Ben Affleck planted himself firmly opposite Bill Maher and the comedian’s criticism of Islam in a shout-fest on Friday night’s “Real Time.”
“Debating” Maher and fellow panelist Sam Harris (an author, religious skeptic and particular critic of Islam), Affleck interpreted his opponents’ blanket criticism of Islamic ideas and worldviews as bigotry. One portion of the exchange:
Affleck: So you’re saying if I criticize — you’re saying that Islamophobia is not a real thing, that if you’re critical of something —
Maher: Well it’s not a real thing when we do it. It really isn’t.
Harris: I’m not denying that certain people are bigoted against Muslims as people.
Affleck: That’s bigamy.
(crosstalk)
Maher: But why are you so hostile about this concept?
Affleck: Because it’s gross! It’s racist.
Maher: It’s not. But it’s so not.
Affleck: It’s like saying, (inaudible) “you shifty Jew.”
Harris: Absolutely not.
Maher: You’re not listening to what we are saying.
Harris later called Islam “the motherlode of bad ideas,” at which point New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and former RNC Chairman Michael Steele hopped in to make some more moderate points.
Those only broke up a mostly contentious argument between Affleck and Maher and Harris that occurred over the course of 10-plus minutes.
