Posted on 01/06/2006 12:23:37 PM PST by FeeinTennessee
White House Criticizes Pat Robertson
The White House sharply criticized Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson on Friday for suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land."
"Those comments are wholly inappropriate and offensive and really don't have a place in this or any other debate," presidential spokesman Trent Duffy said as Bush traveled to Chicago for a speech.
Robertson made his comments about Israel and Sharon on his TV program, "The 700 Club." He said, "God considers this land to be his. You read the Bible and he says 'This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No, this is mine."'
Sharon, who ordered Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday.
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About time.
We can't let Robinson get away with issuing yet another fatwa unchallenged - he's too closely aligned in the public imagination with the GOP.
I wasn't aware that Robertson is the only person with a direct line on what God's actions or intentions are. It seems the rest of us need to sift through the facts. I surely don't want Robertson's statements representing the White House's or the whole of America's view.
It's about damn time someone stood up to this bozo. Now if someone would just stand up to the Falwells and Dobsons of the world, we'd be a much better place, and while we're at it, State Sen. Hank Erwin
Robertson is a jerk. The liberals salivate every time he speaks, threatening thunderbolts will rain down upon unbelievers. I wonder how many people he scandalizes who would otherwise be more inclined to turn to Christ?
robertson is a nut case and what he says shouldnt even make the papers. why is the white house legitamizing this creep? why is this whole situation even news?
Is this GWB rebuking G-d ?
b'shem Y'shua
I'm divided on this too.
I think Pat put his foot in his mouth and worded it stupidly.
It did occur to me when Sharon had that first little stroke that maybe God was telling him it was time to step down. Sharon went back to work, and a second, severe stroke ensured that he would step down.
People can differ about Sharon's leadership, but my personal view is that he betrayed his earlier heroic role and showed weakness the way he handled the "peace process" in the past year or so.
I don't think this is necessarily a "judgment" on Sharon as such. In the first place, God might disapprove what he is doing as leader of Israel without judging him to be a sinner. Hopefully Sharon was acting in good faith, and not because of the corruption his family was involved in earlier.
And of course nobody knows what divine providence may intend. But it's true that Israel is key, not only from a religious point of view but from a very practical world political point of view. So, maybe God wanted Sharon to step down so someone else can lead Israel. That has no necessary connection with how God will judge Sharon as a person. I pray for his welfare and wish him well.
Robertson is to liberals as Dean is to conservatives.
Does that surprise you? Bush is the same pseudo-Christian that said Allah is the same God as the God of Israel.
Pat Robertson is a religious figure, not the Secretary of State or Ambassador to Israel. I agree. The White House should ignore it. But maybe they felt obliged to respond because of the way the crooked media are trying to smear Bush using Pat's remark.
After all, the media argues, they're both ignorant Christian fanatics, aren't they?
Bush-bashing really doesn't go down that well here, it seems to me. It's one thing to criticize something he does, but calling him a "pseudo-Christian" seems a bit over the top.
"God might disapprove what he is doing as leader of Israel without judging him to be a sinner"
I got news for you, every person who walked this planet was a sinner, with the exception of his only begotten son and said son's mother Mary.
G23; G27 & G30 plus others
I think that a lot of events and things that happen to people are a result of God's direct hand. But I would NEVER make a public statement about it because I don't know what God's up to--I'm NOT God. I don't think Robertson should be doing this either. Not agreeing with Sharon's policies is one thing, and all of us citizens have a right to speak about what we think. The first amendment is a great right. But he shouldn't link specific actions to divine punishment. That's God's business (and ours when we're on the receiving end). He needs to button it up. God's children are basically ambassadors on this earth, and Robertson is not helping the embassy or the Kingdom when he talks out of turn like this.
His mother was a sinner too like you and I too. Only Christ was sinless.
Based on his actions, he either doesn't literally believe the Bible, or he's lying because his job as president won't allow him to be an honest Christian. Take your pick.
Dobson has done an enormous amount of good. I'm extremely thankful that he's on the radio and writes books. No, the world would not be a better place without him. I used to dislike Falwell, but he's matured in his later years. While I don't always agree with what he says, he has the ability to admit it when he speaks out of turn. I do not see that maturity with Robertson.
What is wrong with Falwel and Dobson?
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