Smallscreen News
Bill Maher's 'Real Time' with Frank Luntz, Arianna Huffington and Christopher Hitchens
By Stone Martindale May 12, 2007, 16:28 GMT
“Real Time with Bill Maher” had a lively cast of characters on last night, in case you missed it.
Diabolical wordsmith Frank Luntz, who gave us the “death tax” bon mot in lieu of “inheritance tax” so Republicans could make it a palatable sell, was on with blogger and author Arianna Huffington (selling a book) and comic and NPR commentator, Paula Poundstone.
Luntz was besieged throughout the show as he defended his skewed speak for the Dems and GOP, in efforts to hoodwink less sophisticated audiences. He was on the show selling his book, too.
Huffington tried to nail Luntz regarding his memo in the mid-1990s that told Republicans to deliberately distort scientific facts about global warming, referring to the events as “climate change.”
Luntz admitted last night he was a well-paid linguistic artful dodger.
Huffington Post blogger David Sirota unearthed this gem from Luntz’s past:
Said Luntz: "Look, you want me to say it? It was a great memo. It was great language. I busted my ass for that memo. I have spent many sleepless nights going over focus group tapes, writing exercises, trying to figure out what language would work. And in the end, for that time, I think I found good language."
A bemused and horrified Poundstone tried to make points and attempted humor, but she was in over her head with Huffington and Luntz, the two fired back and forth at each other over political rhetoric. Maher looked amused during most of the show.
Arianna hammered the fact of the apparent complete disconnect the American Public has clearly seeing the administration’s constant failures and lies.
Luntz even offered Maher cash, because “Republicans paid him so well”, not to ask him any more questions.
Also joining Maher was Christopher Hitchens, author of "God is not Great."
Hitchens a wry, poised and eloquent debater of the validity of the faith based claims and poll numbers in the United States.
Hitchens is a proud recent inductee as an American Citizen, and speaks with studied veracity and directly challenges status quo beliefs that the United States is overrun with evangelicals.
His point was that people tend to lie when asked directly about God issues, privately not as fervent as the news would suggest. His take was that the number of intellectuals and secularists was higher than believed.
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Older Talkback
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well, you are entitled to that opinion, but it is refreshing to have at least ONE voice on tv that isn't hawking religion or spouting religious platitudes.
Maher's show is a wonderful respite for those of us who appreciate the contrasting panels and ideas, interesting political guests and always amusing 'new rule.'
Bill-you are my kind of 'ass'!
The article said:
'Huffington tried to nail Luntz regarding his memo in the mid-1990s that told Republicans to deliberately distort scientific facts about global warming, referring to the events as “climate change.”'
This is a misleading and untrue statement. Huffington did not attempt to debate the facts of global warming nor did she accuse Luntz of distorting facts. She merely was taking issue with how Luntz changed the wording to make it seem benign.
People trying to find good, unbiased info should be wary of these types of misleading statements and articles that make it seem like it's only the Republicans that are the bad guys. We know things stay the same under both parties, so who is running policy? Neo-cons the likes of Christopher Hitchens. And Bill Maher does a good job of bashing the President, but he's as crooked as a barrel of snakes and he knows it.
I have seen this episode now 2 times thanks to HBO loops, and she sure does try to point out and get some sort of explanation from Luntz on the turnaround he pulled about his memo 10 years ago-the whole slippery climate change from global warming verbiage...Luntz defended his tactics the whole show...
the article is correct
Christopher Hitchens needs to be booked on more frequently-he is a great guest
Arianna couldn't hardly get a word in edge wise with Luntz and Poundstone nattering- she was right to point out Luntz's slippery word games 10 years ago
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Maher sure is an arrogant assMay 14th, 2007 - 14:50:29
Much of the evening was spent bashing the president. But when challenged as to why the Democratic party fairs so poorly nationally, the left leaning panel memebers as well as the left leaning audience were at a loss. As the program went on, Maher commented on the recent tornadoes in Kansas, calling one person who had credited God for divine providence in seeing him safely through the storm as 'a$'. It was an apparent dig at anyone who believes in God and got quite the laugh from his audience. THAT my friends is the arrogance that characterizes many on the left today. No respect for another persons belief. No sympathy for a victim of a natural diaster (at least no sympathy for a white victim). Only a condescending slur.
I've got a suggestion for Mr. Maher. Go to Greensburg, Kansas next week and do your show. Get the guy who made the comment about God and call him an 'a$' to his face in front of the people in the town who lost their homes. The reaction you get may help you understand why the Democrats and liberalism do so poorly outside your elitist circles.
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