Classic.

Via Red Alert:

Late-night host Bill Maher proved Friday night the double standard that exists between the Left and the Right after his liberal guests slammed Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for comments made about poverty — except his guests had no idea one comment in question was spoken by First Lady Michelle Obama.

Maher and his guests, comedian W. Kamau Bell, Republican Rick Lazio and Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden, discussed a comment Paul made on a radio show several weeks ago in which he criticized the growing culture of men living in poverty not working.

Bell and Tanden criticized Ryan for making what they believed was a comment directed toward African-Americans living in inner-cities, and said Ryan blamed African-Americans and Hispanics for “not having jobs” when “there are no jobs to give in the inner cities.”

Tanden, by contrast, said that what was “really abominable” about Ryan’s comment was that “he was blaming people” while drafting a budget that cuts funding to inner-city programs.

Lazio, however, pointed out that many of the cities facing high poverty and unemployment rates are run by Democratic mayors. These mayors, he continued, have offered little solutions to combat poverty.

Maher then interjected and read another comment from Ryan on the issue of poverty.

“He said, ‘When it comes to getting an education, too many of our young people just can’t be bothered. They’re sitting on couches for hours playing video games, watching tv. Instead of dreaming of being a teacher, or a lawyer or a business leader, they’re fantasizing about being a baller or a rapper,” the “Real Time” host said.

But the quote wasn’t from Ryan. It was actually spoken by Obama.

Upon learning that the comment was from the First Lady, his panelists went silent.

“Is something less true if a white person says it?” Maher asked his guests.

Bell, who was visibly surprised upon learning who made the comment, said “I don’t think this is a Republican of Democrat issue, this is a people issue.”

The “Real Time” host then noted that Obama was actually agreeing with Ryan.

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