THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, MUSIC STAR R. KELLY IN THE EYE OF THE METOO STORM.

THEN, CONGRESS HAS TO ADJUST TO MEMBERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: IOWA SENATOR JONI ERNST.

SHE TALKS TO US ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND WORKING WITH HER FEMALE COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE.

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, HASHTAG MUTE R. KELLY.

IT APPEARS THE WOMEN OF COLOR ARM OF THE TIME'S UP MOVEMENT IS DOING JUST THAT.

R.KELLY'S PERFORMANCE IN THE PRE-MOTHERS DAY LOVE JAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

KELLY THE MULTIPLATINUM R&B IDOL HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT HE VEHEMENTLY DENIES BEING VIOLENT AND SEXUALLY COERCIVE WITH WOMEN AND YOUNG TEENAGERS DESPITE SETTLING LAWSUITS THAT GO BACK TO THE MID 1990'S.

HE WAS ACQUITTED OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES BACK IN 2008 FOR VIDEOTAPING HIMSELF HAVING SEX WITH AN UNDERAGE GIRL.

HIS ALLEGED VICTIMS HAVE ALL BEEN WOMEN OR GIRLS OF COLOR.

THE LATEST CANCELLATION BRINGS THE NUMBER OF CANCELLED SHOWS TO TEN SINCE THE GRASS ROOTS SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROTEST CAMPAIGN BEGAN.

TIME'S UP IS ALSO CALLING ON CORPORATIONS THAT WORK WITH KELLY TO BREAK THOSE TIES.

IN A STATEMENT, KELLY'S REPRESENTATIVES SAID "R. KELLY SUPPORTS THE PRO-WOMEN GOALS OF THE TIME'S UP MOVEMENT."

SO CONGRESSWOMAN ARE WOMEN OF COLOR WHO ARE ASSAULTED ON SEXUALLY HARASSED FINALLY HAVING THEIR DAY?

>> BONNIE AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, WHO IS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ISSUE IN CONGRESS, I AM ASHAMED TO ADMIT THAT I HAD HEARD NOTHING OF R. KELLY'S SEX CRIMES UNTIL NOW.

>> I AGREE.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS WHY I THINK IT SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A PARTICULAR SPACE OR COMPANIES OR INDUSTRIES, IF THEY DO KNOW SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO STEP UP AND SAY IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT REMINDS ME WHAT IS GOING ON WITH NIKE.

THE EXPOSURE OF THAT FRAT BOY CULTURE THE GOOD NEWS IS IF THERE IS GOOD NEWS, BECAUSE THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS SO INFLUENTIAL, A SITUATION LIKE THIS CAN BE HELPFUL.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WOMEN OF COLOR ARE TIMELY GETTING THEIR DAY.

I THINK THERE WILL ALWAYS BE I'M BEING CYNICAL BUT A PERSISTENT GAP BETWEEN THE ATTENTION WHITE WOMEN MAY GET AND WOMEN OF COLOR, WOMEN OF COLOR ARE THE LAST IN LINE.

>> I GREW UP HEARING ABOUT R. KELLY AND LISTENED TO HIS MUSIC MY GENERATION KNOWS THE ALLEGATIONS WELL AND WE ARE NOT SURPRISED ABOUT THEM WE ARE PLEASED THERE IS JUSTICE COMING.

BUT THIS IS JUST NOT JUST THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THEIR DAY OF ROCK CONNING.

>> -- RECKONING.

>> R. KELLY IS WELL-KNOWN BUT THE ALLEGATIONS REMINISCENT A BIT OF HARVEY WEINSTEIN BUT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE AROUND FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER GOING BACK TO THE 1990s.

WHY NOW?

AND IF -- WHY NOW DOESN'T THAT SAY THAT WOMEN OF COLOR'S VOICES WHO TALK ABOUT BEING SEXUALLY HARASSED AND ASSAULTED ARE SPEAKING UP AND GETTING PAID ATTENTION.

WHY DOESN'T THAT SAY THAT MAYBE THE GAP IS CLOSING?

>> PERHAPS IT DOES BUT I THINK YOU FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT THING.

THE WOMEN WHO HAVE COME FORWARD HAVE MOST OFTEN NOT BEEN FAMOUS WOMEN.

WHAT HAS BEEN FAMOUS IS THE MAN AND THE MAN HERE HAPPENS TO BE A BLACK MAN.

WHY SO WHY DIDN'T THAT COME FORWARD FIRST?

I MUST SAY THESE ARE FAR MORE SERIOUS THAN ANY OF THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT NOTIONS I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER HIGH LEVEL FOLKS ESPECIALLY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

AND I WILL SAY HE HAS HAD MASTERFUL COUNSEL.

HE HAS PAID OFF PEOPLE AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE IN THE ACCUSATIONS THAT -- WHY WOULDN'T I KNOW ABOUT IT?

>> A LOT OF THE WOMEN THAT FILED CHARGES AGAINST HIM UNLIKE HARVEY WEINSTEIN THESE ARE NOT FAMOUS WOMEN AND THEY ARE YOUNG WOMEN AND -- THEIR CAREER -- >> YOU ARE NOT READING THE STUFF ON-LINE ABOUT R&B AND HIP-HOP.

>> AND THE CAREERS WERE NOT BEING HELD UP.

WOMEN WERE YOU SCARED TO COME FORWARD HE WILL KILL MY CAREER.

THEY ARE DIFFERENT.

A LOT OF THEY WERE LIKE 15 YEARS OLD, 16 YEARS OLD AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU THROW ENOUGH MONEY YOU FIND ATTORNEYS THAT WILL DO YOUR BUSINESS FOR YOU AND THE YOUNG WOMEN PROBABLY DID NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WOMEN OF COLOR FINALLY BEING LISTENED TO?

>> I MEAN I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE A VOICE AND THAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CULTURE WHERE IT WAS ACCEPTED AND OK FOR YOU TO GO IN HERE AND TO DO THIS WITH AN OLDER MAN AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

AND IF THEY DID, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOUR MOTHER GOT HER HOUSE PAID FOR OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE PAID OFF.

NOW WE SEE A CULTURAL CHANGE WHERE IT IS NO LONGER WE ARE GOING TO LOOK PAST THE BEHAVIOR BECAUSE OF YOUR TALENT AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY ALL OF A SUDDEN NO YOU NEED TO HAVE CHARACTER AND TALENT TOGETHER AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> AND THERE'S PARALLEL WITH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH BILL COSBY.

YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE A BLACK MAN OF IMMINENT POWER AND INFLUENCE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.

>> AND THIS IS MUCH WORSE.

THIS IS MUCH WORSE.

>> HOW ABOUT WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE A WHITE MAN WHO HAS BEEN PICKING PARTICULARLY ON WOMEN OF COLOR?

DO WE -- IS THAT STILL SO-CALLED SACRED TERRITORY THAT THE MEDIA WILL NOT -- >> YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SITUATION LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK -- >> AND PEOPLE HAVE TO COME FORWARD.

>> AND THE INTERRACIAL WOULD NOT BOTHER ME AND WHY I SAY IT'S WORSE THAN BEFORE IS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE HE FAVORED JUVENILES.

PEOPLE UNDERAGE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST WOMEN.

HE REALIZED THAT THESE WERE CRIMES.

AND IF THERE WAS MONEY TO BE PAID, PAY IT NOW.

THIS MAN SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

IT'S NOT SIMPLY GETTING A PAY OFF HERE.

>> OR CANCELING CONCERTS.

>> PRECISELY.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DONE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HE CANNOT BE THE ONLY PERSON WHO TAKES THE FALL FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND WE ARE NOT HEARING ENOUGH ABOUT WHO ELSE IS MISBEHAVING.

>> AND I WANT TO JUMP TO SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT THE LAST WEEK NOT JUST IN THE CONTEXT OF WOMEN OF COLOR OR MEN OF COLOR BUT ALSO ALL THESE MEN ALL THESE POWERFUL MEN WHO ARE BEING TOSSED OUT OFF THEIR THRONES, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THEM NOW?

SOME CHARLIE ROSE, OBVIOUSLY IS TRYING TO MAKE A COMEBACK OR SO HE SAYS.

SHOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO MAKE COMEBACKS?

>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN STOP THEM NECESSARILY FROM HAVING A COMEBACK AND NO CULTURE LOVES A COMEBACK MORE THAN OURS SO THAT IS A CHALLENGE.

>> AND REDEMPTION IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REDEMPTION AND COMEBACK.

>> AS LONG AS FOLKS PAID THEIR DUE TAKEN TO COURT OR TAKEN OUT BY THEIR JOB THEY HAVE TO LIVE A LIFE.

IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO ALLOW THEM IN THAT WILL BE -- >> NO COMEBACK WITHOUT ADMISSION.

PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE.

>> BUT WHAT CONGRESSWOMAN HOLMES SAID IS IMPORTANT WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE PROSECUTION THERE NEEDS TO BE PROSECUTION AND WE TALK ABOUT THE WOMEN WE DID NOT HEAR ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MATTER, IT WILL BE OF ALL THE WOMEN IN THE ROOM IT WILL BE THE YOUNGER WOMEN OF COLOR THAT WILL BE THE MOST VULNERABLE AND WE HAVE TO KIND THAT IN MIND.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT TO CAPITOL HILL.

CONGRESS MEETS THE 21ST CENTURY.

WHEN SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL LAST MONTH, SHE BECAME THE 10TH WOMAN TO HAVE A BABY WHILE SERVING IN CONGRESS.

FIVE OF THOSE WOMEN ARE STILL IN CONGRESS.

DUCKWORTH WAS THE FIRST FEMALE SENATOR TO BECOME A MOM IN OFFICE, THE FIRST HOUSE MEMBER WAS YVONNE BRAITHWAITE BURKE OF CALIFORNIA AND THAT WAS IN 1973.

POLITICO REPORTS THAT THE SO CALLED "LABOR CAUCUS" IS BIPARTISAN WITH SIX DEMOCRATS AND FOUR REPUBLICANS.

>> SO SAM, SINCE 73 WHEN REPRESENTATIVE BURKE BLAZED THAT TRAIL FOR THE 10 WOMEN WHO FOLLOWED THERE ARE NOW 11 LACTATION ROOMS IN THE U.S. CAPITOL.

THERE ARE ALSO A LOT MORE WOMEN'S BATHROOMS INCLUDING OFF BOTH CHAMBERS.

WHAT OTHER KINDS OF CHANGES DO YOU THINK CONGRESS NEEDS TO SHOW TO LEAD THE COUNTRY TO BEING MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY?

>> IF I CAN SPEAK TO THE MOST IMPORTANT WHICH IS I THINK WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT HAVING MORE WOMEN IN ELECTED OFFICE AND STOP BEING RANKED 84TH IN THE WORLD OF THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IS THE YOUNG WORKING WOMEN WITH CHILDREN ARE NORMALIZING THAT YOU CAN WORK AND YOU CAN HAVE PARENT.

THEY ARE NORMALIZING SOMETHING WHICH MANY WOMEN ARE CONFLICTED ABOUT.

THAT IS THRILLING TO ME.

WHEN I RAN FOR CONGRESS IN 2008 I HAD THE ON NOR BEING SUPPORTED BY KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND WHO WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT AND MAKING CALLS WHILE EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT.

I LOVED THAT.

SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE SEEN ARE ALSO THE CHANGES WE NEED TO SEE IN CORPORATE AMERICA WE NEED TO HAVE HOURS AND FLEXIBILITY THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE FAMILIES AND BE GOOD PARENTS.

>> IS IT REALISTIC TO HAVE -- >> NOT ONLY NOT REALISTIC BUT WHAT IS FEMINISTS WE SAID WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO CHANGE THE WAY CONGRESS OPERATES.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO HAVE TO GIVE US MORE VACATIONS.

THE MOMENT WE DO THAT, WE ARE SAYING YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR WOMEN AND THEREFORE THERE IS A BIG EXCUSE FOR WHY WOMEN SHOULDN'T BE ELECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR WOMEN BUT THEY NEED MORE IN SUPPORTS NOT THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE INSTITUTIONS LIKE -- >> SUCH AS?

>> FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEXT SUPPORT I WOULD SAY IS WHO IS TAKING CARE OF THAT KID?

AND THIS IS HOW WE GO AT IT.

THE REASON I'M INTERESTED IS WHAT ABOUT ALL THE WOMEN WHO WORK IN THE CONGRESS?

WHO IS TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS?

WHY ISN'T THERE A DAYCARE IN THE CONGRESS FOR ALL OF THOSE WOMEN?

THEN MAYBE WE CAN HAVE WOMEN WHO ACTUAL MEMBERS GET IN ON THE ACT.

>> GOOD.

>> WELL, I MEAN, WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT WHAT IS BEST FOR FAMILIES.

DADS AND MOMS, RIGHT?

AND THE REALITY IS CONGRESS IS SLOW TO CHANGE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SURPRISING.

GOVERNMENT IS OFTEN ONE OF THE SLOWEST PLACES TO CHANGE AND THEY CAN LEARN A LOT FROM WHAT YOU SEE -- >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INTEGRATING THE MILITARY.

>> MILITARY USUALLY GETS IT RIGHT.

BUT NO, THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE TODAY HIGHER NUMBERS THAN YOU SEE IN CONGRESS, AND THEY HAVE FIGURED A LOT OF THIS OUT.

NOT ALL OF THEM BUT A LOT OF COMPANIES HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT EDGE HOW DO WE MAKE OUR WORKPLACE MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY WE WANT THE WOMEN TO STAY.

>> BUT ONE IN SEVEN AMERICANS QUALIFIES FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT OR CORPORATIONS.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT SAYS THAT CORPORATIONS ARE LEADING IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM.

>> BUT YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF WORKERS DON'T HAVE PAID FAMILY LEAVE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO PAID TIME OFF WHICH THEY TEND TO USE IN DIFFERENT WAYS WHETHER IT'S VACATION TIME MIXED WITH PAID FAMILY LEAVE, FMLA THERE IS A WAY OF CRACKING THAT.

DO I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE?

ABSOLUTELY.

WHY I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE CONSERVATIVES COMING TO THE TABLE WITH REFORM IDEAS AROUND PAID LEAVE THAT ALLOW YOUNG WORKERS TO TAKE TIME OUT -- TO PAY FOR THEIR TIME OUT OF THE WORKFORCE USING SOCIAL SECURITY AND THEN DELAYING RETIREMENT BENEFITS LATER ON.

WE NEED TO HAVE MARKET BASED SOLUTIONS TO PAID LEAVE TO THINK ABOUT CHILDCARE COSTS.

I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, ABOUT NORMALIZING THE IDEA OF HAVING CHILDREN AND NOT HAVING TO DROPOUT OF THE WORKFORCE OR A LOW-INCOME WOMEN GOING INTO UNFORTUNATELY GOING ON TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT AFFORD IT.

>> WHAT AN AWFUL IDEA.

TAKE IT FROM YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY WHEN MOST PEOPLE ON SOCIAL SECURITY ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH TO TO GET BY.

IN A RICH NATION.

AND THE LAST OF THE RICH NATIONS NOT TO OFFER PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

>> A RICH NATION THAT IS 20 TRILLION IN DEBT.

AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO HELP?

THANKS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA WHO GOT US 10 TRILLION IN.

>> WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AMONG ALL THE RICH NATIONS AND WE HAVE BEEN RICH AMONG THEM WITH A LARGER ECONOMY WE HAVE THE WORST CHILDCARE OPTIONS FOR WORKING PARENTS.

NOT JUST THE MOTHER IT'S THE FAMILY.

WE HAVE THE WORST NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

I DEGREE WITH CONGRESSWOMAN 100%.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CONSERVATIVES THAT SAY SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE KIDS SHOULD NOT BE TAXED OWE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN SHOULD PREPARE FOR IT, HAVE A FRIEND OR A PARENT WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS WHILE THE PARENTS WORK.

OR HAVE ONE PARENT STAY HOME IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.

>> I'VE BEEN A WORKING MOM FOR 40 YEARS.

40 YEARS I HAVE BEEN A WORKING MOM IN AN UNSTRETCHED BROKEN STREAM AND I CAN TELL YOU I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ANY HELP FROM ANY QUARTER.

>> BUT WHAT I SAY TO THE CONSERVATIVES -- >> LET ME FINISH MY THOUGHT.

I SAY I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HELP WITH THAT.

BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO.

>> MOST WOMEN ARE NOT ABLE TO.

WHAT I SAY TO CONSERVATIVE WOMEN IS YOU HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA ABOUT FAMILY AND FACT GETTING HELP FOR THESE WOMEN WILL SAVE US FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, WE ARE FORCING WOMEN TO GO BACK TO WORK TOO EARLY JUST TO MAKE A LIVING AND AS A RESULT, REMIND ME, THEY ARE SACRIFICING THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE TIME AT HOME WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY WOULD BE IF THERE WAS SOME PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

LET'S JOIN FORCES AND GET THAT IN THE NAME OF THE FAMILY.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES, SENATOR JONI ERNST.

THE IOWA REPUBLICAN IS ONE OF 23 WOMEN, SIX OF WHOM ARE REPUBLICANS, SERVING IN THE SENATE.

TO THE CONTRARY RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE SENATOR WHO SAYS SHE'S CROSSED PARTY LINES TO ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT GIVE BEEN WORKING ON, THE CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT BILL WITH KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND OF NEW YORK.

I HAVE A NUMBER OF MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT BILLS THAT I'VE WORKED ON NOT ONLY WITH KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND BUT CLAIRE McCASKILL OF MISSOURI, BUT THEN ALSO JEANNE SHAHEEN OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND I ARE WORKING ON A RESOLUTION WHICH WOULD REQUIRE AN INVESTIGATION OF THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE AND OF COURSE ALL OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD OVER THE PAST YEAR WITH LARRY NASSAR.

>> BUT SENATOR ERNST SAYS IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN LEGISLATION TO CHANGE SOCIETAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR AND SHE WORRIES PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RHETORIC IS AN IMPEDIMENT TO PASSING LEGISLATION AND ADVANCING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

>> IT DOES IMPACT BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE RHETORIC AND WE ALL SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, WE NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL.

AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS JUST TO SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE.

>> THE SENATOR HAS ALSO SUPPORTED INITIATIVES FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS COSPONSORING LEGISLATION TO CLOSE THE GENDER PAY GAP.

>> I'VE JOINED WITH DEBRA FISCHER ON AND MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN THAT ARE DOING EQUAL WORK ARE RECEIVING EQUAL PAY.

IT IS A BIG ISSUE ACROSS SOCIETY.

SO GETTING THIS THROUGH COMMITTEE AND TAKEN UP WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PUSH FORWARD.

I'M ALSO WORKING ON A NATIONAL PAID FAMILY LEAVE INITIATIVE, TOO.

SO WE DO WANT TO SUPPORT WORKING WOMEN.

WE WANT TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS CONGRESS AND HOPEFULLY GET ON TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DESK.

>> SENATOR ERNST WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE ACROSS THE AISLE ON MANY ISSUES BUT NOT WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNED-PARENTHOOD.

IN 2017, SHE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO DEFUND THE ORGANIZATION.

BUT SHE STILL INSISTS IF THE BILL HAD PASSED, WOMEN WOULD STILL HAVE ACCESS TO FREE HEALTHCARE AND SEX EDUCATION.

>> WE CAN DO A LOT OF THAT THROUGH OTHER EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS.

IT IS A STOPGAP MEASURE THAT MANY OF OUR STATES HAVE IN PLACE ALREADY THAT PROVIDE REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES AND THEY OFFER EDUCATION IN THOSE AREAS.

SO THERE ARE MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS EXIST AND MOST DO NOT PROVIDE ABORTIONS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADHERING TO THE LAW AND PROTECTING WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES WHILE NOT USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND ABORTION.

>> SENATOR ERNST IS THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO CONGRESS FROM IOWA.

AND SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE COMBAT VETERAN ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE.

SHE BELIEVES AMERICAN WOMEN AND MEN WILL REAP GREAT BENEFITS WITH MORE WOMEN IN LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES.

>> AS WE SEE MORE AND MORE WOMEN GETTING INTO ELECTED OFFICE, THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO WONDERFUL COLLABORATION OF IDEAS AND PUT FORWARD THEIR OWN STRONG INITIATIVES.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN OVERCOME A LOT OF OUR SOCIETAL ISSUES IF WE HAVE A MORE BALANCED CONGRESS.

>> WE REALLY NEED TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN WOMEN.

AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE VIABLE CANDIDATES AND THEY ARE NEEDED AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO IT HAS BEEN A MISSION OF MINE TO ENGAGE WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS ACROSS IOWA AND ENCOURAGE NOT JUST REPUBLICAN WOMEN OR DEMOCRATIC WOMEN JUST WOMEN IF THEY ARE PASSIONATE THEY SHOULD BE ENGAGINGED.

SETTING THE EXAMPLE AND MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN KNOW ACHIEVING GREAT HEIGHTS THEY CAN DO IT.

>> SO SENATOR ERNST ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE 538, VOTES WITH THE PRESIDENT 91% OF THE TIME.

ARE YOU SURPRISED SHE CALLED HIM OUT ON HIS RHETORIC?

>> NO.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SEPARATE OUT WHERE THEY AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT ON POLICY FROM WHAT THEY MAY LIKE ABOUT HIS TWEETS AND RHETORIC AND BEHAVIOR.

I THINK THE FACT THAT SHE VOTES WITH HIM 91% OF THE TIME IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE WITH THAT.

BECAUSE HE DOES LINEUP 90% OF THE TIME WITH CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN POLICY DECISIONS.

>> SHE WAS UNEQUIVOCAL SAYING SHE DID NOT SUPPORT WHAT HE WAS DOING WITH THE TWEETS.

AND I MUST SAY IF I GIVE ADVICE TO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IF THEY DID MORE OF THAT, I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE IN THE 2016 ELECTION.

WHEN YOU KEEP BEING APOLOGETIC NOT MEANING TO BUT IN THE WORDS THAT SEEM TO CONDONE WHAT HE IS SAYING, THAT YOU TURN OFF INDEPENDENTS, NOT JUST DEMOCRATS.

>> BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE SENATOR ERNST WHO WILL REACH ACROSS THE AISLE EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO DEFUNDING PLANNED-PARENTHOOD, HOW MUCH CAN SHE ACTUALLY GET DONE WITH DEMOCRATIC WOMEN?

>> I WOULD EMBRACE HER.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY EMBRACE HER.

FOR EXAMPLE, SHE AND I MAY DISAGREE WHETHER ARE YOU GOING TO TELL POOR WOMEN WE ARE GOING TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY TO GET DAYCARE BUT EVEN ON THAT MAYBE WE CAN COME TO A COMPROMISE, COMPROMISE IS A VERY IMPORTANT WORD.

HERE IS A COMPROMISE ON THAT.

OK.

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN WHO MAKES ABOVE LET'S TAKE ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OR HIGH AMOUNT, THEN MAYBE WE WILL GET LET YOU BORROW FROM YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BEFORE THE AVERAGE WOMAN.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN THE CONGRESS TODAY IS THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF FUNDS TO PAY THE BABY BOOM GENERATION AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> WELL I'M GLAD WE ARE COMING TO AGREEMENT ON THE PROPOSAL I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

IT'S FANTASTIC BECAUSE IT IS NOT A STINGY DEAL AND YOU CAN SET PARAMETERS AROUND INCOME REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IT'S PROGRESSIVE.

AND PEOPLE AT THE LOWER END GET MORE THAN PEOPLE AT THE HIGHER END.

BUT I LOVE THE BIPARTISAN NATURE THAT SHE IS DEMONSTRATING WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON LOTS OF IMPORTANT ISSUES.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A LOT OF SWEET TALK?

SOMETIMES SHE IS ALSO THE ONE WHO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE MAKING THEM SQUEAL, MAKING THE DEMOCRATS SQUEAL ONCE SHE GOT TO OFFICE.

>> THAT PLAYS WELL IN IOWA.

>> I MEAN, I THINK IN CERTAIN AUDIENCES YOU NEED TO SPEAK IN CERTAIN WAYS.

BUT SHE IS RIGHT ABOUT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL -- >> DOESN'T THAT MEAN YOU CAN SAY ONE THING TO ONE AUDIENCE AND COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE WHICH IS KIND OF NOT BEING HONEST WITH EITHER AUDIENCE?

>> NOT NECESSARILY, BONNIE.

THE CONTENT CAN BE THE SAME MAYBE THE DELIVERY IS DIFFERENT.

THE WAY I TALK TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN I TALK TO YOU LADIES WHILE I'M ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

BUT THE BASE OF IT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES AND WE ARE SAFE AND SECURE AND YOU CAN GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS IN LOTS OF WAYS.

AND THAT IS WHAT SHE IS ARTICULATING.

>> I WOULD NOT HOLD HER CAMPAIGN RHETORIC AGAINST HER ONCE SHE GOT INTO THE SENATE.

[LAUGHTER] >> AND I THINK THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING WE'RE SEEING IS THE BOTTOM LINE FACT THAT WOMEN ARE NATURALLY BIPARTISAN.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN ELECTED OFFICE BUT THE PROBLEM IS -- >> WHY IS IT DO YOU THINK SHE CAN REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND WORK WITH DEMOCRATIC WOMEN BUT MAYBE TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS CANNOT DO IT -- >> MEN?

>> A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR.

>> WOMEN CAN DO IT WITH MEMBER AND MEN CANNOT DO IT WITH MEN?

>> WINSTON MACINTOSH SHE DID THAT FIRST STUDY THAT SHOWED THAT WOMEN HAD MORE IN COMMON WITH EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF VOTING RECORDS THAN THEY HAD WITH THEIR OWN PARTIES.

RIGHT.

WOMEN REPUBLICAN WOMEN AND DEMOCRATIC WOMEN VOTED MORE IN ALIGNMENT THAN WITH THEIR OWN PARTIES ON A SELECTION OF ISSUES THE ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH ISSUES AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN OFFICE.

THE CHALLENGE IS THIS DON'T LET THIS WOMAN DECEIVE YOU OF THE CONGRESS THAT IS NOW ROUGHLY, SENATE AND THE HOUSE, THAT IS 30%, ONLY 6% OF REPUBLICAN AND THAT IS A PROBLEM WE NEED MORE WOMEN FROM YOUR SIDE OF THE AISLE.

I WILL ASK BOTH OF YOU TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> AND DON'T ANSWER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[♪♪] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY