Bill Maher Jokes About a Wall Collapsing on Eric Cantor and Michele Bachmann
Remember all that talk a few months ago about toning down the violent rhetoric on the airwaves in the wake of the tragic shootings in Tucson?
On HBO's "Real Time" Friday night, Bill Maher actually joked about a wall collapsing on Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) (video follows with transcript and commentary):
BILL MAHER: But hey, the budget deal that we announced on the show, it happened right on the show last week that they were going to cut almost $40 billion out of the budget. They were voting on it today. Apparently it went through the House. This of course is very bad news for like poor people, health programs for the poor were cut $600 million. The EPA was cut $1.6 billion. The good news: they cut all the money out of repairing federal buildings. So there was a slight chance a wall will collapse on Eric Cantor [Applause] or Michele Bachmann.
Are you kidding me?
In our post-Tucson world, is this really what is considered an acceptible joke from a man that is regularly invited on ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and NBC to offer his political opinions?
What kind of a person sitting in this studio audience or watching on television actually finds funny fellow Americans being killed without a little voice in his or her head wondering why they'd be laughing at the thought of someone's death?
And exactly when is the Huffington Post going to give Maher his walking papers much as it did Andrew Breitbart for saying far less offensive things about Obama's former green czar Van Jones?
When I saw Maher say this hours ago, and listened to his audience voice its approval with laughter, I was sickened. Having reviewed it numerous times since it aired live, I'm even more disgusted.
How did we get here as a nation?
Why are people like Bill Maher getting paid to joke about Americans dying, and why are Americans laughing when he does it?
Shame on you, Bill Maher, and shame on every person that laughed at this vulgar exhibition.
And mostly, shame on HBO for allowing this to continue.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
Maher got the whole wall
Submitted by jdhawk on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:53am.
Maher got the whole wall dropped on him years ago when he had to go begging for this gig with HBO.
HBO? Who even subscribe to that crap let alone tunes into this dufus?
If any of you are still subscribers, I have one word for you - Netflix. Watch a lot more movies whenever you want to watch them for less a month. And, you're not contributing to this nutcase.
Noel...I'm sure you're aware of my dislike for Maher, but
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 2:17am.
you wouldn't categorize that joke as being less acceptable than Ann Coulter's comments about Tim McVeigh blowing up the NYT, would you? In fact, Coulter, when asked if she regretted her words, defiantly doubled down on them.
Jer
Good for Ann!
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 3:23am.
And I hope a house falls on Bill Maher and someone throws a bucket of water on his evil sister, Joy Behar.
I'm not apologizing, Jer -- HE
started it!
Maher started it?
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 12:44pm.
Oh yeah? Sez who?
Actually, I understand that Ann and Maher are good friends. 'Birds of a feather'...only their wings are different.
Jer
Jer, Well, I am not sure if
Submitted by Liberallies on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:07pm.
Jer,
Well, I am not sure if Ann Coulter and Bill Maher are friends, but they do know each other well and have done live stage shows together where they go against each other politically.
I do agree, that Ann Coulter has said some pretty outrageous stuff which have turned me off to her. The first one that I can clearly remember is when she went after the 911 womenn who lost husbands and sons.
Ann Coulter, Michael Savage are just not my cup of tea on the Right. Ann can be witty and she annoys the hell out of Liberals when she debates them and she has some very good points, but she undermines herself.
Michael Savage, is just one very angry guy. He is full of doom and gloom and I can't stand this type of rhetoric whether it is Left or Right.
But that being said, The Left has complete control of this type of radical, wacked out violent, ridiculous, over the top, stupid, moronic rhetoric and individuals. Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Susan Seradon, Jeanine Garofalo, Joyce Behar, President Obama, Pelosi, Harry Reid and the countless other prominent Left wingers in the USA. The Left is America is currently control by the radicals, the far Left.
That obviously doesn't count
Submitted by balboa on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 12:17pm.
That obviously doesn't count because Ann said it.
Jer, I believe you missed
Submitted by Liberallies on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 12:32pm.
Jer,
I believe you missed the point!!!!
The Left, the radical Left, the Center Left, the LEFT went crazy a few months back after the shooting of the Democratic Congress woman claiming that the violent rhetoric from the Right lead to this. They promised to be more civil and blah, blah, blah...
and....here we have Bill Maher, a stable of the radical Left in America, adored also by too many so called Center Left (which I believe are radical Left wingers who can't admit how radical they are) using violent rhetoric against Republicans.
Of course the MSM called Bill Maher on it, right? The uproar from the MSM embarrassed Maher, right? Maher an individual who has gone after Right wingers for what he considers violent rhetoric.
The point is, Jer, violent rhetoric is accepted and expected from the Left against the Right, The media stays silent. But if the Left, if the Media feels like or believes that the Right is using violent rhetoric, all of these groups go crazy. But all we get is silence when the Left uses violent rhetoric against Republicans, Conservatives, The Right.
You always attempt to bring a red herring into topics.
Liberallies...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 12:39pm.
No, that was a "they do it too" argument...not a red herring.
Jer
Jer, You always attempt to
Submitted by Liberallies on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 12:55pm.
Jer,
You always attempt to distract from the point of forums by bringing completely unrelated stuff, red herrings.
I am unsure what Ann Coulter, your red herring, has to do with Bill Maher's and the MSM's hypocrisy of calling out the Right on what they consider violent rhetoric, but the MSM staying quiet when the Left does it. And the Left full of hypocrites who constantly use violent rhetoric against the Right.
Care to comment on the subject at hand or will you bring what you believe are Right wing examples of what is being pointed out against the MSM and the Left in an attempt to distract everyone from the obvious hypocrisy of the Left and the MSM?
Yeah, I'll comment:
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:23pm.
I don't like Maher. I don't think he's funny. This "joke" sucked, and all jokes like that are in very poor taste.
But my bringing up Coulter was not a red herring, any more than someone remarking "can you imagine if it had been a Republican (conservative, someone on the right, etc.) who had said something similar" (which is a frequent comment at NB), or someone opining that "it's only the Left who engage in that type of rhetoric, not the Right" (which I have also seen posted).
What I did is a common practice at all political websites. I constantly read replies to libs at progressive websites who have complained about the treatment of Obama which cite examples of over the top, outrageous statements about Bush. Those are legitimate and relevant points. So was mine.
Jer
I really don't care, Jer
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:57pm.
I still hope a house falls on Maher, a bucket of water melts Behar, and that the Flying Monkeys take all of MSNBC away with them.
"There's no place like home."
No Jer, it's not a red herring, it's a strawman
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 2:37pm.
"But my bringing up Coulter was not a red herring..."
No, Jer, it's not a red herring, it's a strawman. You're trying to use equivalency (how is it any different) as an argument in an attempt to alter the topic which, by the way, is Bill Maher's comments.
But, since you did bring up that strawman question, I'll answer it for you: Ann doesn't host her own show on a national media market like HBO. Her comment was made in an interview by the New York Observer. Bill made his "joke" live on national television.
As for the "doubling down" strawman, well, Bill made that "joke" less than 24 hours ago, so we don't know what he says in response to any criticism he may or may not receive since he HASN'T SAID ANYTHING YET.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
No it isn't Cobra...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 2:49pm.
I didn't misstate Noel's argument or dispute his point. In fact, I agreed with it. The specific example is about Maher, but the larger issue is the propriety of malicious humor with implications of physical harm suffered by the subject of the "joke". And in that sense my comment was directly on topic.
Jer
No, it's WAY off topic
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 3:43pm.
No, it's WAY off topic. How does an 9 year old interview in a locally published newspaper compare with a nationally televised cable show that was broadcast last night? The New York Observer is hardly a main-stream newspaper. It has a circulation of only 52,000. Bill, on the other hand, has a viewership of over 900,000. Ann's comment is over 9 years old. Bill's "joke" is less than 24 hours old.
Are you seriously claiming that Ann's statement, which was made over 9 years ago, is just as damaging, has the same possibility of spurring "physical harm," when her statement reached less than one half of one percent of number of people who heard Bill's "joke" just last night? That, in itself, is a joke!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Just as damaging, Cobra? No, I'm actually saying Ann's remarks
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:00pm.
were far more toxic.
It's open to question whether or not Coulter was even joking. First, she made sure the tape recorder was running because she had "something to say". She intended it to be inflammatory, and she wanted it to be published.
Later, in another interview, when she was asked if she regretted the remark, she said [paraphrasing] yes, the victims should have been limited to just the editors and publishers.
Jer
Keep building those strawmen, Jer
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:02pm.
Keep building those strawmen, Jer. We all need to ignore Mahar's complete hypocrisy regarding the use of "violent rhetoric" in public statements, correct?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
No, Cobra...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:06pm.
See my post below at 4:04 p.m. which I was typing as you were posting the above comment.
Jer
Yes, Jer
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:11pm.
Yes, Jer, you are. You keep building those equivalency strawmen every chance you get. For some reason, you just can't seem condemn a liberal for their behavior without dragging in a Conservative as a comparison. You've done this time and time again, on some many threads that it's almost impossible to list them all.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:22pm.
There have been plenty of occasions where I have posted unqualified condemnations of lib behavior. I just find it curious that many here seem incapable of criticizing similar conduct when it is engaged in by one of their own and will twist themselves into knots in order to justify it.
Jer
Most times you do.
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:31pm.
Be honest, Jer, most times you do. But who's the one trying to twist themselves into knots by resorting to false or misleading comparisons? That would be you, just as you're doing here.
Look at your original post, as an example. Here you are insinuating that NewsBuster's is being hypocritical not condemning Ann for statements she made when NewsBuster's didn't even exist!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Cobra...I'm not here to rubber stamp
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:35pm.
every single story or claim published by NewsBusters. There are times when I think some additional perspective is appropriate.
Jer
→ They're all the same
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:38pm.
"For the prevention of disease only"
I'm not asking you to rubber stamp.
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:40pm.
I'm not asking you to rubber stamp Newsbusters. I'm just wondering how you can claim that resorting to false comparisons is what you would describe as an appropriate perspective.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Obviously I don't think it is a false comparison...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:50pm.
or I wouldn't have made it. There are some distinctions to be sure. Perfect analogues are rare. But, in my opinion, the comparison was legitimate. I understand you disagree, and also your reasons for disagreeing.
Jer
By the way, how is it more "toxic," Jer?
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:05pm.
By the way, Jer, how is Ann's comment more "toxic" than Bills? Is it because she didn't try to hide behind the "it's just a joke" smokescreen?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Jer, here's what you're avioding...
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:00pm.
Jer, here's what your avoiding: Bill Mahar CONDEMNED just this type of violent rhetoric after the Tuscon shootings. But here he is, preforming the very behavior he condemns in others. Of course, he justifies HIS violent rhetoric by claiming it is "just humor." Do you know what that's called? It's called obscuration.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Well, since I've condemned Maher in just about every way
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:04pm.
I can think of, I certainly don't mind adding hypocrisy to the list.
Jer
Yet you still create those strawmen.
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:08pm.
Ok, you condemn Bill every way you can, But WHY do you keep mentioning years old statements from someone else? Can't you just condemn him and leave it at that? Apparently you can't.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Let me ask you a question, Cobra...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:13pm.
Do you find Coulter's comments at all objectionable, or are you in ProudAmerican's "Good for Ann" camp?
Jer
I find it objectionable, just as I find Bill's
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:24pm.
I find it objectionable, just as I find Bill's, but I don't see how HER statement, in any way, compares to Bill's. The venue was different, the "affected" audience was different, and she, most importantly, didn't try to justify her statement with obscure claims of "literary" or "artistic license" like Bill is trying to do with his "it's just a joke" excuses.
In Ann's case, she, at least, has the courage to stand by her statements and doesn't try to obscure them in any way whatsoever. Can you same the same of Mahar?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Thanks for objecting to both comments...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:31pm.
and in answer to your previous post, I keep mentioning it because you keep asking me questions about it.
Finally, I don't find anything particularly courageous or praiseworthy about standing by a stated desire that a group of American journalists you disagree with should be blown up.
Jer
→ Good thing you said "Journalists"
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:35pm.
Because Jesse Jackson has been charged, by one of his gay employees (NTTAWWT), of asking to be blown up.
It's far more courageous
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:38pm.
Jer, it's far more courageous to stand behind one's statements, even those statements others feel is objectionable, than to try to excuse one's own statements through obscuration. Maher, in my opinion, is a COWARD because he hides behind his "profession" for any statements he makes. If he was truly a courageous person, he wouldn't feel it was necessary to give excuses for anything he says.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
So you think Ann was being a COWARD
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:45pm.
when she said her wish that someone would "put rat poison in Justice Stevens' creme brulee" was just a joke?
Jer
More comparison's I see,
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:56pm.
There you go, building yet another strawman. In this case, bringing in yet another statement by Ann that was never mentioned prior to the post you just made. Never mind the fact that Ann made that statement to highlight the hypocrisy of people like Bill Mahar and his excuses for the statements he makes.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
You're the one who introduced the issue of cowardice.
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:59pm.
Your strawmen fixation is a strawman itself, or a red herring or reductio ad absurdum bullshitum.
Now, if you need me for anything else, I'll be at cajun's.
Jer
Bullcrap, Jer
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 5:07pm.
Bullcrap, Jer. You just can't avoid bringing in some other argument, some other unrelated situation, in which to "offer" is some type of, how did you put it,?, oh, yes, "perspective" in just about ever discussion here at Newsbusters. It's obvious that you're doing this as to call attention away from the real topic of discussion, that of liberal bias in the media. I don't know if you're even aware that this is what you're doing, but, as your statements here today show, that IS what you're doing. You're attempting to use comparison as a means of obscuration.
But, hay, have fun at Cajun's. I can;t make it myself, so toss one back for me.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Let me get this straight, Cobra...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 5:19pm.
And if you want to accuse me of making yet another comparison, go right ahead. But you know damn well that on the lib sites conservative commenters will frequently point out bad behavior toward Bush in response to a comment or blog about bad behavior toward Obama.
Do you believe that such "strawman" "unrelated situation", "red herring" [your words and your view, not mine] argumentation is improper?
Jer
Now your making assumptiuons, Jer.
Submitted by CobraMan on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 5:12am.
Now your making assumptions, Jer. I don't know what the lib blogs say because I don't read them. Nor do I post in any of them. So, please, tell me how the behavior of other people in other sites has to do with someone's behavior on this site? What happens on other blogs by other people is irreverent. I'm surprised you even tried to use that that as an argument.
But, to ansswer your question, yes, the are strawmen, or redherring arguments (you can decide which). But, then again, so is the "others do it too!" argument, just like the one you just used.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Hi guys*
Submitted by cajun2 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:47pm.
Care to join me. Got a few cold ones and the braves and mets are playing a double header.
Oooops....wrong thread...;-)
I thought you would never ask.
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:53pm.
Tell Cobra I was called away on an important matter.
Jer
To clarify*
Submitted by cajun2 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 5:01pm.
Just to make sure everyone understands my position on this issue, all are invited except Mets fans.!!!!
I guess I will be staying
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 9:18pm.
I guess I will be staying home then. :-)
Liberallies
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:51pm.
Thank you for explaining my point in such a way that even Jer could understand.
Sorry, ProudAmerican...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:56pm.
While I understand Liberallies point, yours is entirely different, and one which I think you need to explain for yourself.
Jer
See my Comment above
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:58pm.
And have a great weekend.
ProudAmerican...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 2:14pm.
Well I don't know that you explained your point, but at least you expanded on it. :-)
Hope you have a great weekend, too.
Jer
Don't you all love Saturday
Submitted by VBaxter on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 3:59am.
Don't you all love Saturday mornings? Wake up, grab a cup of coffee, read the paper, then go on here and find out what crazy #$%& Bill Maher said last night on his show?
Ron Paul 2012
HBO
Submitted by Scrap Iron in Texas on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:13am.
This weekend, I have the pleasure of getting HBO for free.
Even at this great price, I STILL won't watch this small person's show.
He is the definition of a troll, mean and spiteful.
Scrap Iron
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 11:52am.
I just noticed the free trial last night. I spent about 5 minutes looking for anything I'd even remotely want to watch. I don't understand how they stay in business.
I Get It Too...
Submitted by GeneralAl on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 6:27am.
I get HBO for free this weekend too, but I'd never waste my time on this cesspool channel. I get more enjoyment out of the Weather Channel, or for that matter, the TV Guide Channel!
"Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away"!
HBO
Submitted by Kuso Jiji on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 7:12am.
Non subsubsciber, never will as long as Maher is there. Thanks for keeping us current on this little shitstain's antics.
Bring Back the Classics
Submitted by IrateNate on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 11:13am.
I would rather watch that old test pattern with the Indian head (dating myself?) than anything HBO might have to offer. Well, unless they aired a wall falling on Maher...that might just be a pay-per-view I would subscribe to.
Yep. The same guy who, with
Submitted by Slyrr on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 7:26pm.
Yep. The same guy who, with his 'DUNCE' cap firmly planted on head, said: "Daaaah - Democrats am not using hate speech! Daaah - it am not true that Democrats using violent rhetoric!'
If wishes were horses ...
Submitted by wardesk on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 7:57pm.
If wishes were horses, Maher would be a real clown, and have lot of horse-manure, to boot.
We are "Tea Party with real Teeth". We have to have teeth, because we have declared an actual war, not just protests, on the Leftist thugs in D.C. www.wardesk.org www.wardesk.com revolution@wardesk.org