The comedian says the lack of patriotism among young Democrats is a « serious problem » for the party.
Comedian and television host Bill Maher warned Democrats that they have a « serious problem », pointing to March polling that found only a quarter of young party members are proud to be Americans.Why It Matters
Maher, a Democrat, has grown increasingly critical of the party’s progressive wing, frequently pushing back against what he describes as « woke » culture. His show often throws jabs on both sides of the aisle, taking aim at President Donald Trump and Republican figures as well.
The scale of the Republican Party’s triumph in November—taking the White House, flipping the Senate, and maintaining control of the House—has sparked widespread soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong and how to rebuild. Democratic leaders have come under criticism from within, some for pushing the party too far left, and others for appearing too conciliatory toward Trump.What To Know
In a Friday segment of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian echoed Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin’s April call for Democrats to « retake the flag », referencing prepared remarks the Michigan lawmaker was set to deliver, which were obtained by Politico.
Maher said this idea of lack of patriotism and American identity « is a serious problem for Democrats », citing polling that shows « less than 1 in 4 Democrats under 30 say they are proud to be an American, 54 percent say they are embarrassed by it. »
A national poll of 2,098 adults ages 18 to 29, conducted by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics from March 14 to 25, found that 76 percent of young Republicans said they are proud to be American, compared to 24 percent of Democrats.
