Bill Maher is taking heat for mocking the midwest on Friday’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO).

When former Trump executive, Jim Gibson, heard Maher’s remarks, he was instantly reminded of a long ago meeting at CBS. 20 years later, nothing has changed. The Hollywood elites looked down their noses then, and continue to do so today. 
Here's what happened to Gibson while working between (President) Donald J. Trump and (now-disgraced) CBS President, Les Moonves.

Gibson has been involved with the Miss Universe Organization since 1976. He has hosted hundreds of their pageants on all levels around the globe, including Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Gibson’s friendship with Trump began in the 90’s when he contacted Trump to make him aware that the Miss Universe Organization was up for sale. He knew that other potential bidders were interested in purchasing the pageant, but surmised that Trump was the only person capable of rebuilding the pageant that had seen better days. With Gibson’s help, Trump purchased the Pageant in 1996 and immediately sold half of his interest to CBS, insuring that the telecast would remain on network television. Gibson was named Director Of Pageant Affairs for the Miss Universe Organization.  

At Trump’s request, Gibson flew to L.A. to meet with Les Moonves to help explain how important pageants were to so many midwestern young ladies. They provided scholarships and avenues to life-changing opportunities not regularly available to those outside major cities like Los Angeles and New York. Gibson understood the venue of pageants first hand… his wife went through dental school on pageant scholarships. 

Gibson’s meeting with Moonves and two other CBS executives was as eye-opening as Bill Maher's slam on the midwest as a whole.  
Gibson sat in Moonves’ office and began to explain what Trump had asked that he share. He explained the importance of pageants and the history of the Miss Universe Organization, how it helped so many specifically in the midwest and southern regions, and how Hallie Berry, Vanna White and many other celebrities were discovered through the pageant system. At that moment, about 12 minutes into the conversation, Moonves abruptly stopped him and said, “Jim, we don't care about your midwest, we care about both coasts. That is our market. Those are the people that we want to attract."  

The message was clear…. the midwest, and the people in it, were disposable.   

The heart of America is the midwest. The ego of America flanks both sides.  

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