On his Sunday show yesterday, CNN host Fareed Zakaria devoted almost all of the first half of his one-hour show to an interview with far-left comedian Bill Maher, whom the CNN host gushed over being "one of the most astute political observers of our time."
Maher, whose HBO show is infamous for its vulgarity, attacked Donald Trump voters as "vulgar, tacky, racist people," and repeated Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" smear. And later on, he likened Republicans going after Hillary Clinton to police officers harassing a black driver. Maher: "I always say she's like a black driver in a white neighborhood, and the police are the Republicans. They keep pulling her over, and they keep having to let her go."
After teasing the show by lauding Maher as a "great observer of American life and politics," moments later he heaped on more praise as he introduced the segment:
I spent some time this week in Los Angeles. And while I was there, I had the opportunity to sit down for a conversation with a man who's unabashedly off the left, and also, I think, one of the most astute political observers of our time. Not a columnist, not an academic, but a man who plies his trade as a comedian -- Bill Maher.
The interview segment began with Zakaria asking why Donald Trump was so popular, with Maher lamenting:
It's depressing to think that you share the country with so many people who you share nothing with. You know, Donald Trump is a reflection, and what we learned is that there's a lot of vulgar, tacky, racist people in this country -- more than I thought. I knew there was some, but it's the proverbial lifting up of a rock. And what we found when we lifted it up was a basket of deplorables. I know they hate that term, but if the basket fits -- and it does.
After Zakaria wondered what Clinton was really like behind her "facade," the HBO comedian made his comparison of Republicans to racist police officers:
Look, she's certainly shell-shocked from 30 years of being attacked. I don't think there's anyone who's ever been more scrutinized -- overscrutinized. I always say she's like a black driver in a white neighborhood, and the police are the Republicans. They keep pulling her over, and they keep having to let her go. So obviously she's guarded. Maybe she's that way from the beginning, from her upbringing. But she's -- I can't blame her.
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Sunday, October 16, Fareed Zakaria GPS:
FAREED ZAKARIA, IN OPENING TEASE: We begin today's show with the great observer of American life and politics, Bill Maher. He is politically incorrect, very real, and obviously unafraid to say what he thinks.
BILL MAHER: Lying -- bald-faced, caught on tape, lying -- is no longer a deal breaker at all.
ZAKARIA: About Trump.
MAHER: I think he's going to be the Che Guevara of deplorables.
ZAKARIA: Hillary Clinton.
MAHER: She's like a black driver in a white neighborhood, and the police are the Republicans.
ZAKARIA: And the media.
MAHER: The media is rooting for a close race.
(...)
ZAKARIA: I spent some time this week in Los Angeles. And while I was there, I had the opportunity to sit down for a conversation with a man who's unabashedly off the left, and also, I think, one of the most astute political observers of our time. Not a columnist, not an academic, but a man who plies his trade as a comedian -- Bill Maher.
(...)
ZAKARIA: Whatever happens with this election, the big question that I think we are all still trying to puzzle is: How Trump? Why Trump? What is your explanation as to why Donald Trump erupted onto the political scene the way he did?
MAHER: Well, you have to look at the people who voted for him. I mean, it's depressing to think that you share the country with so many people who you share nothing with. You know, Donald Trump is a reflection, and what we learned is that there's a lot of vulgar, tacky, racist people in this country -- more than I thought. I knew there was some, but it's the proverbial lifting up of a rock. And what we found when we lifted it up was a basket of deplorables. I know they hate that term, but if the basket fits -- and it does.
(...)
ZAKARIA: So who is Hillary Clinton really? I mean, one of the things people wonder about is: Who is the person behind what seems like a programmed facade?
MAHER: I don't find her to be this mystery that people -- I mean, she's been out there for this long. Look, she's certainly shell-shocked from 30 years of being attacked. I don't think there's anyone who's ever been more scrutinized -- overscrutinized. I always say she's like a black driver in a white neighborhood, and the police are the Republicans. They keep pulling her over, and they keep having to let her go. So obviously she's guarded. Maybe she's that way from the beginning, from her upbringing. But she's -- I can't blame her.
