Liberal comedian Bill Maher criticized his own political side for cutting ties with family members over politics during the holidays.
On his "Club Random" podcast, Maher and Jay Leno discussed Sammy Davis Jr. hugging President Nixon. Leno recalled how Davis was labeled a "traitor" by Hollywood liberals for embracing the Republican president.
Maher connected this to today’s political climate. "You're not allowed to have friends from the other side," he said. "Back then, Sammy crossed lines politically. ‘Oh no, friends with a Republican? Call 911!’"
"This is what I f---ing hate about the left," Maher added. "They think I’ll flip to Trump’s side, but telling people to cut off family over politics? F--- off, you f---s. Sammy was ostracized for hugging Nixon. It’s the same thing."
Maher echoed these thoughts on his HBO show "Real Time" after Trump’s election win. He criticized Yale psychiatry resident Dr. Amanda Calhoun for advising people to cut off Trump-supporting relatives during the holidays.
"Oh, how pure," Maher mocked, showing a photo of Rosa Parks. "A mental health professional suggesting isolation during the holidays? Brilliant. Don’t forget to overdrink and overeat too."
He made it clear he’d rather avoid Thanksgiving with such academics. "But I would, because healing this nation means reaching out. We need to understand why others think the way they do without assuming they’re monsters. And they should do the same for us."