Bill Maher calls U.S. cowardly; FedEx pulls ads from show

Houston Chronicle ^ | Sept. 19, 2001 | MIKE McDANIEL

[jern]

Sept. 19, 2001, 9:00AM

Bill Maher calls U.S. cowardly; FedEx pulls ads from show

By MIKE McDANIEL
Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle TV Editor

Federal Express ordered its ads removed from the ABC late-night series Politically Incorrect on Tuesday after the show's host referred to recent U.S. military actions as "cowardly."

After receiving complaints from around the country, including Houston, Federal Express reviewed Monday's edition of the show and decided to act, company spokesperson Carla Richards said.

Richards said she did not know how many complaints the company received, but that they were of sufficient quantity to merit the actions the company took.

"The (30-second) ad that runs during that show has been pulled for the indefinite future," Richards said.

Dinesh D'Souza, a panelist on Monday's show, quibbled with a reference made by President George W. Bush that the suicide bombers were cowards, noting that they gave up their lives for whatever may be their cause.

"These are warriors," D'Souza said, "and we have to realize that the principles of our way of life are in conflict with people in the world."

"We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away," said Bill Maher, the host of Politically Incorrect. "That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."

"I was just appalled," said Dan Patrick, general manager of KSEV (700 AM) and host of a radio talk show. "When you call our men in the (armed forces) cowards and our military policy cowardly, and when you call these hijackers `warriors,' that should not be tolerated."

Patrick urged listeners to call KTRK and urge the station to stop carrying the "irresponsible" program. Other hosts of KSEV talk shows made the same request.

"The First Amendment gives us the freedom of speech, but it does not guarantee anyone a TV show or a TV camera or a radio show, for that matter," Patrick said. "If Bill Maher believes that Americans are cowards and hijackers are warriors, let him go out on the street corner and shout that. But Disney does not have to give him a TV show and Channel 13 does not have to air that show."

KTRK said it received a number of calls -- "in the low hundreds," the station said. The station said it receives triple that amount when it pre-empts a soap opera. It had no further comment.

ABC issued a statement saying, in part, that Politically Incorrect "celebrates freedom of speech and encourages the animated exchange of ideas and opinions. Understandably, this forum can oftentimes arouse intense emotions, especially during such a sensitive time.

"While we remain sensitive to the current climate following last week's tragedy, and continue to do our part to help viewers cope with unfolding events, we have an obligation to offer a forum for the expression of our nation's diverse opinions."

Return to top

[JudyB1938]

Send Sears comments/thanks

[Stingray]

"...we have an obligation to offer a forum for the expression of our nation's diverse opinions."

Last I heard, the FCC rescinded the "Fairness Doctrine" in the mid to late 80's. This station is no more "obligated" to air such opinions than it is to air any other video it deems "inappropriate."

After all, they practice self-censorship all the time, for a variety of reasons having nothing to do with "obligations" to fairness or the public interest. I know. I work in the industry.

[conservative cat]

I am glad that Sears and Fed-Ex finally pulled ads from "Politically Incorrect," however, they should have pulled them a long time ago. I've always thought Maher was a pretentious, liberal a-hole with an unsubstantiated superiority complex. When he said that Americans everywhere watching the Ryder truck in Florida (carrying the Dade Co. ballots) were wishing that it meant Kathryn Harris was dead, I was extremely disgusted by the lack of testicular fortitude of the network and the advertisers to act on it. Then, earlier this year, he compared having a disabled child to having a dog. I (as did many others I knew of)contacted a couple of advertisers and ABC to express my disgust, but they did not reply. Maher made some little, insincere apology a few days later. He is disgusting. Let him say it for free on the street corner.

[JudyB1938]

NY Times says Smith potential candidate for defense secretary With the top post in the new Bush Defense Department yet unfilled, The New York Times is reporting that FedEx Corp. chairman and CEO Fred Smith may be a contender.

Just a little tidbit about Fred Smith that shows he is in the Bush camp and a man of AMERICAN substance!
And the following shows why you are so proud to be one of their employees:

People-Service-Profit

FedEx began in 1973 on a simple foundation: our employees deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Our founder, Fred Smith, has always believed that especially in a service company like FedEx, you can't have satisfied customers if you don't have satisfied employees. In short, we believe in doing the right thing for our employees, because in turn they'll do the right thing for our customers. The People-Service-Profit promise has driven the success of all FedEx employees. It means we provide fair and equitable compensation. Extensive training. Respect for individuality. Unrestricted opportunities for advancement. And, of course, a world-class benefits package.

Benefits

At FedEx Express, everything starts with our people. That's the first place we invest. We believe it's one of the most important - and successful - investments we can ever make. Nowhere is this dedication more evident than in our employee benefits. It all starts with our LifeWorks, FunStuff and FedEx Employee Association programs - all designed to help our employees make the most of their professional and personal lives.

I tried to find a picture of him, but couldn't. Do you have one?

As far as I am concerned, his action against BM is part of his oath to defend this nation against its enemies, both foreign and domestic. He is a Hero! Just like our other American Vets who continue to fight against evil. Thanks FReeper Vets! Thanks a whole lot.

[Badray]

"Under his logic, the kids who killed in Columbine were not cowards either..."

He was stating facts about people who were conducting a holy war against us. Not praising, not glorifying. Just stating facts about people who, although it is sick and perverted, were willing to die for their cause and their god. I don't believe that the killers at Columbine believed that they were in any kind of war or in a hurry to meet any god. They cowardly attacked defenseless kids and then killed themselves to avoid the legal consequences of their acts.

The subtle difference is that in the case of the terrorists, there will be more attacks of one kind of another in some coordinated fashion and that is what makes it a war. The random and uncoordinated school shootings are the work of sick individuals looking for their 15 minutes of fame.

[Brimack34]

No the way to punish him is to load him on the first missle and see how brave he is. Have a nice ride Bill.

[GrayWolf]

The cowards are the idiots that write the rules of engagement, they write them that way to avoid the political heat created by body bags returning to the US. We who execute these operations are just upholding our oaths and good faith and allegiance to our country.

[ArcLight]

Bingo, GrayWolf. That's what I'm saying. And I think it's what Bill Maher was saying. Which is why I don't think it was all that outrageous. He deserves to be slapped by the network, though, because he's said far nastier, more outrageous things than this, like longing for the death of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris.

[clee1]

And that is no $h!t !!!!!!!!!!!

[clee1]

Been done a long time ago. NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, etc, etc, etc as well. Thank God for FOX, Discovery and the History Channel!

[Lancey Howard]

Wasn't it Patton who said the idea was to "make the other poor sumbitch die for his country"?

[brewcrew]

I don't have a link to a picture right now (I'm very busy at work these days), but I will try to post one to this thread at some point.

Watch in the days to come if FedEx doesn't start giving up the use of some of our aircraft to the war effort. Most of our pilots are ex-military, and they will do whatever they can to contribute to the defeat of Hussein, bin Laden, and global terrorism.

Just found out that Fred Smith authorized the contribution of $2 million to the relief efforts in NYC and the Pentagon.

I am so proud to work for this man. We are one of the few airlines poised, I believe, to get through this crisis in the industry unscathed - in essence because packages aren't afraid to fly.

[f.Christian]

"We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away," said Bill Maher, the host of Politically Incorrect. "That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."

This is factually correct.

One's courage begins with one's ability to accept the truth.

It was also courageous for 4 terrorists armed with box cutters to confront and control 100 passengers + crew.

These people may be evil, insane, murderers, whatever. But the are NOT cowards. I wouldn't call them soldiers though. 'Terrorist' describes them quite well. 15 Posted on 09/19/2001 09:50:58 PDT by A Vast RightWing Conspirator

Sergeant vast...border-prison guard czar---janet reemo aide-accomplice---strikes out again!!

[JudyB1938]

Brewcrew ... Please tell all your guys how proud we are of them. What you just told me should be a BIG NEWS ITEM in the media. Maybe somebody can pass the word to them.

[f.Christian]

To: A Vast RightWing Conspirator

When you left E. Germany how did you come to America...the FR w/o a moral compass--foundation?

Can a criminal have virtue--a psychopath honor--decency??

You have very strange values--beliefs.

You came here for the drugs---rock music--abortion--libertarianism?

234 Posted on 09/19/2001 17:54:07 PDT by f.Christian

bttt

[Buffalo Bob]

Talk about logically challenged, you win the prize! My statement is: "While I don't agree with what Bill Maher says, I will defend - to his death - the right to say it!"

In your rush to ridicule someone else, you failed to notice the logical twist I added to a well-known statement, which of course totally changes its meaning.

[brewcrew]

It was actually made public in a press release yesterday.

Thanks for the kind words. I'll pass them along to as many as I can with whom I come in contact.