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Supreme Court Debates Health Care; Thousands to March for Trayvon Martin; North Korea Preps to Fire Rocket; D.C.'s Hot Ticket: Health Care Debate; Santorum: Romney the Worst Candidate; James Cameron Completes Deep Dive; AJC: National Test Scores Suspicious; Kentucky Moves on to Final Four
Aired March 26, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM.
The contentious crown jewel of the Obama presidency, the health care law, goes before the U.S. Supreme Court. It could be the most important case justices have heard for years. It begins in about an hour.
And tensions grow in the Trayvon Martin case. The shooter is not wanted by the law, he's not even charged but check out this wanted poster and the reward one group has put out for him.
And we're hearing from the wife of a soldier accused of going on a killing spree in Afghanistan. Robert Bales' wife Karilyn says her husband would not commit the crimes he's accused of.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARILYN BALES, WIFE OF MASSACRE SUSPECT: He loves children. He's like a big kid himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Tossed, handcuffed and dragged out. That's how a trip to the Oklahoma City airport ended for one man and it looks like you can see him there, he's face down. Now police are under investigation.
Campaign ad or horror movie? It's hard to tell the difference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to a place where one president's failed policies really hit home. Welcome to Obamaville.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Stephen King, you got nothing on Rick Santorum. The candidate's new ad says this grim horror will be reality if the president is reelected.
And call this a Susan Boyle moment. Only this time the voice belongs to a 17-year-old boy. He's the latest proof you don't have to look like a star to sound like one. He is so good. He took the smirk off Simon Cowell's face.
This morning, though, we start with a monumental legal fight that gets under way at the U.S. Supreme Court in about an hour. The issue is President Obama's health care law but, ultimately, the case could redefine the power of government, the freedom of your choices, and even the presidential race. Three days of arguments begin with the central question, is the individual mandate constitutional?
It will require nearly every American to purchase some level of insurance or face a tax penalty. That part of the bill, that law, that part of the law rather is scheduled to take effect in 2014. The Supreme Court debate is considered one of the most important cases in years, and it's been years in the making.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): The political fight over health care was exhausting. Historic. On the day it passed, Democrats cheered. When President Obama signed the law, Vice President Joe Biden inadvertently told America just how amazing it was. Was it ever. And still is in so many ways.
JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: This is a big (EXPLETIVE DELETED) deal.
COSTELLO: Was it ever. And still is. In so many ways.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have every right to --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, wait a minute.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are we going to go if this health care gets passed?
COSTELLO: The health care debate helped fill the Tea Party movement, led to a shellacking for Democrats in 2010 and may decide who's president in 2012.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will eliminate Obamacare.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The first thing we need to do is repeal Obamacare.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I would repeal Obamacare.
COSTELLO: All of this over a law many Americans simply don't understand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not that educated on it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not very good at it. I just hope it's working by the time I get older. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know what I hear on TV but I don't know intimately.
COSTELLO: That's despite the fact that some aspects of the law are not in effect. Children up to age 26 can stay on their parents' plan. The prescription coverage gap for seniors is reduced. Insurance companies cannot drop coverage for people with preexisting conditions. States are allowed to cover more people on Medicaid. And new plans can't charge for a certain preventive services like mammograms and colonoscopies.
Actually the one aspect most Americans do understand is the requirement that everyone have insurance, the widely reviled, individual mandate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't like forcing anybody to do anything, you know, whether or not they -- it would benefit them personally. It's not anyone else's place to tell someone what they have to do even if it's taking care of their health. It's not anyone else's right.
COSTELLO: And that's the big reason why the health care law is where it is today, in the U.S. Supreme Court.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Talk a little bit more about that. The Supreme Court debate is sweeping in scope and jaw-dropping in scale. Three days, four sessions, six hours of arguments. That makes this the biggest Supreme Court marathon on a single topic in more than 40 years. That's because of the sheer complexity of the law. 2700 pages, 450 some provisions. So what can we expect when it's all said and done?
The justices could strike down all or just parts of the law. That may mean throwing out the individual mandates. Supporters say that's the linchpin that makes the whole plan work, though. The justices could also press pause on some of the larger issues and decide on them later. The court is expected to release its rulings in June.
Now on to another case that is stealing passionate debate about justice and trust in our legal system. Just hours after this candlelight vigil for Trayvon Martin the parents of the slain teenager will address the city commission in Sanford, Florida.
It's a noontime meeting and two more celebrities will join the cause. NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing and NFL star Ray Lewis are demanding justice for the unarmed teen shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer.
In the meantime, Martin's family now plans to sue that homeowners association. And the attorney for the shooting is revealing a bit more about a possible defense strategy. He says George Zimmerman suffered injuries in a scuffle with the teenager and fired the fatal shot in self-defense.
So let's get more on this developing story and what's shaping up to be a busy day for those demanding justice. Martin Savidge is in Sanford. Good morning, Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. You're right. There are a lot of factors that come into play specifically today regarding this particular case. The number one, it has been one month now since Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. There's never been any doubt about that. George Zimmerman has admitted that he shot and killed the 17-year-old youth.
The point has been that he has maintained throughout that this was self-defense. There are a lot of people who disagree with that and many of them are planning to be here in Sanford starting around 4:00 this afternoon. There is going to be a protest march. It'll make its way to the civic center. That's where this town hall meeting is taking place starting at 5:00 tonight.
And it is expected that there is such a large crowd, first, they had to move the menu which is why it's at the civic center. And there may even have to be an overflow which is why this park is being set up to handle that. And there is eventually going to be, we're told, a giant screen television so that everyone, whether they get to be inside this civic center or not, will at least have the opportunity to see what takes place.
The Trayvon Martin family has already put out a notice saying that they are asking everyone, they are appealing for calm. They understand that passions are still running very, very high. We should also point out that there has been at least some information now coming from Craig Sonner. This is the attorney for George Zimmerman. And he's been speaking about what sounds like a defense tactic. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CRAIG SONNER, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S ATTORNEY: He sustained an injury to his nose and to the back of his head. I believe it broke his nose. And he had a pretty good cut on the back of his head that probably could have used stitches but in the time it took for him to get to the hospital, I think they opted not to put stitches in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: So you're listening to, of course, his attorney, George Zimmerman's attorney, outline the injuries that he says his clients suffered as a result of an altercation, in an altercation that apparently George Zimmerman says required him to fire a weapon that killed the 17-year-old youth.
No charges, Carol, have been filed that has not happened, but the investigation is continuing at this point -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Martin Savidge reporting live from Sanford, Florida, this morning.
In the meantime one group is adding to the volatility. The New Black Panthers party has offered a $10,000 reward for Zimmerman's capture. This wanted poster reminiscent of the old west. It's posted on the group's Web site.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Where is the money coming from?
MIKHAIL MUHAMMAD, NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY: The money is going to come from the black community. We are already getting support from athletes and entertainers as we speak. By next week, we are looking forward to getting $1 million for the capture of George Zimmerman. We're going to force our government to do their job properly and if they don't, we will.
It is a very troubling time in the United States of America. We are in era of our so-called post-racial, harmony with all people but black people are being murdered all over America and we get the same treatment time and time again. So we're saying to President Obama, you got to do your job on this one, buddy. We don't need a beer. We don't need to laugh and have a good time. Our children are dying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. Here is a closer look at that group. The New Black Panthers claim to have thousands of members but offering no exact numbers. They are a black separatist group that believes African-Americans should have their own nation. Groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center believe the New Panthers are a hate group calling them, quote, "racist and anti-Semitic." The original Black Panthers, by the way, who were active in the '60s and '70s, they reject them and their ideas.
In other news this morning the "New York Times" is reporting an emergency review by the U.S. military of a notorious anti-malaria drug that is still being used in Afghanistan. The army nearly dropped the drug known as Mefloquine or Lariam in 2009 because it had been implicated in severe psychiatric effects including psychotic behavior, including paranoia and hallucinations.
The drug has also been complicated in numerous suicides and homicides. This comes day after a U.S. soldier, Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, allegedly massacred 17 Afghan civilians, including women and children.
The wife of Robert Bales spoke out today in an interview on the NBC "Today" show. She said she had seen no indication there was anything wrong with her husband and doesn't believe he could have done the horrific acts he is accused of. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BALES: He loves children. He's like a big kid himself.
MATT LAUER, HOST, "TODAY" SHOW: And he is accused of killing nine children.
BALES: Right.
LAUER: Innocent children.
BALES: It's unbelievable to me. I have no idea what happened, but he would not -- he loves children and he would not do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The U.S. government, by the way, paid out $860,000 to the families of those Afghan victims over the weekend. That's according to Afghan officials. $50,000 for each of the dead. And $10,000 apiece for the wounded.
Also new this morning, North Korea has moved a long-range rocket to a launch pad apparently getting ready to test-fire it. The news comes as President Obama arrives in South Korea for the start of a two-day nuclear summit. And it comes amid a warning from the U.S. and its allies.
White House correspondent Brianna Keilar is traveling with the president.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Carol, President Obama had some tough words for North Korea's new leadership. He said that if North Korea moves forward with what it's calling a satellite launch that the U.S. and many other countries see as a thinly veiled long-range missile launch it will further isolate itself and President Obama made it very clear just who he was talking to.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Here in Korea, I want to speak directly to the leaders in Pyongyang. The United States has no hostile intent toward your country. We are committed to peace. Your provocations and pursuit of nuclear weapons have not achieved the security you seek, they've undermined it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: President Obama also addressed Iran's alleged ambitions to build a nuclear weapon, reiterating that there is a window for a diplomatic solution but that window is closing. And the stated purpose of this nuclear security summit is to keep tabs on nuclear material and make sure that it doesn't fall into the hands of terrorists, but it's really the meetings on the sidelines that are getting so much attention.
President Obama has had a number of meetings with world leaders. He met with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and one of the things they talked about was Syria. It's no secret President Obama has been upset with the Russians, along with the Chinese, for vetoing that U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria.
He stated there were some differences today. He also, though, said that he and President Medvedev agree the efforts by Kofi Annan to end the yearlong violence must proceed and that could be a path forward. He also spoke with the President Hu of China. He's looking to China to pressure North Korea and try to get them to stop this missile launch.
Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Brianna Keilar reporting.
Movie director James Cameron back on the surface of the Pacific Ocean after diving so low to the bottom of the world. It's true. The director of "Titanic" and "Avatar" hit a spot called Challenger Deep, the deepest part in the world's ocean, in his one-man submersible. Challenger Deep, more than 35,000 feet deep, that's seven miles underneath the water.
Took Cameron two and a half hours to get down there. Cameron is the first one to make it down there as a solo diver. We're going to talk a little bit more about this story in a few minutes with Zain Verjee. She'll be live for us in London.
How important is the case before the Supreme Court this morning? It is so big that people camped out in front of court all weekend to get a seat inside. Wind, rain, and heavy pollen could not keep them away. We'll talk to one woman who's been on the sidewalk since Friday.
And an Atlanta newspaper says the cheating scandal that hit local schools may actually be a national problem. We will tell you what it found a bit later.
And Rick Santorum loses his cool with a reporter on the campaign trail. We'll tell you what the reporter asked, plus Santorum's testy response.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's talk more about the health care law going before the U.S. Supreme Court in just about an hour. It's not just a constitutional debate, it's a hot ticket. Some people have been camping out on the sidewalk or paying people to hold a spot all weekend to get one of the few dozen tickets available to the public to get inside the court. And, yes, it's been raining in D.C.
Kathie McClure got in line on Friday. She is the founder of VoteHealthcare.org. She supports the health care law.
So, Kathie, you've been literally waiting in line to get a ticket to go inside the court since Friday?
KATHIE MCCLURE, FOUNDER, VOTEHEALTHCARE.ORG: That's right. Carol, Friday afternoon.
COSTELLO: People say you're crazy.
MCCLURE: I'm sorry?
COSTELLO: Some people might say you're crazy.
MCCLURE: Well, maybe they don't have a dog in this fight. I do because I have sick children who are chronically ill. So, my -- I'm here because my kids' future really depends on this law surviving the constitutional challenge. Few nights on the sidewalk is nothing compared to lifetime of affordable health care for them.
COSTELLO: A lot of people -- a lot of people in America are against the individual mandate. They think it's unconstitutional because, of course, it forces them to buy insurance whether they want it or not.
What would you say to those people since you support the law?
MCCLURE: Well, you know, government tells us to do a lot of things. For example, we are all required to have automobile liability insurance. And, you know, what's going on right now in our country is that people who don't have insurance coverage are actually costing all of us money. We pay each one of us who has insurance, actually pays about a thousand dollars a year for those that show up in the emergency room.
So, really the mandate is all about individual responsibility. It means that we should all plan for the inevitable need for health care. And people who don't cover themselves, they create a problem for everybody. So that's really the whole issue with the mandate. It's a matter of -- excuse me -- of dollars and cents for insurance companies to make this a viable program that it's absolutely necessary.
And, you know, the mandate was a Republican idea before it became socialism.
COSTELLO: Well, I wanted to ask you about the emotions surrounding this law because it really has split the country. People are very passionate about this law. What do you think that is?
MCCLURE: Well, I think the law has been framed in a way that's really -- it's more about emotional issues rather than the nuts and bolts of how the law works, and really what it takes to solve our health care problem in America where we spend, you know, $3 trillion on health care, and, yet, 30th among developed nations in our outcome.
So, what we really need is what this law is a really first step toward is to bring everybody into the fold, to have everyone covered so that they can get the care they need, so that we can be less sick, healthier nation. Let's put it that way.
COSTELLO: Of course, there are plenty of people -- there are plenty of people, Kathie, in this country that vehemently disagree with you. And some of those people will probably be standing in line with you. Do you talk?
MCCLURE: Oh, yes. Well, the majority of people in line are being paid by companies to hold spots for important senators and congressman and other VIPs. There are not that many of us that actually have a personal stake in this.
Although the people who are in line for these companies, for the senators and congressmen, that don't want to sleep on the sidewalk, they are working poor people and they don't have health care. So what does that say? You know?
And one of my feelings, Carol, is that these Supreme Court proceedings that are going to decide, and affect everybody in this country, they ought to be on television, you know? Every American should be able to see this and decide for themselves whether the court is -- how the court is -- understanding how the court is considering this issue.
COSTELLO: Well, we tried.
MCCLURE: I know you did.
COSTELLO: The U.S. Supreme Court, they won't let us.
Kathie McClure, thank you so much. We're going to let you get back in line so your spot won't go away.
MCCLURE: Thank you.
COSTELLO: And we'll check back with you tomorrow. Thanks, Kathie.
Rick Santorum has a new video out, a web video. It's called "Welcome to Obamaville."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NARRATOR: Imagine a small American town two years from now, if Obama is reelected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: This video takes a dark look at what would happen if President Obama is reelected. We'll talk more about this after a break.
And most of us cannot live without our cell phones, but the carriers are getting much love for the customers these days. I'm sure you know why. But we'll tell you more after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Turning now to the campaign trail.
Rick Santorum is attacking Mitt Romney as being unable to unseat President Obama. Santorum says anybody but Romney would be better to top the GOP ticket.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Why would we put someone up who is uniquely, pick any other Republican in the country! He is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama. Why would Wisconsin want to vote for someone like that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So, Paul, help me understand what this is from because the big thing going around the Internet right now is "The New York Times" reporter was in the audience when Rick Santorum said that, "The New York Times" reporter pressed Santorum about that. Santorum came back and said, what you're saying basically is a bunch of bull. Is that what we are watching?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes. That sound right there, Carol, is from last night in Wisconsin. Santorum campaigning there in advance of Wisconsin's primary.
Listen, he's been using this line for a while, that Romney would be the worst candidate to go up against President Obama in November. Why? Because of the so called Romneycare, the law passed in Massachusetts when Romney was governor there. Santorum says it takes away an argument against so-called Obamacare, the national health care law.
You're right. Jeff Zeleny, a "New York Times" correspondent asked Santorum about just what we heard a second ago and this is how Santorum responded.
He said -- he said, "Quit distorting my words. It's bull" and then, of course, used the profanity.
Now, this morning, Rick Santorum defending that. He was interviewed on another network this morning and he said, "Listen, if you haven't cursed out a 'New York Times' reporter, you're not really a true Republican." And the Santorum campaign are going a step further, they are fundraising now off of that incident last night, the back-and-forth between him and the "The New York Times" reporting. They're trying to raise money off of it.
Carol, listen, Santorum won big in Louisiana over the weekend by a two-to-one margin over Romney. But let's be honest, he's still very, very far back in second place.
Take a look at this, the delegate count right now. You can see Mitt Romney more than 2-1 advantage over Santorum, but still not halfway yet to that 1,144 delegates needed to clench the nomination.
A bunch more today backing Romney. Mike Lee, senator from Utah, a Tea Party caucus member in the Senate, and Congressman McCarthy of California, number three House Republican, both endorsing Romney today -- Carol.
COSTELLO: When you said Rick Santorum was on another network? Would that be FOX? Just a guess.
STEINHAUSER: Could be, could be. I think that's the one. Yes.
COSTELLO: OK then.
Santorum also has a new web video out. It paints a pretty bleak picture of an Obama second term. Let's look a bit of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NARRATOR: Imagine a small American town two years from now if Obama is reelected. Small businesses are struggling and families are worried about their jobs and their future. The wait to see a doctor is ever increasing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So, Paul, this is pretty apocalyptic. Does this resonate with many voters? I mean, there are some voters who think President Obama is destroying the country. But the apocalypse?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, this thing is buzzing online just because of that theme. It's pretty. Shocking, very scary. I guess for the voters that Santorum is going after in the primary, it may help him.
Are they putting this on TV as a paid commercial? I talked to a top Santorum aide. And they said, no, they're not. It's part of an eight-part series portraying what they say the country would look like two years after an Obama re-election -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Paul Steinhauser, live in Washington for us.
The tension just keeps growing in the Trayvon Martin case, and calls for George Zimmerman to face charges. We're going to talk about that with Will Cain and L.Z. Granderson. In fact, oh, Will Cain is getting tweets you wouldn't believe. We'll talk about that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello.
Stories we are watching right now in THE NEWSROOM.
We are hearing from the wife of a soldier accused of going on a killing spree in Afghanistan. Sergeant Robert Bales' wife Karilyn says her husband would not commit the crimes he is accused of.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARILYN BALES, SGT. BALES' WIFE: He loves children. He's like a big kid himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The United States government paid out $860,000 to the families of victims over the weekend. That's according to Afghan officials. Fifty thousand for each of the dead, $10,000 for each of the wounded.
Tensions grow in the Trayvon Martin case. The shooter is not wanted by the law. He's not even charged. But check out the wanted poster and the reward one group has put out for him.
And the contentious crown jewel of the Obama presidency, the health care law, goes before the U.S. Supreme Court. It could be the most important case justices have heard for years. It begins in about an hour. Some people have been waiting in line all weekend for a seat to witness history.
Of course, another contentious topic is the Trayvon Martin case. It's all anyone is talking about. And the rhetoric surrounding what happened that night in Sanford, Florida, is growing ever more heated and nasty.
Just ask CNN contributor Will Cain who wondered there is a rush to judgment considering concerning George Zimmerman. Will is now getting hammered on Twitter. So, Will Cain joins us now and CNN contributor L.Z. Granderson is also with us, because you guys had quite the conversation just personally because you're friends about this very issue.
And Will, I want to start with you with what exactly you said in the Twitter verse and on air that's got people so upset of something.
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Right. You know, there's one thing I didn't say, Carol, that I do want to say that I think got lost in L.Z. and my debate last night. And that is this, that there is a personal tragedy here, one for Trayvon and his family. And I do feel awful for their family.
What I said that provoked so much backlash on me is that I'm unwilling to join the outrage at this point because I feel like there's a lack of facts.
There are several elements to this Trayvon Martin case. There's the personal tragedy, which we just talked about, which I just talked about. There is the potential racial profiling aspect that George Zimmerman might have racially profiled Trayvon. There's the actual case. Is George Zimmerman guilty of murder?
And then there's the Florida "Stand Your Ground" law. Is it legitimate? Is this legitimate application to it? And on many of these things, except for the personal tragedy aspect, I feel like there's a lack of facts to contribute to the outrage.
I guess I kind of fear a sense of mob mentality and I just want to put my head and go slow down, maybe we need to get some more facts before we come to conclusions.
COSTELLO: Well, L.Z., how do you feel about that? Because, you know, star athletes are now joining in. I mean, Sinbad is going to be speaking at a community meeting later today. Ray Lewis is going to be there. Patrick Ewing is going to be there.
This thing has mushroomed into something seemingly out of control now.
L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN.COM CONTRIBUTOR: I don't think it's out of control. I think it's directed. I think it's focused on one thing, George Zimmerman. Why hasn't he been questioned? Excuse me, why hasn't he been questioned? Why hasn't he been arrested?
You know, Will and I, we did have a heated debate last night because I think he still is missing the reason why people are so outraged.
It's not necessarily that people want to hang George Zimmerman. It's the fact that the police department didn't properly investigate this murder, that they bungled it. They looked like they tried to cover it up and they didn't go through the proper steps that you would go through in a situation like this. And a lot of people feel it's because of Trayvon's race and that's where the outrage is focused in on.
It's not necessarily about hanging George Zimmerman as much as this man hasn't been questioned properly. He wasn't even drug tested. It seems as if the police department was working to exonerate him as opposed to finding out exactly what happened. That's why we say justice for Trayvon and not hang George Zimmerman.
COSTELLO: Well, the reason I say spiraling kind of out of control is now you have this group putting out this wanted poster with a $10,000 bounty on George Zimmerman. George Zimmerman is getting death threats. He's in hiding. He can't come out.
His lawyer says, wait a minute, the whole story is not out and, Will, you know, you can join at any time because I'm sure this sort of what you were talking about, that George Zimmerman apparently suffered injuries.
CAIN: Well, L.Z. -- look, L.Z. and I continued our debate last night over a beer after our segment and that shows the way we feel about each other and how complicated this topic is.
But basically my position to L.Z. is this -- however improbable, the possibility still exists that George Zimmerman chased Trayvon down, right? But at the point he met him, he said, what are you doing and Trayvon became the aggressor, Trayvon attacked George Zimmerman. I'm not saying that happened, I'm saying that possibility exists. And if that possibility exists, then I can't arrive at conclusions.
And under your "Stand Your Ground" law, my understanding is the police needed evidence at that point to almost disprove George Zimmerman's self-defense claim.
COSTELLO: L.Z. -- go ahead.
GRANDERSON: I was just going to say that, you know, there are other pieces of the puzzle that we do know are true. We know that the police chief that stepped down, as a matter of fact, told reporters that George Zimmerman wasn't racially motivated, didn't know the race of the victim, and then we hear the 911 tapes and we hear George Zimmerman identify Trayvon as a black person.
So, why would the police chief tell the reporters one thing? We didn't have the 911 tapes while he was saying that, and now that the tapes are out, we hear the truth. Why take those tapes?
These are the details that we're talking about that's making us look at the Sanford police much more carefully because we are just saying there is some inconsistencies here. Now, the police report, the initial police report didn't have anything at all put into it about George Zimmerman having injuries, nothing about a nose being broken, nothing about gashes and blood. That was put in the second -- the later police report.
So, why would you show up to a murder scene and you see someone with a gun and if they are bleeding, if they have a broken nose, you probably would put that in the initial report -- but why wasn't that put in until later? I mean, these are the type of inconsistencies that really have people wondering what the heck is going out down in Sanford, Florida.
COSTELLO: Last word, Will.
CAIN: Well, I just want to say, you know, there -- as I said in the beginning, there are so many different complicated aspects of this case. And I just don't feel like they should be lump together into one single emotion.
This morning, on Soledad O'Brien's show, I said there may be a case, may be, for legitimate outrage over racial profiling, but that also doesn't lead you to the conclusion that George Zimmerman acted in a way that wasn't self-defense. They're not connected. There are so many different aspects of the case that you have to analyze individually and it's not leading me to conclusions right now.
But if it does, I will be right there with everybody else with outrage, after we have the facts.
COSTELLO: Interesting conversation -- and I'm sure these kinds of conversations are going on across the country. So thanks so much for sharing your passion with us this morning, L.Z. Granderson and Will Cain.
CAIN: Thank you.
COSTELLO: A woman is charged with breaking into Simon Cowell's home while he was there. Find out how she got in and what he was doing when it happened. That's in showbiz headlines that is coming your way next.
And "Titanic" director James Cameron goes deep. He's back from a solo trip seven miles to the deepest known point in the world's oceans. Ahead, more amazing pictures and what it was like to explore the ocean floor.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: "The Hunger Games" makes box office history over the weekend. No surprise there. The much anticipated thriller posted the third highest domestic debut of all time.
A.J. Hammer -- man, I messed up your name. I was so like into that.
Hi, A.J. You got more about this movie.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Hi. I do and how much it made, Carol. We are talking about 155 million bucks. Unbelievable. The film made more than $68 million on Friday alone.
Now, only two movies have ever had a better opening weekend. It was last "Harry Potter" film and "Batman" sequel "The Dark Knight."
But considering the fact those two were both sequels, it really is the best opening weekend ever for a brand-new franchise. So we can only imagine how big this whole thing is going to get from here.
And the film also took in another $60 million overseas for good measure. Now, we already there are going to be at least two sequels to this film. That's got to make Lionsgate, the studio behind the film, very happy. And, of course, now, Carol, you have a whole new pact of young actors who are relatively unknown before the weekend. And now, they suddenly can't even walk down the street without being mobbed by all their new fans.
COSTELLO: I can't imagine.
Let's talk about Simon Cowell, because somebody broke into his house while he was in it?
HAMMER: Yes, this is actually a pretty scary story. Now, this is according to the London newspapers. It was Saturday night, just around an hour and a half after Simon finished his judging duties on an episode of "Britain's Got Talent". And apparently, a woman broke into his London home by using a brick to smash the window. And she reportedly made into this bedroom, and even into his bathroom before confronted and I guess apprehended by security and police.
Now, security at Simon's house as you would well imagine is supposed to be excellent. He's got tall fences, some high tech gates -- supposed to keep people out. Now, of course, he is reportedly taking steps to shore up his system. I don't know if there's any truth to the rumor there will be lions and tigers roaming the property now, but Simon will do whatever he needs to do and he certainly can afford to do it.
COSTELLO: Like that commercial, get a watch panther! That GEICO commercial!
HAMMER: Exactly. That's what I was thinking of.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
HAMMER: Watching his every move.
COSTELLO: Thank you, A.J. We appreciate it. A.J. will be back with us in the next hour with more showbiz headlines.
Coming up: the queen of soul celebrates a birthday and a new album. We're back in a minute.
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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: "Titanic" director turned explorer James Cameron has done it.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome back, man.
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COSTELLO: Yes, he completed a one-man plunge almost seven miles down to the deepest-known point in the ocean and he just resurfaced.
Zain Verjee is following this amazing feed from London. What's Cameron saying about this trip?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hey there Carol.
He is saying that hitting bottom never felt so good. Seven miles under water in the Pacific Ocean that's actually an area just off Guam. It's the deepest point of the ocean there. And he said it was so amazing. He said every second you see something cool. He described the amazing fish that he said he saw. He is also collecting samples for scientists who've never been that far down and they want to study some of the species out there.
Listen to how he put it after he went down two hours and 36 minutes.
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JAMES CAMERON, DIRECTOR/EXPLORER: I was thinking, man this is a long way down. When you go past "Titanic" and then you go past "Bismarck" and you go past where the mere's (ph) can go and then you're still only you know half way there or two-thirds of the way there, it's crazy.
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VERJEE: And Carol where he was just -- just to give you some basis of comparison was deeper than Everest is tall. Isn't that amazing?
COSTELLO: Oh you know I would jump out of a plane before I would do that. That would just be so claustrophobic to me, oh no.
Let's talk about --
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VERJEE: I would -- I would do it. COSTELLO: You would do it? Oh you're braver than I.
VERJEE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about "Britain's Got Talent." Because I think they found the next Susan Boyle except it's a man.
VERJEE: Yes with very long hair. He doesn't necessarily have the look Carol but boy he has the voice. Just listen to this.
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("BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT")
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VERJEE: Everyone went totally nuts for him there. What a booming operatic voice. This guy's name is Jonathan Antoine, he's only 17 years old Carol. Before he performed, Simon Cowell was like, yes I don't know how great you'll be but after he belted out those notes he said he was going to be a superstar.
And by the way Simon Cowell also said maybe you want to drop your singing partner the duo because she just isn't as good but Jonathan said no -- for now.
COSTELLO: For now, right. But you can bet in the future he'll be considering that. I hope not, though, because what a great story.
VERJEE: He's amazing, yes.
COSTELLO: Wow, Zain, thank you so much.
VERJEE: Ok thanks Carol.
0950
COSTELLO: An Atlanta newspaper says cheating on standardized school tests maybe happening not just in Atlanta but across the country. I'll tell you more after the break.
And the story behind why this man is being dragged away by cops apparently on his face. That's next in cross-country.
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COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country. In Atlanta, the "Atlanta Journal Constitution" says there is evidence to show cheating on standardized school tests may be happening across the country. The paper looked at records from almost 70,000 public schools and found what it called high concentrations of suspect scores similar to those it found when it uncovered a cheating scandal in the Atlanta public school system.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. No.
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COSTELLO: Yes take a look at this video. A man at the Oklahoma City airport apparently being dragged face-down out of the city's airport. This happened last month when police say the man was trying to get through airport security to talk with Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich who was in Oklahoma at the time and not in the airport. There's an investigation under way now to see if police used proper procedures in that incident.
In California, stormy weather if letting highways and knocking out power to thousands of customers. Nearly two inches of rain fell in parts of southern California. The NASCAR race in Fontana was halted because of the conditions.
We're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with Martin Savidge.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, we're anticipating that thousands that are going to be on hand for what is planned to be a demonstration. It will start with a protest march through the streets of Sanford, this on the one month since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman. Many people still angry he's not in custody. That anger is expected to boil over at a town hall meeting tonight.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dan Lothian at the White House. It's the President's signature accomplishment, but is it constitutional? That's the question before the Supreme Court. Coming up at the top of the hour, I'll tell you what this all means for the Obama administration.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I'm Rob Marciano on the CNN Severe Weather Center. Carol, I just told you about that storm moving across southern California into the Rockies.
So enough about the weather. Coming up in the next hour Carol, everybody wants to know how you're doing in your March Madness bracket. We'll break that down in the 10:00 hour.
COSTELLO: I'm thinking that's probably not true. But thanks, Rob, thanks to all of you.
And did you hear in Tim Tebow is joining the Jets. A news conference with the New York media happens this morning. A big spotlight for someone who is expected to be the backup quarterback. We'll talk about that in the next hour of NEWSROOM.
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COSTELLO: Oh this tournament is just flying by, isn't it? The final four is now set. Jeff Fischel is in the CNN Center Bracket Lounge to show us the survivors. Good morning, Jeff.
JEFF FISCHEL, ANCHOR, HLN SPORTS: Hey Carol good morning. That's right, we've made it now from 68 down to the final four. It's actually a really solid final four. It could make for some interesting match-ups on Saturday.
Here's the big board to show you what we're seeing -- Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State and Kansas. Kentucky, the only number one seed left in the tournament and I have to say right now they are probably the big favorite.
Kentucky, a big winner yesterday over Baylor, showing why they are the number-one team in the country. Baylor came into the game asking if they could wear -- the Bears wanted to wear those neon yellow jerseys, those are the ones they wear for home games. The NAACP said no, you have to wear (inaudible) dark jerseys. So they went with camouflage. It did not matter. Kentucky dominated. The highlights, a 16-0 run early on. The Wildcats were up by --
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COSTELLO: Hey, Jeff, are you still there?
FISCHEL: I'm still here. I'm still loving the NCAA tournament. Apparently I'm cutting out a little bit.
COSTELLO: Yes.
FISCHEL: I don't know why.
John Calipari, Kentucky Coach, in his third year on Kentucky has the Wildcats going back-to-back final four. And again, they are the team to beat. Kansas also now into the final four after beating North Carolina yesterday. The Jayhawks pulled away with a 12- 0 run to end the game. The final Kansas 80, North Carolina 67.
Big man Thomas Robinson, the all-American had 18 points and 9 rebounds for Kansas. Tar Heels coach Roy Williams, of course, he used to coach at Kansas, loses to his former team. Afterward he said, quote, "too emotional for me". It was a big win for the Jayhawks over their former coach.
Here is the schedule for Saturday -- the final four. First of all, the blue grass battle. Louisville versus Kentucky. That one is first. Then the night cap. The number-two seeds. Ohio state versus Kansas. Both these games are rematches from earlier this year. Kentucky beat Louisville, and Kansas beat Ohio State.
So Carol, of course, we all made our final four picks before the tournament started. I'm not doing this to brag, I think it's just important to bring up what we've discussed over the last couple of weeks. Carol, first, let's look at your final four. You have one team left.
COSTELLO: Ohio state.
FISCHEL: Ohio State -- the Buckeyes. I take it you're rooting for the Buckeyes at this point.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
Meanwhile, let's just cap and take a gander at my final four. Hey, I got three out of four correct -- Kentucky, Ohio State and Kansas. I really do think Kentucky and Ohio State are the best. And I think Kentucky will win it all. We shall see if I'm correct.
COSTELLO: Whatever.
FISCHEL: I know. And sometimes, you know, I just get it right. And next year it means, I'll get it all wrong.
COSTELLO: And again, sometimes I just get it right -- blah, blah, blah -- thank you, Jeff.
