The US Stand-Up Commediane Williiam “Bill” Maher Jr.

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Williiam “Bill” Maher Jr. was born in New York City on January 20, 1956, he is a US stand-up commediane who ranks number 38 on Comedy Central’s 100 greatest stand-ups of all time, he is also known as a television host in HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, before his current show in HBO, he is also a talk show host in Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central and later on ABC which ran until 2002. Maher is also a political and social commentator and an author as well. His works as an author include: True Story : A Novel published in 1994, Does Anybody Have a Problem With That? Politically Incorrect’s Greatest Hits published in 1996, Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? The Best of Politically Incorrect, published the following year , When You Ride Alone You Ride With Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism released in 2003, Keep the Statue of Liberty Closed: The New Rules, released in 2004, and finally New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer published in 2005.

His writings include topics with regard to politics and controversial society issues such as sexuality, drugs, religion, greed and corruption. This work shall analyze Bill Maher’s contributions in shaping the though of common Americans. It will include his movies, books and shows.

First Reviewed Work: When you ride ALONE you ride with bin Laden: What the Government SHOULD Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism

Bill Maher uses satire as a means in tackling political issues and libertarian comments in society’s issues in general. This is exemplified in his book entitled, “When you ride ALONE you ride with bin Laden: What the Government SHOULD Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism”. This is the book where he targets American citizens. In it he notes that the American people are much too wasteful with their resources. He mainly critiques the methods that the United States is using to fight the War on Terrorism. He also addresses issues such as oil dependency, the destruction of the environment, conflicts due to religion, the long standing War on Drugs and foreign relations. The title is a parody of the fact that during World War II riding alone was considered in the propaganda machine as being helpful to Hitler because of the extravagance.

In summary, the book uses World War II propaganda materials and changes the images to apply to the issues facing the United States and the World. Using his usual wit he makes his position Maher concludes the book with his analysis of how the United States has behaved in comparison to other superpowers in the past, and pushes the position that the US would have acted “better” than any other nation in such a position of power.(Rotella, et al. 2002)

Second work reviewed New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer

His book entitled “New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer“, was assembled for it is about time that this ‘structureless’ society of ours got back to the idea of rules, limits and boundaries.” It’s a virtual arrow pointing back to the comedian’s jokes for the benefit of those who may have missed them on the first go-round.(Ehrenstein, 2005)

Here are some excerpts from his book which definitely hits home with serious hard truths that will make open-minded at least think about what he’s saying:

Color Scheme: Color-coded terror alerts are not just for campaigns. It must have been anytime John Kerry tried to speak. OK, the terror alerts stopped the same time as the election, but that doesn’t mean they were fake. That’s just being paranoid. If you think that Bush would do something like that, you might as well say that he hires fake reporters, bribes columnists, and produces his own news. (Maher, 2005)

MIA Culpa: If everybody was wrong about the weapons of mass destruction, then somebody has to say “my bad.” When Clinton was in the White House, we investigated his business partners, his wife’s business partners, the guy who was governor after him, the girls who did him, his travel agents and the guy who cut his hair. For some reason, the two words this president just can’t seem to say are “sorry” and “nuclear.” Something is terribly wrong when the only person who’s been fired over terrorism is me. (Maher, 2005)

Vow Movement: If gays aren’t allowed to redefine marriage, then neither can right-wing Christian zealots. Arkansas has a new marriage called “covenant marriage” that requires counseling beforehand and is harder to get out of. It’s a lot like regular marriage, only instead of saying “I do,” you say “I double-dog swear.” There’s a word for couples who believe that the feelings they share now are the feelings they’ll share forever: delusional. (Maher, 2005)

Maher’s “New Rules” are raunchy, ribald, entertaining and thought-provoking, you’ll find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with some of his discourse, but definitely he’s is the only person who can make a point that no one else would dare make. After all, few can disguise their statements with wit the way he does.

Third Work Reviewed: RELIGULOUS

One of the issues that is said to have upset Maher is about the issue of organized religion, he said that religion is used as an excuse to attack homosexuals, to keep down women, to start wars against people who believe something different, the way faith has become an excuse for not thinking.(Stone, 2008). Case of point: in his documentary on religion entitled, “Religulous”, he attacks the uses of religion in creating divisions in the world. He said that people talk about “God and Country” and use this statement to divide people into good and evil when, in fact, belief in God is supposed to transcend borders.

Religulous, succeeds in being entertaining even while it is trying to make its point. The film proves limited in its insights on the troubles with organized religion, but it nonetheless makes for a worthwhile viewing. (Benamor, 2008). While it may turn off those who are really into religion, it may also succeed in influencing those who are on the borderline such as those who might be on the edge of shifting to atheism.

This documentary is also endearing for Maher, it is framed as his personal journey. Maher father is a devout Roman Catholic while his mother was of the Jewish faith. He recounts his father’s separation from the Catholic Church over the issue of birth control and how they “never talked” about how his mom was Jewish.(Benamor, 2008). The documentary is about religion in different countries, its location focuses mainly on the Vatican, and Western Countries, and they however lack religious views from the East because of lack of budget.

Interviews with religious figures are really the meat of the film, an example of which is where he candidly interviewed two Vatican priests, who seem shockingly self- aware that they are being interviewed and who openly acknowledge the logical flaws in the practice and base of their religion.. He talked to one guy who was gay but now is married to a former lesbian as they both found God. They now have kids and Bill wondered were they still gay but they said they were not. It seemed like the guy was just saying it and did not believe it but if they are happy that’s the main thing!

Maher pitilessly interviewed and questioned his interview subjects; making them feel uncomfortable and helpless about what would they react or answer. In the movie Maher mocks religion and pokes fun at those honestly religious people who are polite enough to answer his questions. The movie was quite unpleasant even if it was funny. When Maher defends his disbelief of the story of Jonah and the whale to a Christian, saying, “I’m not a 10-year-old,” he’s not adding anything worthwhile to the discussion. (Benamor, 2008) Clearly Maher does not believe in the Judeo-Christian God to the point of expressing his contempt for him.

The movie’s main argument can be best summarized as an appeal to the fears of the people a tactic that Bill Maher will often employ when he is criticizing the government. In this case the tactic works because it is the most powerful piece of persuasion that Religulous employs. What Maher and Charles really are trying to say is not that people aren’t allowed to hold their own religious beliefs – it’s that when those beliefs are forced on others, problems begin. (Benamor, 2008) Hence amidst the mockery and contempt of Maher he still leaves a laurel leaf expression of moderation by saying its ok to believe what you will, just don’t impose it on others.

Videos and clippings of suicide bombers are also included in the film depicting the views of Islamic religion which is in contrast with some religious belief of killing oneself.

It is one of the revolutionary moves on the part of Maher to made this documentary for it does not only depicts the different kinds of belief but also what is lacking and what flaws does certain religion have. Many comments have been given with regard to the documentary, some are afraid that Maher might mock every person about their religious beliefs. In the movie he interrogates people about what they believe in and tries to convince them to question those same beliefs specifically why they believe in such things. In the end the movie comes off as funny with the occasionally learning. You don’t have to agree with Maher to enjoy his documentary, but it might make you think twice about organized religion, which is really the whole point.(Benamor, 2008).

Another favorite of Maher is tackling political issues; he is a critique of the Bush Administration, most especially the Republicans stand on homosexuality. Some of his jabs in his show HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher pertains to Republicans opposing the stem cell research. He said that “it’s not because a frozen speck on a microscope slide constitutes life, it’s because stem cell research shows promise of restoring spinal cord tissue — and that could help Democrats”.(Cohen, 2007) In his stand-up comedy appearance in San Antonio he rants against the Bush administration, attacked the pharmaceutical industry and Christian fundamentalists. He said that drug companies, seems to be inventing illnesses after inventing the drugs to treat them. “Did anyone have restless leg syndrome before there was a pill for it?” he asked in the show (Belasco, 2006).

The irony of religion is that because of its power to divert Man to destructive courses, the world could actually come to an end. (Times, 2009). Bill Maher scourges religion by tell audiences that in order for mankind to survive religion as a whole must be exterminated. Maher claims that we no longer have the luxury of indulging in religious fantasies by allowing the alleged “faithful” to make key decisions in our lives. He thinks that religious are irrational people who would lead the country to perdition because instead of using a rational compass they would chose to use a GPS that is the equivalent of chicken entrails. As proof he claims that during the deliberations for the War in Iraq George Bush was constantly praying and yet it is quite apparent that he learned nothing. Faith to Maher is glorifies the lack of rational though. Religion is not something good.

Those who would preach to the people to be faithful are just a group of intellectual slaveholders. They are keeping mankind bound to a fantastic nonsense which time and again has exhorted and justified great destruction.

Maher believes that Religion is risky because it gives people the illusion that they have all the answers when in fact they do not. He claims that prayers and faith are meaning less because, truth be told, there are no gods talking to us. The emptiness is just a void that is constantly filled with the corruptions and fantasies of the people. Clearly Maher expresses his Non-believer stance at the expense of religion.

Ultimately, Religulous brings its point across that religion is actually wrong and is actually an instrument to divide people rather than bring them together. However, it presents this message with such pressure and insistence that it might alienate those who might have some bias against its stance.

Forth Work Reviewed “Bill Maher: The Decider”

Bill Maher also stared in “Bill Maher: the Decider” which debuted at Comedy Central on July 13. Ever the political commentator, Bill Maher wields his satirical sword and skewers conservative America using his legendary wit and refreshing perspective on things. There are no taboo topics for him as he strikes upon the most controversial topics of the time. Topics such as war, sexuality, drugs and religion were covered. Aside from being a cable TV video, “Bill Maher: the Decider” was also a live performance.

“Bill Maher: the Decider” is decidedly anti-Bush. This was obvious based on the ruckus reception given to Bill by the predominantly anti-Bush Bostonian crowd where he taped the live performance of his Stand Up Comedy special (Farone, 2007). The audience at the Berkley went wild every time he used his wit so skewer the conservative former President George W. Bush

Naturally, given the critical nature of his comedy bits Maher did not risk getting booed by going to a predominantly Republican or even just a swing state. He went to a state where people believe Bush to be a hard-nosed “Decider who makes wicked, ignorant decisions.

According to Maher “The comedy Gods are smiling on me tonight,” he said this at the eve of his show. Decked in his aging hipster liberal uniform – revealingly tight black jeans and a vintage T-shirt – Maher led the likeminded audience to the front lines of America’s political divide. It took him no more than two seconds to sucker punch Bush: “He’s a clown on the world stage,” Maher said.

For the hour or so that the show progressed Maher mocked the President of the United States along with crooks, cronies and phonies, or so he calls them, that Bush appointed to administrative posts during his term. Even the potential Republican presidential candidates got smacked hard as well. But while Maher suggested that Rudolph Giuliani’s unconditional support for Bush should disqualify him from the race, the unapologetic partisan had only good things to say about Mitt Romney the former Massachusetts Governor. Maher mocks the Republican party by claiming that Mitt Romney is probably the only monogamous Republican. This sarcasm because it is aimed at the ultra-conservative family values oriented religion called Mormon

Maher also talks about teen abstinence, stem cell research, religion and the pharmaceutical industry lobby’s grip on Congress. Maher proved to be the polar opposite of the conservative extremists he was wailing against. Not to mention that he was as polarizing as they were.

In closing his closing Maher shares the story of a Dr. David Hager, an anti-contraception conservative extremist. He was a Bush appointee to the FDA’s Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee (RHDAC). Hager’s former wife of 32 years accused him of regularly raping her in her sleep and leaving money on her nightstand.

Maher’s grand finale metaphor: the Bush administration is like a gynecologist who habitually violates his wife when she’s not paying attention.

Obviously, Maher’s presentation did not endear him to many Bush supporters. Assuming any exist.

Political Views

Bill Maher’s political views are decidedly liberal and reactionary to the extreme conservatism that was the order of the day for the Bush Government. Were it not for the freedom of speech guarantees under American Law much of what he was said may have landed any other person in jail.

On terrorism

“We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly (Maher, 2007).”

Maher statements come at a time when American forces routinely strike at suspected Al Queda and Taliban elements in Afghanistan from the safety of warships hundreds of miles away from their targets. U.S. forces use long-range cruise missiles as a means of limiting casualties. He mocks the idea that terrorist are considered cowardly for hijacking planes and making suicide attacks considering that the terrorists at least had the conviction to die for their beliefs.

On health care

“If you, the citizen, deliberately vote for someone who won’t give you health care over someone you will, you need to have your head examined. Except you can’t afford to have your head examined (Maher, 2007).”

This is a response to the fact that the Republican Party has always been against the idea of universal health care. It oversimplifies the debate on health care which is actually between those who want health care to be universal and provided by the government, a view espoused by the Democratic Party, versus those who want health care to be the responsibility of citizens through private insurance, which is the view of the Republican Party. While oversimplifying the debate Maher does raise an important point in that the Democratic Party is willing push for the provision of health care while the Republicans will not making it more expensive for someone to actually have his head examined.

However, his criticism is actually somewhat at odds with his previous claims that he is for the partial privatization of social security. A move that will inevitably drive the price of insurance and social security up once the system is already privatized.

On disaster response

“Politicians have to stop thinking it makes us feel better about a disaster if we see a picture of them looking at it out the window of their plane. You’re the governor. Not Zeus. (Maher, 2007))”

Here Maher criticizes the fact that many politicians are trying to gain political mileage by being visible during natural disasters. He is mocking the fact that they want to gain support come election time by being present when the disaster is on going. Maher considers politicians ignorant of the fact that people might relate the politicians to the tragedy of the disaster itself.

Even back prior to the 2004 elections Maher was already a critic of President Bush and he heavily supported John Kerry’s campaign. In 2008 he again supported the Democratic party and even went so far as to attack Sarah Palin in an effort to weaken the Republican position by criticizing her decision not to abort Palin’s daughter’s child which had downs syndrome.

Conclusion

Maher is predominantly a comedian he is a writer and commentator second. This fits well with the fact that as a comedian he is able to criticize the government and its institutions without incurring the wrath normal reserved for critics. Like the jesters of the middle ages Maher is able to disguise his harsh criticism with jokes and jests to be able to get to his audiences without his words sounding like a direct attack against those individuals. Further more by guising his statements with comedy he is able to get his point across even to people who might have some negative bias on what he has to say.

Works Cited

The Times. London (UK): 2009. pg. 25.

Farone Chris, Boston Herald Library, 2007.

Stone, Jay. (2008) Maher hilarious and sacrilegious; Comic’s send-up of religion biting but exhausting.Calgary Herald. pg. C.7.

Rotella, Mark, Gold, Sarah, Andriani, Lynn, Scharf, Michael. (2002) When you Ride Alone you Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling US to Help Fight the War on Terrorism. Publishers Weekly. New York: Vol. 249, Iss. 44; pg. 76, 1 pgs.

Benamor, DanGetting. (2008). Blasphemous in the presence of Bill Maher.

Cohen, Howard. (2007).The real Bill Maher riffs on the headlines.

McClatchy – Tribune Business News, pg. 1.

Belasco, Jessica. (2006) REVIEW : Maher aims his barbs at Bush; [STATE&METRO Edition]. San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio, Texas, pg. 6B.

Taylor, Dan. (2008). BITING REALITY: POLITICALLY INCORRECT COMEDIAN BILL MAHER ON POLITICAL HUMOR, LIFE ON CABLE, LIFE AFTER GEORGE W. BUSH.The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, Calif., pg. D.1.

Ehrenstein, David, (2005). Oblivion couldn’t hold Bill Maher; New Rules: Polite Musings From a Timid Observer; Bill Maher. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif. pg. R.9.

Thomas, Harry. (2005). Making his own rules; [STATE&METRO Edition].San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio, Tex. pg. 07.J.

Maher, Bill “Bill Maher: The Decider” (2007) HBO Special.

Maher, Bill “Politically Incorrect” (1992-2002) Comedy Central and ABC.

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