TV preacher fires back at US State Department, says it should be "gutted"

AFP ^ | 10-13-03

[Brian S]

WASHINGTON (AFP) Oct 13, 2003

Just days after being harshly criticized for on-air comments suggesting the US State Department be obliterated with nuclear weapons, prominent conservative televangelist Pat Robertson renewed his attack on

Monday, calling for the agency to be "gutted." An apparently unrepentant Robertson did not retract his earlier comments -- although he allowed they had been "rather graphic" -- and maintained they had been intended to be lighthearted.

The one-time Republican presidential hopeful also said he had mistakenly attributed the sentiment to columnist Joel Mowbray, author of a scathing critique of the State Department.

"I was trying to characterize the rather negative tone in your book in a laughing fashion," Robertson said in an interview with Mowbray to be broadcast later Monday on his nationally televised "700 Club" program.

"I mentioned the question of nuking the State Department," he said, according to a transcript of the interview posted on Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network website (www.cbn.com).

"Mr Mowbray did not use the term 'nuke', he said it should be gutted and I think we ought to make that clear ... Joel did not say 'Nuke the State Department,' so we've changed: We're not going to nuke it, we're going to gut it," Robertson said.

Later, using the word "eviscerated," he said he would like to see "a top to bottom overhaul (of the State Department) with a major portion of the current personnel gone and somebody else taking their place."

Robertson's initial remarks -- also made in an interview with Mowbray, author of "Dangerous Diplomacy: How the State Department Threatens American Security" -- drew vehement protests from the State Department.

Spokesman Richard Boucher called the remarks "despicable" and a senior department official said a protest had been made "at the highest level."

"I lack sufficient capabilities to express my disdain," Boucher told reporters on Thursday. "I think the very idea, though, is despicable."

During the course of the earlier broadcast, Robertson had said that after finishing Mowbray's book he had thought to himself: "If I could just get a nuclear device inside Foggy Bottom, I think that's the answer."

"I mean, you get through this, and you say, 'We've got to blow that thing up'," Robertson said.

Foggy Bottom is the Washington neighborhood where the State Department's headquarters is located.

Mowbray's book accuses the State Department of endangering the security of the United States by allegedly cavorting with sponsors of terrorism, negligence or incompetence in the visa issuance process and ignoring the travails of US citizens abroad.

The State Department has denied Mowbray's allegations on numerous occasions.

[sinkspur]

Let's gut Pat Robertson, instead.

Might find some diamonds.

[Paleo Conservative]

In your heart you know he's right - Barry Goldwater

[Support Free Republic]

I would like to take a moment to ask for donations.

It should be clear to all conservatives by now that the left intends to demonize us. They don't just disagree with us, they hate us. And worse, they want to get other people to hate us.

Places like Free Republic drive the left batty.

Please donate. Thanks for your consideration.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Why, let's nuke CBN! What's good for the goose...

[edchambers]

Ok, so am I supposed to have a problem with this?I think Mr Robertsons comments were right on as were Newts.The State dept sucks I say toss em all out on they're ear and let Rumsfeld handle diplomacy from here on out.

[Commander8]

I agree with Pat Robertson's sentiment, but not his wording. We really need to purge all those liberal multilateralist holdovers from the Kennedy/Johnson, Carter and Clinton eras.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If Pat had the chance, he would have killed Saul, not cut his robe.

[k2blader]

Why do you keep posting such crap from Spacewar.com?

The original article was a lie.

There's no reason to believe this one.

[what's up]

What...a preacher has an opinion about the State Dept? How terrible! (NOT!)

[icwhatudo]

It should be clear to all conservatives by now that the left intends to demonize us

And based on this thread,it appears some freepers intend to as well. Can we start some McClintock and Rush bashing too?

[Poohbah]

Monday, calling for the agency to be "gutted." An apparently unrepentant Robertson did not retract his earlier comments -- although he allowed they had been "rather graphic" -- and maintained they had been intended to be lighthearted.

How come I'm not the sort who gets lighthearted about calls to detonate nuclear weapons in our nation's capital?

Are my humor glands just not in sync with the rest of the world?

We flamed Sara Lister to a itty-bitty blackened crisp for callimg Marines "extremists," and rightly so.

He needs to realize that (a) he screwed up, and (b) when you screw up, you need to 'fess up.

[UnklGene]

You were right the first time, Pat. Nuke'em!

[Poohbah]

The original article was a lie.

He didn't say what everyone reported that he said?

[kimoajax]

I have always had great respect for Pat Robertson judgment....despite his occasional use of hyperbole. He is not just a critic - he is actually in the ring doing something.

[TrueBeliever9]

The U.S. Department of State is safe! As is the United Nations! Why would terrorists nuke their own nests?

[TrueBeliever9]

The U.S. Department of State is safe! As is the United Nations! Why would terrorists nuke their own nests?

[steplock]

Pat R. for PRESIDENT!

He's 1000% correct on his assesment of the state dept.

[Cicero]

Robertson has repeatedly proven himself to be an inept politician. He constantly puts his foot in his mouth. Nevertheless, he's entirely correct about the State Department. I'm not sure I'd use the terms "gutted" or "eviscerated." I prefer something like "root and branch" or maybe cleaning out the Augean Stables. But it's much the same thing.

For decades, the State Department has, on balance, done more harm than good. In my memory that goes back at least to the Truman years, when they engineered the triumphs of Stalin and Mao Tse Tung. But no doubt it goes back even further than that, to Wilson and FDR.

[Ciexyz]

Pat Robertson is a decent Christian. You have to understand where he's coming from. He's as frustrated as any of us on FR about the State Department and their antics: lack of control over the visa process, etc. So when Pat reacted in a facetious fashion, the State Department jumps all over him and proclaims, TV evangelist says State Dept shout be nuked. That's pushing it to the extreme.

But the bottom line is: we as Americans are frustrated with the government bureaucrats who are a law unto themselves and are acting in incomprehensible ways. I mean really, who would believe that the FBI would give money to Hamas terrorists.