“Real Time” host Bill Maher said he received scorn from a “pretty well-known” figure for welcoming Republicans on his HBO show.
In an interview published Monday by Reason Magazine, Maher spoke about how often “platforming” (an increasing charge among the left of tolerating conservatives on mainstream liberal platforms) was asked if he would be criticized.
“I had [Ron] This year it’s DeSantis, Ted Cruz, and Bill Barr. Yes, to answer your question, I can think of two characters for her, but I won’t say who they are. One of them was pretty famous and was yelling at me about it via email,” Maher said. “My answer to that is F— off. You know? You live in an ivory tower. I If you talk to people in half the country, I think that’s pretty deplorable. Even though it is deplorable, they are not willing to voluntarily deport. And some of them are! And some people on the left are also deplorable and incredibly unpleasant. That’s the country! ”
He added, “When historians look back in 100 years, if we’re still here, I don’t think they’re going to divide this country into two camps like we did. would say: people, they were unpleasant. It happens differently on both sides. As a people, they did not believe in science. The right thinks global warming is a hoax, or whatever nonsense they believe about it. And the left thinks men can have children. That’s what you’ll be told. They will say, “They just lost their rights as a people.” ”
Last September, Maher slammed then-Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his hard-fought victory over former President Trump in the Republican primary.
“You did not take my advice,” Maher began the conversation. “I was on the show and I talked about it a few times and I said, ‘This guy is crazy to run this time.’ … He might be able to run for the next 20 years. If you… If it was Biden, why would the next 40 people run against Trump? You’re trying to thread this needle, but it’s never going to happen. To disown him because that’s the basis. You can’t, but you’re still against him. That’s why, honestly, Ron, if the campaign had been successful, you wouldn’t be on this show.”
Maher isn’t just welcoming Republicans on his HBO show. He has also invited conservatives, including former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, to his podcast, Club Random.
The liberal comedian called Ramaswamy a “likeable guy” but argued that his close friendship with Trump would hinder his chances of winning the Republican nomination.
“We have to let go of Donald Trump. That’s the way to go,” Maher told Ramaswamy.
Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Ramaswamy subsequently suspended their campaigns following disappointing results in the Iowa caucuses.
Maher, an outspoken critic of President Trump, warned Democrats last week that they cannot continue to oppose Trump to win the November election.
“I also don’t think it’s a great strategy to base a Democratic campaign on the idea of, ‘How can I like this person?'” Because some people just do that…maybe. It would be better to think about why he prevails among the “rapist” people. And who’s doing drugs,” Maher said, performing a Trump impersonation. “Maybe there’s a fly in that ointment.”
