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

[klandish]

Rachel is simultaneously one of the most intelligent and natural people on television. What a refreshing, appealing combination.

[PiscesPrincess]

The one thing (among others) that I especially like about Rachel is her sense of humor.
She is serious but manages to find humor in most things. without being a dink.

[mamak]

intelligence is finally back!.......we have missed you terribly......please stay longer now....

[arod72]

LOL, YES! Thank you

[duze]

I find it really laughable how everyone suddenly accepts what the could not tolerate oh lets say 15 years ago. If lesbians were so comfortable and happy about their preferences, why is it the first thing they blurt out. Straight women don't immediately make an announcement of their sexuality. Why the statement that's seemingly comfortable with onesself sounds very much like a request for acceptance. Rachel is a great journalist, however, her preferences are not something a straight person needs to be beat over the head with or agree with just because she can deliver the news. She forces it on you, as if any other choices are wrong. This "outing" conversation is tireing at best. Why do we need to know? Why do they feel we want to know? Who cares, as long as a person is being what they consider themselves. I feel they should keep it to themselves. Rachel included. The most impressive thing about Ellen, is that she never announced, or made it a big deal, while treating other people as if their preference is wrong or somehow distasteful. Ellen minds her business, lives her life and everyone respects her for her honesty, and the way she doesn't make her life the biggest deal there is.

[klandish]

We need to know because it's part of that entertainers/politician/pundits/public personalities life which helps to inform their public one. Just like knowing who Obama's married to and how many children he has. It obviously disturbs you to know there are alternative lifestyles different from the conventional ones you're used to. Too bad.

[cinesimon]

Rachel has not once brought up her sexuality on her show.
She openly discusses it when she's asked about it as a guest on other shows, because the subject is Rachel Maddow - not the news.
As a 'straight' person, I find it really strange when other 'straight' people object to other people talking about their sexuality, and use terms like 'beating us over the head with it".
The fact is, some people ARE interested. Those that aren't, can switch the channel. Unless they're looking for something to bitch about, of course!
The 'coming out' process is incredibly challenging and terrifying. It's something we straight people will always find hard to empathise with, but surely the least you can do is accept you know little about it, and not judge them.
'Coming out' is a huge part of a gay person's life, and they're important stories to share when asked to, as they can provide a a great incite for a young gay person experiencing abject terror as they consider approaching family and friends.
Such stories can also help us 'straight people' gain some incite and understanding.
If we want to.

If you don't like this kind of thing, then maybe you'll be happier just watching Rachel's show.
On The View and other 'people-based' talk shows(as opposed to news-based), this is very typical of what you get.
It's not being beaten about your head: you're choosing to watch it.

[cinesimon]

I find your first four lines to be an attempt at willful ignorance. Do you REALLY believe that?
"If lesbians were so comfortable and happy about their preferences, why is it the first thing they blurt out." - The fact of the matter is, it's NOT. It's a subject that many curious straight people ask about - and for those comfortable in themselves, they're more than happy to share.

As for acceptance: sure - plenty of gay people strive for acceptance as they're marginalized and bullied in society.

You have Rachel, however, completely wrong.

As you do Ellen.
Do you not remember when she came out on national television?

[kesiac]

Ellen came out on national TV. If my memory serves Oprah was on the sitcom.

[drosenbe0813]

I'm not sure how how old Duze is, but if you're talking about Ellen Degeneres, then Ellen's coming out was, literally, a media circus. Both she, and the character she was playing on her TV series came out. It was the first gay lead character on a TV series, and it was front page news for weeks. NBC played the controversy for all it was worth. I'm not sure how much Ellen had to say about the hype, but she certainly went along with it. She took an incredible amount of heat from the right, but she lived through it and 'now', years later, she can be quiet about it. I love Ellen, and think that she's an incredibly funny woman, but don't say that she was quiet about coming out.

[HoosierRadical]

who cares what Elizabeth thinks. She is so uniformed about the fiscal and political issues facing our nation. What a liar "the first bill was so loaded with pork...even the democrats had to come out and admit it."

[J4187]

After watching this video, I have finally come to the realization that everyone on this blog is 17.

[rdiaz921]

so does that make you feel good about yourself now?

[roch20]

I just love Rachel, i can't get enough Rachel Maddow, she's fantastic!!!!!

[J4187]

She's good on her show, but is so wrong. And man, one mean lookin' dude.

[beachbreak]

No, it is you that is so wrong.

[rdiaz921]

Good thing you're not running the country or on television spewing your misguided ideology creating other misguided entities like yourself.

[rdiaz921]

Actually, here's my real answer:

We're not all 17. It's just your outdated ideology that makes you FEEL OLD.

[bobwalters]

Scares the sh**t out of you, doesn't she?!

[kotexbarbie]

Elisabeth is wearing her Olympic gold medals????

[rdiaz921]

LMAO.

[twisted-european]

From where she's coming from, every sentence that comes out intelligible - not necessarily intelligent - comes with a medal, and so far she has acquired only a few medals as you can see. ;-)

[jayes]

"'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.' "

what's more interesting is what walters says just after this.

[runner 08]

That's the first time I've watched a clip of the View and actually enjoyed it. The way that Dr. Maddow answers questions -- direct articulate and with an ability to summarize without losing substance -- is immensely watchable. She is one of the few reasons to tune in to TV.

[cinesimon]

So true.

She reminds me a lot of conversations I've had with New Zealand intellectuals.
I've enjoyed many a dinner party in that beautiful country having conversations that Rachel would fit right into!

[houseafire]

Rachel Maddow is my ultimate favorite! She's intelligent, polite and a great, down-to-earth speaker!

I enjoyed seeing her on The View, but was sorry the segment was so short....maybe next time the gals will give her a bit more time :)

[slaxx]

a little OT, but i just found out that some anchorwoman that CNN has on it's headline news station is an "out" lesbian also.

i've never seen her show (apparently it's new and on at 7pm), but i remeber seeing her before once or twice as a guest, and was like "wuh?" i would never have thought that that woman was gay.

rachel on the other hand, she's what we call a 100-footer.

i like rachel MUCH better also.

[siney]

that's jane velez-mitchell...she has a legal analysis type show similar to nancy grace only she's not obnoxious like nancy grace...

[FlamingLibrul]

No way, Jane Velez-Mitchell?? Color me shocked. Does this mean Nancy Grace is kind of hip and open-minded? Nancy kind of helped push Jane into the spotlight. I totally pegged her for a conservacon, but I guess it's true about the book-and-cover judging thing.

[JZ735]

Maybe because she wants to b--g her.

[slaxx]

wouldn't surprise me.

actually it would; lesbianism isn't for the heartless.

[rdiaz921]

Maybe you do - the loudest voices are in the closet, ya know

wink wink

[rob2007]

E. Hasselbeck is consistently odious and clearly intimidated by Dr. Maddow.

[ediva75]

I think there may be a slight intimidation factor with Maddow as well with Dizzie Lizzie!! LOL

But the compliment was more than likely very geunine. Maddow though comes on the same time as her homeboy Hannity so U know she is all up in his talking points to be able to spit out the next day when "Hot Topics" turns to politic talk!!

[PrdAmerican]

In a word, AWESOME! love that Rachel!

[HC4BO]

Rachel is 5'11" ?

Really ?