American Morning
'R word' politics stir up controversy
By Carol Costello and Bob Ruff
What’s in a word? Groups who suffer discrimination see certain words as powerful cultural weapons used by those determined to keep them in their place.
Suffragettes at the turn of the century, civil rights demonstrators in the 1950s and 1960s, and gay rights activists at the turn of the century all understood that educating Americans about the hate and discrimination embedded in certain words was an important step toward claiming their rights under the Constitution.
The targets of the “B” word, the “N” word, and the “Q” word see them as barriers to equality. Now there is the “R” word. It stands for “retarded.”
Most recently, the president’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was criticized for using the “R” word when describing liberal Democrats. The resulting firestorm of criticism led to a meeting last week at the White House between Emmanuel and Special Olympics. The Special Olympics’ goal is to bring “dignity, acceptance and a chance to reach one’s potential” through athletics to people with intellectual disabilities. It was founded by President Kennedy’s sister, the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Her son, Anthony Shriver, is the founder of Best Buddies, a nonprofit group that strives to create opportunities for “people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Tebow's anti-abortion ad uproar
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/05/tebow.gi.art.jpg caption="Quarterback Tim Tebow of the Florida Gators celebrates after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats on January 1, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana."]
By Carol Costello and Ronni Berke
The most anticipated Super Bowl commercial this weekend won't be selling Doritos or Pepsi, electronics or automobiles. It will simply be, according to a spokesman for its sponsor, "celebrating life."
Even some abortion rights activists are conceding the Focus on the Family ad, featuring college football star Tim Tebow and his family, is a savvy piece of marketing from the advocacy group, a longtime abortion opponent.
Tebow is famous, not just for his Heisman Trophy, but because his mother, Pam, decided to defy a doctor's recommendation that she undergo an abortion after falling ill while pregnant with him.
Tim Tebow, a devout Christian, calls his mother "a very courageous woman, and wouldn't say no in a lot of circumstances. So that's the reason I'm here and I'm very thankful for that."
To those who criticize his decision to appear in the ad: "I do stand up for what I believe. And at least you can respect that."
Focus on the Family will not release the commercial – or even a transcript of it – before Sunday's game. However, the group says that the 30 second commercial is not "anti-anything," according to spokesman Gary Scheeberger. "It's an ad that's very pro-family and it's really about celebrating family and celebrating life."
White House: No decision yet on moving 9/11 trial
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/01/31/terror.trial.site/story.ksm.gi.jpg caption="Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is among those suspects set to face a trial in a civilian criminal court."]
Washington (CNN) - No decision has been made on whether to change the current plan to hold the September 11 terrorist attack trial in a civilian court in lower Manhattan, White House officials said Sunday.
Last week, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other politicians expressed concern over the costs and disruption of holding the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four accomplices at a New York City courthouse.
David Axelrod, the senior adviser to President Obama, and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Sunday that Obama believes the trial should take place in a criminal court instead of before a military commission, as permitted for some terrorism suspects.
However, Axelrod and Gibbs acknowledged that Obama and the Justice Department were considering moving the trial from New York City. Full Story
Should the trial of 9/11 suspects be moved out of New York City? Sound off below.
Critics: 'Avatar' is anti-military & anti-religion
20th Century Fox says James Cameron's 3D epic "Avatar" has officially sunk "Titanic, taking the crown for the biggest movie ever.
It has topped more than $1.84 billion so far, but some critics aren't too happy about that success. Our Jason Carroll has the report.
Muslim-American says she's victim of religious profiling
Editor's Note: Anyone who took to the skies over the holidays will tell you that security has been tighter since a Nigerian man was arrested for allegedly trying to blow up a commercial airliner. But Muslims in the United States and Canada say they are being targeted. Is it racial profiling? American Morning's Alina Cho has the story of two women who say it happened to them.
By Alina Cho, CNN
Nadia Hassan is a frequent flier. Imagine her surprise when she arrived at the security checkpoint at Washington's Dulles International Airport Tuesday and encountered what she calls, "racial, religious profiling."
The 40-year-old Michigan-born Muslim-American, headed to Los Angeles, says she was singled out for what she calls a "humiliating" full-body search.
When she asked why this was happening "the gentleman who was working there specifically told me that the reason I'm being put through this type of search is because I'm wearing a head scarf. … He actually came out and told me that that's the reason why you are being targeted."
She's not alone.
On Monday, a Muslim-Canadian woman says she was made to feel like a terrorist because she was wearing a headscarf. She says she was berated and banned from boarding a flight to the United States – all because of her faith.
Karl Malone speaks out about Wizards gun incident
The case of Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas is putting the spotlight back on a problem that's been around for years: NBA players and their guns.
Arenas has admitted to bringing four guns to a locker room, part of what he now calls a bad joke. It was first reported Arenas and another teammate, Javaris Crittenton, drew guns on each other.
Former NBA player Karl Malone, who had a legendary career with the Utah Jazz and is a member of the National Rifle Association, joined us on Wednesday's American Morning to discuss the matter.
Related: Wizards player calls gun incident 'a mistake'
SI.com: NBA legend Malone offers thoughts on alleged Wizards gun incident
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