Posted on 08/24/2005 10:35:22 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative U.S. evangelist Pat Robertson, who called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said on Wednesday he was misinterpreted and there were a number of ways to "take him out" including kidnapping.
"I said our special forces could take him out. Take him out could be a number of things including kidnapping," Robertson said on his "The 700 Club" television program.
"There are a number of ways of taking out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted," Robertson added.
Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition and a presidential candidate in 1988, said on Monday of Chavez, one of Bush's most vocal critics: "If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it."
"We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability." He made the comments during his "The 700 Club" television program.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday dismissed Robertson's remarks, but the White House remained silent despite calls for repudiation from Venezuela and religious leaders including the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called "without fact and baseless" any ideas of hostile action against Chavez or Venezuela.
The leftist Chavez has often accused the United States of plotting his overthrow or assassination. Alongside Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana on Sunday, Chavez scoffed at the idea that he and Castro were destabilizing troublemakers.
Chavez survived a short-lived coup in 2002 that he says was backed by the United States. Washington denies involvement.
Venezuelan officials said Robertson's remarks, while those of a private citizen, took on more significance given his ties to President George W. Bush's Christian-right supporters.
"Mr Robertson has been one of this president's staunchest allies. His statement demands the strongest condemnation by the White House," Venezuela's ambassador to the United States Bernardo Alvarez said.
I'm sorry Pat, but you lost it. Is it time to retire?
Apparently the whole world.
Pre-emptive assassinations??!!
It would have saved an awful lot of money.
Well, the whole world must be pretty freaking bored.
Judging by the media and FR response, it would seem that way.
Mr. Robertson did not call for the killing of chavez-nor did he advocate the immediate completion of an assassination. He did, however, point out that chavez himself has already accused the USA of plotting his assassination..that is where the misinterpretation came about.
Chavez was asking for it....and no U. S. Citizen should apologize for exercising freedom of Speech..and no U. S. citizen should apologize to a two-bit dictator like Chavez!
I understand there are certainly those do not have the brains necessary to figure out that Robertson has no power to make what he says happen. Including the obviously dimwitted chavez.
Now, so far as my defending what Robertson said..Chavez is a worthless piece of foreign poop that should be scooped up as soon as possible by ANY means. In other words..I agree with the thought. Chavez says we're going to......why not?
OOOPS..Maybe I need to apologize to that chavez character..even though he is a murderous dictator, he seems to have some advocates of his own that wont like what I say..isn't that right Types_with_fist?
God tells us we should not commit MURDER. But God has also called for killing whole towns down to the last goat..and the wiping the dust off of your feet when you finish...
Todays candy-bar, 1960's Jesus freak 'Christians"..do not understand about fighting EVIL, indeed, KILLIG EVIL. Too bad..I guess we now must roll over like yellow dogs and offer ourselves to allah and atheism..allow dictators to amass arms against our country (like chavez is doing)just so long as we dont (gasp!!!) kill anybody.
Geez!
I see. Because I believe it is wrong for a pastor -- a purported believer in The Lord Jesus Christ -- to advocate the murder of a foreign head of state it MUST be because I'm an advocate for Chavez and his rule of Venezuela. I wouldn't be an advocate for ANY dirt bag or weasel. So, naturally, I would not be an advocate for Chavez or Pat Robertson or... you.
Obviously not. Thank you.
Now he's tap dancing ...
Todays candy-bar, 1960's Jesus freak 'Christians"..do not understand about fighting EVIL, indeed, KILLIG EVIL. Too bad..I guess we now must roll over like yellow dogs and offer ourselves to allah and atheism..allow dictators to amass arms against our country (like chavez is doing)just so long as we dont (gasp!!!) kill anybody.
What exactly has Chavez done, that would earn the death penalty? I haven't been able to find anything about him murdering or torturing people, just that he has pissed-off the US a lot and keeps bad company.
I am tired of playing word-twister with the uninformed.
You and others obviously miss the point as well as any of the foreign potentates you defend.
The only one who is playing "word twister" is you, who has not only claimed Robertson didn't call for assassination but has also insinuated that others like me support Chavez.
Both are lies.
Nobody -- nobody at all -- is defending Chavez. I haven't seen that anywhere on this site.
Go ahead and explain to us "uninformed" folks how Bible scripture (be sure, of course, not to even mention the New Testament) declares that we should kill people we disagree with. Tell us how to eradicate "evil."
While you're at it, tell us how we are advocates for "foreign potentates" because we disagree with some jerk on the tube.
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