(Andy) Rooney calls Gibson 'wacko,' drawing ire

AP | 2/23/04

[kattracks]

NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Rooney set the phone and e-mail lines at CBS buzzing over his commentary — in which he said God was speaking through him — calling Mel Gibson and the Rev. Pat Robertson "wackos."

CBS said Monday it received its heaviest audience response to a "60 Minutes" report since Rooney's commentaries on the Iraq war last spring.

The network wouldn't specify how many calls or e-mails were received. "60 Minutes" spokesman Kevin Tedesco said it was "several times the normal feedback."

On Sunday's broadcast, Rooney commented on Robertson's January statement that he believes God has told him that President Bush would be re-elected in a "blowout" in November.

Rooney said God had spoken to him, saying, "I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos."

"They're crazy as bedbugs, another earthly expression," Rooney said, quoting God. "I created bedbugs. I tell you, they're no crazier than people."

Rooney showed clips of Gibson talking to ABC's Diane Sawyer about Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ."

Robertson didn't seem too upset about the commentary on Monday.

"Mel Gibson has, without a doubt, created the finest motion picture on the life of Christ of all time," he said. "I am very happy to be linked by Andy Rooney to a talented genius of the order of Mel Gibson."

[kattracks]

Like Andy (The Eyebrow) is sane.

[cubreporter]

Andy Rooney calling somebody WHAKO? Andy is the Whako and always has been.

[theFIRMbss]

>Rooney said God had spoken to him, saying, "I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos."

Maybe God saw Mel
in Hamlet. After that mess,
there's no salvation ...

[EveningStar]

Did Mel really claim that God spoke to him or is this another quote out of context?

[prairiebreeze]

Andy Rooney: Another CBS dinosaur, who gasping and wheezing, struggles against his long overdue extinction.

Prairie

[caisson71]

I'm sure if God spoke to "whacko" Rooney he wouldn't recognize God's voice.

[international american]

I wonder if the 25 million Rooney has earned at CBS over the last 20 years, can buy his way into heaven?? :)

[searchandrecovery]

Consider the source.

[gingerky]

I don't think he did. He said ( I think) that he was led by the Holy Spirit and that there were signs.

If you read Rooney's transcript he doesn't say that Mel claimed God spoke to him. In fact, if you read the transcript you're left with no idea why Rooney thinks Mel is "whacko", which is what I'm going to ask in my e-mail to them. I want to know why he thinks Mel is whacko and a nutcase. I would like for him to admit his prejudice on air.

[glock rocks]

[Yaelle]

A man who refused on air to trim his 4-foot-long eyebrow hairs is calling someone else wacko?

"Did you ever really think about end-of-news-magazine-show-hosts? I mean REALLY think about them? Did you ever notice how WEIRD they are? Did you ever notice how whiny and complaining they are, and never have anything positive to say? Did you ever consider that some of them are too moronic to be on air, yet are on air anyway? Did you ever wonder when some of them were going to retire? Did you ever wonder which had more dust on them, the books on the shelf in the background, or the guy in front of the shelves? Did you ever wish you could reach through the screen and pull the whole shelf over on top of the guy and see if his eyebrows might shield him from harm??"

[BigTime]

Good post.

Here is Rooney's full commentary:

CBS) A weekly commentary by CBS News Correspondent Andy Rooney.

---

It doesn't seem right, but religion has been in the news a lot recently.

Pat Robertson says that God has spoken to him and told him that George W. Bush will be re-elected because he deserves to be.

Here's Pat Robertson's exact quote: "I think George Bush is going to win in a walk. I'm hearing from the Lord that it's going to be a blowout."

The movie by Mel Gibson called “The Passion of the Christ” is the other religious issue in the news. Everyone's talking about that. The question is whether the Jews killed Jesus Christ - who was Jewish, of course.

I hadn't wanted to say anything about this, because it seemed like a personal matter, but Pat Robertson isn't the only one who has heard from God.

I heard from God just the other night. God always seems to call at night.

"Andrew," God said to me. He always calls me "Andrew." I like that.

"Andrew, you have the eyes and ears of a lot of people. I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos. I believe that's one of your current words. They're crazy as bedbugs, another earthly expression. I created bedbugs. I'll tell you, they're no crazier than people,” said God.

"Let me just say that I think I'd remember if I'd ever talked to Pat Robertson, and I'd remember if I said Bush would get re-elected in a blowout."

“As far as Mel Gibson goes, I haven't seen his movie, 'The Passion of the Christ,' because it hasn't opened up here yet. But I did catch Gibson being interviewed by Diane Sawyer. I did something right when I came up with her, didn't I,” added God. “Anyway, as I was saying, Mel is a real nut case. What in the world was I thinking when I created him? Listen, we all make mistakes."

That is what God said to me. That's about all he did say to me because I'm sure God has a lot more important things to do than talk to someone on television.

My own question to Pat Robertson is this: The election looks as though it could be close, certainly not a blowout. If George W. Bush loses the election to a Democrat, will you become an atheist?

My question to Mel Gibson is: "How many million dollars does it look as if you're going to make off the crucifixion of Christ?"

[cyncooper]

I'm no fan of Pat Robertson, but he certainly gave an excellent response when asked about Rooney's comments.

[cajun-jack]

I have to think that alzheimer andy's mom must have at some point told him not to talk to strangers....and I just imagine that God would be a total stranger to andy, but andy is no stranger to God..he is just a little wind up toy God made himself to be amused by.

[N. Theknow]

Rooney even did a hit piece on George Patton once.

In the Left Behind Books I picture the False Prophet, Leon Fortunato as Andy Rooney. He has more excuses than a kindergarten class with diarrhea.

[atomicpossum]

[BigTime]

Re. Rooney's full comments posted above.

Note that he introduces the segment with a comment about Robertson conversing with God. (Nutty comment, I'll grant if he actually said it)

But then he segues a country mile into Gibson's new film about Christ. He offers NO supporting information linking Gibson to Robertson other than one: their link is Christ himself.

He doesn't indicate that Gibson has made loopy statements like Robertson did. What is Gibson's apparent crime?

He made a film about the life of Christ and therefore is a "whacko."

These Libs aren't even trying to hide their raw, naked disgust for Christians anymore.

[Dead Dog]

Go Figure

[CyberAnt]

Well .. here's a clue. God does things in an orderly fashion. God might call certain people whackos, but .. God would only tell that kind of info to the "Godly" person who has authority over those "whackos". God never makes those kinds of statements public, and God certainly would not make those statements to people who are not in a specified relationship with the "whackos".

I don't know what "god" was talking to Andy, but I can just about guarantee you it wasn't the God I worship!!!

[Ann Archy]

Pat Robertson said that God spoke to him.....Pat Robrtson.