Second Breakfast

So this has been blogged and reported about to death already, but I need to weigh in. Our friend Pat Robertson, always a font of crazy rantings, but this week he called for the assasination of Venezulean president Hugo Chavez on his “700 Club” program. This has of course led to a groundswell of outrage from the left, and predictable backpedaling from the right. As John Stewart pointed out, the response seems to be one of three categories: 1) dismiss the message (”What Pat really meant was…”), 2) dismiss the messenger (”Pat’s time really has passed. No one listens to him anymore.”), or 3) dismiss reason and critical thinking entirely.

Now Robertson has already apologized for his statement, or at least clarified his intentions. He’s still a crazy bastard as far as I’m concerned, and a dangerous one.

Let’s hear what “Reverend Pat” has had to say over the years (taken from “Postive Atheism’s Big Scary List of Pat Robertson Quotations“):

“The Constitution of the United States, for instance, is a marvelous document for self-government by the Christian people. But the minute you turn the document into the hands of non-Christian people and atheistic people they can use it to destroy the very foundation of our society. And that’s what’s been happening.” — The 700 Club television program, December 30, 1981

“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.” — The 700 Club television program, January 14, 1991

If the widespread practice of homosexuality will bring about the destruction of your nation, if it will bring about terrorist bombs, if it’ll bring about earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor, it isn’t necessarily something we ought to open our arms to.

I would warn Orlando that you’re right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don’t think I’d be waving those flags in God’s face if I were you. — The 700 Club television program, August 6, 1998, on the occasion of the Orlando, Florida, Gay Pride Festival 199

I think “one man, one vote,” just unrestricted democracy, would not be wise. There needs to be some kind of protection for the minority which the white people represent now, a minority, and they need and have a right to demand a protection of their rights. — Pat Robertson, The 700 Club television program, March 18, 1992, suggesting that South African white people’s votes ought to count more than other votes because they are in the minority

This is my favorite, well-known gem:

“The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians.”–fundraising letter, 1992

Do Pat’s listeners and followers actually listen to what he’s saying? Do they question it? Do they think he’s at all crazy? I hope so.