Bill Maher: Political correctness could cost Democrats the election

By Jessica Chasmar -
The Washington Times
February 10, 2016

Late-night comedian Bill Maher argued Wednesday that political correctness could cost the Democrats this presidential election, specifically their refusal to utter the phrase “Islamic terrorism.”

The HBO “Real Time” host penned a lengthy essay for The Hollywood Reporter, weighing in on the political landscape and praising presidential candidates Donald Trump and Bernard Sanders for their willingness to tell it like it is.

“No one thought a politician could survive, much less stay in the lead for as long as Trump has, based on a campaign of braggadocio and utter contempt for political correctness,” Mr. Maher wrote in his 3,500-word essay. “But the younger generation is leading a movement to prize authenticity above all. Trump is a petulant child, but at least that’s real, they seem to be saying. Bernie, too, is as real as real gets.

“We haven’t seen a true leftist since FDR, so many millions are coming out of the woodwork to vote for Bernie Sanders; he is the Occupy movement now come to life in the political arena. These are people who have sat out for a long time because the Democrats became a corporatist, center-right party and the Republicans became radically right (and, of course, just plain nuts in many ways),” he said.

“And poor, poor Hillary Clinton,” Mr. Maher wrote. “I mean she just is such a Charlie Brown figure. I could see the nomination slipping away from her again. I don’t know why everyone just wants to beat up on her. If you are threatened by Hillary Clinton, you were molested by a real estate lady, I used to say. There is no other explanation because she is just not that threatening. I actually like Hillary. I think she is unfairly demonized and has been for her entire career. I personally don’t think she is dishonest. And yet the hatred for her is just amazing — the hatred on the right and the abandonment on the left. She’s particularly hard to watch as a candidate. (That laugh.) Yes, the hard truth is that Hillary Clinton is a terrible campaigner who is living in a different era.”

Mr. Maher went on to argue that America is in desperate need for something “new and radical.”

“It’s funny that both the left and the right could not agree more that the country needs radical change,” he wrote. “It’s no longer this endeavor where you have to watch every word you say. Bernie said in early February, ‘I’m not involved in organized religion.’ Not a deal-breaker. ‘I’m a socialist.’ The world didn’t fall apart. Donald Trump, on the other hand, obviously says whatever flies into his head — there are Tourette’s patients with more control — and people like it. Americans have been choking on political correctness and overly careful politicians for the last generation or two and are sick of it.

“Hillary Clinton is still playing that kind of politician, the one who never upsets anybody, who always says the thing that no one can quite attack, so she comes off in this new era as inauthentic and just unappetizing to watch. I think all the enthusiasm that people wanted to have for Hillary Clinton — the first woman president! — they’re having trouble mustering because of the way she campaigns and because Bernie is more exciting.”

Mr. Maher then turned his attention to radical Islam and Mr. Trump’s proposal to place a temporary ban on Muslim immigrants entering the country.

“Let’s get clear on something: I absolutely don’t believe that we should ban all Muslims coming into this country,” Mr. Maher wrote. “One, we need Muslims in the fight against Islamic terrorism. Two, it’s not American. It’s just un-American to do that, and it sacrifices who we are, and we can’t do that. But let’s not kid ourselves: A certain percentage of them will be radicalized. The more Muslims in your country, the more that is a possibility. America has the best record of any country as far as assimilating Muslims. American Muslims can leave the religion if they want, come out of the closet if they are gay, marry outside of their religion. If you’re a Muslim woman in America, you can choose to wear a headscarf or not. You can argue with your husband.

“I am not anti-Muslim and never have been: I am anti-bad ideas. Killing cartoonists and apostates, these are terrible ideas and practices, and it would be lovely to think that they were confined only to terrorists. They unfortunately are not,” he added. “So no, Donald Trump is not right — but he will win the election if the American people have to choose between his demagoguery and a party that won’t even say the words ‘Islamic terrorism.’ I think the Democrats could lose on that issue alone, especially if there’s another attack.

“I must admit there’s a little bit of the serial killer and the detective going on between us. ‘We’re not so different, you and I,’” Mr. Maher said of Mr. Trump. “I am the first to say that political correctness is a curse — that’s why I called my old show ‘Politically Incorrect’ — and so I harbor a hint of admiration for Trump, absolutely. I don’t think he’s the worst — I think Ted Cruz is the worst. Donald Trump can be talked to. The issue that bothers me the most with him is the environment. He’s on the standard Republican moron page of, ‘It’s a hoax, we don’t need to do anything about it.’ But let’s face it — Trump is a starf—er. One White House dinner with Leonardo DiCaprio, the big celebrity environmentalist, is all it would take. Trump, Melania, Leo, whatever supermodel Leo’s with at the time. The two supermodel chicks can bond, and Melania will talk to Don that night. ‘Leo, he seem very smart, The Donald. Maybe you should listen to him.’ And the next day, Trump will switch. He does it all the time, and no one seems to care.”

Mr. Maher ended his piece by concluding that today’s politics are like a mixture of sports and reality television, which is what makes this election season so “fascinating” for people.

“And this isn’t just sport. This is blood sport,” he concluded.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/10/bill-maher-political-correctness-could-cost-democr/

“And poor, poor Hillary Clinton,” Mr. Maher wrote. “I mean she just is such a Charlie Brown figure. I could see the nomination slipping away from her again. I don’t know why everyone just wants to beat up on her. If you are threatened by Hillary Clinton, you were molested by a real estate lady, I used to say. There is no other explanation because she is just not that threatening. I actually like Hillary. I think she is unfairly demonized and has been for her entire career. I personally don’t think she is dishonest. And yet the hatred for her is just amazing — the hatred on the right and the abandonment on the left. She’s particularly hard to watch as a candidate. (That laugh.) Yes, the hard truth is that Hillary Clinton is a terrible campaigner who is living in a different era.”

I never liked, Bill Maher.. But after this comment ^^^ I think he needs a drug rehab ..or they are related to each other. Smfh

My own reaction to Maher has from the beginning, been that when it comes to politics, he's always more interested in finding something to say that makes him feel "clever," than to actually demonstrate any useful insight.

His take on "political correctness" is almost as short-sighted as Trumps, and in a similar way: both are really just trying to cater to their audiences of the moment, and neither seems to appreciate what Political Correctness actually is, and actually is not. Therefore each is as likely to set up their OWN version of PC, without even realizing that they are doing it.


However, I do like that Trump doesn't seem to feel obliged to cater in detail, to the extremists in the GOP, or to tow the very long established line of blind support to any and all rich contributors.

" My own reaction to Maher has from the beginning, been that when it comes to politics, he's always more interested in finding something to say that makes him feel "clever," than to actually demonstrate any useful insight."

Absolutely. I don't really believe he is on drugs.
Yrs ago when he got his own show, I had big hopes that either he would be " Politically Incorrect ", inspire debate or teach me something.
None of that happened. Boring