'The Democrats are the party of no common sense': Bill Maher defends parents rejecting CRT and says teaching the history of racism in the US is NOT the same as teaching that 'racism is the essence of America'
Real Time host Bill Maher laid into Critical Race Theory in American schools and cancel culture in a freewheeling interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo on Wednesday.
Maher, who describes himself as an 'old-school liberal', slammed the far left and progressive side of the Democrats which he called the 'party of no common sense'.
He added that he supported teaching the history of racism in America, but 'that's different than teaching children that racism is the essence of America.'
'That's what people get upset about, or involving children who are not old enough or sophisticated enough to understand this very complicated history.'
Maher also told Cuomo that he supports Dave Chappelle, who received backlash after making derogatory comments about trans people, and said he himself has received calls to be cancelled from conservatives and liberals alike.
The late night host warned that Donald Trump would run for re-election in 2022 and further a 'slow-moving coup' take over the GOP with his supporters.
In a wide-ranging interview, Maher told Cuomo:
- There is an 'honest history of racism' and that was 'different than teaching that racism is the essence of America,' which is what he says CRT tells children;
- NBC star said that transgender/transsexuality was not 'settled science' and people were not bigots if they questioned whether it should be taught to kids;
- Maher said people from both the right and the left had tried to 'cancel' him;
- He tipped Trump for the White House, saying: 'Trust me he is going to run ... He is going to get the nomination, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if he won.'
Bill Maher spoke with CNN's Chris Cuomo on Wednesday night to discuss his views on CRT, cancel culture and the popularity of former President Donald Trump
The history of racism in America is NOT the same as teaching that 'racism is the essence of America': Maher slams CRT
Maher has often been vocal against Critical Race Theory and supporting parents across the nation who reject the controversial teaching method.
Defenders of current progressive school policies argue that CRT is a college-level academic theory that isn't taught in schools, and that it's being used as a catch-all term to scare parents.
But those opposed say many lessons and school policies - most under the umbrella of 'diversity, equity and inclusion,' are created by adults influenced by CRT.
Maher told Cuomo that through CRT-influenced classes, 'kids are taught and sometimes separated into groups, oppressor and oppressed.'
'Does a kid even know what those words mean?'
When Cuomo brought up the argument that avoiding the realities of racism in America is akin to 'hiding from the truth,' Maher dismissed the idea.
'That's nuts. That's just silly. It's just virtue signaling,' he said.
Maher added that CRT has become very polarizing in the US and influenced Democrat's loss in the Virginia gubernatorial race when Republican Candidate Glenn Youngkin made education and anti-CRT policies his main platform.
'There's something going on in the schools that never went on before,' Maher told Cuomo. 'Now I'm not in schools, I have no interaction with children whatsoever, but I do understand this issue because I read accounts from parents, from educators.'
Bill Maher criticized the idea of teaching Critical Race Theory in schools and backed parents who opposed the controversial teaching method
Parents at the Loudoun County Schools have led the nation in protests against CRT
School district board meeting have erupted with calls to end CRT since the summer of 2021
He said that previous generations had been taught about slavery and racism but that did not meant to learn it 'viscerally', saying that an 'honest history of racism' was 'different than teaching that racism is the essence of America.'
Maher added that is what parents objected to, 'or involving children who are probably not old enough or sophisticated enough to understand this very complicated issue with a very complicated history.'
He described himself as an 'old-school liberal' and that it was 'wokeism' to see race everywhere.
Maher defends Dave Chappelle
Maher and Cuomo went on to discuss cancel culture and the controversy surrounding comedian Dave Chappelle, whose The Closer Netflix special has been heavily criticized for jokes against the trans community.
In the stand-up special, Chappelle mocked the idea that gender could be fluid and defended Harry Potter author JK Rowling for her statements that transgender women were not actually women and were a threat to her identity.
Like Chappelle saying he was on team Rowling, Maher said, 'I'm team Dave and free speech.'
Maher said that Chappelle's stand up was opening up dialogue about the trans community and doubted that Chappelle was a transphobe, as many critics have said.
Maher told Cuomo that what it means to be trans is still new and should not be used as a weapon against those who are asking questions.
'So don't put it into this category of "This is settled science." Anything that deviates from the one true opinion on this means you're some horrible bigot or transphobic.' That's not what's going on here,' Maher said.
He continued: 'And I don't think Dave Chappelle is transphobic… It's like- can we take a breath? Maybe we are going too far with the children part of this. You know, kids should not be really making decisions about their gender.
'I mean, Mario Lopez was almost canceled for suggesting that maybe three-year-olds shouldn't decide their gender. This is not crazy stuff that makes you a bigot.'
Dave Chappelle received major backlash for his jokes aimed at the trans community on his latest Netflix special, The Closer
Maher defended Chappelle and criticized those who were quick to cancel the comedian
Chappelle, pictured on November 6, had been labeled 'cancel' despite The Closer's success
The HBO host shared his own story about a female friend who said she was a 'tomboy' as a child and that she's convinced that if she were growing up today, 'they would've made me into a boy here in California.'
When Cuomo asked him why he thought Chappelle would go after a minority community, Maher remarked that Chappelle could be feeling a sense of jealousy over the speed of which the trans community is receiving rights and recognition as opposed to that of black Americans.
Cuomo said: 'His choice to make jokes about them- Now, this is the argument… that I don't think he handled well, I will say that - you're punching down at this group. This is a discreet minority.
'They've got a lot of problems of being targeted and hurt. You are a powerful voice. And you making fun of them empowers the people who want to hurt them whether you know that or not.
'Now that we've told you that, stop doing it. Is that a bad suggestion?'
Maher admitted that Chapelle might be 'a little obsessed with this one issue', added: 'I think as a black man in America, he's sees… nobody in America, except for the Indians, have had it anywhere near like the black folks have had it in America. So I can see why that would get under the skin.'
'Both sides are trying to cancel me'
As they discussed cancel culture and Maher's apparent diversion from liberals, Cuomo asked The Real Time talk show host if he was worried about getting cancelled.
Maher shrugged the question off because he said 'both sides' have tried cancelling him.
'My politics have not changed. I'm an old-school liberal. We were talking about the race issue. They changed, not me,' Maher said.
'I was the old — we should be moving toward a color-blind society where we don't see race. That's the old way to look at it, I think that's still the good way to look at it.'
Along with decades of criticism from conservatives, Maher has recently received backlash from fellow liberals over his opinions on topics like CRT and cancel culture.
Maher defended his views and said he was an 'old liberal' who has stuck to his values
Maher has recently received backlash from fellow liberals over his views on CRT
Even his interview with Cuomo received criticism, with one Cuomo fan tweeting, 'Love you Chris, but Bill has lost his way and is unwatchable in any capacity.
Another Twitter user with the handle @eradecic wrote, 'Meh. Racism thinly-veiled as 'truth' or 'edginess' and mean anti-religion rants is no reason to turn in. I outgrew that dude, or he's recessed. Regardless, meh guest.'
'Trust me he is going to run, absolutely': Maher believes Trump will run
Near the end of the show, Maher discussed his fear of what he called a 'slow-moving coup' in American politics.
Maher criticized former President Donald Trump and his continued attempts to discredit the 2020 presidential elections and warned that Trump would be next Republican presidential candidate.
'Trust me he is going to run, absolutely. He is going to get the nomination, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if he just won the election,' Maher said.
Maher warned that Donald Trump would run again in 2024 and radicalize the GOP
'Even if he doesn't win the election, he will say he won the election. There is no doubt that he will say he won.
'It doesn't matter what the number is, they're just going to say it was rigged. The think the last one is rigged,' Maher said.
He also warned that Trump could engage in some kind of election fraud in 2024 to secure his victory, and accused Trump of 'purging' Republicans who would stand up to him.
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