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Pat Robertson

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File:Pat Robertson1.jpg
Robertson hosting the 700 Club

Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson (born March 22, 1930) is a Christian televangelist in the United States, and founder of the Christian Coalition. He is the host of the popular TV show The 700 Club, which airs on many religious cable channels. His strongly conservative views have made him the subject of much controversy, especially his statements in favor of the dissolution of the barrier between church and state. Robertson's net worth is between $200 million and $1 billion USD (As reported in the 2002 book called The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast). He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, but holds to a Pentecostal theology, a position which puts him at odds with many of his fellow Southern Baptists.

Life and Career

Pat Robertson was born into a wealthy Virginia family. His father, Absalom Willis Robertson, was a conservative United States senator with close ties to banking interests. Pat Robertson enrolled at Washington and Lee University in 1946, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1948 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950, Robertson served in the Korean War.

Pat Robertson was involved in a libel lawsuit with Congressman Pete McCloskey, who served with Robertson in Korea, McCloskey and other veterans had accused Robertson of having had his father pull strings to keep him from the front lines, as well as carousing with prostitutes and hassling Korean women. Robertson was promoted to first lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to the United States. Robertson received a juris doctor degree from Yale University Law School in 1955 and a master of divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary in 1959.

Robertson established the Christian Broadcast Network in 1960. It is now seen in 180 countries and broadcast in 71 languages. Robertson also founded International Family Entertainment Inc in 1990, with its main business as the Family Channel which was sold to Fox network in 1997.

Robertson founded Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1977 and serves as its chancellor. Robertson is founder and president of the American Center for Law and Justice, a public interest law firm and education group that defends the First Amendment rights of people of faith. The law firm focuses on "pro-family, pro-liberty and pro-life" cases nationwide.

Robertson was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 1988. His campaign did not last beyond the primary election. He failed to receive the party nomination, though he did win the Washington state primary.

Support for Robertson extends beyond the Christian community. In 2002, he received the State of Israel Friendship Award from the Zionist Organization of America for his consistent support for Greater Israel. In that year the Coalition for Jewish Concerns also expressed its gratitude to Robertson for "unwavering support for Israel" and "standing up to evil".

Robertson claims to have used the power of prayer to steer hurricanes away from his Virginia Beach, Virginia headquarters. He took credit for steering the course in 1985 of Hurricane Gloria, which caused millions of dollars of destruction in many states along the east coast. He made a similar claim about another destructive storm, Hurricane Felix, in 1995.

Among his more controversial statements, Robertson has described feminism as a "socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." Robertson's views mirror those of Jerry Falwell and Falwell has made frequent appearances on The 700 Club. He agreed with Jerry Falwell that the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks were caused by "pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU and the People for the American Way." Robertson later stated that he had not understood what Falwell was saying during the interview that was done through a television monitor.

In Operation Blessing International, Robertson claims to have spent $1.2 million bringing aid to refugees in Rwanda. However, critics such as Greg Palast claim the money was actually spent to bring heavy equipment for Robertson's African Development Corporation, a diamond mining operation.

In various episodes of his 700 Club program during the months of June and July 2003, Robertson repeatedly supported Liberian President Charles Taylor. Robertson accuses the U.S. State Department of giving President Bush bad advice, and of trying "as hard as they can to destabilize Liberia". Robertson has also failed to mention in his broadcasts his $8 million investment in a Liberian gold mine. Taylor has been (and had been at the time of Robertson's support) indicted by the United Nations for war crimes. Freedom Gold, the Liberian gold mine was intended to help pay for humanitarian and evangelical efforts in Liberia, according to Robertson.

Apparent nuclear threats

On his 700 Club, Pat Robertson has on two occasions suggested a nuclear attack against the United States government. In two interviews with the author of a book critical of the United States Department of State, Robertson made suggestions that the explosion of a nuclear weapon at State Department Headquarters would be good for the country.

"What we need is for somebody to place a small nuke at Foggy Bottom" Robertson said between prayers and advertisements on his nationwide television program. Foggy Bottom is the location of the State Department headquarters. Opinion is divided as to whether Robertson is seriously advocating nuclear war on the State Department, or whether the comments are simply hyperbole designed to show extreme displeasure. Regardless of the words' intent, governmental officials believe the comments to be in extremely bad taste, and have lodged official complaints against Robertson for his remarks.

Quotes by Pat Robertson

  • "The Antichrist is probably a Jew alive in Israel today."
  • "Presbyterians are the spirit of the Antichrist." (The Best Democracy Money Can Buy p.85)
  • "We're undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels to take over the country. And how dare the president of the United States say to the duly elected president of another country, 'You've got to step down,' "; (Robertson on Liberia)
  • "I have never met Taylor in my life. I don't know what he has done or hasn't done. I do know he was elected by the people, and he has maintained a relatively stable government in Liberia; and they observe the rule of law; they have a working legislature; they have courts. And though he may have certain dictatorial powers, so do most leaders in Africa," (Robertson on Liberia)
  • "If I could just get a nuclear device inside Foggy Bottom, I think that's the answer." Robertson speaking about the United States State Department, while talking with Joel Mowbray, about Mowbray's book: "Dangerous Diplomacy: How the State Department Threatens American Security" [1]

Quotes regarding Pat Robertson

  • Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy .
    • "I would say that Pat Robertson is way out on his own, in a leaking life raft, on this one." (In regards to Robertson's July 2003 support for Charles Taylor).

Writings by Pat Robertson

Honors given to Pat Robertson

  • 1975 The Distinguished Merit Citation from The National Conference of Christians and Jews.
  • 1976 Faith and Freedom Award in the field of broadcasting.
  • 1978 Department of Justice Award from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 25th FBI Vesper Service.
  • 1979 National Conference of Christians and Jews - Distinguished Merit Citation.
  • 1982 Humanitarian of the Year Food for the Hungry.
  • 1984 Man of the Year Award from the Women's National Republican Club.
  • 1984 Citation from the National Organization for the Advancement of Hispanics.
  • 1985 National Association of United Methodist Evangelists.
  • 1988 Man of the Year by Students for America.
  • 1989 Christian Broadcaster of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters.
  • 1992 One of America's 100 Cultural Elite by Newsweek Magazine.
  • 1994 Omega Fellowship Award by Food for the Hungry for Operation Blessing's fight against worldwide hunger.
  • 1994 Defender of Israel Award from the Christians' Israel Public Action Campaign for those who have made major contributions in strengthening U.S.-Israel relations.
  • 1994 John Connor Humanitarian Service Award from Operation Smile International.
  • 2000 Cross of Nails award for his vision, inspiration, and humanitarian work with The Flying Hospital
  • 2000 Yale University Most Distinguished Alumnus.
  • 2002 State of Israel Friendship Award from the Zionist Organization of America.
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