Bill Maher joined the chorus of conspiracy theorists this weekend, perpetuating the trope that Israel runs the U.S. State Department. During a debate with Jamie Weinstein, editor of the Daily Caller, and Donna Brazile, a Democratic Strategist, on Chuck Hagel, Maher was blunt in his “assessment.”
JAMIE WEINSTEIN, EDITOR AT DAILY CALLER: Just yesterday, there was a new speech that they believe in which during the question and answer [session] at Rutgers University, Hagel claimed that the State Department was controlled by the Israeli government. Israeli foreign ministry controls the government.
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: You see, Bill, what they’re doing is they’re going after every speech.
BILL MAHER, HOST OF “REAL TIME” ON HBO: And it’s not?
WEINSTEIN: Well, there’s two things wrong with that. One is that — it’s, you know, kind of suggesting Israeli power is controlling things. Number two, of all the branches of the government, the State Department being the most pro-Israel branch is ridiculous.
MAHER: Based on every statement I’ve heard out of any Republican in the last two years, the Israelis are controlling our government.
WEINSTEIN: Not the State Department, that’s for sure. (HBO’s Real Time, February 15, 2013)
The statement received a round of applause from many in Maher’s audience, but as The Lid points out: “The crazy part of it all is that even in pro-Israel administrations the State Department has an anti-Israel history.”
Watch a video of the shocking episode below:
1. Andrea Schonberger wrote:
“REAL TIME” is satire like “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart. Duh….!
2. Milhouse wrote:
So? Do you think Jon Stewart doesn’t mean the things he says?
3. Anonymous wrote:
The sad thing is that Bill Maher is a Jew, and yet never seems to miss an opportunity to trash his own people in public. To be fair though, he seems to hate all religions equally.
4. If Only It Were True wrote:
Too bad it isn’t true.
5. not true wrote:
bill maher may be a hardcore liberal but he is unabashedly pro israel.
6. Milhouse wrote:
The video says otherwise.
7. pathetic wrote:
WHEN WILL THESE IDIOTS LEARN! WHEN IT’S TO LATE???? THEY THINK BEING LIBERAL THINKERS MAKES THEM SMART……WELL IT DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST.
8. Conservative wrote:
Not only is Chuck Hagel an anti-Semite, he would be terrible for the US security. This guy opposes sanctions on Iran, he believes that we should negotiate with Hamas, and he believes in unilateral disarmament. He went on Al-Jazeera for an interview and agreed with a caller, suggesting that the US is a bully and had committed war crimes. Obama nominated him, not only because Chuck Hagel’s views are Obama’s views, but also to stick it in the face of the Republicans, as Chuck Hagel is a Republican. This guy Bill Maher is a complete moron and should really do some research before he goes on his show to talk liberal crap.
9. ldd wrote:
he is not jewish his mother is cristian