Rachel Maddow defends the unemployed

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This is a portion of one of the more logical commentaries about why the killing of the stimulus/unemployment benefits bill by Senate Republicans is a politically motivated, tragic mistake for the entire country. Rachel Maddow makes a lot of sense in connecting the dots. She details how the bill would have continued to help a still struggling economy, until jobs returned and people could get back on their feet. Later in the segment (not seen in this video) she documents several Republicans stereotyping unemployed Americans. And she shoots down the deficit excuse being used by Republicans for turning their backs on the jobless.

This video is only half of the entire segment Maddow led with on Thursday night. Twenty minutes is far more than any other newscast did on the ramifications of the killing of the bill. It also reminded viewers of Sen. Jim Bunning's lack of priorities during a February 2010 speech.

Speaking in defense of people who have fallen through the cracks during this recession is a good use of valuable broadcast airtime -- much more helpful than rehashing the death of Michael Jackson. It reminds us of the struggles many of our friends, neighbors and family members have had during the last couple of years. Maddow shows compassion but also explains why trashing unemployed people is bad for the country and the economy as a whole.

Maddow is left of center, but she backs her views with facts, unlike some other talking heads. For the most part, she is preaching to the choir because most on the right wouldn't bother to watch her nightly show on MSNBC. However, I believe it's smart to listen to all opinions, even ones you may not agree with, which is why I listen to people like Rush Limbaugh at times. She's been dead-on with her appraisal of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and appears to have excellent news judgment in prioritizing the stories she does on her one-hour show. She does mix in some humor, but for the most part Maddow avoids the circus antics used by other prime-time commentators.