Joho the Blog
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August 23, 2005
Many Americans think of Pat Robertson as buffoon, a foil, a fading TVangelist who asked God to kill a Supreme Court justice he doesn't like. But to the rest of the world, he's an important American religious leader who meets with our president and who once ran for the office himself. So, when Robertson suggests that we murder the president of Venezuela, the democratically elected leader of another country — which happens to be the world's fifth largest oil producer — because the alternative is to start a war, the rest of the world is not going to laugh in anticipation of the Saturday Night Live sketch that will result. It's not enough for Rumsfeld to say "Certainly it's against the law. Our department doesn't do that type of thing" and "Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time." He and President Bush need to say more than that they're not taking the suggestion, but it's fine with them for a religious leader to make such suggestions. They should — IMO — say that while private citizens can say what they like, they find the suggestion despicable and anti-democratic. Reacting as they have so far makes America less safe. They could even blurt out the truth that Robertson is getting crazier with age and has been making a fool of himself for years now. [Tags: venezuela PatRobertson HugoChavez] Posted
by D. Weinberger at August 23, 2005 06:44 PM
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Comments
Robertson is a kook. I find him different from Islamic terrorists in degree only, rather than kind. Remember when he and that we deserved 9/11? Remember when he suggested that US State Department ought to be blown up with a nuclear device? The man is just as unhinged as some of our worst foreign enemies.
Posted by: scott feldstein | August 23, 2005 07:26 PM
"Robertson is a kook."
Sooo true, but the outcome of the 2004 election suggests that he has a disturbingly large number of fellow travelers -- our own home-grown dangerous religious fundamentalists.
Joho is right. It's a national disgrace for our administration not to react more strongly.
Posted by: Frost Fan | August 24, 2005 09:57 AM
One of the points of this situation is that when Pat Robertson advocates murdering a foreign head of state, he’s a private citizen entitled to his own opinion. When someone less influential criticizes the war, the Bush regime calls their loyalty into question.
So it’s free speech to encourage a criminal act, but treason to uphold the Geneva Convention.
Posted by: AKMA | August 24, 2005 10:38 PM
Great title, David. If only.
Posted by: Tim | August 25, 2005 04:33 AM
This is what we have learnt about ceazy Americans
Posted by: Knut B. Davidsen | August 28, 2005 07:19 AM
I nominate Pat Robertson to lead the "Hateful Christian Coalition". Not only is Mr. Robertson a hateful, intolerant, right-wing wacko, but he is downright dangerous. Any religion that practices intolerance is a threat to peace. The only thing people should not tolerate is intolerance. Pat Robertson needs to be taken out alright...taken out of the public arena. What if people mistake his wacked-out views as views held by other americans? I suggest we build him a little fire, and place him on an ice flow. Good riddance, Mr. Right-Wing Wacked-Out Nutcase!
Posted by: Maureen H | August 29, 2005 08:48 PM
If you look at the "posting rules" none of you are following them, you're all critisizing Pat Robertson for holding his ideas (ideas the majority of America agrees with.)
You are all uninformed flies on the wall who just sit there and agree with one another because you know that's what each of you want to hear. It's obvious you don't know the least bit about Hugo Chavez, if you did, you'd know what a threat he is to American interests - both in that region, abroad, and close to our shores. Where are your priorities?! When someone you love dies because of something that came out of Chavez's country, we'll see how sympathetic you are. PUT AMERICA FIRST!
Posted by: Harrison | September 5, 2005 01:52 AM
Bush has asked that resources for Hurricane Katrina to direct cash contriubtions to Pat Robertson's "Operation Blessing" at the Fema Website.
I am grateful for all contributions to help, but I certainly do not support our leaders supporting
Pat Robertson, gathering up money under our Government Heading.....Operation Blessing is organized by Operation Mr. Stupid should be eliminated from FEMA.
Posted by: Frances Gandy-Walsh | September 5, 2005 01:29 PM
Pat Robertson is what is he is. He has said that another person should be taken out. Murdered.
He is what his. Buy his pills and look 45 at 49.
He is the second biggest scam artist I know of.
The world needs hope, love and caring.
I don't see Pat Robertson or anything written about him suggesting the above.
There is always hope. There is always caring.
There is always love and that is why good will prevail and Robertson will fail.
If I didn't know that he was American I could only guess he was from the Taliban.
One hell of a spirtual professional he is?
In God he does not Trust.
Posted by: Jeff | January 6, 2006 03:25 AM