On Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher, liberal comedienne Chelsea Handler joined with host Maher to promote the use of alcohol and illicit drugs as the two excoriated those who abstain as being "untrustworthy" and "f***ing tricky."
Maher, who is known for openly discussing his use of marijuana and advocates its legalization, brought up Donald Trump's refusal to drink alcohol as a strike against the GOP presidential candidate, as he brought aboard Handler and soon posed: "One thing we did on this show for a while was trying to show red flags about Donald Trump, and I love one of yours that I did not think of, which is that he doesn't drink. And you say this is a red flag."
After asking the other panel members if they all drink alcohol -- and finding that they all do -- Handler expounded:
Yeah, I find that very suspect. I don't like when people don't like to broaden their horizons. I mean, you don't have to abuse alcohol in the way that I do, but I would appreciate people experimenting with drugs, hallucinogens, alcohol, loosen up a bit. Otherwise, there's a control factor that I don't trust, and that's what creates a despot or somebody like a Donald Trump. You know. And it's untrustworthy.
As Handler advocated alcohol and drug use, Maher several times injected, "Right," and, regarding alcohol use, asserted that "It is suspect" for people to abstain. He then added: "No, I couldn't agree more. I never trust people who can't get high."
After the two made the exception that they would be accepting of someone who has had a history of an alcohol or drug abuse problem choosing to abstain, she pivoted back to attacking those who refuse to try alcohol or drugs in the first place: "But if you've never tried it, yeah, you're f***king tricky."
The two then recounted Handler's experience of trying the drug Ayahuasca, as she credited it with helping her improve her relationship with her sister, and touted allegedly positive effects on their lives others have reported experiencing.
Maher then brought up the advocacy of illicit drug use by the rock group, The Doors, before ironically admitting that group member Jim Morrison died of drug use:
MAHER: Let's not go into the fact that Jim Morrison died on drugs, but -- that takes away-
HANDLER: Yeah, let's not bring it down. Let's not bring it down.
MAHER: -yeah, that takes away from my point.
Coincidentally, it was five years earlier to the day that Maher infamously advocated putting drugs in Halloween candy and touted the alleged benefits of illicit drug use.
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Friday, October 28, Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO:
10:32 p.m. ET
BILL MAHER: Well, listen, I'm so glad you're out there talking. You've become such a valuable voice. Yes, it's so true. I mean, you were off the air for a while, and now it's good that you're back during the election.
CHELSEA HANDLER: Just in time.
MAHER: Just in time. I know you've been having a lot of fun with it, and, you know, one thing we did on this show for a while was trying to show red flags about Donald Trump, and I love one of yours that I did not think of, which is that he doesn't drink. And you say this is a red flag.
HANDLER: Are we all drinkers, collectively?
MAHER: Oh, absolutely.
HANDLER: You drink? Good. That's one point for you.
FORMER REP. RICK LAZIO (R-NY) (laughing): One.
HANDLER: Yeah, I find that very suspect. I don't like-
MAHER: It is suspect.
HANDLER: -when people don't like to broaden their horizons.
MAHER: Right.
HANDLER: I mean, you don't have to abuse alcohol in the way that I do, but I would appreciate people experimenting-
MAHER: Right.
HANDLER: -with drugs, hallucinogens, alcohol, loosen up a bit. Otherwise, there's a control factor that I don't trust, and that's-
MAHER: Right.
HANDLER: -what creates a despot or somebody like a Donald Trump.
MAHER: Absolutely.
HANDLER: You know. And it's untrustworthy.
MAHER: No, I couldn't agree more. I never trust people who can't get high.
HANDLER: I respect people who are sober because they had a problem and they got sober.
MAHER: Sure, yes, exactly.
HANDLER: But if you've never tried it, yeah, you're f***king tricky.
MAHER: That's true. I agree with that. If you're a drunk, you get a pass. But you did that drug, Ayahuasca, which-
HANDLER: Yeah, that was good.
MAHER: -I've been dying to do. I mean, I watched that with great interest because I -- well, I've done mushrooms -- not recently -- but, I mean, I always-
HANDLER: I'm actually on mushrooms right now. I'm glad you mentioned that.
MAHER: And it sort of opened up your eyes to your, you know, your big takeaway, I think, was that you found something with your sister you hadn't before.
HANDLER: Yeah, definitely.
MAHER: Drugs can do that.
HANDLER: I think drugs are great with, like, broadening your mind. I mean, it's not great to abuse anything, obviously, but it's great to think in different ways and to get outside of yourself and look at your life like you're not you. Like you're not coming from this place of self-interest and self, kind of, obsession, and just relax a little bit. So, for me, it was a very positive experience, and I know, for many other people, Ayahuasca has helped them. You know, Ayahuasca helps people quit drinking. I mean, it didn't help me do that, but I still had a great experience.
MAHER: I'd like to drink on Ayahuasca.
HANDLER: I did, and it was fine, and it doesn't affect you at all.
MAHER: You know the group, The Doors?
HANDLER: Yes, yes. I've heard of them.
MAHER: Well, you're younger. They weren't -- you weren't around when they were around. I was.
HANDLER: Yeah, but I know The Doors.
MAHER: Lot's of people don't. Does anybody here not know The Doors?
HANDLER: Exactly.
MAHER: Okay, all right. Anyway, I, believe me, some people don't know who the -- anyway, they got their name from a book about drugs, by Aldous Huxley I think, some Huxley, called The Doors of Perception. That's what he termed drugs. They were doors of perception.
HANDLER: Well, he had a lot of perception.
MAHER: Right, okay, and, well, let's not go into the fact that Jim Morrison died on drugs, but -- that takes away-
HANDLER: Yeah, let's not bring it down. Let's not bring it down.
MAHER: -yeah, that takes away from my point.
