CBS censors Bill Maher

Bill Maher: "Well, I asked if I could talk about religion, and that was a deal-breaker right from the beginning…. They said, 'We'll send over a list of acceptable topics,' for our segment on free speech."

"Bill Maher was never told that he couldn't discuss religion in a 'Free Speech' segment. In fact, 'Free Speech' has already addressed religion and we expect others will in the future."

"As Media Matters for America has documented, the first nine days of "Free Speech" segments have thus far featured nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), and former Bush aide Michael Gerson, but not a single Democrat or progressive…. CBS' alleged treatment of Maher stands in stark contrast to the network's reported treatment of Limbaugh, who bragged that he agreed to do a 'Free Speech' segment only after CBS acceded to various 'promises and conditions' he set down."

MAHER: Well, TV certainly has a lot of women. We saw three of them who where in the news this week: Meredith Vieira, Rosie O'Donnell, Katie Couric. Now, I have to say -- I want to say something about what's going on on that CBS Evening News broadcast, because -- full disclosure -- they asked me to do one of their -- they have some -- a special feature which they call "Free Speech," which I thought, great. Free speech. I thought it was a little condescending to be like, "Well, we're giving you free speech."

MICHAEL McKEAN: It was our idea.

BILL MAHER: Yeah. Let the other 500 channels have egg on their face -- we're providing free speech to America. But I was very flattered, because, I tell you, CBS News -- that's Edward R. Murrow, and [Walter] Cronkite, and Mike Wallace. I have them on a pedestal. But it's anything but free speech, and this is why I'm bringing it up. I'm not trying to rag on them, but, I mean, if CBS News doesn't understand what free speech is, what am I supposed to expect of Fox News?

GLORIA STEINEM: But, what happened to you? Did they --

BILL MAHER: What happened? Have you seen the broadcast?

GLORIA STEINEM: Yeah.

MICHAEL McKEAN: Yeah.

BILL MAHER: There was nothing -- Katie said at the beginning --

GLORIA STEINEM: Well, what happened to you? Did they not let you say what you wanted?

BILL MAHER: Well, I asked if I could talk about religion, and that was a deal-breaker right from the beginning.

STEINEM: But, that's -- that's ridiculous.

BILL MAHER: And they said, we -- ex -- that's my point. They said, "We'll send over a list of acceptable topics," for our segment on free speech. And, Katie said, at the -- she introduced this on her first broadcast by saying, "Expressing your opinion is one of the privileges of living in this country." Well, sorry again, but I thought it was a right, and not a privilege. I thought -- and, again, I only bring this up because they're treating it as a privilege. And, if CBS News doesn't get the difference between a privilege and a right, we're in a lot of trouble in this country.