Why does Bill Maher call himself a Libertarian?

Question

He is far from a Libertarian.

Can he back up his claim as a libertarian. He is the most liberal person ever. When he interviewed the only true Libertarian running for president (Ron Paul) he treated him like ****.

If you think the government should intervene in social issues you are NOT a liberal.

Answer 1

Liberals tend to be Libertarian on social issues while Conservates tend to be Libertarian on economic issues. Mr. Maher is the former and since he perceives himself to be Libertarian on social issues, he mistakenly thinks himself to be a Libertarian. If and when he takes the next step recognizing that the government that is totally incapable of running one's personal life is also totally incapable of running the economy, he might truly be Libertarian. For now, he's a Liberal that won't admit it.

Answer 2

Aug. 1, 2001 | Perhaps the most politically incorrect thing Bill Maher could do these days is admit he's more or less a liberal.

With the White House and Congress solidly conservative and the Senate on a constant Democratic deathwatch, these are not the best of times to be teetering left of center. And so the host of ABC's "Politically Incorrect" has done a rather political thing.

He's come out as a libertarian.

For Maher, this isn't a recent phenomenon. Maher had been calling himself libertarian well before Bill Clinton left for Chappaqua, N.Y. And why not? The host of the late-night political discussion program has never been above raising a few eyebrows.


During the 1996 elections, Maher had comedian Al Franken and commentator Arianna Huffington do political soliloquies while lying together in bed. That year, Maher also endorsed Bob Dole -- not because they agreed on most issues but because Dole was a "war hero." Last year, Maher was one of late night's leading political skewers, lampooning each party's standard-bearers ("Gush" and "Bore" were his inventions) and pointedly lobbying during the contest's final weeks for voters to elect a third-party candidate.

Libertarian Harry Browne? No. Maher supported Ralph Nader.

That Maher calls himself a libertarian could be taken as yet another joke if only Maher weren't so serious. Recently, he welcomed libertarian talk show host Larry Elder to the show with fist-pumping enthusiasm. And while they agreed on the issue of the day (privatizing Social Security), they have had plenty to disagree about. Elder is against the minimum wage and affirmative action and in favor of abolishing the Department of Education. Maher has routinely staked out contrary positions on these and other issues.

In conservative chat rooms, Maher has been called "a tax and spend politically correct liberal who's a-okay with the Leviathan state as long as he gets his Hustler, his hookers and his hash." Vanity Fair once described Maher as a "throbbing ***** libertarian," while Vogue once called him a "conservative pit viper." Brill's Content weighed in by calling him more of a libertine.

Maher clearly revels in all the controversy. Though his positions are no different from those of many liberals when it comes to legalizing drugs and free love, Maher's questionable political labeling is clearly a politically savvy move. It's gotten him libertarian guests like Browne, Charles Murray and Russell Means -- not to mention a bevy of conservative panelists like Ann Coulter, Floyd Brown and Dennis Prager.

Whether they believe him to be an actual libertarian is anyone's guess, but like any astute politician, Maher's well aware that a little hyperbole can go a long way

Answer 3

You can be a libertarian, and you can be a democrat, or liberal. Libertarianism does not necessarily imply one has any conservative beliefs, fiscal or otherwise. I have trouble understanding conservatives who tout libertarianism, yet feel government needs to control our lives socially, by controlling abortion, birth control, imposing theocratic principles, etc. Republican libertarians want government out of their lives so they can feel free to not give the government a dime, and will demean classes of people who are in need of government support. Bill Maher is a sex positive, pro legalization, pro death penalty, liberal. Liberty does not mean allowing financiers to play the market unethically, and sometimes criminally. Personal liberty is the freedom to live my life how I see fit, with all the benefits of the constitution that everyone else has, in spite of socially oppressive opinions. Bill Maher is most certainly a libertarian, and more libertarian than any other candidate, save Ron Paul, which is debatable.

Answer 4

He is libertarian in the sense that he believes that there should be no interference from the federal government into the private rights of citizens. He is definitely to the left on social issues, but that doesn't get him kicked out of the libertarian party.

Answer 5

Can you back up your point of view?

EDIT: Ok, you're just saying that he treated Ron Paul like **** is your opinion, not a fact on which to base a conclusion that he's liberal and not libertarian. You might be right, I don't know because I don't have HBO, but it helps if you can give examples of things he's said that are indicative of liberal philosophy as opposed to libertarian.

Answer 6

He believes in social civil liberties but believes in liberal big government in many other things.

The left libertarians and right libertarians are mostly hybrids.
Pure libertarians have to be in favor at the same time:

The right of Playboy to show naked women and the right of groups outside of the Playboy mansion protesting.

The right of drug companies to earn an honest buck but the right of drug dealers to do so also.

The right for peaceful immigrants to come over our borders to work but the right for businesses not to hire them.

Its hard to be a real libertarian.

Answer 7

libertarians are the smartest people I know

Clint Eastwood is a Libertarian.

tom cruise belongs to a cult.

I am a libertarian.

look it up and learn---try "what it means to be a libertarian"

live and let live---and we are not anarchists.

your rights go as far as where my nose begins.

check it out---it's very, very good stuff

unless you are a control freak.

then it don't work

Answer 8

he's probably a social libertarian... economically, maybe not so much...

many people define themselves very differently... and there are many definitions out there... it can get kind of hard to figure out what is what exactly...

Answer 9

Not fashionable to be called a Liberal anymore? Do you blame him?

Answer 10

He's not a libertarian, he is definitely a socialist, and yes... i can back up my point of view.