More on Pat . . .

Whom would Jesus whack?

Palm Beach Post Editorial Thursday, August 25, 2005

The Rev. Pat Robertson's suggestion Monday that the United States kill a foreign head of state would have come as a surprise only to those who haven't kept up with the loony televangelist.

Think back to some of his greatest hits. The Rev. Robertson predicted that hurricanes would devastate Disney World because the theme park was holding "gay days." After the 9/11 attacks, the Rev. Robertson expressed approval of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's theory that "the gays and the lesbians" were partially to blame for what the terrorists did in New York and Washington. In May, the Rev. Robertson called "activist judges" more of a threat to the country than "a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings."

So it was hardly a reach for the founder of the Christian Coalition to say on his 700 Club that the U.S. ought to assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. His country has the largest known oil reserves outside the Middle East, he's a friend of Fidel Castro, he sticks his thumb in our eye all the time. What Would Jesus Do? Take him out, the Rev. Robertson advises. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war. And I don't think any oil shipments would stop."

Surprise? No. Nor is it surprising that the forces of the right-wing morality police were silent or unavailable. The Christian Coalition, the Family Research Council and the Traditional Values Coalition saved their anger for those opposing Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. Even Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, while disagreeing, said, "Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time."

But this private citizen meets with the president. Is it because this private citizen can deliver some votes? No surprise there.