Maher on the Republican Obama/Trump hypocrisy paradox

For all his flaws, Bill Maher has some of the best takes on the neverending train of Republican mendacity. He devoted last night’s New Rules segment to how the GOP suddenly loves everything Trump does that they opposed when Obama did them. He then brought in an impersonator to repeat some of Trump’s classic lines in Obama’s characteristic poised, eloquent tone, and the contrast is jarring as hell.

Here’s the transcript for the first part of the video:

MAHER: And finally, new rule: Republicans have to tell us, now that you’ve made fact optional and changed the status of truth to unknowable, what’s next? Hypocrisy used to be a thing. Is it still?

Take a look at Paul Ryan at the State of the Union when President Trump suggested we create jobs by investing in infrastructure.

TRUMP: The time has come for a new program of national rebuilding.

[Behind Trump, Paul Ryan stands and applauds.]

Yes, an idea worth standing and applauding for. Here’s Ryan when Obama suggested the exact same thing.

OBAMA: Take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home.

[Partial applause with many Republicans staying seated and not applauding, including Paul Ryan.]

MAHER: Yes, either Obama forgot to say Simon Says, or clearly the term “Republican principles” no longer has any meaning. Since Trump got elected, they have pulled utter 180s on infrastructure, free trade, reducing debt, family values, the Constitution. When Obama signed executive orders, it was proof we were being governed by a lawless tyrant. Now Trump does it and he proudly displays them like he’s the Price is Right girl.

Trump tweeted 27 times about how Obama played too much golf. Now he plays twice as much! Suddenly the problem of presidents playing golf too much disappeared faster than a Russian journalist. And even when you say, as I often do: “Oh, come on, wouldn’t you be furious of – if Obama had said you know the White House is a dump,” or whatever ridiculous thing Trump said that week? No – they never admit it. We’d be cool with it. We’re consistent.

And arguably my favorite: Trump insists on two scoops of ice cream whilst everyone else gets one, whilst Hannity once attacked Obama for ordering a burger with mustard. The pettiness alone could be made into weapons.

Obama would’ve been run out of town if he’d said even a hundredth of all the braindead nonsense that spills out of Trump’s mouth each day. Yet now that the Donald is in power, it’s just rude and treasonous to criticize the president and oppose him when you disagree with him.

And some people still try to pretend that Democrats and Republicans are an equal comparison.