GOP Campaign Chair Brushes Off Bill Maher: ‘He’s All About Ratings. It’s Showbiz’

EXCLUSIVE - Bill Maher speaks on stage at the 2014 Television Academy Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for the Television Ac... EXCLUSIVE - Bill Maher speaks on stage at the 2014 Television Academy Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images) MORE LESS

House Republicans’ campaign chief rolled his eyes on Friday over comedian Bill Maher’s push to oust six-term Rep. John Kline (R-MN) in November.

“He’s all about ratings. It’s showbiz. That is what it is,” National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Greg Walden (R-OR) told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, when asked about Maher’s campaign.

One week ago Maher, the host of a politics-themed comedy show on HBO, announced Kline as the “winning loser” of his “flip a district” campaign, in which he will make visits to a congressional district for stand-up comedy and other efforts aimed at ousting the lawmaker.

Walden strongly defended Kline. “As for Mr. Kline,” he said, “he is a great American patriot, who has been a terrific legislator and representative of his district. Anybody who knows John knows he’s not trying out for show business. He’s trying out to get the work done of the people.”

Election handicappers say Kline has a strong hold on the seat and that the contest will be very difficult for his Democratic opponent, Mike Obermueller.

In 2012, Maher gave $1 million to a super PAC seeking to reelect President Barack Obama.

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  1. Bill wants to get more people to vote. The GOP wants to suppress voting. Shedding light on certain idiocrats is a way to get out the vote.

  2. Kline Not a patriot he is a Paidtriot (Colbert)

  3. OK, I agree with the Repugnicant for once. Stopped clock and all.

    At least in regard to some of Maher’s recent bloviating.

    But don’t stop contributing money, Bill! We’ll just overlook the silly statements. Probably comes from too much praying with Anne Coulter.

  4. The Obvious Anagram has such a keen grasp of the obvious. Thanks for clueing the rest of us in that Maher is an entertainer; I never would have figured that out on my own. The smell of desperation is getting stronger…and I love it!

  5. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    …as if TeaPubs aren’t PollDancers!!!

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