From the diaries by susanhbu. If someone in public life says anything the least bit unusual, especially if they are a liberal or a Democrat, the media are all over it. But if you happen to be Pat Robertson, you get a free pass.
This past Sunday, on ABC’s This Week With George Stephanopolis, Pat Robertson, founder of The Christian Coalition, claimed that the threat posed by the federal judiciary is “probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings.”
Does Robertson really believe, as he had written in his recent book, Courting Disaster, that judges pose “the most serious threat America has faced in nearly 400 years of history, more serious than al Qaeda, more serious than Nazi Germany and Japan, more serious than the Civil War?”
Robertson: “George, I really believe that.”
The Christian Right’s propaganda campaign is coming to a cresendo, as Christian Right political and religious leaders, “whip-up,” as MoveOn.com put in a letter to members today, “an intense fear and hatred of American judges — including comments from Republican congressmen and senators intimidating, threatening and even justifying outright violence against judges.”
MoveOn wants to take out television ads demanding that House and Senate leaders disassociate themselves from Robertson’s demagogic and crackpot claims. Sounds like a good idea.
But isn’t it amazing how the punditocracy, or for that matter, religion and political reporters are so silent when Pat Robertson says kooky and truly extreme things, even on a national public affairs program? Why does Robertson get a free pass?
Imagine what would happen if a progressive political and religious leader, let’s say Rev. Jesse Jackson said something like that.
I think its time to confront the news media on thier double standard.
[Crossposted from FrederickClarkson.com]