CBS censors Bill Maher

Posted by David DeGraw at 3:41 PM on September 18, 2006.

In the video clip to the right, Bill Maher discusses what happened when he was invited to speak on a new CBS Evening News segment called 'Free Speech.' As it turned out, according to Maher, his comments on religion don't fall under their view of free speech.

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."

However, Rome Hartman, executive producer of CBS Evening News, denies that this ever happened:

"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."

We'll have to see how this one plays out. As an interesting side note, the 'Free Speech' segment has thus far been dominated by rightwing views.

Media Matters reports:

"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."

Full transcript of this video on the flip side.

Check it out and pass it on.

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.

David DeGraw is AlterNet's video blogger.