Oil Scaring Away Tourist; Celebrating the Fourth of July
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: On this Fourth of July, some in the Republican Party want to declare independence from Chairman Michael Steele. One of the only conservatives speaking out in his defense, Ron Paul. He joins us this hour. California, once one of the most viable economies in the world, now taking drastic measures some worry will spread across the U.S. Could you live on minimum wage? And the food fight that landed a hot dog eating champ in jail. And it's all caught on tape. Happy Fourth of July to everyone. I'm Don Lemon. Lots of eyes peering into the night sky this evening catching the rockets' red glare. Some amazing fireworks shows across the country this evening. And our correspondents are standing by across the country as well. Sandra Endo is at the National Mall in Washington, the site of a huge celebration there. Our Allan Chernoff and John Zarrella are at different spots but both of them along the Gulf Coast tonight where the oil disaster is keeping many tourists and their money away on this very -- on this usually very busy weekend. We want to start with John Zarrella tonight in gulf shores, Alabama, area. John, what have you seen on the beaches there today?</s>JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, you know, the beach here for the most part today was very, very empty. A fraction of the normal crowd that you would expect here. In fact, the lifeguards were telling us that during a normal Fourth of July, they couldn't ride their golf carts along the beach. That wasn't the case today. There was plenty of open space. But now you can see tonight. Look, a lot of folks have come in pouring in here for the big firework show that they're putting on here that's supposed to start in just a few minutes. And folks came in this afternoon, late in the afternoon. A lot of the people over here on the beach stayed for the show. But many, many more came this afternoon. And there's a live band. There they go. You see a few. There you go. Take a look out there, Don. They've started some of the fireworks off the pier here because of the weather conditions. They had to move the show from a barge they were going to do the display on over to the pier out in the distance there. So some of the first fireworks of this July 4th for our audience. Don, take a look.</s>LEMON: Very nice there, John Zarrella. Very nice. Glad to see people having a good time. At least a little bit of fun down there on the gulf coast. And, you know, on the Fourth of July, it's really an American holiday. It's most American of all the holidays here. And we celebrate it with family and friends. Cookouts and barbecues. Even for the folks here at CNN. And what would the Fourth of July be without those fireworks that we have been seeing. Well, one place that could really use some cheering up of course is the gulf coast. And CNN's senior correspondent Allan Chernoff is in New Orleans for us. Always a prime place for a party. I see you are wearing your Mardi Gras beads. What else is going on, Allan?</s>ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: This, as you know is definitely party central. You know, in New Orleans, any nights an excuse for a party. July 4th, something very special. And behind me in just a few minutes we're going to have the battle of the barges. Two barges on the Mississippi River right behind me, and everybody is waiting for those fireworks to begin. Really should be something spectacular. The 20th annual showing of those fireworks right here on the river between the two barges. We've got the Pugh Family over here. They've got 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds. I think it's past their bedtime, is it not?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is.</s>CHERNOFF: But a special occasion for it.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very much so.</s>CHERNOFF: You're very excited, I'm sure.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely.</s>CHERNOFF: Happy Fourth to you all.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.</s>CHERNOFF: And Don, by the way, the celebration over here, this fireworks display, it is in part sponsored by Chevron. Competitor of BP. But you can see behind me here, lots of people, thousands of people here in New Orleans. The spirit not dampened at all. At least right here in spite of that oil spill in the gulf. Don?</s>LEMON: And those are two really cute kids right there. Thank you Allan Chernoff down in New Orleans. You know, one of the best places to take in the sights and sounds of Fourth of July, well of course is the nation's capital. Washington is a beehive of activity on Independence Day. The Obamas put on a barbecue for military heroes and their families at the White House. Thousands gathered for the annual concert right there on the mall. And of course, an inspiring fireworks display that lights up the nation's most cherished monuments. And one of the best places to catch the show, of course, is the national mall. And CNN's Sandra Endo has a front row seat. One of the best assignments tonight. Sandra, are you having quite some fun there. I see you have some partiers right behind you.</s>SANDRA ENDO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes, Don. The party is still managing to go on right now. Even though the fireworks show is over. A lot of people are clearing out of this area, the National Mall. But so many people have come from far away. Germany, Orlando. What did you guys think? Everyone wearing their red, white and blue tonight for the 17- minute show. It was spectacular. You heard oohs and ahs from the crowd. And it was funny. After the roar in the sky, the roar down here, then it was like one more fireworks like a goodnight kiss. Don, back to you.</s>LEMON: All right, Sandra. Good times there in the nation's capitol. Thank you very much. Stay safe. In Afghanistan, July 4th took on more than symbolic meaning for some of our soldiers. They proved you can have a little fun on our national holiday, even in the middle of a war zone. CNN's Atia Abawi is at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.</s>ATIA ABAWI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Don, General David Petraeus officially took command of ISAF forces on the Fourth of July in a ceremony held in Kabul. But it's here at Bagram Airfields where the troops are celebrating independence day with a dunk tank, music, barbecue and this.</s>CAPT. BRIDGETT SCOTT, U.S. ARMY: It feels different. I mean, we are aware that there's a war going on. But at the same time, we're all here serving the same thing, and, I mean, we deserve to celebrate, too. So -- but it's fun. I'm having a great time.</s>MASTER SGT. MICHAEL VARNO, U.S. AIR FORCE: We can't really do live fireworks here, so we're not going to see a fireworks show. But I hope we don't see a firework show. But I'm going to miss hanging out with my family watching fireworks and having a good time watching parades and stuff. So my family the most.</s>ABAWI: The festivities ended with good food and good company. And although the troops do miss their family and friends on their independence day, they say they are proud to be serving in Afghanistan on the Fourth of July. Don?</s>LEMON: Atia, thank you for that. Vice President Joe Biden spent the Fourth of July in Iraq. He met with Iraqi leaders still in political deadlock nearly four months after national elections. The vice president and his wife also had a holiday lunch with U.S. Troops. During his visit, three mortar rounds hit Baghdad's green zone. No damage or injuries to report. This was Biden's second straight visit to Iraq on the Fourth of July. It looks like being benched from an eating competition was too much for Takura Kobayashi to chew. The former champ was hauled off in handcuffs at the annual Coney Island hot dog competition. We will tell you why. Plus, RNC Chairman Michael Steele in the midst of controversy over recent comments he made last year. He told me there's a reason behind every gaffe he makes. Take a listen.</s>MICHAEL STEELE, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: So if I do something, there's a reason for it. Even it may look like a mistake, a gaffe, there is a rationale. There's a logic behind it.</s>LEMON: So does the same hold true for his Afghanistan comments, or will he pay the price here? Congressman Ron Paul and our political expert Mark Preston weigh in on the debate. And don't just sit there, everyone. Be a part of our conversation. Be a part our show. Send me a message on Twitter and Facebook, and check out my blog at CNN.com/Don.