The American Prospect: Loving Pat Robertson

[marmar]

Loving Pat Robertson

Discussion of Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani has conveniently ignored the fact that Robertson is a controversial, extreme figure even among conservatives. What we really need to consider is what this will mean for the tone of next year's election.

Paul Waldman | November 14, 2007 | web only



It has become a familiar ritual: highly ideological political actor says something shocking or controversial; media demand that establishment figures of the same political stripe repudiate the remarks; the other side attacks the establishment figures for their tolerance of extremists in their midst.

One might think this is the natural reaction of those champions of moderation and centrism, the pleadings of the reasonable middle to marginalize the extremes. One might, were it not for the fact that the second step in the pattern -- the media demands for repudiation -- seems to happen far more often to Democrats than to Republicans, who are seldom asked to “distance themselves” from their less levelheaded brethren. Left-wing extremists (and many not so extreme at all) are treated with scorn and contempt, their controversial statements held up as dire threats to the survival of the Republic. Right-wing extremists, on the other hand, are considered players whose opinions should be sought and whose endorsements are highly valued.

Consider how Pat Robertson’s endorsement of Rudy Giuliani last week was met with the predictable value-free political analysis to which we have grown so accustomed. This will certainly help Rudy’s attempt to win over evangelicals, we were told, and doesn’t it show how divided the religious right is over the presidential campaign? Yes indeed, another fascinating piece to add to the electoral puzzle, and kudos to Giuliani for snagging such a sought-after endorsement.

Try to imagine what would have happened if Hillary Clinton had called a press conference to announce that she had secured the endorsement of Minister Louis Farrakhan. Reporters would be apoplectic with the shock of it. How could she do such a thing? What about all the crazy things Farrakhan has said? What about the anti-Semitism? Why would she want to be associated with such a man?

Yet no reporters were willing to say that the man smiling next to Giuliani at that triumphant press conference is, quite simply, a raving lunatic.

A few mentioned one or two of Robertson’s more colorful statements, including the fact that he blamed September 11 on God’s displeasure with America’s toleration of abortion and homosexuality. But that’s only the beginning of Robertson’s lengthy record of bizarre and hateful pronouncements. To review some of the greatest hits: Robertson has called for the assassination of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez; claimed that Ariel Sharon’s stroke was God’s punishment for Sharon relinquishing Gaza to the Palestinians; said that Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Methodists harbor “the spirit of the Antichrist”; claimed that his personal prayers alter the course of hurricanes; said that feminism “encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians”; invested millions in a Liberian gold mine, then publicly defended brutal Liberian warlord-turned-dictator Charles Taylor; and regularly relays specific messages he claims God has delivered to him regarding divine wrath soon to be visited on the United States. (This January, Robertson said God told him there would be a major terrorist attack some time in 2007. “The Lord didn't say nuclear,” he said, “but I do believe it'll be something like that -- that'll be a mass killing, possibly millions of people.”) .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=loving_pat_robertson

[Crunchy Frog]

1. I still remember what they did to Wes Clark

over his endorsement by Michael Moore. :grr: