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Tragedy at Racing Event in California; Afghanistan War Policy; Day of Mourning in China; Top Priority: Sealing BP Well; Sex Offender Worked in the Gulf; Reaction to Islamic Center/Mosque Plan in New York; Campaign Trail this Week

Aired August 15, 2010 - 14:00   ET

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

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Tragedy at a racing event in California. A truck barrels into a crowd, killing eight people. We have an in- depth report just minutes away.

And obese state workers in South Carolina getting expensive weight loss surgery with the state footing the bill. We'll be taking a hard look at the reasons behind this controversial move at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

And then at 5:00, the new movie "Eat Pray Love" fuels interest in traveling alone. Find out the risks and the benefits of going solo.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Brianna Keilar, sitting in for Fredricka Whitfield.

A Saturday night tradition turned tragedy in California's Mojave Desert. Eight people were killed when an off-road racing truck crashed through the crowd. Several other people were injured in this crash.

Thousands of spectators were lined up along this 50-mile course. You can see really just how close they are in this video of the race that was sent to CNN. You can see the white truck right there going past the camera. That is the one that ended up in the crowd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a sad day for off-road racing. I've been doing it since the early '80s, and this is probably the worst accident that I've actually heard in off-road racing. It's typically a safe atmosphere. It is open desert, and racing is unbelievably tight, and stuff, but normally you don't hear about people getting hurt, let alone fatalities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: The driver was not hurt in this wreck, but he did have to flee the scene when angry spectators started throwing rocks at him.

And joining me from Los Angeles to talk about just how this could happen is Larry Webster. He's the automotive editor for "Popular Mechanics." Larry, thanks for being with us.

LARRY WEBSTER, AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR, "POPULAR MECHANICS": Sure.

KEILAR: And let's start off with this -- I mean, how could this happen? The first question you want to ask is why were these people so close to the course here?

WEBSTER: Well, it's really a tragedy. It's awful.

And I was just looking at the racing organization's Web site, and they caution spectators to stay at least 100 feet from the racing surface. But, of course, the spectators are there for a thrill, and it's just exciting to be close to these trucks speeding by. So when something happened, the truck rolled of course, there were a lot of people there, unfortunately.

KEILAR: I'm a racing fan, a NASCAR fan, as it is. And when you tell people that you're a racing fan -- or I guess you have a background in racing -- they say, what's the point? You just like to see cars go fast, you like to see them crash. But there is, of course, a considerable amount of skill involved here.

What is the big deal about this sport? What's the allure here?

WEBSTER: Well, I mean, it is really exciting. You're controlling a very fast, powerful machine over unpredictable, rough terrain, and that in itself is a thrill.

There's a challenge to that. This race is 200 miles. It's at night, so it's tricky. There's a lot to it.

And it's one of those things, once you're in the seat is and you experience it, I think it's one of those first-hand things that people can really get a sense of only by doing it.

KEILAR: But you wouldn't really say, Larry, that this is a mainstream sport, right?

WEBSTER: No. This is pretty much an amateur series. These are guys doing it on the weekends for fun and things like that.

The spectators are there. It's on the weekend. It's something different to do.

A lot of these races, you watch them on TV, it's one thing. But once you're there live, like you said, a NASCAR race, I mean, you can hear it, you can smell it, you can feel it. It's really exciting, and it's quite a thrilling experience.

KEILAR: So is there sort of a governing body here, someone who puts out official rules which would include guidelines for spectators? Is there someone who does that, or is this really informal?

WEBSTER: No, there is. It's called the Mojave Desert Racing Organization, and they host a series every year. I don't know, eight or 10 races.

They set the rules for spectating, for driving. They set up the event and things like that.

And this is one of those very few open races that are left in the world, precisely for this problem. And it's just very difficult to control the spectators. You can give all the warnings you want, but then at the end of the day, they're out there, they're on their own, and they do what they want.

KEILAR: Well, so, and that leads me to this question: are you surprised at what happened? And is there any way, considering the freedom that the friends have here, to make changes so this doesn't happen again?

WEBSTER: Yes, I am surprised. You don't hear about this anymore. It's quite rare that spectators get killed. It does happen every once in a while. Even in a NASCAR race, sometimes debris from a crash goes over the guard fence and unfortunately kills someone.

I think though what people are dawn to this race specifically for, it's a little less organized. There's a little more freedom on how close you can get. I have a feeling people like that sort of thing.

So, no, it's one of those tough things that's -- there's an inherent risk involved in the pursuit, and people have to know that going into it.

KEILAR: So maybe that freedom goes away or it goes down a little bit then? I mean, is there any way to cordon off an area? I mean, especially when we're talking about the area where you see what happened right here.

This was an area where these cars -- look how close the spectators are. And this is an area that's kind of rocky, going between rocks. This is an area where these trucks frequently become airborne. This is not that unusual on this part of the course.

I mean, at least in an area like this, must there be some better guidelines?

WEBSTER: Well, the guidelines are there. Like I said, they warn people, don't get closer than 100 feet.

KEILAR: Or enforcement. Then enforcement, I guess, Larry. Could there be someone who could enforce it, at least in these high-risk areas on a track like this?

WEBSTER: Well, I think what sometimes happens is in these amateur events, where there's not a lot of money in it, so that means there's not a lot of staff to go around and enforce a 50-mile-long track, which would be really cost-prohibitive, what might happen is you just say, look, unfortunately, we can't have spectators at these amateur events because we can't police it. And a lot of ways you see that.

You know, it's really is pretty scary. I was at a race -- I was in the Baja 500, and it was really dusty, and I was driving this truck, and we were going up a hill, and the dust cloud overcame the truck and I couldn't see anything. But right before the dust showed up, there's all these people running towards the truck like they wanted to touch it.

And then for a while I couldn't see there. I actually hit the brakes. I was afraid I was going to hit someone.

So, the spectators, they have their own responsibility here to sort of keep themselves safe.

KEILAR: All right. Very interesting.

Larry Webster with "Popular Mechanics."

Thanks for being with us.

And we're going to continue to talk about this story. The video from the race really shows just how close the crowd was. You can see that.

And coming up in our 5:00 hour, we will talk to the guy who was there in the crowd shooting that dramatic video that you just saw.

And General Petraeus, he had more to say today about the deadline to start pulling U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. On NBC's "Meet the Press," the new commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan expressed concern over the president's withdrawal date.

Here's part of what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, COMMANDER, U.S. FORCES, AFGHANISTAN: That's what July 2011 really connotes. It is to all the participants, those in Kabul, some of us in uniform, again our civilian counterparts, that we've got get on with this, that this has been going on for some nine years or so, that there is understandable concern, in some cases frustration. And that, therefore, we've really got to really put our shoulder to the wheel and show during the course of this year that progress can be achieved. And again, one manifestation of that out there is that you have this date.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: CNN Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence joining us now.

Chris, you listened to these remarks. What did you think of what General Petraeus said?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brianna, I don't think he really moved the ball very much in that statement. I think it's something that we've been hearing not only from him, but other senior Pentagon officials for the better part of six months now, that this date -- I think if you read into it, what you get out of it is that, yes, there is this date, and some troops will be coming home. But honestly, that may be as few as just a few thousand, that it would take a fairly remarkable turnaround in this next year to have significant numbers of troops, entire brigades coming home this time next year.

KEILAR: All right. So if he didn't really move the ball in those remarks, one of the things he talked about was the need to build up the government there. So what kind -- obviously this would take some sort of cooperation. What kind of relationship does the general have with President Karzai?

LAWRENCE: Yes, he was asked that question, and sort of was very careful with his answer. But overall, he said he's got a fairly healthy relationship with President Karzai.

You know, one thing to look at is General Petraeus has never really come out publicly and criticized President Karzai. The same can't be said for other leaders over there or for people in the Obama administration. So he's come in with a fairly good slate with President Karzai.

Take a look at what he said when he talked about the need to really strengthen that Afghan government in the months coming forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETRAEUS: At the end of the day, it's not about their embrace of us, it's not about us winning hearts and minds. It's about the Afghan government winning hearts and minds.

This isn't to say that there's any kind of objective of turning Afghanistan into Switzerland in three to five years or less. Afghan good enough is good enough. And that means having traditional social organizing structures as part of the ultimate solution, if you will, where tribal Shura councils and so forth -- which are quite Democratic, by the way -- they then connect at the district or province level with what goes up to Kabul and then comes out as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAWRENCE: The key, though, is going to be whether U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry can forge a better relationship with President Karzai there in Afghanistan, and whether this is whole idea of a centralized government in Afghanistan is something that can really work. Some senior defense officials will say privately that perhaps a more decentralized Afghanistan is something that may have to be looked at once you get past this area where the Obama administration is going to take another look at their overall strategy at the end of the year, because overall, if you're going to eventually hand over a government and leave Afghanistan, you know, is President Karzai, is a strong central Afghan government really the way to go?

That's the question that's still got to be answered.

KEILAR: Yes, it sure is. And we know that you'll be taking a look at that as the story continues here over the following months, Chris.

Chris Lawrence for us, Pentagon correspondent. Thanks for that.

And do you remember Tropical Depression 5? Well its remnants are still causing problems along part of the Gulf Coast. And Jacqui Jeras has more on that.

KEILAR: So what's going on with this?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's really backwards, basically, and trying to make a run to get back into the Gulf of Mexico.

So what does that mean for you and the forecast along the Gulf Coast? We'll let you know about that, as well as the rest of the nation's weather. A little bit of good news to tell you as well.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Top stories now.

Police have dropped charges against a man arrested after yesterday's shooting spree in Buffalo, New York. Four people died outside of a downtown restaurant there, and investigators have been looking at surveillance video. The district attorney there says it includes clear pictures of the shooter.

In Washington, D.C., a blaze just two blocks from the White House, near two of the most popular hotels there. The fire in an underground transformer led to the evacuation of those two hotels and it disrupted a wedding. No injuries reported though.

And jazz great Abbey Lincoln has died in New York City at the age of 80. Lincoln also appeared in movies and she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. She was a prominent civil rights activist during the 1960s. Lincoln took her stage name from Westminster Abbey and Abraham Lincoln.

A former medical student charged with a murder tied to the Craigslist Web site died today of an apparent suicide. Philip Markoff was found dead this morning in his jail cell in Massachusetts.

We have more top stories in about 20 minutes.

In China, they are honoring the dead. They have dedicated ceremonies to more than 1,200 people who died in massive mudslides in Gansu province. At least 500 people are still missing.

CNN's Emily Chang has more from Beijing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EMILY CHANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The national day of mourning was observed across the country exactly one week after this devastating landslide. Chinese flags were lowered to half-staff, and at the disaster zone in Zhouqu County, thousands of soldiers, police officers, firefighters, medics, along with government officials, gathered on top of the rubble amidst crumbled buildings and heavy rescue equipment, all of them bowing their heads together in a moment of silence.

Smaller memorials also happened across the country -- in Beijing, on Tiananmen Square, in Tibet. About a third of the people who died in this landslide were ethnically Tibetan. And in Shanghai, at the World Expo, some performances were suspended.

The Chinese government has also temporarily banned certain forms of entertainment like karaoke and movies. This, as rescue and recovery efforts continue in Zhouqu County.

Right now there's still a major concern about supplies. According to state-run media, there's still a major threat of landslides on roads leading into the disaster zone which has made it difficult to drive supplies in. So there's not enough tents, beds, and clean drinking water is also in short supply.

Meantime, officials are also concerned about more flooding, with more rain in the forecast over the next few days.

Emily Chang, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: There are pleas for help for flood-stricken Pakistan. The United Nations secretary-general saw the devastation for himself today and immediately allocated another $10 million in emergency aid from the U.N. Ban Ki-moon is also urging the international community to step up its efforts to help. He says an estimated 20 million people are desperate for food, they're in need of food, they need clean drinking water. They also need medicine and shelter.

And close to 1,400 people are dead, entire villages transformed into lakes.

CNN's Sara Sidner says many of those rescued are worried just about tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We are here inside what is normally a high school, but here in the town of Sukkur, this has been turned into a makeshift clinic where hundreds of thousands of people are trying to figure out what to do. They have lost their homes, or their homes are damaged, and they cannot stay there.

People have brought lots of things. If you look back over here, you'll see livestock, you see a chicken there. They've brought whatever it is that's left they feel can help them survive all of this.

Over here, the Murani (ph) family is sitting. And one of the big concerns right now is the health of the people and what they're going to do. And there's a lot of problems with children's health in particular.

They have six children, and you'll notice their little girl here. She's only one and a half. And notice how thin she is. She was already sick before this flood, and now she's having diarrhea, problems that really endanger her life. The family is very concerned. The mother is pregnant.

And so these are some of the things that are happening to families right now. While the flooding has already destroyed their homes, it is starting to subside a bit. The real concern now, the health of the people who are left with absolutely nothing.

Sara Sidner, CNN, Sukkur.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: A man who supervised oil cleanup workers is charged with rape. Now a CNN investigation uncovers his criminal history and raises troubling questions about how he was hired.

We have that after the break.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: President and Mrs. Obama, along with their youngest daughter Sasha, are on their way back to Washington now after spending part of the weekend at the Gulf Coast. This morning, they toured the waters off of Panama City Beach. Their visit, of course, aimed at boosting tourism after the devastating oil spill.

And yesterday, Mr. Obama, he did go ahead and take the plunge. We got this photo courtesy of the White House. He and Sasha you can see there swimming. They're actually in a bay off of the Gulf after concerns were raised about riptides and his security in the open ocean.

And in the Gulf, the top priority remains sealing that ruptured BP well once and for all.

Our Reynolds Wolf is in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where I guess crews had to stop down last week because of storms, Reynolds. What's the status right now?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The status right now is there's still actually kind of a watch-and-wait situation. Just yesterday, retired Admiral Thad Allen, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, had a teleconference where he mentioned a couple of things.

First and foremost, he wanted to make it clear that the end game is going to be drilling the relief well and, of course, the bottom kill procedure. They are definitely going to do that. That's something they're focused on like a laser beam. But before they get to that point, he would like BP, by order, to actually conduct some pressure testing from inside the well to see if the pressure is rising or falling too quickly. And if it is, what BP's game plan will be to take care of that possibility.

But the bottom line is they -- once the testing of the pressure is finished -- and that should come by Monday or Tuesday -- it's going to take at least four days to get everything in place for the final part of the relief well drilling and, of course, the bottom kill procedure.

What really is amazing is you have to remember this is 2-1/2 miles down. The location of the relief well at this point is about 3-1/2 feet from the main well, but it's running basically parallel for another 30 to 50 feet before it hits a target about the size of a dinner plate.

Once it hits that, it will inject a combination of both mud and cement and the well will be dead. The problem is there may be complications. You mentioned the complications of Tropical Depression (Five) that actually rolled through this area.

It brought some heavy wave action, caused a delay there. At these beaches here in Gulf Shores, Alabama, it also brought up a coating of oil on shore, which has since been cleaned up and as this video shows people have been going out, enjoying the sand.

In fact, CNN photojournalist Ken Tillis took this video and you can see the moms and dads and kids enjoying themselves on the water. Things are just picture-perfect out here, no question.

But the problem is with the remnants of Tropical Depression (Five), Jacqui Jeras mentioned that the remnants of that may be pulling its way back out in the Gulf of Mexico and if that happens, there's about a 10 to 20 percent chance of it actually reforming.

If that happens, you know as well as I do, Brianna, that could mean we could have some further delays in the final process of the bottom kill.

BRIANNA KEILAR, ANCHOR: Certainly, and it takes some time to sort of stop that and then to get it back going. It's a matter of days, Reynolds, so we know that will keep you busy down there in the Gulf. Thanks for that report.

WOLF: Absolutely.

KEILAR: And the man who supervised oil clean-up workers in Mississippi is in jail charged with raping another employee and now, a CNN investigation uncovers his criminal history and raises questions whether this incident could have been prevented by doing a simple background check.

Special Investigations Unit correspondent Abbie Boudreau goes looking for answers from BP and the company who hired them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ABBIE BOUDREAU, SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): One of the thousands of clean-up workers who descended on the Gulf Coast was this man, Randy Charles Robertson. He was in charge of numerous workers on this now deserted Mississippi beach.

The problem was all of these people who are coming to town were strangers and the residents here had no idea who they were or where they were coming from and apparently they had good reason to be concerned.

Robertson was a convicted sex offender and he was breaking the law by not telling local law enforcement where he was living.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know how they could hire a man like that as our supervisor.

BOUDREAU (on camera): Do you think what happened to you could have been prevented?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I do. Yes, I do. That's what makes me a lot of times so angry.

BOUDREAU: This woman came to this town because she was looking for work. She wanted to help clean up the beaches and she need add job. She has four young children and it was important for her to get hired right away and that's exactly what happened.

Randy Robertson was her supervisor and she told us time and time again I trusted him because he was my boss, I respected him. He was the person who was put in charge of me.

BOUDREAU (on camera): You just weren't feeling well that day and he offered to drive you home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

BOUDREAU: And you thought he was a nice enough person to make that offer, I guess.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. He was my boss. I thought it was all right.

BOUDREAU (voice-over): She says Robertson asked to use her bathroom and when he came out, she says he raped her. She's represented by Attorney Adam Miller.

ADAM MILLER, ATTORNEY: I find it unbelievable because BP and their subcontractors had relationships with all local law enforcement.

They had the opportunity and ability to clearly check all of these people that they were hiring and bringing in to ensure the safety of the public.

BOUDREAU: If anyone had checked Robertson's background, they would have found a lengthy criminal history and he was still on probation for a felony instead he was made a supervisor. (on camera): We are in Pascagoula, Mississippi, here to talk to the local sheriff.

(voice-over): Several weeks before this incident Sheriff Mike Byrd says he met with BP's local head of security about why BP was not doing background checks on beach cleanup workers.

SHERIFF MIKE BYRD, JACKSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI: I asked him directly, I said are you all doing criminal histories and background checks on these people and his answer, reply was no. We're not.

I said you're kidding me. He said, no, there's so many of them we were told to do drug screens and that was it. I said, well, that's not good at all.

BOUDREAU: But you actually recommended that they get criminal background checks on their employees.

BYRD: Yes, we did and I told them that we would do that for them. We would do the background checks for them and they said no.

BOUDREAU (voice-over): Robertson works for a company called Aerotek that hired worked to remove oil from the beaches.

(on camera): Will you come out and talk to us?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll come out and talk to you, but give me a little --

BOUDREAU: So I'm not going to shut the door and then never see you again?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promise I'll come back.

BOUDREAU: OK, he promises.

(voice-over): So we waited, but they only slipped us a note through the door referring us to the corporate headquarters.

(on camera): Did you realize you're hiring people who are registered sex offenders?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Ma'am.

BOUDREAU (voice-over): This is when the blame game begins. First, we spoke with the general counsel for Aerotek by phone who says Aerotek wasn't the one who decided not to do background checks, quote, "We are not liable for anything that happens. Once we deliver to people to be supervised by our client, we don't have anything to do with them anymore."

Miller Environmental Group, which oversaw the cleanup and hired Aerotek did not return our phone calls. Then BP, which was paying for the beach cleanups told us in a statement it normally checks its own employees but, quote, "this was not done for all contractors in this response. The responsibility lies with the employing company for their own staff. The requirement on subcontractors to BP's contractors is one further step beyond BP's scope of control."

MILLER: The buck ultimately stops with BP. It was their site.

BOUDREAU (on camera): Robertson was arrested and he was then charged with sexual battery and failure to register as a sex offender. He told police that the sex was consensual, but now he's being held on it more than $500,000 bond and he's sitting in jail.

BYRD: Yes, he's in jail, but you've got a victim here. What's she going to live through the rest of her life? It's just going to be pure hell for her. That's what it's going to be.

BOUDREAU: And it could have been prevented?

BYRD: And it could have been prevented in my professional opinion.

BOUDREAU: And you warned them?

BYRD: Yes, Ma'am.

BOUDREAU: How does something like this just change everything for you?

UNIDENTIFIED: I go through anxiety, you know. I'm angry. I feel dirty, scared. I'm scared.

BOUDREAU: Abbie Boudreau, CNN, Pascagoula, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: The victim did not go to police right away because she was afraid she was going to lose her job she says and she couldn't afford to let that happen.

So she took a couple of days off of work and about a month after the incident, she says she was laid off. Aerotek said she was one of many workers who were no longer needed to cleanup the beaches and it had nothing to do with what happened to her.

Too close to the actions. Spectators hit by a race truck. Coming up, we'll look at the rules governing off-road racers and the crowds that watch them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Checking your top stories right now, General David Petraeus says it will take a lot of time and commitment to keep Afghanistan from being a haven for terrorists.

In a TV interview, the commanding general in Afghanistan says, the key is to establish secure zones and expand them outwards. Petraeus points to the capital of Kabul as a successful example of that strategy.

And U.S. Marshals are once again focusing on Montana as well as the Canadian border in their search for a fugitive inmate from Arizona. John McCluskey was one of three inmates who escaped from prison about two weeks ago with the help of his fiancee. The other two were recaptured. The warden and chief of security from the private prison have resigned.

Eight spectators are dead after a racing truck plowed into a crowd during an off-road race in California. Several other people were injured. The driver though wasn't hurt. His truck lost control coming over a jump and it rolled over.

And off-road racing is very different from what you're used to seeing in Daytona or Indianapolis. The course is rough. The drivers have to navigate hills and quick turns and the spectators aren't behind massive steel fences. So our Josh Levs takes a look at the track and the rules.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Let's take a look at the map behind me. I want to show you something here. I want you all to see where this is taking place in the United States, so let's zoom right in. We're going to California here.

It's in this section and where we're going to go as we zoom in, it's east of L.A., east of San Bernardino. We're going to go down so you have this sort of parallel view to this area where it takes place, where this race is, soggy dry lake. That area is 50 miles long and they go around four times.

Now, what we are hearing about this area, the "L.A. Times" describes this as a Mecca for off-road racing. You can see from the terrain why it would be used for off-road racing, why it's so popular for that.

There are lots of races that take place in this area throughout the year. All right, let's get to some of that video. I'm going to tell you now about the rules. These are written rules. You can see them for yourself on the web site nbrracing.com.

Look at what some of them say. First of all, they say do not spectate within 100 feet of the course. Looking at what we're seeing here, it's clear that these people are way, way within that. Now, exactly how many people are considered the course, we don't know for sure, but it does clearly seem any one of them could jump out, lunge at the car as it touches as it's going by.

It also says spectate only on pit side of course. Now, when we're looking here we're seeing people on two sides. Does that violate this rule about the pit side. It says do not stand or drive on the course. Well, it looks like some folks may be standing on the course at some point during it.

Do not spectate on the outside of a curve or a turn is another one of the rules. Another rule I'll tell you here, do not park with your lights on and facing incoming race vehicles. Just a couple of the many rules there.

Now, I'll also tell you that there are a lot of rules surrounding the vehicles that do these trips. They talk about what kinds of cages they need to have, what kinds of nets they need to have, safety precautions, certain fire extinguishers onboard, safety harnesses, these five-point safety harnesses can't be any older than three years from the date of the present race.

There are a lot of rules surrounding this so this not the kind of thing that you'll hear just sort of happens organically people decide they're going to do it and do it. There is an organization here and they do operate.

So what we have right now are a lot of questions about how something like this happens, but who is it up to enforce certain rules? Are there supposed to be barricades everywhere? Is it up to the people who show up to know what all these rules are and follow them and also is there anyone who checks the entire length of the course?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: That's Josh Levs for us raising some really good questions there.

The president is clarifying comments that he made about building an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero. That story straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: President Obama is revisiting comments he made about a controversial proposal to build an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero.

Friday, the president defended the plan saying Muslims have the right to practice their religion and build a place of worship, but yesterday the president told CNN's Ed Henry that in defending the rights of developers to proceed with the proposal, he was not commenting on the wisdom of the project. Today, two New York lawmakers weighed in on the merits of the plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPRESENTATIVE PETER KING, (R) NEW YORK: Everyone else says that they have the right to practice their religion and they have a right to construct a mosque at Ground Zero if they wish. What I'm saying is they should listen to public and they should listen to the deep wounds and anguish this is causing.

REPRESENTATIVE JERROLD NADLER, (D) NEW YORK: I certainly appreciate the sensitivities of some of the families of 9/11. There are others who express support of it. The press is concentrating on those who oppose it, But, frankly, Ground Zero is hallowed ground. Two blocks away, first of all, is not so hallowed ground.

(END VIDEO CLIP0

KEILAR: A new CNN opinion research poll finds 68 percent of Americans oppose building the Islamic center and mosque at that site. Another week, another site of primary elections and the chance for Democrats and Republicans to claim momentum. CNN's Paul Steinhauser takes a look at the week ahead in politics.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECOR: Hey, Brianna. A busy week ahead on the campaign trail so let's get right to it. On Tuesday, Washington state and Wyoming hold primaries. Keep a close eye on the Senate battle, the Senate primary battle in Washington state and the Republican gubernatorial fight in Wyoming.

Also on the campaign trail this week, President Barack Obama, he's got a busy week ahead. He's going to be in Wisconsin, California, Washington State, Ohio, and Florida this week. He's going to be campaigning for Democratic candidates in those states and helping to raise money for the party.

Former President Bill Clinton is back on the campaign trail on Monday. He's heading down to Florida to help out Kendrick Meek, the congressman from South Florida who's in a nasty primary battle for the Democratic Senate nomination with billionaire real estate investor Jeff Green.

And from current and past presidents to future presidents, Rick Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania, he's going to be at the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday shaking hands and speaking.

Just last week, we had Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker there as well as current Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. What do these three have in common?

Well, they and a bunch of other people may want to run for the next Republican presidential nomination in 2012. In Iowa, the Iowa State Fair is basically a must stop for any presidential hopeful. Of course, Iowa goes first in the presidential primary calendar - Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, thanks for that, Paul.

Don't you just hate those ATM overdraft fees? Well, stay tuned. We're going to tell you how to avoid them.

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KEILAR: New bank rules go into effect today that could affect your wallet. They ban banks from automatically enrolling you in overdraft protection.

Americans racked up more than $37 billion in overdraft fees last year, but under the new Federal Reserve rules banks need to get your permission upfront before charging your account an overdraft fee for a wayward ATM withdrawal or debit card purchase.

Well, many customers are choosing not to opt in for overdraft protection. They'd rather risk having their cards declined than face a fee. The borough of Queens, New York has been called the Ground Zero of the Big Apple's foreclosure crisis. One community there called Jamaica has seen more mortgage fraud than any place in the nation, four times the national average. But understanding the problem is just half the battle. Listen to what CNN found out at a free Foreclosure Rescue Fair.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want you when you leave here to know what you need to know to save your home.

HOWARD BENNETT, QUEENS HOMEOWNER: Good afternoon, sir. They say bring this and if you give me this, you will get the modification. I showed them all the paperwork and still don't get the modification.

LEROY COMRIE, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL: I hope you have all your documentation so that they can do everything they can to assist you. And even if you've been frustrated before in the past, please be patient because the bank's job, again, is to make it frustrating.

BENNETT: I have sleepless night over it. I wake up in the night and can't go back to sleep.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have translators here for people that need translation in every major language in the city. We also have other counselors that are here that can help people with going through the process.

NOEMI AVILES, HOUSING COUNSELOR: He has been trying to work with the bank on and off, but I think it's been a lot of miscommunication because he doesn't know the language too well. He speaks to different people so sometimes you don't know what direction to go.

SHAMA MUBDI, HOUSING COUNSELOR: We submitted modification for him, which was declined so we are in the process of resubmitting. There are a lot of people they are not able to talk to the lender. When they call them, a lot of times they really don't understand exactly what is going on. They are unable to express themselves, unable to explain their needs.

LISA HASEGAWA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CAPACITY: Because of the language barriers, a lot of people in immigrant communities haven't had access to the same kind of information about what some of the workouts and modifications are available to them.

So the only people who are offering assistance are the people who are the scammers and the scammers are really great as being able to provide information in language.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's unfortunate and it happens a lot, but just don't do it again. How much did you give them?

BENNETT: $3,000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $3,000. SEEMA AGNANI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHHAYA CDC: To all the people who were helping to perpetuate the bad loans are now perpetuating the bad rescue scams. They're targeting individual owners and families that are vulnerable. They might be seniors. They might be immigrants. They might be women who aren't necessarily aware of all the legalities of a mortgage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are foreclosure rescue scam artists and they don't deliver the services. They collect the fees and run off with the money. Now, what they generally will tell you is don't call the bank. We'll -- we've got to your file.

BENNETT: That's what they did.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK so that's because you won't call the bank. So understand that they stole the money, OK? So just don't do that anymore and you're OK.

BENNETT: This (owes) like 13, 14 years now and I've done so much to it. You know, for me to lose it that would be a terrible thing. That would be a terrible thing to me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: More than 750 homeowners were helped by that rescue fair and if you'd like to find a HUD-approved housing counselor in your area, you can log on to makinghomeaffordable.gov or call 1-888-995-hope.

He's a part of America's living history. A real life triple ace. You can learn why he's still taming Mustangs even at 88 years old.

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KEILAR: They're part of America's military history, the pilots who fought and survived World War II. Some of them are sharing their knowledge and spine-tingling tales with visitors to one of the nation's oldest air shows in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Meet Pilot Bud Anderson. He is triple ace and he's part of our "Veterans in Focus" segment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARENCE E. "BUD" ANDERSON, WWII FIGHTER PILOT: We were all young, 22 years old. We got shot at night. It's really bad at night. I'm Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson.

We've got a couple of stories we can tell. I talk about whatever I think of at the moment, but primarily about World War II, aerial combat.

You'll learn what it's like to kill or be killed in aerial combat. We're here at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It's the Mecca of all air shows in the world. I'm sure glad to be here. That means I survived another year.

The fans here are very enthusiastic. They understand a lot about history and they want to hear first-hand history.

TIM DUGAN, AVIATION ENTHUSIAST: He'll tell you stories that are just mind-boggling, the stuff that happened during the war.

ANDERSON: We were formed up in the United States and trained as a fighter group to go fight the war somewhere in the world.

I did a lot of dog fighting. If you shot down five enemy airplanes, you were considered an ace. I shot down 16 in a quarter so I'm a triple ace with change.

Both of these airplanes are painted just like I flew them in World War II. The P-50 Mustang is a fighter plane. Once it's in the air it flies like a dream.

I really take my hat off to the Warbird community for restoring these national treasuries and keeping them out for people to see them. That's special. I still fly. I still enjoy flying. Aviation is my passion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Great story.

"YOUR MONEY" is next and I'll be back with more news in an hour at 4 p.m. Eastern. Also, a look at guilt gadgets there and at 5:00, I'll talk to the spectator who shot the up close video of that deadly off- road racing crash in California.