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Maddow brings out the mad with truth about Obama and gay marriage

Many of us who watched the New York Senate vote on gay marriage found our way to MSNBC so we could view Rachel Maddow‘s coverage.

Most of us have seen the moment of victory by now, but let’s watch it again – it might give us the boost we need to get us to the long weekend.

Rachel was her usual articulate self and, of course, said exactly what was on her mind. Including this:

She is, of course, correct. President Obama, for all his praise of New York lawmakers’ vote to approve same-sex marriage, has not changed his personal view on the matter: that although gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and protection as straight couples, “marriage” is between a man and a woman.

In fact, at Wednesday’s press conference, when reporters asked Obama about his position, he said, “I’m not going to make news on that today. Good try though.” But the President’s supporters did not like Maddow’s commentary one bit. Salon.com gathered a few representative tweets.

Calling Rachel a hater and a racist for stating what Obama himself has said many times is a stretch. But this certainly isn’t the first time people have overreacted to her – she gets it.

She also is unmoved by criticism, at least when facts are on her side. Wednesday morning, Ann Curry interviewed Maddow about her views of the Republican contenders for President and the subject came up again.

(Rachel is so cute when she flirts.)

I know that President Obama has his own reasons for not changing his formal position on gay marriage and as frustrated as I get with him, I respect the fact that he hasn’t caved to pressure just because this would be a good time to do so. And I appreciate his leadership in opposing the Defense of Marriage Act and repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

But Maddow’s job is to report what is true, whether we like it or not. And while I expect attacks from the Right, I don’t quite understand the vitriol of her left-leaning critics.

What am I missing here? Did Maddow’s comments go over the line? Does being supportive of President Obama mean that we can’t hold him accountable for his own words?

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