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American Morning

Bucking the Bill; Is Toyota Telling the Truth?; Google Vs. China; The Other Smart

Aired March 23, 2010 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning on this Tuesday, the 23rd of March. Thanks for joining us on the Most News in the Morning. I'm John Roberts.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're with us.

Here are the big stories we're breaking down in the next 15 minutes.

First, President Obama poised to sign health care into law this morning. But if you think that means that his critics are giving up? Not really the case. We're live in Washington where Democrats and the president still have a lot of work to do in the days ahead.

ROBERTS: Community activist group, ACORN, is closing up shop. Last year, a video showed workers advising undercover conservative activists posing as a pimp and a prostitute. ACORN says the scandal cost the group its federal and private funding.

CHETRY: Also, if you're smart, what's your EQ? An EQ is your emotional quotient and it could be more important than your I.Q. when it comes to getting a high-paying job. Alina Cho with a special report, "Are You Smart?"

ROBERTS: But first, President Obama staked his presidency on health care reform. And today, he's going to sign this sweeping reform into law. This morning, we're covering the story like no one else can.

Jim Acosta, Brianna Keilar and Jill Dougherty are with us live this from Washington. Jill is at the White House -- and let's start with her.

Jill, we understand that there was supposed to be a big outdoor ceremony planned today, a large crowd but the weather threatening, so they are moving it inside. But the ceremony will go on.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, maybe they goofed on the weather, John, because it's pretty sunny and pretty nice out here, although, it's a little chilly.

But that said, the signing is going to be taking place in the White House in the East Room. We expect it will be packed because everybody who had any type of role in this wants to be in that room. Certainly, the legislators and the Democrats who pulled that vote together. Also, doctors, nurses, health care workers and grassroots organizers will be in the room, as well Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Ted Kennedy.

And then after that signing ceremony, the president goes over to the Interior Department to a big auditorium, even more people over there. And he'll be delivering general comments on health care reform.

There won't be any balloons. Don't look for that because this is, as we've been saying, just one step, because -- a major one, but one before the reconciliation bill has to go to the Senate. So, we'll see how this all works out, John. But there should be some excitement, because, after all, this was a campaign promise by the president and he finally has something to sign.

ROBERTS: And you're right, Jill, the weather does look pretty nice out there this morning. Somebody might have goofed somewhere along the line.

CHETRY: Murphy's Law, though. If they had it outside, it would, of course, rain.

ROBERTS: Exactly.

All right. So, Jill was talking about the next step in all of this, which is sending the other package to the Senate, the package of fixes and the battle not quite over yet because the GOP is promising that they're going to do whatever they can to try to disrupt that process.

Brianna Keilar is breaking down that part of the story for us. She joins us.

So what do they plan to do, Brianna?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Republicans are trying to use anything they can to try to delay this, try to make some changes. And actually, John, their first attempt, which was to argue to the Senate parliamentarian that the bill shouldn't come to the floor, the parliamentarian ruled against them.

So, this bill is expected to go to the Senate floor. The Senate will then debate it and then if they make any changes, it would go over back over to the House.

But let me just show you the different bills and sort of what's going on here today. This is the bill that President Obama will sign into law. As you can see, it's very big. This is the big package. And these are the fixes. This is the changes bill, the reconciliation bill. This is what is at issue right now in the Senate.

And when you talk about some of those changes, it is not Democrats that want to make any. It is, of course, Republicans. And we're waiting to see if they are successful. Because if they are, like I said, it goes over to the House and this process gets extended, John.

ROBERTS: All right. Brianna Keilar for us this morning with the latest on that -- Brianna, thanks.

And how do you think this reform is going to impact you? We want to know. Share your stories with us right now. Go to our live blog at CNN.com/amFIX, and tell us your story.

CHETRY: So, as we've said, health care reform is about to become the law of the land. But there are dozens of states, 36 to be exact, who aren't giving up the fight. They're planning new changes to the reform bill.

Our Jim Acosta is following that part of the story for us live in Washington.

You know, does it ever end in Washington?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

CHETRY: Or is there always -- there always another way to go with this?

ACOSTA: That's right. To quote John Belushi, the fight is not over until we decide it is. If you thought the fight was over with health care reform, guess again. The battle could be coming to a state near you. Plans are in the works for states across the country to mount legal challenges to health care reform before the ink is even dry at today's signing ceremony.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): President Obama, meet Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia's Republican attorney general who is vowing to take health care reform to court.

KEN CUCCINELLI (R), VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: We believe clearly that the federal government does not have the constitutional authority to order every American to buy health insurance.

ACOSTA: That individual mandate to most Americans to buy insurance will not only be tested in Virginia, attorneys general in roughly a dozen states, all Republicans, are also filing lawsuits.

BILL MCCOLLUM (R), FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL: There are no politics involved in this whatsoever. This is something I would do whether I were attorney general or not. This bill is wrong.

ACOSTA: And that's not all. Thirty-six states, in fact, are considering new laws to block an array of health care reform measures. Many of those states point to the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which says powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states. But there's a problem, clause in the Constitution that declares laws passed by Congress as the supreme law of the land. That Supremacy Clause has stood the test of time.

PROF. CAL JILLSON, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY: We've got a very conservative Supreme Court, but they are not about to overturn 200 years of constitutional history and interpretation, and declare that the Supremacy Clause is no longer in effect.

ACOSTA (on camera): Do you believe in the Supremacy Clause?

CUCCINELLI: I believe in God. I read the Supremacy Clause and it is effective law in America.

ACOSTA (voice-over): The White House argues bucking the law at the state level would be a waste of time?

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: My advice from counsel is that we'll win these -- we'll win these lawsuits.

ACOSTA: President Obama once opposed mandates during the campaign.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What really they are saying is, they mandate -- they will -- they will punish you in some way if you don't buy health care.

ACOSTA: Now, the mandate is what opponents of reform want to use to tear the whole thing down.

(on camera): You do hope that what you're doing will bring down the entire statute?

CUCCINELLI: The goal is to -- is to bring down the individual mandate. That's the goal. Stepping into a legal analysis role, I rather expect that that means the whole statute will fall.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Now, Republicans in Congress are also talking about repealing health care reform, but that will not be easy either. A law to scrap health care would require, of course, a signature from the president, Kiran. And he is warming his pen for a very different signing ceremony this morning, as we all know.

CHETRY: Of course. All right. Jim Acosta for us -- thanks so much.

And CNN will, of course, carry the health care signing ceremony. It's live at 11:15 Eastern today from the East Room of the White House. President Obama will also deliver the remarks. Of course, you can catch it online as well, CNN.com/live.

ROBERTS: Eight and a half minutes after the hour. Let's get a quick check of this morning's weather headlines. Rob Marciano is in Atlanta for us. And we had a heck of a storm overnight, Rob. What's the weather looking like in the Northeast today?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Most of the heavier rains have slid further east of New York City. Check it out on the radar scope.

Heavier rain expected across eastern New England today, all spinning around that red "L" which will create a little bit of instability. So, a couple scattered showers possible from D.C. to Philly to New York. But most of the bulk of the heavier rain will be across Boston area. You see the brighter yellows popping up there on the scope.

And we do have some flash flood or some flood warnings that have been posted because of the rainfall on top of what y'all saw last week.

All right. So, that storm moving out, drying out and warming up, actually, this was across south yesterday. And another storm heading through the Rockies. Winter storm warnings are posted for the Front Range, including Denver. We'll tell you how much and talk more details about weather in about 30 minutes.

John, Kiran, back to you.

CHETRY: It sounds good.

ROBERTS: Thanks, Rob.

CHETRY: How ironic, Rob, that it's, of course, sunny at the White House right now. They have to move the whole ceremony inside because of that.

ROBERTS: This weather report still says rain, but that was a pretty nice little sunbeam that was on the north portico there.

CHETRY: There you go.

ROBERTS: Still ahead, the document that Toyota does not want you to see. How long ago did the company know about potential acceleration problems? A CNN special investigation is coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: An exclusive report now from our Special Investigations Unit. It is the document that Toyota did not want you to see and CNN has it.

CHETRY: So do attorneys who are trying to sue Toyota. And they are calling it a smoking gun. They say it proves the auto giant and the federal government conspired to keep critical safety information from the car-buying public.

Here is CNN's Drew Griffin with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): This is the document of clear warning signs from August 2002, nearly eight years ago. The Toyota had a sudden acceleration program, and that according to Toyota's own service bulletin, the problem was electronic.

CLARENCE DITLOW, CENTER FOR AUTOMOBILE SAFETY: If you look at this document, it says electronic. It says the fix is reprogramming the computer. It doesn't say anything about floor mats.

GRIFFIN: The document is called a Technical Service Bulletin and was given to CNN by a group of attorneys now seeking a nationwide class action lawsuit against Toyota. We brought the document to Clarence Ditlow who heads the nonprofit center for auto safety.

Ditlow says the document not previously made public is an indication Toyota knew much earlier about an electronic connection to sudden acceleration. And he says the service bulletin was apparently hidden by the public, not only by Toyota by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration known as NHTSA.

The service bulletin, those sent to every Toyota dealer and NHTSA, was never made public.

DITLOW: The government is really, you know, hiding this information from the consumer. They are in a conspiracy with the auto industry to keep these out of the public sight.

GRIFFIN: NHTSA declined comment on Ditlow's assertions.

(on camera): The lawyers now suing Toyota claim that this Toyota service bulletin is proof that the company knowingly lied to the public, blaming its sudden acceleration problems on floor mats or stuck gas pedals.

(voice-over): Tim Howard is a law professor at Northeastern University who heads the legal group that is saying Toyota hid the real problem for one reason, recalling all affected vehicles could cost billions.

TIM HOWARD, ATTORNEYS TOYOTA ACTION CONSORTIUM: They could fix these problems easily but it would cost them about $500 a car nationwide. You have 6 million to 7 million cars, you have -- the number is close to $4 billion to $5 billion. It's hard to actually tell the truth when those numbers are at the bottom of the truth.

GRIFFIN: Toyota's response to CNN was to discredit the claims being made by the attorneys suing the car companies.

"Toyota strongly disputes these completely baseless allegations being driven by plaintiff's attorneys like Mr. Howard," Toyota said in a statement to CNN. "Toyota intends to fight against these unfounded claims vigorously."

Howard and his legal team will appear in a San Diego courtroom later this week to try to convince a federal judge to combine the 88 individual lawsuits filed against Toyota into one giant class action litigation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Kiran and John, late yesterday evening we got a second statement from Toyota. This one acknowledging that it did have two separate service bulletins in 2002 and 2003 model Camrys.

It said it involved drivers feeling a slight delay and then a momentary surge in acceleration. The company says it fixed the problem through warranty and that the government didn't find any safety trend -- a trend pointing towards a safety issue.

Toyota did not respond at all when we asked about what was causing that sudden surge, which, by its own service bulletin, seemed to indicate it was electronic.

Kiran and John?

ROBERTS: Drew Griffin for us this morning. Drew, thanks so much.

We want to know, do you drive a Toyota? Do you worry whether it's safe? Join the chat on our live blog at CNN.com/amFix.

Read one of the comments we got from Barbara in Massachusetts this morning, who writes and says, "My husband and I are loyal Toyota buyers. We're own a second Toyota Sequoia. We believe the excellent design and quality of our first SUV saved my husband's life when a large tree fell on him while he was sitting in the parked car.

"The ER doctor commented that my husband was lucky to be sitting in that care because he could have been killed if not for the strength of the SUV body. We promptly went out and bought exactly the same Toyota model."

Obviously, they had no problems with it.

CHETRY: There you go. All right, well, still ahead, our special series, "Are You Smart," continues. IQ test is not the only way to find out. There's an EQ test. Taking a look at emotional intelligence and how this could actually be the key to higher-paying jobs. So can they teach it? Seventeen minutes after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Welcome back. It is 20 minutes past the hour right now. Time for "Minding Your Business." We have Stephanie Elam with us this morning. I'd like to point out to John, yes, she does write thank you notes as well.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I write a lot of notes.

CHETRY: On a weekly basis.

ELAM: Like that every two weeks, I'm writing notes. I love pens. I buy stationery. I love the whole experience. And my husband does, too. That's one of the first things I liked about him. That's one of the first things I liked about him. I was like, I'm going out with this guy (INAUDIBLE) angry note.

ROBERTS: You know back in the day, that's all you could do.

CHETRY: That's right.

ROBERTS: These things weren't around.

ELAM: I realized -- I realized that I just started the rant again. But --

ROBERTS: It's not a rant. Some minor obsession.

ELAM: I'm with you, though. That's all I'm saying. But here's something that's a little bit different. And it has nothing to do with the handwriting of notes. It has to do with going on the Internet.

And in China, things are changing if you would like to go on Google. Because, I don't know if you've heard about this. There is this big deal about Gmail being censored in China and how Google was going to respond.

Well, we finally got an answer here. And basically what they're saying is, you know what? We're not going to self-censor ourselves anymore. We're going to take all of our servers, we're going to put them in Hong Kong, and so now that they're not in mainland China, therefore it's up to China if they want to go ahead and censor what is being sent out to people and what people are researching out there.

So this is a big change, obviously. It's going to be interesting to see how China responds to this. But China doesn't necessarily want Google to pull out altogether either. They do want to seem like they're open to foreign companies coming to do business in their country.

But at the same time, it's Google. A huge company pulls out, it'd be a big difference there. Also, you know, if you take a look at students, if you take a look at people researching, Google is the main way they do that.

For a lot of companies, they do a lot of ads -- advertising by putting it up with the searches. You search -- you know, whatever. I want to find red soda. I just made up something very bizarre right there. And you can go over and find -- you'll find an ad next to that. Whatever that may be.

So that's the kind of thing that they want to do and this is good for business. So it's probably not going to change right away. But it's interesting to see the things moving in a different direction. Google just putting their cards on the cable.

ROBERTS: Red soda in China. That's almost as ironic as a tree falling on a Toyota Sequoia. CHETRY: There you go.

ELAM: That was really weird. I couldn't come up with like a panda or something? I don't know. That was like the most bizarre thing.

But also the other thing about Google, think about all those applications that they have. They've got Google docs, the Gmails, and a lot of people use these to edit documents from different places.

You know you can say here. Here's my changes. Take a look at the changes I've made. It's really actually pretty cool application. And for some people, they're saying if this goes away, if all of this goes away from Google, what will they do then? So --

CHETRY: Right.

ROBERTS: Stephanie Elam, "Minding Your Business" this morning. Thanks, Steph.

ELAM: Sure.

ROBERTS: So are you smart? Our special series continues coming up next. Could your emotional intelligence quotient be a better gauge than your IQ test? We're taking a look at that just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Twenty-five minutes after the hour. Your top stories just five minutes away now. But first, an "AM Original." Something that you'll see only on AMERICA MORNING.

So you think you're pretty smart? Well, do you know your EQ?

CHETRY: Yes. Well, we're not talking about the -- you know, equalizer on a stereo. We're talking about your emotional quotient. And this week we're taking an in depth look at all aspects of intelligence including your EQ.

Here's Alina Cho.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Along with math and science --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And so what you're going to do is put on your blindfolds.

CHO: This is part of the curriculum at Clarendon Hills Middle School near Chicago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When everyone has their blindfolds on, I'm going to have three people take off their blindfolds.

CHO: An exercise in boosting self-esteem. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tap two people who you think can make you laugh.

KEVIN SCHRANZ, CLARENDON HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL: It's a different kind of enjoyment than a subject. It's more of a spirit lifter and it makes you feel good inside.

CHO: But what does that have to do with being smart?

ASHLEY MERRYMAN, CO-AUTHOR, "NURTURESHOCK": I think that's a horrible idea. Do you get graded then for being angry? I mean what does that mean in terms of real life?

PROF. ROGER WEISSBERG, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO: Emotional intelligence is a different way of being smart.

CHO: Roger Weissberg, professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago is the man behind the groundbreaking research on which the bestselling book "Emotional Intelligence" is based.

The concept, EQ is just as important as IQ. Weissberg says it turns out kids who get good social and emotional training score 11 percentage points higher than kids who don't.

CHO (on camera): Why? Why?

WEISSBERG: Well, I think there are a variety of reasons. They can overcome obstacles when they reach them. Some of this involves academic tenacity, teaching kids self-discipline and self-control.

CHO (voice-over): A learning process that starts in kindergarten. These are second graders. Role playing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel proud because I just learned how to draw a dinosaur in computer lab.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow. That is great. Can you teach me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CHO (on camera): What is the real world benefit of this?

WEISSBERG: One real world benefit is kids behave better in school. Another real world benefit is they are less likely to fight. Another benefit is they are less likely to do drugs.

KATHLEEN JIRASEK, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER: I believe this is the future. These children are our future. And so I believe by teaching them this, they will be the leaders.

CHO (voice-over): Research also shows great leaders tend to be funny. The best doctors are empathetic. But can emotional intelligence be taught? Should it be?

MERRYMAN: You're not telling me that you can't learn how to behave with your peers? CHO (on camera): What you're saying is, do we need a class for this?

MERRYMAN: I don't think we need a class for this.

CHO (voice-over): Others argue getting along is just as important as getting good grades. And that the really smart thrive at both.

WEISSBERG: This is not academics versus social and emotional development. That's a false choice. This is teaching kids to be socially, emotionally and academically skilled.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: So both matter. Some smart minds believe that logical thinking, though, or being book smart, so to speak, still matters absolutely, but it matters less these days because those jobs that require linear thinking can be outsourced, even to a computer in some cases.

So then what's more valuable are those qualities that are harder to outsource -- empathy, big-picture thinking, creativity. So being smart is a means to an end. Getting a good job. There is an argument to be made, guys, that emotional intelligence does count. But as we are talking about before, it really does beg the question, what kind of knowledge do you value, right?

And so that's why the answer to the question, what does it mean to be smart, is so hard to answer.

CHETRY: And can they teach this emotional intelligence?

CHO: Well, the smart minds believe that you can. And there's actually a bill floating around in Congress. I believe it was introduced in December. It has bipartisan support that would set aside federal money for this type of learning, emotional and social learning, in the schools. So we could see it in the nation's schools in the coming years.

ROBERTS: And so much of what young people, in particular, do these days in terms of their social connectivity removes them from having that type of contact.

CHO: That's absolutely right.

ROBERTS: Remember that woman who said -- where was it? It was a conference or something. Somebody described a woman who was on Facebook and had all these friends on Facebook. She didn't have any friends in the real world. And then a person said, what are you going to do tonight? I'm going to go home tonight and talk to all my friends on Facebook.

CHO: Well --

(LAUGHTER) CHO: Well, it's interesting because you bring up a good point. You know these kids are on Facebook, they're on Twitter these days, and they spend so much time doing that. And that leads into our series piece tomorrow which will talk about how one university is actually accepting YouTube videos as part of their college application process.

ROBERTS: Wow.

CHO: And so it's a fascinating thing to look at. We'll have that for you tomorrow.

CHETRY: Wow. All right, we'll look forward to it. Thanks, Alina.

CHO: You bet.

ROBERTS: All right. Crossing the half hour now, which means it is time for this morning's top stories. In the east room of the White House, President Obama will sign the health care bill into law. But another battle still looms out there. The Senate must now approve changes to the bill that already passed in the House.

Later on this week, the president will travel to Iowa City to sell the benefits of health care reform.

CHETRY: And, tonight, President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will go one-on-one in Washington. They will attempt to repair what some are calling the most serious rift between the two countries in decades. Netanyahu continuing to make the case that Israel has the right to develop disputed land in east Jerusalem.

ROBERTS: Former Presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, touring Haiti. A visit intended to remind donors that the immense need more than two months after January's devastating earthquake. They visited a camp in Port-Au-Prince filled with more than 60,000 homeless people.

CHETRY: Well, even though Washington changed health care for 32 million uninsured Americans, most of the people won't see the benefits today, not tomorrow, not even next year in some cases. Some with pre- existing conditions wouldn't be eligible for coverage until 2014. That's when those changes kick in for adults.

Well, our next guest hopes that that doesn't come too late. Amy Rabinoff joins us now from Denver this morning. She is uninsured and unemployed and has a unique perspective on government health care.

Thanks so much for being with us this morning.

Good morning. Thank you for having me.

CHETRY: So tell us a little bit about your situation. As I understand, you have two pre-existing conditions. One is a precancerous situation -- condition in your cervix, and the other is irritable bowel syndrome that you are being treated for as well. What is your health care situation like as it stands now?

AMY RABINOFF, UNINSURED: Well, it's pretty much status quo. My insurance only ended two months ago on January 31st. And I was diligent about getting the medication I need, sort of a supply. It was actually a three-month supply before that ended. So maybe just a little bit more. But I am just status quo. I got all my check-ups. And I'm good for now. So the next step will be when my medication runs out in June.

CHETRY: And so when that happens, and you have been trying to apply for jobs, you've been trying to, you know, try to get new employment, but right now, that hasn't been happening for you.

Do you think this health care reform law that's going to be sign today is going to help you personally?

RABINOFF: No, I actually don't think so. Well, I think it's a good -- it's a step in the right direction. The problem with the bill as it relates to adults with pre-existing conditions is that the first thing that will kick in is high-risk pool, which, within the next six months, will be set up for people that can get in.

And then, after that, it's not until 2014 where insurance companies will be required to cover people with preexisting conditions. And the big questions remain with both of those situations is cost.

CHETRY: Right. I mean, so even if you could technically get covered under pre-existing conditions, could you still afford the premiums. As it stands right now, you are in a plan called Cover Colorado, or you have the option of getting into this plan called Cover Colorado. And that, as we said, is this pool for people who were high risk that would otherwise be denied by insurance to get in there. But as I understand it, it costs more than $500 a month plus another $100 for your prescription.

So what type of chunk would that take out of your monthly pay?

RABINOFF: Well, it would be a huge amount. And at that point -- and this is again new to me to not have insurance. So I'm still mulling the options. But it would take a huge amount out of that and, in fact, would be necessary for me to dip into my IRA. And that's not out of the realm of possibility for me, too. Again, I'm weighing my options. I just sort of feel like people should not have to bankrupt their IRAs and savings for retirement in order to have health care.

CHETRY: Do you think that if they would have been able to get a public option in this bill, which is soon to become law, that it would have changed things?

RABINOFF: I do. In fact, to me, that's the only answer. And to my knowledge, it's not too late to introduce the public option on the floor of the House, but with all the wrangling that's going on now, and how it's happened to date, I don't have a lot of hope for that public option. But to me, if you -- in 2014, it will be the for- profit insurance companies that have to take us on, those with pre- existing conditions. And I feel like it's very likely that they will price us out of the market.

CHETRY: As I understand it, you have ten weeks left of unemployment. You're a meeting planner, event planner. How is the job search going?

RABINOFF: It is not going well. I've had some interviews and even second interviews and those positions were for salaries that were much less than I was making, much, much less. And so that, to me, says that, you know -- wow, if I'm having trouble getting a position that pays so much less, the situation must be worse than, you know, even I thought it was. But I'm hopeful, I'm very hopeful for the future.

CHETRY: We certainly wish you luck. And thanks so much for coming on this morning, Amy, and sharing your story.

RABINOFF: Absolutely. Thank you for having me.

CHETRY: Sure.

ROBERTS: You know, this morning, we have been asking people to write in on our live blog this morning at CNN.com/AmFix. Their experiences and their thoughts about the health care bill passed.

Here's somebody who's -- talk about the preexisting condition issue. Marilyn writes, "the health care bill for me means I don't have to worry about my 27-year-old son who has Crohn's disease, being dropped for a pre-existing condition. No lifetime caps. We are becoming a nation of haves and have-nots. Maybe if the insurance lobbyists would put the money back into the insurance companies instead of a Congress' pockets, we could all afford insurance."

And Susan of Wisconsin writes, "The health care bill was not as much as I'd hope for is the achievement of a generation for me and family. It means my youngest son won't lose health insurance following college graduation, and that my middle son would be able to come back on to our health insurance, I hope, while he continues to look for a job."

A lot of the comments running positive. We do get some negative ones as well, that we've been sharing with you.

CHETRY: So we want to know what you think, by the way.

How does this reform impact you?

Share your stories and thoughts with us by going to CNN.com/AmFix, and tell us your story.

We're going to take a quick break. We will be back after this. Thirty-six minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: A CNN exclusive now. Our Special Investigations Unit uncovering a service bulletin that was written by Toyota back in 2002. It was sent to Federal Safety Regulators and Toyota dealerships across the country. It warned of a sudden acceleration problem in some of its cars, and blames it on faulty electronics, not sticky gas pedals or floor mats. Some analysts are calling it a smoking gun, claiming that Toyota is covering up a serious safety issue to avoid billions of dollars in repairs.

CHETRY: Yes. And so we have gotten some comments from you guys. We asked you to respond to this.

Ann H. writes, "I have a Lexus that does that." Speaking about the acceleration. She said that, "I'll probably buy a different brand next time, because my car does this acceleration thing."

Michelle Case says, "We owned three Toyotas, two Priuses and Avanza, and have own Toyotas for 20 years. I would never consider changing. Never had a problem."

Dave writes in that, "He was involved in an acceleration accident in his 2008 Rav4." He said, "It ended in a three-time rollover, and injuries are limited but substantial." And he says, "He is concerned that Toyota didn't address the problem as soon as it could have."

ROBERTS: Right. So we're getting a lot of people who are writing in to say they are concerned about the situation. Other people have written in this morning to say, hey, we think that it is a great car and we are very happy to have it, and we'll continue to be loyal to the brand. So keep on writing in to us this morning. Our live blog at CNN.com/AmFix. We really appreciate it.

CHETRY: And still ahead, an "AM House Call." We are going to be checking in with Dr. Sanjay Gupta as he prepares along with six CNN viewers to take on the New York City triathlon.

Forty minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: There is a picture this morning of Atlanta, where it is awfully glum looking. 37 degrees right now. Later on today, a high of 63. But it doesn't look like a spectacular day, doesn't it?

CHETRY: No, not at all. And, boy, the rain kept me up last night.

You heard that?

ROBERTS: I got a window open because it's nice to have a little breeze blowing in, particularly one that's got a little bit of moisture with it. But then, it started pulling stuff off my windowsills.

CHETRY: Had to shut that thing down.

All right, well, forty-four minutes past the hour. Let's get a check of the weather headlines this morning. Rob Marciano is in Atlanta. So at least for the east coast, this is moving out hopefully?

(WEATHER REPORT)

ROBERTS: Well, that's a good thing. Rob, thanks so much.

CHETRY: At least were not in Perth.

ROBERTS: Yes. Well, yes, I guess that's a good thing.

Still ahead: training for the triathlon, a check up on Dr. Sanjay Gupta and two CNN viewers who are prepping for the big even.

Stay with us. It's 46 minutes after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Forty nine minutes after the hour, which means it's time for your "AM House Call", stories about your health. Just 116 days now until our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, takes a dip in the Hudson River along with six CNN viewers. CHETRY: On purpose, though.

ROBERTS: Yes.

CHETRY: The "CNN Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge" well underway. And Sanjay gives us a look right now on how the training is going.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICKY WILLIAMS, FIT NATION CHALLENGE PARTICIPANT: Obviously, I want to see a physical transformation. I want to get on top of my fitness. So I've let it -- kind of get out of control in the last few years.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ricky Williams (ph) was more than 100 pounds overweight when we first met. It's a number he was pretty embarrassed about.

Our first work-out together, it was a struggle. But now, its two months closer to race day, and Ricky is unstoppable.

WILLIAMS: I'm noticing an incremental change in every sport: run, bike, and swim.

GUPTA: After kicking his fast food habit, he tries to work out regularly, waking up at dawn in most days. It hasn't been easy but Ricky is back in control.

WILLIAMS: I feel so much better about life and about exercise and living than I did five weeks ago.

GUPTA: Fellow challenger Stanley Saballett (ph) has been training hard as well. When we started, he told me he wanted to race the New York City Triathlon so he could help the teenagers he mentors get back in shape. STANLEY SABALLETT, FIT NATION CHALLENGE PARTICIPANT: And the part of the whole Fit Nation and what really encouraged me is the sense of community and helping others.

GUPTA: Back in San Diego, he hits the gym four or five days a week. Spin workouts and weightlifting to build some muscle. And every Friday, you'll find him hiking up this mountain with the teens in his program.

SABALLETT: Everyone that I invite to come to this mountain ends up coming to this mountain regularly.

GUPTA: For both men, adjusting to their new fit lifestyles hasn't always been easy.

SABALLET: I'm not going to lie. I have had fries here and there.

GUPTA: Even when they're not working out.

WILLIAMS: My biggest obstacles, for sure, between my ears, the mental approach to training.

GUPTA: Ricky and Stanley say if they can do it, so can you.

SABALLETT: Get off your couch. Get off the fast food diet.

WILLIAMS: Take a step every -- no matter how hard the step is. For me, it was just get moving. Find the will to move.

GUPTA: And don't stop.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: You know a lot of our participants have been working with their own trainers across the country as well. And that's a message that we keep hearing over and over again, is to try and just move every day a little bit if you can. And try not to take a day off from that. So even if it's just a walk or getting into a yoga class or whatever it is, do something every single day.

But they are doing pretty good. They have both lost over 20 pounds since they started training just about two and a half months now.

ROBERTS: Wow, pretty incredible. And how is your training going? Any major obstacles that you're doing?

GUPTA: I'm looking for some inspiration from you guys. I've been a bit of a weekend warrior lately. I'm just so busy the week.

CHETRY: Here is some inspiration.

GUPTA: All right, let's hear it.

CHETRY: We do this -- we do the news triathlon every day, three hours. You just put one step, one foot in front of the other and eventually --

GUPTA: I've all --

ROBERTS: And it's not getting up at the crack of dawn. It's getting up way before the crack of dawn.

GUPTA: I know, you guys -- hey, you guys want to join me on this? You still can.

CHETRY: No, you're doing great yourself, seriously.

GUPTA: Come on.

ROBERTS: It's just too much fun watching you.

GUPTA: I think it would be more inspiring if you're actually were there with me.

ROBERTS: How are you doing with the psychological aspect of it, diving into the Hudson River?

GUPTA: I'm going to start steeling myself towards that in a couple of months. But you know the psychological aspect of this is huge. Really, getting yourself up for a high intensity training every couple of days; I mean, you've got to get there mentally first.

ROBERTS: Well, you know, Kiran is famous for putting Neosporin up her nose to prevent colds maybe it's kind of like put Neosporin all over you before you dive in.

GUPTA: This is not helping John, it's not helping.

ROBERTS: So the key purpose is you know, the grease would keep you warm and keep the disease out.

CHETRY: Yes. Well, there you to. And the Hudson River is much, much cleaner than it has been in years past. So you're good.

GUPTA: Thank you, Kiran, you're helpful. John is not. Thank you.

CHETRY: Wear a wet suit. Thanks.

GUPTA: You bet.

ROBERTS: Much cleaner than it used to be.

Jeanne Moos is up next. Stay with us. Much cleaner.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Fifty-seven minutes after the hour which means it's time for the "Moost News in the Morning". At times it was almost like Congress was spoofing itself. SNL couldn't have done it any better.

CHETRY: Yes. The health care debate brought us plenty of drama and also unintentional comedy.

Jeanne Moos has the high and low lights.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Is there a doctor in the House of Representatives?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We now know with absolute certainty that the only thing that we are guaranteed --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you don't.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we are guaranteed is --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you don't.

(CROSSTALK)

MOOS: The health care debate was enough to raise the blood pressure.

Republican Congressmen were out on the balcony holding hand-made signs. Representative Jean Schmidt was cheerleading chants. Iowa Republican, Steve King, gave a thumbs down and even swatted Speaker Nancy Pelosi's image. Outside and inside, it was a debate to remember.

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC), HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP: Answer the call in history.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This bill is a fiscal Frankenstein.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am proud.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), MINORITY LEADER: Shame on this body.

CLYBURN: Give health care a chance.

MOOS: What ruled the House were house rules.

REP. JESSE JACKSON JR. (D), ILLINOIS: Do the house rules apply or not?

MOOS: The gavel wielded at one point by Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.

JACKSON: Gentlemen, time has expired. The gentlemen's time has expired.

MOOS: It's a wonder we all haven't expired in the time it has taken to pass health care.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker -- JACKSON: The House will be in order.

MOOS: In order but not without confusion.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I yield back to -- why?

MOOS: Order on the floor but not necessarily in the hallways.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kill the bill, kill the bill.

MOOS: This was where Democrat Barney Frank was called a gay slur and John Lewis was called the "N" word.

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. riled the anti-health care protesters by waving at them.

Drudge declared it a date which will live in infirmary.

Democrats were giddy; Republicans, fierce.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, CONSERVATIVE RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: We need to defeat these (EXPLETIVE DELETED). We need to wipe them out.

MOOS: As the president praised the outcome, watch the guy in the background come out then realize he is on camera.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: After nearly 100 years of talk --

MOOS: Only once did we see money change hands.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for all the hard work you do for Wall Street and big insurance.

MOOS: Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, was showered with real bills by fake billionaires for wealth care. That made a guy shooting video mad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are going to make my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) health insurance go up ten years from now.

MOOS: Next thing you know, both sides were scrambling to pick up the money while Nancy Pelosi was picking up a big gavel.

My gavel is bigger than hers. Jeanne Moos, CNN --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let them eat Advil.

MOOS: New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHETRY: All right. Well, don't miss a milestone as President Obama signs the health care bill into law. CNN will have live coverage at 11:15 Eastern this morning.

ROBERTS: That's going to wrap it up for us. Thanks so much for joining us on this Tuesday morning.

We'll see you back here, bright and early again tomorrow.

CHETRY: Sure will. Meanwhile, the news continues, "CNN NEWSROOM" with Kyra Phillips -- hi, Kyra.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi guys.