ROBERTSON BLAMES HAITIANS…. This morning, I noticed that Adam Serwer predicted, in the wake of the devastation in Haiti, that it was only a matter of time before someone suggests “things would have been better if the French hadn’t been expelled.”
On the “700 Club” today, radical TV preacher Pat Robertson took that idea and went much further.
“[S]omething happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon the third, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you will get us free from the French.’ True story. And so, the devil said, ‘Okay it’s a deal.’
“And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other. Desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It is cut down the middle on the one side is Haiti, on the other is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God and out of this tragedy I’m optimistic something good may come.”
And at that point, Robertson encouraged viewers to contribute to his international “charity,” so he can help respond to the suffering.
We’re talking about a still-unfolding catastrophe that may have killed literally hundreds of thousands of people. Robertson sees this and blames the people of Haiti for the earthquake.
This is, by the way, the same Pat Robertson who, on Sept. 13, 2001, blamed Americans for 9/11.
Some people really are beneath contempt.
In the larger political context, it’s worth remembering that Robertson remains a leading figure in the conservative movement and a prominent Republican voice, despite being insane. Even after Robertson blamed Americans for 9/11, GOP officials and candidates continue to appear on the “700 Club,” and seek out Robertson’s support, as if this crazed TV preacher need not be excluded from polite company.
Update: Steve M. reminds me that Bob McDonnell (R) will take the oath of office as Virginia’s governor this weekend — and he wants Robertson to attend. McDonnell, of course, is a graduate of Robertson’s right-wing college.
