FOUNDATION, AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> Bonnie: THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY", THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN VP CANDIDATE OF A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY, KAMALA HARRIS TAKES HER PLACE WITH JOE BIDEN AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

THEN, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE KATIE HILL TALKS TO US ABOUT HER RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS.

HELLO.

I AM BONNIE ERBE.

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

UP FIRST, MEGAN BEYER WITH WOMEN PROVIDING.

AND PATRICE LEE OF THE INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM AND WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS KAMALA HARRIS AND THE UPCOMING DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

LET'S START WITH YOU, MEGHAN.

WHAT DOES SHE BRING TO THE TICKET?

BECAUSE I JUST LOOK AT SOME PEW RESEARCH POLLS, AND SHE AND VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WERE WITHIN TWO POINTS OF EACH OTHER ON SUBURBAN WOMEN, WHITE WOMEN, AND EVEN BLACK WOMEN.

SO WHAT IS SHE GOING TO BRING IN THAT HE COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN BY HIMSELF?

>> Megan: I THINK SHE BRINGS IN A GREAT DEAL OF EXCITEMENT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE REACTION.

I WAS SURPRISED MYSELF HOW EMOTIONALLY WAS.

I MEAN, I GOT REALLY CHOKED UP AND IT'S NOT LIKE WE DID NOT EXPECT IT.

I MEAN, THIS WAS THE CANDIDATE EVERYONE KIND OF EXPECTED, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LET'S FACE IT, SHE COULD TAKE OVER -- THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEING CONSIDERED, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IS COULD THEY TAKE THE KEYS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS?

SHE QUALIFIED FOR THAT.

SHE HAS HAD PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE.

SHE HAS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE ALSO DIVIDED HER IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE BRINGS, THE FACT THAT SHE'S INDIAN-AMERICAN, I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT MYSELF, BUT I AM WORKING WITH WOMEN FOR BIDEN.

AND THE REACTION I'VE HAD FROM FRIENDS, ASIAN FRIENDS, NOT JUST INDIAN FRIENDS, ARE JUST SO DELIGHTED THAT SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF AN INDIAN MOTHER.

AND IT REALLY IS HISTORIC WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

HERE YOU HAVE JOE BIDEN WHO IS THIS BIG SCRANTON GUY, AND HE SERVED WITH BARACK OBAMA AND WAS INCREDIBLY LOYAL.

YOU'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN TEAMWORK LIKE THAT BEFORE.

THEN HE GOES AND RUNS FOR PRESIDENT.

WHO DOES HE PICK, BUT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN AGAIN, MAKING HISTORY.

SO I THINK THE HISTORIC NATURE OF ITS IS VERY EXCITING.

LET'S FACE IT.

KAMALA HAS A GOING ON.

I MEAN, SHE'S GOT A LOT OF CHARISMA.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SURE, YOU COULD LOOK AT POLLS AND PARSE IT THIS WAY AND THAT WAY, BUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL AND HOW THEY REACT TO THIS BIDEN-HARRIS IS REALLY EVEN SURPRISING ME.

>> Bonnie: PATRICE, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

DO YOU THINK SHE TAKES ANY VOTES AWAY FROM THE TRUMP-PENCE TICKET?

>> Patrice: VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE NEVER TRUMPER SOUP PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED FOR TRUMP TO BEGIN WITH.

CTUALLY DON'T SEE THE ENTHUSIASM LEVEL THAT MACON'S THESE IN KAMALA HARRIS.

I TOTALLY APPLAUD THE HISTORIC MOMENT.

I TOTALLY APPLAUD, RECOGNIZE THAT SHE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN, SHE IS A BRIGHT WOMAN.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THAT IS ENOUGH TO IMPRESS WOMEN OF COLOR OR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I GET THAT SHE IS A WOMAN OF COLOR, AND SHE IS MANY FIRSTS.

HOWEVER, FROM A POLICY AND ISSUE STANDPOINT, THERE ARE A LOT OF ACHILLES HEELS THAT I THINK CONSERVATIVES WILL POINT TO AND LIBERAL YOUNG PEOPLE WILL SAY, HEY, I CANNOT GET BEHIND THIS.

LOOK AT HER RECORD AS A PROSECUTOR IN CALIFORNIA.

SOME OF THE POLICIES, NOT JUST HOW SHE PROSECUTED PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED MARIJUANA CRIMES, SHE WANTED TO GO AFTER PARENTS OF TRUANT STUDENTS.

I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I THINK PEOPLE WILL POINT TO AND SAY NOT SO MUCH.

SHE COMES ACROSS -- SHE'S HAVING AUTHENTICITY PROBLEMS AS WELL.

PEOPLE LOOK AT HER, YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA, I'M LOOKING AT THEIR REACTIONS TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, IT'S LIKE AUNTIE, IT'S LIKE MY AUNTIE WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

I'M NOT SUPER EXCITED.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POLLS DURING THE FALL ELECTION, SHE WAS PULLING BEHIND ELIZABETH WARREN, BEHIND BERNIE SANDERS, BEHIND JOE BIDEN AT THAT TIME, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BLACK VOTE.

SO HE ALREADY HAD IT LOCKED UP.

I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO GET ANYMORE.

AND I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO, THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN OUT THE YOUNG BLACK VOTE WHICH COULD BE HELPFUL PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THOSE SWING STATES.

>> Megan: MAYBE I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT EARLY ON AND I WOULD'VE MADE SOME OF THOSE OBSERVATIONS EARLY ON WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING, BUT I THINK THAT ANOTHER THING THAT SHE HAS DONE SINCE SHE GOT OUT OF THE RACE, SHE WORKED AND WAS SPEAKING OUT VERY CRITICALLY OF THE MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF BLACK LIVES MATTER.

I MEAN, SHE HAS BEEN SQUARELY INVOLVED IN BOTH THE PANDEMIC ISSUES IN THE SENATE AND THEN BLACK LIVES MATTER ISSUES SINCE SHE LEFT THE CANDIDACY.

AND SHE LEFT VERY EARLY ON.

>> Bonnie: CAN WE TALK ABOUT PRIMARIES?

BUT EVEN DURING THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH BIDEN, HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT, THE WORST THING HE SAID ABOUT A PRESIDENT WHO IS, LET'S FACE IT, WIDELY DISLIKED IS A MILD TERM, WIDELY DISLIKED BY THE DEMOCRATIC BASE, AND ALSO NOW BY A TON OF INDEPENDENTS, BECAUSE THIS COUNTRY REALLY IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE.

IT WAS NOT A YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO.

NOW IT'S IN HORRIBLE SHAPE.

AND YOU CAN PIN IT ON TO THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE DID NOT LEAVE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

DON'T YOU THINK -- SHE IS LASHED OUT AT HIM.

SHE CALLED HIM INCOMPETENT.

JOE BIDEN SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KIND OF TAKE IT WITH A LITTLE GRAIN OF SALT WHEN HE SAYS SOMETHING, MEANING HE SWITCHES HIS POSITIONS 180 DEGREES EVERY DAY.

BUT SHE LASHED OUT AND CALLED IT INCOMPETENCE.

SHE USED WORDS THAT HE DID NOT USE.

SO IS SHE GOING TO BE THE ATTACK DOG IN THIS RACE?

>> Megan: OH, SHE IS TOUGH, AND I THINK THAT, YEAH, SHE MAY BE TOUGHER THAN JOE IS.

I WILL TELL YOU, HE HAS COME OUT AGAIN.

THE VERY FIRST THING THIS PRESIDENT DID, AND WE ALL KNEW HE WOULD DO IT.

IN FACT, I SIGNED ONTO A LETTER WITH TINA CHEN AND THE PEOPLE, MANY WOMEN'S GROUPS HAVE BANDED TOGETHER, GROUPS THAT DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH EACH OTHER, PATRICE, BUT THEY ARE SO SICK AND TIRED OF HOW THIS PRESIDENT TREATS WOMEN.

AND THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING.

I SIGNED ONTO THE LETTER.

IT SAID, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HER BACK, AND YOU CAN'T JUST OUT OF THE BOX START ATTACKING HER AND NOT KNOW THAT YOUNG WOMEN, OLDER WOMEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT HIS NUMBER.

THE VERY FIRST THING HE DID IS HE CALLED HER A NASTY WOMAN.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM, JUST PURE MISOGYNY.

AND YOU SAY THAT YOUNG BLACK WOMEN AREN'T GOING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS.

OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- I KNOW YOU SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT MOST WOMEN OR YOUNG WOMEN IN PARTICULAR CAN ABIDE THE WAY HE TREATS WOMEN.

>> Patrice: WELL, MEGHAN, I MEAN, MY ORGANIZATION DOES NOT SUPPORT ANY CANDIDATE OR EVEN ANY SPECIFIC PERSON RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

WE LOOK AT THE ISSUES.

AND NOW TO YOUR POINT ABOUT TIMES UP AND ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECOND TOGETHER TO SEND OUT THIS LETTER OF HOW THE MEDIA SHOULD SOFTBALL OF ANY SORT OF WOMAN ON THE TICKET, YOU KNOW, I HONESTLY KIND OF FOUND IT A LITTLE INTERESTING AND, HONESTLY, INSULTING TO REPORTERS TO SAY, OH, YOU CAN'T ASK CERTAIN QUESTIONS.

THINK, HEY, WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW A WOMAN IS DRESSED.

WE'VE MOVED BEYOND THAT.

THAT'S THAT I MEAN, COME ON.

THAT'S SEXIST, BUT HOLDING A WOMAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER POLICY POSITIONS AND, BY THE WAY, OR VOTING RECORD -- SHE'S 92 VOTED, SHE SCORES LIKE 99% MORE LIBERAL THAN AND THEN EVERY OTHER SENATOR IN THE US SENATE RIGHT NOW.

SO SHE HAS A VOTED LIBERAL THAT WILL NOT APPEAL TO A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND CENTER-RIGHT VOTERS.

SHE ALSO -- IN THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ABOUT -- >> Bonnie: STOP FOR A SECOND, PATRICE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU.

LIBERAL ON WHAT EXACTLY?

BECAUSE THE BEAUTY OF A CANDIDATE LIKE KAMALA HARRIS TO ME IS LIBERALS -- THE FAR LEFT LIBERALS DON'T LIKE HER BECAUSE SHE IS NOT FAR LEFT LIBERAL ENOUGH, AND SHE DID , LIKE IT OR NOT, SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY.

SHE HAS NOT, SHE HAS NOT VOTED ON WELFARE OR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HER RECORD ON THAT.

YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE SHE STANDS ON TAX INCREASES.

SO YOU CAN'T ATTACKER.

I'M NOT SO-- LIBERAL IN WHAT SENSE TOO IN HER OPENING REMARKS, BUT WHERE ELSE DO YOU SEE A LIBERAL THERE?

>> Patrice: IN TERMS OF TAXES, SHE ABSOLUTELY SAID SHE WOULD REPEAL THE 2017 TAX CUTS.

SHE WOULD INCREASE CORPORATE TAX RATES BACK TO THE LEVELS FROM BEFORE.

WHEN IT COMES TO MET HEALTH CARE, SHE CERTAINLY DOESN'T JUST BELIEVE IN KIND OF A PUBLIC OPTION.

SHE FIRMLY SUPPORTED IN ELIMINATING PRIVATE INSURANCE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND GOING TO JUST MEDICARE FOR ALL.

SHE HAS COME OUT --WHEN YOU LOOK AT DECRIMINALIZING ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS, BONNIE, I'M A NATIONALIST CITIZEN.

I WAS NOT RUN IN THIS COUNTRY, ANOTHER WAS KAMALA HARRIS.

WELL, HER PARENTS WERE NEITHER.

AND WE SHOULD BE SURE THEY CAME TO THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY, AND LIKE ME, MANY IMMIGRANTS DO NOT LIKE BEING LUMPED TOGETHER WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND SAYING, OH, YOU CAN, THROUGH.

THERE IS NO PENALTY.

AND BEYOND THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET FREE HEALTHCARE PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS WHEN WE HAVE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO STILL REMAIN UNINSURED.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE POLICY ISSUES THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY THAT SHE IS PRETTY FAR LEFT.

SHE'S GOING TO PRETEND TO BE CENTRIST AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I HAVE SEEN THE HEADLINES IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND NEW YORK TIMES SAYING THAT SHE IS MODERATE AND SHE IS RIGHT LOCKSTEP WITH JOE BIDEN.

I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS SHIFTED FURTHER AND FURTHER TO THE LEFT ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND MANY MORE, PARTICULARLY THE GREEN NEW DEAL, THE WAY SHE COSPONSORED A BILL WITH ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHO SHE IS.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MODERATE VOTERS, SHE WILL HAVE SOME TROUBLE.

>> Bonnie: NOW LET'S SWITCH TOPICS NOW, BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION STARTING NEXT WEEK FOLLOWED OF COURSE BY THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

AND THEN BOTH BEING LARGELY VIRTUAL, AT LEAST JUST ABOUT ALL VIRTUAL ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AND GOES BACK AND FORTH ABOUT HOW MUCH VIRTUAL, HOW MUCH NONVIRTUAL DEPENDING ON WHAT DONALD TRUMP SAYS THAT DAY.

BUT, MEGHAN, VIRTUAL CONVENTIONS: WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO PEOPLE'S FEELINGS ABOUT -- TO THE EXTENT THEY HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE MOST OF AMERICA DOES NOT TUNE IN TO WATCH THEM, ALTHOUGH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DO, BUT WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A USEFUL NEWS EVENT, WHETHER THERE REALLY IS ANY NEWS MADE IN THESE CONVENTIONS ANYMORE, THOSE SORT OF THINGS?

>> Megan: WELL, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND I'VE GONE TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY CYCLE.

I'VE ENDED UP AT A CONVENTION SOMEWHERE, THEY REALLY ARE TV SHOWS.

RIGHT, PATRICE?

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, OH, WHAT IS THE LINEUP TONIGHT?

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS WHEN YOU WERE ACTUALLY NOMINATING AND, I MEAN, THERE'S RARELY ANY SUSPENSE ANYMORE.

AND IT'S ALL PRETTY MUCH MADE FOR TV.

AND IT WAS PRETTY BAD TV.

YOU KNOW> Bonnie: AWFUL TV.

>> Megan: SO IT'S GOTTEN BETTER AND NOW THEY ARE GIVING UP THE GHOST.

IS NOT REALLY A CONVENTION.

IT'S A TV SHOW!

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT THEY ARE ALL GOING TO FIGURE OUT.

AND WHAT I FIND SO INTERESTING AND KIND OF FUNNY ABOUT THE CAMPAIGNS IS THEY ARE ALL DOING VERY WELL USING THIS ZOOM FORMAT FOR FUNDRAISING.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T REALLY NEED FUNDRAISERS ANYMORE, YOU NEED TV PRODUCERS.

WE ARE AT RETHINKING A LOT OF THINGS.

I LIKE CAMPAIGNS BETTER THIS WAY.

IT'S NOT SO CRAZY.THE REPORTING IS AND SO, YOU KNOW, THROW SOME CRAZY QUESTION, WATCH SOMEONE DROP IN ICE CREAM CONE AND CURSE, YOU KNOW, THESE CRAZY THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING CAMPAIGNS THAT TURN EVERYTHING AROUND.

YOU KNOW, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN ON SKYPE RESUME OR WHATEVER YOU ARE USING.

SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME MAJOR LOSSES BECAUSE OF IT IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS ON A CAMPAIGN.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE ALSO LEARNED SOME THINGS, AND MAYBE IT'S BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN OTHER WAYS.

MY WORRY IS THE ELECTION ITSELF IS VERY, VERY MUCH A WILDCARD BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE -- THE PANDEMIC AFFECT.

>> Bonnie: ALL RIGHT.

IN YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS, PATRICE, ON THE VALIDITY, THE NECESSITY OF CONVENTIONS?

I WAS LOOKING UP ONLINE, AND IT'S THE LAST TIME THEY WERE BROKERED CONVENTIONS AS OPPOSED TO CONTESTANT CONVENTIONS, WHICH ARE MORE MODERN VERSION OF BROKERED CONVENTIONS.

BUT BROKERED CONVENTIONS WHERE THE GUYS REALLY, AND I DO MEAN GUYS AND I MEAN WHITE GUYS IN BOTH PARTIES, SAT IN BLUES, SMOKE-FILLED ROOMS AND DECIDED IT WOULD BE THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE OF THE PARTY.

IT WAS 1952 WITH ALI STEVENSON BEING THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND EISENHOWER BEING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

SO THIS GOES WAY BACK NOW.

DO WE REALLY NEED CONVENTIONS ANYMORE?

>> Patrice: YOU KNOW, AS A POLITICAL JUNKIE, I WOULD SAY YES.

I LOVE THE CAMERA PANNING THE DIFFERENT STATES AND SEEING HOW THEY ARE DRESSED AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM.

AND I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE RISING STARS THAT SOMETIMES GET TO GO ON STAGE AND GIVE THEIR SPEECHES.

I THINK, ACTUALLY, IT'S THE RISING STARS THAT SOMETIMES BECOME THE FACE OF THE PARTY AND WHEN YOU GET TO SEE A LITTLE FLAVOR ABOUT THAT YOU WOULD NOT NORMALLY CATCH.

>> Bonnie: THANK YOU SO MUCH TO BOTH OF YOU.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH YOU THIS SUMMER AND FALL OF THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUING.

JOINING ME NOW IS FORMER CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE KATIE HILL WHO HAS A NEW BOOK OUT.

SHE WILL RISE.

HILL WAS ELECTED IN 2018 AS PART OF THE HISTORIC SURGE OF WOMEN ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

SHE RESIGNED AFTER NUDE PHOTOS OF HER WERE LEAKED ONLINE BY HER EX-HUSBAND.

LATER, SHE FACED ALLEGATIONS OF A POTENTIALLY INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A FORMER CAMPAIGN AIDE.

WELCOME, MS. HILL, FIRST AS A FORMER CALIFORNIA POLITICIAN AND WE HOPE FUTURE CALIFORNIA POLITICIAN.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS THAT NOBODY KNOWS.

>> Former Rep. Hill: OH, THAT NOBODY KNOWS?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I THINK IS UNCOMMONLY KNOWN AT LEAST IS THAT SHE IS REALLY SMALL.

SHE IS SHORT.

SHE HAS SUCH A HUGE PRESENCE.

AND SO, I AT LEAST LOOK AT HER AND THINK, OH, MY GOSH, SHE MUST BE SO TALL.

BUT SHE IS REALLY, REALLY A TINY WOMAN AND SHE JUST, YOU KNOW, PUTS FORTH THE ENERGY.

BUT SHE IS GREAT.

I JUST LOVE HER SO MUCH.

>> Bonnie: AND TELUS, SHE CAMPAIGNED FOR YOU WHEN YOU RAN FOR OFFICE.

WHAT YOU THINK OF HER AS A PERSON AND NOW AS A VP CANDIDATE?

>> Former Rep. Hill: SHE DID.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ENDORSE HER FOR HER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

YOU KNOW, I WAS HOPING FOR A HARRIS-BIDEN TICKET.

BUT NOW THAT IS A BIDEN HARRIS TICKET I WILL TAKE IT.

I WAS VERY CONVINCED FOR A LONG TIME THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE THE PICK BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE WAS THE RIGHT ONE FOR THE MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND I THINK THAT THE ENERGY THAT SHE BRINGS, THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IS JUST EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M REALLY THRILLED THAT SHE IS THE ONE.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TO A BIG WIN IN NOVEMBER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

>> Bonnie: WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

NOW TO YOUR BOOK.

YOU REGRET THAT YOU RESIGNED.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> Former Rep. Hill: WELL, I WOULD NOT SAY THAT I REGRET IT EXACTLY.

I HAVE A LOT OF UNRESOLVED KIND OF EMOTIONS ABOUT IT.

BUT I KNOW THAT AT THE TIME, IT FELT LIKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND IT FELT LIKE THE ONLY DECISION.

YOU KNOW, I WAS BEING PROVIDED BY ALL OF THESE ARTICLES THAT WERE COMING OUT, THESE IMAGES, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE DISTRICT SAID THAT THEY HAD HUNDREDS OF SCREENSHOTS OF IMAGES THAT, YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND HAD PROVIDED TO THEM TO USE AS SQUATTER.Y STAFF WERE JUST GOING THROUGH SO MUCH TRAUMA BY GETTING THESE HORRIBLE PHONE CALLS AND HAVING TO ANSWER TO CONSTITUENTS AND NOT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN MY FAMILY WAS BEING CHASED AROUND.

MY MOM WAS BEING CHASED AROUND BY THESE DARK CARS AND PEOPLE WITH CAMERAS AND MY SISTER'S BUSINESS WAS BEING CONTROLLED.

AND I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING A LIABILITY TO DEMOCRATS INTO THE FRESHMAN CLASS, ESPECIALLY AS WE WERE MOVING INTO IMPEACHMENT.O, YOU KNOW, AS AN OUTSPOKEN PROPONENT OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT, I REALLY FELT LIKE I DID NOT WANT TO BE THAT HYPOCRITE AND I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO STEP DOWN.

THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE ALL THAT STOP WAS TO STEP DOWN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, OF COURSE, IT CAN BE HARD TO, TO WATCH WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY LIKE DONALD TRUMP WHO HAS ALL OF THESE ALLEGATIONS AND BACKED UP CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, YET HE STAYS UNABASHEDLY AT THE WHITE HOUSE PRETTY OF SOMEONE LIKE KAVANAUGH WHO IS ON THE SUPREME COURT AND YOU HAVE INSTANCE AFTER INSTANCE OF MALE POLITICIANS WHO HAVE JUST ON THESE HORRIBLE THINGS AND ARE STILL IN OFFICE.

AND SO, I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH WHETHER IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION, AND IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR ME, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY LEAVING DOESN'T DETER OTHER WOMEN FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE REASON THAT I WROTE THE BOOKS.

HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES AN IMPACT.

>> Bonnie: YOU ARE VERY CLOSE TO HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, WHO, OF COURSE, IS FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

AND SHE TOLD YOU DON'T DO THIS, DON'T RESIGN, I WILL STICK BEHIND YOU.

DO YOU THINK IF YOU HAD WAITED A COUPLE OF DAYS FOR THE REDMEAT MEDIA TO GET ONTO ANOTHER STORY THAT YOU COULD HAVE STAYED?

>> Former Rep. Hill: I FELT LIKE THE SALACIOUS NOTICE OF THE STORY WAS SOMETHING -- AND THE DOGGEDNESS OF WHICH THEY WERE GOING AFTER MY SEAT, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE I WAS VULNERABLE.

AND I TRULY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD'VE STOPPED.

IT MAY NOT OF BEEN A NATIONAL, GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, BUT IT CERTAINLY WOULD'VE CONTINUED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE POOR PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED THAT HAD NO GUILT WHATSOEVER, IT WAS SO DRAMATICALLY AFFECTING THEIR LIVES AS WELL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK POLITICALLY I PROBABLY COULD HAVE SURVIVED IT, HONESTLY, IF I HAD WAITED IT OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.

I JUST THINK THAT IT WAS STILL THE RIGHT DECISION FOR EVERYONE THAT WAS IMPACTED.

AND I BELIEVE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE SEAT TURNED TO REPUBLICAN FOR FINISHING OUT MY TERM, IT WAS, TO ME, IT WAS AN ABERRATION IN THAT MAY ELECTION BECAUSE OF THE VERY SMALL TURNOUT THAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN A SPECIAL ELECTION.

BUT IN NOVEMBER, I THINK BIDEN WILL WIN.

BIDEN AND HARRIS WILL CARRY THE DISTRICT BY, YOU KNOW, 15 POINTS, AND I THINK THE DEMOCRAT ON THE TICKET, CHRISTIE SMITH, IS GOING TO FLIP THE SEAT BLUE AGAIN.

>> Bonnie: SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

I MEAN, YOU REFER, FOR EXAMPLE, TO LEAD IN AND HOW YOUR BOOK IS A NEW I WOULD SAY MORE GO-GETTER, MORE AFFIRMATIVE OF WOMEN AND NOT JUST LEANING IN, BUT GRAPHIC -- >> Former Rep. Hill: YEAH.

>> Bonnie: -- GRABBED HIM BY THE THROAT WHICH IS I THINK WHAT A LOT OF YOUNG MEN DO IN THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREER.

SO ARE YOU GOING TO GO ON THE SPEAKING CIRCUIT AND TELL YOUNG WOMEN TO RUN FOR OFFICE OR WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?

>> Former Rep. Hill: WELL, WHAT I STARTED A PACK AT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CALLED HER TIME.

AND THAT PACK IS DESIGNED TO DO EXACTLY THAT.

SO WE SUPPORT YOUNG WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WE WORK ON ENCOURAGING THEM AND EQUIPPING THEM ESPECIALLY WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED EARLY ON IN THEIR CAMPAIGN THAT CAN BE SO MUCH OF A BARRIER.E ALSO THROUGH THE WORK, THROUGH THE PACK WE ARE WORKING ON MOBILIZING YOUNG WOMEN AS A VOTING BLOC, REALLY TRYING TO NAIL DOWN WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT MOBILIZED THEM THE MOST, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY OF REALLY EMPOWERING THE 18bßß0-YEAR-OLDS SET OF VOTERS THAT ARE WOMEN TO BE THAT POWERFUL VOICE THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN BE AS A DEMOCRATIC VOTING BLOC.

AND THEN, THIRDLY, TO ADVOCATE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES THAT I OUTLINE IN THE LOOK AS WELL THAT THEY WILL TEAR DOWN, THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS THAT WOMEN FACE IN EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY.

AND I THINK THAT THE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE PACK WILL DO IT FROM NOW UNTIL NOVEMBER AS WERE COMING UP TO THE ELECTION BUT ALSO MOVING IN THE NEXT CYCLE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE HAVE, AND I'M REALLY HOPEFUL ABOUT THIS, ONCE WE HAVE THE DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED SENATE, BIDEN AND HARRIS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE MOVING INTO 2021, '22, WE WILL HAVE TO FIGHT REALLY HARD TO KEEP THE HOUSE.

AND THAT IS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HER TIME AND SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO GOT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THE VEGAN EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE A REALLY EXCITING TIME FOR US STARTING IN 2021, AND A BIG AMOUNT OF TIME HAS TO BE SPENT REBUILDING WHAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> Bonnie: YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE ABLE -- AND OF THE POLLS ARE ALL SHOWING VICE PRESIDENT, FORMER VP BIDEN 10 POINTS AHEAD NATIONALLY AND IN SOME SWING DISTRICTS BY MORE THAN THAT, SO -- BUT YOU REALLY THINK THERE IS NO WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN PULL IT OUT AT THIS POINT?

>> Former Rep. Hill: I WOULD NEVER SAY THERE IS NO WAY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO ACT AS THOUGH, AS THOUGH BIDEN IS DOWN AS MUCH AS HE SEPARATE NOW.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE CAN PULL IT OFFND I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE A BIG VICTORY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HE WILL DISPUTE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.

HE WILL TRY TO DISCREDIT AT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE PANDEMIC THAT WILL BE PLAYING A BIG ROLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'VE GOT SECRETARIES OF STATE AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS THAT ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, DISCREDIT VOTE BY MAIL.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRIERS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED, NOVEMBER.

SO, NO, WE SHOULD NOT TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED, ESPECIALLY IN THE SWING STATES AND SWING DISTRICTS.

THE EFFORT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUT IN.

WE HAVE TO BE INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE.

WE ARE DOING DIGITAL WORK AND TEXTING, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE USING EVERY TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE TABLE.

>> Bonnie: LAST QUESTION: IS A RUN FOR OFFICE IN YOUR FUTURE?

>> Former Rep. Hill: NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

I WAS NOT PLANNING ON RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NEVER.

I AM 30 -- I WILL BE 33 IN A WEEK AND A HALF, SO I THINK I HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME LEFT IF I EVER WENT TO GET BACK IN THAT FRAY.

BUT FOR NOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO DO IT.

>> Bonnie: WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING YOUR PROGRESS IN KEEPING UP WITH HER TIME AND SEEING WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE FUTURE.

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