When even Bill Maher isn’t “woke” enough, you’re getting into grim territory.
Maher is not known for being moderate, so it was encouraging that the host tried to introduce some empathy to a discussion about abortion during “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Saturday.
After Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., examined Joe Biden’s flip-flop on the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funds from going toward abortions, Maher reminded her that “there are many women who are pro-choice — I mean pro-life.”
Porter implied his comment was a Freudian slip, as if Americans aren’t split half-and-half on the issue of abortion.
Maher continued, “Look, I am pro-choice, but I mean, I’m a little squishy and always have been because they told my mother after my sister, very difficult birth, she shouldn’t have another one. So knowing that I could’ve been on the cutting room floor … but I get it.”
Maher is still, as he said, pro-choice. All he asked was that the panelists introduce some civility and nuance to their discussion, recognizing that many women are anti-abortion and many invaluable lives exist today because a mother chose not to abort. But Porter, a fearless foot soldier for women’s rights, couldn’t let that tolerance for the other side stand.
“Your mom made her choice. And we’re all here with the consequences of that choice,” she joked. “I just want to say, God bless Mrs. Maher. God bless her for having you. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.” But the point is, Porter womansplained, not that it’s good for Maher to be alive, but that his mother made her own choice.
Maher, who joked that the laughing audience was full of “assholes,” was not even making an argument for the anti-abortion movement. All he said was that he understood the other side, presumably those who were disappointed after Biden came out against the Hyde Amendment. When you’re too entrenched in your own views, though, it’s impossible to see that empathy doesn’t have to mean acceptance.
It’s okay to try to understand the other side. Porter doesn’t know that, and Maher may be more hesitant to open up about his own experiences in the future because of politicians like her.
He can try an alternative, though. It won’t make him popular in the entertainment industry, but among those who oppose abortion, Maher would be quite welcome to share his story.
