Mission Congo: how Pat Robertson raised millions on the back of a non-existent aid project

[hue]

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/05/mission-congo-pat-robertson-aid-rwanda

The televangelist claimed Operation Blessing was giving vital aid in response to the 1994 Rwandan crisis. A documentary opening at the Toronto film festival paints a less flattering picture

One of the stranger sights of the refugee crisis that followed the 1994 Rwandan genocide was of stretcher-bearers rushing the dying to medical tents, with men running alongside reciting Bible verses to the withering patients.

The bulk of the thousands of doctors and nurses struggling to save lives – as about 40,000 people died of cholera – were volunteers for the international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The Bible readers were hired by the American televangelist and former religious right presidential candidate, Pat Robertson, and his aid organisation, Operation Blessing International.

But on Robertson's US television station, the Christian Broadcasting Network, that reality was reversed, as he raised millions of dollars from loyal followers by claiming Operation Blessing was at the forefront of the international response to the biggest refugee crisis of the decade. It's a claim he continues to make, even though an official investigation into Robertson's operation in Virginia accused him of "fraudulent and deceptive" claims when he was running an almost non-existent aid operation.

"We brought the largest contingent of medicine into Goma in Zaire, at least the first and the largest," Robertson said as recently as last year on his TV station.

Now a new documentary lays bare the extent of the misrepresentations of Operation Blessing's activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, that it says continue to this day.

[Blue Owl]

1. Glad someone has decided to count Pat's cooked-up "blessings"

n/t

[kenfrequed]

2. Read the article at the link.

It is why I, and many others, call this bastard "Diamond Pat" Robertson.

[Isoldeblue]

3. Oh, the many vile things

that the evangelical right do in the name of God....

[jmowreader]

4. Pat the Liquor Officer would lie about anything? Say it ain't so!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. Do you ever wonder how many ribbons that he got for that?

[awoke_in_2003]

5. If I am on a stretcher...

the last thing I need is someone next to it quoting babble verses.

[undeterred]

6. Operation LIAR

That covers all of his operations.

[silverweb]

8. When does he go on trial?

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]A standard prison cell would be the perfect place for him to rot for the rest of his miserable, corrupt, lying, thieving life.

[Rebellious Republican]

9. "how Pat Robertson raised millions on the back of a non-existent" God....

would be a better question!

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/28/five-other-outrageous-pat-robertson-theories.html

[Rebellious Republican]

11. Didnt I just see this one?

Just later than this one.

[Stuart G]

10. Do you think this will get thru to many of his believers?

Some, maybe, but only a few.......sad...

[Rebellious Republican]

12. Absolutely not....

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2013/05/david-bowie-next-day-video/65011/

[Stuart G]

13. Incredible Article..Recommended to All

If this movie gets wide spread bookings throughout the USA, Robertson will be in trouble. My guess is he will use whatever influence and money that he has to prevent this from getting into theaters. And he has a lot of money and a lot of influence..

[Brettongarcia]

14. Adding all his scams together, Robertson is said to be sitting on at least a billion dollars

Yup! A fund of $1,000,000,000.

Wonder what he's going to do with it?

[hue]

15. It won't buy his way out of Hell....