HA! HA! I got a response from the Pat Robertson camp!

[Texasgal]

I e-mailed CBN denouncing Robertsons comments about President Hugo Chavez, here's the response.... :rofl:

*********************************************************************
We appreciate this opportunity to respond to you on behalf of Pat
Robertson. Dr. Robertson is not able to personally respond to all the
messages he receives daily. However, he cares very much that you receive a
reply, and we are pleased to respond to you for him.

The following is a statement by Pat Robertson:

PAT ROBERTSON CLARIFIES HIS STATEMENT
REGARDING HUGO CHAVEZ.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., August 24, 2005--I want to take this opportunity
to clarify remarks made on the Monday, August 22nd edition of The 700
Club where I adlibbed a comment following a very brilliant analysis by
Dale Hurd of the danger that the United States faces from the
out-of-control dictator of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. In this story, Col. Chavez
repeatedly claimed that Americans were "trying to assassinate him."

In my frustration that the U.S. and the world community are ignoring
this threat, I said the following:

"Thanks, Dale. If you look back just a few years, there was a popular
coup that overthrew him; and what did the United States State Department
do about it? Virtually nothing; and as a result, within about 48 hours,
that coup was broken, Chavez was back in power. But we had a chance to
move in. He has destroyed the Venezuelan economy, and he's going to
make that a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism
all over the continent. I don't know about this doctrine of
assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really
ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a
war, and I don't think any oil shipments will stop. But this man is a
terrific danger, and this is in our sphere of influence, so we can't let
this happen. We have the Monroe Doctrine, and we have other doctrines
that we have announced, and without question, this is a dangerous enemy
to our south, controlling a huge pool of oil that could hurt us very
badly. We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come
that we exercise that ability. We don't need another 200-billion-dollar
war to get rid of one 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."

Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that
statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who
thinks the U.S. is out to kill him. Col. Chavez has found common cause
with terrorists such as the noted assassin Carlos the Jackal, has
visited Iran reportedly to gain access to nuclear technology, and has
referred to Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro as his comrades. Col. Chavez
also intends to fund the violent overthrow of democratically elected
governments throughout South America, beginning with neighboring Colombia.

As I report the news daily from around the world, I am acutely
conscious of the fact that our nation is at war. Not only are there active
wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but there is a war of terror being waged
against civilized nations throughout the world.

We are in the midst of a war that is draining vast amounts of our
treasure and is costing the blood of our armed forces. I am a person who
believes in peace, but not peace at any price. However, I said before
the war in Iraq began that the wisest course would be to wage war against
Saddam Hussein, not the whole nation of Iraq. When faced with the
threat of a comparable dictator in our own hemisphere, would it not be
wiser to wage war against one person rather than finding ourselves down the
road locked in a bitter struggle with a whole nation?

The brilliant Protestant theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who lived
under the hellish conditions of Nazi Germany, is reported to have said:

"If I see a madman driving a car into a group of innocent bystanders,
then I can't, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe and then
comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the
steering wheel out of the hands of the driver."

On the strength of this reasoning, Bonhoeffer decided to lend his
support to those in Germany who had joined together in an attempt to
assassinate Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer was imprisoned and killed by the Nazis,
but his example deserves our respect and consideration today.

There are many who disagree with my comments, and I respect their
opinions. There are others who think that stopping a dictator is the
appropriate course of action. In any event, the incredible publicity
surrounding my remarks has focused our government's attention on a growing
problem which has been largely ignored.


The Christian Broadcasting Network
Website - www.cbn.com <http://www.cbn.com/>
The 700 Club Prayer Counseling Center - 1-800-759-0700

[ultraist]

1. What a lame, stock, damage control email.

In any event, the incredible publicity
surrounding my remarks has focused our government's attention on a growing problem which has been largely ignored.
WTF? He's one arrogant SOB, isn't he?

[hobbit709]

2. Danger to the US

What a joke. Even his explanation is sanctimonious and full of lies.

[ET Awful]

3. Out of control dictator?

Funny, I thought he was democratically elected twice.

[smoogatz]

4. "The out-of-control dictator of Venezuela"

So many lies. Robertson is pathological. A "popular coup?" What a crock of shit. They're trying to set the stage for invasion.

[shadowlight]

5. out-of-control dictator??n/t

[jilln]

6. I like this part:

"If I see a madman driving a car into a group of innocent bystanders,
then I can't, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe and then
comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the
steering wheel out of the hands of the driver."

Because all of us non-Christians would just let the madman drive into them, right? Christians have the monopoly on human decency.

[BR_Parkway]

7. But if you see a madman killing 1,000's of people in Iraq, you cheer

him on? Square that one Mr Christian.

[zbdent]

12. And when PR tried to grab the wheel,

W threw him out of the car . . .

[readmylips]

8. fok...Jesus died and left robertson in charge.....

Right! President Chavez needs use American patriot laws to file international terrorist criminal charges against Robertson, and have been banned from ever entering any South American country. Robertson is a terrorist and should be placed on the no-fly list, and ground his private jet from landing any where in the world. That will fix his potty mouth and shame evangelical little bush.

[Generic Other]

9. Great confession and apology

Better keep that one because this time next year he'll be denying he ever said any of it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. BUSH="Out-of-control dictator"

Damn Pat...wake the hell up!

[BrotherBuzz]

11. Mission Accomplished!

Pat Robertson throws out the 'assassination' word to put the story above the fold, then retracts the claim, or whatever he did, then continues to vilify the enemy as per Bushco's request. Rove et al are smiling because Pat Robertson has delivered the fundy base to this adminstration by doing its bidding. Make no mistake about it, this stunt was well planned and orchestrated and the white-wing fundies now believe a democratically elected Socialist president is nothing but a tinhorn despot.

I think Leo Strauss would be smiling, too.

[Joanne98]

13. Hugo Chavez is not a dictator.