The loathsome and evil Pat Robertson
Recently, Pat Robertson called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez. This resulted in a resounding condemnation from most corners, and even Rumsfeld had to issue a rebuke, despite the televangelist's deep links with the Republican Party's religious right base.
But even as they pummeled Robertson for his "fatwa", the corporate news media indulged in their own backhanded character assassination, leaving unchallenged Robertson's more serious allegations that the US government has been using to isolate Chavez. While Robertson's odious, bizarre and reactionary views on everything from gay rights to feminism, to the US constitution were duely noted, his views on Venezuela that happened to coincide with the Bush administration's views were treated uncritically.
Fortunately, most Latin American and Carribean governments have rallied to Venezuela's defense instead, seeing through the lies crafted in Washington.
However, what makes Pat Robertson especially dangerous is that he has had a strong influence in international affairs over the last two decades. The televangelist was a big supporter of General Rios Montt of Guatemala, the genocidal fascist maniac who launched a scorched earth policy against Mayan Indians, butchering thousands, and exterminating hundreds of villages when he was in power from 1982-1983.
Here's a direct Robertson quote:
Indeed, but is that God or Satan he is talking about? Even Satan's not that bad!
He also supported the brutal thug Robert D'Aubuisson of El Salvador, one of the principal organizers of the death squads in the 1980s. Incidentally, both Montt and D'Aubuisson were evangelical fundamentalist Christians with ties to the religious right in the US.
More recently, Pat Robertson supported former president Charles Taylor of Liberia who was responsible for plunging much of Western Africa into horrific warfare in the 1990s. Ditto for Mobutu whose brutal kleptocracy set the stage for Africa's first continental war.
Like these dictators, he is delusional and paranoid. Here's another quote:
And one of the strangest (commenting on the X-Box):
While it's obvious that Robertson is a lunatic, he controls a powerful international broadcast system that can incite the actions he described widely. He also reflects the thinly veiled wishes of the Bush administration.
Fortunately, such talk only serves to clarify the opposing sides. At the same time Robertson was thinking outloud and preoccupied with murder, Chavez was tinkering with plans to sell cheap oil to poor communities in the US. A fitting reply indeed!
But even as they pummeled Robertson for his "fatwa", the corporate news media indulged in their own backhanded character assassination, leaving unchallenged Robertson's more serious allegations that the US government has been using to isolate Chavez. While Robertson's odious, bizarre and reactionary views on everything from gay rights to feminism, to the US constitution were duely noted, his views on Venezuela that happened to coincide with the Bush administration's views were treated uncritically.
Fortunately, most Latin American and Carribean governments have rallied to Venezuela's defense instead, seeing through the lies crafted in Washington.
However, what makes Pat Robertson especially dangerous is that he has had a strong influence in international affairs over the last two decades. The televangelist was a big supporter of General Rios Montt of Guatemala, the genocidal fascist maniac who launched a scorched earth policy against Mayan Indians, butchering thousands, and exterminating hundreds of villages when he was in power from 1982-1983.
Here's a direct Robertson quote:
He is putting down wrong-doers and punishing those who are evil doers... Let it be an example of what God can do when His people are in charge.
Indeed, but is that God or Satan he is talking about? Even Satan's not that bad!
He also supported the brutal thug Robert D'Aubuisson of El Salvador, one of the principal organizers of the death squads in the 1980s. Incidentally, both Montt and D'Aubuisson were evangelical fundamentalist Christians with ties to the religious right in the US.
More recently, Pat Robertson supported former president Charles Taylor of Liberia who was responsible for plunging much of Western Africa into horrific warfare in the 1990s. Ditto for Mobutu whose brutal kleptocracy set the stage for Africa's first continental war.
Like these dictators, he is delusional and paranoid. Here's another quote:
Just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different. It is the same thing.
And one of the strangest (commenting on the X-Box):
Anything that begins with 'X' can't possibly be good for our children. First you have something like XXX, next thing you know you have X-Files, or even X-mas, putting the X where Christ should be!
While it's obvious that Robertson is a lunatic, he controls a powerful international broadcast system that can incite the actions he described widely. He also reflects the thinly veiled wishes of the Bush administration.
Fortunately, such talk only serves to clarify the opposing sides. At the same time Robertson was thinking outloud and preoccupied with murder, Chavez was tinkering with plans to sell cheap oil to poor communities in the US. A fitting reply indeed!
posted 4:33 PM
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