Bill Maher, Faulted for Booking Milo Yiannopoulos, Takes Credit for His Fall..

[HipChick]

If you were disappointed that Bill Maher brought Milo Yiannopoulos onto his HBO show “Real Time” last week, Mr. Maher is not especially bothered.

In a telephone interview on Tuesday night, Mr. Maher batted back criticism of the booking by arguing that the appearance of Mr. Yiannopoulos actually helped expose the incendiary right-wing personality’s views to a wider audience and hasten his sudden downfall.


Mr. Maher has been dealing for days with the fallout from his booking of Mr. Yiannopoulos. The journalist Jeremy Scahill, who had been scheduled to appear on the same episode, withdrew from the show. Mr. Maher has defended the booking on free-speech grounds, saying last week that if Mr. Yiannopoulos was indeed a monster, “nothing could serve the liberal cause better than having him exposed.”But following the show, Mr. Maher came under attack for the chummy and conciliatory vibe of his conversation with Mr. Yiannopoulos and for a panel segment, broadcast online, in which his guest made more inflammatory remarks that seemed to go unchallenged.

Speaking on Tuesday night, Mr. Maher, who counts himself as a liberal, did not sound particularly chastened by these assessments. He said he knew his interview with Mr. Yiannopoulos would never be satisfactory to some viewers. “No matter what I did,” he said, “it was never going to be enough for that slice of liberalism that would much rather judge a friend than engage an enemy, because it’s easier.”

Mr. Maher spoke further about the experience of having Mr. Yiannopoulos on “Real Time” and its aftermath, and why he will continue to seek out provocative conservative guests. These are edited excerpts from that conversation.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/arts/television/bill-maher-milo-yiannopoulos-interview.html?

[Renew Deal]

1. Maher is correct. His critics are wrong on this one

[Zoonart]

4. I totally agree.

Maher was right to shine the brightest spotlight on this guy and it destroyed him just like daylight destroys the vampire.
Bill just kept feeding out more rope and Malcolm Nance delivered the coup de gras.

Get permanently lost..............

[RelativelyJones]

5. Completely agree. I don't get all the Maher hate anyway

[Renew Deal]

6. Maher has islamophobic tendencies

And that rubs people the wrong way. But if there is anyone taking on a right wing fascist authoritarian it should be Maher. He can carve them up.

[leftynyc]

23. I don't think it's fair

to call him as Islamophobe. Acknowledging that a minority of Muslims DO have a problem with Western values and are violent is not being an Islamophobe. It's being a realist who doesn't ignore uncomfortable truths.

[trotsky]

33. It's not, but it's also an unfortunate trend on the left.

There are horribly violent and grotesque things in most (all?) religions, right in their foundational texts - particularly the Abrahamic ones. Atrocious shit in the bible and koran. It's in there! Thankfully a lot of believers disregard those parts, but that doesn't make them go away.

However when you point that out, and say "yeah, I can see why some Muslims are violent - parts of their religious text justify or even command it" - well then, you're an Islamophobe. You don't have to be afraid of Muslims, you don't have to think they're all terrorists or something, you just say something that is undeniably true (that yes, there's horrible advice in such-and-such holy book that if more people followed it literally we'd be in deep shit). But in the interests of faux religious "tolerance" some have decided that religion can't be criticized or analyzed, and that anyone doing bad things in the name of a religion is really just motivated by something else, doesn't really follow the religion, etc.

Such a simplistic view that ignores part of the problem - thus guaranteeing we won't be able to solve it.

(BTW, in several parts of the world, it's not just a minority of Muslims that have a problem with "Western" values - and that's depressing.)

[Caliman73]

46. That is not how he portrays it.

He attributes the actions of those minority of Muslims to Islam as a whole. He vilifies all religion, but has singled out Islam most recently. He also criticizes other liberals who want to have a more nuanced and precise discussion as "coddling" radical elements in Islam.

I agree that we need to have a discussion about radicalism and fundamentalism. The first question should be, "Are the United States' activities in that part of the world making things better or worse?" Maher thinks, "They hate us for our freedom", when more likely, they hate us because we are supporting repressive regimes, exploiting their resources, and bombing them regularly. When we stop doing that, and they still hate us, then we can move on to the idea that, "there is something wrong with the culture/religion/society etc.."

[leftynyc]

50. Nope - sorry

I have NEVER seen him take on ALL Muslims - that's simply not true. But the numbers don't lie - even if only 1% are violent, religious freaks, that's still over 10 million murderous scum. So I don't agree that the "first" question should be whether we deserve it (which is really what you're saying). And it certainly doesn't hold for what's happening in Europe who has been, for the most part, far more welcoming to Muslims (refugees and immigrants) than the US has - they still have to deal with terrorists.

[Caliman73]

64. Interesting interpretation...

You immediately jump to, "whether we deserve it" when I clearly said, "Are the United States' activities in that part of the world making things better or worse". Why is it that you interpret that as anyone deserving anything?

No one deserves to be blown up, or shot, or killed. Our citizens do not, Europeans do not, nor do people living in the countries we are bombing in this "war on terror".

The question is whether our actions solving the fundamental causes of radicalism (poverty, ignorance, lack of opportunity, desperation, etc...) or are our actions helping people to recruit more vulnerable people into radicalism.


On your first claim, Here is Maher's response when a guest stated that people were afraid of Islam because they are ignorant about it, “The more you know, the more you would be afraid.”
He was not saying radical Islam, this was a discussion about Islam as a whole.

Here is another statment, “all religions are stupid, Islam just happens to be the one right now, in this century, that’s most dangerous and violent.”
He went on to denounce Christianity during the middle ages, etc... but the problem is the generalization. He does not distinguish.

I am no fan of religion. It is a powerful tool that can certainly be used to engage vulnerable people into a whole range of horrible behaviors. Instead of painting with a broad brush, we need to focus on what makes people susceptible to radicalism and work to address that.

[leftynyc]

71. The answer to the question

The question is whether our actions solving the fundamental causes of radicalism (poverty, ignorance, lack of opportunity, desperation, etc...) or are our actions helping people to recruit more vulnerable people into radicalism.

Is definitely no. osama bin laden and several others were highly educated and were far from poor. That they had the kind of personalities that the disaffected gravitate to (kinda like the degenerate in the oval office) is hardly the fault of the west - it's their own leaders and people that are twisting their minds. It's the fault of their religion being twisted that tells them what they want to hear - that all their problems are someone else's fault (the west in this case).

Islam IS the religion with the most problems these days. If I were living during the inquisition, I would have said the same thing about Christianity. I really don't see the problem with facing that reality. That he doesn't take the time and courtesy he should in distinguishing Islam from radical Islam is a fair point but not one that will allow me to ignore all the truths he's saying.

[MicaelS]

63. Islam appears to be the current darling of the Left,

And anyone who criticizes the beliefs of Islam or its adherents is deemed a bigot. That many on the Left are it's champion never ceases to amaze me.

[question everything]

69. And misogynistic

but we have to take the good and the bad. His monologue and concluding remarks are worth the price of admission. And sometimes one can hear worthwhile comments from his guests. When they are not shouting over each other.

Same with Matthews. I am waiting for a guest to some day just get up, remove the mic and says: you obviously are not interesting in what I have to say. But on occasions there are worthy comments.

[Trekologer]

8. Milo's previous appearances were ones where he spouts off unchecked

And in front of an audience that is accepting to his message. Maher put him against a panel that was able to stand up to him. This was probably a shock to Milo. You could kind of see him realize he was in over his head.

[Cosmocat]

10. Milo was not in the panel

He was interviewed individually.

[HipChick]

13. He was on the overtime

where he clashed with the panel

[Cosmocat]

20. AH ...

missed that. I had my fill of right wing ass hatery with him and Kingston during the regular show.

[logosoco]

26. Oh, you should check it out.

Larry Widmore was great in the overtime segment! (no spoilers!)

[Cosmocat]

32. I believe that

he didn't have a lot of patience with Kingston ...

[Caliman73]

48. Yes he was. So was Malcolm Nance

They were a really good choice for that episode.

[Trekologer]

16. He put Milo against the panel in Overtime

[Cosmocat]

9. I'm a big Maher guy

He is one of too few STRONG voices we have.

But, he has some blind spots.

I kind of get where he is coming from in bringing cons on his show, but IMO, he let this pos walk all over him on this interview, and if he is doing so, is being a bit disingenuous to suggest he played a role in taking him down.

We DESPERATELY miss Jon Stewart. He was so damn smart, and clear headed. HE would have chewed Milo up.

[Renew Deal]

11. I agree about Stewart

He's a more disciplined debater

[leftynyc]

24. And Jon got PLENTY of flack

from many DUers for what was considered softball interviews of both John McCain, Condi Rice and several others I'm not remembering right now.

[hunter]

57. Milo Yiannopoulos was catfished at Berkeley by his own team.

If not for that, Yiannopoulos wouldn't have had the notoriety to appear on Maher's show.

[NightWatcher]

2. Maher was the bright light that showed the world what that roach was all about

[Dustlawyer]

3. I do not agree with everything Bill stands for, but that is ok.

You need to have these asshats on the show to demonstrate the bubble they live in, or in this case, help create. The liberal guests more than held their own. Its boring with nothing but liberals on the show.

I didn't really know who this turd was until Maher's show. Thanks Bill!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

7. Ugh. Can't stand Maher.

Even when I agree with him, his smarmy, smug personality is just such a major turnoff.

[LAGC]

42. You just hate him because he's an outspoken atheist who speaks his mind. Admit it. ;)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

43. I don't like him because his Backpfeifengesicht quotionent is very high.

He probably brought Milo on the show just so there was someone with more Backpfeifengesicht than him.

[LAGC]

44. Birds of a feather do flock together. ;)

[alarimer]

12. Maybe he should book Bannon. n/t

[coco22]

17. Would love to see it..

would he show? I have been waiting the media seems to be afraid to ask.

[Orsino]

14. Maher got lazy and failed to challenge his guest.

The downfall occurred because of the asshole's earlier commentary.

No points to Maher, who wasn't trying.

[NurseJackie]

15. Of course he does ... what choice does he have. Maher is too arrogant to be contrite about anything.

Fuck Maher! He basically AGREED that transgendered women who needed to pee were a "threat" to women and girls in public restrooms.

Maher is a pig. No better than Dennis Miller or Ed Schultz or Cenk... all assholes.

I've seen him being compared to Richard Pryor or George Carlin... GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK! Seriously?

His days are numbered. It's past time for Maher to be put out to pasture.

[leftynyc]

25. He's had this HBO show for 15 years

and still gets around 2 million a week to watch. He's not going anywhere.

[NurseJackie]

30. I know, I know... ugh! It's a pity to see what people fall for and their low standards.

I think it's a mistake for anyone to make the argument that x-million viewers is an actual indication of quality or worthiness. (And by "worthiness" I'm referring to something that has redeeming social value, rather than as advertising or subscription revenue to the producers or to the network.)

After all, Bill O'Reilly has a lot of monetary value to FOX ... but truthfully, is there anything redeeming about him? Is the number of viewers he gets weekly a true indicator of what his social value is.

Maher's slam against transgendered human beings doesn't rise to O'Reilly's chant of "Tiller-the-baby-killer" and its unspoken call-to-action resulting in Dr. Tiller's murder... but Maher is contributing to the atmosphere of hostility and intolerance.

[MindPilot]

35. You put a lot of energy into your antagonism toward Bill Maher.

Did he turn you down for a date or something?

[NurseJackie]

36. Oh, good grief! Actually, this isn't about me, MindPilot ...

35. You put a lot of energy into your antagonism toward Bill Maher.
Did he turn you down for a date or something?

Why do you want to pursue this path of "defending" Maher by trying to insult me? It's not helping, you know?

[MindPilot]

41. You are every thread that mentions Maher

telling us all how bad he is, how his career is over, he's not funny, yadda, yadda.

Your bullshit is getting tiresome..shut up about it already.

It is this constant droning demand for political and ideological purity from entertainers that alienates a lot of people and is ultimately one of the reasons we lose elections.

Maher is someone with a big mic who is on our side, but his job is to produce a TV show, not be a crusader for progressives. Why is that so hard to understand?

[NurseJackie]

45. It appears that I am getting on your nerves. Good!

41. You are every thread that mentions Maher
telling us all how bad he is, how his career is over, he's not funny, yadda, yadda.

So? What authority do you have to prevent me from participating in threads on topics that interest me or that are important to me.

Your bullshit is getting tiresome..shut up about it already.

That's not very nice. If you think I'm out of line or have broken any rules, then feel free to alert on me or to report me to the site owners.

It is this constant droning demand for political and ideological purity from entertainers that alienates a lot of people and is ultimately one of the reasons we lose elections.

So, in other words: "Don't criticize Bill Maher or the Democrats will continue to lose." GMAFB!
(Oh no! The sky is falling! The sky is falling! And it's all my fault!)

Maher is someone with a big mic who is on our side, but his job is to produce a TV show, not be a crusader for progressives. Why is that so hard to understand?

Maher is validating haters and bigots and adding to the climate of hostility toward transgendered Americans.

He's a fucking loser!

[MindPilot]

47. So you admit to trolling me.

No dice lady...I ain't takin' the bait.

[NurseJackie]

49. What does that even mean?

No dice lady...I ain't takin' the bait.

What bait?

[Maru Kitteh]

66. Yeah, "LADY!"

Ohhhhhh lawd. You, you, you . . . . LADY, you! Who do you THINK YOU ARE with your opinions and stuff! Jeez!

[NurseJackie]

67. I know, right?? When I first read that, I was like "Oh-please! Fa-Real?"

[Maru Kitteh]

68. 1942 is calling!

and wants its' slap-stick, G-rated comedy routine back.

[MicaelS]

72. Excellent post, I agree 100℅.

Maher is one of the few people who speaks out on the stupidity of all religions, but the fact he goes after Islam drives some on Left nuts, inasmuch as Islam appears to be the current darling of much of the Left.

[Gothmog]

52. Maher ceased to be funny a while back

I got tired of his rants on religion and with his show not being funny or relevant.

[JI7]

18. my problem was letting him lie about transgender people

And he compared him to christopher Hitchens.

[MindPilot]

37. That comment I thought was a bit wierd.

But in some ways accurate. Despise Hitchens' ascension to atheist "sainthood" he was just another pretentious boorish right wing Brit asshole, like Morgan and Milo.

[Caliman73]

59. Except that Maher admires Hitchens

Comparing Yiannopolis to Hitchens would be seen a compliment from him. Another problem with the segment was that when Yiannopolis was ranting about transgendered people being sexual predators, whether it was just a flip comment, Maher's response of, "That is not unreasonable", appeared as tacit agreement, that is not supported by any measure.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

19. Oh, bullshit

All Maher did was humor his conservative victimology canard, giggle at his trans-phobic comments and then absurdly call the little shock schlock brat "the new Christopher Hitchens."

Maher had zero to do with the video being circulated, which is what actually took Milo down.

Bill thought he was getting a new snarky conservative buddy to hang with, to go with his rightwing blonde crush collection of of Coulter and Tomi Lahren.

His interaction with Milo was as softball and embarrassing as Jimmy Fallon playing with Der Trumpenfuhrer's hair.

[kwassa]

38. What an insult to Christopher Hitchens!

Comparing Milo to him.

[HipChick]

60. Really

[Paladin]

21. I got tired of Maher some time ago---back before he started taking undue credit for things. (nt)

[Gothmog]

53. It is rather silly and wrong for Maher to take credit for Milo's meltdown

Maher had nothing to do with the surfacing of the tape that brought Milo down

[kcr]

22. Of course he does.

He's going to do everything he can to make sure everyone forgets how friendly he was towards Milo on his show. It was all part of the plan, you see. Of course, Mahr's fanclub will see it his way. Bigots of a feather...

[yallerdawg]

27. Here's one just for Bill!

"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."

[malaise]

28. He's right

and I'm no fan of Bill Maher

[Lotusflower70]

29. He should

At least some of it anyway. He exposed a cockroach to the light and he got burned. His panel nailed him. I don't agree with everything from Maher but his positive outweighs the negative. He calls out the bs and points out where liberals go wrong at times. He says the ugly, messy truth at times. Many liberals look outside for blame but we can't control the outside, we have to focus on within and how we present ourselves. There is a perception that we are all whiners and butthurt and offended by everything. And some extreme liberals added to that perception but we have to channel our outrage and build a stronger party.

[still_one]

31. Yeah Bill. Do you take credit for promoting the quack who said he had a cure for aids from goat's

milk too?

[Blue Idaho]

34. My biggest problem with Bill Maher

Is that in his mind - it's always about Bill Maher. What ever good or bad happens - he is mostly concerned with looking like the smartest kid in the classroom.

[LAGC]

40. Who cares? If he speaks truth to power and brings these right-wing cockroaches to light. (n/t)

[Blue Idaho]

73. I care... nt.

[malchickiwick]

39. Too many people try to extend their allotted time beyond 15 minutes...

Milo's 15 were up long long ago, and Maher was just enabling him in extending them.

[Gothmog]

51. Maher's anti-religion rants caused me to stop watching him a long time ago

Maher was stupid to put Milo on and Maher had nothing to do with Milo's self destruction.

I no long watch Maher. He is no longer funny or relevant

[HAB911]

54. Anti-religion rants are why many watch him

me, for instance. He is an equal opportunity ranter.

[Gothmog]

56. He ceased to be funny a while back for me

I no longer watch this show

[JHan]

55. Bill is on some EPIC shit with this...

He didn't challenge Milo, let his dig about transgenders pass, it was Malcolm Nance and Willmore who gave Milo the "FUCK OFF" he truly deserved.

So no Bill, you had nothing to do with Milo's massive week of fail.

[jeanmarc]

58. Way off, Bill.

You had nothing to do with his fall. You had everything to do with his ascension.

Fuck off, Maher.

[Kimchijeon]

61. Bill's right.

“it was never going to be enough for that slice of liberalism that would much rather judge a friend than engage an enemy, because it’s easier.” --so true, ya can never please some people. Oh well, glad Milo's gone. Thanks for turning the lights on that lil' roach, Bill - for those who didn't see him there, now everyone saw the roach and got rid of 'im!

[MicaelS]

62. Kudos to Maher

He was right on target....

"What I think people saw was an emotionally needy Ann Coulter wannabe, trying to make a buck off of the left’s propensity for outrage. And by the end of the weekend, by dinnertime Monday, he’s dropped as a speaker at CPAC. Then he’s dropped by Breitbart, and his book deal falls through. As I say, sunlight is the best disinfectant. You’re welcome."

[GeorgeGist]

65. I watched ...

Bill didn't do shit.

[Starry Messenger]

70. Maher is weak tea.