[More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.]
HBO's Bill Maher clashed with Charlie Rose on the 9 September 2014 edition of the veteran host's PBS show over the atheist's outspoken views on Islam. Maher underlined the "illiberal beliefs that are held by vast numbers of Muslim people." Rose interjected with a left-wing talking point: "Vast number of Christians, too." The comedian shot back, "No, no. That's not true – not true. Vast numbers of Christians do not believe that if you leave the Christian religion, you should be killed for it."
Rose later cited another regularly-used, politically-correct claim in defense of Islam: "What we see with ISIS is not representative of the Islamic religion. I don't think the Koran teach them to do these kinds of things." Maher wasn't buying this argument:
BILL MAHER, COMEDIAN: Well, you are wrong about that. The Koran absolutely has, on every page, stuff that's horrible about how the infidels should be treated. But, for example, again, ISIS says that we should, that they should perform genital mutilation on all women 11 to 46. Would most Muslims agree with that? No. Or carry it out? No, but as I and Ayaan Hirsi Ali points out...can we really say that....women are treated equally in the Muslim world? I mean, their testimony in court is very often counted as half. They need permission to leave the house in some places.