UPDATE:
Barack Obama appeared on "The Rachel Maddow Show" Thursday night for a two part interview with the MSNBC host.
Here is the first part of the interview.
Here is the second part of the interview:
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It is so refreshing to hear smart analysis.
I forgot that we had intelligent folks seeking leadership positions, and am pinching myself at the thought that we might get a smart person in the oval office. After 8 years of bumper sticker logic and speeches that make high school cheer leading chants read like Wittgenstein, Obama's interviews and analysis are music to my poor ears.
What we found most amazing about the Maddow interview was the way Obama responded. There was no "Plastic" veneer of trying to say the right and persuasive thing.
It was just WONDERFUL to listen to this man talk about the important issues, and feel that he was just "talking." NOT politicing, not "shilling," just talking.
And damned if he didn't make a LOT of sense with what he had to say...
Tuesday night will be exciting, Wednesday will be exhilarating.
That was pretty amazing - listening to a "thinking" politician who actually KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT! and not just spouting talking points was incredible...
I loved the fact that he answered Rachel's questions in a substantive way, so close to Election day... Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw kept hammering the point that candidates usually don't give interviews so close to Nov. 4th because any mistake can be costly - and yet Obama was so revealing in all of his answers... I felt the same way when he was talking to Brian about picking supreme court justices. WOW - someone who really understands and cherishes the Constitution! How amazing will that kind of leadership be??
I was at this event in Sarasota and watched a lot of the press interaction with him. Fascinating. I love Rachel and I thought she did a decent job with her interview, BUT, she spent a few hours in Florida and thinks she can make a judgment on how the state of the race is here? You can't listen to a few people comment and then make that kind of assumption.
Other than that, she asks a lot better questions than many of her colleagues about substantive issues.
well, you know, she does have access to this thing called polling, and the internet, and does work for a news organization where they monitor these things.
perhaps she knew a little bit about the state of the race in florida before she spent a few hours there.
Well, you know, thanks for all of that insight...but she was stating a personal OPINION and for those of us who LIVE here and are actively involved in local politics...I would think that we would know a thing or two about the state of the race. Since every poll is different, which one do YOU think we should all listen to?
I love Rachel - but I gotta say, I was a little annoyed that she put it out there that Floridians were still mainly routing for McCain... (Particularly right after Obama and Bubba gave such an amazing speech right before) I don't know if she's just trying to keep people from being complacent or she is truly very worried - but the number of people showing up to rallies should be another indication of support and Obama is drawing thousands more than McCain... I heard McCain also has had a huge problem getting any volunteers to come out for him... His offices in battleground states are virtually empty... That will also have a significant impact on Election day... Not to mention the polls...
Anyway, I know she's just starting out - and her show hasn't been fully formed yet; but I really hope she doesn't become like David Gregory or Anderson Cooper and decide that "fair and balanced" reporting means that she has to provide some outlet for the repubs and not hit back with hard questions... She gives Uncle Pat way too much leeway to just blather on about Palin... If I want to see that, I can just tune in to Fix news... I say this out of love, though... I still watch the show religiously - but hope she'll keep it real... Loved her talk with Dan Rather, though... Dan is AWESOME!
her name doesn't belong in the same sentence with Gregory and Cooper. my opinion is that she is of an entirely different (superior) calibre than almost all other tv political pundits. I dislike Rather, but like you, I enjoyed his segment. probably because it seemed like he was acknowledging Maddow's status as an astute political observer.
As a straight, older white woman, i am thrilled that Rachel is doing so well in the ratings and that Obama is doing well in the polls. Let intelligence and tolerance beat stupidity and bias.
She asks some tough questions. Very tough. And lets him answer the question without interrupting. Imagine that. And he answered those question without b.s., believably, in a well considered way. Ahh. Good government. Good media. What a change.
for possibly the first time this entire election, an interviewer drew out real, in depth answers to real, substantive questions.
impressive.
I know, are we in some parallel universe? God , don't le this be a dream...
How about Rachel as press secretary. What an effective voice and moderator she would be for the new administration
She needs to stay where she is. She will be more affective. I wish she would go into politics some day, but that might put her against Michelle whom I think would be a much better president than Hillary. Switching roles from journalist to politician is very hard.
I agree. Rachel is doing a critical job where she is.
When the Dems take command of both houses, we will need her learned critique to quell the insatiable appetite of those that like to fish in a pork barrel.
Hopefully, between our future President Obama's sensibility and the self-critical honesty of patriots like Ms. Maddow, the Dems will have the necessary 8 years or more to perform countless urgent corrections needed in our beautiful but tarnished country.
Off Topic: People...if it is a landslide, it will be time for Single Payer Insurance. Let's do it now! Even Cuba has far better availability to medicine than citizens of the U.S.A.
I think Fareed Zakaria will get that spot..
The number one rising journalist interviews the number one rising politician! I'll try not to touch myself.
Go ahead blueskybigstar, it has been a long time since we Democrats have been able to truly enjoy ourselves. LOL
Maybe I'm projecting, but I got the feeling that Obama was genuinely surprised and impressed to be getting such thoughtful and intelligent questions from a member of the press. Maddow certainly came up with a better set of questions than I've seen him get to field in an interview, especially considering the brief time allotted her.
Obama's campaign must have noticed RM's mettle as tv journalist. Obama's comment early on "..much to your chagrin" indicates he's aware of RM's stance on particular issue(s).
She is really good. I think her educational background really shows in contrast to other shows on MSNBC where theories used are more emotionally based
I thought the chemistry was amazing between the two. Rachel is a good interviewer and lets the person finish their sentence without interrupting and get their point across. This was a good interview coming after the successful infomercial. Barack and Joe..the way I'll go on Nov. 4th!!
Rachel and Obama together was great. What I like about both of them is the palpable feeling that they can't believe that they are where they are at without compromising their core beliefs. They are both intelligent AND happy and hopeful! Rachael's constant ability to argue without viciousness or talking over Pat Buchanan's comments are really something unbelievable. I think that's how Barrack argues as well. They don't just comment, they explore and listen to what people are saying to figure out if they are wrong or not explaining themselves correctly. It was wonderful.
Once Obama is President the conversation in this country will change - permanently. Rachel is on the forefront. I expect the lunatic radio right wing fringe will eventually go away because of their words will no longer have the depth of meaning we witnessed in this interview. People are finally seeing through the "pro-American" and "real American" and "Country First" charade they serve up - let's hope enough get out and vote! I did - go Obama!
Rachel is a lion tamer, or lyin' tamer however you want to spell it. She is going to be big, very big.
I thought the lighting SUCKED! Rachel looked like a Zombie...just my 2 cents
... so that Barack could be blacker than usual. ;-)
What does skin color have to do with ANYTHING ?
I was thinking the same thing! She was very washed out in that light.
Hopefully a bunch of undecideds watch this and decide accordingly. ;-)
He is clearly an intelligent, thoughful man. For those who think that he only speaks well with a teleprompter - you could not be any more wrong.
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First Posted: 10-30-08 10:00 PM | Updated: 11-30-08 05:12 AM