My Real Time With Bill Maher
by Andrew BreitbartTo view video of Andrew Breitbart on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” taped Friday, March 13, 2009 click here.
This week’s Washington Times column:
Pretty much everyone I respect in media and politics recommended I not go on HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher.” But on Friday night, I defied that wisdom and had the time of my life.
I sparred with Mr. Maher, Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson and a MoveOn.org audience from hell that booed my sentences before they were completed. Unfortunately, my wife and in-laws, who watched from the green room, were not as enamored with the experience as I was.
Since the salad days of ABC’s “Politically Incorrect,” which minted countless right-wing pundits and best-selling authors, conservatives have rightly assessed the HBO version of the Maher show as R-rated and shockingly hostile to their worldview. So most opt out.
I totally see why. But I think that’s exactly the wrong strategy.
The problem with the withdrawal approach is that it cedes the popular culture debate to the other side. We figure talk radio, a certain cable news network and some independent Internet venues will allow for us to get our ideas out to the masses. Well, those few outlets are greatly outnumbered. They are also isolated and targeted for destruction by the activist left. The sitting president (using taxpayer money) is now leading the charge.
In my neighborhood at least, this strategy of avoiding engagement with the other side isn’t working out so well.
People who have never turned on Fox News or tuned into Rush Limbaugh have strong and defiant negative opinions about those outlets. When one tries to reason with them or call them out when acknowledging they watch and listen to neither, they become emboldened by their admitted ignorance. “Why would I listen to that racist, sexist, homophobic, fill-in-the-blank claim of cultural prejudice?”
This army of the emboldened and gleefully ill-informed is growing. Groupthink happens, and we must take it on head-on.
One must get a copy of John Ziegler’s “Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted” to understand the extent to which the traditional media have become an organized enemy aimed at conservatism, its leaders and its institutions. It was the tag team of entertainment (Tina Fey) and news (Katie Couric) that worked to take Sarah Palin down.
We can’t win the political war until we take on the Hollywood and mainstream media battles.
You can read the column in full here.
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204 Comments
Right on I completely agree. We should never back down, we should engage with firm rational.
Thanks for carrying the banner into battle, Andrew!
I often hear the quote you used about non-watchers or listeners of right leaning commentary, “Why would I listen to that racist, sexist, homophobic, fill-in-the-blank claim of cultural prejudice?”
I guess in their mind's eye, it's better to BE ignorant of the opposite philosophy than THOUGHT that by their peers. We on the other hand, only have the luxury of not hearing their philosophy if we consciously avoid everything BUT Fox News and talk radio.
Your contention is both honorable and admirable, but I fear that there is simply no way that you or any other rational-minded opponent to Bill Maher or his ilk will EVER be given a FAIR chance to speak their mind and present their views without being bullied, jeered and/or constantly interrupted and shouted down by pseudo-intellectual buffoons like Dyson.
They disgraced themselves with their appalling behavior, and I can't imagine how you were able to control yourself (I would have been unceremoniously ejected by network security had they treated ME with such callow disrespect, for I would not have been able to refrain from telling Dyson, Maher, and their dimwitted/bigoted MoveOn/Kos audience, in no uncertain terms, precisely what I thought of them).
You're a better man than I am Gunga Din…
"Since the salad days of ABC’s “Politically Incorrect…"
Salad days refer to good times, right? That's kinda weird. Who wants a salad? I mean they're okay, but nothing special.
They should call them "prime rib days" or "banana split days." Then everyone will know what you mean.
I watched the show, Andrew, and you did a great job! Thank you for volunteering to go to the lion's den. When they cut you off or wouldn't let you make your point, I got quite angry, and I don't know how you were able to control yourself. Kudos to you!
And I agree that we need to take Maher and his ilk head on. Remember, despite what Hollywood and the media elite portray, Obama did not win in a landslide. Nearly half the country voted against him, and I would say more than half the country today is wary of the Dems right now. Time to capitalize.
The MSM flexed their muscle and got who they wanted in office. They used their massive power of persuasion to dupe people into thinking we could elect a man child into office. Never mind this product of affirmative action would not qualify to run a 7-11, never mind what his accomplishments were, being a community organizer trumps being a Governor of a Podunk State any day of the week. Never mind the plethora of embarrassments he has already created in record time as POTUS. Never mind his racist preacher, never mind his radical associations…none of those things are going to effect our Nation, everything will be just fine, just you wait and see…said the MSM.
I'm sorry, but their experiment is turning out to be a nightmare of deadly proportions and because of this, they need to be exposed and hammered at every turn till they cry uncle and start becoming or finding journalist with integrity and credibility.
Problem with showing up to shows like Real Time is the people there have no class and hearing facts is like throwing holy water on them…their screeching hits a crescendo and conservatives barely can get a word in once that begins. I'm all for supporting all that do show up, but perhaps you should negotiate the terms to a simple "I will go on under one condition, you will let me speak without interruptions". No use in debating if the side we are trying to persuade can't even hear what you say.
Part 1
Thank you so much for the article. I am going to pass it along. I think there was video of the show floating about, but I haven't had the courage to watch it yet. I have seen Bill Maher's comments in the past, so I can only imagine how hostile the whole environment was. I cannot stand to see people shouted down, interrupted, their words twisted and not being given time to make their points. That sort of thing leaves me screaming at the screen because it makes me so angry. So I cannot promise that I will be able to watch it at all. (But I've seen enough of these things to know how they go.)
I could not agree more that we need to confront the culture! Of course they are bold and obnoxious – few people dare to challenge their ideas. I admit that it often feels like a losing battle. It doesn't matter what the topic is, people have their minds made up and that's that. No amount of facts or appealing to reason and fairness makes one bit of difference. Most of the time they won't even give you the courtesy of hearing you out. I cannot tell you how many times I've experienced it personally.
Part 2
But the comments you received after your appearance gave me so much hope! Perhaps there are still some fair minded people out there who, at the very least, can acknowledge the fact that treatment such as you experienced on the show is not conducive to productive dialogue. Thank you for being courageous enough to walk into that lion's den. That is exactly what we need to be doing – in whatever capacity that may be. Not all of us can be on television, but we can all write a blog, talk to friends and speak up when it is appropriate. We cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated.
And thank you for giving me hope that if I keep speaking out, someone, somewhere is bound to listen.
Andrew you were the epitome of class and courage on that show. You were treated abominably and yet never lost your manners or allowed yourself to be bullied and your points derailed. My thoughts when watching were exactly those of Saul, above. But reading your column, I understand why and how you were able to put yourself through that. You are absolutely correct. If we ever expect the closed-minded people of the left to even hear an honest conservative thought or idea, they will have to hear it on their own turf, i.e., shows like Maher's (despite how distasteful they are to us). They will never voluntarily tune in to a known conservative show, so we have to go where they are. Kudos and more kudos to you for doing this. Your classy demeanor showed the other two up for the hysterical, rude, loud, ignorant, closed-minded, biased people they are. As the saying goes: "Sometimes the best way to expose a crooked stick is not to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight one along side of it."
[...] about Rush Limbaugh as of March 15, 2009 My Real Time With Bill Maher – bighollywood.breitbart.com 03/15/2009 This week’s Washington Times column: Pretty much everyone [...]
Absolutely, Hollywood and the MSM should be confronted head on, so thank you Andrew for going into the coliseum . Loved watching Ari Fleischer destroy Chris Matthews last week, Ari is wicked smart and aggressively put Matthews on the defense. However, it is a difficult task to get through the almost cult like mentality of the angry left especially when they're shouting in your face.
"Profanity is a sign of a WEAK mind." …..Spencer W. Kimball. You did a great Job !!!!
Bill Maher has weak weak mind!
I think while Andrew is undoubtedly correct that things are getting worse as far as fair hearing for conservative views in mass media, historically this isn't anything new (the infamous Buckley-Vidal dustup comes to mind.) So there is hope that with patience and persistence the cultural tide can shift. Realistically that will likely happen when Obamunism demonstrably fails. Andrew is to be commended for facing the enemy head-on.
Andrew, you've got more guts than I have. I'm so disgusted by Maher and his ilk that I haven't watched that, or any "Real Time" episode since he left network TV. I sure as hell wouldn't subject myself to the abuse. But now I'm beginning to think that there is an intrinsic value in people who will suffer the abuse to make a point. You may be right. Nobody likes a bully. And quite possibly for every twenty or thirty lefty snarkbags who watch Maher's noisome show, there are two or three reasonable people watching who know that a bully is really just a cowardly sheep in wolf's clothing. I wish you well, and if you need extra disinfectant after your appearance, please feel free to request it from me.
Wow. I have to hand it to you for exposing yourself to that abuse, but I have to say I think you're right. They DO need to be engaged in real debate on their own turf – at least as far as they'll allow themselves to be engaged in debate. Usually they just shout down any ideas the deviate from their narrow perceptions of political correctness.
I'm glad you had a good time too. What was it like there offstage? In the green room and beyond. Were they at least courteous? I sure hope so!
If Wikipedia is any guide, the phrase comes from Shakespeare and refers to a time of youth:
"…My salad days, / When I was green in judgment, cold in blood…"
But you are right. Nobody gets that.
- "The problem with the withdrawal approach is that it cedes the popular culture debate to the other side"
Let us not confuse Bill Maher with popular culture. His show is far from popular. As far as shows that people actually watch go, your point is taken.
Sadly, I do think it is a waste of time. It reminded me of the Romans tossing the Christians to the Lions.
Give Bill some credit. Aside from inviting you he was a fair arbiter of both time and expression. You failed to address the real problem AB which is that the GOP has been hijacked by religious crazies. BTW, while you cringed at the notion that Limbaugh is a racist – he is certainly sexually prejudiced (I try not to use the term homophobic).
Thanks, Andrew, for your self-sacrifice in attempting to get a conservative view across to a hostile audience. You know you have our support in this forum.
You are absolutely right about conservatives and Republicans not entering into the fray and becoming complacent in their political views. We must confront the problem head on, not wasting our time speaking of sophistic strategems. If we continue this, we only do the opposition a favor.
"One should never allow a problem to develop in order to avoid a war, for you end up not avoiding the war, but deferring it to a time that will be less favorable."
"The Romans understood you cannot escape wars, and when you put them off only your opponents benefit."
-Machiavelli, The Prince
Shakespeare. Figures. No wonder it's incomprehensible.
I mean, c'mon: "Et tu, Brute?"
Hey, William! You're the greatest English writer ever! Write in English!
Limbaugh's medium grew exponentially with Clinton's presidency. Perhaps Obama's administration will catalyze a new medium for popular conservatism.
Limbaugh's audience in his medium grew exponentially with Clinton's presidency. Perhaps Obama's administration will catalyze a new medium for popular conservatism.
Wow, so much here. I did not watch the program, so I can't say much about "fair arbiter of both time and expression." But from AB saying in the article it was quite the hostile environment, and knowing how Maher conducts himself, I find it difficult to understand how that could be considered fair in any way. (Unless you call an invitation to be screamed at in a television program fair.) But let's leave that aside.
Why are religious people "crazies" to you?
I have no idea what sexually prejudiced means. What did Limbaugh say that would fall under such a definition?
What would one expect from a pasty skinned ghoul who dates women who he thinks aren't as smart as he is.
Bravo Andrew!,
After watching what they did to you, I wondered to myself why any Conservative would put himself in that chair ever again. But after reading your article, I totally understand. You are absolutely correct.
The only way they can win is by bulldozing the opposition. And there is no way they can do that, and still appear intellectually, or morally superior.
Ghandi would have loved your performance!
Part I:
Mr. Breitbart, you were the only reason that I tuned into Mr. Maher's show on Friday. As someone who just wants people to be respectful during a debate no matter their beliefs, I of course was appalled by the way you were treated. I do agree with your larger point that conservatives need to be engaged in the entertainment industry and academia, if any hope exists to transform the culture. However, I do not think conservatives and religious people should go on Mr. Maher's show at all much less watch, because it gives him more power and clout.
I think there is such a huge difference between going on Mr. Maher's program and appearing on the certainly liberal David Letterman or Jon Stewart, for example. While Letterman and many in the media share and express much of Mr. Maher's very liberal and anti-religious views, I do believe that only Mr. Maher exhibits the rage, hatred, and utter contempt for any person that opposes him. I mean the man wished at one point last year that Governor Sarah Palin should come back as a wolf in a second life and be shot dead like the wolves in Alaska.
Part II:
It pains me that Mr. Maher gets his own television show ahead of many more deserving and respectful Americans, including many liberal people who at least do not always see evil in the hearts and minds of conservatives and religious people. I merely wish that I lived in a country where someone as hateful as Mr. Maher does not have enough public support to explicitly hope for the death of many people's very personal religious beliefs as well as perhaps harm and tragedy to befall many conservative people themselves.
Sometimes I wonder if the better strategy is to ignore the left-wing media completely. You give them power when they think they've belittled you. I think the better strategy is to create news and media outlets that highlight conservative thought and treat the Bill Mahers like the pesky flies that they are. Just swat them away.
http://the100mostannoyingthings.blogspot.com/
Avoidance by the right? Where? I do not know of any conservatives personally who plug their ears and stick out their tounge when a lib regergetates a slogan, and when you are encountering a hostile liber why would you want to even continue giving them the most precious gift we have our time! Seriously though I do attempt to see the left view as in Olberman, Maddow and the like but after five minutes it makes me physically sick why would I wanna cause myself harm, seriously any conservative who can sit through their commentary should consider themself a masochist.
[...] UPDATE: Breitbart talks about his “interview.” [...]
One strategy to adopt when engaging lefties is to ask them questions, rather than go on the defensive about your own positions. "If health care is nationalized do you think it will be any more efficient than the DMV? Or less convoluted than doing your taxes?" "If we got rid of the Post Office today, do you have any doubt that private firms like UPS, Fedex and the like would be ready to take up the slack tomorrow – and do it more efficiently? Alternatively – if we nationalized UPS and Fedex into the Post Office today, how well do you think that would work out in the long term?" Basically ask them ""If big government is so great then why don't you marry it?"
Three cheers to you, Andrew!
You are absolutely correct. On talk radio and Fox, we are preaching to the choir.
Because conservatives and traditionalist leaders found it easier, they opted to NOT fight for balance in public education and the state colleges and universities which educate the vast majority of our citizens.
That was OK for their own children, but completely abandoned the rest of America young to brainwashing by the left
Articulate individuals like yourself, Greg Gutfeld, and Thaddeus McCotter who are capable of humor and reaching out to moderates, are the only way we can restore sanity
Thank you form the bottom of my heart. You're brave!
Don't want to discuss the Obabalaba's policies? Call Rush a racist in the first minute of the discussion and presto you don't have to defend any $%^ed up policies implemented by the administration. Nice job Bill. You dodged another bullet. That will not last forever.
A B, Thank You for taking the heat…..
Despite my dislike for Maher and my hatred for his audience, I am glad you went on his show and didn't back down, and I'm glad I tuned in to see you on it. Actually, i'm always disappointed when I hear conservatives say "I would never go on Maher's show". Dennis Miller says that all the time on his radio show and it bugs me every time. Congrats for fighting the good fight Breitbart.
I'd love to ignore them all. But unless you live on a deserted island without internet access, it's impossible. They are constantly shoving their views in our faces and down our throats. (And now that they elected Obama, even more so. And now with power to make their views into law.)
The general culture doesn't know anything other than these views because that's what they are force fed day in and day out. As much as I'd like to, we can't just wish it all away.
Yes, lefties always change the subject. It takes real discipline not to fall for that.
So, is there any way I can say something positive about Bill Maher's behavior?…Um…well…er…
I got it! He didn't pull a Keith Olbermann! At least he allowed you on the show in the first place….That's about it.
Great job, Andrew.
Is dating interchangeable with selling herself here? I am confused I thought he only purchased hookas? Or perhaps I am doing it all wrong and getting short changed on dates literally by passing up on a fee?
Oh goodness now that I think about this whole purchasing fee concept may be standardized by Obama so he can get a cut via taxation then he really would be da man, no? I can see it now the taxation scale based on ones looks we would have the yearly inspection on april 15th each year!
Good point, Mo. I guess I'm still looking for that deserted island, maybe one without Bill Maher. A girl can dream.
You did well. As for Dyson and his code words, someone tell him that that code is called the English Languge. Maher should have his mouth washed out with soap.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I'd love one of those too!
Oh come on! I must admit that Shakespear is frequently above my head, but in the context of the quote, it makes not only sense, it´s lovely. It surely beats "…My prime rib days / when I was fat and hot and dripping bloody goo…"
I don't know how popular he is or how popular the show is, but the fact is that his views are the standard for the culture at large. Perhaps most people are not quite as outspoken (not to mention obnoxious) but the mindset is the same. And really, I prefer people who are as blatant as he is. Conservatives (Christian conservatives in particular) are hated in this country. Might as well be as open as he is about it.
Well, props on the effort, but I respectfully disagree. Only a moron wouldn't recognize Maher as a talentless hack – and one of those profoundly unfunny "comedians" who doesn't deserve a career (like Albert Brooks) – and so only idiots watch his show. There's no getting through to an idiot. As Einstein said, "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
Drive-By Troll.
Dates, pays…depends on how you look at the playmates he's into.
To be very blunt; when you discover an enemy is planning to take you to war, you must move to war first, and prevent his plan to come to fruition.
There's some Sun Tzu in there somewhere, but it was something I learned in Uncle Sugar's service.
Every time you started with a series reply, Maher would try and come out ith a stupid 1 liner to get the audience laughing. He reminds me of a Wally George of the left – I do applaud your courage and your contention that the right has to go to these media outlets, but who can take a Bill Maher or Chris Mathews seriously? The media bias was certainly no worse during Reagan's time, but he talked over them to the people.
Unfortunately, we have been losing the info/entertainment group by not engaging it. If you yield the floor to the pinheads, the pinheads win.
We have to go to a different tactic here. Kinda a rope-a-dope deal. We're having to go to a tactic of letting the libs attack and attack and attack again while we take a moral high ground; pointing out they're so afraid of what we have to say that we aren't allowed or can't say anything on these shows? Put the MSM in the position of having to carry the WHY when they ask what happened at the show.
I can't resist trolls, either.
You're right: someone needs to get the message out. I'm not so sure it should be you — you came across as angry and ill-at-ease, reaching for pre-prepared sound bites instead of engaging the dynamic duo. Learn to relax a little, epecially on an entertaiment show. Don't be a turn-off.
I salute you sir, for entering the lions den, and coming out in one piece. I continue to be swayed by your statements that we must engage the left and not turn tail and head for the tall grass. My default is to turn and run these days. Many years in CA and many friends on the left have made me leave the battlefield, thus they are win. You on the other hand inspire.
I've taken on some pasty hippies in my day but you did it without a Zip Gun……….Swing away Andrew!
I am usually pretty cynical but with sites like this and selected Hollywood folk coming out of the closet(tee hee) everyday, there might be some hope.
Religious crazies, huh?
Sounds like a left wing talking point regurgitated by someone who has a very bigoted and narrow view of the American public.
Just saying….
Certainly we're seeing signs of that with the Tea Party movement through the media of social networking. I think all flavors of anti-statism will get a boost — conservatism, libertarianism, anarchocapitalism, etc. I'm not particularly worried about the fecklessness of the Republican party at the moment because politics follows culture, and Obama and his fictitious "mandate" do not represent where the culture will be in the next decade.
Certainly we're seeing signs of that with the Tea Party movement through the media of social networking. I think all flavors of anti-statism will get a boost — conservatism, libertarianism, anarchocapitalism, etc. I'm not particularly worried about the fecklessness of the Republican party at the moment because politics follows culture, and Obama and his fictitious "mandate" do not represent where the culture will be in the next decade.
All due respect, not everything is about the "gay community". And gay is not a race.
Do you know any other songs?
I don't think jumping into the hog pit and rolling around with the hogs changes much of anything and only serves to soil your clothes. I can see your point to a degree, but I think it's a futile attempt to be heard by those who have no interest in listening.
The liberal mind is extremely closed. Conservatives make the mistake of assuming otherwise.
I'll say this… I'm an independent, 26 years old, lean to the left on some issues (mostly social) and to the right on others (crime, fiscal issues). I guess you can say I'm a moderate. I've followed Mr. Nolte from Libertas to Dirty Harry's Place to here, not because I'm a red-blooded conservative but because he writes great reviews and filmmaking 101 columns (and I can appreciate his love of Star Trek and Barbara Stanwyck).
When I lived in LA, I met a nice girl who happened to be a Republican (and Catholic). Some friends raised an eyebrow when I mentioned this to them and I would ask, "So what?" In 2007, a friend from film school got married and I met his in-laws – they have some Rush Limbaugh books and a Reagan magnet on the fridge. If anyone badmouths Republicans to me, I mention these people: the girl I liked and the nice, retired parents-in-law (and film buffs) living in the Norman Rockwell house who treated me like one of the family.
I confess: in 2004 after Bowling for Columbine came out, I was in. I was reading Michael Moore's website, reading all sorts of anti-conservative stuff online, etc. But sites like this have opened my eyes a little bit. To quote a line from Contact: "Small moves." I can't say I'll check "R" on my voters registration anytime soon but just know that some of us in the "mushy middle" can be convinced. Humor always helps, too.
I'll say this… I'm an independent, 26 years old, lean to the left on some issues (mostly social) and to the right on others (crime, fiscal issues). I guess you can say I'm a moderate. I've followed Mr. Nolte from Libertas to Dirty Harry's Place to here, not because I'm a red-blooded conservative but because he writes great reviews and filmmaking 101 columns (and I can appreciate his love of Star Trek and Barbara Stanwyck).
When I lived in LA, I met a nice girl who happened to be a Republican (and a Catholic). Some friends raised an eyebrow when I mentioned this to them but I would ask them, "So what?" Last year, a friend from film school got married and I met his parents-in-law – they have some Rush Limbaugh books and a Reagan magnet on the fridge. If anyone badmouths Republicans to me, I mention these people: the girl I liked and the nice, retired parents-in-law living in the Norman Rockwell house who treated me like one of the family.
I confess: in 2004 after Bowling for Columbine came out, I was in. I was reading Michael Moore's website, reading all sorts of anti-conservative stuff online, etc. But sites like this have opened my eyes a little bit. To quote a line from Contact: "Small moves." I can't say I'll check "R" on my voters registration but just know that some of us in the "mushy middle" can be convinced. Humor always helps, too.
I'll say this… I'm an independent, 26 years old, lean to the left on some issues (mostly social) and to the right on others (crime, fiscal issues). I guess you can say I'm a moderate. I've followed Mr. Nolte from Libertas to Dirty Harry's Place to here, not because I'm a red-blooded conservative but because he writes great reviews and filmmaking 101 columns (and I can appreciate his love of Star Trek and Barbara Stanwyck).
When I lived in LA, I met a nice girl who happened to be a Republican (and Catholic). Some friends raised an eyebrow when I mentioned this to them but I would ask them, "So what?" Last year, a friend from film school got married and I met his parents-in-law – they have some Rush Limbaugh books and a Reagan magnet on the fridge. If anyone badmouths Republicans to me, I mention these people: the girl I liked and the nice, retired parents-in-law living in the Norman Rockwell house who treated me like one of the family.
I confess: in 2004 after Bowling for Columbine came out, I was in. I was reading Michael Moore's website, reading all sorts of anti-conservative stuff online, etc. But sites like this have opened my eyes a little bit. To quote a line from Contact: "Small moves." I can't say I'll check "R" on my voters registration but just know that some of us in the "mushy middle" can be convinced. Humor always helps, too.
I'll say this… I'm an independent, 26 years old, lean to the left on some issues (mostly social) and to the right on others (crime, fiscal issues). I guess you can say I'm a moderate. I've followed Mr. Nolte from Libertas to Dirty Harry's Place to here, not because I'm a red-blooded conservative but because he writes great reviews and filmmaking 101 columns (and I can appreciate his love of Star Trek and Barbara Stanwyck).
When I lived in LA, I met a nice girl who happened to be a Republican (and Catholic). Some friends raised an eyebrow when I mentioned this to them and I would ask, "So what?" Last year, a friend from film school got married and I met his in-laws – they have some Rush Limbaugh books and a Reagan magnet on the fridge. If anyone badmouths Republicans to me, I mention these people: the girl I liked and the nice, retired parents-in-law living in the Norman Rockwell house who treated me like one of the family.
I confess: in 2004 after Bowling for Columbine came out, I was in. I was reading Michael Moore's website, reading all sorts of anti-conservative stuff online, etc. But sites like this have opened my eyes a little bit. To quote a line from Contact: "Small moves." I can't say I'll check "R" on my voters registration but just know that some of us in the "mushy middle" can be convinced. Humor always helps, too.
Glad to hear it. Even the slightest bit of fairness and willingness to listen is more than what I usually see!
Breitbart + black studies intelligentsia crowd = FAIL.
In business sales, your appearance on that show would be referred to as "acquisition through cold leads". In this case, very cold.
Keep planting seeds.
Before refrigeration, you could only get salad greens in the spring and summer. So "salad days" is a metaphor for youth, good times, and plenty.
Well done Andrew, I thought you were dignified and firm. Maher's smug complacency needs to be challenged and Dyson has verbal diarrhoea. If you're a black republican you're not really black but an agent of those whites and their code words . Shades of Howard Kirk and the History Man there.
But do not despair, back in 1997 in the UK Tony Blair and the Labour Party were the left liberal media darlings and the British conservatives were dead in the water. It's taken 11 years, but the Tories now are far ahead in the polls and Labour discredited and out of steam. All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs. Challenge the media luvvies, but with dignity, honour and facts. Name calling a la Limbaugh will not do conservatives any favours. Hope you apply this to your site and it's contributors too.
A toast to you, Andrew!
And a question: what can the non-celeb do to fight this assault on our government? I write letters, but cringe as the Bill off Rights faces Nazi-like extermination.
Rest in peace, Ron Silver.
Have you ever wondered why there is a studio audience on that show? Imagine how much more informative and interesting the show could be without the idiotic lefty cheering section needed to give Bill Maher a hard on.
I sstopped bothering with Maher after seeing him do the same bit repeatedly. A liberal (the first time was the very same Dyson) makes some outrageous claim and before the conservative can respond Maher springs some surprise change of subject or produces an unexpected guest to talk about something else entirely. The first time was when the HBO show was new and Ann Coulter was not allowed to respond to Dyson because Chris Rock had popped onto the stage to congratulate Maher on his new venue. Once was annoying, a half dozen times was a clue that this was never going to be anything like a fair debate.
I just had an idea. There needs to be a Big Hollywood cable channel where personalities like Greg Gutfield and Dennis Miller have their own shows during primetime hours. Fox News and CNBC (home of Miller's excellent but now defunct debate show) are not adequate outlets for building new cultural influence.
When Fox News targets culture, it's either hokey or you get home-teamers like O'Reilly and Hannity. Red Eye is the exception, and it's underutilized. We need more rational debate with appealing rightwing personalities like we saw on Dennis Miller's show. There are plenty of personalities worth betting on. Larry Elder, Thomas Sewell, Dennis Prager. There is no existing channel right now that can do this, while there are fifty existing channels that actively do it for the left.
Any money Bill Maher exchanged was intended for companionship, modeling and legal adult entertainment services only. Anything else that may or may not occur is a matter of personal choice between two or more consenting adults of legal age and is not contracted for, nor is it requested to be contracted for in any matter. There was an offer of prostitution. Fees charged and or accepted were for the time spent only.
The problem with the withdrawal approach is that it cedes the popular culture debate to the other side.
I disagree when it's an entertainment show. If Bill Maher were the left's Bill Buckley, you'd be right to go on his show. But Bill Maher is a cartoon, not unlike Olbermann, Matthews, and when he was on the radio, Al Franken. By going on his show, conservatives just look like the next exhibit at the right-wing zoo. Doubtful that many conservatives watch Maher anymore, I never did.
I didn't see your appearance, and applaud your courage, but I don't agree that it's ceding anything. On the left, there is no pop culture debate anymore.
Andrew,
I agree with the writers that said you did well, so thank you for carrying our message to the public. I hope the Conversative Leadership share / adopt your assessment that conceding the MSM platform to the liberal fringe leaves the public at risk for being brainwashed with lies and fiction. If the Conservative Leadership doesn't have your perspective on this issue -and apparently not based on their actions, then I offer your first order of business is to have substantive discussions on this topic.
Good Luck!
"failed… problem… hijacked… religious crazies… racist… sexually prejudiced… homophobic"
Ding Ding Ding! Congratulations! You win the prize for being the activist to use the most negative/hot-button terms in the shortest paragraph tonight. Thanks for playing.
(Sigh) Yes, I suppose one must engage them. But you have to admit, it would be so much more fun just to shoot them.
You're so right!
Good job hanging in there, Andrew. If you feel the need (and I understand your point) to do that again, more power to you, but I don't think I can watch round two. Agonizing. It's like my favorite line from Night of the Living Dead, "They're all messed up".
Bravo! But I do believe right before Fox started there was a channel with Armstrong Williams that was very CONSERVATIVE any one recall that for some reason it went down right around the republican revolution.
More people should have your guts and speak out. Thank you for representing our side.
I like this idea! Soratic dialog! Sounds much less exhausting than trying to engage them rationally. G-d knows that's a nonstarter!
I like this idea! Socratic dialog! Sounds much less exhausting than trying to engage them rationally. G-d knows that's a nonstarter!
We need to get more people just to show up on shows and articulate conservative values. It is that simple.
Andy, For a minute I thought you were also going too mention Keith Olbercrapsponge as a necessary TV interview lineup… *Wipes sweat from forehead*
A heroic performance against daunting odds. The sparring between you and Dyson [and Maher] reminded me of a fight where the referee throws rabbit punches at one of the boxers [you] in the clinches . Nevertheless, when you were able to get a word in edgewise you landed some telling blows and revealed – to those who actually paid attention – that Dyson is gaseous fraud who commits academic malpractice every time he opens his mouth. Does he EVER shut up? He doesn't opine, he filibusters like a postmodern auctioneer seliing race-based victimology drivel. He is to serious scholarship what Bernie Madoff is to sound investment.
Attractive idea. I'd watch, but the problem is, how do we get lefties to watch?one by one maybe. I've been working on my wife for TEN YEARS solid.( In the nicest way, of course
!) and she's beginning to come around. I guess we all have to do what we can. At least she didn't vote for Obama, she says anyway. That's something!
Btw: OT, is it possible to do italics here? Anyone?
I'm for trying anything, but with something like this, wouldn't it be preaching to the choir? I don't even watch Fox News myself, and yet all I hear is how is the root of all evil. (And yeah, from people who don't watch it either!)
WOW. Well put, I'll use that. Every text about power I've ever read – Art of War, 48 Laws of Power and many others suggest the same thing. You must battle and you must do it preemptively, strongly, quickly, without warning and you must start fires from the inside. This idea that floats around even on this site that liberals should not be challenged, discussed with and cannot be changed is exactly the wrong strategy. For instance any time you fight with someone more powerful (Maher has more power in the slot that he's in than we do) by nature you take some of their power or allow those watching to make a choice. If we even switched one percent of Maher's audience to our side over time, that, and doing this in all liberal enclaves would eventually lead to a big problem for the liberal movement. Ask any of your conservative friends who used to be liberal why they switched…in many cases it took something like Andrew's appearance on this show to move them along. Great job AB!
I watched the program a found it rather disgusting. I didn't see much use in it. I found it comical that this "professor" called you a racist, uneducated member of the secret Sean Hannity-Rush Limbaugh cabal while he called any minority who strays away from democrat plantation an Uncle Tom. The smug arrogance of this "professor" was vomit inducing. Listening to the storm troopers in Maher's audience boos and hiss at every word that threatened their close minded world view was disheartening. I think Maher audience in the studio and at home stop listening when they heard you labeled as a conservative. Maher might as well introduce you as a skin head and a Ku Klux Klan member. These people are going to have to reach out to conservative thought. Not have it thrust in their face for them to ridicule and mock.
I like what you said about planting seeds of doubt. Any thinking liberal would have to wonder about the disgusting audience and manners of Dyson and the host.
You set Dyson up perfectly when you mentioned Clarence Thomas and how black conservatives are afraid to speak their mind. A black conservative watching Dyson jump on you for saying that might say to himself "yeah, that's exactly what he's talking about." Well done.
How does the left attract mainstream audiences? Through entertainment. Some shows don't have to be political. The simple absence of leftwing sentiment is refreshing enough to attract viewers.
BM's questions are so misleading, or should I say, leading that it's really disgusting. Like his claim that people are buying guns to shoot Obama's negro army. I mean, come on. The guy has suck a twisted view of America it's really sad. I watched his religious movie and all he did was find the worst examples of Christians he could find to show "what they were about". He seems to live in a fantasy world of extremes. He's a carny act like Michael Moore.
But then, so many of these people are carny acts. They are like the geek who bit the heads off of chickens.Yet they have come to believe their sideshow is reality or something.
Fox News preaches to the choir, but good entertainment casts a wide net. Some programming wouldn't even have to be conservative, just absent of leftwing propaganda.
Fox News preaches to the choir. Good entertainment casts a wide net. Some programming wouldn't even have to be conservative, just absent of leftwing propaganda.
Andrew, I could not disagree with you more. You will never get through to anyone by going on these types of shows because you will not change any minds. Both the studio audience and the tv audience, which is relatively small, are Air America types who are simply looking for their weekly taste of red meat (or perhaps tofu). In order to change someone's mind or to get them to think, they must be open to such possibilities. People who watch Maher certainly do not meet that criteria.
I think that when considering what shows to do, ask whether your time could better spent on a different type of endeavor. For example, why don't you challenge that blowhard MIchael Eric Dyson to a debate before a neutral audience. Let everyone listen to his nonsensical double speak, then counter in language the audience can understand and appreciate. Perhaps a debate series hosted by colleges around the country would give you the opportunity to be heard, as opposed to being laughed at by an audience of fools and a clownish, hateful host.
That is an excellent point.
I really like the suggestions at the end of your post. And to be honest, I would have agreed with the first part as well, except for reading the article and hearing that a couple of people contacted AB saying that the appearance (and the way he was treated) made them think.
I think we need to take whatever avenues open up to us. Truth stands on its own. You never know what might happen!
Tony,
I'm surprized to see you vent such discouragement for reaching out to people that want to hear a diverse set of opinions before they make up their own minds.
Would you prefer that all Conversatives stay quiet so the insane liberal propaganda is the only information available? Did you every hear about the Nazi propaganda machine, and the consequences that happened to the German people after they started believing the lies?
Are you afraid that people may hear Andrew and say, "You're absolutely right! This Liberal perspective is a load of crap and will seriously harm America". If the Liberals have a valid arguement with facts to support their case, they (You?) won't be afraid to a spirited debate.
I completely agree. Mainstream Media is our Iraq. If we do not man up, go over there, and engage in ugly battle, then we may as well surrender.
Yes, it can be demoralizing, we might question the cost, effort, heartache, and sacrifice involved; yes there will be daily roadside IEDs which explode and kill us, yes they will strap bombs onto mentally disabled women, send them into marketplaces, and detonate them remotely. This is war, spiritual warfare. To ignore this fact in hopes that it goes away by itself is to our own peril and the peril of everything we believe in.
Having lived the first half of my life as one of those knee-jerk liberals (I first voted for Dukakis, then later for Gore), I fully understand the power of groupthink. But even as I wandered in the darkness, I remember distinctly (in retrospect) various moments here and there, scattered across years, which were like points of light. Individually, each one did not change my mind by itself, but cumulatively, they did have an effect. In 2000 I was set to vote for Gore, but through a very close friend, the final state of my political conversion took place, and I finally "got it".
To reiterate, it was not a single person who changed my mind, but many people, in small ways, over a period of years, which finally got through to me.
Living in the San Francisco Bay Area (I am blessed to be represented in Congress by Zoe Lofgren, Barbara Boxer, and Diane Feinstein /sarcasm) I make a point of engaging with the people around me whenever there is an opportunity. If I don't bring them the truth, if I don't challenge them and disrupt their process of being brainwashed, who will? It is EACH OF OUR RESPONSIBLITY to engage with the enemy, regardless of how ugly and difficult it may be. We can blame media all we want, but blame will never solve anything.
I do believe that when we make efforts in good faith, that God will bless and multiply these efforts so that they have far greater reach than anything we can accomplish in our own strength. And so, even though odds may look like they are against us, we can still go forth with confidence and conviction that we can win this war. After all, the truth is on our side, and what is more powerful than the truth?
The good news is that while it may be difficult at first, the more we do it, the easier it will become. We will begin to develop expertise in techniques of defense and counterattack. Some of these have been discussed in other threads. The key needs to be to disrupt their narrative. If they attack us personally, to not take it personally. They are not actually attacking US, they are attacking themselves — projecting their own self-loathing onto us, because we hold up a mirror to them of who they truly are.
What I would like to see is for liberals to be challenged everywhere, constantly, every day, in every venue. Including, and especially, in those bastions which they control.
We need to be stronger and braver than we have been, and we need to understand what we are up against and what it will require of us to defeat. Because if we do not defeat them, they will defeat us. And I for one am not willing to live in the liberal utopia they are planning for us all.
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