and i don't normally agree with mary mitchell about anything. she is like a black activism. she says this is like a woman who claims constructive rape because her boss calls her honey. >> perhaps he wasn't in the initial stages. be that as it may, professor lamont hill, to use the adverb irtupidly, stupid, how do you use that about the cambridge, massachusetts, police when you don't even use it about mahmoud ahmadinejad. >> that is why i don't think it was plan the because i don't see he would use such language had he had a chance to reflect on it. i don't think he would try to get black points in the middle of the healthcare press conference. i think he was trying to respond on behalf of his friend. i think it was great. he was right. there was no reason for him to be arrested for disorderly conduct. there was no law being broken there. the mistake comes when back tracks and invites everybody for a beer. >> geraldo: you don't like that idea. >> no! >> geraldo: gates gait and the promised brewski from courtney who is down the street from the home in cambridge, mass, which is

. >> josh, mary mitchell has followed the now president through his career in chicago. she wrote it was a political stunt of no solution to racial profiling or no solutions to the hard conversation of race will come out of this. she is slamming it saying it is a political stunt. are we hearing that echoed by critics? >> you hear that from some quarters. we just don't know what it is yet. they are having this meeting and the white house won't say what's on the agenda or what they hope to come out of it except for a vague can't we all just get along and talk about things message. i think it is just too early to tell whether this is going to be any sort of a serious session that moves race relations forward or whether it is just an effort to put a cap back on the exploding baht of the beer and push it down the road. >> we heard lucy wayenland's attorney suggest this was a male bonding thing that her client would be intruding on and she was the only one who acted responsedly. are women's groups going to start reacting? >> well, i don't think you are going to see it, but the

inside, mary mitchell said arrested black professor should have known better.ext is a call from washington, d.c., george on the democrats' line. audit of -- caller: we were raised to believe the police are there for us and we should respect them. i'm 47 years old now and every time i have had an encounter with the police -- never because i did anything wrong, they act like jerks. and i don't understand what that mentality is. and i'm a white person, so i probably don't experience it as much as minorities do. there has got to be some kind of training that can be done for police officers to maybe allow them to not have that attitude of confrontation. they are supposed to protect and serve, which i think is the second part of the slogan. i feel bad for professor gates. i don't agree with professor gates on most of what he says. but as soon as i heard about this, immediately in picture -- could picture myself in that same situation. we have to work together with the police and they have to work together with us and that has not been my experience and i'm very sad a

let's talk a little bit, mary, about republicans. mitchellthe republican leader in the senate, said he's going to vote against sonia sotomayor's confirmation, but there are a few other republicans already making it clear they're going to vote to confirm her. there's no doubt she will be confirmed. the question is, how many republicans, mary, do you believe will join with the democrats to vote yea? >> oh, she's going to pass, but the number is -- she'll be confirmed, but the number is going to be who knows. but that the republicans laid out, conservatives laid out what their ideal judicial nominee might be was fine, and that was their objective this week. but really, as we're moving on -- what republicans are more concerned about right now and more energized about is joining with democrats to stop the health care initiative that ed henry just talked about and why the president's doing this prime-time conference and stop the energy, the cap and taxes, they call it. so this was something that we like to cover on tv and it was interesting, but it

bill: he needs to hire george mitchell or somebody to sit there. that's what he need to do. mary katharine, juan. thanks very much. next on the rundown, fire lou dobbs that's what some organizations are demanding cnn do but why? later sarah palin firing at the press as she leaves office. what was -- was that a smart thing to do bill: impact segment tonight, a call for cnn commentators lou dobbs to be fired. all has to do with lou dobbs allowing conversation on his program that alleges president obama is not a u.s. citizen. that theory has been around for a while. the factor investigated found out its bogus but mr. dobbs is still engaged. >> we have been reporting on the accusations widespread on the internet that president obama wasn't actually born in the united states and, therefore, some believe he is not eligible to be president. it's out there. it has passionate supporters. the questions won't go away because they haven't been dealt with, it seems possible, to straightforwardly and quickly. bill: and, again, we found that president obama was born in hawaii. we were sent the

bill: he needs to hire george mitchell or somebody to sit there. that's what he need to do. mary katharine, juan. thanks very much. next on the rundown, fire lou dobbs that's what some organizations are demanding cnn do but why? later sarah palin firing at the press as she leaves office. what was -- was that a smart thing to do ♪ ♪ once you've dealt with the things that come between you... don't let erectile dysfunction get in the way. ♪ viva ♪ viagra! viagra...america's most prescribed ed treatment... can help you enjoy a more satisfying sexual experience. to learn more, spend some quality time with viagra.com ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. don't take viagra if you take nitrates for chest pain... as it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. side effects may include headache, flushing, upset stomach, and abnormal vision. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting... more than four hours. stop taking viagra and call your doctor right away... if you experience a sudden decrease in vision or hearing. now's the time.

bill: he needs to hire george mitchell or somebody to sit there. that's what he need to do. mary katharine, juan. thanks very much. next on the rundown, fire lou dobbs that's what some organizations are demanding cnn do but why? later sarah palin firing at the press as she leaves office. what was -- was that a smart what was -- was that a smart thing to do maybe one of the most important... could save 'em hundreds on car just telinsurance.e geico 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. you have questions. who can give you the financial advice you need? where will you find the stability and resources to keep you ahead of this rapidly evolving world? these are tough questions. that's why we brought togeth

bill: he needs to hire george mitchell or somebody to sit there. that's what he need to do. mary katharine, juan. thanks very much. next on the rundown, fire lou dobbs that's what some organizations are demanding cnn do but why? later sarah palin firing at the press as she leaves office. what was -- was that a smart thing to do upcoming. 9? bill: impact segment tonight, a call for cnn commentators lou dobbs to be fired. all has to do with lou dobbs allowing conversation on his program that alleges president obama is not a u.s. citizen. that theory has been around for a while. the factor investigated found out its bogus but mr. dobbs is still engaged. >> we have been reporting on the accusations widespread on the internet that president obama wasn't actually born in the united states and, therefore, some believe he is not eligible to be president. it's out there. it has passionate supporters. the questions won't go away because they haven't been dealt with, it seems possible, to straightforwardly and quickly. bill: and, again, we found that president obama was born in hawaii. we w

in the meantime, as we begin this exciting hour, let's go inside to russ mitchell at the news desk. >> good morning. marie glamorous. >> she does. looks really good. >> good morning to you at home. a russian-built jet liner crashed in northwestern iran, killing all 168 people on board. the jet was frying frlying from armenia's capital. it shattered in deep pieces. most of the passengers were armenians. >>> in this country, investigators save it could take months to determine why how far and why a foot-long hole opened in the fuselage of a southwest jet on monday. the boeing 737 made a safe emergency landing in west virginia. the 15-year-old plane was inspected in january. >>> al qaeda's second in command has apparently released a message this morning on an islamic website. he says the u.s. poses a grave threat to pakistan. the message also warns that unless the pakistanis join the battle against the u.s. al qaeda will contribute to the destruction of pakistan and that the actual ruler of pakistan is the american ambassador. >>> there is a powerful undersea earthquake off new zealand this morning. the prel