THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, ARE TARGETS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT NOW GIVEN MORE CREDIBILITY THAN PERPETRATORS?

THEN, FEMALE AND MINORITY VOTERS GIVE DEMOCRATS THEIR BIG WINS IN THIS WEEK'S ELECTIONS?

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

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

UP FIRST, REPUBLICANS ARE CALLING ON SENATE CANDIDATE ROY MOORE TO STEP ASIDE IF CHARGES THAT THE FORMER JUDGE INITIATED A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL NEARLY FOUR DECADES AGO PROVE TRUE.

IT'S THE LATEST IN THE GROWING SEX SCANDALS SWEEPING THE COUNTRY AND GENERATING A CHANGE IN ATTITUDES.

THE DAYS OF US CULTURE TOLERATING, BUT NOT ACTING ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT CHARGES MAY BE OVER.

THE NUMBER OF WOMEN AND MEN SAYING #METOO CONTINUES TO GROW EVERY DAY.

THIS WEEK 68-YEAR-OLD LONG DISTANCE SWIMMER DIANA NYAD TOLD HER STORY OF BEING ASSAULTED BY HER SWIMMING COACH WHEN SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD.

NYAD SAYS SHE EXPECTS MANY MORE VICTIMS WILL REFUSE TO STAY SHAMED AND SILENCED.

PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE COMPANIES, SCHOOLS AND OTHERS IN POWER ARE TAKING THE ALLEGATIONS SERIOUSLY AND IMPOSING CONSEQUENCES ON THE ACCUSED PERPETRATORS INSTEAD OF MAKING BACKROOM DEALS TO KEEP ABUSES QUIET.

SOME PEOPLE QUESTION IF AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF NOT BELIEVING THE VICTIM THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG TO AN AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE THAT THOSE BEING ACCUSED ARE GUILTY.

A CNN POLL FOUND 52% OF THOSE SURVEYED THINK THE PUBLIC STORYTELLING WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT WOMEN FACE.

THREE-QUARTERS THINK ATTENTION TO THESE STORIES WILL LEAD TO WIDESPREAD UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT.

SO HILLARY ROSEN, IS OUR CULTURE MORE WILLING TO BELIEVE TARGETS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THAN IN THE ANITA HILL DAYS?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE READY FOR THE CONVERSATION AND WE'VE SEEN A SEA CHANGE IN THE MEDIA, THE 3450ED YEAH IS MORE WILLING TO REPORT INSTANCES OF SCAT WHEN THE MEN DENY IT AS LONG AS THE WOMEN HAVE ENOUGH DETAIL AND CREDIBILITY IN THEIR STORY.

>> THERE IS A CULTURE SHIFT AND WE NEED TO SEE A SHIFT IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY BUT THERE IS AN ABILITY TO HAVE WOMEN EXCITED THE ACCEPTS THERE IS AN AWARENESS ABOUT THE ISSUES GOING ON.

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK THAT WOMEN STILL FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO COME FORWARD AND THEY DO IN GROUPS FOR VALIDATION.

AND ARE STILL CHALLENGED ON THEIR STORIES EVEN WHEN THEY COME FORWARD YEARS PRIOR.

>> CERTAINLY THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE FROM THE DAYS OF PAULA JONES AND KATHLEEN WILLIE BUT THERE ARE POLITICS WHO GETS BELIEVED.

>> DO YOU THINK CLARENCE THOMAS WOULD BE ON THE SUPREME COURT TODAY IF THE CHARGES CAME OUT?

>> I THINK SO.

THERE WOULD BE SOME RECOGNITION OF WHAT HE DID AND DIDN'T DO.

AND I WONDER ABOUT BILL CLINTON.

I THINK IF THERE WERE CHARGES ABOUT BILL CLINTON GIVING MONICA LEWINSKY A JOB IN EXCHANGE FOR HER SILENCE WHICH IS CLEAR THAT HAPPENED AND THE CREDIBLE CHARGES OF ASSAULT THAT WERE IGNORED DURING THE CLINTON YEARS, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE MORE REASON FOR MORE PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF IMPEACHMENT BASED ON THOSE ACCUSATIONS.

>> I THINK IN BOTH INSTANCES, THOMAS AND CLINTON PEOPLE WOULD BE RESPONDING DIFFERENTLY.

LOOK WE JUST ELECTED A SEXUAL ASSAULTER TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND THAT IS WHAT IS SO INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT THIS ROY MOORE CASE.

WHICH IS THAT IF HE WORKED FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE WOULD BE FIRED NOW.

THERE IS NO QUESTION.

AND IF HE DEPENDED ON A PUBLIC BRAND LIKE SOME OF THE HOLLYWOOD FIGURES HIS BRAND WOULD BE RUINED.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN YET IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE IN THE WORLD OF GOVERNMENT IS THIS KIND OF EQUAL AMOUNT OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND BACKLASH THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TOO QUICK TO POLITICIZE IT AND SAY NO THIS WOMAN IS ATTACKING ROY MOORE BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO DEFEAT HIM FOR THE SENATE AND SHE IS A REPUBLICAN TRUMP VOTER.

I THINK THAT WHAT -- THE BIG CHANGE WE NEED IS SORT OF BELIEVING WOMEN THAT IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT NO MATTER WHERE THEY HAVE COME FROM AND NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND THE PUBLIC HAS TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> DOES IT HAVE TO BE A GROUP ACCUSATION TO BE BELIEVED?

I MEAN IN MOORE'S CASE YOU HAVE FOUR TOTAL.

>> IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE A GROUP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I AGREE WITH HILLARY IN THE SENSE THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE KEY COMPONENT HERE AND THE ALLEGATIONS AROUND ROY MOORE WHAT WE WOULD HOPE TO SEE AS A REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF POLITICAL COURAGE.

TO SAY THIS IS NOT FAKE NEWS BUT FOLLOWING THE TRUMP MODEL IS EASY FOR SOMEONE TO SAY THIS IS FAKE NEWS.

THIS IS NOT TMZ THIS IS THE "WASHINGTON POST" AND FOUR WOMEN, ONE WOMAN OR 20 WOMEN, THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE FACT THAT THE WOMEN WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY SOMEONE MUCH OLDER IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND HOPEFULLY SPURS A GREATER LEVEL AFTER COUNTABILITY.

>> DO YOU THINK CLARENCE THOMAS WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IF IT HAPPENED TODAY?

>> THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE KNOW.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I DO KNOW THERE ARE WOMEN IN EVERY SINGLE INDUSTRY WHO EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE AND ASSAULT AND THEY DON'T REPORT BECAUSE THEY STILL ARE AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM.

AND WHAT I THINK IS REMARKABLE, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE COVERAGE IT'S GOTTEN, IT IS ALLOWING WOMEN TO STEP UP AND SAY, ME TOO AND PUT A HASHTAG IN FRONT OF IT.

BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WHEN IT COMES TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT IN THE WORKING PLACE WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS OR HOLLYWOOD OR THE NEWS INDUSTRY OR IN THIS CASE, SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO BE IN THE SENATE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> DO WE ALL AGREE THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE FOR A WHILE?

NOW THAT IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES?

>> I HOPE SO.

I THINK THE BIGGEST RISK IS THE ONE THAT DONNA RAISED WHICH IS A LOT OF THESE CASES ARE GETTING PUBLICITY BECAUSE OF WHO THE ABUSER IS.

THEY ARE FAMOUS MEN.

BUT THE WAITRESS IN THE DINER WHO GETS HARASSED BY THE COOK DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IF SHE CAME -- WENT PUBLIC THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE SUPPORTED, BELIEVED OR PROTECTED LATER ON.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS REALLY OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE HOW DO WE TAKE THIS MEDIA MOMENT AND TURN IT INTO SOME NATIONAL CULTURAL SHIFT.

>> HOW DO YOU DO IT?

YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGY?

WHERE DO WE GO?

>> IT IS NOT JUST A PR PROBLEM IT IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM.

IT IS A TRAINING PROBLEM.

I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THIS RECENT BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP STUDY THAT CAME OUT THAT ACTUALLY SAID THAT YOUNGER MEN ARE MORE WILLING TO BE TRAINED IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING THAN OLDER MEN AS THEY SURVEYED IN THE WORKPLACE.

SO YOU DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A GENERATIONAL OPTIMISM HERE WHERE YOUNGER WOMEN ARE LESS WILLING TO STAND FOR IT AND YOUNGER MEN ARE LESS WILLING TO ENGAGE IT.

>> AND OFFICES SAYING LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN TO EDUCATE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

>> THEY PASSED A LAW TO TRAIN ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> THERE IS A NEED FOR TRAINING AND DISCUSSION OF WHAT IS WHAT IS NOT OK. >> SOME PEOPLE SAY TRAINING HAS NOT HELPED.

>> AT LEAST ESPECIALLY NOW BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF AS WE ARE DOING THE ME TOO WE DON'T WANT IT TO MAKE IT SO ANY GUY WHO ASKS A GIRL OUT COWORKERS WE CANNOT CRIMINALIZE ALL BEHAVIOR.

>> I DO NOT THINK THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.

WE KNOW THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN SOMEONE TOUCHING US INAPPROPRIATELY OR SAYING THINGS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE, AND WHAT GOES ON IN A WORKPLACE.

>> BETWEEN WANTED AND UNWANTED.

>> SOMEBODY SAYS NO IT'S ENOUGH.

>> OF COURSE.

OF COURSE.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE GRAY AREAS WHEN IT -- THERE ARE GUYS WHO WORRY ANYTHING THE OLD COMPLIMENT A WOMAN OR HOLD THE DOOR IS THAT CONSIDERED THERE ARE EXAMPLES.

YOU NEED TO SAY THAT IS OK WE SHOULD TOLERATE THESE THINGS BUT NO MEANS NO.

AND THESE THINGS ARE OFF LIMITS.

I THINK THE TRAINING CAN -- HAVING THAT CONVERSATION IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TOO FAR?

>> NO.

>> IN TERMS OF BELIEVING ATCUSERS?

THERE IS TO ME, THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A MASSIVE SHIFT.

AND AGAIN IT'S THE MEDIA IT'S NOT IN THE CAFE, THE DINERS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT THAT WE'RE STARTING TO GIVE A LOT MORE CREDIBILITY TO ACCUSERS.

>> I THINK RIGHT NOW, THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING IN THE MEDIA HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY APPALLING EXAMPLES OF ABUSE OF POWER WITH THE WEINSTEIN STORIES, THIS IS A TIME WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A REAL SPOTLIGHT SHINE ON THE WORST ABUSES.

I THINK THERE IS A NEED ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES WE'VE HAD THE PENDULUM SWUNG SO THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND THERE WAS LITIGATION ABOUT MEN WHO WERE BEING FALSELY ACCUSED AND EXPELLED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.

SO THE PENDULUM CAN SWING TOO FAR BUT RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS ON REAL ABUSERS.

>> A LOT OF FOR A WOMAN TO COME FORWARD AND DECLARE HERSELF PUBLICLY AND TALK ABOUT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.

THAT REALLY TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE.

AND I THINK THERE ARE RARE INSTANCES WHEN A WOMAN WILL PUT HERSELF IN THAT POSITION FOR A FALSE CLAIM.

SO WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WOMEN ARE WILLING TO DO AND WHY.

AND THEN TRUST THEIR VOICES.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE ROY MOORE EXAMPLE.

BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT -- >> ANYBODY THINK HE IS GOING TO GIVE UP?

STEP ASIDE?

>> TWO CREDIBLE REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN THE LEADERSHIP AND THE LIKE.

WHAT I AM DISMAYED BY IS SOMEHOW THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THESE WOMEN NOW TO COME BACK AND GIVE MORE DATA THAN THEY HAVE.

THEY'VE TOLD THEIR STORY WITH A LOT OF DETAIL AND CORROBORATION BUT YET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS PROTECTING ROY MOORE AND SAYING UNLESS HE IS SOMEHOW CONVICTED THAT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

WHEN DO REPUBLICAN WOMEN STAND UP AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS NOT OK. >> COLLINS HAS.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN AND I THINK THAT THIS NEWS BROKE YESTERDAY, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO WE HEARD THIS SO THERE IS STILL A FACT FINDING.

BUT WE KNOW MORE TODAY THAN WE DID YESTERDAY.

AND I THINK THERE WILL BE A MOMENT WHEN PEOPLE SAY THIS IS -- >> I THINK YOU WILL SEE CANDIDATES AND SENATORS LIKE BLACKBURN AND OTHERS PEOPLE THAT WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY A ROY MOORE ELECTION ON DECEMBER 10TH AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHETHER HE STEPS ASIDE NOW OR AFTER HE IS ELECTED.

AND McCONNELL SAID HE WANTS HIM TO STEP ASIDE.

AND MY POINT EARLIER ABOUT -- >> IF IT'S PROVEN TRUE.

>> MY POINT EARLIER ABOUT COURAGE REQUIRES PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND SAY WHETHER IT'S ONE ACCUSATION OR 20 OR HOW MUCH MORE INFORMATION TO YOU NEED TO KNOW WHO THIS IS NOT A PERSON SHOULD SERVE AS A SENATOR?

THE U.S. SENATE.

>> AND A POLL CAME OUT LATE FRIDAY SHOWING THAT ROY MOORE WAS RUNNING EVEN WITH HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT WHICH IS IN ALABAMA, IS LIKE HE IS GONE.

>> I THINK IT'S TOUGH.

I THINK IT SHOWS A DEAD EVEN RACE AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE REPUBLICANS REGISTERED IN ALABAMA THAN DEMOCRATS.

SO I THINK IF HE CONTINUES, HE MAY LIKELY WIN THAT SEAT.

I THINK DEMOCRATS NEED TO CONTEST FOR IT.

BUT THE NUMBERS DO NOT LOOK GOOD.

SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO SAY IS THIS THE KIND OF PERSON THAT WE BELIEVE DESERVES THE CONFIDENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SIT IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE?

>> THERE IS NO WAY TO HAVE A TRIAL AND PROVE OR DISPROVE... >> ROY MOORE IS SOMEBODY IN PARTICULAR WHO HAS MADE HIS CAREER ON JUDGING THE MORAL VALUES OF OTHERS.

THAT HAS BEEN HIS CLAIM TO FAME.

AND SO I THINK IT MAKES THIS PARTICULAR CASE DISTURBING.

WHEN HE IS NOW FOUND TO BE THE SEXUAL PREDATOR.

>> I THINK IT'S DEMOCRATS SHOULD THAT BE MAKING THIS A POLITICAL FIGHT.

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL FIGHT.

THIS IS ABOUT REALLY STANDING UP FOR WOMEN WHO DO COME OUT WHO ARE BRAVE, WHO DO SAY SOMETHING, AND SO THAT IS WHY I FEEL LIKE IT IS SO IMPORTANT NOT TO TURN THIS INTO DOES THIS CHANGE THE RATIO IN THE SENATE?

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WHAT 0 DO NOT WANT A SEXUAL PREDATOR IN THE SENATE.

>> BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S NO TIME FOR A TRIAL SO WE CAN'T PROVE ANY OF THIS.

BUT I WONDER, I REALLY WONDER SOMETIMES WHETHER THE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK OUT THE MOST AND TRY TO BE THE MOST MORAL AND THE MOST ABOVE REAPPROACH IS THERE SOMETHING PSYCHOLOGICAL GOING ON THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKEUP FOR THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NUTS?

>> WE'VE SEEN THERE IS A LOT OF HYPOCRISY AND YOU ARE RIGHT, WE SHOULD TRY TO AVOID THE BLAMING OF ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER OR SAYING A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON.

WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN HOLLYWOOD AND THE LIP SERVICE PAID FOR DECADES, IS STANDING UP FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS BY GOOD LIBERAL ICONS WHO WERE NOT PRO WOMAN AT ALL.

THERE IS A TEMPTATION TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

THE METOO CAMPAIGN MAY HAVE IMPACTED VOTING IN THE OFF YEAR ELECTIONS AND COULD POTENTIALLY GO FROM MOMENT TO MOVEMENT.

WHAT DO THIS WEEK'S ELECTIONS TELL US ABOUT HOW WOMEN MAY VOTE NEXT YEAR?

SOME OBSERVERS SAY WOMEN WERE A HUGE REASON DEMOCRATS ENJOYED THEIR BEST RESULT SINCE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S REELECTION IN 2012.

DEMOCRATS WON THE GOVERNOR'S RACES IN NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA, AS WELL AS SEVERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS.

WHITE WOMEN WITH COLLEGE DEGREES, WHO SPLIT EVENLY IN THE 2013 VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE, FAVORED DEMOCRAT RALPH NORTHAM BY 16 POINTS.

MARRIED WOMEN, WHO VOTED SLIGHTLY IN FAVOR OF TRUMP IN VIRGINIA, WENT TO NORTHAM BY 10 POINTS.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD TOUTED HEALTHCARE AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AS DECISIVE FACTORS IN THE ELECTION CALLING IT A CLEAR REJECTION OF THE "ANTI-WOMAN DONALD TRUMP AGENDA."

AS FOR HOW WOMEN DID AS CANDIDATES, NOT VOTERS, VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY WITNESSED THE MOST WOMEN ON THEIR BALLOTS IN AT LEAST A DECADE.

IT WAS ALSO A GOOD NIGHT FOR TRANSGENDER RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

DANICA ROEM OF VIRGINIA WILL BECOME THE FIRST OPENLY TRANSGENDER PERSON TO SERVE IN A STATE LEGISLATE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SHE DEFEATED A 13-TERM INCUMBENT, ROBERT MARSHALL, WHO CALLED HIMSELF VIRGINIAS "CHIEF HOMOPHOBE" AND WROTE AN ANTI-TRANSGENDER "BATHROOM BILL" EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>> SO WERE THE WOMEN WHO CAME OUT TO VOTE AND IT WAS WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR'S VOTE WHO ELECTED BOTH GOVERNORS AND PARTICULARLY IN VIRGINIA, WERE THEY MOTIVATED BY THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, WHAT HE DID DURING THE CAMPAIGN?

WHAT MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN IS?

WERE THOSE THE FACTORS?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE SOLELY DRIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT OR HIS TREATMENT OF WOMEN OR HIS PRESIDENCY.

I THINK A LOT OF THE EFFORT DRIVEN IS YOU ARE SEEING THIS GROUND SWELL AMONGST YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY WHO ARE DECIDING THAT THEY WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

THEY ARE REACTING TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION TO THE LOSS OF HILLARY CLINTON AS THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT BUT REACTING TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT SEEING WASHINGTON GETTING THINGS DONE AND NOT SEEING THE STATE LEGISLATORS GETTING THINGS DONE AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO STEP INTO THE FOLD AND SAY I WILL PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS.

I WILL PLAY IN POLITICS NOT ONLY AS A VOTER BUT AS A CANDIDATE.

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICAN?

DEMOCRAT?

>> BOTH.

ONE YOU ARE SEEING DEMOCRAT WOMEN REACT TO THE FACT THEY ARE SEEING THE REPEAL AND REPLACE OF OBAMACARE AND THE PROCESS IN CONGRESS.

AND SEEING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE LEGISLATURES AND THEY ARE CONCERNED AND SO THEY ARE REACTING TO THE NEGATIVITY.

AND I THINK ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, YOU ARE SEEING SOMETHING SIMILAR BUT SEEING THIS NOTION THAT REPUBLICAN WOMEN NEED TO GET MORE INVOLVED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE REACTING TO THE FACT THAT THEIR PRESIDENT IS NOT SOMEONE WHO MAYBE THEY VOTED FOR BUT DOING THE THINGS THEY WANTED HIM TO DO.

>> I THINK THIS WAS A TOTAL REPUDDATION OF DONALD TRUMP AND HIS PRESIDENCY.

MANY CANDIDATES WERE NOT CANDIDATES A YEAR AGO.

THEY WERE MOTIVATED BY THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS ACTIONS.

AND I WANT TO SHOUT-OUT TO BLACK WOMEN BECAUSE WE PROVED WE ARE THE BASE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND YOU KNOW WE HAD MORE WOMEN VOTERS OVERALL.

BUT BLACK WOMEN STILL VOTED 90% FOR NORTHAM IN THE VIRGINIA RACE.

>> IS THIS A BELLWETHER STATE?

I MEAN IT WAS A CONTESTED STATE IN 2016.

BUT IS THE FACT THAT VIRGINIA -- IT'S IN THE MIDST OF GOING FROM RED THE REAL VIRGINIA AS ONE OF THE SENATE REPUBLICAN MALE WHOSE NAME DOES NOT COME TO MIND RIGHT NOW, BUT HE CALLED THE REAL VIRGINIA HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SOUTHERN VIRGINIA THE REALLY GOING BACK TO BEING THE CAPITAL OF THE CONFEDERACY.

WHEREAS THE NORTHERN PART MUCH MORE POPULATED IS PEOPLE WHO MOVED IN TO WORK IN WASHINGTON.

AND IS INTENSELY MORE PROGRESSIVE.

>> CLEARLY VIRGINIA IS ONE OF THE STATES WHERE WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF MANY STATES AND THE POPULATIONS REALLY SHIFTING.

AND I DO THINK THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF THAT.

BUT IN THIS ELECTION THIS WAS ABOUT A REPUDDATION OF THE PRESIDENT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE MULTIPLE IDENTITIES OF PEOPLE WHO WON TUESDAY FROM A LIBERIAN REFUGEE TO A LATINA MAYOR IN KANSAS TO THE ELECTORATE WE SAW IN VIRGINIA, PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE ARE USING OUR IDENTITIES TO TALK ABOUT THE POLITICS AND THE GOVERNANCE WE WANT AND RUNNING ON LOCAL ISSUES.

>> DO YOU AGREE?

AND IF SO IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT YEAR WHEN THERE ARE A LOT MORE SEATS UP?

>> WELL, IT WAS JERRY FALWELL WHO SAID THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TWO VIRGINIAS THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.

IN FACT -- >> I WAS TALKING ABOUT SENATORIAL LEN.

HE SAID THE REAL VIRGINIA.

>> WHAT WE SAW IN THE CASE WAS THE SUBURBS WHICH CREATED MUCH MORE MODERATE, THE SUBURBS OF RICHMOND IN ADDITION TO THE SUBURBS OF WASHINGTON.

ENDED UP BEING THE DECISIVE VOTE FOR RALPH NORTHAM.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BIFURCATE AS A STATE.

AND THE OTHER INTERESTING PIECE HERE THOUGH IS HEALTHCARE WAS ACTUALLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT DROVE VOTERS TO THE DEMOCRATS.

AND MEN WHO VOTED AS A 9-POINT MARGIN FOR DONALD TRUMP VOTED TWO POINTS AHEAD FOR GILLISPIE.

SO YOU HAD A WHOLE SWATH OF AMERICANS WHO ARE NOW STARTING TO FEEL LIKE THIS PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT WORKING ON THE VALUES THAT MATTER TO THEM AND ARE NOT HELPING THEM AND THAT WILL BE EXACERBATED WHEN THE ONLY THING THAT CONGRESS GETS DONE IS MAYBE A TAX CUT FOR THE WEALTHY.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT THESE VOTERS ARE FOCUSED ON.

>> I THINK THAT FIRST OF ALL, IT'S CLEARLY BAD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS ANYTIME YOU HAVE A LOSS LIKE THIS.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

THESE WERE STATES VIRGINIA HAD A DEMOCRAT AND IT WILL STILL HAVE A DEMOCRAT.

NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN BLUE IT WAS AN ANOMALY THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN.

>> CHRIS CHRISTIE FOR TWO TERMS.

>> EXACTLY.

BT, YEAH, A REPUBLICAN.

AND THERE WAS OTHER THINGS GOING ON WHEN IT COMES TO VIRGINIA WITH Mr. GILLISPIE WAS CONSIDERED A LOT OF TRUMP VOTERS VIEWED HIM WITH SUSPICION SOMEBODY MORE ESTABLISHMENT AND LACK OF ENTHUSIASM AMONG SOME REPUBLICANS.

>> IT'S HARD TO JUDGE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, BUT DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS?

WHAT REALLY IS FURY WITH THE PRESIDENT WHO PROGRESSIVE WOMEN SEE AS DISMANTLING ALL -- >> CAN I FINISH.

>> ALL WOMEN'S RIGHTS FRANKLY.

>> ALL WOMEN'S RIGHTS BEING DEFEATED?

>> THAT IS HOW A LOT OF THE WOMEN I TALK TO ON THE LEFT SEE IT THAT WAY.

I MEAN THIS IS AN ABNORMAL PRESIDENCY WITH AN ABNORMAL PRESIDENT WHO IS GOING AFTER WOMEN IS HOW WOMEN ON THE LEFT SEE HIM.

CAN THEY SUSTAIN THAT?

>> OBVIOUSLY USUALLY IT IS A TOUGH MIDTERM ELECTION FOR A PRESIDENT IS HARD.

WE SAW THAT WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA SUFFERED GREAT LOSSES.

IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO PLAY DEFENSE THAN TO PLAY OFFENSE.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION ON THE RIGHT THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER AND THE CONGRESS HAS NOT DELIVERED AND THERE IS A LACK OF ENTHUSIASM AND REPUBLICANS NEED TO HAVE A REASON TO GO TO THE POLLS NEXT YEAR AND SHOW THAT THEY CAN GOVERN AND ARE PASSING THINGS LIKE HEALTHCARE REFORM, TAX REFORM AND MAKING GOOD ON THE PROMISES.

THE DEMOCRATS CLEARLY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND REPUBLICANS NEED TO BE AWARE OF IT.

>> THIS IS WHY IT MATTERS FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

BECAUSE THERE ARE FOUR DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA THAT ARE HELD BY REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

WHERE THE DEMOCRAT RALPH NORTHAM WON BY SIGNIFICANT MARGINS.

THOSE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE ALL AT RISK NOW.

IN NEW JERSEY THERE WERE TWOTIES DIRECTS -- DISTRICTS WHERE THAT HAPPENED.

YOU NEED 24 DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO TAKEOVER THE HOUSE.

THE REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THEY ARE ON THE SIDE OF WORKING PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT DONALD TRUMP HAD ORIGINALLY PROMISED AND NOW DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DELIVERING ON.

AND I THINK THAT IF THE ONLY THING THAT THEY END UP GETTING DONE IS A CORPORATE TAX CUT, THAT IS NOT GOING TO SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE THREATENING HEALTHCARE AND THREATENING RURAL HEALTH CLINICS AND ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES LIKE CLOSING PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINICS.

I DO THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE VERY MUCH ON THEIR HEELS RIGHT NOW.

>> I WILL NOT CONCEDE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION YET BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STANDS OUT -- >> YOU WILL NOT CONCEDE?

>> I WILL NOT CONCEDE THAT REPUBLICANS WILL LOSE IN NOVEMBER AND LOSE THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THERE IS A WAVE GOING ON.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT GREAT FOR US.

BUT THE POINT IS THAT I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE ABOUT NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA IS THE FACT THAT WE HAD SO MANY WOMEN RUN AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL FOR OFFICE AND THAT IS A GREAT THING.

>> WASN'T THAT ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY DEMOCRAT?

>> YES, BUT THERE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL VOTES AND WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN CONGRESS.

>> THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION.

VISIT ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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