Last night, WOI-TV, ABC’s central Iowa affiliate, aired “Politically Incorrect” for the first time in two weeks. The show was pulled from the air following statements outspoken host Bill Maher made in reference to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Maher made a comment on the Sept. 17 episode calling the American policy of firing cruise missiles from long distances “cowardly” in comparison to the terrorists who flew the plane into buildings.

Was this inappropriate? Maybe.

Insensitive? Probably.

Worth being pulled from the air? No.

Since he made the statement, Maher has been heavily criticized, and subsequently has heavily apologized, even going so far as to say he may have unintentionally added to the “national trauma.” On last night’s show Maher told viewers he was just plain wrong.

Of all people, Maher, a self-proclaimed free speech advocate, should not have bowed to pressure from corporate sponsors threatening to drop advertising and government officials who claimed Maher was too insensitive.

For someone who frowns upon politically correct speech, Maher seems to have pulled an extreme 180. There’s nothing more politically correct than apologizing for a statement he had every right to make.

Maher should have stood by his comments, whether they were accurate or not. He is looked upon as a high-profile American who is a strong believer in the right to say what you want and not be affected by government or corporate sponsors. It was very disappointing to hear him say he was wrong for making the statements, no matter how insensitive they may have been.

There’s nothing more American than the right to free speech.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell