Jewish World Review July 14, 2003 / 14 Tamuz, 5763

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This time, Robertson did it to himself


http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | The media elite has long enjoyed mocking and ridiculing conservative Christian leaders, like no other demographic group in America. But that doesn't mean that those of us who fight such reverse discrimination should remain silent when one of those leaders makes a serious error in judgment. Pat Robertson made such a mistake, and he should be called on the carpet for it.

From an early age, my grandmom let it be known, that if my family was coming to her home, we would be watching Pat Robertson at night. And because of all the time I spent with her watching Robertson, I always quickly dismissed the cartoon caricatures that major media outlets drew of the Virginia Beach televangelist when he ran for president in 1988.

Much of the left's hate of Robertson was fueled by the astonishing success of his Christian coalition, which along with Rush Limbaugh and the Wall Street Journal, provided a voice to a rising Republican majority in 1994.

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But if Robertson finds himself in hot water these days, he only has himself to blame. That's because he has spent time on the 700 Club this week telling his 1 million plus viewers that Liberia's tyrant, Charles Taylor, is a man of god who should remain in power.

According to the Washington Post, Robertson blamed the genocide in Liberia on the state department, and blasted the president for "undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels to take over the country. How dare the president of the United States say to the duly elected president of another country, 'you've got to step down,' "

For the record, Taylor has been universally denounced as a bloodthirsty tyrant who has massacred countless Liberians. A Wall Street Journal op-ed piece today said Taylor's crimes against humanity were at least as horrendous as Saddam Hussein's. And other Christian leaders have been almost universal in their criticism of Taylor.

Making Pat Robertson's statements all the more discouraging is the fact that the 700 Club founder never revealed to his viewers during these broadcasts that he has an $8 million dollar investment in Liberia, an investment that was approved by Taylor's government.

The episode is an embarrassment not only for Pat Robertson, but also for his supporters and those Christians who continue fighting for the human rights of all of god's children, regardless of their religious background.

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Former Congressman Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) hosts “Scarborough Country,” 10 p.m. ET, weeknights on MSNBC. Comment by clicking here.



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