Blogs Abuzz When Bill Maher Slams Lactivism
Ooooh, did you catch Bill Maher’s monologue about the Applebee’s nurse-in and lactivists? I’ve never been a huge Maher fan, cuz I like my political commentators hot like Jon Stewart, but this monologue was kind of especially dumb. He made 400 predictable jokes about how he likes to see boobies but not as food for infants (ha ha, stop, you are killing me.) But then he went in a nutty direction and many bloggers are not happy. Of course there was stupid stuff like when he compared breastfeeding to masturbation (here we just get “changing a tampon”) but frankly, I was not super irritated by the yuk yuk boobies jokes until I heard what came next.
He said that the need to breastfeed in public and not cover up was essentially just women being too lazy to plan ahead. All the moms can laugh in unison now. Perhaps next time we can just seat him next to a crying infant who has decided to eat at a different time than usual again and see what happens. Then he went on to say that this was a case of showing off, that moms just want the oohs and aaahs of other people because they made a baby–”something a dog can do.”
There he totally hit the nail on the head, didn’t he? I mean, I had no desire to actually get out of the house or anything when I ate in restaurants; I just wanted a little attention. In fact, that’s why I chose to feed my baby with my exposed tits in the first place. I mean, yes, it’s recommended by every doctor ever and it’s good for the kid, but of course that was secondary to my desire to have total strangers jump in my face and say, “Good job on the procreation!” Why, I know that when I walked into restaurants people looked thrilled to see me and my infant, and I’d hoist her onto my shoulders, whip out my boobs, and say, “Gimme some sugar, folks!”
“Only in America do women think they deserve a medal for having a kid.” And only in American and some other fairly repressed countries is the sight of a women’s breast so terrifying that infants aren’t supposed to get hungry. Those titties are for our titillation, and nothing else! Don’t you sometimes wonder if a breastfeeding mom would be told to cover up in a strip club?
Now, he closed the whole thing by saying that lactivism is a narcissistic cause, and it’s representative of our diluted commitment to other causes. Whaddya think?
I think your commentary is much much funnier than Bill Maher’s pathetic excuses for jokes. These comments sound like they should be coming from a 15 year-old boy not a fully-grown man. It’s quite obvious that Maher is locked into a state of perpetual adolescence. We’re mammals Bill, grow up, look away and deal with it!
I’ve often thought that it must be so comfortable and snuggly to be able to wrap one’s preconceived, thoughtless ideas close around, spout them off at will, and attempt to make other people look stupid, or otherwise lesser, in the process.
Bill’s done it, and a few commenters here, too. Bravo. I’ll have to wait for another day for that sort of warm-fuzzy smugness, because today, the cloak of self-righteousness is a little strangling for me.
But in Muslim countries they *don’t* make nearly as big a deal of breastfeeding in public as they do here. I’ve had people from Syria, Iran, and Somalia confirm it. And an Arab man told me, “Breastfeeding is in our blood” when we were discussing breastfeeding with his wife. Yet in this enlightened country…grrr…Maher, you’re going down!
I’m glad you wrote about this.
Jane, with all due respect, calling lesbians carpet munchers (besides silly) is not the same thing as suggesting women should not be allowed to exercise their legal right to freely move about society with their babies. Had Maher suggested Muslims not be allowed to practice their religion (also a legal right), I’m sure Muslims would boycott Maher.
Why this pisses me off so much is that women have had to fight so hard for their rights. And many of those rights, particularly in the area of reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy have been eroded lately. While I may be too young to remember when birth control was ILLEGAL, my mom remembers. She always urges that women not take what they have for granted. So, while I don’t think Maher comes anywhere close to having the same type of influence as the Supreme Court, it’s still damn irresponsible to suggest that women should voluntarily curtail their rights.
As for the lactivists, they weren’t initially lobbying Maher; they were lobbying an international corporation. Given the rise of Corporate Personhood and the oh-so-cozy relationship between Corporate America and our government, lobbying a corporation is essentially lobbying the government. Given that Applebees net earnings in 2006 were $1.3 billion, I’d say they have a whole more resources for pushing their agenda than the lactivists do.
I’ve never really understood what people liked about Bill Maher anyway. I find him as intelligent and funny as Howard Stern (yawn). It doesn’t take any talent to say something scandalous and get a reaction.
But I do love John Stewart and I’d let him see my boobies any day.
Don’t they say that breastmilk is crucial for optimal brain development? I’m pretty sure then that most of those that are ‘Anti-Breastfeeding in Public’ were put straight onto formula!
Whatever. He’s not as popular as he use to be. He’s struggling for new material as most people on their way down often do.
actually i just whip out my non-lactating boobs in public to get attention. i guess that’s ok? right bill? i mean look at the winky photo, that’s in public. i guess your boobs are only disgusting and should not be seen when there’s a baby attached. otherwise it should be a bare-tit-free-for-all out there.
BORVO: I find that loudmouth, closed-minded, opinionated fatheads generally should not be allowed in public either. I recommend you immediately remove yourself to either the car or the restroom.
Bill Maher is a true equal opportunity offender. To wit:
“If we really want to stop terrorism, we have to get Muslim men laid.” http://archive.salon.com/opinion/feature/2004/03/20/sexweapon/index.html
“The time has come to consider voting for a Yankee. Howard Dean’s Vermont is no longer where carpetbaggers come from. Carpet munchers — yes.” http://archive.salon.com/opinion/feature/2004/02/07/maher/index.html
“Is there any greater irony than the fact that the Christian Right actually got their precious little adolescent daughters to say to their freshly scrubbed boyfriends: ‘Please, I want to remain pure for my wedding night, so only in the ass. Then I’ll blow you.’ Well, at least these kids are really thinking outside the box.” http://archive.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/04/01/abstinence/print.html
You don’t see Muslims, lesbians or Christian fundamentalists boycotting Maher. He gives a voice to things that people think but dare not say. In so doing, he furthers the debate, whether or not you agree with him. In this instance, he gave a voice to the sexist pig constituency, which, like it or not, is prevalent.
Lactivists and offended mommybloggers are better served diverting their energy towards lobbying government (not a talk show host!) to sanction nursing in public.
He may be a comedian, but his remarks still get internalized by those watching. He’s essentially telling women to be ashamed of their milk-filled breasts, but bring ‘em out when they’re dried up for Mardi Gras, OK?
If I’m out in public, and my daughter is hungry, I feed her. If you don’t like seeing breastfeeding in public, don’t watch. If you choose to watch, well, then you’re the one with the problem. I guarantee I’m showing less breast than a college co-ed on a hot day.
I couldn’t take it anymore, and I wrote a post about this, too.
Great post, Kelly.
Jane — yes, he’s a comedian, but there is a difference between funny — which he started out being — and inappropriate and REALLY NOT FUNNY — which he ended up being.
Borvo — I think YOU’RE missing the point. We don’t bring our babies into restaurants ALREADY screaming. Newborns eat on an unpredictable schedule. The baby can sleep half way through the meal, and then wake up and need to eat.
Going out to the car is a totally ridiculous request to make at that point. To quickly end the crying, we put the kid on the boob. We are legally entitled to do so, “anywhere we are permitted to otherwise be.”
Most families plan their outings so that they are not eating when the majority of other customers are. But even so, the restaurant in question, Applebee’s, is a FAMILY restaurant. We’re not talking fine dining here, people.
Do you think it’s fine to bring crying BOTTLE feeding babies into restaurants? Or should they go to the car or stay home as well?
Crying babies are usually the least of your worries if you’re in a family restaurant like Applebee’s, Chili’s, etc. The REAL disturbances are going to be the screaming, tantruming toddlers — should THEY be taken out to the car to eat? It’s MUCH easier to leave the restaurant for a few minutes to calm a toddler down, but when the fix is readily available for a baby, why not give it?
My post is entitled, “Boycott Bill Maher!” I welcome you all to come have a look.
suck my left tit, Borvo. Nursing women have every right to eat in a restaurant.
So, Borvo, if you are annoying me, then maybe I can ask YOU to go eat in YOUR car? And yes, it IS that complicated.
Most of the responses here are missing the mark. While a bit over the top, Maher’s commentary was dead on. Families shouldn’t be bringing crying breast feeding babies into restaurants, period. It is completely disrespectful of every other patron in the restaurant. Same as bringing a crying baby to a movie theater or on an airplane. Breast feed in the car or stay at home. Not that complicated.
Jane – yes, he is a comedian. But he’s one with a national talk show on which he states his TRUE political opinions. This was not done solely for laugh value – if he says it on his show, it’s what he thinks – and he has a pretty big audience.
I enjoy Bill Maher in general, and love his show, in spite of misogynistic statements in the past. I just agree with him on so much else politically, and think his show serves a valuable purpose. But this seriously pisses me off. Ugh.
Newsflash: Bill Maher is a comedian, and his shtick is being politically incorrect – a little nuance that’s lost on the hysterical mommyblogosphere.
He’s anti-marriage too. Should we alert theknot.com so that they mobilize their troops too?
According to the wikipedia article about him, he’s also been in a relationship with Ann Coulter and, while on the air with Craig Ferguson, defended Michael Jackson’s alleged child molestation acts.
Clearly, the man is just unwell. Perhaps the less attention that is paid to him, the better.
Sweetsalty Kate, that is pure irony.
He’s such a cock! The statements are outrageous, meanwhile he walks around with women that have major breast augmentation. I’d like to take out that eye with a squirt from my lactating breasts!! I could take him from across the room– and what attention I’d get for that?!
If there’s anyone looking for attention, it’s the chick in the picture wearing the lingerie in public…
Is he missing an eye? Or just squinty like Popeye?
I’m a fan of Maher’s – or rather, was. I’ve always found him funny, and often right on. But clearly, through this, he’s betrayed his own ….
christ, I’m just so frigging gobsmacked by this I can’t even string two intelligent words together. He’s an effing idiot, and now I’m pissed because I no longer will want to listen to his podcasts at 3 AM on my iPod while – yep, you guessed it – BREASTFEEDING.
He’s clearly a moron. Too lazy to plan ahead? WTF!!! Neither one of my kids would eat with a blanket on their heads, and pumping so I could bottlefeed was not an option with my daughter. She never took a bottle from me, not even once. Bill Maher is a giant ass.
And only in America could someone as crass and not funny as Maher have a platform. It’s clear that Maher is a misogynistic prick who believes women give up certain freedoms (like the freedom to leave the house) when they choose to procreate.
I guess children’s health isn’t an important cause?
I’m keeping a rolling blogroll of blog posts on this fiasco. A simple redirect to SuburbanOblivion.com has turned into a firestorm watch. Way to go, Sara! Jump in and add your post to the list!