Pat Robertson - There's no fool like an old fool!
(23.08.2005)

Republican "Christian" broadcaster Pat Robertson has suggested that the U.S. government should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez!

Pat Robertson told viewers of his "The 700 Club" show that "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability" and that "We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one 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"

Robertson obviously reads the same Bible that certain members of the Bush administration do, where the words "thou shalt not kill" are replaced by "It's OK to carry out pre-emptive strikes, assassinate and kill Muslims, especially if their country has lots of oil"

It is hard to say which is more worrying, the fact that a right wing extremist is allowed to say such things on television, disguised as a believer of God. Or that he has followers who are prepared to listen to him and be stupid enough to donate money for his cause.

Just recently we have heard talk from the likes of Bush and Tony Blair, about putting a stop to websites and other media areas that promote violence and terrorist acts. Surely, this falls into that category? But presumably, because this is promoting the same type of violence that Bush and Blair have been supporting for years, Robertson will not be criticized for his comment? We can almost picture Bush saying "Amen" after hearing Robertson's remark.

Pat Robertson is well known for his controversial remarks and statements, here are a few:

"maybe we need a very small nuke thrown off on Foggy Bottom to shake things up"

Robertson claims to have used the power of prayer to steer hurricanes away from his companies' Virginia Beach, Virginia headquarters. He took credit for steering the course in 1985 of Hurricane Gloria, which caused millions of dollars of destruction in many states along the east coast. He made a similar claim about another destructive storm, Hurricane Felix, in 1995.

Robertson has described feminism as a "socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."

Robertson's net worth is between $200 million and $1 billion USD according to the 2002 book The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast. Through his ostensibly charitable organization, Operation Blessing International, Robertson claims to have spent $1.2 million bringing aid to refugees in Rwanda. His critics, such as Palast, claim the money was actually spent to bring heavy equipment for Robertson's African Development Corporation, a diamond mining operation. He has purchased thoroughbred race horses, although he has stated on many occasions he is opposed to gambling. Robertson claims he bought the horses because he is "amazed by their athleticism".

Robertson supported former Liberian president Charles Taylor during the United States' involvement in the Liberian Civil War in June and July of 2003. Robertson accused the U.S. State Department of giving President Bush bad advice in supporting Taylor's ouster as president, and of trying "as hard as they can to destabilize Liberia." Robertson has been criticized for failing to mention in his broadcasts his $8 million investment in a Liberian gold mine.

The 700 Club is called a Christian news and talk show hosted by Pat Robertson, shown on ABC Family. The same company connected to a TV channel that refused to air an advert for Cindy Sheehan recently!

The 700 Club (according to Wikimedia, where much of this information can be found) is editorially pro-Israeli, believing the creation of the Jewish state to be an end times sign. The 700 Club has on Jewish guests such as Michael Medved and Rabbi Daniel Lapin, who share its conservative Judeo-Christian beliefs.

Pat Robertson has received a number of honours and you may care to make a note of these, as they presumably support similar thinking!