BLACQUIERE.

>> FUNDING FOR TO THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY: FIRST, WILL HILLARY CLINTON GO FROM FRONT RUNNER TO LOSER AGAIN?

THEN, WOMEN, DIVERSITY AND THE OSCAR NOMINATIONS.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: WHY INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS TO THE US DRAMATICALLY DECLINED IN THE LAST DECADE.

[♪♪♪] HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

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

UP FIRST, COULD THIS BE A DÉÉJÀÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN?

BERNIE SANDERS IS CLOSING THE GAP AND GAINING ON FRONTRUNNER HILLARY CLINTON.

ONCE THE PRESUMED DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, SECRETARY CLINTON'S CANDIDACY MAY BE IN JEOPARDY.

A BLOOMBERG- DES MOINES REGISTER POLL IN IOWA PUT THE TWO IN A VIRTUAL DEAD HEAT; CLINTON LEADS SANDERS BY A MERE TWO POINTS.

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, A MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY SURVEY FINDS THE VERMONT SENATOR HAS WIDENED HIS LEAD TO 14 POINTS.

NATIONWIDE, CLINTON'S 20-POINT LEAD WITH DEMOCRATIC VOTERS HAS SHRUNK TO SEVEN POINTS.

AND AS THE POLLS TIGHTEN THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN HAS GONE ON THE ATTACK.

BUT THE NEW STRATEGY APPEARS TO BE BACKFIRING AND INSTEAD CREATING A SURGE IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO SANDERS.

SO, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS OVER AGAIN SHE IS GOING TO LOSE THE NOMINATION FOR A SECOND TIME?

>> I THINK IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE SHE IS THIS IS MORE LIKE WHEN GEORGE BUSH RAN IN 2,000 AND JOHN McCAIN UPSET HIM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THE PARTY CLOSED RANKS AND GEORGE BUSH CAME BACK AND WON IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE REST OF THE RACE WAS OF FOR HIM AT THAT POINT.

>> I WOULD NOT BE SCARED ABOUT BERNIE SANDERS BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST PEOPLE KNOW HILLARY'S NAME.

IT GOES VERY FAR AND THIS TIME AROUND SHE HAS A STRONGER GROUND GAME IN THE STATE.

AND IT WILL PROVE HER AS THE SUCCESS AS NOMINEEMENT.

>> THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IS DIFFERENT AND IT DOES BECOME A CASE OF POLITICAL DEJA VIEW I COULD NOT HANDLE IT.

>> I WOULD NOT COUNT SANDERS OUT THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" SAYING SHE IS DOING WORSE NOW IN 2016 THAN 2008.

PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE HER.

AND VOTERS DECIDE WHO THEY WILL VOTE FOR IN THE PAST FEW DAYS AND IT'S CLOSING IN AROUND HER WE MIGHT SEE AN UPSET.

>> I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION AND YOU ARE GOING TO BOO ME.

IS IT BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN?

AND I THINK SHE IS A TOUGH CASE BECAUSE SHE HAS IS SO MUCH BAGGAGE, BUT FRANKLY SO DID HER HUSBAND AND IT DID NOT HURT HIM.

HE WON TWICE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT ADJUDICATING SOME OF THE ISSUES WE DID FOR BILL CLINTON IS DIFFERENT THAN ADJUDICATING THEM FOR HER.

AND I THINK THERE IS A GENDERED COMPONENT TO THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN BRINGING UP WITH REGARD TO BILL CLINTON THE CHARGES AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH OFTENTIMES WIVES AND MISTRESSES ARE OFTEN THOUGHT MORE TO BLAME THAN ARE THE HUSBANDS WHO ARE THE WEAK VICTIMS TO THE MISTRESSS' CHARMS OR THE WIFE'S COLD SHOULDER.

THERE IS A GENDERED COMPONENT TO THIS.

I AGREE THERE IS ALSO A CLINTON COMPONENT TO THIS.

WHEREBY THE CLINTONS HAVE BEEN SEEN WITH AS A COUPLE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF BAGGAGE AND THAT WAS PART OF WHAT SUNK HER CAMPAIGN IN 2008.

>> AND BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID IN RESPONSE TO THE OPEN QUESTION, IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS THERE EVER BEEN A NOMINEE THAT LOST BOTH OF THOSE AND PICKED UP STEAM LATER?

>> NOT IN A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

A NOMINEE USUALLY WINS AT LEAST ONE.

IT IS NOT NORMAL THAT THEY WIN BOTH BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT ELECT TORE RATS BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE YOU DROP THE FIRST TWO.

BUT, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE WHEN YOU LOOK BACK RONALD REAGAN LOSING NEW HAMPSHIRE GEORGE BUSH LOSING NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU CAN LOOK AT CLINTON WHO IN FACT DID NOT WIN IOWA BECAUSE HARKIN WAS RUNNING IN 92 AND CLINTON COMES IN SECOND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IF YOU WANT TO COMPARE IT MAYBE 92 IS THE ONE TO DO IT WITH.

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WIN.

HE WAS PERCEIVED AS THE WINNER.

>> WE CAN DO POLITICAL MATH ALL DAY LONG AND THAT IS WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING.

BUT LET'S FLIP THE SCRIPT, I SUBMIT THE AMERICAN VOTER THEY HAVE THE MIND THAT IT IS ANOTHER CLINTON HILLARY IN THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN IS LIKE HAVING BILL IN THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN LIKE PEOPLE ARE NOT CATCHING ON TO JEB BUSH'S CANDIDACY.

PEOPLE ARE WORRIED COULD IT BE A REPEAT STORY?

PEOPLE ARE READY FOR FRESH NEW BROOD.

>> NO MORE -- BLOOD.

>> PEOPLE ARE SAYING NO MORE BUSHES AND NO MORE CLINTONS.

PRESIDENT BUSH LEFT OFFICE WITH THE COUNTRY STARTING TO SUFFER THE GREAT RECESSION AND OPENED UP THE WAR IN IRAQ WHICH LED TO THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF MOST GOVERNMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

WHEREAS BILL CLINTON LEFT WITH A SURPLUS WITH A SURPLUS THAT GEORGE BUSH TURNED INTO YOU KNOW, A HUGE RECORD DEFICIT.

I DO NOT THINK THAT IS A FAIR COMPARISON.

>> THAT MIGHT WORK IN CLINTON'S FAVOR.

BUT HER E-MAIL ISSUE IS MATTERING TO PEOPLE.

>> EXCEPT THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAID THAT HE ALSO HAD A PRIVATE E-MAIL ACCOUNT.

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO MORE PEOPLE FIGURING THIS OUT.

YOU KNOW SHE HAS THIS UNIQUE WHERE AT BEST SHE LOOKS TECHNOLOGICALLY INCOMPETENT AND AT WORSE CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION INTO THE HANDS OF ENEMIES.

>> AND YOU BRING UP A FAIR POINT PEOPLE DO NOT TRUST HER AND SHE HAS BEEN GUARDED ABOUT WHAT BILL DID IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE HER SUPPORT IS.

WHETHER -- >> MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

>> NO.

HER SUPPORT IS AMONG DEMOCRATS WHO TURNOUT IN PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES WHICH ARE THOSE WHO ARE OVER 45.

SHE HAS A SOLID BASE OF SUPPORT UNLESS BERNIE SANDERS IS ABLE TO DO WHAT BARACK OBAMA DID WHICH IS CHANGE THE PRIMARY ELECTORATE BRING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FIRST TIME PRIMARY VOTERS, YOUNGER PEOPLE IN TO VOTE.

>> THAT IS THE AUDIENCE.

>> BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

MANY, MANY CANDIDATES SAY THEY WILL CHANGE THE ELECTORATE AND USUALLY THEY DON'T.

>> IT'S SEXIST WHY DO WE KEEP HOLDING HILLARY RESPONSIBLE TO HER HUSBAND'S BEHAVIORS AND ACTIONS?

SHE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

I THINK -- >> LET ME JUMP AND SAY WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE STAYED WITH HIM?

THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN I KNOW WHO SAID WHEN THAT CAME OUT SHE NEEDS TO LEAVE.

>> THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY IT'S PERCEIVED.

YESTERDAY SHE WAS ASKED THE QUESTION IS HILLARY ENABLING HER HUSBAND'S HARASSMENT OF WOMEN?

AND I AM LIKE THIS IS SO SEXIST SHE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER ADULT'S BEHAVIOR.

>> AND SHE HAS THE ISSUE WHERE WE NEED TO LISTEN TO SEXUAL ACCUSERS UNLESS THEY ACCUSE MY HUSBAND.

PEOPLE SEE HER SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT TONIGHT COMES TO THE IDEA THAT SHE WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED.

>> GO BACK TO TRAVEL GATE AND HER FAILED EFFORT AT HEALTHCARE REFORM.

I MEAN THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

BUT OVERALL, YOU SEE A SEXIST COMPONENT, I SEE A SEXIST COMPONENT.

>> TOTALLY.

UNDENIABLE.

AND BAGGAGE LET'S TALK ABOUT TRUMP'S BAGGAGE.

HIS FIRST WIFE BACKTRACKED ON THAT STATEMENT WHEN THE LAWYERS CAME OUT.

BUT IT'S TERRIBLE.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT HER THROUGH THE RINGER WE SHOULD DO IT TO THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE, TOO.

>> EQUAL ON RINGING.

[LAUGHTER] >> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM POLITICS TO HOLLYWOOD... >> THIS YEAR'S OSCAR NOMINATIONS FOR BEST DIRECTOR ALL WENT TO MEN.

NONE OF THE FILMS IN THE BEST PICTURE CATEGORY WERE DIRECTED BY WOMEN.

IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE A WOMAN WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST DIRECTOR.

THAT WHEN KATHRYN BIGELOW WON THE AWARD FOR HURT LOCKER IN 2010.

OUT THIS WEEK WAS THE 18TH CELLULOID CEILING SURVEY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO.

IT FOUND THAT 9% OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE 250 TOP GROSSING DOMESTIC FILMS LAST YEAR WERE WOMEN UP 2% FROM 2014 AND WOMEN MADE UP 19% OF OFF SCREEN JOBS IN HOLLYWOOD LAST YEAR ALSO A 2% INCREASE FROM 2014 BUT THE SAME AS A DECADE AGO.

THE STUDY REVEALS THAT FILMS WITH AT LEAST ONE FEMALE DIRECTOR WERE MORE LIKELY TO HIRE WOMEN FOR OTHER POSITIONS ON THE CREW.

AND BACK TO THE OSCARS FOR A MOMENT, THREE OF THE EIGHT MOVIES NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE ARE ABOUT WOMEN.

>> AND WOMEN-FOCUSED FILMS ARE TYPICALLY SNUBBED BUT THEY ARE DOING BETTER.

WE HAVE FORWARD MOVEMENT, BACKWARD MOVEMENT.

WHERE IS HOLLYWOOD GOING?

>> HOLLYWOOD IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

WOMEN, MINORITIES ARE A PROBLEM IN HOLLYWOOD.

THIS PROBLEM IS TWO FOLD.

NUMBER ONE WE LOOK AT WHO IS AT THE TOP?

94% OF CHAIRS AND C.E.O.S OF THE STUDIOS ARE WHITE AND THEY ARE MALE.

OK. AND THEY ARE OLD.

92% OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT IS WHITE.

THAT TELLS YOU THERE IS A COLOR PROBLEM.

>> AND DISTRIBUTION MERYL STREEP SAID THAT MOST OF THE DISTRIBUTORS WHO CHOOSE THE MOVIES TO BE RELEASED WHICH THEATER THEY GO TO ARE LIKE 10 OUT OF 14 ARE WHITE MEN.

>> THAT IS A COMPONENT OF IT AS WELL.

TWO IT IS A MAJOR TALENT AGENCIES AS WELL AND THEY ARE NOT HIRING ENOUGH MINORITY ACTORS.

SO WHEN THE TWO THINGS ARE AT PLAY WE WILL NOT SEE A SHIFT AND IT'S REALLY SAD TO SEE.

>> I DO NOT GET IT BECAUSE UNLIKE SILICON VALLEY WHERE YOU HAVE TO GET VENTURE CAPITAL AND MEN IN CONTROL LARGELY OF THAT MONEY HOLLYWOOD RESPONDS TO CONSUMER PURCHASERS.

WHY ARE WOMEN PUTTING UP WITH GOING TO THE MOVIES?

>> AT SOME LEVEL ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DON'T, IS THAT THE MINUTE A CONVERSATION TURNS TO WOMEN'S ISSUES OR A CHICK FLICK MEN TUNE OUT.

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS WOMEN WILL GO TO MOVIES THAT ARE ABOUT MEN BUT MEN WILL NOT GO TO DRAMAS THAT ARE ABOUT WOMEN.

>> THE PROBLEM IS LARGE.

LAST YEAR THE ACLU SAID THAT STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES NEED TO INVESTIGATE SEXISM IN TV AND FILM ACROSS THE BOARD THERE'S LESS WOMEN WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY NOW THAN 25 YEARS AGO.

AND I REALLY APPLAUD THE ABC NETWORK THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE PUTTING WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR IN BIG ROLES.

WE HAVE SCANDAL, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, NOW KWAN ANY CO-AND THE SHOWS ARE HITS.

AND PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED.

>> HAD QUITE A FEW TOO WITH THE GOOD WIFE AND MADAM SECRETARY.

>> I THINK TELEVISION IS A DIFFERENT MEDIUM THAN THE BLOCKBUSTER MOVIES.

>> WELL, I KIND OF SEE IT AS IT IS A LITTLE HUMOROUS THAT ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL AREAS INDUSTRIES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS ALSO THE WORST WITH RACISM AND SEXISM.

ALSO YOU START TO SEE, HOW MANY WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT.

YOU SAY THE TALENT AGENCIES.

I DO NOT IMAGINE THAT THERE'S JUST THIS THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS THAT ARE BEING IGNORED.

I THINK THERE'S NOT MANY TO CHOOSE FROM AT THE SAME TIME.

SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE THAT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING MORE THE PROGRESS THAT IS BEING MADE RATHER THAN CONSTANTLY FOCUSING ON THE NEGATIVE.

WHEN YOU FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE THEN THE DIRECTORS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE THAT YOU CAN NEVER MAKE THE PEOPLE HAPPY SO WHY BOTHER.

THAT THEY TAKE NOTE OF THAT.

>> AND TO THAT END THE ACADEMY HAS COME OUT WITH A2020 THAT WILL DIVERSIFY THE ACADEMY.

>> WHEN IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

WHEN ALL THE OLD MEN DIE?

>> AND LET'S NOT RAG TOO MUCH ON OLD WHITE MEN I AM MARRIED TO ONE.

MY FATHER WAS ONE.

SOME OF THEM ARE -- FANTASTIC.

>> THEY ARE, THEY ARE.

BUT THEY DO MAKEUP 94% OF THE ACADEMY, 77% ARE MALE AND 94 ARE WHITE AND A HASH TASH LAST YEAR IT STARTED OSCAR SO WHITE AGAIN THE SEQUEL.

>> WE LOVE MILLENIUMS AND WHITE MEN.

>> 12 YEARS A SLAVE AND THE BUTLER CAME OUT TO ME THE MOST IMPACTFUL MOVIES OF THAT SEASON.

WHY HAVE WE BACKTRACKED?

I MEAN IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE SLOWLY BUT SURELY GETTING THERE.

AND YOU KNOW MORE WOMEN MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YET... >> I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE HAD MOVIES THAT HAVE BEEN THAT IMPACTFUL.

WHEN THE MOVIES CAME OUT AND THEY WERE NOMINATED AND PEOPLE WERE PROUD THERE WAS STILL PEOPLE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE OF COLOR.

EXACTLY.

SO THE ACADEMY SEES THIS WE CANNOT MAKE THE PEOPLE HAPPY SO WE ARE TIRED OF TRYING.

>> PEOPLE WERE LIKE WHY IS IT ALWAYS ACTORS OF COLOR MOVIES OF RACE AND SLAVERY?

>> AND HERE IS THE STORY ABOUT WOMEN.

>> AND WOMEN OF COLOR IN A MOVIE ABOUT PICKING FLOWERS.

>> MAKE HER THE HEAD OF A BIG SILICON VALLEY VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM BUT MAYBE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE INTERESTED IN THAT AS A MAJOR SEGMENT OF AMERICAN HISTORY THAT MOST AMERICANS CERTAINLY HAVE NOT SEEN PORTRAYED LIKE THAT IN A MOVIE.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE INDICATE RIN BIG LOW'S ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION ON HURT LOCKER, AND HER IN FACT WASN'T NOMINATED FOR "ZERO DARK THIRTYITY.

TWO MOVIES MALE IN THE STORIES AND STILL RECOGNIZED FOR ONE AND NOT THE OTHER.

IT'S POWERFUL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF REPEAT MEN WHO ARE BEING NOTICED AS BEST DIRECTORS.

>> I WONDER IF HOLLYWOOD LIKE THE TV NETWORKS THEY STILL HAVE CONTROL BUT NOT AS MUCH CONTROL INDY FILMS AND SUNDANCE.

AND THERE ARE ABOUT 2500 INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVALS AROUND THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR NOW.

IT'S HUGE.

AND A LOT SEVERAL OF THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THEM ARE WOMEN ONLY, BY WOMEN ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES.

>> WHY ARE THEY BEING KEPT AWAY FROM THE BIG BUDGETS.

KATE BLANCHETTE WE ARE NOT A NICHE MARKET WE ARE THE MARKET.

WHY ARE WE RELEGATED TO THE SMALL ARTS AND CRAFTS TABLE?

>> SEVERAL WOMEN SHE SAID SOMETHING IMPORTANT AND PATRICIA ARQUETTE WHEN SHE WON FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS REALLY TOOK HOLLYWOOD TO TASK AND MORE RECENTLY, DAKOTA JOHNSON DAUGHTER OF DON JOHNSON AND MELANIE GRIFFITH, AND GRANDDAUGHTER, SHE SAID A WEEK OR TWO AGO HOLLYWOOD STINKS.

IF IT WERE SO GREAT FOR WOMEN MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER WOULD BE WORKING RIGHT NOW.

WILL THESE CALL-OUTS HAVE ANY EFFECT?

I DID NOT SEE MUCH EFFECT FROM ARQUETTE.

AND THEN YOU ARE JENNIFER LAWRENCE SAY I TOOK HALF WHAT THE GUYS TOOK.

I DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH THAT HARD IT WASN'T IMPORTANT.

>> I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO HAVE 'EFFECT BECAUSE A LOT YOU HAVE TO DO THE PUSHING AND COMPLAINING IS NOT GOING TO DO IT.

NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN.

BUT IF YOU MAKE THE MOVIES AND YOU MAKE SURE THEY CANNOT IGNORE YOU, THEN THAT MIGHT BE A BETTER -- >> I DO THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING THEY SEE MEN AS TALENT AND WOMEN AS SORT OF INTERCHANGEABLE AND THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM OF HOW THE CHARACTERS ARE DRAWN AND HOW THE ROLES ARE CREATED.

AND THE STORIES.

>> AND HOW DO YOU CHANGE IT?

>> I THINK THE WAY THAT THAT CHANGES IS TO HAVE MORE WOMEN IN THOSE BEHIND THE SCENES WRITING, DIRECTING, STUDIO EXECUTIVE ROLES.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE WOMEN MORE INTEGRAL TO THE STORY NOT JUST THE SIDE ARM CANDY TO THE MAN'S STORY.

>> FROM THAT YOU HAVE TO TOUGHEN THE WOMEN UP BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE GOING INTO THE SITUATION THAT PERHAPS DOES NOT WANT THEM THERE AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT AND YOU'VE GOT TO TOUGH IT OUT IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM FOR OTHERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES INTERNATIONAL ADOPT SHOPS.

THE NUMBER CHILDREN OF DON'TED FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO THE U.S. HAS DROPPED TO I AFOURTH OF WHAT IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.

>> INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CHILDREN COME TO THE U.P.S.

IS A DECLINING MARKET.

SO BACK IN 2006, 2007, BETWEEN 20 AND 23,000 CHILDREN WOULD COME TO THE UNITED STATES.

LAST YEAR IN 2014 THE NUMBER DROPPED TO 6400 AND PEOPLE ARE PROJECTING THAT IN 2015 IT WILL BELOW 5,000 CHILDREN.

>> BILL BLACQUIERE IS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES A GLOBAL NONPROFIT THAT HELPS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

HE SAYS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE DROP IS THAT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED SOME ADOPTIONS MAYBE A FRONT FOR TRAFFICKING CHILDREN.

>> COUNTRIES ARE PRESSURED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION.

SO COUNTRIES PUT IN REGULATIONS OR UNPRINTED REGULATIONS THAT SLOWS DOWN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT WILL BE ADOPTED OUTSIDE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

>> BUT BILL BLACQUIERE SAYS THE PROBLEM IS MANY KIDS DO NEED TO BE ADOPTED BY LOVING FAMILIES IN THE U.S. >> THE SAD THING IS THAT THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, WHO UPON INVESTIGATION YOU CANNOT FIND THEIR PARENTS.

YOU HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE HIV POSITIVE.

YOU HAVE OLDER CHILDREN.

AND SIBLING GROUPS THAT WILL NEVER BE ADOPTED IN THEIR COUNTRY AND THOSE ARE THE CHILDREN THAT COULD BE ADOPTED INTO THE UNITED STATES.

>> HE ARGUES THAT RATHER THAN RESTRICTING ADOPTION GOVERNMENTS SHOULD STRIVE TO IMPROVE THE INSTITUTION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOVERNMENTS OF COUNTRIES HAVE A GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGULATIONS THAT WOULD MAKE SURE CHILDREN ARE NOT TRAFFICKED.

>> BUT EXPERTS AGREE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION IS NOT THE BEST OPTION FOR MOST KIDS.

MANY NONPROFIT AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE SHIFTING TOWARDS A POLICY OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION.

TO THE CONTRARY WILL BE EXPLORING THIS STORY IN DETAIL IN AN UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST WE SHOULD LOOK FOR RELATIVES, KINSHIP THEN LOOK AT DOMESTIC ADOPTION WITHIN A COUNTRY.

AND AFTER THOSE HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, WE SHOULD THEN LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION.

AGAIN, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW CHILDREN DO BETTER IN FAMILIES THAN IF THEY ARE RAISED IN AN INSTITUTION OR WHEN THEY EXIT AN INSTITUTION AT AGE 16, 17 THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE PART OF A FAMILY.

>> SO IS IT GOOD THING OR BAD THING THAT INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS MAINLY FROM ASIA AND AFRICA TO THE UNITED STATES AND LARGELY TO WHITE COUPLES, IS ON THE DECLINE?

>> I THINK IT'S COMPLICATED.

BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT THAT U.S. IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE TRANSIT END DESTINATION COUNTRIES, I WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IF I WAS NOT FROM BANGLADESH BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SO MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLE.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT THE KIDS NEED HOMES WE ARE MAKING IT TO DIFFICULT AND I FIND OUT ABOUT THE CHILD TRAFFICKING AND AFTER DISASTER AREAS AND FLOOD PRONE.

WE NEED TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON THE SITUATION.

AND SYSTEM BECAUSE A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS THAT ARE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.

THE CORRUPTION OF ADOPTION IS REAL.

>> I AM SURPRISED THE ISSUE IS NOT GETTING MORE ATTENTION BECAUSE WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS IN OCTOBER FROM BILL BLACQUIERE WITH WHOM WE WENT TO ETHIOPIA TO DO A STORY ON ORPHANAGES WHICH WILL BE COMING UP.

BUT HE TOLD ME THAT 5,000 AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED OUT OVERSEAS.

I'M THINKING WHAT GIVES HERE?

>> EXACTLY.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ENOUGH RESEARCH OR DATA TO GUIDE US TO AN ANSWER ON THAT.

BUT BILL BLACQUIERE MAKES A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE REGULATIONS.

THE REGULATIONS BOTHER ME.

IT IS GOOD WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS SEXUAL TRAFFICKING IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY.

IT IS A GLOBAL BUSINESS.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THIS IS KNEE-JERK POLICY MAKING PUTTING OUT THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE STOPPING CHILDREN WHO NEED FAMILIES FROM GETTING TO FAMILIES.

>> AND IT AFFECTS BECAUSE APPLICATIONS ARE CAUGHT IN LIMBO WITH AMERICAN COUPLES TRYING TO ADOPT FROM VIETNAM THE LEGISLATION WAS BEING UPDATED OR WHAT.

I MET ONE MOTHER TRYING TO GET HER KID OUT OF THE ORPHANAGE AND GETTING HIM TO THE U.S. >> AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT FOR EXAMPLE IN CHINA THEY WILL NOT GET THE BABIES GO.

THEY ARE GIVEN UP AT BIRTH AND THEY WILL NOT LET THEM GO TO WAITING AMERICAN OR EUROPEAN PARENTS FOR A YEAR.

THAT MEANS THE CHILD SPENDS HIS OTHER HER FIRST YEAR OF HER LIFE IN AN ORPHANAGE WHICH IS TERRIBLE DEVELOPMENTALLY.

THE KIDS THAT COME OUT OF ORPHANAGES DO NOT KNOW HOW TO INTERACT IN THE REAL WORLD AND THEIR IQ'S ARE LOWERED.

ALL THE DATA SHOW THAT THAT IS A BAD THING.

WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WAITING FOR THEM.

>> RIGHT.

WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY WHY EVERYBODY ON BOTH SIDES NEED TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHO ARE THE CHILDREN THAT CAN BE ADOPTED AND WHO ARE THE CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE FOUND WHOSE PARENTS NEED TO BE FOUND AND STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE CHILD AND HOW CAN WE DO THIS QUICKER ONCE THE CHILD IS BORN, THE PROCESS IS DONE WHILE THE MOTHER'S PREGNANT SO THEY CAN IMMEDIATELY BE TRANSFERRED OVER.

>> I'M NOT SURE IN COUNTRIES LIKE BANGLADESH, THE WOMEN ARE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP UNTIL THEY HAVE THE INFANT.

THEY ARE NOT IN ANY DATA SYSTEM.

>> BUT TRYING TO GET THROUGH EARLIER THAN ONE YEAR SO THAT CHILD HAS A CHANCE AT A NORMAL HEALY LIFE IS KEY RIGHT NOW.

OWE HEALTHY LIFE IS KEY RIGHT NOW.

>> THERE IS A SIDE WHERE IT BECAME FASHIONABLE FOR A WHILE TO ADOPT INTERNATIONALLY.

BECAUSE WE HAD, OF COURSE, MADONNA AND ANGELINA JOLIE AND THIS NOTION THAT THERE ARE NOT CHILDREN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO MIGHT NEED HELP IS A PROBLEM.

>> BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THERE, TOO, WHICH IS ONE POINT A LONGTIME AGO AND BLACK SOCIAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION DID NOT WANT BLACK CHILDREN GOING TO WHITE FAMILIES.

SO ALL KINDS OF ISSUES.

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.

[♪♪♪]