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Public Demonstration Around Cairo Became Violent; Saif Al-Islam Gadhafi Was Captured In Libya; Justice Department Seized Full Tilt Poker's Operations And Froze Player Accounts; Senator Ayotte Endorsed Mitt Romney
Aired November 20, 2011 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN ANCHOR: It is Sunday, November 20th. I'm Ted Rowlands and this is the CNN NEWSROOM. Fredricka Whitfield is off today.
We begin this hour in Egypt, that's where today's public demonstrations around Cairo's Tahrir Square were the most violent in days. At least four people died today, either crushed by the crowd or hit with objects thrown between riot police and demonstrators. The protesters are aiming their anger at Egypt's military leaders.
I spoke to CNN's senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman in Cairo a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is a manifestation of this growing frustration and anger against the supreme council for the armed forces. That's the group that took over from Hosni Mubarak when he resigned on the 11th of February.
The feeling is that they're not moving quickly enough to civilian rule, that they may harbor ambitions to hold on to power for the foreseeable future. Another element is that these clashes began yesterday when the police were trying to clear a fairly small number of people out of Tahrir Square. But they used fairly excessive force yesterday.
One man was killed in Cairo. More than a thousand wounded. And this is really sparked more outrage because, of course, Egyptians overthrew Hosni Mubarak's regime because they felt that the police had too much power, was too brutal, arbitrarily tortured and detained people and so this is really a reaction to that. They don't want to see the same sort of regime coming back and staying yet again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: Other stories we're following this hour, this is the man poised to be Spain's next Prime Minister Mariano Rahoi, leads the conservative popular party. And just a short time ago, his socialist opponent conceded today's national election. Spain is the third country this month to change governments largely because of Europe's economic crisis. A massive crowd today in Damascus, Syria, thousands of people loyal to President Bashir al-Assad angry at the Arab league, their intention to send international observers into Syria. Also this weekend, at least 24 people were killed in street clashes around country. Syria's president blames the general instability and what he calls mistakes in the street for the hundreds, perhaps thousands of deaths in his country this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BASHER AL-ASSAD, PRESIDENT OF SYRIA: Talk about the policy of the government, we don't have any policy to be harsh, because all our policy during the last decade has been -- is one of the supports of the public in Syria. It cannot be against the public. When you have instability, you may have some problems, you may have some mistakes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: The Arab league is giving Syria deadline to allow observers in to verify measures taken to stop the bloodshed. Syria's president accuses the Arab league of setting the stage for outside military intervention.
An update now on the capture of Moammar Gadhafi's son, officials in Libya's new government insist that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi will be tried in Libya. That's despite his indictment by the international criminal court that requires him to appear in The Hague.
Meanwhile, another former top Libyan official, the one-time intelligence chief, was captured in Libya today.
Back in this country, tragedy struck the Philadelphia marathon today. Two runners reportedly both men collapsed and died, either at or near the finish line. Race officials confirm that the two athletes did die, but haven't yet released their names.
Police cleared a new occupy Oakland camp this morning. Protesters set it up yesterday after being discouraged from camping elsewhere. No arrests or injuries were reported in the early morning raid.
In New York, Occupy Wall Street is taking its protests to Mayor Bloomberg's neck of the woods, beginning this afternoon and lasting for a full 24 hours. Protesters plan to demonstrate outside the mayor's upper eastside townhouse.
And at UC Davis, the chancellor is under fire and two police officers are on leave after police pepper sprayed a group of sitting protesters. We'll have the live report with the police chief at UC Davis at ten after the hour.
Turning now to politics, the big story on the Sunday morning talk shows was the deficit cutting super committee. Can it find a way to make a deal? If not, what happens next?
Here are some of the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, HOST, STATE OF THE UNION: How does this end? Does it end at midnight? Do you put out a press release? Do you vote on the separate plans? Do you have a final meeting to go, we can't do it? How do you end this?
SEN. PATTY MURRAY (D), SUPER COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR: If there is a Republican who gets up today and says I can't let the country see a failure out of this committee, and comes to us and says I'm willing to say that there is revenue on the table. I will work all night long to get that put together and we can have a committee vote on it.
SEN. PAT TOOMEY (R), SUPER COMMITTEE MEMBER: There is still an opportunity, there is a plan on the table that would at least take us halfway to our goal, which is -- it is on the shelf, it is scored, it is ready to go. If the Democrats agree to that, we could still get something done. If they come back with a counterproposal, we would work on it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: So simple question, is this thing dead?
REP. JEN HENSARLING (R), SUPER COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR: Nobody wants to give up hope. Reality is to some extent starting to overtake hope. But there were 12 good people who invested a lot in this trying to find common ground to achieve the goal of this committee.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: What about the potential of another downgrade of America's debt?
SEN. JON KYL (R), SUPER COMMITTEE MEMBER: There is going to be $1.2 trillion in savings whether the committee agrees on a method of doing it or it happens automatically as you say. So, that this shouldn't foster a downgrade or run on the market or anything like that.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), SUPER COMMITTEE MEMBER: There is a real threat that not only will there be a downgrade, but the market on Monday will look again at Washington and say you guys can't get the job done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: And all indications are that the super committee, which had a deadline technically for Wednesday of this week, but had to come up with new legislation by tomorrow, is not going to come up with anything. In fact, we're told that there are discussions now revolving on how they will break their news of failure rather than unveiling anything productive.
About police pepper sprayed protesters at UC Davis. Now, the school's chancellor is being pressured to step down. How the campus is reacting? Plus, we'll talk to the police chief about that pepper spray outburst.
But first, actor Isaiah Washington was fired for making an offensive remark on the set of "Grey's Anatomy," but has it been an easy move for him to move on?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, HOST, NEWSROOM: Do you ever watch the show?
ISAIAH WASHINGTON, ACTOR: I peek in. I'm not going to lie to you.
WHITFIELD: What happens when you --
WASHINGTON: I see her with that Owen guy.
WHITFIELD: was that your counterpart?
WASHINGTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Your love interest in the show?
WASHINGTON: I'd be lying to you if I say I don't peek in. I just adore, miss some Sandra O.
WHITFIELD: Did you ever tune in and say, I wish I was still there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: CNN's Fredricka Whitfield, face to face with actor Isaiah Washington. That's coming up. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROWLANDS: CNN learned that the super committee is no longer working on a deal to cut more than a trillion dollars out of the deficit. Instead, panel members are talking about how to announce their failure to reach one.
Our Kate Bolduan is on Capitol Hill. When is this panel expected, Kate, to I guess, admit defeat?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's the best really is the question that everyone is asking at this moment. And I'll tell you, it has been very interesting to watch this develop over the last really day or so, Ted, because things -- the committee is on the brink of failure if not worse as talks have all but fallen apart while publicly members say that they will still work right up to the deadline.
I think the shift in tone is very noteworthy and really is evidence of where things are headed. No longer do you hear that many of the committee members talking about pushing for agreement and where can we agree and now the talks seem to be very much who should be to blame if and when the committee fails.
Just listen here to two pieces of -- two sound bites, one from Republican Senator Jon Kyl, member of the committee, as well as Democratic Senator Patty Murray, the democratic co-chair of the committee. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KYL: Nothing new came out of this from the democratic side, the same thing, raise taxes, pass the president's jobs bill, no entitlement reform. On the Republican side, you had the one true breakthrough. And that was this new concept of tax reform, which could generate revenue from the upper brackets for deficit reduction.
MURRAY: The truth is, at this point today, Democrats have made some really tough decisions. And come to some pretty tough choices that were willing to put on the line on entitlements, on spending cuts. But only if the Republicans are willing to cross the line on the Bush tax cuts and be willing to say revenues have to be a part of this solution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: So you hear it right there, both sides really kind of trying to position themselves now to blame the other for why this has all fall apart. Both sides saying the other is inflexible. Democrats saying the Republicans are inflexible on revenue and tax increases. And Democrats are saying that Republicans have not given enough on drawn peace negotiation that have - throughout the negotiation on the issue of entitlement, Medicare, as well as the Social Security specifically.
So, now it is really how and when is, these all going to fall apart and when is really the formal announcement is kind what many people are asking. Some of the discussions seem to be many think an announcement will come tomorrow, but as we always caution, they are still do have time if they would try to pull off a Hail Mary pass, if you will, but it seems highly unlikely at this point, Ted.
ROWLANDS: Alright, Kate Bolduan monitoring things on Capitol Hill. Not good news for people that thought something was actually going to be accomplished this time around. I guess not. Thanks, Kate.
BOLDUAN: Sure.
ROWLANDS: More than 100,000 children in New York may be without a ride to school on Monday. Live from New York after a quick break. Stay with us.
ROWLANDS: And here is your question for the day. Do you know gerrymandering?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think gerrymandering is a great guy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't really know him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: How about you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never heard of him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: Our Drew Griffin is on the case to expose gerrymandering and how it affects your vote for congress. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROWLANDS: More than 150,000 kids may have a hard time getting to school tomorrow. School bus drivers in New York are warning that they could go on strike at any moment.
Union wants more job security for its drivers. Our Ines Ferre is in New York.
Ines, no strike plan and the union says the door is still open. What does this mean? Will the kids have a ride to school tomorrow, yes or no, do you think?
INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're in wait and see mode, Ted. I spoke to both sides today. And the mayor's office said that they were told last week that a strike is imminent, but weren't told when.
Now, the union says that a strike is likely, but there are no immediate plans for one. Now, they're upset because the city put out a bid for bus services for pre-k students with special needs without guaranteeing that these jobs would go to the local union workers. And the union has put out a statement saying that when it comes to schoolchildren, the mayor should be more concerned about safety not just cutting costs.
Now, Mayor Bloomberg has said that a strike would be illegal and he predicted that if one were to occur, it would create a lot of chaos, Ted.
ROWLANDS: Contingency plan if the drivers do go on strike?
FERRE: Yes, that's right. Well, they sent out a letter to all the parents on Friday. So, the parents see this letter with the details about what would happen and one of the things is that the city would provide about 300,000 metro cars. Those are the cars that get you around the New York City subway system here and also the public buses. So the kids would be able to use these cars to get to and from school. They also want be docked if they were to go late to school or if they wouldn't go to school at all. But Mayor Bloomberg is really urging parents to try and find alternate ways for the kids to get to school if a strike were to occur. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: Now, we know this is a very difficult situation for all of us and we understand that it may be very upsetting to our students and our families. Every parent or guardian must evaluate the needs of his or her child in terms of making the best arrangements to transport the child to school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRE: Now, you can imagine that for a lot of parents this is a real headache they don't need. I mean if a strike were to occur, they would then have to figure out how to get their kids to and from school. Ted?
ROWLANDS: Yes, obviously a potential mess tomorrow in New York.
Thanks, Ines for us in New York City.
FERRE: You're welcome.
ROWLANDS: Police pepper spray is not scaring away UC Davis protesters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: Take responsibility. Take responsibility. Take responsibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: They were back at it overnight at the Davis campus of the University of California. They pitched tents on campus to protest rising tuition costs and they returned a day after this happened.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
ROWLANDS: This is the video that has now gone viral that shows a police officer pepper spraying a group of sitting protesters at point blank range. The school promises to investigate the pepper spraying. It is also prompting calls for the chancellor of UC Davis to resign, which she says she will not do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDA P.B. KATEHI, CHANCELLOR, UC DAVIS: We always hope that students will follow the appropriate policies. Policies exist to allow 60,000 people to use this campus effectively and safely. I don't believe that it is appropriate for me to resign at this point. Really, I do not think that I have violated the policies of the institution. As a matter of fact, I have personally worked very hard to make this campus a safe campus for all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: A central question in all of this, why did the police pepper spray a group of demonstrating students who look to be just simply sitting around in a protest.
To help us find answers, we have the chief of University of California Davis police Annette Spicuzza, on the phone.
Chief Spicuzza, the university chancellor has called the incident unacceptable. Two of your officers have been placed on indefinite administrative leave. What can you tell us about what you're doing to investigate this and how -- how can either you or how do they justify what -- what we saw?
CHIEF ANNETTE SPICUZZA, U.C. DAVIS POLICE (via telephone): The officers, you're correct, they've been placed on administrative leave effective today. This came after the event due to our ability to review and have conversation. And we believe that this is the right thing to do at this time. This administrative leave will stay in effect until the independent investigation is completed. Hopefully that won't take too long. And then we'll go from there.
ROWLANDS: Now, initially you said your officers had been threatened in a news conference yesterday. You said, quoting here, "the students had encircled the officers, they needed to exit, they were looking to leave, but were unable to get out."
Why the change from where you were yesterday to what now putting these guys on leave?
SPICUZZA: Well, as I said, you know it 24 hours later and we have had discussion and reviews and time to contact these officers as well. And, again, I say this is just the right thing to do at this time. And, again, this investigation, I hope, will come to a conclusion sooner than later.
ROWLANDS: OK. I would like to listen to part of the exchange between your officers and the protesters. Hang on. Take a listen to?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE POLICE OFFICER: Move it or you're going to get it in the face. Move! Move!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: From what we can see and hear on the video, does it fall within reasonable police action, move or you're going to get pepper sprayed in your face?
SPICUZZA: I'm afraid -- I'm sorry, but I can't comment on the actual event and/or the behavior or the statements made by these officers due to it now becoming an internal investigation.
So, I'm sorry, I can't comment on that anymore.
ROWLANDS: Short term, are you doing anything to make sure as these occupy movements continue that something like this doesn't happen in the short term here while you're investigating?
SPICUZZA: We're going to continue to do our job on campus which is to keep the campus and community safe. And the officers will be given their due process.
ROWLANDS: OK. Chief Annette Spicuzza, we appreciate your time. Again, I guess the headline here, if you've seen that video, the folks at UC Davis and the police department say they are investigating and those two officers have been put on administrative leave.
Congress' approval rating is at nine percent, an all time low. But throwing the bums out, as they say, can be very tricky. The practice of gerrymandering made it harder for incumbents to lose their seats.
Drew Griffin explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Reporter: Been asked to report on gerrymandering. What do you think about gerrymandering?
I think gerrymandering is a great guy.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT: I've been asked to report on gerrymandering. What do you think about gerrymandering?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think gerrymandering is a great guy.
GRIFFIN: These are people lined up to see - the Liberty bell.
What do you think about gerrymandering?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't really know him.
GRIFFIN: How about you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never heard of him.
GRIFFIN: It is actually the way politicians draw up congressional districts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.
GRIFFIN: -- into weird looking shapes so they can protect their own seats.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
GRIFFIN: In Chicago, squeezed between two freeways, this narrow strip is needed to connect two halves of a gerrymandered district to keep it contiguous as is required.
This is the way Congress gets around the contiguous rule, because there is obviously nobody living here. I mean unless they're homeless people, I guess.
Anybody here? Any congressional voters out there?
This is Illinois' fourth district. Stand it on end, and what does it look like?
REP. LUIS GUTIERREZ, FOURTH DISTRICT, ILLINOIS: Earmuffs?
GRIFFIN: Luis Gutierrez has been the congressman here for almost 20 years.
GUTIERREZ: One part, another part. And you stay protected, stay together.
GRIFFIN: The district was drawn to give Hispanics a seat in congress.
GUTIERREZ: Shouldn't the Congress of the United States be a reflection of the city of Chicago?
GRIFFIN: Gutierrez ticked off what he says is an Irish district, a polish district, a Jewish district, three black districts.
This is the map for those Chicago districts. All held by Democrats with irregular lines, odd connecting points. Back in the earmuff strip --
Here comes a tractor. He's leaving the seven, he's in the fourth congressional district right now, he's going through the fourth congressional district, and he has entered the fifth congressional district.
In his Hispanic district, Gutierrez is usually re-elected with 75 percent of the vote or more. For other Democrats around him, it can be as high as 85 percent.
Consider this, in the last decade, 78 percent of all of the seats in the house did not change party hands, not even once. That's nearly four out of five congressmen in safe seats year after year after year. A result of district lines drawn to protect incumbents in both parties.
DAVID WASSERMAN, REPORTER, COOK POLITICAL: In general elections, it is almost rigged.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: All right, our thanks to Drew Griffin.
Does your vote for a congressional candidate really matter? Might depend where you live. Is your neighborhood jury-rigged?
CNN presents tonight 8:00 eastern.
A multimillion dollar virtual payout, how online poker rooms are failing to pay those who win big, officials even calling it a ponzi scheme. But first, with unemployment hovering at stubbornly high levels, a lot of people are wondering should they go back to school?
Katrina Spencer is one of them. She puts that question to CNN education contributor Steve Perry in a special "asks Doctor Perry" edition of "Perry's Principles."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATRINA SPENCER, COMMITTING A RETURN TO SCHOOL: Hello, Doctor Perry. My name is Katrina Spencer. Right now, I'm a medical assistant in (inaudible). But I want to go back to school to be (inaudible). But why should I go back to school if I can't find a job in the field I'm in now?
STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: Well Katrina, you go to school because you want to improve your marketability. Not just for a particular job, but for your career. Education is an investment that takes time sometimes to give you the return that you want. If this is something that you're interested in, then you got to pursue it because you won't be happy until you truly fulfill that interest. And if education is essential to that interest, then you got to go back to school. Take the time, do it in the way in which you can and which you can afford, be responsible about it, but pursue it. When you look at your life's prospects, they will only get better with more education.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROWLANDS: Hey, welcome back everybody. I'm Ted Rowlands in for Fredricka Whitfield.
As we get close to the bottom of the hour, here are some of the top stories we're following. Officials in Libya's new government insist that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi will be tried in Llibya, that's despite his indictment by the international criminal court that requires him to appear in The Hague.
Saif Gadhafi is the former Libyan leader's second oldest son. He was tracked down and captured yesterday in Libya's southern desert.
Tragedy in Philadelphia today, two men collapsed and died while running the marathon. WTVi reports the men, one 21, the other 40, apparently had heart attacks. Word is they were near the finish line when they collapsed.
A new contract for major league baseball all but signed. Sources say labor negotiators shook hands on the deal. Now they're putting it in writing. The new five-year deal reportedly raises the minimum salary for players to around half million dollars a year.
A French investment company agreed to buy a major online poker playing site. But there is a couple of pressing issues to be dealt with first. U.S. justice department calls full tilt poker a ponzi scheme and the company owe players in the Unites States hundreds of millions of dollars.
CNNmoney's poppy Harlow has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: How much money did you make playing poker online?
SHAWN BUSSE, FULL TILT POKER PLAYER: About $300,000.
HARLOW: In how long?
BUSSE: Three or four years.
HARLOW: In the online poker world, Sean busy was known as Jordan kicks. BUSSE: On April 15th, I was playing poker like any other day, and all of a sudden we just couldn't play anymore. Money was frozen.
HARLOW: It became known as black Friday. When the justice department seized full tilt poker's operations and froze player accounts, alleging the company was operating a global ponzi scheme.
JOSEPH KELLY, CO-EDITOR, GAMING LAW REVIEW: I think this is unchartered territory for the first time player moneys have been seized.
HARLOW: The DOJ says full tilt owed some $390 million to players around the world, including roughly 150 million to U.S. players, but had only $60 million in its coffers. And it alleges members of the company board and other owners were paid more than $440 million over a four-year period. Full tilt fired back saying it is in no way a ponzi scheme, and says it is committed to paying players back. Out 60 grand, though, Shawn Busse is not convinced.
BUSSE: A lot of people feel betrayed, I guess, this was, you know, the site where they made their income, they had the relationship with the people there, they trusted them, and, you know, they basically stole from us. HARLOW: Just this week, the French investment group Bernard Tapie reached an agreement to acquire full tilt poker and says it will reimburse players outside the U.S. But for American players, like Shawn, they'll have to apply to the DOJ to get their money back. Full tilt's current owners have not yet accepted the deal.
BUSSE: I try not to get my hopes up. I consider that money lost and if I get it back, it will be a nice bonus.
HARLOW: I think the general feeling is, OK well, people can't play the games that they like online anymore. For you, it was a lot more than that. This was your livelihood.
BUSSE: This was my job, yes. I feel like my job has been taken away from me right now. This is my source of income for the past four years.
HARLOW: And Shawn is not alone. According to H2 gambling capital, about eight percent of U.S. online poker players or about 35,000 people in this country, made a living off the game. Now, many of them have moved abroad where online poker is alive and well.
What did you use your winnings for?
BUSSE: Everything. My car, rent, tuition now, all my bills, computer, everything I use, everything I own pretty much I bought in the past few years has been through poker winnings. This was my office basically. I would sit here, you know, I bought a nice desk.
HARLOW: What was your best day ever?
BUSSE: Playing online in 2009 I got second place for $163,000 in one tournament. HARLOW: Ethan Ruby says he used his full tilt winnings to start a college fund for his kids and buy a hot tub. He doesn't think he'll ever see the $13,000 he had in his account when it was frozen. Brian Mogaloski (ph) turned to online poker after losing his job in the mortgage industry. He's now out 28 grand.
BUSSE: Poker has been an American past time for however many years.
HARLOW: An American past time?
BUSSE: Sure. Everyone loves to play poker.
HARLOW: And some are even gambling with their losses. Offering to sell their full tilt account balances for a discount, to willing buyers who think the money will come through, eventually.
In New York, Poppy Harlow, CNN money.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Wow. Those are the winners that -- just imagine all the folks that lost the money they gave them. Thanks, Poppy. Appreciate it.
Well, an offensive comment gets actor Isaiah Washington kicked off the popular television show "Grey's Anatomy." Does he have any regrets? His answer when he sits down face to face with our Fredricka Whitfield.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROWLANDS: It is 37 minutes after the hour. I'm Ted Rowlands, in for Fredricka Whitfield who is off this weekend. Before she left, she talked to actor Isaiah Washington in her one on one face to face segment. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Four years after actor Isaiah Washington was checked out of the hit television show "Grey's Anatomy," he's been far from sedentary. He says he has produced two movies, a documentary and he's written a book.
In "a man from another land", his book, Washington talks about the offensive remark in 2007 that got him fired. He opens up face to face with me about regret and renewal.
WASHINGTON: I'm very good at what I do.
WHITFIELD: Do you mind kind of taking me back to that moment of when things started to unravel between you and "Grey's Anatomy".
WASHINGTON: I talked about it in the book. There is really difficult for me to continue to comment on it. I spoke candidly about it with Larry king on CNN. I don't care what Patrick is doing. (Inaudible). So, he finally comes in, ready to go, which is always Patrick, is always ready to go and up. And I said, you know, it was odd because everyone has been waiting, you're late. And I mentioned it to him. I said, well, if you were here, you know, 20 minutes ago, you would have been able to shoot the scene and been on your way by now. And he said I'm not late. I'm never late.
I'm, like, wait a minute, standing here waiting on you. Here for 20 minutes. He says whatever, whatever, blows me off.
WHITFIELD: You did use the f word, but instead of using the f word --
WASHINGTON: I used the b word a lot of words --
WHITFIELD: Right.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Instead of using the f word in particular about someone's sexual orientation, in your way it was being used as a sign of weakness.
WASHINGTON: For me.
WHITFIELD: Is how you interpreted --
WASHINGTON: For me. The other guy who got on the show again, made it all about him, he wasn't even on the set, wasn't even around.
WHITFIELD: So, it was never about you calling T.R. Knight the f word in reference to his sexual orientation?
WASHINGTON: Never. It is about the people who had agendas. It is about the people who were insecure. It is about people listening with filtered ears. It was about people who wanted to hear what they wanted to hear.
WHITFIELD: So, a lot of words that took place here, and you said you and Patrick Dempsey, you know, you shook hands, so to speak, over it later.
WASHINGTON: It has been documented. "People" magazine heavily documented it.
WHITFIELD: But then ultimately this would be the demise of you in "Grey's Anatomy".
WASHINGTON: Ten years after I played a gay character.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A gay black Republican.
WASHINGTON: I know I've seen everything. According to my observation, you haven't seen much.
A lot of people got hurt. A lot of innocent fans, a lot of people still ping for Doctor Burk to go back. You know a lot of people were hurt.
WHITFIELD: Whose fault is that?
WASHINGTON: I don't know. You have to look into that. Everyone has to look into that. I've been invited back. I was invited back. Chandra Wilson called me.
WHITFIELD: And you didn't take them up on the offer?
WASHINGTON: Of course. They just never call.
WHITFIELD: You're not on the show anymore. And in large part, you're not able to get the kind of work that you feel at this point of your career you should be getting.
WASHINGTON: I couldn't get that kind of work before "Grey's Anatomy," with the recession and the WGA strike, that's pretty cool, Fredricka. But that's not it. No one is working. When is the last movie you've seen Will Smith in? Cuba Gooding? It is just no there?
WHITFIELD: You think that's mostly because of the economy and less because of what happened to you?
WASHINGTON: Yes, I work all the time.
WHITFIELD: And you're parting with "grey's anatomy".
WASHINGTON: I work all the time. I just got done with law & order. Got the film aired in June again. There's two movies under and produced myself. Dick Wolf pretty much wanted me to be in the show.
WHITFIELD: You feel like you've recovered, you are back to that point in your career where you were?
WASHINGTON: I don't think about it. I became an actor to change the world, to change the perception of what I thought was a negative for an African-American man.
WHITFIELD: You don't write of regret, of any regrets as it pertains to the episode that helped end your relationship with "Grey's Anatomy." I would love you to read what you were feeling and experiencing around that time.
WASHINGTON: What do you have here?
WHITFIELD: You write about what you were feeling.
WASHINGTON: I was sleeping less than four hours a night, filled with an indescribable level of anxiety. All I could do was operate as a human being. One minute at a time. I prayed constantly, in between G.L.A.D. meetings, writing and rewriting letters of apology, filming PSAs and dealing of what I have become, media insanity.
I was forced to pay thousands of dollars for, quote, "crisis management". End of quote. I was in big trouble. I was now considered a monster. You have this towering black man monster attacking this little -- cowering little human being because of his sexual orientation. And that just is not true.
WHITFIELD: Do you ever watch the show?
WASHINGTON: I peek in. I'm not going to lie to you. I love Sandra O.
WHITFIELD: What happens when - OK, Sandra O.? That was --
WASHINGTON: Yes. See her with that Owen guy, oh, man.
WHITFIELD: That was your counterpart?
WASHINGTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Your love interest on the show?
WASHINGTON: I'd be lying to you but I peek in. I just adore Misses Sandra O. I can't believe I told you that.
WHITFIELD: Do you ever --
WASHINGTON: You got me out there. My PR is going to kill me. You're talking too much.
WHITFIELD: Do you ever tune in and say, I wish I was still there?
WASHINGTON: No.
WHITFIELD: You moved on?
WASHINGTON: Yes. Four years.
Isaiah Washington is keeping busy. This weekend he's in Florida discussing his new book "a man from another land" and you will also see hill on the big screen soon. He says in the movies "the suspect" as well as the movie title "Area Q".
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: That was Fredricka Whitfield's face to face with actor Isaiah Washington. More of that interview next weekend on CNN NEWSROOM.
The GOP candidates gearing up for Tuesday's debate are campaigning blocks away from where they hope to work, at the White House. More in our political look, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROWLANDS: While campaigning in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney picked up an important endorsement, Senator Kelly Ayotte is throwing her support behind the former Massachusetts governor. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. KELLY AYOTTE (R), NEW HAMPSHIRE: We are honored to be here today to enthusiastically endorse Mitt Romney for president of the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: This is as the next Republican presidential debate is just two days away. For that, let's turn to CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser who has a look ahead at this week in politics.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Ted.
Tomorrow, Newt Gingrich heads to New Hampshire to unveil what the former house speaker says is a plan to reform Social Security. The next day, all the major Republican presidential candidates will be a few blocks from the place they hope to move into, the White House.
On Tuesday night, they face off at a CNN national security debate at constitution hall, just down the street from the White House. CNN's teaming up with the Heritage Foundation and American enterprise institute to put on the debate.
On Wednesday, the front-runner in the race, Mitt Romney, returns to Iowa. The former Massachusetts governor hasn't spent much time in the state that votes first in the caucus and primary calendar, but he's still tied for the top spot in the latest polls. Ted?
ROWLANDS: And for the latest political news, you know where to go, CNNpolitics.com.
And another reminder, Tuesday night at 8:00, CNN hosts the presidential debate, is focusing on national security and the economy. That's at 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
Well, CNN NEWSROOM with Don Lemon coming up in a few minutes. Don is here to tell us about what's ahead.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's good to see you. You've been everywhere, L.A., Chicago, all over. Now in Atlanta?
ROWLANDS: Beautiful Atlanta, yes.
LEMON: How are you enjoying being here in this giant studio with --?
ROWLANDS: Nice digs.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: You like it? We'll be talking -- coming up at 6:00, a lot about what is happening at Penn State as we have been doing on the network and really all over. We'll be talking with cycling superstar Greg Lamond. He has his own personal story, Ted, of sexual abuse as a child. A three-time tour de France winner talks to me about his deepest, darkest secret. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GREG LAMOND, THREE-TIME TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER: He would sleep in my room as a guest and stay over probably every couple of weeks, come visit and at one point, you know, he -- while I was asleep, sexually abused me and it was something that was really confusing, really confusing.
LEMON: Have you ever confronted -- have you ever confronted him?
LAMOND: I couldn't figure out where he was, and, of course, I hired an investigator and three minutes later he gave me the address and my wife called to find out where he was, you know, at working, and literally, it had been in the news and what we found out that he had just left -- moved to Italy. That's the last thing I heard. Italy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And that is just the beginning of Greg Lamond's story. He working to help victims and is urging people to -- victims of sexual abuse to contact a group called one in six. He also talks about Lance Armstrong. You don't want to miss that.
ROWLANDS: Alright. He has been outspoken about Lance Armstrong, too.
LEMON: Absolutely. We talked about that. Thank you, Ted. Good to see you.
ROWLANDS: Good to see you too. Thank you. See you in just a bit.
Up next how investors view the debt crisis.
Plus, an American institution treading water as it bleeds money. We will look at the bottom line when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROWLANDS: Some of the other stories we're following. It's been a weekend of deadly protest in Egypt's capital. The Egyptian health ministry says at least six people have been killed. And more than 1,100 others hurt. Protesters are angry over a proposal in a new constitution that would shield the country's military from public oversight.
In Britain, evidence is growing that the phone and e-mail hacking continued at the news at the world long after it was thought to have ended. The new defunct tabloid was owned by Rupert Murdoch's news international. Reports from London say police believe the hacking continued until at least 2009. As recently as last week, news international maintained the hacking ceased in 2006.
Tiger Woods helped to punch the president's cup. The competition in Melbourne, Australia pits top American golfers with their counterparts around the world, outside of Europe. The U.S. retained the cup after beating the internationals 19-15. Woods scored the winning point for the United States team.
For a number of countries, reigning in the debt is a top priority. You're watching what's happening and so is out money team.
Let's get a financial update beginning with Felicia Taylor in New York.
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Ted. Concerns about Europe's debt crisis slammed last week. The major average has fell about three percent each as Italy and Greece, but new government in place.
Until now stocks had been up six of the past seven weeks. And oil also topped $100 a barrel for the first time since July. The U.S. postal service, however, continues to bleed money. The USPS reported $5.1 billion annual loss. The agency is saddled with high retiree health care cost and it's getting hit with declining mail volumes.
Poppy Harlow as a look at what is coming up in business news. Poppy?
HARLOW: Thank you so much, Felicia. There's a lot on the business calendar even though it is a short trading week. Financial market will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving and trading will end early on Friday.
But before then, Wall Street is hoping to hear the congressional debt committee reached a deal. That super committee has until Wednesday to find a way to slash the massive U.S. debt by at least $1.2 trillion, otherwise automatic spending cuts will kick in 2013.
And on Friday, or for some retailers late on thanksgiving, the official holiday shopping season begins. The national retail federation expect s more than 150 million Americans will shop over the black Friday weekend.
And we will keep an eye on it for you on CNN money. Ted, back to you.
ROWLANDS: Thank you, Poppy and Felicia.
And remember to check out CNNmoney.com for the latest financial news.
Well, as the thanksgiving week gets underway, there's a threat of severe flooding in parts of the country. Jacqui Jeras is here tracking it for us. Who's in danger here, Jacqui? Who's going to get their thanksgiving ruined?
(LAUGHTER)
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, hopefully not ruined, right? You just have to the just been smart about it, right?
ROWLANDS: I guess.
JERAS: And today is really the start of the good three days of little lousy weather for a lot of people across the south and as well as to the east.
Now, we have a severe threat at this hour down here across parts of Texas in to just a sliver of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Large hail and damaging winds will be the primary concern. So, let me show you what is going on here. We have a stalled out frontal system which is drape across the southern plains in to the Ohio valley. And this isn't going to move a whole heck of a lot. We are going to see these little waves or these little impulses as right along the front triggering severe thunderstorms and this is going to go on and off over the next couple of days.
So, when you get thunderstorms that move over the same areas, we are talking three to five inches. So, we do have some flood watches which remain in effect across that area as well.
We are also tracking things across parts of the west. Ted, here's a live picture of Los Angeles. A weak storm off the coast of California means a real ugly day and some pounding on the roadways there.
ROWLANDS: Rain in L.A. a tragedy. They don't know what to do.
JERAS: It is not an everyday thing.
ROWLANDS: Yes. Thanks Jacqui.
That will do it for me. CNN NEWSROOM continues at the top of the hour with Don Lemon. Have a great week.
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