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CNN NEWSROOM

The White House Easter Egg Roll Lives; "Guns 4 Greatness" Buyback; Politics in the Pulpit; Prince Fielder on Baseball and Being Bullied

Aired April 1, 2013 - 10:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for being with us.

At 30 minutes past the hour the Easter Egg Roll has begun. So let's head back to the White House where this 135th annual Easter Egg Roll to be specific is just getting underway. The President and the First Lady are welcoming more than 30,000 people from around the country. All of those people won tickets through an online lottery.

Dan Lothian didn't need a lottery ticket though, he's there. It looks like a lot of fun.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It is and I'm right on the other side of the building. But it's a -- it's a huge event. It is the largest public event here at the White House. And as you were pointing out more than 30,000 people did win the lottery and got tickets to attend this event, the daylong event here.

But did you know that over 300,000 people actually entered the lottery? So that gives you a sense of how popular this is. I mean, you know for a while we were reporting about whether or not this would take place because when the invitations were sent out to some of the VIPs like members of Congress they were told that due to the funding uncertainty that it was possible that this event might not happen.

So sort of on pins and needles for a while even though the White House was fairly confident that it would take place. And in fact it has and so the focus this year will be on health and wellness. There will be lots of food and fun and festivities. And the First Lady and the President will come out and deliver some remarks. And of course the big event that takes place here is that egg roll where the President will also be involved in that -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I know that's very exciting. The other exciting new addition this year is the presence of Bo who will manage to put his paw print on what?

LOTHIAN: Bo -- where will he put his paw print?

COSTELLO: I thought on an egg and then you could buy it or something.

LOTHIAN: On the egg and squash it. Yes exactly, Bo is always around, though. You know Bo is always seen on the North Lawn or the South Lawn traveling around taking walks throughout the times. So Bo has always been sort of the center of attraction here at the White House. Certainly he will the center of attraction during the egg roll this time.

COSTELLO: He seems so lethargic. I just want to grab the egg. Is he?

LOTHIAN: You don't see him run that often. He kind of just saunters along with an attitude.

COSTELLO: He's like, oh there is in egg. There is an egg. He is a cute dog. I shouldn't make fun of the dog.

LOTHIAN: He is a very cute dog.

COSTELLO: Because there is a special place and you know where for people who make fun of dogs. Also part of the festivities today I find it really interesting there is going to be a rock and egg roll stage. And Jordan Sparks from "American Idol" is going to sing to the kids along with the characters from "Sesame Street". And also I understand Danica Patrick and Adrian Peterson are going to be there.

LOTHIAN: That's right and you know my son is a big Nascar fan. And neglected to tell this because he would have wanted to come to this. She will be here, very popular on the Nascar circuit. She will be here.

A number of other professional athletes, as well. Victor Cruz from the New York Giants, several others, volleyball players, soccer players all here.

So you know while the kids come to certainly see the President and the First Lady to participate in the egg roll itself they also get a chance to see some of their fans or be fans up close in person. People they see from a distance they get to see them up close today.

COSTELLO: Awesome OK when the Easter Egg Roll gets underway we'll go back to you. Dan Lothian reporting live from the White House this morning. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Need some extra cash in your pocket, exclusive mentoring or maybe free Beyonce tickets? And all you need to do is show up for "Guns 4 Greatness" buyback and turn in the gun. Saturday was the first private gun buying event co-sponsored with the New York City Police Department.

More than 100 weapons were collected. And that's just the beginning. The program's founder and entertainment executive Michael "Blue" Williams explains how the program works.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL "BLUE" WILLIAMS, FOUNDER "GUNS 4 GREATNESS": Turning in the gun part is totally anonymous. You don't have to walk in and give your name or Special Security number. I'm going to buy (INAUDIBLE). You come in, you turn in your gun. If it is an operable gun you get a $200 gift card. If (INAUDIBLE) you're going to get a $20 gift card.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: President of Family Tree Entertainment and "Guns 4 Greatness" founder Michael "Blue" Williams is here to talk more about the program. Good morning.

WILLIAMS: Good morning.

COSTELLO: So what struck us especially was bringing a gun and you might get Beyonce tickets?

WILLIAMS: Yes the conversation started with we're trying to keep kids that would come in and sign for mentioning engaged and to keep them coming back to do work so I wanted to offer them things like tickets or tickets to concerts, to sporting events and maybe some head phones. Because I think that to get kids to continue to come in and do the mentoring work I need to give them things to start to keep them engaged.

COSTELLO: And of course Beyonce must be on board with this?

WILLIAMS: Yes it less about her particularly and maybe like of the companies or the venues that her concerts are at that I would go to them and get them to donate some tickets for the kids.

COSTELLO: So -- so you don't merely want young men to bring in guns. You also want them to be mentored. Is that working?

WILLIAMS: I want young men to come in and -- and get on a path, on a different path. And this weekend at the first event and I want to thank Pastor A.R. Bernard and the Christian Culture Center for letting us have it there. They were -- the first stories that came in were parents that came in with their -- their children that were really asking us to make sure that we mentored their children and help get them on another path.

So the mentoring part is -- and we are hoping that we can help make some changes.

COSTELLO: So -- so the parents who brought in their kids, how young were these kids and who did the gun belong to?

WILLIAMS: One parent came and he had found the gun in his son's room, he was an 18-year-old young man. And the father brought him and the gun in and asked us could we help mentor his son and get his son on the right path to success and change his life.

COSTELLO: What would you say to people who will tell you, you know gun buyback programs don't work, they have gun buyback programs in every major city in the United States and some smaller cities and those cities still have a problem with gun violence. WILLIAMS: I don't think that gun buyback problems don't -- gun buyback programs can solve the problem. I think they are one more tool than trying to get illegal guns off the street. And I think that you have to give some of the young people out there that are carrying guns some type of alternative of going to jail, or put them in a situation where they can see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel instead of running around the streets with guns.

COSTELLO: Michael "Blue" Williams, thank you so much for being with us this morning.

WILLIAMS: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: Coming up in the NEWSROOM, a pastor calls out the religious right saying the religious right wants the country to live in the past. And it happened while that pastor was delivering an Easter sermon which was attended by the President.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Turning our attention to politics this morning and the religious right under fire. As Republicans seek to rebrand there are signs that this segment of the party may be losing foothold when it comes to social issues.

And now during an Easter Sunday service which President Obama attended, a more liberal pastor seemed to pour salt in the conservative movement's wounds. Saying in part, quote, "The captains of the religious right are always calling us back, back, back, for blacks to be in the back of the bus, for women to be back in the kitchen, for gays to be back in the closet and for immigrants to be on their side of the border.

Joining me now to discuss Jason Johnson, chief political correspondent for Politic365 and Hiram College political science professor; and Ross Douthat, CNN contributor and "New York Times" op-ed columnist. Welcome to you both.

JASON JOHNSON, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, POLITIC 365: Good morning.

ROSS DOUTHAT, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning, I guess what surprised me about it the most was that the pastor said that during a church service on Easter Sunday -- Jason.

JOHNSON: It's not surprising. Look, don't we remember Reverend Wright? Obama apparently likes going to churches that are somewhat controversial. And -- and none of this is new. I mean, the Republicans need to stop -- you know what Republicans remind me of when it comes to this issue is sort of like a -- a guy with really bad breath and he keeps saying the reason I can't get a date is because he doesn't dress well. No, it's because of what's coming out of your mouth. The Republican Party gets criticized because of what they are actually saying. So these kinds of comments are going to keep coming until they actually change what they're doing.

COSTELLO: Yes but Ross must they be criticized on Easter Sunday?

DOUTHAT: I mean I guess -- I guess I would agree that I don't actually have a problem with it. I -- I think that this is sort of a normal part of American religion. It always has been. I think it should be a little bit uncomfortable for liberals who spent a lot of debates about 10 years ago arguing that any kind of mixing of religion and politics constituted a dangerous march towards theocracy.

I think from that point of view if that's your perspective then you should be troubled by the fact that the President is sitting there on Easter Sunday hearing political sermons.

But frankly, you know, there is a long history of this in American life. I think liberal Christians have every right to go after conservative Christians and vice versa. And I think it is more of just a reminder that liberals are only against the mixture of religion and politics when it is conservatives doing the mixing.

COSTELLO: I have to agree (INAUDIBLE) like it is Easter Sunday.

JOHNSON: Look, I don't necessarily think it is appropriate. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to hear that on Easter Sunday. I'm concerned about marshmallow peeps and eggs. But I think Barack Obama, we shouldn't be surprised. This is the kind of thing he does all the time. He was at a church where he heard these sorts of fiery sermons for 20 something years.

COSTELLO: Speaking of peeps and Easter eggs. We have to interrupt Jason, and I'm sorry because the President and the first family you can see them on the balcony there at the White House. The Easter Egg Roll is about to begin. Let's listen a moment and hear what they say.

(NATIONAL ANTHEM)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That was nice singing.

COSTELLO: That was terrific -- there was no lip syncing there. Let's listen to the President.

OBAMA: Jessica Sanchez everybody. Give her a big round of applause. Give Kid President a big round of applause. The Easter Bunny is here. Give the Easter Bunny a big round of applause.

It is wonderful to see all of you. And I just want to say welcome. You guys brought the great weather. It was a little shaky this morning. But all of you did a great job sending a message upstairs. Now we have beautiful weather. And I now want to introduce the star of the Obama family, my wife, the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Kid President Robby Novak. Isn't he wonderful?

Robby, we are so proud to have you here. You have been so inspiring. I can't imagine there is anyone who hasn't seen your video, right? You make us all want to work hard and be better. That's right. You are going to spend a little time in the Oval Office just fixing things up for this President, aren't you?

All right. Well, it is good to have you here. It is great to have everyone here this morning. We are so excited. The Easter Egg Roll is the biggest event that we have here on the south lawn of the White House each year. Today we are going to have more than 30,000 people who will pass through this yard in celebration of nutrition and health and activity. And we could not do this if it were not for all of our wonderful volunteers, our staff, all of the terrific performers and athletes who have taken time out of their lives and their busy days to make this important.

So we need to give all of them a round of applause for all of their hard work. Yes indeed. So today we want you to have a great time. We want you to run around. We want you to go over and see the White House garden. We want you to learn about making tasty, healthy food. We are going to do some Easter Egg Roll. We are going to read some stories.

But overall we want you guys to have a good time and keep moving and be healthy and kids eat your vegetables, OK. All right. You all take care. We'll see you down there. Bye-bye. Thank you.

COSTELLO: It's not just about hunting for Easter eggs. It is also about staying healthy. Although I admit that a part of me just wants it to be about finding Easter eggs.

Jason Johnson -- I'll lay that one on you.

JOHNSON: And marshmallow peeps. That's what's important.

DOUTHAT: I am just concerned about again the mixture of religion and politics. The Easter Bunny up there. What kind of message are we sending?

COSTELLO: Exactly. Here he comes.

DOUTHAT: The Eastern bunny theocracy.

JOHNSON: Looks like the Easter Bunny needs help getting down the stairs -- a little heavy, a little paunchy there.

DOUTHAT: Well, it is. There is a message about obesity here, too.

JOHNSON: Right.

DOUTHAT: I mean Michelle Obama, what kind of -- you know, we want a cautionary tale with the Easter Bunny.

COSTELLO: Well, actually I do think it is terrific. I don't know if it was an idle threat that the Easter Egg Roll would be cancelled for budgetary reasons. But everybody seems to be glad it is on.

DOUTHAT: Yes. Well, this is sort of the Washington monument phenomenon where whenever budget cuts are threatened the first thing somebody says is we're going to have to close down the Washington monument. But the reality is that there is no scenario in which a White House with any interest in political symbolism or politics in general would actually end up canceling the Easter Egg Roll.

COSTELLO: I can't imagine -- there was an article in the "Washington Post" this morning, Jason, as soon as that threat came to life that the Easter Egg Roll might be canceled a Democratic donor stepped up and donated $25,000. She says this must not happen. This is America.

JOHNSON: Yes, I thought that was a good idea, you know. And Obama is going to use any excuse he can to do some more fundraising. It was an empty threat. We're never going to see the end of the Easter Egg Roll. Obama and Michelle they very much like having these kinds of events.

Of all the things that we can cut, of all the government waste, of all the salaries that we can cut the Easter egg hunt should not have ever be on the list. It was pure politics.

COSTELLO: This is such a great spectacle. I mean I don't care what political side you're on, right. Ross, I mean they are taking pictures of the President and the kids are on the shoulders of their parents. It is a beautiful thing.

DOUTHAT: Are you trying -- I don't know, are you trying to goad me into saying something partisan, something anti-Easter. I am not going to do it. Just again, it is that Easter Bunny I am just a little concerned.

COSTELLO: Yes. 30,000 people will attend this event today. And they are going to have like amazing people. They are going to have a rock and egg roll stage. Get it -- rock and roll egg stage. I always say that wrong.

DOUTHAT: Yes. Listen, American humor isn't dead yet with those kinds of puns.

JOHNSON: I thought it was great. I even thought that the Pledge of Allegiance was great. I mean the national anthem -- that's not always a good part of these events -- I was really impressed.

COSTELLO: No, I was --

DOUTHAT: So who is -- but who is the Kid President?

COSTELLO: The Kid President is Robby Novak. He is a 9-year-old boy from Tennessee. Apparently he is a video maker. His video went viral. He pretended to be the President behind this little presidential podium --

DOUTHAT: I see.

COSTELLO: -- so they invited him.

JOHNSON: Yes, he's got a great viral video.

DOUTHAT: And did he give remarks? Did he give remarks? Did he speak? Did we miss his speech?

COSTELLO: He just said hello and he said a few words. But he didn't -- he is nine, Ross.

DOUTHAT: Are you saying -- I'm just getting this clear. CNN did not broadcast the Kid President's speech live, only the actual president? As a CNN contributor I am concerned about editorial --

JOHNSON: Equal times between the real and the Kid President.

DOUTHAT: That's right.

COSTELLO: Actually when you look at the Obama daughters -- Sasha and Malia -- they didn't look overly thrilled to be there this year. I think they are getting a little older.

DOUTHAT: That's right. Well, we need the teenage president to sort of go up there and says something obnoxious about adult authority.

JOHNSON: I mean they were texting and (INAUDIBLE) all the time during the inauguration. They are so bored. They are just so done with this.

COSTELLO: I know. I can sort of understand it. OK. So we will bring you more of the Easter Egg Roll throughout the day right here on CNN.

We're going to take a break. And thanks for playing, Jason and Ross. I appreciate it.

JOHNSON: Thanks, any time.

DOUTHAT: Absolutely. Happy Easter.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: You can officially say "play ball". 12 major league teams on the schedule today as the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros opened the season last night. The Astros won 8-2 in their first game as an American League. It was also the franchise's 4,000th win.

With baseball comes hot dogs, apple pie and prodigious home runs. And speaking of power hitters, Detroit's Prince Fielder comes to mind. I sat down with Prince during spring training where he revealed he had been bullied as a little boy even though he's the son of Hall of Famer Cecil Fielder. Our conversation began on a lighter note.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Jim Leland told me that one of the things that fans don't realize about you is how athletic you are and what a good first baseman you are. Why do you think they don't know that? I mean --

PRINCE FIELDER, MLB PLAYER: Probably because I'm not skinny. That's all. That's all. I mean, you know, you look a certain way and that's what people, you know. But I mean it's just fine. As long as, you know, I know I'm working hard and trying to get better every day. That's all that matters.

COSTELLO: You know, I think I was watching one game and you ran into someone or had some collision and afterwards you kind of hugged the opposing player.

FIELDER: Yes. When he hit me I felt he was kind of -- he thought I was going to be upset. I didn't want him to worry about it too much.

COSTELLO: See that's -- there's because -- If I were you I would want to intimidate him.

FIELDER: That works in the movies. You know, everybody is in the big leagues now. As far as intimidating. That's not -- I mean you know, I just let the play do that.

COSTELLO: You were quoted as saying you were bullied? Is that true?

FIELDER: Yes, I was bullied a little bit.

COSTELLO: In school.

FIELDER: Yes, a little bit. Just by little kids because I was big so little kids always bullied me a little bit I guess because whenever I would get mad I would get in trouble because I was bigger. So, you know, they take advantage of that.

COSTELLO: Did it bother you a lot?

FIELDER: It did. Every now and then -- yes, it bothered me. But I mean, you know, but once I got older it kind of stopped.

COSTELLO: The boys are with you today. Why is it important to have them with you so often?

FIELDER: Well, as a kid I was able to, you know, be with my dad all the time especially in the clubhouse and everything. And you know, for me even if I didn't play baseball it was a great experience just because I got to see so many all stars and hall of famers. Whether I played baseball or not I really believed it would have helped me in anything I did.

So when people see them they say (INAUDIBLE) they don't really talk about me. That's pretty awesome for me because, you know, I want them to have their own identity and to be cool on their own.

COSTELLO: So what do you better -- fielding, batting?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I kind of like both. It depends really. Like if I'm like real tired I like to hit really.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Really cute kids.

Of course the Tigers take on the Twins in Minnesota. Prince Fielder playing first base.

Thank you for joining us today. CNN NEWSROOM continues right.