Bill Maher Outs RNC Chair Ken Mehlman on Larry King Live, CNN Edits Transcript and Video

Last night, Bill Maher appeared on Larry King Live and became the latest person to out Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman. Via Blog Active is this video clip which has just been pulled by CNN and the RNC. Normally, the LKL transcripts are available overnight but, for some reason, this one was only posted in the last hour. Listen to the clip and read along with our transcript. Then read CNN's edited transcript below.

UPDATE: CNN has pulled the You Tube but for now it is available here. (Thanks BClinton!)

This what Bill Maher and Larry King said:

MAHER: Well, there's a couple of big people who everyone in Washington knows ... who run the Republican party

KING: You will name them?

MAHER: I wouldn't be the first. I'd get sued if I was the first but...you know. Ken Mehlman, okay there's one. I think people have talked about. I don't think he's denied it when people have suggested it. He doesn't say he isn't gay. [Ed: Actually, he has both denied and refused to answer the accusation.]

KING: Ken Mehlman? I've never heard that. But the question is...

MAHER: Maybe you don't go to the same bathhouse I do, Larry.

KING: Why would someone who is gay take public anti-gay positions? Why would you .. why would you ... do that?

MAHER: Because Larry, hating yourself is the greatest love of all.

KING: That's a great way to close out this segment, it's very poignant.

This is what CNN says Bill Maher and Larry King said:

MAHER: Well, I wouldn't be the first. I'd get sued if I was the first. (A PORTION OF THIS TRANSCRIPT HAS BEEN REMOVED)

KING: Great way to close out this segment. It's poignant.

When CNN re-broadacst the interview last night, they edited Larry King and Bill Maher's discussion of Mehlman's sexuality. So much for the myth of the liberal media.

Bill Maher Outs GOP Chair Ken Mehlman as Gay (You Tube)

(Edited) Larry King Live Transcript (CNN)

Censored by CNN: Maher Suggests Mehlman is Gay (Huff Po)

More Gays and Republicans:

Repub Party Accepts Money from Gay Porn (Rod 2.0) Mr. Mehlman, You've Given So Many Confusing Answers About Your Sexuality" (Rod 2.0) Parody of the Racist Bimbo Ad (Rod 2.0) Repub Party Accepts Money from Gay Porn (Rod 2.0) Daddy, What is Crystal Meth? (Rod 2.0) White House: Haggard Who? (Rod 2.0) Hustler Outs Evangelical Leader (Rod 2.0) Ted Haggard's Greatest Hits (Rod 2.0) What a Difference a Day Makes (Rod 2.0) How Low Will They Go? (Rod 2.0) Repubs Obsessed with Gays and Sex (Rod 2.0) "I Like Football and I Like Girls" (Rod 2.0) How Low Will They Go? (Rod 2.0) Harold Ford vs Bob Corker (Rod 2.0) UCC Slams Fundies (Rod 2.0) Did Geoge and Jeb Bush Know About Foley? (Rod 2.0) Blame Gays, Clinton and the Victims (Rod 2.0) GOP "Attack Dog" Outed (Rod 2.0) Foley Latest: Blame it on the Gays (Rod 2.0) Vast "Liberal Conspiracy" (Rod 2.0) Repubs Wanted to Avoid "Gay Bashing" (Rod 2.0) GOP Leaders in Foley Cover-Up (Rod 2.0) Congressman Resigns (Rod 2.0) GOP Rep. Emails 16 YO Boy (Rod 2.0)

Comments

[sm]

i dont think its right to out people. never have. its a personal decision, and a person has to take many things into account.

[Ed: "SM", I know you and am sorry you still hold grudges, even though you moved from NYC to ATL. We'll talk soon, tho.]

[Ryan]

Bill Maher is a beast..im shocked. i agree with sm, but wow...

I love Maher but I'm not sure how I feel about him outing someone...

Then again, I guess he probably felt the same way when he was linked with SUPAHEAD Karine Stephens (sorry, but if i was a straight man, i would claim her AT ALL)

[Bobby]

I am in complete favor of outing when the closeted person is doing terrifice damage to homosexuals and the pursuit of equal rights. Personal decision be damned.

That said, Bill Maher read for blood when he spoke of conservatives and abortion and of course, the last gagg! about self-hate being the greatest love of all.

All I could think was "YUS!"

[Richard]

I like Bil Maher. I saw the live version and I have no problem with what he said. And, as a matter of correction, to those who said otherwise, Bill did say that he was not the first to out Mehlman. (otherwise he'd be sued). As far as CNN editing the transcript, I'm rather surprised that they would do that.

[Bobby]

LOL@ Fear.

Rod, they removed the video clip. I'm so glad I had a chance to see it before they did.

[Bobby]

The gaggety gagg gagg was also when he said:

"I'm surprised at the conservative stance on abortion because conservatives are so intent on killing what's inside of them."

[AllenGallery]

CNN f*&ked up. What probably would have been yesterday's news will be tomorrow's scandal.

CNN, reportably "the most trusted news source" (at least in their minds) is caught blatantly censoring it's broadcast and, Ken Mehlman- who 90 percent of americans probably never heard of- becomes publicly identified with the growing list of sleazy closet cases working the corners for the republican party.

I can only imagine how this election would have ended if so many bloggers didn't get the real story out. And continue to do so.

As for outing an individual; to each his own unless the closet case works to harm others- politically, socially, or economically. In that case, drag them out kicking and screaming. It ain't so bad; there's always a book deal on the other end, and a celebrity focus spot on CNN.

[Rod McCullom]

FYI to anyone who thinks Bill Maher "outed" Ken Mehlman, please check the "Republican Party" archives here. Mehlman has been on my radar for months.

Memo to "sm": Mehlman has approved the Republican Party's many anti-gay campaigns, messages and advertising. For years he has dodged questions about his sexuality. If you've never heard about them, either you are new to this page or simply choose to ignore what has reported elsewhere.

[j. brotherlove]

Well done, Bill. You too, Rod.

I'm not a fan of outing either. But there comes a point when your negative karma bites you in the ass. The fact is, many people will pull your gay card if you act like an ass.

Mehlman got his card yanked for good reason. And CNN showed it's true colors when they edited and pulled the original content. I'm going to look for this original video.