Chris Rock Talks Health Care Reform, Democratic Party's Timidity (VIDEO)

Chris Rock appeared on "Real Time With Bill Maher" Friday to talk about politics and weigh in on the new health care reform law.

Rock joked about the Democratic Party's reluctance to exercise its majority in both chambers of Congress. He told Maher that Democrats need to learn that in order to win a fight--or to even throw a punch--you have to engage your opponent, and get close enough for them to hit you.

Rock said he couldn't understand the Democratic Party's fear of the Republican minority, "It's like, we're winning by 20, and we're like, 'Oh no, they got us now!'"

When Maher asked if he saw health care reform as a civil rights issue, Rock said no. He sees it as a "people rights issue"

Rock also recounted his family's experience with the health care system: first when he was poor, and then when he was rich.

Rock: I had my father get sick when I was 22. And I was poor, alright. And my father had an ulcer, and it exploded and you know all these toxins get in your blood. And basically, my father died, whatever, 50 days after his ulcer. So I had a father get sick while I was poor.

My mother got sick when I was rich. And my mother, you know... I don't really want to get into it, but my mother was sicker than my father. And my mother's alive. My mother's fine, OK? I remember going to the hospital to see my mother and wondering, 'Was I in the right place?' Like, this was a hotel. Like it had a concierge, man.

People don't... if the average person really knew the discrepancy in the health care system, there'd be riots in the streets, OK? They would burn this motherfucker down!"

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