One of Hollywood’s leading liberals might be defecting.
Bill Maher, comedian and host of HBO’s “Real Time,” railed against sky-high California income taxes in Friday night’s episode, signaling that his days as a lefty could be numbered.
“Here in California — I just want to say — liberals, you could actually lose me,” Maher said. “It’s outrageous what we’re paying — over 50 percent. I’m willing to pay my share, but yeah, I mean, it’s ridiculous.”
The tax discussion on “Real Time” touched on where the government could potentially cut spending before Maher made his comments.
Rachel Maddow, an MSNBC host, panned Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s federal budget plan.
“The Ryan budget is a document that says the big problems in America right now are that rich people do not have enough money,” she said.
“They need relief from confiscatory tax rates. And poor people have too much access to affordable health care.”
Maher, who contributed $1 million to President Obama’s super PAC, then said something unexpected in response.
“Rich people . . . actually do pay the freight in this country,” he said. “I just saw the statistics — I mean, something like 70 percent.”