Maher Likens Dogs to Retarded Children

The show, which aired Thursday, featured a panel of four guests who discussed parental responsibilities with "Politically Incorrect" host Maher.

At one point, Maher told a guest he had two dogs but no children, and added, "I've often said if I had two retarded children, I'd be a hero, and yet the dogs, which are pretty much the same thing – what?"

Maher then continued by characterizing mentally retarded children as "sweet," "loving" and "kind, but they don't mentally advance at all."

"Dogs are like retarded children," said Maher, who

One of the panelists then advised Maher that her 9-year-old nephew was mentally retarded and that she never considered him to be "like a little dog."

"Well, maybe you should," Maher replied.

Maher's assistant in Los Angeles said the talk show host was not available for comment, and no one else was immediately available to issue a statement.

Voice of the Retarded Inc. Executive Director Tamie Hopp called Maher's remarks "insensitive," "shocking" and indicative of "his ignorance."

"I understand his show often aims for the shock value," Hopp said, "but shock value at the expense of people with mental retardation is really inexcusable."

Hopp also said that, had she been a guest on Maher's show that Thursday evening, she "would have taken issue with those statements and worked to explain ... [mentally retarded individuals] are human beings that deserve more confidence in what they've been able to do."

Spokesmen with other organizations for mentally retarded persons could not be contacted because of the Martin Luther King birthday holiday.

The Arc of the United States, the "nation's leading national organization on mental retardation," according to its Internet site, stressed the importance of preserving the dignity of those with lower intelligence quotients.

"People with mental retardation must be treated with dignity and respect and have their dreams and desires acknowledged and acted upon," The Arc stated. "[They must] have the opportunity to advocate for themselves ... with the knowledge that their demands and suggestions will be heard and given fair consideration."

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