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Fallout from Wilson's Outburst; Health Care Debate Rages On; U.S. Open Outburst

Aired September 13, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Next in the CNN NEWSROOM, possible evidence linked to a missing Yale student who was supposed to get married today.

And once should be enough. A Republican congressman says he won't apologize again for his outburst during President Obama's speech. And what was she saying? What was she thinking? A few choice words cost Serena Williams at the U.S. Open.

Hello everyone, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM where the news unfolds live this Sunday, September 13th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Two words, "you lie" seem caught in the echo chamber that is Washington politics. Today, the man who yelled those words at President Barack Obama says he's not going to apologize to Congress for his outburst. Republican Joe Wilson of South Carolina did apologize to the president at the urging of GOP leaders on the telephone. But this morning, he said no more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOE WILSON (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I am not going to apologize again. I apologized to the president on Wednesday night. I was advised then that thank you, now let's get on to a civil discussion of the issues. But I've apologized one time. The apology was accepted by the president, by the vice president who I know. I am not apologizing again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Many in congress Cay once is not enough and want Wilson to apologize on the House floor. I talked with CNN senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash about a possible House battle over Wilson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, if he's insisting as he has today that he's not going to apologize, they can't force him to do that. But what they can do, Fredricka, is introduce a resolution essentially reprimanding him for his conduct.

When you talk to Democratic leaders and I have spoken to a couple of Democratic leadership aides this morning, what they insist is that this isn't about necessarily the words that he said or sort of the theme of what he was trying to get at but it is the conduct that is a problem. And then basically it's against the rules of the House to do things like that.

And in the past, it was just regular session, if it wasn't a joint session of Congress and a member of Congress would call somebody out as a liar, their words would have been stricken from the record. It would not be in the congressional record so they insist that that's what's going on here.

However, as you know, Fredricka, the other part of this obviously is politics. And for the Democrats, this issue, actually has not necessarily on policy but in terms of the approach to health care, done something that they haven't had before, and that is it has become kind of uniting idea for them to be so angry at Joe Wilson for what he said and for the way he approached and the way he addressed the president of the United States in that way.

WHITFIELD: And Dana, an interesting evolution in Congressman Wilson over the past few days. Immediately he seemed contrite if not very embarrassed, talked about apologizing directly to the president via phone. Now fast forward a few days. He apparently was leaving the stakeout position outside one of the networks from the Sunday talk shows and is actually signing autographs now of that moment of that image of him yelling "you lie" to the president.

BASH: Isn't that telling, Fredricka? That says so much about what this incident means and kind of you know, the kind of life that it has taken on. Particularly I just talked about the Democrats but the other side of this equation here obviously is Republicans. And he has become a folk hero of sorts.

WHITFIELD: And really cashing in now. Not only was his opponent in South Carolina, who wasn't necessarily in a position to defeat Joe Wilson, suddenly after that moment before the president, he was in a position gaining a million dollars in contributions but guess what? Congressman Joe Wilson now matching that with $1 million in donations. So this is going to be a very interesting midterm election.

BASH: It will be a very interesting midterm election. Look, this is a pretty conservative state and a pretty conservative district. Unclear ultimately whether this will do anything to hurt Joe Wilson's chances given the fact that the Democrat has raised money, especially since he really has gained this unbelievable notoriety for doing this.

The reality is he has become almost sort of the poster child, the poster congressman for the kind of protests that we saw in Washington out in the tea parties on Saturday, and the kind of things that we heard all across the country in these town hall meetings. He himself said today that he believes it was his own town hall moment. So I think that really sums up what we saw and sums up why we are seeing the reaction that is the way it is, so strong on both sides of this issue, to what he did.

WHITFIELD: Congressional correspondent Dana Bash, thank you.

BASH: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And much more on the fallout from Wilson's comments coming up. At 4:00 Eastern Time, political analyst and publisher of "Campaigns and Elections" politics magazine, Jordan Lieberman will join us live.

Despite loud opposition, the president is pushing ahead with his health care initiative. CNN's Elaine Quijano is at the White House. Elaine, the president was out yesterday in Minneapolis selling health care reform. But Republicans just simply aren't buying it. What's the latest from the GOP today?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're right, Fredricka. Republicans think that the president is just going too fast when it comes to health care reform. And they say that Americans continue to have some real concerns about what the president is proposing. Well, today GOP Senator Orrin Hatch weighed in. He said that Republicans do think there is a way to put in place modest health care reforms and he said, though, suggested, that what the president wants to do is not that. He said that the president wants to do away with the health care system as we know it. And that was a notion that he blasted. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: To throw all of this out, to throw the system that really works to a large degree out, that could be reformed without -- with modest reforms, in favor of a government plan that I don't think anybody who watch what the federal government does, really believes in, I think is just stupid. And not only stupid, it's dangerous and it's harmful to the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Some harsh comments there. The reality of the situation though is that President Obama has said quite the opposite, that rather than doing away with this system, he wants to improve upon it. The president also outright rejects any notion that somehow his ultimate intention here is a government takeover entirely of the health care system. That being said, there are still, as you know, Fredricka, some lingering questions very contentious issues yet to be worked out and concerns not just from Republicans but from some fiscally conservative Democrats as well over how exactly to pay for the president's $900 billion plan. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: And we talk about contentious issues. Are we talking about the public option? Because we did hear the president reiterate that he wants that to stay in a proposal.

QUIJANO: That's right. And you know senior advisers today reiterated that, they say that's still very much on the table. Again just a reminder, this public option would be an option for a government-run care. But these advisers also emphasize that this is just an option that health care reform itself, the entirety of it doesn't hinge on the public option alone. Take a listen to what White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told our John King on CNN's "State of the Union."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think what the president said to both Democrats and Republicans, to Republican, we need to have the choice and competition. Two ideals that quite frankly they have always fought for. And for our Democratic friends, the public option is a means to an end but it is not all of health care.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And again, that really is echoing what the president himself said yesterday at that rally before some 15,000 enthusiastic supporters, really a campaign style rally there at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The president saying there before that crowd that he prefers a public option. But again, making quite clear, Fredricka, it's not the be all and end all in his view when it comes to health care reform. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Elaine Quijano, thanks so much.

QUIJANO: Sure.

WHITFIELD: As the president continues his push to pass health care reform, he is focusing on the economy as well. In just a few minutes, senior White House correspondent Ed Henry gives us a preview of what President Obama has planned this week beginning as early as tomorrow.

All right, if there is one thing people at the U.S. Open in New York can agree on is this -- the semifinal match between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters was a barn-burning moment. But all anyone can actually talk about is how it actually ended. And one player's stunning comeback has been eclipsed by another's behavior.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The swine flu vaccine may be available sooner than expected. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the first round of shots could be ready about a week ahead of schedule.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, HHS SECRETARY: We're on track to have an ample supply rolling by the middle of October but we may have some early vaccine as early as the first full week in October. We'll get the vaccine out the door as fast as it rolls out the production line. The earliest doses are probably going to be targeted to health care workers and other high priority groups, but the one dose means that people will be able to have a robust response within about 10 days of getting that first shot. That's incredibly helpful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Health officials say swine flu spread to all 50 U.S. states. Eleven states report widespread outbreaks. Most of them are in the southeast portion of this country.

Swine flu fears have the French reconsidering traditional greeting kisses. CNN's Jim Bittermann reports from Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It goes without saying that France is a land which puts a certain value on physical contact. Hands get shaken; hands get kissed. Business leaders kiss business leaders. Politicians kiss politicians. It is part of the social fabric here, woven in at the very youngest age. Pigs would fly, one observer said in effect, before the French could ever give up such social graces. But then, swine flu. From official publicity campaigns about the way the virus can multiply, to directives to avoid practically any close encounters of the corporal kind, the country is put on alert as the flu season gets under way. In schools, it's being called the kiss-less return to class. Teachers are telling the young charges that instead of doing "the bise," as French cheek kisses are called, they should greet each other the way Indians do in the movies, with the word how. Or the French equivalent thereof and save their displays of affection in kiss boxes, restraint that is somewhat easier to sell to the really young than their older brothers and sisters. But some things are selling, namely, masks which in themselves would pretty well discourage just about any sort of kissing. And bottle after bottle of antiseptic hand wash to avoid the nightmare of unintended viral transmission. At a phone bank set up by the ministry of health, they are getting 1,000 calls a day from people who want to know the symptoms and what to do when they have got them. As for physical contact, their recommendations are clear. PASCALE BASQUIN, GROUPE ACTICALL: No shaking hands, no kissing.

BITTERMANN: So, does this mean the flu will stop tradition cold? A French expert observes that her countrymen do not always do as they are told.

CAMILLE HERCOT, FRENCH STUDIES PROFESSOR: So, if it's really important and if there are rules in the offices or if they -- they get very scared, they will. But otherwise they'll say --

BITTERMANN: Still, there are definitely changes of behavior here. One company issued a whole array of recommendations to combat the spread of the flu virus including one urging employees to remove their neck ties. Because, says a risk management director, they are the article of clothing least frequently washed.

JEAN-LUC BESSON, SCOR GROUP: There was not reaction negative reaction.

BITTERMANN: The tie thing, that's an easy one. Most of us don't understand why we wear these things in the first place. But, if it's a choice between getting the flu and getting kissed, well, that's a much more difficult decision. Especially when you remember this -- a kiss is no longer just a kiss. Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Here at home, now in the case of a missing Yale student, CNN has learned that bloody clothes have been found. Our Susan Candiotti joins us now from New York, she has the latest. You talked to officials momentarily, just moments ago, actually. What's being said?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, a law enforcement source close to the investigation tells CNN that in fact bloody clothes were found hidden in the ceiling tiles of the medical research laboratory that belongs to Yale University. These were found yesterday. And the source that is close to the investigation tells us that these materials are being tested to see whether blood on them is linked or belongs to the graduate student Annie Le who has been missing since Tuesday. You'll remember that she was last seen going into that medical research lab on Tuesday. Surveillance security cameras that belong to the university saw her going in but so far authorities have not been able to confirm that ever she left that building.

So, they have been looking through blueprints and talking to a number of people that also saw her inside but no one again saw her leave. We also have some new information about what's happening with the case today. The FBI tells us that it is now searching a landfill that's located in Hartford, Connecticut. This is a landfill that normally receives trash from that Yale Medical Research Lab. This, they said, this is a normal course, a routine matter that they would do in the course of any investigation because it's logical to follow where the trash goes that leaves that medical building where she was last seen.

And that's why they are searching the landfill. You'll recall, Fred, that this young lady was scheduled to be married today here in New York. But her family canceled the plans on Friday.

WHITFIELD: What do we know about how her family is doing in all of this?

CANDIOTTI: We've been told by Yale University officials that they want to maintain their privacy, that of course this is devastating information to them that they have not been able to locate their daughter. And so they have asked for their privacy and don't want to discuss it any further on camera or in interviews at this time.

We also asked about the fiancee, he also has not been available for comment. We asked authorities whether he is considered a person of interest and we were told that they have no comment, that they have not labeled anyone at this time a person of interest.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Susan Candiotti from New York.

All right, this was an act of defiance seen around the world. Remember the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush? Well, we'll tell you when he may be actually getting out of prison. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, now a quick update on some of the headlines. More talk about health care today including a hint the White House may be downplaying its support for the public option. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the public option is a means to an end but quote, it is not all of health care.

The family of an Iraqi journalist is getting ready for a welcome home party. Muntadhar al-Zeidi threw his shoes at then president George W. Bush at a news conference in December. He was originally sentenced to three years in prison but the sentence was reduced and his lawyer says he could be released as early as tomorrow.

And Nobel Peace price winner Norman Borlaug has died in Dallas at the age of 95. He was considered the father of the green revolution. His agricultural research doubled food production in countries like Pakistan and India, sparing hundreds of millions of people from famine.

Serena Williams is out of the U.S. Open and the story of how it ended shocked tennis fans. Williams' lost match point last night against unseated Kim Clijsters on a second unsportsmanlike conduct call. In the final blow, Williams screamed at the line judge who called a foot fault on her serve. For Williams, in the end it was pretty embarrassing to a very difficult -- an embarrassing end to a very difficult match. She had already been penalized for smashing a tennis racket after losing the first set. The ending actually overshadowed some pretty impressive tennis by Kim Clijsters, the Belgian, whose comeback has been the talk of the tournament. We'll have Serena Williams' explanation for her outburst on the court coming up in the next half hour. Williams has her defenders online and plenty of critics who didn't care for the outburst at all. So we'd like to hear from you. You can join the conversation on my blog at CNN.com/Fredricka or on Facebook at Fredrick Whitfield CNN.

All right, let's check in with our Jacqui Jeras, lots of severe weather in the form of too much rain and that results in big flooding.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, President Obama tackling health care and the economy simultaneously. How he'll do that tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Health care and the economy are both on President Obama's agenda this week. The president travels to Wall Street tomorrow for what the White House calls a major speech on the financial crisis. CNN will cover that live. And then on Tuesday, he'll speak at the AFL-CIO convention. In Pittsburgh, he'll discuss the economy there as well. And he's expected to talk about health care reform.

Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry with us now. So Ed, the president is going to be focusing on the economy come Monday from Wall Street. And perhaps he gave us a bit of a prelude into what he'll be talking about when he said this on Wednesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A full and vibrant recovery is still many months away. But thanks to the bold and decisive action we've taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Ed, is this some of what we're going to hear on Monday? Or will there be more of a looking forward, this is what's next to reshape the economy?

ED HENRY, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, absolutely. That was a preview because president will hit that theme again and again, we pulled the nation back from the brink. Get ready for that, not just on Monday but in the days ahead because number one, this is the Lehman Brothers anniversary, that major bankruptcy that really did put the nation's economy on the brink, and really turned this financial crisis into a wild fire.

It's hard to believe that it was only one year ago because while the economy is not fully back, he's right, obviously, there is not a full recovery yet, clearly there has been sharp improvement. This White House is very nervous politically that with unemployment still rising, the American people are not feeling a recovery yet.

So he's trying to change expectations a bit and say, Give me a little more time, I inherited a mess here. Remember a year ago when Lehman Brothers went down? There was almost a Great Depression. I stopped that. Give me a little more time to bring unemployment back, get people working again.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: And because this is the anniversary of the fall of Lehman Brothers might we hear more about regulation?

HENRY: Yes. Because it is astounding to me how, despite the fact it was only a year ago, there was all of this chaos on Wall Street, all of this talk from Democrats and Republicans about we got to crack down on Wall Street, we got to clean up this mess. This is what happens in Washington a lot. Once things calm down a little bit and the economy starts coming back and the financial crisis dissipates the talk of real reform, cracking down on Wall Street starts disappearing.

I was at a dinner a couple of months ago with the Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. He was very optimistic as they were releasing their reform plant, that this was going to get through Congress, that this was the right plan. They did release a plan. It's virtually gone nowhere on Capitol Hill. With the big health care fight going on right now, a lot of people have forgotten about it and the clock is sort of ticking on getting Wall Street reform done by the end of the year because so much of the attention, so much of the energy, has been really sucked up by health care reform.

WHITFIELD: Health care reform still in the forefront for the president. He mentioned during his speech to the joint members of Congress, he said, you know what, I've got an open door, but at the same time I don't want to hear nonsense so to speak, my words, not his. However, this week might he have appointments? Might there be some of those moderate or conservative Democrats, or perhaps even Republicans that have a little face time with him this week, in respect to health care?

HENRY: Absolutely right. I mean, within 24 hours of that speech on health care reform, bit high-pressured setting, and audience, and speaking to the American people, not just the members of Congress in the room, within 24 hours the president had a group of moderate Democratic senators over. Because he realizes that they basically hold the fate of his health reform plan in their hands. It's going to be up to the Ben Nelsons of Nebraska, Evan Bayh of Indiana, more so than the Republicans. The Democrats have the votes to get this done if they want health reform. The president's problem throughout has not really been Republican opposition, it's been opposition in his own party, not just the Senate but the House, as well. So I anticipate there will be a lot more behind the scenes meetings. And that is where the real work is going to get done. Because the president is sort of shifting from the rhetoric of that speech to the reality of counting votes in the House and Senate to get this done.

WHITFIELD: Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry, thanks so much.

HENRY: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: A battle between NATO forces and Taliban militants killed dozens of militants in western Afghanistan. Officials say yesterday's fight followed two deadly attacks on U.S. forces this weekend. CNN's Atia Abawi is live in Kabul.

So, Atia, what are the details of those attacks?

ATIA ABAWI, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT What we do know, Fredricka, is in eastern Afghanistan two U.S. soldiers were killed by an IED, that's an improvised explosive device. And then in western Afghanistan, in Farer (ph) Province, it was actually a complex attack, basically an ISAP convoy was leaving its base when they started to be attacked by small arms fire, an RPG fired by the Taliban. That's when one vehicle hit an IED, when they called for vehicle support. The other vehicle then also hit a roadside bomb. That's when they called for air support and a show-of force-incidents to scare off the Taliban because they were receiving this fire by, RPGs and by small arms.

But the Taliban would not stop. After two show-of-force incidents they had to call in more air support to actually drop two bombs in the area that they were receiving the most fire. That is -- that was where they killed many Taliban but they kept receiving fire. According to the Afghan government, the convoy was surrounded by three sides by the Taliban, the convoy was then forced to go back to the base. This occurring on the same day that an Afghan national police officer, here in the capital, of Kabul shot at U.S. soldiers training other Afghan police officers. The U.S. -- one U.S. soldier was wounded, as well as his interpreter, but they did fire back in the end killing one Afghan police officer, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Atia Abawi, thanks so much from Kabul.

Israeli President Shimon Peres met today with U.S. envoy George Mitchell just hours after being discharged from a hospital. Doctors gave Mr. Peres a clean bill of health after he fainted on stage at an event yesterday. A spokeswoman blamed the fainting spell on a demanding schedule and the summer heat. After his meeting with Mitchell, Peres said there is urgency to Israel resuming talks with the Palestinians.

Tennis star Serena Williams usually punishes her opponents. But when a line judge faced her wrath the outburst cost her a shot at the inning of the U.S. Open.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Now a quick update of the top stories.

The White House not letting up on its push for health care reform. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the public option is a means to an end but, quote, "It's not all of health care."

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson says there will be no additional apologies for his outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress last week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOE WILSON, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: I am not going to apologize again. I apologized to the president on Wednesday night. I was advised then that, thank you, now let's get on to a civil discussion of the issues. But I've apologized one time. The apology was accepted by the president, by the vice president, who I know. I am not apologizing again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Four more U.S. soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this weekend. Two were killed by a roadside bomb in the eastern part of the country, two more killed by gunfire in western Afghanistan after striking a roadside bomb.

One year ago today, Hurricane Ike struck Galveston, Texas, covering much of it with seven feet of water. CNN's Betty Nguyen was in Texas when Ike hit and went back to see how Galveston is doing a year later.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At 2:10 in the morning on September 13th, 2008, Hurricane Ike roared into Galveston, leaving the island under water and in splinters.

(On camera): We're taking a look at the debris because the sun is starring to come up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The water line was up to here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Peter Davis.

GEORGE H. W. BUSH, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hello, Peter, how are you?

NGUYEN (voice over): Since Ike, Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas has lost residents, funding, and the city's only emergency room. But she has not lost her determination.

(On camera): So, Mayor, it's been a year since Hurricane Ike. What's been the biggest challenge for you?

MAYOR LYDA ANN THOMAS, (D) GALVESTON, TEXAS: The biggest challenge really has been getting our citizens back on the island and getting our businesses opened. But I'm very proud to say that after a year approximately 65 percent of our businesses are now open. Certainly on the sea wall, where they are, The Strand, our downtown historic district is a little slower coming back. They - really the historic buildings --

NGUYEN: Why is that?

THOMAS: Well, first of all, all the buildings are historic buildings, and that's an historic district. So, they have to be restored according to not only our code, but also to the national historic codes. Plus most of them did not have flood insurance.

NGUYEN (voice over): Money, or the lack of it, seems to be what's now standing in the way of Galveston's recovery. Thomas says it will take an estimated $3.2 billion to rebuild the island city. To date, FEMA has paid $68 million, HUD, $269 million, and Thomas is counting on $28.5 million in stimulus dollars. But the island is coming back.

THOMAS: Our trauma center, which was a level one center, opened about two weeks ago.

NGUYEN (On camera): OK.

THOMAS: So, we're very happy to have our emergency room back. It's important to know that our medical center and the Houston Medical Centers serve an entire region and also that our medical center here is the largest employer in the county. And when it shut down, we were really in trouble.

NGUYEN: At some point, you were having to send people, who needed that emergency help to other hospitals.

THOMAS: Absolutely. We sent them -- a lot of them, it's a huge number, somewhere between here and Houston. And there was a layoff of about 2,500 people. They're rehiring now. We've got 300 beds open, and we're looking forward to opening another 300 beds in the next three years.

NGUYEN (voice over): Planning for the future, while familiar with the city's past, Thomas is from one of Galveston's oldest families. Her grandfather also served as mayor. Ironic because she's living proof history has a way of repeating itself.

(On camera): What's your hope for the city?

THOMAS: First of all, we don't have a storm, right now. But we will. I always say it's not if, it's when. My hope is that as we continue to grow and recover and that we continue to be not only a destination for our tourist, who love our beaches, but certainly a destination for our medical complex and our research. The Port of Galveston continues to grow, and it is growing and doing well.

NGUYEN: Betty Nguyen, CNN, Galveston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Tennis matches usually end on the court, not the sidelines. So, the crowd at the U.S. Open was stunned when an outburst by Serena Williams cost her a chance to repeat as champion. The controversy is overshadowing the sensational play of formerly retired Kim Clijsters. CNN's Mark McKay is in Flushing Meadows.

Good to see you. Women's finals tonight. However, what happened last night is still overshadowing what is to happen tonight, right?

MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: It's interesting you put it overshadowing. We've had shadowy clouds and rain for a couple of days. That was the headline story here at the U.S. Open, how play is backed up, and backed up, and with the women's final coming Sunday night, now the men's final on Monday night.

But what broke out when a dry period appeared Saturday night here at Arthur Ashe Stadium was something that none of us could have predicted. We knew it would be a high profile semifinal match between Serena Williams, the defending champion, chasing her 12th grand slam title of her career against Kim Clijsters, who of course was away from the game for two years, started a family, came back and has been absolutely brilliant.

What happened, though, in the second set is something to be talked about a long time. Serena Williams, serving to stay in the match, called for a foot fault. She didn't like it one bit. She went into the line person's face, allegedly used profanity. That led to a point penalty. The point penalty occurred on match point, and ended the match for Clijsters. Clijsters goes through to the finals. Serena Williams, the defending champion, is out.

Here's what Serena said after:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SERENA WILLIAMS, PRO TENNIS PLAYER: All year I don't get-- I've never been foot faulted. And then suddenly in this tournament they keep calling foot faults. I'm not saying I don't, but like I don't know. You know, I'm not going to sit here and make an excuse if I foot fault I did. So it was what it was. That's basically all.

I didn't threaten, I didn't say -- I don't remember anymore, to be honest. I was in the moment. Everyone is fighting for every point. It was a really crucial point. I try to be professional. I think Kim played a wonderful match. And I think I played good, too. I think I could have played better and I feel like I can go home and I can actually do better which I'm really excited about. There is someone out there that makes me want to go home and makes me want to work out, and makes me want to go run and do better. And I can't wait to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKAY: Kim Clijsters, a bit lost in this scenario, isn't she? She was completely stunned, as all of us were, who were inside of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Kim said she didn't know what was happening after Serena came over and said, Good luck.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIM CLISTERS, PRO TENNIS PLAYER: I remember just sitting there after the match and just sitting on my chair like, like what happened out here tonight? So it's just unfortunate that a match that was -- which was a fun match, I think, for both of us, that it has to end like that. For me personally it doesn't take away how well that I played, so I still have a good feeling about this match.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKAY: So, the women's final is now set, Fred, here at the U.S. Open. It will be Kim Clijsters who, amazingly, the wild card will go in tonight as the favorite to beat Caroline Wozniacki, a 19-year-old from Denmark, who has certainly made her mark in this tournament.

By the way, Fred, if you see people coming out of Arthur Ashe Stadium at the moment, they have just witnessed the first men's semifinal match, which saw Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro oust the second seed, Rafael Nadal in straight sets. Nadal is out, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Ouch. My gosh, that's a huge disappointment for so many Nadal fans. Thanks so much, Mark McKay. Appreciate that, at the U.S. Open, Flushing Meadows.

Many of you are writing to us online and you're not letting Williams off the hook. Robin Bishop writes this on Facebook: "Yes, a degree of decorum is required especially when it is a professional of her stature. She is a respected leader in her sport, and as such should always act appropriately while working."

And Dan Houston agrees saying, "She was losing and she had already been warned about slamming her racket on the ground and then hitting the net post. She physically threatened the judge and she did it, rather, at match point. She should hope that they don't suspend her and go after her with assault charges. She overreacted," he says, "She owes the tennis world an apology." >

And Kendra Mahoney defends Williams, saying, "They need to get off Serena and see how many other tennis players have gone off on the judges and were not thrown out of the game.

And Reginald Charles backs her up saying, "I think she should have still been able to play, but fined. I have seen players do more than what she did and still play."

We want to note that Serena Williams wasn't ejected for the outburst, but it cost her match point.

Stephen Walker finds the whole thing rather fishy. "The call was reviewed and found to be a bad call, made at crucial point to decide the match. Things that make you go, hmm." That from Stephen Walker.

Thanks much for your comments on Facebook, as well as on my blog.

If you need a little inspiration today, and who doesn't, you want to see this story about a woman who just won't give up. Not when she lost her job, not when she lost her home. Not when she was living in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Homeless but not helpless. A young California woman was living in a Wal-Mart parking lot after losing her job. But her spirit, sense of humor, and some quick work on a lap top computer helped turn her life around. Her story from CNN's Ted Rowlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Most fairy tales start as a nightmare. For 24-year-old Brianna Karp it began when she lost her job as an executive assistant and ended up living in this Los Angeles Wal-Mart parking lot, in a trailer she inherited from her father, who she barely knew, and who had recently committed suicide.

BRIANNA KARP, BLOGGER: I was left with a truck and this camper, which I was going to sell, but this then coincidentally this happened to me. And I was like well, I have this.

ROWLANDS: Brianna had her dog, Fez, and an old lap top computer, which would prove to be her life line.

KARP: The first night, I think being homeless, then in the Wal- Mart parking lot was the scariest. I was kind of panicking and just afraid.

ROWLANDS: For five months Brianna lived at the Wal-Mart and used the free wi-fi at a Starbucks to look for jobs and send out resumes. She also started writing a blog. KARP: I was trying to stay positive and cheerful. I started writing the blog originally in a kind of tongue-in-cheek way to laugh at about my circumstances, keep them chronicled. I didn't think anybody would actually read it.

ROWLANDS: But people did. Including Mack Barnes, who was in Scotland running a homeless website. He asked her to write about her life on his site. He is now Brianna boyfriend.

Then, out of the blue an opportunity. A reality show was looking for executive assistants, the top prize, an internship with this woman, and vice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Brianna was chosen for an audition, but she bombed.

KARP: Yes, I went back and I blogged about bombing the interview. I laughed about it. I made fun of myself.

ROWLANDS: Instead of giving up Brianna decided to take a chance and e-mail Carroll's advice site.

KARP: I'm currently homeless and living in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I'm educated. I've never done drugs and I'm not ...

ROWLANDS: She asked for a second interview, signing her message:

KARP: Homeless, but not hopeless.

E. JEAN CARROLL, ADVICE COLUMNIST: I thought, she's so ready to work.

ROWLANDS: E. Jean's response to Brianna's e-mail appeared in the August edition of "Elle" magazine. Saying in part, "Miss Homeless, my dear, you knocked me out with your courage and spirit. She offered Brianna an internship and a chance to write a fashion blog for "Elle".

CARROLL: I think she is a new voice. I think she's a voice we haven't heard. And I'm excited for her, her future.

ROWLANDS: Brianna is now living in this trailer on a friend's property outside Los Angeles. She's hoping people will see her story and realize that with a lost job, and a little bad luck, just about anyone can end up living in a Wal-Mart parking lot. She's also still looking for a full-time job.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Perhaps you are in the market for a home and how would you like to live right next door to the president of the United States? You can if you can meet the price. Take a look. This turn of the century house sits on an oversized lot, right next to President Obama's Chicago residence. But if you have to ask how much it's probably out of your price range. The listing agent is not naming a price, but homes in the area usually go for $1 to $2.5 million.

We're going to check in with Jacqui Jeras for our final look at the weather.

What do you think?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I think I couldn't afford that house.

WHITFIELD: Nice digs. Yeah, but nice to look at.

JERAS: Now is it expensive because it's next door to him, or just the neighborhood?

WHITFIELD: It's the neighborhood.

JERAS: OK, just checking.

WHITFIELD: I'm sure you know, maybe there is a little extra perk or something in the price because it's next to the president.

JERAS: I would think so. Yes. Doesn't guarantee you'll be his best friend, right.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Much more straight ahead in that 4:00 o'clock Eastern hour.

More fallout from Congressman Wilson's "you lied" outburst during President Obama's address to Congress. Wilson said today he will not formally apologize. We'll hear live from a political analyst and publisher of "Campaigns & Elections Politics" magazine, Jordan Lieberman right here in the NEWSROOM, on what might be next in the midterm elections. Until then "Your $$$" starts right now.