In March, a NewsBusters headline asked, "Is Bill Maher Becoming the Rosie O'Donnell of Cable Television?"
On Friday, the host of HBO's "Real Time" once again proved he has, for in coming to the defense of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Maher rationalized the Iranian president sending munitions to kill American soldiers in Iraq by asking, "Doesn't Bush have American blood on his hands?"
Maybe worse, Maher said that Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust, and statements that "Israel should be wiped off the map," are just "things he says to get elected," and "are the equivalent of when the Republicans in this country say, ‘Gay marriage will lead to death.'"
After introducing his panel, Maher began the discussion with Ahmadinejad's visit to New York City stating (video available here, relevant sections at 1:28 and 5:00):
It does seem like the media are just taking the Administration talking points about this drumbeat of war with Iran the way they did five years ago with Iraq. You'd think that was 50 years ago, and they forgot all about it. "Oh, that's right, we bought the bullshit about Saddam." But it was five years ago. I know that they've been busy with OJ, but, c'mon. I mean, Scott Pelley said to Ahmadinejad, "You have American blood on your hands." Doesn't Bush have American blood on his hands?
A few moments later, Maher said:
The main reason we hate Ahmadinejad is because what he said about Israel. At least that's what sticks in my craw, and I think most people, certainly the New York papers, cause he said Israel should be wiped off the map. Some people say it is a mistranslation, whatever. Horrible thing to say. And, he denies the Holocaust. But, those are things he says to get elected. Okay? There are Jews in the Iranian parliament. He can't be that anti-Semitic. I think those are the equivalent of when the Republicans in this country say, "Gay marriage will lead to death." Or, "Flag-burning is..." you know. It's politics. And shrewd politicians, you know, you say what you want about Nixon, but at least he was shrewd. He would know the difference between when a politician is just bullshitting his own people, and what's real.
Honestly, can't you see Rosie O'Donnell making the same absurd assertions?
I guess we should ignore Ahmadinejad's statements about wiping Israel off the face of the planet because he's just "bullshitting."
Bill, it must be a proud moment in your life to have allowed your Bush Derangement Syndrome to so thoroughly drain your intellectual capacity that it has sunk to the level of that possessed by folks like Rosie O'Donnell.
How truly sad.
*****Update: NBer fitzfong made a fabulous point in the comments section that is just too delicious for anyone to miss --
"Israel should be wiped off the map," are just "things he says to get elected," and "are the equivalent of when the Republicans in this country say, ‘Gay marriage will lead to death.'"
Or, more appropriately they are the equivalent of when some Democrats in this country say, "I support the troops."
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up here!
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Well, clearly this type of
September 29, 2007 - 12:42 ET by SMGalbraithWell, clearly this type of inflammatory and ugly rhetoric will be posted on Media Matters' website*?
And reported on by CNN and MSNBC.
And Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will leave his wife, take sanctuary in Provincetown and move in with Barney Frank.
Then again, maybe not.
(*Look, why even expend 30 seconds responding to the "substance" and "logic" of these risible comments. It's a useless exercise involving a useless person).
SMG
There are Jews in the
September 29, 2007 - 12:41 ET by drillanwrThere are Jews in the Iranian parliament. He can't be that anti-Semitic.
Well now, Billy, you might just be right. After all, Hitler DID have Jews working the gas chamber/showers and ovens, you know. Okay. You've converted me ...
Say hey! Maybe Bill will
September 29, 2007 - 12:48 ET by drillanwrSay hey! Maybe Bill will get an open invitation from a Middle Eastern terrorist group to come hang out with them ... just as Rosie did.
He can only hope ... and keep his phone lines open.
Maher is nothing but a propagandist
September 29, 2007 - 12:51 ET by c5thenHe has no qualifications to allow anyone to think that is opinions on anything are other then the opinions of a failed comedian. His sole qualification for running a political opinion show are that he is a flaming liberal.
By making excuses for Amadinajad Mahar has US military blood on his hands and any future blood that is spilled whan Iran has to be dealt with (sooner or later). It's the same exact philosophy as Neville Chamberalin had that allowed the Holocaust to happen in the first place.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com
eeew!
September 29, 2007 - 12:50 ET by RJAt first glance, I thought the headline said "Maher Does Rosie."
ick.
<shudder> Bleh! I still
September 29, 2007 - 12:55 ET by drillanwr<shudder> Bleh! I still ain't over the sex scene between Rosie and the sexy-handsome sex addict doc on Nip/Tuck from a season or two ago!
Thanks a big bunch, RJ! That's a picture I'll now have to carry inside my head for the rest of the day ...
RJ
September 29, 2007 - 13:13 ET by Noel SheppardRJ,
I considered that headline to save space, but realized how sickened the male members might get if it was misinterpreted. :-) ns
Noel - The females too
September 29, 2007 - 13:15 ET by drillanwrNoel -
The females too ...
Good call Noel
September 29, 2007 - 13:53 ET by RJYou may have created a new kind of "emotional stress virus" that caused computers to shut down everywhere.
RJ,
September 29, 2007 - 13:58 ET by Dave RLOL-Hey, I had to buy a new keyboard yesterday.
Maybe I sould have gotten two.
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
My first thought when I saw
September 29, 2007 - 18:17 ET by motherbeltMy first thought when I saw the pic was that Maher was attempting a "Special Comment" moment a la Olbermann.
N,
September 29, 2007 - 12:51 ET by BlondeWhat's up w/the Bill Maher ringtone ads down the sidebar here?
Pretty funny.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
bill Maher ringtones?
September 29, 2007 - 12:56 ET by botggood one to assign to the to be ex's cell so i know don't answer
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Bill Maher: Poster Boy for Post Birth Aborticide
September 29, 2007 - 13:11 ET by Lame CherryI have grown thank God to the point of not being upset by the Bill Maher ilk as I see great things in all of these policies liberals advocate as it is their literal post birth aborticide or suicide stance.
Maher can whine all he wants about GOP remarks about homosexual marriage or contact causing death, but it literally does as nature does not reproduce in same sex and it has shown it culls all people in diseases from not adhering to one married partner in sex.
Maher and all his liberal ilk are slowing non breeding or self aborting themselves out of perpetuating their ideas. From Greedy Geezers dying off to the doped up kids dropping likes flies the entire DNC base is dying.
They do not educate themselves, they advocate attacks on America which will exterminate them as terrorists attack cities and that is where liberals congregate and they will not defend themselves so they are easy prey for criminals.
All of that will bring about in the next generation a literal fight where once again the Americans will throw off all the liberal nonsense as wars break out and while invaders chew up resources on liberals (remember the precident of the Nazi spending a fortune and time executing communists in the Slavic states.).......the people who are remaining will be the ones with guns, Conservatives and with the know how to survive.
Those facts of history and prophecy repeating itself make Maher allot easier to deal with as one realizes his end will be swift and real Americans will be who survive what his nonsense his setting up.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
I'm really curious what
September 29, 2007 - 13:33 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltI'm really curious what Bill would do if the Dims took over both wings of congress by a wide margin, and Hillary were elected president. I mean, his whole show, his whole "comedic" routine is hinged on the political right and Bush-bashing.
A friend and fellow conservative asked me yesterday what would Hillary do when things don't go right during her presidency (that gave me a shudder to type that!)...I said "What else but blame the Bush administration for the mess he left her?" I guess that's what Maher would do as well.
They are already doing this very thing
September 29, 2007 - 15:24 ET by american-american"What else but blame the Bush administration for the mess he left her?" The debate they just had, they were saying this very thing.
I think of parrots when I hear that sort of thing. If you repeat the same words to them over and over, eventually they start saying those words back to you.
Maher is a fool.
September 29, 2007 - 13:36 ET by Dave RSo, if the rest of the world stays on the sidelines (as it appears that is what it is going to do) and does nothing, and Akhmedinadinnerjacket manages to pull off an attack on an Israeli city, is Maher going to then say that, "This is what you have to do to stay elected?"
If anyone winds up with blood on their hands in this, it will be the "peace at any price" crowd, of which Maher is a member-in-good-standing, and whose anti-semitism is so rampant that they oppose taking any pre-emtive military action against Iran whatsoever, who will end up with blood on their hands.
They will be up to their armpits in it.
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
Billy Maher, a proud member
September 29, 2007 - 13:59 ET by Trix RabbitBilly Maher, a proud member of the CRIS society (Cranial/Rectal Inversion Syndrome) has once again skewed the facts in order for everyone in his small audience of highly confused individuals to believe that he is a great intellectual (barf).
Billy, there is ONE Jew in the Iranian parliament. A one Morris Motamed, who represents Iran's Jewish population of 25,000. I will also remind you that the Nazis selected Jews (judenrat) to represent the Reich to facilitate the Jewish community's extinction by providing names and addresses and other such lists.
So, Billy, stick with what you know best: getting high and hanging out with that drooling idiot in a bathrobe. Other than that, you have absolutely no value to anyone.
Liberal: a power worshipper without power. George Orwell
"Israel should be wiped off
September 29, 2007 - 14:15 ET by fitzfong"Israel should be wiped off the map," are just "things he says to get elected," and "are the equivalent of when the Republicans in this country say, ‘Gay marriage will lead to death.'"
Or, more appropriately they are the equivalent of when some Democrats in this country say, "I support the troops."
Oooooo! Heh-heh!
September 29, 2007 - 14:38 ET by drillanwrOooooo! Heh-heh!
FF
September 29, 2007 - 15:13 ET by Noel SheppardFF,
Very nice. That deserves to get promoted as an update so that those who don't venture into the comments section can enjoy it as well. :-) ns
Maher has turned into a
September 29, 2007 - 16:04 ET by ConservativeRexMaher has turned into a younger version of Andy Rooney, a doddering old communist fool spouting off crap to whoever happens to pass within earshot. And the leftist provided both with a microphone, unfortunately. He is a has been, that never was. Pitiful really. He'll burn out shortly, probably the way John Belushi burned out, he does have a history of the same behavior.
Right on the $, Rex
September 29, 2007 - 18:17 ET by chottybrainWhat's even funnier is that Maher actually thinks there is NO ONE more "hip" than himself. Lies, half-truths and ommissions spew from his mouth like a 4-way lawn sprinkler.
This S.O.B has the nerve to label himself a "Libertarian" - LOL... Um, that would be a "Marxist", Billy.
*2 words you'll never, ever hear on "Real Time": Sandy Berger!
Millionaire Marxist Thought Police Must Perish
Did he even mention that
September 29, 2007 - 20:12 ET by ChriswelLDid he even mention that gays are executed in Iran just for being gay?
Gay Marriage or even being gay definitely leads to death in the land of Persia (Iran).
Jackass!
-cs™