Politics

Maher on Obama: ‘The magic is gone’

Jeff Poor Media Reporter
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Back in May, after President Barack Obama authorized the successful raid that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, many of the president’s most ardent supporters said he looked unbeatable going into the 2012 election.

But things have changed in just three short months. In an appearance on MSNBC’s “The Ed Show” Wednesday, fill-in host Michael Eric Dyson asked HBO’s “Real Time” host Bill Maher if anyone in the 2012 Republican field could beat Obama. (RELATED: Al Gore: ‘Our system of government itself, is in real trouble)

According to Maher, with the economy in the shape it is in, Obama is beatable.

“Absolutely, I do, especially where the economy is going,” Maher said. “I mean, they’re getting what they want. They want the economy to tank, because that’s their best ticket to beat Obama. And the bill they just forced him to sign is a great start to ensure that we have this double-dip recession, and that unemployment stays high, and that nothing is moving in the economy. They’re choking the recession in the crib. That`s just what they want to do.”

Maher also criticized Obama for entertaining “Republican ideas,” and not effectively countering their policy arguments.

“I just don’t understand this man, this idea — let’s go half in on a really bad Republican idea,” Maher said. “Why is he parroting their talking points on economics all the time instead of presenting the counter argument? I mean, maybe he’s doing well in the polls, he’s not doing well in this poll. You know, and I don’t think I’m alone. I think for a lot of people who like Obama and always will like Obama. We love him as a person, you know, he’s such a breath of fresh air as a president: a hip, smart law professor, you know.  But there’s just something missing there, as far as the way he fights back.”

Maher conceded that he has lost some of his confidence in Obama, especially for not sticking to his guns in the recent budget deal and forcing Republicans to agree to raise revenues from “corporate jet owners and oil companies.”

“I have to tell you, the magic is gone,” Maher said. “After the Bush tax cuts, after he rolled over on that and a number of other things. And this latest one — I mean, he has no credibility with me. I mean, I heard him the other day, getting right back on the podium, saying, ‘well, now, we need tax increases, we need to get some revenues and those corporate jet owners and the oil companies’ — you know, it’s like, wait a second, I just heard this for three months and you gave up on all of it, and didn’t get any of it? Why would you get it now? Why would the bully now give you what you want?”