Rachel Maddow Celebrates End Of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (VIDEO)

Rachel Maddow started her Tuesday show by celebrating something she called "brand new in America today": the ability of gay people to serve openly in the military.

The country's "don't ask don't tell" policy was officially repealed at midnight on Tuesday morning, and Maddow, who has been a fierce advocate for the law's demise, pulled out all the stops. She played footage of people cheering the demise of the policy around the world, and lingered on the video of a soldier calling his father and finally coming out to him. Maddow then turned to the White House, which loudly proclaimed victory on Tuesday by sending out a campaign video featuring gay service members.

"They're doing all they can to lock up the political capital that should accrue to them for having won this," Maddow noted. "Winning helps you win more."

But Maddow's main focus was on individuals. "Today was about coming out," she said, adding that tens of thousands of people can now "make their own decision about whether or not and how to say who they are. it can no longer be used against them." She then brought on two people she had interviewed previously on her show: Victor Ferenbach, who outed himself while speaking to her, and Joshua Seefried, who had previously spoken to Maddow only in silhouette and under a pseudonym. Ferenbach personally thanked Maddow.

"You allowed a lot of us to come on and tell our stories," he said.

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Comments

[reveal7]

10:12 AM on 09/22/2011

Gobama!

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:11 AM on 09/22/2011

Some victory.

[mairs]

11:17 PM on 09/21/2011

I was listening to her show on Sirius. Hearing those whom this affects made me unexpectedly teary. And what she said about the Republican presidential candidates.... is it really true that they all would try to reinstate DADT? What sort of monsters are they?

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

02:01 AM on 09/22/2011

Are there more than one kind?

[HikariNoRyuu]

09:26 PM on 09/21/2011

And one step closer to equality for all. :)

[Demarcus Jackson]

07:35 PM on 09/21/2011

I love Dr. Maddow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KIsa8-aXpk&feature=related

[Demarcus Jackson]

07:35 PM on 09/21/2011

lol...how very devolved of you. Typical regressive, I guess.

[TheBaffler]

07:43 PM on 09/21/2011

You wish she'd stand up behind you with a strap-on, toe tapper.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:13 AM on 09/22/2011

She probably has the equipment for it at home.

[wendy scott]

06:37 PM on 09/21/2011

It was a great show and a beautiful joyous moment watching Lt Ferenbach and Mr Seefreid celebrate the end of this heinous policy. Rachel did some spectacular work over the years shining a light and showing how inhumane DADT.

As Joe Biden would say....."This is a big %&$#ing deal"

[chomedey]

08:46 PM on 09/21/2011

ya

[pphhrogg]

05:28 PM on 09/21/2011

I'm so glad this regressive policy is now over. I'm not gay myself, but I have many friends who are, and I hope they are ALL celebrating now!

[outloud]

04:27 PM on 09/21/2011

DADT is over....let's celebrate....and now get to work getting all and equal benefits for ourselves and our families.

Repeal DOMA!

[armyof14USA]

03:48 PM on 09/21/2011

Just when you think things are going from bad to worst for America, there comes the joyful moment that rejuvenates that resilience spirit of America. I have become so despondent and incredibly disappointed in Obama’s ability to stand up for the ideals and values we all believe in, “that all men are created equal” the very essences of the Democratic Party Platform.

The repeal of DADT is a milestone victory not only for our service men and women in uniform, but a victory for America nonetheless, and Obama may have prove his chances of re-election in 2012.

[ydrittmann]

03:40 PM on 09/21/2011

Now what? The door is open for Santorum on dog.

[ETT]

03:07 PM on 09/21/2011

Goodbye and good riddance to DADT. Now let us work on getting rid of DOMA. Equal rights, liberty and freedom for all!

[JohnLorenzo]

03:05 PM on 09/21/2011

Truly a day to celebrate. Equal rights being won a step at a time.

[reveal7]

02:40 PM on 09/21/2011

Wow, time for some positivety, and to celebrate, and to give the President some credit, and Maddowites are seemingly missing in action. This puts into perspective perhaps Ms. Maddow's continuing smack down mode of almost everyone and everything that moves politically. She may just be playing to the far left curmudgeon brigade, who don't celebrate much, but rather choose to berate, and insinuate, and negatively hyperbolate. Maddowites don't seem to do...happy very much. They do however bash, and Maddow knows her audience. Ms. Maddow, imo, it must be stated, is a leader of the continuing media bashathon. .

[AdamWest1313]

03:24 PM on 09/21/2011

...The irony is palpable. You talk and talk about how all "maddowites" do is bash, while your entire post is you bashing them. You clearly know nothing about people you disagree with.

[reveal7]

07:06 PM on 09/21/2011

My post is observational, to the point, reasonable, and clearly realistic, although overstated, as you point out. . Look at the comments on this thread as opposed to threads where Maddow is cited as bashing the president. The difference could not be clearer. Maddowites love the bashathon, but not all Maddowites. . And..Gobama 2012! You see I'm a Progressive Democrat, with liberal ideals who looks for forward progress, not perfection.

[reveal7]

07:17 PM on 09/21/2011

I edited my post when I read yours. Gobama!

[radiodog]

03:46 PM on 09/21/2011

Seems like she is pretty darn happy in this video clip!

[reveal7]

07:20 PM on 09/21/2011

In fairness, yes she is. Now if we could get her to stop bashing Clinton for the inception of DADT, which, historically speaking, actually helped pave the way for full rights for lgbt service members. Gobama!.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:15 AM on 09/22/2011

She should be. She can now serve in the military.

[Binea]

02:30 PM on 09/21/2011

I,personally am kind of bummed about it..I'm worried they will start a draft..my son is 17 ..I was going to swear I caught him kissing a guy,and that he is gay..ah well..I guess I can always tell him to act up and get himself kicked out of service :)
Congrats all

[somearelost]

03:11 PM on 09/21/2011

You are a fool

[Binea]

04:10 PM on 09/21/2011

that's what the micro bio say's

[Binea]

04:20 PM on 09/21/2011

I assume,by your s/n,that you are calling me a fool for congradulating them ?
It is not the role of a "christian" to treat others badly because they have a "sin" that you don't..you have many other sins,I'd guess "self righteousness and judging" are among the most troubling for you. we can't remove the mote when a beam is in our own eye