Rachel Maddow On "The View": Gets Praise From Elisabeth, Talks Coming Out, Limbaugh, Obama

Rachel Maddow made her "View" debut Thursday morning and covered a range of topics, from coming out to her conservative parents to her thoughts on Rush Limbaugh to why she thinks Barack Obama is the right President for the time.

Maddow — who, at 5'11", was described by Joy Behar as "a tall lesbian" — spoke, as she often does, about not being a typical "TV news babe." She discussed the first time she met her partner, Susan Mikula — like a scene from "Gay Desperate Housewives" — and how she came out: by plastering an announcement all over the dorm bathrooms at Stanford, without telling her parents (who received an anonymous letter alerting them to the news and "did not react well").

Maddow also described her look as a tomboy growing up.

"I had long blonde hair, but even as a little girl with long blonde hair, I looked like one of the Hanson boys," she said.

Maddow discussed her hate mail — of which there's a steady stream, some targeting her sexuality — but she also received an unlikely compliment from conservative co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

"You do an exceptional job," Elisabeth said. "I think it's important to recognize people who do a great job on both sides of issues."

Regarding man-of-the-moment Rush Limbaugh, Maddow said, "I think that Rush is very successful and very smart, and the idea that the President would actually debate him is hilarious. The idea that I would ask somebody from the Republican party...of course that would be great for me, but it would be stupid for any politician."

When asked about the economy and the administration, Maddow had high praise for the President.

"I think that we are in a pickle as a country," she said. "I think that the economic crisis is so much bigger than any of us can grasp. And I think that we need somebody with big ideas who's willing to take big action....I think the budget's a good budget, I think the stimulus plan is a good stimulus plan, I think we need to think big."

Watch:

Comments

[EMMA70]

I admit it : I have a huuuuuuuge crush on her .
She is perfect !

[Sealthbomber]

I watch The Rachel Maddow Show a lot. I really like the way she explains things to people, how the Senate and House of Representatives work, how our economy works, what developments are going on under the radar that the American public should know about a la Mother Jones Magazine. Her broadcasts demonstrate the time-honored dichotomy of the ancient Greeks between doxa and episteme, opinion and truth, or at least information. Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly are only about their own opinions, although they would prefer you believe otherwise; their aggregate fact quota is a pathetic drollery. There is no pretense of conforming to objective reality, let alone fairness.

Rachel interviews a broad spectrum of people with variant points of view and, from what I have observed, she listens carefully to what each person has to say. I sense that even in the cases where she disagrees with other people's convictions, she would energetically defend the right of all shades of opinion to an open forum. She is committed to a civil national discourse. By my lights that is responsible journalism. And she has her work cut out for her. You go girl!!!

[zest]

Looks like Elizabeth is trying to preserve her career. Were her conservative credentials a lie then, or is she lying now. Can't be evolution; conservatives don't believe in it.

[patnb]

i like Rachel Maddow. She seems smart and articulate, and funny.

[doublels]

Completely agree!!

[russwatersruss]

Gay or not, she's a smart, smart woman and that's all that matters.

[Lionsden]

Rachel looks "like a man" as much as she looks like a bunny rabbit. Meaning, she doesn't. That is because she is all woman but chooses to dress like a guy and well, does other bizarre stuff too.

People are so confused.

[doublels]

please just go away...far away

[fuelrod]

I think keith O and Rachel did that lindsey/ jamie lee thing and switched ...

[progressivelady]

One graduated Oxford and the other Survivor, just saying!

[Eric8869]

Elizabeth was kicked off Survivor

[fuelrod]

Yeah but rachel not picky she would date a survivor girl..

[daedelus]

She's been in a relationship for 10 years, stupid.

[booker52]

Rachel could give lessons to some media types about having a fair and yes balanced show. She does it well and with humor!!

[timafi]

love me some Rachel

[DCCommuter]

Barack Obama and Rachel Maddow are such a breath of fresh air for America!!!! Polite, not shouting, smart. Man, I hope they stay around for at least 8 years.

[Nzuzo]

God Bless You Dr. Maddow!

[NWBrunette]

Kisses Rachel. Go get 'em, girl!

[JazzyJim]

Smart, well read and well learned people scare those "counting on" blind faith. Liberals vs NeoCons. Too bad, as education slides, we're getting closer to "Idiocracy" (the story of the RNC/Limbaugh/Fox/O'Rielly/Coultre) than a great democracy.

[dozaa]

Exactly. Idiocracy...When I first saw that movie I thought: this is a documentary from the future.

[Jackie F Cheeser 49]

I am extremely tolerant of people being gay and have gay friends and colleagues. They're as fine, or finer, as any other category of person, for those who need to categorize. But I detest having to a listen to them talk about their sexual persuasion, coming out, etc. It is abnormal to talk about one's sexual posture so much, even if society and insensitive people make them think about it a lot. I would much rather deal with them as regular people, which they surely are. It's like AAs who may constantly allude to slavery. That never goes away, but it does not have to be in the foreground very much. I know there will be a torrent of comments if the powers that be let this through. It is sincere, in good taste, and totally honest and constructive.

[dee90909]

Sometimes all I can do is Sigh.

[CanadianforObama]

And then sigh again.

[lvginclp]

I hear ya Dee.

All together now...

[Jackie F Cheeser 49]

for relief, try taking a du.mp.

[Jo]

Jackie says she "detest[s] having to a listen to them talk about their sexual persuasion, coming out, etc. It is abnormal to talk about one's sexual posture so much, ...." Well, Jackie, you'll just have to take that up with the ladies from The View because THEY asked HER. Rachel did not bring it up, THEY did. And precisely what is "abnormal" about telling the story of how you and your partner of ten years met? For that matter, what is "abnormal" about sharing (whether at the urging of others or not) a funny, self-deprecating story about how you came out to your parents? Jackie, your comment may be sincere, but I think you're kidding yourself when you claim, "I am extremely tolerant of people being gay...." It seems your tolerance has some serious limits.

[Jackie F Cheeser 49]

The abnormality of it, for some people, is the continuous loop of conversation content. There are other things to think/worry about/celebrate than that s tuff. On the view, it just satisfies the mangy curiosity of some many women, most of whom are echhhhhh. If you want to drown yourself in the ins and outs of RM, ask her to sit on your fa/ce

[dennybop]

The View is a "Talk Show". They expect to *talk* about that stuff. If you're tolerant you will understand others are curious and that "coming out" is an incredible life-experience. Gays *are* regular people. They talk about the things they experience. In any event. Rachel Maddow never makes a point of speaking about her sexuality.

[Jackie F Cheeser 49]

she never makes a point of it on her show. but she does elsewhere. her show does have a ridiculously high portion of items about diversity, especially G/L. That is offensive. She is smart and she needs to devote more time to things about herself and her causes, however meritorious.

I thought she was great before she got her own show. Now it is so predictable, often recooks what Keith does, and gets mired in secondary issues. Plus her sing-songy voice is driving me crazy.

[Bmantra]

You sound very intolerant and apparently cannot empathize (not sympathize) with people wo have had to struggle to get rights that you evidently take for granted. Your comments reveal your thinly disguised dislike for people of different races and sexual orientations.

[Jackie F Cheeser 49]

You read, wrongly, into my state. My marriage is interrracial.

As for empathy, maybe I have it for individuals I know well. Please don't expect me to take conscious emotional time sympathizing with every "diverse" person. Ya know, the world has a lot more going on that diversity, which is a very common and desirable background condition. If we spent all our time ruminating, celebrating diversity, we would have no time for anything else, like love, work, raising families.

[Ken Freedom]

"I am extremely tolerant of people being gay and have gay friends and colleagues."

Has anyone ever started with a comment like this and then not gone on to prove themselves wrong immediately after it? I don't think so.

Coming out is a major turning point in most gay people's lives. It's a big deal. It means very little to us heterosexuals, because none of us ever had to face the possible disappointment and rejection of friends and family. But it'sa huge rite of passage in the gay community, and a very powerful statement of self-acceptance and defiance of the dominant paradigm.

Maybe you should give up on trying to be "extremely tolerant," and put some effort into being "genuinely appreciative of the diversity of experiences around you."

[Jackie F Cheeser 49]

have said nothing inconsistent with your suggestion. i just don't want to be preoccupied hearing about and being forced to confirm the wonderfulness of someone else's private affairs. it is enough to wish them well, just like any oher man or woman.

a comment like yours was, regrettably, inevitable, but unnecessary,

[JoseFellatiano]

Ma'am, I think we on the blogue are extremely tolerant of you and yours.