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President Obama Talking Jobs in the Heartland; Stocks Dip; When Teachers Cheat; Beating Childhood Obesity; Perry's Texas Twang; Grieving After Egypt's Revolution

Aired August 16, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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


DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, Drew Griffin, in for Suzanne.

Let's get you up to speed for Tuesday, August 16th. Shall we?

President Obama's bus tour stops in Peosta, Iowa. That's how you say that name. The president will sit down with farmers and small business owners to look for ways to create jobs in rural communities. This is part of that three-day road trip that Mr. Obama's taking from Minnesota to his home state of Illinois.

The president says Republicans have made gridlock a deliberate political strategy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The problem is, is that we've got the kind of partisan brinkmanship that is willing to put party ahead of country, that's more interested in seeing their political opponents lose than seeing the country win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: After three winning sessions in a row, Wall Street went back to its bearish ways today. Dow blue chips are up just about 46 points now. That's actually doing pretty good since where it started pretty much in the 100 level. Stocks are negative even though one of the big three credit agencies affirmed the U.S. government's AAA rating today, calling its creditworthiness "exceptional." That's a sharp contrast to this month's downgrade by Standard & Poor's.

We told you this was going to happen yesterday. It did.

Protesters make San Francisco's rush hour commute a mess. Bay Area Rapid Transit shut all four downtown BART stations last night. Protesters angry over shootings involving BART police officers. BART blocked cell service at some stations last week so protesters couldn't coordinate on social media. Well, phone service stayed on last night.

News Corp. exec James Murdoch may have to answer new questions in parliament on that phone-hacking scandal. A British lawmaker says Murdoch may have misled his committee about settlements paid to hacking victims. They want him clarify his statements. Murdoch's father, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch, apparently would not be required to go back and give additional testimony.

Australia is asking the U.S. to extradite Paul Douglas Peters after his arrest in Kentucky last night. Police in Australia are saying that Peters is the one who strapped a fake collar bomb to the daughter of a wealthy Australian software engineer and left a note demanding money.

The girl believed that bomb was real. She had it around her neck for 10 terrifying had hours before police got it off. The FBI says Peters does have ties to the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZABETH A. FRIES, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Mr. Peters was arrested without incident by our Louisville FBI SWAT team at the home of his former wife.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Agents don't believe Peters' former wife knew about this collar bomb incident or was involved in it in any way.

A Maryland sheriff wants you to look at this surveillance video. It's a flash mob. If you can identify anybody, he wants to know.

There's about 30 people here swarming a convenience store in Germantown in the middle of the night, Sunday. They helped themselves to just about everything: candy, chips, sodas, other stuff. The shoplifting spree took about a minute.

A much more serious appeal for help from London police. They released this video.

A car runs down two police officers who were chasing looters during last week's riots. Police hope the video prompts witnesses to come forward. Both officers are recovering. Police say they're treating this as attempted murder.

Friends from all over the world descending on Grassland. Elvis Presley died 34 years ago today at his Memphis mansion, but he still rakes in big money even though he's been dead almost as long as he lived. "Forbes" says that Elvis' estate made $60 million last year.

And as always, your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of today. Today's question: Is Warren Buffett's tax compromise good, or is it just politics?

Carol Costello joins us from New York -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not often you hear, someone say, oh, please tax me. Please.

But today's question is: Is Warren Buffett's tax compromise good or is it just plain politics? Now that we've had a day to digest Buffet's plea to "tax me more," it's time to ask that very question.

Buffett is largely a Twitter hero, but as far as Republicans are concerned, he's a shill for President Obama. Buffett begs to differ.

He's offering an alternative. Instead of raising taxes on Americans making $250,000 and up, he told Charlie Rose, raise taxes on the very, very rich.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WARREN BUFFETT, CEO, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY: We're also in the process under-taxing the very rich. What I propose, incidentally, would not touch the taxes of 99.7 percent. I'm talking about .3 of one percent of the American public. But the people from $1 million on up I think should be asked to share in a little of the sacrifice that we're all --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: President Obama embraced the idea. Republicans did not.

Senator John Cornyn tweeted, "For tax-raising advocates like Warren Buffett, I am sure Treasury would take a voluntary payment for deficit reduction," as in, hey, Mr. Buffett, just send the U.S. Treasury a check. Conservative blogs fired back, too. "The Red Dog Report" said, "Everybody knows that if tax hikes on the rich fails to solve our economic crisis, which we know they will not, then team Obama can go back and ask for more, opening the door to a big tax hike on America's middle class."

Never mind polls show most Americans favor taxing the rich more, and many economists say spending cuts alone won't solve our debt woes.

So, the "Talk Back" question today: Is Warren Buffett's tax compromise good, or is it just politics?

Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.

GRIFFIN: Thanks, Carol.

And here is a rundown of some of the stories ahead.

First, we are waiting live in Iowa as the president's tour bus cuts through the heartland there.

Then, parents disgusted and skeptical about Atlanta's school system after a widespread cheating scandal. We're going to ask the founder of Ron Clark Academy, Ron Clark, how to win back the confidence of those parents.

And as Muslims across the world celebrate Ramadan, grieving Egyptians remember those who died in the fight for freedom.

Plus, a car flies off the road and crashes into a riverbed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard this smash, seen a cloud of dust, went down there and cut the woman out of it there and pulled her out of the car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Heroic. A California homeless man now being called a hero.

And do nice guys really finish last? A new study tries to prove why you earn less for constantly saying yes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: President Obama's bus tour of the heartland is rolling through Iowa farm country today. The president, holding a rural economic forum with farmers and small business owners.

During his stop yesterday, he got into an exchange with some Tea Party supporters. That Tea Party supporter was upset over a reported remark by Vice President Biden comparing Tea Party members to terrorists. The vice president denied making that comment, and the president said the real issue was the debt limit stalemate.

Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN RHODES, IOWA TEA PARTY: When you're talking about civility, how is your vice president calling us terrorists? I would like to understand that.

OBAMA: OK. I will explain it right now, sir. He did not call you guys terrorists.

RHODES: He said we were acting like terrorists.

OBAMA: No. What he said was that is for us to be willing to take the economy to the brink was irresponsible. And it was.

Now, the truth of the matter is, considering what's said about be consistently --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: White House Correspondent Brianna Keilar joins us live from Peosta, Iowa.

Brianna, you talked to that guy who -- I guess you could call it a confrontation. It seemed just like a lively debate to me. But what did he have to say?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, he wanted to ask a question, and the president was calling on people who had their hands raised. And towards the end of it, this gentleman -- and we should tell you, this is Ryan Rhodes. He is the founder of the Iowa Tea Party.

He said he wanted to ask his question, and so he just shouted it out. The president, during the town hall, actually said, you know, we'll talk about this later. And he did talk to Ryan Rhodes about this.

But it's been reported, Drew, that Vice President Biden -- and this was happening over -- once the debt ceiling had been negotiated, the debt ceiling increase had been negotiated. It's been reported that, while he was talking behind closed doors with Democrats, multiple Democratic sources telling CNN that they were venting about House Republicans, Tea Party Republicans, and the reports are that Vice President Biden used the word "terrorist" to describe those lawmakers.

Now, what you heard President Obama saying to Rhodes there was kind of a bit of a semantic, hair-splitting thing, I guess you could say, that he said, no, he didn't call you that, he said you were acting like that. Again, President Obama did talk to Rhodes after the town hall meeting, and we had Rhodes tell us exactly how the exchange went.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RHODES: I don't think he wanted to hear what I had to say, and so he stated that I didn't want to hear what he had to say. But he just kept saying, well, my vice president didn't say that. But it's been on the news everywhere that he absolutely said it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: OK. So we don't have the president's side of this, Drew, but suffice it to say it sounds like the two men kind of agreed to disagree. And really, the broad strokes here are that Republicans have been frustrated by some of the language the Democrats were using, be it "hostage-takers" or "terrorists," talking about what other Democrats have sort of called irresponsible brinkmanship, certainly something we've heard the president qualify or characterize that debate as -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Well, Brianna, the president wanted to get out of Washington, D.C., to kind of meet with the people. Is he accomplishing what he intended to do on this bus tour? We're just about halfway through.

KEILAR: You know, certainly in that regard he is, Drew. I mean, you can't get farther away from Washington than we are right now here in Peosta, Iowa. And there's a couple of things here.

He wanted to come to the rural area, no doubt, because this is a problem that Democrats really had a problem with in 2010. The president had actually done pretty well in 2008 in the counties that he's visiting, but just in generally, in rural areas overall, Democrats had a really hard time. And that's why they saw themselves losing control of the House. So that's one thing.

And then, also, the president's message has really been to come out here and to slam Washington and sort of the business of Washington. And so being away from Washington and having that backdrop has allowed him to do that successfully, the White House would argue, but he's also here unveiling a new plan for rural economic job development. He's going to be meeting today with local business leaders, farmers, and unveiling some new things like more capital, more loans for small businesses in rural areas, and also some increased job training and technology for economic development in rural areas as well -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right, Brianna. Thanks.

And CNN's Wolf Blitzer, by the way, is going to take you along on the president's bus -- I think on his bus. And he's going to go one- on-one with the president in an interview today.

What are his plans to turn the economy around? And can he convince voters in key states? And I'm sure Wolf is going to ask him about that little exchange with the Tea Party fellow.

You can see Wolf Blitzer's interview with President Obama today, 5:00 Eastern, of course in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Keeping a close eye on Wall Street, stocks started the day with a steep decline, then it looked like things were coming back.

Alison Kosik, live at the New York Stock Exchange.

What's happening down there?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, no such luck. Today, the bears are out.

The focus a little bit is on Europe and the slowing economies in the Eurozone, Drew. Also, we got a weak housing report here in the U.S. showing that the housing sector remains in the doldrums.

But we also got some good news. Fitch -- that's one of the big credit rating agencies -- it reaffirmed the U.S.'s AAA credit rating here in the U.S., saying that the U.S. has exceptional creditworthiness, that that remains intact. However, it did give a warning saying that if Washington doesn't put its fiscal house in order, that the U.S. could be up for a downgrade in the future -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Alison, I want to ask you about Wal-Mart, because so many more people follow Wall-Mart than Fitch. Hard to believe, but they're out with their sales numbers today, and the second quarter not good. Is that what I'm hearing?

KOSIK: Well, there's a little good, there's a little bad here. For sales here in the U.S. -- that's stores opened at least a year for Wal-Mart -- sales are down for the ninth straight quarter. And we like to look at Wal-Mart, because it's a good indicator of how the U.S. economy is doing in terms of consumer spending. And with the latest earnings report that came out with Wal-Mart, it looks like Wal-Mart could be losing its edge. There's concern that the company has lost its reputation for always having the lowest prices. In fact, you're seeing the recent survey results there on the screen.

Eighty-six percent of Wal-Mart shoppers, they no longer think that Wal-Mart offers the lowest prices. And, of course, if people believe this, they're going to shop elsewhere. We're seeing proof of that because a lot of shoppers are going to Dollar stores and spending their money.

But Wall Street is reacting favorability to the earnings report from Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart shares right now are up almost four percent. Probably, they're looking at the little nugget in the Wal-Mart earnings report showing that sales at its Sam's Club and overseas Wal- Mart stores did pretty well, so that is keeping the stock at least elevated today -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right, Alison. Thanks a lot. We'll stick with you throughout this trading day.

Here is a look at today's "Choose the News" stories. This is where you text 22360 to vote for the news story you want us to tell you about.

First, a condolence letter from a very unlikely source. A Pakistan military pilot who shot down an Indian plane 46 years ago is trying to make amends.

Second, a tattoo that could change the face of medicine. It can monitor your heart and your brain activity and possibly save your life.

The third possibility, a home for a whopping $160 million. That's all. We'll take you inside one of the most exclusive homes in London, if you vote for it.

You can vote by texting 22360 -- 1 for "Condolence Letter to India"; 2 for the "Electronic Tattoos"; or 3 for a "Look Inside That Luxury Home."

The winning story airs next hour.

Right now, though, a look at severe weather.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Well, teachers who feel pressure to cheat. It's a problem that extends way beyond just Atlanta, and mostly likely hurts the kids. So what's the solution? We're going to find out from this guy, Ron Clark, from the successful Ron Clark Academy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Here's what we're working on, some of the stories for later on this hour.

Up next, the cheating scandal that changed a school system. We're going to look for answers and solutions from the founder of one of Atlanta's premier academies.

Then there's a new Texan trying to take Washington, and he sounds, well, kind of like the other guy who did it. Our Jeanne Moos is going to take a look.

And 11:45, you better turn that smile upside down. A new study out to prove that nice guys remain at the bottom of the pay scale. No kidding?

Students in Philadelphia go back to school in three weeks, but they may not have enough teachers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY JORDAN, PRESIDENT, PHILADELPHIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS: I have never seen this many vacancies this late in the summer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: The district has 1,300 unfilled teaching positions, and they're scattered across almost every school. Thousands of children don't have an assigned teacher just yet. It's the result of a $650 million budget gap that led to major teacher layoffs in June. Officials say they're hiring back some of those teachers and holding interviews for others.

Now to teachers and principals who cheat. The problem may not be limited to just Atlanta's school system, if you've been reading about that.

Check this map. Schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington, Los Angeles, and Detroit under investigation for doctoring student answers on these standardized tests. And a "USA Today" investigation found widespread test result irregularities in several more states, including Florida, Ohio and Arizona.

So the question is, why is this cheating happening and what can be done to fix our schools?

Joining me is Ron Clark, founder of Ron Clark Academy here in Atlanta. And Ron was named Disney's American Teacher of the Year back in 2000. His nonprofit academy is visited by educators all over the world to learn how to do things right.

RON CLARK, FOUNDER, RON CLARK ACADEMY: Exactly.

GRIFFIN: So let's talk about why things are going so wrong and why teachers and administrators feel the pressure to change these test scores and basically cheat on these tests.

CLARK: Sure. In our country, we have a culture where we're really pushing test scores, and telling teachers, teach to the test, get these kids to get high test scores.

We've narrowed the curriculum. We no longer have art and music like we used to, and science and social studies is very minimal. And so those things make us human, but they're out of the classroom so we can focus on teaching to a test.

Teachers are telling kids, you need to learn this and pay attention because it might be on the end of grade test. We're not creating lifelong learners, and kids have a passion for it, we're just teaching kids to test well, and we're doing a big disservice to all of our students.

GRIFFIN: And is the problem the national push for a national standardized test and removing kind of, like, the education from the local systems?

CLARK: I don't think that's the problem. I don't think the problem is whether it's national or local.

The problem is putting too much emphasis on testing and test scores. If we're teaching kids just to pay attention to take a test, we're not getting them to really love to learn. And what we call molasses classes.

In molasses classes, we say these are classes where kids are bored, teachers are sitting at the desk, there's no passion. And so at our school, at the Ron Clark Academy, we wanted to come up with 101 ways to really fire it up in the home and in the classroom, ways that parents and teachers can get their kids excited about learning so that it's not just preparing for a test.

GRIFFIN: Let me ask you, if you're a parent, you want your kid to get the best education possible, hopefully. Maybe not all parents want that, but hopefully.

A lot of parents feel helpless. They live in a school system that stinks. They don't have the economic ability to move out or to move their kids to a private school.

How can they get involved or do something extracurricular that will make their child a better student, a better human?

CLARK: First of all, they need to not only rely on the school, they need to find ways to help their kid themselves. In the morning, you want to remain positive and not chaotic, because if you're full of drama in the morning, running around with your kid, almost late for school, you drop him off -- you're, like, whew. But when he goes in my classroom, he's like -- he's just discombobulated.

You want to be calm in the morning. When you work with your kid at night on homework, you want to remain positive. Don't get frustrated because if you get frustrated, your kid is going to be.

And then, if you got a bad teacher, a teacher you don't really like, what you can do is still support the teacher and don't talk negatively in the home about her, because if you don't respect the teacher, the kid won't respect the teacher, and that's going to lead to even more problems.

And we listed all these ways in "The End of Molasses Classes" so that parents who might not know what to do or how to reach their kids and their kids' school system is not working, they can use these tips to help their kid be successful even if the child is in a bad situation.

GRIFFIN: And behind it all, I think the message is, get involved --

CLARK: Yes.

GRIFFIN: -- with your kids' education. You can't just dump them at school and expect them to come home educated.

CLARK: Exactly. The whole book is about parents and teachers working together. I tell teachers -- this goes both ways. You need to respect the parent as well and realize that that child is the most important individual in the life of this parent. You really need to respect them.

One easy way we mention in the book is that just learn their name. And you can't assume because you teach Chad Jones that his mother is Mrs. Jones. She might be Mrs. Smith. And she may not even like Mr. Jones anymore.

So, respect the parents and learn their names. And it works both ways. Parents need to respect the teachers.

One of my pet peeves is when I take a kid to a parent and I say, he did this and this. And the mom will look at the kid and say, is that true? I just told you it's true.

Trust the teacher. Support the teacher. Then we'll have a successful relationship.

GRIFFIN: All right. Ron, thanks a lot. The name of the book, "Molasses Classes."

CLARK: "The End of Molasses Classes" -- the proceeds of the book go to support our school with the Ron Clark Academy.

We welcome educators from all over the country to come and sit on our classrooms to watch me and our teachers teach and to see how we're getting all of our kids to be excited about learning.

GRIFFIN: All right. Appreciate it. Thanks a lot, Ron.

CLARK: Thank you, sir.

Well, childhood obesity is the number one health concern for children in this country. More than a third are either overweight or obese. A school in Illinois making a name for themselves by taking the fight against fat further than just cafeterias.

Here's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Drew, you know, if you can get to age 50 they say without any risk factors for heart disease, you have virtually zero chance of ever having a heart attack. That's the good news.

But trouble starts early. In fact, it's shocking. About one in five kids nowadays isn't just overweight but obese.

There are best practices out there, things really working. We found a school in Illinois where they're doing everything they can to try to turn that number around.

(voice-over): Northeast Elementary School in Danville, Illinois -- the kids here eat healthy foods.

UNIDENTIFIED KID: We had chicken sandwich and apples.

UNIDENTIFIED KID: Yogurt.

UNIDENTIFIED KID: Fruit and juice.

GUPTA: When she got hired, the school board told the Principal McIntire, make health a priority.

CHERYL MCINTIRE, PRINCIPAL, NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL: We had lots of fried foods. We had a lot of processed food.

Now, nothing is fried. We have to have fish several times a month. We have fresh fruit and vegetables at every lunch.

GUPTA: And there are also 30-minute phys. ed. classes every single day.

Kids take yoga breaks during class and the annual fundraising event that used to be a bake sale. It's now a one-mile walk.

All these changes made Northeast the first elementary school in the country to earn a gold award from the nonprofit group Alliance for a Healthier Generation, which was cofounded by the Clinton Foundation.

And the changes at school are changing habits at home as well.

MCINTIRE: They are going home and talking to their parents about the new things that they have tried and tasted at school and encouraging their parents to buy it at home.

GUPTA (on camera): Because you said these students are sort of a mirror of the community at large?

MCINTIRE: They are.

And the word has gotten out that this is what we have to offer here and parents have come to us wanting that further children. GUPTA (voice-over): Heart disease is America's number one killer and the risks -- well, they start right here with children. Northeast Elementary is one of a growing number of schools fighting back and pointing the way toward a healthier future.

(on camera): Drew, I want to add something else here. You know, when we talked for this documentary, "The Last Heart Attack," Mr. Clinton was very candid about his own history of heart disease, how his doctors missed it when he was in the White House despite executive level health care, and more importantly, how he's completely reversed his heart problems now.

So, there is a lesson in there for everyone, I think, Drew. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Thanks, Sanjay.

And don't forget, tune in this weekend. Sanjay is going to report on "The Last Heart Attack," this Sunday night 8:00 Eastern. Sanjay is going to talk to doctors on the cutting edge of heart disease prevention, including a former surgeon who developed a radical diet he says can make anyone heart attack proof in one month.

And a reminder to vote for today's "Choose the News" winner. Text 22360 to vote for the story you want to see.

Here are the choices: text 1 for the Pakistan war vet sending a condolence letter 46 years after shooting down an enemy aircraft, one man expressing sorrow to the pilot's daughter. Text 2 for a different kind of tattoo, electronic one that can monitor your heart, brain activity and more. Or text number 3 for the luxury home sale in London. Got to see the kitchen in this $160 million mansion.

The winning story airs next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Punch line time now. The best of last night's late night TV.

So, Texas Governor Rick Perry has hit the ground running in the race for the White House. Every day we're learning more and more details about the new candidate, even Conan O'Brien doing some investigative work.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONAN O'BRIEN, COMEDIAN: Governor Rick Perry has entered the race. I've got some facts for you. It's being reported that in his early days in the Texas state legislature, Rick Perry used to wear his jeans so tight that his nickname -- and I'm not making this up -- was "Crotch."

(LAUGHTER) O'BRIEN: Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know about you, but item number 77 on my bucket list is a president of the United States named "Crotch." Wouldn't that be amazing?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: And our Jeanne Moos is doing her own digging on the newest White House hopeful and taking a look at the comparisons being made between Perry and another touchy feely guy with a Texas twang who made it to top.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He came toting a fried pork chop, a corn dog and an egg on a stick. There's a new Texan in town swigging water like its mouthwash, but his leg on a bale of hay spouting y'alls.

GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Y'all holler out a question.

MOOS: Dropping his Gs.

PERRY: Messin' around. Farmin' and ranchin' people. What are they thinkin'?

MOOS: We're thinking that Texas talk sounds mighty familiar.

PERRY: I told him, I said, dadgummit. I said I was looking forward to get out there.

MOOS (on camera): Some critics are saying that Rick Perry is the mirror image of another famous Texas politician.

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: What?

MOOS (voice-over): The "New York Daily News" even concocted a photo illustration showing Perry looking into the mirror and George W. Bush squinting back out. The accompanying column called Perry W2 with much better hair.

Hair, by the way, that's looked pretty much the same since his days in the corps of cadets at Texas A&M University.

In his first presidential campaign video --

NARRATOR: He wore the uniform of our country as an Air Force captain.

MOOS: He sure reminds us of President Bush in a flight suit, on a farm. But Perry dismisses similarities saying --

PERRY: We're not all carbon copies in Texas.

MOOS: No less than authority than Bill Clinton said of Perry --

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: He's a good looking rascal.

MOOS: When "Politico" asked Perry whether he's armed today, he declined to say, adding, that's why it's called concealed.

He sure doesn't conceal his touchy feely side.

In a typical encounter, he put his arm around an Iowa voter then proceeds to pat slap and squeeze her before giving a final good-bye tap. He loves to tousle the hair of kids.

Colin here not only got his hair mussed, he got his cheeks rubbed.

Hey, even a CNN producer got the cheek treatment.

UNIDENTIFIED CNN PRODUCER: Governor, what are your thoughts about what appears to be a --

PERRY: Back in the pen.

MOOS: And the photographer got a late pat.

Perry's got that down home charm that you know who had. Remember all that winking? President Bush even winked at Queen Elizabeth. Don't blink or you'll miss Rick Perry's wink.

And guess how Perry pronounces this.

PERRY: I'm a supporter of nuclear energy.

MOOS: They both support nuclear pronunciation.

BUSH: Nuclear weapons program.

MOOS: And Rick Perry even winks while he drinks.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: And today's "Talk Back" question, is Warren Buffett's tax compromise good or is it just politics?

Tramond gives us this: "Does it matter if it's politics or not? The truth is the truth."

More of your responses ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Still time to text us and "Choose the News." You can text "22360" for the story you want to see.

Text "1" is a condolence letter to India from a fighter pilot ordered to take down an enemy. He's seeking forgiveness from his family. Text "2" for electronic tattoo, it's not just for looks, this could actually keep you alive.

Text "3," luxury homes in London, the market is red hot in the central part of that city. Just brace yourself for the price tag, though. Wait until you see it, if you pick it.

The winning story airs next hour.

Right now, though, you have been sounding off about our "Talk Back" question. Carol Costello joins us with your responses -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Drew, today's question: Is Warren Buffett's compromise good or is it just plain politics?

This from Michael, he says, "Buffet is echoing what the majority of Americans want and know must happen to move toward a balanced budget. It's not radical, it's just fair. The tax code needs to be simplified, equitable and the loopholes closed."

This from Lynn, "Mr. Buffet, while you're waiting around for Congress to fight over and then not enact a close of loopholes or a raise in taxes for the mega rich, you can write a check to donate towards the debt. If you really feel that mega-rich would like to pay more, then nothing is stopping you other than yourself."

This from Kevin, "Warren Buffett is on track. I embrace this idea 101 percent. This alone will not solve our problems, but it's a step toward the solution which we all know has to be multifaceted, including increasing revenue and a spending reduction."

And this from Darryl, "They should pay their fair share. The backs of the middle class have been carrying the load long enough. Our backs are broken!"

Keep the conversation flowing, Facebook.com/CarolCNN.

GRIFFIN: Carol, you're not mean, are you?

COSTELLO: No. I try to be very nice, although I really don't like your suit today.

GRIFFIN: You don't like my suit. Well, that could get you a raise, being mean to me. Listen to this next study.

Men, Carol, men, who rated themselves high on a scale of being agreeable, they earned about 18 percent less than guys who aren't so nice. That's $9,772 less annually than the mean guys.

Women who rated themselves as agreeable earned only 5 percent less than their meaner co-workers, about $1,800 a year less.

That study, by the way, put together by folks at Notre Dame, Cornell and the University of Western Ontario.

COSTELLO: Do you know what I'd like to find out, though? What percentage of those mean people eventually get fired? I mean, do they get fired more than nice people and does it all balance out in the end?

GRIFFIN: And, you know, I mean, even if you have money, if you're mean and nasty and disagreeable, you have no friends, who cares, right? That's what I'm telling myself.

COSTELLO: It's a lot of work to hate.

GRIFFIN: I'm not a hater. I'm a lover. Can I have a raise?

COSTELLO: I love that.

GRIFFIN: All right, Carol, see you in a bit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We showed you these eerie images yesterday of former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak being wheeled into court, locked in that iron defendant's cage. The judge has since closed the courtroom to cameras, but the trial still goes on. Ish2c Mubarak being tried for allegedly commanding his security force to fire on protesters. Amnesty International says more than 840 people died before Mubarak stepped down in the country's unprecedented revolution.

And our Mohammed Jamjoom visited with the family of one of the victims of the uprising, a family that's still mourning and still fighting for justice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Nasser's family, this holy month will go without celebration.

"Ramadan arrived and I don't feel anything," Nasser's mother tells me. Then she is overtaken by grief.

"The sight of my son in front of me is worth the world to me," she says. "They've deprived me of him."

Nasser is one of the Egyptian revolution's victims. His family says he was heading to a protest on January 29th when violence erupted in their neighborhood. He was shot in the head. Just 18 years old, he died four days later.

"The martyrs sacrificed their lives so that everyone could have justice," says Nasr's brother, Galal. "We are the people who are suffering injustice the most right now. We're not able to get our rights."

Like so many victims' families in Egypt, they brought a court case against those they allege are responsible for the death of their loved one, but they're frustrated at how slowly it has progressed. They want to see the culprits convicted and executed. They've waited six months and say very little concrete action has been taken by the court.

"I'd like to speed up these procedures for the family," says Ahmed Atta, an attorney for Nasser's family. "I want them to feel comfortable. If these people felt comfortable and secure and believed that justice had been served, then the country would begin to mend."

Some feel the only way to expedite things is to combine their efforts. At this meeting attended by Nasser's brother, family members of some of those killed during the revolution discuss ways to streamline the process.

"We felt that the lawyers were more concerned with getting us financial compensation," says Mohammed Gomaa. "This is irrelevant to us. We want them convicted."

(on camera): Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces insists it is doing all it can to alleviate the suffering of these families, that among other things, funds have been set up to compensate and support them. But for many victims' relatives, that's simply not enough.

(voice-over): And even at a time when Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's deposed president, is being publicly tried for corruption and conspiring to kill protesters, when the Egyptian government is trying to convince its citizens that the crimes of the former regime will be punished, Nasser's family and the families of many like them remain skeptical.

"It's very sad," says Galal, "that my brother would die for justice yet I am not able to get justice for him. That's very sad for us."

Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN, Cairo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Back here in the U.S., you know, he worked on Al Gore's presidential campaign, now he's a conservative candidate for the Republican nomination. We're going to look at Rick Perry's transformation, ahead in our Political Ticker update.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Texas Governor Rick Perry is courting the conservatives but it wasn't always that way. Joe Johns, part of "The Best Political Team on Television," live from the Political Desk in Washington.

And, Joe, this has been kind of a lifelong conversion, right?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes. I mean, he's the hottest new thing in the Republican presidential race, Drew. It seems like he's everywhere right now. There are people who think he's got the conservative credentials to have a big impact on the race, and in spite of all the back and forth about his record as Texas governor and the way he mixes prayer and politics, there's one little nugget on his resume that opponents could have a lot of fun with. Rick Perry, all the way back in 1988, was Texas chairman for Al Gore's presidential campaign. That was the Gore campaign that went nowhere, by the way. One year later, Perry switched parties.

And now, in all honesty, a lot of, you know, well-known politicians have actually switched parties, but Al Gore? Perry says he became a Republican when he came to his senses though he's already been called on the carpet for it by none other than presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Paul pointed out Perry's connection to gore just last week and said even though it was 23 years ago, apparently he doesn't consider it ancient history. At the time, Paul said, he was about to celebrate his 76th birthday, and he doesn't consider 23 years ago a lifetime.

GRIFFIN: Let's talk about Ron Paul. He's come out swinging strong, as you say, but there's a lot of people saying he did pretty well in this poll in Iowa. Why aren't we giving more attention to him? Why isn't he becoming more of a player in this thing?

JOHNS: Well, I have to tell you, I mean, compared to the last time he ran, we've actually given him a lot of attention. Ron Paul now is sort of a household word, if you will, in presidential politics.

Now, he is going up with a television commercial in Iowa and New Hampshire that targets three of his rivals for the GOP nomination. That ad titled "The One," it basically groups Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and with, of all people, President Obama.

The Paul campaign has confirmed to CNN that it's putting up six figures to run this spot. It's a 60-second long spot. It will go in New Hampshire, which is of course the first primary state. They describe this buy they're going to do as well in Iowa as substantial. The ad buy, we're told, is the second one for the Paul campaign and the first one since that big showing in the Ames Straw Poll, Drew.

GRIFFIN: Joe, thanks a lot for that.

And for the latest political news, you know where to go, CNN.com/Politics.

Speaking of politics, an affair derailed his marriage and this guy's political career. Well, now, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford -- remember him? -- he's talking about the fallout from his indiscretion and what comes next.

In his first live interview since the scandal, Sanford told CNN's Piers Morgan he and the woman he had the affair with are still together. He looked back at his past mistakes and ahead toward the future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PIERS MORGAN, HOST, CNN'S "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": Do you feel great regret or is that the wrong emotion? FMR. GOV. MARK SANFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA: Well, I think that -- I mean, anybody who has been married doesn't start out the beginning thinking boy, I hope I someday get divorced. I hope that someday, the train comes off the track. So there's got to be regret. There's something sacred about a family unit, about boys -- I have four boys, you have some boys, and anything that brings harm to your boys, you have genuine regret about.

MORGAN: And others saying is this the start of a comeback. You must be tempted. Are you going to have another go at this?

SANFORD: No. You know, my go is that I want to begin the process of speaking out on things that I've cared about for 20 years. That doesn't mean candidacy, but it means at some level having a voice, however muted it might have been, on the direction of this country, because I think we are at a gut-check moment in terms of what comes next.

(END VIDEO CLIP)