It’s become tradition that, whenever I make an appearance down in Virginia, my dad and I watch the latest episode of Real Time with Bill Maher together. Maher’s sarcasm and wit with regard to political commentary are spot on, and the following excerpt from one of his most recent episodes is no exception.
This is in reference to Barack Obama’s comment about working class voters, in which he said, “It’s not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or anti-pathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
And Maher’s response?
“And finally, New Rule: Referring to voters who America has left behind economically as ‘bitter’ isn’t an insult. In fact, it’s a compliment, acknowledging that they’re smart enough to understand what’s happening to them. The hopeful, now those are some idiots.
So, let’s separate the bitter - my people - from the idiots. If you think the Democrats are going to take away your Bible, you’re an idiot. If you think they’re going to take away your gun, you’re an armed idiot. And if you think they’re going to take away your gun and give it to a Mexican to kill your God, you’re Bill O’Reilly.
Now, at the end of last week when Barack Obama ignited the ‘bitter-gate’ scandal, you would have thought that he had scaled Mount Rushmore, dick-slapped Jefferson in the face, and spray painted ‘God damn America’ over Lincoln. But he wasn’t lying. The truth is that religion and guns and hating gays and immigrants are crutches that people lean on. So are fast-food, crystal meth and child beauty pageants, but we don’t have time to tackle all of America’s addictions in one night.
So, let’s focus on the big thing. That the people who claim to be the ‘non-elitists,’ are the ones who constantly shift tax burdens from the people who fire you, to you. John McCain voted to repeal the estate tax, voted against raising the minimum wage, has no health care plan, and is fine with keeping the working class in Iraq for a hundred years. But, he’s a real ‘man of the people.’
And the president went to Harvard and Yale, and inherited your country from his dad. But he’s not an elitist because he can neither read nor write.
What does it take to label someone ‘elitist’ these days anyway? They wear shoes? They don’t buy their groceries at the gas station? Their dog has a name and their truck doesn’t?!
You know who is bitter in America? I am. Because shit-kickers voted twice for a retarded guy they wanted to have a beer with, and everybody else had to suffer the consequences!”
