Bill Maher: What I Didn't Say

[meegbear]

On Saturday, the website NewsBusters.org posted a story under the headline "Bill Maher Sorry the Assassination Attempt on Dick Cheney Failed."

There's just one problem: As a fair reading of the show's transcript makes clear, I never said those words. Still, over the weekend, dozens of websites, mostly right wing, picked up the story (with headline intact) thus proliferating the myth that comic Maher somehow advocates the whacking of our Veep.

Don't get me wrong: I've never joined the Dick Cheney Fan Club. But what I said Friday -- and what I believe -- is that the Vice President has presided over a bungled execution of a war in which thousands of our bravest continue to die. And I believe that were he not in power, our troops would likely come home sooner. But I don't wish him dead.

Ironically, I made my comments during a discussion about Free Speech, which is one of the chief reasons that I love my country.

To see a complete transcript from the March 2, 2007 episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher" go to: www.billmaher.com.

[greenbriar]

1. yea, they take a 1/2 truth and spread it far and wide

then somepeople say its truth and they run with it

[liberal N proud]

3. If they can't twist the 1/2 truths they will just make up something

And then spread it far and wide to any one who wants to believe the propaganda.

[Buzz Clik]

2. I took Maher's challenge.

Nothing he said in the transcript comes close to the words he was accused of saying.

This must be the first time that rightwingers have lied about something someone on the left said.

Stunning.

[malaise]

4. Scarborough shocked me last night

He stated clearly that he was on the programme and BM did not say what is being reported. We watched BM and I am amazed at what is being reported. What I find most interesting is that they aren't playing the clip.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. There was an attempt against Cheney? When? nt

[meegbear]

6. The bombing while he was in Afghanistan last week ...

some people on different sites were saying they wished Cheney died. www.huffingtonpost.com was singled out for those posts; they were taken down. Real Time was discussing the postings.

The repugs need their "Look over there!" distraction and using Maher.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Only barely aware of that story - and my impression was that it was

just another bombing with no connection to him, missed him in both time and placement. Never got that it was an attempt on him, like that grenade attack a few years ago.

[meegbear]

7. Self-delete ...

dupe of post above