White House Party Crasher Revelations
ANDERSON: Welcome become to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood with A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, a shocking confession from "Family Ties" star Meredith Baxter who revealed today, in her own words, "I`m a lesbian mom." The wholesome mother of Michael J. Fox in the classic `80s sitcom, "Family Ties" dropped a bombshell on television today, revealing she`s gay. Wait until you hear why the very private star decided to make this very public confession. Also making big news tonight, new e-mails just revealed today could prove the reality show wannabe couple who crashed President Obama`s dinner at the White House were never invited. Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Tanika Ray, who is an entertainment journalist. And in New York, Megan Alexander who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition." Ladies, I want to begin with the Meredith Baxter shocker today. The former "Family Ties" star, 62 years old, been married three times, has five kids and says it was only seven years ago that she decided to live a gay lifestyle. But why? Watch what we heard her tell Matt Lauer this morning on the "Today" show.</s>BAXTER: I`m a lesbian and it was a later-in-life recognition of that fact. Some people are saying, "Were you living a lie?" You know, the truth is, not at all. This has only been, like, the past seven years.</s>ANDERSON: Tanika, over to you. I`m thinking that people are so shocked about this because of Meredith Baxter`s image as the "Family Ties" mom, not simply because she came out of the closet.</s>TANIKA RAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Yes, of course. I mean, it is an image that we`ve had. It has been long gone now. It`s like, what, 18 years since we have seen her as this image. But people who remember her are like, "Oh, my gosh! How is that possible?" We all wanted her to be our mom really when it came down to it, her and Claire Huxtable. In that case, it`s shocking, but I commend her for being truthful to herself and being in her own space and doing it on her terms. It`s commendable.</s>ANDERSON: But speaking of that, here`s what a lot of people were wondering today - why did Baxter, who has lived a fairly private life, decide to reveal this now? Watch what she revealed.</s>BAXTER: I have to admit to a certain level of anxiety. I`m a very private person. I`ve always lived a very private life. And to come out and disclose stuff is really antithetical to who I am. But the truth is I did not want some tabloid to take a story and make it up. So, I wanted it to be in my own words.</s>ANDERSON: Now, the tabloid story Baxter is referring to is the "National Enquirer" article that said Baxter was on a cruise sponsored by a lesbian group. Megan, I really think it`s disgusting that she had to come out this way because a tabloid was outing her. Don`t you think it should be on her own terms?</s>MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Well, that`s the thing, Brooke. It really wasn`t on her own terms. She was forced to talk about it because she said she didn`t want somebody to reveal it. I think it makes us all feel that this person wasn`t entitled to their privacy and decency. She may have never wanted to talk about it for a while, but she felt she needed to. And I think under those circumstances, she handled herself well on the "Today" show. You could tell she was nervous. You know, it really bothered her. And like she said, it wasn`t her normal deal to be talking about it. So yes, I don`t think it`s fair that she was somewhat forced to talk about it.</s>RAY: That`s her world.</s>ANDERSON: She was a little bit uncomfortable. You could tell. But she did handle it well and she says she`s got the full support of her friends and family, which is great. And we`ve got another big revelation tonight. Brand-new e-mails between the White House party crashers and a Pentagon official. The e- mails revealed today by NBC and the Associated Press show a Pentagon official left Michaele and Tareq Salahi a voicemail saying that - no, sorry. No dice. You didn`t make the guest list." But look at what the Salahis` e-mailed the official - her name is Michelle Jones - after the party, "Hi, Michelle, you are an angel! My cell phone battery died early this evening so I just got your message now. But obviously, it worked out at the end. We ended up going to the gate to just check in case it got approved since we didn`t know and our name was indeed on the list. We can`t wait to see you and catch up and share memories of a true lifetime."</s>ANDERSON: Hold up here. Wait just a second. In the e-mails, they are acknowledging they went to the White House even though they never had gotten the formal invitation at that point. Tanika?</s>RAY: Yes.</s>ANDERSON: Could this be a smoking gun?</s>RAY: It`s hustler mentality at its finest. Here`s the thing. There`s either you`re really rich, famous and you have society who loves you and they hold you in high regard, or it`s perception. And sometimes perception is reality. They definitely have learned how to work the system. And when you do that, there is a diplomacy on both sides. You say, "Oh, my god. Thank you so much," even though nobody really worked it out. And the person who really didn`t work it out goes, "Oh, you`re great. Great to see you. We`ll see you next time. Have a great time." It`s just that`s the way it works. I live in L.A. Every party has people that try to hustle the front door and they get in. That doesn`t mean they were invited.</s>ANDERSON: There is a bit of delusion here. I think you`re right. But here is where it does get confusing. Take a look at what the Pentagon official, Michelle Jones, specifically e-mailed back. "You are most welcome. I hear the smile in your E-mail. I am delighted you and Michaele had a wonderful time." You do notice that she didn`t say, "I am glad I got you in."</s>RAY: Exactly.</s>ANDERSON: She`s acknowledging they got in. Maybe somebody else scored them the tickets. But Megan, you know, who was it? Maybe the scalper outside on the curb? Are you believing that these two got in legitimately?</s>ALEXANDER: Well, Brooke, what`s interesting is this shows us there was some communication at all that there might be a possibility that they would even get in and the fact that the White House press secretary or the social secretary normally is at the gate checking people`s tickets. They were not even there. The White House blew it on this one.</s>RAY: Yes, big time.</s>ANDERSON: They are planning to change that policy in the future and have someone at that gate to help the Secret Service. Tanika Ray, Megan Alexander, thanks, ladies.</s>HAMMER: Well, tonight Kate Hudson is saying sometimes a kiss is not really a kiss. In the January issue of "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine, Kate doesn`t exactly deny that she is dating New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. But she says that sometimes things can get blown out of proportion. Specifically, she talks about a picture of the two of them kissing at the American Music Awards. Kate says, "There`s a guy that`s shooting probably 60 frames a minute. That was a sideswipe on the cheek. That wasn`t even a kiss. I quickly kissed the cheek. And I remember one of the headlines the next day said, "Make Out Session." What is wrong with these people?" For more with Kate Hudson, check out the January issue of "Harper`s Bazaar" magazine on newsstands, December 15th. Tonight, Stevie Wonder gets choked up on stage. But what led to his emotional breakdown?</s>TEXT: CBS wins November TV sweeps, but Fox says it wins 18 to 49 age group. 20th anniversary episode of "The Simpsons" will air on January 10th.