(Pat) Robertson explains on-air statements

modbee ^ | 2-2-06

[LouAvul]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Television evangelist Pat Robertson, who has rattled the religious and political establishment with recent controversial declarations, acknowledged Thursday "my passion runs ahead of me" on some occasions.

"I've been doing TV for years and years," Robertson said. "And the problem is, I ad lib."

Interviewed on ABC's "Good Morning America" on the morning of the annual National Prayer Breakfast, Robertson was asked about statements suggesting that the United States assassinate President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and intimating that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was God's punishment for giving up the Gaza strip.

Robertson sent a letter to Sharon's family apologizing for his remark about the Israeli leader.

And on a telecast earlier this year of his "700 Club" show on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Robertson had said of Chavez: "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."

Subsequently, the televangelist got into hot water for warning residents of a rural Pennsylvania town that disaster may strike because they "voted God out of your city" by removing school board members who favored teaching intelligent design.

"Intelligent design," an alternative to the theory of evolution, is the belief that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power.

In the interview Thursday, Robertson noted that he often gets ideas for commentaries from the news department at CBN and said that "I do editorials. ... Unfortunately, my passion runs ahead of me."

[Echo Talon]

I would much rather be on this side and have to take the heat from what Robertson(private citizen) says compared to what liberals have to take the heat for in their political leaders.
ex. Kennedy, Kerry, Dean, Pelosi etc.

[NormsRevenge]

Oh yeah,, "I ad lib." .

Get a couple beers in Pat and I bet he's a 'blast'.

[Chanticleer]

I do editorials. ... Unfortunately, my passion runs ahead of me.

Pat, Pat. Brain should be in gear before engaging mouth. I have that problem from time to time, too. However, I'm not on national television. I think it's time for a well-earned retirement.

[Wallace T.]

Robertson's thoughts about God's judgment in the stroke suffered by Israeli Prime Minster Sharon would have best kept off the air. However, he was 100% correct about the need to forcefully deal with Hugo Chavez, the Castro wannabe in Venezuela. Someone has to arouse the Republican Party out of its un-conservative posture in areas such as lax immigration enforcement, the Marxist gains in Latin America, and deficit spending.

That being said, I fear that Robertson is too far past their prime. Robertson, like many Bush Administration officials, still feels obliged to appear on MSM shows like Good Morning America. It is no longer the 1970s or 1980s, when token conservatives like George Will or Jerry Falwell served as whipping boys for the liberals on political discussion shows. The media landscape has changed drastically since 1988 (when Rush Limbaugh went national), but Robertson and Bush Administration officials still play by the MSM rules.

[hgro]

Pat's brain is shrinking and his mouth is growing.

[countorlock]

SNL news skit had a thing where you tried to guess if a quote was PRob or a homeless drunk yelling into a bag. It was funny.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The man is an embarrassment.

[SoFloFreeper]

"I've been doing TV for years and years," Robertson said. "And the problem is, I ad lib."

You know what? At least this guy can admit he shoots off his mouth too much.

Unlike most of the loser liberals in the media...Farakhan blaming Bush for blowing up the levees, or saying he was brought up to a rocket ship and shown the Libyan country being attacked...John Kerry saying 53% of American kids don't graduate high school....Howard Dean asserting he wants to wait for a jury's verdict on Osama bin Laden...Robert Byrd using the word "n****r" in a televised interview...all of these are given a pass by the MSM.

But let old Pat Robertson slip up and man, it is FRONT PAGE NEWS.

[Wuli]

Thanks Pat. I feel vindicated for my comments on why you should not have made your statements about Sharon.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Robertson, like many Bush Administration officials, still feels obliged to appear on MSM shows like Good Morning America.

I'd like to see Robertson consider retiring and stay away from MSM shows. They're out to get him because they know they can.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Not to mention his apocalypse statements immediately after September 11th.

[antiRepublicrat]

From the title I thought this was another Robertson moment, following his "every 60 days" rule for making an ass out of himself publicly, but it hasn't been 60 days since the last one yet. But I see this is just a reference to the last instance.

[Echo Talon]

exactly and Pat is a private citizen and can say what he wants, on the other hand you have democrat leaders saying things and get passes day and night.

[Wallace T.]

Robertson should entirely turn "The 700 Club" and CBN over to his son. However, like Billy Graham, who also has a son who is poised to take over his father's ministry, he apparently has a hard time stepping away from the limelight.

However, Robertson's psuedo-conservative critics attack him even when his controversial statements are sensible, e.g., his remarks about Hugo Chavez. These same people give the Bush Administration and the Congressional GOP a free pass despite deficits in the hundreds of billions, an out of control southern border, and new Federal social programs. These critics should take care of the plank in their own eye before they address the speck in Pat Robertson's eye.

[RichInOC]

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this..."
"Well, then, don't do it."