Bill Maher: Ted Cruz is using 'New York values' to 'goad the sh*tkickers' into hating New York again

Real Time host Bill Maher returned from hiatus Friday night with a wealth of topics to discuss and jumped right into comments made by surging GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz made about rival Donald Trump and "New York values."

"The Republicans who constantly lambaste Obama about dividing America, and then creates smaller and smaller circles about what really is America, "the HBO host said. "Chicago? No that's thug city. And Hawaii -- part of Kenya. And LA is full of q*eers. You know, tell me what New York values are because I don't know."

GOP political consultant Nicolle Wallace suggested they "are Donald Trump's path to the nomination," while religious right leader Ralph Reed said Trump's response to Cruz -- defending New York -- wouldn't help the billionaire businessman in Iowa.

Maher then brought up the elephant in the room: the memory of 9/11 used to defend New York City.

"I was wondering how long after 9/11 before politicians could goad shitkickers into hating New York again," Maher stated. "And I guess that's the answer, 15 years, and now you can shit on New York again. Because you certainly couldn't have said that two years after 9/11."

Lecturer and activist Cornel West added, "I will admit that Brother Trump, he did tell the truth in terms of there are beautiful people in New York City -- so anybody can stumble onto the truth, you know what I mean?"

Watch the video below from HBO's Real Time: