Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) says that Bill Maher's comment that the US military has "picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit" is tantamount to treason. Maher made the comment on his HBO series, Real Time with Bill Maher, on a show first aired on May 13. Maher's entire comment was, in regards to the fact that the Army missed its recruiting goals by 42 percent in April:
"More people joined the Michael Jackson fan club(.) We've done picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit, and now we need warm bodies."
For some odd reason, Maher's offhand comment stating that the military has moved on from recruiting lowlifes of England's caliber and now needs more people with class and morals somehow equates to working against America to Rep. Bachus.
"I think it borders on treason," Bachus said. "In treason, one definition is to undermine the effort or national security of our country."
Bachus does not believe that Maher should be charged with treason; he only believes that Maher's show should be taken off air. Call me ignorant, but I fail to see how Maher's comments are treason in any way. Stating the truth is not treason. By definition, treason is, according to dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law:
The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war; specifically : the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to or giving aid and comfort to its enemies by one who owes it allegiance.
Nothing in that definition could make Maher's comments into treason. Furthermore, Maher has expressed his support for the armed forces in a statement released earlier this week:
"Anyone who knows anything about my views and has watched my show knows that I have nothing but the highest regard for the men and women serving this country around the world(.)"
The words of a traitor? Not to me - if anything, trying to oppress someone First Amendment rights by trying to silence him for his beliefs is the true treason. But that's just one man's opinion.
