Bill Maher, Cory Booker And Panel Slam GOP For Senate Hearings Antics

Bill Maher kicked off a conversation with a rare all-liberal panel tonight by saying “Republicans really disappointed me this week.” Though he admitted he shouldn’t have been surprised, Maher found it hard to believe that Republicans in the Senate hammered President Obama‘s pick for Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

“Apparently Obama’s cooties are so bad that when Obama picks you, even when you’re a Republican now all the Republicans hate this guy.” Maher specifically called out Hagel’s old friend Sen. John McCain for his rough treatment during the hearings. “In the Republican party now, unless you say you want to bomb the holy hell out of Iran and Israel is perfect, you have no place.”

Newark Mayor Cory Booker defended Hagel against the Republican attacks, specifically on Hagel’s desire to cut military spending. “It’s not unpatriotic to say we’re spending too much money,” Booker said. “In fact, I think that’s the patriotic thing to say.”

Eventually, Maher changed the subject to the political ambitions of some of his panel guests. Eva Longoria flat-out denied that she has any plans to run for office. But while Booker had to admit that he has his eye on the New Jersey senate, Maher did get to confront him about his potential new opponent: Geraldo Rivera.

Watch video below, via HBO:

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