It’s been weeks since I last lampooned TV preacher [tag]Pat Robertson[/tag], so I’m due, right? Reader R.S. alerted me to a fascinating transcript from CBS News Sunday Morning, in which reporter Rita Braver sat down with Robertson to chat about the televangelist’s insights on, well, whatever it is Robertson thinks about.
[tag]Robertson[/tag] was in rare form, going so far as to say that he had one woman “raised from the dead.” For emphasis, Robertson explained that “she was stone cold dead,” but not anymore.
But the story that was particularly over the top was when Robertson claimed to help cure a woman in Israel of severe asthma because God directly told Robertson to ask the woman about her sex life.
PR: …I prayed. And I said, “Lord, what’s wrong with her?” I just prayed silently. And the Lord said, “Ask about her sex life.” … Yes, He said that to me. And I said, “There’s no way I’m going to ask a strange woman about her sex life.” So I said, “Excuse me for being personal, but would you tell me about your marriage.”
She said, “Oh, I have a wonderful marriage…. A wonderful husband, wonderful marriage. It’s just absolutely marvelous.” I said, “You do?” She said, “Yes.” So I prayed again. I said, “Lord, what’s the matter?” And He said, “Ask her about her sex life.”
RB: It’s hard to imagine the Lord saying this to you–
PR: Well, He did. And I said — “You know, please forgive me if I’m being personal, but tell me about your sex life.” And she said, “I don’t have any.” And I said, “Well, I thought you had a wonderful marriage.” And she said, “I do, but I don’t have any sex life.”
And I said, “How long has that been going on?” And she said, “Two years.” And I said– “And that’s when your asthma started, isn’t it?” And she said, “Yes.” And I said, “Well it’s obvious that you’re blaming yourself– for this condition. What’s the problem?” And she said, “My husband’s impotent.”
And I said, “You think it’s your fault.” And she said, “Yes. It’s– I think it’s my fault.” And I said, “Well it isn’t your fault. And it may be that he’s working too hard. He may be having a physical impairment. But — there’s something in his life, that this isn’t your fault.” And she said, “It’s not?”
I said, “Absolutely not.” And I said, “Okay, now let’s pray for your asthma. And she said, “Okay.” And we prayed. And God healed her asthma just like that.
Why is this man, who is clearly mad as a hatter, being interviewed on CBS News Sunday Morning? Because the producers know he’ll say bizarre things like this. And why is this man still taken seriously by the Republican Party? Because they don’t care how crazy he is, just so long as he can deliver some votes and contributions the GOP’s way.