right now, john ridley. senior legal analyst jeffrey toobin along with jackson biography stacy brown. what did you think? >> i think the comments came out of left field. and for him to say that michael is a child molester, et cetera. michael was never convicted of these crimes it the other thing is, i think people are not looking at him -- the media isn't looking at him as a hero, we're talk about the issues. and the fans are celebrating his music and his legacy. not the personal life of michael jackson. >> he was acquitted. >> he was acquitted and i was there. he did pay two civil judgments -- you know, for child molestation -- >> big money. >> big money. i have to say, when peter king said who among us would leave their kids with michael jackson, i mean, not me. i covered that trial. and i think that he probably touched a nerve with a lot of people. the problem is, with artists throughout history, we have been able to draw a line from the brilliance of their art and their personal lives which are often unt

you're right, this is going to be a long, long term story. >> a year of michael jackson, john ridley?chael jackson. one of the things brought up, barry gordy said this was not just the king of pop, one of the greatest entertainers. very few in hollywood have had this amount of sway for this long over this many people. and quite frankly we're going to be talking about this for a year from now. >> several people didn't say one of the greatest, several said the greatest entertain ever. and that's a big -- >> that's a feat. >> that's a feat. i was trying to, you know, elvis, you know. beethoven. >> thanks, guys, appreciate it. >> maybe not beethoven. >>> amid all of the sadness today, there was a moment of pure joy. this unbelievable video retro spective of michael jackson's career and the moments that made him the king of pop, perhaps the greatest entertainer ever. some of which you probably never have seen before. we're going to show you the whole thing. first, listen to some of stevie wonder. ♪ 20 minutes later, she'll bring one into the world in seattle. later today, she'll help an ac

i want to thank john ridley and susan. john ridley did blog about the president's speech for us.re taking a closer look at segregated proms, believe it or not, still happening in 2009. but you're going to meet two students from one school that pushed for change, took on the challenge of bringing black and white students together for the first time. hear their story. >>> plus, a developing story. we have new details to share with you to parents of the 17 children murdered in their own bedroom. why is the dea involved in this case? we've got some answers for you. >>> plus, madonna, a stage collapse. the deadly preconcert accident. that's coming up in tonight's download. >>> hln's mike galanos has the download. >> wild gun battle on the new jersey streets to tell buchlt five cops shot, two suspects killed. it began in jersey city. an armed robbery suspect dressed like a priest opened fire with a shotgun. two cops are in critical condition. president obama talked about them during a stop in new jersey today. >> we are confident that they're going to end up coming back strong as ever.

john ridley, a contributor to national public radio with me in new york.mer cnn anchor, jim moret, and chief correspondent for north side edition, joining us once again from l.a., as well as our own randi kaye. john, let me start with you? what's your reaction to what you just heard from joe jackson? >> we heard that maybe he wants to get these performing and on stage. as someone who's worked with child actors, it's hard, difficult under the best circumstances. and with this family, we know in terms of how michael jackson was put on stage, it was not the best circumstances. i would be against it. i don't think it's good for kids, mostly, but i think in this particular circumstance, it didn't work out before, why repeat -- >> exactly. >> i wonder who's telling him it's okay to talk. every time he talks, he spoke at the b.e.t. awards, spoke the day after and was hawking his own record company. katherine jackson went into court a couple weeks ago asking for soul guardianship. debbie rowe spoke to an l.a. reporter. she was talking about getting a restraining o

. >> john ridley author of the blog that minority thing and contributor to the npr and huffington post. thank you for being with us tonight. >> as always, lawrence, thank you. >> the persistent claims that despite all the evidence he was not born in the usa. some amazing tape from capitol hill you will have to see to believe. up next, in "oddball" yet another tribute to the memory of michael jackson from his number one fans, the inmates of a filipino prison. ♪ [ female announcer ] looking for a stronger bath tissue that leaves fewer pieces behind? ♪ fortunately, there's charmin ultra strong. with its diamondweave texture, charmin ultra strong is soft and more durable. more durable so when compared to the ultra rippled brand, it holds up better. fewer pieces left behind. and soft for sure. charmin ultra strong. look for it in the red package. for those who prefer moist wipes, try charmin freshmates for a cleaner clean. i felt amazingly boxed in. (announcer) joe uses the contour meter from bayer. (joe) my meter absolutely adapts to me and my lifestyle. i'm joe james, and being outside of

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. >> john ridley author of the blog that minority thing and connor co contributor to the npr and huffingtont. >>> some amazing tape from capitol hill you have to see to believe. up next, in "oddball" yet another tribute to the memory of michael jackson from his number one fans, the inmates of a filipino prison. are the same, c: when a tornado tore through holly, colorado, air life denver took to the air... their night-vision goggles keeping them safe on a perilous flight... and powering those precision goggles--- is the only battery air life trusts: duracell. trusted everywhere. look for new duracell ultra advanced now with even more power to protect. you're ready for the mid-morning rush thanks to a good breakfast. one coffee with room, one large mocha latte. medium macchiato, light hot chocolate hold the whip, and two espressos. make one a double. she's fiber focused! i have two cappuccinos, one coffee with room, one large mocha latte, a medium macchiato, a light hot chocolate, hold the whip, and two espressos, one with a double shot. gonna take more than coffee to stay this focused. stay

contributor mary matalin with us tonight, the daily beast editor-in-chief, tina brown and npr contributor john ridleyre. welcome everybody. mary, let estart with you because you're a little bit out of lock step with some of your republican friends about this decision and sort of how she handle it had. karl rove called said he was rather perplexed by it. ed rollins calling it a disaster. but you disagree. >> well, it was unconventional to be sure in the veracity and the velocity rather with which the opinion class -- and i'm excluding carl, they took it as unconventional and they were asked to give an opinion more quickly than it needed to be dijested. what i find more interesting is it the resistance to which everybody in the chattering classes refuses to accept her at face value. she couldn't do her job anymore. her family was under assault. she was receiving the political equivalent of a stoning. and she could not function in her job. so the reason i thought it was smart was that she can continue to be a strong voice, build political capital out there in the next two years. and get her equilibrium