Maher Claims Steve Jobs 'Not a Corporate Type' Before Saying 'Apple Makes Their S--t in China' for Greater Profit
Does Bill Maher ever listen to the nonsense coming out of his mouth to make sure he doesn't contradict himself from one minute to the next?
On Friday's "Real Time," the host paid his respects to Steve Jobs by claiming how liberal the Apple founder was adding "He was not a corporate type" only to minutes later accurately note, "Apple makes their s--t in China. And they could still make it here and make a big profit, but they make more of a profit by making it in China" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
BILL MAHER: I want to say one other thing about Steve Jobs, and just agree or don’t, but, I know that he’s one of the few people who liberals and conservatives both like, you know, in this partisan country that we live in. And I just know that the right-wingers are going to try to claim him because he was a giant success. Please don’t do it, right-wingers. He was not one of you. He was not a corporate type. He was an Obama-voting, pot-smoking Buddhist. He wasn’t one of you. So don’t try to claim Steve Jobs.
He really wasn’t. He got fired by corporate America. Remember? He got his ass thrown out because he was a little too innovative, because he didn’t play the game the way they do.
Yeah, that sounds hip, but only five minutes later, when the discussion moved to the Occupy Wall Street protests and how jobs are leaving this country, Maher observed, "Apple makes their s--t in China. And they could still make it here and make a big profit, but they make more of a profit by making it in China."
That is correct. In the fiscal year that ended last month, Apple earned $14 billion on revenues of $65 billion. That's almost a 22 percent profit margin.
The much-maligned oil company and Wall Street CEO's would love to have that kind of a profit margin.
As for Apple, it most certainly could manufacture all of its products here, employing far more Americans, and still be profitable.
But that wasn't the business philosophy of this "not a corporate type...Obama-voting, pot-smoking Buddhist" that "didn’t play the game the way" right-wingers do.
He wanted his products made in China so he could "make more of a profit."
Be advised that I am in no way criticizing Jobs or Apples' business model. I have nothing but respect for him and the company he created.
It's just that despite his support for liberals and liberal causes, he was just as interested in the almighty dollar as anyone on the other side of the aisle.
This is true of all wealthy liberals, including the ones like Maher who regularly accuse conservatives of being greedy.
On this day, it only took five minutes for the hypocrisy to be exposed albeit unintentionally.
If Maher would only listen to himself he'd spend far less time with his foot in his mouth.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Were it not for regulations...
Submitted by dscott on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 3:59pm.
Apple would probably make a lot of stuff over here. It's time for a roll back in all legislation starting from at least 2007 to now where the Dem controlled Congress restarted it reign of incompetence and cronyism.
An ABC news article
Submitted by kata on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 4:08pm.
Spoke a bit this morning, about jobs coming back to America because China's wages were rapidly rising. American jobs can now compete because the cost of shipping parts back to the US on top of the cost of labor is no longer cost effective. Thousands, if not "millions" of jobs potential.
Where are these jobs? hmmm
Now back to Maher. If an idiot speaks on HBO and the rest of the mediasphere ignores it - Does it still make a sound?
Hold on,kata....
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 4:12pm.
I'm sure these jobs will be counted in the tally of those saved/created by Obama's "stimulus" plan....
Exactly
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 4:47pm.
When Obama says he has saved and created millions of jobs. He meant in China.
I guess even Obama-voting,
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 4:15pm.
I guess even Obama-voting, pot-smoking Buddhists like to make money.
Billy Boy Is A Stooge
Submitted by rammingspeed on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 4:31pm.
No, Maher never listens to the contradictions coming out of his mouth. He's a liberal-progressive. He doesn't have to make sense. He doesn't even have to speak a known language. All he need do is convey HATRED to conservatives. Flashing moons and screaming "Ooga Booga!" to his audience would be perfect, if they knew he meant, "I hate conservatives!" This guy is a disease, a stand-alone definition of "miscreant." (Personally, I think he's in Janeane Garofalo territory - certifiably mentally ill.)
Regarding that Apple to China thingy ...
Submitted by Fredy on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 5:00pm.
It had very little to do with profit margins. The Apple brand is 90% of the price mark-up of the products they produce. Selling iApple products when there is no serious competition is not a question of $20 a unit vs $22 a unit of production costs.
California regulations have been abusive to manufacturers for decades. The environmentalists simply hate all aspects of what it takes to make products, from plastics to electronics to metalworking. These regulations, as well as the ongoing attack on ANYONE using electricity makes California manufacturing uncompetitive within the USA.
Jobs had a choice. He could have moved production to elsewhere in the US, like Texas, or he could move it overseas to places like Red China and Korea.
Jobs chose Red China over Texas.
When Jobs returned to Apple the 2nd time...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 5:36pm.
...He cut off all charitable giving by Apple to improve profitability but you go on and keep fooling yourself Billy...