Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Theocracy rising: Robertson retracts his fatwa (but not really)
AP tries to help Robertson out of a jam. Note the word "apologized" in the lead:
A pillar of Republican theocracy, with 1 million viewers on ABC, calls for Chavez to be assassinated, and that crazy Chavez—He takes it seriously! After all, Chavez just had to listen to the clamor of the rest of the theocracy denouncing Robertson's fatwa to know—oh, that didn't happen? (back). Damn.
Anyhow, Robertson, like the good Republican that he is, is just lying again, even in his apology. He didn't call for Chavez to be killed because he was frustrated. Robertson called for Chavez to be killed because he wants Chavez's oil. Here's the original quote:
Right. Nice to see Robertson taking the lessons of "starting a war" in Iraq to heart, isn't it?
But let's not rely on what AP says. Let's look at what Robertson his telling his own, um, flock. Did Robertson really apologize?
Oddly, or not, the so-called Christian Broadcasting Network has nothing about Robertson's "apology" on its front page. (They are, however, doing their level best to prepare for the next war. Ater all, wars in our own hemisphere are so much easier!)
However, CBN does have Robertson's press release, if you search for it. It's really not much of an apology. Especially if you read down to the end. After quoting Bonhoeffer (!), Robertson says:
So, no apology at all, right? Surprise! AP got it wrong!
I think it's time for Robertson, the theocracy, the Republican Party, and a large slice of the Beltway Dems to take The First Step: "We admitted we were powerless over oil."
I mean, what are we going to do when the golf courses start going brown? Invade Canada for their water?
Religious broadcaster [sic] Pat Robertson apologized Wednesday for calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, only hours after he denied saying Chavez should be killed.
''Is it right to call for assassination?'' Robertson said. ''No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him.''
(via AP)
A pillar of Republican theocracy, with 1 million viewers on ABC, calls for Chavez to be assassinated, and that crazy Chavez—He takes it seriously! After all, Chavez just had to listen to the clamor of the rest of the theocracy denouncing Robertson's fatwa to know—oh, that didn't happen? (back). Damn.
Anyhow, Robertson, like the good Republican that he is, is just lying again, even in his apology. He didn't call for Chavez to be killed because he was frustrated. Robertson called for Chavez to be killed because he wants Chavez's oil. Here's the original 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.''
Right. Nice to see Robertson taking the lessons of "starting a war" in Iraq to heart, isn't it?
But let's not rely on what AP says. Let's look at what Robertson his telling his own, um, flock. Did Robertson really apologize?
Oddly, or not, the so-called Christian Broadcasting Network has nothing about Robertson's "apology" on its front page. (They are, however, doing their level best to prepare for the next war. Ater all, wars in our own hemisphere are so much easier!)
However, CBN does have Robertson's press release, if you search for it. It's really not much of an apology. Especially if you read down to the end. After quoting Bonhoeffer (!), Robertson says:
There are many who disagree with my comments, and I respect their opinions. There are others who think that stopping a dictator is the appropriate course of action. In any event, the incredible publicity surrounding my remarks has focused our government’s attention on a growing problem which has been largely ignored.
So, no apology at all, right? Surprise! AP got it wrong!
I think it's time for Robertson, the theocracy, the Republican Party, and a large slice of the Beltway Dems to take The First Step: "We admitted we were powerless over oil."
I mean, what are we going to do when the golf courses start going brown? Invade Canada for their water?
