[Holmes:] Hello again everybody. Welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING, I'm T.J. Holmes.
[Baldwin:] Good morning, I'm Brooke Baldwin in for Betty Nguyen. Let's get going, get to our top stories first here this morning. Talking about the situation now in Afghanistan. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says he is convinced that civilians were among those killed in a NATO air strike. We told you about this air strike yesterday. About 90 people were killed in northern Afghanistan and what happened was it came after two tanker trucks were hijacked late Thursday by the Taliban. A large number of people were attempting to siphon fuel from the trucks when they were hit. General Stanley McChrystal, he did visit the site, take a listen.
[Gen. Stanley Mcchrystal, U.s. Commander In Afghanistan:] It's important to me that we be as honest with the Afghan people and with people around the world as possible. Of course, you don't know all the facts until an investigation is complete. And I clearly don't know all the facts now and would not want to affect a potential investigation by making some conclusion that would be inappropriate. From what I have seen today in going to the hospital, it's clear to me that there were some civilians harmed at that site.
[Baldwin:] Some civilians, though we still don't know how many. You heard it mentioned that investigators, with NATO and the Afghan government both are investigating.
[Holmes:] Funerals for seven people in one town yesterday in rural Georgia. Seven of the eight people killed last week north of Brunswick were laid to rest yesterday. The 22-year-old son of one of the victims has now been charged with eight counts of first degree murder. More than 200 mourners attended those funerals. Also news overnight. Van Jones, one of the president's advisers is resigning amid a lot of controversy. Among the controversy, was that he signed a petition in 2004 that suggested the government let the 911 attacks happen. Jones was the president's adviser on green jobs. An administration source says Jones did not read that petition carefully. Jones also had come under fire for some video that surfaced that showed him out in California, calling the republicans a nasty word that I can't repeat here. Jones then gave this statement saying, "On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me. They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide."
[Baldwin:] The president of the United States taking a breather this weekend up in Camp David for a little R&R.; But he has a big week ahead of him. Coming up, health care reform. He will be talking about it for a couple of days this week. Big speech Wednesday; he will push his reform plan at a Labor Day rally, first in Cincinnati tomorrow. And then, on Tuesday, the president will give his address to the nation's school kids. We've been talking about that and the controversy surrounding that. Wednesday the pressure is definitely on. The president will address a joint session of Congress on health care; he's supposed to map out his health care reform strategy. And, then Friday, of course, it's been eight years -can you believe? since 911. The president will be commemorating the tragedy at the Pentagon for that memorial ceremony. Eight years, hard to believe. We all remember where we were.
[Holmes:] A lot has happened since then.
[Baldwin:] President Obama's speech to school children has delivered a tough lesson to the White House.
[Holmes:] Which of course, has been facing some angry backlash from a lot of parents. And the White House now plans to release the transcript of Tuesday's speech, tomorrow, on Monday. CNN's Tom Foreman on the story for us.
[Tom Foreman, Cnn Correspondent:] Call it a fast lesson in public pushback. The president's plan to talk to school kids on Tuesday has some conservative parents saying he is trying to brainwash their kids into buying his politics.
[Shanneen Barron, Parent:] Thinking about my kids
[Unidentified Male:] Politics is totally up to the family. So, will I send my child? I don't know. Right now I would say no, I'll keep them home.
[Foreman:] Across the country, many school districts are encouraging students to watch. In New Orleans, it will be required, but that's an exception. In virtually every state, at least some schools have decided to either not to show the speech, review it first, or make viewing optional. Some cite scheduling conflicts and technical difficulties, but this was not what the White House expected. The president's speech will focus on keeping kids in school, a subject he's promoted before.
[Barack Obama, President Of The United States:] Unfortunately, nearly 30 percent of U.S. high school students aren't making it to graduation.
[Foreman:] But the core complaint seems to be with supplementary teaching materials from the Department of Education. Originally they called for students to write, quote, "What they can do to help the president." [On Camera] The White House has since changed that. Suggesting the children now write about their own educational goals. Furthermore, the text of the president's speech will now be put online Monday, so any teacher, parent, or politician can preview what's going to be said. [Voice Over] Plenty seemed fine with that, including the national president of the
[Pta. Charles Saylors, President, Nat'l. Pta:] We have an opportunity here in the United States for parents, teachers, and students to take part in a tremendous civics lesson.
[Foreman:] Still, just like the crowds at all of those town hall meetings, others are far from satisfied.
[Unidentified Male:] My rights as a parent are being circumvented so that this president can speak to my children.
[Foreman:] And they clearly resent the notion that they are unfairly questioning the president's motives.
[George. H.w. Bush, Fmr. President Of The United States:] Education matters. What you do today, and what you don't do, can change your future.
[Foreman:] After all, they point out, when the first President Bush spoke to school kids on TV 1991, top Democrats called that just political advertising on the taxpayers' dime. Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
[Holmes:] We have been asking this weekend what you think about the president addressing the country's school children. A lot of people are weighing in, a lot of response on this one. One response, we're getting, from a 14-year-old, by the name of Jasmine. She says she'll be a freshman on Tuesday. And the president will be talking at her school. She says, "I'm excited and honored he's coming. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Also a message from Carol says. She's not quite 14. She admits she's 56 in here. She says, "I have always raised my children to respect those in authority. I can not remember a time in my life that our children have not been urged to listen to their president! I am a white woman, 56 years old, and I am the first one who hates the race card being used, but this is so obvious." That from Carol. We're getting a lot of responses this morning. We appreciate them coming in. Continue to send them to our blog, CNN.comTJ. Send the comments there. Also you know how to find us on Facebook and Twitter as well.
[Baldwin:] Well, that is Tuesday, that address to school kids nationwide, but Wednesday, is a huge day for the president. He'll be mapping out a strategy when it comes to health care reform. We're also hearing from CNN sources that the White House, the administration will be drafting their own legislation, their own version here. But the president Wednesday will be addressing this joint session of Congress that evening. You can watch that right here on CNN, followed by analysis from the best political team on television. That begins Wednesday, 8:00 o'clock, right here on
[Cnn. Holmes:] Of course, the lawmakers get back from their recess. They will be back this week. And of course, the issue that will continue to loom large with the speech, and with all of the bills out there, health care reform.
[Baldwin:] Health care reform: And in Drexel Hill, that is in Pennsylvania, discussion was described as lively but polite at this town hall meeting hosted by Congressman Joe Sestak. Now, the Democrat does support the option of government-run insurance. His has defied his own party leaders, even the president, by challenging Independent Senator Arlen Specter in the May primaries. Opponents of health care and big government are making sure their protests remain fresh in their lawmaker's memories. On this very last weekend at home for members of Congress, opponents are staging rallies like this one. These Tea Party rallies, like this one in Louisville, Kentucky, and CNN dispatching its crews to these rallies. We want to cover both sides of this here. Today's stops for the Tea Party Express, Bloomington, Indiana and Champaign, Illinois.
[Holmes:] How worried -you've been hearing a lot about it.-but how worried should you actually be about H1N1? A lot of people call it swine flu, but H1N1 is what we are talking about. When can you also get a vaccine? We're talking to someone from the CDC. We're going to the source. Got some answers for you coming up.
[Baldwin:] And an American killed in Afghanistan, our correspondent there in Kabul talked to the top U.S. commander there. She is shadowing him and she will tell us what is on his mind after three months three months there on the job. Stay right here.