Bill Maher blasts Democrats for refusing to host debates on Fox News
By Jessica Sager | Fox News
https://i.imgur.com/wRdAQlJh.jpg
"New rule: Grow a pair."
"Real Time" host Bill Maher admonished Democrats on Friday night for refusing to host one of their 2020 election primary debates on Fox News.
DNC Chairman Tom Perez announced earlier this month that the DNC barred Fox News from hosting primary debates, saying in a statement that "Fox News has led me to conclude that the network is not in a position to host a fair and neutral debate for our candidates. Therefore, Fox News will not serve as a media partner for the 2020 Democratic primary debates.”
Fox News Senior Vice President Bill Sammon said in a statement after the DNC's decision was announced, “We hope the DNC will reconsider its decision to bar Chris Wallace, Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, all of whom embody the ultimate journalistic integrity and professionalism, from moderating a Democratic presidential debate. They’re the best debate team in the business and they offer candidates an important opportunity to make their case to the largest TV news audience in America, which includes many persuadable voters.”
"Last week, the Democrats made a terrible decision when they announced that they had turned down Fox News's offer to host one of their 2020 primary debates, saying that Fox was nothing more than propaganda. OK, so why not go on Fox News and tell them that?" he said.
“You wanna be in the big leagues, but you refuse to ever play an away game? You don’t like the questions that Fox News might ask, so you’re deciding not to take any questions at all? How very Trump of you,” he continued.
Maher added, “Republicans never shy away from coming on this show, and they come with a smile on their face despite knowing that the only people in the crowd cheering them on are the three campaign aides they brought with them … The audience is against them and they don’t care — it’s an opportunity to expose people to your side of the story.”
Maher cited a 2017 poll that found 19 percent of all voters — both Democratic and Republican — claimed Fox News was their main source of campaign news, totaling more than NBC, ABC and CBS combined.
The comedian also complimented Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) for going on Fox News despite the viewership likely not aligning with his own beliefs.
“You have to get inside the bubble," Maher warned. "You call yourself the resistance, then fight behind behind enemy lines .… Get out of your echo chamber, and infiltrate theirs.”
