God and Country

God's little elf is at it again. "I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it." These were Pat Robertson's remarks about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Pretty straight shooting for a Christian - unless you were to throw in any of that outdated "thou shalt not kill" nonsense.
This isn't the only recent pronouncement from the Christian Rights biggest star. Lately he's taken to asking the Lord, with the help of his Christian Broadcasting Network, to help create more vacancies on the Supreme Court. Since appointment to the highest court in our land is for life, we can only assume that Pat is calling for some smiting of our more liberal-minded Justices. Since these Left-leaning types call themselves Americans, we can only assume that the prayer is more for some kind of debilitating disease that would bring on retirement. Death and disgrace would then just be a matter of course. On ABC's "This Week," Pat described the trouble that had been stirred by those liberal types: "I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that's held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings."
So what's the big deal, free speech notwithstanding, with Doctor Robertson? One concern might be his "open line" to the White House. The Christian Coalition, which Robertson founded, is the largest grass-roots conservative organization active in US politics and handed out 70 million voter guides before the 2004 election. The Christian Coalition, from which Robertson resigned as president in 2001, lobbies Congress and the White House on moral and religious issues such as abortion, stem-cell research and the separation of church and state. One need not sniff too closely to George W. to catch a whiff of Pat.
Still, there's a bright spot - maybe even George can tell one whack-job from another. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said when asked about Robertson's comments: "Our department doesn't do that kind of thing. It's against the law. He's a private citizen. Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time." Well, I can't tell you how that soothes my mind, Rummy - I'll sleep better tonight knowing that. Right after I say my special prayers.