Congressman Accuses Bill Maher of Treason

Traitor? 

In another glaring example of how little our Republican overlords tolerate criticism or dissent, Republican congressman Spencer Bachus from Alabama has accused comedian Bill Maher of treason for comments he made on his HBO program, Real Time with Bill Maher.

The congressman took issue with Maher’s quip about the fall in recruiting figures in April, which he point the Army missed its recruiting goal by 42 percent.

"More people joined the Michael Jackson fan club," Maher said. "We've done picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit, and now we need warm bodies."

Army Reserve Pfc. England was accused of abusing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"I think it borders on treason," Bachus said. "In treason, one definition is to undermine the effort or national security of our country."


Maher's Book Cover 

Maher, a strong supporter of the war on terrorism, has been highly critical of the Bush administration’s prosecution of the war and Americans’ lack of willingness to make sacrifices toward that end. His book, “When you ride ALONE, you ride with Bin Laden” released in 2002, revamps patriotic posters from the Second World War to modern day realities.

Its subtitle, “What the government should be telling us to help fight the war on terrorism” pretty much sums up Maher’s view. He is not only critical of the current administrations links to major oil companies, but our unwillingness to give up gas guzzling SUV’s ("Selfish Use Vehicles") which he contends puts more money in the pockets of Islamic terrorists.


Have the Republicans forgotten him? 

Some of Maher's more trenchant arguments are:

MAKE SACRIFICES
Wars are won by uniting and making sacrifices, so why not carpool as civilians did during WW II (hence the title of this book) instead of driving alone? Also, why not give up SUVs and other idiotic vanity vehicles in favor of fuel efficient ones that will reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, which is one of Al Quaeda's prime sources of revenue.

PROTECT THE CITIZENS
If the president gets a secret service, why can't we? Put real security in our airports like Israel does.

PERFORM INTELLIGENT SEARCHES
At the risk of being offensive, search likely suspects at airports, not random people including old women and children.

THE 'WAR ON DRUGS' IS REALLY STUPID
Why are we investing billions of dollars and lots of resources making sure cancer victims can't smoke pot when we could be directing all of that money and resources toward protecting civilians at home? Besides, it doesn't work and it simply makes more people hate us.

UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE HATED
People are attacking us for a reason. Try to understand what that reason is, don't just resort to comfort and clichés.


Not Patriotic Enough? 

Bacchus says he does not want to prosecute Maher (after all, his accusations are groundless) but wants Maher off the air. Maher might be prickly and a thorn in the Republicans'collective side, but he is hardly a traitor. This is one more example of silencing any voice that dares disagree with them.