I used to like Bill Mahr till I read this 2 day

[steffipoo]

now this is sad . I used to watch his silly show long ago and now yuck after reading his IGNORAMOUS remarks I am sooo P.O.'d Steff

Now me I have a good sense a humor and can tolerate more than most I think when it comes to dumb comments from other regarding downs syndrome but he took the cake with me.

newsbusters.org/node/7505

[meghans_mom]

I hate Bill Maher...once he said something about "having a r******d child is a lot like having a dog" (and I apolgize for having to even type that) and since then he's #1 on my S-list. Never liked him anyways but now have just one more reason to dislike (hate) him!

[Emilysmom]

I used to love to watch Bill Maher..........until several years ago, when I heard him say that Christopher Reeve (AKA Superman) "deserved" what he got because he was ABUSING a horse by riding it (and using a whip, I assume he meant). I wrote him off at that point.

But THIS? How does one individual even begin to develop such hatred?????? I mean......not respecting the president of your own country is one thing, but to be so mean spirited about it is horrendous. And saying anything negative about people with Ds is atrocious. I read all the comments at the end of this article, and so many people voiced anger at his comments. How do we help him understand that he's in the wrong??????

Susan

[laurasnowbird]

From another list-serve:

Dear all,

Comedian Bill Maher has a weekly HBO television show called "Real Time with Bill Maher." In each of his past three episodes, he has made a derogatory remark about people with Down Syndrome (and there have been several more times in past seasons).

In his 9/1/06 episode he compared pedophile John Mark Karr to Saturday Night Live fictional character Ed Grimely because Karr wears chest-high pants, and then went on to say he "looks like a retard." In the 9/8/06 episode he said the president has something extra: a chromosome, and went on to defend the remark.
Last week, I wrote an email of complaint to HBO and to his fan site last week, but received no reply.

I am asking you to join me in an effort to persuade him to discontinue his chronic use of derogatory language against people with Down Syndrome. Please do not "write him off" because you might disagree with his politics. In fact, I think to be as persuasive as possible---we should leave his politics out of it and concentrate on informing him about how his derogatory language helps to create an unsafe, inhospitable culture that our loved ones have to live in every day.

I plan to write to HBO, my cable carrier Time Warner, and the Bill Maher fan site to ask for an apology from Mr. Maher by the end of October, Down Syndrome Awareness month. If one is not issued, I will be canceling my HBO subscription. Please see contact info listed below.

Please feel free to forward this email. Thank you for joining me.

Johanna Mattern Allen

---

HBO's Consumer Affairs Department: phone [phone] (call Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM Eastern Time.)



HBO's Consumer Affairs Department email: www.hbo.com/corpinfo/faq/generalfaq.shtml#jump0

Click on "contact us" at the bottom of the page.

Bill Maher fansite: [e-mail]


If Time Warner Cable is your cable provider, click here to find contact info: www.timewarnercable.com/Localization/Corporate.ashx

[Chris]

I have never liked Bill Mahr. I couldn't stand to listen to his idiotic remarks for more than a couple of seconds. He has once again proved himself to be a hate monger.

Chris

[wrblack]

Well, looks like he's got the NDSS on his tail this time.

<< Media Issues: Your Action Needed
Reply-To: NDSS Affiliates <[e-mail]>

1) Comedian Bill Maher has been using words like “retard” and “extra chromosome” as derogatory comments in recent episodes of his HBO series “Real Time with Bill Maher.” NDSS is writing to HBO and Bill Maher asking for an apology for his comments and inviting them to consider producing positive programming that will convey the true issues and experiences of Down syndrome instead of ridiculing this community. View transcripts from recent episodes at: www.safesearching.com/billmaher/transcripts/

We invite you to join us in voicing your concerns though the following:

HBO’s Corporate Office, Los Angeles: 2500 Broadway, Suite 400, Santa Monica, CA 90404

HBO's Consumer Affairs Department: phone [phone] (call Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM Eastern Time.)

HBO's Consumer Affairs Department email: www.hbo.com/corpinfo/faq/generalfaq.shtml#jump

Click on "contact us" at the bottom of the page.

Bill Maher fansite: [e-mail]

2) NDSS would like to congratulate all our affiliate groups and members who succeeded in persuading an Ohio radio station to pull an offensive radio spot and issue an apology for its insensitivity. In response to calls from advocates and advertisers, the station issued the following on its Web site:

“TODAY'S HIT MUSIC Q92 WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY APOLOGIZE FOR ANY HARM THE ON-AIR STAFF HAS CAUSED BY AIRING A SHORT BIT CALLED "MONGOLOID MIKE". IT WAS NOT OUR INTENT TO OFFEND ANYONE, BUT TO MERELY ENTERTAIN AS WE TRY TO DO 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT TO US THAT THIS IS NOT THE PROPER FORUM FOR SUCH BEHAVIOR AND WE SINCERELY APOLOGIZE. THIS BIT WILL NO LONGER BE ON Q92, AND WE'LL TAKE THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE AIRING OUR COMEDY IN THE FUTURE. IN SUMMATION: WE ARE SORRY. WE MADE A MISTAKE, AND WE REGRET IT.”

The station likely made its decision based on the sheer volume of calls from advocates across the country and because its advertisers were made aware of the segment and also voiced their displeasure. For all media issues, it is a good idea to first contact the media outlet, its parent company and then its advertisers if the publication or station is unresponsive to your efforts. Please contact our NDSS Media Relations Manager at [e-mail] for this and future media issues. >>

Hope it does some good.
-- Bob

[Ericsmomma]

I feel sorry for someone who has so much hatred in his heart.....what a lonely, bitter,and small person Bill Maher must be....I never liked his humor, and now, I see what kind of person he really is. He doesn't deserve one more minute of my time.

[Debbie]

I used to watch his show years ago. I don't know why. It was so silly. And I thought it was all part of his politic's, you know, a platform for his comments and opinion's. I was suprised that he was able to form another show of his own after what happened last time. Those comments were just, sorry, dumb, but, he got attention didn't he? I figured he was history after that.

He is a hate monger, and to encourage other American's to make fun of our president is really sad. So many feel like that about our president. I'm glad I am not in his shoes.

[Jessie]

As far as the radion station bit - they didn't want to pull the plug on that segment until the Sales Manager was contacted and told that people were going to start calling their advertisers. The station manager reportedly was not very kind to the rep from ARC that had called. He referred to the ARC as maniacs or something derogatory like that.

This apology from the station was not by the DJ either. He was suspended for awhile, but it doesn't sound like he "gets it" as to why this bit offended so many people.

Had to hit them where it hurts . . . in the pocketbook . . . to get their attention. Too bad.


Jessie

[Emilysmom]

Ok..........let me ask you this. I will be happy to write letters to anyone and everyone in this instance. What I've always wondered is this: If we all write and voice our outrage as PARENTS of a child with Ds, it seems to me that Bill Maher and others may very well dismiss us as parents who are too "touchy" etc. KWIM? BUT, if we all wrote to them simply as irate viewers who see him as a mean spirited person who is extremely offensive to EVERYONE........wouldn't that make more of an impact? Does that make sense? I just don't want him to think that the only people who dislike his comments are the parents/family/friends of those with Ds. Instead, I want the message to be that NO ONE wants to hear such hateful comments.........EVER.

Susan

[Connie]

Susan,

Excellent point, I agree completely!!!

Connie

[CC]

Susan I agree with you too, good point. BUT I also hope that ones that are not say parents, family or friends of one with DS would be bothered also by what he said and write in too, KWIM.

I can dream right

CC ~

[rickismom]

So I am sure that all of us have friends and relatives who would take a moment to write as "general" people....