TV preacher [tag]Pat Robertson[/tag] has a colorful history when it comes to the weather. In 1998, after Orlando voted to fly rainbow flags from city lampposts during the annual Gay Days event at Disney World, Robertson announced that it might cause Orlando to be hit by “earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor.” Almost as amusing, [tag]Robertson[/tag] also claimed the ability to move Hurricane Gloria in 1985 and Hurricane Felix in 1995 away from Virginia.
As it turns out, Pat the [tag]Meteorologist[/tag] is still making [tag]predictions[/tag].
In another in a series of notable pronouncements, religious broadcaster Pat [tag]Robertson[/tag] says [tag]God[/tag] told him storms and possibly a [tag]tsunami[/tag] will hit America’s coastline this year.
Robertson has made the predictions at least four times in the past two weeks on his news-and-talk television show “The [tag]700 Club[/tag]” on the Christian Broadcasting Network, which he founded.
Robertson said the revelations about this year’s weather came to him during his annual personal prayer retreat in January.
“If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by [tag]storms[/tag],” Robertson said May 8. On Wednesday, he added, “There well may be something as bad as a tsunami in the Pacific Northwest.”
What this AP account doesn’t mention is that Robertson’s “forecasts” are not just the odd rantings of a nut, they’re also a fundraising stunt.
Robertson then told viewers that “we’re positioning supplies in California. We’ve got supplies positioned in Florida. We’ll have others, and, of course, we have a major presence in the Gulf right now.” He added, “[W]hen you contribute $20 a month to The 700 Club, you are saying, ‘I care about people. I care about my neighbors, I care about my friends, I care about those who are suffering.’ … That’s what you do when you join The 700 Club. And we’re just asking people to help, to say, “Help us to help those less fortunate.”
So, as Robertson tells it, God told him about these storms, and God wants you to give Robertson $20 a month so he can help the storm’s victims. You might as well start donating now, he argues, so Robertson’s ministry will be ready.
How any thinking person could possibly take this man seriously is a total mystery. Why anyone would actually give him money is beyond my imagination.