>> Bonnie: THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY", FIRST, TWO VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE: ONE FROM THE REPUBLICANS, ONE MORE FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

OUR PANEL WILL DISCUSS IT.

THEN AN INTERVIEW WITH SHELLEY MORE CAPITO, THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.

>> >> Bonnie: HELLO.

I AM BONNIE ERBE.

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

UP FIRST, WOMEN IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

JOINING ME NOW OR TWO LONGTIME "TO THE CONTRARY" PANELISTS, D.C.

DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, WHOSE NOT ONLY A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, BUT CERTAINLY THE MOST FAMOUS WOMAN WHO BEGAN HER ACTIVISM IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE '60s AND HE WAS A MAJOR -- HAS BEEN A MAJOR PART OF THAT MOVEMENT UP UNTIL NOW.

WELCOME TO YOU, ELEANOR.

OF COURSE TARA SETMAYER WHO STARTED WITH US, WHAT, 20 SOME ODD YEARS AGO AND IS NOW A BIG TIMER AND PART OF THE LINCOLN PROJECT AND LONGTIME REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE.

AND SHE HAS HER OWN PODCAST CALLED HONESTLY SPEAKING WITH TARA SETMAYER.

SO BOTH OF YOU, WELCOME.

LET'S START OUT WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION NOW OVER.

BUT AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF NIGHTS, IT WAS GETTING COMPLETELY OBLITERATED BY WHAT WAS GOING ON IN KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, AND THE SHOOTING THERE, THE MURDERS THERE AND OF COURSE THE HURRICANE.

SO, FIRST, LET'S START WITH YOU, TARA: DID THE CONVENTION, DO YOU THINK, MAKE MUCH OF AN IMPRESSION TO LURE INDEPENDENTS, SOME OF WHOM ARE STILL MAKING UP THEIR MINDS, BACK INTO THE TRUMP FOLD?

>> Tara Setmayer: WELL, I THINK THE FACT THAT THE CONVENTION WAS SO UNCONVENTIONAL IN THE WEIGHT WAS PUT ON AND USING THE WHITE HOUSE IN VIOLATION OF THE HATCH ACT AND REALLY POLITICIZING CERTAIN THINGS LIKE IMMIGRATION, NATURALIZATION SERVICES AND PARDONS, AND I JUST FELT THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF JUST POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS USING, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT HE'S BEEN, HE'S BEEN AN ADVERSARY FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

HE HAS NOT -- YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT DATA AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, IT'S CLEARLY POLITICAL PAGEANTRY.

THE PARTS OF IT ALSO THAT I THOUGHT WERE A BIT UNTOWARD THAT WOULD TURN OFF INDEPENDENTS, THE FIRST NIGHT YOU HAD KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE SCREAMING AT THE AUDIENCE IN A WAY THAT WAS JUST VERY UNBECOMING AND THE DOOM AND GLOOM, VERY DARK WARNINGS ABOUT HOW AMERICA IS GOING TO BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN OR HAVE HER LIFE DESTROYED IF THE DEMOCRATS WIN, I JUST DON'T SEE THAT POSITIVE MESSAGE THAT INDEPENDENT S WOULD RESONATE WITH.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN PLACES LIKE KENOSHA WE HAVE WRITING AGAIN, ALBEIT IN RESPONSE TO A TRAGIC EVENT, THAT HELPS STRONG'S MESSAGE.

THE DEMOCRATS, PARTICULARLY THE BIDEN-HARRIS TICKET, MUST COME OUT AND CONDEMN LOOTING AND VIOLENCE IN RESPONSE TO RACIAL AND INJUSTICE.

IT GIVES THEM CREDENCE TO THIS LAW & ORDER DARK PICTURE THERE OF CHAOS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO PORTRAY IN AMERICA.

IT WAS ON BOTH SIDES THAT THERE WERE ISSUES GOING ON HERE THAT NEED TO BE PAID, THE PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO AFTER THIS CONVENTION.

>> Bonnie: CONGRESSWOMAN, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> Del.

Eleanor Holmes Norton: IN COMMANDEERING THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A POLITICAL EVENT, THE PRESIDENT SURELY MUST HAVE HURT HIMSELF WITH THE INDEPENDENTS YOU ASK ABOUT, NOT ONLY IN VIOLATION OF THE HATCH ACT, BUT A CLEAR SIGN THAT HE IS IN TROUBLE.

AND WE KNOW HE'S IN TROUBLE, EIGHT TO 10 POINTS BEHIND.

SO HE THINKS IF HE SURROUNDS HIMSELF WITH THE TRAPPINGS OF THE WHITE HOUSE, HE WILL GET THE WHITE HOUSE.

I THINK HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND INDEPENDENTS VERY WELL.

HE KNEW THAT WOULD NOT WORK WITH US.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHETHER IT WILL WORK WITH REPUBLICANS AS WELL.

BUT IT DOES SHOW DESPERATION THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF LAST NIGHT WAS WITH OFFICIAL SURROUNDINGS IN VIOLATION OF EVERY PROTOCOL, NOT TO MENTION STATUTE, THAT WE HAVE.

>> Bonnie: TARA YOU HAVE BEEN AN ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICAN SINCE HE FIRST WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND WHEN HE FIRST BECAME, STARTED TO LOOK LIKE A POSSIBILITY BECAUSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, AT THE VERY BEGINNING IT WAS A JOKEEOPLE WERE LAUGHING ABOUT HIM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

BUT ONE AREA WHERE HE IS REALLY, REALLY HAVING TROUBLE IS WITH WHITE WOMEN, MARRIED WHITE SUBURBAN MOMS.

AND OF COURSE, MELANIA ON THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE CONVENTION, SHE SPOKE.

IS SHE A HELP TO HIM WITH THESE WOMEN OR NOT?

>> Tara Setmayer: I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I JUST DON'T THINK SHE REALLY IS A HELP.

SHE HAS BEEN AN ABSENTEE FIRST LADY.

SHE IS -- IT'S CLEAR THAT SHE IS MISERABLE ON THE POSITION.

THE RELATIONSHIP IS VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL.

I DON'T THINK IT'S RELATABLE TO AVERAGE WOMEN OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR SUBURBAN HOUSEHOLDS OR SUBURBAN, QUOTE,, HOUSEWIVES THE TRUMP THINKS HE'S SPEAKING TO.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT RELATABLE.

SHE PULLS WELL WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY SUPPORT HIM, HIS RABID BASE OF THE 30, 35 PERCENT.

THERE IS A REASON WHY TRUMP IS 20 POINTS UNDERWATER WITH THESE WOMEN, WITH THAT DEMOGRAPHIC.

IT BECAUSE THEY SEE MELANIA SWATTING HIS HAND AWAY WHEN THEY ARE WALKING FROM OFFICIAL EVENTS AT TIMES.

THEY SEE THAT SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THIS BE BEST CAMPAIGN AGAINST CYBER BULLYING, BUT SHE'S MARRIED TO THE BIGGEST CYBER BULLY IN THE WORLD AND IT HAS NOT HAD ANY IMPACT WHATSOEVER.

SO SHE HAS NO CREDIBILITY IN THAT RESPECT, LAUGHABLE.

AND WHEN IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HER TO SPEAK OUT ON THE ISSUES OF RACIAL JUSTICE OR ON OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO SOFTEN THIS PRESIDENT AND TRY TO GIVE SOME CREDENCE TO THAT pTHEY CARE ABOUT FOLKS, SHE'S ONLY DONE ONCE AND THAT WAS DURING A VERY SCRIPTED AND PROBABLY VERY FOCUSED GROUP SPEECH DURING THE CONVENTION WHERE, THAT WAS NICE TO HEAR FROM HER TO ACKNOWLEDGE FIRST FRONTLINE WORKERS IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE RACIAL INJUSTICE PROTESTS GOING ON, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE BASICALLY FORCED TO DO IT, YOU CANNOT SPEAK AT THE CONVENTION FOR YOUR HUSBAND, IT COMES ACROSS AS DISINGENUOUS.

SO I REALLY DON'T THINK SHE'S THAT MUCH OF AN ASSET AT THIS POINT TO THIS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE SHE'S REALLY BEEN AN ABSENT FIRST LADY.

>> Bonnie: ELEANOR?

>> Del.

Eleanor Holmes Norton: WELL, SHE CAN MAKE UP FOR THE ABSENCE OF WOMEN PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

YOU WOULD EXPECT HER TO SPEAK AT SOME POINT AND SHE IS BENIGN.

SHE DOES NOT HELP HIM, SHE DOES NOT HURT HIM.

PEOPLE ONLY GO OFF TO THE WIFE.

BUT IF YOU ARE, AND AGREE WITH TARA, 20, 20 POINTS BEHIND WOMEN, WOMEN GIVE US THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BACK.

WOMEN IS WHERE HIS DEFICIT IS.

WHERE WERE THOSE WOMEN SENATORS?

WHERE WERE THOSE WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHO HAVE SOME CREDIBILITY?

HIS DEFICIT, HE CANNOT OVERCOME HIS DEFICIT WITH WOMEN WITH MELANIA.

>> Tara Setmayer: AND GET A RECORD NUMBER OF WOMEN WIN IN THE 2018 MIDTERMS IN RESPONSE TO THE DISSATISFACTION IN THE SUBURBAN DISTRICTS TO THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY.

I MEAN, WOMEN ARE THE MAJORITY PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS IN THIS COUNTRY AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WOMEN VOTERS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SWING STATES.

AND IF THEY DON'T MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE FATAL FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN BECAUSE OF HOW CLOSE IT WAS LAST TIME.

THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE WOMEN BY 20 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

>> Bonnie: WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE RNC CHAIR IS A WOMAN AND IF THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD AT LEAST TWO COCHAIRS, PATRICIA HARRISON NOW HEAD OF THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING WAS ONE, AND THERE WAS A VERY FAMOUS ONE.

I'M SORRY, MY MEMORY ESCAPES ME AT THE MOMENT, THE BACK IN THE '80s, FIRST FEMALE CHAIR OR COCHAIR OF THE RNC.

WHY AREN'T THEY PROMOTING THAT?

BECAUSE THE CHAIR OF THE DNC IS A MAN.

>> Tara Setmayer: BECAUSE THEY KNOW IS TOKENISM.

PEOPLE CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT.

AND WE HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, FEMALE CHAIR OF THE RNC TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS A FAMILY MAN, IT JUST COMES ACROSS AS NOT CREDIBLE.

IT JUST STRAINS CREDULITY AND PEOPLE SEE RIGHT THROUGH THAT.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO SQUARE THE WORDS COMING OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF SOME OF THE WOMEN WHO ARE ACOLYTE TO THE PRESIDENT VERSUS HIS RECORD AND HIS OWN BEHAVIOR TOWARD WOMEN.

>> Bonnie: ELEANOR, WHAT ARE THE REPUBLICANS NEEDING TO DO NOW, IF YOU THINK THEY CAN DO ANYTHING, TO PULL IT OUT?

I MEAN, THE NUMBERS ALWAYS TIGHTEN RUNNING UP TO AN ELECTION.

BUT ONE THING THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IS MAIL-IN BALLOT IN AN EARLY VOTING.

I PERSONALLY AM EARLY VOTING IN VIRGINIA, ONE OF MANY STATES ALLOWING YOU TO WALK INTO MOST OFTEN EMPTY REGISTRAR'S OFFICE OR VOTE, POLLING PLACE AND GO BEFORE EARLY NOVEMBER.

HOW IS THE FACT THAT THE POLLS ARE FAVORING BIDEN, NOW BIDEN-HARRIS NOW, MORE LIKELY THAN THEY WILL BE ON ELECTION DAY GOING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE TENOR OF THE SELECTION?

>> Del.

Eleanor Holmes Norton: IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF SOMEONE WHO COULD TURN AROUND THIS MANY POINTS BEHIND.

HE IS HOPING THAT SOME KIND OF MIRACLE CURE FROM CORONAVIRUS WILL DO IT.

BONNIE, I'M PLEASED TO HEAR YOU SAY YOU ARE EARLY VOTING.

I AM ADVISING MY CONSTITUENTS DON'T DEPEND ON THE MAIL.

EVEN IF WE DO OUR BEST ON MAIL-IN VOTING, AND WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL IN THE PAST ON MAIL-IN VOTING, WE HAVE NEVER HAD MAIL-IN VOTING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH SO MANY BALLADS COMING IN AND WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRYING TO DISCREDIT YOUR MAIL VOTE BEFORE IT IS EVEN RECEIVED.

SO THE NOTION OF GOING TO THE POLLS IS THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE THIS DILEMMA.

>> Bonnie: TARA, YOUR A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LINCOLN PROJECT COURSE COFOUNDED BY GEORGE CONWAY, KELLYANNE CONWAY'S HUSBAND, WHO HAS RESIGNED FROM THAT POSITION AS SHE HAS RESIGNED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

DO YOU --WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HOW EARLY VOTING AND MAIL-IN VOTING COULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE SELECTION, EVEN IF THE POLLS TIGHTEN TO NECK AND NECK BY NOVEMBER?

>> Tara Setmayer: YEAH.

YOU KNOW, AT THE LINCOLN PROJECT, WE ARE DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN VOTE, THAT WE POINT OUT WHERE VOTER SUPPRESSION EFFORTS ARE HAPPENING IN SOME OF THE ADS AND SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

OUR WOMEN, WOMEN'S COALITION AND THE LINCOLN PROJECT THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY FORMED, WE HAVE WOMEN LEADERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE MAKING SURE THAT GETTING OUT THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO VOTE EARLY, WAITED MAKE SURE TO BE REGISTERED, THAT THAT IS HAPPENING IN LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.

AND I THINK THAT THE ATTACK ON THE MAIL-IN SYSTEM BLEW UP IN THEIR FACES BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS ANGER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE LOCKING OUR MAILBOXES, TAKING OUR MAILBOXES OFF THE STREETS AND OUR POSTAL WORKERS WHO, YOU KNOW, CANNOT WORK OVERTIME, YOU REMOVING MAIL SORTING MACHINES BEFORE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN 100 YEARS WHERE MAIL-IN VOTING IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS THAT IS STILL RAGING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THEY ARE TRYING TO SET UP THIS PREDICATE TO DISPUTE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IF IT IS CLOSED, WHICH IS WHY IT NEEDS TO BE A LANDSLIDE.

>> Bonnie: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MY FRIENDS.

IT'S GOING TO BE, WHATEVER HAPPENS IS IT'S GOING TO BE A HECKUVA BRONCO RIDE BETWEEN NOW AND WHENEVER OUR NEXT PRESIDENT IS IN OFFICE.

THANK YOU BOTH.

>> Tara Setmayer: THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> Del.

Eleanor Holmes Norton: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, BONNIE.

>> Bonnie: JOINING ME NOW IS REPUBLICAN SENATOR SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO OF WEST VIRGINIA.

ELCOME, SENATOR, AND GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> Sen. Capito: THANK YOU, BONNIE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Bonnie: HAPPY TO.

SO TELL ME, WEST VIRGINIA IS TRENDING RED BUT HAS BEEN SORT OF PURPLE IN THE PAST.

HOW DO YOU SEE WEST VIRGINIA VOTERS VOTING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE THIS FALL?

>> Sen. Capito: WELL, I THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP REMAINS VERY POPULAR IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND I EXPECT THAT HE WILL HANDILY TAKE OUR STATE.

BUT OUR STATE, YOU ARE RIGHT IN DESCRIBING, WE ARE THOUGHT TO BE RED AND WE DO HAVE OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION EXCEPT FOR SENATOR MANSION ARE ALL REPUBLICANS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A VOTER REGISTRATION BENEFIT TO THE DEMOCRATS.

SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL POLITICS THAT CHANGES, BUT I DO BELIEVE PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL WIN HANDILY.

>> Bonnie: WHAT YOU THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IS IN WEST VIRGINIA?

IS IT GUNS?

IS IT THE EVANGELICAL VOTE WITH BEING ANTIABORTION AND ANTI-LGBTQ EQUALITY?

>> Sen. Capito: NOW.

ACTUALLY, WHAT I THINK IT IS IS OVER THE EIGHT YEARS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, OUR COAL INDUSTRY REALLY SUFFERED MIGHTILY AND OUR ECONOMICS JUST CRATERED.

AND IT JUST APPEARED TO ALL OF US HERE, UNDERSTANDING THAT COAL HAS CHALLENGES, THAT THEY DID NOT CARE AND THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE CAMPAIGNED, HE MADE A PART OF HIS PLATFORM, WAS TO HELP THOSE FORGOTTEN MEN AND WOMEN IN THE COAL INDUSTRY AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.

SO IT IS BETTER AND IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS, AND I THINK IT'S MORE OF A FEELING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS PROMISED HE WOULD BE TOUGH ON CHINA, PROMISED HE WOULD PROTECT SECOND AMENDMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S DONE.

SO I THINK THAT BEING TRUE TO WHAT HIS PLATFORM WAS ORIGINALLY HAS BEEN I THINK A WAY TO SORT OF SEAL THE DEAL WITH WEST VIRGINIANS.

>> Bonnie: ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WHERE YOU DIFFER WITH HIM?

>> Sen. Capito: WELL, I MEAN, EVERY TIME WE HAVE A PRESIDENT OF THE SAME PARTY DOES IT MEAN WE ALWAYS AGREE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

I THINK MOST OF THE POLICIES THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS MOVED FORWARD, I'VE AGREED ON THE ECONOMIC POLICIES, WE SAW A LOT OF GROWTH HERE PRE-PANDEMIC.

I HAVE VOICED CONCERNS MORE THAN A FEW TIMES ABOUT SOME OF THE TONE AND SOME OF THE THEATRICS I THINK SOMETIMES THAT THE PRESIDENT BRINGS, WHICH HE WOULD ARGUE IS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I MIGHT DISAGREE WITH THE, WITH THE TECHNIQUE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF POLICIES RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT IS MORE NIPPING AROUND THE EDGES AND HOW TO GET TO A PLACE RATHER THAN THE MAIN ISSUES.

I THINK I PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE AND WOULD DO IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bonnie: AND ONE BIG ISSUE FOR YOU IS BROADBAND, BECAUSE YOU ARE SUCH A RURA STATE AND BECAUSE VERY MOUNTAINOUS, , THE AND BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACCESS IN THE HIGHER AREAS, THE HIGHLANDS, WHERE DOES HE COME DOWN ON THIS AND WHERE YOU COME DOWN ON THIS.

>> Sen. Capito: THIS IS BEEN A REAL FRUSTRATION FOR ME WHEN I FIRST BECAME AS SENATOR, I STARTED THE SENATE RURAL BROADBAND CAUCUS BIPARTISAN GROUP.

I MEAN, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR IS ON THERE, SENATOR KAINE, A LOT OF US BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN RURAL AREAS.

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS GREATER AND GREATER.

SO WE PREVAILED UPON THE ADMINISTRATION AS WE DID THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR TO INCREASE PROGRAMS LIKE USDA RECONNECT, TALK WITH THE FCC COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING FOR BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS, IMPROVEMENT OF THE MAPS.

AND WHEN WE SEE THE PANDEMIC, WE SEE TELEHEALTH UNTIL EDUCATION AND TELEWORKING, AND SOME OF OUR PEOPLE ARE STRANDED WITHOUT SERVICE, IT REALLY I THINK REEMPHASIZES THE BOLD MEASURES WE NEED TO TAKE.

HAS IT BEEN ENOUGH FOR ME?

NO.

BECAUSE NOT UNTIL WE SERVE THE LAST HOUSE WILL BE ENOUGH FOR ME.

BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME GOOD SUCCESSES HERE AND EXPANDING IT.

I HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED CAPITO CONNECT AND WE WORK ON IT ALL THE TIME.

>> Bonnie: IS THAT IN ANY WAY RELATED TO MORAL ELECTRIFICATION?

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS STILL AN ISSUE IN WEST VIRGINIA, THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION OR WHATEVER THE NEW NAME IS FOR IT.

>> Sen. Capito: THE ARC IS THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION, WHICH MOVES TO GET RESOURCES TO UNDERDEVELOPED PARTS OF APPALACHIA WHICH IS ACTUALLY A LARGE WEST VIRGINIA, NOT ALL OF IT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER STATES.

IT'S INTERESTING YOU BRING THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION BECAUSE IN THE USDA, WHENEVER THAT WAS RURAL DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S WHERE THE PLAN WENT OUT 100 YEARS AGO.

SO THAT'S THE SAME MECHANISM, SINCE WE ARE ALL ELECTRIFIED NOW, USING THE SCENE OF TRENT MECHANISM TO TRY TO GET BROADBAND THROUGH USDA.

THAT'S WHY AGRICULTURE HAS BEEN PART OF THIS.

AND OUR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES HAVE PARTICIPATED BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING OUT INTO AREAS THAT ARE SO REMOTE, MAYBE CUSTOMERS THAT HAD TOUGH TIME GETTING SERVICE CERTAINLY GETTING INTERNET SERVICE, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEPLOY THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

>> Bonnie: ONE AREA THE PRESIDENT HAS PROBLEMS WITH, WE ALL KNOW, IS SUBURBAN WHITE WOMEN -- WHO HE WON WOMEN IN 2016.

HE WON WHITE WOMEN AND HE WON WHITE MARRIED WOMEN.

BUT THIS TIME, NOT SO SURE, PARTICULARLY SUBURBAN MOMS ARE TRENDING AGAINST THE PRESIDENT THIS TIME BECAUSE, BECAUSE, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS, OF THE THEATRICS AS YOU CALLED IT, BUT SOME WOULD SAY HE IS VERY HARSH, VERY ANGRY.

YOU SEE A LOT MORE PICTURES OF HIM, EVEN ON FOX NEWS, SO NOT THE LIBERAL MEDIA, BUT EVEN ON FOX NEWS.

HE'S GOT AN ANGRY, HORRIBLE LOOKING FACE AND HE WALKS AROUND LIKE THAT A LOT ONE TIME, I NOTICED THAT HE DID NOT DO THAT WAS WHEN HIS WIFE SPOKE TO THE CONVENTION ON TUESDAY NIGHT HE WAS SMILING.

IT WAS KIND OF SHOCKING TO SEE HIM SMILE.

DOES HE NEED TO DO MORE OF THAT TO SOFTEN UP FOR SUBURBAN WHITE MOMS?

>> Sen. Capito: WELL, I DO THINK THAT MY MENTION OF THE TONE IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT CERTAINLY IS DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF SUBURBAN MOMS.

I MEAN, I EQUATE IT TO, YOU KNOW, MY CHILDREN ARE OLDER NOW, BUT I SPENT A LOT OF YEARS TEACHING THEM TO BE KIND AND TEACHING THEM TO BE RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE THAT EITHER AREN'T AS BLESSED AS THEY ARE OR HAVE OTHER SORTS OF ISSUES INTO THE UNDERSTANDING.

I TELL YOU THIS, THE PRESIDENT IS A VERY GOOD LISTENER.E LISTENS TO PEOPLE AND HE I THINK HAS THE HEART TO WANT TO TRY TO FIX THESE THINGS.

HE DOESN'T I THINK -- HE HASN'T CHANGED SINCE HE WAS CAMPAIGNING IN TERMS OF TWEETING.

FOR THOSE VIEWERS WHO HAVE SEEN THE PLAY HAMILTON WHERE BYRD TELLS HAMILTON TO TALK LESS, SMILE MORE, I KIND OF WENT OFF ON THE AND SAID TO THE PRESIDENT, TO LESS, SMILE MORE.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WELCOMING SIGHT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HIS PERSONALITY, WE ELECT PERSONALITIES.

AND HIS PERSONALITY I THINK IS THE REAL DEAL.

WE KNOW HOW HE FEELS ALL THE TIME, AND I THINK THAT IS A GOOD THING, AND YOU CAN MAKE YOUR CALCULATIONS FROM THEIR.

>> Bonnie: SENATOR, ALSO ANOTHER THING I NOTICED WHEN MELANIA TRUMP WAS TAKING IN THE ROSE GARDEN WAS THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF WERE ALL OR WHOEVER WAS IN THE AUDIENCE WERE ALL SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER WITH NO MASKS.

AND EVEN WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE, ACCORDING TO MOST -- AT LEAST MARYLAND, THE STATE WHERE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN VIRGINIA WHERE I LIVE, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MASK IF YOU ARE NOT SOCIALLY DISTANCING, EVEN OUTSIDE.

DID THAT SURPRISE YOU AT ALL?

HOW DID HE FEEL ABOUT THAT IMAGE BEING SENT TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY?

>> Sen. Capito: WELL, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY OUR GOVERNOR HAS BEEN VERY STRICT ON THE MASK POLICY.

IT'S NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE I AM.

ALWAYS HAVE IT NEAR ME.

I'VE BEEN WEARING IT TO THE SENATOR EVENT EARLIER THIS MORNING WHERE WE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE OUTSIDE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SIX FEET APART BECAUSE IT'S RESPECTFUL NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT -- I KNOW THAT HAVING BEEN WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT LAST WEEK, EVERYBODY IN THOSE ROOMS ARE TESTED BEFORE THEY GO.

AND I GUESS THEY MADE A CALCULATION SINCE THEY HAD BEEN TESTED THAT THEY DID NOT NEED TO WEAR THE MASK.

I THINK IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF THEY HAD WHEN THE MASKS, BUT THAT WAS A COMPILATION THE PROBABLY MADE BASED ON THE TEST.

>> Bonnie: BLACK LIVES MATTER: WHAT IS YOUR FEELING ABOUT THAT ISSUE?

HOW IS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOING ON THAT ISSUE IN WEST VIRGINIA, WHICH HAS NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AS COMPARED TO WITH SOME OTHER STATES?

>> Sen. Capito: YEAH.

WE DO HAVE A SMALLER POPULATION, BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY LESS IMPORTANT.

CERTAINLY THINK BLACK LIVES MATTER.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT BREAKS YOUR HEART TO SEE FAMILIES, FATHERS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, LOST THEIR LIVES OR SHOT IN THE PURSUIT.

AND THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ADJUDICATED AND THOSE THINGS CANNOT STAND AS AN ACCEPTED PRACTICE, OBVIOUSLY.

THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO DO THE PRISON REFORM BILL IN THE SENATE WHICH WAS MET WITH SERIOUS OPPOSITION ON WHICH I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CANNOT BE, COULD NOT OF BEEN A VERY, VERY GOOD FIRST STEP FOR US.

SO I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT IN A RURAL AREA WITH A SMALLER MINORITY POPULATION, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CARING AND LOVING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

>> Bonnie: MELANIA TRUMP, ISSUE SOMEBODY WHO HELPS GAIN THE SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT OF SUBURBAN WHITE MOMS OR NOT?

>> Sen. Capito: YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE DOES.

I MEAN, I THINK SHE HAS --I THINK SHE HAS A NATURALLY SHY PERSON.

I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN AT PUBLIC EVENTS WITH HER.

HE CAME TO WEST VIRGINIA TO TALK TO MOTHERS ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS, AND HOW THEY'RE CARING FOR THEIR BABIES AND HOW THEY'RE MANAGING THEIR FAMILIES.

SHE HAS A VERY WARM TOUCH AT A AND A VERY GENUINE AND HEART THAT SHE MOVES FORWARD WITH.

BUT I THINK SHE IS SHY.

THE OTHER THING OUTSIDE, I WOULD NEVER ESTIMATE WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCE SHE HAS ON HER HUSBAND.

I THINK WE SAID THIS THROUGH THE YEARS AS WE LOOKED AT ALL FIRST LADIES AND SOMEDAY MAYBE FIRST MAN THAT ESPOUSES GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE ON THAT PERSON, BECAUSE IN A LOT OF WAYS THE PRESIDENCY IS VERY ISOLATING.

AND SO, I DO THINK THAT MELANIA HELPS A LOT, BUT SHE DOES IT IN HER OWN WAY AND I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THAT.

SHE HAS TO BE HER OWN PERSON.

I WAS TRYING TO THINK THE OTHER DAY, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR THIS PHOTO?

IN MY DAUGHTER, I WAS TALKING TO HER ON THE PHONE, SHE GOES, WHY DON'T YOU WEAR SOMETHING YOU LIKE?

THINKING, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

SO I THINK SHE GOES WITH THAT SORT OF PHILOSOPHY.

>> Bonnie: WILL LAST QUESTION BROUGHT TO MIND: KAMALA HARRIS, A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS IN THE SENATE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HER AND HER ADDITION TO THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET?

>> Sen. Capito: I THINK THAT KAMALA HARRIS IS VERY TALENTED AND I CONSIDER HER A FRIEND, A FRIEND, BUT I THINK HER POLICIES ARE WAY OFF THE MARK AND I DON'T THINK SHE'S QUITE CEMENTED WHAT HER POLICIES ARE.

WE SAW DURING HER PRESIDENTIAL RUN SHE SAID, YES, WE COULD GET RID OF PRIVATE INSURANCE, NO, WE COULDN'T GET RID OF ALL PRIVATE INSURANCE.

SO THAT'S A BIG QUESTION FOR ME IS A POLICY, BUT I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE POLICIES THAT THEY ARE PURSUING, THEY CERTAINLY DON'T FLY HERE IN WEST VIRGINIA, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> Bonnie: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SENATOR SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, REPUBLICAN OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "TO THE CONTRARY".

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