Bill Maher Doesn’t Think Joe Biden’s Touching Of Women Is ‘That Big a Deal’

Last night on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the late night host made a point to defend former Vice President Joe Biden’s decision to joke on Friday about his past discretions towards women, in particular when he would awkwardly hug them and kiss their hair. It appears that HBO uploaded then removed the clip of Maher’s interview with Julian Castro during which the Biden controversy was discussed on last night’s show.

Maher began formulating his stance, joking that the potential 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate “is still at large,” adding that “women are still being urged to walk at night in pairs.”

He then proceeded to compare Biden’s “touching” to some of the many allegations that have surfaced as part of the #MeToo movement.

“We’re getting a little nit-picky,” Maher insisted. “No one likes to be touched unwantedly, and women get lots more of that than men. But the first person who brought this up said he made her feel gross and uneasy. You know what makes me feel gross and uneasy? A second Trump term!”

“He’s not Harvey Weinstein or R. Kelly. He’s more like the TSA,” Maher suggested.

While speaking to Dem candidate/ former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, Maher commended Biden for being one of the only Democrats to stand his ground by saying “I don’t say I’m sorry…I’m not sorry for my intentions.”

“I think he should joke about it. I don’t think it’s that big a deal,” Maher said to Castro, who criticized Biden’s actions on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC show earlier this week.

“I disagree,” said Castro, arguing that Biden overstepped. “Women,” he said, have been told to keep quiet “about stuff like this” for too long, but Maher was not ready to accept this.

The HBO host argued that Biden’s behavior “is not the same as sexual harassment,” adding, “He did it to men, too, and children. He’s a toucher!”

While Castro agreed that Biden did not intend to make anyone feel uncomfortable, he added that it’s important “to understand it’s not just your intention, it’s also how your actions are making somebody feel.”

“I think it’s bullshit to say people can get away with laughing it off,” Castro asserted. “I think that’s completely the wrong way to look at it.”

Maher doubled down, stating that “I don’t think it’s that big a deal.”

Later on the show, comedian Chelsea Handler went to hug Maher who awkwardly pushed her away, saying “we don’t touch any more.” He also blasted the media for lumping Biden into the #MeToo movement. “We have no sense of perspective Everything has to be…DEFCON 1,” he scoffed.

“These are not allegations. They actually happened. It’s on tape,” he noted during the panel segment of last night’s show. The women, he claimed, “are not victims stepping forward. All this is bullshit – he kissed the back of somebody’s head!”

Maher referenced Chris Cillizza’s coverage of the Biden controversy on CNN, where the political commentator had noted that this was “not a joking matter.”

“Yes it is,” Maher contended. “It is exactly what is perfect for joking matter. It’s not that fucking serious!”

Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor

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