Hollywood Star Turns On Liberals (It’s Glorious)

By
David Rufful
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OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.

Comedian and Hollywood actor Bill Maher didn’t hold back his political views while discussing his perspective on woke leftists during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast.

Maher made a bold comparison, likening certain aspects of the woke movement to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

He expressed concerns about the emphasis on judging people primarily by their race rather than their character.

Joe Rogan, the host of the podcast, initiated the discussion by pointing out the shift he’s observed within the liberal community. He noted that what was once considered mainstream liberalism has evolved into a more radical and fringe ideology.

Maher agreed, stating that the woke left has distanced itself from the traditional liberal values of the past, particularly the idea of a “colorblind society.”

Maher elaborated on this distinction, emphasizing that being “woke” and being a “liberal” are two distinct things. He argued that the woke movement diverges from liberalism on matters related to political correctness and identity politics.

While Maher acknowledged that people are entitled to their beliefs, he was adamant that these beliefs should not be associated with the liberal label.

In Maher’s words, “You can embrace woke ideology, with all the associated controversies, but don’t try to claim that it’s an extension of liberalism. In many cases, it’s actually undermining the principles of liberalism.”

“Throughout history, liberals have advocated for a colorblind society—meaning we should not consider race as a factor anywhere, for any reason. That’s what liberals have always believed, from the days of Kennedy to Martin Luther King, and even during Obama’s presidency. The woke movement departs from this core belief.”

Bill Maher’s remarks highlight his concern that the woke ideology, with its emphasis on racial considerations, diverges significantly from the principles of liberalism he has long championed.

Bill Maher, known for his candid and often controversial commentary, didn’t hold back in his recent critique of woke ideology. Maher drew a striking parallel between woke beliefs about race and the notorious white supremacist organization, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), highlighting their shared emphasis on race as a defining factor in all aspects of life.

Maher remarked, “They believe race is first and foremost the thing you should always see everywhere, which I find interesting because that used to be the position of the Ku Klux Klan.”

He made it clear that while individuals are entitled to hold such views, they should not categorize them as liberal. In Maher’s view, these beliefs represent something fundamentally different from the principles of liberalism.

Maher previously took a stand against what he saw as the irrationality of woke ideology, particularly as it was gaining traction in universities. He questioned the authenticity of those who align themselves with both woke ideology and liberalism.

“This is my thing with liberals and woke, carry on believing whatever the heck you want, just don’t claim you’re some kind of advanced liberal,” he said. “You’re the opposite of liberal.”

Maher drew a historical reference to demonstrate his point: “Liberals are the ones who came up with the term ‘homelessness’ so that people wouldn’t call them ‘bums’ and ‘vagrants’ and ‘hobos.'”

“We came up with ‘homeless!'” He continued, highlighting the stark contrast between traditional liberalism and the woke perspective, stating, “Then they came along and said, ‘That’s not good enough. Actually, you people are the problem. It’s people experiencing homelessness,'” he concluded.