Call for assassination fuels outrage
By James Gerstenzang and Larry B. Stammer
Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON — Televangelist Pat Robertson's call for the assassination of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez provoked a storm of criticism yesterday, triggering condemnation from fellow religious leaders and international outrage, while the Bush administration said he was a "private citizen" whose remarks were "inappropriate."
Robertson remained publicly silent, but was criticized across the political and religious spectrum in the United States.
A pioneer of the nation's evangelical political movement, Robertson is the founder of the Christian Coalition of America and was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988. Hundreds of thousands of his conservative Christian fans tune in to his "700 Club" television show daily.
Although the influence of Robertson, 75, has ebbed among religious conservatives in recent years, he retains a huge following and occupies a revered position among a key Republican constituency.
Robertson said on Monday's program that the Venezuelan leader would make his nation "a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent." Killing Chávez, an ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, would be "a whole lot cheaper than starting a war," Robertson said.
"We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," he added. "We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."
In Venezuela, Vice President José Vicente Rangel said yesterday that Robertson's remarks were "terrorist statements." He condemned them as incitement to commit murder, and called on U.S. officials to make clear that the law applies "even to such Christians."
An executive order signed by President Ford on Feb. 18, 1976, prohibits any U.S. government employee from engaging in political assassination.Chávez, who was winding up a visit to Castro, brushed off the controversy. He told reporters at Havana's Jose Martí airport that he never had heard of Robertson and did not know or care what Robertson had said.
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Past controversies
Robertson's call for the assassination of Venezuela President Hugo Chávez was not the first time Robertson captured attention with an eyebrow-raising comment. Among them:
He suggested that the Sept. 11 attacks occurred because "we have insulted God at the highest level of our government."
He once warned Orlando, Fla., that God might send hurricanes its way if Disney World continued to recognize gay-pride events.
He has said feminism encourages women to kill their children and become lesbians.
He once called for blowing up the State Department with a nuclear device.
He said he considered liberal judges a more serious threat to America than "a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings."
By James Gerstenzang and Larry B. Stammer
Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON — Televangelist Pat Robertson's call for the assassination of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez provoked a storm of criticism yesterday, triggering condemnation from fellow religious leaders and international outrage, while the Bush administration said he was a "private citizen" whose remarks were "inappropriate."
Robertson remained publicly silent, but was criticized across the political and religious spectrum in the United States.
A pioneer of the nation's evangelical political movement, Robertson is the founder of the Christian Coalition of America and was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988. Hundreds of thousands of his conservative Christian fans tune in to his "700 Club" television show daily.
Although the influence of Robertson, 75, has ebbed among religious conservatives in recent years, he retains a huge following and occupies a revered position among a key Republican constituency.
Robertson said on Monday's program that the Venezuelan leader would make his nation "a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent." Killing Chávez, an ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, would be "a whole lot cheaper than starting a war," Robertson said.
"We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," he added. "We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."
In Venezuela, Vice President José Vicente Rangel said yesterday that Robertson's remarks were "terrorist statements." He condemned them as incitement to commit murder, and called on U.S. officials to make clear that the law applies "even to such Christians."
An executive order signed by President Ford on Feb. 18, 1976, prohibits any U.S. government employee from engaging in political assassination.Chávez, who was winding up a visit to Castro, brushed off the controversy. He told reporters at Havana's Jose Martí airport that he never had heard of Robertson and did not know or care what Robertson had said.
---------------------------
Past controversies
Robertson's call for the assassination of Venezuela President Hugo Chávez was not the first time Robertson captured attention with an eyebrow-raising comment. Among them:
He suggested that the Sept. 11 attacks occurred because "we have insulted God at the highest level of our government."
He once warned Orlando, Fla., that God might send hurricanes its way if Disney World continued to recognize gay-pride events.
He has said feminism encourages women to kill their children and become lesbians.
He once called for blowing up the State Department with a nuclear device.
He said he considered liberal judges a more serious threat to America than "a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings."
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posted by Matthew at 11:46 AM
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