On ABC’s 'This Week' HBO host Bill Maher says not all Republicans are racists but racists are more than likely to be Republicans

ABC’s This Week roundtable discussion on Sunday included dialogue on immigration and Arizona’s recently enacted law requiring law enforcement officials to demand identification of all persons suspected of being illegal.

The roundtable panel included George Will of the Washington Post, the Reverend Al Sharpton, HBO host Bill Maher, former Bush adviser Matthew Dowd, and Katrina vanden Heuvel from The Nation magazine.

When the subject of the new Arizona law came up, This Week’s host Jake Tapper asked Bill Maher for his thoughts. Maher said, “The government intrusion, you know, government power is something that really bothers conservatives, unless it's directed toward people who aren't white. You know, I mean, it does seem like there's some of that going on there. I mean... Not all Republicans are racists but racists are more than likely to be Republicans.”

Conservative columnist George Will appeared to be upset by Maher's words. "Mr. Maher, just said, if I heard him right, that conservatives basically are racists and like government intrusion only against people that aren't white," said Will.

"Let me defend myself," responded Maher. "I would never say and I have never said, because it's not true that Republicans, all republicans are racists. That would be silly and wrong. But now days, if you are racist, you're probably a Republican. And that is quite different," explained Maher.

Apparently that wasn't a subject The ABC’s This Week host was willing to cover, and Tapper promptly changed the topic.

Watch the discussion here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWSbF-HqJw