Bill Maher Used An Offensive Racial Slur On-Air
CABRERA: Right on the heels of the outrage surrounding the picture of Kathy Griffin holding a President Trump mask covered in blood, another comedian is finding himself in some hot water now. During an interview last night with Republican senator Ben Sasse Nebraska, Bill Maher used an offensive racial slur on-air. Listen.</s>SEN. BEN SASSE (R), NEBRASKA: I have got to get to Nebraska more.</s>BILL MAHER, COMEDIAN: You are welcome. We would love to have you work in the fields with us.</s>SASSE: Working the fields? Senate, I'm a -- it's a joke.</s>CABRERA: Well transparency, CNN and HBO share the same company, Time Warner. I want to bring in CNN political analyst and "New York Times" editor Patrick Healy, and CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers. Bakari, first I just want to get your reaction as an African-American man hearing that exchange.</s>BAKARI SELLERS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it was a vial, despicable joke, shame on Bill Maher. Shame on Senator Sass for laughing and cackling, and shame on the audience. I mean, listen. This is a lot more than a comedian going out of his way to try to be funny and falling flat on his face. The term house nigger is one that brings up images of black bodies having no value, being ravaged by slave masters, bringing up complexities of color. The list goes on and on and on. It brings up those images of mentality. So I want to have that discussion and I want to educate Bill Maher and anyone else who thinks this is a laughing matter of what a house nigger really was. Because it's time that we have this very difficult discussion about race in this country and maybe Bill Maher started it.</s>CABRERA: Even you saying those words make me cringe a little bit. It's hard to hear those words because of the history behind it which I'm glad you just brought to our viewers as well. Patrick, when you listened to it, what was Bill Maher thinking?</s>PATRICK HEALY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I mean, I think he was, you know, trying to rift off of what Ben Sass was saying, but it was a huge misjudgment. I mean, Bill Maher prides himself on basically having no self-editing filter. He had a show for years that was called "politically incorrect" that, you know, from his point of view gave him license to say things that might shock and appall. But he saw himself as an equal offender. More recently, you know, he has had on guests from the right, from the far right, who are people who really are -- who have said very despicable things, but he sort of takes it as a point of pride. Now, I'm not here to explain Bill Maher being un-apologist, but it was shocking and I think sort of politically. Also Ben Sass, the senator from Nebraska said that he cringed when he saw this. And he is getting a lot of blowback from people who can look at the video and not seeing, you know, Ben Sass cringing right now. Bill Maher has apologized --.</s>CABRERA: Yes. Let me read you his apology. He just put out a statement. Let's put it up for everybody to see. So Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I'm reflecting on the things I should or shouldn't have said on my live show. Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret saying it and I'm very sorry. Bakari, some people are calling for Bill Maher to lose his job. Is his apology enough?</s>SELLERS: You know, I don't really care whether or not Bill Maher keeps his job or not. I'm interested in having this odd discussion. I mean, if Bill Maher is fired, so what. I mean, the fact is you are still going to have people who are going to replace him. You still going to have people who come on TV and call each other nigger whether or not they do it in attempting to do it in jest or being derogatory. The fact is I want to have this discussion about race in this country. I want to have this discussion really about why that word carries so much hurt and pain for so many. You know, on twitter, and social media, everyone asks, they say, well, how can an African-American, how can they say nigger or how can you listen to rap music and say this. And then I think the response who was made by</s>CABRERA: Would you have felt the same way if it had been a black comedian saying the same word?</s>SELLERS: As I just said, our relationship this word is quite unsettled. And so, I think if he was making self-deprecating humor, I wouldn't laugh at that as well. However, those words coming out of Bill Maher's mouth, yes. It is a double standard. It's not a partisan double standard, but yes, it is a double standard. And the fact is wide Americans do not have unsettled history with the term nigger. In fact, while white men were raping and beating and calling us nigger, that is why it's such a painful word. African-Americans don't have that same unsettled notion. My friend Don Lemon doesn't want it used at all for many people that still unsettled.</s>CABRERA: You talked about the reaction by Ben Sass. And he has been tweeting up a storm. He can't apologize enough for not reacting more strongly. Does this just expose a political weak spot for him?</s>HEALY: I mean, it's an odd apology, because basically, first, he is defending the right of free speech for comedians, and then he is condemning the speech that Bill Maher made. So he is in a difficult spot. I wouldn't be surprised if we haven't heard the last of him in terms of getting an apology. But you know, in terms of Ben Sass, part of his reputation as being around sort of an independent-minded Republican, so personally, within that Republican Party, I don't know if there will be as many repercussions for him. It seems like right now, my colleague Dave</s>CABRERA: The story may not be over.</s>HEALY: Right, is a question.</s>CABRERA: Thank you so much, Patrick Healy and Bakari Sellers. The discussion is taking place lit up social media right now. And again, the reaction has been so strong. Seems like he miscalculated in coming on the heels of the Kathy Griffin move this week. It translate for a broader discussion. Thank you both. Now as President Trump pulls out of the Paris accords on climate change, several governors are stepping up. And up next, I will speak with the governor of Connecticut about why he is helping to lead a crusade on tackling climate change, whether the White House helps or not. You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.