Two years ago, televangelist and Christian-Right helmsman Pat Robertson proposed that a nuclear bomb be dropped on the U.S. State Department. Last week, he publicly called for the assassination of democratically elected Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Such threats would earn lesser men a visit from a few burly law-enforcement officers, and possibly a one-way ticket to either the slammer or the loony bin.
But Robertson, it seems, is untouchable. The nuke threat was greeted with a "That's despicable" from a State Department spokesman, and that was that. After the Reverend's comment about Chavez, it rained no condemnations from Republicans in high places — though, when prodded, the State Department did issue a tepid statement saying that Robertson's incitement to murder was "inappropriate."
Yes, in such low regard does Washington hold this man — so truly "inappropriate" and "despicable" does it consider his words — that the Bush Administration jumped back in bed with Robertson first chance it got. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is in charge of providing assistance and relief to the victims of Katrina, prominently lists Robertson's charity "Operation Blessing" on its webpage of donation links. It's the number-three link, in fact, directly below the ones that lead to the Red Cross site and to that of America's Second Harvest.
Way to separate Church and State. Way to distance yourself from a "despicable" advocate of murder and nuclear mayhem.
Also, as Sploid.com, which broke the story, notes:
Robertson's shell organizations have already collected more than $25 million from the federal government under various "faith-based" federal-handout programs.
Here are the dirty details.
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