The Robertson Effect? (by Hugh Hewitt)

Townhall.com ^ | November 8, 2007 | Hugh Hewitt

[EveningStar]

When Rudy Giuliani captured the endorsement of Christian Coalition founder and 700 Club host Pat Robertson Wednesday, many heads turned. Why did it happen? What does it mean?...

[Tamar1973]

It means Robertson is senile?!

[Grut]

Or desperate for significance.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Hopefully it means that all questions regarding Pat Robertson’s cognitive abilities have been cleared up for conservative Evangelicals.

Time to hang it up, Pat.

[Abathar]

He must have bought into the “Anyone but Hillary” rage and decided to support the guy that certain polls say can beat her. It’s the only reason I can think of, if that isn’t it then he has gone completely against everything he stood for.

[He'sComingBack!]

So ALL conservative evangelicals respect Pat Robertson’s opinion? Give me a break.

[TigersEye]

A rooty toot endorses the Rudy Toot. What a thrill!

[spacekicker]

It’s another post by Hugh trying to minimize anyone but Mitt.

The fact is that Pat still has tons of people that will follow him to the ends of the earth. This probably has an effect on them. I’m just glad I’m not one of those people.

[TigersEye]

I'd sooner vote for Mitt than Rudy. In fact I won't vote for Rudy. Ever!

My preference is Duncan Hunter with Thompson running a distant and extremely weak second.

[DoughtyOne]

It means little more than, “Pat Robertson’s brain has left the building...”

Why only the mention of Guiliani and Romney?

I would hope that the folks over at TownHall aren’t limiting their selection to these two. Yikes.

[LibLieSlayer]

It means that rooite told him he would visit the Whithouse often and that he could be the next “Billy Graham” (in pat’s mind).

LLS

[PetroniusMaximus]

“So ALL conservative evangelicals respect Pat Robertson’s opinion?”

No, but those who did now have their issues cleared up.

[DoughtyOne]

It’s another post by Hugh trying to minimize anyone but Mitt.

This and other views by Hugh have left him useless to the right IMO. I listen to the guy once in a while, but just about always come away with the same conclusion.

On some things he's good, but what value is that if it's just going to lead people to think his views on this type of matter is also reasoned?

[LexBaird]

What I find most amusing about the recent spate of endorsements is that FR is full of people declaring the Evangelicals will vote one way or another in lockstep. Then, when a prominent Evangelical comes out with something like this, the same folks are out declaring how they are able to think for themselves, and would never follow such leaders.

[SampleMan]

This is one of those endorsements that only hurts the endorser.

[ansel12]

“On some things he’s good, but what value is that if it’s just going to lead people to think his views on this type of matter is also reasoned?”

---

Hugh doesn’t analyze, he only cheer leads, the first election I went through with him (early 90s?) he was so convincing and positive about the outcome that I distrusted my own take on the situation. Hugh turned out to be totally wrong, I have learned that he only has one speed, “salesman”.

[PLD]

I agree with you!!There is no other way to put it..CBN will lose and it will be because of this..He might as well have backed Hillary Clinton..

[DoughtyOne]

Well he’s too much of a (political) party animal for me. If it’s handed down from on high by the RP, count Hugh on board. I haven’t been able to back that idea at all since 1992.

I agree with you, and what he is selling I find I’m not able to buy, all too often.

[Mariner]

There are 250,000 grandmas nationwide that see this as significant.

Those votes won't matter much.

However, IMO there'll be a wave of voters on Feb 5th that endorse Rudy in spite of religious differences.

Remember, until Reagan the evangelical south typically voted dim.

It's a relatively small percentage of people that will vote AGAINST Rudy due to his position on abortion or gays. Far more will vote against him because of his hard-line stance against the jihad.

Whether the socons care to admit it or not, Rudy would put many traditionally blue states in play in the general election, including CA and NY.

I don't believe he'd lose a single red state in the process.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

It means Robertson is senile?!

AAARRRRGGGH! Ya beat me to it.

Obviously, that is INDEED what it means!

[Sloth]

I guess what you are missing is the concept of having principles.

[roses of sharon]

LOL, yes, sort of like when many here declare for years that they hate the GOP, have total disdain for “party members” and refuse to fund the RNC, and then fret about the supposed breakup or splitting of the party!

[colorado tanker]

OTOH, I think Hugh has the best guest line-up in talk radio. Some really fine minds and analysis.

Even though Hugh is big for Romney, I thought he was pretty candid in reporting that Robertson does still have a lot of influence among evangelicals.

[XeniaSt]

What does it mean?..

It means that Pat Robertson is willing to trade his immortal soul for temporal power.

G-d help Pat in his quest for worldly power.

Pat is in league with the Evil One.

Pat now supports the American genicide.

The murder of 3500 innocent babies a day.

shalom b'shem Yah'shua

[donna]

Pat Robertson succumbed to fear.

[americanflyer1234]

Most people would agree that Pat Robertson is three times as well know as Dobson is . . and three times as influential.

[DoughtyOne]

I know that Hugh has a good following and I’m not here to dump on any of them. I’m simply expressing my view of him. I don’t think Hugh is evil. I think he supports what he thinks is sound policy. I just firmly disagree more than I’d like to think I should have to.

He does have a good interview line-up. I’ll grant you that, but he also interviews folks who agree with him when their views seriously grate me. Some of those interviews make me want to take a hammer radio. LOL

Thanks for the comments.

[IPWGOP]

[donna]

Pat Robertson ran for president so more non-Christian’s know of him. That could make them think that the endorsement of Rudy will have more clout with Christians than it really does.

[Captain Kirk]

his hard-line stance against the jihad.

Apparently, Rudy is not "hard-line" enough to repudiate the support of a man (Robertson) who wrote an article blaming America for 911. Pat has renounced the article but still has it proudly on his website.

[Captain Kirk]

I meant to say that Pat has NOT renounced the article.

[TigersEye]

Pat can believe what he wants to believe. Rudy nominated 75
judges when he was mayor of NYC at an 8-1 Dem to Pub ratio.

[Seruzawa]

It might be important for sheeple who follow leaders rather than the Word. I could hardly care less about Pat Robertson or any pharisee.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

How about, it means Hillary has a Pat Robertson file and she wants him to support Rudy?

[loboinok]

Most people would agree that Pat Robertson is three times as well know as Dobson is . . and three times as influential.

That should even out after this endorsement.

[Prokopton]

Most people would agree that Pat Robertson is three times as well know as Dobson is . . and three times as influential

"Most" people don't pay any attention at all to these religion merchants.

[colorado tanker]

I will concede Hugh is at times a cheerleader and he really blew the Harriet Myers fiasco.

There are times I want to rip the radio out when he's interviewing Irwin, the liberal law professor. OTOH, listening to Irwin falls into the "know thine enemy" category.

Out here he plays in evening drive time when the main competition is a soft banter, sports-oriented show, so I do listen to him often (unless I've gotten my fill of news and politics on FR, that is).

[stevem]

I don’t understand how any conservative could trust Guiliani regarding Supreme Court nominations.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with your toughts here. For the well grounded, there is a some benefit from listening to Hugh. I have listened to him interview that guy also, and it can drive you nuts to be sure.

[sweet_diane]

"He must have bought into the “Anyone but Hillary” rage and decided to support the guy that certain polls say can beat her. It’s the only reason I can think of, if that isn’t it then he has gone completely against everything he stood for."

Even if that is why he did, he's gone against everything he CLAIMED he stood for, IMHO.

[Elsie]

What does it mean?...

You'd rather have Mitt get it?

You'd rather have McCain get it?

You'd rather have Paul get it?

You'd rather have Fred get it?

[sweet_diane]

"It means that rooite told him he would visit the Whithouse often and that he could be the next “Billy Graham” (in pat’s mind)."

I've never had much use for 'tv preachers', yet Billy Graham was different. Pat Robertson couldn't even come close to filling those shoes, IMHO.

[bruinbirdman]

"The MSM has never, ever come close to understanding the evangelical voter. MSM thinks of the group as a sort of carnival of gap-toothed, snake-handling, rural post box owning weed chewers. They will assume that Robertson is a general with many divisions, and representative of a much more significant following than he has. Robertson's endorsement will thus be reported as a breakthrough for Giuliani, and a reassurance to fence-sitters that the mayor's got the momentum they were hoping to see."

I disagree. The MSM will tout the endorsement because they want Joodi to be the Republican candidate. He is the most liberal.

yitbos

[LibLieSlayer]

Yes, Billy Graham is truly a man of GOD in a sea of posers.

LLS

[EveningStar]

Did you read the article?

[LexBaird]

I guess what you are missing is the concept of having principles.

And I guess you are missing the concept of irony.

[Elsie]

yes

[EveningStar]

good :)

[George W. Bush]

The fact is that Pat still has tons of people that will follow him to the ends of the earth.

If only they would...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]