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Cuban Government Seeks to Enlarge Private Sector; Police Continue Search For Long Island Serial Killer; Footage of Tsunami Hitting Japanese City Released; Kobe Bryant Apologizes For Shouting Anti-Gay Slur; J. Crew Ad Stirs Controversy; Analysts Look at Competing Budget Plans From Democrats and Republicans; Britain Prepares For Royal Wedding

Aired April 16, 2011 - 10:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. This is your CNN Saturday Morning.

Glad you can spend part of your weekend here with us. 10:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 9:00 in Alabama where people are picking up the pieces. Look at this mess. Shattered homes, shattered lives this morning following a night of deadly storms. The danger is not over yet. That same weather system that has been causing havoc the past couple of days is still causing a bit of havoc.

Also in Cuba, the economy appears stuck in a time warp. Taking you live to Havana where they're talking about making pretty big changes there.

Also, we're getting closer and closer to this royal wedding. Well, we heard all kind of odd stories about this royal wedding. Have we not? What does a jellybean have to do with it? We have that answer a little bit later on this CNN Saturday Morning. First, we have to start with these storms, deadly storms that have ripped across the deep south picking up speed and bearing down on Georgia and the Carolinas. At least 17 people have been killed in the past two days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow. Holy crap.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes, holy crap is right. You can probably fill it in with a couple other sentences and couple other words there, as well. This is amateur the video you're seeing. This is a transformer that blew you saw in that video in Alabama. There were reports of tornado touchdowns in at least six counties in the state.

Take a listen to this next piece of video, you hear silence and then you don't hear silence. Check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: That could be some scary stuff. This loud claps of thunder you're hearing there. You hear the lightning in the distance, as well, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi today.

Also, a resident of Mississippi today sent us this video of a tornado touching down on a lake. A number of homes were damaged by a tornado in Clinton, Mississippi. No one there injured. The initial deaths from the storm system came Thursday night in southeastern Oklahoma in the town particularly of Tushka. Then the storm made its way over to Arkansas, knocked down trees and power lines, but seven people were killed in Arkansas when trees fell on to homes. Two of the victims, a woman and her seven-year-old daughter. The mom came in the daughter's room to comfort her during that storm. Just one of a number of sad stories we're hearing.

(WEATHER BREAK)

HOLMES: In eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban claiming responsibility for a deadly suicide bomb attack that killed five NATO troops. This happened earlier today in the Afghanistan's Laghman Province. The nationalities of the troops not known at this time. The attacker was inside the base when he detonated that bomb.

Also in Nigeria, new accounts of Election Day violence as voters go to the polls to choose the country's next president, reports of a bomb that went off and gunfire being heard northeast of the capital. Right now we don't know how many people were hurt or killed.

Also in Libya, where the war focuses on Misrata. A witness says rebel forces today have withstood more than 100 rockets being fired by pro-Gadhafi troops. The rocket volley come on the heel of a Human Rights Watch accusation that pro-government forces have been using cluster bombs. This is the type you're seeing here. These are devastating bombs that essentially dropped smaller bomblets out. These have been internationally outlawed. Human rights wise being targeted by these cluster bombs. The Libyan government denies using those bombs, however.

To Long Island, New York, where a family of a murdered woman says they got phone calls from a man claiming to be the killer. 24-year- old Melissa Barthelamy one of the presumed victims of a serial killer. Her mother says shortly after her daughter's disappearances a man using her daughter's cell phone made taunting phone calls to the girl's sister.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LYNN BARTHELEMY, MELISSA BARTHELEMY'S MOTHER: He was taunting her, he was basically torturing her. You know, she kept asking where her sister was and he just wouldn't tell her. She would ask if she was alive and he wouldn't answer her. We always had hope until that last call when he told Amanda that he killed her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: At least eight sets of remains have been recovered. Four have been identified, including one of those belonging to Melissa Barthelemy.

Gay history could soon be taught in California public schools. The California Senate has passed a bill that requires the contributions of gays and lesbians be included in the lesson plans of social study classes.

Advocates say teaching about gay history would prevent bullying and shatter stereotypes that students may have. Opponents would say it would too much emphasis on sexuality. The bill now goes to the state assembly where it is expected to pass. If signed into law California would be the first state to require gay history classes in public schools.

Well, taking a trip to Cuba can be a trip through time for some people, including the people who love cars. Cubans maybe going to get an upgrade their own vehicles. This is a part of something big that is happening in Cuba that could bring about a lot of changes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: At 11 minutes past the hour now. Cubans could now be seeing a lot of changes. Yes, Cuba, an economy that stuck with, yes, look at that, 1950s cars, could be getting some tweaks because the president there, Raul Castro, wants to reduce the role of government and expand the private sector.

Our Shasta Darlington joining me now from Havana, Cuba. Shasta, explain what is going on behind you and also explain how change could be coming to Cuba.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, T.J. Well, first of all, what we are about to start the first communist party conference in nearly 14 years. We talk about sweeping economic changes to this very old, at this point, economic system. But to start it off, they've got the military parade that has been going on for two hours. I'm going to step out of the frame so you can see a bit. First, we had tanks, troops, airplanes, helicopters and now we've got all the people who showed up to join in this parade.

This is supposed to stop at 10:000 and it just keeps on going. To celebrate Cuba's victories in the past and that is because it was 50 years ago that this small Caribbean island defeated a U.S.-backed invasion that was led by Cuban exile but a disaster for the United States and that is because they didn't take Fidel Castro forces by surprise and rise up and going to what we saw as a victory for Cuba and defeat for the United States and that's how they want to start this economic Congress that will give the private sect a much bigger role in the economy.

Right now the state controls about 95 percent of the economy, and president Raul Castro wants to allow more people have their own private businesses to go and work for themselves. We're talking very small steps here, people who can open up food stamps on the corner and who can it's not lawyers and doctors, but a very big step in a country that has had a very single-minded economy.

HOLMES: All right, our Shasta Darlington, I know our viewers had a little difficulty making it out. The picture telling a big story there, as well. Shasta, we appreciate you this morning. You're seeing their people with the hope for some changes, possibly coming to Cuba. This would be slow. This process of changing, trying to move more of the jobs and put more into the hands of the private sector there in Cuba.

But these are some of the celebrations of things that have been taking place as this country moves possibly in a different direction. A lot of people might be hopeful for that, but, still, hope has been defeated quite frankly there in years' past.

But these are some of the new pictures out of Havana there today as people talk about right now a possible change, less government in Cuba. Again, the other side of that coin is that many people there do work for the government. So many people are employed with government jobs there. If the government reduces, a lot of people out of work and then maybe the jobs open up in the private sector. Thanks a lot to our Shasta Darlington.

Another story here for you that epitomizes the meaning of determination, some would say embarrassment. Take a look at this guy. We've all been here, haven't we? But the difference is, this guy is a professional golfer. He refused to give up on a shot that went so far in the woods Yogi Bear was actually having a tough time finding that thing. You amateurs will not feel so bad after this story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We're talking Kobe Bryant. And this was a nasty word. He said it was in the heat of the moment, but, man he's gotten a lot of heat for this.

RAY D'ALLESSIO, HLN SPORTS: Yes, he said it in the heat of the moment he admitted he used it before, but does not plan on using it any more. In fact, he was saying yesterday we should kill the word. He has not gone out and apologized to referee Benny Adams there, he was not sure if he could contact the referee after a game. But he said if Benny Adams does work another Lakers' game, he wants to go out of his way to apologize to him and ask him for his forgiveness and things like that. But just an unfortunate situation. He got fined $100,000 for it.

HOLMES: That's a big fine in the NBA. Now he will work with the gay and lesbian community. They are asking him to be in the parade in southern California, we'll see what comes of it.

D'ALLESSIO: The Lakers team as a whole, too, saying they're going to work with the gay and lesbian community to try to educate fans and players on not to use derogatory comments like that.

HOLMES: Let's turn now to an incident that will make all of our golfers out there feel pretty good about their games.

D'ALLESSIO: I don't feel sorry for Kevin because now he knows how I feel every time I play golf. This was at the Texas open. This was on the 9th hole, Kevin recording a 16 on the par four. He re-teed from the tee box and that went into the exact almost same place and he wanted to tee off a third time and they said from there take a drop. He hit into bushes and trees and hit a tree and bounce back and hit himself and that was a two-stroke penalty.

And finally he got up to the hole and it was great. They actually had him mic-ed. He agreed to be mic-ed before the round started. They had everybody on the broadcast and you're watching this going, oh, my goodness.

HOLMES: This is a professional golfer.

D'ALLESSIO: Yes. And most of us would have picked up and take on the ten and he just continued to play on and got a 16 on it.

HOLMES: The mic was the good part to hear him and his caddie trying to figure it out.

D'ALLESSIO: We had 11 there, 12, 13, I think it was a 16 and the best part was he had 15, but afterwards they penalized him another stroke because he watched the video before signing his scorecard. Everything went haywire.

HOLMES: Now you golfers out there don't feel so bad.

(LAUGHTER)

Ray, good to see you, my man.

Something I have been talking to you about, a lot of buzz about J. Crew. People are not talking about their clothing, however. They're fixated on a particular ad. The ad I'm talking about is this one. What is wrong with that? You see some clothes and a mother having fun with her son. The mother is actually a J. Crew designer.

But if you look closely, which some people have, you'll see that the boy has his toenails painted pink. That apparently he has done there with his mother. Now, that's the part that has caused a stir from some who say that is inappropriate.

Others say, what is the big deal? This is much to do about nothing. What do you say? You have been saying a lot. We've got a ton of responses from you guys this morning on Facebook as well as twitter. You can also go to the blog CNN.com CNN.com/TJ. We'll read more of your responses in a bit.

Also, in Japan, amazing new images coming out from the moment when that tsunami hit a month ago.

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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You can hear the roar of the water bulldozing through cars and buildings. Someone shouts, "It can't be, it just can't be!"

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HOLMES: Unbelievable. You're going it be hearing more about the person who actually shot this video and why they never want to see this video, again. You'll hear that in 90 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

We are getting some amazing new pictures from that tsunami in Japan last month the very moment that the water rushed inland, wiping out an entire town. The video comes from a survivor who now says it's too painful to watch. Our Paula Hancocks takes us through this footage.

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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: From afar it looks like dust rising from the Japanese town. Those standing on higher ground then realize this is the tsunami they had feared. You can hear the roar of the water bulldozing through cars and buildings. Someone shouts, "It can't be, it just can't be!"

You hear agonized screams as residents watch their town disappear before their eyes.

(SHOUTING)

The person filming runs even higher up the steps, then the horrifying sight of people running away from the water, literally running for their lives. They scramble to escape the fast-moving water. Those on higher ground scream for them to hurry, repeatedly shouting, "danger, danger." One woman runs just ahead of the wave carrying the roof of a building and the camera moves away.

The person who uploaded the footage commented that all those in the field survived, but they say nothing about these residents. The man in blue carries one person to safety as others help what appears to be someone in a wheelchair. He then goes back to help again, but seems to disappear beneath the approaching water. It is not known if he survived. This is the scene we filmed from the same hill just two days later. The power of the tsunami has left nothing in its path standing.

The person who uploaded this video says that they wanted others to see it so they could understand what happened. They also said that even by watching it, it is impossible to understand just what those victims felt. The person added they never want to see the video again.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, U.S. troops have taken part in a relief effort in Japan and their efforts often are forgotten. When one of our CNN heroes did forget, we're celebrating a milestone for her. Five years ago this person started sending CDs and DVDs to troops overseas as a gesture of gratitude. And it's now known as "Tunes for the Troops." As Anderson Cooper reports she has a little rock star help to celebrate this big achievement.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": Kaylee Marie became a CNN hero in 2008 when she was a sophomore in high school. At the time, her organization Tunes for the Troops had shipped more than 2,000 CDs and DVDs to U.S. service members overseas. It was Kaylee's way to say thank you.

KAYLEE MARIE, CNN HERO: It has gone so far in the past five years. There is absolutely nothing I would change because it has made a difference in so many people's lives.

COOPER: Today she is on a ROTC scholarship at Tennessee Tech University, which has become the new home of her organization.

MARIE Tunes for the Troops is now part of the service learning center here at the university. Basically a staff and student workers that volunteer for community service hours. This way Tunes for the Troops will be able to continue even once I graduate.

COOPER: This week, volunteers gather to pack the latest shipment of CDs and DVDs, which included a special milestone, the group's one millionth disk.

MARIE: Leonard Skynyrd showed up to pack the one millionth CD. Who knows once I'm an officer in the United States army, I could potentially benefit from tune for the troops getting CDs and DVDs. It's pretty cool.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, if you know a young person, like Kaylee, maybe, who is making a difference in the world, please, tell us about them. All the heroes are chosen from people you nominated. Remember, you can also follow CNN heroes on Facebook, as well as twitter.

There's been a lot of talk in the past, days and weeks about the deficits and the best ways to get rid of them. How much do you really know about deficits? Our friends at CNNmoney.com trying to help you get a little better educated. We're going to test your knowledge throughout the morning.

Since 1934, how many years has the federal government actually registered an annual budget surplus, 37 times, 12 times, 18 times or 62 times? I'll let you know here in a second.

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HOLMES: All right, we're at the bottom of the hour now. How much do you know about the deficit? We've been talking about it in the past several days and weeks. Before the break we asked since 1934 has the federal government registered an annual budget surplus? The answer, probably could guess this one, 12 times in the last 76 years only has the U.S. government managed to take in more money than it actually has spent.

Here's a look now at some of the other stories making headlines. The death toll up to 17 in that outbreak of severe weather that rocked the southern plains. Tornadoes from Oklahoma to Georgia reported and the storm system headed towards the northeast as a rainmaker.

In Japan now, we're seeing new images from the Fukushima power plant and getting an estimate as to how long the nuclear crisis might continue. The nation's atomic deputy says this could last an additional two to three months. The plant's owner has yet to comment on that assessment.

Also in Arizona an Iraqi immigrant who considered his daughter too westernized has been sentenced to 34.5 years in prison for killing her with his car. He was also convicted of aggravated assault against the mother of his daughter's fiancee.

Well, this week in politics, it was all about your money. The House and Senate passed budgets to get the government through the rest of this year and the president and the house Republican Paul Ryan both laid out their separate visions for how to reduce our future debt. The only thing they agreed on is that they seriously disagree.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To meet our fiscal challenge, we'll need to make reforms. We'll all need to make sacrifices. But we do not need to sacrifice the America we believe in. And as long as I'm president, we won't.

SEN. PAUL RYAN, (R) WISCONSIN: What we heard today was not fiscal leadership from our commander in chief, what we heard today was a political broad side from our campaigner in chief.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, all right then. This fight over our financial future, we are just getting going, folks. You thought it was over when we finally got through the 2011 budget, but no, we're just getting started. It will involve a lot of power politics.

Joining us now, some power players from Chicago, Republican analyst Lenny McAllister, and in Washington Democratic strategist Maria Cardona. Guys, a lot happened this week. I'll ask you both the same question. Give me the short answer and then we'll get into it. Maria, to you. What was the political headline in the week in your opinion?

MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: The political headline of the week was that the house GOP passed a massive corporate and billionaire welfare plan while killing Medicare and slashing programs that help students and seniors and the middle class.

HOLMES: You give me the short answer, too. What do you think was the political headline of the week?

LENNY MCALLISTER, REPUBLICAN ANALYST: Same goal, vastly different vision.

HOLMES: Same goal, vastly different vision. Mari Maria, I want to get back into what you were saying. A lot of people were scratching their heads about the strategy of the Republicans. We have 2011 out of the way, that budget. Looking ahead now, they essentially passed a budget for the 2012 that nobody thinks is going to get anywhere. But they've put themselves On the Record and given the president and everybody else something to campaign against. What sense did that make?

CARDONA: I don't think it makes any political sense whatsoever. And I don't think it even makes any sense from a public policy standpoint, because what they're actually do is they're putting forward a plan that will put all their members, especially in swing districts that have a lot of seniors in them in peril while at the same time not opening up the debate on how to get to budget deficit reduction and debt reduction, which is something that we all really want to do.

There is a way to go about it where you actually are balanced and are fair and you ask everybody to share in the burden and the pain. But what they did was focus on seniors and children and middle class families while giving the millionaires and the billionaires the tax giveaways that is costing us trillions of dollars.

HOLMES: Lenny, did you see it that way as well, Lenny? Not have a chance in the Senate where the Democrats and the president wouldn't sign it. You would assume. Why put themselves in a tough spot, some are saying.

MCALLISTER: Because this is not a bill, this is a campaign platform. They were speaking to their base, the same way president Obama was speaking to his base on Wednesday and when he came back to Chicago on Thursday. So, none of this is really going to end up being legislation per se. This was a statement to the Tea Party base in the conservative base as we're moving into 2012, we have your back, we hear you, we know why you sent us here on November 2010. We have not forgotten you. That is the main thing that happened with this being passed.

And as far as that goes, they were successful in regards to putting their flag in the ground and saying, this is where we stand. Of course, as we just saw, we'll see compromise and we'll see negotiations and move forward from there to the debt ceiling over to fiscal year 2012. But in regards to making a statement, they did that successfully.

HOLMES: Lenny, did the president do the same in your opinion? Was that a deficit cutting speech or was that his kickoff to the 2012 campaign?

MCALLISTER: That was kicking off 2012. It's no wonder that he does it on Wednesday. He comes back not just to raise money, but he comes back to Chicago to raise money. It's "I'm speaking to the base and I have your back and I need you to raise this billion dollars in order to get through 2012 and give you four more years in the White House."

HOLMES: Maria, was that the way for the president to go? He invited these Republicans and they were on the front row and he just let them have it quite frankly in the speech that he made. So now we have the fight over the debt ceiling coming up, the fight over the 2012 budget coming up. Was that the right tone to strike knowing those big, big fights are coming up? Where does that get us when the tone was already pretty nasty?

CARDONA: Well, I actually do think it was the right tone to strike for him. What he did at the very beginning was he actually gave them kudos. He gave Paul Ryan credit for putting something on the table that gets us to where we all want to be. He was very clear about that. He went on to really delineate the differences between how we get there.

HOLMES: Maria, is that how you say it "delineate"? He let them have it.

CARDONA: But, you know, he actually, yes, he delineated it. If you look at it as by letting them have it, it's because what they are putting forward is very harsh to so many people in this country, while at the same time, giving corporations and billionaires and millionaires tax giveaways that will cost us trillions of dollars.

If they want to reduce the deficit, how can they look seniors in the eye and say I am making you pay $6,500 more in health care while I'm giving my big donors trillions of dollars in tax cuts. It makes absolutely no sense public policy wise or politically.

HOLMES: The time flies when I have you guys on here. I have to figure out a way to get more time with you two. But you have to answer this question. Lenny, I'll start with you. Is Donald Trump for real or is he toying with us?

MCALLISTER: I think he's for real, as long as he's up at number one or two in the polls. Look, the question is, we had the Tea Party senators and Donald Trump is investigating the answer to that question right now.

HOLMES: Maria, is he for real or just toying with the media and getting ratings for his show?

CARDONA: I think that he is getting ratings for his show, and as long as continue to be the darling of the birther movement, he'll continue to do it. But if he does it for real, the media scrutiny that is going to come with it, I don't think he can handle it.

HOLMES: Maria, Lenny, always good to see you, too.

CARDONA: You, too, T.J., always good to see you.

HOLMES: Thanks so much, great to be here. MCALLISTER: God bless you all.

HOLMES: Have you ever been in a foreign country and wondered what that sign in front of you says? Well, there's an app for that. We'll show you that in 90 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's 39 minutes past the hour. A pocketsize travel partner, talking about smartphones. And our Rob Marciano reports in this edition of "On the Go," they're making it easier to get around once you reach that final destination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROB MARCIANO, METEOROLOGIST: Travel applications for smartphones have come a long way.

GABE SAGLIE, EDITOR, TRAVELZOO.COM: Definitely this growing trend in applications, they're called AR applications, applications that can bring the world around you to life.

MARCIANO: If you're in a new city, some apps can show you points of interest.

SAGLIE: You put your camera up to the scene you're in using the visual aspect of your smartphone it overlays information. Yelp will allow you to access services and shops in your immediate area quite nicely.

MARCIANO: Languages can even change before your eyes.

SAGLIE: "Word Lens" allows you to have real-time translation of phrases or words which could be a huge benefit in a foreign setting.

MARCIANO: Or scan an image and your phone can do an online search.

SAGLIE: Put it up against a wine label or a particular artifact and it will actually give you greater information on that particular item.

MARCIANO: Many of these apps are free, making it even easier to find what you need on your next trip.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: All right, well, this J. Crew ad has sparked some controversy and you may be wondering why. A lot of people are looking really closely at it as a mother paints her son's toenails pink. A lot of our viewers weighing in. You'll hear what they're saying in just moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's 43 minutes past the hour. Earlier in the show we asked you to weigh in on the controversy over a new J. Crew ad. The clothing store is being blasted by some for putting a five-year-old with pink toenail polish in their ad. The mother and son playing and she's painting his toes pink.

This is how some of you have responded. From Eric, "He says they're making way too big a deal about it. It's a five-year-old boy hanging out with his mom. He's not making an issue of his toenails being pink, why should anybody else?" There's Aaron who says "There are so many other ways to having fun with your child. Painting son's toenails pink should be at the bottom of the list." Jasmine said "I wouldn't put it on my son's toes, but to each his own. I don't know if that will influence him one way or another as far as gender confusion or sexuality. Guess time will tell."

Thank you for weighing in, a lot of you have. We're reading though those, and while a lot of them may not make it on the air, still, trust me, we are reading them.

They are rich and privilege privileged, but it's their crowns make them the world's most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. As we get closer and closer to the British royal wedding, we're looking at some of the most eligible royals that are still on the market.

Some of the ladies, Charlotte Casirghi of Monoco, the granddaughter of Grace Kelly. Princess Madeline of Sweden. There she is, 28 years old, third in line to the throne. Now, that's just a couple. You ain't seen nothing yet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's about 47 minutes past the hour now. The British royal wedding is less than two weeks away. Now, some people, some women may be upset, Prince William off the market. But there are still a few other princes you can go after. That puts them on the list of most eligible royal bachelors.

What about Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, dashing looking gentleman. Prince Albert of Germany. Got some side burns in that picture. Don't let that fool you, folks. He's 28 years old. He was once the youngest person on "Forbes" list of billionaires. No surprise, though, you could guess, Prince Harry is at the top of the list. His brother's wedding coming up. He now becomes England's and probably the world's bachelor.

April 29th, big date for Prince William and Kate Middleton. If you live in England, big day for you, as well. Why? Because schools across the country, they're closing. And would you believe nine out of ten businesses are giving their employees the day off.

Katie Caperton, entertain editor at CNN.com, joins me here, once again. When I first heard nine out of ten businesses, are you wondered, are any businesses in the U.S. giving people time off for this.

KATIE CAPERTON, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR CNN.COM: It's not a holiday in the U.S., sadly, unfortunately. You can call in sick, roughly 88 percent of U.K. businesses are letting their employees take the day off.

HOLMES: So, country is shutting down.

CAPERTON: It's like a national skip day, basically. It's a bank holiday, which means it's not mandatory for companies to let their employees stay home, but they're enjoying it.

HOLMES: Will people have options? You don't get necessarily invited, but will they have options for someone who can go down there and get a view of anything, how does that work?

CAPERTON: A lot of people camping along the parade route. You won't believe it, days ahead of time people will be camping out.

HOLMES: Goodness gracious. Is it two weeks from yesterday?

CAPERTON: Excited?

HOLMES: I'm excited to get this thing done. It was something funny and I was going to ask you about it. We don't have it. But Jerry Seinfeld, who made controversial comments, and I don't know how funny he was trying to be, but we'll let them play pretend and let them dress up and be special people, and for some people that struck a chord that we were getting all this attention and paying attention to these two people who were just born into the right families, quite frankly.

CAPERTON: Yes, there's a lot of that. There's people who are really excited about it and people like Jerry Seinfeld who said, you know, it's just a circus. But at the end of the day, I think there's a lot of discussion about how much people are talking about it. But at the end of the day, it's wedding. It's fun.

HOLMES: I love weddings, by the way. What is the deal with this jellybean?

CAPERTON: A jellybean that looks like Kate Middleton.

HOLMES: How is this possible?

CAPERTON: A couple in Somerset, England, they found a jellybean from the place called the jellybean factory and they think it looks just like Kate Middleton.

HOLMES: There it is. Oh, stop it.

CAPERTON: It sort of does. It also looks like Elvis and it also looks like me. It could be anybody. They say it looks like Kate Middleton. So they want to sell this jellybean on eBay for 500 pounds, roughly $1,000.

HOLMES: Stop it. Keep this picture up for me for a second. I thought a company was producing special Kate jellybeans.

CAPERTON: It's a magical jellybean. Just like people find Elvis in a potato chip, you have Kate Middleton on a jellybean. It looks a little like her, or like me.

HOLMES: I see me a little bit in there, as well. Katie, good to see you, as always. Folks, be sure you can tune in at 2:30 eastern time today. We have a royal wedding special. Then on Friday, April 29th 4:00 a.m. eastern, yes, 4:00 in the morning, 1:00 a.m. pacific time, you can catch the celebration. William and Kate, family and friends and a whole lot of folks watching the royal wedding experience, part of our global viewing party. We'll have Anderson cooper there, Piers Morgan, Richard Quest just to name a few as they bring you every royal moment.

Some of you wondering why is this year's tax deadline April 18th? Deadline is usually three days before, right, the 15th? We'll tell you exactly why this year is special and why you have a few extra days this weekend.

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HOLMES: Getting close to the top of the hour here. Before the top of the break we asked you why this year's tax deadline is on the 18th. The reason has to do with something that is happening in Washington, D.C. The delay is because of the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington, D.C. Now, this holiday marks the day that President Lincoln signed the emancipation act. That emancipation act freed 3,000 slaves in the nation's capital.

Emancipation Day is actually today, but it was observed in D.C. yesterday. So, under the tax code, filing deadlines can't fall on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, so the IRS extended the deadline to everybody to Monday the 18th because of what's happening in D.C.

Don't be confused here, as well. You hear emancipation act, that came nine months before Lincoln actually signed the emancipation proclamation you're familiar with slaves in all the confederate states.

Turning to politics now. The Tea Party getting a lot of love it seems these days at least from Donald Trump. He is delivering the keynote address in south Florida this afternoon. Not the only Tea Party Republican hitting the Tea Party circuit this weekend. Here now is our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: T.J., Donald Trump has a lot of company. It started yesterday the traditional tax deadline day of April 15th. There was a Tea Party rally and, now, today, representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a darling of the Tea Party movement and she's in South Carolina, like New Hampshire another crucial state and she had a Tea Party rally there and again on Monday.

What about this, Sarah Palin? We have not seen a lot of the former Alaska governor in public recently, but she'll be at a Tea Party rally again today in Wisconsin.

Is it a coincidence they're all showing up at these events? Not at all. The Tea Party movement has a lot of energy and enthusiasm right now on the Republican side on the right on the conservative side. You know what the Tea Party movement was a major player last year in the Republican primaries and the mid-term elections and no doubt it will be a major player in deciding who becomes the Republican presidential nominee and takes on Barack Obama next year. T.J.?

HOLMES: All right, thanks to our Paul Steinhauser.

And take a look at this. Is this a scene out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie? Find out where this real-life scene from "The Birds" played out.

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