
The 2020 Presidential Election
11/6/2020 | 26m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
How Did Women Turnout To Vote This Election?
The panel analyzes how the women vote went in an election that seemingly leans towards former Vice President Joe Biden. Did President Trump gain support and in what ways did he potentially falter? Panel: Frmr. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Patrice Lee Onwuka, Hilary Rosen, Linda Chavez.
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Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.

The 2020 Presidential Election
11/6/2020 | 26m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
The panel analyzes how the women vote went in an election that seemingly leans towards former Vice President Joe Biden. Did President Trump gain support and in what ways did he potentially falter? Panel: Frmr. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Patrice Lee Onwuka, Hilary Rosen, Linda Chavez.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> Bonnie: HELLO.
I AM BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY", A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
AND WHAT A WEEK!
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AS OF THIS TAPING, NOT YET DECIDED BUT LEANING HEAVILY TOWARD FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.
JOINING ME TO DISCUSS HOW BIDEN DID WITH WOMEN, HOW WOMEN DID IN THE SENATE, AND THE HOUSE AND THE WOMEN'S VOTE OVERALL R, DONNA EDWARDS, FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM MARYLAND, DEMOCRAT; HILARY ROSEN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST; PATRICE LEE OF THE INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM; AND LINDA CHAVEZ, CEO OF THE CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
HELLO, EVERYBODY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> DOING WELL.
>> Bonnie: LET'S IT GOING.
FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE THE TAPING, HILARY, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW WHITE WOMEN VERSUS WOMEN OF COLOR WENT FOR BIDEN.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN?
>> Hilary Rosen: I DON'T THINK IT'S AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT THE SELECTION IS GOING TO BE SAVED AGAIN BY WOMEN OF COLOR AND, YOU KNOW, FOR WHITE WOMEN IT'S LIKE THE WOMEN WE HAVE ENSLAVED ARE SAVING US FROM TYRANNY AND GOD BLESS THEM, BECAUSE WHITE WOMEN WHEN 55 PERCENT FOR DONALD TRUMP OVER 43 PERCENT FOR JOE BIDEN, BLACK WOMEN WENT 90 PERCENT FOR JOE BIDEN, LATIN -- LATINAS WENT 70 PERCENT FOR JOE BIDEN.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS VICTORY WITHOUT WOMEN OF COLOR.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN AN INTERESTING WAY, THE GENDER GAP HAS WIDENED WITH WHITE WOMEN IN THE SELECTION.
IT DOES SHOW THAT FOR ALL OF THIS TERRIBLE NARRATIVE THAT HILLARY CLINTON SUFFERED ABOUT HOW WOMEN DID NOT SUPPORT HER, THAT ACTUALLY HAVING A WOMAN AT THE TOP OF THE TO GET BROUGHT OUT MORE WHITE WOMEN TO SUPPORT HER, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN OUR PARTY WITH WHITE WOMEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
>> Bonnie: AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT AND TALK ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE AT THE SAME TIME?
>> Hilary Rosen: WELL, I DON'T THINK WHITE WOMEN ARE AGAINST RACIAL JUSTICE.
I THINK WHITE WOMEN AND LACK WOMEN HAVE, YOU KNOW, MUCH MORE IN COMMON.
WE CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILIES, WE CARE ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITY, WE CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HEALTHCARE.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE CREATED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DIVISION IN THIS COUNTRY DUE TO A PRESIDENT WHO'S INTERESTED WAS TO SEW THAT DIVISION.
I THINK WE JUST NEED A MORE CONCENTRATED EFFORT BY WOMEN ACROSS AISLES TO SAY THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE THIS KIND OF DIVISION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS A CHALLENGE.T'S A CHALLENGE WE HAVE FACED IN MULTIPLE ELECTIONS FOR -- TO ENCOURAGE WHITE WOMEN TO THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY DIFFERENTLY, TO THINK ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS AND EQUAL PAY LAWS AND OTHER THINGS THAT BRING THEM TO THE TABLE IN A WAY THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOESN'T.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S OUR CHALLENGE.
>> Bonnie: LINDA, AS A LATINA, HOW DO YOU SEE -- HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT 70 PERCENT OF LATINAS VOTED FOR BIDEN AND 30 PERCENT FOR TRUMP?
WHY IS THAT?
WHAT WAS THE DETERMINING FACTOR?
>> Linda Chavez: YOU CANNOT REALLY TALK ABOUT HISPANIC VOTERS AS A SINGLE HOMOGENOUS GROUP.
VOTERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA, THE CUBAN-AMERICANS, THE VENEZUELA AMERICANS, NICARAGUAN AMERICANS WERE VERY, VERY PERSUADED BY TRUMP'S, YOU KNOW, SOCIALIST MESSAGE THAT IF SOMEHOW THE DEMOCRATS WERE ELECTED, IT WAS GOING TO TURN MIAMI-DADE INTO CARACAS.
I DON'T KNOW.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD ARGUMENT, BUT I WAS WRONG.
>> Bonnie: BUT LET ME ALSO SAY ABOUT CUBA, IT GOES -- BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER WAS CUBAN AND ALL OF MY FAMILY FLED CUBA AFTER CASTRO.
THEY TURNED REPUBLICAN BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY ANTI-CASTRO.
CASTRO TOOK EVERYTHING FROM MY GRANDFATHER THAT HE HAD SPENT 20 YEARS BUILDING UP IN CUBA.
THEY JUST SEE IT COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY FROM HOW, FOR EXAMPLE, MEXICAN AMERICANS SEE IT.
>> Linda Chavez: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S AMAZING TO ME IS THAT YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN VICIOUSLY ANTI-HISPANIC.
I MEAN, HE HAS BEEN JUST UNBELIEVABLE ABOUT MEXICANS, MEXICAN AMERICANS, YOU KNOW, CALLING AND ADD -- MEXICAN-AMERICAN JUDGE NOT AN AMERICAN ESSENTIALLY AND YET YOU'VE GOT A LARGE NUMBER OF HISPANIC VOTERS, INCLUDING MEXICAN AMERICANS, WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.
>> Bonnie: BUT THAT WAS MAINLY MEN AND THAT WAS BECAUSE, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ, THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY LIKE HIS MACHISMO AND HIS BRAVADO AND THEY WERE DRAWN TO THAT.
WHY WOULD THEY BE DRAWN TO THAT AND NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE THINGS HE WAS SAYING, THAT THEY ARE RAPISTS AND MURDERERS?
>> Linda Chavez: YOU KNOW, I DO THINK, BONNIE, THAT CORONAVIRUS WAS A HUGE ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
I THINK DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT WAS GOING TO GO DOWN TO JOE BIDEN'S BENEFIT, AND I THINK IT DID, BUT FOR CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS PERSON, YOU KNOW, AN IMMIGRANT WHO IS NOW A CITIZEN OR EVEN A MEXICAN-AMERICAN, ETC., YOU'VE GOT A SMALL BUSINESS GOING AND YOUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN, YOUR CONSUMED MAY BE MOSTLY ABOUT OPENING UP THAT BUSINESS.
AND I THINK THAT ENDED UP HELPING PRESIDENT TRUMP MORE THAN I THOUGHT.
YOU KNOW, JUST A VIEWERS NOT BE CONFUSED, YOU KNOW, I AM A REPUBLICAN.
I AM A CONSERVATIVE.
BUT I VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN.
>> Bonnie: WHY IS IT THAT, ONCE AGAIN, ALL BUT PROBABLY SINGLE WHITE WOMEN, THEY WILL, MY GUESS IS SINGLE WHITE WOMEN WILL HAVE VOTED BY LARGE MARGINS FOR TRUMP, ALONG WITH WOMEN OF COLOR AND MARRIED WHITE WOMEN ARE THE ONES WHO PUSHED THE MAJORITY VOTE OF WHITE WOMEN TO TRUMP.
WHY IS THAT?
>> Donna Edwards: WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A DECADES' LONG STRUGGLE OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT IS THAT WHITE WOMEN VOTE THE INTERESTS OF THEIR HUSBANDS AND PARTNERS AND THEM IN THEIR LIVES, AND BLACK WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, VOTE THE INTERESTS OF THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY VOTE FOR THEIR SELF-INTEREST IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC AND OTHER ISSUES.
AND -- AND THEY ARE PRAGMATIC VOTERS.
YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES?
AND, ONCE AGAIN, YOU DO SEE WOMEN OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN, HOLDING UP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
IN THIS INSTANCE, PERHAPS TRANSFORMING THE ELECTION, EVEN BY A SLIM MARGIN, FROM DONALD TRUMP TO JOE BIDEN.
I ACTUALLY THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO START TAKING A LOOK AT IS THE GENDER GAP THAT'S TAKING PLACE BETWEEN LATINO MEN AND LATINAS AND BETWEEN BLACK MEN AND BLACK WOMEN, WHICH IS THOSE GAPS SEEM TO HAVE GROWN WITH DONALD TRUMP AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE KIND OF MESSAGES THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN I THINK WAS VERY EFFECTIVE AT CONTINUALLY BOMBARDING THEM WITH MESSAGES.
LOOK, HE NEVER SOUGHT TO GET ALL OF THEM.
HE JUST NEEDED A SLIVER OF THEM, AND THAT'S WHAT HE WAS SHOOTING FOR AND -- >> Bonnie: OKAY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT POSTELECTION NOW.
WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY A HUGE MOVEMENT OF ALL PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS, BUT IN SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES MATTER AND LOOKING FOR ALL KINDS OF REFORMS FROM CHANGES IN POLICE TRAINING TO DEFUNDING THE POLICE TO ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS THAT IS -- ARE NOT GOING TO HELP DEMOCRATS WITH WHITE MARRIED WOMEN.
HOW IS JOE BIDEN GOING TO NAVIGATE THAT?
WHAT POLICIES, QUICKLY, PLEASE, ARE WE GOING TO SEE HIM TRY TO PASS THAT WILL GET BOTH AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND WHITE MARRIED WOMEN, EVEN WHITE MARRIED MEN, BACK INTO THE DEMOCRATIC FOLD?
>> Donna Edwards: WELL, I MEAN, I THINK IS GOING TO FOCUS ON REBUILDING THE ECONOMY BY SHUTTING DOWN A VIRUS.
HE SAID AT THE OUTSET, I THINK IT WILL FOCUS ON CREATING JOBS THAT, YOU KNOW, GO ACROSS THE ECONOMY.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO MEN, WOMEN, BLACK, WHITE, IN TERMS OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND THAT IS NOW -- THAT'S NO DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, I WAS VERY INSPIRED, FRANKLY, BY YOUNG PEOPLE, THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT BETWEEN YOUNG BLACK MEN, YOUNG BLACK WOMEN, LATINAS, ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 30 WHO CAME OUT OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF JOE BIDEN.
THAT IS A VOTE FOR THE FUTURE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO STAY, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED ON HOW IT IS THAT WE TRY TO GET WOMEN THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET FOR 40 YEARS.
AND I WOULD RATHER FOCUS ON HOW WE CAN BRING ALONG THESE NEW VOTERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE MILLENNIALS AND THE GEN XERS WERE GOING TO MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION.
JOE BIDEN HAD A TREMENDOUS APPEAL TO THIS NEW GROUP OF VOTERS.
>> Patrice Lee: BONNIE, I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO RESPOND TO SO MANY THINGS THAT OCCURRED TODAY WHICH IS AMAZING: NUMBER ONE, I WOULD THINK A LOT OF MY WHITE FEMALE FRIENDS WHO VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SUPPORT CONSERVATIVES ARE INSULTED TO SAY THAT THEY ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEIR HUSBANDS TOLD THEM SO WHERE THEY ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEIR HUSBANDS.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE ARE MANY WOMEN WHO ARE BUSINESS OWNERS FOR THEMSELVES AND MAKE THE CALCULATION THAT PROGROWTH POLICIES OF DEREGULATION, TAX CUTS ARE BETTER FOR THEM THAN INCREASING REGULATION AND INCREASING TAXES.
WHEN I LOOK AT IMMIGRATION, WHEN I LOOK SPECIFICALLY, THOUGH, AT HISPANIC WOMEN AND HISPANIC MEN AND BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK MEN, ACTUALLY SEE THE HILLARY CLINTON DID BETTER AMONG BLACK WOMEN THAN JOE BIDEN DID AMONG BLACK MEN.
SO -- BLACK WOMEN SO FAR.
THERE HAS BEEN AN EROSION SLOWLY OF BLACK WOMEN AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE THEY FEEL, NOT SURPRISINGLY, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROMISES MADE THAT WERE NEVER CAPPED AND I THINK WITH HISPANIC WOMEN, YOU'RE ALSO SEEING A SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAUSE, AGAIN, THESE WOMEN ARE THINKING ABOUT BUSINESSES, THINKING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC SITUATION.
>> Bonnie: YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATED WOMEN OF COLOR, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHITE WOMEN WHO SUPPORTED TRUMP, I KNOW LOTS OF THEM IN THE HORSE WORLD, I OWN A HORSE FARM IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND MOST OF THOSE WOMEN ARE FINANCIAL -- REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE REASON OR NOT, BUT THEY ARE FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT ON THEIR HUSBANDS.
AND THEY HAVE MORE SO-CALLED TRADITIONAL, SOME WOULD SAY PASS MARRIAGES, WHERE THE MAN IS, YOU KNOW, THE VILLAGES, THE MAN IS THE KING OF THE HOUSE.
>> BONNIE, THIS IS LIKE FIGHTING WORDS FOR YOU.
BONNIE, WE HAVE ALL SORT OF MADE FUN OF PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN HE MADE THAT APPEAL TO WOMEN SAYING I'M GOING TO GET YOUR HUSBANDS BACK TO WORK.
I MEAN, THERE IS A KIND OF STRANGE GENIUS THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S UNDERAPPRECIATED.
I DON'T CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.
BUT HE DOES SPEAK TO A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION AND HE ENERGIZES THEM AND IT DIDN'T WORK ENOUGH FOR HIM I THINK TO WIN THIS ELECTION.
[CROSS TALK] >> APPEAL TO A VERY LARGE PART OF THE POPULATION WHICH IS WHY THE BLUE WAVE DID NOT MATERIALIZE, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE TURNOUT THAT WE THOUGHT WAS PREDICTED BY THE POLLS AND BILATERAL DEPENDENCE ON TELEVISION.
SO -- [CROSS TALK] >> WE HAVE THE LARGEST VOTER TURNOUT WE'VE EVER HAD IN THIS COUNTRY!
>> BUT THE BLUE WAVE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TRY -- >> AND SWINGS AND STATES.
WHEN YOU TAKE A SWING AT A STATE LIKE WISCONSIN BUT WENT FROM, YOU KNOW, 20,000 UNDERPERFORMANCE FOR DEMOCRATS TO 60,000, THAT'S AN 80,000 BOATSWAIN IN ONE STATE.
>> Bonnie: LET'S WRAP UP AND TALK, EACH OF YOU, A LITTLE BIT, AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AS HAVING WON REELECTION BECAUSE, AT THIS POINT WHEN WE TAPE THE SHOW, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE SEVERAL STATES THAT HAD NOT BEEN CALLED YET, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS GOING TO WIN.
BUT LET'S START WITH YOU, HILARY.
WHAT POLICIES ARE THE DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY ASSUMING THAT THE DEMOCRATS DO NOT WIN EVEN 50 VOTES IN THE SENATE, THAT'S UNCLEAR RIGHT NOW, BUT IT LOOKS UNLIKELY.
HOW IS BIDEN GOING TO GOVERN AND GET POLICIES THAT THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HIM PUT HIM IN OFFICE TO PUT IN PLACE?
>> Hilary Rosen: LOOK, I THINK THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING TIME TO HAVE PRESIDENT BIDEN COME IN WITH SUCH A TIGHT, YOU KNOW, MARGIN IN THE SENATE AND MITCH McCONNELL IS STILL DECIDING WHAT GETS TO THE FLOOR AND WHAT DOES NOT GET TO THE FLOOR.
I THINK THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MARGIN IS STILL PRETTY WIDE FOR GOVERNING AND ON I CAN SPEAK BETTER TO THAT.
BY THE WAY, SHADOW TO THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO ELECTED 13 NEW REPUBLICAN WOMEN THIS YEAR.
THEY REALLY MADE AN EFFORT OF GIVING UP ANIMAL FOR MORE WOMEN IN OFFICE, REGARDLESS OF PARTY.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE WILL SEE FROM JOE BIDEN IS TWO THINGS: FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE FORGET THAT UNLIKE DONALD TRUMP, JOE BIDEN ACTUALLY WANTS GOVERNMENT TO WORK.
HE ACTUALLY BELIEVES THAT GOVERNMENT CAN WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, AND I DO THINK IS GOING TO WORK HARD TO HEAL THIS COUNTRY, AND THAT MEANS BEING MORE BIPARTISAN THAN PERHAPS PEOPLE ON EITHER ENDS OF THE PARTY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN BEING.
>> Bonnie: BUT WHAT DOES THAT SAY -- [CROSS TALK] >> Bonnie: IS HE GOING TO GO FOR REPARATIONS?
>> Hilary Rosen: I THINK THERE ARE SERIES OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE STUCK, RIGHT?
I THINK A CLIMATE INITIATIVE IS GOING TO BE STUCK.
I THINK THAT, WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS ON THINGS LIKE GUN CONTROL?
WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS ON THINGS LIKE VOTING REFORM, WHICH IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED RIGHT NOW?
WHAT PLACES I THINK YOU WILL SEE HIM MOVE QUICKLY AND CAN I THINK GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WILL BE ON A NEW STIMULUS, THAT INCLUDES SOME THINGS LIKE REFORM FOR POLICING DEPARTMENTS AND FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR MORE THOUGHTFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH POLICE.
THAT WILL INCLUDE EDUCATION SUPPORT AND OTHER THINGS.
I THINK THERE ARE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE WHO WILL GO FOR THE PACKAGE WITH DONALD TRUMP OUT OF THEIR AS LONG AS IT BRINGS ENOUGH TO SMALL BUSINESS, IT BRINGS ENOUGH TO, YOU KNOW, RURAL AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THERE IS ROOM THERE.
I THINK JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO WORK HARD TO FIND THAT COMMON GROUND.
HE REALLY HAS NO CHOICE.
HEALTHCARE IN MY MIND IS A BIG ONE.
REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE HAVE EGG ON THEIR FACE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP NEVER GAVE THAT REPLACED BILL FOR OBAMACARE HE THAT HE PROMISED DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DOES.
HEALTHCARE, A BIPARTISAN EFFORT ON HEALTHCARE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A HUGE PRIORITY.
>> Bonnie: ALL RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT TO SWITCH.
RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
LET'S SWITCH TO THE SENATE.
WITH THE SENATE, THIS IS BEING CALLED THE YEAR OF THE REPUBLICAN WOMAN, AS HILARY MENTIONED.
PATRICE, I WHEN YOU GO TO YOU.
BUT AS HILARY SAID, THERE WERE 13 NEW HOUSE MEMBERS, REPUBLICAN WOMEN.
TALK ABOUT THE GAINS IN THE SENATE AND THE SEATS THAT WERE HELD IN THE SENATE BY REPUBLICAN WOMEN AND WHY THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE REPUBLICAN WOMAN.
>> Patrice Lee: ABSOLUTELY.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW EIGHT SENATE SEATS HELD BY REPUBLICAN WOMEN.
WE SAW ONLY ONE, MARTHA McSORLEY, LOSER SEE IN ARIZONA, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT YOU SAW OTHERS HOLD ONTO THE SEAT.
JONI ERNST REALLY WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO HELD ON, SUSAN COLLINS HELD ONTO HER SEAT AS WELL.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO WERE OUTSPENT BY THEIR DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS BY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS WHO ARE STILL ABLE TO, TO SURVIVE.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY ALIGN THEMSELVES, SOME OF THEM, WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND WITH HIS POLICIES.
YOU KNOW, I CANNOT UNDERSCORE, THOUGH, WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW AS WE WILL HAVE 31 WOMEN, REPUBLICAN WOMEN SERVING IN CONGRESS, WHICH IS A NEW RECORD, AND THAT'S FANTASTIC.
I APPLAUDED IN 2018 WHEN WE SAW NEW RECORDS FOR ALL THE WOMEN IN SERVING IN CONGRESS.
BUT I THINK WE SAW WOMEN, REPUBLICAN WOMEN FLIP SEATS.
WE SAW THEM ALSO UNSEAT INCUMBENTS.
AND SO, THAT TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT HOW REPUBLICANS PARTICULARLY LED BY AN EFFORT BY AT LEAST A PHONIC OUT OF NEW YORK TO RECRUIT WOMEN, TO RECRUIT MINORITY WOMEN, TO RECRUIT PEOPLE AND ALSO WOMEN -- BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS.
AND SO IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY.
I HOPE TO SEE MORE OF THIS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I BROUGHT UP THE BLUE WAVE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN BUT WE DID SEE A LOT OF ENERGY.ERE SUPPORTING REPUBLIC, CONSERVATIVE WOMEN.
I THINK IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT JUST ALL WHITE MEN THAT HAS BEEN PAID IN.
BUT ACTUALLY PEOPLE, WOMEN AND MINORITIES, PEOPLE WITH VETERANS, HISPANICS, ON THE THIS IS A PARTY THAT'S SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE POLICIES ARE ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND YES, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU WHO ALSO ARE SERVING IN LEADERSHIP.
>> Linda Chavez: CAN I INTERJECT HERE?
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED.
ONE OF THOSE REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO APPEARS TO HAVE GOTTEN ELECTED IS A QANON FANATIC.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY TOO BAD AND I WISH THAT SHE WOULD BE LESS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS INTO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE THAT IS A DISASTER.
>> Bonnie: INCHES FROM GEORGIA .
DONNA SHALALA, THE FORMER HHS SECRETARY UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON, WAS BEATEN IN FLORIDA BY A CONSERVATIVE, SOME WOULD SAY VERY CONSERVATIVE CUBAN-AMERICAN WOMAN.
DONNA, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE YEAR OF THE REPUBLICAN WOMAN.
>> Donna Edwards: FIRST OF ALL, LIKE HILARY, I ALWAYS CELEBRATE WITH MORE WOMEN, TO CONGRESS BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE FOR DEMOCRATS TO LOOK OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND SEE MORE WOMEN, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS THE GOVERNING CHANGE.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS HAVE TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE HOUSE RACES AND IN THE SENATE RACES.
AND SO, THAT'S GOING TO MEAN SOME -- AT LEAST RETHINKING ABOUT STRATEGY GOING FORWARD, AND FIGURING OUT WAYS IN WHICH DEMOCRATS CAN ACTUALLY BE MORE SUPPORTIVE.
SOME OF THE RACES THAT WERE LOST WERE REALLY, YOU KNOW, TALENTED WOMEN WHO WERE LOST AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WAYS TO INVEST IN THOSE CAMPAIGNS MORE AND STRONGLY SO THAT WE HAVE SOME SURVIVORS OUT THERE IN THESE TOUGH DISTRICTS.
>> Bonnie: YOU KNOW, HILARY, WAIT A SECOND, IN TERMS OF WHO WON THE PRESIDENCY, AND ASSUMING IT'S JOE BIDEN, OF COURSE, I WAS THINKING THERE COULDN'T BE A BETTER DEMOCRAT TO TRY TO DEAL WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATE THAN HIM BECAUSE, I COVERED CONGRESS AND THE '80s, AND HE WAS -- I COVERED IT WHEN HE WAS CHAIR OF JUDICIARY, WHEN IN THE CLARENCE THOMAS HEARINGS, HE REALLY ANNOYED A LOT OF PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE IN THE PARTY, BUT YOU WOULD THINK MAYBE GAIN SOME POINTS WITH CONSERVATIVES IN THE SENATE AT THAT TIME.
MEAN, HE STARTED OUT AS A GOOD OLD BOY FROM DELAWARE AND HE'S CHANGED A LOT IN THE LAST 40 YEARS.
BUT IS THAT GOING TO GIVE HIM POINTS WITH THE MITCH McCONNELLS OF THE WORLD?> Hilary Rosen: WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN APPLAUD ANYBODY TRYING TO COVER THEIR SON, THE ANITA HILL HEARINGS.
I THINK ALL OF THE MEN ON THAT PANEL DID.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT GETS ANYONE.
OR NOT, BUT I KNOW JOE BIDEN IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATE TO GET SOME THINGS DONE IS THE WAY TO DO THAT, NO ONE WILL KNOW HOW TO DO THAT BETTER THAN HE.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT HIS AMAZING VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS, WHO ALSO SERVED IN THE SENATE AND HAS GOOD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE AND ELSEWHERE.
LOOK, I THINK WE'VE NOW SPENT 20 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT POLITICS AND WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MENTIONED THE FACT THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, A VICE PRESIDENT WHO IS A WOMAN, WHO IS A PROUD WOMAN OF COLOR, WHO BROUGHT SO MUCH ENERGY AND SO MUCH ENTHUSIASM, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG VOTERS, AS DONNA TALKED ABOUT, TO THIS TICKET.
AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENCES THAT SHE WILL MAKE GOING FORWARD.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>> Bonnie: QUICKLY, WHAT YOU THINK -- WHAT WILL BE HER SPECIAL ISSUE?
WILL IT BE THE LAW BECAUSE SHE'S FORMER AG OF CALIFORNIA?
WILL IT BE MINORITY ISSUES?
WHAT WILL SHE TAKE ON THE WAY, THE WAY THAT MRS. OBAMA TOOK ON EDUCATION AND VETERANS?
>> Hilary Rosen: THE FIRST LADY DOESN'T NEED A COST -- [CROSS TALK] >> SHE SERVED ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AND JUDICIARY.SHE BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE I THINK TO BE A GOOD ADVISOR FOR THE PRESIDENT TO BE THAT NAVIGATOR ON CAPITOL HILL THAT I THINK IS GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE RELATIONS, SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BUT THAT SHE HAS CURRENTLY.
SHE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER FOR HIM, AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT.
I DON'T THINK SHE HAS TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL PORTFOLIO BECAUSE SHE HAS A MULTI RANGE OF TALENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO BEAR IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.
>> Patrice Lee: CANNOT JUST JUMP IN?
I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO, TO HER AS A VICE PRESIDENT POTENTIALLY, I KNOW, I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO OVERCOME HER RECORD WHICH IS VERY FAR LEFT.
A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES HAVE POINTED THAT OUT THIS ELECTION CYCLE.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN CONSERVATIVES AND AND THE FAR LEFT AND THE PARTY AS WELL AS WHERE SHE STANDS, SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO PROVE THAT SHE'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE COUNTING TO THE VERY FAR LEFT WING, WHICH A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES ARE NOT GOING TO GO ALONG WITH.
>> Hilary Rosen: I DON'T THINK SHE HAS ANYTHING TO PROVE.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN GOVERNING MODE, NOT PROVING THEMSELVES MOOD.
AND SO, THAT MEANS WORKING IN IT MEANS GETTING THINGS DONE AS A MEANS OF BEING A GOOD PARTNER TO JOE BIDEN.
>> Bonnie: ALL RIGHT, LINDA, 30 SECONDS.
WITHOUT HARRIS.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF KAMALA HARRIS?
>> Linda Chavez: WELL, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH YOU KNOW HOW VIBRANT AND HEALTHY JOE BIDEN REMAINS.
I ACTUALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST BIDEN WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN WILLING TO VOTE FOR BIDEN BECAUSE THEY WORRY THAT HE WON'T FILL OUT HIS TERM.
SO REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
I THINK IN TERMS OF HER LIBERAL RECORD, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT SHE WAS THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA, THE MOST LIBERAL STATE IN THE UNION.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW LIBERAL SHE TURNS OUT TO BE AND I DON'T THINK GOING TO THE LEFT IS GOING TO HELP HER.
I THINK SHE NEEDS TO BE MORE IN JOE BIDEN'S IMAGE.
>> Bonnie: OKAY.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "TO THE CONTRARY".
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