot launch attacks against the u.s. homeland and u.s. interests. >> he, as i say, you covered a lot of ground in this interview and on africa and on a more personal note, frankly, he talked about how his own heritage and experiences had shaped his perspective on this. what did he tell you? >> i asked him about how his father's experience in africa, he didn't have much contact with

his father throughout his wife. how his father's experience in africa shaped the way president obama sees africa. i should point out we were at cape cos castle in ghana, a holding point for countless numbers of slaves. the president had just completed a tour with his entire family of these dungeons where tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, perhaps even more than a million slaves were -- slaved africans were held in the dungeons, many of them died there. it was a haunting place to go. we talked about that and the impact of that on his family in this interview. i want to ask you one other question. you talked about your father on this trip. how much of your thoughts about africa are affected by his experiences, the things he faced with corruption? >> i think his story, but more broadly the story of my family in kenya. which still continues, informs how i think about this. >> okay. >> i'm reminded of the fact on

the one hand you have people of extraordinary talent and energy and drive. some of who succeeded. but others who have been blocked because they find themselves in the circumstances that africans all across the continent find themselves. can't get adequate school fees to get the education they need. try to get a job and turns out that you've got to pay a bribe to get that job. you know, living in small villages in which basic infrastructure still isn't provided and the public health system isn't adequate so that you're seeing children who, at a very early age, start having significant disadvantages. when i think about these development issues, i -- they're not abstractions to me. i can put a face and a name to what people are going through. that makes a difference.

>> do you think what happened here still has resonance in america? that the slave experience still is something that should be talked about and should be remembered and should be present in everyday life? >> well, you know, i think that the experience of slavery is like the experience of the holocaust. i think it's one of those things you don't forget about. i think it's important that the way we think about it and the way it's taught is not one in which there's simply a victim and a victimizer and that's the end of the story. i think the way it has to be thought about, the reason it's relevant, is because whether it's what's happening in darfur or what's happening in the kongul or happening in too many places around the world, the capacity for cruelty still exists. >> the door behind the president

is called the door of no return, the actual door through which countless numbers of enslaved africans were send to a life of bondage and death on the high seas. we asked about don't ask/don't tell, his time take for that, how soon he would like to see that overturned and other things. >> we'll look forward to that. see all of anderson's exclusive interview with the president in a little bit coming up on "ac 360" 10:00 p.m. eastern. anderson, thanks much. hold on to your wallet tonight. the deficit tops $1 trillion for the first time. a good reason to swear. researchers say it takes away pain. that's all in tonight's "download." michael jackson's sister says it was murder. police say overdose or homicide. we are separating fact from rumor. we're going to bring you the latest in the investigation as well. less able to absorb calcium. he recommended citracal. it's a different kind of calcium. calcium citrate. with vitamin d... for unsurpassed absorption, to nourish your bones. when a major hospital wanted to add on

to their benefits package at no direct cost to the company, their very first word was... aflac! aflac! find out more at aflacforbusiness.com

and now let's take a look at some of the other must see stories of the day. let's go to mike galanos from our sister network, hln, in atlanta with tonight's download. >> for the first time in history, the federal government's annual deficit has passed $1 trillion. that's only at the end of june. there are still three months left in the budget year. the obama administration projects this year's deficit will hit $1.84 trillion, four times the size of last year's deficit. secret program to assassinate al qaeda leaders given the green light by the bush administration in 2001. the cia ordered by vice president cheney not to brief members of congress on it. senate intelligence committee members say current cia director leon panetta informed them during testimony last month. lawmakers say it was never carried out. a doctor who made her mark at a small rural health clinic

is president obama's pick for surgeon general. regina benjamin set up for clinic for the poor on alabama's gulf coast and rebuilt it after hurricane katrina, became the first black woman to head a state medical society. benjamin needs senate confirmation. retissued american automaker will be tried in germany for nazi war crime. charged in connection with some 28,000 murders at a polish death camp in world war ii. the u.s. deported the 89-year-old in may. he denies he was a nazi guard. this video, risky rescue in georgia after a man plunged 30 feet off a water fall, walking his son and dog over a creek. bad move there. in roswell, 20 miles north of atlanta. rescuers used ropes, as you can see here to reach the man amid the rushing water and slippery rocks. he's recovering in the hospital, his dog, son, okay. this one, next time you stub your toe, curse. a new study shows there's a link

between swearing and tolerance for pain. british researchers say test subjects who swore had an increa increase heart beach. he was like, okay, let's see what this is all about. >> that's good. that is a bleeping interesting story there, mike. >> well put, well put. >> we can't test it on the air. mike galanos, appreciate it. the parents of 16 children, murdered in their home by a group of men. the big question tonight why did they do it? >> this is like a movie script. all right? and the more we delved into this and worked this case, the different avenues that it would go down. just when you thought, all right, we're in a straight line at this point in this investigation, it would take a hard right or a hard left and it was almost as though you had

another investigation you were initiating. olutionary web os. they're running multiple live applications at the same time. - ( thunder and rain ) - 3 million are using the simply everything plan. each is saving $1200 - over an at&t iphone plan. - ( cash register dings ) together that's over $3 billion. - enough to open a dunkin' donuts in space. - ( walkie-talkie sounds ) from america's most dependable 3g network. bringing you the first and only wireless 4g network. get the palm pre from sprint. only on the now network. deaf, hard of hearing and people with speech disabilities access www.sprintrelay.com. my daughter was with me. i took a bayer aspirin out of my purse and chewed it. my doctor said the bayer aspirin saved my life. please talk to your doctor about aspirin and your heart. i'm going to be grandma for a long time.

with little responsibility, zero accountability. our parents telling us what to do... how to behave. now, all of a sudden, we're there, in that role, at that time in our lives where everyone and everything is depending on us. it's a scary feeling, but it's also a good one. especially when i'm confident someone's there for me.

there are new and frightening developments in the shooting deaths of a florida couple known for adopting children with special needs. we're now learning as many as eight people may have been behind the attack. byrd and melanie billings were well known in the town right near pensacola. they had adopted 12 kids in addition to the 4 they already had. last thursday evening, at least five men dressed in dark ninja outfits burst into the billings' home, shooting the pair repeatedly, passing by some of the children, apparently, while one accomplice waited outside. the killings have devastated the community and left the sheriff bewildered by the sophistication of those involved. >> we are very anxious to share this story with the citizens of escambia county and with the nation, if you will. it's going to be a humdinger.

i'll tell you that. the total number of people that we are looking for that are involved in the deaths of the billings' family is six to eight. six to eight people. >> they had so much love in their hearts. this was something that they chose to do together as to adopt the children. their children were special to them. their children were perfect to them. they just -- they had more love than anybody could ever imagine giving one person. much less 17. >> some of the suspects are now in custody. but others not yet caught. our david mattingly is covering the case in pensacola for us tonight along with rob williams, a news anchor for wmrp news radio in pensacola. in new york, jamie floyd, anchor of "in session." we heard police this was a murder that unfolded and the

police chiefs word, like a movie script. today they provided surveillance video. walk us through what that is. >> we've got two pieces of surveillance video to show you. first of all, this came from the family's house. this was part of the surveillance system they had set up outside and inside the house. see men running across the yard, going into what is a back door of the house. while they were doing that, there was another team going in the front door. see how they're dressed. dressed in dark clothes. their faces covered with a mask. the slst described them as dressed like ninjas. see them there going into the house. this was all very precise. they say it looks like they had practiced this and were very well-prepared when they attacked this house. another piece of surveillance video we have to show you is a still photo that came from a surveillance yesterday you at walmart in the panhandle a couple weeks ago. in this you see leonard gonz lens jr., the man standing in the middle. he is one of the men arrested so

far and charged with murder in this case. the two men on either side of him, authorities don't know who they are. they believe they might be involved and want to know who these men are. those are two of the people they are still leeki inin inin inini and have not identified. >> the child in the photograph appeared to be the child of the primary suspect or the man in custody. is that right? >> that is the child of leonard gonzalez jr. leonard gonzalez jr. in jail along with two other men, one of two charged with murder in this case. >> jami, police said today they believe there are multiple motives, robbery being one of them. what else? i mean, clearly there's more here than just that, right? >> this is one of the most bizarre cases i've ever seen in 20 years of covering these kinds of cases and working as a lawyer. as many as eight possible assailants and a couple that

had, as their adult daughter said, nothing but love in their heart, and very important to this community with 16 children under their wing. you have to think there's something more going on here. this is well-planned, well-executed and has to be about more than just money. but what? what would the motive be? could these people have known their assailants or some number of them before this went down? >> police clearly know more than they're telling us right now. is that what they seem to be suggesting when you listen to the police chief? >> they are suggesting that they they want to be careful not to say too much. they want the suspect or those in the public who may know more to come forward with that information so they can put the pieces of the puzzle together without leading, without leading the suspects or those members of the public who may be innocent or have important information to share. >> rob, let me bring you into this. the family was known to have money. they were also known to have just been an incredible generous

about taking in all of these children. these children with special needs. tell us what -- how the community is reacting to this? i'm guessing they're fairly devastated? >> the reaction is pretty simple, campbell. let me give you an idea. this is the headline from last friday. "couple killed." we go to saturday where it says "questions need to be answered." then we go sunday, "the van found." then today, "two charged with murder." these headlines keep getting bigger every day. it's going to be that way tomorrow as well. i talked to sheriff david morgan in the last half hour. he says there will be another news briefing tonight, announ announcing one, maybe two additional arrests. he told me there were four unidentified black males involved in this plus an unidentified white man. a total of five people they're looking for right now. and there was a meeting late this afternoon involving the sheriff's department, the state attorney's office. ready for the alphabet soup here? the irs, dea, atf and fbi.

everybody in federal law enforcement except for the u.s. marshal service. this is getting bigger and bigger as we go along. >> what does that say to you, jami? >> whenever you have multiple services involved, something more than a rob withry. these people may have connections not only to one another but beyond the group immediately involved and certainly, not to disparage this department. this is a case much bigger than a small jurisdiction like this would be accustom to having to deal with and one bigger than ever seen before. i'm sure they welcome the assistance of the fbi and others. >> rob, let me ask you if you know anything about this. it's been -- i've been curious. nine kids were in the home at the time of the murder. what do we know about what these kids may have seen? are they witnesses here? do we have any idea? >> at least three of the children did see the masked men come into the house. now, understand, a lot of these kids are special needs kids. they are down syndrome kids.

they've got -- their ability to communicate why somewhat limited. they are well-protected now. they are with family. and the sheriff is saying that every deputy he has is on the streets right now, florida law enforcement is on alert. they're going to find these guys sooner or later. yeah, it may be a smaller town or jurisdiction. they're going to apply good old-fashioned smalltown law enforcement. they're going to get their men here. >> a fascinating point. they were spared these children. that's another bizarre part of this case. you have the well-executed four-minute plan. yet, these children are spared. bizarre. >> well, as rob pointed out, we're going to find out more this evening. we'll be updating you on the story as we do get more information. many thanks to rob williams, for us in pensacola tonight, as well as david mattingly and jami floyd in new york. explosive allegations from michael jackson's family. la toya jackson says her brother was murdered.

we're looking for facts when we come back.

members of michael jackson's family are going public with their suspicions about their death. la toya jackson says her brother was murdered. allegations from joe jackson. brian todd has more on that. >> michael probably did a long time before we started taking him to the hospital. when you try to revive a person, you know? they couldn't find him, three days or something, that's what made me believe something's wrong here. >> reporter: contacted by cnn, representatives for dr. murray's attorneys wouldn't comment on joe jackson's remarks but referred to a statement issued saturday by attorney edward chernoff that said in part -- dr. murray's attorneys had

previously said investigators told them that murray was a witness, not a suspect in this investigation. joe jackson had voiced suspicion previously in the days just after michael's death to cnn's don lemon. >> i have a lot of concerns. >> what are your concerns about? >> i can't get into that. but i don't like what happened. >> reporter: completely separate from discussions about dr. murray, la toya tells two british newspapers she believes michael jackson was murdered. la toya jackson said her brothers was worth more than $1 million and surrounded by people who didn't have his best interest at heart. and he was worth more dead than alive. >> pretty explosive allegations. do the facts support them? joining me from los angeles, sharon waxman, editor and chief of the rap.com. jim moret, "inside edition." jeff toobin as well. jim, first joe jackson, now la

toya alleging foul play. there are reports the family has seen these private autopsy results, what do you make of it all? >> i think that they're concerned. i think we've heard -- we've heard about diprivan on the scene. heard that the family was very conce concerned for some time that michael jackson was under the influence of drugs and people around him for enabling him. i think that if, in fact, the coroner's report reveals the diprivan was the cause of death, i think you're going to see some charges filed. i mean, jeff is even better at talking at this than i am. i would think you're talking criminal negligence or possibly involuntary manslaughter. >> jeff? >> whoa, i think that's a long way to go based on the evidence we know. the one thing we do mknow is tht michael jackson, himself, had an unhealthy relationship with all sorts of prescription drugs. he, himself, did not use these drugs in an appropriate way. so the first question i think anybody's going to have to answer is what was his own role

in his death before anyone starts accusing a doctor or anyone else of committing a crime. i just think it's unfair to the doctor. >> i agree with you. i'm not suggesting that this doctor was involved. if there's diprivan, there, jeff, you can't get that yourself. you or i cannot walk into any pharmacy and get diprivan. can't do it. >> hold on. let me get your take quickly on this, jim, then i want to go to sharon. conrad murray was mentioned specifically for the first time by joe jackson today. does he seem to be the focus of the investigation at least from what you're hearing now? >> he was the last person there. i mean, i think clearly they want to talk to him. they want to see exactly what the facts were. what medication was he taking? why didn't he call 911 for 20 to 30 minutes? that's what he said, himself. i think there are a lot of questions still left unanswered, that's why the police continue to investigate this. >> sharon, apart from the

family's private autopsy, of course, we've learned also, today, that the state toxicology results could be released as early as this friday. what are we going to learn from that? >> right. well, i think we're going to learn a lot more than we know right now. i think we can't really have these very speculative conversations, honestly, about charges, murder, things like that until we actually see the reports of the toxicology -- that autopsy from the coroner. whatever the family has found in its second autopsy, we have not been made privy to that. until we have some more facts about what actually killed michael jackson, i think it's premature to be talking about criminal charges. the legal experts i have spoken to say, in fact, it's very hard to prove the felony charges that would come up in the case of doctors who are actually illegally prescribing medications. that's something that is hard to prove. >> let me ask you all about the

custody front. there have been reports, jim, there is a possible deal in the works. again, trying to separate some fact from fiction here to the extent we can. do we know for sure? >> i've been told by a close friend of the family that he believes this will be settled out of court. he believes that the children will stay with katherine jackson. the question is, of course, will joe jackson be involved in raising those kids? we know that the will calls specifically for katherine to the be the guardian. when katherine went to court before they knew of a will, she went alone, not with joe jackson. in some odd way joe jackson's statements may have helped bring these two sides together. debbie rowe stated publicly she was considering seeking a restaining order against joe jackson. we know the hearing set for today has been moved a week because the parties are talking. >> sharon, you've reported on this as well, saying that people around debbie rowe are trying to sort of clean up her image a

little bit? >> i think that she's -- i think there's been a lot of knocking around of debbie rowe. understandably so, by the way. she's someone who bore a couple of children and puturned her ba on them for money. that doesn't necessarily mean what she's out for in this instance is more money. let's remember when she got divorced from michael jackson she took a relatively small amount of money to go away where she would have had the right under california law to half of the money he earned while they were married. she didn't seek that. what basically her camp is saying is she's concerned about joe jackson's presence around the children, concerned that katherine jackson is elderly, 7 years old, how long is she going to live? and that the children be cared for together and not have ongoing disruption in their lives as they're raced. so it is true that from the people that we're talking to, also, tell us there is a discussion going on between the lawyers, katherine jackson's

lawyers and debbie rowe's lawyers. they are preparing some presentation, plan to come to court. >> sharon waxman along with jim moret as always, jeff toobin from washington as well. thanks, guys. appreciate it. tonight, we are debuting the wing nut watch. find out who is taking political stands to the extreme. plus, we want to know what you think of all of tonight's big stories and hot topics. check out our brand new live blog where you can post a comment right now. log on at this very moment. justo could save 'em hundreds on car insurance. it's actually doing it. gecko vo: businessmen say "hard work equals success." well, you're looking at, arguably, the world's most successful businessgecko. gecko vo: first rule of "hard work equals success." gecko vo: that's why geico is consistently rated excellent or better in terms of financial strength. gecko vo: second rule: "don't steal a coworker's egg salad, 'specially if it's marked "the gecko."

come on people. diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating. that's me! can i tell you what a difference phillips' colon health has made? it's the probiotics. the good bacteria. that gets your colon back in balance. i'm good to go! phillips' colon health. in a long line of amazing performance machines. this is the new e-coupe. this is mercedes-benz.

time now for a new segment we are calling "the wing nut watch." our next guest, daily beast contributor, john avlon calls out somebody on the left and right to divides us rather than unites us. you're looking for people playing to the extremes in politics. who went a little too far this week? >> this week we have a newly elected chairman of the young republicans. audra sha, 38-year-old from louisiana, normal times it wouldn't be much of a story. turns out before the election, miss shay made a series of comments on her facebook page way over the line. racial comments and general wing

nuttiness. that made her very controversial candidate. her election this weekend was a surprise to many folks. let's take just a look at one of the things drew a lot of ire. supporter on her home page wrote, "obama, bin laden is the new terrorist. muslim is on their side. these to take this country back from all these mad coons and illegals. shay replayed, you tell them, lol." >> needless to say this didn't go over well. young african-americans were offended. writing for the daily beast, i started digging and find out there was a pattern of these comments on her sites. this cements the stereotypes holding the republican party back big time. once it started to get press, she issued an apology. >> well, as you say, not exactly the image, i think, as the republican party as they struggle to attract minorities

right now is wanting to convey. >> the exact opposite. i think there was a culture of war going on inside of the republican party. abraham lincoln is losing the culture war. the party has a huge diversity deaf sit, huge problem with young people. endorse the comments with full knowledge, it puts out a huge not welcome sign in front of the gop that solidifies the negative ster stereotypes to reconnect to the new generation and broaden their base of diversity. this election and figure is going to have real ramifications throughout the national party. >> john avlon for us tonight. thanks very much. we have a wonderful story to share with you tonight. a celebration and competition in baghdad. baghdad, of all places, yes, baghdad. where the power of sport is overcoming the heartbreak of war. >> reporter: it's truly huge. one of baghdad's grand days.

oit. different rates. well with us, it's the same flat rate. same flat rate. boston. boise? same flat rate. alabama. alaska? with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. dude's good. dude's real good. dudes. priority mail flat rate boxes only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. (pouring rain) i had a great time.

me too. you know, i just got out of a bad relatio... it's okay. thanks. goodnight. goodnight. (door crashes in, alarm sounds) get out! (phone rings) hello? this is rick with broadview security. is everything all right? no, my ex-boyfriend just kicked in the front door. i'm sending help right now. thank you. (announcer) brink's home security is now broadview security. call now to install the standard system for just $99. the proven technology of a broadview security system delivers rapid response from highly-trained professionals, 24 hours a day. call now to get the $99 installation, plus a second keypad installed free. and, you could save up to 20% on your homeowner's insurance. call now-- and get the system installed for just $99. broadview security for your home or business - the next generation of brink's home security. call now.

if you have followed our coverage of the war in iraq, you've certainly seen cnn's michael wehr, the guy on the ground with the troops since the war began six years ago. he's just about seen it all until now. our breakout story tonight. his report doesn't come from the battlefield, rather the soccer field. >> reporter: welcome to international football, baghdad style.

this is iraq's first internationals since 2002 in the lead-up to the u.s.-ed invasion. excuse me, guys. excuse me. iraq is playing its first home game. here against palestine and friendly. this is an incredible scene. this stadium is filled to capacity. with intense security as the war continues. but it's this game, this that has been the iraqi people's disconnect from the horror around them. this is what's the only thing that's united the iraqi people. when they won the asian cup, the sectarian violence, the entire war paused for just a moment as the entire country celebrated. today we see it again. it's truly huge. one of baghdad's grand days. and it's football that's connected everybody together.

michael wehr, cnn, baghdad. finally, a good news story out of baghdad and excited michael wehr there. when we come back, few people know what it's like to get beaten up at a senate confirmation hearing and rejected. our next new maker does. robert bork has advice. this is a history of over 50,000 crash-tested cars... and 889 safety patents. this is the world record for longevity and endurance. and one of the most technologically advanced automobiles on the planet. this is the 9th generation e-class. this is mercedes-benz. with little responsibility, zero accountability. our parents telling us what to do... how to behave. now, all of a sudden, we're there, in that role, at that time in our lives

where everyone and everything is depending on us. it's a scary feeling, but it's also a good one. especially when i'm confident someone's there for me. you can make a positive change in your career. you can make a greater contribution to the greater good. and you can start today, by earning your degree online... at walden university. where advanced degrees advance the quality of life.

tomorrow is d day for sonia sotomayor. the day she finally begins answering questions from the senate judiciary committee as her confirmation hearings continue. so tonight we wanted to take a look back at what recent supreme court nomination battles have been like. think of this as the greatest hits. >> we had consistently

demonstrated his hostility toward equal justice for all. in robert bork's america, there is no room at the end for blacks and no place in the constitution for women. in our america, there should be no seat on the supreme court for robert bork. >> are you really a closet bigot? >> i'm not any kind of bigot. >> no, sir, you're not. >> this is a circus. for blacks who in any wane dayne to think for themselves. >> he talked about pornographic material, depicting people with large penises or large breasts. >> i did not show any of that material. >> he spoke on some of occasions of the pleasures he had given to women with oral sex. >> i heard enough lies.

>> one of the oddest episodes i remember was an occasion in which thomas was drinking a coke in his office. he got up from the table at which we were working, went over to his desk to get the coke. looked at the can and asked, who has put pubic hair on my coke? >> well, needless to say, that was one of the most controversial moments in the history of supreme court nominations. from the clarence thomas hearings in 1991. just a little while ago, i talked to the last nominee who was actually rejected by the senate that was robert bork, a former federal appeals court judge and the author of a time to speak selective writings and arguments. i asked him what lies ahead for sonia sotomayor, whether she will hit a speed bump over her suggestion that a wise latina would make better decisions than a white man. her wise latina comment has been

brought up again and again. should that in your view -- should that, alone, disqualify her? >> well, yes, i would say it should be except for the fact we don't disqualify other people for similar remarks. i don't think what she said is consistent with the job of a judge. on the other hand. the woods are full of people out there who are making remarks which are not consistent with their role as judges. so she's not uniquely political. she is political, i think, and i think we're not going to -- republicans are not going to be happy with her when she's on the bench. but i don't think that one remark, although she said it several times, i don't think that will prove to be disqualifying, nor do i think it should unless we're enforcing stricter standards we have been enforcing. >> senator lindsey graham, today, joked, unless judge

sotomayor has a meltdown, she is ultimately going to be confirmed. so in your view when it comes to the big issues like abortion, gun control, like affirmative action, how do you think she will change the current court? >> not much. i've heard it said by one colleague of hers that she would prove to be slightly to the left of david souter. there's not much room to go left of david souter. i don't think her replacement of souter does anything except ensure a liberal vote past the time when souter would have retired in any event. they're going to change the court today but it will entrench liberal block on the court. >> finally, judge bork, if you had it to do over again, if you were back in that chair once again, is there anything you would do differently if it meant you would be confirmed? >> yeah.

i don't know if it would mean i would be confirmed or not, but i think i could have been more intelligent in my approach and more aware of what was taking place. i kept responding to questions as if it was a rational discussion, which it wasn't. i think i would have taken that into i count more if i were to do it over again. >> given that, what's your best advice to her? >> don't lose your temper. she'll be confirmed if she doesn't, as they said, if she doesn't melt down. there's no reason why she should melt down. if she maintains an even emotional temp, she'll be confirmed easily. >> you can see the rest of my interview with judge robert bork online. check it out on our brand new website. give us your comments on the blog. go to cnn.com/campbell. that's it for tonight. thanks for joining us. larry king live