I’m no fan of Bill Maher, but he does get it mostly right here. What is ironic is that he would never dare have on his show any of the people who have for years been saying what he says here, and has joined in the vilification and ridicule of them that is universal on the Left.
“Bill Maher ABSOLUTELY CRUSHES Charlie Rose For Comparing Islam To Christianity,” FoxNews.com, September 12, 2014 (thanks to all who sent this in):
BILL MAHER: I saw Howard Dean on TV the other day and he said something along the order, he said the people in ISIS — he said I’m about as Islamic as they are, you know, distancing the vast numbers of Islamic people around the world from them. That’s just not true.
CHARLIE ROSE: It is true.
MAHER: It is not true, Charlie. There is a connecting tissue between —
ROSE: Behind every Muslim is a future member of some radical?
MAHER: Let me finish.
ROSE: I was doing that.
MAHER: There are illiberal beliefs that are held by vast numbers of Muslim people that —
ROSE: A vast number of Christians too.
MAHER: No, that’s not true. Not true. Vast numbers of Christians do not believe that if you leave the Christian religion you should be killed for it. Vast numbers of Christians do not treat women as second class citizens. Vast numbers of Christians —
It’s not just about numbers, either. No sect of Christianity teaches death for apostasy, or denies the equal dignity of men and women. The death penalty for apostasy in Islam comes from Muhammad (“If anyone changes his religion, kill him”) and is taught by all the schools of Islamic law. The idea that men are superior to women is founded on Qur’an 4:34 and numerous hadiths.
ROSE: I agree with that —
MAHER: — do not believe if you draw a picture of Jesus Christ you should get killed for it. So yes, does ISIS do Khmer Rouge-like activities where they just kill people indiscriminately who aren’t just like them? Yes. And would most Muslim people in the world do that or condone that? No.
ROSE: No.
MAHER: But most Muslim people in the world do condone violence just for what you think.
ROSE: How do you know that?
MAHER: They do. First of all they say it. They shout it.
ROSE: Vast majorities of Muslims say that?
MAHER: Absolutely. There was a Pew poll in Egypt done a few years ago — 82% said, I think, stoning is the appropriate punishment for adultery. Over 80% thought death was the appropriate punishment for leaving the Muslim religion. I’m sure you know these things.
This is because, as I said above, these punishments are founded upon Islamic texts and teachings.
ROSE: Well I do. But I don’t believe —
MAHER: So to claim that this religion is like other religions is just naive and plain wrong. It is not like other religious. The New York Times pointed out in an op-ed a couple weeks ago that in Saudi Arabia just since August 4th, they think it was, they have beheaded 19 people. Most for non-violent crimes including homosexuality.
The death penalty for homosexual activity, although widely ignored in parts of the Islamic world, is also found in Islamic law.
ROSE: I know that they cut the hands off the thief.
That’s in Qur’an 5:38.
MAHER: Right, okay, so we’re upset that ISIS is beheading people which we should be upset about but Saudi Arabia does it and they’re our good friends because they have oil. Okay. But they do it too. This is the center of the religion. I’m not saying –
ROSE: But they’re now fighting against ISIS too. They’re joining us in the fight. As is the Emirates. As is Jordan. They are all Muslim countries.
MAHER: Well, they are both fighting ISIS and they are for ISIS.
ROSE: Well, it’s not the government. I mean, some of them —
MAHER: Certainly the governments.
ROSE: It’s a bit like today about Qatar. The big story today in The New York Times about Qatar. And some guy there is supporting, who is a Muslim —
MAHER: But I mean in Mecca where infidels, non-Muslims, are not even allowed in the holy parts of the city. I mean, right there, we don’t have that example in other religions. They do behead people. Now if they were beheading people in Vatican City, which is the equivalent of Mecca, don’t you think there would be a bigger outcry about it? So this is the soft bigotry of low expectations with Muslim people. When they do crazy things and believe crazy things, somehow it’s not talked about nearly as much.
ROSE: Would you come to the table and debate this with a moderate Muslim?
MAHER: Find one, yes. Find one.
ROSE: I promise you I’ll find one.
MAHER: Find a Muslim —
ROSE: I do believe that what we see with ISIS is not representative of —
MAHER: As I said, connecting tissue.
ROSE: — not representative of the Islamic religion. I don’t think the Koran teaches them to do these kinds of things.
MAHER: Well you’re wrong about that. The Koran absolutely has on every page stuff that’s horrible about how the infidels should be treated. But for example again ISIS says that they should perform genital mutilation on all women 11-46. Would most Muslims agree with that? No. Or carry it out? No.
But genital mutilation is justified by a hadith, and Islamic law prescribes “circumcision” for both men and women.
But as Ayaan Hirsi Ali points out, she says —
ROSE: I wouldn’t expect for her to —
MAHER: And she would know better than —
ROSE: Exactly.
MAHER: But can we really say —
ROSE: She’s been a victim.
MAHER: — women are treated equally in the Muslim world? I mean, their testimony in court is very often counted as half. They need permission to leave the house in some places.
The devaluation of a woman’s testimony is in Qur’an 2:282. The prohibition on leaving the house without permission from a male guardian is also in Islamic law.
ROSE: But a lot of moderate Muslims would say in fact one of the things that we need to modernize is the idea of the way we treat women.
MAHER: But in this country, if you just use the wrong word about women, they go nuts. And all these other countries —
ROSE: As they should.
MAHER: — they’re doing things like making them wear burqas and I hear liberals say things like, ‘they want to.’ They want to. They’ve been brainwashed. It’s like saying a street walker wants to do that.
richard ssherman says
Bill Maher will be ostracized from Hollywood and the Democrat party because he is not pro ISIS.
artie galvin says
I have heard Bill Maher go off on islam before but this was just wonderful to hear. Especially as it was to a liberal nut job like Charlie Rose. I am no fan of Bill Maher but in this case I applaud a man who is obviously listening and thinking. Maybe he’ll start a trend in the liberal trenches. I can dream, right?
mariam rove says
He has always been out spoken about Islam. This is not the first time though this time around it was excellent. M
Edward Vaughn says
As an atheist, I love Bill Maher, especially when he rails against religion—in all its guises—but most especially against Islam. And what he said (through Rose’s mindless, knee jerk interruptions) was correct. He gave the very reason we will never defeat Islam: Because we don’t explain the core doctrine of Islam: World Domination. We are fighting their “military” not the true enemy, their ideology. Until we do that, it’s a lost cause.
Diane Harvey says
Little Bill Maher
Saw many a flaw
Eating Charlie’s Islamic pie;
He put in his thumb,
Pulled out the truth,
And said “Look, Rose old boy, I’m not that dumb!”
Truth says
They forgot to discuss evil Mohammads 6 year old girl bride (child marriage) , honor killings, and the evil Muslim practice of slavery.
karl anglin says
In Africa black people were first enslaved by Muslims before the coming
of white Europeans.
Bukkdem Jizheads says
In the East Congo, c. 1850, Henry M. Stanley observed that Muslim mercenary armies would murder, loot and burn a village just for a tusk of ivory to take the girls for harems and some boys for their army. Within a season there was no evidence a town had been there. This brutal method allows them to claim Christians murdered more people than Muslims. Nobody lived to tell on them.
Michael Thau says
The idea that all religions are fundamentally the same became much more popular after WWII as a counter-reaction to the genocides that took place. It is not based on wisdom but on emotion. In the same way, we need to be more aware of the different interpretations of the Qua’ran in Islam. Imams and mosques promoting the various forms of political Islam need to be identified and treated differently than those that openly reject Qutb, Salafism, Wahabism and the various terrorist groups and their sympathizers.
Michael Copeland says
Only one interpretation is possible of “Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them”.
An Unhappy Camper says
Charlie Rose like most East Coast Intellectuals has never impressed me. They seem to be overly impressed with their own intelligence. Maher at least is willing to look at Islam with out the blinders common in most left wing intellectuals. Granted it’s pretty much common sense if you look at the behavior of Islamic Fundamentalists, but common sense is not that common these days. I’m not sure this is a wide spread change on the left well see.
mortimer says
Bill Maher effectively called Charlie Rose ‘naive’.
Charlie Rose instead defended his naivety and his inability to understand Sharia law.
Don McKellar says
As usual, Bill Maher has the only true voice on the facts about Islam that reaches any sort of audience. The truth is hard to take for many human beings, especially when it strips away their deeply cherished fantasies that give them the most comfort. In this case he’s stripping away the delusional, borderline insane leftist views of Charlie Rose. And when you strip away the fantasy and confront it with facts and don’t let them squirm away, they have no defence. None.
But of course, Charlie Rose is like most people. His imaginary world view has been obliterated and he realizes for a moment that he has been a complete fool. But tomorrow he will wake up and rationalize it all away, telling himself something like this: “I must have been right and things can’t really be that way, because “people are good!” and therefore Islam must be good. And with religions it’s all relative. All religions are just as good. Especially since it is the religion of people of color who are discriminated against! Yes, I was right all along. I can’t believe I let Bill Maher get the upperhand when he is so wrong.”
That’s what’s rattling around in Rose’s peanut brain right now.
mortimer says
Charlie Rose makes assertions and claims based on wishful thinking. He has not studied Sharia law, the history of Sharia or the application of Sharia. He is unaware of how DEEPLY most Muslims are attached to Sharia.
Sharia is the goal of Islam. ISIS is OBSESSED with Sharia. So is Saudi Arabia.
There is no difference.
mortimer says
The debate to which Charlie Rose invited Bill Maher is a debate for WELL-INFORMED SPECIALISTS…such as UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS of Islamic studies.
The topic is a very rich one. It is not a subject within the purview of TV hosts to discuss it with any depth.
I am calling Charlie Rose ‘shallow’ on the topic of Islam.
dlbrand says
Hats off to Bill.
Jaladhi says
Amazing Bill Maher( not that I am a fan of him) demolished Charlie rose who comes out as stupid as stupid can be!!1 Charlie rose represents out liberal journalists who know nothing about Quran and Muslims and go out tell people ISIS is not Islamic. My foot! These stupid journalists wouldn’t know the truth even if stared them in their eyes. what a pity!!
New Progressive says
Vilification and ridicule of critics of Islam is NOT universal from the Left. There are a few of us Lefties who get it regarding Islam.
It seems that some conservative counter-jihadis would rather complain about liberals than acknowledge the existence of those few left-wing counter-jihadis who brave the wrath of our fellow liberals to speak the truth about Islam.
Julia says
For a number of years Bill Maher has been an outspoken critic of Islam. He is heavily criticized for it, but that doesn’t stop him. Here’s a link to one of his shows where Bill Maher schools a panel of liberals about the evils of Islam…it’s so fun to watch a prominent liberal pound the truth about Islam into other liberals, haha.
voegelinian says
Notice the one thing that Charlie Rose keeps bringing up that is supposed to trump every complaint Maher has about Islam: “Vast numbers of Muslims”, “Vast majorities of Muslims”.
As Muslims in various parts of the world keep getting worse and worse in the coming years, this little meme, this nodus of anxiety will increasingly be the only point left for the Politically Correct Multi-Culturalists, still sadly the majority throughout the West, to fall back on.
Michael Copeland says
Alas, Islam is not defined by what “vast numbers” of muslims think or feel.
Greyhound Fancier says
That “vast majority” has no influence on the active jihadis. They are like the people in a neighborhood overrun with a gang – too frightened or weak to oppose the gang.
Others do support the goals of the jihad – though they often have no stomach to kill, rape, pillage, etc.
voegelinian says
I’ll see your Alas and raise you: Alas, the vast majority of Muslims dodefine the problem of Islam for the rest of the free world.
Jaladhi says
Vast majority of Muslims feel exactly like their terrorist brethren except they never express it openly. They let the dirty work for those who are called radicals by PC Westerners while they enjoy the title of “moderate”!!
Tradewinds says
Totally agree. In fact, “silence implies consent.”
voegelinian says
Exactly, Jaladhi. For every Jaladhi in the Counter-Jihad who gets it, it seems like there are two Counter-Jihad Softies who still retain essentially the same anxious meme-spasm which Charlie Rose can’t help expressing.
voegelinian says
P.S.: As I elaborated on my blog.
voegelinian says
“Counter-Jihad Softies who still retain essentially the same anxious meme-spasm which Charlie Rose can’t help expressing.”
The only significant difference between the two is that a Charlie Rose is consciously aware (and probably self-righteously proud) of his ethical narcissism whereas the Counter-Jihad Softies are in denial about the retention of a degree of PC MC in their heart & mind.
I’m not saying a Charlie Rose (i.e., a typical PC MC) is thoroughly self-aware; obviously, his PC MC is evidence of a massive horse-blinder obstructing what’s as plain as the nose on his face (viz., the Camel in the Room) — and so a Charlie Rose of course wouldn’t characterize his meme-spasm as a “spasm” nor as evidence of his “ethical narcissism”. However, the point of the asymptotic psychology is that it is strangely contorted into a double loop of denial, so to speak — the asymptotic (Counter-Jihad Softy) is convinced he is superior to a PC MC like Charlie Rose, even as he is unaware that in fact he shares the same meme-spasm, under other terms, as a Charlie Rose.
Tradewinds says
The Demographic Jihad continues apace.
I can’t stand it when leftists and Muslims bring up the “billions of Muslims” as though that’s a good thing. 1400 years of polygamy sure does wonders for quickly increasing a population. And child brides, of course. If we don’t put a stop to the numbers then Islam will rule the world one day. Islamic polygamy should be outlawed. Demographic Jihad is a war tactic.
“One day, millions of men will leave the Southern Hemisphere to go to the Northern Hemisphere. And they will not go there as friends. Because they will go there to conquer it. And they will conquer it with their sons. The wombs of our women will give us victory.”
– Houari (Mohamed) Boumedienne, President of Algeria, 1965 – 1978, in a 1974 speech at the UN
No Fear says
On every page the Quran has violent and hate filled comments about me and my family.
The Quran IS hatespeech against non-muslims.
bobm says
Charlie rose the obnoxious disturbingly arrogant face of liberal bafflegab……time to put to bed the “make nice ” monster… as the Dixie Chicks said…even as you smile you complete idiot… this beast is working on eating you for lunch … a bit at a time..
Anon says
Bill Maher is as arrogant as they make ’em. I think some time back he ran into the “can’t make fun of islam” thing (supposedly) and ever since it has given him a growing awareness. I would like Bill Maher or ANYONE ELSE to show with proof (with evidence, no trolling) where there are 105 million Christians ORGANIZED on a militant level, threatening global peace as in this analysis:
There are about 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.
(http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html)
Using a reserved value of seven percent (which is HALF of what many experts tell us) (http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2003/10/how-many-islamists), that calculation gives us a result of 105 million Muslims that are militant or militant supportive in some way.
gerard says
Wow!
God bless Bill Maher!
What else can I say?!
Wellington says
This video is more about how ridiculous Charlie Rose is than Bill Maher not being ridiculous. Just as being a Muslim is a waste of life, so is being Charlie Rose a waste of life.
CornHolio says
I love how Bill said “I’m sure you know this”, and then Charlie sheepishly ducks his head and says, “Yeah, BUT…”.
gdich says
Bill Maher provides a unique service: someone explaining in measured tones the facts that lie before us all. Many struggle to come to grips with the horrific facts of the practice of Islam regardless of what they see and even when the practitioners say it is done in the name of Allah. It must have been impossible for the German Jews to believe the Nazis. After all they lived peacefully in Germany for generations and held respectable jobs. Thousands fought for Germany in WWI. Unfortunately the realization came too late for many. Most western leaders struggle to square horrific actions with their belief in the goodness of religion. Islam is, at the same time, a religious and political ideology. We must see Islam in the clear light of day. As Maher says, our system is not just different it is better.
medina says
Can’t wait to see the “moderate Muslim” Rose digs up for Bill Maher to debate. I’ll pop some corn for that one. PBS could sell me a membership if they got Reza Asslan in the same room with Bill Maher.
Tradewinds says
Oh, Rose will call upon “moderates” Ibrahim (Doug) Hooper and Nihad Awad of cair!
Wiaruz says
The Boy Reza is a often on Maher’s show. They’ve never gotten into debate on Islam but I think Reza would have a big falling out with his mate Bill if they did.
Dave J says
Bill cuts to the quick of it as usual.
Rose is the perfect liberal nincompoop.
fair_dinkum says
i was so heartened to see this and watched it when it was pointed out by another JW subscriber a few days ago.
it took a while to sink in. Mr Maher has excelled himself. all we want. (as a 1st step anyway) is for more lefties (dont ostracise me, but i guess with the thoughts i have on womens and gay rights, social programs etc a lot of my leanings are left) is for more lefties to just observe and notice and wake up to the facts. And Bill has.
Jon Stewart take note. stop the private (and obvious) jokes for the benefit of a few, and read something informed.
something has always confused me about politics. atheists (like me) slight left leanings (i have already fessed up, and if you know me you know i dont push for the right in favour of the left or vice versa) .. but what stops one party from adopting the stance of the other and co operating when something as serious as islam threatens?
my naive hopes, i think. and their habitual slandering of each other..
i try to keep it all about the reason for this site, not my ‘superior’ politics or ‘superior’ religious beliefs. these sorts of prejudices need to be dropped. or we’ll all sink, blaming leftists and atheists, or the bible thumping righties, as we disappear into the global jihad. forsaking each other.
ive always known that something like this needs to happen. but it needs to happen more often than it has to date. and with more people, on both sides, stepping up and speaking the truth. just that.
Maher is no dummy. he responded the only way a clever and informed (and lets face it, with the beheadings, we are all, more than informed).. person who hasnt been hiding in a cave somewhere lately. could reply. the horror is right there for all of us to see. how can anyone be in denial? people are also starting to pick up on how little the mainstream, moderate moslem is doing to dissuade us.
in fact, theyre scared too. (i know, IF there is such a thing as a moderate)
the confused right: stop the ideology for a moment, and look at 2 ex communist (how far left do you want to go?) nations, and how they handle it.
Look at putin and russia, as well as china… watch these 2 world powers deal with it within their borders. they a RUTHLESS. and with good reason. they are not clouded by their own religions or moderates. they know 1st hand with acts of islamic terrorism being perpetrated within their borders. its no tolerance, to put it mildly.
the confused left: stop with the moral high ground and the denial.
look at Iran and at pakistan. respectively one shia and one suuni. look at their human rights records/womens’ rights, minority rights, gay? ..rights …childrens’ rights. stoning of the mentally ill, by the mentally ill. child brides, blasphemy laws and dont forget, apostasy laws.
and now try defending them.
its not so cut and dry, is it?
the conflict of christianity vs islam. the confilct between religious rights over human rights.
human rights come 1st. the IS has already committed atrocities, under crimes against humanity. they have been broadcast.
as Bill points out repeatedly ” it IS all about islam”
fair_dinkum says
PS: this is on youtube, and getting around 90 000 hits in a 24 hour period.
it is reposted under a few different angles, i could find 2 both with similar hit numbers..
i hope he convinces a few friends to speak up. or doesnt back down at least.
a brave step. thank you Bill.
fair_dinkum says
more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA64SX_52m8
from 10 months ago
V says
He’s a silver fox. Bring real time to fox news already.
Emma says
Of course it’s wrong and naive. I mean no one could challenge Christian religious war under Hitler command who once said
“Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator”
“Whoever destroys His work wages war against God’s Creation and God’s Will”
“Then in a short time it will be seen that (presupposing, of course, a raically national government) in Germany, as in Ireland, Poland, or France, the Catholic will always be a German.”
“For the future of the world, however, it does not matter which of the two triumphs over the other, the Catholic or the Protestant.”
Myxlplik says
Okay, smartie pants, which reference to the teaching and actions of Jesus is Hitler referring to in justification to his actions, or is he just spewing nonsense?
Western Canadian says
Your opening comment is so incoherent, I can’t even guess what you are babbling about….. hitler was NOT a Christian, hated Christianity, and regretted that islam (RTC) had failed to invade Europe…
Randal says
WOW, maybe there is hope for Bill Maier. He sounds like a Christian Conservative.
Nick says
Have to agree with Bill on this.
Talal says
QURAN 16:90 God commands justice, and goodness, and generosity towards relatives. And He forbids immorality, and injustice, and oppression. He advises you, so that you may take heed.
source http://www.clearquran.com/090.html
Tradewinds says
Bug off, Muslim. Your Arabian moon deity isn’t God, so take your brainwashed idiocy and shove it.
Oh – and stop mass-murdering and beheading innocent people you savages. Islam – a curse on the world for 1400 years.
Gayle says
The complete sentence means the god of islam is speaking ONLY of RELATIVES!
Myxlplik says
What happens to me if I’m not a “relative”, and I believe Allah is for retards who imbibe camel urine?
Myxlplik says
Talal,
Perhaps, I’m to be killed in a humiliating way, so as to heal the hearts of Muslims, all of my possessions stolen, my women taken, raped and sold into sex slavery amongst the Muslims to act as brood mares for the Mujahideen? Humm? This is what Mohammed did.
Will Doohan says
Talal, how do you and your fellow Muslims define these words?
– Justice, Goodness, Immorality, Injustice, Oppression?
Also, I would like to know is that is one of the abrogated verses.
Kasey says
Bill Maher is both wrong yet right on some things. Islam is a totalitarian supremicist ideology with a religious appendix it hides behind to protect itself with the claim of Islamophobia. Islamoreality is certainly the threat to the whole World. It sure is no religion!