How stupid does Alan Simpson think we are?

Former Wyoming senator Alan Simpson, known for his sense of humor, made a total ass of himself on the last episode of Real Time. He accused Bill Maher of making fun of conservatives and gay people, and then wondering why they wouldn't listen to him. Hello! There is no bigger supporter of the gay community or of the right of gay people to marry than Maher, who makes jokes about everybody. Here's a hint, Alan: Maher's a comic.

We saw a similar I'm-so-shocked stance when Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm was visibly uncomfortable being interviewed by Maher in an earlier episode of the show. "What did you expect?" Maher asked her, reminding her that she was on an HBO satire program.

But if Granholm's response was caused by a deficit of humor, Simpson's was caused, I think, by something much more sinister. Just as conservatives rushed to say that Democrats were anti-woman, anti-Hispanic, and anti-black when they blocked the federal court nominations of such bigots as Janice Brown and Miguel Estrada--now they are rushing to say that liberals are anti-gay because Kerry pointed out that Mary Cheney is a lesbian. This is an especially vicious strategy that works well in influencing people who have a lifelong commitment to refrain from thinking.

And if Simpson is so sensitive toward minorities, what was he doing participating so actively in the gang that soul-raped Anita Hill during the Thomas hearings?