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Health Care Law Goes To Supreme Court; Trayvon Martin's Family To Speak; Friend Of Shooter Speaks Out; Supreme Court Debates Health Care; Health Care Debate's Political Fallout; Wife Of Massacre Suspect Speaks; Celebs Support Martin Via Twitter; Trayvon Martin's Family At Town Hall; Slain Teen's Family Wants Answers; NCAA Final Four Is Set; Health Care Reform and You; Aretha Franklin Celebrates Her Birthday; AJC: School Cheating Possibly Widespread
Aired March 26, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello.
Just ahead in the "NEWSROOM," the Supreme Court putting President Obama's health care law to the constitutional test. It's a moment supporters and opponents have been waiting for years for. This is the law that helped give rise to the Tea Party and the debate is about to begin.
The wife of the Afghan massacre suspect speaks out. She says Sergeant Robert Bales loved children and is a big kid himself.
Campaign ad or horror movie? 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 hasn't got nothing on Rick Santorum. The candidate's new ad says this grim horror will be reality if the president is re-elected.
New developments in a case that has gripped the country, the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. This morning we spoke to a friend of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who shot the Florida teenager. He has talked to Zimmerman since the incident and what he said about his friend is coming up.
Also, we're hearing from Trayvon Martin's family members. They're taking part in a town hall in about two hours. We asked them what happens if no one is ever arrested in their son's death.
Martin Savidge is live in Sanford covering that part of the story for us. So Martin, tell us more about what his parents are saying.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, essentially right now the fate of George Zimmerman rests in the hands of Angela Corey. She is the special prosecutor in the state of Florida that will have to make one of three essential determinations.
Number one, she could charge him or two, she could clear him. Or the third is she could take the evidence she gathers and then turn it over to some sort of grand jury. There is the very real possibility, of course, that George Zimmerman may never be charged.
And that was the question that was put to the family of Trayvon Martin and here's how they responded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SBYRINA FULTON, TRAYVON MARTIN'S MOTHER: We have just decided that once we get to that bridge, we'll cross it. We really don't have an explanation or answer of what we'll do if he's not arrested.
We just know that something positive will come from this. And we're in the process of creating a foundation so that this doesn't happen to other people, and then they'll have the same support that we have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: That is Sybrina Fulton. She is the mother of Trayvon Martin. Meanwhile, preparations underway here in Sanford for what's expected to be a large crowd that shows up for tonight's demonstration and town hall meeting. And that will begin -- protest actually begins at 4:00 p.m. and the town hall meeting begins at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And Martin, we're hearing the comedian Sinbad will be speaking at that community meeting, Patrick Ewing will be there. Ray Lewis will be there. Who else?
SAVIDGE: You know what? Let me consult my list here. I had celebrities showing up. We've got the Reverend Al Sharpton, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Santonio Holmes, Sinbad, the comedian and then, of course, you've got the parents of Trayvon Martin, as well. They've been very outspoken and they continue to press the cause for their son in this town.
COSTELLO: And of course, you'll be at that town hall meeting, which is sure to be heated tonight. Martin Savidge live in Sanford for us.
As I told you at the top of the show, a friend of George Zimmerman is also speaking out on his behalf. Joe Oliver says he has talked with Zimmerman since the shooting. Our own George Howell spoke with Oliver this morning. He joins us from Sanford. What did he say?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, first off, I want to talk about one thing that we learned just the other day from Zimmerman's attorney, that he plans to use the stand your ground law here in Florida as his defense if his client is arrested.
Initially, he planned to just argue self defense in that case. But now -- determined that's the appropriate route to take. Now, as far as Joe Oliver, again, this is a friend who has known George Zimmerman for a long time and he still staunchly defends him. Take a listen to what he had to say to me this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE OLIVER, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S FRIEND: He's in hiding. He has changed his numbers. His mother-in-law has no idea or any way to get in touch with her own daughter. So, yes, they're all concerned.
They're all in fear. This was not a racial incident. This was an incident where someone who was just trying to do the right thing ended up in a very, very bad position.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: We also saw Joe Oliver talking with the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who is also here in Florida to be part of this rally. Obviously, Reverend Jackson has a different take on it.
He believes that -- well, first of all, he told me he believes that George Zimmerman acted as a vigilante. They also believe that there are issues, concerns with the black community here in Sanford about how the police department handles cases when it relates to the black community.
Again, a lot of people expected today, including Reverend Jesse Jackson who you saw there who will be part of the rally, Carol.
COSTELLO: George Howell reporting live for us from Sanford, Florida. Thank you.
Also right now, monumental legal fight gets under way at the U.S. Supreme Court. At issue is President Obama's health care law, but ultimately, this case could redefine the power of government and your freedom of choice.
At this very moment, three days of arguments are getting under way with the central question. Is the individual mandate constitutional? Over the next hour, we'll break it down for you.
We'll look at the impact this could have on the average American, the way it could shape the presidential race. But first, we explained the law and exactly what led up to today's hearings.
(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.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: This is --
COSTELLO: Was it ever and still is in so many ways.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had every right --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, wait a minute.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are we going to go? If this house here gets --
COSTELLO: The health care debate helped fuel the Tea Party Movement, led to a shell acknowledging for Democrats in 2010 and may decide who is 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.
COSTELLO: All of this over a law many Americans simply don't understand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am not that educated about 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 it intimately.
COSTELLO: That's despite the fact that some aspects of the law are now 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 pre-existing conditions.
States are allowed to cover more people on Medicaid. And new plans can't charge for certain preventative 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 should 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: And just so you know, the part of the law that requires the individual mandate does not go into effect until 2014. But, of course, right now there are already political implications, depending on who you talk to.
Obamacare could sink President Obama's re-election bid. Actually, Republicans are sure it will. Senator Lindsey Graham said as much on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The process was bad. The substance is going over like a lead balloon. The vice president whispered to the president when he signed the bill two years ago, this is a big "f-ing" deal. Now it's become a "f-ing" miss with the Democratic Party in the country as a whole.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So let's head to the White House and check in with Dan Lothian. Dan, the Obama campaign actually sent a mass e-mail to supporters out, not only embracing the term Obamacare, but raising money off of it. So is it a mess or is it not?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Well, it was David Axelrod who sent that e-mail around with the president's re-election campaign. And in essence, what they're trying to do, not only just the campaign, but also the Obama administration, is to show that health care reform is not a political liability.
Republicans have been hammering away, saying this is like an albatross around the president's neck, that it is a political liability. And that's what they said was the reason behind the president himself, not celebrating the two-year anniversary last Friday.
But they're saying the campaign, and this White House, that it is not a political liability, and they're laying out there, as you pointed out just a few seconds ago, the benefits of health care reform.
That those in their 20s move back in with their parents can get coverage. Seniors, benefits for seniors and also that over the long haul, it will bring down the costs of insuring all Americans.
And in that e-mail, David Axelrod writing, quote, "So next time you hear someone railing against Obamacare, remember what they're actually saying they want to take away," -- Carol.
COSTELLO: You know what Dan? We talked to a lot of people. Most Americans do not understand this law. They don't understand what's in it. They don't understand what it means for them and that largely is the fault of the Democratic leadership, isn't it?
LOTHIAN: You know, messaging has been critical to a lot of the misunderstanding, at least from the White House perspective, to health care reform.
And, in fact, you heard the president himself and other senior aides here in the White House say that they have not been able to fully explain health care reform to the American people.
And that's why a lot of people -- you look at the polling, Americans are still divided about what they think about whether or not there are benefits in this law for them.
And so certainly, there is a lot of reason for this White House to take the blame for not messaging properly, explaining to American people how they can benefit from this.
The Republicans are saying, look, it doesn't matter if they explain this, you know, from now until kingdom come that they will never be able to convince them that this thing is nothing other than a failure.
COSTELLO: Dan Lothian, live at the White House for us.
And in just about 35 minutes, we'll take a closer look at the reform's impact on you. Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen will break it down for us and explain why the president thinks the individual mandate is needed, is necessary.
Also, the wife of the U.S. soldier accused of going on a killing spree in Afghanistan is speaking out this morning and defending her husband in an interview on NBC's "Today" show.
Sergeant Robert Bales' wife, Karilyn says, she can't believe her husband could commit the horrific crimes he's accused of.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARILYN BALES, WIFE OF MASSACRE SUSPECT: He loves children. He's like a big kid himself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he is accused of killing nine children.
BALES: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 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: Military investigators say they suspect Bales committed the attacks against civilians during two separate operations. He has been charged with 17 murders and 6 attempted murders.
The "New York Times" is also reporting this morning the use of a controversial malaria drug in Afghanistan. That drug is now under review. It's been linked to psychotic behavior in the past including suicides and homicides.
The new Black Panthers are taking a stand for Trayvon Martin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want justice! We want justice! We want justice! Got to have justice!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: They claim to have raised $10,000 to find George Zimmerman and they want the bounty to reach $1 million.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The killing of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida has been making news and provoking reaction across the country. That's an understatement, on the internet, in the street, in churches.
Union Baptist in Trenton, New Jersey declared yesterday hoodie Sunday. The church members and the pastor wore headed sweatshirts to morning services. The pastor said we're all going to look suspicious like Trayvon Martin.
Phoenix, Arizona was one of several cities with a march and a rally demanding justice for the teenager. Demonstrators also held a hoodie march and later bowed their heads in prayer.
And celebrities are chiming in on the internet. Music mogul Diddy posted this picture on Twitter of himself wearing a hoodie and holding Martin's picture.
And actress Mea Pharaoh posted a picture of her 20-year-old son and wrote, it is not safe for a black male walking the streets of America. We worry.
No question the Trayvon Martin case has hit a nerve from coast to coast and on social media. But members of Trayvon Martin's family want more. They want answers and an arrest.
They're expected at a town hall today at Eatonville, Florida, that's near Sanford. That's set to begin in less than two hours. Our CNN contributor Roland Martin will be the moderator. He joins us now live. What should we expect to come out of this meeting?
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, first of all, you're going to have Trayvon Martin's family. You have the attorneys there also. You have the president of the Florida NAACP, a state rep from here and the head of the Paul Pierce Bar Association, a local bar association.
So obviously talking about the case, but also what's the next steps. You know, one of the things that I've often said is, will this be a moment or will it lead to a movement? And so many people do not want this to simply end with Trayvon Martin.
They want this to expand into a serious social justice movement trying to bring in all of these young voices. Because we remember, after Gina Sticks, a lot of people talked about what it could it lead to.
Lots of assumptions and then for the most part, it dissipated. And so a number of folks across the country don't want this to happen, and Carol, I talked to individuals, lawyers all across the country, National Bar Association, NAACP, defense and legal education fund, many people.
That's what they want to happen, for this to be a much more massive movement across America.
COSTELLO: And I would assume they want it to be a peaceful movement.
MARTIN: Well, of course. I mean, first of all, nobody wants it to be a violent movement. Obviously, many people are talking about invoking Dr. King in nonviolence.
But when you talk about the anger and the frustration, I have to remind folks what did Dr. King write in -- letters from Birmingham jail. His book was called "Why We Can't Wait."
So you're hearing lots of people talk about that. Saying what must be done not just in terms of confronting stand your ground laws, but also dealing with these types of cases, how do you combat them in state houses across the country.
What happens with Congress and so just like what happened in Matio, the civil rights movement was born out of Matio's death in 1955. You saw the Montgomery bus boycott in 1956, and so folks want to use that exact same pattern to have the kind of social justice change that this country desperately needs.
COSTELLO: Well, I ask that because of this new wrinkle in this matter. The new Black Panthers, this group that the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a hate group has a bounty on Zimmerman.
You see the wanted poster they put out, wanted dead or alive. We're going to play a bit of what one of the members had to say, and then I'll get your thoughts on the other side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By next week, we're 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So did you have a chance to ask them -- Trayvon Martin's parents about the new Black Panthers and what they want to do?
MARTIN: Well, first of all, I think we overestimate the influence of one group compared to other folks. I have talked to Attorney Ben Krump, what he has said at the Trayvon Martin family has made it perfectly clear, if they want George Zimmerman to be arrested according to the law.
Not by any individual, not by any group through the legal means and so you will have a grand jury and panel on April 10th. They want to see an indictment come out of that and him arrested that particular way.
I also talked to Hasheen, I have interviewed those guys over the course of the last 20 years, and so what they say is that African- Americans are tired of seeing things happen and they fall by the wayside.
They also have been involved in other cases across the country where they say things then fall apart when people want them out of the way, then the family is calling them afterwards. They did not get the permission of the family in this case.
And they said they don't have to. I expect people to say, look, if you're going to step out there and support someone, at least be in accordance with the family, in accordance with attorneys, because they have a legal strategy involved.
And so, again, different people can do whatever they want to do. And so the family has made it clear, though, they want George Zimmerman taken care of by the law and by law enforcement officials, and not by any group, not by any individual.
COSTELLO: Roland Martin, thanks for clearing that up for us. We appreciate that.
We want to take a closer look now at that group, the new Black Panthers. They claim to have thousands of members, but they offer no exact numbers. They're 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 who are active in the '60s and '70s reject them and their ideas.
Obamacare isn't a dirty word anymore. Just ask the Obama campaign. They're using the phrase in fund raising efforts, but what happens if obamacare dies in the Supreme Court? Our "Political Buzz" just ahead.
And the NCAA tournament started with 68 teams. Now it's down to the final four. Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas and Ohio State are still dancing. A look at some bracket-busting, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The NCAA final four is set. The Kentucky Wildcats and the Kansas Jayhawks advanced with wins yesterday, and that sets up the semi final matches for Saturday.
Kentucky against in-state rival Louisville in game one and Kansas taking on Ohio State in game two. Both games are rematches from earlier this year.
In case you don't remember back that far, Kentucky beat Louisville and Kansas beat Ohio State, but -- ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You really bummed? You came over here so bummed out. My bracket is horrible. I'm just really bad at this and --
COSTELLO: Well --
MARCIANO: You shouldn't feel bad. There are experts beyond experts that have completely blown their bracket and I'm not doing well.
COSTELLO: Good.
MARCIANO: Here's your bracket. There's a lot of red on the map here, but more importantly, you've got, surprisingly, Ohio State.
COSTELLO: I know. That's a shocker.
MARCIANO: To win it all. And why did you pick Ohio besides the obvious?
COSTELLO: Why did I pick Ohio State because they're a physical team, and I think that that's important?
MARCIANO: OK. Well, they've got their hands full against Kansas, which as you remember, we profiled Thomas Robinson on this very show, before the tournament even started and so we've got an emotional play with him.
And so that's going to be quite a game. Just to make you feel better, we'll go back to -- we'll go to my bracket. And it has, as you'll see in a second, nearly -- nearly as much red as yours. Now, I went for -- kind of an all-tornado bracket.
I figured that Kentucky would be a slam dunk. If you remember, the Crimson Tide of Alabama won the college football national championship, and their stake just got absolutely devastated last year by tornadoes.
Well, Kentucky, I was just there with the tornadoes a couple weeks ago. And I figured, with all the talent they have and the heartbreak they've had with the tornadoes, this would be a slam dunk and I'm still sticking by that.
COSTELLO: So hopefully Kentucky will win and then they'll play Ohio State and Ohio State will beat them.
MARCIANO: In your eyes, yes.
COSTELLO: In my eyes.
MARCIANO: The Kentucky -- the Kentucky/Louisville match-up is going to be one for the ages with Pitino and Calipari going after each other.
COSTELLO: OK, thank you, Rob, for updating us, I think. More than 13,000 fans, by the way, are competing in the CNN March Madness Bracket Challenge. Check out this link to see where you are on the leaderboard, cnn.com/brackets.
It was a national contest in South Korea to find just the right questions to ask President Obama on his visit. You won't believe what the grabbed prize was for three lucky South Koreans. Our "Political Buzz," just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking our top stories now, the Supreme Court putting President Obama's health care law to the constitutional test. It's a moment supporters and opponents have been waiting for years for. This is the law that helped give rise to the Tea Party, and the debate is just about to get under way.
A friend of the watchman who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is speaking out on his behalf. Joe Oliver says George Zimmerman was trying to do the right thing, but ended up in a quote, "bad position."
Trayvon Martin's family members plan to take part in a town hall at noon and hold a news conference this afternoon.
Pope Benedict XVI leaves Mexico and moves on to the next leg of his journey, a three-day visit to Cuba. The island nation was once an atheist state.
"Political Buzz" is your rapid-fire look at the best political topic of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing with us today, CNN contributor Maria Cardona on the phone -- I'm messing myself up. For the funnier side, comedian and co-founder of the Arab-American Comedy Festival, Dean Obeidallah, and Will Cain, CNN contributor. Welcome to all of you.
First question, Obamacare is a term that's been used by President Obama's re-election campaign, but what does it do to the election if Obamacare dies at the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, Will?
CAIN: I think it would be very bad for President Obama. I think that if his signature legislation, his centerpiece, his -- the thing he can hang his first term on, the issue that he can hang his hat on, his first term, were deemed to be so far outside the purview of American governance, so far outside the view of constitutionality, I think that would have a -- a very damaging effect on him politically.
If by the way, in the reverse he does win, I think we have a new question we need to debate every day and that's what's -- what is the limit of American governmental power.
COSTELLO: Maria.
CARDONA: Well, I think it depends on what the Supreme Court does, Carol. I think if it comes down 5-4, people will see it as sort of a wash, because they'll see it as a political decision.
If it is thrown out, like in -- in Will's mind, then I think that it would -- it would be -- hinder President Obama. But not necessarily in the way that people think. It could actually really energize the liberal base and get people to focus on insurance companies again, the fact that -- that folks need insurance companies to get out of the way so that health care can really be delivered and focus on the promise of real health care reforms, which is what the administration is doing right now.
COSTELLO: Dean.
OBEIDALLAH: You know, I actually think that if it was struck down, I think it's Republicans worst nightmare, because this is the thing they have been running against. They've made the -- President Obama, like Dr. Evil, has cooked up his plan to make us do things that no one else wants and it's the first step of the whole master plan for the next four years.
I think perhaps -- and if it is struck down, I think President Obama will say, I accept the ruling of the Supreme Court, that's what a responsible leader does. We tweak the law or maybe it goes away.
I don't think any of us know really what the Supreme Court is going to do. Are they going to strike down all of it, part of it or none of it? And I think there will be repercussions for all of the three scenarios.
COSTELLO: Ok. Second question, there's a new web campaign ad. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Imagine a small-American town, two years from now, if Obama is re-elected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh I just wanted to get the full effect for people here. This is part of an online ad called Obamaville, it was put out by the Santorum campaign. It is absolutely post apocalyptic. Is it effective? What do you think, Maria?
CARDONA: I actually got a little chuckle out of it. And what I thought was, so given that he has said that Republicans -- if Romney is the nominee, that they should vote for Obama because Romney would be worse, is he saying that this is actually also a reflection of Romney wins that it would be Romneyville? And that also got me thinking, what would Santorumville be? It would be women barefoot and pregnant with 15 kids, everybody being home schooled, nobody going to college. I think that would be the huge nightmare if -- if that were the case and that would be Santorumville.
COSTELLO: Then you should talk to the Obama campaign. Will.
CAIN: Yes, I think it's pretty clear. If Obama is re-elected, there will be shoes strewn about, without a pair, finding -- sitting next to empty playgrounds and people holding gas nozzles to their -- to their temple. I mean, yes I think -- I think it's a little bit desperate and I think the Santorum campaign in general has taken on a tone of desperation, suggesting there could be no worse Republican than Mitt Romney to put up in this election. Yes desperation is -- is -- is rampant here.
COSTELLO: Dean.
OBEIDALLAH: I want to see that movie, Carol. That looks cool. Is it "The Hunger Games"? There is so much going on. I don't know, whoever made that movie, they should get nominated for a short film Oscar.
You know, I don't think Rick Santorum is being desperate. I think this is a man who spoke about the biblical terms during the campaign, saying our laws in America and the bible must agree. Saying he's against the birth control, which I find hypocritical because he wears a sweater vest, which is birth control. Let's be honest.
So I mean, I honestly think this is consistent completely with Rick Santorum and his religious theme campaign that he has been running for the last six months which he's gotten some traction on.
COSTELLO: Ok, Dean, you want to see the movie? There are eight parts to this thing so keep an eye on the Internet.
OBEIDALLAH: Ok let me go to Netflix for this thing. This is great.
CAIN: Really, there are eight parts? Really?
COSTELLO: Eight parts, this is the first of eight parts.
CARDONA: Wow.
CAIN: Really?
COSTELLO: Yes. So you keep an eye on that too.
CARDONA: Can't wait.
OBEIDALLAH: Like "Star Wars".
COSTELLO: Your "Buzzer Beater" now; 20 seconds each. Here's the third question. The President, as you know, is in South Korea today and before he went the U.S. embassy held this contest to solicit questions for the President.
One of the winning questions was this. "What are your thoughts on the Korean people?" The winners got copies of "The Audacity of Hope" -- Korean version, of course. But really, that's the prize? You can get a copy off Amazon right now for $7. Dean?
OBEIDALLAH: They can get it on eBay for probably $3 at this point. Look it's not the best gift. I think they should have given them an etch-a-sketch of Mitt Romney to be honest with. It would have been a much better prize. And the kids can play with them and have fun.
But how much money can we spend? We have no money, we can't even go to war, we can only send angry e-mails at this point.
So I mean, I don't know what better gift the President can give to anyone. I think it's funny, it was just a token of -- a nice gesture by the President.
COSTELLO: Will?
CAIN: It may not be the best gift, but I'm not sure they're the most penetrating questions, either. What do you think of the Korean people? I mean, he's really going to be real --
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: They're really nice.
CAIN: -- yes a real flame-throw on that question, I'm sure. I mean, maybe the gift matches the -- the questions.
COSTELLO: Maria.
CARDONA: Oh, come on. People love contests. And how cool is it to say that you won this contest and that your question is now going to be asked of President Obama and you're saving yourself $7 to boot. It's great. I love it.
COSTELLO: You're saving yourself $7 to boot. Hey, it's a tough economy, all right?
CARDONA: Exactly. Everyone is being affected by the recession.
COSTELLO: Maria, Dean, Will, thanks for playing with us. We appreciate it.
OBEIDALLAH: Thanks Carol.
CARDONA: Thanks Carol.
COSTELLO: Health care in the high court. The outcome of a landmark case could lead to big changes for you and your family. We'll break it all down for you after a break.
And cheating on standardized tests; an investigation finds red flags in nearly 200 of the largest school districts across the country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Health care reform is now being challenged in the country's highest court more than two years after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Yes, that's really its name. The U.S. Supreme Court is just about to start hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the new law.
In the next few days, six hours of arguments for and against health care reform, will be heard by all nine justices. People began camping out as early as Friday to get one of the coveted 50-plus seats available to the public. They were allowed into court just about an hour ago. A ruling is not expected until late June.
Now one of the big issues going to be debated and that will take place tomorrow, is over this individual mandate. The requirement in the health care law that requires everybody to buy insurance.
Elizabeth Cohen is here to explain exactly what the individual mandate is. And why people are so darned passionate about it.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. People are passionate about the individual mandate, because in this country, we don't tell people that they have to buy something just by virtue of being a citizen. You have to buy something. And that's what's gotten people all upset about this. So that part of it is going to be discussed tomorrow.
And today what's going to be discussed is sort of the flip side to that. It really ends up pertaining to the benefits that people could get from health care reform.
So let's take a look at a couple of people who we invented to see how they're going to do under health care reform and what will happen if the Supreme Court changes all that.
So I want to introduce you to my friend, Eddy, The Entrepreneur. So there he is. Eddy earns $80,000. He is an entrepreneur, so he doesn't have an employer. So unlike you and me, he doesn't get insurance through his employer. So under health care reform, eventually what will happen is he will spend $4,500 on insurance. That's what he would be required to pay.
And Carol, if he doesn't pay, look at that penalty there. He gets a $2,000 penalty. So what this al rests on is what will people like Eddie decide to do? Will they buy insurance? Or will they pay the penalty? The penalty costs less, right? But you don't get anything for it.
If you fork over more money, you actually get insurance. And if you want to know how you can put in your income and you can figure out what this means to you, go to cnn.com/empoweredpatient. We have a link to a calculator and you can figure out what your insurance would cost and what your penalty would be.
COSTELLO: And the reason the Obama administration wants this individual mandate requirement is because it pays for the other things in the law.
COHEN: Exactly. Because I want to introduce you to two other people who need that payment. So the individual mandate is going to help pay for people like Maria, the musician. Maria only earns $25,000. She will only have to pay $1,726 for insurance and then the government is going to give a big subsidy. That's why that cost is so low. The reason why the government can give the subsidy is because of that individual mandate that you mentioned.
Now, in her case, she will have a penalty of $695 if she doesn't -- if she doesn't, you know, pay -- if she doesn't buy it. So, again, that's going to be her choice and it will be fascinating to see what people will do. Will they pay $1,700 for insurance or pay $700 as a penalty? Again, you don't get anything for the penalty. You just pay it and it goes away.
COSTELLO: Ok. And then another factor I think people don't quite understand about the individual mandate, and this is from the Obama administration's viewpoint, right? So if you force everyone to buy insurance that means the insurance companies have more money, right? So that they can afford to cover people with pre-existing conditions. So they can afford to do that.
COHEN: Right. The whole thing about the individual mandate is that if you bring in everyone, ok -- everyone, including healthy people, you get more money in that pot. And that means, theoretically, that insurance companies can afford to insure people with pre-existing conditions.
Because before -- or right now, if you have a -- if it you're an adult and you have a pre-existing condition and you try to get insurance on your own, good luck to you. Because insurance companies are going to say why should I insure you? You had a heart attack last year. Or even a heart attack ten years ago. I don't want to pay to insure you. That's going to be expensive.
Health care reform says, uh-uh, you've got to say yes to these people. And where that money comes from to say yes to these people is the individual mandate.
COSTELLO: Right. And, of course, on the other side, people don't want the individual mandate, because it infringes on my rights. The government shouldn't force me to buy anything that I don't want to buy, especially something as expensive as health insurance.
COHEN: That's right. And some people made a comparison to auto insurance. You can't drive your car without auto insurance. It would be illegal. But that's for the privilege of driving. For the privilege of owning a car and driving, you have to get insurance.
We don't tell people that for other things. Just Carol Costello, to be an American to live in this country, we don't make you buy something. This is unusual. But you know, people -- some people will say, that's terrible. And we're infringing on Carol's rights by making her buy it.
Other people would say, you know what, everyone is going to get sick at some point. And it protects you and frankly, it protects the rest of us if you get insurance. And the reason it protects the rest of us, if you don't have insurance, what are you going to do when you get sick? You're going to go to the emergency room. And then when you go there and you rack up a bill that you cannot pay, I'm going to end up paying for that. As a fellow citizen, a fellow taxpayer, I'm going to end up paying for that. Those are the two arguments.
COSTELLO: Those are the arguments that the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing tomorrow. And by the way, the individual mandate doesn't go into effect until 2014, if the U.S. Supreme Court deems it constitutional.
COHEN: Right. So it all gets extremely confusing. But the individual mandate is sort of the template. Without the mandate, this whole thing kind of falls apart.
COSTELLO: Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.
COHEN: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Coming up, standardized test results that were suspicious enough to prompt an investigation. We'll take a closer look.
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COSTELLO: Singer Aretha Franklin back in the news. And this time she is celebrating a couple of milestones. A.J. Hammer is here with more details. Hi, A.J..
A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Hey there, Carol. Yes, Aretha celebrated her 70th birthday in New York City over the weekend. So happy birthday to the Queen of Soul. Everybody is wondering what is up next for her.
She is doing an album with her old mentor, Clive Davis. They don't have any material for just yet, but I'm certain it will be spectacular. You might remember, Davis helped revitalize Aretha's career back in the 1980s so everybody, of course, hoping they can recapture some of that old magic together. But I for one will never tire of listening to the Queen of Soul sing, one of the greatest voices Carol and a nice woman with a great spirit on top of that.
COSTELLO: I know. She is so down to earth. Thanks, A.J.. We appreciate it.
HAMMER: You got it.
COSTELLO: Want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world? A.J. has it tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at 11:00 eastern on HLN.
Guess what, the New York Jets are introducing their brand-new quarterback today. You've probably heard Tim Tebow is the new kid in town. Wonder how starter Mark Sanchez feels about that really. We'll have more on that story in less than ten minutes.
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COSTELLO: A senator and a teachers' union leader say the time to investigate a possible nationwide school cheating scandal. The Atlanta Journal Constitution looked at public school test scores in all 50 states and the paper found suspicious results and red flags like changes in test scores in 196 of the nation's largest school districts. Carl Azuz from CNN's "STUDENT NEWS" is here. That doesn't bode well. That means there could be widespread cheating in schools done by teachers across the country.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Well, a lot of people are saying, where there's smoke there's fire. And what the Atlanta Journal Constitution did in order to find all this data was they looked at information from 69,000 public schools, across the country. And what they found were these sort of wild fluctuations in test scores in hundreds of cities. It's not specific to one region. This is a coast to coast phenomenon.
And after examining these changes in test scores, they found many of the results highly unlikely. And what I mean by that is in one school system, for instance, about 42 percent of fourth graders passed a state math test. The next year, as fifth graders, the school system was under investigation, 4 percent of the students passed it.
So the AJC says this does not prove cheating, but it raises a lot of strong suspicions, Carol.
COSTELLO: So how does this affect students because they're the ones that are going to be hurt the most in this.
AZUZ: And they are. They do get hurt by this. In some cases, if you have erasure rates where teachers are accused of changing answers on tests, you have students who are kind of moving through the system who are advancing through grades but they're not actually learning.
And then what about the students that could benefit from tutoring? They're not going to get the tutoring they need. They're going to be kind of moved through the system and they're not going to learn what they need in order to advance as students.
Education secretary Arne Duncan was asked about this by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. and he was saying that schools, testing organizations, districts, everybody needs to have methods in place to make sure students' education and their test scores are being measured fairly. The reality is, Carol, those safeguards are just not in place.
COSTELLO: So who is doing the cheating? Is it just the teachers? Is it the principal? Who is it?
AZUZ: It's all over the map with that. I mean teachers are accused, principals, administrators. And what a lot of people blame for this is the federal government's focus on test scores as a means of measuring student achievement. That's where a lot of fingers get pointed, whether it's the Obama administration "Race to the Top" program; the Bush administration's "No Child Left Behind" program.
In so many instances, these test scores are used to evaluate teachers. In some senses they determine funding for schools. In some places they're used to determine teacher salaries. Also, schools are evaluated -- they're threatened with closure under "No Child Left Behind" if they do not show student achievement. And ultimately, experts say all of this creates a culture that can tempt cheating.
We have a lot more on this on CNN's new education blog, Carol. It's called Schools of Thought and it can be found at cnn.com/schoolsofthought. It also has a link to the Atlanta Journal Constitution investigation.
COSTELLO: I'll check it out. Carl Azuz, thank you so much.
AZUZ: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: New York Jets recently signed their quarterback, Mark Sanchez to a lucrative long-term extension, so why are they bringing in another quarterback, Tim Tebow? We'll talk about that next.
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COSTELLO: Ok. Let's talk Tim Tebow. Because there's a big news conference scheduled in New York. Tim Tebow is expected to talk at that news conference to the delight of many New Yorkers. So let's head there and check in with Jason Carroll. You're at the Jets' training facility, right? So what --
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: yes.
COSTELLO: Set the scene for us.
CARROLL: Well, you know, I think there are a lot of people, Carol, who are wondering why there's been so much attention focused on someone who is going to be a back-up quarterback. When I talk about attention, I'm going to have the camera swing around here so you can see, there's more than two dozen camera crews that are here. And, again, this is all for a back-up quarterback. This is really sort of unprecedented.
But you have to wonder, you know, when you see -- when you hear about all this attention being paid to someone like a Tim Tebow, it really is more about Tim Tebow's back story. This is a guy who -- look, arguably is great when it comes to his athleticism on the field. But it's really all about him off the field, as well.
You know, this is a man who is a devout Christian. We have seen that on the field when he does his Tebowing moves, you know, that sort of thinker pose when he gets down and he kneels. We have seen that. He's a self-proclaimed 24-year-old virgin. So I think there is so much attention to a story like this because of this man's back story.
That's why you're seeing all this attention sort of being generated about a press conference for a back-up quarterback, which, by the way, is about to start in about an hour from now, we're hearing. It's just going to be Tebow up there, no one else.
COSTELLO: I like how you said self-proclaimed 24-year-old virgin. I don't know, that just made me laugh. Some people are saying, oh, my gosh, Tim Tebow is this big sensation, in Godless New York City. What's the deal?
CARROLL: Well, look. When it comes to religion, it's a very sensitive topic. And I think once again, that's why so many people have interest in this young man. It's going to be interesting to see what he says when he gets up there. How he's going to handle questions, you know, from his critics who say, you know, we're hearing that when you come here to the city, we're hearing that you come with sort of a mixed record in terms of your throwing abilities, things like that. How will you handle yourself when you're here in the city?
It's just going to be very interesting to hear what this young man has to say when he faces the New York press and press from all around the country.
COSTELLO: It will be. I can't wait until it begins. I'll be watching, Jason Carroll. Thank you so much. Jason Carroll reporting live from the Jets' training facility.
I'm going to throw it to Kyra Phillips who has a lot going on today, again.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. Busy hour. Thank you so much.
COSTELLO: Sure.
