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Travelers Pay More at the Pump; Republicans Smell Red Meat; Obama Addresses Naval Academy Grads; Company Recalling Ground Beef; Dem Leaders Face Questions Over Pelosi's CIA Claim

Aired May 22, 2009 - 09:59   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Brian, a quick look at the headlines happening right now. Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis will get to spend another day in space. Rainy weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida forced NASA to scrub both landing attempts this morning. They will try again tomorrow. Now, during the shuttle's 11-day mission, astronauts repaired and upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope.

Freed journalist Roxana Saberi is on her way back to the United States right now. An embassy official says she left Austria earlier this morning, headed for Washington. Saberi was freed from an Iranian prison 11 days ago. She spent four months in prison after being accused of spying.

But first, hitting the road and heading to the airport. That's what we want to talk about. Millions of you are doing just that. This Memorial Day weekend, Triple A predicts about one in 10 Americans will be traveling over the holiday.

That's about 32 million people and many will be driving despite rising gas prices.

CNN's Gerri Willis is here to give us the critical advice on how to save money while traveling. So Gerri, let's take a look at where gas prices are now. Today's average price of a gallon of unleaded gas $2.39, last month, just $2.06. But everything is relative, I guess.

So, let's take a look at the price the same time last year, a whopping $3.83 a gallon. So, Gerri, this year's gas prices are much lower, but the economy's much worse. How can people who want to go away for this weekend do it without breaking their budget?

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Well, that's critical. That's right. Hi there Don.

Given the fact that prices have been rising at a rate of a penny to a penny and a half a day each day for the last few days, we can see prices in the $2.40 range, about today's national average of $2.39 a gallon. That's according to Triple A.

The good news, Triple A isn't expecting gas prices to rise too much more and certainly nowhere near last year's levels of $4 a gallon.

Triple A national spokesman Troy Green told us that he would be surprised if prices hit $3 a gallon this summer because the recession is constraining demand. And remember, that prices usually go up over the holidays and during the summer. The question is just by how much?

Now, if you want to find average prices in your area, go to fuelgaugereport.com, gasbuddy.com and gasmob.com will text message you with the lowest prices in your area so you can compare them from the road -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Gerri, I've got to ask you this real quickly, I want to tell you, though, the president is coming out of Annapolis and we're going to take him in just a second.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

LEMON: But what about the travel conditions here? What do I do to avoid traffic jams and congestions? What does everyone do?

WILLIS: Hey, there are great Web sites out there to help you with that. First off TripleA.com will generate a free tip-tick click on trip tip planner which is to say travel directions that show you the historic bottlenecks on your route. Using its route modification tool, you can design a route around the mess.

Check out the Federal Highway Administration Web site, that's fhwa.dot.gov to find out conditions along your route including commuter forecast with (INAUDIBLE). At that site, you can also hook up to live traffic cams to see what's going on.

And finally, to get an estimate of your total gas cost on your trip go to gasprices.mapquest.com, click on the gas price calculator, you'll need to know your car's fuel efficiency to get the right number -- Don.

LEMON: Little tricks I'm sure you can do to save money on the road.

WILLIS: That's right. And there are a couple of key easy things here. Switch to synthetic motor oil if you weren't already using it. It costs a little more, but it makes your engine more efficient and therefore you use less gas.

Also, check your gas cap. About 17 percent of cars on the road have caps that are damaged or loose, even missing. This causes gas to vaporize. Some 147 million gallons of gas are estimated to be lost each year due to these gas caps.

And finally, if all of this is too much for you, book a train. Amtrak is reducing fares in the northeast corridor this summer. So you can got a good deal there -- Don.

LEMON: All right, thank you very much for that, Gerri. I really appreciate it.

And of course, our very own Rob Marciano is keeping track of how your holiday weekend is shaping up. We'll get to his forecast in just a moment. There you are, there is Rob right there and you can hear him and he's preparing for the weather forecast.

In the meantime, we want to show you some live pictures coming from Annapolis, Maryland. About to receive their diplomas and their commissions, graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy are waiting to hear from their commander in chief, and so are we here.

This will be the third commencement address that President Obama has delivered to the Class of 2009. There you see the flyover.

So, let's get right now to CNN's Dan Lothian, he's on the ground, he's in the middle of it all. Dan, the flyover happening right now.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

LEMON: And I hope you can hear me.

LOTHIAN: Yes, I can hear you. Boy, you blink and you miss it. The Blue Angels just flew over. As you pointed, the president -- this is his third address to a graduating class. And we talked about this a little earlier this one not controversial like the last one at Notre Dame where you had protesters, anti-abortion protesters there. Abortion really was front and center.

This time the president will be commending the Class of 2009 for their dedication to service for putting country over self. And according to administration officials, the president will talk about how he wants to make -- will make a commitment to investing in technology and also into men and women of the military in order to strengthen the military.

Now, one interesting point, Don, is we're always talking about celebrating the top graduates of the various graduating classes. Well, here they also celebrate the person who just barely made it. 2009 graduate known as the anchor.

LEMON: Hey, Dan, I hate to interrupt you. We want to listen to the anthem and we'll get back.

LOTHIAN: OK.

LEMON: One second, my friend.

LOTHIAN: OK, great sure.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

LEMON: All right, there you go, our National Anthem.

If you're just joining us, the president there at Annapolis are getting ready to give the commencement address.

Our Dan Lothian also standing by there.

Dan, I know it's very loud where you are, and you can't make out things some of the time. So, the president -- so they're giving the national anthem there. They just had the flyover by the Blue Angels. I'm going to let you pick it back up and ask you about a graduate of note there, John McCain's son, Jack McCain in this class, as well.

LOTHIAN: That's right, he is, and Senator McCain and his wife are here at the ceremony. Their son, Jack McCain, graduating, the fourth McCain to graduate from the Naval Academy. We're told by a family member that he does plan to take a little time off after graduating, but he also hopes to become a naval aviator, Don.

LEMON: What is this I'm hearing about an anchorman that's there? An anchor honor?

LOTHIAN: That's right, an anchorman, we're not talking about you, now. The anchorman is the person who graduates at the bottom of the class. You know we're always honoring the people who graduated at the top of their class.

Well, here the anchorman, this person is Adam Hughbert (ph) from Houston, Texas. And what happens is that he sort of barely made it. And so everyone in this graduating class, 1,036, you subtract him, 1,035 will be giving him $1. So, he gets over $1,000 for being at the bottom of his class.

LEMON: That's not bad. I think every anchorman should take that. Thank you -- all right, Dan, thank you very much, sir.

All right, of course, issue number one is the economy, getting a grip on skyrocketing credit card interest rates and fees. President Obama is focusing on that today. He signed into law -- he will sign into law at 3:00 p.m. a major credit card reform measure.

Now, under the legislation, consumers will have to get 45 days notice before their interest rates are hiked. Banks also won't be able to increase rates on existing balances until card holder -- holders and more than 60 days -- are more than 60 days late on a payment.

Over the limit fees and late charges will also be curtailed. And there are some restrictions on banks issuing cards to people under the age of 21. The new rules go into effect next year.

We want you to know -- we want to know what you think about these new credit card rules, so will you please weigh in to our blog? Make sure you log on to CNN.com, it's at CNN.com/newsroom and make sure you click on Heidi Collins and you can get right to the blog.

We want to get now to the big board and see how everything is trading. Now, it looks like the DOW is up two points, almost three points.

Our Stephanie Elam is standing by at the New York Stock Exchange. A full report of what's happening with the markets from her coming up from in just a bit. That's just a quick check for you.

Meantime on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is still getting a lot of heat from Republicans. They want an investigation into Pelosi's claim that the CIA lied to her about the use of water boarding during interrogations. Democrats dismiss it as a political ploy.

More now from our congressional correspondent, Brianna Keilar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): House Republicans are calling out Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the House floor this time.

REP. ROB BISHOP (R), UTAH: A select committee of the permanent select Committee on Intelligence shall be established to review and verified the accuracy of the Speakers' aforementioned public statement.

KEILAR: They pushed for a House investigation into Pelosi's allegation the CIA lied to her about the use of water boarding on terror suspects. But Democrats swiftly blocked the resolution, the latest attempt by Republicans to keep political pressure on the Speaker.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), MINORITY LEADER: I would have hoped that the Speaker would have come forward by now and either put documents out there supporting her claim, or retracted her statement and apologized to our intelligence professionals.

KEILAR: Pelosi was able to stay out of the spotlight delivering a long-planned commencement address at Johns Hopkins University. But a Pelosi spokesman called the move by Republicans nothing more than partisan politics and the height of hypocrisy. And number two Democrat, Steny Hoyer, also pushed back.

REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MAJORITY LEADER: This was a distraction. A distraction because the minority party does not want to look at what George Bush did. George Bush, of course, President Bush said, "We do not torture." That is a quote. That is the question.

KEILAR (on camera): Though Minority Leader John Boehner reiterated his call for Pelosi to back up her allegation with proof. It may be difficult, if not impossible for the Speaker. She's already asked the CIA to release documents related to the briefings in question, but those documents are classified and so far the CIA has refused.

Brianna Keilar, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: The brother of a former U.S. soldier convicted of raping an Iraqi girl and killing her family is offering words of apology.

Steven Green was spared the death penalty yesterday in a Kentucky civilian court. His brother says he is grateful the former soldier was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DOUG GREEN, BROTHER OF CONVICTED FORMER SOLDIER: I was incredibly relieved. I'm glad that this was the choice out of two bad options. This was as good as it gets. This has been hard for everybody involved. And not just my family, but obviously the Iraqis and the other soldiers involved.

And it's been difficult, but everybody's going to need some healing. Our hearts and prayers are with you, and we're sorry. We're sorry.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: A military court convicted three other soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division in the 2006 attacks and subsequent cover-up.

Four terror suspects are being held without bail in New York. We first learned about their alleged plot to bomb a pair of synagogues after their arrests yesterday. The FBI had been watching them for nearly a year. Two of the four men were injured in the arrest and received medical treatment. Their next court appearance is June 5th.

I want to take you back live now to Annapolis where the President is about to give the commencement address at the Naval Academy there. All of those graduates are ready to head out and do some service. Some of them, many of them will be headed to Afghanistan and Iraq. That is a reality.

The president speaking just moments away; as soon as he comes up, you'll see it right here on CNN, live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Today we honor the men and women who have fought for our country and have lost their lives while doing it. This is called "Flags In." It is a traditional placing of the flags on the grave sites at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day. Soldiers from the Army's old guards and other branches place more than 300,000 flags. It's been an annual Memorial Day sight since 1948.

CNN's Rob Marciano joins us now. Rob, it's nice to see that, nice that the men and women who lost their lives for this country are being remembered this weekend.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, let's not forget about that three-day weekend. Monday rolls around and you remember why you have a day off and certainly pay tribute. A lot of folks certainly will be heading out of town to visit friends and family or maybe just take a break and take in the services elsewhere.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: Let's take you back now to Annapolis, Maryland, where the president is about to give the commencement at the Naval Academy. As soon as he steps up, we'll bring it to you live right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: As promised, back to Annapolis, Maryland. The president of the United States at the Naval Academy, preparing right now to give the commencement address.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Please, be seated. Governor O'Malley, thank you for your generous introduction and for your leadership here in Maryland. To Vice Admiral Fowler and faculty, distinguished guests, parents, family and friends, the brigade of midshipmen...

(CHEERS)

OBAMA: ... and most importantly, the graduates of the Class of 2009.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Seven hundred and fifty-six Navy and, I am told, the largest number of Marines in Naval Academy history.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Now, I know it's customary at graduation for guests to bring a gift. And I have. All midshipmen on restriction for minor conduct offenses are hereby officially absolved.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: I did say "minor."

(LAUGHTER)

OBAMA: Midshipmen, I'm told that the extra ribbon on your chest is for the honor you earned, for only the second time in the storied history of the Naval Academy, the Navy's Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. So, I've consulted with Admiral Fowler, and I can make this announcement: For all you midshipmen returning next fall, I hereby grant you something extra -- an extra weekend.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: I should stop now.

(LAUGHTER)

OBAMA: I am extraordinarily honored to be with you today. Because of all the privileges of serving as president, I have no greater honor than serving as your commander in chief.

Every day I count on Naval Academy graduates like Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the CNO, Admiral Gary Roughead; and my director of national intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair. I'll also be counting on Ray Mabus, a former surface warfare officer, as our new secretary of the Navy. Every day I rely on former sailors and Marines on my staff, young men who serve as intelligence officers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the 32nd commandant of the Marine Corps, supreme allied commander and now my national security adviser, General Jim Jones.

I've admired your prowess on the football field.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: At the White House last month, I was proud to present the team and Coach Ken with the Commander in Chief Trophy, which you won for the sixth straight time.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And I know you beat Army seven straight times.

(LAUGHTER)

OBAMA: But most of all, most of all I've admired the spirit of your service, because it's not the strength of our arms or the power of our technology that gives the United States our military dominance. It's our people. It's our sailors and Marines, soldiers and airmen and Coast Guardmen who perform brilliantly in every mission we give them.

And Class of 2009, today is your day. It's your day to reflect on all you've achieved -- or should I say, all that you endured: the madness of "I Day" that began your transformation from civilians to sailors and Marines; that endless plebe summer, when you were pushed to new levels, new heights, physically, mentally, morally. And speaking of new heights, I'm told that one of your proudest achievements still stands -- one of the fastest times for the Herndon climb. Congratulations on that.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And families, today is your day, too. It's the latest in a line of proud firsts: the first time you saw your son or daughter with that Navy haircut, that first time you saw them in their summer whites, and today the first time you'll see them as officers.

So, to all of you moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas and all the local sponsor families who opened your homes to these midshipmen, thank you for your support and for your patriotism. We are grateful.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: This class is about to become the latest link in a long, unbroken chain of heroism and victory, a chain forged in battles whose names are etched in the stone of this stadium: from Coral Sea to Midway to Guadalcanal; from Iwo Jima to Inchon; from the Mekong Delta to Desert Storm. For some among us, these are not just places on a map. They're the stories of their lives. And we honor all of our veterans here today.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: This chain of service calls to mind words that were spoken here in Annapolis on another spring day a century ago. The crowds assembled, the bands played, the cannons roared. As John Paul Jones's body was carried to the Yard, President Teddy Roosevelt spoke to the midshipmen gathered there that day.

"Remember," he said, "our words of admiration are but as sounding brass and tinkling symbols if we do not prepare to emulate their deeds."

Emulate their deeds. That is what you are called upon to do. And in doing so these past four years, you've not only given meaning to your own lives, you serve as a reminder and a challenge to your fellow Americans to fulfill the true meaning of citizenship.

America, look at these young men and women. Look at these sailors and Marines. Here are the values that we cherish. Here are the ideals that endure. In an era when too few citizens answer the call to service, to community or to country, these Americans choose to serve. They did so in a time of war, knowing they might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Indeed, as we near Memorial Day, we pay tribute to all those who have given their lives so that we might live free, including those aboard that Navy helicopter who were lost this week in the waters off California. We send our prayers to their families and to all who loved them.

In a culture where so many chase the outward markers of success that can so often lead us astray -- the titles and status, the materialism and money, the fame and popularity -- these Americans have embraced the virtues that we need most right now: self-discipline over self-interest, work over comfort, character over celebrity.

After an era when so many institutions and individuals acted with such greed and recklessness, it's no wonder that our military remains the most trusted institution in our nation.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And in a world when so many forces and voices seek to divide us, it inspires us that this class came together and succeeded together, from every state and every corner of the world. By building an institution that's more diverse than ever -- more women, more Hispanics, more African Americans -- the Naval Academy has reaffirmed a fundamental American truth: that out of many, we are one.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: We see these values in every one of these sailors and Marines, including those who have already served their country, the dozens among you with prior enlisted service.

It's the perseverance of Elvin Vasquez, a Marine supply chief in Iraq... (APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: ... who finally got into the Naval Academy on his third try...

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: ... who never gave up trying because he says, "There's just something about being a Marine."

It's the example of Carlos Carbello...

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: ... who left the tough streets of L.A. to serve on a destroyer in the Pacific and who has used his time here to mentor others, because he's the oldest midshipman -- the old man -- at the age of 26.

(APPLAUSE)

It's the patriotism of Sade Holder...

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: ... who came to America as a child from Trinidad, enlisted in the Navy and then earned the titles she values most: U.S. citizen and Navy Midshipman and today, ensign.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And it's the reverence for tradition shown by James P. Heg...

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: ... a communications maintenance Marine in Iraq who today is joined by the man who first urged him to sign up, his grandfather, returning six decades after he was a midshipman, a submariner from World War II, 89-year-old Captain James E. Heg.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Honor. Courage. Commitment. These are the values that have defined your years in the Yard and that you'll need in the years ahead as you join the fleet, as you join and lead the Marines, as you confront the ever-changing threats of an ever-changing world.

For history teaches us that the nations that grow comfortable with the old ways and complacent in the face of new threats, those nations do not long endure. And in the 21st century, we do not have the luxury of deciding which challenges to prepare for and which to ignore. We must overcome the full spectrum of threats: the conventional and the unconventional, the nation-state and the terrorist network, the spread of deadly technologies and the spread of hateful ideologies, 18th century-style piracy and 21st century cyberthreats.

So, SEALs and special operations forces, we need you for those short-notice missions in the dark of night. But we'll also need you for the long-term training of foreign militaries so they can take responsibility for their own security.

Marines, we need you to defeat the insurgent and the extremist. But we also need you to work with the tribal sheik and local leaders from Anbar to Kandahar who want to build a better future for their people.

Naval aviators and flight officers, we need you to dominate the airspace in times of conflict, but also to deliver food and medicine in times of humanitarian crisis.

And surface warfare officers and submariners, we need you to project American power across the vast oceans, but also to protect American principles and values when you pull into that foreign port, because for so many people around the world, you are the face of America.

These great opportunities come with great responsibilities. Indeed, midshipmen and presidents swear a similar oath, not only to protect and defend the American people, but the Constitution of the United States.

Yesterday I visited the National Archives and the halls that hold our Constitution, our Declaration of Independence, and our Bill of Rights. I went there because, as our national debate on how to deal with the security challenge that we face proceeds, we must remember this enduring truth: The values and ideals in those documents are not simply words written into aging parchment, they are the bedrock of our liberty and our security. We uphold our fundamental principles and values not just because we choose to, but because we swear to; not because they feel good, but because they help keep us safe and keep us true to who we are.

Because when America strays from our values, it not only undermines the rule of law, it alienates us from our allies, it energizes our adversaries and it endangers our national security and the lives of our troops. So, as Americans, we reject the false choice between our security and our ideals. We can and we must and we will protect both.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And that is just what you will pledge to do in a few moments when you raise your right hand and take your oath.

But that simple act -- by that simple act, you will accept the life of great sacrifice: long deployments, separation from loved ones, tests and trials that most Americans can't imagine. But that is the oath you take, the life you choose, the promise you make to America.

And today, this is the promise I make to you. It's a promise that as long as I am your commander in chief, I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy and the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support that you need to get the job done.

(APPLAUSE)

This includes the job of bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end and pursuing a new comprehensive strategy to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

(APPLAUSE)

And to get you the support you need, we're enlisting all elements of our national power -- our diplomacy and development, our economic might and our moral suasion -- so that you and the rest of our military do not bear the burden of our security alone.

We'll also ensure you can meet the missions of today, which is why we've halted reductions in Navy personnel and increased the size of the Marine Corps. And we will ensure you can meet the missions of tomorrow, which is why we're investing in the capabilities and technologies of tomorrow -- the littoral combat ships, the most advanced submarines and fighter aircraft -- so that you have what you need to succeed. In short, we will maintain America's military dominance and keep you the finest fighting force the world has ever seen.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, as you advance through the ranks and start families of your own, know that we will be with you every step of the way, increasing your pay, increasing child care and helping families deal with the stress and separation of war. Because as my wife, Michelle, has come to see in her visits with military families across the country, when a loved one is deployed, the whole family goes to war.

And, finally, whether you're 26 years old or 89, if you've worn the uniform and taken care of America, then America will take care of you...

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: ... with a modern VA that keeps faith with our veterans and wounded warriors, with a 21st century GI Bill that gives our veterans and their families the chance to live out their dreams.

This is America's covenant with you -- a solemn commitment to all those who serve. And while our nation has not always fulfilled its duties to its armed forces, let there be no doubt: America's men and women in uniform have always fulfilled theirs.

And that's exactly what America's Navy did just last month in the seas off Somalia.

(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: I will not recount the full story of those five days in April; much of it is already known. Some of it will never be known, and that's how it should be.

But here, on this day, at this institution, it must be said: The extraordinary precision and professionalism displayed that day was made possible, in no small measure, by the training, the discipline and the leadership skills that so many of those officers learned at the United States Naval Academy.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And after that operation, after Captain Phillips was freed, I spoke to one of the Navy SEALs who was there and with the skipper of the USS Bainbridge, Commander Frank Castellano, Naval Academy Class of 1990. And I can tell you, as they would, that the success of that day belongs not only to a single commander or a small team of SEALs. It belongs to the many.

It belongs to all the sailors -- officers and enlisted, not on one ship, but several -- who diligently stood their watch. It belongs to the pilots and airmen who gave cover overhead, to the intelligence specialists and negotiators and translators, to all the people who worked, day after night on the scene and in command centers half a world away to save one man they knew only as a fellow American.

And we recall that in those moments of danger and decision, these Americans did what they were trained to do. They remembered their skills. They did their duty. They performed their job. They stood their watch. They took their time, and then they took their shot. And they brought that captain home.

(APPLAUSE)

And as Commander Castellano said later of his sailors: "Every citizen in the country should be happy and thankful that they're there." And I told him that we are.

So, Class of 2009, months or years or decades from now, should you find yourself in a moment of danger, a moment of decision, should you wonder, "What is expected of me? "What should I do?" Just look at that ring on your finger. Remember your days on the bank of the Severn. Remember all you achieved here and all that you learned here: "Devotion to Honor, Strength from Courage."

Live these values. Live these virtues. Emulate the deeds of those who have gone before you. Do this, and you will not only distinguish yourselves as sailors and Marines -- you will be in the lead as we write the next proud chapter in the story of this country that we love.

Congratulations, Class of 2009. God bless the Navy. God bless the Marine Corps. And God bless the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE) LEMON: And of course, everyone in the country echoes that congratulations to the Class of 2009, especially the men and women of the Naval Academy there in Annapolis, Maryland. The president just delivering the commencement address there.

And I just want to share some very interesting things about this academy, tell you a little bit about it. It was founded back in 1845 by the secretary of the Navy then. Total grads here today, 1036 in that class, 833 men, 203 women. This is the 159th traditional graduation ceremony.

The president there talking about the sacrifices that these men and women are making, and there was a phrase in there that said, "self-discipline over self-interest, work over comfort, country over self." And if that "country over self" sounds familiar, sounds like John McCain's 2008 campaign slogan, "Country First." And just want to tell you this, that Jack McCain, John McCain's son, midshipman Jack McCain, also graduating today from the Naval Academy.

President Obama giving the address there in Annapolis, Maryland.

A high-risk warning has been issued by the Agriculture Department over ground beef produced by an Illinois company. Valley Meats is recalling nearly 100,000 pounds of meat that may be contaminated with E. coli. All of the brands include the number 5712, 5712. It is in the USDA stamp.

The ground beef is sold in stores under several different names, including Grillmaster, 3S and Klub, K-l-u-b. E. coli cases have been identified in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois. You can get the full list of recalled products at usda.gov, usda.gov.

The new mayor of a Mississippi town boasts that he now has the keys to a city that once locked him out. We'll hear the emotional story of the first black mayor of Philadelphia, Mississippi.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi embroiled in controversy. Of course, Republicans are really trying to get her to resign or answer questions at least, at the very least, about what she knew about interrogation techniques. She is taking questions now. Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: ... staying on our course and not be distracted from it in this distractive mode. We're going forward in a bipartisan way for jobs, health care, energy for our country. And on the subject that you asked, I've made the statement that I'm going to make. I won't have anything more to that about it.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

PELOSI: I won't have anything more to say about it. Another subject?

QUESTION: Let me ask a different subject. You have criticized the GOP, as you know, in the past, for the K Street project. And your friends, the Republicans, now say that...

PELOSI: I'm sorry. What?

QUESTION: The K Street project.

PELOSI: Yes.

QUESTION: Your friends, the Republicans, now say that Democrats and you are resorting to money politics, developing allies on K Street to help raise money and cutting deals on bills. How do you respond?

PELOSI: That's just simply not true. I remind you that "The Washington Post," at the time the Republicans were in power, said that what was happening on Capitol Hill was like a criminal syndicate run out of the office of the majority leader, Mr. DeLay at the time.

There's nothing -- we have drained that swamp. It's simply not happening.

Steny, do you have anything?

HOYER: Let me just say there is no K Street project, period.

QUESTION: You're going to travel over the break to China. I wondered if you could tell us about what your intentions are. And will you make a case for human rights while you're there? This is coming up on the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square.

PELOSI: As you probably know, the speaker's office does not confirm any of the speaker's travel plans in that -- with other members as well. However, the Chinese government has announced the hospitality that it will be extending to us -- that they are extending hospitality. And the American Embassy has confirmed that.

So, I will associate myself with that characterization without going into any further detail about logistics.

PELOSI: But it is -- the purpose of the trip is to follow up on meetings we've had here with the representatives of the Chinese government on the subject of climate change and energy has how that relates to our economy. So, that will be our agenda on the trip, and we look forward to a -- I'll be going with members in a bipartisan way, with members of the Select Committee on Climate Change and Energy Independence.

So that -- people who are going are, you know, experts and experienced in this field, have been having hearings for almost two and a half years on the subject. And we went to India last year. India are China are crucial in how we go forward. So, we want to -- we'll meet with the private sector, the -- of course, the officials of China and the nonprofit -- nongovernmental -- every element, the students as well, to see what the possibilities are for us to -- as the secretary general of the U.N. was here yesterday.

He said -- he spoke at a Hopkins graduation, too, yesterday, except it was in Washington, D.C. while I was in Baltimore. And he said that -- I'm using the word -- I made this up -- seal the deal, he said. I've made up this phrase, seal the deal. So, we're hoping that we're able to seal the deal by the time we go to Copenhagen.

But we have to see what the pockets possibilities are for common ground, learn from each other, as we go forward. So, that is the subject.

QUESTION: Is that something you can see a vote coming up on any time soon?

PELOSI: Well, it's in the bill. It's in the energy bill. And we'd like it to come up as soon as it can come up.

QUESTION: And were you aware that Steve King is asking for your security clearance to be revoked? Have you -- no? OK.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: We just want to stick with this to see if the speaker answers any questions as it concerns the CIA and interrogation. We know that she's off-mike here, so if she does -- and she's walking out, not going to answer any questions.

She made that clear early on here, holding her daily briefing, when she was asked about interrogation techniques and about what she claims, that she said the CIA failed to notify her. She said, "I have made my statement. I have given my statement on that, and I am not going to go off the record."

Of course, Nancy Pelosi is taking heat, especially from Republicans. They want her to ask questions, but many are asking for her to step down. They want an investigation into Pelosi's claim that the CIA lied to her about waterboarding during interrogations. Also brought up in that briefing was the K Street project, the K Street project, which is assumed in Washington that there may be some influence by lobbyists, advocacy groups, what have you.

Steny Hoyer, the House majority leader, stepping up, saying, quite frankly, quote, "There is no K Street project." Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer holding a daily briefing there and sticking to the prepared statements.

Meantime, their voice are young, but their words are powerful. Nine-year-old poets tell shocking stories of violence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: We want to get you answers to your financial questions. Let's get straight to "The Help Desk." Donna Rosato is a senior writer at "Money" magazine, and Dwight Raiford is a senior financial planner at MetLife. All right, guys, let's get right to those questions. Bryan in Atlanta asks, "I am in the market for a financial planner. What sort of things should I look for when hiring one?"

Dwight, you should know the answer to this one. You are a financial planner.

DWIGHT RAIFORD, SENIOR FINANCIAL PLANNER, METLIFE: Great question. First thing, look for references. People who use financial planners that you know and trust, and ask them for them. Secondly, you want to look at background. FINRA, the organization that regulates us, has a list of complaints against financial planners. You want to do that.

Finally, interview them. You want somebody that you feel comfortable with personally, because you're about to open up your financial life to somebody. And some of the things you want to be comfortable that you can explain everything you can to them. Somebody who can help you define your goals and then help you get them.

WILLIS: I love that. Great answer, and of course, the Web site finra.org. And you can always look for somebody who charges fees instead of sales fees for particular products out there.

Mike asks, "Is it legal for property management companies to demand access to a prospective tenant's credit reports? As you know, each inquiry actually works against the consumer." Donna, what do you say?

DONNA ROSATO, SENIOR WRITER, "MONEY": It's legal, and it's actually very common for a landlord to want to see a prospective tenant's credit history. But they can only get your credit history if you give them permission. And sometimes it's written in the application. You sign away.

But they need to have your permission. So, you can say no. But that doesn't mean that they have to rent the apartment to you. So, a good thing to know is that a landlord is going to look for -- and so, before you -- if you're looking for an apartment, get your credit report, which you can get at annualcreditreport.com for free.

Make sure there are no mistakes, there's nothing that you wouldn't be embarrassed about. And make sure it's in good shap.

WILLIS: All right, so, you know, clearly, the credit score is everything to everybody. They don't want to share it, right, Dwight?

RAIFORD: Absolutely.

WILLIS: And the reality is, it's available to lots of people out there.

RAIFORD: Correct. Everybody. It's used for so many different things. Insurance costs are sometimes based on credit scores.

ROSATO: And for your job, as well. Even in the job application, they often want to see your credit history as well.

RAIFORD: Absolutely.

WILLIS: All right, guys, great information. "The Help Desk" is all about getting you answers. Send me an e-mail to gerri@cnn.com or log on to cnn.com/helpdesk to see more of our financial solutions. And "The Help Desk" is everywhere. Make sure to check out the latest issue of "Money" magazine on newsstands now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Freed journalist Roxana Saberi is on her way back to the United States right now. An embassy official says she left Austria earlier this morning, headed for Washington. Saberi was freed from an Iranian prison 11 days ago. She spent four months in prison after being accused of spying.

Vice President Joe Biden is in Beirut, Lebanon this morning. He is reaffirming support for the country's current government, but warned that the U.S. may reassess that support if a new government strays from what he called fundamental principles. Lebanon has elections scheduled for next month.

I'm Don Lemon. Gas prices on the rise as millions get ready to hit the road for the long holiday weekend. From travel tips to travel weather, we've got it covered for you. The CNN NEWSROOM continues with Tony Harris.

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