on pat robertson and assassinations

Millionaire televangelist Pat Robertson called Monday for the assassination of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. In one succinct statement Robertson revealed his true nature. He is not a Christian, but a cold-hearted schemer with murder in his heart. He is the moral equivalent of radical Islamist clerics who issue fatwas against political leaders with whom they disagree.

Official response from the Bush administration was cautious. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack first insisted on Robertson's rights to speak his mind, then explained that Robertson's views were not shared by the administration. He stopped short of denouncing the remarks. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said, "He's a private citizen. Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time." Apparently the administration is more concerned about upsetting a long-time ally than distancing itself from such incendiary remarks.

Elsewhere the reaction was not so wishy-washy. Bob Edgar of the National Council of Churches called Robertson's statement, "appalling to the point of disbelief." Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State said, "It's absolutely chilling to hear a religious leader call for the murder any of political leader."

This is just the latest of a long string of ungodly and unchristian statements by Pat Robertson. Yet he is still revered by millions of Americans. Is it any wonder that the United States is losing the respect of the rest of the world?