SOUNDBITES — “The real problem is not that Maddow fails to invite conservatives on her show; she does exactly that relentlessly. The problem is that most leading conservatives refuse to be interviewed by anyone — such as Maddow — who will conduct adversarial interviews. They thus restrict themselves to the friendly confines of Fox News or to television interview shows where the hosts refuse to question them aggressively due to a fear of being perceived as something other than ‘neutral.’ Indeed, as I noted before, after Maddow had interviewed GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty (who said nothing ‘nasty about Republicans’): Maddow is constantly attempting to lure right-wing and other Republican guests to her show, but they almost always refuse.” —Glenn Greenwald, the always astute gay Salon scribe, refuting NYT columnist Ross Douthat’s assertion that Rachel Maddow no likely conservative guests (via)
glenn greenwald
‘The real problem is not that Maddow fails to invite conservatives on her show. Most leading conservatives refuse to be interviewed by anyone who will conduct adversarial interviews’
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D'oh, The Magnificent
Indeed, on the gay issues, she had one conservative on there where she was taking him a part by literally quoting sections of his book that he previously stated in the interview were either a) taken out of context or b) was not in the book. The funny part was the kept saying that she did not get the whole picture, and she read a little more, and it changed none of the meaning of what he had said. What they don’t like is to be exposed. None of the status quo likes this. Whether conservative or Democratic leadership.
terrwill
Unlike Faux News, Rachel uses something kinda sorta foreign to most conseratives: actual facts.
And unfortunately most rightwing conseratives suffer the sad affliction known as factaphobia- a malady in which when the suffer is confronted with a fact causes said suffer to break out in a bad case of severe lies…………..
Tessie Tura
I have listened to Rachel Maddow’s podcast since the presidential primaries. The FEW conservatives that have consented to be on her show have been treated with dignity and respect – even while grilling them with their own words, she never loses her cool. Can one say that about anyone at Faux News?
robert
… and of course interviews with Glen Beck and Bill O’Reilly aren’t remotely adversarial, are they?
mk
Conservatives of any stature have nothing to gain and something to lose in appearing on her show. The average MSNBC viewer is staunchly liberal and is not open to switching sides. The interview will be combative and there is considerable chance they will not emerge a victor. And they already have a network (Faux News) that exists just to promote them and the republican party.
tjr101
Of course the CONServatives won’t show up on Maddow’s show. They would much rather answer the soft ball questions in front of an audience that drinks the same Kool Aid on Faux News. These folks are all about shaping history to their own ideological liking. They’re now peddling the impossible history that some how Bush Jr. was good for America and nation started it’s decline on January 20th 2009.
Jeremy
Republican politicians are probably the most egotistic people in this country.
D'oh, The Magnificent
@mk: I think they need to decide which argument they are going to go with. First, it was whining that liberals would not let them show up. Now, when that argument is shown to be a lie- it is that we won’t let them win the argument and that is bias if we don’t just sit there to let them have a platform without any real debate of their ideas. The sad part is that this kind of manipulation you just wrote works in DC on too many idiotic liberals trying to placate crazy.
Jaroslaw
Let her send certified return receipt requested “invitations” to their offices and start reporting who accepted and who declined.
That should take the wind out of their CONServative sails.