CNN.com: Robertson apologizes

[stevedeshazer]

BREAKING NEWS

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson apologizes for calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. More soon.

No link yet, on their front webpage: http://cnn.com

EDIT: Link here: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/24/robertson.chavez/index.html

[Sub Atomic]

1. But wait a minute

Didn't he just claim that he never said that?

:shrug:

[sabra]

2. flip flop?

[friesianrider]

13. My FIRST thought, too!

Shall we all start trailing him with gigantic flip-flops in tow? :eyes:

[Roland99]

66. It's ok. He's merely a sinner asking for forgiveness.

What a divine Christian.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

100. What was he apologizing for?

Calling for assassination? Lying about it afterwards? These hypocritical bastards really should come with a scorecard.

[stevedeshazer]

16. Notice how Bushco never apologizes, but someone else always does?

There's a long line of Republicans who have been forced to genuflect before the Masters of War.

[triguy46]

31. Did he actually apologize

or was it the lame, "if my words were misrepresented to mean harm, then I'm sorry you misunderstood me," the classic, 'I ain't got a problem, you do' apology.

[stevedeshazer]

38. One paragraph:

"Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement," he said in a written statement.

But the rest is no apology. It's as if he's a captured terrorist forced to make a statement in front of the cameras.

Oh wait...

[Bmongilly]

52. Who said these words a couple months ago?

Almost word for word was someone else who slipped up and issued a statement.

This tells me that this is a generic statement typed up by an attorney and is not a genuine from the heart apology.

Anyone remember someone else who issues the same "apology" a couple months ago? I just can't grasp who it was...

[Bmongilly]

57. Was it Rush?

Ok, maybe I'm thinking of Rush Limbaugh and the "black qb" statement that he issued a statement that was almost word for word the same. Remember that one?

[Blaq Dem]

93. Corporate America made him do it...

We all know the Bush Cult operates on money. Pat wouldn't have apologized unless it had something to do with upsetting profits for big oil companies.

[stevedeshazer]

3. He must be apologizing for being misinterpreted?

We'll just have to wait and see.

[belle]

33. "If I had said it, I'd be sorry."

[joeunderdog]

48. CNN gave some links to assure people he had said it:

They let the guys on word's hang him and left the video links right under the top story.

Watch: Assassination scandals
• Watch: Robertson: 'I was misinterpreted'
• Watch: Robertson: 'Cheaper than starting a war

[danalytical]

79. It;s OK for "true believers" to lie

and advocate killing. Didn't you get the memo. It's the new Amerika.

[TankLV]

88. BUT HE STILL KEEPS HIS SHOW!

He "apologized" but pays no price for his actions! Just like a "true christian" - representative and the face of this "christianity" in america today (whether we like it or not or whether it is deserved or not.)

[Oreo]

4. Here's the story

Weasel... saying "take him out" didn't mean kill him.
How can he be taken out of context when the whole thing is there for everybody to watch. He's weaseling his way out and he'll be lauded once again by the right in a week or two

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/24/robertson.chavez/index.html

Robertson apologizes
Broadcaster says 'take him out' didn't mean killing Chavez

Wednesday, August 24, 2005; Posted: 4:15 p.m. EDT (20:15 GMT)


(CNN) -- Conservative religious broadcaster Pat Robertson apologized Wednesday for calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during Monday's broadcast of his "700 Club" program.

"Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement," he said in a written statement.

Earlier, Robertson said that his remarks about Chavez were taken out of context and that he never called for the killing of the Latin American leader.

"I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should 'take him out.' And 'take him out' can be a number of things, including kidnapping; there are a number of ways to take out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted by the AP , but that happens all the time," Robertson said on "The 700 Club." (Watch video)

[stevedeshazer]

8. Thanks , I edited to add the link

:)

[C_U_L8R]

12. The man is a liar too

Contrary to his claim, this is what the scummy TV preacher says on video:

"If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it,
It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war. 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 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."

ass-hat

[TaleWgnDg]

22. Yup . . . see and hear it here . . . straight from Marion's mouth:

http://pserver.mii.instacontent.net/mmatters/700-200508220006.mov

[Thor_MN]

64. Note the clever denial using a different word

He's right, he didn't say "assassination", he sadi "assassinate." So he denies saying a word that no one is accusing him of using, and then switches focus to a phrase that he did say which could be ambiguous. I applaud CNN for doing the right thing and giving the quote that proves that Robertson is an asshat in the article.

[rateyes]

77. I said the same thing in a later post, but then

read the whole statement. He actually starts off "I don't know the policy on assassination" then goes one with if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we ought to go ahead and do it...kind of remark. The lying bastard did say it.

"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."

Notice how he's worried about the OIL shipments. What a prick.

[cal04]

18. since when is kidnapping a democratically elected leader or anyone else

for that matter legal? Like you did to Aristede, who was the first democratically-
elected president in the country's 200-year history

[cliss]

46. There you go -

absolutely right. I couldn't help but notice, Robberson TWICE referred to Hugo Chavez as a "Dictator", once as a "strongman".

Item #1 for Pat Blubberson: Hugo Chavez was elected democratically in Venezuela. It was a landslide. How does that make him a dictator?

Item #2: Why are you calling him a "Strongman". Because he's strong? Strong on his own policies? Chavez is doing his own thing, regardless of what they think in Washington. In what way does that make him a strongman?

[R Hickey]

99. Strongman Bush

We think we should start using that term when speaking of President Bush. In the future we should always correct any republican who uses the term "President" to "Strongman," and say its because Bushler never won a legitimate national election.

[MsLeopard]

29. "take him out" -- on a date?

Oh, I can see it now -- Pat Robertson wants to take Hugo out on a date. How utterly sweet.

[belle]

34. Oh, WELL, if he just meant kidnapping the democratically elected leader!

That's all right then! Whew!

stupid little gerbil, I think we should stake him out in a colony of black widows and leave him to die slowly of spider bites.

but, please don't misconstrue me; that doesn't mean what you think it means, and i never said it anyway. Sorry! Say, is that the time?

[annarbor]

39. Honestly now...

If someone were to use the same expression when referring to Bush, they would be underneath a jail somewhere waiting for their flight to Guantanamo Bay.....
What a liar!

Ann Arbor

[XanaDUer]

43. Maybe Robertson meant "take him out" as in date him?

...

[sharman]

82. Or maybe he meant

take him out for a nice dinner and movie

[Geoff R. Casavant]

5. And it better not be

one of those crappy "I'm sorry that people misunderstood me" kinds of apology. I want a full court "I said it, I meant it, it was not a Christian thing to say, and I am sorry" kind of apology.

[Beetwasher]

6. Fuckwit

n/t

[napi21]

7. Yea, but did you hear Jack Cafferty?

He said "yea, well I don't understand these guys. Robertson wasn't getting enough atention, so he went through the room knocking down all the expensive vases, but when Mom catches him, he says, awe gee I didn't mean it! He's a jerk!"

I know Jack is always called an old curmugeon, but he was sure right this time!

[stevedeshazer]

14. I didn't hear it

But that seems like a plausible accounting....

[genieroze]

9. He's only sorry he is being condemned on it.

[rrrevolution]

10. Oh Well, ran up the "kidnapping" explanation & no one saluted, so

Might as well apologize and move on to even more outrageous statements. So many to offend, and so little time.

[bluestateguy]

11. A forced apology

When Richard Durbin apologized, after much badgering, for his remarks about Gitmo the Republicans continued beating up on him.

That's their playbook, and I suggest we do the same.

[mac56]

15. Too little, too late.

He's already endangered missionaries and countless good people of faith all over South America with his loose-cannon comments.

He can go to hell.

[mitchum]

17. That lowlife dirtbag grifter has NOT apologized

His mealy-mouthed response was that his statements were "misunderstood"

May he soon be with Jesus

[MrTriumph]

19. To his viewers: No apology. To the rest of us: Well....

x

[TahitiNut]

23. There was no way he was misunderstood. He SAID "assassinate"!

The sleazy, lying son-of-a-bitch ignored the very words he said in the sentence immediately before he used the euphemism "take him out" so there's absolutely no question. "Assassinate" means "assassinate" and absolutely no interpretation is needed.

[Thor_MN]

78. But he denied saying "assassination", which he didn't

He's a frickin hypocritical terrorist, but his "denial" is factually correct. He never said assassination, and then switches focus to a phrase that he actually did say that could, possibly, be misunderstood. I hope someone tries to knock him up in prison.

To Marion "Pat" Robertson: I never said you were terroristic hypocrit, when I said that someone should knock you up, I was misunderstood by the American media. What I meant was that some of your British friends should go to visit you, by knocking on your door. It's a common phrase, really, I don't know why you should find it offensive.

[TahitiNut]

90. Except he DID say it!

"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." -- Ayatollah Pat Robertson, August 22, 2005

"Wait a minute, I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should, quote, 'take him out,' and 'take him out' can be a number of things including kidnapping. There are a number of ways to take out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted by the AP, but that happens all the time." -- Ayatollah Pat Robertson, August 24, 2005

http://mediamatters.org/items/200508240005

[XanaDUer]

41. That's what I thought

First of all, I cannot see that sanctimonious POS apologizing, since he feels he speaks for gawd.

Second of all, well, he is a jerk.

[TaleWgnDg]

20. How the hell can ANYone "apologize" for years of . . .

.
How the hell can ANYone "apologize" for years of . . . demonizing groups of people? liberals, gays, women, single parents, children of single parents, children of gays, those who are not of the same "religion" as he is, and on and on? Utterly impossible!

Instead, the FCC should remove Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson from the "air waves" and fine him heavily, and the FBI should commence a criminal investigation on Robertson. Most importantly, this Bush Administration should develop a backbone and get out from behind this *ss.

"Apologize?" How stupid can it get. An apology expressly means no further repetition of the same behavior. Since when is Marion gonna stop his sh*t? Of course not. He's just another radical cleric like those he rants against.

Check out Robertson's latest escapades of threats and demonization, i.e., see and hear it for yourself: http://pserver.mii.instacontent.net/mmatters/700-200508220006.mov (Apple's .mov format)


.

[architect359]

21. Whatever

He doesn't mean a single word of his apology. We'll be civil and accept it and pretend that nothing has happened. This guy shouldn't get a free pass. :mad:

[Disturbed]

25. Pat Robertson is a Fascist weasle.

"If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it,"

Says it all, eh?

[Joseph Christ]

24. Why..

...can't we go back to the days when these wacko's were delegated to standing on street corners handing out scrawled pieces of paper? This man should not have a political voice.

[napi21]

30. We probably don't want to go back in time, but I want to know

just how much of his income is sheltered under the "religious Charity" IRS code? If the donations he gets from making these broadgasts of the 700 Club are tax free, then his exemption should be revoked!

[The_Casual_Observer]

26. This is a denial, not an apology

Anyway, it's a false denial, since he clearly said assassinate.

[1932]

27. He must have asked himself Who Would Jesus Assassinate?

[Beetwasher]

28. So Pat, WHY DID YOU CLAIM YOU WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT????

And now you're apologizing?

Fuckwit.

What the fuckwit said:

"If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it," said Robertson Monday. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war."

His denial earlier today:

"I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should 'take him out.' And 'take him out' can be a number of things, including kidnapping; there are a number of ways to take out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted by the AP , but that happens all the time," Robertson said on "The 700 Club."

Now:

"Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement," he said in a written statement.

So Pat, are you a just a liar or a goddamn liar?

I say we hold his feet to the fire and never stop.

[ElectroPrincess]

32. Oh you silly fellow DUer

Accountability is not what these Religious Whack-Jobs are about. Can we say "Fundy Jihad" of the Church of the Bat-Shit Crazy TV Evangelistic Order? I thought we could. All together NOW! :puke:

On edit: Hope you know that I'm teasing you here ;).

[stevedeshazer]

37. I vote for "goddamn liar".

It has a nicer ring to it.

[Ilsa]

54. And someone on Randi Rhodes today said that PR also

said Bush should meet with Cindy Sheehan and take her out. His meaning is open to interpretation.

[Chovexani]

35. When is the media going to call these assclowns what they are?

Radical clerics who issue fatwas on world leaders and gay cartoon characters.

[samsingh]

36. now he's flip-flopping

[LibertyLover]

40. Robertson's apology

This morning I was listening to newsradio WTOP as I drove to the Metro. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday about 8 am they have Cal Thomas on doing a minute or so of commentary. This morning, after his spiel, one of the morning hosts asked him what his opinion of Robertson and his comments on Chavez were. Thomas replied that he thought Robertson should call his own 800 number and get a healing because his statement was outrageous. Wow, something Cal and I can agree on. It boggles the mind.

[against all enemies]

42. Who would Jesus assassinate?

[Zenlitened]

44. Does Robertson not "believe in" videotape?

He's on tape, saying "we should assassinate him."

WTF?

And what's really sad... I'm sure his followers believe he's being 'persecuted.'

:crazy:

[stevedeshazer]

45. On his website, it still says, "Pat Robertson Clarifies His Statement..."

http://www.cbn.com/about/pressrelease_hugochavez.asp

[mac56]

76. He actually compared himself with Dietrich Bonhoeffer?!

What a grandiose son of a bitch.

[iconoclastic cat]

47. Oh, so it's all okay now, right? It's as if he never called for murder.

C'mere, Pat. Let's hug.

[rateyes]

49. He didn't say assassinaTION...

he said assassinATE. Depends on what "is" is. Assassinate, take him out--semantics. Don't you love how people "waffle" when they get caught?

[stevedeshazer]

50. I like mine with blueberry syrup.

There's a whole lot of waffling going on right now, that's for sure.

[rateyes]

53. Good one Steve...

Leggo my eggo! :)

[benburch]

51. Tough shit, "Rev"

You said it, and betrayed the fact that YOU ARE NO CHRISTIAN.

[Judi Lynn]

55. He threw "morally justified" into the mix today.

Just heard it on Air America news, and checked google, found this:

On today's broadcast, Robertson suggested that killing a dictator may sometimes be morally justified, citing the example of a German theologian who was executed for plotting against Hitler.
(snip)

http://www.news10.net/storyfull10.asp?id=12747

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That remark makes him even stranger. Thanks for the clarification, Pat.

[rateyes]

59. "I knew Dietrich Bonhoeffer...

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a friend of mine, Pat Robertson, you're no Dietrich Bonhoeffer!"

:)

[Megahurtz]

61. DOH! Good One Asshole!

"executed for plotting against Hitler"???

Wow, that says a lot more about you:freak: and the President you support, Nimrod!

And by the way, get your foot out of your mouth!

[tomg]

87. I wrote to Sojourners and the Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Society. Robertson's misuse of Bonhoeffer's life and work was reprehensible and took Bonhoeffer's life and work entirely out of context. Just after Robertson's original remarks, I wrote to CBN asking, what would Dietrich Bonhoeffer do ( I posted on this earlier http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4443633&mesg_id=4444768 ).

I was ( and I still am) livid about Robertson opening up his "explanation" by citing Bonhoeffer. I am re-reading his remarkable Cost of Discipleship. The absolute hypocrisy of that vile Robertson.

[Ilsa]

56. Cnn poll: Are you satisfied with PR's apology?

http://www.cnn.com/
Over 70% "No" so far.

[Robeson]

65. 78% No, and 22% who are Kool Aid drinkers.

[Blaq Dem]

94. It's tricky. 70% could include those who didn't want him to apologize.

[Megahurtz]

58. Too Late, Dude,

you lied.:evilfrown:

[6000eliot]

60. What motivates him to say anything he says but self-interest.

He's a lying scumbag. Fuck his apology!

[DawnneOBTS]

62. It's only a democratic election when Bush's candidate wins...

So...hmmm....Iraq is a democracy?

[Rex]

63. He really didn't apologize, said we should maybe kidnap Chavez

probably to a nice cell in Iraq to be tortured. Pat needs to be removed from mass media.

Pat is no different than the main Islamic extremists calling for the death of western leaders.

[paineinthearse]

67. US evangelist apologizes for Chavez remarks

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050824/pl_nm/venezuela_robertson_dc

US evangelist apologizes for Chavez remarks

Conservative U.S. evangelist Pat Robertson apologized on Wednesday for calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, saying he spoke in frustration earlier in the week. "Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him."

The leftist Chavez, one of President George W. Bush's harshest critics, has often accused the United States of plotting his overthrow or assassination. U.S. officials said this week the idea of hostile action against him was "without fact and baseless." Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition and a leader of the Christian right that has provided strong support for Bush, said on Monday of Chavez's fears: "If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it." "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," he said on his "The 700 Club" television program.

His earlier remarks, said the leader of the world's fifth largest oil exporter was a "terrific danger" to the United States and Chavez intended to become "the launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism." Robertson said that while he was criticized by U.S. political and religious leaders, he found the attention he wanted for what he said was "a growing problem which has largely been ignored." Earlier in the day he said his remarks had been misinterpreted and "take him out" could refer to kidnapping.

<snip>

Chavez was elected in 1998, survived a referendum on his rule last year, and is seen to have a strong chance of winning re-election in 2006.

-------

Note the last sentence, some corp media are calling Chavez a 'dictator'. Glad to see Reuters calls it like it is.

See earlier, related posts:

Media Matters Calls on ABC Family to Discontinue Robertson Broadcasts
Posted by paineinthearse
Added to homepage Tue Aug 23rd 2005, 04:31 PM ET
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1721829

ABC Family "Strongly Rejects" Robertson's Comments
Wed Aug-24-05 11:42 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4444230&mesg_id=4444230

CBN News: Comments Add Fuel to the Fire
Wed Aug-24-05 12:00 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x149761

[Waya]

68. Damn that makes a load of sense......

..."Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him."

So, Chavez thinks the US is out to kill him and that frustrates the hell out of Robertsons - so he calls for us to kill Chavez??

That's an apology? Try again, Pat.

[MichiganVote]

72. Yup. Its the new conservative, 'Clear Thinking Initiative'

Ain't it grand.....

[Rex]

69. I can't imagine why Chavez would think the US is out to kill him...

It's not like the leader of CBN called for his DEATH. That would be, gosh, against the teachings of Jesus Christ. No wait, he did call for his DEATH. Guess Jesus gave Pat a free pass yesterday to be himself.

[David__77]

70. WHO is being "accommodated?"

Not Chavez. Robertson thinks that "letting" Chavez live is "accommodating" him. This is the true spirit of imperialist bestiality on display for all the people to see and learn from. The lesson for the people of Venezuela is that Chavez is a true leader who is fighting for national sovereignty where other leaders have sold their nations and peoples time and again to the US and the West in exchange for their own personal fortunes.

[wtmusic]

71. Busted

Not only calling for someone's assassination, but lying about your own comments, then having to confess.

Maybe Pat should do a little soul-searching before he feels worthy to ask for any more money on TV.

[paineinthearse]

73. :

Self-deleted.

[mom cat]

74. He must have been afraid that he would be taken out.....

ot the ABC lineup!

[NobleCynic]

75. A bit short sighted Pat?

Aside from the issues of right or wrong, assassinating Chavez would only serve to martyr him and completely destroy any credibility we have left in South America. That's why we don't Pat. Funny how the older a person gets the more immature they can be... Maybe someone sat down with him and explained it to him slowly and that's why he's backing away from his statements now.

[maseman]

80. Where's the pussy dems???

I want to see TV ads and hear radio ads linking this nut case to the Bushco administration. We need to capitalize on this idiot's remarks. Tell the 'Merican public that "Don't forget your President is in bed with these people. Matter of fact these people claim that they are the reason he got elected. We must help 'Mericans connect the dots with this crap.

[TheCowsCameHome]

81. Hey GodBoy, if you didn't say it in the first place, why apologize?

Oh that's right - you're one of the chosen few, aren't you.

Squeeze those eyes, brother. Maybe next time it won't be a fart..........

[MODemocrat]

83. He still wants Chvez to be kidnapped, his apology is bogus

This "little man" needs to have his head examined, as does his followers, for not standing up to him. This doesn't even sound like the America I've always loved. Roberts must be a Devil worshiper.
:evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown:

[Trajan]

84. How does one apologize for being a homicidal psychotic ?

How silly is that ? ....

It's like those who praise racism, and then claim any criticism is 'political correctness' ..... WTF does political correctness matter when racism is wrong and amoral at its core ? ....

Robertson's problem isnt one to apologize for: it demands long term therapy ... and perhaps deprogramming ....

[lovuian]

85. That doesn't sound like an apology???

:bounce:

[HuckleB]

86. Where's the apology?

:shrug:

[Oreegone]

89. What a wacko!!

He also ask people to pray for the death of judges, or how about the many times he has said the people who died in *name the disaster because they are heathens? He is a sick fuck, sure ABC can air the show, but why don't they get this destructive little demon off the air. Who would Jesus kill?
:evilgrin:

[aaronbees]

91. What a lying sack of wet crap that man is...

That is no apology ... and he's not taken out of context. The Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote, and the comparison to Hitler, is meant to imply that Chavez is worthy of "taking out" -- which in the context of his original statement does indeed mean assasination. What a nutjob fascist Robertson is.

[samplegirl]

92. im calling the 700 club

and making a contribution! all is fovgiven!

[NuttyFluffers]

95. Can we Crucify him, too! Pretty please! With sugar on top!

:evilgrin:

We can pelt him with his tanzanite while he's up there. wanna play dice over who gets the 700 club? :+

[Pachamama]

96. You mean he apologized and then compared Chavez to Hitler?

I heard this earlier this evening....Sean Hannity was agreeing and then asked the question "would it have been wrong to have assasinated Hitler?"

Uneffing believable....we have a lot of scum in this country to clean away before our country can ever be a healthy place again.... :puke:

[Nostradamus]

97. Must be difficult finding a teenage prostitute for his rancid body

Former GOP congressman Pete McCloskey of California, who served in the same unit as Robertson, claimed that Robertson had relied on his father's influence to get him out of combat duty. Robertson was so rankled by the charge that he sued McCloskey and Representative Andy Jacobs, an Indiana Democrat who also circulated the charges, for $35 million.

McCloskey insisted that Robertson was on a ship headed for combat until his father used his influence to have him removed. According to McCloskey, Robertson later boasted that he had used his father to "get him out of combat duty."

The libel suit turned out to be an embarrassment to Robertson. During depositions, Paul Brosman, Jr., a retired university professor who served with Robertson in Korea, backed up McCloskey's claim and went even further, asserting that the televangelist had consorted with prostitutes and had sexually harassed a Korean cleaning girl who worked in the barracks. Brosman's deposition asserted that Robertson once feared he had contracted gonorrhea from a prostitute and was "very relieved" when he discovered the problem was a urinary tract infection. Brosman added that he had never personally seen Robertson with a prostitute and said some of his remarks were based on "scuttlebutt" he heard from others.

The trial also established that Robertson's father did indeed send a number of letters about his son, on Senate stationery, to Marine officials. In one the elder Robertson expressed concern that his son had not been adequately trained to be a combat officer.

http://www.schlatter.org/liquor.htm

[0007]

98. Pat Robertson is in a class with O.J. Simpson

What more can be said?