Home ›

Pat Robertson

Printer-friendly version Send to friend

Virginia Legislature Honors Pat Robertson

Submitted by Kyle on March 18, 2010 - 9:40am

Via Americans United, we see that the Virginia legislature has passed a resolution commending Pat Robertson for his many right-wing accomplishments [PDF] in honor of his upcoming 80th birthday:

WHEREAS, Dr. M.G. "Pat" Robertson, an inspirational televangelist and longtime host of the Christian television program, The 700 Club, is recognized in 2010 for his many contributions to the Commonwealth and his fellow citizens; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Robertson was born on March 22, 1930, in Lexington, Virginia, the son of Absalom Willis Robertson and Gladys Churchill Robertson, graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1950, and served his country in the United States Marines during the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Robertson returned home after his military service and married Adelia "Dede" Elmer on August 26, 1954; he completed a law degree from Yale University Law School in 1955 and a master of divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary in 1959; and

WHEREAS, committed to helping people in need both spiritually and by improving their quality of life, Dr. Robertson was active as an ordained Southern Baptist minister for many years; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1960, serving as the chairman and the public face of CBN, as well as the host of its religious magazine show, The 700 Club, since 1966; and

WHEREAS, in 1977 Dr. Robertson established Regent University in Virginia Beach as one of the nation's leading academic centers for Christian thought and action; and

WHEREAS, in 1978 Dr. Robertson began Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that has provided hunger relief, disaster relief, medical aid, and community development to 193 million people in 96 countries and all 50 states; and

WHEREAS, in 1988 Dr. Robertson made a run to become the Republican Party's nominee for President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, in 1989 Dr. Robertson founded the Christian Coalition, a political organization credited with increasing the influence of conservative Christians in American public policy; and

WHEREAS, committed to protecting religious and constitutional freedom, Dr. Robertson founded the American Center for Law and Justice in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Robertson has achieved national and international recognition as a broadcaster and was the founder and cochairman of International Family Channel, Inc., which included the Family Channel; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Robertson is a compelling and compassionate spiritual leader, who is guided by Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"; he is devoted to his family, his viewers who are his extended family, his community, and the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Dr. M.G. "Pat" Robertson, on the occasion of his 80th birthday on March 22, 2010, for his many contributions to the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dr. M.G. "Pat" Robertson as an expression of the General Assembly's gratitude for his steadfast service to his fellow citizens and best wishes for a joyful birthday celebration.

PFAW
Filed under:

VIDEO: Does Bob Marshall Agree w/ Rev. Ellison that Haitian Earthquake Was God's Punishment for Voodoo?

Submitted by Josh on February 25, 2010 - 12:45pm

Rev. Joe Ellison introduced Del. Bob Marshall last week as a "warrior who will fight for our cause." Ellison – with Marshall at his back – agreed with Pat Robertson and said that the Haitian earthquake was God's punishment for practicing voodoo. Two minutes later, Marshall said that disabled children are God's punishment for abortion.

Here's the video of Ellison's comments on Haiti and introduction of Marshall:

"From a spiritual standpoint, we think the Dr. Robertson was on target about Haiti, in the past, with voodoo. And we believe in the Bible that the practice of voodoo is a sin, and what caused the nation to suffer. Those who read the Bible and study the history know that what Dr. Robertson said was the truth."

Does Marshall stand behind Ellison and his remarks on Haiti? Or will Marshall blame the Washington Post for first reporting Ellison's comments, just as he has blamed the Capital News Service for first reporting his own?

It is not an accident that Marshall and Ellison echoed one another and Pat Robertson. They all believe that God exacts vengeance on those who do not follow their peculiar and ultraconservative interpretation of the Bible.

Ellison may like to believe that Robertson's comments merely "angered a lot of the so-called, in my opinion, liberals." But the truth is that Americans overwhelmingly reject such views, just as they reject Marshall's views on disabled children and abortion – including a not-so-liberal Governor named Bob McConnell.

And for those of you who missed it, here’s the video of Bob Marshall claiming that disabled children are God’s punishment for abortion:

PFAW
Filed under:

VA: Robertson, Falwell Court McDonnell In De-Funding Planned Parenthood

Submitted by Kyle on February 19, 2010 - 11:01am

Changes certainly are afoot in the state of Virginia with the election of Gov. Bob McDonnell, who recently moved to strip away anti-discrimination protections for gays.

Now, in addition to efforts by state legislators to ensure that money raised from the sale of proposed "Respect Choice" license plates do not go to Planned Parenthood, Gov. McDonnell's long time ally Pat Robertson and other right-wing pastors are seeking his promise to defund the organization:

Some of Virginia's most influential Christian leaders asked Gov. Bob McDonnell and other top officials Thursday to block state funding for Planned Parenthood because the nonprofit organization provides abortions.

The Virginia Christian Alliance presented a petition signed by the Rev. Pat Robertson, the Rev. Jonathan Falwell and dozens of others asking Republicans McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to help defund the organization.

The pastors cited what they called the "unethical, immoral and racist practices" of Planned Parenthood, the nation's No. 1 abortion provider.

And according to the Virginia Pilot, McDonnell is going to support the effort:

Virginia's top three elected officials -- all Republicans -- expressed support Thursday for an effort by religious leaders to eliminate any state money that goes to Planned Parenthood, a health care organization that provides abortions.

Here are some responses from their offices:

"Lieutenant Governor Bolling does not believe that public funds should be used to pay for abortions, nor does he believe that public funds should be used to support organizations that provide abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. In fact, in 2007 the Lieutenant Governor cast the deciding vote in the Senate to withhold public funds from Planned Parenthood. His position has not changed."

Ibbie Hedrick, spokeswoman for Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling

"Attorney General Cuccinelli supports withholding state funds for Planned Parenthood. It is Constitutional for state money to go to third party contractors, but just because it is Constitutional does not mean that it is a good policy and state funding of Planned Parenthood is a bad policy. Attorney General Cuccinelli supports the overall goal of this group, but does not plan to sign a petition." Dan Dodds, spokesman for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

The petition referred to in the response from Cuccinelli's office is a document the religious consortium is circulating.

Among its prominent signatories are Virginia Beach-based religious broadcaster Pat Robertson and Jonathan Falwell, son of Liberty University founder Jerry Falwell.

Another noteworthy public figure who plans to sign the petition is Gov. Bob McDonnell, a spokeswoman for the governor said Thursday evening.

PFAW
Filed under:

Robertson's Ties to Charles Taylor Raised in War Crimes Trial

Submitted by Kyle on February 5, 2010 - 10:10am

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is currently standing trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Yesterday, during that trial, prosecutors raised questions about Pat Robertson's Liberian gold mining operation, his ties to Taylor, and his lobbying on his behalf: 

Prosecutors at the human rights trial of former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor alleged Thursday that Christian televangelist Pat Robertson had lobbied the White House on Taylor's behalf in return for a gold mining contract.

The controversial pastor and former Republican presidential contender met with then-President George W. Bush on Taylor's behalf, prosecutors charged during cross-examination of Taylor in a Dutch courtroom, allegedly in return for a contract to mine gold in southeast Liberia -- a contract they say that Taylor had no legal right to grant.

Lead Prosecutor Brenda Hollis questioned Taylor about how he may have skirted the Liberian legislature in order to get Robertson his gold mining contracts.

"Mr. Taylor, even the legislature in place in 1999 actually refused to ratify this agreement you had with Pat Robertson. Isn't that correct?" asked Hollis.

Taylor answered: "There was contention about different issues, yes."

And so you just went around the legislature. Isn't that right, Mr. Taylor?

"I don't know if we went around them. I would disagree with you," replied Taylor.

Robertson made widely publicized public statements in support of Charles Taylor in 2003. However, Chris Roslan, a spokesman for Robertson, denied to ABC News that Robertson ever discussed Taylor with Bush.

But on the stand, Taylor answered, "That is correct," when asked if he had previously indicated that Robertson had met with Bush, and when asked if Robertson had volunteered to speak with high administration officials on his behalf.

Taylor is being tried in the Netherlands by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, an independent judicial body under the auspices of the United Nations that receives a third of its funding from the U.S.

The gold deal went through in June 1999, with Robertson allegedly pumping $15 million dollars into the project.

Hollis asserted that much of the money went straight into Taylor's pockets, which Taylor denied.

Robertson's company, of which he was president and sole director, was called Freedom Gold, Ltd. The agreement gave the Liberian government 10 percent equity interest in the company and Liberians could purchase at least 15 percent of the shares after the exploration period.

Roslan, Robertson's spokesman, said Freedom Gold's arrangement was similar to many American companies doing business in Africa at the time.

"This concession was granted by the Liberian government to promote economic activity and alleviate the suffering of the people of Liberia following a terrible civil war," said Roslan, who denied any quid pro quo for granting the concession, and said that Robertson saw this as a way to help the suffering people of Liberia.

Freedom Gold is not currently operating and has never commercially produced any gold, according to Roslan.

PFAW
Filed under:

Roder Credits Robertson

Submitted by Kyle on January 28, 2010 - 3:23pm

Standing trial for murdering Dr. George Tiller, Scott Roeder admits that bought a gun, took target practice, and shot Tiller in the head as he attended church last spring.

But, Roeder insists, he was justified in doing so in order to stop Tiller from performing abortions and, in court today, admitted that Pat Robertson and his "700 Club" played a key role in his transformation into militant anti-choice activist: 

Roeder testified that he attended church with his family when he was younger, but did not consider himself religious until he had a conversion experience while watching the "700 Club" on television in 1992.

The popular show, hosted by Pat Robertson, airs on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

"I was alone in my room," Roeder said. "That day I did kneel down and accept Christ as my saviour at that time."

After that, his views on abortion, which he had always considered wrong, became stronger.

PFAW
Filed under:

Robertson's Operation Blessing: Now With Faith Healings

Submitted by Kyle on January 15, 2010 - 9:27am

When the Christian Broadcasting Network issued its statement in response to the outcry over Pat Robertson's recent remarks, they made sure to point out that Robertson's humanitarian organization, Operation Blessing, was already at work in Haiti providing medications and assistance to the victims.

Which makes this clip from today's episode of 700 Club Interactive all the more interesting, as it shows Operation Blessing providing assistance to those in need in Oklahoma ... along with faith healings:

PFAW
Filed under:

Robertson Still Expected To Attend McDonnell's Inauguration

Submitted by Kyle on January 15, 2010 - 8:21am

Virginia's Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch that even though he disagrees with with Pat Robertson's statement that Haiti is "cursed" for having "swore a pact to the Devil," he still expects his long-time ally and supporter to attend his inauguration, which will be held on Saturday:

Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell said in a brief interview yesterday that he had not seen religious broadcaster Pat Robertson's comments on Haiti directly, "but from what I know of them, I disagree with those comments."

...

McDonnell was asked to comment on Robertson after the governor-elect toured Henrico County's Regional Jail East.

"My heart goes out to the people of Haiti," McDonnell said. "The scope of the devastation and the hardship on the people and the scope of the death toll is just heartbreaking."

...

The governor-elect received his law degree from the Robertson School of Government at Regent University, which was founded by Robertson.

McDonnell has said he expects Robertson, a longtime political ally and donor, to attend his inauguration tomorrow.

PFAW
Filed under:

Michele Bachmann's Perfect Timing

Submitted by Kyle on January 14, 2010 - 9:31am

What can better sum up the current state of the Republican Party and its ties to the Religious Right than the fact that the day after Pat Robertson declared that Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake due to the fact that the nation "swore a pact to the Devil," Rep. Michele Bachmann is profiled on The 700 Club, where Robertson introduces her as "one of the leading conservatives in America":

Now, just three years into the job, Bachmann is a major voice against what she believes is an out of control government threatening the freedom of Americans.

"What we are seeing now is the rise of big government, and so, big government is now oppressing the American people with too much spending, too much taxes, too much regulatory burden," she said. "We just saw the hate crimes law pass...really that bill is more about restricting free speech and free expression of American citizens, in contradistinction to the First Amendment that wants free speech and expression for all of Americans."

Bachmann says the United States is blessed with a unique form of government, but the current administration is straying from what the founding fathers intended.

"Jefferson warned us over 230 years ago, be prepared. The natural way of government is to enslave you," she explained. "And Jefferson said again, bind down big government with the chains of the Constitution. That's what the effort was. Use these beautiful documents to limit man, not to grow man's influence and oppress mankind."

Bachmann believes the current growth of government's influence will backfire.

"We have the most left-leaning, radical president we've ever had in the history of the United States. The most radical, left-leaning speaker of the House than we've ever had in the history of the United States and one of the most radical, left-leaning majority leaders in the Senate," she said. "We have never had this type of radical view of government."

The congresswoman has proven she's not about to be silenced and she relies on God as her source of strength to endure the battle.

However, Bachmann isn't the only one speaking her mind. Much like Sarah Palin, Bachmann has her share of critics who lash out against her in the media, online and on TV.

"Women are very competent, very intelligent. They can be very successful and make it on their own," Bachmann said about why she's under attack. "And I think that the left is very concerned [about] the message that myself and other women would be able to deliver. And I think that's part of the reason why you see the attack to silence us as messengers."

In fairness, Bachmann apparently sat down for this interview with CBN back in early December, around the time that she joined Robertson on-air for the first time, and the segment was finally ready to air today. 

PFAW
Filed under:

Reactions To Robertson

Submitted by Kyle on January 14, 2010 - 8:47am

Not surprisingly, a spokesperson for Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network quickly issued a statement yesterday after Robertson's statement about Haiti being "cursed" for having "swore a pact to the Devil" made news, insisting that Robertson "never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath" and inisiting that it is "countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed":

On today’s The 700 Club, during a segment about the devastation, suffering and humanitarian effort that is needed in Haiti, Dr. Robertson also spoke about Haiti’s history. His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caiman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French. This history, combined with the horrible state of the country, has led countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed.

Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath.

But it looks like some of Robertson's nominal allies aren't buying it:

Dr. Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Church of Dallas said, "It is absolute arrogance to try to interpret any of God's actions as a judgment against this person or that person. & Our duty as Christians is to try to help these people pray for these people and to help them."

Franklin Graham, the evangelist son of Billy Graham and president of the Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, said he also disagrees with Robertson's assessment.

"He must have misspoken," Graham said. "But we need to get on the path of helping people right now. God loves the people of Haiti. He hasn't turned his back on Haiti."

Does Graham even know anything about Robertson? He says this sort of thing all the time - what makes him think that this time "he must have misspoken"? Also, if the name Robert Jeffress sounds familiar, it is because it is:

Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, said that Mormonism is a false religion and that Mr. Romney was not a Christian.

"Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise," Dr. Jeffress said in a sermon Sept. 30. "Even though he talks about Jesus as his Lord and savior, he is not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult."

It is probably safe to assume that when a man who made himself famous for viciously attacking a presidential candidate's religion is blasting your "absolute arrogance," you have probably gone too far.

But of course, not everyone is outraged by Robertson's comments.  In fact, Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission is praising him for taking a stand and speaking the truth:

The modern cynic chaffs at any suggestion that there may be a connection between historical realities and unseen spiritual influences, or as the Bible calls it God's "blessing or cursing." Although most people are very comfortable with the notion that God blesses people, we are not at all comforted with the terrifying prospect that Almighty God might also curse.

The overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God and /or moral causality. Eastern religions call it Karma, but Christians call it God's Providence. I wonder if the reason that so many hate Pat is because he expressed what many Americans don't want to face- the moral and spiritual dimension of our lives.

As long as everything is going well we live as if we are never going to die. Then crisis hits and death slaps us in the face. Rather than humbling ourselves and searching our hearts like the Pilgrims did, we lash out at God and anyone who dares insinuate Him into our lives.

What the Robertson bashers left out is that finally, and with great compassion and concern in his voice, Pat said, "They need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God and out of this tragedy I am optimistic that some good thing may come, but right now we are helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable."

Agree or disagree with what Pat said, it was well within the bounds of historic Christian theology. Maybe that's the real problem after all.

Man is offended by the fact that he is not God. They resent God's Providence. A simple reading of the Bible shows how God uses natural disasters to further his purposes. Earthquakes, floods, famine, locusts, etc. they're all there, but man hates it. Rather than humbly acknowledging that God's ways are not our ways, man rails against and accuses God. The last thing they will do is cry out for his mercy in Jesus Christ.

You may remember Cass from his statement last year before President Obama's inauguration when he told parents not to let their children watch because the Rev. Gene Robinson would be participating, making it the "most perverted [inauguration] in our nation’s history" and warning that God just might destroy the nation's capital because of it.

PFAW
Filed under:

Pat Robertson's Greatest Hits

Submitted by Kyle on January 13, 2010 - 3:20pm

It was just last week that we posted a collection of old Pat Robertson videos, but since he's making news once again by saying the tragic earthquake in Haiti stems from the fact that the nation once "swore a pact to the Devil," now seems like a good time to go back at take a look at some of Robertson's most outrageous statements from recent years:

  • Robertson and Falwell lay the blame for 9/11.

  • Robertson says Muslims should be treated like "some fascist group."

  • Robertson says gays are on their way to hell.

  • Robertson says hate crimes legislation would protect someone "who likes to have sex with ducks."

  • Robertson says all other religions worship “demonic powers.”

  • Robertson's advice to the GOP on handling the Rep. Mark Foley scandal: just say that it is "what gay people do so don’t worry about it."

  • Robertson says marriage equality is "so gross" it will lead to the end of our nation.

  • Robertson reports that God told him to expect massive terrorist attacks on the United States in 2007, and lists the specific cities at risk.

  • Robertson declares that the separation of church and state is "insane."

  • Robertson states that Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke because he was "dividing God's land."

  • Robertson warned that President Bush was "asking for the wrath of God" for not adequately supporting Israel.

  • Robertson explains that various natural disasters and weather events are God's way of sending a message.

Explain to me again why incoming Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell invited Robertson to attend his inauguration. Or why Rep. Michele Bachmann, whom Robertson lauds as a "marvelous public servant," is appearing on his program.

PFAW
Filed under:
Syndicate content