[Tapper:] We have some breaking news. A statement from Dick and Lynne Cheney, the former vice president of the United States and his wife, about the controversy about his daughters. Their daughters disputing, arguing, disagreeing with the issue of same-sex marriage. As you may know, Liz Cheney, running for Senate in the Wyoming, yesterday, said that she does not support same-sex marriage. Her younger sister, Mary Cheney, is married to a woman, Heather Poe. They have two children. They got married last year and there has been a very public dispute about this. Vice President and Mrs. Cheney saying in statement, quote, "This is an issue we have dealt with privately for many years. We are pained to see it become public. Since it has, one thing should be clear. Liz has always believed in the traditional definition of marriage. She has also always treated her sister and her sister's family with love and respect, exactly as she should have done. Compassion is called for even when there is disagreement about such a fundamental matter. And Liz's many kindnesses shouldn't be used to distort her position." The latest statement from Vice President and Mrs. Chaney, Lynne Cheney, on a family dispute that is very public and, perhaps, in some ways, gets at some disagreements that other families are going through, as well as a dispute going on in the Republican Party right now. Let's move on. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is in a battle for his political life. Right now, city council is debating a vote to strip Ford of most of his key powers and hand them over the deputy mayor. This follows a similar vote last week that stripped Ford of other powers. Things got heated when the mayor's brother, Doug Ford, who is also a city counselor, came to his defense.
[Doug Ford, Toronto City Council Member & Brother Of Rob Ford:] Has he showed up to work every day and fulfilled his job?
[Unidentified City Council Member:] Counselor, those inquiries No disruptions. Those inquiries belong to one of the accountability officers to be reviewing if there's an issue.
[Ford:] I'm glad you said that. Thank you for answering the question because what it should be, the complaint should be filed through the city's integrity commissioner rather than this kangaroo court. Do you not agree?
[Bill Weir, Cnn Correspondent:] A lot of people are worried about Rob Ford these days, worried that he'll never leave office or that his appetites will kill him. You know what's not worried? Rob Ford.
[Rob Ford, Mayor Of Toronto:] I'm not an addict. I'm not an alcoholic. I'm not a drug addict.
[Weir:] And in the hearts of Ford nation, they believe him. Oh, you think he might have been set up?
[Unidentified Female:] Yeah.
[Weir:] But he admitted to smoking crack.
[Unidentified Female:] Well, maybe you just get fed up with everything.
[Unidentified City Council Member:] Have you purchased illegal drugs in the last two years?
[Weir:] Sure he may be a pariah on the floor of the city council and a punch line on "Saturday Night Live."
[Unidentified Actor:] Whoa, that's a lot of crack!
[Weir:] But out in the suburban public housing project, he is no pun intended a rock star. See, he may be a slash-and-burn fiscal conservative downtown but, out here, they say he's a bleeding heart they call when the eviction notice comes.
[Doug Ford:] Everybody keeps saying he's a conservative. He's a massive social liberal. He loves Obama.
[Weir:] Counselor Doug Ford invited us here. When his little brother showed up, we saw why. Almost everyone was thrilled to see him. [on camera]: These folks love you. But do you realize how you're perceived around the rest of the country, around the rest of the continent?
[Rob Ford:] They can make fun of me. They can laugh at me all they want. They don't know Rob Ford. These people have known me for about I was born and raised here.
[Weir:] Why did you decide to finally admit you had smoked crack?
[Rob Ford:] I'm not going to run around and be phony and, you know, lie. And I'm not going to have someone try to blackmail me and say they have videos of this and
[Weir:] But you did
[Bob Ford:] hold it over my head. Because you don't trust what "The Toronto Star" says. I'm just had enough. I was sick and tired of all these allegations and all this
[Weir:] Can't you see why some would question your judgment.
[Bob Ford:] So lie about it? Just hide?
[Weir:] No, no, no. that you would do it in the first place.
[Rob Ford:] No, no. I didn't say that. You're wrong. You're absolutely wrong what you said. They said, do you smoke crack and are you a crack addict? No, I don't smoke crack and I'm not a crack addict. Have I? Yes, I have. So that's what I didn't lie. I don't smoke crack. I haven't smoked crack in over a year, but did I? It's semantics to you. Typical media. You're all cut from the same cloth. You know what I mean? You guys spin it every way you want. But you know what?
[Weir:] At this point, Doug tries to calm his brother, which, as we've seen, ain't easy.
[Rob Ford:] But when you accuse me of being a crack addict and saying, do you smoke crack, no, I don't. I don't like people attacking my integrity.
[Weir:] Couldn't you be more effective if you were a little healthier?
[Rob Ford:] I'm trying to lose weight. I'm working out. I'm not perfect.
[Weir:] Why not see some addiction specialists just to make sure?
[Rob Ford:] I'm not an addict. You can tell me whatever you want. These people know I'm not. Do you ever get drunk before, Bill?
[Weir:] Of course.
[Rob Ford:] OK, sure.
[Weir:] But I'm not running a city in Canada.
[Rob Ford:] It doesn't matter. This is the thing. I don't look at myself as the mayor. I look at myself as a normal regular person. That's enough. I'm passionate. So guys, sorry, sorry.
[Weir:] ne more question. This is the one that really gets it from me. I know a lot of people who would party their brains out.
[Rob Ford:] Yeah.
[Weir:] But they're parents. Are you sure you're insulating your children from what's going on now.
[Rob Ford:] Absolutely, I'm the best father around.
[Weir:] But there's going to come a day when they Google their dad.
[Rob Ford:] I'm going to explain what they're hearing. You just dismiss them? I don't walk away from anyone, Bill, in life. All these rich, elitist people, I'm sick of them. I'm sick of them. No, no, they're perfect. They don't do nothing. Get out of here they don't do nothing. They're the biggest crooks around.
[Unidentified Female:] That's why they want to get rid of you.
[Rob Ford:] I'm sorry. I've got to get out of here.
[Unidentified Male:] Rob, we support you. We love you.
[Weir:] And not only are these brothers vowing to stay and fight, but they're also now vowing to find and run enough Ford nation believers to unseat every political enemy downtown. Bill Weir, CNN, Toronto.
[Tapper:] And you can see Bill Weir's full interview with Mayor Rob Ford tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern on "A.C. 360." There may be a dunce cap in Arne Duncan's future after the education secretary had some choice words for so-called white suburban moms. We'll tell you what sparked his anger and the fallout from his response.