Here are some examples of what ordinary people are saying about U.S. televangelist Pat Robertson, who suggested the U.S. government should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Robertson went on to state that Chavez is a "dangerous enemy" and killing Chavez would be cheaper than going to war to remove him.
From Eschaton:
"It was an incredibly stupid statement and has no reflection on reality'' - Senator Norm Coleman
"I'm actually rather surprised at how much play this is getting in the MSM. Robertson has been nutty for years and NOW they notice?" - comment by Samurai Sam
"Remember when they called Whoppee [sic] Goldberg's performance a 'hatefest' because she used a bad word? But this moron can call for the death of a foreign leader and our brave Republicans call it 'irresponsible.'" - comment by Hecate
"It is unfortunate that Pat Robertson's handlers continue to ignore the clear signs of a worsening dementia. People who have reached this tragic state need to be protected; both from themselves and from those who would make a public spectacle of such irrational behavior." - Ed N Sted
"His comments are inappropriate and, as we have said before, any allegations that we are planning to take hostile action against the Venezuelan government are completely baseless and without fact" - State Department spokesman Sean McCormack from CNN
"It's absolutely chilling to hear a religious leader call for the murder of any political leader, no matter how much he disagrees with such a leader's policies or practices" - Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
"It´s huge hypocrisy to maintain this discourse against terrorism and at the same time, in the heart of that country, there are entirely terrorist statements like Robertson´s," said Venezuela´s Vice President José Vicente Rangel, adding that "the ball is in the US court following this criminal statement." - from Prensa Latina
Ordinary Joe says: it is incredible that a person like Robertson can hide behind religion while he pushes his extremist agenda. Even more incredible is that he had enough support to make a bid for the Presidency. Interesting that there is no mention of this story on the Blogs for Bush site. Also, I have been unable to find anyone with a supportive comment.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Victor Lana
Ordinary,
Great post. How can anyone hide behind religion and advocate murder? Oh, yeah, Al Qaeda comes to mind. Robertson is in that league now.
2 - JELIEL
Yeah and if some foreigner asked for Junior's head, everybody would be up in arms to punish him/her.
3 - Dave Nalle
Actually, Americans threatening Chavez is about the best thing he could hope for to legitimize him as he strengthens his hold on Venezuela and moves towards full dictatorship.
Dave
4 - Desmond Daly
I saw Robertson delivering his fatwah against the Venezuelan president. The televangelist's friends need to start thinking about having him evaluated for dementia. In his time he has made some really ludicrous statements. This time, however, he has gone completely over the edge.
5 - Charles Chan
The guy is a fucking crackpot...but as memory serves me, didnt he once say that God told him he was to be the next president...too bad he didnt even make it to the primarys...Proof again that everything the extreme religious right asserts and inferes is scary shit.
6 - David Lee, PhD
I believe the Scriptures give us understanding as to what the Lord Jesus Christ would say about it.
(Luke 9:54-56) "And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? [55] But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. [56] For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."
(Romans 12:19-21) "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
David Lee, PhD
7 - RFS
Pat Robertson is nothing more than a Religious Extremist, and always has been.
Christians who follow him are no different than Al Queda and the terrorists who wish and "pray" for the assination of George Bush.
This man has had his entire audience pray for the death of judges.
Pat Robertson has also stated on air that the State Department (Government Buildings) should be nuked.
He has issued death threats on television to foreign leaders, and called for the bombing of our own government buildings.
Is this not the mind of a terrorist?
8 - ConcernedCitizen
It is amazing to see a bigger crackpot than Chavez get so much press! And it is unfortunate that so many of us would waste our time being concerned over comments made by someone who is obviously so entirely ignorant of the Venezuelan reality. While he may be a crackpot, Chavez has the strongest popular support in Venezuelan history, making him in effect a democratic crackpot and not a dictator. If US policy toward Venezuela were taken more seriously by the White House, there would be no need for under-informed radical Christians (if you can call someone who calls for the assassination of another human being a Christian) to make stupid comments like this in the press.
9 - Lamorial
Dear Editor,
re: Evangelist Robertson Says U.S. Should Kill Chavez
Tuesday 9:16 AM
If ever there be the slightest resistance over the need to have a separation of church and state, surely this was extinguished with the REVEREND Pat Robertson's cry for the assassination of another human being - and the head of state of a foreign country no less! Not to say that personal status matters. Simply put, these are hardly appropriate comments for a religious zealot who preaches of the sanctity of life at all costs, so adamantly demonstrated in the recent and very sad Terry Schiavo case. But now miraculously? it is OK to assassinate a leader who controls just a bit of oil and is left wing in his political views - Wow! can the corporate goons be far behind?
That Rev. Robertson had the audacity to run for President of the USA is at the very least disturbing. And what's worse is that there are those who voted for him.
If Chavez and Venezuela did not have OIL he would be but a tiny mosquito on the elephant's back; but no - he has oil and thus power; worse yet, he has the support of millions of people and must be destroyed at all costs for fear his radical left wing ideals will soon spread to other Latin American countries, contrary to the Monroe doctrine.
IMHO, to off President Chavez is part of an orchestrated plan. And with every passing day, the more convinced I become that the oil lobby must contribute extensively to the right wing evangelical spectrum.
Finally, I have a question for those right wing evangelicals: War is after all war so why is it that the clergy (of all people) have not vehemently both decried and condemned this illegal war???
10 - Rita
I totally agree with Robertson, as a Cuban-American I am aware that anyone meeting with Castro as often as Chavez does is up to no good. Their plan is to bring communism to all of Latin America and then the US. They are right in our backyard! Wake up and get him now as someone should have done to Castro in the beginning, these are the terrorists in our neck of the woods, GET THEM BOTH!!!!
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!! These two are certainly NOT planning a party!
11 - Karl
You may all think he is demented, which he is no doubt, but it serves a purpose. His statements reflect what our government wants, Chavez out of commission. America is the terrorist here. Everyone, don't forget that Venezuela, China and Russia have formed an alliance.
12 - dave
Hello Christian Broadcast Network Online Shop Support,
I've recently discovered your online shop and I must admit you have quite an impressive array of items; yet, one item high on my wishlist remains elusive. After recent viewing of a CBN broadcast, I realized I just must get my hands on some "Pat Robertson Exploding Cigars." But, alas they are nowhere to be found. Please take the time to search long and hard through the site (and through your own hearts, dare I add) so that my send my friend the gift he so apparently deserves.
Your brother in Christ,
David
13 - superchristian
Whom would Jesus assassinate?
14 - JB
This shows that the right wing, religious extremism is just as bad as ANY religious extremism. Calling for assasination, abortion clinic bombings, banning science in school (evolution) for creationism, limited women's rights. Does this sound like the friggin American Taliban?
15 - Brian Dotson
Okay - I'm a Pastor and let me say this guy does not speak for me or anyone I know who follows Jesus.
Thanks for nothing Pat - your ignorance just serves to further the bad name people of faith are getting these days. Keep it up and you'll have followers of Jesus added to terrorist watch lists!
16 - SMH
Ordinary Joe, your leanings are obvious and left leaning. I find it interesting that you entitle your article "What Ordinary People Are Saying..." and start off with a quote from a Senator and then move on to "Samurai Sam". You conclude with "Also, I have been unable to find anyone with a supportive comment." Then I read further and find at least a few supportive comments. While I may not fully agree with Mr. Robertson's comments or approach, I hope that they wake up the right to the threat that Mr. Chavez poses with as much vigor as they've awakened the left to heckling.
17 - alienboy
All extreme believers are potential terrorists if pushed far enough...
18 - Maurice
Including eco-terrorists!
19 - Ordinary Joe
Hi SMH, I have reviewed my article and I see no comments supporting Mr. Robertson.
For clarification, I consider everybody an "ordinary person". What they have done in their life and who or what they represent may make them "extra-ordinary" depending on one's perspective.
I see Robertson as an ordinary person who hoodwinked millions of people over the years with his charisma and charm. However, he is still an ordinary person, no better than you or I.
OJ
20 - Warren
Pat Robertson is an idiot. I have to agree with comment #15.
If mu.nu was up, I'd link to the post I made on my blog yesterday. Unfortunately, I don't know the hyperlink straight to the post, and the whole mu.nu universe is down right now, so I can't check. http://pewview.mu.nu when it's up. Post title is "Pat Robertson's Big Fat Mouth."
I have yet to read any Christian (including the hardcore fundamenatlists I know) who support Robertson. Fundamentalists think he's an apostate anyway (google 'David Cloud' for a wonderful read from a REAL idiot), and most evangelicals don't pay any attention to his ramblings. Robertson is a fringe charismatic with a small but vocal following. His babblings make good TV, so the media pays attention to what he says.
Fortunately, nobody else does.
21 - Al Barger
I would say that for these purposes "ordinary person" would be anyone not a congressman, president or high party official, ie Karl Rove.
Pat Robertson is well known and influential, but he does not have an army. He's ultimately the same as Al Franken or Rush Limbaugh or a Blogcritic- he has only the power of persuasion to move the needle.
22 - Nancy
Unfortunately, there's too many halfwits out there who give him both credence & allegiance. Not to mention their money.
23 - adam
If you send money to Pat Robertson's organization, aren't your dollars supporting terrorism? The FBI should jump on this.
24 - bobbie
What can I do? When news like this comes up -
I try to find the most humorous satire!
I FOUND IT!
Makes MY DAY! Doesn't it with yours?
I think Patty Robertson is not only SENILE, he's BRAIN-DEAD! With all his "AMEN'S" after each sentence.
When I want to have a good laugh early on a lazy morning I watch Patty, here. He's HILARIO Robertson (for hilarious).
25 - Jay Scriver
Armstrong has been found out - just like Bush with his lies about Irakays - it would help if he could actually speak. Then Pastor Pat promotes state sponsoired terrorism in name of Jesus. American imperialism has rarely looked so ugly and misadvised.