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Koran Burning Protests; Volatile Weather Strikes East Coast; CNN Heroes; Rutgers Webcam Spying Trial Starts; Interview With North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue; Gas Prices Jump 3 Cents In A Day; Pioneering Governor Not Seeking Re-Election; Sears Posts Big Loss; Big Job Cuts For Post Office; $1 Billion in Unclaimed Tax Refunds

Aired February 24, 2012 - 14:00   ET

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


BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to all of you. Happy Friday. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Let's get you caught up on everything making news this hour. As always, "Rapid Fire." Let's go.

First up here, President Obama apologized, but that is not enough to quiet all the fury in Afghanistan. Eight more people were killed today in violent protests all around the country after copies of the Koran were burned in a garbage pile at a NATO base. The military says this was just an accident. Two American troops were killed yesterday during a demonstration by a man wearing an Afghan soldier's uniform.

And from Syria today, the Red Cross says rescue crews are now starting to evacuate the wounded and sick women and children from the beleaguered city of Homs. This comes as world powers meet in Indonesia to discuss ways to end the crisis. Our secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, is attending the so-called "Friends of Syria" group, and she spoke about the situation just yesterday in London.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: There will be increasingly capable opposition forces. They will, from somewhere, somehow, find the means to defend themselves, as well as begin offensive measures.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Today we are hearing, for the very first time, that the Arab nations have started supplying arms to the Syrian rebels.

And each day getting more expensive than the last at the gas pump. Today, here's the news. The national average jumped three cents from just yesterday to just about $3.65 a gallon. Of course, it is way higher in some places. I know you're thinking, hang on, I just paid a lot more, like Orlando. Guess what? Prices there approaching $6 a gallon. Yes, six. Gas prices have gone up for 17 straight days to the highest levels ever for this time of year.

And when baseball season starts in just about a month, Ryan Braun will be part of the Milwaukee Brewers' lineup. An arbitration panel overturned his 50 game suspension for a failed drug test. And this is significant for one reason because this is the first time a drug suspension has been successfully appealed in the league. "Sports Illustrated" says it's because urine samples didn't get to the lab on time, but Braun, he sees it as a complete vindication.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN BRAUN, MILWAUKEE BREWERS: We won because the truth is on my side. The truth is always relevant. And at the end of the day, the truth prevailed. I'm a victim of a process that completely broke down and failed in the way that it was applied to me in this case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Ryan Braun speaking just last hour.

Also, resign or be prepared for termination. Those are the choices for educators accused in the Atlanta public schools cheating scandal involving student competency tests. The school superintendent says he's trying to beat a May deadline that automatically extends the contract of tenured teachers who have yet to be fired.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERROLL DAVIS, ATLANTA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: I am not intending on issuing contracts to anyone that has not been exonerated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Lawyers for some of the teachers' say they have yet to see any evidence against their clients and may have no choice but to file suit.

And he warned his fellow Republicans that the Girl Scouts promote homosexuality and abortion and now Indiana State Representative Bob Morris says he's sorry. He says he's sorry for the tone, not for the sentiment. He apologized for what he called his inflammatory remarks, but stands by his claims. The Girl Scouts say, apology accepted and time to move on.

A riot breaks out at a mall in Orlando, Florida. Why? Because shoppers are racing to buy the new Nike shoe. Listen to those sirens. Over shoes. Officers used shields to push back the crowds. Similar scuffles were reported in other cities as well. In fact, we're told several stores have canceled their release events. How much will a pair of these shoes cost you? $220.

And have you seen this video? Talk about shaky landing. Look at this. This is a rescue helicopter in Brazil shaking to pieces. Look at this. Amazingly, no one was badly injured. The breakup is believed to be a result of what's called ground resonance. That's what can happen when the rotor is spinning and spinning and spinning while the helicopter is just still sitting there on the ground.

And a Denny's restaurant manager in Madison, Wisconsin, got quite the surprise when a man showed up claiming he was the new guy in charge. When the manager called the corporate office, James Summers went to the kitchen, made himself comfortable and made himself a cheeseburger. Police were called. They found a stun gun under this guy's trench coat. As he was being lead away in cuffs he shouted, "this is why you don't dine and dash." Now you know.

Got a lot more to cover for you the next two hours. Watch this.

Snow, wind, tornadoes. You name it. Severe weather is affecting large parts of the country causing big, big headaches on the roads and in the skies. I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

As the president gets heat for apologizing over torched Koran --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Obama has done something I think is so (ph) disgraceful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Protestors are coming in droves, angry at America.

The trial begins for the students accused of videotaping his roommate. A roommate who killed himself days later.

Plus, outrage as a military hospital is accused of turning away soldiers to save money.

And, it could be the most stressful job in sports. And CNN takes you inside the life of a Nascar pit crew. Rob Marciano joining me live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A formal apology from the U.S. has done absolutely nothing to calm these protest over burned Korans in Afghanistan. Look at this. Another eight people died in violent demonstrations around the country today. Thousands of Afghans -- there they are, they're in the streets -- they're furious that copies of the Koran were burned at a NATO base. The military came forward. They say, yes, this was a mistake. An investigation is underway. But in addition to the news this week, two American troops were killed during one of the demonstrations yesterday by a man wearing an Afghan soldier's uniform.

President Obama has apologized for the burnings in a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, but his Republican opponent wasted no time in pounce on the president for doing that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: (INAUDIBLE) apologizes to the Afghan government for having burned Korans. Let me say, I believe the Afghan government owes the families of those soldiers an apology.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I want to go straight to Nick Paton Walsh there in Kabul.

Nick, this is day four here. Is there any sign, any indication these protests will fade away? NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In short, no. I mean we've seen perhaps the worst violence yet. It's always hard to gauge down (ph) day (ph) because of the misinformation out there and how regularly these protests are popping up. They've been concentrated, the violence, mostly in the west of the country today, in Herat. Six people killed in three separate protests around there. One of which protesters clashed with police outside the U.S. consulate. Up to 60 people injured in that province. Another person killed in the north of the country. Another killed in the east of the country. In the capital here, Kabul, protesters dispersed by police shooting into the air. Seven people injured here.

So the calls for restraint from Afghan authorities have really done very little after Friday prayers here to dampen down this fury. And even the freezing weather in Afghanistan at this point still not keeping people off the streets, Brooke.

BALDWIN: We know, Nick, that General John Allen, the commander of NATO forces there in Afghanistan, he spoke to troops at the base where those two American soldiers were killed. What did he say?

WALSH: Well, it is actually quite a remarkable, impassioned plea. And it gives you a little bit of an insight into how U.S. soldiers must be feeling after a decade of war here. An unintentional mistake they accept that did happen. It seems like a mix-up over trash, to be honest, that's lead to this burning of the Koran, sparked this fury, caused two American deaths so far. Let's hear what he had to say to his troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. JOHN ALLEN, ISAF COMMANDER: There will be moments like this when you're searching for the meaning of this loss. There will be moments like this when your emotions are governed by anger and the desire to strike back. These are the moments when you reach down inside and you grip the discipline that makes you a United States soldier. And you gut through the pain. And you gut through the anger. And you remember why we're here. We're here for our friends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: General Allen, a very calm, considered (ph) man when you meet him. But clearly you can see his eyes there from the frustration. That must be being felt by many NATO officials. They're on a really tight timetable here trying to convince the world and Afghans and NATO troops to withdraw.

Afghan forces can take over security. And right now they're dealing with a day by day series of violence across the country. It's something which they consider to be a mistake. Not even an apology from their president will calm the situation. And I think you just see, perhaps, in the tone there that the general took perhaps maybe some of the soldiers he was addressing might be wondering to themselves, what else really can be done here when you're facing that level of fury from many Afghans?

Brooke.

BALDWIN: Nick Paton Walsh, thank you. Tornado warnings, hurricane force winds. Crazy warm weather here. If you're in the south, we have seen just about everything this week. Coming up next, we're tracking the latest weather systems. What you need to know for the weekend and what it means for your travel, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You know the whole idea, something could be too good to be true? Never trust spring-like weather in February. And this is why. Connecticut, you know what I'm talking about. This is what drivers awoke to this morning. This is Hartford. This is commute chaos, if you are brazen enough to try to get out in that.

To Chicago. Last night, giant snowstorm moving eastward. If you didn't know this already, this is proof positive winter, a bit recalcitrant here in the end of February. And take a look at this. This is Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Usually a pretty busy place. But it's empty because O'Hare canceled 350 flights last night and other 150 today. Alexandra Steele watching all of this.

We're talking wind and snow and -- yikes. I hate that for people at O'Hare.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know. But, you know, it has been such a paltry winter. I mean we've had barely any snow.

BALDWIN: We were waiting for it. Like, we're about to get smacked.

STEELE: We're waiting. But did you notice those big fat flakes, if you can see that video from Hartford --

BALDWIN: Yes.

STEELE: The moisture content is huge. So we're just seeing very heavy, wet snow.

BALDWIN: Ah-ha.

STEELE: So we'll talk about the snow, the tornadoes. And Brooke had me, because she's tweeting as we're talking, she's simulcasting the snow on 16 sources.

BALDWIN: I can't help it.

STEELE: All right, so let's go back. So here you go. Look, Brooke, there you go. See how fat those flakes are.

BALDWIN: Fat flakes.

STEELE: They're massive. So when you're out there shoveling, it certainly is heavy.

All right, so here's the big picture. Kind of a very ferocious, vigorous system. And it's doing a couple of things. It's bringing snow, it's bringing rain and it's bringing winds. So we've got a lot going on.

Big picture. Chicago seeing some snow. We saw video of that. Eleven inches so far and plus maybe another one to two today. So the biggest snow of the season. And only about 25 percent of the snow season left. So this is probably the biggest we're going to get.

So there's the big picture. Still some snow for Detroit. Maybe picking up another one to three inches as this moves through. Buffalo, right now it's rain. Maybe two to four inches. We're going to watch that cold air. Right now it's about 37 degrees. We're going to see that in Buffalo and western New York, but those numbers are going to come down and we're going to watch a changeover. And, boy, then those winds are going to howl big time. So kind of a big event in terms of the snow for some, especially in northern New York and northern New England, but not so much elsewhere.

So here's a look at the big picture in terms of snowfall totals through tonight and into tomorrow. A non-event for New York. Boston maybe we'll watch some snow, but just on the grassy surfaces, less than an inch or so. So certainly a non-event for you.

But north of the New York state throughway, picking up -- maybe Burlington, Vermont, five to eight inches of snow. So some beneficial snow for Strat (ph) or Romley (ph) or Okemo (ph) or Mt. Snow (ph). Anywhere in the Green and White Mountains.

One other factor. The winds will be huge with this. They're not so much now. Maybe 15 to 12 miles per hour. But we're going to watch that be a big threat tonight. We do have wind warnings posted. Gusty winds tonight through much of the day tomorrow for the Northeast. Even to the Mid Atlantic. Gusting here on the Cape, 50, 60 miles per hour potentially. So that's the Midwest and the Northeast scenario.

In the Southeast, a totally different deal. What we've got is this cold front moving in, warm moist air coming up, the buoyancy and the lifting nature of that. It's an isolated tornado threat. Severe weather potentially firing off. These are tornado watches. Through 8:00 tonight, that's where the potential will be. Here's the biggest threat, kind of Norfolk down to Raleigh. Again, not so much, Brooke, we'll see an isolated tornado, perhaps, but damaging winds even stronger here in the Southeast. Maybe gusting 60, even 65 miles per hour.

BALDWIN: So, given the wind, how will that affect travel?

STEELE: Absolutely affecting travel. Atlanta tonight, tomorrow, we've already seen it. Let's show you where we're going to see some travel trouble, especially today. Over an hour already in Newark, at Newark. You're trying to get out of Newark, New Jersey. Chicago, as well, about an hour and 10 minutes currently for you. And Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta, we will begin, especially tomorrow if you're flying, because the winds will really hold up the flights and be a problem.

BALDWIN: OK, Alexandra, thank you so much.

STEELE: You bet. Sure.

BALDWIN: And now this week's CNN Hero. A doctor who makes his house calls by, of all things, a boat, sailing into some of the world's most remote areas to treat more than 10,000 patients in the last two years all for free.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. BENJAMIN LABROT, MEDICAL MARVEL (ph): My name is Dr. Benjamin LaBrot. I don't have a private medical practice. And I make no salary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ben, do you want to take her? This is Ingrid.

LABROT: I started an organization called Floating Doctors to use a ship to bring health care to communities that had fallen through the cracks and been denied access to health care. Floating Doctors has a 76 foot, 100 ton ship that we refurbished from a completely derelict hull and we use that to transport all of our supplies.

As soon as we set sail about two and a half years ago, our mission has been continuous. We were two months in Haiti. We transited to Honduras. And we've been working in Panama for about the last eight months.

And in the last two years we've treated nearly 13,000 people in three countries. I'll find patients who have never seen a doctor before in their lives.

That was about as good a result in that ultra sound as we could possibly hope.

Typical community is usually living with no electricity, with no running water, with no sewage. Essentially living with none of the basic requirements, as we understand it.

We've built schools. We've done community projects. We've provided health education for thousands of patients. Floating Doctors is an all-volunteer organization. Nobody gets paid. All of our medical supplies are donated.

I had to postpone many aspects of my own personal life. I don't have a home somewhere. I had to give up a lot, but I gained everything.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Amazing, right? Remember, CNN Heroes. They're all chosen from you. You've got to tell us about these people. You can nominate someone. Tell us who's making a difference in your community. All you have to do, go to cnnheroes.com. Your nomination could help them help others.

The trial begins today against the Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on a fellow student. That student, Tyler Clementi. He committed suicide after that incident. And coming up next, we're going to hear from the prosecution and the defense, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A case that really brought cyber bullying into the national spotlight finally goes to trial. I know you know the story of Tyler Clementi. He was the Rutgers University freshman who jumped off a bridge to his death. This was in 2010. And Clementi killed himself after his roommate used a webcam to spy on Clementi's sexual encounter with another man. Now that roommate, Dharun Ravi, allegedly went online to invite others to watch a second encounter. And here's how lawyers for both sides opened Ravi's trial today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIA L. MCCLURE, PROSECUTOR: These acts were purposeful, they were intentional, and they were planned. And I would suggest to you that beyond that, they were mean-spirited, malicious, and they were criminal.

STEVEN ALTMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The state of New Jersey, who's represented by Middlesex County prosecutor's office, want you to believe -- want you to believe that Dharun is a bigot, a homophobic, a hateful anti-homosexual, anti-gay person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin is our CNN legal analyst, former federal prosecutor.

We heard sort of the thesis for both sides. Prosecutors say this absolutely was a criminal act. The defense says, you know, yes, it may have been stupid and immature of him to do this, but this was not a crime. Who has the most convincing argument, do you think?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: You know, I think it depends on the charge, Brooke. I don't think there's really any question in terms of the invasion of privacy count. And he's been charged with 15 counts altogether. I think there's sufficient evidence in the prosecution's arsenal that Tyler Clementi asked for privacy, he asked for his room until midnight that night and another night. And Dharun Ravi set up a webcam and invaded his privacy. So in that regard, I think the prosecution's arguments is very strong.

In terms of the other counts, especially the bias intimidation count, I think that's a closer call, Brooke. I think that's going to be somewhat difficult to show because, as we just displayed, the defense has a point. I mean, this prosecution has to show that he is a bigot, that he is a homophobe, that he is anti-gay. And I don't know that there is sufficient evidence to show that that is what motivated him. And that's the question, right, is that what motivated him to spy on his roommate, or is it that he is -- was just this young 18-year-old stupid kid and that's what kids do during their first couple of weeks at college. So that's really the issue here.

BALDWIN: So it's showing a history of bigotry to get a conviction on the hate crime charges, and that's what we'll have to watch for to see if and how they can prove that. Will jurors be told that Clementi killed himself? HOSTIN: Well, that's interesting. I was at the pre-trial hearing and that did come up, and the judge made it very clear that he would inform the jury pool, and he did, that Tyler Clementi would not be testifying, but that Dharun Ravi is not charged in connection with his death and that Tyler Clementi did commit suicide.

And so the jury is well aware of those facts. And I think that makes a lot of sense here because, as you mentioned earlier, Brooke, who does not know about this case? I mean this case --

BALDWIN: It was everywhere.

HOSTIN: Really shone the light on bullying, and cyber bullying. And it's one of the reasons why now New Jersey has the toughest anti- bullying law on the books in our country. And so this is a case that had to be tried.

BALDWIN: So Dharun Ravi, though, he turned down this plea deal. It would have kept him out of jail. Should he -- do you think, should he have taken the deal? Does the offer at all indicate weakness on behalf of the prosecution?

HOSTIN: You know, I thought it was remarkable, once I heard about it, that he didn't take that deal. That deal included no jail time, 600 hours of community service and some counseling. I spoke to his attorney about that at the pre-trial hearing and I asked him, how -- why did he not take what I consider a sweetheart deal. And his response to me, Brooke, was, he is innocent, he isn't guilty and that is why he did not take the plea offer. So this is a case that certainly is going to be tried, is being tried, and it's up to the jury to decide his guilt.

BALDWIN: We'll continue the conversation as this trial plays out. Sunny Hostin, thank you. We'll see you next hour.

Meantime, 12 cents. That is how much gas has gone up in the last week alone. Of course, the price spike, it's getting political. Republican presidential candidates, they are blaming President Obama. Coming up next, we're going to talk to this man, Ben Stein, somewhere nice. I see palm trees behind you. We're going to get your thoughts on the politics of gas prices.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You wish you had filled up your car yesterday when you hear this. Gas prices, they went up 3 cents overnight to $3.65 a gallon. This is according to AAA.

Folks, this is the 7th straight day of increases at the pump across the country. I know you're noticing. We're just talking averages. So it's way worse in some parts of the country.

Look at that. Look at those prices creeping up to $6. We found prices approaching $6 actually in Orlando, Florida. President Obama was in that state when he said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You can bet that since it's an election year, they're already dusting off their three-point plan for $2 gas and I'll save you the suspense. Step one is to drill and step two is to drill, and then step three, is to keep drilling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Anyone who says, you know, the solution being drilling, that's just a bumper sticker. You know, he's saying that there is little that can be done in the oval office to change gas prices.

He said yesterday speaking from the University of Miami saying he wants to keep pursuing alternative other forms of energy as a way to wean Americans off of big oil.

I want to welcome back to the show, familiar face to you all, Ben Stein. Hello, sir. An economist and author --

BEN STEIN, ECONOMIST AND AUTHOR: How are you?

BALDWIN: Dandy and yourself?

STEIN: Just great. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Ben Stein, I want to talk about here. We have this breakdown where your money goes when you pay at the pump. So 76 percent of it is determined by global crude oil prices. So, you know, do you think he has a point, that there really he was saying, look, there is no short term silver bullet solution? Is this really out of his hands?

STEIN: It's not in his hands whatsoever. It's not his fault. Look, I've been following this situation since long before you were born. I wrote the first message for President Nixon ever first message by a president up to Congress suggesting a national energy policy.

We were going to use wind. We were going to use solar. It didn't work. Every other president also sent up a message. None of them worked. It all has to do with petroleum and the petroleum price now is going because of fears of war between the U.S. and Iran or Israel and Iran.

It has nothing to do whatsoever with anything Mr. Obama did wrong. He is not to blame. The presidents aren't to blame. It's not up to them.

BALDWIN: But we sure do like to play the blame game, don't we? We're already hearing from some of the Republican presidential candidates. Newt Gingrich, listen to what he said at the start of the CNN debate this week.

STEIN: I can't bear to hear it.

BALDWIN: Roll it, Roger. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've developed a program for American energy so no future president will ever bow to a Saudi king again, and so every American can look forward to $2.50 a gallon gasoline.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: A $2.50 a gallon gasoline. I see you a heavy sigh, Ben Stein. He can't make that happen?

STEIN: Well, he can promise it. He can't do it, he can promise it. He can promise it all he wants, he can't do it. It has to do with the global oil market. There is an oil market. There's a lot of uncertainty about the volume supplies.

If there's not a war, if there's a diplomatic solution with Iran, prices will collapse. If there is a war, and eventually the Arabians will push back to wherever they're going to push back into, the price of oil will go down again.

This is a global phenomena. The president doesn't have control over it any more than he has control over the wind and the weather. It's just not in his control.

BALDWIN: All right, so who has control?

STEIN: The market does. Gigantic international forces have control over it. It's not the oil companies. They make just as much money when the price is low. It's not the retailers selling your gas on the corner. It's not the car companies, and it's not anybody.

It's not the Arabs, it's not anybody's fault. It's just a huge course of international events that affect the prices. It affects the price of wheat or corn or hogs. It's not a political thing, although they will try to make it a political thing. Solar is not going to fix it --

BALDWIN: Why not. We heard the president and he talks a lot about investing in alternative energy sources. He's talking bio, diesel, solar. I know at the same time critics have come back. They said look at Solyndra on the failure there. I mean, that was a half a billion dollars. So what's the solution?

STEIN: There is no solution. The solution is just to live life day by day.

BALDWIN: Do what?

STEIN: Live life day by day and accept the workings of the market and you want to make it bad about the direction of gasoline, buy gasoline futures, call your broker and by gasoline futures. You can do that for a couple thousand dollars.

If you're on a hedge against, any individual family can edged against it by making a tiny little bet with their broker. It's just part of life. It's just a sad part of life when it goes up. It's a good part when it goes down. It's part of life. It's like railing against aging. It's like railing against death. It's just part of life.

BALDWIN: This is something is sounds like you're saying we have to accept, there's just some of us who don't want t accept --

STEIN: How could you -- look, you're an extremely talented, capable woman who is on a powerful show on CNN. What can you do about it? You can't do a damn thing about it.

BALDWIN: I can't do a thing about it. I know you can't do a thing about it. I'm just saying there's all this frustration. At the same time, you have the economy improving finally, but at the same time that also increases demand and that means prices go up, up, up.

STEIN: But there's never been a recession caused by increasing oil prices and this won't be, either. It's a sad situation. There are really serious problems of a big-time war in the Middle East. That's affecting the price. People don't seem to be focusing on the fact that a very good-sized war may be about to break out in the Middle East.

BALDWIN: You're referring to Iran?

STEIN: That's a big, big subject between Iran and Israel, that's going to be a good-sized war.

BALDWIN: Serious fluctuations, absolutely. Ben Stein, always a pleasure. Come back any time.

STEIN: Always my pleasure.

BALDWIN: Thank you. Coming up for nearly a month, we have been asking CNNrs, estimated 1 million I-Reporters to weigh in on what makes them unique, we American.

Coming up next, we're going to hear about a new hit sitcom that explores life with one of America's fastest growing demographics, middle-class Latinos.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: In an election year, politicians and pundits, they never hesitate to tell us what they think is right for America, but what defines us in 2012?

All this week, we've been going in depth on "I am America," taking a closer look at how our country has changed in talking ethically, religiously and economically.

So today, on "I Am America," a new TV sitcom is stirring up some controversy. This show's star, actor, Rob Schneider, says the story of his character marrying into a middle-class Latino family mirrors his very own and the story of America in 2012, but not everyone quite sees it that way. Nischelle Turner has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The new CBS comedy "Rob" is a bonafide ratings hit. Loosely based on the real life of marriage of its star, Rob Schneider, to Mexican TV producer (inaudible). The show has been a top ten sitcom since it premiered in January.

(on camera): You meet your new wife's family and it's like oil and vinegar at the beginning. Was it like that in real life? Did you have to kind of really work?

ROB SCHNEIDER, ACTOR: She said you should have a family and meet and CBS liked the idea next thing you know we were shooting it.

TURNER (voice-over): In reality, Schneider in laws live in Mexico and do not speak English, on the show they are middle class Mexican- Americans played Diane Marie Ariva and (inaudible).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This dip is excellent, I believe called guacamole.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very impressive. You know your stuff.

TURNER: But for many Rob's fish out of water humor lacks authenticity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would give them probably a "C."

TURNER: (Inaudible) Martha Saravia has been reporting on the show and watching it closely.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a big family because you're all Catholic.

TURNER: Sarabia's greatest concern, stereotypes from the overt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't use protection.

TURNER: To the more subtle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't wait until we are spending time together. Sharing our deepest secrets, borrowed each other $7,200.

MARTHA SARABIA, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER, "L.A. OPINION": The stereotypes that have offended people are the uncle, doesn't want to do anything, he might be illegal or undocumented, that hurts people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm visiting from Mexico for the weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is nice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not leaving.

TURNER: Schneider admits knowing some would find the show offensive, but defends it as comedy.

SCHNEIDER: For me, it's -- trying to make ourselves laugh, but people might be offended by it.

TURNER: For their part CBS tells CNN, quote, "Rob is based on Rob Schneider's real live experience of marrying into a large Hispanic family. We are pleased with the positive feedback from several Hispanic groups and leaders, end quote."

One of those groups is the National Hispanic Media Coalition, which praises the show's casting saying it's not often that we get to see so many talented Latino regulars on a prime time television show and adds the show has potential.

Telling CNN the key at the time show's long time success will be if the voice of the Latino writers on the show are heard by the producers and show runners.

Sarabia's also thrilled to see Latinos in prime time wishes the show success but hopes it finds ways to make people laugh without laughing at stereotypes. Nischelle Turner, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Michelle, thank you. And for nearly a month, we've been asking you to weigh in on what makes us uniquely American, and now you can see what you said. Amazing responses, by the way. Thank you so much. Go to ireport.com/iamerica to watch.

The first female governor of North Carolina will not be seeking re-election. She's standing by live to talk about why. That is coming up after this quick break. Stay with us.

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BALDWIN: Now with me live from Washington is the first female governor of the state of North Carolina, Democrat Bev Perdue. She is finishing up her first and only term.

She has opted out of seeking re-election. She is one of the Democratic governors met with the president this morning. So Governor Perdue, welcome to you. Thanks for coming on.

GOVERNOR BEV PERDUE (D), NORTH CAROLINA: Thanks, Brooke. It's good to be here.

BALDWIN: Let's just begin with your morning, this closed-door meeting with the president. Obviously, it was closed door. We don't have any pictures to show our viewers, but just quickly, what did the president say?

PERDUE: A great meeting. We met with several of his advisers and then he came in and sat with us. We talked about what's going on in the country, the fact that this is the 23rd month of economic recovery, and the fact that he's put about 3.5 million people back to work.

The fact that we all feel optimistic about this recovery that's beginning and the hope that we continue to focus on, growing jobs throughout the country, educating our people, and obviously bringing home the troops.

BALDWIN: You're state, a key state for him in 2008, big year for him, big year for you but in a different way. Let's get to your news. You announced just last month, Governor, that you will not be seeking a second term.

I just want to read your announcement here. Quote, "We live in highly partisan times where some people seem more worried about scoring political points than working together to address the real challenges our state faces."

With all due respect, though, partisan politics goes way, way back in North Carolina and Washington. I mean, it's all over the country. I'm sure you knew that when you first took the job.

PERDUE: Brooke, I've been in this business for 22 years. I've fought a lot of battles. I've won every race. I've always won. I've always had several opponents not just one. It's not just partisan politics.

It's a ton of partisan politics in this country these days. You know, I'm passionate about education. My parents didn't have a high school diploma. I got the politics trying to make sure every kid in my state had a shot at the future.

Wrapped around the opportunity that education affords, and I simply decided I couldn't continue to do the work that I cared about in this kind of rapidly partisan environment.

BALDWIN: But if it's the partisan politics, and specifically you say, the tone then what was it that surprised you? Was it one single incident that prompted you to say enough is enough?

PERDUE: No, I think it's what's happening in the country. It's happening in Washington, it's happening in Raleigh, it's happening in every capital in the country, every state capital.

There are those folks who are elected right now who care much more about firing shots and fighting and winning elections than they do about solving the big problems for the country or the state.

And in a globally connected world where we are fighting against China and India and other countries, we all really have to get serious about solving America's problems and North Carolina's problems.

And you get frustrated at that and I believe taking it out of the partisan guide, I believe I can be more effective taking up the challenges that North Carolina and this country faces about how we're going to educate our kids to be globally effective.

BALDWIN: But it's such a strong position of power being the governor. You describe the frustration. Are you giving up the fight?

PERDUE: No. I'll never give up the fight. Everybody who knows me knows I'll fight to the last inch. I'm going to fight in a different way. I'm going to fight in a way that I can be free. That any of the partisan politics, I can be free to say what I want to say and be very, very direct what we need to do in this country, not just in my state.

To make sure we have great pre-k programs, make sure we have highly achievable teachers that produce great learners, that we have carrier pathways and college pathways, that we accelerate community college and university and that again, we continue the learning opportunities of people in the work force as technology changes in the work force.

That's the glue that holds our economy together, Brooke, you have to get beyond partisan politics and fight who is a Republican and who is a Democrat and how you score points. I would advise Congress to do it, too.

BALDWIN: Let me take this, though, beyond that, and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't point this out as well. Your disapproval rating is at 59 percent among independents and we have this poll from last month showing you trailing in your race for re-election to Republican Pat McCrory.

How much, Governor, how much did these numbers, did the disapproval ratings factor in your decision not to run again in a state that, once again, could be crucial in the president's re- election?

PERDUE: I plan to spend a whole lot of my time and energy making sure this president wins and Democrats win in North Carolina. I've said it all along, approval ratings don't matter. A hill of beans to me, they never mattered.

The only thing that mattered is when the campaign starts and we show how they've torn down public schools, torn down education and focused not on jobs which are what people care about, but on social issues.

Right, now my state has a horrible constitution amendment before it on marriage. We have the second heinous choice bill in America, second to Virginia now. Thank goodness Virginia did something and we're going backwards.

These are issues, Brooke, that I thought were put away years ago. And to have them resurface when at the same time America and the country and my state faces tremendous challenges. No, polls don't matter. People matter.

I'm proud of my record, let me tell you that. Twenty years where AAA bond rates stayed. I put people back to work, 87,000 jobs, $19 billion. Folks around my state appreciate the work we're doing and so like I have helped bring the state forward in the worst time since the great depression.

BALDWIN: I understand. We'll see what happens when it comes to who ends up at the helm of your state, be it governor or whichever way your state goes come November, Governor Perdue. Thank you so much from the state of North Carolina.

PERDUE: Delighted to be here. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Thank you. One billion dollars up for grabs right now. That is how much the IRS says it has in unclaimed tax refunds. Coming up next, we're going to show you how to get what's coming to you.

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BALDWIN: Let's get a quick check on the big board and see the Dow still flirting with that 13,000 mark. I know it hit the milestone earlier this week.

It's the first time it hit it before the financial crisis. There it is, just 27 points away. Alison Kosik live for us at the New York Stock Exchange. A couple stories with you, big, big news involving two American institutions both announcing how they can survive.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and you're talking about Sears and the U.S. Post Office, the U.S. postal service, Brooke. These were sort of the tried and true, the trusted, those all-American brands we turn to without even thinking about it.

But you know what? Both have had a lot of trouble keeping up, staying competitive, so right now they're trying to turn things around. First of all, Sears. It reported its earnings today, reported a massive loss.

So what it's going to be doing is, it's going to looks to sell 11 stores, spin off a bunch of its brands and reduce its inventories. One analyst says the company at this point is trying to build enough of a cash cushion to keep vendors from jumping ship, because if that happened, it would hurt sales even more.

So for now Sears is putting those bankruptcy rumors to rest. Sears' shares are actually jumping right now more than 5 percent after surging 19 percent yesterday, so at least investors are buying into it.

All right, the U.S. Postal Service has its own set of issues. It is swimming in red ink because the internet is pretty much killing the USPS. So it's trying to save billions of dollars. It's planning to consolidate or close more than 200 mail processing centers beginning in the spring, and that could mean up to 35,000 jobs could be in jeopardy.

Now, almost every state would lose at least one processing center with California, and New York each losing more than ten. There are still other changes under consideration, Brooke, like doing away with Saturday delivery and raising the cost of a first class stamp.

The agency says if this doesn't happen, it could lose $18 billion by 2015. I'm talking about these changes aren't put into place -- Brooke. BALDWIN: Those are a lot of disheartening numbers, Alison Kosik. But let's talk about a big, nice number, $1 billion. I feel like Austin Powers. But this is money that the government wants to give Americans.

KOSIK: Yes, so you have to wonder if there's something else behind this, but yet the IRS is putting it out there that if you haven't filed your 2008 return -- yes, that long ago -- you could have some serious cash coming your way, 1 million people, 1 million. They haven't yet filed a federal income tax return for 2008.

And the IRS says half of those refunds it's sitting on is worth more than $6 million. If the time is running out, of course, if you want your refund for 2008, you can't wait until after April 17. That is the deadline.

Now the IRS does say that some people didn't file because their incomes were too low to require it, but if they had taxes withheld from their wages, they could still be owed a refund.

Also, it may be worth your while to file for 2008 because you could also miss out on certain tax credits. But of course, there are conditions before you get that refund.

So the IRS is saying, of course -- the IRS says you wouldn't get your refund for 2008 if you didn't file your tax returns for 2009 and 2010. So there you go. I have to wonder if there's something else going on besides just wanting to give away the money.

BALDWIN: I know.

KOSIK: They want to know if you didn't file.

BALDWIN: The 2008, gosh. Alison Kosik, thank you.