that Bill Maher crossed. It's not so much a matter of legitimate vs. illegitimate criticism. It's about the fact that it has become acceptable to use a particular religion as an accusation in order to discredit a president. The way Maher talked about Islam reinforces the legitimacy of using what is most often a peaceful religion as an accusation\insult.
Discussing the numbers does not work in the entertainment media. It should be left to more serious, formal environments. That infotainment has taken over, and politics is used to elicit outrage for entertainment, does not justify participation.

There are some concepts that too many USAers can not handle well.

"I think people turn to conservatism because they feel liberalism is about censoring dissent and that conservatism is willing to accommodate bigotry in the name of being "politically incorrect"/daring/free-thinking/what say them."

I think some people are confused about free speech and the idea of "political correctness." The idea of political correctness is used to try to discredit even the most justified criticism. Obviously, a person can say whatever they want, but there is no state sponsored imposition on freedom of speech when people criticize the implications and effects of that speech. Bill Maher knows what the most hateful people hear when he uses numbers to try to discredit a religion.

To use the possibility that someone may worship differently from the majority as an insult and even a reason to not elect someone president is offensive to me and many others. To participate is to perpetuate that religious bigotry the same way that dog whistles and racist jokes perpetuate racism.
He knows better and he knows how his rhetoric will be received by those who seek to discredit even the most peaceful observers.

A Muslim friend once asked me to please read the Koran because he wanted me to know that the things people were saying about him were not true. I told him I was on his side and that I know he's not a terrorists.

No one should have to prove that they do not have bad intentions.

Two weeks ago on Bill's HBO show, he had on the wonderful Palestinian writer Rula Jebreal. They had a good and testy back and forth (Bill often has Muslims who disagree with him on his show, like the great Ben al-Afleck).

Mr Maher blames 1.6 billion people for each and every act of any individual or group associated with that religion, which IMO is pretty much the same as using gang violence to illustrate Black Americans

That said Islam has become the PC way for would be liberals to vent their bigotry and still appear to be liberal

Wow!

Of course , Islam is a religion of peace.

kid glove reactions. " Arabs and Muslims in this country undergoing huge amounts of prejudice, bigotry and sometimes outright violence" so people react in an opposite direction. That makes sense. But what of the 'Gays and Blacks in this country undergoing huge amounts of prejudice, bigotry and sometimes (actually regularly) outright violence'?
When will Americans say 'there has been so much prejudice and bigotry and violence against African Americans that we will bear no word of criticism no matter what!'
And what of LGBT people? Not enough bigotry against us to buy us protection? The violence against us is somehow acceptable?
I come to DU the morning after the election to read that LGBT people were to blame for the losses. But no one can criticize execution of gay people in Muslim countries?
Look at this shit. Look at it:
""The openness and brazenness of the LBGT agenda and the media flaunting of gay marriages all across the country cost Dems dearly and threatens to do so in the future."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025764803