The 700 Club, Beat, Maim, Stab, and Kill

You know, Pat Robertson really makes me itch.

Now, I’m all in favor of religious freedom, and I’m especially fond of the First Amendment and its rules of letting you say damn near anything you want, but for old Pat to come out and call for the assassination of a foreign leader? Let’s all say it together, boys and girls: WHAT AN IRRESPONSIBLE NUTCASE.

I’ve never been a fan of Pat Robertson, a fact that I’m sure shames my parents and their conservative Christian beliefs greatly. (They used to give money to this quack. I’m not sure if my mother still does or not.) I’d like to be naïve enough to think that beneath his nutty exterior he’s a nice guy (maybe), but it’s his constant gay bashing and putting down of anyone who isn’t exactly like him that irritates me. He blames all of the world’s ills on homosexuals, feminists, Liberals, and everyone who isn’t an uptight heavy-duty right winger. Well, Patty my boy, guess what – I’m a sort-of religious, generally decent, totally straight Liberal male who believes that everyone should be allowed to live their lives as they please, without being judged by a nutball with his own TV evangelist agenda for pledges and cash donations. And I see you as a bigger threat to this country than I ever will be. So there.

Crazy Pat has said some pretty nasty things about his fellow man (and woman) over the years, but calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has to be one of the stupidest. Here’s Patty’s quote:

“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."

Boy, talk about your dumbass statements. Just imagine the uproar there would be if it’d been a religious leader of another faith (Muslim, Buddhist, etc.) who said this – there’d be worldwide calls for his head on a platter. But coming from Mr. Robertson the Whack Job, it sounds pretty normal. Why is it that the American church going public lets him get away with this, do you suppose?

Then – to make things really interesting – when the political heat for running his mouth got too hot, Pat went back on the 700 Club...and LIED about ever saying it. From the AP:

On Wednesday, he initially denied having called for Chavez to be killed and said The Associated Press had misinterpreted his remarks. "I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should 'take him out,'" Robertson said on his show. "'Take him out' could be a number of things including kidnapping."

Hmmm – now, according to my copy of the 10 Commandments, isn’t there a line about telling the truth? “THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS” or something like that? What about it, Pat? You’re already calling for a huge violation in the whole “Thou Shalt Not Kill” rulebook; but you’re going to lie about it, too? Shame, shame, Patrick. Next thing you know, you’ll be dragged into a world of false idols and dishonoring your parents.

Now, I’ll be blunt. I respect the Christian church and it’s beliefs in God and Jesus. I attended an Evangelical church for many years as a child, and although I’m still a firm believer in God, I won’t give those hate mongering TV evangelist shmucks like Patty one cent to blow on crap like theme parks and Mercedes and broadcasting Presidential assassination daydreams.

I truly believe that a church can help people in their lives, IF the message is about God and not the almighty dollar. But Pat’s agenda seems to be to stir the pot, and to make an already divided nation even more torn apart. What ever happened to the love, tolerance, and acceptance that Jesus preached? Pat must’ve skipped that chapter in the Bible... I really hope the Good Lord is at least a little bit bothered by what this jackass is doing supposedly in His name.

So now Patty Boy has backed down, apologized for his comments, and will find something new and (I’m sure) equally asinine to rant about. Besides, he’ll probably just end up blaming his comments on evil influences from Satan or gays or a talking Islamic dog or something.

As for me, I’ll keep believing as I do, and continue hoping for world peace, love, and tolerance. It’s the least I can do. And no, I won't ask anyone for a donation to do it, either.