Bill Maher disparaged World War II veterans and members of the “greatest generation” on Friday, saying the heroes who fought to preserve the freedoms that he enjoys were dumb.
On HBO’s Real Time on Friday, Maher seemed puzzled by why Republicans felt it was important to allow World War II veterans to see their memorial on their “Honor Flights” to Washington, D.C. during the federal government shutdown. He then blamed Republicans for the memorial being barricaded and mocked World War II veterans for taking photos with a Republican–Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)–Maher asserted was “one of the people most responsible” for shutting down the memorial:
The other thing that apparently was so important for the Republicans to keep open was the World War II Memorial in Washington. That was closed, so a bunch of the World War II vets knocked down the barriers and stormed it.
And then I loved this, they posed for pictures with Michele Bachmann who showed up. Michele Bachmann, one of the people most responsible for shutting the f–king thing down. They’re the greatest generation – nobody said they were the brightest generation.
Unlike Maher, conservatives like Mark Levin understood the importance of allowing veterans on their “Honor Flights” to see their memorial. Levin said he would bring “a half million people” to the memorial if anyone from the Obama administration “lays one damn hand” on a veteran trying to see his memorial. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called for Obama administration employees to engage in acts of civil disobedience at the “Barrycades” and allow veterans unfettered access to their World War II memorial.