During a recent episode of Real Time, Bill Maher humorously criticized an audience member who cheered for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
While discussing the large crowds these progressive figures are attracting, Maher acknowledged their popularity but dismissed it as a “shiny” distraction for Democrats.
Maher paused mid-sentence when he heard applause from the audience and jokingly referred to the clapper as the “always wrong guy.”
He expressed skepticism about whether progressives like Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders could convert their popularity into actual votes in elections.
“It’s not about the big crowds that come out when you’re talking at a festival,” he argued, suggesting that true political impact is measured by who shows up on election day.
He further mocked the tour and recent lengthy speeches by Democrats, claiming they were simply “whacking each other off.”
When pressed by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) about whether Ocasio-Cortez should be a candidate in 2028, Maher flatly rejected the idea.
He pointed to a recent Yale University survey showing Ocasio-Cortez ranked second among Democratic voters for potential candidates, but he remained unconvinced.
Smith maintained that it wasn’t her role to decide who the candidate should be, to which Maher quipped, “It’s mine, and it shouldn’t be hers.”
Overall, Maher’s comments highlighted his skepticism about the effectiveness of progressive leaders in translating their current popularity into meaningful electoral success.
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