Photoshop Elements :: Tool Over Distracting Element And Left Click

I've been using PS and PSE since 2003 so I'm not what you'd call a new PSE user.  I upgraded to PSE9 a few years ago but now I can't get the clone stamp to work correctly. I keep getting black spots on the distracting elements that I want to remove.  I've gone through Scott Kelby's PSE9 book a million times but still can't get the tool to work correctly.All I get are the black spots. I'm working on photo submissions and time is running out.  Here's what I'm doing. 
 
1)  First I select the Clone Stamp tool and then the brush size I want to use (usually around size 45)
 
2)  Then, I sample the area just to the left of the distracting element that I want to remove.  (I use Alt + left click)
 
3)  Then I run the tool over the distracting element and left click.  But instead of getting my sampled area clone, I get a black spot.
 
I thought that maybe I was using too big of a brush but that's not the case.  So, what the heck am I doing wrong or is there some kind of an update or tool that will allow me to remove distracting elements more easily?