Anderson Cooper 360 - Transcript - Pro-Polygamy Rally; Polygamy Comes Out; Sister Wives

ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES

Pro-Polygamy Rally; Polygamy Comes Out; Sister Wives

Aired August 21, 2006 - 23:00 ET

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

ANDERSON COOPER: Coming up, a strange demonstration to say the least in
Utah. Children defending polygamy, the children of polygamist families
going public in Utah to show you what prompted them to do it and what
will the consequences may be.

Also tonight, meet the newlyweds, a rare up close look at the so- called
sister wives and what they really think about having to share a husband,
coming up next on 360.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: An extraordinary public display by people who normally stay out
of the lime light because what they believe is against the law. The
members of polygamist families, and they took to the streets this
weekend to defend their beliefs.

Here's CNN's Gary Tuchman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): In Salt Lake City, where
the 12.3 million-member Mormon church is based, a first of its kind
demonstration takes place.

UNIDENTIFIED RALLIERS: We want freedom, we want choice.

TUCHMAN: The Mormon church disavowed polygamy generations ago, but these
children who call themselves fundamentalist Mormons marched on the Utah
streets, defending their polygamist parents and speaking out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Mary. I'm the 14th child in a large
family and I have several moms.

TUCHMAN: Polygamy is a felony in Utah and because arrests have happened
in the past, polygamist families generally stay very low profile and
certainly don't hold rallies with children.

But with much publicity about polygamy lately, they are now.

Amanda is 14.

AMANDA, CHILD FROM POLYGAMIST FAMILY: I've been made fun of. My religion
has been made fun of. And I've been excluded because of your prejudice.
If you don't like to be judged, why is it so easy to judge me?

TUCHMAN: Jessica is 17.

JESSICA, CHILD OF POLYGAMIST FAMILY: We're not brainwashed, mistreated,
neglected, malnourished, illiterate, defective or dysfunctional.

TUCHMAN: About 250 children and parents showed up outside a Salt Lake
City governmental building.

(On camera): When you get married, are there any of you who don't want
to be in plural marriage families?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We all want to.

TUCHMAN: You want to? You all want to be with a number of wives and one
husband?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, if we have the opportunity to, of course.

TUCHMAN: I mean, don't you want a husband to yourself?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I mean, who wants the husband to cook for every
night by yourself? I mean, there's laundry all the time, iron his
clothing all the time. Let somebody else do it for us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, have some help.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): At the same time as this rally, right down the
street at the world's largest Mormon temple, this new husband and wife
had just committed themselves to a monogamous marriage in life. The
church telling CNN the rally is a matter for the state of Utah to
respond to, but also saying, referring "To these groups as Mormons or
Mormon sects is misleading and confusing to the vast majority of
audiences who rightfully associate the term 'Mormon' with members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."

This man brought his two wives and three of his six children to support
the rally.

(On camera): Did you worry about coming here today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think everybody has a certain amount of worry. We
know that it's illegal in this state. But we also feel that that's an
unconstitutional law because we should be allowed our freedom of religion.

UNIDENTIFIED RALLIERS: We want freedom!

TUCHMAN (voice-over): There were no arrests. As a matter of fact, there
were no police to be seen.

Although authorities are anxious to apprehend polygamists accused of
crimes involving children, like FBI Fugitive Warren Jeffs, they say for
now they will leave ordinary polygamists alone.

None of these protesters are believed to be supporters of Jeffs.

(On camera): The Mormon church renounced polygamy 116 years ago, but the
people here pledge to continue denouncing the renouncing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I chose this lifestyle and no amount of money,
promises or chocolates will change my mind. Thank you for your time.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Gary Tuchman, CNN, Salt Lake City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Never quite seen a rally like that. The question is really how
significant is it? We're going to take a look at the potential impact in
just a moment.

Also, polygamists in their own words, what do the women really think
about their so-called sister wives? And how is the hunt for Warren Jeffs
going? All that ahead on 360.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: The creepy song stylings of Polygamist Warren Jeffs, one of the
FBI's most wanted.

Mike Watkiss, a reporter with CNN affiliate KTVK in Phoenix joins me now
with more on the manhunt.

Michael, good to see you. How is it going?

MICHAEL WATKISS, KTVK REPORTER: Well, I think the search for Warren
Jeffs continues all over the United States, Anderson. And certainly they
are looking for him in Texas, where he has built that big compound. But
he's really had a four-year jump on law officers. He's seen this day coming.

When one of his polygamist cronies, a polygamist cop named Rod Holm was
thrown in jail about four years ago, that really set everything that
we're now seeing in motion. And Warren Jeffs has seen that law officers
are going to be coming after him and he's been preparing for this day.

COOPER: One other member of his family, though, has now been put -- is
now wanted by the FBI. Is that correct?

WATKISS: Well, several of his brothers have been -- there's a big grand
jury. One of the big developments is a grand jury that's operating, of
course, in secret here and has been operating for a number of months,
and they've hauled a lot of his followers in to testify and when they
won't testify they've thrown them in jail. And I know that at least one
of his brothers, perhaps two are now incarcerated for basically refusing
to answer the questions of this grand jury.

COOPER: What do you make about this demonstration that occurred, I mean
all these kids from polygamist families, not necessarily followers of
Warren Jeffs, but other polygamist families?

WATKISS: Critical point. Yes, critical point. I think it's wonderful. I
think it's really cool that these young people have felt empowered
enough to come forward. They are the bottom line part of the American
landscape, part of the landscape in Utah and Arizona. They shouldn't be
living in the shadows and some communication or dialogue with the
outside world is very healthy.

COOPER: How common is it, though? I mean, you know, it's interesting.
When I went to the areas around Salt Lake, I mean, in some communities,
it's quite easy to see polygamist compounds, which I got to be honest,
surprised me.

WATKISS: I grew up in Utah. I have polygamist ancestors. They're
everywhere, honeycombed throughout the American southwest. They are
everywhere and America, a couple of months ago when Warren Jeffs ended
up on the "Ten Most Wanted," woke up to this realization there are
polygamists in our midst. Now we're understanding that there are
gradations of polygamists.

The kids in that rally, you know, in their Gap jeans and on their cell
phones, they're not the problem. The problems are in the dark of night,
in the secrecy of the communities like Colorado City, where polygamy has
basically been able to metastasize into the cancer that it is.

These are well-documented cases. I have been focusing on polygamists for
30 years, about 10 years on Warren Jeffs and his group. The jury is no
longer out for me. I know they abuse women and children. I know that the
boys are thrown out. They abuse the welfare system. There's tax fraud.
This is what the grand jury is looking at here. Warren Jeffs deserves to
be on "America's Most Wanted."

The kids in that package, the kids in that story, they're not the
problem. Their families are not the problem. Warren Jeffs and his group
are the problem.

COOPER: And he is still out there. By all accounts in the compound in
Texas probably.

WATKISS: Best guess, yes he's safest there, it's private land. You and I
can drive into Colorado City, as remote as it is. It's a public place,
but on that big landlocked island in Texas, he's got all of the security
he needs. He's built that sort of ominous apocalyptic-like temple down
there. He's set for a siege down there.

And again, he's four years ahead of law officers because he's seen this
day coming. Law officers have now caught up to the fact, they're looking
for him, but he's braced. He's got compounds in South Dakota, in
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) moving to Nevada, so they're scattering to the wind.

COOPER: Michael Watkiss, appreciate you keeping us updated. Thanks,
Michael.

We're going to have more on the polygamy movement coming up.

First though, Randi Kaye joins with us a "360 Business Bulletin" -- Randi.

KAYE: Hi there, Anderson. The rally is over on Wall Street. Stocks
closed down today for the first time in more than a week as investors
worried about rising oil prices in Iran's nuclear program. A weak
outlook from home improvement chain Lowe's didn't help either. The Dow
fell 36 points to close at 11345, the NASDAQ lost 16 points and the S&P
closed down 4.

Now, about that report from Lowe's, second quarter profits at the
nation's number two home improvement chain did not meet expectations.
Lowe's has also posted a full-year earnings outlook that's short of
previous estimates. Lowe's stock fell about 4 percent today.

Technology Company Sandis saw its stock go up after it introduced a new
digital music player to go up against Apple's popular iPod Nano. The new
version of the Sansa device stores twice as many songs as the Nano, but
price its price tag would be just about the same. Sandis is also
lowering the prices on its other Sansa models just in time for, that's
right, the holiday shopping season.

Oh, it won't be long, Anderson.

COOPER: The holiday shopping season?

KAYE: Can you believe we're talking about that?

COOPER: No, I really can't. I refuse to talk about it. It's too far away.

KAYE: Better get that list ready.

COOPER: No. Randi, thanks.

It is a happy family, just not your typical one perhaps. One husband,
two wives, the possibility of a third. What makes polygamists choose to
live this way? A rare inside look at a polygamist family. That's coming up.

And we're getting a lot of e-mail about JonBenet Ramsey and her

suspected killer. We'll take a look at some of your e-mails to our blog,
ahead on 360.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WARREN JEFFS, POLYGAMIST: Dear wives, realizing happiness is only being
a part and a strength to your husband, get close to him, confide in him,
don't let your former family be your total confidence, it should be your
new husband.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Well, as Mike Watkiss said, polygamists have flown under the
radar for many years. That is changing lately now that Warren Jeffs is
on the FBI's most wanted list.

Before the break, we reported on a rally where the children of
polygamist relationships defended their right to live the way they want.
Here again, CNN's Gary Tuchman visiting a family that also makes no
excuses for its unorthodox lifestyle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He is a married man, but
not just any married man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm married twice actually to this beautiful young
lady here and to this beautiful young lady here.

TUCHMAN (on camera): And I'm wondering if these beautiful young ladies
at any time object to being with another beautiful young lady you
consider a wife?

What about you Lisa?

LISA, POLYGAMIST WIFE: Not at all.

TUCHMAN: Never bothers you?

LISA: Nope.

TUCHMAN: What about you, Helen? Never bothers you?

HELEN, POLYGAMIST WIFE: No.

TUCHMAN: There's never a time when I say, I want to you myself?

HELEN: No.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Helen was 20 when she married 21-year-old Ariel
(ph) 11 years old. Lisa was 18 when she married him two years ago.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Were you happy when Lisa came into the house as a
sister wife?

HELEN: Absolutely. Yes.

TUCHMAN: No question about that?

HELEN: Yes. I was on cloud 11 for a long time.

TUCHMAN: That's higher than cloud nine.

HELEN: Yes.

TUCHMAN: Would you like to see him take another wife?

HELEN: Yes.

TUCHMAN: And another one after that?

HELEN: Yes.

ARIEL (ph), POLYGAMIST: Dear God, our eternal father in heaven, we bow
or heads before you this evening.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Ariel and his wives call themselves fundamentalist
Mormons. He works as a math and science teacher. They have a total of
nine children.

Helen has given birth to seven of them. She works as an accountant.

Lisa, who stays at home has given birth to two, including newborn Ruben
(ph), who was born prematurely and is just home from the hospital. The
oldest of the nine children is only 9 years old.

ARIEL: We are grateful for the Lord, Jesus Christ, and for the Prophet
Joseph Smith and the...

TUCHMAN: Husband and wives believe the Mormon church, which was founded
by Joseph Smith in 1830 should not have abandoned polygamy.

(On camera): Do you think Joseph Smith would consider you and people who
believe like you the true followers?

ARIEL (ph): I think so.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): They are very conservative. With the mercury over
100 degrees here in northern Arizona, everyone is covering their arms
and legs. But conservative or not, our discussions got a bit free-wheeling.

(On camera): You would you never be with more than one wife at the same
time?

ARIEL (ph): Oh, you mean in the bedroom?

TUCHMAN: Yes.

ARIEL (ph): No.

TUCHMAN: I'm just trying not to be so blunt about it.

ARIEL (ph): I wanted to be explicit.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Ariel (ph) and his wives live in the town of
Centennial Park. That's less than five minutes from Colorado City,
Arizona, where thousands of supporters of FBI Fugitive Warrant Jeffs live.

The people of Centennial Park do not support or follow Jeffs, but they
do support the polygamist lifestyle. And because of that, there is great
fear here of government prosecution.

(On camera): How worried are you that someday your family could be split
up? It's happened in the past. It's been part of your history. How
worried are you that authorities will come in here and say, you're a
polygamist, you're under arrest?

ARIEL (ph): It's definitely a concern. It's a constant concern. TUCHMAN
(voice-over): When they leave their community as a married threesome,
they act low profile.

ARIEL (ph): I've tried putting my arm around both of them when I walked
into a restaurant recently and they felt uncomfortable so I stopped
doing that.

TUCHMAN: The children regard both women as their mothers, no matter
which one gave birth to them.

(On camera): So the new baby that Lisa just gave birth to you is your
baby, too?

HELEN: Absolutely.

TUCHMAN: And, Lisa, when I say that, is there a twinge in your heart
saying, that's my baby. She came out of me.

LISA: No, no, no. No, actually -- no. When I had my first baby, seeing
how much Helen loved her just made me love Helen more. It was incredible.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Indeed, the wives love each other, too. And admit
they would be delighted with even more love in the home.

HELEN: I would have been happy if he'd married another wife the day I
got married. That is what I was hoping for.

TUCHMAN: Ariel (ph), who comes from a family of 16 mothers and about 100
siblings, says he's open to his wives' requests for what they call
sister wives.

ARIEL (ph): When they put pressure on me to get another wife, what they
really mean is pray about it. So, that's what I'll do. That's what I do
when they get too overbearing, I just get down on my knees and ask God
to take this away from me.

TUCHMAN: He's open to the concept.

ARIEL (ph): We pray that you'll bless us with your spirit.

TUCHMAN: But Ariel (ph) says God has to give the final OK.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Centennial Park, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Thanks for watching, and I'll see you again tomorrow.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR
SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com