He plays revamped versions of his greatest hits, going after Republicans, politically correct Democrats, marriage, children, drugs, and religion.
By Sean D. Hartman
When it comes to left-wing talk show hosts, none has been more tolerable for Republicans than Bill Maher. The original late-night satirist, Maher was politically incorrect before it was mainstream. His first show was even called Politically Incorrect w/ Bill Maher, a show that would eventually be cancelled due to a politically incorrect about the 9/11 terrorists.
That political incorrectness is what you are going to expect with his new special, where he goes after Republicans and Democrats in what amounts to be one long Real Time monologue.
He plays revamped versions of his greatest hits, going after Republicans, politically correct Democrats, marriage, children, drugs, and religion. He goes after everyone, with no care for the easily offended.
Maher, himself a conservative Democrat, went to red state Oklahoma, stating that he wanted to be around “sane, blue-collar” Democrats. He went off on President Trump to applause, before going after his own Democrats, political correctness, and liberal bullshit.
A good portion of the first part of his act bashing President Trump, which is expected. Everything from his lies to his penis size gets hit. Even when he is done with the President, multiple Cabinet members get hit, as well the Republican devotees to the Trump cult of personality. He goes purposefully offensive on many occasions, calling President Trump a “bitch” and an “asshole”, even admitting he had never had sex from a Republican.
All of this would certainly offend conservative snowflakes who get offended after left-wing satirists make jokes.
But Maher also goes after his own Democrats, not necessarily for their political views, but on their own stupidity. He has done this on Real Time, attacking progressive opposition to Islamophobia, their extreme political correctness, and their taking-the-high-ground attitude at the expense of victory.
That’s his style. Maher is considerably more reasonable than other talk show hosts. Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah, and John Oliver are all farther left of Maher. Maher has historically been more libertarian, having been a supporter of the Second Amendment—though he describes himself as a “gun owner, not a gun lover”—and having notable libertarian views on drugs, sex, and religion.
Live from Oklahoma is what one would expect from a Bill Maher stand-up special. Everyone is a target of his rants, and every conventional issue is challenged.
But Bill Maher also took aim at one of the key Democratic bases—Millennials. He sees Millennial progressives will be the source of Democratic losses in 2018. He was calling on Millennials not just to vote Democrat, but to stop attacking offensive speech. Maher even brought up his own UC Berkley censorship story, when he was removed from a free speech lineup because they “got word he will speak freely.”
Sadly, Maher’s critique of Millennials went from political to social, and from a tactful call to action to an old grandfather scolding his grandchildren.
At the end of the day, Maher’s special in Oklahoma was a purposeful political ploy. He is trying to return the Democratic Party to its Clintonian days, back when reasonable centrists worked with Republicans to govern and get results, as opposed to partisan radicals dividing the nation. It was certainly a good special, but it played more like an hour-long DNC advertisement.
Sean David Hartman is a reporter for the Central Florida Post, covering entertainment and public affairs. He describes himself as a “Professional Political Nuisance” and goes after politicians on both sides. Hartman is an autism rights activist, and #ProudlyAutistic.
