Bill Maher did not mince words Friday night as he sparred with a liberal guest over whether or not some of the beliefs held by millions of practicing Muslims around the world are “bad.”
Maher’s exchange with Chrystia Freeland, a member of the Canadian House of Commons, came after he opened up his program contending many of the Syrian refugees don’t share many of America’s cornerstone values.
“If you are in this religion, you probably do have values that are at odds. This is what liberals don’t want to recognize,” Maher said. “This idea that somehow we do share values that all religions are alike is bulls***.”
That triggered a debate amongst Maher’s panel, but particularly seemed to offend Freeland who pushed back against the HBO host.
“Are you guys saying that the Muslim faith is by definition worse than other people’s?” she asked.
“Yes! The ideas,” Maher countered. “If 6 million people in a supposedly moderate country agree with ISIS. You know, I read this article recently — it was attacking me about my beliefs on such things. And they said, ‘Oh Bill, you paint with too broad of a brush.’ What about Indonesia? The moderate country of Indonesia. And then they went on to say, ‘Only 18 percent believe in honor killings.’ Really? So one out of five people in the moderate country your holding up as the moderate country believes if a woman is raped we blame and kill her?”
Freeland continued to press Maher.
“Bill you spend most of your show pointing out the dumbness of Americans,” she quipped.
“You know, dumbness is a little different,” Maher shot back.
“No seriously, it is very wrong to demonize a religion,” Freeland said.
“I’m not demonizing!” Maher countered, raising his voice. “I am just reporting. You are making it a demonization.”
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) jumped in and said the challenge is to help the majority of peaceful Muslims change the belief system held by the radical ones.
“You don’t do that by saying Muslims are bad!” Freeland interjected.
“I’m not saying that. I’m saying the ideas need to be changed,” Maher said.
“You’re saying their ideas are bad?” a seemingly offended Freeland asked.
“Killing women for being raped I would say is a bad idea. Yeah, I do,” Maher fired back as the audience erupted in applause. “Hang me for it.”