Robertson claimed that, in the wake of Katrina, Roberts can "be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good"
Pat Robertson, host of Christian Broadcasting Network's (CBN) The 700 Club and founder of the Christian Coalition of America, stated that, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. can "be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good."
On the September 1 edition of The 700 Club, Robertson argued that "out of this tragedy, the focus of America is going to be on these [hurricane] victims," and "inflamed rhetoric" from senators during Roberts's confirmation hearings "is just not going to play well now." Robertson also commented that, following the hurricane, if senators "[go] on a vendetta against Roberts" by sharply questioning or criticizing him, "it's just going to hurt them."
From the September 1 edition of CBN's The 700 Club:
LEE WEBB (CBN News anchor): And back here at home, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts will be introduced by a Republican and Democrat when his confirmation hearings begin next Tuesday in Washington. USA Today reports Virginia Republican John Warner and Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh will appear with Roberts. It's viewed as a positive symbolic boost for Roberts. The nominee is from Bayh's state of Indiana. Bayh, though, says he hasn't decided whether he will vote for Roberts, but many moderate Democrats are expected to support him. Liberal senators like Ted Kennedy and Charles Schumer have criticized Roberts. And now, let's go back over to Terry with more of the Club.
TERRY MEEUWSEN (co-host): And this is an important time for us to remember to be praying for what's happening with regard to the judicial system, because it's so easy to forget that in light of the --
ROBERTSON: That's right.
MEEUWSEN: -- situation that's happening south of us.
ROBERTSON: Well, in a sense, they say it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Out of this tragedy, the focus of America is going to be on these victims, and inflamed rhetoric in the United States Senate is just not going to play well now because this is a time of healing and compassion and reaching out to people, and if they start going on a vendetta against Roberts in the Senate, it's just going to hurt them. And I think they know that, so, I mean, Judge Roberts can, maybe, you know, be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good.
Following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist on September 3, President Bush nominated Roberts, who had been nominated to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, to replace Rehnquist as chief justice. Confirmation hearings for Roberts planned for this week have been rescheduled to begin September 12.
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Sorry Pat, I missed the "blessings" (in cash) your Operation Blessing recieved due to the plight of New Orleans. After this remark and the fact you are willing to make both political hay and take money "to help the suffering" right -- Well, may the IRS and Hell hold a special place for you.
Really. Forget the suffering and the dead not to mention the impact on our entire nation. How does this help John Roberts?
Reminds me of the Al Franken decade. Of course, he was being sarcastic.
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When they heard about the death of Rehnquist in Robertsonland, I wonder if the scene was one of high-fives, tears of joy and shouting "glory halleluiah"?
Pat's comments are now tied for first with Barbara Bush's in the race for The Rich White Person's Most Heartless Comment Award.
I'd give a slight edge to Barbara Queen Elizabeth Marie Antoinette Bush.
Operation Blessing My Pockets. Pat Robertson is a clear example of what is wrong with "religion". I would expect every "conservative christian" to denounce his remarks and denounce him, but it won't happen. He, like his ilk are good at hearding the sheep - and collecting $$$ at our expense. (Remember, as a religious organization, he does enjoy tax exempt status - all while living like a king)
What would Jesus say? (not like it matters to these pompous idiots)
Sometime last week, I posted something elsewhere on this site to much the same effect -- that to all appearances, the dollar sign has unfortunately begun to rival the cross in the hearts of many self-professed Christians in this country. The Bible says that it's not possible to love both God and Mammon -- and that the love of money is the root of all evil. For some reason, those verses seem to slip people's minds all too frequently...
E'en now, I can hear the sneers of the conservatives on this board -- "Communist!" "Socialist!" It wouldn't be the first time I've had such epithets (or worse) flung at me, and I'm certain that it won't be the last. As it happens, however, I see nothing wrong with people aspiring to a reasonably comfortable life for themselves and their families...provided that it's done responsibly. I don't believe that capitalism and Christianity are by definition completely incompatible -- provided that Christians remember to place a greater priority on people than they do on profit. When they become so focused on their own lives that they lose the ability to feel compassion for those less fortunate than themselves, I think it signals a problem -- regardless of whether they want to admit it or not. I also think many people (rather conveniently) forget that what most Americans consider a comfortable life is in actuality one of tremendous wealth and luxury in comparison when compared against how most people in other parts of the world live.
As always, Pat Robertson's comment was to say the very least appallingly tactless. When so many people have suffered conditions to which no human being should be forced to experience in a civilized society such as we claim ours to be, there almost seems to be a kind of schadenfreude in his remarks which is a desecration to the religion he claims to follow.
I couldn't remember the name of this website when I posted the message above, but I've cited it on boards similar to this one in the past. When you enter your yearly income in dollars (or various other forms of currency), this website compares your earnings against statistical averages for the rest of the world as compiled by the World Bank -- the results are something of an eye-opener. I find that it's useful for reminding myself to maintain a little perspective whenever I'm feeling dissatisfied with my life -- especially since even my own comparatively modest income apparently puts me in the uppermost 5% with regard to global earnings...
Here's the link -- [link to www.globalrichlist.com]
replacing rehnquist with another conservative won't impact the makeup of the court, it's the o'connor replacement that's critical.
give robertson credit for trying to see the positive side of the debacle in NO. i am a bit confused as to his logic, however. given the (well deserved) criticism gw is taking, for his administration's non-response to the disasters in LA & MS, why robertson thinks that will translate into easy sailing for roberts mystifies me. it seems more likely that it should embolden those democrats, who still have testicles, to engage in more, not less, critical analysis of judge robert's record on the bench, and in his first incarnation in the bush I administration.
of course, given the current dearth of congressional democrats with an intact scrotal sack, robertson's probably correct in his analysis.
I have to agree with your dismal appraisal of Democrats; I've just about given up on those wimps.
It is hard to imagine that Roberts will be any more of a troglodyte than Rhenquist. The big scary thing is that we'll now have a young troglodyte as Chief Justice instead of an old troglodyte. Imagine how much damage Roberts can do over the next 30-40 years!
Hey Pat:
Why is God punishing the people of New Orleans and who should we assassinate now? Just asking.
This guy needs to have his tv show canned...for the good of God-fearing Christians like myself. He is an abomination.
Pat Robertson can also be thankful for Katrina! Maybe that's what happened...since he controls hurricanes, he prayed this one into where poor folks lived other than VaBeach!
Hey thats the important thing right Pat, some rightwing ideologue is helped marginally. A several thousand deaths is a small price to pay for that. Is that your point Pat?
Granted the guy's one of the creepiest of the neocon talking heads, but this doesn't strike me as MMFA material. Sure, not too many reality based people would come up with such a statement. His opinion is odd, for sure - Katrina will cause the Senate to decrease the partisanship and this will indirectly benefit Roberts, cause the left not to be so mean. But he can think that he'll one day be leader of the white-only, Christian only world, where everyone will engage in daily prayer, pious self fondling and Chavez target practice simultaneously. Who cares? To my ears, this clip is the same meaningless thing - wacky speculation on future behavior.
"Well, in a sense, they say it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Out of this tragedy, the focus of America is going to be on these victims, and inflamed rhetoric in the United States Senate is just not going to play well now because this is a time of healing and compassion and reaching out to people, and if they start going on a vendetta against Roberts in the Senate, it's just going to hurt them. And I think they know that, so, I mean, Judge Roberts can, maybe, you know, be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good." [my emphasis]
Robertson, you're right. This is a time of healing and compassion, so why follow up with politics? Is this some sort of reflex?
This man is wicked. Plain and simple. At first, I thought he was merely another rapacious hypocrite. After his comments re political assasination, I decided he was nuts. But he's just bone-deep bad.
He's right. If Democrats use this to attack him, he will look like the good guy. What's wrong with this statement?
Perhaps the Republican miscalculation that Democrats can't keep two separate issues separate. Now, what do you think is wrong with it?
How can we be sure Robertson's not actually dead? Look at the make-up if you dare. Maybe they're just using some wires or digital tricks. Anyway, Rove could be behind this, literally.
I was clicking around Sunday and stopped at 700 club for a few minutes. They were talking about the looters. Do you know what they called them? The insurgents! I'm not kidding. Are there people who actually send this AH money?
When you watch the 666 club, the terrorists win.
Okay, so he's bad AND nuts.