Why we're all hot for Rachel Maddow

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

Comments

[Joe Deli]

Started watching Rachel last night for the first time and immediately I'm hooked! Great looking, smart, witty, and incredibly knowledgeable of the current political arena. I think she's too good to ever be involved in politics seriously, I believe it would harm her image for the same reasons that Cronkite never entered that arena.
We need Rachel, now more than ever, she lifts our spirits and keeps the opposition on their toes knowing that she doesn't miss a trick!
Tim Russert is smiling down from somewhere !
thank you Rachel for being.... Rachel....

[AlexaGrace]

I stopped watching evening news programs some time ago because they became so loud and pompous and full of anger. It is so refreshing to enjoy watching an evening news show again. I'm once again becoming an evening news junkie. Rachel gets her points across with intelligence and humor and without all the venomous hot air. And, on top of that she is absolutely beautiful!!! I am one of the very many with a crush on Rachel.

[Gnome Chomsky]

Rachel is has the "smart girl next door" thing down. I am a queer (transguy) and while I think she's cute on her MSNBC show, she is so much hotter when they don't have her all kinds of fake femmed-up. I like her look much better on her Air America show. I also really like how she keeps her cool while debating. She seems way down to earth and not full of herself.

And... as a beer snob, I say, screw getting a beer with Obama, McCain, or Hillary, I'd much rather have a drink with Rachel!

[anotherguy08]

I'm a straight guy. I find Rachel Maddow really attractive and very sexy. Her gorgeous smile and her rapier wit along with her sheer awesome intelligence make me hot for her. I'm not alone and neither is my wife, who also has the hots for Rachel.

Wow! Found Rachel by accident this week and I am hooked. As
a fifty year old white woman,
I have to say she is a breath of fresh air. Smart, witty, and down to earth, unlike most of the other political hosts on other shows. Sorry, Keith...
Best wishes and much success on your new show. Thank you for giving me a reason to watch televsion again.

Rachel is hot!

[Beth]

I've never been one for all the political talk shows on a regular basis. That is until I found Rachel just a few short weeks ago (by accident). She's quick, witty, smart and not to mention....my kind of eye candy. They say she has a partner...but they didn't say she was happy with her. So there is a chance.......:)

[Hopkins]

Her face is indeed very pretty, but that's not what makes her irresistible-- intelligence, articulateness, humor, balance of self-confidence and self-deprecation, and she is so natural and unassuming. It's the kind of admiration where there's a blurry line between wanting to date her and wanting to be like her.

[the truth]

She is a piece of human excrement who said that a patriot John Mccain had an "easy time" when he was tortured in Vietnam!

[Candace]

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE her! I have never been able to stomach any political commentary until I heard her speak! I hope her show on MSNBC continues for a long time.

[Wolfgang Stadler]

I am a heterosexual man who lives in Germany - and Rachel is the first lesbian woman, to who I fell in love. I watch all clips on msnbc in the internet - I love her smile, her humour, her way of thinking...- If one day she comes to Germany - she has to visit me in Freiburg, soutwest-germany...she belongs to gods masterpieces when its devine spirits created men...

[Darlena Jones]

I too have a girl-crush on Rachel but sadly I'm a hetero. My 66-year-old father has also found her on TV and has a crush on her too (as does my 65-year-old mother). I love watching her nail people to the wall; she looks like she's having a great time. Maddow in 2016! (Obama for 2008 and 2012)

[no.1 philly fan]

I can't believe there's a lot of us that truly adores and obsesses about Rachel. I never used to watch MSNBC now I have it on all the time so I could have a glimpse of her in commercials before 9pm. I have been married for 15 yrs.(straight girl) and I have this crush with Rachel. She's very witty,articulate,and funny. She has the brain, face and voice that just kept me glued on watching her. Really, really really.

[SunriseMedia]

Speaking of orientations, I'll "come out of the closet" and confess to the world that I'm a male lesbian...and a strict Vagitarian ; ). I'm also a photographer who is blessed with the privilege of working with beautiful women on a daily basis. I know beauty...and I know what makes a woman more...or less beautiful. In response to the previous poster that thinks Gov. Palin is "smoking hot"...well, maybe so, but only on the surface. She talks alot, but has trouble backing up what she says. Rachel may not be the "classic beauty", but if you asked her a follow-up question, she could actually produce a succinct, intelligent and intuitive answer. What a concept...an attractive woman with a brain that could make 99% of us feel like "mental midgets", but with the finesse to do it without being berating or condescending. I'll cast my vote for Ms. Maddow. Personality, presence and that "sparkle" make her much more attractive than the transparent Ms. Gov. Palin could ever hope to be.

Rachel Maddow is a radical loon. I wish someone would wipe the smirk off her face. Hopefully after the election she'll go away.

[T-rex]

YES!

I have wondered why this Rachel Maddow always brings a smile to my face when I watch her doing political reporting. I feel like a boy who has a crush...eventhough she's playing in a 'wrong team'...

But now I can see that many other people like her as well. She's just so... cute!

[sam elissawy]

rachel maddow looks like a gay man
i wonder how long she will be in MSNBC

[pomo]

Seriously, are people still so afraid of orientation roles??? it's 2008!

"i'm a this homo, but i think rachel is..."
"i'm not a homo, but..."

get over yourself.

pomosexuality.
google it.

you scared straight "liberals"!
liberal my ass.

Rachel is probably doing her classic "amused face" at you all.

[Jessica]

I understand what you mean "Pomo", though I think you may be drunk typing or very passionate, because your grammar doesn't make any sense.

Are we beyond the point of labels?
Yes, most radicals most definitely are.

But the rest of the world isn't.
So, should we keep these "names" till the world catches up?

[Kimberley]

I have been watching Rachel for a couple of weeks now and LOVE her! Her show is "must see TV" for me. I hope she's around for a long time.

[roc14]

yea i also think rachel is very very hot i just started watchin her a few days ago by accident.and already i luv her. Go rachel i hope her show is around for a very long time

[Gunfighter]

Rachel Maddow?

Hot as I don't know what!

Happily married straight dude, here... but Rachel Maddow is the business, I'm telling you.

[wishywashygirl]

Oh, I am so incredibly thrilled to read all of these comments! I'm not crazy! I'm NOT crazy!!! ha!!I watched MSNBC a few weeks ago...sordof by accident..and Ive been gaga over Rachel ever since!!! There's just no one out there like her! sigh!!!!! And there's just something nice about being attracted to someone for their brains and personality and not all that outter beauty crapo! She is smokin' sexy with her button up man shirts, sneakers and dorky glasses! Yum yum!

[Dottie White]

I never heard of Rachel Maddow until I saw her on the Jay Leno show a few nights ago. As soon as I saw her, I thought she was gay (gaydar). I immediately went to google to find out some information on her. She is of the smartest lesbian I know. I watched your show for the first time tonight and was really impressed. She has been with her partner for ten years. Keep going Rachel, my partner and I have been together 44 years and have been committed to each other. We met in college and were teachers for 30 years. I hope you and your partner have a long and lasting relationship. You're great!

[PAUL ARNOLD]

RACHEAL NEEDS TO ASK WHY JOHN MCCAIN, AND SARA PALIN ARE NOT BEING CHARGED BY HOMELAND SECURETY .THEY ARE IN EVERY WAY TRYING TO INSTAGATE HATRED AGAINST OBOMBA ,BLAIMING IT ON THERE SHEEP .BUT THEY ARE VERY EFECTIVE IN THERE MISSION ,THERES MEN IN PRISON FOR MUCH LESS BY BUSH .YOUR AWSOME RACHEL .BE NICVE TO SEE YOU HOLD A DEBATE BETWEEN THEM ,WITH A REAL CROUD AND NO NOTICE TO THEN ON THE SCRIPT ,YOU WOULD SHOW MCCAINS TEMPER COME OUT ON TV .THANKS FOR BEING REAL WE NEED SOMEONE ON OUR SIDE (THE PEOPLE AND THERE CHILDRENS FUTURE