Justin's Political Corner

Pat Robertson issues an ominous warning about used clothing.

(via RWW: Robertson on CBN’s The 700 Club: “‘Demonic’ Islam Isn’t a Religion but an ‘Economic and Political System’” | Right Wing Watch)

Televangelist Pat Robertson on the 700 Club today responded to a news story about the conflict in Mali with a rant against Islam, calling the faith a “religion of chaos” that is almost “demonic” — before saying that he doesn’t consider Islam a religion at all but “an economic and political system with a religious veneer.” Robertson has previously claimed that “Islam is not a religion” but the Antichrist that is akin to Nazism and fascism.

(via Robertson Troubled that ‘Hard-Nosed’ and ‘Slatternly’ Women are Ruining Marriages | Right Wing Watch)

Televangelist Pat Robertson is dishing out more useful marital and family advice to 700 Club viewers, including one who asked how to rekindle the relationship between his parents. In a question to Robertson, “Maxim” said that he “noticed that there has been a change in my father’s behavior” as he “spends too much time at the computer playing a war game,” which is making his mom feel alone. After suggesting that Maxim bring his parents to a “romantic resort,” Robertson promptly blamed the mother.

“You know it may be your mom isn’t as sweet as you think she is, she may be hard-nosed,” Robertson said. “It’s easy to blame the mother.”

Robertson: "'Miserable' Atheists Trying to 'Steal' Christmas" | Right Wing Watch →

The “War on Christmas” has arrived and the 700 Club is doing all it can to stoke fears that Christmas may cease to exist. Host Pat Robertson warned that “the Grinch is trying to steal our holiday” as “miserable” atheists “want to steal your holiday away from you” simply because they can’t stand the joy of Christmas. “Atheists don’t like our happiness, they don’t want you to be happy, they want you to be miserable,” he said. “They’re miserable so they want you to be miserable.”

h/t: Brian Tashman at RWW

The 10 Most Dangerous Religious Right Organizations | Alternet →

The movement known as the Religious Right is the number-one threat to church-state separation in America. This collection of organizations is well funded and well organized; it uses its massive annual revenue and grassroots troops to undermine the wall of separation in communities nationwide.

1. Jerry Falwell Ministries/ Liberty University/Liberty Counsel

Revenue: $522,784,095

Although Jerry Falwell, a Religious Right icon and founder of the Moral Majority, died in 2007, his empire is going strong thanks mostly to Liberty University, a Lynchburg, Va., school now run by his son, Jerry Falwell Jr. Following in his father’s footsteps, Falwell Jr. regularly meddles in partisan politics – from local contests to presidential races. This year, he invited Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney to give Liberty’s commencement address, introducing him as “the next president of the United States.” A second Falwell son, Jonathan, is pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, a mega-church in Lynchburg. Liberty Counsel is a Religious Right legal outfit founded by Mat Staver that is now based at Liberty University, where it launches lawsuits undermining church-state separation and encourages pastors to get involved in partisan political activity.

2. Pat Robertson Empire

Revenue: $434,971,231

Known for his years of involvement in far-right politics, TV preacher Pat Robertson has forged a vast Religious Right empire anchored by the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Robertson also runs Regent University and a right-wing legal group, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). (Attorney Jay Sekulow heads ACLJ, as well as his own quasi-independent legal outfit, Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism.) CBN, which brings in the bulk of Robertson’s revenue, broadcasts far-right religious and political invective laced with attacks on church-state separation, a concept Robertson has called a “myth” and a “lie of the left.” His “700 Club” TV program is a powerful forum for the promotion of right-wing ideology and favored politicians. Robertson has been welcomed into the halls of government. The current governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, is a Regent U. graduate.

3. Focus on the Family (includes its 501(c)(4) political affiliate CitizenLink)

Revenue: $104,463,950

Fundamentalist Christian James Dobson founded Focus on the Family to offer “biblical” solutions to family problems. Dobson, a child psychologist by training, soon branched out into the dissemination of hardcore right-wing politics with an international reach. Dobson has been a major player in the halls of power in Washington, D.C., and Focus-aligned “family policy councils” pressure lawmakers and influence legislation in 36 states. In fact, the Colorado-based organization frequently plays a key role in fighting gay rights and restricting abortion at the state level. Jim Daly is now president of Focus; Dobson left the organization in 2010 but remains active on the political scene.

4. Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly Alliance Defense Fund)

Revenue: $35,145,644

The ADF may have changed its name, but it still promotes a familiar Religious Right agenda. The Arizona-based organization, which was founded by far-right TV and radio preachers, attacks church-state separation, blasts gay rights, assails reproductive freedom and seeks to saturate the public schools with its narrow version of fundamentalism. In recent years, the ADF, headed by Ed Meese acolyte Alan Sears, has worked aggressively to overturn a federal law that bars tax-exempt churches and other nonprofits from intervening in partisan elections. The group says church-state separation is not in the Constitution and calls the church-state wall “fictitious.”

5. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Lobbying Expenditures: $26,662,111

The USCCB for years has lobbied in Washington, D.C., to make the hierarchy’s ultra-conservative stands on reproductive rights, marriage, school vouchers and other public policies the law for all to follow.

6. American Family Association

Revenue: $17,955,438

Founded by the Rev. Donald Wildmon, the Tupelo, Miss.-based AFA once focused on battling “indecent” television shows. When that failed, the group branched out to advocate for standard Religious Right issues such as opposing gay rights, promoting religion in public schools and banning abortion. In recent years, AFA staffer Bryan Fischer has become notorious for making inflammatory statements. Fischer has asserted that Adolf Hitler invented church-state separation and has proposed kidnapping children being raised by same-sex couples. The AFA, designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, frequently announces boycotts of companies that don’t give in to its demands. The organization says it operates nearly 200 radio stations nationwide.

7. Family Research Council

Revenue: $14,840,036 (includes 501(c)(4) affiliate FRC Action)

This group, an offshoot of Focus on the Family, is headed by GOP operative and ex-Louisiana legislator Tony Perkins. It is now the leading Religious Right organization in Washington. Every year, FRC Action sponsors a “Values Voter Summit” to promote far-right politicians and rally Religious Right forces nationwide. The 2012 edition hosted many top Republican politicians and drew about 2,000 attendees. The organization frequently assails public education, political progressives, reproductive justice and the church-state wall and seeks to form a far-right coalition with the Tea Party. FRC is also known to engage in harsh gay bashing and has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

8. Concerned Women for America

Revenue: $10,352,628 (includes 501(c)(4) affiliate CWA Legislative Action Committee)

Founded to counter feminism, Concerned Women for America (CWA) claims to be “the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization.” Its mission is to “bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy.” CWA was organized by Tim and Beverly LaHaye in 1979 to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment, and when that issue faded, it moved on to other Religious Right agenda items.

9. Faith & Freedom Coalition

Revenue: $5,494,640

This 501(c)(4) advocacy group was founded by former Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed. He formed the organization after his run for lieutenant governor in Georgia was derailed because of his ties to disgraced casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In just three years of operation it already boasts more than 500,000 members and claims affiliates in 30 states. Reed is infamous for exaggerating his organizations’ clout, but his latest group is certainly making political waves. In 2012, it hosted forums for GOP presidential hopefuls in four states. Faith & Freedom Coalition claims to have budgeted $10 million in 2012 to lure conservative religious voters to the polls.

10. Council for National Policy

Revenue: $1,976,747

The Council for National Policy exists to do just one thing: organize meetings of right-wing operatives, Religious Right leaders and wealthy business interests at posh hotels around the country to share ideas, plot strategy and vet GOP presidential candidates.

h/t: Simon Brown at Alternet

(via 700 Club Host Pat Robertson On Embassy Attack: “You Wonder What It Is In These Muslims That Causes Them To Go Crazy” )

Pat Robertson: Since 'We Don't Condone Wife-Beating These Days' Husband Should 'Move to Saudi Arabia' to Beat Her | rightwingwatch.org →

Mitt Romney this weekend stumped alongside televangelist Pat Robertson, not minding Robertson’s legacy of incendiary, insensitive, heartless and apocalyptic rhetoric that has gotten him in trouble in the past. Apparently, Robertson’s own CBN has become aware of Robertson’s problematic statements, and may even be editing his controversial claims out of episode archives.

“Well, you could become a Muslim and you could beat her,” Robertson responded. “This man’s got to stand up to her and he can’t let her get away with this stuff,” Robertson continued, “I don’t think we condone wife-beating these days but something has got to be done.”

He later said the woman is a “rebellious child” and pondered if she has psychological problems. Robertson told the viewer that since he “can’t divorce her according to the Scripture, so I say: move to Saudi Arabia.”

From the 09.10.2012 edition of CBN’s The 700 Club:

h/t: Brian Tashman at RWW

One Million Moms attacks ABC Family over ‘anti-family programs’ | The Raw Story →

The group One Million Moms has called for a boycott of the ABC Family Channel over an allegedly “anti-family” show being produced by singer Jennifer Lopez.

“Obviously, ABC has lost their minds,” the group said in a statement. “They haven’t let up so neither will we. ABC’s Family Channel has several anti-family programs, and they are planning on adding to that growing list.”

ABC’s The Fosters is a hour-long drama about two mothers raising a mix of foster and biological kids.

One Million Moms said that adoption was “wonderful” but accused the show of “attempting to redefine marriage.”

The organization, which is a part of the American Family Association, urged its members to boycott the show and ABC Family’s sponsors. They hope to stop the show “dead in it its tracks.”

What makes it even more hypocritical is that the very same channel that OMM are complaining about the “anti-family” shows, it airs the disgusting propaganda show called The 700 Club. And in a twist of irony, CBN used to own ABC Family as well.

h/t: Eric W. Dolan at The Raw Story

Pat Robertson on CBN’s The 700 Club: “Akin ‘Screwed Up,’ But GOP Needs To Call Off ‘Circular Firing Squad’”

Add yet another Akin defender to the list.

Robertson on CBN’s The 700 Club: “Gay Rights Advocates Should ‘Shut Their Mouth’”

No, YOU shut the Hell up, Pat!

Yesterday on the 700 Club, Pat Robertson said that activists who don’t want Chick-fil-A on their college campus due to the company’s anti-gay advocacy should keep quiet: “I defy these homosexuals to bring forth a baby from that part of the anatomy which they concentrate on, when that happens I will change everything I’m saying; until that happens, I wish those demonstrators would shut their mouth.”

Pat Robertson and Michele Bachmann warn about Media Whitewash on Terrorism | rightwingwatch.org →

Erick Stackelbeck, the sports reported turned terrorism analyst for the Christian Broadcasting Netowrk, hosted a segment on the 700 Club today looking into how “political correctness takes over in mainstream reporting on Islamic terrorism.” Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) told Stackelbeck that “our media is refusing to tell the story” about Islamic extremists because the media “come from a decidedly leftist worldview and a secular—almost an anti-secular in a way—because they’ve embraced such a radical worldview and they impose that filter through every subject they touch.”

Following the segment, 700 Club host Pat Robertson, who routinely compares his anti-Muslim politics to the fight against the Nazis, echoed Bachmann’s view, saying that today the media is afraid to call out Muslim extremists, unlike in the past when the media was eager to ridicule Nazis and Communists and even “these fierce evil Japs.”

Bachmann: The world is being turned upside down because of radical Islam and our media is refusing to tell the story…. They come from a decidedly leftist worldview and a secular—almost an anti-secular in a way—because they’ve embraced such a radical worldview and they impose that filter through every subject they touch.”

From the 04.16.2012 edition of CBN’s The 700 Club:

h/t: Brian Tashman at RWW

(via Brian Tashman at RWW: Robertson Calls Non-Christians a ‘Virus’ | rightwingwatch.org)

Televangelist Pat Robertson, who famously referred to non-Christians as “termites,” on the 700 Club today likened people who aren’t Christians to a “virus.” Following a report on the growing Muslim population in Europe, Robertson said “the antibody to these false religions have been vibrant Christianity,” lamenting that “our elites have turned against the founding principles that gave us our freedom, why? Because they don’t want to be Christian.”

Pat Robertson Implores Woman Not to Attend Sister's Same-Sex Marriage | rightwingwatch.org →

Today on the 700 Club a woman asked Pat Robertson whether it was appropriate for her to serve as a bridesmaid or even attend her lesbian sister’s wedding to another woman. Robertson, a fierce opponentof gay rights, demanded the woman take no party in the ceremony. He cited Romans 1, without giving its cultural and historical context, to argue that God gave gays and lesbians up to do “evil things with their own bodies.” “If she doesn’t like it, if that breaks the union between you,” Robertson said, “that’s tough luck.”

h/t: Brian Tashman at RWW

(via Brian Tashman at RWW: Pat Robertson Claims Obama is Becoming a Dictator | Right Wing Watch)

Conservatives just seem to love calling President Obama a dictator, as today on the 700 Clubtelevangelist Pat Robertson repeated his claim that Obama is building a dictatorship. Robertson argued Obama “doesn’t care about the real management of the United States government” but only wants to win re-election and “impose a so-called progressive agenda upon America.” “He wants to take control of every aspect of this nation by the federal government,” Robertson said, “If you want a dictatorship, then that’s the way to get it because he’s giving it to you.”

Religious Right Explodes over LGBT Rights Initiative | Right Wing Watch →

Secretary Hillary Clinton’s speech on defending LGBT rights abroad and the new Obama administration policy to protect people around the world who are jailed, beaten and executed for being LGBT have been met with intense uproar from the Religious Right.

Pat Robertson on The 700 Club today said that the policy was “appalling” shows that America is willing to “violate God’s principles and to make a mockery of His laws.” Robertson even warned that God will not tolerate it and “when the blow comes, it’s going to be horrible”:

Robertson: Isn’t it appalling that the United States of America would try to force the acceptance of homosexuality on other nations but at the same time we would not force them to take care of their religious minorities and they would permit discrimination and persecution of Christians? What kind of a country have we got? You know, there is a God in heaven and He is just. Thomas Jefferson, ‘I tremble when I remember that God is just.’ He is just, he is not going to allow this kind of thing to go on forever. This country cannot continue to violate God’s principles and to make a mockery of His laws and think we’re going to get away with it. And when the blow comes, it’s going to be horrible.

On Crosstalk yesterday, Vic Eliason of Voice of Christian Youth America argued that the new policy shows that “the inmates have taken over the asylum” and Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver said it confirms the administration’s support of the “radical sexual anarchist agenda”:

Janet Mefferd yesterday defended Nigeria’s right to have a law criminalizing homosexuality and a bill that would crack down on gay couples, and even dismissed concerns about persistent violence against gays and lesbians in Africa:

Mefferd: Let’s get our priorities straight here, in other words, why are we even focusing on this? Other than the fact that you have African countries that have policies like Nigeria, criminalizing homosexuality, are they not a sovereign nation? Can’t they make up their own minds about these things? If they want to pass a law we’re going to play bully over this issue? I can understand countries where people are being flagrantly persecuted for their faith but this one; I don’t see that this is something that the United States has to jump in on because it’s such a huge global tragedy. It’s crazy. They’re saying it’s all homophobia in Nigeria, according to the law I guess in Nigeria not only is gay marriage a crime punishable by a fourteen year jail term but any person who registers, operates or participates in gay organizations faces a decade in jail, a clause that specifically targets the many active sexuality-rights advocacy groups in the country. Alright, but they’re not killing them are they? Are they going to go to jail?

What do you say about this? For another country to make the decision that anybody who violates a standard that they want to uphold in their society to go to jail, where do you draw the line on that? If you have a culture that had a lot of Christians who say we cannot as a society look upon homosexuality as a good thing for all of us, but in that case you’ve got to gather together the global community and bully them out of it.

h/t: Brian Tashman at Right Wing Watch