Bill Maher tells "The View" co-hosts that their reluctance to criticize President Biden damages their credibility with viewers, while Joy Behar expresses concern over influencing on-the-fence viewers.
Bill Maher's appearance on ABC's "The View" on Tuesday sparked a heated exchange with the show's co-hosts over their perceived reluctance to criticize President Biden. Maher strongly argued that by refraining from criticizing Biden, the hosts are sacrificing their own credibility with their audience.
The discussion began when co-host Joy Behar expressed hesitation in criticizing Biden due to concerns about potentially swaying viewers on the fence. Maher responded with a blunt assertion that such a stance would result in a loss of credibility.
"I think you lose all credibility," Maher stated. "My bond with my audience has always been that I don't pull punches."
Maher has been a vocal critic of both Biden and his own party, especially regarding issues of "wokeness," COVID-19 management, and Biden's electoral viability. He pointed out that Biden may be only marginally older than former President Trump, but appears to be considerably more feeble.
"I saw him yesterday making that speech," Maher said. "I mean, I'm sorry, he's cadaver-like."
Behar attempted to counter by highlighting Biden's cognitive abilities, but Maher drew parallels to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was criticized for not resigning when Democrats held power. Maher believed Biden had overstayed his welcome and had lost the faith of the public.
"I remember Obama had her over to the White House like in 2013 to hint, you know, 'Hey, spend more time with the grandkids, would that not be a good idea, Ruth?' And she didn't take the hint, and she was not in good health, and she stayed too long, and she ruined her legacy and got the Supreme Court now to be a pretty right-wing organization," Maher lamented.
Maher further argued that Trump supporters have legitimate concerns about "woke" culture and policies, even though he would never defend Trump himself. He emphasized that it is dangerous to demonize entire groups of people with opposing views.
"I'm not going to defend Donald Trump ever, but I would never say that we should put the swastika on the cap because I think you can hate Donald Trump, you can't hate everybody who likes him. It's half the country," Maher stated.
Maher's comments highlight the ongoing tension between the need for critical analysis and the desire to avoid alienating viewers with opposing perspectives. While "The View" has traditionally provided a platform for diverse opinions, Maher's critique suggests that the hosts may be overly cautious in their approach to criticizing Biden.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether Maher's criticisms will prompt a shift in "The View's" editorial stance or further divide its viewership.
