Bill Maher = Rush?

[AudreyE]

I'm wondering what you guys think of this:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/12/opinion/c ... ?hpt=hp_c2

 

I don't watch Maher. Is he really as bad as Rush?

[Cannelle]

I'm not a fan. He's said some heinous things in his own right, plus he's into woo-ish stuff and is anti-vax.

[kpmom]

I'm not a fan at all even though we are on the same side of the fence politically

He called Sarah Palin all sorts of names that imo were anti-woman

Sarah made enough missteps that he could have been funny w/o resorting to that

And years ago he compared developmentally disabled kids to dogs.

He said they were cute but could not progress beyond a certain

stage. Really shitty stuff

[Elle]

First, context is a powerful thing.

Second, "Choke the bastard" wouldn't get the same heat as "choke the bitch," and both refer to a specific person rather than an entire group. Just because something refers to a woman doesn't mean the speaker hates women. Bit neither phrase should be used by commentators.

This, I think "argued that voters would prefer to see a female candidate "splayed out on the hood of a car" rather than making decisions in the Oval Office" is an observation. Unfortunately I think he's correct. I think a lot of voters would rather women be sexual playthings or stuck in the kitchen. It doesn't mean I agree, or that he agrees, that women belong on cars or baking bread, but it is an observation that, unfortunately, has some truth.

He is NOT as bad as Rush. Trying to make him out to be is just a way the Republicans are trying to shift the focus off of Rush and soften his repeated comments that ARE anti-women. They're trying to redirect the anger at Rush. Rather than saying, "Rush was wrong," they're trying to say, "Hey, you have someone on your side just as bad, so it's okay!" even if they're having to spin statements out of context to try to make something appear true.

Also, what is "woo-ish"?

[Fluffy-Boo]

Maher has called Palin a "c*nt" on national tv amongst other things. Both he and Limbaugh are awful when it comes to their treatment of women, period. Neither is an example of a civil and decent human being and women everywhere should be repulsed.

However, I don't feel that either should be silenced. They can say whatever they please. This is their constitutional right and I don't think either are essentially worthy of a defamation lawsuit as "slut" and "c*nt" are opinion terms. One man's slut is another man's anima, though this is probably less true of the C-word.

Neither is better, regardless of politics.

[Cannelle]

Sorry, "woo" is a term for things that aren't scientific or evidence-based (things like homeopathy, Reiki, etc. Just giving examples, not saying Maher is into them). He's bought into a lot of non-scientific things- ScienceBlogs had a piece on him:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/ ... cience.php

[AudreyE]

Thank you for the insights. I was hoping things had been taken out of context, but it sounds like he really is a dick to some extent.

Now I just have to decide whether the situations are the same. I heard some people say that it's okay to call Palin foul names, because she chose to put herself on the political stage. Not buying that when the names are sexist. Maybe it's true that liberals have had a double standard.

[valsa]

Maybe it's true that liberals have had a double standard.

Liberals are not a monolith. There are liberals who hold a double standard. There are liberals who hate women.

Frankly, I think Maher is an ass, despite the fact I'm very liberal politically.

[Hane]

I tend to be so far left I fall off the chart, but I think Maher is rather douchey. His documentary "Religulous" lumped all denominations together, and came across as snide and condescending to all people of faith.

I can't put him into Tush's category, though--Maher does not have massive legions of loyal, angry, unquestioning fans the way Tush does.

That's the thing with us liberals: we're individuals, bot a monolith.

[xDreamerx]

He's someone I find funny, although I don't want him all the time or keep up with everything he says. Reading the comments here, I find them off putting. I thought Religulous was funny and good, though I've come to expect a disdain for all faith among certain atheist people or groups. Even though I am a person of faith, I just kind of shrugged those bits off because they've almost become part of the atheist routine among some. He's someone I can find funny and ireverant to a point and then other things I find he takes too far, but that doesn't mean I would write him off. Though it also doesn't mean I would accept everything he stands for because I enjoy some of his commentary.

[AudreyE]

Liberals are not a monolith. There are liberals who hold a double standard. There are liberals who hate women.

Frankly, I think Maher is an ass, despite the fact I'm very liberal politically.

That is too true. I'm just a little amazed that Rush got such a violent rebuttal while Maher has been saying this stuff for awhile. I had hoped liberals were at least even-handed about slurs toward women. I've heard some people argue that he's just a comedian, but I always got the political commentator vibe from him. John Stewart is "just a comedian," but he tries to make some serious political commentary within his comedy, and I can't see him calling any woman a cunt.

I suppose someone could argue that calling a woman a "cunt" is no different than calling a man a "dick." It feels different to me, but, maybe, that is sexism in itself. I'll have to think about that.

[SquirrelySquirrel]

Bill Maher is a satirist, first and foremost. He uses words to get a reaction, just like any comedian in a stand-up act. I watch his show every week and am a big fan. Do I agree with everything he says? Hell no. I tend to tune him out when it comes to any parenting issue, for one. Comparing him to Rush is ridiculous. He may use language that offends some people, but I absolutely do not find him to be anti-woman.

[Guest Anonymous]

Liberals are not a monolith. There are liberals who hold a double standard. There are liberals who hate women.

Frankly, I think Maher is an ass, despite the fact I'm very liberal politically.

QFT, all of this.

[AudreyE]

Well, what do you guys think of "cunt" vs "dick." I've always found cunt to be sexist, but maybe it's not. Maybe it's just "turn about is fair play." I think "bitch" is sexist, but there is a clear association with that word toward powerful women.

[kpmom]

Bill Maher is a satirist, first and foremost. He uses words to get a reaction, just like any comedian in a stand-up act. I watch his show every week and am a big fan. Do I agree with everything he says? Hell no. I tend to tune him out when it comes to any parenting issue, for one. Comparing him to Rush is ridiculous. He may use language that offends some people, but I absolutely do not find him to be anti-woman.

But couldn't you say the same about Limbaugh? He had to have some idea of the reaction he'd get calling Ms. Fluke a slut.

[Soldier of the One]

Didn't Bill Maher get completely owned by Christopher Hitchens back in the day?

That was one hella funny vid.

[shesinsane]

I'd heard from people in the entertainment industry that have had to work with Bill Maher that he's an asshole. Personally, I think he wears too much makeup.

I'll admit I haven't watched Maher's show, but somehow I doubt he's ever said "You don't need to think, I'll do the thinking for you." To me that's a huge difference between Maher and Limbaugh - Maher's got a show on HBO that people watch for entertainment, Limbaugh has a radio show that people listen to for "facts" and "guidance" and talking points, etc.

[EmmieJ]

Yes, Bill Maher is a dick at times. However, he's often got more than a kernel of truth to his observations, and he is not afraid to have all sorts of guests on his show with widely varying viewpoints. I do not appreciate any man calling a woman a c--t. But there is no way I'd agree with the statement that Maher = Rush, i.e., is as "bad" as Rush. No way.

Maher is intelligent, witty, bitterly sarcastic at times, but I don't believe he tries to stir people up into a frenzy of hate and fear. Limbaugh, on the other hand, is all about stirring up people's basest feelings and spewing consistently hateful beliefs, beyond what used to be called "common decency." In my mind, there is no comparison between the two.

[jericho]

In my opinion, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Maher and Jon Stewart are no different in their careers. They are all entertainers who believe what they talk about, although they entertain in slightly different ways. I find it hypocritical that liberals used to claim that Rush was an entertainer when he first came to prominence in the 90's. (as in "oh don't worry about him, he's not serious, he's just an entertainer). Now that Rush has made some offensive remarks, he's the most serious newsman in the world.

[kb2]

Maher has a long history of being misogynistic--it's not just against Palin, it's also Hillary Clinton and other female politicians. He makes a lot of "lols, women are stupid," jokes, and he's not talking about a woman or how society sees women, he thinks women are stupid.

ETA: There are already liberals who dislike Maher for his misogyny. And maybe there could be more who recognize it and speak out against it. But I don't see any Republicans declaring that they're not going to take money from Rush, and I don't see any politicians declaring that they're not going to take money from anyone. There is plenty of big-business money that affects lawmaking in this country that does not support the average citizen's interest, and Maher's million isn't going to have nearly as bad an effect as those donations.

[valsa]

Well, what do you guys think of "cunt" vs "dick."

I think it's about level with "nigger" vs "cracker".

[SquirrelySquirrel]

But couldn't you say the same about Limbaugh? He had to have some idea of the reaction he'd get calling Ms. Fluke a slut.

True. There are similarities there, but I just can't put Maher in the same category. He may use offensive language, but he in no way wants to repress women that I've seen.

I'm certainly not denying that he's an ass. But his show is interesting and it's one of the few that has people with opposing viewpoints, which does lead to some very interesting discussions. Plus he usually interviews someone I've never heard of but should have in his first segment and I learn a hell of a lot. And his New Rules are usually fucking hilarious.

And yeah, Hitchens made him look like an ass and flipped the bird at his audience a couple of times. It's on youtube and it is funny.

[jericho]

True. There are similarities there, but I just can't put Maher in the same category. He may use offensive language, but he in no way wants to repress women that I've seen.

I'm certainly not denying that he's an ass. But his show is interesting and it's one of the few that has people with opposing viewpoints, which does lead to some very interesting discussions. Plus he usually interviews someone I've never heard of but should have in his first segment and I learn a hell of a lot. And his New Rules are usually fucking hilarious.

And yeah, Hitchens made him look like an ass and flipped the bird at his audience a couple of times. It's on youtube and it is funny.

So Maher is okay because "he's funny"? The fact is Bill Maher couldn't keep ratings when he was on network television so he had to go to pay TV. Rush has the highest ratings in all of radio, so advertisers will go back once the current issue calms down.

[Witsec7]

True. There are similarities there, but I just can't put Maher in the same category. He may use offensive language, but he in no way wants to repress women that I've seen.

I'm certainly not denying that he's an ass. But his show is interesting and it's one of the few that has people with opposing viewpoints, which does lead to some very interesting discussions. Plus he usually interviews someone I've never heard of but should have in his first segment and I learn a hell of a lot. And his New Rules are usually fucking hilarious.

And yeah, Hitchens made him look like an ass and flipped the bird at his audience a couple of times. It's on youtube and it is funny.

Maher is a comedian who does satire. Rush is a buffadora who would like to limit the rights of women, LGBT and minorities. Rush is also a grand hypocrite, lets look at his drug abuse, and viagra smuggling, and his numerous marriages as examples of that trait.

I do not believe in silencing Rush, or censoring anyone.

[shesinsane]

So Maher is okay because "he's funny"? The fact is Bill Maher couldn't keep ratings when he was on network television so he had to go to pay TV. Rush has the highest ratings in all of radio, so advertisers will go back once the current issue calms down.

No, Maher is different from Limbaugh because he's trying to entertain, Limbaugh (by his own admission) is trying to indoctrinate people who listen to his show. There is a huge difference between spouting your opinion as your opinion, and spouting your opinion as fact.

If memory serves, Bill Maher lost his ABC show because he said something about the 9/11 hijackers being as courageous as US soldiers. Ratings might have been another cause, but the official reason was Maher's own big mouth. Kind of like when a politician resigns "to spend more time with my family", even though the main reason is to avoid a scandal breaking out.

Also, the topic of this thread is Bill Maher = Rush. They can be different and yet neither one "ok".