Pat Robertson has no problem with actual dictators when $ is to be made.

[Kurovski]

Robertson is a shill for the administration. He brings in money, allegiance and votes from the extremist Christian Right Wing that Karl Rove has so assiduously courted since 2000.

I say a shill, because I have heard no strong criticism (none at all as yet) from the White house regarding his recent statement promoting assassination of Democratically elected leader Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, A statement which is eaten up with a spoon by the violence prone, fearful, and too often racist followers of Robertson.

When the "Nuke 'em all" crowd hear the term "communist" (as Robertson mentioned in his rant promoting national murder) it's like the bell that started Pavlov's dog salivating.

The administration's silence is tacit agreement. At the very least it implies an undue respect for a dangerously inaccurate nutjobber. And we also know that Bush & Co supported attempts to oust Hugo Chavez, and that Venezuela has *sigh* lots of oil.

Enough about Robertson's alignment with the Bush administration, let's look at his own personal greed. While he wants to kill a Democratically elected leader, he has in the past had no problem cozying up to actual dictators:

"...Mobutu also systematically drained Zaire of its money and natural resources, embezzling up to $6 billion dollars which he transferred to accounts in Switzerland and Belgium. In one year alone according to the World Bank, $400 million-- a quarter of the nation's entire export revenues -- mysteriously vanished off the books of the government run mining conglomerate. Mobutu was even dubbed the "President of Kleptocracy" for his thieving and predatory manners.

That didn't stop Robertson, though, from either defending the dictator or seeking financial gain in Zaire."


http://www.skeptictank.org/robem2.htm

And this is from an article by Greg Palast outlining more on Robertson's questionable dealings:

"One of Robertson's former business partners recalled that, although he often travelled in the minister's jet, he never saw Robertson crack open a Bible. 'Everywhere we were flying he had the Wall Street Journal and Investors' Daily.'

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=49&row=1

I think it's not unfair to note that Robertson is a pharisee, a money-changer in the temple, and a false prophet. Given Jesus' history, he would most likely condemn Pat Robertson in the strongest terms possible.

Why does the press continue to give him the time of day? And what I'd really like to know: just how useful of an idiot is he to Bush & Co.?

Edit: added "Pat" to heading.

[Why Syzygy]

1. Well this proves it

Jesus was a Capitalist. And rigged elections.

[Nikki Stone 1]

2. Nah, Jesus would have to pull out that whip he used in the Temple for Pat

False prophet is exactly right.

[ecdab]

3. Pat says he's being misinterpreted.

"I said our special forces should 'take him out.' 'Take him out' could be a number of things including kidnapping.

"There are a number of ways of taking out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted by the AP, but that happens all the time."

Yeah, right Pat - what ever you say; what did you say the other day by the way?

"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."

"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."

Seems like the AP hit the nail on the head. Murder and falsehood - both good Christian values by Pat I guess.

[Why Syzygy]

7. Where does the Christ

enter into this form of Christianity? Isn't he a Christian? Isn't that his JOB?

WTF does taking down any-freakin-one have to do with that philosophy? Bizarre does not even begin to explain this maniac.

[Kurovski]

8. Welcome to DU, ecdab!

What you have pointed out there is the modus operandi of the Right Wing extremists: say something outrageous, creepy, nutty, or--as in the case of the Bush administration--completely dishonest, and in one to two days dissemble about the whole thing.

Let everyone know that what they heard wasn't really what they heard.

And blaming the press always works for them, because, will the press really point out what's going on in the mish-mash of contradictory bullshit that Robertson and the rest release from their maws?

[ecdab]

11. The AP actually called him on it

and confront him with his own words - to which he did apologize. Good for the AP. They stuck him in a corner with no way out. If they would only do the same to Bush and company.

[Kurovski]

14. That's some good news. do you have a link

to the AP article?

It would be worth a thread all its own, if someone hasn't posted it already.

[Why Syzygy]

16. Will this do?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/25/politics/25robertson.html

[Kurovski]

24. Yes, and I just today saw CNN broadcast Robertson's

apology where he said he never said "assassinate", then showed the original 700 Club clip where he did indeed say "assassinate."

Now if only the media called out every lie in this manner...

[DemoTex]

4. Read "The Most Dangerous Man in America?"

The Most Dangerous Man in America? Pat Robertson and the Rise of the Christian Coalition, by Robert Boston. Prometheus Books. 1996.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1573920533.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIlitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,32,-59_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Nikki Stone 1]

6. Who is he connected with?

Clearly it's all about politics, but I wonder who launched him.

[DemoTex]

10. At the time the book was published, in 1996 ..

Robert Boston was assistant director of communications for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU.org), and assistant editor of Church & State magazine. It appears that he is still affiliated with AU.org:

http://blog.au.org/inside_au/

[Catchawave]

5. I agree...he did stump for Bush in '00 and '04.....

Separation of Church and State...I don't think so! Robertson's success is based on anti'women's rights,racism and homophobia too.

Google Pat Robertson quotes.....!!!

[applegrove]

9. Mobutu had about 20 Billion. At the time he was one of the richest

people on the planet & his people the poorest. Case in point? Mobutu's police didn't get a salary..they took cash from the people they 'stopped' for violations.

Mobutu's wealth was so much that he belonged on Forbes list of the richest people in the world for a decade or two. They never put him on..since it was all stolen money.

Interesting to note that the only source of a mineral required for high tech communications in the West was Zaire. So they let Mobutu do whatever he liked. The only other world source for that high tech mineral was Russia.

And many of the current GOP lobbyists took money from Mobutu to speak for him in Washington.

A favorite of the right. Meanwhile - the largest country in Africa, with the resources of a South Africa, with a sparse population, a country 1/3 the size of the USA, huge, did I mention Zaire was all of central Africa?, those people got nothing. No democracy. Nothing much in the way of schools. No human rights. Nothing.

[donkeyotay]

12. The Profit Prophet. That IS his bible.

"he never saw Robertson crack open a Bible. 'Everywhere we were flying he had the Wall Street Journal and Investors' Daily.'"

[Catrina]

13. I didn't know about his alliance with Mobutu

but I do know he was involved in 'business dealings' with Taylor, another dictator in Africa ~ he made lots of money from the Diamond mines there ~ while the people suffered.

This stuff needs to be out there in the media. For far too long people like him have been given a free pass.

For him to talk about dictators in terms of Chavez who was elected and has done nothing but good for his own people, while dealing financially with vicious dictators who cruelly oppress and steal from their own people!! I can't say anymore. Hypocrisy is too tame a word for it all!!

[Kurovski]

15. Kick, n/t

[cleveramerican]

17. I'm surprised when Pat doesn't say anything stupid.

he's on all day long, he's got his own broadcasting company. I'll be shocked the day he doesn't say anything inflammatory.

[Al-CIAda]

18. .

[DoYouEverWonder]

19. Pat Robertson got Bush Sr elected

Without Pat Robertson there would be no Bush Dynasty. He's a lot more then a useful idiot.



The Christian Coalition And George Bush
New documents obtained by CNN suggest coordination between religious group, Bush campaign

By Brooks Jackson/CNN
robertson

WASHINGTON (Aug. 19, 1997) -- It was no secret that Pat Robertson supported President George Bush in his re-election race in 1992. But the full story of just how the Christian Coalition worked behind the scenes is only now coming to light.

CNN has obtained previously confidential documents that tell the story how Robertson hand-picked more than 30 Bush campaign leaders, of how the Bush campaign got advance information on the printing and distribution of 40 million Christian Coalition voter guides favorable to Bush, and of how Bush even raised money for the Christian Coalition itself.

In April 1992, Robertson sent the Bush campaign chairman a 10-page list of "persons I would like to see as Bush campaign co-chairmen."

Bush strategist Mary Matalin got right on it. By convention time, Robertson's hand-picked people were nearly all in place.

A memo to Matalin: "39 names were submitted by the Christian Coalition ... 31 have been included. ... it should be completed by the end of next week."



http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/08/19/christian.coalition/

[Kurovski]

20. And wasn't it Robertson who informed George Jr.

that he would have to become "born-again" if he expected to get the same support they gave his dad? was he the one who "converted" George during a stroll on the Bush family estate?

I recall that the extremist Christians turned on GHW Bush for some reason in his re-election bid.

George and Karl Rove made no such mistake as they made gay marriage the number one topic for those folks in election 2004.

[DoYouEverWonder]

22. Actually , that was Rev Billy Graham

However, Robertson has been involved with BushCo since the days of Iran Contra when they used his Operation Blessing airplanes to fly drugs and arms. Ollie North got his start at Robertson's church in Lynchburg, VA.

[Kurovski]

23. Thank you for clearing that up.

I wasn't certain of who "saved" boy George.

[Imagevision]

21. I wouldn't trust my 6 year old to be alone with Robertson...>

to me, he's that kind of guy.


http://downingstreetmemo.com /