Senate Votes Today on Same-Sex Marriage Amendment; Immigration Battle
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. Happening this morning, the Senate is voting on a same-sex marriage ban. The vote on a constitutional amendment is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. It's not expected to pass. A powerful voice of support for Marines accused of a massacre in Haditha. The lieutenant who commanded them before Haditha has come out to say they had a strong moral compass in the past. A huge dust storm -- take a look at these pictures -- driven by 60-mile-an-hour winds passed over Phoenix, Arizona. High-rises are covered in dust now, and the air was so dark that cars had to pull over off the highways. There were no serious injuries though reported, fortunately. Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien.</s>MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Miles O'Brien. We're glad you're with us this morning. An amendment banning same-sex marriage headed for a vote and defeat this morning, but lawmakers debating the polarizing issue knew the ban wouldn't garner a two-thirds majority of the Senate. But this is one issue where the debate is more important than the outcome. CNN's Kyung Lah is live now from Washington for us. Good morning, Kyung.</s>KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles. No real high drama out of this because we already know the outcome, as you pointed out. But what is interesting is the political dance.</s>SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: We simply cannot strip marriage of its core that it be the union of a man and a woman.</s>LAH (voice over): For hours, U.S. senators spoke on and on, some verbally wondering why.</s>SEN. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D), NEW JERSEY: What matters most in these chambers, unfortunately, at this time is politics and elections. Too bad, America.</s>LAH: No one expects the measure to win the 67 votes need for passage, but that's not the point, say supporters.</s>SEN. DAVID VITTER (R), LOUISIANA: Secondly, it helps it because we're building votes. My prediction is we're going to have more votes than two years ago.</s>LAH: And in the future, they promise enough votes to win a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The issue helped keep President Bush in the White House in 2004, as his conservative religious base rallied to the polls. Republicans are hoping it will work again. Voters in a handful of states this November will consider measures banning same-sex marriage.</s>REP. JOHN LEWIS (D), GEORGIA: We cannot and we will not stand by silently and see division written in the Constitution again.</s>LAH: Democrats, while complaining the debate is a waste of time, know at the same time this debate airs an issue important to the Republicans' political base.</s>SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Get back immediately to the real business of the nation.</s>LAH: Now, supporters point out they will likely win a majority this morning. Maybe not an outright victory, but if enough conservatives get into office this midterm, then an amendment is more likely the next time around -- Miles.</s>M. O'BRIEN: Kyung Lah in Washington. Thank you very much -- Soledad.</s>LAH: You bet.</s>S. O'BRIEN: A dangerous medical warnings now for U.S. troops in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Many may face permanent brain damage without even knowing it. "USA Today" is quoting military researchers who say the troops could be going back into combat with undiagnosed concussions caused by hearing frequent explosions. As many as 20 percent of soldiers could be affected. President Bush is still confident that Congress is going to agree on an immigration reform package despite some major differences between the House and the Senate versions. Today he's visiting a center in Nebraska that's helping immigrant families. CNN's Elaine Quijano has more for us this morning.</s>ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): President Bush chose the only U.S. Border Patrol academy in the country to deliver his latest pitch on comprehensive immigration reform. With the House and Senate bills remaining far apart, Mr. Bush suggested both sides in the emotional debate share basic beliefs.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And while the differences grab the headlines, the similarities and approaches are striking. We all agree we need to control our borders. There's a common agreement that the federal government has a responsibility to control the borders.</s>QUIJANO: To emphasize that part of his message, the president chose as his backdrop this facility in Artesia, New Mexico, where America's future Border Patrol agents receive training in everything from checkpoint operations to immigration law. Mr. Bush also oversaw the swearing in of their new boss, Ralph Basham, former Secret Service director and now the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. By highlighting their work, Mr. Bush hopes to sway skeptical House Republicans who have long called for tougher border security measures and want that dealt with before tackling other aspects of immigration reform. Yet, the president remains convinced that a temporary guest worker program and a path to what he calls earned citizenship are vital to reforming immigration laws. Critics call that path amnesty, but during a second stop in Laredo, Texas, the president took issue with his critics.</s>BUSH: Amnesty is something nobody is for in America. I'm not for it. But in order to frighten people, you just say the word "amnesty".</s>QUIJANO (on camera): Next up for President Bush, he will travel to a Catholic Charities facility in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday. During that visit, he's expected to discuss the need for immigrants to assimilate into American society. Elaine Quijano, CNN, Artesia, New Mexico.</s>S. O'BRIEN: CNN is going to carry the president's remarks from Omaha later this morning live. We're expecting them around 9:40 a.m. Eastern Time. Time now for a check of the forecast with Rob Marciano. He's in for Chad Myers. Hi, Rob.</s>ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Soledad. Kind of a mess across the Northeast today.</s>MARCIANO: Soledad and Miles, back to you.</s>M. O'BRIEN: Thank you very much, Rob. Still to come on the program, why Iraq is releasing hundreds from some of the country's most notorious prisons. We're live in Baghdad.</s>S. O'BRIEN: And then new details about the secret CIA prisons in eastern Europe.</s>M. O'BRIEN: And the Shiloh-down. The parents, Brangelina, cashing in on their new pride and joy. But wait, don't worry. It's for charity. First, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.