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Russian President: Romney "Listen To Reason"; Obama's "Oops" Moment; New Details In Teen's Shooting; Police Leaks Paint Teen As Aggressor; Supreme Court Debates Health Care; Family Watching Supreme Court; Fires Rage In The Rockies; New Orleans Cop Suspended; More Protests For Slain Florida Teen; Cell Phones Banned In Cars?; Tea Party Patriots Rally Near Supreme Court; Debating Health Care at Supreme Court; Most Schools are Under-Funded; Bosses Asking for Facebook Passwords

Aired March 27, 2012 - 10:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello right now in the NEWSROOM.

We are watching wildfires in Colorado. They are on the move. At least one person is dead. Other people have lost their homes. Firefighters hope the brutal winds will die down and stop feeding this inferno.

Mitt Romney calls Russia America's number one geopolitical foe. Russian's president basically saying, the cold war ended about 20 years ago. Where have you been?

And the government takes up the issue of texting and driving. We'll show you what happens when Lizzie O'Leary tries to text and drive in a simulator. It isn't pretty.

Do you really want your boss having full access to your Facebook account? Some employees are being asked to give up their passwords. Is that even legal? We're going to take a closer look at that this morning.

But first, the Russian president is not happy with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. He made that clear this morning in South Korea, telling Romney to, quote, "Listen to reason when you're talking about Russia."

Dmitry Medvedev is apparently upset that Romney called Russia our number one geopolitical foe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These are very unfortunate developments. If he's planning on doing more and suggests to Russia that he has things he's willing to do with them, he's not willing to tell the American people. This is to Russia, this is without question our number one geopolitical foe.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Romney talked about Russia after Wolf Blitzer asked him about an oops moment between President Obama and the Russian president. An open microphone picked up Obama saying, quote, "This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility."

Dan Lothian is following this from the White House. The Russian president had a lot more to say about Mitt Romney. It wasn't pretty. So tell us exactly what he said.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. You know, first of all, I should say that when you cover these kinds of summits, sometimes the news isn't necessarily made in the official advance in the prepared comments.

It's what happens behind the scenes. This is a case where the world got a chance to see behind the scenes in public. President Medvedev did weigh into this back and forth, saying this kind of phrasing is reminiscent of Hollywood. Then he went on to offer some advice through a translator.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV, RUSSIA (through translator): As for ideological cliches, I have already spoken on the subject. I always get very cautious when I see a country resort to phrasings such as number one enemy.

It is very reminiscent of Hollywood in a certain period of history. I would advise two things to all U.S. presidential candidates, including the person you just mentioned.

My first advice is to listen to reason when they formulate their positions. Reason never harmed a presidential candidate. My other advice is to check their clocks from time to time.

It's 2012 not the mid 1970s. No matter what party a candidate represents, he has to take the current state of affairs into account. That is the only way he could count on winning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: Now Mitt Romney did not back away from his remarks. He did clarify just a bit though saying that the greatest threat that the world faces is a nuclear Iran, a nuclear North Korea, but then pointing out that he believes that Russia aligns itself, in his words, with the world's worst actors.

Jay Carney, White House spokesman before departing South Korea said that this kind is simply inaccurate, that while the United States doesn't always see eye-to-eye with Russia that they have worked together on a number of important issues.

But I can tell you Republicans have really jumped on this. The RNC shortly after those comments were made yesterday released a web ad, the narrative being that what Obama tells world leaders when he thinks you aren't listening. They are pointing out this is just an example of the president focused on his re-election campaign -- Carol.

COSTELLO: OK, so I'm being cynically political. How do you suppose the Obama camp will use the Russian president's comments?

LOTHIAN: That will be interesting. We haven't seen them put out any ads or web ads or anything like that. But they are saying this kind of language just misses the mark. That Mitt Romney when he says this simply is just wrong. We haven't seen them take the approach. What we have seen from the RNC so far, but they have been pushing back.

COSTELLO: And you know, I guess we should underscore this isn't some political game because Russia does matter in international relations. The United States does need Russia time and again.

LOTHIAN: That's right. You know, the White House has been defending the president's comments by, again, pointing out that the president was just reflecting the political realities.

During this campaign election cycle, that it's difficult to get bipartisan support, especially on some of these thorny issues that involve nuclear security and Russia.

That's what the president was talking about, that it's really hard to sort of get everyone on the same page when it comes to this during an election year.

COSTELLO: Dan Lothian live at the White House for us.

Also this morning, we are keeping a close eye on the case of Trayvon Martin. The unarmed teenager who was shot to death by a community watch volunteer. Less than two hours from now, the city manager of Sanford, Florida, will meet with the media along with acting chief of police.

We are also looking at reports Trayvon Martin had several run- ins at school. At the time of his killing, he was suspended after marijuana residue was found in his book bag. The "Miami Herald" reporting he had earlier been suspended for scrawling graffiti on lockers.

And a so-called burglary toll was found in his backpack along with women jewelry. We're also hearing two very different stories this morning about what went down that fatal night.

A leaked police report seems to paint the slain teenager as the aggressor. Martin Savidge is in Sanford. Martin, you talked to one of Zimmerman's closest friends. He offered an interesting theory.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He did. Joe Oliver is a friend. He says he's known George Zimmerman now for six years. He believes that this was not a racially motivated incident. He is quite strong in defending his friend, George Zimmerman.

We started talking about this leaked police report that came out yesterday. We were telling you about. He made a point of saying to me, well, the report is accurate at least from the conversations he's had with George Zimmerman about what happened that terrible night with Trayvon Martin.

But he said it stops short. I asked him, well, what do you mean it stop short. What parts are missing? He said the part that's missing is the most crucial of all. That has to deal with the control of the gun. Here is how he described it to me in an interview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE OLIVER, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S FRIEND: It came down to a life or death struggle between the two. I can't go into details into how the gun came into play, but it was not a part of this story until it was too late.

MARY CUTCHER, WITNESSED SHOOTING AFTERMATH: Zimmerman was standing over the body with basically straddling the body with his hands on Trayvon's back. It didn't seem to me that he was trying to help him in any way.

I didn't hear any struggle prior to the gun shot. I feel like it was Trayvon Martin that was crying out because the minute the gun shot went off, the whining stopped.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: That last woman was a woman who actually heard the scuffle that occurred the night of the shooting. Didn't actually see the shooting, but then came out just seconds later to witness what she did.

We should point out that Joe Oliver, of course, did not witness anything. He is just merely retelling what George Zimmerman said. You get it, Carol, here.

This is the back and forth. These are the two sides, very different points of view, very different descriptions of the same event.

COSTELLO: Well, it is interesting that the acting police chief is going to appear at the news conference because there has been some criticism of the police leaks to the Orlando newspaper.

SAVIDGE: Correct. Yes, there has been certainly a lot of anger on the part of the police department here because first they say we didn't leak the information. It came from unauthorized source.

But they also came out and said, it is accurate, in fact, that is what their investigation has found so far. The city manager here says that once they identify who the person is that leaked that information. There are going to be serious consequences possibly even going to be fired. We may hear more on that in just a short while -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I know you're going to be monitoring that news conference. Martin Savidge reporting live from Sanford, Florida. As the investigation into Martin's shooting continues, conflicting facts are fueling tensions across the country. Still ahead, a candid conversation about mixed reactions this case is causing.

Also happening right now, landmark arguments getting under way at the U.S. Supreme Court. This is day two and the justices will narrow their focus on health care reforms in what may be the most important legal debate in years.

Today, they'll look at significant questions about the power of government. Does Congress really have the constitutional right to make you buy a specific product, in this case health insurance?

Dana Bash is our senior congressional correspondent. She joins us from Capitol Hill. So Dana, this is a ground-breaking case. Have the justices begun their arguments yet or hearing arguments, rather?

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not quite yet. I can tell you, obviously, here where I am in Congress, tension is palpable because this is Congress' law that set this whole thing in motion.

But I also want you to look at pictures from outside where I'm standing, more towards the Supreme Court. The opponents of this law have already gathered. They are beginning to chant. They're arguing that this is unconstitutional.

Particularly what the justices will be focused on today. This is the very important part, you mentioned it, Carol, the individual mandate. The whole argument that opponents, 26 states have joined in this lawsuit say is that the individual mandate is not constitutional because Congress cannot force people to buy things they wouldn't already buy.

Not just that, but also be penalized. This law, on average, people would be penalized about $700 if they didn't get health insurance. On the other side of this, you're going to hear inside the courtroom from the Justice Department.

Obama officials say that they believe this is absolutely constitutional because it is in the public's interest for everybody to have universal health care, and that the way Congress had to craft this law, they had to make it an individual mandate.

COSTELLO: It's interesting. You're showing us pictures of the Tea Party patriots. Michele Bachmann I understand is going to speak from around this site. You know, this whole fight over health care gave rise to the Tea Party. These people do not like the individual mandate. I'm not sure they care what the U.S. Supreme Court rules.

BASH: Exactly. There is no question about it. You know, later today, you're seeing one particular rally. Later today, we are going to see a massive, massive rally where they are going to bus in 50 buses are going to come in of people all across the country. It's called "Hands Off My Health Care" rally. They've been having these across the country. I think over 300 the past couple of years. This absolutely has spurred the whole concept of the Tea Party.

Did way back when a couple of years ago because it really got into focus this whole feeling among the Tea Party activists that the United States government just has too much of a heavy hand on individual liberties and rights. Health care really is the absolute illustration for these people on that issue.

COSTELLO: Dana Bash reporting live from Capitol Hill this morning.

We have continuing coverage of the health care debate including a look how this ruling will directly impact families across the country.

For example, 3-year-old, Violet McMahonies is living with epilepsy and has been in and out of hospital since birth. Her parents are worried they could be bankrupt if the Supreme Court overturns parts of the health care bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMAEL: Are you worried about what the Supreme Court might do?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really scared, very scared. I can't sleep scared.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen will tell us more about Violet's story and similar situations that more than 105 million Americans could be in. That's coming up in about 30 minutes.

Sunrise just over an hour ago in Denver. Now authorities should be getting a better idea of what they are up against. A towering wildfire could be responsible for at least one death and for destroying several homes.

High winds blowing through the Rockies had been driving this fire. Rob Marciano is here. So some time has passed since your last report. So is it any better at all, these winds?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The winds are better, but the containment is still the same, which is zero. Zero containment with this fire, which was driven by a windstorm coming out of the Rockies last night.

The fire itself was just 1,000 acres. It was actually a controlled burn that blew out of control when these winds in some cases over 60 miles an hour blew around last night.

Here to give you an idea where this exactly is, by the way, the crow flies about 25 miles southwest of Denver in the front range of the Colorado Rockies. So at about 78,000 feet, it's a pretty rugged terrain, but you saw some of those pictures. Certainly have nice homes that have been torched to the ground.

These are the winds from yesterday and where from 66 miles per hour in Jefferson County to 82 mile-an-hour winds in Wyoming. That storm that drove those winds is moving up towards the north and east where high wind warnings have been posted.

Where that fire is burning today, they could still see winds 30 to maybe 40 miles per hour. But right now, the winds are calm. They've got about 100 firefighters on scene. They'll get another 400 out of the region later on today.

Plus they weren't able to get air up in the sky yesterday, one because of the wind. But two, this blew up like late afternoon, early evening last night. Reverse 911 calls went out. This happened very, very quickly.

One fatality right now and maybe as many as a dozen or more homes damaged or destroyed by this. By the sense of it, how fast it happened, we may be lucky if they can get this thing under wraps.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.

COSTELLO: Texting while driving isn't the only thing keeping your eyes off the road. The National Transportation Safety Board is discussing ways to keep you from becoming a distractive driver. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Act like a thug, die like one. New Orleans' Police Officer Jason Giroir admitted to posting that message on his Facebook. The post refers to the controversial death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.

The New Orleans officer is now suspended indefinitely without pay, adding more fuel to the escalating fire of concerns about racial profiling. His superintendent says he is furious.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUPT. RONAL SERPAS, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: To say that I'm angry is an understatement. I'm furious. Giroir by those statements has embarrassed this department with insensitive, harmful and offensive comments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The New Orleans branch of the NAACP has scheduled a news conference an hour from now to discuss this Facebook posting. Trayvon Martin's parents say negative comments and new information about their son's troubled past are just attempts to distract people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRACY MARTIN, TRAYVON MARTIN'S FATHER: Say that even in death Trayvon is gone. Even in death they are still disrespecting my son and I feel that's a shame.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: On Monday, revelations that the Florida teenager was on suspension from school after marijuana residue was found in his book bag. Of course, Zimmerman knew nothing about Trayvon Martin's history that night.

On the other hand, Zimmerman supporters would probably say Martin's background does matter. So let's talk about that with author and pop culture critic, Kevin Powell. He's in New York. Kevin, welcome.

KEVIN HOWELL: Good morning. How are you?

COSTELLO: At first glance, these stories are slowly leaking out about Trayvon Martin's background. He has some stuff in his background that isn't so complimentary. So does it matter?

KEVIN POWELL, ACTIVIST: No, it doesn't because Trayvon is just a typical American teenager. I mean, if we even just look at the last three presidents of the United States, Obama, Bush and Clinton.

All admitted in their younger years that they all engaged in some sort of drug activity. That's not condoning it, but that has nothing to do with Trayvon Martin being killed February 26 by George Zimmerman.

So they are trying to smear his reputation to make it seem like he was some sort of criminal even in his death. We find that completely unacceptable.

COSTELLO: Some people might say it may show -- like things in his background may show his state of mind that night.

POWELL: I respectfully disagree because the reality is George Zimmerman was the one who showed his state of mind on the 911 audiotapes.

Where he basically saw Trayvon Martin as a criminal, called him suspicious, et cetera. I don't know how he can say that just because a young man engaged in writing graffiti on the wall, which I did as a teenager.

Smoking weed, which many of us did as teenagers, has anything to do with him being considered a criminal and dangerous and being shot in cold blood by George Zimmerman. It's completely separate. COSTELLO: Well, there was the supposed burglary tool found in Trayvon Martin's backpack.

POWELL: Ma'am, many of us, myself included when were teenagers engaged in behavior, but that doesn't justify you being murdered in cold blood while you have a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea in your hands.

So what's happening here is not only is Trayvon Martin being racially profiled when he was alive by George Zimmeram, now there is an attempt to racially profile him while he is dead.

COSTELLO: There are conflicting accounts coming to light about what exactly happened that night. One neighbor says that it was Martin was the aggressor. He saw him punching and beating Zimmerman.

And then Joe Oliver who is Mr. Zimmerman's friend, by the way, one of his best friends, he had this to say about what George Zimmerman told him about that night. Listen and we'll discuss on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLIVER: It came down to a life or death struggle between the two. I can't go into details how the gun came into play, but it was not a part of this story until it was too late.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So it seems as if he's intimating there was some fight over this gun and that Trayvon Martin didn't see the gun until he got into some altercation with George Zimmerman. What do you make of this?

POWELL: Well, first of all, Oliver was not there. The people I take seriously are Mary Cutcher and the other woman who were witnesses of this thing and saw the aftermath to this shooting.

You know, of course, Joe Oliver as a friend of George Zimmerman's going to say these things. Of course, someone is rolled out there to try to back up the story. Of course, they had a month and a couple of days to get the story together.

So they are doing everything they can to piece together an argument and make it look like George Zimmerman was acting in complete self defense.

To me, the 911 tapes indicate that this man was the aggressor in the situation. Even when the respondent to the 911 call said don't follow him. George Zimmerman went to the opposite direction and we know what happened.

Trayvon Martin is dead. So we need to keep the focus of the fact that George Zimmerman needs to be arrested. He needs to be brought to the criminal justice system. We need justice in this situation.

Not all these tangential things about Trayvon's background. That has nothing to do with him being murdered on February the 26th in cold blood.

COSTELLO: Kevin Powell, thank you for being with us this morning. We appreciate it.

POWELL: Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: Distracted drivers can be hazardous to your health. You know that. Well, the National Transportation Safety Board is looking for ways to help keep your eyes on the road. We'll take you live to Washington next.

And some colleges say they are hurting for cash. So what are they doing to raise money? How about selling naming rights to the campus bathroom? That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We've all done it, eat, text, check our e-mail, talk on the phone. Even, you know, program your GPS for directions while you're driving.

Distracted drivers kill about 5,000 people every year. They injure thousands more. The National Transportation Safety Board is trying to figure out a way to keep us from being a dangerous driver.

CNN's Lizzie O'Leary joins us live from Washington. You know, a lot of states have instituted cell phone bans and they've outlawed texting. But that doesn't stop people, does it?

LIZZIE O'LEARY, CNN AVIATION AND REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: It doesn't and 35 states have got those bans, those texting bans. One of the things that we got a chance to do over the past few days was go into the simulator at the University of Iowa that gives you a chance to see what it's like to drive while you're distracted.

We went in. You can see it there. That's the simulator. It gives the most realistic view of what it's like to actually be driving. They can throw a bunch of distractions at you to find out exactly how long it takes for you to be distracted.

Bottom line is it's two seconds of looking away that causes you to lose contact with exactly what's going on, on the road. Two seconds is all it takes. A typical text message takes about four seconds. It's the most realistic and safe way to gather this data.

Now the National Transportation Safety Board is working with the folks who run this simulator and today they are looking at a series of recommendations sort of how to get drivers more aware.

In fact, the agency forbids people from using their government phones while traveling. I talked to the Chairwoman Deborah Hersman. She said stopping cold turkey was kind of like sobering up. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEBORAH HERSMAN, NTSB CHAIRMAN: I was one of those people that did a lot of business, kept up with my family. A lot of phone calls with my moms in the evenings. I did that on a hands-free device. I had to stop that.

When I did, it was like getting sober and being surrounded by drank people on the road. I stopped talking on the phone and I saw everyone else who was talking and texting, and really not minding what they were doing. That was an awakening for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'LEARY: So know the federal government can't ban this all together, but they can do is give and withhold money to states. And once they control the purse strings, they think that could change the way state enforce the laws and raise awareness -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Interesting. Thanks so much, Lizzie. You can Lizzie's full report, by the way, on distracted driving tonight on "THE SITUATION ROOM" that starts at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

It's 2012. We still can't see Supreme Court hearings on television even though it decides the most important cases in the nation. We'll talk about that with our "Political Buzz" panel next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL COSTELO, CNN ANCHOR: Checking our "Top Stories" now.

A wildfire on the move in the Denver area one person has died, several homes destroyed. Heavy winds pushed the fire yesterday. Fire fighters hoping those winds will calm down today.

We're expecting more news today in the Trayvon Martin case. In just about an hour, the city manager of Sanford, Florida, will meet with the media along with the acting chief of police.

And later, Martin's parents will be on Capitol Hill for a hearing on racial profiling and hate crimes.

And landmark arguments under way at the U.S. Supreme Court, Justices putting the centerpiece of Barack Obama's presidency under the constitutional microscope. Today, they look at whether Congress can make you buy a specific product, in this case, health insurance.

"Political Buzz" is your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing with us today: Democratic strategist Robert Zimmerman; Chris Moody, is political reporter with Yahoo News; and Boris Epshteyn is a Republican strategist and former aide to the McCain/Palin campaign and an opinion columnist for "U.S. News". BORIS EPSHTEYN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: That's long.

COSTELLO: That was long. I know.

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: He wins the title.

COSTELLO: He does.

EPSHTEYN: I've got a couple more things for later.

COSTELLO: Great. Welcome to all of you.

So here is our first question. If the Supreme Court has any concerns about looking biased going into the health law hearings, wouldn't televising these proceedings fix that? Robert?

ZIMMERMAN: Well, I don't think it would fix as much as it would expose the Supreme Court. Because under this right winged conservative activist court we've seen them overturn the presidential election in Bush v. Gore. We saw the in the Citizens United decision, give corporate -- corporate interests a blank check to buy their way in our democracy and other decisions that have benefited corporations over consumers and polluters over cleaning up our neighborhoods. Perhaps the bright lights of TV might expose them.

COSTELLO: Boris?

EPSHTEYN: Exactly what Robert said is the reason why we cannot have TV cameras in the Supreme Court. First of all, those things Super PACs that the Democrats used to be sold against are now being used by Barack Obama in the general election.

Second of all the Supreme Court is a sacred institution, an institution that cannot be affected by outside and political influences. They have to make decisions based on the law and law alone. And if you have TV cameras in there, a lot of Justices may just freeze up and feel like they have to perform for the cameras.

Now more likely, an appearance for the Supreme Court will make C- Span look like the Super Bowl. It will be so boring.

COSTELLO: Chris.

CHRIS MOODY, POLITICAL REPORTER, YAHOO! NEWS: Look I'm a big fan of transparency but I don't think this would particularly help in that specific question. Every single facial expression, an eyebrow twitch would be analyzed and dissected, even if it didn't really even mean anything. It's important also to remember that these hearings are not close press. The media is allowed and they release an audio recording within hours after it goes down.

So it's not like they are shrouded in secrecy completely here.

COSTELLO: Ok, I'm going to tweak the second question and surprise you all. Because this just came out late this morning we got it into our show it has to do with Mitt Romney. You know he said on Wolf Blitzer's show that Russia is our number one geopolitical foe. While the Russian President came out to say that Romney shouldn't speak so off the cuff, he said he should listen to reason when he's talking about Russia.

So we were wondering has Romney reignited a cold war of sorts -- Boris?

EPSHTEYN: Well, full disclosure, I was born in Russia, I came here when I was 11. So -- but from my point of view, no, he hasn't. Was it the right thing to say? Absolutely not. Russia is not our number one foe. We have Iran out there. We have North Korea, we have a ton of problems that are beyond Russia. Russia is a country the United States should try to work together with but still stay strong in front of.

Now should Romney say that? No. But should Barack Obama be saying -- hey you know after this election hopefully I'll be free and do whatever you want me to do? No. He shouldn't be saying that either, and that's what Mitt Romney was answered. So to support Mitt Romney's comment in context or Barack Obama saying that is -- hey just give me a little time.

COSTELLO: Robert?

ZIMMERMAN: Look clearly Mitt Romney's comment is stunning in its ignorance. The idea that Russia would be considered our number one geopolitical foe instead of a -- potentially nuclear Iran or the fact that al Qaeda still has an -- a dangerous and a dangerous role in the world is a great concern to all of us, not to mention al Qaeda's role in the world.

So I think that's a great concern. But of course, it's important to put in perspective likewise what President Bush said. While there won't be -- while President Obama said, excuse me. There won't be any domestic fallout to his comments certainly our NATO allies who depend upon the missile defense shield.

Certainly we are entitled to an explanation with the administration by what President Obama said off in front of a hot mike.

COSTELLO: Chris?

MOODY: There's been a lot of criticism of the Republican presidential candidates over speaking fast and loose about foreign policy. I think they would do well to look back to what happened to Barack Obama when he took a lot of positions on the war and on terrorism. But then once he was elected to the presidency and had access to certain information, he completely changed quite a bit of the things that he originally had said. and he carried on a lot of the Bush policies.

So I think these guys will -- the person who gets into the presidency, if it's Mitt Romney, he'll have quite a bit to learn once he gets there. And he may go back on that. COSTELLO: Ok, third question; it's your "Buzzer Beater" 20 seconds each. It appears we're picking on Mitt Romney, but really not. Mitt Romney is to appear on Jay Leno. So what do you think Romney should joke about, Shamus, perhaps? Robert.

ZIMMERMAN: You know I really was wondering if he was trying out material when he was with Wolf Blitzer discussing Russia. But that's a chief partisan comment, that's beneath me. To be -- to be helpful I think Mitt Romney should go with what he knows. Talk about hair products and avoid public policy decisions. Maybe he could reveal for the first time whether he was the man in the original commercial on erectile dysfunction.

COSTELLO: Oh.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm just trying to help.

COSTELLO: Chris. Chris please.

MOODY: I'm not going there. Yes the good things for -- for Mitt Romney is he is a funny guy. He was good on Letterman a couple of months ago, he's good on the stump. But what he needs to do if he wants to nail it is bring Anne Romney with him. Because everyone loves her and she does a great job.

COSTELLO: Oh I have to agree with that. Boris?

EPSHTEYN: I think he should bring Rick Santorum with him. Because the two of them would make a really funny pair on there. And then Rick could be like the little whiny baby telling Mitt, hey, hey, you're the worse, you're the worse and Mitt could hit him over the head time and time again. I think that would be really entertaining.

Now in all seriousness, I think Mitt Romney could make a lot of jokes about hair products. I wouldn't go to ED, I wouldn't have Robert to talk ED either. Mitt could also talk about some of his pals who own in NASCAR, the team or something like that. There's a lot of material out there for him.

COSTELLO: There certainly is, Robert, Chris, Boris thanks for playing today, we appreciate it.

ZIMMERMAN: Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: Up next, a personal look at how the Supreme Court's health care decision could impact a typical American family.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The U.S. Supreme Court about to hear arguments over so-called Obama care. They are going to hear arguments for and against the individual mandate. The Tea Party Patriots are rallying as you can see, before the Supreme Court. Michele Bachmann, head of the Tea Party caucus in Congress is speaking.

Let's listen. (BEGIN LIVE FEED)

MICHELE BACHMANN (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: -- this beginning and opening stage. It will be two new entitlement programs that will cost over a trillion dollars. One lie after another was said to pass this bill.

We were told that health care costs would drop dramatically. President Obama said that every household in the you'd would save over $2,500. Just the opposite has happened. Health care costs have spiked.

We also know that physicians are already planning to leave the profession. This doctor next to me, Juan Torres, told me that two of the largest cardiologists' practices in Orlando have already sold.

Investors' business daily newspaper did an investigation. According to their survey said that 46 percent of physicians, when Obama care is fully implemented, will leave the profession. Why is that? It's because government is taking away not only from doctors, but from individuals, the right to determine their health care and their future.

You see, we are surrounded right now by those who will benefit by socialism. We are surrounded by those who will benefit from the government telling you what you must do. But that's not what we believe. We believe that the Constitution gives every American the right to determine their own future and their own liberty.

(END LIVE FEED)

COSTELLO: Ok. We are going to look away from this for a moment because as you know, there are two sides to Obama care. And people feel passionately on both sides.

Now we're going to tell you about one family who waits in fear for the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the so-called Obama care. CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has that side of the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These nine Supreme Court justices will forever affect the life of 3- year-old Violet McManus.

(on camera): Are you worried about what the Supreme Court might do.

JULIE WALTERS, VIOLET'S MOTHER: I'm really scared, very scared. Like "I can't sleep" scared.

COHEN (voice-over): Violet's mother Julie knows if the justices overturn health care reform, Violet will lose her insurance.

(on camera): Tell me why it's scary for you? WALTERS: Our daughter could die and there is nothing we can do about it.

COHEN (voice-over): Violet was born healthy then when she was 11 months old she had her first seizure.

WALTERS: Our daughter was completely blue in her crib and shaking.

COHEN: It was epilepsy. When seizures strike, Violet stops breathing as many as 30 times a day.

(on camera): So she has three drugs and she has an alarm system and she has oxygen. This all gets expensive.

WALTERS: Yes.

COHEN: I mean this all gets expensive.

(voice-over): Violet has health insurance through her dad Matt's work.

MATT MCMANUS, VIOLET'S FATHER: Great job.

COHEN: It's paid for her care, including several long, expensive hospitalizations. And that's why the McManus family will be watching the Supreme Court decision so closely. If the court gets rid of health care reform, their insurance company could stop paying for Violet's care in as soon as two years.

MCMANUS: Walk down the steps.

COHEN: Because she'll have met her lifetime limit on benefits.

(on camera): If you could channel your thoughts and wishes to the Supreme Court justices, what would you tell them?

MCMANUS: If I could say anything to them, I would say just imagine having your daughter because it can happen to anyone. You never know. Life changes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: More than 100 million Americans, Carol, have these lifetime limits like Violet does. So if health care reform gets reversed by the court, those limits would likely come back again.

COSTELLO: Tell us how the individual mandate plays into this family's drama.

COHEN: Sure. The individual mandate says that nearly every American has to have health insurance. That brings money into the coffers and that helps insure people like Violet. I mean her insurance company wanted to cut her off at the cap in order to save money. Well, if you have more money coming in because of the individual mandate, you don't have to cut her off. COSTELLO: Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much.

COHEN: Thanks Carol.

COSTELLO: Applying for a job? Don't be surprised if you're asked for your Facebook password and log-in. You know by now, it's legal for bosses to do that in most states. But we will tell you about a new move to stop that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Ashton Kutcher had big shoes to fill when he took over on "Two and a Half Men" and it looks like he did it.

A.J. Hammer is in New York. A new deal being worked out?

A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Yes, it looks that way, Carol. TV Guide is saying CBS is working on this deal that could keep Ashton around for next year. And it looks like it's going to cost a lot of money to keep Ashton Kutcher on "Two and a Half Men".

According to reports he's already the highest paid guy on TV starring in a sitcom. He's making about $700,000 an episode. Huge money. The speculation is he could be looking for a raise to those seven figures for next season. After ten seasons, the show is still a hit.

And while CBS apparently won't officially renew it until these negotiations are settled everyone it seems, publicly at least, to want Ashton back for next year. Ashton, of course, replaced Charlie Sheen on the show after all of Charlie's drama. Sheen was reportedly making about $1.25 million an episode.

For his part, we have seen Ashton publicly talking about how much fun he's having on the show. So, you know, I'm thinking that if the money works, Carol, we can expect to see Ashton Kutcher back and making a whole lot of dough for doing it.

COSTELLO: And having even more fun.

HAMMER: Yes.

COSTELLO: A.J. Hammer, thanks.

Want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world? A.J.'s got it on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at 11:00 Eastern on HLN.

Some colleges say they are hurting for cash. So what are they doing to raise money? How about selling naming rights to their bathrooms? Yes, to their campus bathrooms.

We'll have more after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Another tough year ahead for school districts across the country. A new study shows most schools just don't have enough money. Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. So Alison, just how bad is it?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know it's pretty bad. Especially if you've got kids in public schools. I'll tell you what, this certainly does hit home.

Listen to this, Carol. More than 8-10 school districts, they say, you know what; we don't have enough money. In fact they expect the problem to just continue and maybe get even worse. Isn't that great news right there? This information coming from the American Association of School Administrators.

And what I discovered when I did this survey across the country is that it took time for the recession to really hit schools financially. So many towns across the country are just now reassessing their property taxes. And because of the housing bust, what that means for these schools is that tax revenues are probably going to go down.

And at the same time you see states across this country continuing to cut back as they battle to balance their own budgets. So it's really schools especially taking the brunt of this; they're getting less money.

COSTELLO: So how are they handling this crisis?

KOSIK: Well, of course, they are forced to make huge cuts. The biggest way of doing that, they're getting rid of their teachers. Hundreds of thousands of teachers, they've already lost their jobs because of the recession.

Adding to the problem, class sizes are growing and growing. What that does is it delays improvements like getting new Text books or updating computers. You know some schools say they are considering cancelling summer school all together.

Now to a lesser degree, a little more light-hearted here colleges, they're dealing with their budget problems too and they're getting darn creative.

Listen to this Carol. The University of San Diego says it installed elliptical machines that generate power for you to work it out. So it reduces the energy bill. It gives a new name to work it out, doesn't it?

Harvard, look at what Harvard did. Harvard sold the naming rights to a men's rest room for $100,000. Wouldn't you love your name right on the bathroom wall?

COSTELLO: No.

KOSIK: I'm talking about for a donation, of course.

But for a donation, for a donation. I have one more to tell you about, Fairfield University in their dining hall, they did away with trays. So now everybody has to kind of carry all their stuff to the table or their food to the table because it cuts down on washing. How do you like those ideas?

COSTELLO: I don't. I wish they didn't have to do that but I guess in these times, they do. Alison Kosik, live at the New York Stock Exchange.

KOSIK: Yes.

COSTELLO: You keep your Facebook password to yourself but you can't keep your boss from asking for your password on Facebook. We'll hear from one man who gave it up to keep a job.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: You may think your Facebook log-in and password are personal. But try telling that to your boss. CNN's Mary Snow spoke to one man who gave up that information for a job.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Imagine being on a job interview and an employer asking you for your Facebook log-in and password. That's what Robert Collins says happened to him at the Maryland Department of Corrections. After taking a leave of absence, he says he had to go through another vetting process in 2010 and was stunned when his employer asked for his Facebook password. Collins says he complied because he feared for his job.

ROBERT COLLINS, JOB APPLICANT: I'm like, what exactly are you looking for?

Well, "I'm looking through your messages, and through your wall, and through your pictures and through your post to make sure that you're not flashing any gang signs or involved in any illegal activity." I was mortified. I just thought that that just crossed the line.

SNOW: Collins has since left that job, but his complaint to the ACLU prompted change. Maryland's Department of Corrections new policy states candidates will not be asked to share their log-in or password information. But job applicants to Maryland's Corrections Department are asked to log into Facebook voluntarily as an interviewer looks over their shoulder.

The department argues that kind of screening is useful for public safety in law enforcement jobs. CNN legal contributor Paul Callen.

SNOW (on camera): Is this legal?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As shocking as it is that employers would ask you for this very, very personal thing, a Facebook password, in most states it's absolutely legal. SNOW: it's unclear how many employers are asking job applicants for passwords. It's Facebook policy to prohibit anyone from soliciting the log-in information or accessing an account belonging to someone else. Law makers in Maryland are considering a bill to make it illegal for an employer to ask for passwords.

And a right to privacy in the work place act is on the table in Illinois after a state law maker received complaints from constituents.

LASHAWN FORD (D), ILLINOIS STATE LAWMAKER: You have individuals that are afraid to speak and say that the employers are asking for their password and their user name for fear of losing their job or for fear of not being hired.

SNOW: Now there is word of a potential bill on a federal level. Democratic Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal says he is deeply troubled by reports of employers asking for login information onto social media sites. And is drafting a bill that would ban it.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

COSTELLO: We'll keep you posted on that one. Mary Snow reporting from Washington. Now it's time for Kyra Phillips. A lot of new information on Trayvon Martin today.