The Hollow Courage of Bill Maher

[Swagman]

by Luke Savage

Throughout his career, Bill Maher has delighted in scolding the powerless.

Which longtime member of America’s pundit class once equated Islam with cancer? Had to apologize for comparing dogs to “retarded children”? Mused about the need for Arab men to become “civilized”? Was publicly alarmed at the rising popularity of the name Mohammad? Casually joked about a woman being throttled before calling her a bitch?

While the smart money might be on any number of bloviating right-wing vulgarians, the answer is someone of a much more liberal persuasion, aligned not with the likes of Donald Trump and Steve Bannon but with Barack Obama and the Democratic Party; given a platform not by Fox News, but rather Comedy Central, HBO, and ABC.

https://jacobinmag.com/2017/09/bill-maher-real-time-trump-islamophobia

[larry budwell]

1. Thank you

For helping to expose this POS. I gave up on Bill Maher a long time ago. Hope HBO will shitcan his show. He's the reason why I told my wife not to renew HBO in our cable package. Not a Fan !

[Dennis Donovan]

2. That's a RWNJ source

[oberliner]

4. "Jacobin is a leading voice of the American left"

According to their "About Us" page.

[Dennis Donovan]

6. Why are there articles bashing Dems then?

[oberliner]

8. Because they aren't "left" enough?

I don't really know this site, but from browsing it, they definitely seem to be attacking some Democrats from the left rather than from the right.

[Hortensis]

15. What is this anti-Democratic slander doing on DU? Maher is NOT a liberal,

and he says so himself, proudly. What he is an illustration of how similar the far left and far right can be, at times almost indistinguishable.

There are huge differences between radical/extremist left personalities and liberal personality. Much of the antagonism constantly expressed here against liberals and the Democratic Party has nothing to do with Bernie Sanders. It's far more basic and arises from a need to defeat what they cannot understand or respect.

Democracy is based on liberal principles, and our democratic republic can only work if governance reflects agreements between Americans of different ideologies and needs. Those farther left believe that's proof of liberal corruption.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. What "anti-Democratic slander"? Jacobin does not support the Democrats, and says so proudly

Jacobin is far left. Maher is a liberal centrist. He is an example of what they think is "liberal corruption".

[unc70]

3. It is a "Marxist" nut job publication

Totally repulsive attack on liberals and progressives, but from a supposedly leftist perspective.

[JonLP24]

5. Funny thing though is Bill Maher actually said those things

[Nitram]

9. Funny thing is, Maher is an outspoken comedian who oversteps the bounds of decency on occasion.

His over-all record as a liberal stands on its own. He is funny, brilliant, and profane.

[JonLP24]

10. Except when he doesn't know what he is talking about he just sounds like an arrogant idiot

I'm sick of Maher myself. I used to watch his show but often hated his comedy routine & new rules segment. His "record" is clear to me which the OP documented, he has often said idiotic things rather than "funny" or "brilliant".

[Nitram]

11. I agree I just turn him off sometimes. But usually I find the dialog he gets going with guests

to interesting and often very insightful. I'm willing to skip the stupid or arrogant stuff because the good stuff is so good. I think when you are out there on the edge of comedy and politics you are bound to misfire and make mistakes along the way. I'm not saying everybody should watch him, just that I get value out of his show when he's on target and all cylinders are firing.

[Lil Missy]

7. that is a trash site. n/t

[applegrove]

12. Bill Maher is primarily a comedian. Seems lost on the author of this article.

He's supposed to be zipping around politics in places others won't go.

[BigmanPigman]

13. His show was called Politically Incorrect for a reason.

He has never shied away from what he believes. Personally I like most of his views and it is refreshing to hear someone speak about religion from a non-religion point of view as well as having intelligent guests who are knowledgeable and able to share their info without harsh criticism.

[Skittles]

14. typical behavior of misognynists