TV preacher and Republican Party activist Pat Robertson has a tendency to say breathtakingly stupid things. To offer just a tiny sample, Robertson has joined Jerry Falwell in blaming the terrorist attacks of 9/11 on America’s liberals, praised war-criminal dictators, and publicly urged his followers to pray for a few Supreme Court justices to die. All of these instances have come just within the last year or so.
Comments such as these have raised the ire of church-state separationists, civil libertarians, religious minorities, and sane people everywhere.
Now we can add the U.S. State Department to the list of people Robertson has infuriated.
State Department officials complained yesterday that Robertson was “despicable” for suggesting the department should be hit with a nuclear bomb.
Apparently, Robertson invited “author” Joel Mowbray on to his 700 Club program discuss Mowbray’s new book, “Dangerous Diplomacy: How the State Department Endangers America’s Security.”
As Reuters explained, “Introducing Mowbray on his Christian Broadcasting Network, Robertson said that a person who read Mowbray’s book would reach the conclusion that a nuclear explosion at the State Department was the best solution.”
“I read your book,” Robertson said. “When you get through, you say (to yourself): ‘If I could just get a nuclear device inside Foggy Bottom (the State Department’s main building), I think that’s the answer’ and you say: ‘We’ve got to blow that thing up.’ I mean, is it as bad as you say?”
Mowbray replied, “It is.”
Keep in mind, Mowbray’s book may be a right-wing screed, but it makes no reference to attacking the State Department or blowing up its building with a nuclear bomb. These are the conclusions Robertson reached after reading Mowbray’s book.
The State Department wasn’t amused at Robertson’s suggestion. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, asked by reporters about Robertson’s remark, said yesterday, “I lack sufficient capabilities to express my disdain…. I think the very idea is despicable.”
Another State Department official indicated that the department has contacted Robertson to make sure he understands their displeasure.
It leads me to wonder what it will take for the Republican Party and its leadership to publicly denounce Robertson. Is it that possible that the GOP is so beholden to the religious right that Bush, Cheney, DeLay, et al, can’t condemn an obvious lunatic?
I will never understand why so many conservatives consider Robertson a respectable moral crusader worthy of considerable political influence. It is simply beyond my comprehension.