On his Real Time show on HBO, comedian Bill Maher was interviewing Republican Senator Ben Sasse when Maher used the N-word in an alleged joke. Sasse looked uncomfortable and the audience laughed. Some on Twitter took Maher’s use of the racial slur to attack Sasse.
Watch:
Bill Maher just said the n word, @BenSasse didn’t look horrified, and the audience applauded. pic.twitter.com/kFAs1S3dyM
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) June 3, 2017
The criticism of Sasse began almost immediately.
https://twitter.com/yashar/status/870843287485034501
[give_form id=”79809″]
https://twitter.com/yashar/status/870846976090185730
This is a fine observation but he is gonna get flamed for it because too many white liberals will identify with Sasse's silence https://t.co/l7Q5t4gzVl
— The Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom (@tressiemcphd) June 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/bendreyfuss/status/870854647220752386
Bill Maher should be dragged, but look who was laughing…Senator Ben Sasse. A Senator.
— OneDay (@onedaylight) June 3, 2017
Bill Maher said something offensive and Ben Sasse laughed – which means Sasse gets fired & Maher gets elected to office, right? #TrumpMerica
— Phillydude 41-33 (@Fairwinds10) June 3, 2017
Bill Maher and Ben Sasse are so full of racist privledge. Shut it down @HBO #RealTime
— JuleeDunekackeJaeger (@dunekacke) June 3, 2017
It's appalling that @billmaher said this and that @BenSasse responded with nothing but a chuckle https://t.co/2jYzDi3nCl
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) June 3, 2017
Senator Sasse responded to critics and tweeted his thoughts on the incident Saturday morning:
Am walking off a redeye from LAX.
3 reflections on @billmaher
1. I’m a 1st Amendment absolutist. Comedians get latitude to cross hard lines.— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
2. But free speech comes with a responsibility to speak up when folks use that word. Me just cringing last night wasn’t good enough.
(2of4?) https://t.co/e4Bw8s8tV2— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
3. Here’s what I wish I’d been quick enough to say in the moment: “Hold up, why would you think it’s OK to use that word?…
(3of4?) https://t.co/mQL6wMEd7W— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
(4of4)
"…The history of the n-word is an attack on universal human dignity. It’s therefore an attack on the American Creed. Don't use it.” https://t.co/kEZm5vPFHK— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
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