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Do Senate Democrats Have the Votes to Move Forward With Health Reform?; Oprah Winfrey Announces Talk Show Coming to End; Connecting the Dots at Fort Hood
Aired November 20, 2009 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We've got to move on here. Time for your top-of-the-hour reset.
I'm Tony Harris in the CNN NEWSROOM.
It is noon in Washington, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sets a Saturday night showdown on his health care reform bill.
It is 11:00 in Chicago, where talk show queen Oprah Winfrey says she will end her daytime reign in 2011.
It is 12:00 in Atlanta, where class is in session again. Ahead, a heated discussion at Georgia State University about racism and the presidency.
Let's do this -- let's get started.
The song says "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." That's Elton John. And Democrats will have a battle on their hands over health care. Majority Leader Harry Reid will try to open debate on the bill to overhaul the country's health care system.
Senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash joining us from Capitol Hill.
Dana, I know it is the question of the hour. I'm going to ask it again. Do Democrats have the votes?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think the best way to answer that question for you this hour, Tony, is to let you listen to the guy in charge of getting those votes. It's Dick Durbin, the number two Democrat in the Senate from Illinois.
Listen to how he answered that question this morning...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: I've only been asked 30 or 40 times, "Do you have the 60 votes?" We're not assuming a thing.
We're working hard to bring all Democrats together for the 60 votes necessary to proceed to this historic debate. It would be a real break if one Republican would join us and say, yes, this is an issue worth debating. I hope they will. But if they don't, I'm hoping that we can muster our ranks of 60 to stand together (END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: And they hope to do that, but, really, the focus is on three Democrats in particular, because they are the ones who have been the least forthcoming, if you will, in how they will vote. They are Mary Landrieu -- let's talk in order -- Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu and Blanche Lincoln.
I'm looking at my Blackberry right now, Tony, because in the case of Ben Nelson, we expect to get a statement rather soon...
HARRIS: OK.
BASH: ... on how he is going to vote, and this whole question is whether just to vote to start debate. That is the whole question we're talking about here. And that's what we're going to see tomorrow night, Saturday night.
The expectation being everything Senator Nelson has said is that he probably will give his leadership his vote, because he believes it is important to at least get the process going. But in the case of Blanche Lincoln -- by the way, that's true probably for Mary Landrieu also.
Blanche Lincoln, she is the one that everybody is still really looking towards, because she, politically, as we've talked about, is in one of the toughest positions. She has a very hard reelection campaign next year. And she is from a state that went very heavily for Barack Obama's opponent last year, John McCain.
HARRIS: Got you.
BASH: And I should tell you, if you hear music playing, there's actually the Washington Opera performing here, so that's what you hear behind me.
HARRIS: Wow. You've got some holiday choral music going on there.
BASH: I'm lucky.
HARRIS: Yes.
Are you hearing anything, Dana, about the public option?
BASH: That is one of the reasons why senators like Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu and Blanche Lincoln are so reluctant. There are lots of issues, costs and others, but the fact that Harry Reid decided to put the form of a public option in this Senate bill -- it allows states to opt out, but nevertheless, it is a public option -- that is one of the things that really turns off those three Democrats in particular.
And so, at the end of the day, yes, it is in the bill right now. At the end of the day, it is hard to see that public option surviving, at least in its current form. That is one of the reasons why there's so much pressure on those three Democrats I talked about, to vote no, at least to start, because there is a lot of talk back home that it's nothing more than a government-run plan, and so on and so forth. A lot of stress about the government. At the end of the day, that is probably going to be one of the things that those three Democrats and others are going to try -- going to be trying to negotiate out of this Democratic bill -- Tony?
HARRIS: Well, Dana, appreciate it. Maybe you can have your camera person there train a shot there on the singing, and maybe we can go to break with that in just a couple of minutes or so.
BASH: Sounds good.
HARRIS: Our senior congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, for us.
BASH: Thank you.
HARRIS: Thanks, Dana.
He admitted to an extramarital affair, and now South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford could be kicked out of office. The Associated Press reports the head of the legislature's Judicial Committee plans to consider possible impeachment of Sanford.
The committee meets Tuesday. It will consider whether the governor neglected his duties when he left the state in June without informing his staff where he was going. When the governor returned, he confessed he'd been in Argentina to see his lover.
Americans not optimistic about the state of the nation's economy. Eighty-two percent of those questioned in the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll rate economic conditions today as poor, 18 percent disagree.
When asked, "Who's more to blame for the recession?" Thirty- eight percent pointed to Republicans, 27 percent to Democrats, 27 percent say both parties. When asked how the Obama administration's policies have affected economic conditions, 36 percent say they've improved them; 28 percent, worsened; 35 percent, no effect at all.
After 25 years on the air, talk show goddess Oprah Winfrey is calling it quits. This morning on her show, Oprah announced she'll be ending the "Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2011.
Here's what she said -- "I love this show. This show is my life, and I love it enough to know when it is time to say goodbye. It is the perfect number, the exact right time."
"I hope you will take this 18-month ride with me through this show. My team and I will be brainstorming new ways that I can uplift you when we return in January. In season 25, we will knock your socks off. The countdown to the end of the "Oprah Winfrey Show" starts right now." Now here's what lies ahead. She is starting up her own cable channel in 2011 called the Oprah Winfrey Network. Still, lots of fans will miss her daily talk show.
CNN Entertainment Correspondent Kareen Wynter joining us with reaction.
And Kareen, where should we start here? We can talk about her staff's reaction. And I gather you also have some reaction from people who were leaving this morning's taping.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. So many tears being shed all around this morning, Tony.
Inside the studio, when Oprah made this announcement, she shed a few tears. Fans leaving shed quite a bit of tears. And while a lot of them, Tony, said that this wasn't entirely unexpected -- you know, they'd heard the rumors all year, they're quite savvy. They knew about their Oprah Winfrey. They said that they just didn't expect it to come right now, is what many of them said.
But hey, they said, you know what? She's done so many incredible things, made history in so many different ways within her empire. Look at her magazine, look at, you know, her Web site. Her empire all around is growing.
And they're eager to follow her to that next level. But, still, a hard goodbye for many -- Tony.
HARRIS: And Kareen, how did the staff find out? And any word on the staff's reaction?
WYNTER: That's really interesting. Our sources actually tell us this, and we were able to confirm it, that it happened yesterday. That Oprah literally pulled her staff aside, right in this building where her show -- where her show is taped...
HARRIS: Yes.
WYNTER: ... each week, and told them, broke the news to them before it got out. And it was emotional. It was quite emotional.
These are people who were with her from the onset, from the start, and seen the show through its many highs, and that it was a difficult, difficult conversation to have with them. But also, she shed some light on the fact that this was crucials business-wise. And Ms. Winfrey is always thinking about the next business, isn't she?
HARRIS: Oh, yes.
WILLIS: You know? Her new network that she's building, in partnership with the Discovery Channel...
HARRIS: That's right.
WYNTER: And so, you know, she also shed some light on that. But I understand we have some sound from fans leaving the show. Let's listen in.
HARRIS: Oh, great. Great.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a memorable moment for the world, because she's been there 20 -- this will be her 25th year, and she said she felt like it was her time. Twenty-five years was her time.
Do I feel it's her time? No. I think Oprah will always be there. She'll always be there for everyone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got choked up as well. She just sincerely is going to miss us, and her fans love her so much, and she's done so much for the world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is her baby.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's sad. It is. It's sad, because she -- like you said, we grew up with her and watched her.
I watched her in college and watched her, you know, with the babies. It's sad. But it's good. Good for her for taking a break. Good for her when realizing when enough is enough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: And Tony, many of these fans say that they'll follow Oprah Winfrey wherever she takes her show next, if she happens to do so.
And just adding to what we were talking about, regarding what she told her staff yesterday, is that this -- she believed this was a vital move to grow her new network, OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, that she'll be launching early next year.
And she actually told them, according to our sources, Tony, that she's going to be doing some sort of show, carrying it there. Maybe not in this capacity that we've seen over the last couple decades, but just a hint in what lies ahead...
HARRIS: Boy, oh boy.
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: What a news day. And boy, to be there in Chicago as it's all playing out, Kareen Wynter, we appreciate it. Good to see you, Kareen.
WYNTER: Thanks, Tony.
HARRIS: We, of course, want to hear from you following Oprah Winfrey's bombshell announcement. The queen of talk says she will end her wildly popular television show in 2011. She's been part of our lives for 25 years on television, and a little longer for me growing up in Baltimore, where she really got things going.
So we want to know, what's your favorite Oprah moment? Post your comments on our blog at CNN.com/Tony, and we will share some of them on the air, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Still to come, one senator says too many red flags were missed before the shootings at Fort Hood. What's being done to connect the dots?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A flashback, if you will, to this summer and the raucous protests against the president's health care reform plan.
Remember these images and the debate over whether racism played a role in the criticism of the president? It is a topic that is still very much unresolved for many Americans, and it is the subject of my series, "Class in Session." The conversation, I've got to tell you quickly, morphed into a discussion of the Republican Party.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They used race way back when to build their party, and they did it in a discriminatory way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I look at the Republican Party and I don't see that they've excluded at all minorities.
HARRIS: You see the Republican Party as a big tent party?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I mean...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The difference is we don't point out the race.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: These Georgia State students really battled on this one. The rest of the debate in just a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, as you know, Senate Democrats are trying to muster the votes necessary to begin the debate on the Senate's health care reform bill. And we're getting some indications as to how one key senator might vote.
Let's get to our senior congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, with the latest -- Dana.
BASH: Tony, well, we told you just a couple of minutes ago that we were getting every indication that Ben Nelson would make his vote official in the next couple of minutes. Well, it happened. We do now have a statement from Senator Nelson that he is going to vote yes to start debate on the health care bill tomorrow night. This is the indication that he was giving us for some time, and now it is official.
He basically said that he believes the Senate should start trying to fix a health care system that costs too much and delivers too little for Nebraskans. And the point that he makes in this statement is that he believes that it is important to at least start. He said, "If you don't like a bill, why block it before you get a chance to make changes?"
So, that is his philosophy now.
HARRIS: Yes.
BASH: Again, he have been giving us hints, which is why we were pretty much focused on another senator, Blanche Lincoln, that he was going to do this.
So, what this means, big picture, is that right now, it looks like there are 58 Democratic senators, or at least senators who align with Democrats, who have said that they are going to vote to start debate tomorrow night. So the focus now is on two female senators, Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu.
Again, Mary Landrieu has been giving us some positive statements much along the lines of what Ben Nelson did, so I think that the focus, probably until pretty close until we see this vote tomorrow night, is going to be on Blanche Lincoln, whether she -- because she really does have the power to...
HARRIS: Oh, yes. Yes.
BASH: ... to make or break her party and her president's big priority. Whether or not she is going to vote yes to do it, they are saying in the leadership they are cautiously optimistic they will have the vote to start debate, but she has got a very tough political position back at home. So we'll see.
But the headline is Ben Nelson making his vote official, he will vote with his party.
HARRIS: Our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash for us.
You put it that way, that's a lot of pressure on Blanche Lincoln.
Congress is now looking for accountability after the Fort Hood shooting spree. One senator says there were warning signs and red flags galore on Nidal Hasan, the accused gunman.
Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More indications that potential safety nets may have either broken down or were never in place to prevent Nidal Hasan from allegedly murdering 13 people at Fort Hood. At the first congressional hearing into the shootings, discussions on what may have been the failure of law enforcement, military and counterterror officials to communicate with each other, even though it was discovered last year that Hasan had corresponded with a radical Muslim cleric.
Former Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend, a CNN contributor, indicated some restrictions on the agency's cooperation are just too unwieldy.
FRANCES FRAGOS TOWNSEND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: But the rules become so cumbersome that they're discouraging, and so people don't do it.
General John Keane was commanding general at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during the trial of two white soldiers for the murder of a black couple. Keane said, after that incident, the military took steps to flag racial extremism, but never came up with anything like that on radical religious behavior. Keane was asked another key question on why Hasan kept getting promoted, even when his superiors reportedly had information on his extremist views and incompetence.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Do you think that political correctness may have played some role in the fact that these dots were not connected?
GEN. JOHN KEANE (RET.), FORMER ARMY VICE CHIEF OF STAFF: Yes, absolutely. And also I think a factor here is Hasan's position as an officer and also his position as a psychiatrist contributed to that.
TODD: Most of these security and terrorism experts agree that Nidal Hasan is likely someone who became self-radicalized, a lone wolf influenced by militant extremists, but not directing by anyone to kill.
But connecting those dots before this tragedy, one expert said, may have been important.
BRIAN JENKINS, SENIOR ADVISER, RAND CORPORATION: We're just not very good at predicting human violence. We don't have an x-ray for a man's soul.
TODD (on camera): But Brian Jenkins said looking back, it does appear that Hasan had what he called obvious personality problems that he channeled into a deadly fanaticism.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And still to come, actress and co-host of "The View." Sherri Shepherd is going to join me to talk about her experiences living with diabetes.
We're back in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Our top stories now.
Oprah Winfrey announced at the end of her show today she is calling it quits after 25 years on the air. The last show will be in 2011, but she is starting a new venture on cable, the Oprah Winfrey Network.
The Missouri woman on trial in a line-cutting dispute at a Wal- Mart store is testifying on her own behalf at this hour. Heather Ellis (ph) is denying accusations she cursed, yelled and assaulted police officers.
A television station in Mumbai, India, under attack. Take a look at these pictures. Suspected right-wing activists ransacked the offices of IBN-Lokmat, a sister channel of CNN IBN. Police say seven people have been arrested and more are expected.
We will get you another check of our top stories in 20 minutes.
Diabetes is a major concern in the African-American community, and it's what we're talking about today in our "What Matters" segment.
According to the American Diabetes Association, African-Americans are almost two times more likely to have diabetes, compared to non- Hispanic whites. But many blacks with diabetes aren't aware they even have the disease, and those who have been diagnosed are slow to manage it.
Sherri Shepherd is here, co-host of ABC's "The View." And she was diagnosed with diabetes. For her to get serious about the disease, it took what she calls a scared-straight moment thinking of her son losing his mom.
And she's joining us -- Sherri, from New York.
Good to see you, lady.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Hi. How are you?
HARRIS: I'm terrific. I'm a lot better now that I'm looking at you. Look...
SHEPHERD: Oh.
HARRIS: ... this scared-straight moment, talk us through it, your son possibly losing his mom.
SHEPHERD: Losing his mom, yes. You know, my mom died of diabetic complications at 41 years old. And I was diagnosed with it at 40.
And, you know, I had had all the symptoms of diabetes. I was -- my feet were tingling, I was going to the bathroom all the time, I was thirsty. But I never did anything about it. And my doctor said to me -- she said, "Do you like acting?" And I said, "Yes." And she said, "Well, how are you going to like it with your face hanging off? Because you're probably going to have a stroke at some point in your life. I don't know when." And she said, "And you might be looking at amputation."
That not only scared me, but then I went home after they tested my blood sugar and it was close to 300. And I just had this vision of my son laying in bed, about five years old, and he was crying because he was trying to figure out where heaven was, because that's where everybody said mommy was. And that scared me.
HARRIS: Blood sugar level of 300. What's normal?
SHEPHERD: Normal is about 90, 91.
HARRIS: Are you kidding me? You were 300?
SHEPHERD: Yes, 300-something, you're supposed to be almost going to the hospital.
HARRIS: Wow.
SHEPHERD: Yes, it was really bad.
HARRIS: How about this -- you were 23. Your mom died when she was 41, but you were 23 when you lost your mom to the complications of diabetes.
SHEPHERD: I was 23.
HARRIS: Describe what that disease had done to her body, because I'm making a larger point here in a second.
SHEPHERD: So many things had gone wrong with my mother. She was looking at getting her toe amputated. And after that, it was -- gangrene was going through her foot. She was having problems with her vision.
HARRIS: Yes.
SHEPHERD: She was in and out of the hospital. That was a daily occurrence, me leaving my job as a legal secretary, going to get my mom and taking her to the hospital.
HARRIS: Yes.
SHEPHERD: She couldn't work because she was so sick.
HARRIS: All right. Stop there for a second, Sherri.
SHEPHERD: It was bad. Her body...
HARRIS: Yes., it as breaking down.
SHEPHERD: It was breaking down. HARRIS: So, let's say, Sherri, at 30 -- at 30 -- your mom dies when you're 23. At 30, did you look in the mirror and say, look, I've got to change my ways?
SHEPHERD: You know what, I knew that I should, but I didn't.
HARRIS: How about at 35?
SHEPHERD: But diabetes runs in my family.
HARRIS: How about at 35?
SHEPHERD: At 35, I knew that I should. I didn't.
HARRIS: How old were you?
SHEPHERD: I liked sweet potatoes and cornbread better.
HARRIS: You liked sweet potatoes and cornbread. Yes, me too.
How old were you when you said, you know what, I've really got to turn this around? And what did you do?
SHEPHERD: Forty.
HARRIS: Forty.
SHEPHERD: I was 40 years old, because it was the symptoms were so bad, and I have a son. And I didn't want to leave -- I didn't want to do to my son what my mother did to me and my sisters and I.
HARRIS: Sherri, what did you do?
SHEPHERD: And that's when I decided. I weighed about -- almost 197 pounds. I immediately -- they put me on three types of medication for the diabetes, but I immediately started exercising.
I cut out a lot of the foods -- fried foods, red meat, sugar, pasta, my pina coladas which I love, my pancakes with syrup and butter. I cut a lot of that out and I immediately went down to probably about 140 pounds. And they took me off the medication.
HARRIS: Wow. How are you feeling now?
SHEPHERD: I feel great. I really feel great. You know, a lot of this can be -- a lot of the effects of diabetes can be staved off if you make, you know, healthy lifestyle choices, eating and exercising. I work out three times a week.
HARRIS: That's terrific.
SHEPHERD: And I feel a lot better. No more tingling in my toes.
HARRIS: That's terrific. I've got to tell you, I want to hold up the book here for a second, "Sherri Shepherd: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break." SHEPHERD: Yes.
HARRIS: Permission slips.
Hey, do you know what? When people read this book, you are open and frank about so much in your life. I've got to tell you something, you know, Oprah Winfrey is giving up her show.
SHEPHERD: I know! I'm so sad.
HARRIS: You ready to move on?
SHEPHERD: I love Oprah. Am I ready to...
HARRIS: I mean, come on, honestly.
SHEPHERD: No, I'm not ready to move on. I love...
HARRIS: Sherri, honestly, when people open this book, they will learn so much about your life. It's very confessional. And as you know, that is really the basis for much of the success of Oprah Winfrey.
You want a new gig?
SHEPHERD: No. You know what? I love the ladies that I'm working with at "The View," because it's -- the pressure's not all on me. I have four other women who cushion me. So, I'm doing great right where I'm at.
I wish Oprah the best. We do love her.
But even in my book, I talk about giving yourself permission to take care of your health. You know, I was eating -- I was eating yogurt every day and I was taking in 90 grams of sugar and carbs every single day, eating my yogurt. And I had to stop. And I write that in the book, about giving yourself permission to say no to everybody and go to the doctor and getting yourself checked out.
HARRIS: Yes. And we will see you in Atlanta. You're here in town signing books tomorrow, right?
SHEPHERD: I'm at the Decatur Public Library on Saturday, at 2:00 in Decatur, Georgia, signing my book permission slip. And you can also see me on my show on Lifetime, "Sherri," on Tuesday nights, 9:00 to 11:00.
HARRIS: Absolutely. How many jobs do you have?
Sherri, it's great to see you. Thanks for your time.
SHEPHERD: It's wonderful. Thank you for having me.
HARRIS: My pleasure.
All right. And to read more stories that matter to all of us, just pick up the latest "Essence" magazine on newsstands now, or go online to CNN.com/whatmatters.
You have been weighing in on Oprah's big announcement. We will share some of your thoughts in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK. As always, we want to -- I can't read the headline there -- guide you to cnnmoney.com here if you want the latest financial news and analysis. "Out of prison, out of a job, out of work." Oh, yes, yes, yes, some terrific reporting. We brought you a bit of that earlier in the week from our Poppy Harlow. She's part of the CNN Money Team. And I think we're going to update this story in just a little bit. But, again, for the latest financial news and analysis, cnnmoney.com.
Let's get you to the big board. Three hours into the trading day on a Friday. We've been selling all day here. As you can see, stocks down 49 points. The Nasdaq, at last check, down 17.
In Chicago, a tearful Oprah Winfrey told her audience today she'll end the program that's made her a billionaire. The last broadcast, September 9, 2011. Twenty-five years on television has made Oprah a cultural force and a mega brand. CNN's Tom Foreman takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The show became an institution.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": I'm Oprah Winfrey. And welcome to the very first national "Oprah Winfrey Show."
FOREMAN: Its host one of the world's most influential people. Began on local TV in Chicago, grew into a media empire. A phenomenon of empowerment, entertainment and a whole lot more. For the last 23 years, Oprah Winfrey has made news, made history, and presided over some of the most famous moments ever broadcast. It's impossible to list them all here, but we've chosen a few that have made a lasting impression. Like this one, her 1993 interview with Michael Jackson at his Neverland Ranch. She said it was liking meeting the wizard of oz.
WINFREY: This is the most interview I'd ever done and certainly was going to be the most watched interview I'd ever done.
FOREMAN: Oprah's encounter with Jackson friend Elizabeth Taylor did not fare as well. Oprah called it one of her worst interviews. Right before it began, Oprah said the legendary actress asked her not to bring up any of her relationships. Stars flocked to Oprah, to talk, to plug their movies, and, in Tom Cruise's case, to get weird.
WINFREY: I've never seen you like this!
FOREMAN: That's the couch-jumping incident from 2005. Cruise went overboard, expressing his love for then girlfriend Katie Holmes. It's a clip that has been seen countless times. And so has this one. The start of season 19, when, to the surprise of everyone, Oprah handed out presents to her audience members, each one of them, the keys to their very own new car.
As we have seen, she can be incredibly generous, and profoundly moving. Breaking down on camera. Oprah is a self-made success story. "Forbes" ranks her among the wealthiest people on the planet and says she is worth $2.5 billion. She's also donated $40 million to create two girls' schools in South Africa. And dozens of other schools through her Angel Network have been built around the work. The network has also helped build and restore hundreds of homes in the wakes of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
She has also shared personal battles, especially with her weight. In 1988, she wheeled out 67 pounds of fat. That's how much weight she lost back then. Many women followed her lead and went on diets. Since then, she's continued struggling and it's always center stage.
There are a lot of firsts for Oprah. 1996, "Deep End of the Ocean" was chosen as her first book club choice. Her book club has motivated millions of people to read since and helped sell millions of books. It's also given us another memorable moment when she confronted author James Frey after recommending his book "A Million Little Pieces," a memoir filled with fiction.
From the big hair, to the big interviews, to the big heart, to the big difference she has made in so many people's lives. And now, Oprah is saying good-bye. In an interview with "60 Minutes" back when it all started, Oprah said, what matters isn't longevity.
WINFREY: It will do well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And if it doesn't?
WINFREY: And if it doesn't, I will still do well. I will do well because I am not defined by a show. You know, I think we are defined by the way we treat ourselves and the way we treat other people.
FOREMAN: Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: As Oprah Winfrey prepares to end her talk show reign, we asked you to share some of your favorite Oprah show moments on our blog.
Magali says, "I was so happy for her when she appeared in her so small jeans. She was so happy and that made us feel proud of her."
From Arnie, "her very first show, when she showed the world that she could be a strong tower in the midst of high powers. Awesome work!"
But Dan says, "she has had no impact on my life. Why do people idolize her, or any other celebrity so much?"
Keep sending us your comments to cnn.com/tony.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Let's get you caught up on our top stories now.
A senior administration officials tells CNN, President Obama will not announce a new war strategy for Afghanistan until after Thanksgiving. He, as you know, has a meeting with his national security team for more than a month now to plan the road ahead. Former NBA star Jayson Williams was expected to plead guilty today to aggravated assault. The proceedings, though, were postponed after Williams reportedly had travel difficulties. Without a plea deal, Williams is set for retrial on a manslaughter charge in January in the shooting death of his driver in 2002.
With unemployment topping 10 percent, ex-cons are usually at the back of the line when it comes to finding a job. Last week we introduced you to a newly released prisoner trying to find full-time employment and turn his life around. Cnnmoney.com's Poppy Harlow is back. She is in Red Hook -- the Red Hook section of Brooklyn with an update for you.
Poppy, great to see you. What's the update?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, too, Tony.
I mean, this is quite a happy update to tell you. Following up on that story we showed you folks last week. Talking about this man, you see him right there on your screen, Greg Headley. He got out of prison just a matter of a months ago. He served 32 months for criminal sale of a firearm. He was working a temporary job, literally picking up trash for minimum wage around New York City.
This week, a much different story. He's got a full-time job, Tony. He's got a 30 percent raise. He works right here at this trucking stop in Brooklyn and he joins us, Greg, right now, and his boss, Gary, who hired him, who gave him this second chance.
And for Greg, to you, what does this mean to have a second chance? Out of prison a matter of months. A lot of folks don't have work. You do now.
GREG HEADLEY, NEWLY-HIRED EX-CON: Well, to me, a second chance is definitely a blessing. It gives me an opportunity to show individuals that these chances do exist and it gives them hope.
HARLOW: Yes, it gives them hope.
But for you, when you look, Gary, at hiring people, why hire an ex-convict? Why not hire many of the other millions of other people lining up trying to find work?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because those people are working much, much harder than normal, average person, because they know that they have the disadvantage of being where they came from. And definitely by me helping them, actually I'm helping not only to myself, but to everybody around. They are off the streets and if they're successful, they're going to stay here and working instead of ending up in the wrong place where they came from. And that's, I think, good for everybody because eventually we're going to be paying for that if he's going to be ending up in prison.
HARLOW: You know, you're exactly right.
Tony, when you look at the numbers, 70 percent of those released from prison go back to prison in this country within three years. The cost to society is $26,000 per inmate, Tony. We're talking about a major strain on our economy. For Greg, he says, no chance that's happening again. You want to start your own business, right?
HEADLEY: Yes. Well, one of my goals is to obtain my CDL through training and hopefully raise enough capital so I can open up a coffee lounge.
HARLOW: And you said that you're going to have live music and poetry there. Quite a difference from where you were just a matter of months ago.
HEADLEY: Yes, differently a big difference. I'm trying to create like a home environment where people can express themselves poetically and just relax.
HARLOW: All right. We're going to be watching. Good luck to you.
Gary, thanks so much. We appreciate it.
Tony, that's just a little bit of the story.
HARRIS: That's terrific.
HARLOW: You can see the full story, we'll pull it up for you here, on cnnmoney.com. But a positive update to this story. We'll keep watching it as well. And we wish the best for Greg and Gary.
HARRIS: Yes, tell Greg, he needs to keep it together. He's on record with us now and we will be tracking him. And our thanks to Gary. That's a big gesture and a big heart in that man's chest.
Poppy, good to see you. Have a great weekend. Thank you.
HARLOW: Absolutely. Absolutely.
HARRIS: We have been asking you to send us your thoughts on Afghanistan. And our iReporters are speaking out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I were him, I would take the advice of the general. If he wants more, send them. These men and women signed up for this. They knew coming into this job that was their responsibility, to protect us and to protect the country. So even though they're putting their lives at risk, they knew that from the beginning, and they're willing to do that just because they love this country that much. So, Mr. Obama, if the general needs troops, please, please, send them or else all the lives that were lost before will be for no reason.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reality is, we have a civilian government, not a military government. To believe that because the general says we should have more troops, that we should, well, I tell you, generals will always want more troops because they are fighting engines. As a civilian country, we look at the entire picture. We look at military, diplomacy, and otherwise. It would be -- it would be horrendous for us to send more troops. We will simply compound the damage that we've already done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Man. How tough is this decision?
Keep your comments coming. If you want to sound off on Afghanistan, just jump in front of a camera and shoot us an i-Report and then send it to ireport.com. And we will air some of your comments right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
An exclusive "AC360" investigation reveals how the Army's own rules on evidence gathering may have led to the murders of four Iraqis back in 2007. Three decorated Army sergeants were convicted of premeditated murder, but now questions are being raised about the rules they had to follow for taking in detainees. Special Investigations Unit correspondent, Abbie Boudreau, has a preview of tonight's story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Many critics tell us the rules for gathering evidence put too much pressure on soldiers to be like police officers. I asked Brigadier General David Quantock, who oversees detainee operations in Iraq, about the training soldiers received before going to war.
BRIG. GEN. DAVID QUANTOCK, U.S. ARMY: We're asking them to take basic evidence, which they've been trained to do. Again, we've got the greatest soldiers in the world and I don't accept that they can't take basic evidence off of a -- off of a crime scene.
BOUDREAU: General, though, if it's so easy to collect this basic type of evidence, then why were so many detainees let out because of lack of evidence?
QUANTOCK: You know, we were -- we're trying to make the fight fit the Army as opposed to have the Army fit the fight. I think a lot of times we thought the insurgency would dissipate. We were working closely with the government of Iraq. We were trying to improve the Iraqi security forces. But at the end of the day, it didn't work out very well, we had to get better at taking evidence off the crime scene.
BOUDREAU: During our investigation we also obtained 23.5 hours of Army interrogation tapes, tapes you'll only see on CNN.
We'll have more on what's on those tapes, in our investigation in to the detainee policy tonight on "AC360."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Abbie, appreciate it. Thank you.
Racism, party politics, and the president. How much of the criticism against President Obama is linked to his race? College students sound off. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: President Obama depicted as a witch doctor. "Go back to Kenya," signs, racist comments about the president were heard at angry health care protests over the summer. But just how big of a role does racism play in the overall critique of the president? I took that question to a group of college students at Georgia State University. Don't miss a moment of this debate, "class is in session."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS (voice-over): I started off asking these students about whether some of the criticism the president has gotten is partly due to his race. But the conversation quickly broadened.
JOHN MURRAY, CHAIRMAN, COLLEGE REPUBLICANS AT GSU: To us it has nothing to do with his race. He could be a gay Hispanic woman and we still would see no difference between what he's saying then and what he's saying now.
ZACHARY MCFALL, FORMER PRESIDENT, YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF GEORGIA AT GSU: That's not exactly true. In 1968, Nixon had this southern strategy. They used race way back when to build their party.
LACEY ENYART, FMR. SPECIAL FORCES MEMBER: I look at the Republican Party and I don't see that they've excluded at all minorities.
HARRIS (on camera): You see the Republican Party as a big-tent party?
ENYART: Yes. I mean, now -- now . . .
MURRAY: The difference is we don't -- we don't point out their race. We talk of them as just Republican.
ENYART: Right.
MURRAY: Which is something Democrats don't do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. OK. So you elected Michael Steele just because he's Michael Steele?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There have been examples of people behaving towards this president in ways that are unconscionable. I mean, going to a rally is American. Going to a rally and carrying a gun to where the president's going to be is unconscionable.
MURRAY: Did you not see the protests during George W. Bush? And he was a white man. And there were some violent protests against George W. Bush. I saw protests through here three years ago of people holding up signs of him calling him a warmonger. I've seen effigies of him being hanged. I've seen people walk around with blood dripping off their shirt dressed like George W. Bush. So, I mean, if you're going to talk about the August town hall meetings, there were plenty of things that Democrats did during the President Bush administration that is ten times more unconscionable.
MCFALL: I went and I saw a lot of confederate flags. And it wasn't the Georgia flag. This was the actual confederate flag.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
MURRAY: Because you look at it in the confederacy, it was very states' rights, which is what a lot of . . .
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: States' rights was from keeping slaves. That's particularly the reason why . . .
MURRAY: Yes, but that's not what states' rights issues is about now.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For southern states it was.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now this is off subject. Like say, again, not sure where you were standing. I, myself, did not see mass confederate flags.
GREGORY OGUNNOWO, BIOLOGY MAJOR: I feel as though that confederate flags, waving them is a symbol of, hey, I don't like this group of people because that will just driving the issue for slavery. And that's a reason why there's a giant schism between the union and the south -- southern states because they wanted to keep slavery.
CLAUDIA RIVERA, SERVES ON LATINO STUDENT COUNCIL, GSU: Confederate flag brings hate, brings disturbance. I even saw it at my high school. That was part of the culture, and they -- the way the neighborhood I live in, it's very conservative. They do talk about the "n" word. This president is such and such.
MURRAY: There's always a part of whatever political spectrum you're looking at. Be it not even just Republicans and Democrats, you know, the libertarians. There's both good sides and extreme sides.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Wow. Keep looking for "Class in Session" as we head to another school and take on some new topics. Our next conversation, no snitching, how much pressure are kids under to stay silent about crimes they see others commit? That's coming up in the weeks to come.
Let's get you to Chad Myers now in the severe weather center.
And, Chad, if you would, set the stage for this weekend here. I understand a lot of soggy weather in various parts of the country.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Have you ever tried to figure out how much your credit card really costs you? What if all that fine print was on one easy- to-read page? Think about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You know, I got to tell you, it's enough to give you a whopper of a headache. The pages and pages of fine print that comes with the credit card. But does something so important to your finances have to look so tiny, so small? Our Jessica Yellin finds out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Americans swipe their credit cards 58 million times a day. But how many card holders actually understand what they've signed up for?
Some in Congress are trying to get rid of the fine print in contracts like this one.
(on camera): Can you tell me what the annual percentage rate is? What the interest is?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't a clue. It doesn't say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would have to give me about an hour. At the end of the hour I would say no.
YELLIN: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's too much gobbledygook.
YELLIN (voice-over): To test the point we sat down to read one.
(on camera): For the account of the person to whom we address billing statements.
(voice-over): How long did it take? Stay tuned.
Alan Siegel says it doesn't have to be this way. His company specializes in contract simplification. They've done it for the Internal Revenue Service, major banks and insurance companies.
ALAN SIEGEL, SIEGEL GALE STRATEGIC BRANDING COMPANY: It's designed to be readable and it's totally plain English and we use personal pronouns instead of the party of the first part.
He says government regulators and credit card companies have both resisted simple contracts.
(on camera): Is it possible to have a credit card contract that anyone can understand?
SIEGEL: Absolutely.
YELLIN: How long does it have to be?
SIEGEL: I believe it can be on one side of one piece of paper.
YELLIN (voice-over): In fact, he's created a sample; one page. Here's the interest rate. Here are the penalty fees. His testing shows a tenth grader could understand it.
(on camera): Have you shown this to any credit card companies?
SIEGEL: Yes.
YELLIN: And what did they say?
SIEGEL: Panic.
YELLIN (voice-over): Some in Congress think card companies have a stake of keeping their products and their contracts confusing and have proposed a new consumer protection agency that would work to make these agreements less complicated.
The American Bankers Association is fighting it.
NESSA FEDDIS, AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION: There are other ways to address it rather than having to create an expensive big bureaucracy.
YELLIN: Speaking for the credit card companies, she says government regulators are working on streamlined new rules that will make credit card agreements clearer but she insists credit card contracts can never be just one page; blame the lawyers.
FEDDIS: Those contracts are based on lawsuits that have compelled them to use certain terms, certain words and to include certain information in order to have an enforceable contract. It's the nature of law.
YELLIN: Back to the current complicated contract.
(on camera): Authorization for us to collect the amount of the check electronically or ...
(voice-over): It took ten minutes to read one page; an hour for the whole thing. No wonder so few of us know what we've agreed to.
Jessica Yellin, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
