Maher On Berkeley Protesting Coulter: This Is The Liberal Version Of Book Burning, "F**king Babies"

On the Friday edition of his HBO show, <i>Real Time</i>, Bill Maher weighed in on the Ann Coulter-Berkeley speech controversy: <blockquote>BILL MAHER: Let me ask about an issue that is always near and dear to my heart -- the First Amendment -- because Ann Coulter ran into a little problem this week. I know, we don't like Ann Coulter. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] S.E. CUPP, GUEST: You do. MAHER: I like her as a person. I've never agreed with one thing she ever said. That's different... <a href="">I was the speaker at Berkeley a couple of years ago and they disinvited me and then they got their act together and I wound up doing it</a>, and apparently, that's what's going to happen to her. I think. But, Berkeley, used to be the cradle of free speech but now it's the cradle for fucking babies. This goes on all over the country on campuses. They invite someone to speak who is not exactly what liberals want to hear and they want to shut her down. I feel like this is the liberals' version of book burning, and it's got to stop. <a href="">Howard Dean tweeted today about this</a>, 'Hate speech is not protected by the First Amendment.' Yes, it is. Threats are not protected by the First Amendment. This is why the Supreme Court said that the Nazis could march in Skokie. They are a hateful bunch. But that is what the First Amendment means. It doesn't mean just shut up and agree with me. S.E. CUPP: I can't believe you have to remind liberals this. MAHER: I can't believe it either.</blockquote>