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CNN Saturday Morning News
U.S. Public Education Profiled; Interview with Michelle Rhee; CNN Hero Educates Girls in Afghanistan; Man Charged Bill for Saving Drowning Boy; Mitt Romney's Tax Returns Continues to be Issue; London Olympics Continue; Interview with Bill Santiago
Aired August 04, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: We might be number one here, but we're nowhere close here. All morning we're putting education in focus. Why in the world is our system ranked lower than Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan?
And later, save a life, get a bill. Why one brave teen was charged for doing the right thing.
And later, a woman changing lives and saving lives one child at a time, rescuing them from the warzone. I'll talk with her and the first boy she saved.
Happy Saturday, everybody. I'm Randi Kaye. It's 10:00 on the east coast, 7:00 a.m. on the west. Thanks for starting your day with us.
We start with wildfires tearing through Oklahoma towns. This is new video of the devastation. Take a look. The fire is moving quickly, thanks to dry brush and strong wind winds. So far, dozens of structures have been burned, but there are hundreds more homes that are threatened this morning. One of the worst of the fires burning right now is in Luther, Oklahoma. Investigators there are looking into the possibility that the fire was deliberately set by a man allegedly throwing burning wads of paper into a pasture.
More extreme weather now and tropical storm Ernesto is moving west toward Jamaica. People in southern Jamaica are being warned that the storm is coming. It already swept past the windward islands with heavy rain and 60-mile-per-hour winds. Ernesto is expected to strengthen into a hurricane some time tomorrow, but the latest tracks don't have it reaching the U.S. and right behind Ernesto is a brand-new named storm, tropical storm Florence with winds at 40 miles per hour.
Relatives of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno are fighting for the school and his legacy. Paterno's family says they plan to appeal the NCAA's sanctions against the university, but -- and this is a big but -- an NCAA spokesman says those sanctions are not subject to appeal.
Last month, the NCAA stripped 14 seasons of football victories from the late Paterno in addition to leveling a $60 million fine against the university. It is all over fallout from the child sex abuse scandal involving former coach Jerry Sandusky.
To politics now and the July jobs report provided a lot of ammunition for both sides of the presidential campaign. CNN political editor Paul Steinhauser has more.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, good morning, Randi. Call it a mixed bag. While the unemployment level edged up, the number of new jobs created last month was more than double the number created in June. And as you can imagine, we got two very different takes from president Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We just got a new number from the unemployment report, and it's another hammer blow to the struggling middle class families of America, because the president has not had policies that put American families back to work. I do. I'll put them in place and get America working again.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've now created 4.5 million new jobs over the last 29 months and 1.1 million new jobs so far this year. Those are our neighbors, our family members finding work, and the security that comes with work. But let's acknowledge we've still got too many folks out there who are looking for work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: With this election all about the economy, you know what remains the top issue on the minds of voters, and jobs are the top economic concern. The unemployment numbers get picked apart for their political significance and there are just three more reports to come before the November election. So, who do Americans think will do a better job creating jobs? Romney had a six-point advantage in a recent "USA Today"/Gallup survey. While the candidates argued over jobs and who was better for the middle class, Romney and Senate majority leader Harry Reid continued their war of words over Romney's tax returns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: Harry Reid really needs to put up or shut up. So Harry, who are your sources?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: The fistfight broke out earlier in the week when the top Senate Democrat accused Romney of not paying his taxes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: The word's out that he's not paid any taxes for ten years. Let him prove that he has paid taxes, because he hasn't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Reid says he got the info from a credible source but won't say more. Romney says he's paid his taxes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: I have paid taxes every year, and a lot of taxes, a lot of taxes. So, Harry is simply wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: But he stands by his decision not to release any tax returns prior to 2010. Randi?
KAYE: Thank you very much, Paul.
Mitt Romney can add a Hollywood heavyweight to his list of supporters. Clint Eastwood came out for a $2 million fund-raiser in Sun Valley, Idaho. The 82-year-old actor says he's counting on Romney to fix the tax system. Eastwood had kept quiet about his presidential preference and even played just a little bit when he talked with reporters about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: We're kind of curious why you decided to endorse the governor?
CLINT EASTWOOD, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: I haven't endorsed the governor.
QUESTION: You're not going to?
EASTWOOD: Oh, yes. No, I'm just kidding. I just -- because I think the country needs to go somewhere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: President Obama has his own star power in first lady Michelle Obama. She was in New Hampshire where she delivered this message to voters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: When people ask you what this president has done for our country, here's what you tell them. Tell them how many jobs he's created. Tell them how much money he's put back in the pockets of American people. Remind folks how he ended the war in Iraq, passed historic health reform and stood up for our most fundamental rights again and again and again. That's what I want you to tell them!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: President Obama is not campaigning this weekend. It happens to be his 51st birthday today, so he's spending the weekend at Camp David. A big celebration is planned for next weekend in his hometown of Chicago.
Turning now to the 2012 Olympics. One history-making week down with many amazing moments still to come, and Team USA is right there in the middle of it all. Swimmer Michael Phelps leading the way, cruising to victory in the 100-meter butterfly and winning the 17th gold medal of his career in the process. And with Phelps set to retire after London, the next generation is poised to pick up where he left off. Among them, 15-year-old Katie Ledecky, whose victory is the 800-meter freestyle makes her the second youngest American woman to win an individual gold medal in any sport.
Finally, reigning Wimbledon champ Serena Williams facing off today against first-time Olympian Maria Sharapova, each vowing to be the first woman since Steffi Graf to win a career golden slam. That is a win in all four major titles plus a gold medal. Wouldn't that be sweet?
The U.S. is banking a lot of gold in London, but could those athletic lessons help our schools? We're focusing on education this morning, the failures and the solutions, including a new Olympics-based idea from one former school chief.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. Ten minutes past the hour.
Next week, many school districts around the country will be reopening their doors and welcoming students back to the classroom. For some, it will be their first time, others will be wrapping up their schooling career.
But regardless of their age, the future of American education in public schools is grim. Right now, the U.S. ranks 31 in K-12 education, reading and math proficiency are low and budget cuts are forcing teacher layoffs and school closures.
This morning we are putting education in focus and we'll start with a look at the facts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Team USA has enjoyed a lot of success in this summer's Olympics, number one in the world in a variety of events from swimming to gymnastics, rowing to judo. But when it comes to K-12 education, the U.S. is number 31, below Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
OMEKONGO DIBINGA, IREPORTER: Education is a crisis right now in this country, and I really wish that our politicians would get more serious about it, because we are leaving children behind every single day.
KAYE: The 2010 kids count report by the Annie E. Casey foundation found that two out of three fourth graders in public schools were not reading proficiently, an actual improvement from 2005. The report also noted that in most states, the rate of eighth graders not proficient in math is over 60 percent. In Washington, D.C., it's as high as 83 percent. Numbers like these have prompted president Obama to call for reform.
OBAMA: As a nation, we've got a responsibility to give our students the resources they need, from the highest quality schools to the latest textbooks to science labs that actually work. In return, we should demand better performance.
KAYE: In Nevada, ranked last by the report in education, the situation is so grim that some families are choosing to leave the state altogether.
JEN MORRIS, MOTHER: We want our kids to be exposed to the most and have the most opportunities in life. And if the schools are not going to help out with that, then we need to possibly look elsewhere.
KAYE: But school districts around the country are facing budget crises and teacher layoffs. In Los Angeles, unified school district has let go of more than 8,500 teachers and other employs in the last four years as student enrollment drops by 56,000. In Columbus, Ohio, between 2005 and 2010 enrollment dropped 10 percent, in Cleveland, down 20 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put our hands together for the graduates.
KAYE: The good news, the high school dropout rate declined seven percent from 1990 to 2010. But that doesn't mean incomes are rising. In fact, the annual income for a man with a high school diploma plummeted from $44,000 in 1980 to below $33,000 in 2009 according to the Department of Education.
ARNE DUNCAN, EDUCATION SECRETARY: This is one where we have to get our act together. Congress is struggling these days, there's no question about that, and if there's going to be one issue that folks can unite behind, I can't think of a better one than around education and educating our way to a better economy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Parents are looking for options and solutions. And joining me now is Michelle Rhee, a sometimes controversial former head of the D.C. school system. She now runs Students First, an organization focusing on changing public education in America. Michelle, good morning.
MICHELLE RHEE, FOUNDER AND CEO, STUDENTS FIRST: Good morning, how are you?
KAYE: I'm well, thank you. So, you are leading an education effort based on the Olympics and America's need to do better on the world stage. I want to look at one of your ads and then talk more about this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now we're going to really see if the U.S. can keep up with the rest of the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like his approach, but he doesn't seem to have any idea of how to get over that hurdle. It looks like he's just dancing around the problem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now it looks like he's just going to wing it. That's going to leave a mark.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The sad truth? This is our education system, and it can't compete with the rest of the world. We need reform now. (END VIDEO CLIP)
RHEE: I read the article in which you had written about sort of comparing our education system to the Olympics and the effort that we put in to each. It was really a fascinating read. But you point to a new Harvard study that ranks the U.S. 25th internationally in education. What do you think it is that we need to improve?
RHEE: Well, you know, if you look at what's going on with the Olympics right now, I mean, my daughters and I have been glued to the TV watching Gabby Douglas. My husband is now excited about gymnastics. It gives Americans an incredible sense of pride and patriotism to see our young people out there competing against the best in the world and winning and being number one.
The problem is that people don't understand where we stand right now in international rankings on academics. We are behind countries like Hungary and Luxembourg. I mean, can you imagine if we were behind Hungary in the Olympic count?
KAYE: Well, why is that?
RHEE: Well, there are various reasons for why our education system is the way that it is. You can't point to any one thing that is causing that, but there are lots of things that we can look towards to determine how we can actually get out of this. So, the first thing is that we need a high-quality, effective teacher in every single classroom in front of every single child every day, because what we know based on the research is that teachers are the one in-school factor that have the greatest impact on how kids do. We need to have more choices for families. We can never have a family feel like they are trapped in a failing school.
And we really need to look at how we're spending our taxpayer dollars on education. We have more than doubled, almost tripled the amount of money that we're spending per child on public education in this country over the last couple of decades, and yet the results have gotten worse.
KAYE: Let me ask you about this, something that some schools are trying. It's called flipping, and it's where it allows a student to watch a video lecture at home and then they actually do their homework at school, more one-on-one with the teacher, and some teachers say that that's actually working. What do you make of that idea? Do you like it?
RHEE: Well, I think that we should be looking towards all kinds of solutions and strategies right now to really split what is happening with the academic achievement levels of our kids. This kind of a strategy is very interesting to me, because what it's saying is, instead of the teacher just standing up and delivering the material and then having the kids go home and try to do their homework and struggling through that, have them watch the lesson at home online and then when they come in to school and they really have to work on those problems on their own, that they have some guidance and some resources from the instructors in the classrooms who can help them work through a problem. So, it does make good sense to try those kinds of things out and see what kinds of results they produce.
KAYE: I guess the concern for some, certainly for those families who can't afford a computer at home and any other items that you would need to watch those video lectures at home, does that put, you know, the families who aren't so well of at a disadvantage?
RHEE: Well, those families are already at a disadvantage now. I think that it's incumbent on the school districts and our states to try to figure out whether we can provide those kinds of technological tools to every single child, regardless of where they live. We have a very significant digital divide in this country. We can't allow kids who have more resources to do better academically than those who are worse off to be lower performing.
And so, that's part of what I was talking about in terms of the resources that we're spending right now. We have to look at where our taxpayer dollars are going. Are they going towards the things that are going to result in greater student achievement levels for kids and outfitting kids with the technology that they need could be one way that we could do that.
KAYE: All right, I know we have a lot more to talk about, so stick around, if you would. We're going to talk about state rankings on education, what parents can do about them as well. We'll have much more with Michelle Rhee right after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back to our discussion on the state of education in this country. Here with me now is Michelle Rhee, a sometimes controversial former head of the D.C. school system. She now runs Students First, an organization focusing on changing public education in America.
Let's take a quick look at the state rankings, Michelle, from the American Legislative Exchange Council. Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey rank at the top, while Louisiana, South Carolina, West Virginia all rank at the bottom. Now, the ranking goes to 51 because D.C.'s school district is counted separately. So, some parents are actually moving their kids from one state to the other just because of the schools. They're picking their whole family, Michelle, and doing this. Do you think this is a good idea? Should parents leave or do you think they should maybe try to stick around and help fix the school that's in their community?
RHEE: Well, look, it's the reality that parents face. When you are looking at your kid and you know that they're going to school every day and not getting the kind of education that they deserve, then you're going to do whatever it takes to make sure that they're getting that. And if you are moving neighborhoods or you're moving even into a different state, that's what parents are willing to do.
But I think you're absolutely right that part of what we have to do as an entire nation is think about how we can get engaged and get involved in actually changing the laws that exist right now, that aren't serving kids. KAYE: Many cities, it seems, are cutting teachers because of the cost. I mean, the average teacher makes just over $57,000, according to the NEA. Is that a problem, do you think? I mean, are teachers considered to be making too much money?
RHEE: I don't think teachers are making too much money. I don't think that's the problem at all. In fact, I think the effect of teachers in this country are not making nearly enough money. I think the problem is that we have to differentiate. There are hundreds of thousands, millions of teachers in this country who are absolutely amazing. They do incredible things for children and they should be recognized and rewarded and valued for their work.
And there are other teachers who are not making the grade, they're not producing the gains in student achievement that we need for our children. For those teachers to be paid the exact same amount as our effective teachers makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. We have to engage in a system where we're looking at teachers as individuals, not as interchangeable widgets all who should be paid the same amount of money and should be treated absolutely the same, because they're very, very different.
KAYE: Michelle Rhee, nice to have you on the program this morning. Thank you very much.
RHEE: Thank you.
KAYE: An unsuspecting clerk going about his business until this. See what's blamed for that big crash.
But first, here's what's popular right now on CNN.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Checking stories now cross-country. This convenience store clerk in Texas has no idea what's coming. Oh, yes, there it is. The SUV crashed right through the store's front door. The driver plows directly into the clerk. But take a look -- the clerk actually stands up and walks away. Police say the driver was drunk and hit the accelerator instead of the brake. Luckily, the clerk is now back at work after suffering injuries to his head and his arms.
Well, this picture will definitely make you cringe. Meet Bella Mae. You can't see her under all those porcupine quills, but she is a sweet little bulldog. Her owners say she was playing in their backyard with the family's two other dogs when a porcupine approached. Well, you can see there what happened. The vet took 500 quills out of Bella Mae's head, mouth, and paws.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALLISON NOLES, DOG OWNER: It was devastating. You know, these animals are our kids, and you know. So, when you see them hurt and you can't imagine the pain, the intense pain that she had to have been in, it's definitely heartbreaking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Well, we are happy to tell you that Bella Mae is doing well, of course, with a little help from some pain medication.
And take a look at this cheetah at the Cincinnati zoo. You are watching a world record in the making. The cheetah named Sarah ran 100 meters in 5.95 seconds. That does make Sarah the fastest land mammal on record. If you're wondering, that amounts to a sprint of 61 miles per hour. I have to say, that is about the speed I drive, incredible.
A 17-year-old lifeguard rushes to the aid of a drowning child. So, why is he getting slapped with a huge medical bill? He's joining me live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. Bottom of the hour now. Here are some of the stories that we're watching this hour. In Syria, the violence rages on. Rebel fighters and government troops battled today for control of a state-run TV and radio building in Aleppo. Opposition forces reportedly took control of the building before they were pushed back by sniper fire and shelling. An opposition group says at least 45 people have been killed across the country today.
In medical news, a major spike in cases of West Nile virus. So far, we've seen 241 cases across the country with four deaths. The CDC says most of the cases have been centered in Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma. The virus is carried by mosquitos. It can be especially harmful to people with compromised immune systems, like young children or the elderly.
After hitting parts of the Windward Islands, tropical storm Ernesto is heading for the central Caribbean. Forecasters say Ernesto could become a hurricane. Meanwhile, tropical depression six is now a tropical storm. Florence is currently tracking about 330 miles west of Cape Verde islands.
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KAYE: The one and only David Hasselhoff doing what he does best, running to save a life on the '90s classic TV show "Bay Watch." But here's one thing that probably never happened to the Hoff, a hospital Bill after the rescue. Well, that's exactly what happened to my next guest.
And 17-year-old John Clark said he had a headache after saving a boy from drowning, saving a boy from drowning, all right? So, he has this headache, jumped on an ambulance to get it checked out with the boy he saved, and this all cost him about $2,600. Checking out the ill now, according to Oregon affiliate KOIN, more than $400 for the ER, more than $200 for the physician and nearly $2,000 for that 15-mile trip in the ambulance. John Clark joins me now from Portland, Oregon. John, good morning. Thanks for joining us this morning. Take us back to the rescue. How did this all happen? You weren't even working, right? You were just on a trip in that area?
JOHN CLARK, LIFEGUARD: Yes, my family and I were just vacationing in the area. That day I was on the beach flying kites with my girlfriend and my nephew, actually, and I heard some screaming and I looked out towards the water, and there was a young boy floating out in the breakers, probably 50 to 100 yards off the beach.
And I mean, I didn't really think about it, just kind of took off my shirt and went out there and swam out to the boy and he was panicking, and he clinged on to me at the time. So one thing they taught us in lifeguard school is that if they're panicking, before you can do anything, you have to calm him down. So, I pushed him away, I started to talking to him and I calmed him down. I got that his name was Robert and he was 12 years old.
And from there, he was almost too tired to swim anymore, so I kind of helped hold him up with one hand while treading water. And the currents just kept pushing us outlook farther and farther. Every time a wave would come, I'd tell him, "Robert, ready? Hold your breath."
KAYE: But you eventually helped get him or got him to safety, right?
CLARK: Yes. Rescue crews eventually got out to us about 15 minutes later on a jet ski, but the waves were so big, it flipped their jet skis. Luckily, we were able to make it back.
KAYE: When he was safe on land, he was put in this ambulance and you climbed into the ambulance as well. Did anybody tell you there would be a charge because you had a headache and you wanted to go in the ambulance as well?
CLARK: No, I didn't really think about it at the time. I thought it was kind of standard procedure for both of us to get in there and go to the hospital.
KAYE: So, this $2,600 bill that we're talking about, you never saw that coming?
CLARK: No. I mean, I figured there would be some expenses, but nothing like this.
KAYE: I want to ask you about your thoughts, because was this fair, do you think? I mean, do you think that you should be charged? You just saved this little boy's life, or certainly helped save him.
CLARK: I mean, I don't really see a problem with it. Everyone was doing their jobs, but I think it's more of a problem within the system of there should be a system -- there should be some system in place to help out these situations.
KAYE: But do you think you should have been charged $2,600?
CLARK: Probably not.
KAYE: Well, I'm sure you're aware, obviously, since hearing about this, dozens have offered to cover the bill? What do you think of that?
CLARK: Yes. I mean, that's absolutely amazing. I mean, our family couldn't be more grateful. It just makes me feel ecstatic inside that everyone has been so generous.
KAYE: It is nice to see them reaching out. And the boy that you saved, he's doing OK?
CLARK: I actually haven't been in contact with him. All I know is his name and his age, and I haven't spoke to him, but I'm pretty sure he's doing good.
KAYE: Well, I'm sure his parents are thankful that you were in that area on that day. John, thank you very much, John Clark. Appreciate it.
CLARK: Thank you.
KAYE: One man's tax bill is big news in Washington. I'm talking about Mitt Romney's. Senator Harry Reid says Romney is a cheat, but Romney is blasting back. So, who needs to show their hand? We'll find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. It's 38 minutes past the hour. Now to politics. And last week, we talked here about how the economy would impact the presidential election. It's issue number one on the minds of all Americans. So yesterday the new jobs report came out and we saw the unemployment rate rise from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent, but an addition of 163,000 jobs.
So joining me to talk about this is CNN contributor Maria Cardona and Amy Holmes, anchor for GBTV's "Real News." sounds like a mixed message, doesn't it, Maria? Does this help or hurt the president?
MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think overall it certainly helps because you do have the addition of 163,000 jobs, which was a lot better than economists expected, but there's no question that it's mixed and the president will be the first one to say that we have a lot more to do. As long as there are Americans out there who are out of a job who want a job, then he is going to continue to focus on how we create those jobs, and I think it's an opportunity for him to continue to talk about what he is looking to do, what Democrats are looking to do to talk about the jobs act that is in Congress now that Republicans refuse to take any action on that independent economists say would create over a million jobs if we pass it now.
It also helps with his message about him being on the side of the middle class, him fighting for the middle class and workers and Republicans doing nothing to help create those jobs.
KAYE: Let's talk about this blowup that's happening between Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Mitt Romney. There is this battle, Reid claiming that Romney didn't pay taxes for 10 years. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REID: The word's out that he hasn't paid any taxes for ten years. Let him prove that he has paid taxes, because he hasn't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: That is quite the challenge, but now even Reid is saying that he doesn't have any concrete proof. He certainly isn't offering any, just the claims of someone that he talked to that told him this. And here's Romney's response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: It's time for Harry to put up or shut up. Harry's going to have to describe who it is he spoke with, because of course, that's totally and completely wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: All right, Amy, to you on this one. Both are saying put up or shut up. Reid wants to see the tax returns and Romney wants to see his proof. So, who wins here?
AMY HOLMES, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Wow, Randi, this is totally shocking to me that the Senate majority leader would go to the Senate floor to make these totally baseless accusations that even president Obama's own Stephanie Cutter said she had no idea where this is coming from.
Randi, I'm a former speech writer for former Senate majority leader Bill Frist, and you would never, ever send the Senate majority leader to the floor to make a partisan attack on a presidential attack during an election. That is not what the Senate floor is for, and there are rules and ethics about how senators are supposed to be treating debate in that forum, and Harry Reid went way over the line with this. He went over the line in terms of the accusations themselves, because he just said he heard it from someone at Bain. He has no evidence of this. And he's using his perch as Senate majority leader to be making these accusations. It's really shocking.
KAYE: So, do you think, Maria, that this will pressure Romney to release some of those tax returns, because right now he's offering just a couple of years?
CARDONA: I think it certainly will keep the pressure on. And look, what is shocking to me, and we can certainly debate the appropriateness of what Harry Reid is doing, but Mitt Romney --
HOLMES: Inappropriate.
CARDONA: -- is actually -- but Mitt Romney is actually playing in to this. What is baffling is that what he is saying about this, the whole put up or shut up, when Americans hear that, they can actually connect that to what they believe probably Mitt Romney should be doing, because I do think that it raises the question of, what is Mitt Romney hiding? If it's true that he's paid every single tax -- and I'm not saying that it's not true -- then he should put out more years in taxes. He should actually equal what his own father did in terms of putting out 12 years of taxes.
KAYE: Let me let Amy respond to that.
CARDONA: Sure.
HOLMES: Well, it's clear to me that this is becoming like the Birther movement of the left, of accusing Mitt Romney over and over again, and it's trying to make it really a character assassination, when I think the person whose character here is really be under the magnifying glass is Senate majority leader Harry Reid using his position, using the Senate floor to make completely baseless accusations against a presidential candidate, possibly accusing him of crimes.
And we've been seeing the Democratic Party doing this to Mitt Romney, trying accuse him of being a felon. Stephanie was trying to put that out there. This is totally outrageous. There are bigger issues for our presidential candidates to be debating, including the jobs issue, which we were just discussing, and the jobs report yesterday with 8.3 percent of Americans unemployed and even more who dropped out of the workforce. That's a much more important issue to American voters than the Senate majority leader going to the Senate floor to be making false accusations against a presidential candidate.
KAYE: Let me ask you very, very quickly here. Mitt Romney adding a couple endorsements from film stars this week, Academy Award-winner Clint Eastwood and award-winning porn star Jenna Jameson. Maria, quickly first, just give me a name, which ends up in a Romney campaign ad? Which one means more?
(LAUGHTER)
CARDONA: Actually, I don't think any of them mean anything until Mitt Romney discloses more tax returns.
HOLMES: Oh, you're going there.
CARDONA: That's the issue.
KAYE: OK, Amy, which one?
HOLMES: I guess if you're trying to get attention, use the porn star, I don't know.
(LAUGHTER)
CARDONA: That is true. I agree there.
KAYE: Very good point. All right, well, I'm glad we ended on a high note there. Maria Cardona, Amy Holmes --
CARDONA: I don't know if that was a high note.
(LAUGHTER)
KAYE: Call it what you want.
CARDONA: We could debate on that. It was a fun note.
KAYE: It was a fun anoint. Thank you both. Have a great Saturday.
HOLMES: Thank you, Randi.
KAYE: A woman leaves the safety of the U.S. suburbs and enters a warzone to save young girls. You'll meet this week's CNN Hero.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Acid attacks, poisoned water and the daily fear of violence keeps schoolgirls and their teachers in Afghanistan fearing for their lives. But while terrorists try to keep them from getting an education, this week's "CNN Hero" is fearlessly giving them one and opening minds in the process, all for free. Meet Razia Jan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAZIA JAN, CNN HERO: In Afghanistan, most of the girls have no voice. They are used as property of a family. The picture is very grim. My name is Razia Jan, and I'm the founder of a girls school in Afghanistan. When we opened the school in 2008, 90 percent of them could not write their name. Today, 100 percent of them are educated. They can read, they can write.
I lived in U.S. for over 38 years, but I was really affected by 9/11, and I really wanted to prove that Muslims are not terrorists. I came back here in 2002. Girls have been the most oppressed, and I thought, I have to do something. It was a struggle in the beginning. I would sit with these men and I would tell them, don't marry them when they are 14-years-old. They want to learn.
How do you write your father's name?
After five years now, the men, they are proud of their girls when they themselves can't write their names. Still, we have to take precautions. Some people are so much against girls getting educated. We provide free education to over 350 girls. I think it's like a fire, that it will grow. Every year, my hope becomes more. I think I can see the future.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And Jan was nominated by a viewer just like you. So, if you know someone who's really making a difference in your community, just go to CNNheroes.com to nominate them. Your nomination could help them help others.
Countless children maimed or injured by war, but earlier this morning, I introduced you to an extraordinary woman who had made it her life's mission to save them. Elissa Montanti has rescued more than 150 children over the past 15 years. She has brought the children back to the U.S. to receive free care and a safe place to recover. I spoke with her and the person who inspired her crusade in 1997, and here's what she says is still the reality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISSA MONTANTI, AUTHOR, "I'LL STAND BY YOU": You just know that you have to do whatever it is to do to help these children. And a lot of the times, there is a lot of red tape bringing these children. For example, a boy now who was in Lebanon a few months ago when I had seen a 15-year-old boy who was carrying the injured across the border to safety, and he was wounded by stepping on a land mine. So, the embassy denies it because he's a refugee. So now we're going through humanitarian world. It's always a serious situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: She's doing incredible work. Montanti wrote about her journey in her new book "I'll Stand by You." We'll be right back.
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KAYE: We know the stars of Olympics, Phelps, Gabby, Lochte, but one person behind the scenes is making headlines of her own. And joining me now is comedian and "Huffington Post" blogger Bill Santiago. Bill, good morning.
BILL SANTIAGO, COMEDIAN: Good morning, good morning.
KAYE: So, there's this London Olympic worker who's been giving tourists quite a chuckle. She is really something. She sits on her little podium and has the driest sense of humor. You've seen her, right?
SANTIAGO: Yes, I've seen it. It is amazing. She is the breakout star of the 2012 Olympics. Thanks to her, London will now be as memorable as Beijing. She's out there, you know, she's a volunteer, a British volunteer trying to get people excited about the games, and she's doing it without a hint of excitement in her voice. That's what makes it so funny, right.
KAYE: Yes. And you actually decided to see if you could get that same excitement in your voice. You hit the streets of New York --
SANTIAGO: Oh, yes, I was very inspired, very inspired, yes.
KAYE: So, let's watch this and see if that sort of humor works on New York City's streets.
SANTIAGO: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 2012, it will begin, very excited.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whoo!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, thank you. Single ladies.
SANTIAGO: Are we excited about the Olympics?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes.
SANTIAGO: Very good. Very good. Keep up the excitement. It doesn't get any more exciting than the Olympics and these are the most exciting Olympics ever. I am so excited, excited on the inside, excited on the outside, excited all over.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today is a special day. We are going to be telling our children's children's children's children's children about this day. I'm going to say I was a part of the Olympics, I work for the Olympics.
SANTIAGO: I'll be able to tell my children's children's children's children's children about the day I sat on top of a ladder outside of an authentic London British pub where they are broadcasting the 2012 Olympic games on the inside.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mouth is dry. I need some water, but I'm still talking because I'm that happy, I'm going to overcome it.
SANTIAGO: Hey, at some point, can you bring me a beer?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I cannot contain my excitement, everybody.
SANTIAGO: How excited are we about the 2012 Olympics?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're excited.
SANTIAGO: Come watch Michael Phelps win silver in the Olympic Games. What's up with that? Why is Michael Phelps winning silver? Silver is for slackers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm here until 2:00 a.m., everybody. This is dedication, excitement and happiness. It's a momentous occasion. If you got your ticket, please be smiling from ear to ear.
SANTIAGO: It doesn't get any more exciting than the 2012 Olympics, is that right, ma'am?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Bill, I don't know. I think you scared some of those people walking by you.
SANTIAGO: Yes, I didn't quite have her knack for it, but it was a jolly good try.
KAYE: I thought it was great. You know, she does it with a mono tone voice, but you had some excitement, you got it going, and a beard to boot.
SANTIAGO: Not only that, I want to point out how under budget I came in on that megaphone. (LAUGHTER)
KAYE: Yes, what was that exactly?
SANTIAGO: Well, I've got it right here. It's like this megaphone, two bucks.
KAYE: Like a tin can. Yes, very nice. Very, very nice.
SANTIAGO: Yes, it was a lot of fun. You know, it's so funny because I definitely have never wanted a gold medal, but my dream is to go viral, so I had a shot at it there. I don't know how far I got, but it was a nice try.
KAYE: Yes. I don't know if you're going to get as many hits online as she did, but you never know, we'll see. We'll tweet it out. We'll put it on my Facebook page and see what happens.
SANTIAGO: Let's give it a shot. I've got nothing to lose!
(LAUGHTER)
KAYE: All right, Bill, thanks for that. That was a lot of fun. See you next week.
SANTIAGO: See you next week. Bye-bye.
KAYE: And there is a lot more ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, which starts after this quick break.
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