Pat Robertson: Haiti Deserved It.

Filed in National by on January 13, 2010

The relevant portion starts at the 6:00 minute mark.

Here is the a transcript if you can’t bare to watch:

Pat Robertson: “When these disasters strike, we are there to help the people. And you know… Christy… something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it, they [Haitians] were under the heel of the French and uh you know, Napoleon the third or whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the Devil and they said we will serve you if you get us free from the French. True story. 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 Hispanola is one island, cut down the middle, on one side is Haiti and on the other is the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have a great turning to God.

Whew. I need a shower. What is with Pat Robertson and always saying victims deserved their tragedies. Whether it be hurricanes, terrorist attacks like 9/11 or earthquakes, the victims are somehow the perpetrator, according to the oh so Christian Pat Robertson.

Now, I am not even going to touch Pat Robertson’s fictional recounting of the Haitian Revolution. You can read the truth of what happened if you want, and needless to say, the Devil was not involved, and he surely was not quoted about any deal making. But the religious demographic is of importance:

Haiti is a largely Christian country, with Roman Catholicism professed by 80% of Haitians. Protestants make up about 16% of the population. Haitian Vodou, a New World Afro-diasporic faith unique to the country, is practiced by an undetermined percentage of the population. Religious practice often spans Haiti and its diaspora as those who have migrated interact through religion with family in Haiti.

Haiti is 80% Roman Catholic. I wonder if Pat Robertson is a bigot towards Catholics. Perhaps like his brethren at the Westboro Baptist Church. Evangelical Protestantism does have a history of not liking us Catholics all that much. Perhaps that is why Robertson thinks the Haitians made a pact with the Devil. Or perhaps he thinks all Haitians practice Haitian Vodou, which would be a stereotypical and bigoted way to look at Haiti. Regardless, according to Pat Robertson, victims deserve their fate always, for surely they did something to deserve. And that way of thinking is identical to those who think women deserved to be raped.

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  1. Population Of Haiti | AXI | January 13, 2010
  2. Pat Robertson: “Pact At The Devil” » Right Juris | January 13, 2010
  3. Pat Robertson | January 13, 2010
  1. Pat Robertson is a monster.

    Here’s what Rush Limbaugh said:

    Obama will use Haiti to boost credibility with “light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country”

    Has conservatism turned into opposing anything that liberals support?

  2. pandora says:

    You do realize that if “Christians” got their way and woke up tomorrow to a world made up of 100% Christians, their first act would be to decide who were the “real” Christians.

  3. Delaware Dem says:

    I think Obama is pretty fine with the black community in this country regardless of Haiti. Obama will help Haiti because Haiti is full of human beings who are suffering due to a tragedy and need help, and because he is the President of a pretty rich and powerful country that can and will help.

    Oppose that, conservatives, if you want, but it will mean you are no longer human beings.

  4. Delaware Dem says:

    Pandora, as I pointed out, Haiti is an overwhelming Christian country, even more so than the United States. So Pat Robertson is already deciding who is more Christian with his comments on Haiti.

  5. So Haiti should have stayed as a colony of France and they’d be o.k. now is that what he’s saying?

  6. anon says:

    I hope Obama boosts his credibility with everyone by helping Haiti.

  7. mr x says:

    Napoleon the Third? This man knows nothing of history, either. Moreover, the Dominican Republic has been ranked in recent times as either the second or third poorest country in the Americas (Nicaragua usually ranks second or third also).

  8. A. price says:

    the sad thing is, Rush can say shit like that and his millions of mindless sheep agree with it. I bet the Joe WIllsons and Jim Demints will start standing in the way of help for Haiti. Conservatives are disgusting human beings.

  9. Delaware Dem says:

    I have been trying to find any historical support for Pat Robertson’s account of the Haitian Revolution, and I have to conclude that Pat’s source must be the Devil himself, since they are such close personal friends.

  10. MJ says:

    I just saw this on the NY Times. Just simply amazing and sick. Robertson is much more than evil, he’s Amolek.

  11. A. price says:

    He’ll be surprised to see his friend Jerry Foul-well when he gets to hell.

  12. H says:

    Is it any coincidence that his initials are PR? No such thing as publicity if you’re a PR. What a moronic and evil windbag of scum he is and a great day for the planet when he is no longer on it.

  13. Jim says:

    I’m not sure how legitimate these sources are, but Robertson is obviously pointing to the historical origins of Haiti;

    “A man named Boukman, another houngan, organized on August 14, 1791, a meeting with the slaves in the mountains of the North. This meeting took the form of a Voodoo ceremony in the Bois Caiman in the northern mountains of the island. It was raining and the sky was raging with clouds; the slaves then started confessing their resentment of their condition. A woman started dancing languorously in the crowd, taken by the spirits of the loas. With a knife in her hand, she cut the throat of a pig and distributed the blood to all the participants of the meeting who swore to kill all the whites on the island. On August 22, 1791, the blacks of the North entered into a rebellion, killing all the whites they met and setting the plantations of the colony on fire.”

    http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/haiti2004/history.htm

    and this;

    http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/history/revolution/caiman.htm

    I don’t agree with Robertsons assessment but it is obvious as to what historical information he is basing his opinion on. From a theological standpoint, Robertson’s opinion is also biblically based based upon the following;

    (Exodus 20:5) – “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”
    (Deuteronomy 5:9) – “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”
    (Exodus 34:6-7) – “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

    I don’t agree with Robertson’s judgment(there are a couple of contradicting verses as well Deu: 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20) but it is clear he’s not forming an opinion out of thin air. Let me make it clear, I do not agree with what Robertson has said but I do understand, however unpopular it is, how he formed his opinion).

  14. pandora says:

    Shep Smith weighs in on Robertson.

    After showing the Robertson clip, here is what he said:

    “The people of Haiti have been used and abused by their government over the years. They have dealt with unthinkable tragedy day in and day out. And we’re in the middle of a crisis the Western Hemisphere has not seen in my lifetime, and 700 miles east of Miami, hundreds of thousands of desperate human beings need our help, our support, our money, and our love. And they don’t need that.”

  15. Ayiti Cherie says:

    Haiti is suffering a catastrophe and he offers silliness at best and racism at the worst. Haiti was the first island in the western hemisphere to overthrow slavery and white oppression – this is what you call a pact with the devil? God’s heart is breaking with this tragedy, and ours should be too. You never had much credibility – but now it is all gone.

  16. anonone says:

    Hey U.B. Nuts:

    Voodoo dolls are no different than rosary beads and crucifixes.

  17. Delaware Dem says:

    I have banned that commenter,IB Wright, for outright racism. But your point is apt, Anonone.

  18. A. price says:

    Shepard Smith has proven over and over that he is the only decent human being on Fox.

  19. Delaware Dem says:

    This post has somehow gone national, and is showing up as the #5 result for “Pat Robertson Haiti.” So we are getting a lot of racist Republicans coming out the woodwork. And racist comments are bannable and deletable.

  20. pandora says:

    So… we should buckle up?

  21. A. price says:

    DD< let them show who they are. they can reveal themselves for the scumbuckets they really are

  22. A. price says:

    BRING. IT. ON. TEABAGGERS!

  23. Pat Robertson is saying Haiti would be o.k. if they stayed slaves. Pat Robertson is a scumbag. He’s basically saying that people are responsible for the sins of their ancestors and the sins of others, and that they deserved it.

  24. Delaware Dem says:

    @Pandora….yes.
    @A Price….perhaps you are right, I will not delete any further comment, but I will ban.

  25. A. price says:

    the sad part is, he has tons of scumbag followers who think he is some sort of kind godly prophet. he is the reason people like me say disparaging things about american christians.

  26. Good post by Adam Serwer at TAPPED, “Pat Robertson, At The Intersection Of Fundamentalism And White Supremacy.”

    In other words, the people who live in Haiti today are being punished by G-d with an earthquake for their ancestors having had the audacity to rebel against the benevolent white man and throw of the shackles of slavery, a task for which these savage wretches must have had supernatural assistance from the devil. I suppose it doesn’t occur to Robertson that it might have been the French on the wrong side, because nothing says “Satan” like a black person not confined to chattel slavery. Robertson knows all this this is a “true story” because of his unrivaled knowledge of Haitian history, just like he knows it was “Napoleon III or whatever” they were fighting. (Sorry, Pat — it was Napoleon Bonaparte. Toussaint Louverture was a badass.)

    Times like this I’m reminded of this Frederick Douglass quote:

    Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest, possible difference–so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels.

  27. pandora says:

    Narrow your brush, a. price, it’s too broad.

  28. Pat Robertson, Supreme Scumbag and King of the Douchenozzles, was actually trying to raise money for his charity. What help was he planning on giving Haiti, perhaps putting them back into slavery?

  29. Delaware Dem says:

    By the way, Pat Robertson has not apologized, and has doubled down on his comments by insisting there was a “pact with the devil” and that indeed the Haitians deserved their fate. Hahahaha.

    I really wish I could be there when the Radical Cleric meets his maker. The look on his face when he realizes his maker is not God will be priceless.

  30. A. price says:

    i know it is a small minority who actually think like him. but i dont feel enough people outrightly denounce him. i think too many people see him as a passionate clergyman who sometimes lets his rhetoric get out of control, rather than a hate filled bigot who’s very existence contradicts everything Jesus taught.

  31. Quoteburg says:

    Pat should listen to the one he claims is his Lord:

    There were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

    Although the better part of me wishes Pat’d just learn to keep quiet, I would love to know his basis for the claim about a demonic pact. I mean, he must have read this somewhere, right? It can’t just be something he pulled out of thin air… surely? I find it hard to understand how people like his co-host can sit there without saying, “When you say ‘that’s a fact’, Pat, could you share your sources? Or are you just making up crazy garbage again?”

  32. Delaware Dem says:

    We would all be better off if those who claim to speak for Christ actually followed His teachings.

  33. A. price says:

    unfortunately, a lot of these evangelical leaders dont care about the teachings. they care about manipulating scripture to justify their hate.

  34. Quoteburg says:

    Just to add: the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince is among the dead, and the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince was among the buildings destroyed.

  35. Delaware Dem says:

    Someone out there, riffing off Pat Robertson, said that if God smote Haiti, He sure has bad aim.

  36. So far, no one on Fox except for Sheperd Smith had expressed any outrage at Robertson’s comments.

    Scumbags are out in full force tonight. There’s now a petition:

    The recent earthquake in Haiti is a tragic situation that has touched America’s heart. However, America must be careful to avoid losing its head and making a bad situation even worse.

    The National Alliance for Liberty and Freedom, a coalition of national libertarian, tea party, objectivist, and Ayn Rand groups hereby demands that no public funds should be spent on any disaster relief.

    Certainly, if private citizens want to donate money that is an individual decision that they will freely make, and we cannot – nor would we seek to – prevent those citizens from deciding where to spend their money.

    However, public funds are entirely different and should not be spent in this matter.

    The main reason is simple: those funds are not the U.S. government’s to begin with. Any money that the U.S. government would give would have been stolen – under threat of force – from U.S. citizens.

  37. pandora says:

    It is beyond my comprehension how any group could think about money at a time like this. Shame on them.

  38. Still trying to understand Pat Robertson logic: God kills people in Haiti for something that happened 200 years ago, so the survivors should go worship the God that just killed their friends and family?

  39. jason330 says:

    Haiti did make a deal with the devil. The devil was the United States of America.
    http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/13/haitis-real-deal-wit.html

  40. Delaware Dem says:

    @UI…. He is proposing a very abusive relationship, no?

  41. anonone says:

    Jason is back after a good nights rest!

  42. Kelly says:

    @Unstable Isotope – I was shocked about the petition, but is this legit or made up to discredit those groups mentioned?
    I looked at the signature page and they are pretty much b.s..
    http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?nohaiti&1

    At the bottom of the page, it has:
    “The U.S. Should Not Help Haiti Earthquake Victims Petition to U.S. Congress, President Obama was created by National Alliance for Liberty and Freedom, a coalition of national libertarian, tea party, objectivist, and Ayn Rand groups and written by Glenn Adamson (glennadamson78@yahoo.com).”

    I did a Google Search for “National Alliance for Liberty and Freedom,” and only got THREE hits: The petition, this site, a Tweet and http://otherspoon.blogspot.com/2010/01/evil-petition-to-obama-saying-haitians.html.

    So, is this really legit or someone’s sick joke??

  43. Delaware Dem says:

    Given that info, Kelly, it might be a sick joke or a sick loner who is serious. It doesn’t sound like an established organization, this National Alliance for Liberty and Freedom.

    But what does it say about our reality and the current state of conservatives in this country that it sounded completely legit?

  44. MJ says:

    Apologize for reposting this info – you can make a donation to the Red Cross by texting “HAITI” to 90999 or you can send donations to the Institute of the Black World (I heard Dr. Daniels this afternoon on the Mark Thompson show on XM 167 – America Left radio) by going to http://www.ibw21.org/quakecontributions.html.

  45. Kelly says:

    @Delaware Dem – it is very sad that a minority of extremists on either side distorts our perceptions of the whole.
    I wonder if it would be silly to email the person listed as the creator of the petition?
    {sigh}

  46. MJ says:

    Go Keith Olberman – he just smacked down both Limbaugh and Robertson.

  47. A. price says:

    not hard to do. all you have to do with those pieces of filth is just play their comments back at them. the garbage they spew is so horrible, it speaks for itself. that said, go keith.

  48. ray k says:

    Haiti was the second independent republic in the new world after us, but the first to outlaw slavery, the southern baptist christian fringe has hated the place ever since. those that don,t know history are doomed to repeat tenth grade!

  49. anonone says:

    “The U.S. Should Not Help Haiti Earthquake Victims Petition to U.S. Congress…” is consistent with the Libertarian “tough luck, you’re on your own” and “no foreign aid” stances of Libertarianism, so my guess is that it is real.

    Nobody should be surprised at it.

  50. Haitian Ambassador to the U.S. Joseph schools Pat Robertson on the history of Haiti.

    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

  51. A. price says:

    i think ol’ pat needs some WBC treatment. you ok with that anonone?

  52. jason330 says:

    You hold Robertson’s mouth open Pricey, and I’ll welcome him to Delaware.

  53. anonone says:

    Sorry, a.price, but I ain’t going there.

  54. A. price says:

    sounds good to me jason.

  55. anonone says:

    “It is not what goes into the mouth that makes a person unclean. It is what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean.”

    Matthew 15:11

    Even an old atheist can quote scripture sometimes.

  56. A. price says:

    i dont think pat really knows much about the parts of the Bible that dont qualify his hate.

  57. Dominican says:

    Wait, so we are a prosperous nation?
    That is bullshit, this guy needs to repeat high school, because he doesn’t know anything about History and economy.

    The sad thing is that he is not the only one that thinks like that, on my way to work a man said Haitians should be pitied, because their pact with the devil is what causes all their pain and suffering
    Listeing to that guy made feel bad, since I can’t belive a fellow dominican thinks like that, but this guy is MUCH worse…

  58. A. price says:

    dont worry dominican. Pat Fuckerson doesnt speak for most americans. In fact, given the chance most of us would kick him square in the nuts. I hope you and anyone you know that was effected by this disaster recovers quickly and my prayers are with you.

  59. anonone says:

    Do you pray before, after, or during kicking people “square in the nuts?” Just curious.

  60. A. price says:

    anonone, take a break from your soap box. your zealous defense of non violence make it sound like you want to give pat robertson a pass. I didnt say i was gonna kill him, i didnt say i was gonna permanently damage him. there are such things a complex views. like, i hope the innocent people effected by the earthquake can rebuild their lives and move on. i hope right wing ass holes like pat robertson are in some way “rewarded” for their souless comments.

  61. mot says:

    Nice to see all you commenters defending the poor and destitute Haitian people from the evil Pat Robertsons comments when the rest of the 364 days of this past year you could’nt give a shit. Pat Robertson isn’t the only hypocrite in this glass house.

  62. Julia says:

    I hope this is the nail in the coffin for Pat. Haiti is poor because of Western imperialism and the USA tampering with its economy. The reason why the Dominican Republic is fairly well-off is because they’ve had leftist presidents in their recent history. What an idiot.

  63. A. price says:

    mot, people like Pat get their fair drubbing here quite a bit. His comments this time were extra evil which is why, i assume he got his own thread. I DO hope everyone who said (rightfully) how much of a worm he is, also donated to the relief effort.

  64. In perspective says:

    One thing that should be realized is that Pat Robertson knows how to rally his audience to donate money.

    I say if he raises enough money to pull even one more person out of the rubble, I think the way he raises the money from is secondary to the fact that he is indeed raising money.

    His comments have been taken out of context. If the man truly thought that his God was punishing the country of Haiti I’m pretty sure he would not be trying to raise money for them.

  65. A. price says:

    there is no perspective. he said that over 100k people deserved to die because of a made up “pact with satan” he will only use any money raised for his own ends. he is an evil force. dont defend this piece of crap.

  66. In perspective says:

    A. Price – So you honestly think that people would let someone as hated as robertson steal money that was given to charity? Fat chance of that.

  67. OL' PAT says:

    So people think that Pat Robertson hates the people of Haiti? That is why he is trying to raise money for them. Makes sense if you hate any conservative or christian without reason.

    Nowadays people think that saying some kind of behavior is wrong is is some how hate?

    Assuming that there actually is a right and a wrong, does anybody here believe that there are consequences to morally wrong actions?

  68. I think Pat Robertson is indifferent to the people of Haiti.

    I’m curious how much money from Pat Robertson’s charity actually goes to charity and how much goes to lining Pat Robertson’s pockets.

  69. liberalgeek says:

    The question is, how much of that relief money is actually money for evangelism. What must Haitians do to get some of Pat’s hate money?

  70. Hmm, trying to decide where to donate $$’s for Haitian relief. Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, or Pat Robertson? Which of those three is not like the others?

    Also, just wondering. Since such a large proportion of Haitians are Catholics, what exactly is the Vatican doing? Sell a painting, save thousands? I’d like to think so…

    BTW, we as a family decided to give to Doctors Without Borders since saving lives is the primary task at the moment.

  71. A. price says:

    Ol pat and Perspective are the folks i am talking about who have actually been fooled into thinking robertson is a good person.
    What if one of you suffered a horrible tragic event and some holier than thou profit….. i mean prophet told the world FALSELY that it was god punishing you for a pact with the devil made years ago by your ancestors…. agiain falsely. He is insinuating that god WANTED france to keep Haiti enslaved.
    to answer your question… yes i think most of the money is kept by Pat and his 700 club. He is like Glenn Beck. He appeals to people’s faith, and darker angels at the same time and bilks them out of money and stokes the fires of hatred. Shame on you for thinking he is anything different.

  72. A. price says:

    “Assuming that there actually is a right and a wrong, does anybody here believe that there are consequences to morally wrong actions?”

    i wish i thought you were talking about consequences for Pat Robertson’s sins, but please tell me you do’nt consider this earthquake some fort of retribution. only someone who has never really known pain can make a comment like that

  73. There’s so many things to be offended about in Robertson’s statement:
    – Haitians would have been better off staying slaves of the French
    – Haitians couldn’t possibly have won against the French without making a pact with a demon.
    – God is cruel and capricious who kills people at whim to punish other people

    I don’t want any part of the religion that Pat Robertson is teaching.

  74. “Assuming that there actually is a right and a wrong, does anybody here believe that there are consequences to morally wrong actions?”

    Since Pat Robertson isn’t struck by lightning when he says such terrible things is proof that there probably isn’t a lot of consequences.

  75. just kiddin says:

    google: the religion of Haiti. 95% are catholics.

  76. Kurward Derby says:

    Stolen from Matt Yglesias’s comments:

    “Ladies and gentlemen, the second-place Republican finisher in the 1988 Iowa caucuses!”

  77. anonone says:

    Actually, Pat is pretty much accurately describing the typical behavior of the God of the Old and New Testaments. Noah’s Ark was worse. Think about it.

  78. anon says:

    If the God of the Old Testament was around, the waters of the Persian Gulf would have drowned us all as we landed in Iraq.

  79. a.price says:

    And that is all myth and legend to get people to follow the rules. Most humans need fear of extermination in order to not be dicks to each other.
    All of the rules about food, sex, selling your wife, the correct name to call whatever you pray to…. that was either stolen from existing faiths, or thrown in there by guys who thought queers were gross, each other’s daughters were hot, and pork tasted bad.
    the sad part is, so many religious leaders focus on single lines of scripture instead of vast messages. But that is nothing new. Pat Robertson is a horrible person.

    Anon, that is actually not accurate. TECHNICALLY we were acting, in part in defense of Israel. according to the “old testament” (actually called the Tanakh) that vengeful, mean, spiteful, jealous creator always has the Jew’s back. My ancestors were wrong about God and committed some pretty horrible Taliban/Crusade like acts themselves under the banner of that belief.
    Pat Robertson is a horrible person.

  80. anon says:

    that vengeful, mean, spiteful, jealous creator always has the Jew’s back

    Good point. Maybe we are the flood.

  81. a.price says:

    You misquoted me. before that, i said it was all myth and after it i said it was wrong. dont be like Glenn Beck. it is a nasty shade of slime

  82. Lizard says:

    1.7 Billion Reasons to Defend Pat Robertson
    Christian Newswire ^ | 1/13/10 | Gary L. Cass, Christian Anti-Defamation Commission

    …What the Robertson bashers left out is that finally, and with great compassion and concern in his voice, Pat said, “They need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God and out of this tragedy I am optimistic that some good thing may come, but right now we are helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable.”

    Agree or disagree with what Pat said, it was well within the bounds of historic Christian theology. Maybe that’s the real problem after all.

    Man is offended by the fact that he is not God. They resent God’s Providence. A simple reading of the Bible shows how God uses natural disasters to further his purposes. Earthquakes, floods, famine, locusts, etc. they’re all there, but man hates it. Rather than humbly acknowledging that God’s ways are not our ways, man rails against and accuses God. The last thing they will do is cry out for his mercy in Jesus Christ.

    So Pat is an easy target. But before you judge him perhaps you ought to know that the whole time he was making these comments they had the number on their screen for their viewers to give to their humanitarian relief organization Operation Blessing. OB has already been at work in Haiti long before the earthquake.

    Operation Blessing has touched the lives of more than 209.3 million people in 105 countries and all 50 states, providing goods and services valued at more than $1.7 billion. So, once you have surpassed that, then you will be in a better place to judge Pat Robertson. In the meantime, let’s do what Pat is doing and bless the poor people of Haiti.

  83. John K. says:

    Unstable Isotope – it may not be politically correct to say it, but Haiti probably would be better off today if it hadn’t won independence so early. Going straight from slavery to independence meant that Haiti was completely cut off from the rest of the world for decades, and during that time its economy collapsed and nothing resembling democracy ever took root. This is NOT to blame the Haitians themselves for their own condition; it was only natural for them to want their freedom. But it’s a shame that the island couldn’t have built up a democratic tradition and more of an infrastructure before it gained independence, as most of the rest of the Caribbean nations did. Ironically, Toussaint L’Ouverture never actually called for Haitian independence, just a kind of self-government within French auspices, but the French sent him to an icy death anyway – and then watched as Jean-Jacques Dessalines took things much further.

    (BTW, regarding religious statistics, the most recent data suggest that evangelical Protestants have soared in number in recent years, and now make up around 30% of Haiti’s population. These people are adamantly opposed to voodoo. Robertson might have wanted to pay closer attention to the facts on the ground.)

  84. Perry says:

    “Blessing the poor people of Haiti” will not help them one bit right now. We who are rational know exactly what they need, and I am proud that we are going all out to help, as a government and as individuals.

    And UI, I have never seen the Frederick Douglas piece that you quoted here. That’s a good one!

  85. Kelly says:

    It is a fact that Hati is steeped in Voodoo, and Pat did not say they deserved it.

  86. pandora says:

    I wanna make a voodoo doll of Pat Robertson.

  87. Erin says:

    One thing I know for sure, it has nothing to do with racial prejudice. I live in a small town in the Bible belt, and when any tragedy here takes place, the rumblings are that the people “weren’t right with god”. When you are at the lowest point in your life, a remark will be made that somehow you brought it on yourself by not going to church or living a wicked life or not praying. Sometimes I even doubt myself and wonder did I bring on all the tragedy in my life. Fundamentalists have an answer for everything. Living a decent life and trying to help others is not enough. Many believe that any prayer will be answered as long as you are “right with god”. These remarks sometimes break people and in the midst of their grief, more grief heaped on them. I will never understand why innocent people have to suffer–never.

  88. Maiden Auntie says:

    There isn’t anything to convince me that suffering of any kind has anything to do with not being “right with God.” Who sets the standards for that? What are the criteria for being able to claim “rightness with God”? How do we know the nature of God, if, indeed, God exists? Why do some people believe that, whatever God is, they have a direct hotline to God and know for certain how God operates, and so they can then impose it on the rest of us poor unfortunates who are out of the loop? I don’t know what the answers are, if there are any. I used to think I had all the answers. Now all I have are questions. But I bet that Pat Robertson can answer some of them to his own satisfaction!

  89. Psage7 says:

    Fist I think some of you have so much hate for the right that it clouds your judgement. And hey wow on the hate comming off this site.
    Second, No one can be right with G-d, It is not through works that we are saved that any man should bost. But through the Sacrafice of Chirst. We can not do works and earn G-ds love. We have that unconditionally. Many of you are right on a couple points. Pat chose his words poorly. But again I do not think he is as evil as you are saying. Some of you need to look to the hate in your own hearts.

    Third, The left and the right have some people that are so far out there that the center seems like it is now the enemy and way to conservative or liberal. People need to take a step back and see the center and find out how far left or right they have moved and come back to the middle a little and relize that the other side is not evil just different and that our arguments are not what is most important but allowing each other the right to live in peace and not try to force them to accept our way of thinking. I live by my beliefs that does not mean you have to live by them as well but we must find a way for the whole Country to find a happy middle.

    Phillip Sage 1/16/2010
    PS; I am an Independent Have a great day.

  90. michael howard says:

    robertson is only brilliant at fraud and getting attention, specialized in saying shocking things, basically about how the devil will get you if you don’t give money.

    doesn’t deserve any attention really

  91. A. price says:

    ” Pat chose his words poorly. But again I do not think he is as evil as you are saying. Some of you need to look to the hate in your own hearts.”

    remember how i talked about the people who think pat is”a good man who sometimes lets his passion for jesus inflame his rhetoric? psage7, That he could make a statement like that proves what is in his heart is evil. what other possible words could he have used to make that thought any less horrible? there was no “pact with the devil” and to say something like that while good people were probably still buried in rubble bleeding to death…….. totally inexcusable. And it isnt the first time he has made comments like that. HIs entire belief in God revolves around the fact that he thinks god HATES most of the population of the planet. how is that christian? how is that humane? how is that anything other than the definition of evil?

  92. A. price says:

    i agree with you, michael as far as he is only in it for the money. but he has so many followers who believe his evil lies that he really DOES have to be called out and revealed.

  93. We have had several earthquakes here in America,l wonder what
    pact and with whom the natives made them for us and our children
    to enjoy.

  94. Isn’t it funny someone says “I’m an independent…” right before they spew rightwing B.S.?

  95. I live in the Dominican Republic so I can talk facts, not like most of you that only know the media’s part of the story. First off Haiti DOES practice Voodoo and I have met Haitians who use it. Here we treat Haitians good because they build here, so all that bull shit that France said of us treating them bad is BULLSHIT, they took all Haiti’s resources and it’s their problem and they want to make it ours. Haitians have killed a lot of Dominicans here like my grandpa, her Haitian worker along with her boyfriend killed him for his pocket money( I hope she got squashed and suffered a long horrible death) and most Haitians are bad and I mean it they are a bad bad race. We Dominicans are helping Haitians but today two Dominicans were gunned down by Haitians, two Dominican helping out Haiti and we still are helping them in hospitals but we did kicked their president out of here 😀 that bastard wanted to stay here were he could have a roof and not with his country. So point is we are a good wealthy nation that have our faith in god and we are good people, Haiti killed their country’s nature, are savages that use black magic and they deserved it.

  96. Delaware Dem says:

    Daniel, to say someone deserves to die or suffer in a natural disaster because of the religion they do or do not practice is hideous and disgusting, akin to what Pat Robertson said, and akin to how Osama bin Laden and his radical brand of Islam think. I hope you enjoy that company.

  97. and to mr x I hope you die for your ignorance, all of you people who don’t live here have been writing a lot of bullshit as I can see. We are by far no the poorest country in Latin America, all Dominicans here have a good life, their well fed, have good clothing ( all Dominicans dress good and are clean) and most of all we are proud to be Dominicans and are happy, not like you North Americans (gringos, green go :O) that need to have security in your schools so a savage kid doesn’t kill everyone inside.

  98. Delaware Dem says:

    You are banned Daniel. Goodbye.

  99. A. price says:

    a teabagger by any other name.

  100. patriot69 says:

    You are very bias Delaware Dem! Give Daniel a break. He was just voicing his opinion. You did not even warn others who made very disgusting comments about Pat because you agreed with them..That’s the problem with you Americans, you all hate to hear the truth….Just read and analyze what he said in the last sentence(forget what he said in brackets…lol) and you will realize even though how sad it is it is also true! You all need to understand what Pat Robertson said instead of spinning the topic although he might not be all accurate on history but he is correct no matter how upset all might be! More will be revealed in the near future…

    Well guess you will ban me too but it doesn’t even matter cause this post is already dead!

  101. Delaware Dem says:

    I tend to not give a break to those who wish death upon others. I also am intolerant of bigots, no matter if they disguise that bigotry in religion.

    What kind of God do you believe in, Patriot? A vengeful bastard who kills children? Or a loving father who forgives all? Sounds to me that you believe in the former.

  102. Bob White says:

    Two points:

    1) Whatever you may want to say about pat Robertson’s theological reflection upon a Haitian folk tale, don’t forget that he and his organization have raised a fair amount of money and sent aid to Haiti.

    2) Del Dem, don’t you have a history of wishing death upon your political opponents because they dare to view the world differently than you and oppose your political agenda? What makes you morally superior to Daniel? What makes you fit to judge him?

  103. Delaware Dem says:

    I used hyperbole once to express my frustration of Republicans once, and I apologized for it repeatedly.

    I am morally superior to Daniel and you because I do not believe that people deserve to be killed for not following Pat Robertson’s God, who apparently takes pleasure in crushing children to death.

  104. patriot69 says:

    Anyway this is the last comment I’ll be making on this post.

    It is pointless answering your question since you are atheist and don’t understand spiritual things! Won’t cast my pearls before swine.(pls don’t blow this out of proportion)Read you Bible and the answer will be revealed. If you need help in understanding call Pat.Its ironic that you are intolerant of the very same persons that you agree with….Anyways I’m out……Have a wonderful birthday, April 1,

  105. Mark says:

    Keith Olbermann took Pat Robertson’s comments way out of context. If you watched the entirety of Pat Robertson’s comments you will know that the jist of his message, which was spoken with an obvious degree of compassion and genuine concern, was that sometimes there can be a spiritual root to a problem. It wasn’t a statement of condemnation but a call to prayer. During the course of that segment they also pleaded for people to not only pray but to help financially, as they at CBN were and had been doing for quite sometime, even before the earthquake. If anything the person who exhibited the greatest degree of insensitivity was Olbermann himself, when he delivered a very personal and cutting remark to Pat Robertson. If Pat, as a very vocal minister, thought that God was punishing the Hatians for their so called pact with the devil, why would he have chosen to send in teams of aid workers and millions of dollars, before the statement he made? Wouldn’t he be working against God? Look at the man’s whole life and ministry – not just a few stupid statements he may be prone to make from time to time. Have you ever made stupid statements? I think we’ve all suffered from foot -in- mouth disease from time to time but it’s not broadcast and if it were, we certainly wouldn’t want people to judge our whole character based on those stupid statements. And by the way, I don’t think it was God or the devil; I think it was the moving of tectonic plates below the earth but I’m not going to tear into Pat Robertson for suggesting a spiritual reason for the cause.

  106. A. price says:

    again, my point about these hate filled bigots who use their once peaceful religion to justify their bigotry is proven. Pat Robertson SHOULD be torn to pieces for his comments. He doesn’t get a free pass because he is a frail old man who claims to have faith. He is a charlatan and a bigot.
    This isn’t his only remark where he pus himself on the same level of god and pretends to know who is “saved” or not. I’ll look at his whole life and ministry mark, and it is defined by proselytizing, holier than thou claims of moral superiority and hate masked as “concern for the souls” of everyone that doesn’t agree with him.. He is Bin Laden with less weapons and no beard and that is all he is and has ever been
    Defend him all you want, it simply reveals what is in YOUR heart.

  107. jason330 says:

    Robertson and Limbaugh should be air dropped into Haiti as food.

  108. Bob White says:

    I am morally superior to Daniel and you because I do not believe that people deserve to be killed for not following Pat Robertson’s God, who apparently takes pleasure in crushing children to death.

    Where did I offer support to such patent nonsense. All I did was point out Robertson’s ACTIONS and your HYPOCRISY.

    And since the question of Olbermann has been raised, I can’t help but note his hypocrisy as well. The same guy who condemned Brit Hume for “threatening” Tiger Woods if he didn’t convert to Hume’s religion used his show to publicly damn Robertson and Limbaugh to Hell and said they should shut up if they valued their lives. Religious talk and threats of violence from a newsman on his show? I’m shocked!

  109. John Tobin says:

    So Robinson said:
    “and they got together and swore a pact to the Devil and they said we will serve you if you get us free from the French. True story. So the devil said ‘okay, it’s a deal’.”
    Just how does one secure an audience with the Devil to arrange such a pact?
    Not that I have one planned, but I am just curious how that is worked out.

  110. Pat Robertson out of context?

    Robertson apologists, please explain in what context:

    they [Haitians] were under the heel of the French and uh you know, Napoleon the third or whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the Devil and they said we will serve you if you get us free from the French. True story. So the devil said ‘okay, it’s a deal’.

    is acceptable? I’m all ears.

  111. jason330 says:

    UI,

    I’m reading Gordon Wood’s “Empire of Liberty” right now. According to Wood, the founding fathers thought that the revolution was not only political, but social. They believed that they were creating a country that would be free from the superstitions and irrationality of Europe. The notion that free Americans would ever enslave their minds by following hucksters and charlatans like Robertson would have been shocking to them.

    Early Americas took pride in their enshrinement of reason and rationality and that lasted for about 180 years. Now, to be a real American in Sarah Palin’s view – you need to take pride in your stupidity.

  112. anonone says:

    According to his autobiography, the Judeo-Christian God prefers to drown children in floods rather than crush them in earthquakes although apparently he did have his own son crucified.

    And he did say it would be fire the next time.

  113. A. price says:

    i lunatic right doesnt see the disconnect between their prophets like Rush and Pat saying hateful things about innocent people suffering hells they will never know…. and normal people calling them on those hateful things. it a shame people live in this country who would defend the fat drug addict and the false prophet bigot.

    here here jason. it is a mark of honor among the Right to be totally ignorant of all things that dont happen at either a NASCAR even or a Wall Mart

  114. anonone says:

    Pat Robertson Voodoo Doll Raises Money for Haiti Relief

    “Shopping find of the day: a Pat Robertson voodoo doll is being sold on Ebay, 100% of proceeds to benefit the Red Cross:”

    “Ever wanted to cause Pat Robertson a massive headache? give him back pain? jab him in the crotch? Of course you have! Well then BID NOW to own your very own pysical representation of the dark, dark soul of Pat Robertson.

    Accessories included with the doll are Pat’s very own “HOLY” BIBLE and BAG OF MONEY taken from real Americans! WOW!”

    http://crooksandliars.com/bluegal/pat-robertson-voodoo-doll-raises-money-ha-0

  115. Bob White says:

    Of course, Robertson’s organization was doing relief work in haiti before the earthquake — can you say the same about your involvement with that nation?

    http://www.ob.org/haitiprojects/overview.asp
    http://www.myowneyes.org/

  116. A. price says:

    keep defending your bigot for profit prophet. every bit of “charity” he does is backed up with intolerant hate speech and a remind of “what a good holy man he is!”

  117. Bob White says:

    I guess that A.price is answering my question with a resounding “No, I had no interest in helping the people of Haiti before the earthquake.”

    And by the way, I don’t have much use for Robertson’s theology. But I do think it is important to be intellectually honest and note that his actions paint a different picture than what those here want to believe.

  118. Geezer says:

    The picture they paint is of an ignorant man, brought up in the racist south and still imbued with its philosophy. It’s like the Hagees of the evangelical movement, who just love Israel — because they believe all the Jews must be gathered there before they convert or are condemned to the fiery pit. It is possible, Mr. White, to do the right thing for the wrong reason.

  119. It is possible, Mr. White, to do the right thing for the wrong reason.

    Exactly

    I don’t feel confident that aid sent to Haiti by Robertson’s organization is doing the right thing. How much of it is spent evanglizing the people and how much is spent actually helping them?

  120. A. price says:

    exactly where did i say that rob? Unlike conservatives like Pat, i dont go around bagging about by good deeds and charity. but if it will shut you up about your kindly old bigot, yes. I have and continue to participate in/donate to a few charity groups that among many other poor countries help Haiti.
    Its like i said U.I “Accept Jesus (the way pat wants you to… since most people in Haiti are Catholic) THEN we give you water. “

  121. eros says:

    I liked it much better when you deleted the BS from the right. The less of their lies we have to read, the better. They can’t think beyond their own prejudices and can’t distinguish from the lies that come from their ilk. It is much better to not have to hear their BS. I am patiently waiting for them to dwindle to nothing more than a squeak, which of course, would include one of the most bigoted, hatefull, and loud-mouthed ones, Pat Robertson.

  122. A. price says:

    i dunno eros. i think we need to honor their first amendment rights so they arent emboldened or enraged. sometimes the most damaging this you can do to a group is let them talk. and talk and talk and talk. eventually they will start saying such horrible things, they will destroy themselves. It is happening already. Palin’s rise to power and the Robertson following may seem like they are gaining power, but tis like Rome with insane leaders like Calligula and Nero. the crazies have taken over. it wont be long now.

  123. just kiddin says:

    Check the Guardian today! Both Brazil and France have lodged complaints with the State Dept. over Robert Gates turning the Haiti airport into a military zone, while hospital ships (Doctors without Borders) and others are diverted to the Dominican Republic. The RED Cross has made similar complaints. Everyone knows time is of the essence, diverting the humanitarian relief effort through the Dominican Republic is costing lives. While another 5000 troops arrive today (taking up humanitarian relief from arriving), Venezula, Nicaragua, Bolivia and other nations are worried the US will use Haiti as yet another military base in South/Centra America.

    The Senegal President just announced the willingness of Haitians to come to Senegal! Now that humanitarian.

  124. just kiddin says:

    Robertson owns diamond mines in Africa using slave labor. Does that mean he is offering humanitarian aid to Africans?

  125. Lizard says:

    Haiti’s Voodoo Priests Object to Mass Burials (fears it will cause a zombie infestation)
    Reuters ^ | Reuters

    PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Haiti’s voodoo priests are objecting to anonymous mass burials as an improper way to handle the tens of thousands of dead from the earthquake — and have taken their complaint to President Rene Preval.

    Dumping the dead in hurriedly excavated mass graves without proper rites is seen as desecration in a country where many believe in zombies — dead bodies brought back to life by supernatural forces who could persecute the living.

  126. Delaware Dem says:

    Your point, oh reptilian one? Are you somehow saying that Voodoo practitioners deserve to die in an earthquake because you think their beliefs are crazy? By the lizard, naming yourself after a coldblooded reptilian is perfect metaphor for your beliefs.

  127. Bob White says:

    Given the complaints that are being lodged against the US, I think it only appropriate for us to withdraw our personnel, material assistance, and cash, and then allow the rest of the world to pick up the slack. I’m tired of the US being expected to do the heavy lifting, while everybody else does the heavy bitchin’ about how we get the job done. Especially since none of the nations from the compassionate “Religion of Peace” have sent personnel, cash, or supplies — though the evil Zionists have.

  128. Prophet Bright says:

    Is this a forum for morons or for intelligent people having true discourse…..Let me know so I can make a meaningful contribution!

  129. liberalgeek says:

    Little bit of both, sadly. We have a lot of morons that seem to drop by.

  130. alouise says:

    Are you kidding me? Haitians got what they deserved? Does that mean that every woman/man who is raped, killed, abused is getting what they deserve? Come on Pat, wake up! WHEN (and I think it’s only a matter of time before it happens) someone shoots you, I’ll get up on my little soap-box and say “He got what he deserved.” How’s that sound to you? You’re an a**hole and I don’t know how you can call yourself a true Christian. True Christians would be helping the Haitians and not be making comments like that. That’s just a bunch of ignorance.

  131. Prophet Bright says:

    you see what I mean about morons? Alouise is just displaying it supported by Delaware Dem! See he didn’t ban him.Bozo!

  132. Prophet Bright says:

    Alouise or whatever your true name is, hiding behind this alias to call ppl names.You are actually using this forum to spread your hate and violence. Your statement about shooting is very suggestive and incites violence and as I expected is not banned by Delaware Dem. ….Correction. There’s nothing like a true christian. Either you are a christian or you’re not! You are more ignorant than the person you are alluding to.

  133. Alouise or whatever your true name is, hiding behind this alias to call ppl names.

    So says the poster “Prophet Bright”