Maher says he was trying to call CBS’s bluff…
Bill Maher appeared on Hannity & Colmes last night to discuss this “free speech” thing on the CBS Evening News. Highlights follow…
On His Follow-up Statement Regarding the CBS ‘free Speech’ Controversy
“You know what, I try to take the high road with my statement yesterday and saying, look, if there was a misunderstanding, great, then I’m happy to go on and do it. But you know, honestly Sean, I was just trying to call their bluff. I don’t think they want me at 6:30 at night to be saying what I would be saying about religion. Not that I would be profane in any way, I was just expressing my views on religion, which, by the way, are shared by millions of people.”
On CBS’s ‘free Speech’ Segment“When you call your segment ‘free Speech,’ I think what you’re looking for — what I would be looking for in such a segment is speech that is not the most popular. What I see on that segment almost every night is not what I would call free speech, it’s what I would call agreed speech. I haven’t heard anything that anybody would ever disagree with on that segment.”
“And I understand they’re on at 6:30 at night. But maybe they shouldn’t have called it “free Speech” if they really don’t want someone in there to express a minority, unpopular opinion.”
On CBS’s News Division
“This is the CBS News division. That’s a division – that’s a group of people I’ve had on a pedestal for a long time. So I expect them to understand what free speech is. And when Katie introduced the segment by saying it was one of the great privileges of living in America, right away I was like, whoa, hold on. This is not a privilege. This is a right.”
“I think they want credit for giving a forum for free speech without really having something that’s going to stir the pot.”
On Free Speech
“It’s the speech that protects the minority point of view. It’s easy to go on there, as I’ve seen somebody who came out against genocide — oh, you know, boy, write letters if you have to, but he’s against genocide. Somebody else was for the middle ground, for the moderates. Ooh. Again, tough stuff.”
“I don’t like it when people tolerate intolerance…. We should be upholding the things that make us different, and yes, better, like free speech, freedom of the press, equality of men and women, minority rights.”
On Speaking Publicly about the CBS Controversy on Real Time
“I really wrestled with that in my mind, whether I should bring that up. And I say, if it wasn’t CBS News, I wouldn’t have. It’s sort of a tribute to how much I think of them that I thought it rose to the occasion.”
Maher’s an atheist, right? Why would he even WANT to talk about religion? What could he possibly say except to tell those of us who believe that we’re a bunch of morons?
Why would this third placed news program want someone to discuss something that would further alienate most of its audience?
Comment by Missy — September 20, 2006 @ 12:49 pm
This is a good opportunity for CBS to show if, for once in their long history, they can truly be “fair and balanced.” Let Maher do his rant; but then bring someone else on (maybe Rick Warren or Joel Osteen) to counter Maher’s points. Then let the audience decide for themselves. Novel idea, huh?
Comment by Scott — September 20, 2006 @ 1:24 pm
I missed seeing Bill Maher, but if this is the segment Katie Couric reserved for those who want to speak freely on any topic, I would not criticize Maher, no matter that I don’t share his opinions. To me, he is a pea-brained comedian. Why all this fuss?
Comment by RGL — September 20, 2006 @ 2:22 pm
Maher isn’t even a convincing athiest. JUST A BUFFOON, A JOKER, A CLOWN, A JESTER, A PIMPLE ON THE ASS OF RED SKELTON AND A SKID MARK IN THE BOWL CALLED LIBERALISM.
Comment by Roger — September 21, 2006 @ 11:56 am
I guess you guys must have felt the same way when Katie had Rush Limbaugh in that spot without anyone to counter his points and let the audience decide.
Comment by John Mark Karr's Mullet — September 21, 2006 @ 11:43 pm