(Updated with additional context)
(CNN) – Republican Sen. David Vitter apologized to MSNBC host Rachel Maddow Friday after jesting on a radio program that she only looked like a woman “a long time ago.”
“Regarding my remark during a radio conversation today, I apologize,” Vitter wrote in a letter to Maddow. “The hosts made their comment and I obviously chimed in. While we do not usually agree on the issues, I do not think you deserved that comment.”
Vitter’s comments came during an appearance on Rush Radio 99.5 in New Orleans Friday morning, during which the radio hosts joked about a high school photo of Maddow with long blond hair. The MSNBC host currently has short brown hair.
“Must have been a long time ago,” Vitter joked when the hosts said the photo portrays Maddow as “looking like a woman.”
Maddow has not responded to the comments.
Vitter is currently in a primary battle against former Louisiana Supreme Court justice Chet Traylor. Traylor told CNN Monday that while he had been considering a run since last summer; it wasn't until the last two weeks that he took another look at the race, after being flooded with calls urging him to run.
Should Vitter win that race, he will face Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon in the general election. Despite a tumultuous first term, Vitter's favorability rating has remained high and Melancon has as yet struggled to gain serious footing.
From CNN Politics
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I'm not sure how that is an insult its not like Maddow trys to appear female. I showed the pic to my hubby and he said even with the hair she looked male.
Laurien-you are so correct. I wish everyone would watch Rachel, she tells the truth and explains issues so everyone can understand what the heck is going on. I would be honored to have her as a friend, daughter or in my life. I can not for the life of me understand how the tea party/republican followers go for all of their cr'p and obvious lies and misrepresentations. I'm not gay by the way.
What do you expect from an elected official who hangs with Rush...a drug addict with the body and mind of a beached whale.
Vitter continues to distinguish himself as the heir to the Jesse Helms' mantle as Senator Stupid.
Rachel Maddow is El Professor. She knows how to connect the dots, dissect a topic and in the end, even if you're an idiot, you learn something.
This guy is simply jealous of her success on the air.
Rachel Maddow is gay. SO WHAT? She is also a Rhodes Scholar with a PH.d. in political science. Of course, Maddow is biased. She's not a journalist. She's a commentator. However, even though she is a liberal commentator, she is one of the fairest on the air. The fact that she asks the tough questions which can't be answered with simplistic talking points is not her problem. Maddow is a good natured, compassionate person with a ton of brains and no patience for BS. That's why Vitter doesn't like her and feels the need to slur her.
Looks like this guy could be a permanent guest for Rush. Rush of course needed a bottle to maintain his manhood!
he shouldn't have to apologize for the truth
Why is this freak still part of the political landscape? Looks like when he's among his own kind, he feels comfortable enough to attack another person on such a gutter level. It also appears that he lacks impulse control. Should a person with such a penchant for buffonery be a Senator? As for prostitutes and diapers, that's his business. And Maddow's lifestyle is her's. Hypocrite!
"Ray in Phoenix July 17th, 2010 11:42 am ET
Why apologize for telling the truth?
Maddow does look like a man. Period. That's the whole point behind her "look". Lets not pretend otherwise. Bet she doesn't even own a skirt."
So what. She openly said she was gay, Vitter did not have to be condescending.
I just did a quick search on the net for Maddows comments about others. She's made some comments that are worse then Vitters. Maybe she should take the apology and zip it.
Defenders and disciples of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Shaun Hannity, and their like brethren are what's wrong with America!
Is it just me or is there a phenomenon going on where Republicans constantly and consistently stick their feet into their mouths when speaking? It pretty much started with Bush II but, of course, his front man was Dick Cheney who is without doubt the most cynical, hateful, unhappy man alive. And it continues with one Republican after another. I am not truly interested in politics and have voted for both sides of the political aisle but have decided that I no longer will support a GOP person after the likes of this man, Bush, Cheney, Mitch McConnell, Palin, and numerous others. Always hateful. Always loud and brash (look at their newscasters on FOX and mouthpieces like Limbaugh for examples).
Senator Vitter's insult of Rachel Maddow was vile. Although he apologized, he succeeded in appealing to homophobic voters by having made the remark in the first place. His frequenting of prostitutes and his recent pandering to bigoted voters by suggesting that they pursue their baseless question regarding our President's citizenship are also disgraceful. Surely there is a more moral, intelligent, and educated individual who can be elected to replace Senator Vitter. He is without conscience.
So sexual innuendo is perfectly fine but questioning someone's gender is not fine?
I have some questions.
Is Larry King a homophobe?
Is Anderson Cooper gay?
Does Keith Olbermann pee on himself?
If a Democrat had said these words would this be a story?
And, which of you hypocrites thinks she's trying to look like a woman?
Say all you want. We love Rachel.
Rachel Maddow is one of a limited number of journalists who actually researches and presents facts, not her personal opinion. She is a very educated woman who is witty and actually makes watching news enjoyable. Anderson Cooper is the only other journalist I watch because he too researches and presents facts.
For those of you who object to the term ""tea baggers""-do your homework--the phrase was coined by the Tea Baggers themselves.
Rachel and Anderson, keep up the good work !!!
Then why say it?! Do you mean it or not? Typical Republicans. Say terrible stuff and then apologize. Like apologizing makes up for what they really think and say otherwise. Sheer hypocrisy.
Gotta wonder what Bill Buckley (RIP) would have to say about the intellectual content of recent GOP spewage. He'd not be amused.
And these folks now think they can game their way back into power, with an intentionally hidden policy agenda and the likes of Boehner, McConnell, Kantor, Palin, Limbaugh, Beck, yada yada.
OTOH, Rachel strikes me as very intelligent, honest and diligent. With a finely-honed sense of humor and absurdity. Fox would love to have someone with her credentials, but good luck with their agenda.
Beauty is as beauty does.
How in the world is this guy still allowed to talk out loud? The worst thing you can say about the GOP nowadays is that they haven't demonstrated the tiny shred of common sense it takes to completely muzzle this lecherous, base, hypocritical moron.
His brain is dead since he cannot visit anymore hookers. Maybe he needs some "pampering".
Just another Tea Party type idiot!
Wow, what a jerk. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you're on, thats still a pretty rude thing to say.
Not surprising from the "Family Values" Republicans. Keep talking GOP – the more you talk, the more you will lose.