Conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting “intelligent design” and warned them Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck.
Robertson, a former Republican presidential candidate and founder of the influential Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition, has made similar apocalyptic warnings and provocative statements before.
“I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city,” Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, “The 700 Club.”
“And don’t wonder why He hasn’t helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I’m not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that’s the case, don’t ask for His help because he might not be there,” he said.
In 1998, Robertson warned the city of Orlando, Florida that it risked hurricanes, earthquakes and terrorist bombs after it allowed homosexual organizations to put up rainbow flags in support of sexual diversity.
Last time I spoke to my aunt in Orlando, the city was still there. The hurricanes come and go. She just wishes idiots like Robertson would stay away.
Can anyone say “whack a do”
On the positive side, at least we didn’t make this world class idiot President.
Nice picture though…
And here I’ve been believing all these “design” supporters who claim Christianity has nothing to do with it. That it is a scientific rebuttal of Evolution, not a science vs religion debate.
I guess Pat didn’t get that memo.
He is a very, very sick man. Unfortunately, he is also too stupid to seek help. It would make ME believe in GOD if the man were struck by a bolt of lightening on a cloudy day (or just have an ungrounded microphone…..and a large puddle for him to stand in). Because, it’ s difficult for me to believe that God is on HIS SIDE.
On the bright side, this should make most Christians totally understand the burden that Muslims have for THEIR whack-o “leaders”.
Don’t mess with Robertson — recall that he implored God to help them take control of the Supreme Court after O’Connor resigned, and Rehnquist died shortly after.
Purely unfortunate coincidence, or God’s will? Only God knows for sure.
The FCC should be investigating Roberts for Obscenity. There is no way that someone spouting such blasphemy should be allowed over the airwaves.
That said, I am changing me first name. From now on, I will be known as “The commentator formerly known as Pat”
And this is coming from a guy who wanted a corrupt leader assassinated? No wonder ABC Family has been airing a “these opinions are not ours” disclaimer…
The next time a strong wind blows through, Robertson will see it as vindication.
Good use of red eye in the picture. I’ve never seen him looking better.
It would make ME believe in GOD if the man were struck by a bolt of lightening on a cloudy day
Amen, Brother! 🙂
On the bright side, this should make most Christians totally understand the burden that Muslims have for THEIR whack-o “leaders”.
It should, but I am too cynical to believe they will make the connection. 🙁
Look, I’m no fan of Robertson’s, but let’s at least stick to the facts. If you read the quotes, he did not say what the media attributed to him. That would be the same part that John emphasized, “not to be surprised if disaster struck.” He just didn’t say it. I’m not defending what he did say, but at least apply the BS meter to the journalist, and just to Robertson.
I would like to reiterate the point made int post #11. The article blatantly misquotes Robertson. That aside, Robertson is not God’s representative I don’t see why his whacky statements get so much coverage. How about covering resonable comments from more respected proponents of Intelligent Design.
Just for the record I personally do not see any scientific basis behind the theory, I however do believe in God and morality and I don’t see the need to scientifically prove that God exists.
>How about covering resonable comments
>from more respected proponents of Intelligent Design.
You mean like Michael Behe who recently conceded when cross-examined in court that his definition of science would mean that astrology would qualify as science? Who further admitted that the “intelligent” design hypothesis would not qualify as science under the accepted definition of the term?
There *are no* proponents of “intelligent” design that are respected by the scientific community. They do not exist. It would be like asking to cover “respected proponents” of a flat earth.
Didn’t this guy run for President too?
Isn’t Pat Roberston God’s wrath on Virginia?
Don’t forget.. this is the same guy that ‘saved’ Prez Bush over a weekend and made him born again. He has the ear of the president… although the Prez doesn’t really need him since he (in his own words) ‘speaks to god’.
It’s not the right wing or left wing that scares me… it’s the religious (or political) fundamentalists that are dangerous throughout the world. They are the truly dangerous, because in their closed-minded perspectives, anyone that disagrees with them is evil and deserves punishment. And the horrors that they have wrought are beyond count.
Isn’t it strange that, maybe with the exception of the ‘right to choose / abortion issue’, Jesus would definitely be a radical democrat, and would not only disavow but would probably strongly condemn these people… most ‘conservatives’ included. So from a Christian perspective, anybody that adheres/supports to the neo-con/ fundamentalist perspective has actually rejected Christ and his teachings.
Frank
“I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God. You just rejected him from your city,”
OK, where is the misquote? He is suggesting that God is turning his back on the good people of Dover because they exercised their free will to vote as they saw best. Twist it any way you like, the sense, or paraphrasing, of what he said is accurate.
Checking this quote and story, I couldn’t find any denial or correction on what was said by Roberts. This includes a visit to the Christian Broadcast Network and the 700 Club web sites. Although it seems most media used the Reuters story, there was nothing claiming he was misquoted other than your’s and pds’s comments.
Awake,
You hit it directly on the head. JC would indeed be a radical dem, with the exceptions you have noted. Try telling a radical fundimentalist that & you really start to get the feeling of how the turkey felt on the weds before thankgiving.
We actually had a wack-job baptist group here in Tenn go to Ft Campbell and loudly protest a soldiers funeral by shouting “Thank God for the IED” and “God hates Fags”. The soldier wasn’t gay, but they think that God is killing our soldiers because the Mass. gov allows gay weddings.
I just wish I could see the video of when old Pat hits the pearly gates and finds out what an asshole he was in life.
Frank
I have now found a response from Robertson’s camp.
“A Robertson spokeswoman said he was unavailable for comment because he needed to finish a book that was due yesterday.
But Robertson did release a response to media requests through spokeswoman Angell Watts.
“I was simply stating that our spiritual actions have consequences and it’s high time we started recog-
nizing it,” he said. “God is tolerant and loving, but we can’t keep sticking our finger in His eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin … maybe he can help them.”
The York Dispatch, 11/11/05
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/local/ci_3206058
The same article quotes Jeff Brown, a former member of the School Board who resigned in protest over the Unintellegent Design debacle.
“…Robertson’s comments contradict intelligent design proponents’ testimony in federal court.
“According to sworn testimony, intelligent design has nothing to do with God,” he said. “Then Pat Robertson says if you don’t support it, God will hate you. These clowns want it both ways.
“I have a zero tolerance for sanctimonious morons who try to scare people.”
I couldn’t have said it better.
Isn’t this the same Pat Robertson who claimed to be a Korean War combat veteran and then said claim was proven to be false. And wasn’t this the same clown who claimed: “I..I…I didn’t say assassination!” And was again, thanks to the miracle of TV recording, proven to be a liar?
Is it me, or is the Gay flag the same as the Peace flag?
estacado, I’m not going on anything but street memory here; but, my recollection of the order in which some of this happened is that:
The first groups to use a rainbow-striped flag were peace and community groups that came together in opposition to the VietNam War. Never achieved much prominence outside the Movement.
In the past 20 years or so — in my recollection almost simultaneously — it was adopted by anti-smoking groups, gay rights groups and christian fundamentalists. No Smokers and Gay folks didn’t seem to get pissed at each other. The Christians seem to be pissed at everyone.
The Peace Flag — I presume you’re referring to the symbol used worldwide which has one vertical member and a lateral bit angled off on each side, all inside a circle — has a specific history. Which goes all the way back to Herr Reuters, founder of the news service.
He built a series of tall semaphore stations across France to the English Channel — which signaled to England the latest business news from the Continent — giving him and his early service a beat on any competitors. The semaphore symbols for C-N-D were adopted right after WW2 by the Committee for Nuclear Disarmament in the UK.
And it grew to become a universal symbol for peace activists.
Some Xhristians have a problem with that, too.
May Dover have calm and pleasant weather for a century – while an F5 rolls though Pat’s neighborhood