From: http://mediamatters.org/items/200508220006 (you can see the video too)

Pat Robertson, host of Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club and founder of the Christian Coalition of America, called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

From the August 22 broadcast of The 700 Club:

ROBERTSON: There was a popular coup that overthrew him [Chavez]. And what did the United States State Department do about it? Virtually nothing. And as a result, within about 48 hours that coup was broken; Chavez was back in power, but we had a chance to move in. He has destroyed the Venezuelan economy, and he's going to make that a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent.

You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war. And I don't think any oil shipments will stop. But this man is a terrific danger and the United ... This is in our sphere of influence, so we can't let this happen. We have the Monroe Doctrine, we have other doctrines that we have announced. And without question, this is a dangerous enemy to our south, controlling a huge pool of oil, that could hurt us very badly. We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.

My comments...

I probably have a million comments because Robertson's statement is stupid on so many levels, but first and foremost, I wonder how Christian evangelist Pat Robertson reconciles his call for assisnation with the requirement of the ten commandments that thou shall not kill (murder).

We should all write the FCC and demand his license be revoked. I'd rather see a thousand Janet Jackson boob shots then one call for assasination.

To be honest, I don't personally know anyone who was offended by Jackson's wardrobe malfunction.

Robertson was.

Me too ... I missed it!

But what status has this mad person got ... does anyone take him seriously? I know that small groups with mad ideas of world domination etc. should be kept an eye on but where does this fool think he is going with this?

Fortunately I don't know him personally!!

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson

Marion Gordon Robertson, usually known as Pat Robertson (born March 22, 1930) is an American Christian televangelist, entrepreneur, and right-wing political activist. He is the founder of numerous organizations and corporations including: the American Center for Law and Justice, Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), the Christian Coalition, the Flying Hospital, International Family Entertainment, Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, and Regent University. He is the host of the popular TV show The 700 Club, which airs on many channels in the United States and on CBN affiliates worldwide. His strongly conservative views and recently issued statement calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez have made him the subject of much controversy, especially his statements in favor of the dissolution of the barrier between church and state and his condemnation of groups he believes to be living in sin. Robertson's ties to the Republican Party, especially his failed bid to be that party's candidate in the 1988 presidential election, have led to charges of partisanship. He is a Southern Baptist and was an ordained minister with that denomination for many years, but holds to a Pentecostal theology.

My comment...

Unfortunately not enough people realize what a kook he really is.

Leftie, I'm rolling that phrase around in my mouth, ... 'American Christian televangelist' ... frightening concept ...

I know that the Christian Church or an organisation or organisations within it had millions of dollars at their disposal for building radio stations throughout South America and Europe and the Far East during the cold war and possibly they are still operating. I guess the intention was to broadcast propaganda to undermine governments that the US government didn't approve of. They often had the word 'Free' in their name. The CIA was often accused of financing them. But I always thought of them, like this man Robertson, to be a minority of fanatics who were not taken too seriously by the people who were the targetted recipients. Maybe they were more important than I gave them credit for.

I remember a story, possibly apocryphal, about Eisenhower and Billy Graham that was popular a while ago. Apparently Dwight D was horrified at the democratic election of our Attlee government and feared that England was heading for a Soviet style government and a Godless existence. He persuaded his friend Billy to lead an evangelical mission to England to save us. Which he did. Surprising number of my peers 'joined' Jesus as a result. But I don't think it lasted long for most of them. BG seemed to have an awful lot of dollars to throw around in my country at the time.

Unfortunately I believe they are given more respect than you might imagine. Religion plays a strange role in our country's politics.

Robertson did back off from that assasination statement an issued an apology of sorts.

Robertson used to be more influential in the early 1990s, when he and Ralph Reed ran the Christian Coalition, which was fairly effective in mobliizing around right-wing social issues. In a sense for that era Robertson had taken over from Jerry Fallwell as the "face" of the Religous Right.

The Christian Coaltion eventually peaked and its mastermind, Ralph Reed, has went on to other things, and other people, such as, for awhile, Gary Bauer, and now James Dobson, have moved to the forefront of religous politics in terms of national profile.

Robertson is now just one of a group of influential religous/political activists...much of this activism is happening more at the state and local level and the leaders are not that well-known nationally.

As for being taken seriously, probably the only people who have anything to really fear are gays and lesbians, and people wanting abortions...as the gay movmeent and abortion remain the big targets of this religous right movement.

I'm assuming your elipses was intended to suggest an unincluded but long list of other people who should fear Roberston (i.e. the non-religious or less-religious, foriegn leaders, people who believe in democracy, women...)!!

A little off thread here but..a great little story about Attlee from a quotes book I finished.....Attlee is meeting the Chinese ambassador, who asks him if he likes Chinese food....Attlee says "yes"...Ambassador asks what is his favourite dish..Attlee replies "Number 27"....

Sure he did, Jeff...

Robertson, Take 1:


...So first he calls for murder...

Robertson, Take 2:


...Then he says he didn't do it...

Robertson, Take 3:


...Then he claims that it was his “frustration” that caused him to call for the murder of someone who felt he was going to get whacked by the U.S. anyway. I get it. It's as clear as the blood of Christ.

So he is now saying that 'assination', 'taking out', only meant 'kidnap' the democratically elected president of Venezuela ...

Oh well ... guess that's alright then ... the last democratically elected South American president that the US objected to was Allende and look what happened to him ...

Was reading a short article about this, but can't rediscover the link, guy was saying that although some Christian establishments criticised the remarks and disassociated themselves there is a general dearth of criticism reported in the media, especially reports of criticism from the Bush administration.
He poses the question, 'What if Pat Robertson was a muslim religious leader and he called for the 'taking' out of anybody.

Sadly there have been others, primarily in Central America.

Hugo Chavez has offered to give Venezuelan oil money to US poor. Now I think that is a brilliant response. Robertson's outburst is straight from the arrogance that so many American politicians have. The man is a massive hypocrite and we all knew it before. Now we have the evidence to back it up.

Here's his speech in the UN

as a christian myself i find ol' pat's comments pathetic. makes me laugh that so many of american leaders and politicians say they love jesus...wonder if that comes before or after they order some more lockheed misiles...

My understanding is that the role of religion in public policy discourse is quite different between the US and Europe.

In fact, here is an interesting study from an academic journal on the social well-being of societies in which religion is closely intertwined with public policy and those where it is not:

http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html

It is covered in a Timesonline article at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1798944,00.html

From the article...

RELIGIOUS belief can cause damage to a society, contributing towards high murder rates, abortion, sexual promiscuity and suicide, according to research published today.

According to the study, belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems.

The study counters the view of believers that religion is necessary to provide the moral and ethical foundations of a healthy society...

“In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies....

The study concluded that the US was the world’s only prosperous democracy where murder rates were still high, and that the least devout nations were the least dysfunctional. Mr Paul said that rates of gonorrhoea in adolescents in the US were up to 300 times higher than in less devout democratic countries. The US also suffered from “ uniquely high” adolescent and adult syphilis infection rates, and adolescent abortion rates, the study suggested...

My comment...

With regards to this last paragraph: I wish I knew that all it would have taken me to get laid more during highschool was becoming Christian. I would have been the easiest convert ever!!

Yeah, pretty much everything I know about making out I learned at Baptist summer camp. Baptist camps are hotbeds of adolescent sexual activity and burgeoning alcoholism. In a weird way, it's heartwarming.

Garrison Keillior has a great joke - Why do you take two Baptists fishing with you?




So one doesn't drink your beer.

Hugo punches back!!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/247...enezuela09.html

From the article...

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez proclaimed a "knockout" victory in the Summit of the Americas after helping thwart a U.S.-backed free-trade zone, strengthening his position as Latin America's most vocal rival of President Bush and as a maverick unafraid of irritating his neighbors...

Bush, unable to get the 34 nations to agree on reviving the stalled pact, left the negotiations early. Mocking Bush for leaving "with his tail between his legs," Chavez crowed to reporters that he was savoring the sweet "honey of victory."...

My comment...

I know mocking is poor form. Dammit, it still cracks me up!!

More Robertson, Less Chavez...

Your wish is my command: http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=19453

From the article...

On today’s 700 Club, Rev. Pat Robertson took the opportunity to strongly rebuke voters in Dover, PA who removed from office school board members who supported teaching faith-based “intelligent design” and instead elected Democrats who opposed bringing up the possibility of a Creator in the school system’s science curriculum.

Rev. Robertson warned the people of Dover that God might forsake the town because of the vote.

“I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover. If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city. And don’t wonder why He hasn’t helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I’m not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that’s the case, don’t ask for His help because he might not be there.”

My comment...

There you go. Vote for a Democrat and God will foresake your town.

Is this why the shrub hates Chavez?

Of course it is. Chavez is sharing the wealth around and the rich don't like it.



He also holds his position of power by popular consent. Unlike the shrub and Bliar.

More here.



ROTFLMAO

Winning the hearts and minds of Americans -- Part I

Maybe Bush could use Chavez as an example for Iraq.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nati...uschavez22.html

From the article...

And they say so loudly, as heads of their local Bolivarian Circles — among the dozen or so U.S. copies of the groups Chávez has set up throughout his country to mobilize Venezuelans on behalf of his socialist "revolution."

Even as Chávez attacks President Bush as his sworn nemesis, his government is running a strong campaign to curry favor with U.S. citizens through leftist grass-roots groups, paid lobbyists and public-relations operatives and offers of cheap fuel for America's poor.

The Venezuelan leader is running a "grass-roots foreign policy," said Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., a group that supports Chávez.

My comment...

A grass roots campaign to help poor Iraqis? It'll never work.

The US President and the Republicans in Congress are cutting heating assistance to low income families. Fortunately, we can rely on the Venezualan president for help.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachus...et_cheaper_oil/

From the article...

A subsidiary of the Venezuelan national oil company will ship 12 million gallons of discounted home-heating oil to local charities and 45,000 low-income families in Massachusetts next month under a deal arranged by US Representative William D. Delahunt, a local nonprofit energy corporation, and Venezuela's president, White House critic Hugo Chávez.

The approximately $9 million deal will bring nine million gallons of oil to families and three million gallons to institutions that serve the poor, such as homeless shelters, said officials from Citizens Energy Corp., which is signing the contract. Families would pay about $276 for a 200-gallon shipment, a savings of about $184 and enough to last about three weeks.

My comment...

Chavez sticks Bush's nose in it one more time.

He's ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-ack!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4805952.stm

From the article...

Outspoken US Christian evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson has accused Muslims of planning world domination, and said some were "satanic".

On his live television programme, The 700 Club, he said radical Islamists were inspired by "demonic power".

My comment...

I expect we will see an apology in the near future. But, don't forget to send your checks in now!!

I've heard Robertson being interviewed on American talk radio several times, and on the war in Iraq that had just started, he seemed to be the only person on the right, urging caution, and say the whole idea could be a big mistake.
To quell an uprising, after defeating Sadam's forces, might take more brutality than the US was prepared to use, so the "You break it you own it," idea of sucess in this remaking the country anew, could fail, with disasterous results.
He had right wing Jocks like Ronald Regan's son Mike, agreeing with him.

Oh dear, I've got the wrong Pat. It's Buchanon I've just written about.
Is he as nutty as Robertson?

That really was a mistake, but the second Pat has always intrigued me.
His columns are available through the Drudge Report, which I was going to put up as a link, but I won't as someone may complain.
He's also a right wing bible-basher. What's the difference in the two?

Pat Robertson is a demented Bible thumping right wing scumbag, the kind of guy who gives Christians a bad name. Pat Buchanan is a former Richard Nixon speechwriter and right wing scumbag who amazingly enough has landed on the correct side of this war, but for all the wrong reasons. He blames everything on immigration and openness. He's a right wing Catholic. (very specifically Catholic) Prig prig prig prig. Terrible man.

I don't know if this helps or not.

Yes it does, itsmBarbara. Especially after hearing this on the BBC World Service last night. The Interview, with Father Richard Newhaus.
He sounded just like Pat Buchanon.
Who influences who? Bush calls him: "The Father."

Watch out everybody, Pat's been talkin' to the big guy again...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/02/robertson...s.ap/index.html

Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson said Tuesday that God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would cause a "mass killing" late in 2007.

"I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear," he said during his news-and-talk television show "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

"The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."

Robertson said God told him about the impending tragedy during a recent prayer retreat.

God also said, he claims, that major cities and possibly millions of people will be affected by the attack, which should take place sometime after September.

if god is so great why doesn't he stop these things happening, rather than just talking about it. chinless wonder.

There's dozens of the nutters over there. But don't go dismissing them as nutters.

http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2007/01/08/fascism/