Christopher Hitchens gave the finger to Bill Maher’s audience and, for the benefit of those unfamiliar with that gesture, verbalized the message.
Brent Baker provides this transcript (which I’ve sanitized slightly):
Christopher Hitchens: “Who wants a Third Word War? The Iranian President says that one member state of the United Nations should be wiped physically from the map with all its people. He says the United States is a Satanic power. Members of his government, named members of his government have been caught sponsoring deaths squads. He’s lied, he’s lied to the European Union about his nuclear program-”
Bill Maher: “But you know that a lot-”
Hitchens: “He says the Messiah is about to come back. Who’s looking for a war here?”
Maher: “So does George Bush, by the way [audience applause]. That’s not facetious [audience applause continues].”
Hitchens: “That’s not facetious. Your audience, which will clap at apparently anything, is frivolous. [oohs and groans from audience, Hitchens gives them the finger] F— you, f— you. [groans continue]”
Maher: “I was just saying what the President of Iran and the President of America have in common is that they both are a little too comfortable with the idea of the world coming to an end.”
Hitchens: “Cheer yourself up like that. The President has said, quite a great contrast before the podium of the Senate, I think applauded by most present, in his State of the Union address, that we support the democratic movement of the Iranian people to be free of theocracy — not that we will impose ourselves on them, but that if they fight for it we’re on their side. That seems to be the right position to take, jeer all you like.”
I’m a bit surprised at Hitchens for taking the bait this way. He’s certainly a sufficiently skilled debater as to be able to come up with a better rejoinder than “F— you, f— you.” Still, one sympathizes with his frustration over obviously bright people like Maher spouting such tripe.
Video in WMP format here. Baker has other formats at the link.
