[Blitzer:] There's a demonstration outside "The New York Post" right now in New York. I want to go to our own Susan Candiotti Susan, "The New York Post" issued a statement some say it's a non-apology, others are calling it an apology of sorts. What's going on? What's the latest in the reaction to that controversial cartoon?
[Susan Candiotti, Cnn Correspondent:] Wolf, the debate is on at this noisy rally today. This is led by a coalition of groups, including Reverend Al Sharpton, joined today by movie director and actor Spike Lee. And I think it's fair to say that this group is calling "The New York Post" partial apology that they only partially accept it.
[Candiotti:] Critics of "The New York Post" say the cartoon evoked historically racist images appearing to compare President Obama to a raging chimpanzee who had been shot by police. Today, the paper apologized well, sort of. In a statement, "The Post" said the cartoon was meant to mock what it called: "an ineptly written stimulus bill" and: "To those who were offended by the image, we apologize." But it also said some of its critics: "see the incident as an opportunity for payback," adding: "To them, no apology is due." Critics said that's not enough.
[Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network:] Clearly, they don't know the difference between offensive art and satire. And the apology is good, but now let's get to policy.
[Spike Lee, Filmmaker:] As an artist, you have a right to say what you want. But when the chips fall, you've got to stand up and own up to what you did.
[Candiotti:] So is this really a non-apology?
[Mcbride:] It was very sullen and insolent and sort of blaming everyone else rather than taking responsibility very much like a 13-year-old.
[Candiotti:] Typically unflappable New Yorkers appeared torn.
[Unidentified Male:] It's really kind of a non-apology. And I think that having published it was absolutely inexcusable and a colossal exercise of poor judgment. It's sufficient. I mean, I think it apologizes to anybody that was offended, and yet I think it upholds, in a way, their right to publish freedom of freedom of the press.
[Candiotti:] And now the National Action Network says it plans to file a complaint with the FCC, asking the FCC to yank a waiver granted to the "New York Post's" parent corporation, News Corporation to pull that waiver that allows that group to own several media holdings in the same city Wolf, back to you.
[Blitzer:] All right, Susan. Stay on top of this story for us. Let's bring in Brian Todd right now. He's working on another controversial story an idea that was floated by the secretary of Transportation to tax drivers out there for every mile they drive.
[Brian Todd, Cnn Correspondent:] It was. He talked about this idea, then it was dialed back by the administration. It's pretty controversial, Wolf. Government officials transportation experts tell us there are going to have to be new ways set up to pay for the maintenance of the country's roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Gas taxes are not cutting it. One idea floated now may help a great deal, but it also could be a tough sell with motorists.
[Todd:] A small box on the dashboard, a tiny antenna on the trunk not GPS or mobile communications, but a system to tax you for the miles you drive. It's been tested in Oregon. And other states are considering it. Why?
[Robert Puentes, Brookings Institution:] Well, the federal gas tax is building up enough revenues even to maintain the systems that we have today, no less expanding it for a 21st century economy.
[Todd:] Last fall, Congress had to approve $8 billion for roads and bridges because gas taxes couldn't pay for all of it. Experts say people are now driving less, buying more fuel-efficient cars, so there's less gas tax money. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood talked about a federal mileage tax, telling the Associated Press: "We should look at the vehicular miles program, where people are actually clocked on the number of miles that they traveled." But after CNN and others inquired about it, White House said this...
[Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary:] That it is not and will not be the policy of the Obama administration.
[Todd:] Even though the mileage taxes might eventually take the place of gas taxes, there is driver backlash.
[Unidentified Female:] I'm one of those people that actually travel a little far to go to work. I travel like two hours. So I don't know about something like that.
[Unidentified Male:] I think it's a bad idea. I don't want them to know where I'm at.
[Todd:] If it happens, computer chips would be placed in cars and the government would track drivers with GPS-like systems logging how much each car is driven and where. One consumer watchdog group is monitoring the privacy issues surrounding this idea.
[Harley Geiger, Center For Democracy & Technology:] And for law enforcement might have an interest in that information. Civil litigants might also. And depending on the safeguards built around the device itself, a domestic abuser might have interest in that information.
[Todd:] Now, when Oregon state officials tested this idea, their report said that privacy was protected, because, in their words: ""No specific vehicle point location or trip data could be stored or transmitted." Just mileage totals in certain zones were tallied and the amount of fuel purchased Wolf. But the privacy concern here is going to be big if this is ever implemented.
[Blitzer:] And there's another concern in terms of the incentive for people to drive cars that are more fuel-efficient.
[Todd:] It's a big concern. Because some people say that if this is implemented, you know, the gas guzzlers are going to be taxed at the same rate as the fuel-efficient cars. But one expert says, look, the incentive is still going to be there because gas prices are probably going to go up again anyway. So the incentive overall to buy a fuel-efficient car is still going to be there. But, again, that's another debate on this on this proposal.
[Blitzer:] It's a debate out there. But I suspect it's mute for now, because Ray LaHood may have floated this idea...
[Todd:] That's right.
[Blitzer:] ...the former Republican Congressman from Illinois, who is now the Transportation secretary.
[Todd:] Right.
[Blitzer:] But you saw how quickly the White House slapped him for even raising that idea.
[Todd:] They've dialed it back. And every state official who we talked to in other states who were considering this said it's really not a huge proposal on the table right now. But they have to think of something. It's one of many proposals that they're thinking about because they can't pay for the infrastructure right now.
[Blitzer:] Brian, thanks very much. A horrifying attack sparks debate should people be allowed to keep chimpanzees as pets? One expert calls them ticking time bombs putting owners and entire communities in jeopardy. There's new information coming into THE SITUATION ROOM. Plus, a hair weave accredited with saving a woman's life. We have details of how it happened and what happened. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.