Difference between revisions of "Bill Maher"
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| − | '''Bill Maher''' is a | + | '''Bill Maher''' is a comedian, actor, writer, producer, and television personality. He is perhaps most notable as the former host of ''Politically Incorrect'', which aired on the Comedy Central television network, and later on ABC. Since 2003, he has been the host of ''Real Time with Bill Maher'', a debate show similar to ''Politically Incorrect'', on the HBO cable television network. |
| − | + | ===Controversies=== | |
| − | + | ABC decided not to renew Maher's contract for ''Politically Incorrect'' in 2002 after he agreed with a point posed by conservative commentator and guest [[Dinesh D'Souza]] that the terrorists in the September 11, 2001, attacks should not be called cowards. Maher agreed with D'Souza and expanded on his point, saying: "''We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly. Stupid maybe, but not cowardly.''"<ref>http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=14941</ref> In the aftermath of his comment, companies including FedEx and Sears Roebuck pulled their advertisements from the show, and it was eventually canceled on June 16, 2002. | |
| − | + | On ''Politically Incorrect'' in January 2001, Maher compared mentally handicapped children to dogs: | |
| − | + | "''But I've often said that if I had — I have two dogs — if I had two retarded children, I'd be a hero. And yet the dogs, which are pretty much the same thing...They're sweet. They're loving. They're kind, but they don't mentally advance at all ... Dogs are like retarded children.''"<ref>http://www.wsf.org/family/news/mahercomments.htm</ref> Maher later apologized. | |
| − | + | ===Political Views=== | |
| − | + | Despite claims of being a [[Libertarianism|libertarian]], some claim Maher's views are more line with liberalism. Most of his views are allegedly in direct opposition to libertarian ideology, such as his support of government regulation of corporations, foreign aid, public schooling, a ban on homeschooling, campaign finance reform, environmental laws, affirmative action, minimum wage laws, gun control, support for the [[United Nations]], higher taxation, and government funding for abortion. Some of his other stances are, however, libertarian in outlook, such as his support for legalizing drugs, gambling, and prostitution. He also professes some conservative views, such as his support for the death penalty.<ref>http://dir.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2001/08/01/maher/index.html</ref> | |
| − | + | Maher supported [[Bob Dole]] in the 1996 U.S. presidential election, has said he voted for [[Ralph Nader]] in the 2000 U.S. presidential election, and endorsed [[John Kerry]] in 2004. | |
| − | + | Maher has praised [[Janet Reno]] for her role in the FBI's siege of the [[Branch Davidian]] compound in [[Waco]], Texas, saying she "deserves a fruit basket, she deserves a pat on the back, she also deserves something more for the crap she's taken for Waco."<ref>http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0004/28/lkl.00.html</ref> | |
| − | + | == References == | |
| − | + | <references/> | |
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Revision as of 21:42, May 19, 2007
Bill Maher is a comedian, actor, writer, producer, and television personality. He is perhaps most notable as the former host of Politically Incorrect, which aired on the Comedy Central television network, and later on ABC. Since 2003, he has been the host of Real Time with Bill Maher, a debate show similar to Politically Incorrect, on the HBO cable television network.
Controversies
ABC decided not to renew Maher's contract for Politically Incorrect in 2002 after he agreed with a point posed by conservative commentator and guest Dinesh D'Souza that the terrorists in the September 11, 2001, attacks should not be called cowards. Maher agreed with D'Souza and expanded on his point, saying: "We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly. Stupid maybe, but not cowardly."[1] In the aftermath of his comment, companies including FedEx and Sears Roebuck pulled their advertisements from the show, and it was eventually canceled on June 16, 2002.
On Politically Incorrect in January 2001, Maher compared mentally handicapped children to dogs: "But I've often said that if I had — I have two dogs — if I had two retarded children, I'd be a hero. And yet the dogs, which are pretty much the same thing...They're sweet. They're loving. They're kind, but they don't mentally advance at all ... Dogs are like retarded children."[2] Maher later apologized.
Political Views
Despite claims of being a libertarian, some claim Maher's views are more line with liberalism. Most of his views are allegedly in direct opposition to libertarian ideology, such as his support of government regulation of corporations, foreign aid, public schooling, a ban on homeschooling, campaign finance reform, environmental laws, affirmative action, minimum wage laws, gun control, support for the United Nations, higher taxation, and government funding for abortion. Some of his other stances are, however, libertarian in outlook, such as his support for legalizing drugs, gambling, and prostitution. He also professes some conservative views, such as his support for the death penalty.[3]
Maher supported Bob Dole in the 1996 U.S. presidential election, has said he voted for Ralph Nader in the 2000 U.S. presidential election, and endorsed John Kerry in 2004.
Maher has praised Janet Reno for her role in the FBI's siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, saying she "deserves a fruit basket, she deserves a pat on the back, she also deserves something more for the crap she's taken for Waco."[4]