Posted on 05/24/2005 8:51:39 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Edited on 05/24/2005 9:24:02 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Updated: 11:20 AM EDT Congressman Slams Bill Maher Over Army Remark By JEFFREY McMURRAY, AP
Many stations pulled Bill Maher's previous show, "Politically Incorrect" in 2001 over comments he made about 9/11.
WASHINGTON (May 24) - A congressman says comedian Bill Maher's comment that the U.S. military has already recruited all the "low-lying fruit" is possibly treasonous and at least grounds to cancel the show.
Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., takes issue with remarks on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, first aired May 13, in which Maher points out the Army missed its recruiting goal by 42 percent in April.
"More people joined the Michael Jackson fan club," Maher said. "We've done picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit, and now we need warm bodies."
Army Reserve Pfc. England was accused of abusing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
"I think it borders on treason," Bachus said. "In treason, one definition is to undermine the effort or national security of our country."
In a statement released Monday night, Maher defended his support for the American armed forces.
"Anyone who knows anything about my views and has watched my show knows that I have nothing but the highest regard for the men and women serving this country around the world," Maher said in the statement.
Bachus said he was appalled after watching a rerun of the show shortly after returning from a visit to Germany, in which he met with a paralyzed American soldier in the hospital. He has since written to Time Warner, HBO's parent company.
"I don't want (Maher) prosecuted," Bachus said. "I want him off the air."
Numerous television stations pulled Maher's previous show, "Politically Incorrect," from the air in September 2001 after he argued terrorists weren't cowards when they slammed airplanes into the World Trade Center a week earlier. Maher later apologized.
05-24-05 07:31 EDT AOL POLL What do you think about Bill Maher's remark? It disgusts me 49% I agree with it 33% No opinion 18% Do you think his show should be canceled because of it? No 62% Yes 38% Total Votes: 16,508 Note on Poll Results
Here we go again
Tempest in a teapot.
The expression of disdain for the U.S. Government, and any or all of its branches, is the core of what is protected by the 1st Amendment. It is not 'treason' to speak ill of the government, the military, or any government official. Treason, by its very definition, is acting against out country, not speaking against it.
Even I learned that in the public schools of the Great State of Alabama. Were you out that day?
The expression of disdain for the U.S. Government, and any or all of its branches, is the core of what is protected by the 1st Amendment. It is not 'treason' to speak ill of the government, the military, or any government official. Treason, by its very definition, is acting against out country, not speaking against it.
Even I learned that in the public schools of the Great State of Alabama. Were you out that day?
ohh jeez, this is what we dont want.
Let Maher be an @$$.....he is only speaking out against the government, not acting against it, as was said just about me on this thread...
the guy is an idiot. Let him spew. It can only make things better for the GOP...
Treason, no; stupid, perhaps.
Sedition, not really; irresponsible, yeah.
So turn him off. Nobody makes you listen to him.
"Anyone who knows anything about my views and has watched my show knows that I have nothing but the highest regard for the men and women serving this country around the world," Maher said in the statement
Well, there's no contradiction here. (/sarcasm)
Yeah, there you go.. give him more ammo.
Spot on.
I agree... Bachus needs to shut the hell up.
Maher's an ass, but that's not called for. He's not even worth it either.
If you insult US soldiers and nobody's watching, does a dopey congressman really need to make any noise?
So Maher's comment that the U.S. military has already recruited all the "low-lying fruit" is treasonous?
Come ON!
Annoying, certainly...and highly inaccurate, but all Maher really accomplished was to show the world what a dumba$$ he is.
The BEST fruit is always low on the tree. He couldn't have meant fruit that was already on the ground, 'cause we always call that ground fruit, so he would have SAID *ground fruit*, right? I mean, he's a smart man, right?
(Denote heavy sarcasm)
No matter HOW much he shoots off his mouth, he better be smart enough never make the mistake of going somewhere where he actually NEEDS protection :)
I have to agree. Maher is just exercising his right to free speech. If I sincerely believed that the US Army was focusing too low to fill it's recruiting requirements, I should have the right to say it. I tend to resent just about anything the Maher says becuase he comes from a very anti-Bush, anti-conservative, anti-religious viewpoint, but he represents the "middle of the road" soft Democrat position perfectly. This is decidely more centrist than Teddy & Kerry, though it's still within earshot of them. This does represent the new Hillary-moderate BS. It's something we all have to watch closely.
Bill Maher, typical elitist liberal. He's too big for the rest of us peasants. Does he think the graduates of the service academies are "low-lying fruit"? The "low-lying fruit" of America are defending his right to make an ass of himself.
"HBO should send Bachus a check for the free promotion."
Thats what I was thinking. Stupid to give Maher free publicity. I didn't even know he was still on the air.
Please don't post Getty Images again. Thanks.
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