From Libertarian Wiki

Bill Maher is an left-wing comedian, actor, writer and producer. He is most notable as the former host of Politically Incorrect, which aired on the Comedy Central television network and later ABC. Maher is also currently the host of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.

ABC decided not to renew Maher's contract for Politically Incorrect in 2002 after he made a controversial on-air remark, in which he, along with guest political commentator Dinesh D'Souza, objected to the President and others calling the September 11 terrorists cowardly:

"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."

In the aftermath of the attacks, the remark made him seem to most people as too controversial for financial support. Companies including FedEx and Sears Roebuck pulled their advertisements from the show, costing the show more than it returned. The show was subsequently cancelled on June 16, 2002.

Maher's comment about accusing American soldiers of cowardice followed another controversial comment he made on Politically Incorrect where he 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. What? They're sweet. They're loving. They're kind, but they don't mentally advance at all ... Dogs are like retarded children."

ABC was still dealing with the fallout from this statement when it decided not to renew Maher's contract.

In 2003, Maher became the host of Real Time with Bill Maher on the HBO cable television network, a debate show somewhat similar to Politically Incorrect, but with a narrower selection of guests.

Although Maher is a self-described libertarian, his views are more line with authoritarian-socialism. This is due to the fact that most of his views are in direct opposition to libertarian ideology, such as his strong support of government regulation of corporations, foreign aid, public schooling, a ban on homeschooling, campaign finance restrictions, radical environmental laws, involuntary Social Security run by the government, affirmative action, minimum wage laws, absolute gun control, support for the United Nations, income redistribution through higher taxation, government funding for abortion, and support for Ralph Nader in the 2000 U.S. presidential election. He has even praised Janet Reno and the ATF for its action in the massacre in Waco, Texas.

Some of his other stances on issues related to personal pleasure such as legalizing drugs, gambling, and prostitution are however libertarian in outlook. Maher has been described in libertarian and conservative chatrooms as "a tax and spend politically correct liberal who's a-okay with the Leviathan state as long as he gets his Hustler, his hookers and his hash."

Maher was formerly involved in a relationship with model Nancy Johnson a.k.a. "Coco Johnsen". However, Ms. Johnson ended it and in November of 2004 and sued Maher for palimony amid allegations of verbal and physical abuse.[1]

External link

• Is Bill Maher a libertarian? by Dann Halem
• Bill Maher Owes Another Apology - A war veteran responds to Maher's anti-military comments
• Is Bill Maher the Jane Fonda of the Iraq War? - Another response to Maher's anti-military comments