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New Bin Laden Video Released; President Obama Meets With Brazilian President; NAACP Files Class-Action Lawsuit Against Lenders; The Banks Fight Back; Information You Need to Know Before Signing Paperwork; How to Keep Mechanics From Taking Your Wallet for a Ride
Aired March 14, 2009 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: New right now, the president jumps into the middle of an international custody battle, and an elderly cancer victim gunned down at his home. Police behind the trigger. The FBI wants answers.
Good evening, everyone. But we start with breaking news about the world's most wanted man. Osama bin Laden is supposedly back with a new message, this time accusing Israel of a Holocaust.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OSAMA BIN LADEN, AL QAEDA LEADER (through translator): The Holocaust of Gaza in the midst of this long siege is an important historical event, an articulate tragedy, which affirms the need for detachment of the Muslims from the hypocrites. It is not right that our condition after what happened in Gaza be like our condition prior to it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: CNN international correspondent Michael Ware joins us now. Michael, the al Qaeda leader's condemnation towards Israel is posted on an Islamic website.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right Don. And in many ways, in terms of Jihadi rhetoric and propaganda, this is a no brainer by Osama bin Laden. The issue of Palestine clearly at the heart of much of the Islamic militarism that we see. Israel being the primary target for all of these militants.
Now, some things to note, however, is that firstly, we're hearing from Osama again. Yet another reminder that he's still out there.
Also, we see that al Sahab, the al Qaeda media production company, is maintaining its track record of some sophistication. We see that the statement is being released with English and Arabic transcripts, and with English subtitles. We haven't had to subtitled that. They've done that for us.
It's also a message to the west. We don't see Osama. But then again, why would he have to reveal his hand?
LEMON: Michael, speaking of the west, during the half hour recording he also condemns what he calls the moderate Arab countries who allow the U.S. to maintain influence in the Middle East.
WARE: Perfect point on that. That was just what I was about to come to. This, again, is a reflection of part of the great debate at the very heart of al Qaeda's theology. Now in terms of al Qaeda's Jihad or holy war, there are two tracks, among many. But primarily, it's the near enemy versus the far enemy. On 9/11, we saw an attack on the far enemy.
But for Osama, from the classic old school of al Qaeda, one of the main enemies should be the Arab states that are seen as apostates, or unbelievers who have betrayed Islam, and who are assisting either America or Israel, either in act or omission. So, in many ways, that kind of targeting of Egypt and other Arab states is classic al Qaeda doctrine.
LEMON: CNN international correspondent Michael Ware, we appreciate you for joining us now.
Let's go to Washington. President Obama's meeting the today with the president of Brazil. The economy was the main topic. The president also took time to get involved in an international custody battle. Let's go to the White House and Elaine Quijano. Elaine, first tell us about the meeting. Then we'll get to the questions about the custody battle.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. As you noted, front and center, of course, on the agenda was the economy. At one point it was interesting, because Brazil's president joked about the fact that President Obama has really got a daunting challenge ahead of him. That is to not only to get the U.S. economy back on track, but then, by extension, the global economy as well.
President Obama, we should mention, was also asked about China's concerns about the massive investment that it has the United States. We're talking one trillion dollars in U.S. debt that China holds. President Obama basically said, look, China and other countries, don't worry about the U.S. economy, your investments are safe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think that not just the Chinese government, but every investor can have absolute confidence in the soundness of investments in the United States. That is not just in U.S. issued Treasury notes, but also in the private sector, in the commerce and the industry that has made this the most dynamic economy in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: After that meeting, President Obama also tried to dismiss the notion that there's any kind of rift between the United States and the world's top economies over the best approach on how to handle the financial crisis. That is important, Don, because these comments were coming ahead of a meeting next month, a crucial economic summit of the G-20, some of the world's top economies. LEMON: Absolutely. It was kind of a surprising moment when the president talked about -- got into the middle really -- I don't know if it's the middle. He did comment on the custody battle with the Brazilian president. What was that all about?
QUIJANO: Well, privately, we understand, a senior administration official tells CNN that President Obama did raise the issue of Sawn Goldman in their private talks in the Oval Office. He is the eight- year-old boy who is locked -- who is in the middle of a very heart wrenching custody battle. His father, David Goldman, an American, has been fighting for custody of his son Sean, fighting custody against Brazilian relatives. It's a case that's certainly gotten a lot of attention here in the United States, not just in Washington, with law makers and top officials, but also people as well.
In fact, there was a protest here outside the White House this afternoon on this case. What's so interesting about it is that there's really not any daylight between the U.S. government and the Brazilian government. Basically that the boy should be returned to his father. But it's a difficult, complicated scenario, because it's up to the Brazilian courts to decide. Don, really that is what the situation is right now. It's really sort of stuck in the Brazilian courts.
LEMON: It's been sad watching. There some videotapes of the man with his son, when he had him. It's really heart wrenching. So, Elaine, we really appreciate it. Definitely we'll follow up on this story. The president speaking out about it, and Elaine Quijano reporting on it from the White House. Thank you.
Tough times here in the United States are just part of a global slowdown. Today, the world's leading economic officials, members of the G-20, wrapped up a meeting just outside London. US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner praised his counterparts for acting quickly as the crisis began to take hold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIMOTHY GEITHNER, TREASURY SECRETARY: You are seeing the world move together at a speed and on a scale without precedent in modern times. All the major economies are putting in place substantial fiscal packages. The stronger the response, the quicker recovery will come. And that's why the United States has passed the most largest, most comprehensive recovery program in decades.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The G-20 is laying the ground work for next month's summit of the 20 richest and emerging economies. The G-20 was formed ten years ago to promote financial stability in the wake of the Asian and Russian financial crises. It includes the eight richest countries, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and, of course, the United States. The G-20 accounts for 80 percent of the world's trade and represents two thirds of its population.
That US recovery program, as Geithner calls it, didn't come easily, as you know. We're all feeling it. In fact, most Republicans voted against it. And they're still smarting over its 780 billion dollar price tag. Today, Senator Charles Grassley took aim at the cost of President Obama's next big financial goal, the 2010 budget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: All of the tax increases would be the biggest tax increase in history. And that's not all. Even if every one of these tax increases goes on the books, this budget still nearly triples the national debt by 2019.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The Obama administration acknowledges that its budget will push the deficit to a record high. But it also says the deficit will fall by about half by 2013.
Beginning Monday, get five days of unprecedented worldwide reporting on the money meltdown that is changing everyone's lives from CNN, the only news network that would take on a big story like this. Just who can lead us out of the crisis? What do all the numbers really mean? And where are the jobs? "Road to Rescue," the CNN survival guide, all next week, of course, right here on CNN.
Add another issue to President Obama's ambitious agenda, the safety of your food supply. He used today's weekly address to name former New York City Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg his choice to head the Food and Drug Administration. Mr. Obama called the current food safety system a hazard to public health. He said, he wants to see urgent reforms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Our system of inspection and enforcement is spread out so widely, among so many people, that it's difficult for different parts of our government to share information, work together, and solve problems.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: President Obama says many of the nation's food safety laws were written early last century. He's creating a special advisory group to update those laws. For the 20th time this year, arsonists have struck in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. An early morning blaze badly damaged two homes in a Philadelphia suburb. Authorities say it was deliberately set this time. In addition to the fires inside Coatesville, an arson task force is looking into several blazes outside the city. Right now, a suspect awaits trial in connection with arson fires over a one-month span, starting early January. They include a massive fire that engulfed 15 row homes.
An elderly cancer victim gunned down by police. Plus, allegations that law men may have planted a weapon on the dead man's body.
Also, of course, we want you to be part of our program tonight. Log on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com. If you send us your comments, we'll get them on the air for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A police shooting in a small town in Louisiana is attracting attention from the highest levels of law enforcement. Here's what's at issue: did police plant a weapon on a dying 73-year- old man after gunning him down? CNN's Sean Callebs went to Homer, Louisiana, to get some answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is 73-year- old Bernard Monroe. Three weeks ago, on February 20th, it was later afternoon. He was barbecuing for his family, their kids and his grand kids.
Two white police officers pulled up to the house. They had come to question Monroe's son, Sean. Sean has a long record of arrests and convictions. But he has no outstanding warrants, so it's unclear why police wanted to see him on that day.
Witnesses say when Sean saw the officers, he ran into the house. One of the officers, who had only been on the Homer police force for a few weeks, chased him inside. What happened next is murky at best.
This woman, Denise Nicholson, Sean's sister in law was there. She says 73 year old Bernard Monroe walked toward the house to see what was going on.
DENISE NICHOLSON, FAMILY MEMBER: So he had his hands up like this right here. And so the police officer just turned around and just started shooting. Then, after he shot about seven or eight times, he hollers, he got a gun. Ain't nobody seen no gun yet.
CALLEBS: Monroe had throat cancer and it had destroyed his voice. The police department says Monroe was holding a loaded gun when he was shot. The officer who killed him is currently on paid leave.
Witnesses that day tell a different story. They insists it was a sports drink bottle, and that after the shooting, the other police officer took a gun Monroe kept on his front porch and placed it near the dying man.
"I saw the officer pick up the gun off the porch. I said, what are you doing. The cop told me, shut the hell up. You don't know what you're talking about."
As allegations of a police cover up spread, tensions have only grown worse.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The only thing we're asking for is justice. And for the truth to be known.
CALLEBS: Three investigations are under way. The FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Louisiana State Police are all involved. Law enforcement sources tell me there are a huge number of investigators from as far away as New Orleans and Lafayette. They're taking this investigation seriously.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a loss for the whole community. Everybody is lost.
CALLEBS: Sean Callebs, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: We've been asking you for your comments. A lot of you have been commenting as well. Take a look at what some of you are saying. We're going to read it right here. They're talking about the man. It sure looks like they did. They're talking planting a gun or weapon on that man. Per eye witness, "I would love to see the death penalty on the table on this issue." That's from Fozen (ph).
Also, MSNPost says, "I believe all law enforcement employees should undergo background checks and mental evaluations. Enough is enough." These are all coming in moments, even while that story was airing.
CLSS68 says, "it's not surprising. The police are known to do much work." The responses keep going and going. A lot of you weighing in on that police issue. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com, we appreciate it. We will get them on the air.
A warrant for Lindsay Lohan's arrest. I know you guys will be commenting on this as well. Why are police looking for her?
Plus, it was one year ago today when a tornado ripped through downtown Atlanta. I was there. So was Jacqui Jeras.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Time to be green, because St. Patrick's Day, St. Paddy's day maybe I should say, just around the corner. For some people, that means time to shave the old noggin.
Oh, my gosh, look at that guy. A lot of these guys didn't have much to shave. That is a charity event. It's called St. Baldrick's (ph) Day. This man had 14 inches of hair cut off, that guy you saw with the pony tails. All of it was donated to Locks of Love, a very good cause, which turns the donated hair into wigs for cancer patients.
Let's go to Chicago now, where St. Paddy's day is a huge holiday. I know firsthand. The Chicago River was dyed green. Sometimes, they don't have to do much dying, Jacqui, for the celebration. The city held the annual parade today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: Seriously, where is Lindsay Lohan? It's the 50,000 dollar question here, Jacqui. The Beverly Hills Police Department has issued a warrant for Lohan's arrest at the amount of bond, 50,000 dollars. Police won't say exactly why they want her, but speculation is that it may be related to a probation violation for her 2007 convictions for drunken driving.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: She's had a rough couple of years.
LEMON: Turn yourself in. Get it all over. Gosh, I wish -- if I had that much success and money at that age --
JERAS: Some people can't handle it.
LEMON: Boy, oh boy. OK, this is a very serious one as well. Miami police have drug and alcohol tested Cleveland Brown wide receiver Dante Stallworth after his involvement in an accident that killed a pedestrian. A police spokesman says Stallworth's Bentley hit a 49-year-old man who was crossing a busy roadway this morning. The victim was pronounced dead at a trauma center. It is not clear if the victim was J-walking. Not many specifics on this case. We will follow it. As of now, no charges against Stallworth and no word on the result of the drug and alcohol test. I'm sure we'll find out more.
We're also finding out more from you guys, because you are weighing in on all of this. Here's what Katherine Jannis (ph) says from one of our platforms: "what's on my mind? Not Lindsay Lohan." Thank you very much. We appreciate your candor.
Vivid13 says, "is Lohan's warrant actually worth mentioning? In related news, the sun is going to set again tonight." Very good. There are more down there. Also they're weighing in about law enforcement as well. We appreciate that, and we like to know. If you don't care about Lindsay Lohan, tell us. Appreciate it. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com. We will get them on the air, Jacqui, some dissenting voices. We don't like you reporting about Lindsay Lohan.
Also, there's a troubling allegation. No matter how good your credit, if you're black some banks are going to steer you right toward a subprime loan. That is what the NAACP is saying. We're going to dig deeper.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I'm Don Lemon. Here's what's happening right now. The economy and a custody dispute topped the agenda today when President Barack Obama met with the president of Brazil. The custody battle involves an American father whose former wife took their son to Brazil and she died several years later. The boy now lives with his stepfather's family.
New comments reportedly from Osama bin Laden. The al Qaeda leader condemn's Israel's recent military entrance to Gaza. He calls it a Holocaust. The message popped up on an Islamic website. For the 20th time this year, arsonists have struck in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. An early morning blaze damaged two homes in the Philadelphia suburb.
I'm going to ask you a very disturbing question now: if you're black, are you more likely to be forced into a bad loan? The NAACP says yes. And it's taking two big banks to court, accusing them of steering black borrowers into subprime mortgages. They're filing class action lawsuits against Wells Fargo and HSBC, claiming black home buyers have been three and a half times more likely to get a subprime loan than whites. Those loans carry higher interest rates and usually go to borrowers with lower credit ratings.
The NAACP says many black home buyers got those loans even though their credit scores and income matched the white counters. The group is demanding more transparency in the loan process, especially since Wells Fargo is getting federal bail out money. The NAACP has similar lawsuits pending against a dozen other subprime lenders. CNN talked to NAACP President Ben Jealous.
BENJAMIN JEALOUS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NAACP: The reality is that this is a great country. We've made a lot of changes. There's some old patterns and problems that continue to persist. Some of this has to do with where the banks are and where the banks aren't, and how disempowered people feel going across town to go to the bank, or the fact that walking down their street, they're going to be roped in by some broker.
It also has to do with the art of the deal. You see similar things often in the car, where people look at a black consumer and say, you know what, I think this person just feels less empowered. I'm going to be able to roll them better than I can roll a white person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: The banks are fighting back. In a statement obtained by CNN, Wells Fargo says, "The NAACP allegations are totally unfounded and reckless. We have never tolerated, and will never tolerate, discrimination in any way, shape or form in any of our business practices, products or services. We are proud of our lengthy record leading the industry in responsible lending practices and in support of the communities we serve, which makes the very thought of a discrimination claim reprehensible to us."
HSBC put out a statement saying, "HSBC stands by its fair lending and consumer protection practices. We are confident we are treating our customers fairly and with integrity."
We have heard from the banks. We have heard from the NAACP higher ups. Now let's talk to an alleged victim. Amara Weaver is from Milwaukie and an NAACP member. She owns a home that's a 6.2 percent mortgage and decided to buy the house next door for her son hoping for a similar rate. At closing, she found out it would be 11 percent. Ms. Weaver told me why she decided to buy a second home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMARA WEAVER, ALLEGED VICTIM: The reason I bought the house is the house wasn't being maintained. The house was being used as a drug house. I wanted to clean it up and make my neighborhood a safer place, but to also help my community as well.
LEMON: When you saw the fine print, I think you noticed it was 11 percent. I believe your understanding is you were shocked and later insulted. You went through it -- went through with the deal anyway. Some would question why you decided to go through with it if it's not what you thought it was going to be.
WEAVER: When I found out the rate had been changed, I was at the closing, signing papers. I had already made preparation for the house to be restored. I had contractors in place. I had already put out additional moneys in order to get the place renovated.
LEMON: So you were stuck.
WEAVER: So I was kind of stuck. Yeah, I was stuck.
LEMON: I understand that. How did you become part of this lawsuit? Did the NAACP reach out to you? Did you reach out to them? Did you say something is going on and take action? What happened?
WEAVER: I was at a NAACP national conference two years ago when I heard talk about what was going on. I just spoke up and said, you know, I'm a victim. And when they asked what happened, I explained what happened to me.
LEMON: It seems to have happened to a lot of other people. We got the complaint here. It's a lengthy complaint. Do you think they did this to you? It used to be called red lining, when you lead certain classes of people, races of people to certain areas? Do you believe you were red lined when it comes to this particular -- getting this loan here?
WEAVER: Yes, I do. I had good credit. You know, there was no reason for me not to get a reasonable rate with my -- with the credit I had.
LEMON: What are you hoping to get out of this? .
WEAVER: Well, the biggest thing is exposure. Once you expose things, then hopefully something positive will happen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. That was Miss Weaver. Appreciate her coming on CNN.
Again, we want to remind you, the banks targeted in the NAACP lawsuit have responded. Wells Fargo calls the allegations unfounded and reckless and says the very thought of a discrimination claim is, quote, "reprehensible to us." HSBC says, it, quote, "stands by its fair lending and consumer protection practices." A lot of you will be weighing in on this. We want you to send your thoughts to us here at CNN.
Here's the most important question to ask about our developing story here. What are some red flags to look for? Mortgage Specialist Clyde Anderson has answers for you just moments away. You don't want to miss it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We have been talking about banks and their lending practices, especially the allegations that some big banks have discriminated against blacks. Now we want to focus on you, the buyer. No matter what race you are, what creed you are, we need to get help for you. Before you sign anything you need some information.
So housing and finance expert, Clyde Anderson, joins me now.
We've been talking a lot about the NAACP class-action lawsuit out there. Are you hearing a lot about this? There was a ground swell, wasn't it?
CLYDE ANDERSON, HOUSING AND FINANCE EXPERT: It came out of nowhere. We talked about this some time ago as far as what was going on in the subprime market. Now with this coming up on Friday, I'm hearing more talk about it.
LEMON: Especially on Facebook. It's on your Facebook. I've been getting a lot about it as well on Facebook. What about the validity of the lawsuit, the class-action lawsuit? Is it hard to prove? Do they have a case here?
ANDERSON: I think it's very hard to prove. You have to look at it from several different aspects. One is that if you're looking side by side and comparing two people, one being a black person, one being a white person, you have to look at credit. If the white person has a lower credit score than a black person, they're going to receive a higher interest rate and vice-versa. It's not a race thing. It's not a color thing. It's a credit thing. So, you know...
LEMON: Well, I've heard people say that. I heard someone come on and say it's not a race thing. But when most of the people that are doing it are black, how is that not race?
ANDERSON: It has to be proved. Now, when you go back and look at their cords, you look at the race of all of these people, if you see a huge disparity, you see all these black people that received 11 percent interest rates compared to white counterparts with the same type of credit, then we've got...
LEMON: So percentage wise it's equal?
ANDERSON: I wouldn't say it's equal. I think there's an education piece that we really have to look at as far as the education of the home buyer, or potential home buyer and the race. If some of us have received less education or if some of us have not looked so much into the process to understand it.
LEMON: Let's talk about the fight to help people who have not gotten involved. There are red flags for buyers -- high pressure sales tax, balloon payment and repayment penalties. That's like digging you deeper into an already high interest rate.
ANDERSON: Really, we have to get a good-faith estimate. You should shop around. Don't go to one lender and think that's the end all. Really, go to two or three different lenders. Shop and compare.
LEMON: But some of the lenders help get people into this problem. So is there someone outside -- an unbiased person you can talk to and say here's what I have on paper? Is it good? Is it legit? Is it legal?
ANDERSON: Consumer credit counseling services. Several agencies do home-buying seminars. Go to a home-buying seminar, a home-buying course prior to going through the process.
LEMON: To protect yourself, what do you do?
ANDERSON: To protect yourself, that's what you do. You read. You ask other people. Seek wise counsel.
LEMON: Information.
ANDERSON: Information is key. Education and information. Ask questions, get the answers, and compare.
LEMON: Also, there's a phone number I want to give them here, Mr. Clyde Anderson. I like the name, by the way. It's 1-800 -- It's hud.gov/fair, if you want to going on line. The phone number is 1- 800-669-9777. 1-800-669-9777. Better safe than sorry when it comes to this.
ANDERSON: Definitely.
LEMON: Clyde Anderson, thank you. Very good information. Appreciate it.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Any time.
Here's what some folks are saying.
Are viewers are weighing in, Clyde.
KPExpress says, "Don't put money into a property you don't own. Check the details before closing to avoid confusion. Not the bank's fault."
Very good tweak there.
Steve08 says, "I had an experience when a mortgage broker decided she wanted to sell my house while I had just had emergency surgery for an accident."
OK, that sounds weird.
RandyMiles2go says, "I'm glad the NAACP is going after those companies. My participants were hoodwinked by them."
PnutButter says, "You know it's a bad deal when you make $50,000 and they try to loan you $500,000. It ain't rocket science."
Absolutely.
SKscoggins says, "Avoid getting ripped off by actually reading the mortgage agreement. Yes, it's a lot of boring stuff but you have to do it. It's your responsibility."
Like Clyde Anderson said, get someone to go over the information with you if you're not sure.
Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com, that's how you become part of our show.
Right after this show, it's "The Situation Room" with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
Wolf, what do you have for us?
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Thanks, Don. We have a good hour of "The Situation Room" coming up right at the top of the hour.
Let me tell you what's going to be included. Among other things, we speak to a victim who lost $5 million in the Bernard Madoff rip- off. We'll also hear from the president's education secretary, Arne Duncan. He has some major ideas on reforming the nation's educational system. And Colin Powell, the former secretary of state, some strong views on what kids need to do right now.
All of that and a lot more coming up on "The Situation Room," Don, at the top of the hour.
LEMON: Thanks, Wolf. We will be watching.
When times are tough, the crooks come crawling out. and the auto repair industry is a prime target.
Josh Levs, is that so?
JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: You and I look at this and we see an engine. Some mechanics see an opportunity to rip you off. What you should watch out for. We've got the answers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Every car needs regular maintenance. If you're not careful, you could spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on unnecessary repairs. Josh Levs tells us how to keep a mechanics from taking your wallet for a ride.
Josh, I can't see you under the hood of a car. Come on, do you know about the stuff?
LEVS: I'm like everybody else. I have to trust a mechanic. I'm in that situation. This is why you saw me in the parking lot the other day.
LEMON: Under a hood of a car in your white T-shirt and jeans and your rag, and everything, and your tool belt. You were working it out.
LEVS: You're about to see in a video that none of that is true. We were outside in the CNN parking lot. Here's why. An automotive expert at "Consumer Reports" gave me all this great advice about how to spot a scam, if a mechanic tries to pull one on you. What we did was really cool. We took it, we boiled it down to 90 seconds for you.
So here in 90 seconds, what you need to know to avoid a mechanic scam.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED, CONSUMER REPORTS: One of the things is the serial parts replacer. The person who is constantly replacing a belt or always saying we have to replace your battery gain. Your battery is draining. If you're constantly replacing the same part over and over or a bunch of parts, and the problem isn't going away, talk to the mechanic first off, or fire them and find someone new.
Another rip-off you might see is what's called the flush. You go into the service center and they say, we should flush the oil or flush the oil out of the engine or we should flush the radiator. We need all new fluids in there. They use a power machine that basically rips everything through, sends the fluids out and replaces it with new fluids. Unfortunately, that knocks the sediment out of the radiator of engine or transmission and that can cause problems down the road.
One thing people have to know is you don't have to go to the dealership. You can go to a mechanic to have the regularly scheduled maintenance performed. In the car you have a serviceman manual. It says the 12,000 service, the 30,000, the 45,000 service. It lists what has to be done. You can save about $200 to $300 in some cases by going to an independent, rather than the dealer.
The final thing you really should look out for is the severe use cycle. We all drive in a normal, average use cycle. Stop and go traffic on the highway, in and out on the city, but a lot of times the dealers will say, no, you need a severe use. You need a more aggressive cycle getting your car maintained. Instead of having 7,000-mile oil changes because you're using a synthetic, they want you to replace it every 3,000. Where they make money in the dealerships now is in service, not up front when they're selling the car. It's in the service department.
(END VIDEOTAPE) LEVS: I love that. We pulled out all the extra stuff. We can get it all to you in 90 seconds.
We end on that. Cnn.com/autos has a lot of great info there. If you were not writing everything down, everything you saw is up on video at CNN. You can watch the whole thing.
And Don Lemon style, I'll post it on my Facebook page as soon as were done here. Joshlevs.cnn, you will be able to follow it on Facebook and take all the notes yourself, Don.
LEMON: OK, Josh. Yes, Facebook, I haven't friended you yet, because I don't have any more room.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I see your request. I can't get to it.
(LAUGHTER)
Talk to me. Finding a reputable mechanic. That can help people. Tell us real quick, how do you do it?
LEVS: It can. Do obvious things like talk to people. What he said is that if you keep going back to someone several times, you should probably give it a shot, take your car to somebody else, and see if they're spotting things the first mechanic didn't catch. It's good to get someone with AAA or another automotive service or they have a group they have to answer to, not just customers.
LEMON: Just like a doctor, second opinion. Thank you very much, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks.
LEMON: Talk about adapting to the tough times, check this out. How about a restaurant that lets you name your own price? I'm going to that restaurant.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: With some startling numbers of people who don't have jobs, but what does it mean these days to not have hope here. Next weekend, Fredricka Whitfield brings you a series showing the brighter side of a dark economy. She talked to a Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, while he was conducting the largest job fair in the state's history.
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FREDRICKA WHITEFIELD, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It is major. When you look at the numbers, 598,000 jobs lost in January nationwide. February, 697,000 jobs lost. People are feeling really, I guess, depressed and they're at a loss. They're not sure how to grapple with these numbers. And when you're one of those 697,000, you're wondering, how am I going to get back on my feet? MICHAEL THURMOND, GOERGIA LABOR COMMISSIONER: First of all, I'm not just the commissioner of labor. I'm the commissioner of encouragement, the commissioner of hope, and the commissioner of inspiration. My primary job is to help people see that even in the most difficult times, do not give up hope, don't give in, don't give out, don't give up.
WHITFIELD: Why are you such an optimist?
THURMAN: Well, I look at my own life. I grew up poor. We raised -- sharecropped cotton in rural northeast Georgia. My dad worked in the fields all of his life, but one thing he kept was a true faith and a belief that tomorrow will be better than today. This is America. This is a greatest nation on the face of the earth. We've faced greater challenges than this recession.
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LEMON: Good stuff. Fredricka Whitfield. That's some very practical information there next Saturday afternoon. Make sure you join Fredricka Whitfield for "Jobless, Not Hopeless." She will follow people that will go from the jobless line straight into a job. It is an emotional journey. "Jobless, Not Hopeless" begins at noon eastern next Saturday here on CNN with Fredricka Whitfield.
What's 80 percent of a firefighter's jobs? It's not fighting fires. It's responding to millions of medical emergencies each year. This week's "CNN's Hero" of the year has an experienced year in the United States. Then he moved to Guatemala to train firefighters in emergency care. It's a sacrifice that helps make the difference between life and death.
(CNN HEROES)
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LEMON: Dinner and a movie? Between these broadcasts here. Well, maybe not. These days, people aren't eating out as much, but one restaurant in Ohio is trying to change that. It's called the Java Street ob Cafe. It's doing away with traditional price lists and letting customers name their own price for items on the menu. Customers can't believe their ears.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would you like to pay for it?
You get to choose what you think is fair for a small hot chocolate.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really? That's kind of odd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How big is it? Is it grilled?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it is cold sub?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Where's the candid camera, is what I would be saying? What do you call it, you've been punked or something? What's that guy? What's his name who does "Punked," Ashton Kutcher. I know Ashton Kutcher, I just couldn't remember the name. Just having a senior moment.
The cafe's owner says the concept is profitable. He hopes that name your own price will keep customers coming back. I always say free. That's just me.
All right, employees at a local pharmacy in Alabama assumed the worst when they were called in to a staff meeting, but they were pleasantly surprised when instead of layoffs, the pharmacy manager was dishing out $2 bills, $16,000 worth.
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LONNA JACKSON, PHARMACY EMPLOYEE: We all sat there with our mouths open. We cried because it was just such a shock. And then he tells us to spend it, give 15 percent to a charity, and use our local businesses.
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LEMON: Good stuff. Good stuff. That'd be great around here. Each full-time employee received $700 while each part-time worker got $300. The manager got a thank you note from his congressman for his generosity. Very generous of him.
You might call them junior Twitterers or tweeters, or just cute. Check them out. Mrs. White's second-grade class in Orono, Maine, is teaching her students how to Twitter. The class has been exchanging tweets with another second-grade class at a nearby school. The students say they are having fun.
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JENNIFER NOYES, SECOND GRADE TWITTERER: The first time I was just like, it's just some instant messaging blog, but now that I'm actually Twittering, I did it myself. And I've done it more. I really like it.
AVERY WILD, SECOD GRADE TWITTERER: You get to talk with people. Like, you get to see what they're doing and then type in what you're doing. And then they write back what they're doing. Then you kind of have this little connection instead of talking to each other, you can just type. It's like pen palling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Guess what, kids? I'm going to start following you on Twitter. Don lemon -- what is it -- Twitter.com/donlemonCNN. I would love to talk to you guys.
The Twittering is meant to help the children with writing and spelling and online safety. And the two classes have been sharing lesson plans. OK, thank you very much.
Here's what some of you are saying.
Marcus -- I don't know what that's saying -- ganiac (ph), "Revisiting the tornado one year ago in Atlanta was pretty interesting. Remarkable how only two people died. Could have been worse."
Yes, we absolutely agree.
Of course, we appreciate all of your responses.
We'll see you back here at 7:00. In the meantime, "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer starts right now.
