CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"/> <title>Bill Maher - RationalWiki</title> <script>document.documentElement.className="client-js";RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":!1,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat":"dmy","wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"Z-HfJde1bUcggugxUHDOtgAAAVY","wgCSPNonce":!1,"wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":!1,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Bill_Maher","wgTitle":"Bill Maher","wgCurRevisionId":2706321,"wgRevisionId":2706321,"wgArticleId":79100,"wgIsArticle":!0,"wgIsRedirect":!1,"wgAction":"view","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":["Pages using DynamicPageList parser function","Articles with unsourced statements","Political pundits","Atheists","Ableism","Actors","Alternative medicine promoters","Anti-vaccination movement","Comedians","Conspiracy theorists","Denialists","GMO","Islamophobes","Libertarians","Living people","New York","Paedophilia", "Pseudoscience promoters","Transphobes","Leftists who turned right with age"],"wgPageContentLanguage":"en","wgPageContentModel":"wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Bill_Maher","wgRelevantArticleId":79100,"wgIsProbablyEditable":!0,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":!0,"wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[],"wgMediaViewerOnClick":!0,"wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":!0};RLSTATE={"site.styles":"ready","noscript":"ready","user.styles":"ready","user":"ready","user.options":"loading","ext.cite.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles.legacy":"ready","mediawiki.toc.styles":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["ext.cite.ux-enhancements","site","mediawiki.page.startup","mediawiki.page.ready","mediawiki.toc","skins.vector.legacy.js","ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","mmv.head","mmv.bootstrap.autostart"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.implement("user.options@1hzgi",function($,jQuery,require,module){/*@nomin*/mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); });});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.cite.styles%7Cmediawiki.toc.styles%7Cskins.vector.styles.legacy&only=styles&skin=vector"/> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector"/> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.35.6"/> <meta name="description" content="Bill Maher (1956–) is an outspoken, unapologetic, imperviously self-satisfied, and disgraced American comedian, actor, &#91;2&#93; anti-Muslim bigot, and political commentator, best known for his Comedy Central/ABC show Politically Incorrect and his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher. He is vocal on several topics to the point of absolute annoyance to many people, most notably his atheistic views and harsh criticisms of religion, particularly Islam (often misrepresenting and stereotyping Muslims) and occasionally Christianity (with legitimate criticisms but also often misrepresenting and stereotyping Christians), but rarely Judaism (often defending Israel's human rights abuses)."/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit" href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit"/> <link rel="edit" title="Edit" href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"/> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/opensearch_desc.php" title="RationalWiki (en)"/> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"/> <link rel="license" href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Copyrights"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="RationalWiki Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="RationalWiki"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Bill Maher"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Bill Maher (1956–) is an outspoken, unapologetic, imperviously self-satisfied, and disgraced American comedian, actor, &#91;2&#93; anti-Muslim bigot, and political commentator, best known for his Comedy Central/ABC show Politically Incorrect and his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher. He is vocal on several topics to the point of absolute annoyance to many people, most notably his atheistic views and harsh criticisms of religion, particularly Islam (often misrepresenting and stereotyping Muslims) and occasionally Christianity (with legitimate criticisms but also often misrepresenting and stereotyping Christians), but rarely Judaism (often defending Israel's human rights abuses)."/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Bill_Maher"/>  </head> <body class="mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Bill_Maher rootpage-Bill_Maher skin-vector action-view minerva--history-page-action-enabled skin-vector-legacy"> <div id="mw-page-base" class="noprint"></div> <div id="mw-head-base" class="noprint"></div> <div id="content" class="mw-body" role="main"> <a id="top"></a> <div id="siteNotice" class="mw-body-content"><div id="localNotice" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div id="2025_RationalWiki_.27Oregon_Plan.27_Fundraiser"> <table role="presentation" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; width: 100%;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 60%; text-align: left;"><big><center><b><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Fundraiser" title="RationalWiki:Fundraiser">2025 RationalWiki 'Oregon Plan' Fundraiser</a></b></center></big> <p><b>There is no RationalWiki without you.</b> We are a small non-profit with no staff—we are hundreds of volunteers who document pseudoscience and crankery around the world every day. We will never allow ads because we must remain independent. We cannot rely on big donors with corresponding big agendas. We are not the largest website around, but <a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Fundraiser" title="RationalWiki:Fundraiser">we believe we play an important role in defending truth and objectivity</a>. </p> </td> <td style="width: 40%; text-align: center;"><big><b><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Fundraiser" title="RationalWiki:Fundraiser">Fighting pseudoscience isn't free</a>.<br />We are 100% user-supported! Help and donate $5, $10, $20 or whatever you can today with <img alt="PayPal Logo.png" src="/w/images/thumb/f/fb/PayPal_Logo.png/61px-PayPal_Logo.png" decoding="async" width="61" height="17" srcset="/w/images/thumb/f/fb/PayPal_Logo.png/92px-PayPal_Logo.png 1.5x, /w/images/thumb/f/fb/PayPal_Logo.png/122px-PayPal_Logo.png 2x" data-file-width="883" data-file-height="244" />!</b></big><a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=67BJMQC85CUFW" title="Donate via PayPal" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" src="/w/images/thumb/1/10/DonateButton.png/100px-DonateButton.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="32" srcset="/w/images/thumb/1/10/DonateButton.png/150px-DonateButton.png 1.5x, /w/images/thumb/1/10/DonateButton.png/200px-DonateButton.png 2x" data-file-width="759" data-file-height="241" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div role="progressbar" style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; position: relative; padding: 2px; border-radius: 18px;"> <a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Fundraiser" title="RationalWiki:Fundraiser"><span style="text-shadow: -1px -1px 0 #FFFFFF, 1px -1px 0 #FFFFFF, -1px 1px 0 #FFFFFF, 1px 1px 0 #FFFFFF; color: black; font-size: 125%; position: absolute; left: 0%; margin: 0 0 0 10px"><b>Donations so far: $8765.50</b></span></a><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Fundraiser" title="RationalWiki:Fundraiser"><span style="text-shadow: -1px -1px 0 #FFFFFF, 1px -1px 0 #FFFFFF, -1px 1px 0 #FFFFFF, 1px 1px 0 #FFFFFF; color: black; font-size: 125%; position: absolute; right: 0%; margin: 0 10px 0 0"><b>Goal: $10000</b></span></a><div style="height: 28px; border-radius: 14px; background-color: hsl(70.124,100%,45%); width: 87.655%;"></div> </div></div></div></div> <div class="mw-indicators mw-body-content"> </div> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading" lang="en">Bill Maher</h1> <div id="bodyContent" class="mw-body-content"> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From RationalWiki</div> <div id="contentSub"></div> <div id="contentSub2"></div> <div id="jump-to-nav"></div> <a class="mw-jump-link" href="#mw-head">Jump to navigation</a> <a class="mw-jump-link" href="#searchInput">Jump to search</a> <div id="mw-content-text" lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr"><div class="mw-parser-output"><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:167px;"><a href="/wiki/File:BillMaherSept10.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/BillMaherSept10.jpg/165px-BillMaherSept10.jpg" decoding="async" width="165" height="221" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/BillMaherSept10.jpg/248px-BillMaherSept10.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/BillMaherSept10.jpg/330px-BillMaherSept10.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2000" data-file-height="2682" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:BillMaherSept10.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Bill Maher in 2010, attending a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To be fair, he kinda looks like <a href="/wiki/Julian_Assange" title="Julian Assange">someone else</a>.</div></div></div> <table class="infobox" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 0.5em 0.5em; text-align:left; border: 1px solid #FF6E00; width:175px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center; color:White; background-color:#FF6E00"><b>Parroting squawkbox</b><br /><a href="/wiki/Pundit" title="Pundit"><font size="4" color="White"><b>Pundits</b></font></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color:#E9E4E4;" align="center"><a href="/wiki/Category:Political_pundits" title="Category:Political pundits"><img alt="Icon pundit.svg" src="/w/images/thumb/4/45/Icon_pundit.svg/100px-Icon_pundit.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="100" srcset="/w/images/thumb/4/45/Icon_pundit.svg/150px-Icon_pundit.svg.png 1.5x, /w/images/thumb/4/45/Icon_pundit.svg/200px-Icon_pundit.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="200" /></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; color:White; background-color:#FF6E00; text-align:center;"><b>And a dirty dozen more</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#E9E4E4;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Glenn_Beck" title="Glenn Beck">Glenn Beck</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Andrew_Napolitano" title="Andrew Napolitano">Andrew Napolitano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_Stossel" title="John Stossel">John Stossel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/American_Center_for_Law_and_Justice" title="American Center for Law and Justice">American Center for Law and Justice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kathryn_Marshall" title="Kathryn Marshall">Kathryn Marshall</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Franklin_Graham" title="Franklin Graham">Franklin Graham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dana_Loesch" title="Dana Loesch">Dana Loesch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charlie_Kirk" title="Charlie Kirk">Charlie Kirk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Steven_Crowder" title="Steven Crowder">Steven Crowder</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mark_Dice" title="Mark Dice">Mark Dice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chris_Christie" title="Chris Christie">Chris Christie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pundit" title="Pundit">Pundit</a></li></ul> <div class="vte plainlinks" style="font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Template:Pundits" title="Template:Pundits">v</a> - <a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Pundits" title="Template talk:Pundits">t</a> - <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Pundits&action=edit">e</a></div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="infobox" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 0.5em 0.5em; text-align:left; border: 1px solid #fa0000; width:175px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center; color:White; background-color:#fa0000"><b>Going One God Further</b><br /><a href="/wiki/Atheism" title="Atheism"><font size="4" color="White"><b>Atheism</b></font></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color:#ffe5e5;" align="center"><a href="/wiki/Category:Atheists" title="Category:Atheists"><img alt="Icon atheism.svg" src="/w/images/thumb/b/b0/Icon_atheism.svg/100px-Icon_atheism.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="100" srcset="/w/images/thumb/b/b0/Icon_atheism.svg/150px-Icon_atheism.svg.png 1.5x, /w/images/thumb/b/b0/Icon_atheism.svg/200px-Icon_atheism.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="200" /></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; color:White; background-color:#fa0000; text-align:center;"><b>Key Concepts</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#ffe5e5;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Atheism" title="Atheism">Atheism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Agnosticism" title="Agnosticism">Agnosticism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antitheism" title="Antitheism">Antitheism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/FAQ_for_the_Newly_Deconverted" title="FAQ for the Newly Deconverted">FAQ for the Newly Deconverted</a></li></ul> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; color:White; background-color:#fa0000; text-align:center;"><b><a href="/wiki/Category:Atheism" title="Category:Atheism"><font color="white">Articles to not believe in</font></a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#ffe5e5;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/New_Atheism" title="New Atheism">New Atheism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pantheism" title="Pantheism">Pantheism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Humanists_International" title="Humanists International">Humanists International</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ra%C3%ABlism" title="Raëlism">Raëlism</a></li></ul> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; color:White; background-color:#fa0000; text-align:center;"><b><a href="/wiki/Category:Atheists" title="Category:Atheists"><font color="white">Notable heathens</font></a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#ffe5e5;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Derren_Brown" title="Derren Brown">Derren Brown</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Annie_Besant" title="Annie Besant">Annie Besant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phillip_Greaves" title="Phillip Greaves">Phillip Greaves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/B._R._Ambedkar" title="B. R. Ambedkar">B. R. Ambedkar</a></li></ul> <div class="vte plainlinks" style="font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Template:Atheism" title="Template:Atheism">v</a> - <a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Atheism" title="Template talk:Atheism">t</a> - <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Atheism&action=edit">e</a></div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>Smart people are very good at rationalising things they came to believe for non-smart reasons.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">—<a href="/wiki/Michael_Shermer" title="Michael Shermer">Michael Shermer</a> (in reference to people just like Bill Maher)<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Bill Maher</b> (1956–) is an outspoken, unapologetic, imperviously self-satisfied, and disgraced <a href="/wiki/American" class="mw-redirect" title="American">American</a> comedian, actor, <sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> anti-Muslim bigot, and political commentator, best known for his Comedy Central/ABC show <i>Politically Incorrect</i> and his HBO show <i>Real Time with Bill Maher</i>. He is vocal on several topics to the point of absolute annoyance to many people, most notably his <a href="/wiki/Atheism" title="Atheism">atheistic</a> views and harsh criticisms of <a href="/wiki/Religion" title="Religion">religion</a>, particularly <a href="/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islam</a> (often misrepresenting and stereotyping Muslims) and occasionally <a href="/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christianity</a> (with legitimate criticisms but also often misrepresenting and stereotyping Christians), but rarely <a href="/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism">Judaism</a> (often defending <a href="/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a>'s human rights abuses). </p><p>However, Maher's science record is mixed, mostly spotted by his spreading outlandish anti-<a href="/wiki/GMO" class="mw-redirect" title="GMO">GMO</a> and <a href="/wiki/Anti-vaccination_movement" title="Anti-vaccination movement">anti-vaccine</a> claims, although he is a fervent critic of global warming deniers.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup> Maher was described as "an object lesson in how one can be intelligent and anti-science at the same time."<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> Alternatively, Maher has been described as a lesson in how <a href="/wiki/Milo_Yiannopoulos" title="Milo Yiannopoulos">mediocre upper-class white men</a> can <a href="/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">fake their intelligence and still be believed</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup> </p><p>Like any good <a href="/wiki/Neoliberalism" title="Neoliberalism">neoliberal</a>, Maher is in favor of free speech unless said speech involves <a href="/wiki/Boycott" class="mw-redirect" title="Boycott">collaboratively refusing to purchase things</a>, in which case he believes it's <a href="/wiki/McCarthyism" class="mw-redirect" title="McCarthyism">un-American</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup> Though he isn't a fan of the use of the First Amendment for collective action, Maher has repeatedly defended <a href="/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh" title="Rush Limbaugh">Rush Limbaugh</a>'s attacks on <a href="/wiki/Sandra_Fluke" class="mw-redirect" title="Sandra Fluke">Sandra Fluke</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup> likely because of the events that led to the cancelation of <i>Politically Incorrect</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a></sup> However, Maher himself<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11">[11]</a></sup> and others<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12">[12]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a></sup> claim such comparisons constitute <a href="/wiki/False_equivalence" class="mw-redirect" title="False equivalence">false equivalence</a>. </p> <div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#On_politics"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">On politics</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="#Social_views"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Social views</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="#Israel.2FPalestine"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Israel/Palestine</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="#Grave_dancing_on_Stan_Lee_and_shitting_on_comic_book_culture"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Grave dancing on Stan Lee and shitting on comic book culture</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="#Political_endorsements"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Political endorsements</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="#On_medicine"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">On medicine</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="#On_religion"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">On religion</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="#In_Religulous"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">In <i>Religulous</i></span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="#Quotes"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Quotes</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="#Notes"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Notes</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li> </ul> </div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="On_politics">On politics</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: On politics">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <p>Maher eschews political labels, referring to himself as "practical".<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a></sup> In the past, he has described himself as a <a href="/wiki/Libertarianism" title="Libertarianism">libertarian</a>, and has also referred to himself "as a progressive, as a sane person".<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup> He has also referred to himself as a "9/11 liberal", noting that his formerly liberal view of the <a href="/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Muslim</a> religion changed as a result of the attacks on September 11, 2001, and he differentiates himself from <a href="/wiki/Liberal" class="mw-redirect" title="Liberal">liberals</a> of the opinion that all religions are alike.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup> Maher also has a proven track record of spouting bigoted bullshit, such as when he compared dogs to mentally disabled children.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Social_views">Social views</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Social views">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>To his credit, Maher is a fierce advocate of both <a href="/wiki/Gay_marriage" class="mw-redirect" title="Gay marriage">gay marriage</a> and the legalization of <a href="/wiki/Marijuana" class="mw-redirect" title="Marijuana">marijuana</a>. Recently, Maher has taken a hard stance on the gun control debate, stating his support for the assault weapons ban, background checks, and limiting magazine sizes; Maher has criticized the <a href="/wiki/Second_Amendment" title="Second Amendment">Second Amendment</a> multiple times and suggests changing it, although he claims he is justified in owning a gun because he feels he must protect himself from the "<a href="/wiki/Gun_nuts" class="mw-redirect" title="Gun nuts">gun nuts</a>" of the country. Furthermore, he states that it is the duty of government to protect their people, including from firearms. However, Maher's extensive use of <a href="/wiki/Marijuana" class="mw-redirect" title="Marijuana">marijuana</a> and contempt for American drug policies makes him certain that drugs are <i>not</i> something that people should be protected from, as he believes that people put even worse legal substances into their bodies daily. He's a member of NORML, an organization dedicated to furthering this view. In April of 2015, he went so far as to start a petition to make 4/20 a national holiday.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19">[19]</a></sup> </p><p>Maher is an <a href="/wiki/Environmentalist" class="mw-redirect" title="Environmentalist">environmentalist</a> and animal-lover, often harshly criticizing deniers of <a href="/wiki/Global_warming" class="mw-redirect" title="Global warming">global warming</a> on <i>Real Time</i> and serving as a board member of <a href="/wiki/PETA" title="PETA">PETA</a> (though he's completely in favor of zoos for some reason). He's also contemptuous of <a href="/wiki/Corporation" title="Corporation">corporations</a>, especially <a href="/wiki/Big_Pharma" title="Big Pharma">pharmaceutical</a> and health-care industries, on the grounds that they make money by curing people of problems they create through the consumption of unhealthy foods. He has advocated the abolition of corporate welfare. </p><p>He has been strongly opposed to the <a href="/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a>, seeing it as a failure and saying that America cannot control the <a href="/wiki/Sectarian" class="mw-redirect" title="Sectarian">sectarian</a> violence now razing Iraq. He was the victim of a <a href="/wiki/Manufactroversy" title="Manufactroversy">manufactroversy</a> over remarks he made on <i>Politically Incorrect</i> right after <a href="/wiki/9/11" title="9/11">9/11</a>. At times, Maher implied that Iraq was better off under the rule of <a href="/wiki/Saddam_Hussein" title="Saddam Hussein">Saddam Hussein</a> and that America's invasion has increased the threat of terrorism. On the other hand, he has humorously referred to himself as being "pro-death" due to his support of <a href="/wiki/Abortion" title="Abortion">abortion</a>, <a href="/wiki/Euthanasia" title="Euthanasia">euthanasia</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Death_penalty" class="mw-redirect" title="Death penalty">death penalty</a>. </p><p>When <a href="/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street" title="Occupy Wall Street">Occupy Wall Street</a> first began, he endorsed the movement, but eventually, he jumped on the anti-politics bandwagon and told the Occupiers to "get a job."<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a></sup> Of course, such a privileged sentiment makes one question whether Maher has ever worked a grill for minimum wage and minimum benefits before.<sup>[<i>citation NOT needed</i>]</sup> </p><p>Maher has expressed <a href="/wiki/Double_standards" class="mw-redirect" title="Double standards">double standards</a> about <a href="/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse" title="Child sexual abuse">child sexual abuse</a>. While condemning sex between male teachers and 13-year-old girls and celebrating the downfall of <a href="/wiki/Milo_Yiannopoulos" title="Milo Yiannopoulos">Milo Yiannopoulos</a> after his comments about pederasty between 13-year-old boys and older men, he defended Mary Kay Letourneau and Debra Lafave — two teachers convicted of having sex with underage boys (ages 13 and 14) who were their students.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22">[22]</a></sup> In a 2007 interview with <i>Playboy</i>, he openly professed a double standard on the matter. </p><p>He has been a <a href="/wiki/Transphobic" class="mw-redirect" title="Transphobic">transphobic</a> bigot, claiming rising numbers of trans people coming out are in part because it's trendy, rather than because they're more likely to be taken seriously and less likely to be institutionalised or beaten. He called administering puberty blockers to children "literally experimenting on children".<sup id="cite_ref-pink2022_23-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pink2022-23">[23]</a></sup> He also made similar remarks suggesting the rise in <a href="/wiki/Gay" class="mw-redirect" title="Gay">gay</a> and <a href="/wiki/Queer" title="Queer">queer</a> people is due to fashion rather than greater social acceptance, while simultaneously suggesting children and young adults are doing it to shock their parents.<sup id="cite_ref-pink2022_23-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pink2022-23">[23]</a></sup> </p><p>He also criticized "<a href="/wiki/Social_justice_warriors" class="mw-redirect" title="Social justice warriors">social justice warriors</a>" because they still fight for <a href="/wiki/Affirmative_action" title="Affirmative action">affirmative action</a> even though <a href="/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum" title="Argumentum ad populum">the polls</a> are obviously against it. </p> <h3><span id="Israel/Palestine"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Israel.2FPalestine">Israel/Palestine</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Israel/Palestine">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>Maher has attacked Palestine after the <a href="/wiki/Israel_Defence_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="Israel Defence Force">IDF</a> slaughtered unarmed civilians, <a href="/wiki/Blaming_the_victim" title="Blaming the victim">blaming them for "provoking Israel"</a>. After the move of the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the Palestinians predictably protested the move. The IDF in turn shot them down, the figures numbering at least 58 unarmed civilians, including women and children. A guest on his show, New York Times op-ed columnist Bari Weiss, who in the past <a href="/wiki/Not_even_wrong" title="Not even wrong">claimed that incels were the intellectual renegades of the dark web</a>, said that the embassy move was not what caused these latest tensions. She said that the dead Palestinians were sent by their government to riot with the expectation that their sacrifice would make people feel sorry for them when the news hit.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24">[note 1]</a></sup> Maher agreed with her, saying that Palestinians were bigoted for trying to control the international conversation through any means necessary, saying the US can't base its foreign policy around, "What is Mohammed Atta gonna do?"<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25">[note 2]</a></sup> Even if they were right that the Palestinian government sent their own civilians to be used as human shields for some garish publicity purposes, that doesn't excuse the IDF for mowing them down without a second thought.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[24]</a></sup> </p><p>He has been an outspoken apologist for Israel throughout the Gaza war. He continues to claim Israel is protecting itself, despite having killed more than 36,000 civilians, a third of which were children. When called out for hypocritically supporting protesters of the Vietnam War and condemning protesters of the War in Gaza, he argued that the former was justified but the latter is defending a terrorist group, implying he believes all Palestinians are terrorists. He argues feminists shouldn't support Palestine because of Palestine's poor record of women's rights, which apparently gives Israel the right to kill Palestinian women according to him. He has called the ICC's subpoena of Netanyahu absurd, despite the fact the man has committed so many war crimes. He argues that its all Palestine's fault because they attack Israel, yet Palestinian casualties have vastly outnumbered Israeli ones throughout the conflict.<sup>[<a href="/wiki/Help:References" title="Help:References"><i>citation needed</i></a>]</sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Grave_dancing_on_Stan_Lee_and_shitting_on_comic_book_culture">Grave dancing on Stan Lee and shitting on comic book culture</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Grave dancing on Stan Lee and shitting on comic book culture">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>Following the death and burial of beloved icon <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lee" class="extiw" title="wp:Stan Lee" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Stan Lee">Stan Lee</span></a><sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> in November 2018, Maher wrote a blog post attacking not just Stan Lee (dismissively writing that his fans were mourning for a man who "inspired millions to, I don't know, watch a movie, I guess"), but the comic book fandom as a whole, going so far as to suggest comic books helped dumb down America, caused Millennials to become irresponsible and self-pitying man-children, and led to Donald Trump's presidency.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27">[25]</a></sup> Suffice it to say, Millennial superhero fans did not take kindly to being stereotyped as a bunch of lazy, immature idiots whose pastimes are responsible for the rise of Trump.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28">[26]</a></sup> </p><p>Two months later in January of 2019, Maher (instead of apologizing) doubled down; claiming the public backlash against his tasteless comments supposedly "proved" his point that a culture that views comic books and comic book movies as meaningful art is "a dumb fucking culture".<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29">[27]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Political_endorsements">Political endorsements</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Political endorsements">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <ul><li>In 1996, Maher endorsed <a href="/wiki/Bob_Dole" title="Bob Dole">Bob Dole</a> on the basis of Dole's status as a war hero and being an <a href="/wiki/Rockefeller_Republican" title="Rockefeller Republican">old-style Republican</a> and it probably being his last chance to vote for someone of the "greatest generation".</li></ul> <ul><li>In 2000, he ultimately supported <a href="/wiki/Ralph_Nader" title="Ralph Nader">Ralph Nader</a> for president, having previously promised his vote to <a href="/wiki/Libertarian_Party" title="Libertarian Party">Libertarian Party</a> candidate Harry Browne.</li></ul> <ul><li>In 2004, Maher was stalwart in his opinion that <a href="/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">Bush</a> should not be re-elected and that <a href="/wiki/John_Kerry" title="John Kerry">Kerry</a> was the best candidate for president. He even went so far as to kneel down on his show <i>Real Time</i> and beg Nader publicly to drop out of the race (along with his guest at the time, <a href="/wiki/Michael_Moore" title="Michael Moore">Michael Moore</a>).</li></ul> <ul><li>In 2008, he showed deep support for <a href="/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a>'s campaign while also being highly critical of <a href="/wiki/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a>. But the greatest amount of Maher's bile was directed at <a href="/wiki/Sarah_Palin" title="Sarah Palin">Sarah Palin</a> before her $40,000 premature resignation as Governor of Alaska, whom he called a "Category-5 moron," a "bimbo" and unfit to even be mayor of Wasilla, <a href="/wiki/Alaska" class="mw-redirect" title="Alaska">Alaska</a>. He viewed her as the ultimate example of <a href="/wiki/Theocracy" title="Theocracy">theocracy</a>, religious extremism, and blind faith. Maher was also very critical of Bristol Palin's pregnancy and engagement, calling it a loveless marriage and <a href="/wiki/PIDOOMA" title="PIDOOMA">insinuating</a> that Palin's baby Trig was really Bristol's first child.</li></ul> <ul><li>As November 2012 approached, with the <a href="/wiki/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party">Republican Party</a> swimming in crazy by stretching out to the likes of <a href="/wiki/Newt_Gingrich" title="Newt Gingrich">Newt Gingrich</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rick_Santorum" title="Rick Santorum">Rick Santorum</a>, making <a href="/wiki/Mitt_Romney" title="Mitt Romney">Mittens</a> seem like an A+ candidate, Maher "endorsed" Obama once more, promising to donate a staggering $1 million to the President's SuperPAC, to illustrate the audacity and easy manipulation of <a href="/wiki/Corporate_personhood" title="Corporate personhood">Corporate personhood</a> and unlimited SuperPAC campaign donations.</li></ul> <ul><li>In 2016, he first stated his support of <a href="/wiki/Bernie_Sanders" title="Bernie Sanders">Bernie Sanders</a> while insinuating that <a href="/wiki/Hillary_Clinton" title="Hillary Clinton">Hillary Clinton</a> was a fine choice as well. When Hillary ultimately won the primaries, he endorsed her.</li></ul> <ul><li>In 2019, he (kinda? sorta?) endorsed <a href="/wiki/Amy_Klobuchar" class="mw-redirect" title="Amy Klobuchar">Amy goddamn Klobuchar</a> for president.</li></ul> <ul><li>During the <a href="/wiki/2020_U.S._presidential_election" class="mw-redirect" title="2020 U.S. presidential election">2020 U.S. presidential election</a>, he was an emphatic supporter of <a href="/wiki/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a> over <a href="/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a>.</li></ul> <ul><li>He expressed support for Dean Phillips's candidacy during the 2024 democratic primaries, even having Phillips as a guest on his show.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30">[28]</a></sup></li></ul> <p>As of 2016, Maher does not plan to run for public office himself.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31">[29]</a></sup> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="On_medicine">On medicine</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: On medicine">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>I’m not into western medicine. That to me is a complete scare tactic. [...] The flu shot is the worst thing you can do [because] it's got <a href="/wiki/Mercury" title="Mercury">mercury</a>. [...] It doesn't prevent [the flu]. [...] [I]f you have a flu shot for more than five years in a row, there’s ten times the likelihood that you’ll get Alzheimer’s disease.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32">[30]</a></sup></div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>Although Maher's criticisms of the pharmaceutical industries are sometimes legitimate, his views regarding vaccines are wrong and potentially dangerous. Maher has gone on record as a <a href="/wiki/Germ_theory_denialism" title="Germ theory denialism">germ theory denialist</a>, claiming that <a href="/wiki/Louis_Pasteur" title="Louis Pasteur">Pasteur</a> <a href="/wiki/Deathbed_conversion" title="Deathbed conversion">recanted germ theory on his deathbed</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33">[31]</a></sup> He says he's not against all vaccines but, at the same time, he believes that being vaccinated for any and all illnesses represents a slippery slope and could damage our natural immune systems.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34">[32]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[33]</a></sup> You can't have both, Maher. On at least one occasion, his <a href="/wiki/Anti-vaccine" class="mw-redirect" title="Anti-vaccine">anti-vaccine</a> stances were tracked back to <a href="/wiki/Scopie%27s_Law" class="mw-redirect" title="Scopie's Law">whale.to</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36">[34]</a></sup> He has also recently endorsed anti-GMO propaganda.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[35]</a></sup> </p><p>In 2009, during one of his <i>Real Time</i> shows, Maher felt he had to "clear up a few things that people have been writing about me that are not true" and went on record to say "I’m not a germ theory denier."<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38">[36]</a></sup> This has caused a great amount of confusion for the media. One can conclude that although Bill Maher may claim not to be a germ theory denier and may have some legitimate concerns about the corporate corruption in the pharmaceutical industry, his views on medicine are in contrast with mainstream medicine and his perspective on vaccines may be harmful. In later shows, he stated, during an appearance with former senator (and doctor) Bill Frist, that vaccination is 'not a settled science'.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39">[37]</a></sup> </p><p>In early 2015, after a long respite from anti-vaccine rhetoric, Maher dove into the issue again in a series of incidents, claiming the flu shot is "bullshit" and nothing but a scam by "<a href="/wiki/Big_Pharma" title="Big Pharma">big pharma</a>", justifying his vaccine denial by <a href="/wiki/Not_even_wrong" title="Not even wrong">claiming medical science is (somehow) not as reliable as climate science</a> (<a href="/wiki/Hypocrisy" title="Hypocrisy">which he completely agrees with</a>), and inviting none other than <a href="/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy,_Jr." class="mw-redirect" title="Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.</a> (a noted anti-vaxxer) on his show.<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40">[38]</a></sup> </p><p>In 2016, he outdid himself yet again by inviting Samir Chachoua, who claimed to be able to cure <a href="/wiki/HIV" class="mw-redirect" title="HIV">HIV</a> with the milk of arthritic <a href="/wiki/Goat" title="Goat">goats</a>, on his show. To add insult to injury, he ended his "New Rules" segment of that episode <a href="/wiki/Hypocrisy" title="Hypocrisy">bemoaning how the internet has allowed misinformation to spread easily</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41">[39]</a></sup> </p><p>Maher <i>was joking</i> when he said he has a court-appointed psychiatrist.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42">[40]</a></sup> Please reassure us! He must have been joking. </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="On_religion">On religion</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: On religion">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <p>Maher's militant opposition to religion is probably what he is most famous for: he calls it a kind of neurological disorder that keeps people from thinking; a detriment to the world in general. He has spoken about his <a href="/wiki/Antitheism" title="Antitheism">anti-religious views</a> at almost every possible opportunity, making <a href="/wiki/Religulous" title="Religulous">an entire movie</a> devoted to ridiculing several religions (the film was directed by Larry Charles, the same man who directed <i>Borat</i>). Maher has taken many shots at religion for what he sees as its <a href="/wiki/Hypocritical" class="mw-redirect" title="Hypocritical">hypocritical</a> nature and its purportedly giving people permission to do terrible things in the name of morality. He is a vocal critic of the <a href="/wiki/Religious_Right" title="Religious Right">Religious Right</a>, mocking especially their preaching on the "immorality" of <a href="/wiki/Abortion" title="Abortion">abortion</a> and <a href="/wiki/Homosexuality" title="Homosexuality">homosexuality</a>. </p><p>While critical of all organized religions, and holding that "they're all stupid and dangerous", Maher says all religions are not alike, and has drawn comparisons and contrasts between them.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43">[41]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44">[42]</a></sup> He has declared that, "[b]y any standard, Mormonism is more ridiculous than any other religion".<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45">[43]</a></sup> He has referred to tenets of Judaism as "insane" and "funny", and has said Buddhism "includes crazy whack shit that doesn’t exist, that somebody made up, like reincarnation."<sup id="cite_ref-Jewish_Journal_46-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Jewish_Journal-46">[44]</a></sup> </p><p>He has described Christianity and Islam as more "warlike", and has asserted that, like historic Christianity, present-day Islam needs to undergo its own <a href="/wiki/Reformation" class="mw-redirect" title="Reformation">reformation</a> and enlightenment.<sup id="cite_ref-VF1_47-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VF1-47">[45]</a></sup> In defense of his criticism of Islam, Sharia law, and Muslim culture, Maher says he is "...someone who believes in the values that Western people believe in that a lot of the Muslim world does not. Like separation of church and state. Like equality of the sexes. Like respect for minorities, free elections, free speech, freedom to gather. These things are not just different from cultures that don’t have them...It’s better...I would like to keep those values here."<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48">[46]</a></sup> </p><p>Citing studies and poll results by Pew Research Center, the <a href="/wiki/World_Economic_Forum" title="World Economic Forum">World Economic Forum</a>, and others, Maher claims the human rights violations and "illiberal ideas" he finds in Islam are not extremist views merely held by a small minority, but are supported by a majority of citizens in Muslim countries. This ignores that the same polls he cites claim that many people in Muslim countries are either middle ground in their support of illiberal ideas (Bangladesh) or hardly support it at all (<a href="/wiki/Albania" title="Albania">Albania</a>, <a href="/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a>) and that the results vary from country to country (i.e. that certain countries like Pakistan have a lot of support for illiberal views while other countries like Indonesia, Albania, <a href="/wiki/Kosovo" title="Kosovo">Kosovo</a>, and Tunisia are either more diverse in their opinions or don't support illiberal ideas).<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49">[47]</a></sup> He also tried to justify the racist campaign Netanyahu pushed in 2015 and is seen as giving a pass to Judaism.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50">[48]</a></sup> On the less "critical" and more "smearing" end, Maher has also described Islam as uniquely similar to the Mafia,<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51">[49]</a></sup> saying it "will fucking kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book". </p><p>Maher slams liberals as hypocritical for defending these core liberal values and ideals only at home, while not condemning the oppression of these values and groups in Muslim culture.<sup id="cite_ref-VF1_47-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VF1-47">[45]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52">[50]</a></sup> This view has generated controversy, but Maher insists, "I’m just shining a light on the reality of the situation. I don’t even understand why this is so controversial."<sup id="cite_ref-VF1_47-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VF1-47">[45]</a></sup> This would be more legitimate if he didn't willingly ignore the polls he cites when they disagreed with him (for instance, he claims the fact that most of the people in Egypt support the death penalty for apostasy is proof that most Muslims hold those views… even though the actual poll states that most of the 20 countries polled either had a majority opposed to it, or were somewhat more evenly split on the matter).<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53">[51]</a></sup> At times, he has been specifically criticized for being <a href="/wiki/Anti-Catholic" class="mw-redirect" title="Anti-Catholic">anti-Catholic</a> due to his repeated references to <a href="/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI" class="mw-redirect" title="Pope Benedict XVI">Pope Benedict XVI</a>'s being an ex-member of the Hitler Youth, the Catholic sex abuse scandals, and for drawing parallels between Catholicism and <a href="/wiki/Pedophilia" title="Pedophilia">pedophilic</a> <a href="/wiki/Cult" title="Cult">cults</a>.<sup>[<a href="/wiki/Help:References" title="Help:References"><i>citation needed</i></a>]</sup> But then again, calling someone anti-Catholic is just not as much fun as calling someone an Islamophobe. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="In_Religulous">In <i>Religulous</i></span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: In Religulous">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>His end speech from his movie <i><a href="/wiki/Religulous" title="Religulous">Religulous</a></i> reads as follows:<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54">[52]</a></sup> </p> <blockquote class="letter" style="width:auto; background:#f8f8ff; border:1px solid #C9C9CF;"> <p>It seems peaceful. But <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Megiddo" class="extiw" title="wp:Tel Megiddo" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Tel Megiddo">this</span></a><sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> is the very spot where a lot of Christians believe life on <a href="/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a> will end. The <a href="/wiki/Irony" title="Irony">irony</a> of religion is that — because of its power to divert man to destructive causes — the world actually <i>could</i> come to an end. </p><p>The plain fact is, religion must die for mankind to live. The hour is getting very late to be able to indulge in having key decisions made by religious people — by irrationalists. By those who would steer the ship of state not by a compass, but by the equivalent of reading the entrails of a chicken. George Bush <i>prayed</i> a lot about Iraq, but he didn't <i>learn</i> a lot about it. </p><p>Faith means making a virtue out of not thinking. It's nothing to brag about. And those who preach faith, and enable and elevate it, are intellectual slaveholders — keeping mankind in a bondage to fantasy and nonsense that has spawned and justified so much lunacy and destruction. </p><p>Religion is dangerous because it allows human beings who don't have all the answers to think they do. Most people would think it's wonderful when someone says <i>I'm willing, Lord! I'll do whatever you want me to do!</i> — except that since there <i>are</i> no Gods actually talking to us, that void is filled in by <i>people</i>, with their own corruptions and agendas. </p><p>And anyone who tells you they know — they <i>just know!</i> — what happens when you die? I promise you, you don't. How can I be so sure? Because <i>I</i> don't know, and you do not possess mental powers that I do not. The only appropriate attitude for man to have about the big questions is not the arrogant certitude that is the hallmark of religion, but doubt. Doubt is humble, and that's what man needs to be — considering that human history is just a litany of getting shit dead wrong. </p><p>This is why rational people — anti-religionists — must end their timidity and come out of the closet and assert themselves. And those who consider themselves only moderately religious really need to look in the mirror and realize that the solace and comfort that religion brings you actually comes at a terrible price. </p><p>If you belonged to a political party, or a social club, that was tied to as much bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, violence and sheer ignorance as religion is, you'd resign in protest. To do otherwise is to be an enabler — a mafia wife — for the <i>true</i> devils of extremism, that draw their legitimacy from the billions of their fellow travelers. </p><p>If the world <i>does</i> come to an end — here, or wherever — or if it limps into the future, decimated by the effects of a religion-inspired nuclear terrorism, let's remember what <i>the real</i> problem was: that we learned how to precipitate mass death <i>before</i> we got past the neurological disorder of <i>wishing</i> for it. That's it. Grow up, or die. </p> </blockquote> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Quotes">Quotes</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Quotes">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <table class="plainlinks" style="width:315px;margin-left:4em;margin-top:.4em;margin-bottom:.4em;border:1px solid #AAAAAA;text-align:left;background:#f8fafc;"><tbody><tr><td style="border:none;background:#26A1A6;width:7%;align:left;"></td><td><small><i>This section requires <b><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit">more sources</a>.</b></i></small></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><br /> </p> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>Religious people don't need to be ethical, because religion is mostly about salvation. It's about closing your eyes, very tightly, and believing in someone so much, without question, that when you die he will save your ass. Religion is about saving your ass. And that ain't ethical. There's a million reasons I could give you as to why a religious person is less moral than an ethicist, but here's just one. Religious people think that animals don't have a soul - we're so sure people do - so it's okay to torture and kill and do anything you want to animals because there's some bullshit in the Bible about how we have dominion over them and they don't have a soul. For that reason alone I dislike religion.</div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>Jesus is great — is there a better role model? No. It's religion, it's the people who get in between — the bureaucracy, you know. ... It's the way people abuse Jesus. Was there ever a greater victim of name dropping?</div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>If you have a few hundred followers, and you let some of them molest children, they call you a <a href="/wiki/Cult" title="Cult">cult</a> leader. If you have a billion, they call you <a href="/wiki/Pope" title="Pope">Pope</a>.</div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>Couldn't we just get together and agree on the few basic Commandments that are <a href="/wiki/Law" title="Law">laws</a>? Like 'I won't slaughter you, and don't take my shit.'</div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>Republicans are always saying we should <a href="/wiki/Privatize" class="mw-redirect" title="Privatize">privatize</a> things like schools, prisons, social security -- hey, how about we privatize <a href="/wiki/Privacy" title="Privacy">privacy</a>! Because if the government forbids gay men from tying the knot, what is their alternative? They can't all marry Liza Minnelli.</div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>If you think Democrats are going to take away your Bible, you're an idiot. If you think they are going to take away your gun, you're an armed idiot. If you think they're going to take away your gun and give it to a Mexican to kill your God, you're <a href="/wiki/Bill_O%27Reilly" title="Bill O'Reilly">Bill O'Reilly</a>.</div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>How do we know Bush wasn't behind September 11th? Because it worked. AND, it involved: PLANNING.</div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: External links">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005175/">Bill Maher on IMDb</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mDl8GqRxuw">Defending liberal states' rights using right-wing talking points.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=JhMmogx8m38">TRIGGERED with Bill Maher | Aamon Animations</a></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Notes">Notes</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Notes">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="references-small" style="font-size:90%;"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-24">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">"Look what you made me do!"</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-25">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Mohamed Atta is the name of one of the 9/11 hijackers, not the leader of Palestine. Cute, Bill. Atta also was Egyptian, not Palestinian, and there's no record of him having so much as set foot in either Israel or Palestine.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: References">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; -webkit-column-count:2; column-count:2; font-size:80%;"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-1">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i><a href="/wiki/Penn_%26_Teller:_Bullshit!" title="Penn & Teller: Bullshit!">Penn & Teller: Bullshit!</a></i> - "<i>The Bible - Fact or Fiction?</i>" (S02E06)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-2">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibal_Women_in_the_Avocado_Jungle_of_Death" class="extiw" title="wp:Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" rel="nofollow">Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-3">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZVDcB-vIdw">Bill Maher destroys a global warming denier's hypocrisy with one question?</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-4">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2015/02/09/after-five-years-bill-maher-lets-his-antivaccine-freak-flag-fly-again/">"After five years, Bill Maher lets his antivaccine freak flag fly again", http://scienceblogs.com</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-5">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://verysmartbrothas.com/americas-love-affair-with-immoral-and-mediocre-ass-white-men-will-be-its-downfall/">Damon Young, "America's Love Affair With Immoral And Mediocre-Ass White Men Will Be Its Downfall."</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-6">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/04/07/bill-maher-doesnt-like-laura-ingraham-he-hates-the-boycott-against-her-even-more/">Bill Maher doesn’t like Laura Ingraham. He hates the boycott of her show even more.</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-7">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/07/439805/bill-maher-defends-rush-limbaugh/">Maher defends Rush</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-8">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/10/442089/bill-maher-defends-rush-limbaugh-again-a-guy-made-a-bad-joke/">Maher defends Rush <i>again</i></a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-9">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dallasvoice.com/maher-your-beautiful-theater-gonna-long-1070487.html">Maher calls Sarah Palin a cunt</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-10">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2011/03/bill_maher_michele_bachmann_sarah_palin_bimbos_gilligans_island.php">Maher calls Palin and Bachmann bimbos</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-11">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-defends-limbaughs-free-speech-rights-responds-to-false-equivalency-from-right/">Bill Maher defends Limbaugh's Free Speech Rights, Responds to False Equivalency From Right</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-12">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://saintgasoline.com/2012/03/16/bill-maher-is-not-the-liberal-equivalent-of-rush-limbaugh/">Bill Maher is not the liberal equivalent of Rush Limbaugh</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-13">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jimmydorecomedy.com/guest/bill-maher">Jimmy Dore Comedy: Bill Maher</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-14">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r2708880">/* Errors processing stylesheet [[:Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css]] (rev 2708880): • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 44 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 50 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 55 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 64 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽color⧼/code⧽ at line 96 character 9. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽color⧼/code⧽ at line 100 character 9. • Invalid media query at line 138 character 8. */ .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFMartel2011" class="citation web cs1">Martel, Frances (July 11, 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-to-piers-morgan-palin-can-absolutely-win-in-2012-but-hed-vote-for-bachmann/">"Bill Maher To Piers Morgan: I Hope Sarah Palin And Michele Bachmann 'Split the MILF Vote'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. Mediaite<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 7,</span> 2011</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Bill+Maher+To+Piers+Morgan%3A+I+Hope+Sarah+Palin+And+Michele+Bachmann+%27Split+the+MILF+Vote%27&rft.pub=Mediaite&rft.date=2011-07-11&rft.aulast=Martel&rft.aufirst=Frances&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediaite.com%2Ftv%2Fbill-maher-to-piers-morgan-palin-can-absolutely-win-in-2012-but-hed-vote-for-bachmann%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Frationalwiki.org%3ABill+Maher" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-15">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Rutenberg, Jim. (October 8, 2001.) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E3DE133CF93BA35753C1A9679C8B63">"Bill Maher still secure in ABC slot, at least now"</a>. <i>The New York Times</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-16">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r2708880"/><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2011/06/14/exp.ac.maher.part1.debate.cnn">"Maher slams 2012 GOP presidential field (video)"</a>. CNN. July 16, 2010.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Maher+slams+2012+GOP+presidential+field+%28video%29&rft.date=2010-07-16&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideo%2F%3F%2Fvideo%2Fbestoftv%2F2011%2F06%2F14%2Fexp.ac.maher.part1.debate.cnn&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Frationalwiki.org%3ABill+Maher" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-17">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Dyess-Nugent, Phil; Kaiser, Rowan; O'Neal, Sean; Sims, David (September 11, 2013) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/never-forgot-9-entertainers-who-were-changed-by-91,102730/">"Never forgot: 9 entertainers who were changed by 9/11"</a>. <i>The A.V. Club</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-18">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/18/us/tv-host-s-words-draw-criticism-and-apology.html">TV host word's draw criticism and apology</a>"</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-19">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.change.org/p/u-s-congress-make-4-20-a-national-holiday">Petition - U.S. Congress: Make 4/20 a National Holiday</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-20">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/02/04/bill_maher_tells_occupy_protesters_to_get_a_job.html">"Bill Maher: Occupy Protesters Are 'Douchebags' Who Need To 'Get A Job'"</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-21">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/02/24/bill-maher-who-took-credit-for-the-downfall-of-milo-yiannopoulos-has-also-defended-adult-sex-with-children/?utm_term=.82c758a3d052&wpisrc=nl_mix&wpmm=1">Bill Maher, who took credit for the downfall of Milo Yiannopoulos, has also defended adult sex with children</a> by Travis M. Andrews (February 24 at 6:10 AM) <i>The Washington Post</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-22">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/media/320680-video-bill-maher-condoned-sex-between-35-year-old-woman-12-year-old-boy">Bill Maher condoned sex between 35-year-old woman, 12-year-old boy</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-pink2022-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-pink2022_23-0">23.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-pink2022_23-1">23.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/05/21/bill-maher-real-time-trans-kids-lgbtq-pride/">Bill Maher thinks US is 'literally experimenting on children' and 'everyone will be gay by 2054'</a>, <i>Pink News</i>, May 21, 2022</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-26">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-and-bari-weiss-blame-palestinians-for-gaza-massacre">Bill Maher and Bari Weiss Cruelly Blame Palestinians for Gaza Massacre</a> The Daily Beast, Marlow Stern, May 19th, 2018, 2:30 AM</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-27">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.real-time-with-bill-maher-blog.com/index/2018/11/16/adulting">"Adulting", Bill Maher</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-28">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bill-maher-links-stan-lee-comic-books-dumbing-america-using-smarts-stupid-stuff-172020857.html">Stan Lee fans slam Maher for dissing comics</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-29">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bill-maher-stan-lee-death-blog-post-criticism-backlash-response-comic-book-culture-a8648046.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bill-maher-stan-lee-death-blog-post-criticism-backlash-response-comic-book-culture-a8648046.html</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-30">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.insidehook.com/television/bill-maher-dean-phillips-real-time-election">Could Bill Maher’s Endorsement Win Someone an Election?</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-31">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/10/18/bill-maher-i-wont-run-for-public-office-because-being-an-atheist-is-the-ultimate-deal-breaker/">Bill Maher: I Won’t Run for Public Office Because Being an Atheist is the “Ultimate Deal Breaker”</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-32">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/15/lkl.01.html">CNN transcript of 2005 interview between Larry King and Bill Maher</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-33">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://forums.randi.org/showpost.php?p=941704&postcount=23">Bill Maher Says vaccines don't prevent disease</a> As though Pasteur's recantation, had it even happened, would trump the fact that the science has since been tested, and applied.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-34">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/15/lkl.01.html"><i>Larry King Live</i> interview</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-35">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/10/maher_really_is_a_moron_on_med.php">Pharyngula article</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-36">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/oh-come-on-superman-bill-maher-and-western-medicine/">"Oh come on, Superman!" Bill Maher versus "Western medicine"</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-37">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/02/bill-maher-horse-meat_n_2796560.html">Bill Maher Takes On Horse Meat Scandal, Slams California Vote Against GMO Label Prop (Video)</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-38">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-mahers-medical-meltdown-turns-off-guests-confuses-audience/">Bill Maher's Meltdown Turns Off Guests, Confuses Audience</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-39">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/oh-come-on-superman-part-ii-bill-maher-implodes-over-vaccines-and-western-medicine/">“Oh, come on, Superman!” (Part II): Bill Maher meets Kryptonite over vaccines and “Western medicine”</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-40">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo4PLqjsHSs">Real Time with Bill Maher: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (HBO)</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-41">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/when-antivaccine-pseudoscience-isnt-enough-bill-maher-embraces-goat-milk-hiv-quackery/">When antivaccine pseudoscience isn't enough, Bill Maher fawns over Charlie Sheen's HIV quack</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-42">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/12/bill-mahers-hilarious-reason-rally-speech-is-finally-online/">Bill Maher’s Hilarious Reason Rally Speech is Finally Online</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-43">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rawstory.com/2015/01/bill-maher-on-paris-massacre-there-are-no-great-religions-theyre-all-stupid-and-dangerous/">Bill Maher on Paris massacre: ‘There are no great religions — they’re all stupid and dangerous’</a>; <i>Raw Story</i>; January 8, 2015</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-44">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Schwarwtz, Ian (September 23, 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/09/23/bill_maher_on_islam_all_religions_are_not_alike.html">"Bill Maher On Islam: 'All Religions Are Not Alike'"</a>. RealClearPolitics.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-45">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r2708880"/><cite id="CITEREFWalker2012" class="citation web cs1">Walker, Joseph (January 8, 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/700213557/Group-lists-Top-Ten-Anti-Mormon-Statements-of-2011.html">"Group lists Top Ten Anti-Mormon Statements of 2011"</a>. <i>Deseret News</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Deseret+News&rft.atitle=Group+lists+Top+Ten+Anti-Mormon+Statements+of+2011&rft.date=2012-01-08&rft.aulast=Walker&rft.aufirst=Joseph&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deseretnews.com%2Farticle%2Fprint%2F700213557%2FGroup-lists-Top-Ten-Anti-Mormon-Statements-of-2011.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Frationalwiki.org%3ABill+Maher" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Jewish_Journal-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-Jewish_Journal_46-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Berrin, Danielle (November 29, 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywoodjew/item/bill_maher_on_israel_uncut_and_uncensored">"Bill Maher on Israel, uncut and uncensored"</a>. <i>The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-VF1-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-VF1_47-0">45.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-VF1_47-1">45.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-VF1_47-2">45.2</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r2708880"/><cite id="CITEREFKohn2014" class="citation news cs1">Kohn, Sally (December 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vanityfair.com/news/politics/2014/12/bill-maher-interview-islam-berkeley">"Petition All You Want, Bill Maher Will Speak at Berkeley"</a>. Vanity Fair<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 April</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Petition+All+You+Want%2C+Bill+Maher+Will+Speak+at+Berkeley&rft.date=2014-12&rft.aulast=Kohn&rft.aufirst=Sally&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanityfair.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F2014%2F12%2Fbill-maher-interview-islam-berkeley&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Frationalwiki.org%3ABill+Maher" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-48">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r2708880"/><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-stands-by-mohammed-remarks-i-dont-need-to-apologize-for-being-a-proud-westerner/">"Bill Maher Stands By Mohammed Remarks: 'I Don't Need To Apologize For Being A Proud Westerner'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. Mediaite.com. November 1, 2010<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 13,</span> 2011</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Bill+Maher+Stands+By+Mohammed+Remarks%3A+%E2%80%98I+Don%E2%80%99t+Need+To+Apologize+For+Being+A+Proud+Westerner%E2%80%99&rft.pub=Mediaite.com&rft.date=2010-11-01&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediaite.com%2Ftv%2Fbill-maher-stands-by-mohammed-remarks-i-dont-need-to-apologize-for-being-a-proud-westerner%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Frationalwiki.org%3ABill+Maher" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-49">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/">Muslim Beliefs About Sharia|Pew Research Center</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-50">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://972mag.com/no-bill-maher-netanyahus-campaign-was-indeed-racist/104750/">No, Bill Maher, Netanyahu's campaign was indeed racist</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-51">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/oct/06/bill-maher-islam-ben-affleck">A history of the Bill Maher's 'not bigoted' remarks on Islam</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-52">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r2708880"/><cite id="CITEREFSasson2014" class="citation news cs1">Sasson, Eric (9 October 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119762/bill-maher-ben-affleck-islam-debate-we-can-do-better">"Yes, Bill Maher Is Boorish. But We Shouldn't Be Afraid to Criticize Islam"</a>. New Republic<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">3 May</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Yes%2C+Bill+Maher+Is+Boorish.+But+We+Shouldn%27t+Be+Afraid+to+Criticize+Islam&rft.date=2014-10-09&rft.aulast=Sasson&rft.aufirst=Eric&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newrepublic.com%2Farticle%2F119762%2Fbill-maher-ben-affleck-islam-debate-we-can-do-better&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Frationalwiki.org%3ABill+Maher" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-53">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/">Muslim Beliefs About Sharia|Pew Research Center</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-54">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=A2Dzt_Tp5VE">Religulous - The Final Message</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div>    </div></div><div class="printfooter">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&oldid=2706321">https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&oldid=2706321</a>"</div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Political_pundits" title="Category:Political pundits">Political pundits</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Atheists" title="Category:Atheists">Atheists</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Ableism" title="Category:Ableism">Ableism</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Actors" title="Category:Actors">Actors</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Alternative_medicine_promoters" title="Category:Alternative medicine promoters">Alternative medicine promoters</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Anti-vaccination_movement" title="Category:Anti-vaccination movement">Anti-vaccination movement</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Comedians" title="Category:Comedians">Comedians</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Conspiracy_theorists" title="Category:Conspiracy theorists">Conspiracy theorists</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Denialists" title="Category:Denialists">Denialists</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:GMO" title="Category:GMO">GMO</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Islamophobes" title="Category:Islamophobes">Islamophobes</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Libertarians" title="Category:Libertarians">Libertarians</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Living_people" title="Category:Living people">Living people</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:New_York" title="Category:New York">New York</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Paedophilia" title="Category:Paedophilia">Paedophilia</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pseudoscience_promoters" title="Category:Pseudoscience promoters">Pseudoscience promoters</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Transphobes" title="Category:Transphobes">Transphobes</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Leftists_who_turned_right_with_age" title="Category:Leftists who turned right with age">Leftists who turned right with age</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pages_using_DynamicPageList_parser_function" title="Category:Pages using DynamicPageList parser function">Pages using DynamicPageList parser function</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements" title="Category:Articles with unsourced statements">Articles with unsourced statements</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div id="mw-navigation"> <h2>Navigation menu</h2> <div id="mw-head">  <nav id="p-personal" class="vector-menu" aria-labelledby="p-personal-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-personal-label"> <span>Personal tools</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="pt-anonuserpage">Not logged in</li><li id="pt-anontalk"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Discussion about edits from this IP address [n]" accesskey="n">Talk</a></li><li id="pt-anoncontribs"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyContributions" title="A list of edits made from this IP address [y]" accesskey="y">Contributions</a></li><li id="pt-createaccount"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Bill+Maher" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory">Create account</a></li><li id="pt-login"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Bill+Maher" title="You are encouraged to log in; however, it is not mandatory [o]" accesskey="o">Log in</a></li></ul> </div> </nav> <div id="left-navigation">  <nav id="p-namespaces" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs vectorTabs" aria-labelledby="p-namespaces-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-namespaces-label"> <span>Namespaces</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected"><a href="/wiki/Bill_Maher" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c">Page</a></li><li id="ca-talk"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Bill_Maher" rel="discussion" title="Discussion about the content page [t]" accesskey="t">Talk</a></li></ul> </div> </nav>  <nav id="p-variants" class="vector-menu-empty emptyPortlet vector-menu vector-menu-dropdown vectorMenu" aria-labelledby="p-variants-label" role="navigation" > <input type="checkbox" class="vector-menu-checkbox vectorMenuCheckbox" aria-labelledby="p-variants-label" /> <h3 id="p-variants-label"> <span>Variants</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="menu vector-menu-content-list"></ul> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="right-navigation">  <nav id="p-views" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs vectorTabs" aria-labelledby="p-views-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-views-label"> <span>Views</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="ca-view" class="collapsible selected"><a href="/wiki/Bill_Maher">Read</a></li><li id="ca-edit" class="collapsible"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e">Edit</a></li><li id="ca-history" class="collapsible"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=history" title="Past revisions of this page [h]" accesskey="h">Fossil record</a></li></ul> </div> </nav>  <nav id="p-cactions" class="vector-menu-empty emptyPortlet vector-menu vector-menu-dropdown vectorMenu" aria-labelledby="p-cactions-label" role="navigation" > <input type="checkbox" class="vector-menu-checkbox vectorMenuCheckbox" aria-labelledby="p-cactions-label" /> <h3 id="p-cactions-label"> <span>More</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="menu vector-menu-content-list"></ul> </div> </nav> <div id="p-search" role="search"> <h3 > <label for="searchInput">Search</label> </h3> <form action="/w/index.php" id="searchform"> <div id="simpleSearch"> <input type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search RationalWiki" title="Search RationalWiki [f]" accesskey="f" id="searchInput"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> <input type="submit" name="fulltext" value="Search" title="Search the pages for this text" id="mw-searchButton" class="searchButton mw-fallbackSearchButton"/> <input type="submit" name="go" value="Go" title="Go to a page with this exact name if it exists" id="searchButton" class="searchButton"/> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div id="mw-panel"> <div id="p-logo" role="banner"> <a title="Visit the main page" class="mw-wiki-logo" href="/wiki/Main_Page"></a> </div>  <nav id="p-navigation" class="vector-menu vector-menu-portal portal portal-first" aria-labelledby="p-navigation-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-navigation-label"> <span>Navigation</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="n-mainpage-description"><a href="/wiki/Main_Page" title="Visit the main page [z]" accesskey="z">Main page</a></li><li id="n-recentchanges"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChanges" title="A list of recent changes in the wiki [r]" accesskey="r">Recent changes</a></li><li id="n-randompage"><a href="/wiki/Special:Random" title="Load a random mainspace article [x]" accesskey="x">Random page</a></li><li id="n-New-pages"><a href="/wiki/Special:NewPages">New pages</a></li><li id="n-All-logs"><a href="/wiki/Special:Log">All logs</a></li><li id="n-help"><a href="/wiki/Help:Contents" title="RTFM">Help</a></li></ul> </div> </nav>  <nav id="p-support" class="vector-menu vector-menu-portal portal" aria-labelledby="p-support-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-support-label"> <span>Support</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="n-Donate"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Site_support">Donate</a></li></ul> </div> </nav>  <nav id="p-community" class="vector-menu vector-menu-portal portal" aria-labelledby="p-community-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-community-label"> <span>Community</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="n-Saloon-bar"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Saloon_bar">Saloon bar</a></li><li id="n-To-do-list"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:To_do_list">To do list</a></li><li id="n-What-is-going-on.3F"><a href="/wiki/WIGO">What is going on?</a></li><li id="n-Best-of-RationalWiki"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Contents">Best of RationalWiki</a></li><li id="n-About-RationalWiki"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki">About RationalWiki</a></li><li id="n-Technical-support"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Technical_support">Technical support</a></li><li id="n-Mod-noticeboard"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki_talk:All_things_in_moderation">Mod noticeboard</a></li><li id="n-RMF-noticeboard"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki_talk:RationalMedia_Foundation">RMF noticeboard</a></li></ul> </div> </nav>  <nav id="p-Social media" class="vector-menu vector-menu-portal portal" aria-labelledby="p-Social media-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-Social media-label"> <span>Social media</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="n-Twitter"><a href="https://twitter.com/RationalWiki" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></li><li id="n-Mastodon"><a href="https://mstdn.social/@rationalwiki" rel="nofollow">Mastodon</a></li><li id="n-Facebook"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rationalwiki/226614404019306" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></li><li id="n-Discord"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Discord">Discord</a></li><li id="n-Reddit"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Reddit">Reddit</a></li></ul> </div> </nav>  <nav id="p-tb" class="vector-menu vector-menu-portal portal" aria-labelledby="p-tb-label" role="navigation" > <h3 id="p-tb-label"> <span>Tools</span> </h3>  <div class="body vector-menu-content">  <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"><li id="t-whatlinkshere"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Bill_Maher" title="A list of all wiki pages that link here [j]" accesskey="j">What links here</a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Bill_Maher" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k">Related changes</a></li><li id="t-specialpages"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages" title="A list of all special pages [q]" accesskey="q">Special pages</a></li><li id="t-print"><a href="javascript:print();" rel="alternate" title="Printable version of this page [p]" accesskey="p">Printable version</a></li><li id="t-permalink"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&oldid=2706321" title="Permanent link to this revision of the page">Permanent link</a></li><li id="t-info"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Bill_Maher&action=info" title="More information about this page">Page information</a></li></ul> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" role="contentinfo" > <ul id="footer-info" > <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 6 January 2025, at 17:31.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Unless explicitly noted otherwise, all content licensed as indicated by <a name="Copyright" href="//rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:Copyrights">RationalWiki:Copyrights</a>. <br> For concerns on copyright infringement please see: <a name="Copyright infringement" href="//rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:Copyright_violations">RationalWiki:Copyright violations</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-places" > <li id="footer-places-privacy"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Privacy_policy" title="RationalWiki:Privacy policy">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="footer-places-about"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:About" class="mw-redirect" title="RationalWiki:About">About RationalWiki</a></li> <li id="footer-places-disclaimer"><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:General_disclaimer" title="RationalWiki:General disclaimer">Disclaimers</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-icons" class="noprint"> <li id="footer-copyrightico"><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"><img src="/w/88x31.png" alt="CC-BY-SA 3.0, or any later version" width="88" height="31" loading="lazy"/></a></li> <li id="footer-poweredbyico"><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/"><img src="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki_88x31.png" alt="Powered by MediaWiki" srcset="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki_132x47.png 1.5x, /w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki_176x62.png 2x" width="88" height="31" loading="lazy"/></a></li> </ul> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </footer> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"0.322","walltime":"0.882","ppvisitednodes":{"value":1763,"limit":1000000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":31270,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":7780,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":10,"limit":40},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":0,"limit":100},"unstrip-depth":{"value":1,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":42156,"limit":5000000},"timingprofile":["100.00% 335.798 1 -total"," 71.91% 241.477 2 Template:Reflist"," 54.07% 181.573 3 Template:Cite_web"," 14.06% 47.213 2 Template:Navsidebar"," 12.38% 41.572 3 Template:Cite_news"," 11.66% 39.143 3 Template:Randomarticles"," 8.30% 27.872 1 Template:Pundits"," 7.10% 23.858 1 Template:Atheism"," 6.14% 20.629 2 Template:Navsidebar2"," 2.01% 6.737 9 Template:Cquote"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.120","limit":"7"},"limitreport-virtmemusage":{"value":8409088,"limit":52428800},"limitreport-estmemusage":0},"cachereport":{"origin":"apache5","timestamp":"20250324212657","ttl":86400,"transientcontent":false}}});mw.config.set({"wgBackendResponseTime":62,"wgHostname":"apache5"});});</script></body></html>