Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 4/15/08
Tonight, we start in Eldorado with new details from inside the reclusive polygamist compound. Hundreds of children are in state custody and their mothers say they’re being persecuted for practicing an unpopular religion. We also have new pictures taken by members of the sect that show authorities entering the compound in armored personnel carriers and carrying automatic weapons.
The Pope landed at Andrews Air Force Base this afternoon where he was greeted personally by President Bush. It's the first time ever an American president has traveled out to Andrews to welcome a foreign leader and it's the first papal visit since the sex abuse scandal exploded. Find out what the Pope said about that.
We’ll have an up close look at Sen. Barack Obama and who he is and how he became that person. This is the first in a series of in depth pieces on all three candidates.
Finally, Heisman trophy winner Herschel Walker and his battle with mental illness. The NFL superstar says he doesn't even remember winning the Heisman trophy because he was too busy struggling with a mental disorder. It’s called dissociative identity disorder and Dr. Sanjay Gupta will have all the details.
And be sure to check out our new live web camera from the 360° studio. The shot features a behind the scenes look at the set. We’ll turn the camera on at 945p ET and turn it off at 11p ET. LINK TO THE BLOG CAMERA
We’ll start posting comments to this blog at 10p ET and stop at 11p ET.
|
|
Filed under: Live Blog |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
I realize these women sound like they are programmed but I'm sure this whole ordeal is overwhelming to them. I find it interesting that they are putting trust in the media, though.
Evening all!!
Thank GOD those children were rescued from the abusive cult.
This is a scary and dangerous situation.
Is Ms.Hill taking her vacation now? She's usually the first to comment 🙂
These woman were probably" married" themselves at 14. They are just feeling society coming down on their lives and are no doubt going to go underground and hide for good.
more then 100 kids......DANG!!!!!!
so I guess it is happening up here in Canada too
I agree with Megan O., Anderson......
If i heard right the authorites had somebody working inside the compound as a undercover?
I think the tanks were because they had no idea what to expect (especially with trying to remove 400 kids).
They didn't know if they would be in danger or not... so better safe than sorry I guess.
I am against this whole issue – but looking at some of the women, does make feel that there could be a few exceptions to the norm. Some of these Mom's may really care about their kids.
I believe the American Psychology Associations guidelines for determining child abuse recommends that the child be removed from both parents when it is a parent who is accused of being the abuser. The children are more likely to give honest responses without the parents present.
I don't get how something like this exists in the United States.
I am all for religious freedom, but where is the line?
These women are all dressed alike and have the same hair style. I am sure their pain as mothers is real, but their sameness is frightenng.
Hello Erica from Portugal!
You look gorgeous tonight.
I love the 360 webcam.
Hey guys! Are you going to do a story on the pope's visit?
Welcome back AC!! The polygamist women seem so weird and brainwashed..They act like they dont want any help from the government....
Although I understand what David is saying, I cannot understand why there isn't supervised visitation for these children and the family.
OMG Terri – I was thinking the exact same thing. Somehow I feel this does not bode well.
"Its not real common". Is that the defense? Even if thats true, one time is more than enough. I don't see the point in interviewing these wives, they have so many mental issues, its not like they have their own views to share.
Those women...I feel sorry for them for they are so brainwashed. The authorities did the right thing in taking the kids away from that compound...they're just trying to protect them.
Hey there bloggers, and hello there, Erica. How are you doing? I'm looking forward to an interesting program tonight.:)
Good evening, Anderson!
the women don't HAVE last names in those cults. The reporter said he couldn't get any of them to tell him their last names. That's why none answered. You're not a "person" if you're a female in those cults. You're property....and broodmares.
Great to see you Anderson.... Looking good as ever!
They probably welcome the attention of people who are not treating them like property – people who actually want to know how they are thinking and feeling.
I'm glad at least 6 of the women chose not to come back.
Welcome home Anderson!
This whole thing with the ranch is incredibly creepy. It's way too rehearsed between the members, everyone says the same thing almost verbatim. It's just....weird.
Seem these women seem to be nothing like Kathleen
Anderson I hope you did not catch anything on your plane. I heard a volcano erupted in Columbia.....guess it was upset you left but we needed you back here
Do authorites know who called to say she was being abuse?
Remember – last night that woman Catherine – was concerned about her children seeing guns. She didn't even mention tanks. What gives with the tanks – they must have worried this could turn into another Waco Tx problem.
Hi Anderson, Erica and bloggers!
Welcome back Anderson ! Missed you!
They were just being prepared...remember Waco
Hundreds of lawyers for the kids, lawyers for the families, lawyers for the state....this is going to be expensive for the state of Texas.
They have every right to bring in all that protection in, the authorities would have no idea what exactly the compound could be equipped with. If they are crazy enough to allow children to be raped, they may be crazy enough to challenge the police.
Hey Anderson, sounds like a great program tonite. A tank seems a little excessive.
As much as I abhor how these polygamists live and the allegations, I believe these mothers when they say the police lied to them and tricked them when they removed the kids. Police do that to regular people on the outside too.
The mothers of these children were victims themselves growing up in the sect. I don't think all the mothers should lose their children. Each case should be reviewed and a witch hunt avoided.
Hi Anderson!
Good to see you back in NY. Love the new tie. 😉
Gary is making me nervous, please assure us that he is safe and is not being constantly harrassed. Poor Gary, and he is like the nicest guy ever!
Welcome back to NY, Anderson. Those images in the compound in El Dorado are unreal...
Great to have you back AC! Looking forward to the show tonight
Hi Anderson, Erica and bloggers
Hey Anderson! Looking forward to this evening's show!
body armor, weapons? that seems excessive to me. were they really expecting those people to have a secret arsenal stashed away somewhere?
Anderson is here – the party can start
Good evening all.... yeah the pope, at last a politician of a different kind.
Was a tank really needed???
welcome back anderson! we've missed you a lot!
Great to have you back Coop! Looking forward to the pope segment, this polygamy story is just too depressing.
Hi, Anderson and bloggers...
Ready to talk about Eldorado, The pope and and Obama plus Mr. Walker not at the same time, of course.
Hello Anderson, Erica and Bloggers.
Look who is back in the NYC studio....welcome home Anderson!
Looking forward to a great Tuesday show
good evening everyone. It's nice to be back in New York and back on the blog!