Bill Maher Takes Aim at Minnesota Congressman
Published at
HBO/Janet Van Ham(WASHINGTON) — Incumbent GOP Rep. John Kline’s Minnesota congressional seat is a little less safe thanks to comedian and television host Bill Maher.
Maher has decided to target Kline for his “Flip A District” campaign, a midterm election-themed segment on his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher.
On the show Friday, Maher introduced the 67-year-old congressman, noting that he voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act dozens of times, voted for shutting down the government, and voted against raising the minimum wage, stem cell research, gay marriage and funding climate change studies.
“The issue Mr. Kline may be the worst on is the one that inspired the most votes in our contest,” Maher said.” And that is student debt.”
Kline currently is Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
As part of his “Flip A District” effort, Maher said he will study Minnesota’s second congressional district, get to know Kline and his constituents and do his “best to flip that district.”
But Maher may have his work cut out for him. According to reports, Kline is well ahead of his Democratic opponent, Mike Obermueller, in fundraising. And, as the Washington Post notes, “Kline, quite simply, isn’t a Democratic target.”
Earlier this year, Maher encouraged viewers to nominate an elected official who he should try to unseat. Kline was one of four Republican finalists for the project. The other candidates (a.k.a. the “Flippable Four”) were Mike Coffman of Colorado, Renee L. Ellmers of North Carolina and Blake Farenthold of Texas.
“In my book, you’re all losers,” Maher said during Friday’s episode.
According to Maher’s “Real Time” blog, this is the first year he and his Real Time team are “outright meddling with the political process,” although in 2012, Maher donated $1 million to the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA.