Bill Maher weighed in on how he believes Americans can tone down the ugliness of politics.
AL.com spoke to Maher on January 6, asking him questions about a variety of subjects, including âwhy political correctness is the enemy of comedy, how liberals and conservatives can get along and why American democracy is in big trouble.â
The outlet noted Maher has previously discussed how it is âdangerous when we see people on the other side literally as the enemy.â
He was asked how Americans âcan tone it down the tribalism and ugliness.â
Maher argued the idea that everyone has to constantly be arguing politics âhas to stop,â adding, âBecause when you take the politics out of the discussion â and this is coming from a person who made his living talking politics â you find that people are just people, and you canât hate them.â
He explained individuals are entitled to hate Trump, but they âcanât hate all the people who like him â itâs half the country.â
Maher went on to suggest individuals cannot set themselves up âas some sort of superior moral paragon, because this is your political belief, and somebody else has another one.â
The comedian continued, âI feel like thatâs the Achilles heel of the left right now. They identify issues mostly by what they can feel superior to another person for.â
Commenting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Maher told the outlet, âIt doesnât make you a better person if youâre wearing three masks or if you want 10 booster shots. But that is the subtext to all of that, I think. First of all, itâs not true. It doesnât make you a better person. And medical matters are completely debatable.â
Taking a swipe at the medical establishment, Maher said, âSo donât just stand there in your white coat saying âWe have all the answers.â You donât. And just to throw in with Dr. Fauci doesnât mean youâre a morally superior person. That attitude is what annoys people, I think, mostly about the left.â
AL.com also pointed out Maher has had âpolarizing figuresâ on his show.
âI want the people I donât necessarily agree with politically. Maybe theyâll say something that surprises me and enlightens me and makes me see something a different way,â Maher said.
He added, âEven better. But even if they donât, theyâre allowed to have their opinion if itâs different than mine. It doesnât mean I have to hate them for it, and Iâve never hated them for it.â
