Pat Robertson on Haiti: Jackass, Douchebag, or Useful Idiot?

Yesterday Haiti experienced its greatest earthquake in over 200 years, with a massive loss of life - estimates range from the tens to the hundreds of thousands dead. The national government is in shambles (more so than usual) and the country is in ruins (again, not to be snarky, but more so than usual.) A country that was already one of the poorest and most miserable in the Western Hemisphere has been dealt a crushing blow.

Help is on the way. Even the blogosphere is mobilizing to provide help - see, for example, this post on the very popular Cake Wrecks site, which not only directs would-be donors to sites that can best utilize their donations, but also provides information on avoiding the inevitable scammers.

By now you've probably seen this video, or at least heard of it:



From the CBS article on this:

As Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said "well over" 100,000 people may have died in the natural disaster, Robertson took to the airwaves Wednesday on his show and said that the country has been "cursed by one thing after another" since they "swore a pact to the devil."

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about," Robertson said Tuesday.

"They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.' True story. And so the devil said, 'Ok it’s a deal.' And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got something themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another," Robertson said.

I've made my feelings about Pat Robertson known in the past - more often than I remembered:

For anyone who thinks "Intelligent Design" ISN'T religion in disguise...
November 11, 2005: Pat Robertson tell residents of Dover, PA who had just voted "Intelligent Design" proponents off the school board "If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city."

Pat Robertson Is Not A Christian
January 6, 2006: He no more speaks for Christians than Osama bin Laden speaks for Muslims. Which a lot of people would say means "He absolutely speaks for Christians." I don't even remember what brought this on.

Pat Robertson, weatherman
May 18, 2006: Pat Robertson prophetically predicts the weather for the rest of the year - and gets it wrong.

God to Pat Robertson: Can you hear Me NOW?
November 30, 2006: One of the mildest hurricane seasons in years draws to a close. But Pat Robertson had pledged to have aid ready to roll in the event of a disaster. "So we're positioning supplies in California. We've got supplies positioned in Florida. We'll have others, and, of course, we have a major presence in the Gulf right now. We're there because we feel the Lord wants us to help people. We feel it's our duty to help the poor and the needy. "


So do the people of Haiti, pact with the devil or not, qualify as the poor and needy?

In answer to the question raised by the title of this post: yes. Yes, Pat Robertson is a jackass. Yes, Pat Robertson is a douchebag. Yes, Pat Robertson is an asshole. Yes, Pat Robertson is the antithesis of a true follower of the teachings of Jesus.

And Yes, Pat Robertson is a useful idiot.

Because he is helping to channel much-needed aid to Haiti. Jackass, douchebag, and asshole, he also has an enormous network capable of raising enormous contributions very quickly - and is doing so. Unlike, say, media mogul Rush Limbaugh, who is (surprise, surprise) using this incident as an opportunity to attack Barack Obama* rather than using his immense influence over his army of devoted listeners to work for good. Pat Robertson's good deeds may not be sufficient to excuse his reprehensible comments and conduct, but he is accomplishing some good. We should all strive to accomplish at least as much.


THIS JUST IN FROM THE WORLD OF PERFORMING ARTS: For those of you in the Washington, D.C. area, please consider attending a special benefit performance of the Cheeky Monkey Sideshow:

Cheeky Monkey Sideshow's Jan 15th show @ the Palace of Wonders is now a BENEFIT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAITI!

BETTER THE DEVIL THAN PAT ROBERTSON!

The people of Haiti have suffered a devastating tragedy. Cheeky Monkey Sideshow invites you to join us for a benefit show to raise money to aid the earthquake victims.

This is an opportunity to help those in desperate need, and have a wonderful night of fun and sideshow freakery.

You want special guests? We've got special guests!

This month, we are thrilled that spectacular burlesque goddess, L'IL DUTCH is joining us again. We love this lady!

Friday, January 15th
Palace of Wonders
1210 H St., NE
Washington, DC

Show starts @ 10:00 pm

Tickets: $10 @ the door

Hope to see you there!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=236512244625

*Who is, one should note, a Wartime President; this action may constitute "Treason" by the definitions being tossed about during the previous administration.