TV evangelist Pat Robertson's 80th birthday is on Monday, and to mark that momentous occasion, the Virginia legislature decided to pass a resolution lauding him a great American, visionary leader and all-around swell fellow.
The resolution is full of the "whereases" and flowery language that are common in this type of thing. It lauds Robertson's creation of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Regent University, the American Center for Law and Justice and the Christian Coalition.
The resolution celebrates Robertson as "a compelling and compassionate spiritual leader" who is "devoted to his family, his viewers who are his extended family, his community and the Commonwealth." It expresses the legislature's "gratitude for his steadfast service to his fellow citizens and best wishes for a joyful birthday celebration."
Unfortunately, there are a number of things the legislature left out in this resolution. Had they added them, the document might have been less cloying and more interesting. I wish they had consulted me, because I wrote a book about Robertson in 1996 titled The Most Dangerous Man in America?: Pat Robertson and the Rise of the Christian Coalition and have continued to monitor his career since then. I believe I could have spiced things up.
I would have added a dose of reality to the resolution like this:
•Whereas Robertson in 1990 said of homosexuality, "It is a sickness, and it needs to be treated" and added, "Many of those people involved with Adolf Hitler were Satanists; many of them were homosexuals. The two things seem to go together";
•Whereas in 1991 Robertson said, "You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that and the other thing. Nonsense! I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist. I can love the people who hold false opinions, but I don't have to be nice to them";
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/3/19/131914/738/Front_Page/Happy_Birthday_Pat_Virginia_Legislature_Lauds_Extremist_TV_Preacher_Robertson