Maher slammed Republicans for reigniting the investigation into Benghazi. Maher to allies: Defend yourself

Liberal comic Bill Maher said Friday the country’s opposition to international conflicts is good for Sen. Rand Paul, who has faced resistance for his approach to foreign policy, and that he backs “leading from behind.”

On his HBO program “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the host referenced Obama’s recent trip to Asia to assure our allies who “are worried that we’re going to pull back and not have their back. And I say, good! Start defending yourself! We’ve been doing this for 60 years!”


He continued, “He had to assure them that if China tried to take over the Senkaku Islands, which I’ve never heard of, we got their back. You know what, Japan? You’re on your own with the Senkaku Islands. This leading from behind? I’m for it.”

Quoting a Pew Research poll from December, Maher said that support for isolationism is at an all-time high and a majority say America should mind its own business internationally.

“Now, I don’t know about that in every instance, but I think this is good and this is good for Rand Paul because he’s the guy leading who is leading charge,” Maher said.

Maher said that’s the opposite of John McCain (R-Ariz.), adding if the U.S. were to engage all the places McCain has called for involvement, “We would be fighting in like, ten different countries.”

Last month, the Kentucky Republican faced backlash from the right for his views on U.S. foreign policy, including conservative columnist Rich Lowry. Paul himself eventually took to the opinion pages of the Washington Post. However, he still worries some hawkish GOP donors.

Maher also slammed others in the Republican Party for reignited the argument and investigation into Benghazi, calling it “blather.”

But this isn’t the first time Maher has praised Paul for his views on foreign policy, saying in March that that was what he loved about the senator and his father, former Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

“[Paul is] the one guy who says quite the opposite — like his father — he is for not for having an American empire. That’s the thing I love about the Pauls,” Maher said on his show at the time.