Why do we condemn Islamic fundamentalists for saying Americans should die – yet Pat Robertson can say whatever he wants without condemnation from the governement?
Robertson, a one-time candidate for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, also blasted U.S. authorities for failing to provide enough support for opposition leaders when Chavez was briefly overthrown in a failed coup in 2002.
Chavez has said he believes the United States is trying to assassinate him. The United States has denied such allegations.
In Caracas, legislator Desire Santos Amaral said Robertson’s comments outraged her, adding: “This man cannot be a true Christian.”
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said Venezuela would be watching how Washington responds to Robertson’s comments.
“The ball is in the U.S. court, after this criminal statement by a citizen of that country,” Rangel told reporters. “It’s huge hypocrisy to maintain this discourse against terrorism and at the same time, in the heart of that country, there are entirely terrorist statements like those.”
The State Department quickly distanced itself from Robertson’s comments.
“We do not share his view, and his comments are inappropriate,” spokesman Sean McCormack said.
“Our department doesn’t do that kind of thing. It’s against the law. He’s a private citizen,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday of Robertson. “Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time.”
Oh yes, we are the United States of America – and his right to say whatever he feels is right, also gives me the right to say “Shut up Robertson and quit making us look like idiots.”
