Liberal comic Bill Maher told journalist Glenn Greenwald he is with him on his reporting of the National Security Agency, but argued that former NSA contractor Edward Snowden “says something totally bats—-” whenever he speaks.
“He reminds me a lot of [former Rep.] Ron Paul. I agree with what he says, I nod along and then he says something totally bats—-,” Maher said Friday on his HBO program, “Real Time with Bill Maher.”
In a satellite interview with Greenwald, Maher pressed him on Snowden’s ability to articulate his intentions for releasing classified documents on the the NSA surveillance program.
“I also respect Edward Snowden, obviously this debate wouldn’t be happening without Edward Snowden, but I was wondering if you agree with me that every time he opens his mouth, he also says something completely nuts,” Maher said.
Maher cited a couple of quotes from Snowden including that the surveillance programs were “never about terrorism,” but rather “social control and diplomatic manipulation.”
“Well that’s crazy,” Maher said. “They were about stopping terrorism, they may have gone too far, but everybody in the government isn’t out to get you.”
