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Amanda Knox Preps Final Plea; Michael Jackson's Doctor on Trial; "It's the Right Thing To Do"; Wall Street Protest Enters 3rd Week; Winds Halt Monument

Aired October 02, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. This is Sunday, October 2nd. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

American, Amanda Knox, is expected to make a personal plea tomorrow in Italy to be set free. Word is she will address the appeals jury in Italian. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to 26 years for the 2007 killing of her British roommate. A live update from Italy in minutes.

Testimony resumes tomorrow in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of Michael Jackson. Among the witnesses returning to the stand, Dr. Rachelle Cooper. She is the ER doctor who pronounced Jackson dead. Cooper is expected to describe how the medical staff tried unsuccessfully to bring Jackson back to life.

In Washington today, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a rare pat on the back to President Barack Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, FORMER U.S VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I think the decision that has been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one, it's the right thing to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: President Obama signed the law repealing, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this summer. It went into effect last month.

In New York, the Brooklyn Bridge is open today after a group of "Occupy Wall Street" protesters shut it down Saturday. Police arrested more than 700 of those protesters. The loosely organized demonstration began three weeks ago today to protest what the group calls corporate greed.

The movement has spread to other cities as well. Protests were held yesterday in Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, as well as a few other cities. We will have a live report from New York at the half hour.

All right, this is a live picture of the Washington Monument right now in the nation's capital. No work, however, being done today to locate damage caused by that August earthquake. For a second day, weather is keeping crews away.

These are some spectacular pictures from last week showing just how dangerous that inspection is. The only way for crews to get a close look is to look at every square on the exterior of that monument.

Federal health officials now say at least the 15 people have died from tainted cantaloupes. The melons from Colorado-based Jensen Farms are contaminated about listeria bacteria. Eighty four people in 19 states have gotten sick. More could follow. The CDC says there is a lag time between eating the bad cantaloupes and then becoming ill.

The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans living or traveling abroad. It warns that followers of al Qaeda figures killed on Friday could stage revenge attacks. Read the entire warning on the U.S. State Department's web site.

All right, it is no secret of many celebrity marriages don't last long always but a Kiss rocker, Gene Simmons, and his long-time girlfriend, well, they may buck the trend.

After a 28-year courtship, the couple got married last night. Simmons proposed to tweet after a nasty tiff this past summer on "The Joy Behar Show." That show rather airs on our sister network, HLN.

All right, if you had 20 minutes to save your life, what would you say, that's a dilemma for Amanda Knox as she prepares to face Italian judges and jury tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A costly and deadly mistake in Yemen today. Security officials in Yemen say 29 members of its armed forces were killed mistakenly targeted and bombed by the country's own Air Force last night. It happened in a province where Yemen's military is actively battling Islamic militants.

And high-water misery in the Philippines two typhoons in one week slammed into the northern islands flooding entire towns and causing millions of people there to flee for higher ground. More than 50 people are dead from the storms.

This time tomorrow, we could know if and when Amanda Knox will be getting out of prison in Italy. The American exchange student is fighting her conviction in the death of her roommate and she is going to make one final plea. Conviction in the death of her roommate or to be set free?

I talked to our legal guys, Richard Herman and Avery Friedman yesterday about Amanda Knox's chances of getting out, especially with prosecutors arguing that she and her ex-boyfriend should spend more time, not less, in prison.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think it is kind of hard for them to seriously make that argument when, you know, three- quarters of their case was thrown out by the appellate court there. Meaning the DNA they claimed that was contaminated or degraded and not useful.

So it is really grandstanding I think to say, we want to put her in forever. I absolutely think there is going to be a reduction. Fifty percent of these cases that go on appeal in Italy result usually in some decrease in prison time.

I think she is going to get a decrease, but I don't believe at this point that on Monday, she is going to have a ticket to fly home. I just don't think it is going to happen.

WHITFIELD: Avery?

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: I think she has got a shot, Fredricka. I think much of is, again, DNA being blown up. But again, we have a different defendant. During the trial, she was flippant. She was younger.

I think that 15 minutes that she presents on Monday will have a profound effect on these judges and jurors together. I agree that we are going to see substantial reduction. I would like to see an acquittal based on motive and based on lack of DNA. I think that's what we are looking at, but no less than a substantial reduction.

WHITFIELD: So let's try and look into the crystal ball if we can and look towards what is the content that needs to be in Amanda Knox's appeal?

Through her attorneys, they have said, the evidence wasn't there. There is nothing to corroborate that she was indeed there and may have participated in this killing, Richard? But what can Amanda Knox, what can her voice tell this courtroom they have not heard?

HERMAN: Just attack the credibility of the witnesses, Fred, that stood up and basically tried to destroy Amanda Knox. I mean, the co- defendant who is serving prison time now was the key government witness to testify against her. So is his credibility really worth it?

I mean, he did it for a reduced prison sentence. The other people who testified on behalf of the government, attack their credibility. And like Avery said, she has to be pristine when she speaks to these people and pray, basically plead with them to let her go. But I don't think it is going to be enough. I think there is enough evidence to keep the conviction.

WHITFIELD: Avery, how much time does she need to spend on that night of her recollection of what did or didn't happen?

FRIEDMAN: Well, she is the only one who really knows, at least at this point. Rudy Guede is in the penitentiary. His term was reduced and he actually was convicted on substantial evidence. So that's going to be a focus. But the other thing that these jurors and two judges have to see is the sobriety by which she is presenting herself. She is going to demonstrate to them that look, I have done everything. I've always been a good student. I've always been a responsible person.

These circumstances are being used by the prosecution, who basically called her names, Fredricka, instead of dealing with the evidence. Bottom line, her natural presence, I think, will sell and it will work.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: You can catch our legal guys every Saturday right here on CNN, noontime Eastern. Meantime, we will be taking you to Italy momentarily with a preview on what else is to come in that case.

All right, back in this country. The U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term tomorrow. A major case the justices are expected to review, a legal challenge to President Obama's health care reform law.

CNN's Athena Jones joins us right now live outside the Supreme Court. So Athena, how did this health care challenge make it to the U.S. Supreme Court?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, this is a law that has been being challenged ever since the president signed it back in March of 2010. It was really a challenge before that.

But of course, now, you have 28 states, dozens of groups and individuals that have brought lawsuits challenging this law. At issue is the idea of this mandate.

Can the federal government require people to buy health insurance? That mandate isn't set to start until 2014, but that's pretty soon. So that's the central issue that the court is expected to look at, Fred --

WHITFIELD: OK, and then what likely is to take place over the course of weeks? Who are the players involved?

JONES: Well, the real issue here is that the court hasn't yet decided that it is going to take up this case. We have 49 cases that are already on the docket. But another three dozen could be added in the coming months.

The case load is usually determined and settled on by about February. But legal analysts believe that this is such an important topic that the Supreme Court is going to have to address it. They can't dodge it precisely because you spoke of players.

You have these 28 states. You have these individuals, groups, businesses and you have different courts that are deciding coming down on different sides of this issue. So it is going to be up to the high court to give the final say, Fred.

WHITFIEDL: You have the U.S. Justice Department that wants the Supreme Court to weigh in on this. But there's an awful lot at stake for this administration, particularly the timing.

If there is a ruling in favor of the Obama administration, time for 2012, that's great for them. But of course, that ruling could come back in the other direction and could also time with that presidential election.

JONES: Well, exactly. So the idea is that if they decide to take this up as many as everyone pretty much expects them to, the decision would come down by the end of the term, in June. So that's in the thick really of the presidential race. So the election wouldn't be for several more months.

But this has been a key issue all along. You have Republicans who are running saying my first order of business is going to be to repeal this law. Of course, the Obama administration believes they are completely within their right to have this mandate. Either way, whatever side it comes down on, it is going to play a role in this election, no doubt, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Athena Jones, thanks so much from the U.S. Supreme Court. Appreciate that.

JONES: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right, this time tomorrow, we could know if and when Amanda Knox will be getting out of prison in Italy. The American exchange student is fighting her conviction in the death of her roommate. She is going to be making one final plea.

Our senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, is outside the prison in Perugia? Any idea of what Amanda Knox has been rehearsing. Apparently, she has been working on this for quite a few weeks, any idea of the points that she is going to try to make?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, she is going to plead her innocence obviously, but we have been speaking to her parents. We don't know exactly what she's going to say, but her parents tell us that she has been working on the contents of the address to the court and to the judges for the past several months.

She has also been in prison for several years here in Italy. Over that time, she has learned to speak Italian very fluently indeed. She will be making the address in Italian, not in English, which endear her somewhat to the jury, to the judges as well.

At least that's the calculation that she maybe making. Obviously, she is going to be saying, look, you know, I am innocent, I didn't kill Meredith Kercher that British exchange student in 2007 and asking the jury to set her free from her 26-year prison sentence here in Italy, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Her family has been there every step of the way at least in recent weeks and months. Any idea what the general sentiment is in the town of Perugia as people are highly anticipating what it is Amanda Knox will say tomorrow? CHANCE: Well, I mean, it is a good question. Actually, I have done a bit of research on this. You know, a lot of people are pretty sick of hearing about it, frankly.

They feel it sports a bad name to this very beautiful, Italian hillside town in the province of Umbria, which is famous for its chocolates normally as a matter of fact and its jazz festival.

The world's media has descended here, and everybody is asking the locals about, you know, the killing of Meredith Kercher whether or not Amada Knox is going to be set out.

So I think the locals particularly ones with businesses were a little kind of offish about it. But at the same time, you know, just like everywhere else in the world, people are fascinated as well.

WHITFIELD: And so Matthew, any idea, like the time table? When will a verdict actually come? Would it come very soon after she is to speak? Does it take, you know, is it a matter of hours or even days? How does it work?

CHANCE: It is probably not going to be days. What we are expecting now is that Amanda Knox is going to give her address in the morning, about 9:00 local time or so. And then shortly afterwards, there will be a few other sort of legal things that have to be done.

Then the jury is going to retire and consider all of the evidence in this case. When they are ready, come back to give their decision, to give their verdicts. We don't know whether that will be an hour or hours, but we are expecting on Monday night.

WHITFIELD: Matthew Chance, thanks so much in Perugia.

When we come back, we are going to be talking about your career. When you hear about the word branding, what do you think of, maybe one of these companies that are known all over the world. Which ones rank number one in your view as it pertains to branding? We are going to tell you when we come right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: That's Wall Street, the target of protests that are spreading from New York to Seattle to Denver and who are these protesters and what are their demands? A live report coming up at the half hour.

Then, take a look at these company logos right here. We showed them to you before the break. Do you know which ranks number one in the world?

According to a leading brand consultant, it is Coca-Cola. World headquarters in Atlanta followed by IBM, Microsoft, Google and General Electric. I guess no surprises really there.

All right, every week, we focus on ways to get a jump-start in the workforce. Today's reclaim your career, we are talking about branding yourself, not just waiting for your company to do it but how about you as an individual.

Valorie Burton is the author of "Where Will You Go from Here?" Valerie is here to talk about how to manage yourself just like a brand. We just saw the list of the most influential companies. No surprise there.

You see those brands all the time. I guess, what comes with a brand is a real identity. That's what you are talking about, really identifying yourself with something or a task or a specialty.

VALORIE BURTON, LIFE COACH: Yes, especially when the economy is going south in many ways. People need something that makes you stand out and really, for you, a personal brand has to be it. It is about what makes you a little bit different.

And so there are people amazingly that I come across all the time that are getting two and three job offers even in this market. So what is it that they are doing differently?

For many of them, it is the fact that the company sees their value in their brand a lot differently than others.

WHITFIELD: And how do you do that? I mean, it is more than telling people, this is what I do, this is my specialty. But there has to be something else to really back it up.

BURTON: Yes. So one of the things that is really important is that there is something that makes you different. There's something that's you are known for.

So for example, one woman that I know was known for doing things very quickly and so she went through her career in her 20s doing things fast. Her process got picked up by her company and they actually save thousands of dollars.

That's what she became known for and she got promoted as a result of being the person that's known for that. So it might that you're known for your energy, you are a bridge builder and you get things done quickly. And obviously, you want to be known as the person that's going to get the job done.

WHITFIELD: And along the way, people have to like you. That like ability factor is huge.

BURTON: Yes, so being likeable. I know that sounds - it sounds almost cliche, but it's true. If you are drama-free, if you are the person that people are able to get along with, that they trust, you become a leader even if you don't have the title that goes along with being a leader.

So this really is about not just having your career as something that your company tells you here are the steps that you need to take, but instead, managing your career like a business. Most people unfortunately don't manage their careers that way.

WHITFIELD: You could have all these great things going for you. You could be known for something, but if you are the queen of mean or something, you know, people are not going to appreciate all those great attributes that will, I guess your personality will kind of undermine your abilities.

BURTON: But you know what's interesting. There are those people out there that we can say have terrible personalities and yet they get promoted.

WHITFIELD: Or you can be the king of mean.

BURTON: You could be the king of mean, of course, but those are still usually people that are known for something. There is something they bring of value to the company that someone else doesn't bring even if they have the same experience and the same education and background.

WHITFIELD: How do you become like one who is in demand?

BURTON: Well, number one, like I said, manage your career like a business. That's mean even in having your own database, every company has a database. Every company reaches out in a very methodical way.

You need to do that with your own personal brand and to begin expanding your network very intentionally. How often do you reach out? What are your goals on a weekly basis for meeting new people and making sure you kind of touch back with those executives and people within the company that are decision makers. What are you doing to expand and build your network?

WHITFIELD: And then, you need to take advantage of the opportunities or at least you want to take advantage of the opportunities. But, you know, if a company says we are looking for "x" and you bring "y," how do you make that transferrable?

BURTON: Well, you know what? Sometimes that means getting insight from other people. I think it is really important to have mentors and people around you that have been there and done that and to be able to take some of that feedback and say, what can I do with this?

How can I move forward despite the fact that maybe my qualifications don't line up exactly the way I think they should? I did that in my first position when I was 22 years old and ended up getting promoted to director much earlier than I should.

WHITFIELD: My goodness. So you almost have to get into a practice of saying, you know what? I've got to sell myself. I've got to sell my brand to you. You are telling me you don't need this, but I got to tell you why you do need the brand that I am bringing.

BURTON: That's right and if you are really bringing that brand. You are really bringing that value on an everyday basis, you don't have to beat people over the head by telling them. They see it by what you are doing. And so it is really important that you be intentional about it. It is almost like a second job. I mean, when you go home sometimes you just have to kind of analyze where am I in my career right now? What do I need to do differently? Am I really bringing that added value?

I know I keep saying that over and over again. But when you have two people coming with a resume and both of them have similar experience, what is it that makes you different? You need to make sure that whatever that is, people get it and they get it very quickly.

Like I said, even if it is energy, even if it's you do things faster that makes you different. People will bring you in, promote you and maybe even steal you away from another company just to get what that is.

WHITFIELD: Everybody needs that kind of edge especially now. It is highly competitive more so than ever. Valerie Burton, good to see you as always. Thanks so much.

BURTON: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, one woman who quit her job to start her own production enterprise and guess what, she is all about branding too. She developed her own script, her own show and now it is a huge hit on the web. My conversation with Issa Ray in about 15 minutes from now in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories. Bank of America customers are furious. Many say they will switch if the bank starts charging a $5 fee for using their debit cards. The outrage may actually benefit Bank of America.

Analysts say even angry customers are reluctant to change banks. If they switch to credit cards, the bank can make even more money. Read all about it on cnnmoney.com.

A former CIA contractor who went to prison in Pakistan was arrested in Colorado yesterday. Witnesses say Raymond Davis fought with another man over a parking spot at a shopping center. Davis was released from prison in Pakistan earlier this year. He was charged with killing two men when he worked for the CIA there.

And "60 Minutes" commentator, Andy Rooney, is calling it quits. The 92-year-old delivers his final regular broadcast tonight. Rooney has been a staple with CBS News for more than 60 years.

In that time, he has delivered 1,096 essays, bringing ordinary grievances to a national platform. Now, he has just one more left, tonight.

Here is a glorious site over Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the twilight, hundreds of brightly colored and some oddly-shaped balloons. The weekend weather has been perfect for the launch of this annual fiesta. It takes place every day through next Sunday.

Jacqui Jeras with us now. We were really marvelling at these pictures yesterday, clear skies, blue skies and then a chance to do it in the evening as well. This is amazing. JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGITS: The nighttime glow is so beautiful.

WHITFIELD: I like it too. Yes, apparently, they will have like a race and some of the balloons can go as far as 1,000 miles. Whoever can go the farthest is the champion of that race.

JERAS: Wow. Wonder how long that takes? 1,000 miles, that's quite the distance. I think the record is like 2,000 something. I have some cool pictures. This is from California, from one of our I- Reporters.

This is sunset, but it looks very -- how gorgeous is this. This is from Julie Elderton from Malibu, California. She took these pictures at sunset on Friday evening. They were just so beautiful.

She said there were a few storms out there. She was able to catch that nice sunset with the clouds. There, you can see the beach. Take a look at that water.

All right, well, California is going to get some weather that is not quite as relaxing as those pictures. That we've got a huge storm system out here in the Pacific. Take a look at there.

You can really see the - curl there associated with our area of low pressure. And this is the first in a series of storms that are going to beimpacting the west coast in the week ahead. Some places that haven't seen rain in literally months will get some this time around. So the wet weather, not out there too much right now.

But we could be seeing as much as 4, 5 inches of rain especially in the higher elevations. This is going to be coming in tomorrow. Our second front comes in late Tuesday and into Wednesday. That's going to move all the way down into southern California. Even San Diego could be getting some rain with this latest system.

Now we also have our upper low that's still sitting there lingering into the northeast. So low cloudiness here along with rain showers. We have seen a little snow, the first snow of the season in some of the higher elevations in West Virginia, and the Carolinas.

We have some airport delays as a result of those low clouds, ground stop in Philly and some delays in Toronto. Otherwise, the nation's mid-section looking real nice, comfortable temperatures, warmer than they should be.

WHITFIELD: Enjoy it now.

JERAS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you, Jacqui.

JERAS: Sure. WHITFIELD: All right, on to New York now where protesters known as "Occupy Wall Street" are gathering again for another day of protest. This is what it looked like yesterday in New York as the group shut down one side of the Brooklyn Bridge in a protest of what they call corporate greed.

Seven hundred were arrested. The losing organized demonstrations enter the third week of protest today. CNN's Susan Candiotti is in New York where the protesters are gathering.

So Susan, first of all, help us all understand. What are all the grievances that people are airing?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it depends on how long you have, Fred, because there are so many of them. That's because there are all kinds of people who are represented here today. You have people who are employed. You have people who have lost their jobs. Some people who are part time.

People who are students. People who are -- have a number of different grievances for example, broadly based, corporate greed, as you mentioned. People who are protesting the decline of civil liberties. And in fact, you even have one group of people over here, these are teachers who are sitting here grading papers.

They are saying they are here to illustrate all the budget cuts that they have to deal with. There is so much work to do and fewer teachers to do that work. So a lot of different ideas are represented here this day.

So it's really hard to focus on just one theme. Certainly, it is hard to focus on any solution. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Their message, "end corporate greed" they say is killing America's economy. But will they be heard in Washington?

EDDIE MAHONEY, PROTESTER: Politicians can be bought. Political influence can be bought through political donations. This needs to be addressed.

CANDIOTTI: But organizing isn't easy. Admittedly, most of the time is spent trying to figure out what they are trying to say and how to organize. No one is in charge. That's the way they like it.

ROBERT SEGAL, PROTESTER: We are gathered here in this place to join with that mission's statement, to shape a statement of what it is we want and how we are going to get to it.

CANDIOTTI: This New Jersey mother used a school holiday to take her 4 and 5-year-old to join a peaceful protest for a day.

ANDREA, PROTESTER: We are 99 percent. The rich and powerful are 1 percent. We need to be a lot more equal than that. CANDIOTTI (on camera): Is it hard to put together a solution?

ANDREA: Very hard, very hard. That's why I am skimping on my words here. There are so many ways you could come to the end, to a solution. But you know, in the meantime, it is just kind of awakening people up to know what's going on out there.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): The New York group insists it is staying put with no exit strategy. Police say they have no plan to move them out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: Every afternoon, there is a daily march. Nothing major planned today. Organizers say that probably won't happen until midweek when they announce support from major unions who will be marching with them.

In fact, Fred, you even have tourists walking by and snapping a lot of pictures. They are also interested in taking all this in. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Susan Candiotti, thanks so much for helping us understand why so many have converged there in lower Manhattan.

Let's take a look at the week ahead now. Britain's Prince Harry is heading back to the U.S. for some advanced training on Apache helicopters. The young royal will take part in Crimson Eagle, which is an eight-week military exercise in Arizona and California.

Completion of the training could help the prince who is a captain in Britain's Army Air Core return to the front lines in Afghanistan.

The Nobel Peace prize winner is expected to be announced in Oslo on Friday. Last year's winner was imprisoned Chinese prodemocracy activist, Lou Shaibou. The buzz this year is that winner could come from the uprisings, which swept across Arab countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

After more than 25 years, the Chicago Bears are finally getting their day at the White House. The 1985 Super Bowl champs original visit was cancelled in January of 1986 because of the "Challenger" space shuttle explosion.

"Forbes" magazine released the list of the top ten highest paid TV actresses in Hollywood. Any guesses on who's on that list? They earned a combined of $94 million between May 2010 and May 2011.

Let's start at the bottom, shall we? Juliana Marguiles from the "Good Wife" earned $6 million, next Ellen Pompeo from "Gray's Anatomy with $7 million. Also with $7 million, Courtney Cox, from "Cougar Town" and tying for fifth place are two "Desperate Housewives," Felicity Huffman and Terry Hatcher, both who earned $9 million. So what television actresses came out on top with the most money made. The answer right after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Five of the top ten highest paid TV actresses in Hollywood. Here are the top five according to "Forbes." In a three- way tie for third place, we have Marg Heldenberger from "CSI," Marissa Hargitay from "Law and Order, Special Victims Unit" and Marsha Cross from "Desperate Housewives," all earning $10 million.

And coming in at the top spot also tied are Eva Longoria from "Desperate Housewives" and Tina Fey from "30 Rock," both with $13 million each.

All right, a woman fed up with what she was seeing on television quits her job to create her own web series. Issa Ray is the creator and star of the hugely popular episode called "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl."

I talked to Ray about what inspired her to create the show and why it has such broad appeal?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISSA RAE, CREATOR, "MISADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL: I just felt like I didn't see myself represented on screen or television or in film. I love these shows like "Parks and Recreation," like "30 Rock." Just because they have this awkward humor, sign felt and these shows represent my sense of humor.

So I thought it would be funny to have a series based around this African-American girl who goes through everyday awkward situations. I just decided to stop sitting on it after reading an article about, where is the black Liz Lemon? I said, that's my idea that's what I want to do.

So I decided to shoot the first episode gorilla style. I just essentially called on friends. I had a friend who is in L.A., who I just know is really talented. I asked him to be in it. I called my best friend to film it. That was if it.

That was what gorilla style was. I have a camera. I just need you to film this. I have the idea. Let's just act it out. That was the first episode. The response was ridiculously positive.

WHITFIELD: So it's the "Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl." But you have these situations that are really very universal. Your character is Jay. How much of what we see in Jay's life is really your life or your experiences?

RAE: I would say that Jay is more of an extension of me. Like her life is an exaggerated version of my own life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was he standing behind me the whole time?

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: The title says, awkward black girl. But you are trying hard to send the message that these are universal experiences.

RAE: I think we just wanted to demonstrate, you can be awkward and you can be black. Awkward doesn't have a race. That can be universal.

By watching this character on screen, you can relate to her, no matter what her color is, no matter what her background is. That was important to me. I wanted to make her race clear and show that you can still relate to her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hate parties. They are so competitive, a blatant contest of looks and style and sexiness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAE: I just created the series because I thought awkward and black would make a great brand. I thought it would make my friends laugh. I didn't realize that so many people shared this same sense of humor.

WHITFIELD: What's the future of digital content of productions on the web like this in your view?

RAE: In my view, this is the future. This is what we are going to be watching on television. People are going to see awkward black girl on their TV screens in the future, because they will be watching internet from their TV screens.

I think that especially for minority content creators, this is the way to go. There is no gatekeeper on the internet. You can release whatever content you want and I think that this is the best route to take honestly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAE: My god, you are awkward.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know.

RAE: I get you. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Viewers have helped keep Rae's show in production. Viewers actually donated more than $50,000 through a fundraising web site and that money helped keep the "Awkward Black Girl" series on the web. The ninth webisode airs this Thursday at awkwardblackgirl.com. You will laugh out loud. This is funny.

And now a controversy surrounding a GOP presidential hopeful. Find out what's going on and how that candidate is now responding. We hit the political trail next.

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WHITFIELD: All right, Republican presidential candidate, Rick Perry, is at the center of a controversy surrounding the name of a hunting camp once leased by his family. "The Washington Post" reports a rock at the entrance of the Texas camp was painted with the name that included the "n" word.

Perry's communications director says Governor Perry's father painted over the offensive language soon after leasing the property in the early 1980s.

The candidate's communications director also said this, quoting now, "a number of claims made in the story are incorrect, inconsistent and anonymous including the implication that Rick Perry brought groups to the lease when the word on the rock was still visible," end quote.

Joining us from Washington, now, to talk more about how this is impacting the presidential race and other political headlines, political blogger, Danielle Belton. All right, Danielle, good to see you again.

DANIELLE BELTON, POLITICAL BLOGGER: Great to be back.

WHITFIELD: Is this story, this "Washington Post" reporting, is this going to be a big distraction for Perry on the campaign trail?

BELTON: I think it will. I think it has a lot to do with our uncomfortableness with a lot of America's racial past and with racial problems we continue to have to this very day.

The incident is not really all that surprising. It is rather disappointing, but it is not that surprising because there are a lot of historic places, a lot of communities that have problematic names like this named after either derogatory terms for African-Americans or other ethnicities.

WHITFIELD: Yes, except, just for the record, Perry camp is saying, when that discovery was made, they painted over it and that it wasn't a mainstay and something that they were proud of existing at that camp.

In the meantime, one of the other Republican candidates, Herman Cain, his reaction to it saying, quote, "that is very insensitive." Do you see Perry's competitors trying to seize upon this?

BELTON: Well, it's typical. They are trying to differentiate themselves from him. He is, you know, weak right now coming off that poor debate performance. So it is natural. You see a volley. You are going to jump up and spike it. That's all Herman Cain is doing here. He is taking advantage of the situation.

WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk about the field of these Republican candidates. Already the drum continues to beat even louder for Chris Christie, whether he is in, whether he is considering it, et cetera. But when you look at the calendar, can it be too late for Chris Christie to jump in at this juncture?

BELTON: I just can't see it happening. He has two months. January, the primary season has begun. Debates have already been underway now. People are really out there elbowing, trying to make a difference. I don't know if it is possible to pull off a run this late in the game.

WHITFIELD: Now, is that just case for Chris Christie? Might that also be the case for Sarah Palin if she decides to jump into the race?

Whether it is Rudy Giuliani, his name is still out there and then, you know, Mike Huckabee apparently is pandering or at least reportedly considering whether now is the time. They have name recognition that perhaps Chris Christie hasn't had.

BELTON: Well, I mean, maybe in the case of Huckabee, but still really it is really late in the game. They have two months to get a ground team together and get things going. In the case of Palin, she is not running. She is running for attention.

WHITFIELD: She is going to be crisscrossing the country this week. What is she doing?

BELTON: Getting attention. She likes attention. She likes to be involved in politics. She wants to be a game changer. She wants to get some hype. She wants to be part of the debate. I don't think she wants to run for president.

WHITFIELD: OK, let's listen to President Obama who last night was chastising the Republican Party, in large part for what is and isn't being said as it pertains to human rights and gay rights.

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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We don't believe in a small America. We don't believe in the kind of smallness that says it is OK for a stage full of political leaders, one of whom could end up being the president of the United States, being silent when an American soldier is booed. We don't believe in that. We don't believe in standing silent when that happens.

We don't believe in them being silent since. You want to be commander-in-chief. You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it is not politically convenient.

(END VIDEO CLIP0

WHITFIELD: OK, so what's going on here? Last week we talked about how President Obama was taking a much more assertive stance when he was talking to the Congressional Black Caucus and now we are also seeing this week he is pointing the finger more and talking about what others are not doing or what vernacular is not being used.

BELTON: Well, there's kind of this, you know, surprise the fact that you know, you have people essentially boo this gay soldier. You kind of have this lackadaisical, they just didn't really want to talk about kind of response.

I think this is a good plan of attack for the president to point out the differences here. The fact that, you know, he wants to hold the people accountable on this like that and the fact that he supported the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the rights of gays and lesbians to openly serve in our military.

So this is a way to really differentiate what's the difference between Obama presidency and the presidency of some of these Republican candidates that didn't have much to say on this issue.

WHITFIELD: All right, Danielle Belton, good to see you.

BELTON: Good to see you again, too.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank so much from Washington today. For the latest political news, you know exactly where to go, cnnpolitics.com.

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WHITFIELD: All right, fans are counting down the roughly 42 hours until Apple's new iPhone is unveiled. According to the "Wall Street Journal" blog, the new Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will make the formal announcement. Many iPhone users are already selling their current iPhones so that they can buy this newest model.

All eyes are on the bottom line. New fees from a megabank and jobs or the lack of them. We are keeping tabs on all of that starting with Alison Kosik.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. The nation's biggest bank is rolling out a controversial new fee. Next year, Bank of America will begin charging customers $5 a month when they use their debit card to buy something at a store. It doesn't matter if you swipe it at one store or 20, you will still get charged no matter what. ATM withdrawals will still be free.

Wells Fargo and Chase are testing debit fees as well. But B of A is the first major back to actually do it. It's in response to new regulations that are hitting banks' bottom line. Felicia has a look at what's coming up next on Wall Street. Felicia --

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Alison. The focus next week on Wall Street will be the jobs market. The government releases the September jobs report and the numbers from August will likely be revised.

That's a particular importance this time around because the August report came in at zero. No jobs were added, no jobs were lost. That could be revised. If it is a loss, it will be the first since September of 2010. Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, ladies. Remember, you can get your financial fix every day on cnnmoney.com.

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WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories, Amanda Knox is preparing her final plea. The American exchange student will have about 15 minutes tomorrow to convince an appeals jury to overturn her murder conviction and set her free. Knox denies any involvement in the 2007 killing of her British roommate.

The U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans living or traveling abroad. It warns that followers of al Qaeda figures killed on Friday could stage revenge attacks. Read the entire warning on the U.S. State Department's web site.

All right, coming up later on today in the 4:00 Eastern hour, treasure hunters find a shipwreck on the bottom of the ocean. Its cargo could be worth millions.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the tea hasn't floated away, good chance the silver hasn't floated away either.

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WHITFIELD: All right, we'll take a peek into that treasure hunt. Stay with CNN. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.