Democrat Senate candidate for Michigan Abdul El-Sayed is talking as though a confrontation with Bill Maher would be less an interview than a public beatdown.

His swagger, however, lands more like insecurity than strength.

El-Sayed has repeatedly tried to sound tough when discussing political opponents, and that combative posture apparently extends to liberals who criticize him.

Maher is now directly in his sights.

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During a new interview with Chuck Todd on Noosphere, El-Sayed accused Maher of saying “terrible things about people like me.”

He did not identify the specific comments behind that broad complaint.

El-Sayed also criticized people who continue appearing on Maher’s program “despite him saying deeply terrible things.”

The complaint portrayed Maher’s guests as willing participants who overlook conduct El-Sayed considers unacceptable.

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That argument was contrasted with the rhetoric of Hasan Piker, El-Sayed’s buddy.

The criticism presented El-Sayed as selectively outraged about comments made by Maher.

The interview also exposed a basic media blunder.

El-Sayed appeared to place Maher on Comedy Central, although Maher has not been on the cable network for decades.

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Maher then moved the program to ABC, where it remained until the summer of 2002, making El-Sayed’s apparent reference badly outdated.

El-Sayed soon escalated from grievance to chest-beating.

“I wanna give people the image of watching him get his ass whooped on his own show by a guy who prays like I do.”

The candidate also said he wanted to persuade Maher’s viewers that many of the host’s statements are “just not viable.”

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He clearly believes he could enter Maher’s arena and dismantle the host’s arguments in front of his own audience.

That confidence is precisely what makes the proposed appearance so tempting.

El-Sayed can deliver a polished political pitch, but the criticism is that his performance falters when someone pushes beyond the surface and demands a clear justification.

That problem surfaced during a University of Michigan town hall.

A young student asked El-Sayed to condemn the Iranian regime, but the candidate did not provide the requested condemnation.

Maher, meanwhile, indicated that he would invite El-Sayed onto the show.

He also rejected the candidate’s attempt to make the dispute about personal identity, responding, “It's not 'people like you'.”

Maher said his criticism concerns Islam and ideas rather than race or personal hostility.

“I have different views on how women should be treated,” Maher said, while also expressing hope that the two could have a discussion.

The host has also criticized the extreme Left, socialists and Communists within the Democrat Party.

Although Maher is liberal, he has shown little patience for radical left politics and has been willing to challenge members of his own political side.

Maher has even praised President Donald Trump when he believes Trump has done something worthwhile.

For example, Maher recently credited Trump with helping bring about a large national reduction in crime.

That record could make an El-Sayed appearance much less comfortable than the candidate’s boast suggests.

Maher would have several political and ideological subjects available if El-Sayed actually sat down across from him.

For now, the threatened television whooping remains only talk.

El-Sayed may enjoy projecting toughness, but whether he will enter a setting where Maher can challenge him directly is still an open question.

The skeptical view is that El-Sayed will never do the show because Maher could make him look foolish.

If he does accept the invitation, the promised clash would offer viewers plenty of reason to grab the popcorn.

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