Bill Maher snaps at Charlamagne Tha God after radio host drops controversial race comment

16/06/2024

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Bill Maher shut down Charlamange Tha God after the radio host made a polarizing remark regarding race during Friday night's episode of Maher's show.

During their interview, Charlamange asserted that black people have to be five times better in order to succeed in America.

The radio host's claim caused Maher to bristle and retort: 'I think that's a zombie lie.'

The exchange between the two personalities occurred after Maher brought up President Biden's commencement speech at Morehouse College - a historically black college in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bill Maher shut down Charlamange Tha God after the radio host made a polarizing remark regarding race during Friday night's episode of Maher's show. During their interview, Charlamange asserted that black people have to be five times better in order to succeed in America

ca. The radio host's claim caused Maher to bristle and retort: 'I think that's a zombie lie'

During Biden's address, he asked the graduating students, 'What is democracy if you have to be ten times better than anyone else to get a fair shot?'

Discussing Biden's commencement speech, the comedian said, 'One of the more controversial things [Biden] said to the graduating class was that you have to be 10 times as good to get a fair shot in America.'

Charlamange, who recently announced that he would not be endorsing Biden for president in 2024, nodded.

Maher then invoked the reactions of two prominent black intellectuals - Glenn Loury, an economist, and John McWhorter, a linguist - to Biden's comment.

The comedian looked down at his notes and read remarks made by the economist: 'Loury said, "I thought this was the kind of speech you'd have given in 1974, maybe 1984, but not in 2024."'

Maher then read a statement made by McWhorter: 'For goodness sake, can we please admit that time passes? I remember my mother saying that in the '70s when it still made some sense. It's simply not true anymore, and we should celebrate that.'

Maher and Charlamange sparred after the Maher brought up Biden's commencement speech at the HBCU Morehouse College, where the president said the graduating students would need to work ten times as hard in order to succeed in America

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The television host then asked Charlamange, who dismissed DEI programs as 'mostly garbage' two months ago, if he was in agreement with Biden.

'I don't know if it's 10 times better but maybe five,' the radio personality replied.

Maher, visibly irritated, said: 'Come on...you think you have to be five times [better]?'

'Yeah, when you're black in America, absolutely,' Charlamange insisted.

'In 2024?' the comedian responded in shock.

'When you're black in America, when you're a woman in America, when you're a black woman in America, absolutely.'

Frustrated with Charlamange's stance, Maher snapped: 'I think that's a zombie lie.'

'Why?' the host of The Breakfast Club asked.

'Because I just don't think that's America anymore,' the comedian quipped.

Charlamagne tha God blasted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives, branding them as 'mostly garbage' and 'bullsh*t' during an appearance on The Daily Show

The heated exchange between the two personalities occurred during an episode of Maher's HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher.

In addition to Charlamange Tha God, Maher was joined by political strategist Ana Navarro and journalist Joel Stein for Friday's episode.

At one point in the show, the comedian made a dire prediction for the Democrats, prophesying that they would lose in November if they continued to pursue their current line on immigration.

Maher has been pessimistic about President Joe Biden's reelection chances due to perceptions of his age and the millions of illegal immigrants crossing the border.

Maher compared last week's European Union elections, where far-right parties made huge gains, to the upcoming US Election on November 5.

Immigration wasn't the only reason for the lurch to the right, particularly in Germany, France, Spain, Poland and Italy, but it was a major campaign point.

In addition to Charlamange Tha God, Maher was joined by political strategist Ana Navarro and journalist Joel Stein for Friday's episode

Migrants wait in line hoping for processing from Customs and Border Patrol agents after groups arrived at Jacumba Hot Springs, California, after walking under intense heat from Mexico into the US

'Voters again for the European Parliament said we do not like this much immigration,' Maher said on his show.

Maher noted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was often called a fascist for some of her far-right positions, but he argued moderate parties were enabling her.

'If liberals insist that enforcing borders is a job only fascists will do, then voters will hire fascists to do what liberals won't,' he said, quoting a 2019 article in The Atlantic.

'Voters keep saying over and over again we are not comfortable with this level of immigration. I understand why. It doesn't make you a racist to say that.'

Maher did not specify why voters were uncomfortable with immigration, other than that it wasn't solely due to racism.

He argued the problem Democrats had with the issue was summed up by Senator Alex Padilla's response to Biden's executive order limiting border crossings.

'By reviving Trump's asylum ban, Biden has undermined American values,' he quoted the California lawmaker as saying.

Maher noted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured with Joe Biden at the G7 meeting on Thursday) was often called a fascist for some of her far-right positions, but he argued moderate parties were enabling her

'And then they all stand back and go, "We don't want to be called a racist. So we will not make a move on to immigration".'

Maher argued this was exactly the wrong response, as it misjudged the present mood of American voters.

'It's going to get them f**ked on election day. It's happening in Europe right now. That proves it in Europe, and it's going to happen here in America.' he said.

'It happened with Brexit. It's going to happen again.'

Brexit, where the UK voted to leave the European Union, was fought over on many fronts, but easier migration to Britain from Europe was a factor.

One of Maher's guests, Joel Stein, pushed back by arguing there was a 'real moral reason' to admit asylum seekers.

Volunteers distribute food to migrants who crossed into the US from Mexico in Jacumba Hot Springs, California

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'At any number?' Maher asked, to which Stein agreed it couldn't be infinite. But that's their point!' Maher exclaimed in reply.

Maher then quoted a poll in which 64 per cent of Hispanics said they supported giving the president authority to shut the border.

Another 64 per cent of all registered voters would immediately deport all immigrants 'living in the US illegally'.

'Yeah, people hate immigrants,' Stein said of the poll results, but Maher insisted that wasn't true - at least not as a sweeping generalization.

Biden's executive order would shut down asylum requests when the average daily number of arrivals reached 2,500, and kept it closed until it fell to 1,500.

There are concerns Biden's order my not be legally valid as stopping people seeking asylum would violate international treaties or be an overreach of presidential authority, which is what the poll was about.

Seeking asylum at the border, as the vast majority of the recent influx of immigrant do, is not illegal - but sneaking in without asking for asylum is.

Maher made a similar warning last week on his show, when he called Biden's executive order a last minute 'Hail Mary' that wouldn't work.

'If Biden loses this election, it's going to be because of two things: He's old… and immigration,' he said.

'I mean, just on a political level, I don't think they could have handled it worse.'