On ‘Real Time,’ Bill Maher announces plans to #flipadistrict

By Adam Flomenbaum 

real_time_with_bill_maher-show1_9307Friday night on HBO’s ‘Real Time’, Bill Maher pointed out that while Congress has a 13% approval rating, 90% of incumbents are re-elected each term.

On ‘Real Time,” Maher has consistently addressed the subjects of congressional inaction and ineptitude through his monologue, panel, and ‘New Rules’ segments. Perhaps Maher realized the limits of this format, so on Friday night Maher announced that he and his show would attempt to bring about true change in a more direct way:

“We are doing something interesting on this show this year. We are going to try to flip a congressional district. If you have someone who represents you who you think is a lemon, someone who is a just useless waste of space – and apparently there are some many of them in congress – write us… Hashtag #flipadstrict, and we will shine a light on this congressman. We will pick one and we will spend this whole year periodically going to that district, talking about that congressman, and see if we can’t get some change effected in America.”

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The hashtag has already elicited many responses, and Maher’s selection and whether he succeeds will be watched closely.

 

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