I know I'm probably breaking some sort of gay male covenant, but I have the world's biggest crush on Rachel Maddow. I first caught wind of the openly gay political pundit as she went toe to toe with Pat Buchanan over health care, rankling the socially conservative blowhard so much that he basically just started saying "socialist!" over and over, much to Maddow's delight. MSNBC noticed too -- now way it's a coincidence the network has transformed the duo into a political odd couple, appearing together on Hardball, The Verdict and Countdown with Keith Olbermann, which she will be guest hosting tonight at 8pm EST.
It might not be a great shock that a liberal lesbian would make the perfect foil to a man that writes in his autobiography, "Whose moral code says we may interfere with a man's right to be a practicing bigot, but must respect and protect his right to be a practicing sodomite?" but the joy in the Maddow-Buchanan relationship is that the two seem to genuinely like each other. When Buchanan fulminates and growls, you can count on Maddow to be smiling on the other half of the screen, ready with a counter-punch as is evidenced in this classic moment where the two discuss Idaho senator Larry Craig.
She's also one of the few people I've seen call out Pat on his bad behavior as it happens, as when he recently told Keli Goff to "Shut up" on Dan Abram's show during a discussion about Obama's strength with the black vote. "I've been on television with you a million times, and I've never heard you tell anybody to shut up before," she chastised him. "That was absolutely completely ridiculous." Before giving Pat a chance to answer, she moved on. It takes a lot to make Pat Buchanan stammer, but Rachel's got his number.
Maddow, a Rhodes Scholar who holds a doctorate of philosophy in political science from Oxford, began her career as an activist focusing on HIV and AIDS issues affecting prisoners. She hosted a local-radio talk show in Northhampton, Massachusetts, before joining Air America when it opened it doors in 2004. She's hosted her eponymous weekday radio show ever since. To get a quick feel for her show, catch her mocking U.N. Ambassador John Bolton. She started appearing as a talking head on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, LOGO and in January of this year MSNBC brought her on board as a political analyst. Ever since there's been significant buzz that the liberal-leaning network is considering giving Maddow a show of her own, with many Daily Kos readers speculating that tonight's guest hosting gig is essentially an on-air audition.
While other cable news figures play coy with the public about their sexuality, Maddow's is a fundamental part of her political identity. Too often, women on cable news are portrayed as shrill harpies or fluffy eye candy by their male counterparts, but the genius of Maddow's style is that she goes on the air with nothing to prove, whether she's blowing Tucker Carlson's mind (what there is of it, at least), pointing out that in the Democratic Party controlled Congress is still only passing "Republican and Joe Lieberman-inspired amendments" or handing Joe Scarborough his balls on a silver platter -- which, you know, she really ought to get an award for doing.
The real reason Rachel makes my heart skip a beat, though, is that she isn't trying to ditch her identity as a woman, a lesbian or an activist to play with the big boys; she brings these parts of her to the table like her own personal arsenals. When old white dudes try playing hardball with Rachel Maddow, they're doing it on her turf -- which just happens to also be our turf, though I think she'd make the argument it also happens to be the common sense turf where most Americans live these days. The fact she makes a mean cocktail doesn't hurt either.
-- JAPHY GRANT
Some lesbians look feminine, others look butch. It's not her orientation that throws folks off. She's a female whose body type by all accounts is more masculine than feminine. She's sexy IMO.
Amazing smile, sharp wit and a lovely temperament
Posted by: Pete | August 27, 2008 at 02:33 AM
i love her her, too (is there any room on THIS bus?)!! i am puzzled why men like pat b. & joe scarborough react as they do, sometimes, to her. last night, covering the convention, she & buchanan seemed to have forged a truce and worked TOGETHER! go rachel!!
Posted by: brother84112 | August 27, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Sharp, informed, political commentary and grasp have nothing to do with sexuality or orientation. She is respected for what she brings to that table and her understanding of issues and how they play in the political process. A true gem, so far.
Posted by: Ed P. | August 27, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Rachel Maddow is GREAT. I'm over 70 and I can see why she shakes up these know-it-alls. Gay? Who cares!!!!! Brains, beauty,everything.
Posted by: Joan Prior | August 28, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I am so thrilled for Rachel!!!! I've been waiting for this! Rachel Maddow is smart, sharp, respectful - never nasty - and absolutely lovely to look at and listen to. Mesmerizing! (Why are us hetero gals SO infatuated??!) I just know I love her to pieces and am so proud that my generation has produced such a woman of substance. Go Rachel!
Posted by: Thank you MSNBC! | August 28, 2008 at 09:33 PM
smart is really sexy
Posted by: jon heard | September 05, 2008 at 08:42 PM
I'm with Jon.
Posted by: | September 09, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Maddow in 2012!
Posted by: Jon | September 10, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Maddow/Cooper in 2012! The Yum Yum Ticket!
Posted by: Jon | September 10, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Rachel Maddow is lovely. I'm a straight female in my early 30s and I'd like to get me some of that!
Posted by: samantha | September 10, 2008 at 06:07 PM
OMG, I am not alone!! I can't get enough Rachel. She makes her points so eloquently and with that twinkling smile. She intelligent and has a great sense of humor.
Posted by: Jill | September 11, 2008 at 10:54 PM
I am not a lesbian, but I think she is absolutely hot and smart. I hope she will have long hair. She is more beautiful than a lot of actresses. I really want to see what it looks like. By the way, congratulation that you have your own show. You deserve it.
Posted by: Edy T. | September 12, 2008 at 03:28 AM
Yes she is very beautiful. She is smart as well. I'm a straight male who loves how she look. She has a sexy neck. I wish her the best!
Posted by: Mike | September 14, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Her show has been fantastic. She's smart, charming, witty, classy, etc... The list could go on forever. She never demeans anyone, she's seems like a genuinely nice person. And she's so damn adorable! I occasionally get distracted from what she's saying with that sexy smile and the twinkle in her eyes! ;-) I think our gal is going to the top. She deserves nothing but the best.
Posted by: Cheryl | September 15, 2008 at 06:11 PM
what the fuck are you looking at??? rachel maddow. hot?? goodlooking??? I might be gay but I'm not blind.....she is scary ugly and she talks so much it's like she is always trying to talk herself in believing what she is saying!!!!! being gay does not mean you are automaticly a stupid fuck. wake up people
Posted by: I must be blind | September 16, 2008 at 11:55 PM
there is something inherently and universally attratctive about Rachel(as evidenced by the spectrum of admirers here). i think it has a lot to do with the way she talks and expresses herself. and also that smile.
-another straight dude
Posted by: another one | September 17, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Rachel Maddow is freaking amazing. She can deliver the most scathing indictments of political idiocy with a twinkle and a smile, making better points with good cheer than others can make with anger and sarcasm. Thank god MSNBC woke up and gave her her own show. Now I can watch, and learn, and drool (hey, I'm not made of stone here!) every night!!
Posted by: Nikki | September 17, 2008 at 01:10 AM
I wait all day, everyday, just for a glimpse of sweet Rachel. I finally decided to google her and amazement of all amazements, I have to take a number. What electricity! I don't care what she is, I just love her. I must admit to being a little letdown by her personal preferences, but then, how can this wonderful creature not like anyone. Not even Marilyn Monroe nor Lola Falana ever grabbed my heart so strong!
Posted by: Marcellus Perkins | September 17, 2008 at 04:01 AM
rachel is incredibly hot, i will be fantasizing with her and my wife, oh what a threesome that would be !!!
Posted by: todd palin | September 17, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Uh, yeah...hrm. Dont have a clue who this Fred Savage look alike gender-confused thing is...but if ya'll want to discuss "hottness" and "sexy" and such things (pretty sure politics arent a big concern with this crowd lol..or anything of substance for that matter)...I think it can be said that Sarah Palin is freaking SMOKIN hot...We're talking a massively sexy, witty, intelligent, great sense of humor, down to earth, gorgeous woman ... yeah now thats some hottness right there. :)
Posted by: Jackson | September 17, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Yup.
I'm a bi woman.
Total crush on Rachel Maddow.
Sigh.
Posted by: Stef | September 17, 2008 at 11:24 PM
I do too! I absolutely love her! Love her! Love her! Love her! She is incredibly smart! And witty! She is really cool! Why isn't SHE running for Dem VP? Wow, I would love to see her up against the Pit bull!
Posted by: Mel | September 17, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I do too! I absolutely love her! Love her! Love her! Love her! She is incredibly smart! And witty! She is really cool! Why isn't SHE running for Dem VP? Wow, I would love to see her up against the Pit bull!
Posted by: Mel | September 17, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I feel better! Here I am, a 60-year old, straight (at least I THOUGHT so) woman with a huge girl crush on Rachel. But, seriously, I love her for her mind. And that smile. Oh, yeah...and the twinkle in her eyes. And...
Posted by: Sassy Granny | September 18, 2008 at 11:14 PM
I feel better! Here I am, a 60-year old, straight (at least I THOUGHT so) woman with a huge girl crush on Rachel. But, seriously, I love her for her mind. And that smile. Oh, yeah...and the twinkle in her eyes. And...
Posted by: Sassy Granny | September 18, 2008 at 11:16 PM