Pat Robertson Isn’t Very Sorry
Pat Robertson Isn’t Very Sorry
After a less than enthusiastic response to his suggestion that America should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (the editorial pages of virtually every major newspaper in the country condemned him yeserday morning), Robertson claimed that his comments were “misinterpreted.†Now that this has been shown to be blatantly untrue, Robertson has apologized. Sort of. At least that’s what you’d think if you read the headlines this morning:
The New York Times: “Broadcaster Offers Apology for Calling for Assassinationâ€
USA Today: “Robertson issues a denial, then an apologyâ€
The Wall Street Journal: “Robertson Apologizes For Chavez Remarksâ€
The Washington Post: “Robertson Apologizes for Calling for Assassinationâ€
The LA Times: “Robertson Apologizes for Chavez Remarksâ€
But what the papers fail to note (or note only in passing), is that Robertson’s apology statement (read the whole thing) concluded with an argument that attempts to shore up his original call for assassination:
The brilliant Protestant theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who lived under the hellish conditions of Nazi Germany, is reported to have said:
“If I see a madman driving a car into a group of innocent bystanders, then I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe and then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.â€
On the strength of this reasoning, Bonhoeffer decided to lend his support to those in Germany who had joined together in an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer was imprisoned and killed by the Nazis, but his example deserves our respect and consideration today.
There are many who disagree with my comments, and I respect their opinions. There are others who think that stopping a dictator is the appropriate course of action.
This contradicts his apology. Indeed, Robertson seems to be raising the stakes: he cites as an analogy a “brilliant” man who tried to kill Hitler, believing it to be the Christian thing to do.
Still, I’m sure Robertson will clarify his comments. Again. For the third time.
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i love how the righties on the talking head shows are trying to distance themselves from this lunatic. doesnt feel good to be lumped in with morons that dont reflect your opinions huh? or does he reflect your opinions?the right is so good at lumping all liberals together, its good to see it done to them.
August 25th, 2005 at 10:43 amIf we had killed Hitler when he was 10, we would have prevented WWII and the Holocaust…and spared the world a ton of crappy watercolor paintings.
August 25th, 2005 at 10:50 amPsychopaths in Suits
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s1158704.htm
To the Pat Robertsons of the world, there are no moral absolutes.
August 25th, 2005 at 10:52 amPat Robertson is a dotty old fool, which makes it all too easy to avoid the serious issue of what to do about Hugo Chavez. Chavez may have been democratically elected (as was Hitler, I might add), but anyone who holds Fidel Castro up as some kind of elder statesman is smoking the wrong kind of cigars.
Chavez is a threat to his neighbors and to stability in Latin America. I don’t subscribe to the course of action Robertson recommends, but Chavez bears watching. If we fail to keep an eye on him we will regret it.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:01 amTrue Christians should point out that this guy is messing with the Ten Commandments, turning
“Thou shalt not kill”
into
“Thou shalt feel free to kill… as long as it does not affect Oil Shipments”
August 25th, 2005 at 11:04 amI just flat refuse to talk to the morally bankrupt dittoheads that come in here.
You can’t talk morals with people that have no knowledge of it.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:05 am#BSR – How is Chavez a threat to his neighbors? Please elucidate… He JUST offered discounted oil to Jamaica, a country where gas is $4 a gallon. I’m sure car owners in Jamaica don’t feel threatened…
August 25th, 2005 at 11:06 amAnd sure he does cheap antics like propose to marry Condi Rice on national TV, but I don’t see that as a threat to Latin American stability.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:08 amThe Avenging Angel smites Pat Robertson.
Pat Robertson, the one-time presidential candidate and full-time American Taliban, was rightly crucified this week for calling for the assassination of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. No matter that killing heads of state is frowned upon by both the Bible and American law. This is the same man who prayed for the deaths of Supreme Court justices and joined Jerry Falwell in blaming 9/11 on gays, lesbians and the ACLU, among others. Somewhere Jesus, the Avenging Angel notes, must be thinking, “bad dog, no biscuit.”
For more fun and frolic with Pat Robertson, see:
- “Pat Robertson’s Second Term Agenda”
- “The American Taliban”
- “A Conservative Theory of Evolution”
August 25th, 2005 at 11:08 amImagine for a moment what would have happened if a blind Muslim cleric had called for the killing of a US government official. Say, someone like the President of Secretary of State? What would the US response have been? Retaliation by overwhelming force? The hiring of Israel to do the killing for the US? Invasion of an entire middle east country? In the least, the public denouncement of the cleric and his “terrorist” teachings, right?
So let’s flip this around. Who’s the “terrorist” here?
The blind cleric who called for the deaths of Americans is rotting in a US jail. The ‘ol christian fool who called for the death of Hugo Chavez remains at large and free to spout further filth on TV and Radio in his spreading of christian love and compassion.
I think its time for the US to treat ALL fundimentalism as a source of “terrorism”. Its time to bomb christian churches and meeting places until they denounce “terrorism” the stop advocating violence against peaceful nations and peoples. Its time to bulldoze christian homes and to move them to special areas until they come to the “peace table” to negotiate for their “peaceful coexistence” with other nations and economies around the world.
What provisions are there in the Patriot Act that will allow us to deal with all those hate filled war loving christians? Can we use the US response to Islam as the guiding example of how to treat fundimentalism globally?
August 25th, 2005 at 11:12 amPlease Pat: GO AWAY!
And take all the other rightwing Christian leaders with you.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:16 amHas anyone put together a complete history of Pat Robertson’s statements and prayers that are against Christian values. Like praying for Supreme Court vaccanies, America, American institutions, George Bush being God’s choice for America, and all the shit he uts outs!
There are alot of people follow and listen to insane person.
Let’s put together a complete video history of this right-winger and show how corrupt he really is.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:18 amChavez hasn’t only offered Jamaicans cheap gas; he offered cheap gas and free medical care for poor Americans http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/08/23/chavez.gasoline.reut/index.html
Chavez is a grandstander and enjoys attention; his idolization of Castro is also clearly seen by his desire to be the target of a US assassination plot. Robertson just played into his hands with his statements.
As far as being a threat…he is a threat to his neighbors because he flaunts a time-honored tradition in Latin America: avoid attetention from the US. The less the US pays attention to us, the better life will be. By trying to provoke the US, Chavez is drawing unwanted attention to the region. Latin America wants to be taken seriously and it never will be as long as the only leaders receiving any attention are those with a ‘Castro’ complex.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:22 amEasyRider –
If anyone has any doubt about Pats ethical purity after his most recent and most ghoulish faux pas, they require no video history – they need a psychiatrist.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:26 amER,
August 25th, 2005 at 11:27 amThe followers will not listen.
Look at the trolls we get here.
They refuse to listen and refuse to
learn.
They worship false prophets.
This to me is the really sad part -
that so many Americans have blindly
followed such people and won’r listen
to reason.
#16..ignorance?
August 25th, 2005 at 11:36 amBSR, “threat to his neighbours” how? Chavez is Hitler? Well you reached early to the Nazi argument today, didn’t you? Your argument is not credible. Try again.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:39 amRepublican Excuses
Is it just me, or are the excuses Republicans are making getting stupider? Let’s look at what’s happened just this week.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:41 amMonday WMAL radio talk show host Michael Graham was fired after refusing to apologize for “Islam is a terrorist org…
Christians think in black and white terms. So this should be a very easy question to answer. Now don’t go all “liberal” mushy wooshy on us. Just a straight up vote on this topic.
Which is it? Did Jesus preach peace and love and tolerance for all beings? Or did he also preach hate and war and selective love for just a few “chosen”? Come on christians! Which is it?
August 25th, 2005 at 11:42 amThe FCC should revoke CBN license for promoting violent extremism, or is it violent terrorism, or just plain terrorism. I forget which phrase is in vogue with our fascist state media today.
I was tickled to hear on CNN, or was it MSNBC, or maybe it was FOX news, that just because Chavez is a dictator it doesn’t mean he should be assassinated.
They needed to get that in there about dictators not deserving of offing part cause that category includes Bush.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:45 amI think you folks will appreciate this one:
http://www.idrewthis.org/2005/wwjd.html
August 25th, 2005 at 11:46 amAnd by the by – wasn’t Chavez elected twice by considerable margins, unlike Der Bush, and unlike Der Blair – who does not rule by direct election.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:47 amWe are seeing the lawlessness of powerful people playing out before our very eyes. :-(
August 25th, 2005 at 11:50 amcmw, Chavez has won at least 3 direct elections by large majorities and supervised elections with outside observers at that. I would also called the US-backed 2002 coup another exmaple of his popularity where 100,000s of people risked their lives and took to the streets to get him back in power.
The parliamentary system and republican system of indirect election should not really make much difference provided the demographics which contribute to the electoral college or the constituency system are balanced. Unfortunately, we know that neither the US or the UK have balanced electoral demographics….So right now Bush has an electorate which is stacked for rural voters and Blair has one which is stacked for urban voters.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:57 amThe song “God Bless Cindy Sheehan” is number one on country music song list – it’s awesome
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/?BandID=33200
August 25th, 2005 at 12:01 pmI find it funny how all of a sudden everyone is outraged at the comment Robertson made.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:06 pmWhy aren’t these same people outraged when Robertson asks his audience to “Pray for the death of a Supreme Court Judge” so that they can further their agenda?
He does this nearly every day and no one says a word, but when he calls for the death of a foreign President, everyone is outraged.
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
The Con in Neo-Con does not stand for Conservative, it stands for Connive!
Arliss
It’s a minor point, but praying for someone’s death is a religious issue, not a direct threat on someone’s life. Maybe that’s why. I tend not to get involved with religious zealots and their internal hypocricy.
Calling for the assassination of someone by our government, using our tax dollars, is a whole other basket of worms, or kettle of fish, or passle of parsnips.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:09 pm#27, it might help if you actually tried to counter their points, rather than calling names. If you feel someone is ignorant of the facts, teaching them is better than insulting them.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:10 pmThat evildoer Chavez also has a plan to provide free eye surgery for poor blind people. He really does need to be done away with. I mean, what’s his problem.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:11 pmOkay, for those who don’t understand English, Chavez is not Hitler, but he is dangerous. He is supporting violent revolutionary groups in Colombia and Ecuador. He has allied himself closely with Cuba. He has emraced just about every other thug around the world, including, formaerly, Saddam Hussein. He has jailed political opponents. He sees himself as the leader of Latin American nations who claim to be victims of U.S. imperialism. And he bankrolls these wonderful activities through mega oil profits. He bears much watching.
Apart from the Biblical prohibition against murder, Robertson has erred in another way: He has made it that much harder for the U.S. to deal with Chavez. It just goes to show that religious leaders should stay out of foreign affairs.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:11 pmDomestic affairs too. ;^)
August 25th, 2005 at 12:13 pmMaybe the Chavez haters here drive SUVs and realize they won’t be eligible for the free gas from Citgo (wholly owned subsidiary of Venezuala), which Chavez wants to offer to the poor in US.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:13 pmCalm down for a second you hippies and homosexuals and listen. I only apologized for saying we should whack Chavez because nobody believed me when I said I never said what I said. But the fact is God wanted me to say we should whack Chavez. I know this because God is on our side (well MY side and George Bush’s, not your side).
But anyway, since God is on our side he approves of whatever we say and do. So when I said we should kill Chavez God approved of that. God wouldn’t have made me so rich and powerful if he didn’t approve of everything I do. That’s how God works, duh. So if and when we assassinate Chavez it will really be God who is assassinating him, which means it’s ok and very Christian. Just like when God assassinated that liberal Kennedy.
So you hippies and homos need to stop whining and get a bit more religion in you. Then maybe you will become rich and righteous like me. But first, cut your hair and stop with the homosexuality. Ok gotta run, I think I hear God calling.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:15 pm#33
August 25th, 2005 at 12:16 pmIT’s funny but everything you attribute to Chavez you could attribute to Bush. Bush is dangerous, Bush family allied closly with Cuba (before Castro rescued it from mafia controlled Batista dictator), Bush has embraced thugs alll around the world – Saudi royal family, Pakistani govt, Putin, need I go on. Bush sees himself as the leader of the entire world. bush bankrolls his activities with mega oil profits. Bush bears much watching.
As to voting and democracy and all that jazz; as one leader is rumored to have said, “It’s not who votes that counts. It’s who counts the votes.”
August 25th, 2005 at 12:16 pmhttp://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-dieboldstalin.htm
“The FCC should revoke CBN [sic] license for promoting violent extremism”
The FCC has no jurisdiction over cable channels.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:16 pm#13 – So Chavez’s brash style is your issue? You really are ignorant I guess.
Chavez wants to use oil revenue to pay for homes, clinics and schools for the 58% of Venezuelan families who live on less than $200 a month.
Whoa! Somebody assassinate this guy!
August 25th, 2005 at 12:17 pm#39 – Who does? Who controls the cable channels?
August 25th, 2005 at 12:18 pmExcept Fox….BushCo runs that, or
August 25th, 2005 at 12:18 pmdoes Fox run BushCo….
Oh well, same thing either way.
Okay, for those who don’t understand English, George Bush is not Hitler, but he is dangerous. He is supported violent revolutionary groups in the fundimentalist christian terrorist movements and Saudi Arabia. He has allied himself closely with Israel. He has emraced just about every other thug around the world, including, formaerly, Saddam Hussein. He has invaded countries that posed no threat to his nation. He sees himself as the leader of the world and claims to be fighting a “war on terror”. And he bankrolls these wonderful activities through mega oil profits. He bears much watching.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:22 pmHey #43, see mine #37, great minds think alike
August 25th, 2005 at 12:27 pm#33 – Lies about Ecuador. Gutierrez was ousted because his popularity ratings was 5%…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4469225.stm
I wish we could PEACEFULLY OUST any American President who falls to 36% job approval in polls…
August 25th, 2005 at 12:27 pmIf you havn’t read this book, I highly recommend it.
“confessions of an economic hitman”:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1576753018/bookstorenow50-20/102-5283933-3217721
I also recommend seeing this film:
“the revolution will not be televised ”
http://www.chavezthefilm.com/html/home.htm
Or you could watch Hannity or Rush and sheepishly adopt their pathetic veiwpoint.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:27 pm“Who controls the cable channels?”
Consumers and advertisers do. Cable channels are subscription services. They don’t use the public airways. Their content is basically unregulated, except by the tolerance levels of advertisers and consumers. That’s why there are V-Chips and parental locks.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:28 pm#37..then that would settle it…chavez is a threat if he and Bush can be compared..and thank you #33 #33..a ‘threat to his neighbors’ does not always mean a reference to Hitler..there are new paradigms of terror and mayhem out there…see Bush above.
And to those calling me blissful..of course I am..but not because of any ignorance you may wish upon me..I am just not sooooo fixated on bush, etal that I can’t see that someone else can also be a threat, but on a smaller scale. I have family in Latin America, so I am well aware (as opposed to ignorant) to the impact that Chavez’s diatribes and actions have in the region.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:30 pm#44 – right on! :-)
August 25th, 2005 at 12:31 pm#47 -
August 25th, 2005 at 12:33 pmI ask about cable because I contacted my provider to complain about Robertson and they shunted the responsibility to CBS, NBC, etc. But if it is CBN that is the deliverer of the terrorist message, then the cable provider IS responsible too. Thanks for clarification.
Okay, for those who don’t understand English, the Republican Party is not Hitler, but it is dangerous. It is supporting violent revolutionary groups in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has allied itself closely with Pakistan and Georgia. It has embraced just about every other thug around the world, including, formerly, Saddam Hussein. It has jailed political opponents. It sees itself as the leader of people who claim to be victims of liberalism, homosexuals and peace activists. And it bankrolls these wonderful activities through mega oil profits. The Republican Party bears much watching.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:36 pmOkay, for those who don’t understand English, the right-wing neocons are not Hitler, but they are dangerous…. This is fun.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:37 pmWait a minute – wait just one second
I want to retract what i just said in #52
The right-wing neocons are like Hitler, AND they are dangerous
August 25th, 2005 at 12:38 pmAlso
August 25th, 2005 at 12:40 pmPrescott Bush did fund Hitler’s SS in the 1930s, and did part-own a mine in Poland that became part of the Auschwitz slave labor complex.
This is one of Bush’s faith-based initiatives.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:41 pm#43 and #37 thank you JC and cmw, fine ripostes. I was actually doing some work there for a while..
BSR, you made the Hitler reference, not me.
Since when has Cuba been a threat to the US, after 1962/63? If I remember correctly, Venezuela is trying to extradite a former-CIA agent accused of bombing a Cuban plane, extradite him from Florida? US harboring terrorists? Say it isn’t so. The CIA has been conducting terror attacks on Cuban soil for years, wouldn’t you look for a friend or two if you were Fidel?
I think the political opponents he has behind bars right now are the ones who burst into his bedroom in early 2002 and removed him at gunpoint from office – the moment when political opponents become criminals in most democracies.
BTW have you read the Monroe Doctrine that Robertson raved about the other day. Let play a game: if I told you that Canada thought that the US was in it’s ’sphere of influence’ and Canada thought that it could change the government of the US anytime, by giving cash to opposition groups, funding coups or assassinations or simply telling the US what it could and couldn’t do or which nations it could make friends with. What would you think, Bubba? How would you react to that? What you call violent revolution in Ecuador (I don’t think Colombia is that simple) is part of the whole of LA throwing off the US imperial yoke, otherwise known as the ‘Monroe Doctrine’.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:43 pmOh and BSR, what the heck does the US need a military base in Paraguay for? Still looking for Osama Been Forgotten?
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0804-08.htm
August 25th, 2005 at 12:47 pm#57
August 25th, 2005 at 12:49 pmI agree with you however #56 does use the Bubba epithet negatively even though Bubba is now listening to the number 1 country song “God Bless You Cindy Sheehan by Les Visible. It is awesome – calls Bush a liar and a coward. Sometimes name calling goes awry atop the shifting sands of our consciousness
reasew,
And who exactly died and made the US the arbiter of all things? Just because you may not agree with the man’s tactics, he was democratically elected and the states has NO right to interfere in a sovereign country’s affairs! Of course that may be lost on some people…
August 25th, 2005 at 12:51 pm#51 – Right on! Truth!!! Its about time. :-)
August 25th, 2005 at 12:51 pmOh #51, another good one – sorry missed that.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:51 pmcmw, sorry for the Bubba, I was going for Buster and fingers slipped.
August 25th, 2005 at 12:55 pmTerry
August 25th, 2005 at 12:59 pmThat’s ok. The bubba’s are coming around. “Finally the tables are starting to turn” Tracy Chapman
#61 –
In my opinion, the problem seems to stem from an over-developed sense of entitlment that many Americans suffer. The Public education system does an abysmal job of educating children about our history as a nation.
August 25th, 2005 at 1:05 pmIt is their duty to right the wrongs of the world and spread obsequious facsimiles of democracy throughout.
the Pakistani Intelligence Agency, ISI, funded 9/11. General Ahmed who met with Porter Goss and Bob Graham on Sept.11,2001(look it up),shortly before 9/11,wired $100,000 to Muhammed Atta(look it up).the ISI was originally concieved and trained by the CIA. Porter Goss now heads the CIA.these are all facts,not theories.
August 25th, 2005 at 2:15 pmThe comments of Robertson are now being used as diversionary. The issue of importance to the oil companies/US Government is to get into the news the lies that Chavez is a “dictator” and is supporting “communism”. That’s all they want. The oil companies are already at war with Venezuela.
And if the people who listen to the 700 Club haven’t figured out Robertson by now, well God help them…they are already hopelessly lost. Robertson is the poster child for Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.
August 25th, 2005 at 2:16 pmRecall that last week Rumsfeld made a trip to South America. Then, a few days later, Robertson makes an inflammatory remark. Call me cynical, but –
August 25th, 2005 at 2:28 pmcould there be a devious plot underfoot? Did Robertson “take one” for the administration? I am not sufficiently devious to have it all figured out, but I bet one of you can fill in my blanks. See, I don’t believe anything happens within this Republican administration and its close friends and supporters that isn’t planned.
Chavez may be a first class jerk. But Robertson is beyond redemption.
This issue is far from settled. This was a non-apology apology. To compare himself to Bonhoeffer is beyond the pale. Robertson still needs to be held to acccount for his original death wish.
Because the “700 Club” is broadcast on network affiliates across the United States, FCC scrutiny applies. His comments fail to meet the “community standards” benchmark. So, here’s an idea: File an indecency complaint.
Fortunately, our friends over at the bi-partisan Parents TV Council — a huge fan of Robertson — have streamedlined the complaining process.
Go to https://www.parentstv.org/ptc/fcc/fcccomplaint2.asp and take it from there.
Or, if you prefer eliminating the middle man, just send an e-mail to fccinfo@fcc.gov
Let’s give Robertson a taste of his own medicine!
August 25th, 2005 at 3:13 pmJust Waiting for Friday
Blogs from The WB42 5:30 Report with Doug Krile – from the American Legion uproar to Olbermann outing the PR firm behind the pro-Bush protestors. The list goes far beyond that!
August 25th, 2005 at 4:24 pmYou’re right: Robertson immediately qualified his apology in a way that effectively negated it, and renewed the call for assassination.
Re. the comparison with Bonhoeffer: that’s particularly disgusting and shameless. Bonhoeffer to decided to join the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler only after much soul-searching, and after he saw the evidence of Hitler’s mass murders in the occupied countries. More about the Robertson-Bonhoeffer comparison at http://langohio.blogspot.com.
August 25th, 2005 at 4:38 pmRev. Jim Wallis (evangelical Christian and author of best seller God’s Politics) has taken Pat Robertson to task for (all of) his comments. Here is an exerpt:
~~~
Pat Robertson: An embarrassment to the church
by Jim Wallis
Pat Robertson is an embarrassment to the church and a danger to American politics.
Robertson is known for his completely irresponsible statements – that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were due to American feminists and liberals, that true Christians could vote only for George W. Bush, that the federal judiciary is a greater threat to America than those who flew the planes into the World Trade Center Towers, and the list goes on. Robertson even took credit once for diverting a hurricane. But his latest outburst may take the cake.
On Monday, Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez…
It’s clear Robertson must not have first asked himself “What would Jesus do?” But the teachings of Jesus have never been very popular with Robertson. He gets his religion elsewhere, from the twisted ideologies of an American brand of right-wing fundamentalism that has always been more nationalist than Christian. Apparently, Robertson didn’t even remember what the Ten Commandments say, though he has championed their display on the walls of every American courthouse. That irritating one about “Thou shalt not kill” seems to rule out the killing of foreign leaders. But this week, simply putting biblical ethics aside, Robertson virtually issued an American religious fatwah for the murder of a foreign leader – on national television no less. That may be a first…
It’s time to name Robertson for what he is: an American fundamentalist whose theocratic views are not much different from the “Muslim extremists” he continually assails. It’s time for conservative evangelical Christians in America, who are not like Islamic fundamentalists or Robertson, to distance themselves from his embarrassing and dangerous religion.
And it’s time for Christian leaders of all stripes to call on Robertson not just to apologize, but to retire.
~~~
August 25th, 2005 at 7:49 pmRead the whole article at http://www.sojo.net
reading these comments from a fairly safe place, Canada, makes me wonder if we need a very high wall along our 3500 mile border to let real Americans pass freely,immigrating if need be, but halting any and all travel by rightwing wackos – surley they are easy to identify by their evil dead eye looks and nasty interpersonal demeanor.
Stay away religious wackos
August 25th, 2005 at 10:29 pmPat Robertson is a little man. He sets rules for other to follow, but exempts himself. I would like to see him follow the foot steps of Christ, if he’s such a God-fearing Christian.
August 26th, 2005 at 1:34 am“Go out and preach the word of God. Give up all your worldly possessions, you have no need for them. Give to the poor, administer to the sick, for your reward, as a man of God, will be a place in my Kingdom.”
Yeh, right! You can hear him screaming, at his lawyers, on how to get out of this new job description.
Not all Christians think in black-and-white terms.
I am an evangelical Christian who routinely visits this site. I find myself on this side of the fence because of the O-ffenses of this administration. I am also College educated, if that helps anyone (in Psychology, Biblical Studies, and recently in Computer Science studies).
What irks me the most if that he refers to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his writings (book: “The Cost of Discipleship”) which was written when he was in the Nazi prison camp (required reading in many seminaries). And yes, he was there for the reasons mentioned: he made an attempt on Hitlers’ life, but failed.
The most siginificant piece in all of this was not that Bonhoeffer was right to attempt this (I beleive he was as many might aggree), but that he actually *agonized* over this decision; he did not make this choice lightly or flippantly. Also–Hitler was an obvious threat at that time, but Chavez is not.
Bonhoeffer actually agonizes the pros and cons of such a weighty decision, for it’s moral/ethical, and spiritual implications. Somehow, I don’t think Uncle Pat is in the same category. His words are very self-revelatory of the sin he might/would commit in this regard.
So for “Uncle Pat” (as he likes to be called by his associates) to back-track, and to somehow find solace in Bonhoeffer is very disgusting to me. Pat Robertson is no Bonhoeffer!
One other thing. Pat makes the rest of us look like clowns, and diminshes the credibility of Christianity, which just pisses me off even more. Many evangelical Christians do their best to distance themselves from likes of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. They don’t speak for us, and we don’t believe they accurately reflect Christianity.
God’s peace be with you, and get the bums out of office…
August 26th, 2005 at 3:43 pmGuys, c’mon — Pat Robertson has apologized. I am a staunch leftie, but, more importantly, I have a tremendous love and respect for the truth. Truth is Pat Robertson made a mistake and he has apologized. Let’s stop beating a dead horse.
You win converts to your side by sticking to and respecting the truth.
August 26th, 2005 at 10:14 pmChristianleftie, you are neither. Before you make assinine statements inform yourself. Pat Robertsons whole career as a rightwing zealot is sprinkled with these comments and apologies. He didn’t make a mistake he was testing the waters and desensitizing his audience a common psyop ploy. Robertson has a long history of associations with rigtwing death squads in Central America and fascist dictators in Africa. This guys fatherly countenance is as made up as his piety. He has been a force in rightwing politics in this country for a long time. He is not a Christian, thats his scam for making money off idiots. His real vocation is a shill for extreme fascism. Read a bio of this guy sometime it a repulsive chronology of third world exploitation and first world hucksterism.
I also wanted to add christianleftie you sound an awful lot like a Republican troll/provocateur I suggest you polish your routine a little more because you sound pretty goddamn silly right now.
August 27th, 2005 at 4:50 amAbe–
Let’s just stick to the facts and avoid the ad hominem attacks. Fact is that Robertson made a very unChristian comment about the assassination of President Chavez. After much fervor, he finally did apologize. Is he sincere in his apology? Absolutely not. But, we must let the apology stand. The man has cried ‘uncle.’ Let it go.
To vigorously pursue your opponent after he has cried ‘uncle’ borders on seeking vengeance — a very unChristian thing to do.
My previous comments are in response the the argument posted by this blog — that Pat Robertson’s concluding remarks contradict his apology. My point is the man has apologized and cried ‘uncle’. It is time to let it go.
Robertson’s assassination comment does not negate the necessity of evaluating whether Chavez is evil or not. The messenger has apologized for his poor delivery of the message; it is how time to look at his message — whether Chavez is someone the US should be concerned.
Robertson, as you indicate, is a rightwing nut not to be trusted. I don’t trust him any more than I can throw him. Robertson is bad for this country and Christianity.
However, anyone (Chavez) who aligns himself with Castro and other fascist leaders deserve attention.
Again, the messenger has apologized, now let us look at the message, especially since Chavez favors Castro and other fascist leaders.
August 27th, 2005 at 8:27 amWell, since Mr. Robertson has once again used his religious office for political purpose, perhaps the FCC and IRS should have an extensive audit of the operations from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. to the 700 Club. I believe that was the punishment for the NAACP.
August 28th, 2005 at 3:48 pmThe religous right is all for christian values until one of those values doesn’t fit their partisan agenda. (like lying and killing)
August 31st, 2005 at 9:40 amI didn’t know they were able to pick and choose which vales they would adhere to.
Talk about hypcrites.
sorry again for typos – typing with a cast is hell
August 31st, 2005 at 9:42 amI heard This many years ago.
October 11th, 2005 at 12:55 amDuring the Korean war Pat Robertson was enroute to
Korea by ship,when the ship stopped in Honolulu,Pat
Robertson made a tel. call to his old man who was a
congressman or senator at the time.He asked his old
man to arrange an office assignment for him to keep
him out of combat and his old man followed through
as he asked.NO COMBAT DUTY. I did not dream this
story up.Looks like a 50’s GEORGE BUSH.
If any one can confirm this story,call me at 505-299-2424 ( reverse the charges ).
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