Yesterday, televangelist Pat Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (video link), describing him as a “terrific danger” to the United States that destroyed the Venezuelan economy and is making Venezuela into “a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism.” The United States government, despite a roll in aiding opposition movements in Venezuela, quickly dismissed Robertson’s call via Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld who said that the United States does not do assassinations and the State Department who issued a statement that Robertson’s views do not reflect US policy. In response to a fair amount of outrage regarding the comment, Robertson apologized earlier today claiming that he was simply misunderstood and that he did not call specifically for Chavez’s assassination. On today’s broadcast of Robertson’s 700 Club, Robertson claimed that he did not say “assassination” although Media Matters has pointed out that Robertson clearly lied when making that statement. Robertson has since backed off claims that he did not say “assassinate” and has said that the comments were “adlibbed” out of frustration.
Robertson, who founded the Christian Coalition of America and serves as chairperson of the Christian Broadcast Network, is extremely influential among conservative Christian and has close ties to the Bush administration and is credited with helping Bush win the Republican nomination in 2000. Robertson has a history of making controversial and offensive statements, including a famous exchange in which Robertson and Jerry Falwell blamed 9/11 on “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians” who are trying to secularize the United States. Robertson has also compared Muslims to Hitler and described them as “apes and pigs.”
However, more disturbing than Robertson’s previous statements, is the political context into which the comments fit. The United States has openly voiced criticism of Chavez and has worked to defeat Chavez by funding opposition groups and accusing Chavez of funding Colombia’s FARC gureilla movement. The media has largely reported the position of the US government, ignoring Chavez's popularity, and has recently begun portray Chavez as similar to former Panamanian President Manuel Noriega.
For more on the relationship between Venezuela and the United States, consult Z Net’s Venezuela Watch.
