>> BONNIE ERBE: THIS WEEK ONTO
THE CONTRARY, FIRST, HOW ARE
PRESIDENT'S TRUMP'S NEVER
ENDING DEROGATORY DESCRIPTIONS
OF WOMEN AFFECTING WOMEN'S
STATUS?
THEN WOMEN OF COLOR AND
PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICANS PUSH
FOR A PINK AND BLUE WAVE.
>> BONNIE: HELLO, I'M BONNIE
ERBE.
WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A
DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL
TRENDS FROM DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, HORSEFACE,
POCAHONTAS.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW CHOICE
WORDS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO
USED THEM TO REFER TO WOMEN WHO
OPPOSE HIM.
EARLIER WORDS INCLUDE LOW LIFE,
FAT AND UGLY.
THIS WEEK IN A TWEET, TRUMP
CALLED ADULT FILM ACTRESS,
STORMY DANIELS, HORSEFACE AFTER
A DEFAMATION LAWSUIT SHE
BROUGHT AGAINST HIM WAS
DISMISSED.
TRUMP ALSO REFERS TO SENATOR
ELIZABETH WARREN AS POCAHONTAS
BECAUSE SHE CLAIMS SOME NATIVE
AMERICAN HERITAGE.
TRUMP SAID HE WOULD DONATE
$1 MILLION TO HER FAVORITE
CHARITY IF SHE PROVED HER
HERITAGE.
BUT THIS WEEK WHEN SHE
PRESENTED PROOF OF SOME NATIVE
AMERICAN HERITAGE, TRUMP
REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD.
EARLIER HE MOCKED CHRISTINE
BLAZEY FORD AND HER TESTIMONY
AT THE KAVANAUGH HEARING ON A
60 MINUTES INTERVIEW LAST
WEEKEND.
TRUMP SAID HE WOULDN'T HAVE WON
THE NOMINATION BUT FOR THESE
KINDS OF COMMENTS.
THESE INSULTS DON'T SIT WELL
WITH DEMOCRATIC WOMEN.
BUT JENNIFER LIN, OF REPUBLICAN
WOMEN FOR PROGRESS, SAYS THEY
ALSO OFFEND REPUBLICAN WOMEN.
>> JENNIFER: WE HAVE SEEN WHAT
DONALD TRUMP HAS DONE EVEN
THOUGH THEY HOPED FOR THE BEST
WITH DONALD TRUMP AND THEY HAD
BEEN VOTING REPUBLICAN ALL
THEIR LIFE WE SAW WHAT HE COULD
DO.
AND ESPECIALLY HOW HE'S
DEVALUING WOMEN EVERY TIME
-- EVERY TYPE OF WOMEN.
THAT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, AND
WOMEN ESPECIALLY ARE TIRED OF
IT AND TIRED OF HAVING THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY ESPECIALLY NOT
PUSH BACK WHEN HE DOES THINGS
LIKE THAT.
>> BONNIE: TRUMP SAYS WOMEN
STAND BEHIND HIM.
HE USES A 2016 EXIT POLLS THAT
SHOWS HE WON WITH 52% OF THE
WHITE WOMEN'S VOTE COMPARED
WITH 43% FOR HILLARY CLINTON.
BUT NOW COMES A MORE RELIABLE
AND NEW ANALYSIS FROM THE PEW
RESEARCH CENTER THAT USED
VERIFIED VOTER RECORDS.
PEW FINDS TRUMP STILL SLIGHTLY
AHEAD OF CLINTON AMONG WHITE
WOMEN VOTERS BUT THE NUMBERS
ARE DIFFERENT.
47% TO 45%.
SO, REPRESENTATIVE EDWARDS, HOW
DOES THE PRESIDENT'S DEMEANING
OF WOMEN IN THIS PUBLIC WAY, IF
AT ALL, AFFECT WOMEN'S STATUS
IN SOCIETY?
>> I THINK INCREASINGLY THE
VIEWS THAT THE PRESIDENT HOLDS
ON WOMEN ARE PRETTY BAKED-IN TO
WHERE WOMEN ARE, WHICH IS WHY
YOU SEE MORE REPUBLICAN WOMEN,
INDEPENDENT WOMEN, CERTAINLY
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN LEANING TOWARD
DEMOCRATS AND AGAINST TRUMP.
>> I THINK IT IS TERRIBLE.
IT IS DISGUSTING AND I DON'T
LIKE HEARING ANY OF IT AND I
THINK IT SHOULD OPEN OUR EYES
TO THE LARGER CONVERSATION IN
WHICH PUBLIC FIGURES ARE SAYING
ALL SORTS OF TERRIBLE THINGS
AND ACTING IN A BAD WAY TOWARDS
WOMEN.
IT GOES BEYOND PARTY LINES.
>> YEAH.
I THINK THIS DOES ENABLE SORT
OF MEN WHO ALREADY HAVE THIS
KIND OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN
TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS KIND OF
LANGUAGE SORT OF FREELY AND
OPENLY.
BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THERE
IS A FLIP SIDE THAT IS HELPING,
I THINK, MORE WOMEN TO HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION WITH MEN
ABOUT HOW HORRIFIC IT IS TO
ALWAYS BE DISCUSSED WITH REGARD
TO OUR APPEARANCE.
>> I THINK THAT YOU'RE SEEING,
THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT, A
HARDENING OF DISCOURSE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WHETHER IT RELATES TO WOMEN OR
THINGS HE SAYS ABOUT WOMEN IS
JUST A BY-PRODUCT OF THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN.
I THINK HE'S CONTRIBUTING A
GREAT DEAL TO THE DIMINISHED
ROLE THAT WOMEN ARE SEEING IN
CULTURE.
>> BONNIE: DO YOU THINK IT IS
AFFECTING UNEDUCATED WOMEN MORE
THAN HIGH SCHOOL OR
LESS-EDUCATED WOMEN AS OPPOSED
TO COLLEGE-EDUCATED WOMEN OR
ARE THE LESS-EDUCATED, AS HE
PUTS IT -- I LOVE LESS-EDUCATED
PEOPLE.
ARE THEY GETTING HIT BY THIS
MORE?
>> I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN HIS
SUPPORT FALLS MORE ALONG
DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS, NOT
JUST GENDER.
IT IS ON EDUCATION AND RURAL
VERSUS URBAN AND IT IS INCOME
LEVEL, RIGHT.
GENDER IS SORT OF A BY-PRODUCT
OF ALL THAT.
I DO THINK THAT SORT OF --
>> BONNIE ERBE: A BY-PRODUCT
OF ALL THAT MEANS?
>> EDUCATION AND OTHER DEMOCRAT
GRAPHIC VARIABLES OPPOSED TO
THIS IS A WOMAN VERSUS MALE
KIND OF THING.
WE KNOW THERE IS RACIAL
DIVISION.
WE KNOW THERE IS EDUCATION
DIVISIONS BUT ULTIMATELY YES,
LOWER EDUCATION, LOWER INCOME
WOMEN SUPPORT TRUMP MORE BUT I
THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT
TIE DO THINK THAT THERE IS A
COURSENNING OF OUR RHETORIC.
I THINK IT IS HORRIBLE.
I THINK IT IS HELPFUL IF WE ALL
STEP BACK AND SAY THERE HAVE
BEEN A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THIS
YEAR AND REPUBLICANS THIS YEAR
WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND THEMSELVES
IN TROUBLE AND A LOT OF HOT
WATER BECAUSE OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT, BECAUSE OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT.
WOMEN WHO HAVE STOOD BY MALE
CHIEF'S OF STAFF THEY KNEW WERE
DOING THINGS.
PERHAPS IT IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE NOW TO
SAY, HEY, WE'RE IN 2018.
IT IS TIME TO HAVE A DIFFERENT
CONVERSATION ABOUT WOMEN.
>> WELL, I DO THINK THE
DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS IN THE
COUNTRY ACTUALLY DON'T PORTRAY
WELL FOR THE TRUMPS OF THE
WORLD.
IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW
BUT I THINK OVER THIS PERIOD OF
TIME, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE JUST
DON'T THINK LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BEGIN
TO WEIGH IN ON OUR POLITICS AND
WHAT WE HOPE IS THAT THIS KIND
OF LANGUAGE DOESN'T TRANSLATE
INTO THE KINDS OF CONCERNS THAT
WOMEN WHO HAVE LESS EDUCATION
MAYBE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE
IN THEIR WORKPLACES AND IN
THEIR -- IN THEIR HOMES.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO STICK.
>> BONNIEYOU LOOK AT THE POLLS ALL THE
TIME.
HOW MUCH OF IT IS STICKING
ALREADY?
>> WELL, I THINK --
>> BONNIE ERBE: AND HOW MUCH
OF IT MAY HAVE HELPED CREATE
THE ME TOO MOVEMENT BECAUSE THE
WOMEN WHO HEARD IT AND DIDN'T
WANT TO PUT UP WITH IT SAID
WAIT A SECOND.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
>> PRICE.
I DO THINK THERE IS A SORT OF
GENERATIONAL CULTURAL MOMENT OF
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE
SHOULDN'T FORGET THAT OUR SORT
OF ENTERTAINMENT CULTURE --
>> THANK YOU.
>> HAS ALSO GONE THROUGH THIS
UNBELIEVABLE COARSENING.
IF YOU WATCH ANY OF THE NEWS
MANUFACTURED -- BUT THERE IS A
MANUFACTURED REALITY SHOW,
RIGHT, AS THOUGH IT IS
AUTHENTIC BUT IT IS NOT.
IT IS ALL SCRIPTED.
MOST OF IT INVOLVES THIS KIND
OF COARSE LANGUAGE, THESE KINDS
OF INSULTS AND TO A CERTAIN
DEGREE THE PRESIDENT IS MORE
REFLECTIVE OF THAT THAN I WOULD
ARGUE THAT HE'S IN FACT LEADING
IT.
THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE HEAR
HIS RHETORIC MUCH MORE THAN WE
HEAR SOME OF THAT OTHER
ENTERTAINMENT.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO JUMP IN BUT
I WAS THINKING THE EXACT SAME
THING.
I THINK SOME OF US HERE IN
WASHINGTON WHO MAYBE ARE NOT
LISTENING TO THE TOP CHARTS AND
WATCHING, YOU KNOW, EVERY KIND
OF TV SHOW OUT THERE ARE SORT
OF SURPRISED WHEN WE HEAR THE
SPECIALTY SPEAK THIS WAY BUT I
HAVE PUT ON MUSIC WITH MY
CHILDREN AND TURNED IT OFF AND
THOUGHT OH MY GOODNESS, THIS IS
WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE HEARING
ALL THE TIME SO I THINK THAT
WE'RE FEELING MORE SURPRISED AS
WE LIVE IN A LITTLE BUBBLE IN
WASHINGTON AND THAT IS NOT
UNFORTUNATELY WHAT A LOT OF
AMERICANS HEAR.
>> BONNIE ERBE: BUT DO YOU
THINK IT IS AFFECTING WOMEN --
WE HAVE READ THERE ARE LOTS OF
DIVORCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED
OVER THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY WITH
THE MEN SUPPORTING THEM AND
WOMEN BEING ENTIRELY OFFENDED
BY THIS GUY.
DO YOU THINK IT'S BEING IN
CULCATED BY SOME WOMEN WHO ARE
SAYING, THAT'S OKAY OR THEIR
HUSBANDS LAUGH IT OFF OR
BOYFRIENDS OR WHATEVER SO THEY
LAUGH IT OFF.
OF.
>> I DO THINK THAT IS SOMETHING
TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND I
THINK IN THE SEGMENT IT WAS
POINTED OUT AGAIN THE
ASSUMPTIONS WE MADE DEMOCRATIC
WOMEN ARE FURIOUS ABOUT HIS
BEHAVIOR HIS RHETORIC AND
COMMENTARY.
THERE IS A LARGE PORTION OF
REPUBLICAN WOMEN THAT FEEL THAT
WAY, TOO.
MAYBE BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE DC
BUBBLE I FEEL THAT WAY BUT I
TALK TO MANY REPUBLICAN WOMEN
THAT FIND THE RHETORIC
ABHORRENT AND WE BECOME IMMUNE
TO AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME AND
WE'RE EXPOSED TO IT U NOT
HEALTHY FOR CULCATED IS IT YOUR
OR WOMEN AND POLITICS TO THINK
THAT WE'RE IN A PLACE HE SAID
HORSEFACE.
NAY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THAT IS THE PRESIDENT WE HAVE
LETTED ELECTED HIM AND HE'S
COMING OUT WHEN IT COMES TO
ISSUES LIKE THIS.
>> BONNIE ERBE: RIGHT.
BUT DO YOU THINK, FOR EXAMPLE,
ANY WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE ARE
THEY SUFFERING MORE ABUSE BY
THEIR MALE BOSSES BECAUSE OF
THE PRESIDENT'S ATTITUDE?
HAS IT BLED INTO SOCIETY THAT
WAY?
>> THAT IS THE PART WE REALLY
DON'T QUITE KNOW YET BUT I
THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS
GOING TO THAT ON NOVEMBER 6TH,
WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THAT
GENDER GAP REALLY IS.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
LANGUAGE HIS CONSTANT DEMEANING
OF WOMEN AND DECLARATIVE
SENTENCE THE PRESIDENT IS A
MASSAGENIST AND GOING TO PLAY
OUT IN THE THIS ELECTION AND
WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF IT.
>> BONNIE ERBE: LENTOUS KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
@BONNIEERBE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: WOMEN'S
MOVEMENTS BEFORE THE MIDTERMS.
THERE'S THE INAUGURAL SHE THE
PEOPLE SUMMIT BILLED AS THE
FIRST NATIONAL GATHERING FOR
WOMEN OF COLOR INVOLVED IN
PROGRESSIVE POLITICS.
AND THERE'S REPUBLICAN WOMEN
FOR PROGRESS.
WITH THE 2018 MIDTERMS AROUND
THE CORNER, EXPERTS AGREE THAT
DEMOCRATS CAN ONLY ACHIEVE
THEIR DREAM OF A WAVE ELECTION
IF THEY ACTIVATE THESE KEY
VOTING BLOCS.
>> WE ARE THE KING AND QUEEN
MAKERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
THAT MEANS THAT NO ONE IS GOING
TO BE WINNING A HOUSE SEAT, A
GOVERNOR STATE WIDE SEAT, A
SENATE SEAT, OR WINNING A
PRESIDENCY FOR THE DEMOCRATS
WITHOUT THE ENTHUSIASTIC,
CONSISTENT, SUSTAINED, AND HIGH
VOTE TURNOUT OF WOMEN OF COLOR.
WE AS A GROUP ARE THE MOST
PROGRESSIVE AT THE POLLS AND
BLACK WOMEN AS A SUBSET OF
WOMEN OF COLOR ARE THE MOST
LOYAL DEMOCRATS.
THAT ALL MATTERS AND IT IS TIME
THAT THE REST OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY AND FRANKLY THE COUNTRY
RECOGNIZE THAT.
>> BONNIE: AIMEE ALLISON HOSTS
THE PODCAST DEMOCRACY IN COLOR
AND FOUNDED SHE THE PEOPLE.
>> AIMEE: THE STRATEGY IS TO
EMPOWER A MULTIRACIAL
PROGRESSIVE COALITION, WE CALL
IT THE NEW AMERICAN MAJORITY.
THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF ALL
VOTERS.
IT IS THE SAME PEOPLE THAT
ELECTED AND RE-ELECTED BARACK
OBAMA.
MOST RECENTLY I FOUNDED SHE THE
PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON WOMEN OF
COLOR WHO ARE THE COUNTRY'S
STRONGEST PROGRESSIVES AND THE
CORE OF THE NEW AMERICAN
MAJORITY.
>> BONNIE: JENNIFER LIM
CO-FOUNDED REPUBLICAN WOMEN FOR
PROGRESS, FORMERLY REPUBLICAN
WOMEN FOR HILLARY.
>> JENNIFER: WE ACTUALLY HAVE
OUR WOMEN TO WATCH LIST HERE,
WHERE WE'VE BEEN HIGHLIGHTING
DIFFERENT WOMEN, REPUBLICAN
WOMEN WHO ARE RUNNING FOR
OFFICE, AND SO MANY OF THEM ARE
MINORITIES WHICH IS AMAZING,
BUT THE SAD PART IS, A LOT OF
MINORITIES DON'T FEEL AT HOME
IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR
OBVIOUS REASONS.
AND SO, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE
THEM FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICE IS
IMPORTANT IN THIS ELECTION.
>> LINN BELIEVES THERE IS NOT
MUCH ROOM IN THE CURRENT
REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR WOMEN AND
THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO
THEM.
THE ORGANIZATION IS RUNNING ADS
IN 10 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
SUPPORTING DEMOCRATS, NOT
REPUBLICANTION.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF AMAZING
PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ESPECIALLY
RIGHT NOW.
>>
>> BONNIE ERBE: ALSO THE
COUNTRY'S POLITICS BECOME MORE
POLARIZED ALONG RACIAL AND
GENDER LINES CONCERNS GROW
ABOUT VOTER SUPPRESSION.
DEMOCRATS ACCUSE REPUBLICANS OF
RELYING ON TACTICS THAT MAKE IT
HARDER TO VOTE AND PERSONALLING
VOTER ROLL TO SAY MAINTAIN
THEIR MAJORITY IN CONGRESS EVEN
AGENCIES THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF
AMERICA CONTINUE TO CHANGE.
ONE CASE OF ALLEGED VOTER
SUPPRESSION MAKING NATIONAL
HEADLINES IS IN GEORGIA
INVOLVING STACY ABRAMS WHO
COULD BECOME THE FIRST FEMALE
AFRICAN AMERICAN GOVERNOR.
>> YOU HAVE STACY ABRAMS WHO IS
RUNNING A FANTASTIC CAMPAIGN
THAT BRINGS MORE PEOPLE -- YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
FREQUENT VOTERS, BRINGS THEM
INTO THE CAMPAIGNING AND BRINGS
THEM INTO THE DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS.
SHE'S DEEPLY INSPIRING TO
VOTERS OF COLOR AND GEORGIA IS
MAJORITY VOTERS OF COLOR.
AND THEN YOU HAVE BRIAN KEMP.
BRIAN KEMP IS THE CURRENT
SECRETARY OF STATE AND
BRIAN KEMP IS THE CURRENT
SECRETARY OF STATE AND HE HAS A
LONG HISTORY OF TAKING PEOPLE
OFF THE VOTER ROLLS.
LITERALLY TAKING PEOPLE OFF.
THERE WAS A RECENT, LAST WEEK,
A STUDY THAT CAME OUT THAT
SHOWED THAT OVER THE LIFE OF
HIS TIME AS SECRETARY OF STATE
HE'S REMOVED OVER A MILLION
PEOPLE FROM THE VOTER ROLLS.
>> BONNIE: REPUBLICANS SAY
THEY ARE ONLY TAKING MORE
PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT VOTER
FRAUD.
BUT DEMOCRATS CALL VOTER FRAUD
A MYTH.
REPUBLICAN WOMEN FOR PROGRESS
SAY THEY'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT
THE ABRAMS CANDIDACY.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO VOTER
SUPRESSION.
BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
CANDIDATES LIKE STACY ABRAMS
AND HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY CAN GET
OUT TO VOTE IN ALL OF THESE
CRITICAL ELECTIONS AND, YOU
KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT HER I
JUST THINK ABOUT THIS NEW BRAND
OF CANNED THAT WE'RE SEEING.
I THINK SHE IS SO EMBLEMMATIC
HOW TIRED PEOPLE ARE OF THESE
POLITICIANS WHO ARE ONLY
FOCUSING ON PARTY IDEOLOGY AND
SOMEBODY LIKE ABRAMS REALLY
BRINGS A FRESH LOOK.
>> BONNIE: ALLISON SAYS BEYOND
WINNING OR LOSING RACES, 2018
HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR FOR WOMEN
OF COLOR IN TERMS OF GAINING
INFLUENCE AND CREATING THE
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO AFFECT
THE FUTURE.
>> I HAVE DECLARED 2018 THE
WOMEN OF COLOR.
IT IS TRULY THE YEAR WOMEN OF
COLOR CAME INTO WHAT I CALL
THEIR FIERCE AND LOVING
LEADERSHIP AND COLLECTIVE
POWER.
>> SO SJEN, YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN
CONSULTANT.
DO YOU THINK SHE'S RIGHT?
>> I THINK THE CHALLENGE THAT
WE FACE AND I'LL BE HONEST
PERSONALLY I DON'T LIKE TO BE
THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM A LOT
OF TIMES AND I'LL SAY AS A
REPUBLICAN WOMAN WHO IS
MINORITY AND AFRICAN I FIND IT
CHALLENGING.
I THINK OUR PARTY HAS SOME WORK
TO DO AND FRANKLY IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT WHAT SCARES ME MORE
THE ENVIRONMENT, THE RHETORIC
AND DIALOGUE YOU SEMIWHAT IS
HAPPENING.
IN ARKANSAS WITH FRENCH HILL
AND THE RACIAL TRIPS THAT ARE
USED, DON'T FACILITATE YOU LOT
OF INTEREST IN RECRUITING
FEMALE REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO ARE
MINORITIES TO BE PART OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY E
>> BONNIE ERBE: WHAT DO YOU
SEE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IS
THIS THE YEAR OF THE WOMEN OF
COLOR?
>> ABSOLUTELY U I THINK IT IS.
I THINK THE HARD PART FOR ME IS
UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE STILL
BEHIND AS REPUBLICAN TO SORT OF
CATCH UP TO THAT CONVERSATION.
I THINK THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY
REASONS WHY I'M A REPUBLICAN
THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME IN MY
VALUES.
BUT THE FACT THAT 4% OF BLACK
WOMEN VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP
TELLS YOU ABOUT THE WORK WE
HAVE TO DO TO GET MORE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN TO
ENGAGE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
AND NOT QUITE GET TO WHERE WE
NEED TO GO IF THE ENVIRONMENT
DOESN'T FACILITATE.
>> BONNIE ERBE: THE WORK YOU
HAVE TO DO WHAT IS THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THIS POINT
BECAUSE EVER SINCE THE BIG DAYS
OF LEE -- AT WATER BACK IN THE
WHAT, WHAT WAS THAT THE 80S OR
SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO REBECOME THE
PARTY OF LINCOLN AND HAVE A LOT
OF PERSONS OF COLOR UNDER THE
TENT.
BUT UNDER TRUMP IS ANY WORK
BEING DONE TO -- YOU KNOW, ARE
TO ADVANCE MINORITIES AND GET
MORE OF THEM INTO THE PARTY?
>> I TELL PEOPLE WHEN I SPEAK
IT IS LIKE THE HOLY GRAIL.
I THINK IT IS GETTING MORE IN
CONGRESS AND FEDERAL OFFICE AND
ENGAGE IN POLICY U I THINK THE
NEXT STEP IS GETTING MORE
MINORITY WOMEN.
I THINK WE HAD STRONG
CANDIDATES ON THIS CYCLE BUT ON
REPUBLICAN SIDE THERE IS MONEY
AND MOTIVATION FACTOR AND WHEN
IT COMES TO MINORITIES, WOMEN
CANDIDATES ZERO -- WE HAD
SEVERAL THAT AN BUT NOWHERE ON
THE INTENSITY THAT WE HAVE --
>> WHEN YOU SAY THERE IS A
MONEY FACTOR THE PRESIDENT
ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK HIS WAR
CHEST FOR HIS SECOND ELECTION
IS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
IS $100 MILLION.
DWARFING EVERYBODY ELSE'S AT
THIS POINT BY MULTITUDES OF
FIVE AND 10.
SO IS HE GIVING ANY OF THAT
MONEY TO GET REPUBLICAN WOMEN
OF COLOR ELECTED?
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT COMES OUT
OF YOUR MOUTH.
MARTHA ROBEY IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE.
SHE'S NAVAL A MINORITY BUT
SOMEBODY OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT AND WHEN SHE GOT INTO
POLITICAL TROUBLE REALIZED SHE
NEEDED A LIFELINE.
THAT MONEY CAME FLOWING IN AND
SHE SAID VERY NICE THINGS ABOUT
THE PRESIDENT.
SOME OF THE WOMEN I MET WITH
THE CYCLE ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE I THINK IT IS HARD TO NOT
BE RUBBER STAMPED BY THE
PRESIDENT AND NOT GET RESOURCES
IN RETURN.
>> THERE ARE TWO THINGS.
ONE WOMEN WON'T ACHIEVE PARITY
UNLESS REPUBLICAN ONE WOMEN
COME MORE IN THE FOLD.
YOU CANNOT HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE THE ONLY WOMEN THAT ARE
ESSENTIALLY REPRESENTING ALL OF
THE COUNTRY ARE DEMOCRATIC
WOMEN THAT.
JUST WON'T WORK.
>> BUT DO YOU THING -- WILL
2018 BE THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN
OF COLOR AS --
>> ABSOLUTELY, DO I THINK THAT
DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE AN
EXTRAORDINARY JOB RECRUITING
AND FUNDING THEIR CANDIDATES
AND HELPING CANDIDATES GET
THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND, ARE WE
GOING TO SEE MORE WOMEN AND
MORE WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING OF A
FUNCTION OF MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
PARTY USUALLY DOES WORSE THAN
THE CHALLENGEER PARTY.
THAT SAID I WANT TO BRING UP
SOME OF THE WORK THAT MICHELLE
SWEARS AS DONE AT GEORGETOWN.
SHE HAS REALLY FOUND THAT ONE
OF THE CHALLENGES FOR
REPUBLICAN WOMEN IS THAT
REPUBLICAN WOMEN TEND NOT TO
DONATE TO OTHER REPUBLICAN
WOMEN IN THE SAME KIND OF WAY
THAT DEMOCRATIC WOMEN DONATE TO
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN.
SO A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC WOMEN
SAY, GOSH, I WANT TO GIVE
MONEY.
YOU KNOW, TO OTHER WOMEN.
REPUBLICAN WOMEN SAY I WANT TO
GIVE TO THE BEST CANDIDATE.
THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY A
WOMAN.
>> WELL, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
WOMEN OF COLOR BECAUSE I THINK
THAT PART OF THE REASON THAT
YOU SEE THAT 96 PERCENT OF
BLACK WOMEN VOTED FOR HILLARY
CLINTON BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY SHARES THEIR VALUES.
THE REALITY IS YOU LOOK ACROSS
THE BOARD AT THE WOMEN OF COLOR
WHO ARE RUNNING AGAINST THIS
ELECTION, GOD LOVE THEM.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE THEY WERE
SUPPORTED IN THEIR PRIMARY
ELECTIONS BY THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF WORK
THE DEMOCRATIC HAS TO DO AND IN
EXFOR THE VOTES IN --
>> BONNIE ERBE: WHAT, FUNDING
THEIR CAMPAIGNS?
>> FUNDING THEIR CAMPAIGNS BUT
EXCHANGING THE VOTES THE BLACK
WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, HAS TO
COME POWER AND REAL LEADERSHIP
AND A PLACE AT THE
DECISION-MAKING TABLE AND I
THINK THAT IS WHERE 2018 IS
GOING TO BE A REAL DIFFERENCE
MAKER.
>> BONNIE ERBE: IF THEY RETAKE
THE HOW ELSE AND IF AS WIDELY
EXPECTED SPEAKER BELCH NANCY
PROCEED -- PELOSI STEPS DOWN
AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION, THERE
IS ANY CHANCE, ANY WOMEN OF
COLOR IN THE HOUSE WHO COULD
BECOME SPEAKER AND REPLACE HER?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE
PREDICTIONS ON THAT RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I THINK THE FIELD FOR
THAT KIND OF RACE IS WIDE OPEN.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS WOMEN IN
PARTICULAR AND PARTICULARLY
ELECTED WOMEN ARE DEMANDING A
SEAT AT THE DECISION-MAKING
TABLE.
NOT JUST FOR VOTES AND NOT JUST
TO FILL OUT AN EMPTY CHAIR AT
THE TABLE BUT REALLY TO MAKE
DECISIONS.
AND I THINK THERE IS WHERE THE
VOICES OF WOMEN OF COLOR ARE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS
ELECTION CYCLE.
SOMEBODY LIKE STACY ABRAMS.
STACEY ABRAMS WAS NOT THE
CHOSEN CANDIDATE IN GEORGIA.
SHE PUSHED THROUGH AND SHE RAN
ANYWAY.
SHE WAS NOT RECRUITED.
SHE RAN HERSELF.
THAT IS TRUE FOR SO MANY OTHER
WOMEN OF COLOR AND PARTICULARLY
BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE RUNNING IN
THIS ELECTION CYCLE.
I THINK THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
BE THE ONES TO SAY HERE WHAT IS
OUR LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
LET THEM DEFINE IT.
>> AND I THINK TO BOTH OF YOUR
POINTS, THIS MAY BE SOME OF
THIS WAVE MAY BE SORT OF A
DIRECT RESPONSE TO TRUMP'S
PRESIDENCY.
BUT IT WOULD NOT BE THIS MUCH
OF A WAVE HAD THE DEMOCRATS NOT
HAD THIS FOUNDATION FOR YEARS
IN WHICH IT IS VERY CLEAR AND I
HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS ON THE
SHOW FOR MANY YEARS, DEMOCRATS
TAKE GENDER DIFFERENCES FAR
MORE SERIOUSLY THAN REPUBLICANS
AND I THINK THE STUDY YOU POINT
TO OUT OF GEORGETOWN WAS
TELLING.
>> BONNIE ERBE: THERE WAS
ANOTHER ONE THAT CAME OUT THAT
SHOWED WHEN DID WOMEN ARE ON A
PANEL LIKE THE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE THAT PEOPLE FEEL THAT
WHATEVER THE RESULT IS THAT
COMES OUT OF IT LIKE THE
SUPREME COURT, THEY BELIEVE
THAT IT IS MORE FAIR.
AND MORE TRUSTWORTHY.
>> RIGHT.
I THINK THIS IS WHERE I HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MY
SORT OF RIGHT OF CENTER FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT
THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
YOUR GENDER DOESN'T HAVE TO
MAKE UP YOUR ENTIRE IDENTITY
BUT IS PART OF OUR IDENTITY.
IT IS PART OF HOW I THINK ABOUT
POLICY BECAUSE I'M A WIFE AND A
MOTHER AND A WOMAN.
I THINK BEGINNING TO THINK
ABOUT THAT IS SO HELPFUL.
AS WE GET MORE WOMEN IN THE
FOLD WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FEWER
OF THE SPECIESEDDED EXEXTREMES.
RIGHT NOW WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE WE
HAVE HILLARY CLINTON ON ONE END
AND ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE WOMEN
ON THE OTHER END.
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT MEN THAT
WAY.
WE DON'T THINK OF JUST THE
EXTREMES.
WE HAVE ALL THE MEN IN THE
MIDDLE.
WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT WHERE
WE HAVE MORE WOMEN BRINGING
THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND A MORE
MODERATE TONE.
>> BONNIE ERBE: BUT GETTING
AWAY FOR A SECOND FROM WOMEN OF
COLOR I SMILED WHEN YOU WERE
SAYING THAT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T
GO WITHOUT NOTICE THAT SUSAN
CALMLINS WHEN SHE MADE HER VERY
-- WHAT A LOT OF WOMEN SEE,
PROGRESSIVE WOMEN CERTAINLY SEE
AS AN ANTI-WOMEN SPEECH WHEN
SHE ENDORSED -- SAID SHE WOULD
VOTE FOR KAVANAUGH.
SHE WAS
ED BY TWO WHITE FEMALE
REPUBLICAN SENATORS.
SO THE VISUALS WERE THERE FOR
-- FOR AND REPUBLICANS WERE
CLEARLY SENSITIVE TO IT.
>> RIGHT.
I THINK REPUBLICANS IN SOME
RESPECT HAVE GROWN QUITE A LOT
AND OTHER -- AS WE TALKED ABOUT
A FEW MINUTES AGO WE HAVE A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF
REPUBLICANS TURNED OFF BY THE
KIND OF LANGUAGE WE HEAR OUT OF
THE WHITE HOUSE BUT HOPEFULLY
WE CAN THINK OF THE INDIVIDUALS
AND NOT JUST THANK YOU PARTY.
>> QUICKLY.
WOMEN OF COLOR IS MORE THAN
JUST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.
THERE ARE ASIAN WOMEN.
THEY RANGE FROM TODAY'S CHINESE
AND INDIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE
THE MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS OF
ASIAN DESCENT AND BACK -- GOING
BACK TO VIETNAM WHEN THEY WERE
THE MAJORITY OF ASIANS COMING
INTO THIS COUNTRY AFTER THE
WAR.
ARE RELATIONSHIPS JELLING IN
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BETWEEN
WOMEN OF DIFFERENT COLORS?
>> OH, I THINK
>> BONNIE ERBE: WITH EACH
OTHER?
>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY AND IN
THIS UPCOMING CONGRESS WE'RE
GOING TO SEE TWO MORE MUSLIM
WOMEN JOIN THE CONGRESS.
WE WILL LIKELY SEE TWO MORE
NATIVE WOMEN WHO WILL JOIN THE
CONGRESS.
THIS REALLY DOES, YOU KNOW, AT
LEAST ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE
THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF REAL
DIVERSITY WITHIN WOMEN OF COLOR
AND I THINK THAT -- AND THEY
WORK TOGETHER.
THEY ORGANIZE TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A GOOD
THING BECAUSE THE LAST THING
THAT WE NEED IS TO HAVE, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPONENTS
TO ALL OF THESE ISSUES SORT OF
SPLINTERING EVEN AMONG WOMEN OF
COLOR.
>> BONNIE ERBE: JENNIFER.
>>THE PART OF THE REASON WHY I
DO THIS SHOW NOT ONLY BECAUSE I
THINK THAT YOU'RE AN AMAZING
HOST AND I LOVE THE DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES THAT TO THE
CONTRARY PROVIDES, I THINK THAT
PEOPLE NEED TO SEE MORE WOMEN
OF COLOR WHO ARE REPUBLICANS ON
TELEVISION SEEMING RATIONAL NOT
IN THE CORNER BOXES ON CNN.
YOU ALSO MADE A POINT ABOUT
SUSAN COLLINS AND SUGGEST
BEHIND THE DIAL AND TINA SMITH
AND MORE CAP AT THAT AND I SAY
MEW GOAL AND HOPE IS THAT WE
HAVE MORE REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO
ARE MINORITIES AT THE TABLE AND
IN THE CONVERSATION SO THAT
WHEN PEOPLE LOOK ON TV THEY
DON'T SEE COMALA HARRIS BUT
REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF THE SAME
MINDSET AND IDEOLOGY.
>> BONNIE ERBE: THAT IS IT FOR
THIS EDITION.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND
VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS
.ORG/CONTRARY AND WHETHER OR
NOT YOU THINK TO THE CONTRARY,
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN
ON-LINE VERSION OF THEY EPISODE
OF TO THE CONTRARY,
CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS
WEBSITE AT:
PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
>> BE MORE.