Pat Robertson Still Invited to Inauguration

This is lame.

A spokesman for Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell says McDonnell disagrees with remarks by his longtime friend Pat Robertson about the recent Haiti earthquake, but Robertson remains invited to McDonnell's Saturday Inauguration.

Not only should Robertson be uninvited to the Inauguration, but Bob McDonnell should return any contributions he's received from "pact with the devil" man. In addition to being the right thing to do from a moral perspective - what Robertson said is deeply offensive - it would also be a smart move politically, demonstrating that McDonnell perhaps isn't Robertson's "Manchurian Candidate" after all. On the other hand, McDonnell has been closely tied to Robertson since the 1980s and they share much of the same worldview, so although McDonnell claims to "disagree" with Robertson on this one, it's apparently not very strong or heartfelt disagreement. Of course, McDonnell didn't break ties with Robertson when he said the following things either:

*"Just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different. It is the same thing. It is happening all over again. It is the Democratic Congress, the liberal-based media and the homosexuals who want to destroy the Christians."

*"I would warn Orlando that you're right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if I were you, This is not a message of hate -- this is a message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs; it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor."

*"(T)he feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."

*"I know this is painful for the ladies to hear, but if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband. Christ is the head of the household and the husband is the head of the wife, and that's the way it is, period."

*"Maybe we need a very small nuke thrown off on Foggy Bottom to shake things up"

If none of Robertson's previous hateful insanity bothered Bob McDonnell, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Robertson's latest hateful insanity wouldn't bother him either. Wonderful.

Bob McDonnell Disagrees With Pat Robertson on Haiti

Well, it appears our Governor-elect isn't Pat Robertson-level crazy after all.

Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell said in a brief interview today that he hasn't seen religious broadcaster Pat Robertson's comments on Haiti directly, "but from what I know of them, I disagree with those comments."

[...]

The governor-elect said: "My heart goes out to the people of Haiti. The scope of the devastation and the hardship on the people and the scope of the death toll is just heartbreaking."

He called on Virginians and Americans to help the people of Haiti.

Good idea, I couldn't agree more. Also, I'm ecstatic to learn that the governor-elect of my state isn't an off-the-deep-end, cuckoo-for-Cocoa-Puffs looneytune like his former mentor. Phew, what a relief! :)

Bob McDonnell Refuses to Disavow Pat Robertson's Bigotry

Not surprising, but still pathetic.

Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell on Wednesday would not disavow Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson’s recent claim that Islam is not a religion, but “a violent political system.”

[...]

“I’ve got probably 15,000 donors to the campaign and I can’t stand and defend or support every comment that any donor might make,” McDonnell said in response to a question from CNN at the Republican Governors Association annual meeting near Austin. “I think people are entitled under the First Amendment to express whatever opinions that they may have, but I can only say that as governor of Virginia, I intend to have an inclusive administration where we bring people across the political and religious system to help us govern.”

Robertson made the comments on his show on November 9 after the shooting rampage at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas. The suspected gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, is a Muslim who was critical of U.S. military activity in Iraq and Afghanistan

“Islam is a violent, I was going to say religion, but it's not a religion. It's a political system,” Robertson said. “It's a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination. That is the ultimate aim.”

When asked if he believes Islam is “a violent political system,” McDonnell said no, but he did not condemn Robertson.

Man, this is going to be a loooooooong 4 years.