Bill Maher made his bones in the entertainment world as a comedian. He should have stuck with stand-up.
His monologue from Friday’s Real Time on HBO simply can’t be believed:
“Real Time” host Bill Maher minced no words Friday night regarding the news that Republican megadonor and billionaire philanthropist David Koch had died at age 79 following a long battle with cancer.
“F— him… I’m glad he’s dead,” Maher said.
“And now, some funeral news to report. Yesterday David Koch of the zillionaire Koch brothers died .. of prostate cancer,” Maher said during his opening monologue, sparking some applause from his mostly liberal audience.
“I guess I’m going to have to re-evaluate my low opinion of prostate cancer.”
The HBO star joked that Koch’s family expressed gratitude that he “lived long enough to see the Amazon catch fire” and that condolences poured in “from all the politicians he owned.”
“As for his remains, he has asked to be cremated and have his ashes be blown into a child’s lungs,” Maher quipped.
After briefly acknowledging the “harsh words” he had for Koch and predicting condemnation, Maher doubled down on his disdain for him and his brother, Charles Koch.
“He and his brother have done more than anybody to fund climate science deniers for decades. So f— him, the Amazon is burning up, I’m glad he’s dead, and I hope the end was painful.”
Forget ideology. Forget politics. How does a civilized human being get to the point where voicing such sentiments is believed to be acceptable by anyone in society — even political allies?
Thinking such thoughts is bad enough. Most of us would be ashamed of ourselves for celebrating anyone’s demise and hoping “the end was painful.” It’s barbaric. The words are disconnected from conscience in a way that makes Maher less human.
Maher isn’t alone, of course. But few have his exposure as a public figure or have the attention of so many.
But above all else, Maher’s diatribe against David Koch is monumentally stupid. Whether or not you believe “climate deniers” are evil is immaterial. It’s only one aspect of Koch’s personality and beliefs. The other side to Koch is the billions of dollars he gave to those less fortunate.
Fox Business took a look at how much he gave back to the world, according to a profile on some of his generous donations outlined by the Wichita Business JournalOpens a New Window.:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology — $185 million
According to Koch Industries records, the money helped fund cancer research, a childcare center, biology building and the David H. Koch School of Chemical Engineering.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center — $150 million
It was the largest single gift the center received. The money went to build an outpatient medical facility.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Koch sent the nine-figure donation to help build an ambulatory care center in his honor. Another $28 million went to other needs for the hospital.
New York State Theater at Lincoln Center — $100 million
The theatre is now known as the David H. Koch Theatre.
The list is of charitable donations is astonishing. But Maher, the ignoramus, can only see the money he gave to climate skeptics.
It should be noted that both sides engage in this race to see who can say the nastiest, most vile, most despicable things about the recently dead. But Maher’s words — as I’m sure he intended — shock the sensibilities of decent people who may be passionate about their politics, but set boundaries where good taste and decorum are needed.
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