General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnyone else remember when Bill Maher was fired from ABC in 2002 for saying this:
"We have been the cowards. Lobbing cruise missiles from two thousand miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building. Say what you want about it. Not cowardly. You're right."
So does anyone remember their conservative colleagues arguing in favor of Bill Maher's first amendment rights? I remember working with a Rushbot that was bragging about him getting fired and saying "if you work for ABC the first amendment doesn't apply" or something to that effect.
LTR
(13,227 posts)Or the firing of anyone who dares to call her a moron?
And were all these same people defending the Dixie Chicks' right to free speech ten years ago?
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)joeglow3
(6,228 posts)I knew many a liberal who complained about the violation of the Dixie Chicks first amendment rights and who are ecstatic now. Conclusion: there are idiots all over the political spectrum and they all embarrass me.
It also saddens me that their vote counts the same as mine
kcr
(15,318 posts)So it would be equally idiotic to be angry about the offense of either one. False equivalency time!
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)I don't think they did, not even close to what Robertson said. He wants to tell how much of a Christian he is while saying vile statements.
kcr
(15,318 posts)Big difference between criticizing your government and being a hateful bigot. That's why I think drawing comparisons don't even work.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)kcr
(15,318 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)kcr
(15,318 posts)That may have been the intent. They were the hottest thing going. I bet they had a better offer.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)He can now say he lost his perks to gays, bet he did not realize it could chop off his legs.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)I saw thing when bashir said, on a national news program that someone should shit in palins mouth. I consider that wrong and saw the same hypocrisy. In short, I hate people....
kcr
(15,318 posts)All wrongs are not equal. And when people come out and point out false equivalencies, they're almost always pushing an agenda.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)People were complaining about his freedom of speech then, just as the nuts are screaming it today.
kcr
(15,318 posts)If we're pointing fingers and accusing people of hypocrisy, then it does matter if the act is equal.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)You are correct. Damn autocorrect.
LTR
(13,227 posts)Perhaps it's because I could really care less about the ramblings of flash-in-the-pan "reality" TV personalities. That's his problem.
I have, however, been more amused at the right-wing response, as they play the oppressed victim once again, all the while conveniently forgetting the many right-winters screaming to censor opinions they disagree with.
Kurovski
(34,655 posts)after a spate of similar firings.
He was an oasis when we went to see him live at Governor's State University, both in support and to maintain sanity during that horrible period in American history.
"Americans need to watch what they say"--Ari fleischer
yurbud
(39,405 posts)and one of the biggest red flags that Baby Bush was not going to be a C student rerun of Papa, and that our democracy was in critical condition, and the GOP was holding a pillow over its face waiting for it to die.
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)Dixie Chicks were blacklisted, and other bands were taken off the playlists for having lyrics deemed unacceptable to the pro-war message. Rage Against the Machine is one that comes to mind specifically.
otohara
(24,135 posts)Then theres a slew of apologies from our side.
Archae
(46,343 posts)His stand on vaccines and autism is pure woo.
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)the economy, gay rights, the war on drugs, unemployment, the social safety net, racism and Republican morons are all right on the mark.
Gee we should take away his membership card...
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)Kurovski
(34,655 posts)And I don't give a toodle.
He's hardly a blithering idiot, for fuck's goddamed sake.
So you disagree with him on that. Is it money out of your pocket? We're free to get all the vaccinations we want. a comedian is hardly our go-to guy for medical advice. I'd say some of his sexist views are a somewhat bigger to-do
Jesus, has every other DUer gone banana-pickles tonight? WTF?
Archae
(46,343 posts)But on vaccines and autism, he's an asshole.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/02/1191045/-Bill-Maher-Anti-Science-Knuckle-Dragger#
Whisp
(24,096 posts)Sometimes I want to wring his skinny little smarmy neck but most times I think he is a comedy genius.
People are funny - they don't always think exactly as other funny people
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)We are discussing how "our" side is condemned when we speak out against establishment narrative.
The same people that were condemning Maher and cheering the loss of his Politically Incorrect program are now defending the Duck guy. Get it? You probably don't get it.
progressoid
(49,996 posts)I read the stuff he said about flu shots but haven't heard his autism/vaccine stance.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)OnionPatch
(6,169 posts)I've been a fan since way back in his "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" days.
I don't hold to liberal purity tests. He's plenty liberal enough for me and more than funny enough.
loudsue
(14,087 posts)Edited to remove still snarkier comment.
Logical
(22,457 posts)libodem
(19,288 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)to your employer unless you are working for the government. The Bill of Rights prohibits Congress from passing laws that violate the rights listed.
Arger68
(679 posts)The first amendment only protects an individual from the government, not a corporation. Though it seems to be getting harder to tel which is which...
Wounded Bear
(58,698 posts)That got the fundies panties in a twist.
Rex
(65,616 posts)but when the Left opens it's mouth...instant firing! That is why the M$M sucks and leaves so many people uninformed about what is really important and what their corporate paymasters want them to say.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)I don't agree with Bill on everything but I agree with him a lot more than I disagree. It may have not been the smartest thing to say but.....who wants to fly a plane into a building? How sure could they be about those 72 virgins?
Of course ABC being fraidy pants and firing Maher was the best thing that ever happened to him. And - by far the most disgusting firing was MSNBC firing Donahue for daring to question the wisdom of starting a war over more than shaky pretenses. They made it even more awful by replacing him with a foul mouthed fascist type then having to fire that jerk.
In the end that ill advised war has ruined so many lives and all for mostly gas and war profiteering and will wind up costing us trillions.
Gothmog
(145,489 posts)At the time the country was over-reacting to the September 11 attack. I am glad that things are finally calming down
Kingofalldems
(38,469 posts)BainsBane
(53,056 posts)If the GOVERNMENT stepped in and prevented ABC or A&E from broadcasting certain speech. The First Amendment has nothing to do with personnel or programming decisions that broadcasters make. Those are about business, profit--nothing more. Both ABC and A&E decided those individuals were bad for their bottom line, as is their right.