Bill Maher: Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham Were Invited on 'Politically Incorrect' as My 'Foils'
The arrogance of Bill Maher, as well as his ability to revise history, knows no bounds.
On MSNBC's "The Last Word" Tuesday, the "Real Time" host told Lawrence O'Donnell the reason he invited conservatives like Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, and Grover Norquist on his hit show "Politically Incorrect" years ago was to act as his "foils" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
BILL MAHER: Yes, well yes, I will take credit for, or blame really, for Grover Norquist. He was one of the many conservatives – Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, lots of people who we introduced to the American public back in the ’90s on “Politically Incorrect” when we needed foils for me. And I guess, I guess they’re getting the last laugh since they’re actually controlling America now.
For those not completely familiar with the term, in literature a foil is the typically bumbling and often less attractive sidekick of the story's protagonist designed to contrast and bring out his positive attributes while making him more understandable and appealing to the reader.
Classic examples are Sancho Panza to Don Quixote and Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes.
In modern day political parlance, though, it is typically defamatory; that's why O'Donnell was laughing.
For Maher to consider any of these three his intellectual inferior is, although not surprising given his super-sized ego, the height of arrogance.
Consider how less than three weeks ago, Coulter wiped the floor with him on "Real Time" exposing his environmental hypocrisy while smartly accusing him of being a rube.
Although I have no recollection of Ingraham ever being on Maher's HBO program, I quite imagine he'd be no match for her either.
As for "Politically Incorrect," Maher is once again demonstrating his now world-renowned historical revisionism.
For those unfamiliar with the show, particularly when it was on "Comedy Central," Maher's political leaning was completely unknown.
He was almost the perfectly neutral, equal opportunity offending host that would spar with guests on both sides of the aisle while joking with them.
Neither political Party or ideology was favored or debased more than the other, and the idea that conservatives were brought on as his foils - implying that he at the time was a liberal needing inferior right-wing sidekicks to either build him up or be the butt of his jokes - is total nonsense.
Maybe this is somehow necessary for Maher to be happy with his transformation to far-left ideologue, for the host people see on HBO most Fridays bears almost no resemblance to the charming, witty, centrist comedian that used to have one of the most popular political talk shows in the nation.
Now he's just another liberal shill getting paid a lot of money to bash Republicans while praising the current White House resident.
When you think about it, Maher has become his own foil.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
I used to watch this show
Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:09am.
I used to watch this show once in a while, back when it was on. I still couldn't figure out how this Donkeyface could call it 'politically incorrect', because it was anything but that. He did have 'the other side' on there once in a while.....but I also remember him having some real deviants and miscreants..........probably as his 'cohorts' instead of his 'foils'. I can't imagine Maher being able to keep up with Coulter or Ingraham in a meaningful and honest conversation.
Killa
Submitted by rockyracoon on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 6:40am.
He couldn't then, and he can't now.
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
Anyone with an IQ above a doorknob is foil to Maher.
Submitted by drsamherman on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:18am.
His "humor" is so genitally-centered it would keep a Freudian busy for a lifetime.
We already know he cannot handle smart, conservative women. Considering how bigoted he is, I would not be surprised if he was the sole support of some cathouse specializing in mentally damaged men like him.
In his dreams!
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:17am.
He's too stupid to understand that.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
9-11
Submitted by hbest on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:18am.
You know Maher went that hard left after he got banged up for his remarks about the hijackers being brave.
When he got kicked around after that, he was extreme left.
I always though he "leaned" left, but after that, bam, he is LLEEFFTT!
Look........At.........His...
Submitted by rob.man on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:21am.
Look........At.........His.........Nose.
An Obama-esque
Submitted by AGreer on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:26am.
sense of self importance.
Ego much ?
this guy finally said something funny
Submitted by Kuso Jiji on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 12:45am.
he must have been smoking crack back then if he thought he was smarter and wittier then coulter or ingraham.
Curses, Foiled Again!
Submitted by bigdaddy on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 1:12am.
Bill had to do the show standing up after the ladies got done kicking his a$$...
can we all say NUTJOB!
Submitted by ironhead4099 on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 1:54am.
This guy belongs in the same garbage dump as Stewart and Colbert, these ass wipes aren't funny, and they're to stupid to realize it!
They are too dumb to realize how stupid they are.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 8:36am.
And their bosses are too dumb to realize how stupid the people are that they are paying millions too...and so it goes.
I remember that Laura
Submitted by talkradio55 on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 1:56am.
I remember that Laura Ingraham was on a few times when it was "Politically Incorrect" on ABC, but never on HBO. Of course, that show was a lot better than now. At least on ABC, Maher was marginally funny, but now he's gone so far off the rails, he has become his own worst enemy.
DORK
Submitted by Texndoc on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 2:00am.
He sees himself as a suave and sexy catch who dates models, but I think even the lefties just barely tolerate him and chuckle behind his back.
Well Maher, how would you feel about
Submitted by BobAnthony on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 6:21am.
Phyllis Schlafly or Debra Medina. Try to foil them and they'll foil you!
The reason the media is corrupt? Two words...OPERATION MOCKINGBIRD!
MOCKINGBIRD - The Subversion Of The Free Press By The CIA
Still my favorite line
Submitted by KornKing on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 8:06am.
Either of these ladies could fart, and in doing so, contribute much more to any conversation, on any subject, than this clown.
I've got no problem with it -- he could've picked worse
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 8:51am.
Whether he intended them to be foils or not, each of the three named conservatives are intellectually armed and agile enough to give him a run for his money in any discussion. At least he had them on, and he's had Coulter on his Real Time show at least once.
In fact, if instead of pairing Spitzer and Parker, had CNN paired Bill Maher and Ann Coulter for a nightly one hour show, I'd watch it.
.
Well considering he gets his fanny handed to him
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 8:55am.
Every time he has a conversation with a conservative, I am fine with it also.
But for that dumb a$$ to suggest either one would be his foil, is laughable, and the funniest thing he has said in years
Well when these ladies are on
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 2:15pm.
his tiny testicles shrink up and hide in his belly They know who has the least testosterone in the room.
His testicles have yet to
Submitted by Bhaal on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 4:41pm.
His testicles have yet to drop most likely.
I would not get tired of watching Ann,
Submitted by IdahoJim on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 2:16pm.
But I would get tired of watching Ann beating Bill into an intellectual pulp night after night.
How long do you think he could stand being exposed as an idiot every night instead of just once a week?
IdahoJim
http://idahoandy.net
I know BOR brings on Laura to
Submitted by amyshulk on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 9:59am.
I know BOR brings on Laura to be further R than he feels he can go, him being so "fair" and all.
But for Maher to bring Laura, Ann, or Grover on as "foils" is ludicrous, since don't they have to be on the same side???
Ronald Reagan
To act as your foils?
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 11:01am.
The only problem is they're smarter than you and you get slammed as the moron you are, billy. Nice idea though.
Maher WAS a libertarian on PI
Submitted by SB_Mich on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 11:16am.
Back on CC, Maher was pretty much a "government completly out of our lives" libertarian, but after switching to HBO- via ABC- Maher whored out his "convictions" and took a 180 degree turn and became the far lefty we all know & love. He'll sell his personal philosophy to anyone wih a hooker & a bag of weed. He might have a big ego, but he doesn't have any core beliefs.
Indeed Maher is wearing the tin "foil" hat.
Submitted by Gary Hall on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 11:52am.
Unfortunately, there is truth in what Bill Maher suggests; I've always believed that the lone conservative invite on his show, with 3-4 other liberals and a liberal audience playing to a mostly liberal HBO audience, was nothing about allowing the audience to consider the arguments, or views, from a conservative. In fact, I would imagine that from the beginning of this reincarnation of his show, that he, along with his staff, would lay out the plan as to how they thought the script should go, such that they could get the audience to laugh at the conservative.
Good for us, as Noel noted, many have turned the corner on Maher's arrogant and overstuffed ego.
(;~/ gary
Bill Maher is the world's angriest man
Submitted by HollyW on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 5:12pm.
"When you think about it, Maher has become his own foil."
Great line!
So Maher
Submitted by HockeyKid on Thu, 07/28/2011 - 7:38am.
is taking credit for launching Coulter, Ingraham, and Norquist into the American consciousness? Ha! Without them (and others), America would never have heard of "Bill Maher" outside the drunken comedy club barfly crowd. Speaking of which, here's some more material Maher hasn't stolen...yet:
BTW, Bill Maher is so well-educated, when his producers told him they wanted to bring on foils, he thought they meant tin hats.
Didja hear Osama bin Laden once telephoned Maher? He said his camel wanted its nose back.
Bill is fervently hoping someone can stop the recession...in his hairline.
Maher asked his producers to book guests who would make him look smart. Unfortunately, Amy Winehouse isn't available.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me