next on "larry king live." good evening. we begin with breaking news in what could be a turning point in the gulf oil spill tragedy. let's get the latest from cnn's ed lavandera in new orleans. what's the latest, ed? >> reporter: well, larry, right now, we know that officials with bp and the federal government are entering into the preliminary testing phase, getting ready for what's called the integrity test. based on the readings they get from these tests overed course of the next 48 hours will determine whether this containment cap that they put in place on monday will work as they hope it does. and if it does, it would mean we would finally see the end of oil flowing into the gulf of mexico. we're waiting to hear those results. that's expected to start tonight. we'll be getting results throughout the day -- hopefully throughout the day, into the course of the next 48 hours. >> larry: one other quick thing, ed. when do you think we'll "know" know? by friday? >> reporter: the end of this window is -- the maximum this test is going to last according to thad allen is about 48 hours. every six hours they're going to stop and measure the pressure readings and dine of compare notes on that. high pressure situation is what they're looking for. lower pressure means they have to go back to the drawing board. so we'll see how this plays out over the next 24 hours. but at the very latest, 48 hours. >> larry: fingers crossed. thanks. ed lavandera on the scene. a billboard comparing obama to hitler and lenin has called a ruckus. the naacp, the nation's oldest civil rights organization has passed a resolution blasting the tea party movement for what it calls continued tolerance of bigotry. meantime, the north iowa tea party billboard has been papered over. but the controversy it ignited still rages. here to talk about it, david webb, co-founder of teaparty365 in new york city. also co-founder of the black republican forum. he's a talk radio host on sirius xm. and benjamin todd from kansas city, jealous of the ceo of naacp. all right, ben. it was obviously a ridiculous ad. but it's one person in one party in one section of the country. why raise a whole racist thing against the whole movement, ben? >> well, you know, the billboard actually wasn't what prompted this. what prompted this were folks here in the "show me" state who, you know, had -- knew that the council of concerned -- sorry, the council of conservative citizens, the direct decendent of white citizens council, a group that says black people are not prepared -- not genetically equipped to participate in democracy. has been promoting tea party membership. and bragging about their influence and activity in the tea party. that in the midst of all these horrible signs we've seen. congressman being spit on. civil rights icons like john lewis being called the "n" word. barney frank being called the "f" word. a gay slur. as he enters congress. enough is enough. we've heard all that, but we haven't heard dick armey or the other tea party leaders come out and just say, that's wrong, there's no space for bigotry in our ranks. >> larry: okay. we have david webb. he's co-founder of teaparty365 in new york. do you condemn it, david? >> i absolutely do. and the statement by mr. jealous we haven't condemned these actions when they do pop up is blatantly false. also, what is false is that there is no empirical evidence of these racial slurs. i signed a letter along with many other leaders to the congressional black caucus. there was $100,000 reward offered as a donation to the united negro college fund if there could be any video with all the cell phone cameras, all the cameras, and that we would ask that they provide evidence of this. so that we could denounce it if it did happen. if it happened 15 times, mr. jealous, there is video of it, and there should be. many have been provided. so you are attaching two things that are false, that are unproven. and that is dishonest. >> i'd say go -- >> larry: how do you respond? >> sure, i'd say go to naa -- >> larry: ben. >> yes, i would say go to naacp.org and pull up all the signs from the tea party. look at the video. and i would say, you know, there's a thing called eyewitness testimony. and the reality is that we heard again and again from people who saw this happen. john lewis is one of the most credible people in this country. i would also ask, look if there's a violent racist in your ranks, then why are we getting death threats for asking you to call out and to denounce the violent racists in your ranks? >> well, first of all, to answer your question, violent death threats go back and forth across both sides. >> no they don't. >> let's go to empirical evidence. because if we're going to speak, let's speak from an honest and truthful point of view. there are signs out there that show up at the parties. i denounce them. many leaders denounce them. it's false for you to say they're not denounced. on top of that, you cannot paint an entire movement, which has no single leadership, based on the actions of a few, when millions have spoken. if you want to juxtaposition this and be honest in your selective condemnation of racism, then you should also condemn the condoleezza rice monkey picture, which you never have. the george bush hitler picture, which you never have. and you should certainly be condemning king samir shabazz, where if you took the black beret and black paramilitary uniform off and put on a white hood and white sheet, there would be marching still in philadelphia to this day. and you have not done that. and that, my friend, is dishonest. >> larry: benjamin, what do you want? both ways, benjamin? how do you respond? >> i want both groups. i would love to see the new black panther party denounce the bigots in their ranks. the reality is the new black panther party is much smaller and much less influential than the tea party. with the increased power, increased influence of the tea party comes the add eed responsibility to act responsibly. they need to speak up. shouldn't just be the black members who speak up. we should see dick armey speak up and speak out. absolutely. all those other incidents are troubling. >> larry: ben, do you think the tea party is racist? >> no. >> larry: as a party? >> no. i'm not saying the tea party's racist. i'm not saying dick armey's racist. all we're saying is stop being silent. speak out. and condemn the racism clearly. say that there's no space in the tea party -- >> larry: i think david is doing that, isn't he? >> david's doing that, but where's dick armey? you know, i had a black tea party member from texas who is also an naacp member come up to me after my speech, put his arm around me and say thank you. i know there's space for me here. i've been active in the tea party. in recent months, i've begun to feel uncomfortable. i'm glad somebody like you is speaking out so i can stay active in the tea party and there will always be a good space for me. i love that david's active, and i want david to stay active. but i want folks in texas and down south. feel as comfortable as he does up north. feel as comfortable as up north. feel as comfortable as he does up north. t feel as comfortable as he does up north. o feel as comfortable as he does up north. feel as comfortable as up north. feel as comfortable as up north. i'm that guy that doesn't take directions. i had a heart problem. i was told to begin my aspirin regimen. i just didn't listen until i awoke with pains in my chest. i almost lost my life. my doctor's again ordered me to take aspirin. and i do. i make sure that he does it. 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[ male announcer ] call today or go to esurance.com. >> larry: david webb, have you called on dick armey to make a stand on racist incidents within the movement? >> i have not personally spoken with dick armey on this issue, larry. however, i would like to go to two things that have been said in the past segment. mr. jealous talks of who they're calling out in the tea parties. in his own release today, he speaks to racist tea party leaders and bigoted elements. he's included leadership and elements, which is another thing that is clearly not all there. these are your words, mr. jealous. >> -- i'm talking about dale robertson. you know dale robertson sends out the racist e-mails -- >> i don't know him personally. >> larry: one at a time, hold it. >> if i may finish my point. dale robertson has been denounced by many members in the tea party. i've never met the man personally. never dealt with him. the issue here is that the naacp, which achieved its core competency in '64 and '65 with civil rights and voting rights, has not adjusted its mission but is interested in maintaining its power base within the black community. now it needs an enemy. to the gentleman you spoke of -- and i would ask that we do this, and i'll ask this of the nation, to follow this. i would like to have a private meeting with you, myself and that gentleman, off the record, for a conversation about his concerns with the tea party. the three of us can speak with him. if he is willing to go public after that meeting, larry, i would love to come back on with mr. jealous and that gentleman and let him tell his side of the the story. i think that's a fair rule. >> larry: would you agree to that, ben? >> that's great. also this was a unanimous resolution that came up through a network of 1,200 active branches and was voted on by more than 2,000 delegates. we also have to hear from the people who actually brought the resolution. the people in the state of -- in the "show me" state who are so concerned about racist elements in the state like the council of conservative citizens who are encouraging people to be active, saying that they're active, concerned about stormfront.org, the website for the white -- for white racists. who again are saying please get involved in the tea party. who are concerned about david duke putting out a serenade to the tea party, saying when the tea party goes by, essentially, he feels like it's his fiesta. this needs to be a bigger conversation, but i would absolutely reach out to chris and see if he'd be willing to talk. absolutely. >> larry: all right, david, if he makes that happen, you'll sit down, right? >> absolutely i will. i welcome conversation. i welcome discourse. what i don't welcome is selective condemnation. and to you, mr. jealous, i would ask this question, if i could. will you condemn king shamir shabazz and the new black panther party for vile racism that most of the country has seen and heard for themselves. king shamir shabazz, would you condemn him now on the larry king program? >> my parents -- statements like that have no place in our democracy. statements like this should have no place in any group. the leadership of the new black panther party should absolutely stand up, denounce that, and if he's not willing to stop making comments like that, usher him out of the party. that's what we do here at the naacp. that's what responsible groups do. i think you and i both agree the tea party's much more powerful. the concern is this, you know, dick armey -- >> racism, excuse me, mr. jealous, racism is not a function always of power. if there is a racist -- >> you and i agreed, right? >> we agreed. >> it's wrong. >> you go to the power of the tea party versus shabazz, for this instance. that is not the function here. if racism happen, you should address it as it happens. >> absolutely. >> there's one incident in congress, that has not been proven, you address that on a larger scale. you should address king shamir shabazz on the same scale and denounce him forcefully and forthrightly. >> right, and i've done so here. all i would say to david, i think you're familiar with the expression in our community, which is -- to whom much is given, much is expected. and a lot of power and prestige has been given to the tea party and there's a lot of expectations. you know, including folks who are active in naacp, who are in the tea party, who are out of the tea party. they have expectations you guys will act responsibly. that's all that we're asking. >> larry: guys, we have not heard the last. we shall be doing a lot more on this. david webb and benjamin todd jealous. >> thank you, larry. >> larry: who will have a bigger impact in the 2010 elections? tea party movement, naacp? which one, neither, what? that's next. >> larry: let's meet our panel. ben stein is an economist, former presidential speechwriter, columnist, "fortune" magazine. author of "the little book of bulletproof investing." stephanie miller. talk radio host of her own program. dana lash is co-founder of the st. louis tea party and a talk radio host as well of "the dana show." and nancy giles, social commentator and performer, and contributor to cbs' "sunday morning." let's go around. reaction to this dispute. >> it's interesting. i know lots of people in the tea party movement. i've never heard one racist word out of any of them. i was quite suspicious about it to start with. i thought it must be some kind of cover for racist feelings. i've questioned people very close to me about it, very intensely. never heard a racist word. >> larry: what do you make of that billboard? >> it was the act of a very, very reckless and stupid person. >> larry: stephanie? >> even the other tea baggers, i loved that they actually didn't, you know, they condemned the sign, but only because they thought it was a waste of money. one of the leaders we quoted today said, well, he is sort of hitler-esque. but it was not a good, you know, spending of money. and i thought what? how can you be hitler-esque? the thing is just -- the tea party is going to do nothing but hurt the republican party, and i couldn't be happier. >> larry: dana, you're co-founder of the st. louis tea party. what do you make of all of this. >> i think stephanie's comment about tea baggers, what are we, on the playground here? we're on larry king's show, let's keep it classy. >> they call themselves tea baggers. >> no, they don't. i was talking about your comment. but i'm not done talking so -- >> okay. >> my whole thing with this is the billboard, the tea party in iowa, the billboard maybe it was a little too extreme. maybe it went a little bit too far beyond the boundaries of good taste. >> a little bit? >> stephanie, i'm not done, sweetie. >> all right, sweetheart. >> maybe it went a little beyond the bounds of good taste. >> all right, lamb chop. >> the tea party movements went ahead and they repudiated it. when kenneth glady was being made fun of. and harold crumton, who is on the board of the naacp, stood by and laughed along as people at that press conference called a black conservative activist or someone affiliated with the tea party and uncle tom and a negro, the naacp didn't condemn that at all, so i think -- >> okay, wait a minute -- >> larry: let's get nancy. what do you make of all this? >> where is the tea party's outrage when members of their own party spit on members of the united states -- >> that was proved false. >> it wasn't proved false. >> excuse me, i'm talking so shut your mouth. >> well, be honest when you speak and i won't have to interrupt you. >> excuse me, excuse me. >> be truthful and i won't have to. >> hey, be quiet. >> speak the truth. >> you know, larry, can you just turn off her mic? this is ridiculous. >> larry: i'll run the show, nancy. go ahead. >> i'm so sorry. the thing that is so disturbing to me about the dae party is that their racist attitudes and the elements of the tea party that are racist and violent that show up with racist and violent imagery in their posters, that show up at rallies with guns, that show up and intimidate, emotionally intimidate people, helps move the conservative -- you know, closer and closer into -- into contaminating the mainstream, doing things like criticizing thurgood marshall. >> larry: ben, you are a conservative. does the tea party movement help or hurt your concept? >> i think it's going to hurt us in the election because it's going to divide the vote frankly. >> yes. >> but think it's -- but i admire their attitudes. and it is not even slightly about racism. the people who carry guns at those rallies are in parts of the country where people just habitually carry guns. my wife and i live in north idaho during the summer. when we go to restaurants, people just have guns laying around in their cars because there's a lot of hunting there. >> ben, that's just not honest. >> it's completely honest. >> that's not honest. >> there was a black -- >> larry: one at a time. hold it, one at a time. >> just a minute, nancy. >> nancy's not talking. >> i was there -- nancy, i was there, you weren't, with all due respect. these are very fine wonderful people. they happen to carry guns in their cars. >> ben, if it was a black rally -- >> you're not -- i didn't say it was a rally. nancy, i -- nancy, i didn't even say it was at a rally. >> we're talking about rallies right now, ben. ben, we're talking about rallies. ben, we're talking about rallies. >> nancy, i can hear. nancy, i can hear. >> larry: she said they're talking about rallies. >> we're talking about rallies. >> there are certain parts of the country where people carry guns routinely. >> at rallies, ben? >> larry: hold it. stephanie. hold it. >> ben, i'm not saying you're conservative. a lot of conservatives i know are racist. you can't ignore you've seen these kind of racist signs at tea party rallies, this kind of rhetoric. >> i can't ignore there are irresponsible people. the idea that a person who carries a gun is a racist and plans to use that gun -- >> when they have a sign next to it that's threatening -- >> that says i'm going to use this gun on obama. there's nobody who's been shown to do that. that's just made up. >> larry: let me get a break. what we're going to do is break. the panel will return. but we're going to interrupt the panel and talk about the bristol palin/levi johnston engagement shocker. then we'll come back with the panel and get their thoughts on that next. could switching to geico really save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance? does a former drill sergeant make a terrible therapist? patient: and that's why yellow makes me sad. i think. sarge: that's interesting. you know what makes me sad? 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[ female announcer ] only flood insurance covers floods. for a free brochure, call the number on your screen. >> larry: melanie bromley is the west coast bureau chief of "us weekly" magazine. she interviewed bristol palin and levi johnston for the magazine's cover story on their surprise engagement. levi, father of sarah palin's only grandchild, wa