Maher Goes Off on GOP Charleston Reactions: ‘Isn’t Denying Racism a Form of Racism?’

[Surya Gayatri]

Bill Maher tonight really went off on the Republican reactions to the Charleston shooting, asking, “Isn’t denying racism itself a form of racism?”

MSNBC’s Joy Reid said that any time people on the right want to talk about “healing,” it “always has to come… from African-Americans saying ‘No foul.'” He, Maher, and Congressman Luis Gutierrez also went after the Confederate flag at the South Carolina state capitol.

When Maher remarked that he has an inkling of where the shooter got his news, The Daily Caller’s Matt Lewis protested Maher’s insinuations. Maher shot back by saying his website has a “lot of stories about black people” presented in a very specific way, and so he thinks the media is “responsible to a degree.”

Lewis tried to point to how the shooting happened in a church and he would never blame Maher, an outspoken atheist, for the violence. Maher and Reid called that a ridiculous non-sequiter.

[dhill926]

1. I had not known about this

Matt Lewis guy. He is profoundly ignorant. Profoundly.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. I'd never heard of him before, either. And, I hope I never have to see his fatuous face again.

[daleanime]

16. +1

though you have to love how quickly he went into the classic republican, I don't want to hear this, position. As if refusing to acknowledge some thing would keep it from happening.

[Human101948]

13. Saying he is ignorant obscures what he is doing....

He is actively and consciously supporting the rightwing effort to deny that they are racist or, at the very least, encourage racism to accomplish their political ends, and consequently not have to deal with the legacy of racism that exists in the good ol' USA.

[Surya Gayatri]

15. Point well taken. This is purposeful obscurantism and obfuscation, consciously wielded.

[Euphoria]

21. Yup.

[Enthusiast]

17. Say it again! Profoundly ignorant!

Ignorance permeates this nation.

[Lobo27]

3. Had some of my favorite people on tonight.

Bernie, Joy Reid, and Congressmen Gutierrez, but the show went to hell when Ann Coulter came on. Jesus Christ.... The hate she spews...

[Surya Gayatri]

5. Luv, luv Joy Reid. She is SO smart and articulate.

Meant to add: Yes, Colter is just one ugly glob of hate wrapped in a blond mane.

[Cha]

4. It's damn well as about as racist as you can get. They know it's there but they won't say it..

afraid they'll step on all the racists' toes that are listening to them.

[Surya Gayatri]

6. Just infuriating to watch them 'twist, turn and contort' (as somebody said) to avoid

owning the ugly, deadly hate that they generate.

[Cha]

8. Just saw this and it fits right here, SG.. :(

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/06/19/first-lady-michelle-obama-visits-u-s-army-garrison-vicenza/

[Surya Gayatri]

9. Kaboom! Good find...

[rurallib]

10. made me so mad I had to turn it off

or I would not have been able to sleep.

[Surya Gayatri]

11. Yeah, sometimes ya just have to close the shutters, turn off the TV and computer

and recollect your soul.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

7. In principle absolutely not, in practice usually. N.T.

[B Calm]

12. Republicans are already calling this (racist hate crime) an attack on Christianity.

[Surya Gayatri]

14. That was the talking point dispatched to all RW outlets the morning after.

[Enthusiast]

18. It was clearly an organized response. And it couldn't be any more incorrect.

They should be called out on it constantly until they relent.

[napkinz]

23. yep, they claimed it wasn't a racially motivated hate crime but an attack on Christians

[Enthusiast]

19. The hate filled right wing media is directly responsible for this outrage.

Pass it on.

[Surya Gayatri]

20. This unvarnished, unredacted truth needs to go viral. Rub their faces in their deadly caca.

[JI7]

22. glad Joy Reid called out the stupid "attacking christians" crap by bringing up those racist govts

that Roof was supporting were christian govts.

wasn't the confederacy christian also ?

[Surya Gayatri]

24. GAWD was (and is!) on Johnny Reb's side, don't cha know?