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Obama Makes Case for Releasing Second Half of Bailout Funds; Hillary in Confirmation Hearings; Ambulance Workers Face Danger on Israel-Gaza Border; D.C. Gears up for Inauguration
Aired January 13, 2009 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: How much is 100 bones?
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, I went a little colloquial, did I? I went straight to Baltimore, didn't I?
PHILLIPS: Is that like Benjamins?
HARRIS: Like Benjis, yes. Stacks. Stacks on bags.
PHILLIPS: Green bags.
HARRIS: Yes. I went straight to Baltimore, didn't I? I apologize.
PHILLIPS: He's the baller from Baltimore.
HARRIS: I'm going to take all of that out of here.
CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Kyra Phillips. Have a great show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), SECRETARY OF STATE NOMINEE: Diplomacy is hard work. But when we work hard, diplomacy can work.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Hillary Clinton working the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as she gets ready to take on her new job as secretary of state.
And the president to be makes the case for more bank bailouts, though on much tougher terms than before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Another fully stocked news buffet today. We've got the Hillary hearing, the money that you're giving Wall Street so it can get its groove back, and some not-so-fun facts about STDs.
Plus, the big lotto winner in Alaska. Five hundred grand this guy got. That's going to buy a lot of moose chili. And oh, did we mention, he's a convicted sex offender? And part of the lottery proceeds will help rape victims. That's rich; no pun intended.
And here's something perfectly horrifying: a teen with a homicidal addiction to his video game. His story is a fatal collision of fantasy, reality, and justice.
First, it may be fantasy to think another $350 billion will make the economy healthy again. But the reality is Barack Obama wants to be able to use it. The president-elect is back on Capitol Hill, trying to move lawmakers to allocate the rest of the so-called TARP funds, this time with specific terms and conditions.
CNN's Brianna Keilar is watching.
Brianna, tough sell?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, it is such a tough sell to Democrats and Republicans, Kyra. That's part of the reason why we're seeing, come this hour, Barack Obama going to be up here on the Hill, having a lunch with Senate Democrats. He's also been working the phones with Democrats, as well as Republicans.
And Democrats and Republicans, they feel burned by how this first $350 billion was allocated. They don't feel there was enough accounting for it. So you can see here just a gaggle of reporters talking to members of Senate as they come and go from these lunches to figure out exactly where they stand on this. Because there's a question of whether this request that has come from President Bush at the request of President-elect Obama, whether it will -- whether it will basically be granted by Congress.
You've got Democrats who say things like homeowners were left out in the lurch, homeowners facing foreclosure by this last $350 million. And you have Republicans like Mitch McConnell, top Republican in the Senate, saying, "Wait a second. There was a piece of it broken off for the auto industry," which is not something that Congress intended.
So a lot of disparate criticism, but basically you've got criticism coming from all different sides. And Democrats at this point unsure if they can really deliver the votes that Barack Obama would need in what's called a resolution of disapproval. It's basically a decision on whether to block this request.
You're going to see the Senate expected to vote on this come Thursday or Friday. The House then expected to follow. And if the Senate -- if Senate Democrats can come through, it will make the House vote, which is likely to block the funds, it's going to make it moot, Kyra, because you would have to have both the House and the Senate trying to block this.
However, if the House and the Senate both block these funds, you've got this really awkward showdown, where President-elect Obama could be in a position where one of the first tasks he does as president is to veto a Bill that came out of a Democrat-led Congress. You can see how that would be a very sticky situation.
PHILLIPS: All right. Brianna, indeed. Thanks so much. Well, yesterday before a meeting with the president of Mexico, Obama told reporters what he has in mind for part two of the bailout.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: My commitment is that we are going to fundamentally change some of the practices in using this next phase of the program.
We're going to focus on housing and foreclosures. We're going to focus on small businesses. We're going to focus on what's required to make sure that credit is flowing to consumers and businesses, to create jobs in the United States.
And this is going to be part and parcel of a broader financial strategy that involves strengthening the regulations on Wall Street in our financial sector and our banking sector so that we're not seeing the kinds of systemic crisis that we -- that led us into this situation in the first place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, Barney Frank's committee in the House comes to order next hour on the bailout to date and the bailout yet to come. You're going to see the opening comments live, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Now, elsewhere on the Hill, senators just took a break from questioning a fellow senator about the biggest problems in the world. I mean that literally. It's Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing for secretary of state. And the committee will reconvene at 2 p.m. Eastern.
But so far this morning the jabs have been reserved for the Bush administration. The former first lady and runner up for the Democratic presidential nomination says that she's going to pursue smart power where diplomacy comes first.
The only hint of controversy comes from Bill Clinton's global fund-raising, by the way. The Senate would prefer that he refuse any foreign donations while Mrs. Clinton is in office. The Clintons and the president-elect propose letting State Department ethics officials make the calls on potential conflicts of interest.
OK. Hillary Clinton on the verge of becoming the nation's top diplomat. Here are two of the things that we want to know. How will she approach the twin problems of the war in Gaza and the stalled Middle East peace process? And will her husband's global fund-raising for his charitable foundation pose ethical conflicts?
Let's get some answers. CNN's foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty is covering the Clinton hearing. She joins us now on Capitol Hill.
How is it going, Jill? JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, you know, three hours and 15 minutes later, it's been going very smoothly, actually. She seems very much at ease. After all, she's among her fellow senators.
And they have been asking a variety of questions. Actually, it's interesting, because she's answering questions in verbal form, but she's also doing written questions. In fact, Senator John Kerry, who's the chairman, submitted 138 questions in writing, and there have been questions from other senators. So it's quite in-depth.
Some of it has been pretty micro, very detailed. And your question on Gaza, for example, on Hamas, she made it very clear that both she and the president, incoming President Obama, say there is no negotiation with Hamas unless they recognize Israel and renounced violence. She made that very clear.
But there were also broader issues. And those deal with this idea of smart power, using diplomacy first as the first option and then other tools in the tool bag, including military power. But the primary one is diplomacy. Here is how she put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I assure you that, if I am confirmed, the State Department will be firing on all cylinders to provide forward thinking, sustained diplomacy in every part of the world, applying pressure wherever it may be needed. But also looking for opportunities; exerting leverage; cooperating with our military and other agencies of government; partnering with non-governmental organizations, the private sector and international organizations; using modern technologies for public outreach; empowering negotiators who can protect our interests while understanding those of our negotiating partners.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DOUGHERTY: And you mentioned Bill Clinton. Actually, he is not here in the room, but he is in D.C. He's watching this on television, along with the mother of Hillary Clinton. And then Chelsea is in the room, along with, watching her mother answer all of these questions.
On the issue, more seriously, of the question of Bill Clinton and his foundation, it came up very early, in fact, in the opening comments by Dick Lugar. He is saying that there is a difficult with that, that some organizations or countries might perceive an idea that they could influence U.S. policy by donating to the Clinton Foundation. What he wants is no international donations, period.
PHILLIPS: All right. It will be interesting to follow the rest of the hearing. Jill, we'll talk to you some more. Thank you so much.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton isn't the only cabinet nominee facing confirmation hearings today. The Senate is also quizzing Arne Duncan, nominee for education secretary, Stephen Chu, nominated to head the Energy Department, Shaun Donovan, the secretary of housing and urban development nominee, and Peter Orszag, nominated to head the Office of Management and Budget. We're following it all for you.
Well, a crush of humanity. Perhaps a million people getting ready to descend on the nation's capital for next Tuesday's inauguration. Will the city even be ready? We're going to find out what the plans are.
And it's one of the most dangerous jobs in the Mideast right now. Ambulance drivers in Gaza risking their lives every time they answer a call. We're going to hear some of the incredible stories straight from them, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: State lottery with the proceeds going to sex abuse victims. What are the odds that the guy who just won a half million bucks is a convicted sex offender?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Eighteen days of war and still no letup in the Israeli-Hamas fighting in Gaza. Israel says its ground forces are closing in on downtown Gaza City, and street battles today raged in one densely populated neighborhood.
Dozens of homes destroyed, terrified civilians running for cover. And Palestinian medical officials say that more than 900 Palestinians have now been killed, nearly half of them women and children. Thirteen Israelis have been killed, including 10 soldiers.
Israel says it launched the offensive to stop Hamas rocket attacks on its southern towns. They've been greatly reduced but not stopped all together.
And one of the most needed, difficult and dangerous jobs in Gaza right now is driving an ambulance. CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney reports from Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ambulance workers are on their way to the scene of a missile attack. They've been working non-stop since the Israeli offensive against Gaza began. Every time they answer a call, they risk becoming the next casualties.
A crater in the ground. This time there are no casualties. The medics head back to base.
"It's my birthday today," says Nahad Arshawa (ph).
"The most important question is," says another, "is how old are you?"
"I never say that," comes the reply. His colleagues joke with him that he will always be an ambulance driver, that he will never retire.
Nahad (ph) has been injured twice in previous strikes before this current conflict. "Why," he says, "I may just die in the ambulance." Black humor, but it's a respite from the stress.
Nahad (ph) prepares to take a nap. Suddenly, the sound of an explosion. In the distance, a spiral of smoke rising upwards. They hesitate to jump in the ambulance. They lost an ambulance worker in a previous air strike a year before, and it's getting dark.
But a sense of duty prevails, and they head to the scene. They rush past rubble into the house hit in the strike.
On the bed, two immobile figures, a child and his grandmother. It's too late for the medics to help the woman. The boy is alive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is shame. This is cruelty. Shame, shame.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)
SWEENEY: The ambulance rushes its young patients and dead woman to the hospital.
"I know I'm serving my people, my country, and my religion," Nahad (ph) says. "This is why I feel it's better for me to be here among the scattered flesh, among the injured, much better than celebrating a happy birthday."
For Nahad (ph) and the rest of his crew, a sense of solidarity with their fellow Gazans helps them get through every harrowing day.
Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: One week from today, a new era in American politics begins. Barack Obama takes the oath of office at noon on January 20, as the nation's first African-American president. And in Washington, preparations are already in full swing as the excitement, of course, is building day by day.
Now, the ceremonies are going to be held on the west front of the U.S. Capital. It's a tradition started by Ronald Reagan, actually. And this year's inaugural theme, "Renewing America's Promise."
Well, more than a million out-of-towners are expected to pour into Washington for the inauguration. And plans are in place to keep the crush from overwhelming the capital's transportation system.
Here's CNN's homeland security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, with a look at the plan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On your average day, Washington's traffic is a mess. The very thought of jamming a million or more inaugural visitors onto the roads has some locals throwing in the towel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm trying to stay away from it as far as I can. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) get there, and we can't get here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I live here, and I'm staying home. I'm going to watch it on television.
MESERVE: An elaborate transportation plan will ban private cars from two major routes into the city and all the bridges from Virginia. For security reasons, a big swath of downtown will be closed to cars, too.
Another part of the transportation plan: how to get people out of the city.
DAN TANGHERLINI, WASHINGTON DEPUTY MAYOR: We've been working with the Secret Service, the homeland security agency, as well as our surrounding jurisdictions to come up with a plan to deal with the possibility that we may have to evacuate the Mall and other areas.
MESERVE: On inauguration day, computers will integrate information from cameras, sensors, traffic and police reports, allowing officials throughout the region to monitor traffic flow in real time.
MICHAEL PACK, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: If they start to see something turn ugly, they can initiate back-up plans, whether that be detours, routing traffic around a particular incident.
MESERVE: Three-D modeling, complete with weather effects, will provide an even more detailed picture.
PACK: It's almost like having a virtual helicopter that allows you to fly around.
MESERVE: A car isn't the only way to get into the city, of course. Metro, Washington's mass transit system, will increase the capacity of its subway trains and buses. Amtrak will be able to carry 50 percent more people than usual. And the city has set aside parking space for an expected 10,000 charter buses from all over the country.
(on camera) If you're coming to Washington for the inauguration, officials urge you to plan early and check transportation Web sites often. They also say you should pack two things: your walking shoes and your patience.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Fairfax, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And here are some facts now that you might not know about next Tuesday's inauguration.
If you're into kitsch, well, there's a lot out there. The retail network QVC has already sold 100,000 items related to Barack Obama's election.
There will be 5,000 Porta-Potties on the National Mall. Along the parade route, also on inauguration day. That's one Port-a-Potty for every 300 people expected at those sites.
It will take a whole lot of volunteers to keep things going. That's for sure. And between 15,000 and 18,000 have signed up to help coordinate the festivities.
And next hour we're going to check back in with some college kids taking the long way from San Jose to D.C. They're taking the southern route to the inauguration by way of some infamous stops on the civil rights map.
Pioneers of the movement put those places on the map and paid dearly for it. And off course, now we're seeing one of the fruits of their sacrifice: President-elect Barack Obama's nomination. And these students are retracing those steps now, one landmark at a time. We're going to talk to them.
Next Tuesday isn't just a big day for President-elect Obama. It's Damon's big day, too. Inside that 10-year-old body is a Wolf Blitzer, a Bernie Shaw, maybe a Helen Thomas just waiting to get out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, Fed chief Ben Bernanke is speaking out today for the first time since the central bank slashed interest rates to near zero last month. And after that highly unusual move, what more can policy makers do?
Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange with the details.
Hey, Susan.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra.
Well, Ben Bernanke says he sees the light at the end of the tunnel. He just can't tell you when we'll get there. To use his words, the timing and strength of the recovery remains highly uncertain.
What he also said, though, was that he supports President-elect Obama's stimulus plan, which could include tax cuts and huge government spending on infrastructure, energy, health care. But, he said, more spending will most likely be needed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN BERNANKE, CHAIRMAN, FEDERAL RESERVE: The incoming administration and the Congress are currently discussing a substantial fiscal package that, if enacted, could provide a significant boost to economic activity.
In my view, however, fiscal actions are unlikely to promote a lasting recovery unless they are accompanied by strong measures to further stabilize and strengthen the financial system.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LISOVICZ: Keep in mind that Fed Chairman Bernanke has increased the balance sheet of the Fed more than any other predecessor in U.S. history: right now, in the past year, by more than $1 trillion, in part by holding credits that banks and brokerages consider too risky.
Some other tools that the Fed may consider to assist a stimulus in the U.S. economy is injecting even more money, believe it or not, into financial institutions, Kyra, and doing what TARP originally was intended to do: to actually buy those troubled assets.
So those are some of the tools, in addition to just, perhaps, buying some treasuries to help support the mortgage market. So there's more that the Federal Reserve can do. They've done a lot already -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And you know a lot of people are very upset about that money being spent to bail out banks. So how can Bernanke consider spending even more?
LISOVICZ: Well, it brings to mind that whole morale hazard issue. Because it was an incredible risk that so many big institutions took, and we're all paying for it.
And Bernanke himself says, "Unappealing as it is, it appears unavoidable." That is -- that is a quote from Bernanke.
And this just about a week before Citigroup reports its quarterly earnings. We're expecting a big loss from Citigroup. It took a dive yesterday. Its shares were down 17 percent, a little bit of a rebound today.
Keep in mind that Citigroup has already received $45 billion in federal aid, $25 billion in TARP.
Right now we're seeing the Dow down. Citi one of the Dow 30, obviously. Its shares are up about half a percent. The Dow is up [SIC] 42 -- or down 43, I should say. And the NASDAQ is down one.
Fifth straight day of losses Kyra, so we've got a streak here that we don't want to see continue.
PHILLIPS: I hear that. All right. Hope it breaks. Thanks, Susan.
LISOVICZ: You're welcome.
PHILLIPS: Well, it wasn't hard to find a picture of Alaska's big lotto winner. Let's just say his mug was already on file.
Alec Ahsoak won a half million dollars. Turns out he's a twice- convicted sex offender. Now here is the "what the...?" moment. Part of the lottery's proceeds go to a group that helps rape victims. So this guy wins big, and a fraction goes to the anti-rape group. Well, chances were pretty good that something like that might happen. FBI numbers show that Alaska has the highest number of rape cases per capita in the country.
Now, listen to this one. An Ohio teen has been convicted of killing his mom and wounding his dad over a video game.
His lawyers actually used the game Halo 3 as their defense. They said that the boy was addicted to it and, therefore, not guilty by reason of insanity.
Well, the judge didn't buy it, but he did admit that the 17-year- old's obsession with Halo may have warped his view of reality.
He faces a sentence of 23 years to life.
And finally, a story that's incredibly sad and incredibly stupid at the same time. A California man has been arrested for allegedly trying to sell his 14-year-old daughter into marriage. Police say they found out when Dad called them, because the buyer welched on the deal.
Listen to this: he apparently shorted Dad on the payment, which was $16,000. Oh, and hundreds of cases of beer, Gatorade, wine, soda and meat. Poor guy didn't get his Schlitz. What a bozo.
Well, the Bill Clinton Foundation. The former president has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for work on issues such as AIDS and poverty. So why is it a factor in Hillary Clinton's cabinet nomination? We're going to take a look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Barack Obama's transition to power means a whole lot of other transitions as well. Barring any bomb shells, Hillary Clinton will transition to the State Department as the America's premier diplomat.
And so far today in her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee she promised to do the hard work of diplomacy toward a of goal of quote "more partners and fewer adversaries."
My next guest is certainly no adversary. James Rubin was an assistant secretary of state under President Clinton. He's a long time friend and adviser to Senator Clinton; he's watching her hearings, of course, from New York.
Jamie, good to see you.
JAMES RUBIN, FMR. ASST. SECRETARY OF STATE: Nice to be with you.
PHILLIPS: OK. Now, from a very non-biased approach here. Do you think she is -- will there be any bomb shells? Is she going to face any type of problems or controversy here? Well, I think she's going to be confirmed. Clearly some Republican senators would like to improve on the already rather dramatic openness she and her husband have agreed to with regard to his foundation and the donations to his library. And there may be some adjustments or commitments made there.
But, it looks to me today like Senator Clinton really showed her knowledge of the issues. She understood all the key factors at play. And what you were really seeing was the end of an era of unilateralism in the United States and the beginning of an era of American diplomacy that she wishes to lead and that she showed how important it is to bring back diplomatic power to the American arsenal.
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's take the quotes that she said here. It says that she wants to reestablish the State Department as a lead agency in foreign policy and that she wants, quote unquote "smart power including economic agreements that invest in our common humanity."
Is that really realistic considering everything that's going on right now? And what does she mean by that and how would she even begin to implement that ideology?
RUBIN: Well, I think what you're seeing is Hillary Clinton show that in order for America to achieve its objectives, let's say in Afghanistan where the country is coming apart under the assault of the Taliban, that it isn't just a question of sending in more troops; that it's also a question of developing a combination of economic and diplomatic and political programs on the civilian side that can keep this country together, that can bring to the side of the elected government the support of the people.
And what we've learned, whether it's in Iraq, Afghanistan or many other countries around the world, that I think she thinks the Bush administration didn't do enough of is that military force is part of the answer and certain problems but isn't the whole answer.
And sometimes to achieve America's objectives, to protect our security, to advance our values, we have to find the right mix of civilian, economic, political and other tools to join with the military force that we have so -- used so well.
PHILLIPS: So, all right -- I'm sort of reading between the lines. I'm sort of hearing more negotiation versus military action.
So, let's say nuclear Iran, for example, of course Democrats got hammered during the presidential race and even before for their accusations that they would be too soft on terrorists, negotiate with terrorists. Is that Hillary Clinton's style, would she negotiate with terrorists -- terrorists?
RUBIN: No, I don't think so. I think that was sort of exaggerated record -- rhetoric. But what President-elect Obama and now Secretary of State Designate Clinton said today is that the Bush administration didn't understand that diplomacy often requires you to talk to people who are your adversaries, to talk to people you have problems with.
And I think what Hillary Clinton showed is that today she said we're going to have a new policy with respect to Iran. The details of that will be formulated in a policy review. But there will be an attempt at engagement in order to determine what is the best mix of efforts that can achieve the objective.
The Bush administration was unable to achieve its objective or slowing and stopping the Iranian nuclear program. And so what Senator Clinton is saying is that as secretary of state, she would be looking for new ways through engagement, through diplomacy, to achieve the same goals but to perhaps be a little smarter about it. Thus the phrase smart power.
PHILLIPS: We'll follow it. It'll be interesting to see how she implements that smart power. Jamie Rubin, thanks for your time. Great to see you.
RUBIN: Nice to see you.
PHILLIPS: Even before Hillary Clinton's nomination as secretary of state, her husband's global fund-raising foundation was stirring controversy. Jamie mentioned it right there. It was a sticking point a little bit today. It came up, of course.
Josh Levs is here with a look at the controversy and what the Clinton Foundation does exactly. Tell us, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, let's take a look at this here. Basically came up at the very beginning today. In fact, we have a sound bite from the beginning of the hearing. Let's take a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RICHARD LUGAR (R), INDIANA: The core of the problem is that foreign governments and entities may perceive the Clinton Foundation as a means to gain favor with secretary of state. Although neither Senator Clinton nor President Clinton has a financial stake in the foundation. Obviously its work benefits their legacy and their public service priorities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: And Kyra, behind me on this screen, we got a massive list the Clinton Foundation put out last month. Nearly 3,000 pages. Take a look at this. I mean, it's huge. It would take you hours and hours to even read half of it.
So, we'll go to a graphic now that shows you just a few of the key donations that have drawn some attention. More than $10 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And then several other governments are listed as giving between $1 million and $5 million; they include include Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Dubai.
And also a reminder of how sensitive this can be. A donation of at least $10,00 from Blackwater, Kyra. Obviously, that's the controversial company that protects diplomats in Iraq.
But, let's put it all in context. The foundation says its made -- its had more than 200,000 donors total. Median donation is only $45, and I was speaking with them today. They told me they have raised total more than $560 million, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, the foundation and the Obama transition team both have come forward and agreed to transparency, right?
LEVS: Exactly. Yes. The kind of thing Jamie was referring to. Former President Clinton is going to take a limited role fundraising. You got donations that'll be reported and subject to certain donations -- subject to review by the State Department.
And President Clinton told CNN last month that he supports all these measures.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's important to make it totally transparent. Say who the donors and let people know that there's no connection to the decisions made by America's national security team, including the secretary of state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right. So what does the foundation do exactly with this money?
LEVS: Yes. A lot of people hear the word foundation, and they think the foundation therefore gives money to other charities. They don't. The foundation runs all its own programs.
Really quickly, I'll show you. You can go here clintonfoundation.org, click on Explore Our Work. You can see all sorts of programs covering the economy, climate change, also health programs all over the world. They also gather experts in these parts of the world and try to come up with solutions that they then implement.
So, Kyra, we're going to keep a close eye on this. As time goes by, we're going to see what rules they ultimately follow, how gets reported and how it affects her as secretary of state.
PHILLIPS: Great. We'll track it. Thanks, Josh.
LEVS: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Important news for your sexual health. Confronting STDs. Do you know who is at risk?
And the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of it. Sadly, he didn't live to see it, the swearing in of an African-American president. What would he say if he were alive today?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: For many Americans, it's the dirty little secret that they are hesitant to talk about. But sexually transmitted diseases can have an lasting impact on your health. And there are some alarming figures from the CDC about who's most at risk.
Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, well, she talks about everything for us. She has no issues addressing this -- kind of breaking down the -- it's a reality check. (CROSSTALK) Especially as a mama you have to talk about all these things.
ELIZABETH COHEN, SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, because what a lot of women don't realize is that these -- some of these diseases like chlamydia can make you infertile. So, not only do you have a sexually transmitted disease that you can be infertile.
And I am sad to say, Kyra, that we have set a new record in this country, and it is not a good one. The record is that there have now been more than a million cases of chlamydia in the United States. That is an all-time high.
And the burden of sexually transmitted diseases unfortunately falls more on women. Take chlamydia as an example. Chlamydia rates in this country are three times higher for women than for men. And as I just said, chlamydia can lead to infertility.
Now, also, minorities suffer the burden more. We'll take an example here. Twelve percent of the US population is African- American, but 70 percent of the cases of gonorrhea in this country are among African-Americans. This is according to a new report that is just out from the Centers for Disease Control.
PHILLIPS: You know what else too, men and women need to be much more honest about their sexual history. Even if they do know they have an STD, so many are -- are not candid about it. I mean, how many times do you hear those stories and people write in, and it's embarrassing, but it's true. (INAUDIBLE) ...more honest.
COHEN: Right. Right. Absolutely. It's a discussion that has to take place.
PHILLIPS: Now, we've talked about gender and race. How about age?
COHEN: Age is a huge issue. Again, the big burden of sexually transmitted diseases in this country, it falls on young people. Here is a sad statistic.
One in four teenager girls has one of these four diseases, HPV, chlamydia, a certain type of -- a certain strain of herpes and trichomoniasis. One in four teenage girls has one of these four diseases.
And that is why public health authorities want to start automatic screening. They say every young person, ages 26 and younger who is sexually just automatically when they go to the doctor, you know for their annual check-up, they ought to be screened for these. PHILLIPS: Yes. Any good news?
COHEN: There's a little bit of good news, which is that doctors say they are getting better at detecting chlamydia. That they are testing it for more often than they used to; that they are catching people; and that they are able to give people treatment earlier.
So, that seems to be good, and they want to head in that direction. If the rates are going to go up, then hopefully the treatment rates will go up, as well.
PHILLIPS: You know, I'm sort of chuckling because I got in a conversation with a group of girls at one time. There was like a convention -- it was actually of doctors. And she actually said, yes, after I got divorced every time I date somebody, we go to the lab, they get tested and that's it.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: There you go. Right. It's part of the romance. Right? Go out for dinner, see a movie, get tested.
PHILLIPS: Let's go to the lab.
COHEN: And people forget -- people think of testing, they think of HIV testing but all these things are serious diseases and you ought to get tested for them, as well.
PHILLIPS: It's important. All right, Elizabeth, thanks.
Well, this kid is going to put us all out of a job. A young political reporter who knew what he wanted, went for it, and he got it. You can learn a lot from a ten-year old, trust me, especially this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Looks like this 10 is the new 40 in Damon Weaver's case. The young political reporter from Florida has his tux, his press credentials, may be a couple of Capri Suns, and he's headed to the inauguration.
It was a trip that almost didn't happen, but "Tenacious D" never gave up.
Marci Gonzalez from our affiliate WPTV reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCI GONZALEZ, REPORTER, WPTV (voice-over): The hardest working 10-year-old in the news business...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Step right in here young man.
GONZALEZ: ...is getting the star treatment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, we're going to be trying on the shoes.
GONZALEZ: Not only here at Mr. Formal where he tries on his tux...
DAMON WEAVER, 10-YEAR-OLD POLITICAL REPORTER: I look like a new man.
GONZALEZ: ...but soon Damon Weaver will be treated like a VIP in Washington, D.C., where he just learned he will be the only student in the country given inaugural press credentials.
WEAVER: Makes me feel a little bit special.
GONZALEZ: The presidential inaugural committee heard the Canal Point fifth grader was denied press passes for the ceremony, so they stepped in and offered credentials for the parade and a children's concert.
WEAVER: I'm excited.
GONZALEZ (on-camera): But it won't all be fun, Damon will be working hard reporting every step of the way.
WEAVER: It's going to be a lot of work, but all that work will pay off.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): With his microphone in hand, he'll document history while still trying to nab an Obama one-on-one.
WEAVER: I think that I will see President-elect Barack Obama on a float, and maybe I can yell and ask him can I interview him.
GONZALEZ: From Youtube sensation to credentialed reporter, Damon now knows anything is possible.
WEAVER: My mother always taught -- always taught me to never give up and shoot for your dreams. So I never gave up about the press credentials.
GONZALEZ: And now that he's got the look...
WEAVER: I think I will impress the ladies.
GONZALEZ: ...Damon's even more confident he'll be more than just another reporter in the inaugural crowd.
WEAVER: I still have hope, and I think I will get an interview. You always have to think positive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, Damon did tell CNN last year that he's still thinking about his career options. Journalist would be good, yes. But he's also thinking about a football player, an astronaut, and maybe, he says, a president.
Damon is not the only youngster with a lot questions. Check out what these bright kids are asking the president-elect.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear President-elect Obama...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dear Mr. Obama...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear President-elect Obama...
KYLEE, 4TH GRADE: I have a few questions that I would like to ask you if you don't mind answering.
First, you said that you were going to get a puppy for your girls.
ALEXA, 3RD GRADE: When are you going to get the new dog for your daughters? What kind will it be? What are you going to name it?
MALAINA, 2ND GRADE: I am very concerned about pet prices, the homeless, people losing their jobs, and pollution. Please tell me how you can fix the world.
SEAN, 3RD GRADE: How can our country help to clean the world?
ALEX, 3RD GRADE: What are you going do when you actually have the power of the USA? I hope you brighten the world.
JUAAN, 3RD GRADE: How does it feel to be the first African- American president?
BRETT, 3RD GRADE: I would like you to stop racism. Could you make a law about it?
PAYVAND, 4TH GRADE: Can you please make peace in Israel?
MARIO, 6TH GRADE: What will you do about the immigrants? I want to know about this because I am Latino, and people from my...
BRETT, THIRD-GRADE MALE: I would like you to stop racism. Could you make a law about it?
PAYVAND, FOURTH-GRADE FEMALE: Can you please make peace in Israel?
MARIO, SIXTH-GRADE MALE: What will you do about the immigrants? I want to know about this because I am Latino, and people from my country, which is Guatemala, come here as immigrants.
CALEB, SECOND-GRADE MALE: I'm very concerned about smoking and other kinds of drugs. Please tell me how we can have no drugs in the United States of America.
NOAH, FOURTH-GRADE MALE: Can you find better medicine for people that have cancer By finding experts to create better medicine?
JACKLYN, THIRD-GRADE FEMALE: Would you please help keep food prices so we can get it all the time?
KYLEE, FOURTH-GRADE FEMALE: Do you have any nicknames for your wife and daughters? My mom and dad call me silly little goose or munchkin. How do you like your nickname, "No-Drama Obama"?
JUAN, THIRD-GRADE MALE: My favorite basketball team is the Lakers. What is yours?
KYLEE: Finally, do you have any advice for me in running for office? Right now, I'm the treasurer for my after-school program, and I have been nominated to run for vice president. I am running against a fifth-grader, so I would use any advice you could give me.
ALEX: I hope you are going to do the -- be the best president ever. Sincerely, Alex.
JUAN: Sincerely, Juan Jamison (ph).
MARIO: Sincerely yours, Mario Portillo (ph).
KYLEE: Sincerely, Kylee Watkins.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, mistakes, he's made a few. But now it's bye-bye to all those Bushisms. Our Jeanne Moos looks back at the language she's loved.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, exactly one week before he leaves office, President Bush is thanking some longtime friends and allies as only a president can. And a little while ago at the White House, Mr. Bush installed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on the Colombian president. The former British prime minister was also there. He received one. And the former Australian prime minister. The Medal of Freedom is the country's highest civilian award.
Now, over the past eight years, President Bush's creative grammar has spawned Web sites and books. It's made life easy for "The Daily Show" writers as well. And it's been a source of comforting comedy for CNN's Jeanne Moos. She tuned in for the president's last news conference, kind of hoping for a few final Bushisms.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Stretch your neck. You know it's going to be a long good-bye when they bring out two glasses of water to keep the president hydrated. The babble rose as reporters simultaneously went live, and then for the last time, all rise. There was finger pointing --
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Or face serious consequences.
MOOS: There was chop chop.
BUSH: Don't tell me the federal response was slow.
MOOS: The president even mimicked self-pity.
BUSH: Why did the financial collapse have to happen on my watch?
MOOS: Soon, the press won't have President Bush around to misunderestimate.
BUSH: Sometimes you misunderestimated me.
MOOS: It was just over eight years ago that W the candidate first uttered that Bushism.
GEORGE W. BUSH, THEN-CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But they under -- they misunderestimated what our campaign is about.
MOOS: A few months later, he caught himself saying it again.
BUSH: Misunderestimate -- excuse me, underestimate -- just making sure you were paying attention.
MOOS: Everyone was paying attention back in 2004 when President Bush was asked --
QUESTION: What would your biggest mistake be?
BUSH: You know, I just -- I'm sure something will pop into my head in the midst of this press conference with the pressure of trying to come up with that answer. But it hasn't yet.
MOOS: Finally, it did, more than four years later at his farewell press.
BUSH: Clearly, putting a "mission accomplished" on an aircraft carrier was a mistake. Obviously, some of my rhetoric has been a mistake.
MOOS: From his last press conference to his first --
BUSH: Well, you don't want to see me once a week. You'll run out of questions. Oh, twice? I'll be running out of ties.
MOOS: The comedians never ran out of material.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": No. 2 --
MOOS: Top ten favorite George Bush moments.
BUSH: The left hand now knows what the right hand is doing.
MOOS: When his ancient nemesis, Helen Thomas, raised her hand, the president skipped her. But joked with those he did call on.
BUSH: Suzanne? I finally got your name right after how many years? Six years?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Eight years.
BUSH: Eight years. You used to be known as Suzanne, now you're Suzanne.
MOOS: Which makes his first name --
BUSH: I'm George.
MOOS (on camera): Some of us can't even begin to estimate how much we're going to miss all that misunderestimating.
BUSH: They under -- they misunderestimated --
BUSH: Misunderestimate --
BUSH: Misunderestimate.
MOOS: I miss it already.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, better late than never. Our White House correspondent getting a properly pronounced shout out there. Congratulations, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Thank you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Susie, Susan.
MALVEAUX: It is my name. I was born with that name. My parents are very happy that he has gotten it right. I didn't change my name, you know.
But it was funny. It was kind of like a running joke that we had for years here. And I always thought he used it because maybe he was angry with my questions or something and did it intentionally. But his press people would beg him, please, Mr. President, if you call on her, get it right. So, it was fun.
PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you what. If he ever corrects you again, just remind him of this. Let's roll the tape, Scotty (ph).
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: Is our children learning?
BUSH: Misunderestimate -- excuse me, underestimate.
BUSH: I'm the decider. BUSH: I hear there's rumors on the Internets.
BUSH: One of the things that I've used on the Google is to pull up maps.
BUSH: A free and secure and peaceful Iraq. A pea and free and secure Iraq.
BUSH: That if the terriers and barriffs everywhere are tore --
BUSH: Putting subliminibal messages.
BUSH: Hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile.
BUSH: You're working hard to put on your family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Suzanne, was there ever a moment where you wanted to correct him? Or did you ever correct him?
MALVEAUX: I never corrected him, just my name. But I remember a lot of those moments there. And it's interesting at his final press conference that he can joke about himself as well. But, yes, I do remember some of those moments, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, well, I remember a moment yesterday where we wanted to get a feel for what's happening there on the White House lawn. But we had issues getting the camera off the stick.
MALVEAUX: I'm not going to leave you hanging. We do have some things to show you.
PHILLIPS: All right. OK.
MALVEAUX: Behind me, as you do hear the construction, obviously, but they've built this walkway from the north portico of the residence. If you follow the walkway up there, this is the viewing stand. This is actually the presidential viewing stand. That's where the first family will be.
You should know, Kyra, it's nice, warm and toasty. It's heated in the viewing stand. Pennsylvania Avenue is right in front, runs right in front of the White House. And there on the other side, those are the press risers. You see it's about two stories high. They'll have print on top, and then below that, that's where we'll have one of our camera positions. One of our anchors will be on that riser there.
Now, Kyra, you should probably know, and we should probably let Anderson and Wolf and everybody else who's going to be doing our coverage, there is no heat over at the press riser. It is only for the first family on the other side.
So we're all kind of just keeping our fingers crossed that it's decent weather, that it's not freezing out here. This is going to be my perch. So, we'll bring you more when we've got more construction happening, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So, if you can't stand the heat, don't cover the inauguration. We'll redo the quote.
MALVEAUX: You've got to tough this one out.
PHILLIPS: All right, Suzanne, a.k.a. Susan, Suzanne, every other "s" in the book, we love you.
