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CNN Sunday Morning
Historic Health Bill Clears Senate Hurdle; 'Dating in the Dark' Offers New Twist for Singles; Saudi Health Officials Work to Minimize Mecca Swine-Flu Risk
Aired November 22, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is November 22nd Good morning, everybody. Thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
RICHARD LUI, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Richard Lui, in for T.J. Holmes on this Sunday. It's 6 a.m. in Atlanta; 5 a.m. in Memphis; and 3 a.m. in Santa Monica, California. Thanks for starting your day...
NGUYEN: Early. Early.
LUI: That's right. They're not even awake, most likely.
NGUYEN: Or late for them.
LUI: Late, yes. That's the way they do back there, Betty.
NGUYEN: Speaking of late...
LUI: A late night for senators last night...
NGUYEN: Yes.
LUI: ...on Capitol Hill. And if only one person strayed from their party affiliation, things could have gone haywire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: On this vote, the yeas are 60, the nays are 39. Three-fifths of the United - of the senators duly chosen, sworn having voted in the affirmative, the motion is agreed to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: It is agreed to, 60 to 39. That vote stopped a filibuster and allowed U.S. senators to debate health-care reform, let that started. Majority Leader Harry Reid saying they have a long way to go though. The full story straight ahead for you.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, it seems like everyone wants a piece of Mike - Michael Jackson, that is. And his rhinestone glove - you know, the one that's studded, that he used when he did the very first moonwalk in public for an audience. Well, that thing was said yesterday to go between - what? - $40,000 and $60,000.
It went for $420,000 at auction. I know it was going to fetch more than that.
And that's not all. We're going to look at the price tag of some of his other memorabilia.
Well, here are some of the stories that we have been watching for you overnight. Out in California, demonstrations over a 32 percent tuition increase at some state-run universities has caused a bit of an uproar. Students at UC-Santa Cruz are refusing to leave an administration building where they've been held up for the last three days. They've reportedly given school officials a list of 20 demands related to school funding. But a spokesman for the university says their efforts won't change the tuition hike.
LUI: And officials are investigating the cause of a radiation leak at a nuclear-power plant in Pennsylvania that you've probably heard of before. More than a dozen workers at Three Mile Island were reportedly exposed to low levels of radiation during a refueling outage yesterday.
Now, they have since been decontaminated. Officials say the leak does not pose a danger to the public right now.
NGUYEN: Four people are dead after a ferryboat sank off the Indonesia island of Sumatra. The boat was apparently carrying more than 200 people when it went down in bad weather. Officials say everyone else is safe.
All right. So let's turn to that big health-care reform decision in the Senate. The vote, aimed at blocking a Republican filibuster, passed, but just barely.
LUI: Yes, our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash watched the daylong debate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Betty and Richard, the galleries for the public inside the Senate chamber were filled, and senators sat in their seat to vote to mark the moment.
It's hard to believe that when it comes to health care in the Senate, this Saturday night vote was just the beginning.
(voice-over): Without a single vote to spare...
DODD: The yeas are 60. The nays are 39.
BASH: ...Senate Democrats united to move forward on health care.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: We Democrats stand ready to do what needs to be done. We welcome debate.
BASH: Losing even one Democrat would have stopped the president's top priority in its tracks. The Republican leader made one last plea. SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: If there were one Democrat, just one of our friends on the other side of the aisle, just one, who would say "no" tonight, none of this would happen.
BASH: But he was too late. The last two Democratic holdouts had already announced that they don't like their party's health-care bill, but they don't want to block debate on it either.
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D), LOUISIANA: I have decided that there are enough significant reforms and safeguards in this bill to move forward. But much more work needs to be done.
SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN (D), ARKANSAS: It is more important that we begin this debate to improve our nation's health-care system for all Americans, rather than just simply drop the issue and walk away.
BASH: But in a sign of the rough road ahead for divided Democrats, both Mary Landrieu and Blanche Lincoln, who is facing a tough re-election battle in Arkansas, pledge to oppose a final bill unless a government-run insurance option is removed.
LINCOLN: I am opposed to a new government-administered health- care plan as a part of comprehensive health-insurance reform. And I will not vote in favor of the proposal that has been introduced by Leader Reid as it is written.
BASH: Republicans spent all day blasting the Democrats' bill...
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R), SOUTH DAKOTA: They have been hiding behind this voluminous, 2,100-page bill at a cost of $1.2 billion per page.
BASH: ...railing on the Democrats' plan as a government takeover...
SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: ...in Washington control over all of our lives and health care.
BASH: ...and budget buster.
SEN. KIT BOND (R), MISSOURI: Move over, Bernie Madoff. Tip your hat to a trillion-dollar scam.
BASH: Democrats spent much of their time during the 10-hour session making arguments like this:
SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: Those who have chosen to block any attempt at health-care reform this year are on the wrong side of history.
BASH: Beating back GOP attacks.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: They're against a government health-care plan, but they want to protect Medicare. Medicare is a government health-care plan. You can't have it both ways.
BASH (on camera): The Senate now goes home for a week and then will return for what is likely to be several weeks of fierce debate. It will take a lot of compromise and presidential intervention to unify Democrats on big differences over the substance of this health- care overhaul. Differences over everything from the cost to government intervention - Betty and Richard.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LUI: Thanks, Dana.
The White House is hailing the Senate vote right now.
NGUYEN: Yes, President Obama kept a low profile during the debate. But afterwards, the White House did issue this statement, saying - quote - "The president is gratified that the Senate has acted to begin consideration of health-insurance reform legislation. Tonight's historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health-care costs, providing stability and security to those with health-care insurance and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it. The president looks forward to a thorough and productive debate " - end quote.
LUI: So....
NGUYEN: Yes.
LUI: ...we're about to get into one of the busiest travel times of the year here, Betty. And it will be here in a few days.
Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider is tracking conditions for us on that.
NGUYEN: Hey Bonnie, how's it looking out there?
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: All right, Bonnie. Thank you for that.
You know, enthusiastic fans, they forked over some big bucks just to get a piece of MJ. His glove, his hat, his car - the price that all of that went for, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: I like that.
LUI: It was nice, right?
NGUYEN: Reynolds Wolf, CNN.
(LAUGHTER)
LUI: So flight delays...
NGUYEN: Yes. LUI: ..this holiday week. It's coming up on us right now. You can see Bonnie Schneider's here, in for Reynolds Wolf on this day.
NGUYEN: Yes. So, you know, this is one of the busiest holiday- travel days coming up. And not only flight delays, but what about the weather? How much of a problem will that be?
(WEATHER REPORT)
LUI: All right. So Betty, you - you've heard of going on a blind date.
NGUYEN: OK, yes.
LUI: Blind dates themselves. And you've probably heard of three- minute dating, or speed dating, where you meet...
NGUYEN: Speed dating. I've heard of that, yes.
LUI: ...a whole bunch of people in a row. But there's a new type of dating that combines the two. It's called "dating in the dark."
NGUYEN: Huh?
LUI: And we'll explain.
NGUYEN: All right.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC, LEONA LEWIS, "BLEEDING LOVE")
NGUYEN: OK. So we've all heard of people going on a blind date. But an Atlanta company is putting a whole new twist on that experience.
LUI: Yes, it's quite instructive actually (ph) here, Betty. It's an exhibit that allows singles to mix and mingle in a dark room to see if they have the right chemistry and not just the right look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUI (voice-over): It sounds like a typical blind date. A guy and a girl meet for the first time to spend some time together.
But dating in the dark has taken the experience to another level.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're meeting somebody without seeing them. So you actually meet them, not what they look like.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I (INAUDIBLE) for a few months, but - smell is very important to me. I like to smell good.
VOICE OF JOHN ZALLER, V.P., CREATIVE AND DESIGN FOR PREMIER EXHIBITIONS: So what happens is, the guys are on this side; the girls are on the other side. They can hear each other. They can learn about the other participants. But they never see one another.
I think it creates this really exciting, festive atmosphere.
LUI: Visually impaired guides who have to deal with this scenario every day lead the daters through the event.
MARSHALL COOK, GUIDE: I think we'll have people that will truly connect more with each other, other than what they just look like.
ZALLER: It's amazing to see the humility, the respect and the real openness that occurs in an environment where you don't have the prejudice of seeing someone beforehand, or seeing who you're talking to.
When you're in the dark, all you have is your voice and who you really are to express yourself.
LUI: But not everyone is in total agreement.
JULIA JANE, MATCHMAKER: We project what we feel. Eighty-five percent of that comes out of body language. Not in a picture, not what we say, not what we do in the dark, but how we present ourselves. And you really have to see somebody face to face. It's that important.
LUI: After spending time in the dark, and writing down the names of who they want to see, it's time for their revealing moment.
Some daters make connections. Some don't. But most agree, it's still a fun way to meet people.
SCOTT ROSS, DATING PARTICIPANT: Tonight was a rough night. I don't know what it was. I - I actually didn't get cards. I - I don't know. It's - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
LAUREN SHARRON, DATING PARTICIPANT: I was definitely surprised by how some of them looked. I wasn't expecting some of them to look the way they did. But it's not a bad thing. It definitely wasn't a bad thing.
ZALLER: I've been able to witness a lot of interactions in dating in the dark, and a lot of the conversations that I can just tell are sort of naturally turning into a deeper relationship. In a few of those instances, I have seen the lights come up, and people go, 'Oh. Well, we'll be friends.'
However, even in those cases, I think there's an important lesson learned. Learn that there's a lot more beneath the surface.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LUI: So real interesting there, Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes, it really is. I'm learning so much about you.
LUI: Yes. Dialogue in the Dark ...
(CROSSTALK)
LUI: Lights on, that's right.
Well, Dialogue in the Dark actually puts this on so they can kind of communicate with the experience is for those who can't see. And they're doing this dating in the dark to try to communicate to people that's what it's like, yes.
NGUYEN: Well, yes, I get that. But if you're trying to find a mate, it's one thing to, you know, get the conversation...
LUI: Right.
NGUYEN: ...and see if there is kind of chemistry.
LUI: Sure.
NGUYEN; But when the lights do come on, if there's not kind of chemistry...
LUI: Right.
NGUYEN: ...then, you know, is it going to work?
LUI: What was that one guy that you saw, he didn't get any cards, so...
NGUYEN: He didn't get any cards. Poor guy.
LUI: Maybe dating in the...
NGUYEN: What does that day?
LUI: Dating in the dark is better for him, perhaps. I don't know. I don't know.
NGUYEN: No, he didn't get any cards. Maybe they should turn the lights on. He'll do a better job at it. I - I don't know.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Good luck out there.
LUI: Yes, fun story. Fun story though.
NGUYEN: OK, from that story to this one though - this has a lot of people talking. There's a - a woman in Canada who is actually on sick leave for depression, OK? She lost her sick-leave benefits because of photos that she posted on her Facebook page showing her partying and vacationing.
So our question to - to you is today, should she have lost her sick-leave benefits because of those photos posted on a social-media site like Facebook? Let us know what you think. Go to my Facebook page, where you won't see any pictures of me partying and vacationing. Also, you can go to my Twitter site and my blog at CNN.com/betty. Let me know what you think. Should she have lost her sick-leave benefits? Because she's fighting for them right now - fighting to get them back. And we'll be reading some of your responses on the air.
All right. On to this: Some health fears ahead of the holy pilgrimage to Mecca this year.
LUI: Yes, and some people have already died from the H1N1 virus. We'll talk about that and the rest of our top stories in three minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: All right. And here's a check of the - some of the top stories for you this morning.
The U.S. Senate has voted to move ahead with a floor debate on a massive, $848 billion health-care reform plan. The Senate now goes home for a week and then returns for a debate likely to last weeks. The 60-to-39 vote prevented a Republican attempt to stall consideration of the health plan.
And then a change in staffs, but not location, for the alleged Fort Hood shooter. This after a bedside hearing at Major Nidal Hasan's hospital.
Now, he's officially under pretrial confinement, and normally that means jail. But Hasan is now paralyzed, so he's staying put. Hasan was wounded the day he allegedly killed 13 people at Fort Hood.
Eighty-seven people now reported dead in that coal-mine explosion in China. That's according to a state-run media there. It happened in the northwestern part of the country. Twenty-one workers are still trapped underground. It is believed this was a gas explosion.
NGUYEN: Well, the H1N1 flu is a real concern at this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. And according to the Saudi Health Ministry, a teenager and three elderly people have already died from it.
Now, millions of Muslims are expected to crowd into the holy city of Mecca for the annual event next week. And the conditions will be tight, which could be the perfect environment for the spread of the H1N1.
CNN's Isha Sesay tells us authorities are taking precautions now to keep the virus at bay.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is not quite the warm welcome they were expecting. Thanks to the emergence of the H1N1 swine-flu virus, Hajj pilgrims this year are greeted by thermal screening equipment when they land at Jeddah International Airport. Officials here are on high alert, looking for potential signs of the H1N1 virus. SAAD AL-BGELY, HEALTH MINISTRY TECHNICIAN (through translator): The arriving pilgrims pass in front of the camera. If the equipment senses any person with a temperature above 38 degrees, a beeping alarm sounds.
SESAY: Thousands of pilgrims arrive by the hour, and from the moment they get off the plane, go through immigration, claim their bags, and eventually wind their way through customs, they're under the watchful eye of government officials.
There from more than 100 countries, ranging from the very young, to the very old. And it's these groups that are considered among those at risk when it comes to H1N1.
But Saudi authorities are not barring anyone from performing the Hajj this year.
DR. FAH GHAZOLI, HEALTH MINISTRY SPOKESMAN: Nobody ban. Nobody ban.
SESAY (On camera): A good thing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes, good -- a good thing, yes, sure. Why we ban you? Why? He come for Hajj. Why ban this? OK, if there's any problem, I will take it.
SESAY (voice-over): Doctor Ghazoli is confident Saudi officials are taking the proper precautions.
GHAZOLI: No, I did not find any suspected cases, when the Hajj arrives to this camera, across this camera. If there is any suspected cases, we have to take this Hajj, with this same gateway and take it with ambulance, to the special hospital. And the ministry build it for that.
SESAY: While global health officials may be anxiously monitoring what the H1N1 virus will do at the Hajj, the pilgrims we spoke with are refusing to let such fear derail their sacred journey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you start worrying about things like that, you would never do anything at all and you would (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Like I say, you know, I think it's more scaremongering than, you know, what's reality.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we got vaccinations and we are - we have masks, surgical masks, that we plan to wear, in Shala (ph), Makai (ph), Madinabad (ph), so hopefully everything will be fine.
SESAY (on-camera): Millions of Hajj pilgrims are making their way to Saudi Arabia, by air, sea and land. But health-ministry officials are keen to stress to us they have fool-proof measures in place to prevent the outbreak of an H1N1 epidemic.
Yet with such large numbers, eating, sleeping, and praying together in Mecca over the next couple of days, there is no doubt that this year's Hajj is much more than just a spiritual journey. It's a journey into the unknown.
Isha Sesay, at Jeddah International Airport, Saudi Arabia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LUI: A peaceful and quiet morning at the Capitol Dome behind us. It looks kind of nice, doesn't it?
NGUYEN: Yes, at this hour it is.
LUI: It wasn't that yesterday....
NGUYEN: No.
LUI: ...about 10 hours ago. The health-care bill passes in the Senate. It passes another hurdle, I should say.
NGUYEN: Yes, a vote last night just one of our top stories that we'll be telling you about in three minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, hello, everybody. Good morning. Thanks for watching. I'm Betty Nguyen.
LUI: Good Sunday to you. I'm Richard Lui, in for T.J. Holmes this morning.
NGUYEN: All right. And here are some of the top stories that we're following for you.
Students at the University of California at Santa Cruz, they are refusing to leave an administration building that they've been sitting in for the past three days. Here's what they're protesting: a 32 percent tuition increase and school spending cuts. The students have reportedly given school officials a list of 20 demands related to school funding. But a school spokesperson that they probably will not lower those tuition hikes.
LUI: And Betty, four people were killed today after a passenger ferry in bad weather off Sumatra. Indonesian officials say rescuers battling strong winds and waves were able to rescue 209 people there. Everyone aboard has been accounted for.
NGUYEN: Another hurdle is passed in the move toward health-care reform, and - take a listen:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DODD: On this vote, the yeas are 60. The nays are 39. Three- fifths of the United - of the senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, the motion is agreed to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So with that, the Democrats in the Senate stop Republican efforts preventing a debate on the $848 billion. The senators now head home for the Thanksgiving holiday. And when they return, the will begin debating on that plan.
So that health-care overhaul motion really did squeak by. You now, it needed 60 votes.
LUI: Right.
NGUYEN: And that is just what it got. Only 60.
LUI: Just enough. And as you and I were talking about yesterday, Betty, here, heading into the weekend, there were two key Democrats who had problems with the plan, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu on the left, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln on the right. Their eventual support that assured passage, but arguments from both sides of the political aisle were passionate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, (R) MINORITY LEADER: A vote in favor of this bill tells every American family sitting in a waiting room tonight, wondering when they'll get to see a doctor, or how much it's going to cost, it's not our concern. And worst of all, a vote in favor of this bill is a vote in favor of the spending binge that's leading to a massive and unsustainable long-term debt that will shackle our children to a future they can't afford. That's what tonight's vote is all about.
SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MAJORITY LEADER: So I say to my Republican senators, don't try to silence a great debate over a great crisis. Don't let history show that when given a chance to debate and defend your position, to work with us for the good of our country and constituents, you ran and hid. You cannot wish away a great emergency by closing your eyes and pretending it doesn't exist.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: All right. The House has already passed its version of health care reform. Let's compare that one with the Senate bill that we're talking about from yesterday. They both would create health insurance exchanges, expand Medicaid, subsidize insurance for low and some middle-income families, cap out-of-pocket medical expense and require insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions.
That is the same, now here are the differences in the two bills.
The Senate has a public option plan in which the states can opt out of. There is no opt-out clause in the House plan. The Senate would pay for its bill with a tax on high-cost so-called Cadillac health insurance plans. The House version would place a tax on individuals making more than $500,000 and couples making more than a million.
And on the issue of illegal immigrants, the Senate bill would ban them from buying health insurance. The House measure says illegal immigrants could purchase insurance with private, not federal funds. NGUYEN: Unemployment on the rise in 29 states as of last month. The national unemployment rate of 10.2 percent is bad enough, but it's even worse than -- actually worse in some states. Michigan hit the hardest with more than 15 percent employment. Followed by Nevada, Rhode Island, California and South Carolina. North Dakota is on the other end of the spectrum. It has the nation's lowest unemployment rate at 4.2 percent. Nebraska, follows that.
All right. So nearly two years into the recession, public opinion is shifting when it comes to placing blame. And that could be a problem for Democrats. That is according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey and CNN's Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser has the results.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR (on camera): Good morning, Betty. It does appear that blame for the country's recession is shifting, that according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation opinion national poll.
Our survey indicates that 38 percent of the Americans say Republicans are responsible for the economic mess. That's down 15 points from May. 27 percent now blame the Democrats. That is up 6 points from May. By the way, one in four people say that both political parties are to blame.
If this shift continues into next year it could be very troubling for Democrats, who have to defend large majorities in Congress in those crucial 2010 mid-term elections. Why? Because unless things change, the economy will continue to be the number one issue on the minds of voters across the country.
The poll indicates that people are split on whether Barack Obama's economic programs are helping or hurting. 36 percent of those we questioned say the president's policies have improved the economy. 28 percent say what Mr. Obama has done, like the federal stimulus program, has made things worse, and 35 percent say his programs have had no effect.
So, how is the economy doing overall? Less than one in five say the economy is in good shape right now. More than eight in 10 say in its poor condition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: I'm kind of gearing up for this upcoming holiday season.
NGUYEN: Kinda? You need to get into the spirit of it.
LUI: We are several days away. I'm kind of looking at it day by day. Betty, folks have to worry about travel, right?
NGUYEN: Yes, that's a problem. Some folks are headed out, actually, over this weekend. The holiday coming up on Thursday, it's Thanksgiving, people getting on the roadways. Bonnie, is the weather really going to be a major factor when it comes to that travel?
(WEATER REPROT)
NGUYEN: All right. So, this particular item made of white leather, covered in crystals. What is it? It's Michael Jackson's iconic glove.
LUI: Oh, yeah. And who bought it, and how much did it go for?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: The all right, your "Top Stories" this hour, if you are just joining us.
The U.S. Senate votes to move ahead with a floor debate on historic health care legislation. The 60 to 39 vote prevented a Republican attempt to stall consideration of the health plan.
NGUYEN: A change in status, but not locations for the alleged Fort Hood shooter. This after a bedside hearing at Major Nidal Hasan's hospital. Now He is officially under pretrial confinement. Hasan was wounded the day he allegedly killed 13 people at Fort Hood.
LUI: And 87 people now reported dead in that coal mine explosion in China. And that is according to the state-run media there. It happened in the northwestern part of country; 21 workers are still trapped underground. It is believed this was a gas explosion.
NGUYEN: OK, we have been talking about this story this morning. And I really want to get your take on it. There is a woman in Canada, who was on sick leave for depression, OK? She lost her sick leave benefits because of some of the photos she posted on Facebook page, which showed her vacationing and partying. Well, now she is fighting to get those sick leave benefits back.
But do you think it is fair that she lost them? I'll go to my Facebook page, now, to get some of your thoughts today.
This person right here says, "Nope. One way or another, she lied and got caught like Ferris Buehler at the Cubs game."
And this other person, Davine (ph) says, "If you get caught, you get caught. Who cares how you got caught. People have to be smarter than that if they are going to lie about being sick."
But if you go to Twitter site, here, AK, DarrylG (ph) says, "I don't think she should lose her benefits. What I choose to do with my sick leave hours should be up to me."
And also this other person says, "No, she should not lose her sick leave benefits. How old are the photos. And also points out that endorphins are good for you, anyway."
Some people say look, she had depression. So she was doing things to battle that.
LUI: right.
NGUYEN: But some other people just simply don't buy it and say, you know, you should lose them.
LUI: It's a really good debate, as we were talking about off air. You are getting a lot of response. It is what, 6:41 Eastern Time and people really have a view on this. Very interesting.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. Because, I mean, I think, too, for those who say well, she's depressed, maybe she should go party and vacation to get over it. Do you know how many people would call in, saying I'm depressed so they can take a vacation and go party and have a good time, while getting paid? While on the clock, in a way?
LUI: A couple of sides to this story, is what you are saying?
NGUYEN: Exactly. Let us know what you think. Keep them coming we'll be talking about it throughout the morning.
LUI: More news: An Army sergeant accused of murder. Interrogation all caught on tape.
NGUYEN: It is an exclusive "AC 360" investigation that you will see only here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: That's Carrie Underwood singing at the "CNN Heroes" tribute last night. And you know, CNN Heroes, they have touched so many hearts, but most importantly they have improved so many lives.
LUI: Quite a show it is. And their stories resonated deeply with CNN viewers who decide who would become the CNN Hero of the Year. Now, the announcement came during a star-studded event last night. You were there last year, it is quite an event, right?
NGUYEN: Oh, my goodness. It's a wonderful event and it really showcases what people are doing around the world, not just here in the U.S., but around the world to improve lives.
LUI: Yes, a really compelling story. CNN's Brooke Anderson has the story for this year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN HOLLYWOOD CORRESPONDENT: It was a night of tears.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless this country.
ANDERSON: And triumph, a night to honor everyday people doing extraordinary things.
GEORE LOPEZ, COMMEDIAN: You know what? It's the Oscars of giving.
ANDERSON: Ten finalists for CNN Hero of the Year were recognized for helping others around the world.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, AC 360: We gather to honor the best that humanity has to offer.
ANDERSON: Among them, a 20-year-old amputee who is getting artificial limbs to those kids who need them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that is every amputee's goal, is to not be limited or be defined by their situation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN Hero, Jordan Thomas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This has been the greatest night of my life. Thank you very much.
ANDERSON: And a Florida man who refused to stand by while his fellow vets suffered on the street.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There will be no man left behind as long as we are this nation.
ANDERSON: The Heroes night began on a star-studded red carpet in Hollywood.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's amazing.
ANDERSON: And continued inside the Kodak Theater, home of the Oscars, where musical greats paid tribute in song.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD (SINGING): Make all the difference
ANDERSON: Some of Hollywood's biggest stars joined in.
Let's honor Hero Betty.
ANDERSON (On camera): How cool is tonight?
PIERCE BROSNAN, CNN HEROES PRESENTER: Truly cool, truly memorable, truly wonderful. Keep doing good things.
ANDERSON (voice over): And 2.7 million votes were cast online to determine which of the honorees would be named CNN Hero of the Year. The honor went to --
COOPER: The CNN Hero of the Year is Efron Penaflorida.
ANDERSON: Penaflorida created a classroom on wheels in his native Philippines to educate his country's forgotten children.
EFRON PENAFLORIDA, CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: Each person has a hidden hero within.
ANDERSON: He received $125, 000 to continue his work. Nine other honorees were awarded $25,000 each. No dollar value can be put on the inspiration they provide. Brooke Anderson, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: It is such a wonderful event. And, again, join Anderson Cooper and the all-star tribute Thanksgiving night, 9:00 Eastern and Pacific.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Speaking of Michael Jackson this morning.
LUI: You know, that was the first album I bought of Michael Jackson, and I was like, wow, this it is. PYT, brings it back for me.
NGUYEN: If only you would have bought the white glove, you would be sitting on a fortune.
LUI: Well, and that is what we are going to talk about. That's right, an iconic bit of Michael Jackson's memorabilia fetches big dollars, Betty.
NGUYEN: Huge. You know, it was up for bid, that glove that the star wore in 1983, at the concert when he first performed his trademark Moon Walk dance.
There it is, right there. One bidder, we were talking yesterday, he was going to get, $40,000 to $60,000. Oh, no, it got $420,000.
LUI: I cannot believe that.
NGUYEN: I can. Because I was saying yesterday, look, you make an investment in this glove, and it's going to only increase in value with time.
LUI: All right.
NGUYEN: I mean, this is a piece of history.
LUI: You are a sound investor. I was thinking $150,000, $200,000.
NGUYEN: I didn't think, you know, nearly half a million dollars. No. But, hey, we'll probably see it on eBay. Or you know, someone wrote into one of my Twitter or Facebook sites and said, it's too bad it won't go into a museum.
LUI: That's a good point.
NGUYEN: That's a good point.
LUI: It may happen. Who knows? Perhaps this new purchaser may decide it's a good idea based on --.
NGUYEN: Couldn't we at least store it there? At least it would be protected. LUI: Absolutely iconic. That winning bid came from China, by the way. The auction raised a total of $2 million for Jackson's estate, amazing.
NGUYEN: Yes. Well, you know the Big Three automakers, they built Detroit, but it was the musical empire of Motown that provided the soundtrack.
LUI: Last right, last night, the beat lived on as Detroit's musical royalty, they came out, they paid homage to Motown's 50th anniversary. They are getting older, we are too. We get the details from reporter Hank Winchester, and CNN's Detroit affiliate WDIV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANK WINCHESTER, WDIV CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is Motown's night and Detroit's biggest names in music are getting ready for a big party. We're talking about Kid Rock, Martha Reeves, and the man who started the Motown sound, Berry Gordy, Jr.
BARRY GORDY, JR., FOUNDER, MOTOWN: This is a big music city and there's a lot of magic here. It's something about Detroit that is very special. And Motown could not have happened the way it happened, if it were not in Detroit.
KID ROCK, MUSICIAN: It's tough to put into words. You know, my mom is texted me from Florida, her and my dad are snow birds, so they are down there for the winter. She said, who would have thought, we were partying to those records when you were a kid, that they would be playing at the Motown 50th Gala. So, this is just that special.
ARETHA FRANKLIN, SINGER: The history of Motown and Mr. Gordy, Motown Records, Tandler (ph) and so on, are unparalleled, in the music industry, and he without a doubt made world history with Motown Records.
WINCHESTER: Sinbad is serving as emcee for anniversary celebration. Motown's biggest stars will take the stage. This night, all about the music and, of course, raising money for the famed Motown Museum.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are a lot of us that are going to be missed tonight, but it's a wonderful reunion. We only get together on occasions like this, and this is a special night.
GORDY: All about creativity, and love, and, you know, hard work and talent.
WINCHESTER: This, truly, a night to remember.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LUI: It is really great to see that because double-digit unemployment in Detroit. To have that sort of glimmer of hope. You know, I was reading "The "Detroit Free Press" it said "Motown Gets Its Glam On". They are really just glad to have something to celebrate. >
NGUYEN: Absolutely, they been hit with hard times lately. So, get their spirits up.
LUI: Big story. Exactly.
Well, parts of northwest England cleaning up after massive flooding caused by a record rainfall. How will folks there deal with yet more rain on the way.
NGUYEN: We'll go live to England, in fact, to find out. It is just one of our "Top Stories" coming up at the top of the hour, in just six minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: Tonight at 8:00 Eastern, you won't want to miss the CNN special investigation, "Killings at the Canal: The Army Tapes". It is a story about the murders of four Iraqi detainees by decorated Army sergeants at a canal in Baghdad. Now, our Special Investigations Unit Correspondent Abbie Boudreau has more for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): We have obtained 23 and a half hours of Army interrogation videotapes. Tapes you'll only see on CNN. On those tapes, one of the sergeants, Michael Leahy, confesses to the crime. We asked his wife about her reaction to finding out her husband was being charged with murder.
(On camera): Oh, wow. Do you love it?
JAMIE LEAHY, MICHAEL LEAHY'S WIFE: I do. It was the most beautiful thing I had seen. It just looked wonderful on. It's really good to see it again. And it's kind of bittersweet. I don't know what's going to happen.
BOUDREAU (voice over): Life is on hold for Jamie Leahy.
LEAHY: I will wear it. I'm determined to wear it someday with him.
BOUDREAU: They were married by a justice of the peace when her husband was between deployments, but she wanted a traditional wedding, the beautiful gown, the big reception, in her grandparents' backyard.
LEAHY: This is exactly where it was going to be; the ceremony over here, with an arch. We were going to have round tables just placed all around.
BOUDREAU (On camera): Did you ever have the ceremony and the reception?
LEAHY: No, we haven't yet. Because our plans were in February, 2008, so -- but, the investigation started in January, so.
(SOBBING)
BOUDREAU (voice over): Her husband, Sergeant Michael Leahy, a Purple Heart recipient, and a medic, was charged with the unthinkable, premeditated murder. He was one of three Army sergeants accused in the execution of four Iraqi detainees and the dumping of their bodies into this canal.
It was a secret he eventually would have to tell his wife. He described that conversation in this Army interrogation tape.
SGT. MICHAEL LEAHY, U.S. ARMY: I told her that, I said, "Honey, I'm going to tell you something and I understand if you don't forgive me, but I'm not a good person because I murdered someone in Iraq." That's not the word I used, "I killed someone in Iraq."
BOUDREAU (on camera): Did you ever think your husband was capable of killing like this?
J. LEAHY: No, I didn't. That's why I am trying to understand what was going on in his head, what was going on around him, that could bring him to something, a situation like that.
BOUDREAU (On camera): Sergeant Leahy's confession is one part of the Army interrogation tapes you will see in our documentary. The tapes also reveal the Army's concern that the fallout from the murders would turn into a public relations nightmare. It's all part of our Special Investigations Unit documentary, "Killings at the Canal: The Army Tapes". Tonight at 8:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LUI: CNN tonight, was it murder or battlefield justice? See what CNN uncovered, then decide for yourself. "Killing at the Canal: The Army Tapes", as Abbie was saying, a CNN special investigation tonight at 8:00 Eastern, only on CNN.
NGUYEN: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is November 22. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
LUI: Good morning --I'm sorry to interrupt there. I'm moving right ahead.
NGUYEN: That's all right. Good morning to you. You are ready to go.
LUI: I'm just kind of warming up, myself. I'm not getting my cues right.
Richard Lui, in for T.J. Holmes. It is 7:00 a.m. in Atlanta, 6:00 a.m. in Memphis, 4:00 a.m. in Santa Monica.
Thanks for starting you day with us, right here.
It was a late night for senators on Capitol Hill and if only one person strayed from their party affiliation, things could have gone haywire there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS DODD, (D) CONNECTICUT: On this vote, the yeas are 60, the nays are 39. Three-fifths of the senators duly chosen and sworn have voted in the affirmative, the motion is agreed to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: It was a squeaker. A 60 to 39 vote stropped a filibuster and allowed U.S. senators to debate health care reform. Majority Leader Harry Reid still says they have a long way to go. The full story straight ahead for you.
NGUYEN: And just imagine to coming home to find your entire house filled with mud and water. That's exactly what happened to one woman in England. Look, she's cleaning up already.
A major process, though, that clean up underway there after record rainfall. We are going to take you there live.
First, though, here's a look at what has been happening overnight. "Raise hell, not costs," that's kind of the motto and message from students occupying the main administration building at University of California, Santa Cruz. Today marks the fourth day of demonstrations and students there and as well as elsewhere are protesting a 32 percent hike in fees for the state's public universities. They have reportedly given school officials a list of 20 demands related to school funding. But a spokesperson of the university says their efforts won't change the tuition hike.
LUI: Officials are investigating a leak at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania. More than a dozen workers at Three Mile Island had to be decontaminated yesterday after they were exposed to low levels of radiation. Officials say the public is not in any danger here. They are working to find out the cause.
NGUYEN: A change in status, but not location for the alleged Fort Hood shooter, this after a bedside hearing at Major Nidal Hasan's hospital. Now, he is official under pretrial confinement at that hospital. Now, normally that means jail, but Hasan is paralyzed, so he will stay in his hospital room. Hasan was wounded the day that he allegedly killed 13 people at Fort Hood.
All right. We want to turn now to that big health care reform decision in the Senate. The vote end up blocking a Republican filibuster passed but just barely.
LUI: Our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash was in the Senate and watched the day-long debate for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Betty and Richard, the galleries for the public inside the Senate chamber were filled and senators sat in their seats to vote to mark the moment. It's hard to believe that when it comes to health care in the Senate, this Saturday night vote was just the beginning.
(voice-over): Without a single vote to spare...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ayes are 60, the nays are 39.
BASH: Senate Democrats united to move forward on health care.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: We Democrats stand ready to do what needs to be done.
BASH: Losing even one Democrat would have stopped the president's top priorities in its tracks. The Republican leader made one last plea.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: If there were one Democrat, just one of our friends on the other side of the aisle, just one, who would say no tonight, none of this would happen.
BASH: But he was too late. The last two Democratic holdouts had already announced that they don't like their party's health care bill, but they don't want to block debate on it either.
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D), LOUISIANA: I've decided there are enough significant reforms and safeguards in this bill to move forward. But much more work needs to be done.
SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN (D), ARKANSAS: It is more important that we begin this debate to improve our nation's health care system for all Americans, rather than just simply drop the issue and walk away.
BASH: But in the sign of the rough road ahead for divided Democrats, both Mary Landrieu and Blanche Lincoln, who was facing a tough re-election battle in Arkansas, pledged to oppose a final bill unless a government-run insurance option is removed.
LINCOLN: I am opposed to a new government-administered health care plan as a part of comprehensive health insurance reform, and I will not vote in favor of the proposal that has been introduced by Leader Reid as it is written.
BASH: Republicans spent all day blasting the Democrats' bill.
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R), SOUTH DAKOTA: They have been hiding behind this voluminous 2,100-page bill, at a cost of $1.2 billion per page.
BASH: Railing on the Democrats' plan as a government takeover.
SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: Washington control over all of our lives in health care.
BASH: And budget buster.
SEN. KIT BOND (R), MISSOURI: Move over Bernie Madoff, tip your hat to a trillion-dollar scam.
BASH: Democrats spent much of their time during the 10-hour session making arguments like this.
SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: Those who have chosen to block any attempt at health care reform this year are on the wrong side of history.
BASH: Beating back GOP attacks.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: They are against a government health care plan, but they want to protect Medicare. Medicare is a government health care plan. You can't have it both ways.
BASH (on camera): The Senate now goes home for a week and then will return for what is likely to be several weeks of fierce debate. It will take a lot of compromise and presidential intervention to unify Democrats on big differences over the substance of this health care overall: differences over everything from the cost to government intervention -- Betty and Richard.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LUI: All right. Thank you, Dana.
President Obama meanwhile is hailing the Senate vote.
NGUYEN: The president kept a very low profile during the debate. But, afterward, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued this statement saying, quote, "The president is gratified that the Senate has acted to begin consideration of health insurance reform legislation. Tonight's historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance, and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it. The president looks forward to a thorough and productive debate," end quote.
LUI: Well, the northwest of the United States gets lots of rain. We'll take you to the northwest of England, the floodwaters there are receding, and the misery rising. Hundreds of homeowners are returning to their flood-ravaged neighborhoods and discovering just how much has been lost.
CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us live from Cumbria, England.
And, Nic, I've heard reports of a foot of rain over the course of 10 days. That is just tremendous.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. People here are saying they have never seen anything like it, Richard. This area where I am, Main Street, right in the middle of the town of Cockermouth was underwater. If you look just down to the side, I mean, here, you'll see some of the debris. This wash up here, a washing machine that washed out of one of the stores here.
Over behind me, you'll see the utility workers here trying to restore power, check gas services and electricity services here. Looking down the Main Street, this way, you'll see the debris in the roadway. The bridge at the end is closed.
There are about a dozen bridges in this area that the police have closed permanently right now for inspection. They say there were bridges -- some of them potentially are going to collapse, but, of course, the real pain and suffering here has been for the people, about 1,000 people, 1,000 homes affected here. The real pain and suffering for people when they get back to their homes and see what is left of them after the floods hit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): In Kevin McNicholas' house, everything in the lower floor has been destroyed. When we arrived, he's only just got back in.
KEVIN MCNICHOLAS, COCKERMOUTH RESIDENT: Everything had been lifted, more around, bashed around and then dropped again and left in this sludge.
ROBERTSON: Family and friends are working franticly to clear what they can in case floodwaters return. The rain is falling and more is forecast.
MCNICHOLAS: It's been really (INAUDIBLE). From the first moment, people have been helping, and then they looked after us, and they, you know, obviously come here now.
ROBERTSON: A few doors along, grandmother Margaret Bancroft measures herself against the high water mark on her living room wall. Among her treasures, a few photos saved.
MARGARET BANCROFT, COCKERMOUTH RESIDENT: That's one of the local heroes that was dredging down with his boat yesterday morning, rescuing people.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Who is he?
BANCROFT: (INAUDIBLE)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): For 45 years, she says she's lived in this house.
BANCROFT: Yes, never seen anything like this at all, never been flooded, you know?
ROBERTSON (on camera): They say one in 1,000 years.
BANCROFT: Yes. I' m glad I'll miss the next one then.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): And it's not just grandmother Bancroft who's laughing. Incredibly, spirits here seem high and there has been luck to match.
SANDRA STAINTON, COCKERMOUTH RESIDENT: The kids will be pleased anyway.
ROBERTSON: Sandra Stainton went back to the house and found her pet goldfish left high and dry after the flood.
STAINTON: Every one is devastated, up side down, inside out, and (INAUDIBLE) six foot in the wall and (INAUDIBLE) I just saw it into -- where we keep the coats under the stairs and it moved and that was it. I just put it in a bowl.
ROBERTSON: Soldiers have been drafted in to secure the flood- damaged homes.
(on camera): The tidy up is only just beginning. And for people, they really don't know when they're going to be able to get back into their homes. They are being told right now it could be as long as six to nine months.
(voice-over): The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, came to show his support and offered help, $1.5 million additional funds for the flood damage.
GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Really, we'll do what we can to help the clear up to happen quickly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
BROWN: We'll provide extra help to make sure that happens.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you very much.
ROBERTSON: And the town is going to need all the help it can get.
Adam Stitt is figuring out what he can salvage from his bike store.
ADAM STITT, BIKE SHOP OWNER: For bikes, I mention the walls (INAUDIBLE). So it could be a lot of written off bikes in here as well.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Thousands of pounds?
STITT: Quite easily. Quite easily.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): Seven thousand people live in this tiny Cumbria community. They are coming together to put right what the town's two flood-swollen rivers came close to destroying. The cleanup is only just beginning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: And as you can see, the rains here are still coming down. About an inch or so, two inches forecast on the hills and that was the problem here: the water washing down off the hills. Store front smashed in here. And I'll just give you a little idea of what else you can see here. Along here you can... LUI: OK. It looks like we lost the signal there. Nic Robertson obviously showing us what the damage or result after what was a foot of rain over the course of 10 days. And he was saying they haven't seen that, Betty, in some 1,000 years. They're calling it a thousand- year flood, which means that is quite severe.
And again, a million and a (AUDIO GAP) pledged by the Leader Brown there, the prime minister. So, we'll see that's enough.
NGUYEN: Wow. A thousand-year flood. You know, usually, we talk about a 50-year flood, maybe even 100-year flood, which is huge...
LUI: Right, a thousand.
NGUYEN: But a thousand-year flood.
(CROSSTALK)
LUI: That's what they've said, yes.
NGUYEN: All right. Speaking of rain, will there be rain this week for your holiday travel? Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider is taking a look at what you can expect.
Hey, Bonnie.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Betty and Richard.
Luckily, not flooding rains, but we are seeing some heavy rains at this early hour on Sunday across many portions, as we look toward the southeast. Particularly here in Atlanta, we're looking at a lot of rain, but we're also monitoring rain to the south in and around Florida. Look at Gainesville and Jacksonville.
So, if you are driving in this region, take it slow because it will be raining on and off throughout the day. We are also tracking the threat for snow as we go towards the holiday week. Watch out for snow showers and maybe some heavy, heavy snow up into the Pacific Northwest. This region's already seeing snow in the higher elevations. Temperatures are going to get cooler for Thanksgiving Day. I'll a complete report -- coming up.
NGUYEN: All right, Bonnie, thank you.
LUI: That's right. And what happens when a beauty pageant turns into a cat fight. A wig gets pulled off.
NGUYEN: This video, oh, my goodness.
LUI: You cannot see it enough times I guess.
NGUYEN: And you feel sorry for her. I mean, she's doing -- you know what? You're going to stick around for it. You got to see it, though.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LUI: Can we expect any delays this week while traveling during the holidays?
NGUYEN: Yes.
LUI: Yes, based on what?
NGUYEN: It comes with the territory, right?
LUI: And always at that, every single year. Let's go to Bonnie Schneider who's in for Reynolds Wolf on this.
NGUYEN: Yes, but the question, Bonnie, is, will there be weather delays?
SCHNEIDER: I think so, Betty -- for today, and also for Wednesday, the busiest travel day of the year. Now you may be up early, and you may somewhat know someone's that's already at the airport. Maybe they are on a flight right now, with good reason.
Take a look at flight explorer. I took a look to see how many planes in the air right now, 1,325, and yet, most of them are in the eastern half of the country. That's because we're up early. It's really early over on the west coast.
But if this is any indication of what to expect, imagine this map covered with planes as we go throughout the day, and certainly as we look towards Wednesday, the busiest travel day of the year. But what about today? If you're getting a head-start and you're driving across the southeast, watch out for rain. We're looking at a lot of heavy rain in Birmingham and in Atlanta.
And then across much of the northwest, heavy snow and rain affecting cities like Seattle and Portland. So the two corners of the country seeing some problems today. Back to you.
NGUYEN: Thank you. OK. So, we've been talking about this story this morning. We've got a lot of responses from you I should say. And here it is.
There's a woman in Canada who was on sick leave for depression. But she lost sick leave benefits because she posted some pictures on Facebook, showing her partying, on vacation. Now, she's fighting to get those benefits back.
But, the question to you is, do you think it was fair that she lost them because of Facebook photos.
I'm going to go to my Twitter site and read some of your replies right now. JackmasterATL (ph) says, "That's why you're supposed to set your Facebook profile to private." I heard a lot of our show team talking about that this morning as well. And Breadman7999 says, "That was pretty dumb." One more real quickly. Djkaq says, "Let the facts speak for himself. If she did what they say she did, then so be it, you can't have it both ways." You know, some people I've been talking to, Richard, that, you know, look -- depression is something that, you know, you need to fight. And so, maybe she was trying to do that by partying and vacationing. But others say, you know, if that's the case, then, hey, I'm depressed too.
LUI: I will sign up for that.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: So, yes. So, send in your thoughts. We want to hear from you. You can go to my Facebook page where you will not find any pictures of me partying or vacationing. Or you can go to my Twitter site as well as the CNN blog, CNN.com/betty. I want to hear your thoughts and we'll be reading them on the air.
LUI: Yes, what's public, what's private? Who knows? Yes.
NGUYEN: Hello. It's called social networking sites.
LUI: Right.
NGUYEN: Social media sites...
LUI: Well-debated.
NGUYEN: It's not called private. So, but you do have private settings, so that was a good point by JackmasterATL.
LUI: OK. Yes.
Usually, teenagers dream of becoming college ballplayers, but not this teen. His dream: the college marching band. How his wish came true.
NGUYEN: Yes, we're going to talk to sports correspondent Larry Smith, coming up. His last appearance on this show, say it isn't so. We're going to ask him what his favorite moments have been over the past 16 years.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
NGUYEN: All right. Talking divas right now and when it comes to beauty pageant, the sportsmanship can be downright ugly.
LUI: Look at this video. And keep a close eye on the head of newly crowned Miss Gay Brazil.
We showed you this to you yesterday. We're still going to show you again. And apparently jealous competitor snatching the tiara and the wig goes with it. What? Huh?
NGUYEN: Who does that? OK.
LUI: Hand on head.
NGUYEN: The poor winner. Returned to finish that interview, hopefully with the wig back on. The pageant has not, though, publicly identified the loser who did the wig snatching. But we have it all on tape so she can be identified.
LUI: What an end to that pageant, huh?
NGUYEN: Oh, my goodness. All right. Poor Larry Smith, he has to follow that.
LUI: Yes.
NGUYEN: No wait today though, but we're talking college football. You know, fans with another brutal Saturday for Notre Dame.
LUI: It was. But for one young man on the sidelines, it was much more than the game. It was a fulfillment of a dream by the Make a Wish Foundation.
NGUYEN: Yes.
LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
LUI: And here to tell story, right there, Larry Smith.
NGUYEN: What a great story this is.
SMITH: It is awesome. Yes.
NGUYEN: Yes.
SMITH: You know, Charlie Weiss, about to be ousted. That's a nightmare.
LUI: Right.
SMITH: But here is a really good things that happened that we don't just talk all the time. A young man, 15 years old. His name is Jacob Crouse and he actually -- because of the Make a Wish Foundation, had a dream of one day marching with the Notre Dame band and there he was.
He said it was such an honor to put on the uniform flying all the way from his home to Colorado of the South Bend. He hopes to play clarinet, Notre Dame at one point. He has cystic fibrosis and, again, so this was just a dream come true. And maybe one day it can.
He said, again, it's such an honor. Unfortunately, the Irish losing a double overtime on senior day, but what a great moment for him, and as soon as we lose track of what it means to the fans.
NGUYEN: Yes, you know...
LUI: Absolutely.
NGUYEN: ... so wonderful and you're talking about losses. We are going to be losing our very own here.
Why -- what is going on? Why are you leaving us? Why are you leaving me?
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: You know, much love for you guys, no question. But it came time, there's a day back in August that I heard the words from 1 King 19, that asks, Elijah goes to the cave and God says, what are you doing here? And I heard that three times in a day and went home and said, yes, it may be time.
NGUYEN: Wow.
SMITH: So, great opportunity. I can't talk about it until after the holidays. One of those TV things.
NGUYEN: You've been teasing with that opportunity.
(CROSSTALK)
SMITH: I know, yes.
NGUYEN: But as we look back, you've been here quite a while.
SMITH: Yes, a long time.
NGUYEN: Sixteen years, right?
SMITH: Yes, Bill Clinton was in his first year in office when I started here. That's how long. But it has been fantastic.
NGUYEN: So, we want to go through some of those favorite moments. I mean, what do you remember?
SMITH: Favorite moments -- you know what? Favorite moments -- first of all, I'm big college basketball fan, so two of them certainly would be the 1997 Final Four. Arizona was not supposed to win anything, the final four. But they ran through all the big boys, beat them.
2005 was also another one. Illinois losing to North Carolina, Roy Williams' first title. Illinois, Bruce Weber, one of the classiest acts in all of sports. The Beijing Olympics last year was big for me.
NGUYEN: All right.
SMITH: Michael Phelps is clearly using (INAUDIBLE). But also, the stabbing, and that was a moment of a horrific day for us...
LUI: Right.
SMITH: ... that you just didn't know.
LUI: Shifting gears immediately. SMITH: Sure, is this going to be -- you know, those others stop. But obviously, there's an attack on Americans? I mean, what's going on?
LUI: Right.
SMITH: It was a very different day for me and a long day. Seeing the Red Sox break the curse, the bambino back in 2004 this week with the cardinals and the World Series.
But my favorite overall was the Rose Bowl in '07. And that was when Texas...
NGUYEN: The Longhorns. I knew I liked you.
(LAUGHTER)
LUI: Are you sucking up to Betty here?
SMITH: I'm not. I'm not. And our producer, at the end also attacked us not at all. However, USC and came and give us a coronation. And they just -- Vince Young played...
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Down to the final seconds. Oh -- you got me excited to think about that game.
SMITH: That was very cool, I mean, the Heisman Trophy winner, Desmond Howard, and I walked on the field and I didn't recognize him without his patch.
And he said, he walks with a big smile and said "I'm a big fan of yours." And I said, "Well, hi, you could surely think of somebody else. I'm Larry Smith." "I know I'm Desmond Howard." And I went...
(CROSSTALK)
SMITH: It's awesome. So, I'm talking to Desmond Howard as Vince Young runs by and scored the game-winning touchdown. How cool is that...
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: But you didn't miss it though in speaking to him?
SMITH: I didn't miss it. No, we were right there talking and we really this. So...
NGUYEN: So, before you go, I got to ask you -- do you think we're going to take the title again this year?
SMITH: I think they have a great chance. I mean, if I had a vote, Colt McCoy would get my highest.
NGUYEN: Really? SMITH: I mean I think he's a fantastic quarterback. Mack Brown is a great coach down there. You know, I will miss -- you know, I turned 41 last Friday. So, I've been a CNN sports anchor...
NGUYEN: Happy belated birthday.
SMITH: Thank you -- for 16 of my 20 years as an adult. So, when I sign off on Friday on HLN, you know, it will be some emotional, there going to be questions. But we're so excited about what's next and we'll always be.
LUI: Wait a second. Right there.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Who is that guy?
LUI: Who takes the shot? Brave action.
NGUYEN: Look at Larry.
SMITH: Oh, my, look at that. Mike Krzyzewski, 2001.
LUI: Hey, Larry, many years of classy work.
NGUYEN: Yes.
LUI: So, really good stuff.
NGUYEN: A lot of hard work, too, long hours. You know I've done live shots with you here on this show when you are at the Super Bowl or whatnot. See you late in the evening so have really worked very hard and very long here and we appreciate all that you've done. I'm going to miss you. But very excited about the new venture, can't wait to hear about it.
SMTH: Give me a few weeks. After the holidays, we can probably lift the curtain. And then they'll, OK, nine to stand by.
NGUYEN: I got you. Well, I'm going to be there rooting and cheering for you all the way.
Thank you, Larry.
SMITH: Thanks. Thank you. Appreciate it.
NGUYEN: And, you know, there has been a lot of debate about religion lately. But what if faith was what separated or wasn't what separated us? What if it actually brought us together?
LUI: And that's what author Mitch Albom's new book is. We'll talk to him live this morning in the 8:30 half hour of CNN SUNDAY -- that's about an hour from own in our regular "Faces of Faith" segment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: All right. Getting your comments this morning on this story. A woman in Canada who is on sick leave for depression, well, she lost those sick leave benefits because she posted pictures on her Facebook page of her partying and vacationing. Now, she's fighting to get those benefits back. But we want to know what you think about, and was it fair?
I'm going to go to my Facebook page. And Francis says, "I don't think the insurance company can diagnosis her state of mind from one picture on her Facebook. I'll take the doctors' word over there. But saying as how many of us go to work regardless of how we're feeling, I don't have much pity."
And quickly to my Twitter site. Extreme 1316 says, "No, she should not have lost her benefits. Though, sedan driver says it sounds like she got caught.
And, yes. So, we appreciate your comments this morning. Obviously we're going to have much more on this today, because we're going to continue talking about this story and a couple of others that are very interesting.
LUI: Yes.
NGUYEN: Dating in the dark and something we're going to be talking next hour. The Pope drops his new album today.
LUI: How about that?
NGUYEN: Who knew, right? We'll give you details on that.
LUI: And you already have a lot of people responding, as you were saying. I'm looking forward to that.
CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues in 30 minutes, by the way with a look at our top stories. But, first, for you, "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta starts right now for you.
