Maher to Sean Penn: ‘We Are Constantly Hounded by Politically Correct *ssholes’

MAHER: "I really want to relate this, what you were just saying, back to something that is very dear to my heart which is political correctness. Because you said at the Oscars -- and I texted you I loved this -- when you gave out the Best Director -- what's his name? Alejandro--"

PENN: "Alejandro González Iñárritu."

MAHER: "Yes. OK. And you said, 'Who gave this son of a*bitch a green card?' And of course you got worlds of shit. And I just feel like we're living in this country now where no one can make a joke, no one can have any nuance to what they say. We are just constantly hounded by the politically correct *ssholes out there who want to turn this country into a place that I don't want to live in."

PENN: "Yeah. I think what it is is, the town hall has been expanded, with the Internet, with Twitter and the social media. A lot of that is good. It’s as good as those who listen and bring compromise and bring solutions to town halls. But as we know, most town halls are dominated by those who want to hear the sound of their own voice. So it gives them something to do. I don't think it's worse than religion. It's about --"

MAHER: "Nothing is. (Laughter) But I mean -- se, here is what I'm trying to relate it. When I read those things that you did. You went for [Katrina], you went to Pakistan, you went to Haiti. You actually are somebody who does something. I think most of these people on the they have never done anything good in their life. And they want to feel like they are the good people."

PENN: Yeah."

And the way they feel they are the good people is they find somebody who is the bad people. I'm a good person. I got rid of Donald Sterling! (Applauds to himself) What a great victory for humanity."

PENN: "I think that also become kind of a common sense connection with that which will find a support group. So when the certain language is used and whether or not it’s in ironic context, if it is leachable in terms of that criticism, they will go there because they know they are joining a family and a gang, and they will have approval for a moment and feel human."