# Robertson + Falwell: It's the Liberals' Fault . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 13, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449 "2001-09-13T21:18:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/81 "2001-09-18T01:47:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fish42 \* > \*\* > Am I the only one wondering what Godless things we were > doing back in 1812 for the Lord to allow us to get attacked back then? \*\* It’s not so popular now, but a party game called the “The Felching the Drunken Dwarf” was all the rage at the town fairs. The War of 1812 put a quick stop to that, but in late 1813, when it looked like the Americans were winning, there was a brief flirtation among the upper classes with bathing in the blood of sodomized youths as a skin treatment. Bam, the British burn the White House to the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/82 "2001-09-18T07:34:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spamagnet \* > \*\*Christianity is all about giving up what **I** want and pouring out my life in service to others. > > **Real** Christianity is the hardest thing you’ve ever tried to do in your life. \*\* Wow. What a sucky lifestyle choice. ---
**Author:** ![Spamagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@Spamagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spamagnet)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/83 "2001-09-18T13:58:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Wow. What a sucky lifestyle choice. \*\* That’s one way to look at it … 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/84 "2001-09-18T15:03:02Z")
**Sofa King** , the Lord truly has cast his curtain of protection over us the ULC ordained, as my office-mate had stepped out just in time before I broke out in a fit of hysterical laughter. I’m wiping off tears, man… boy, this may be my first all-smiling day in a week. And anyway, regarding the Kickfest… who says these two wastes of biomatter even **have** any yarbles to begin with? ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/85 "2001-09-18T15:10:06Z")
So you’re thinking _that’s_ their major malfunction? They’re eunuchs? Or maybe worse? (Is there anything worse than having your sex life surgicly removed?) **Sofa King** has some interesting ideas, but really, would _you_ want either one of theose septic mounds of hypocracy near _your_ reproductive organs? Oh, and indeed, True Christianity is damned hard to achieve. I’m fairly sucky at it myself, although I do try as best my feeble little soul can. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/86 "2001-09-18T17:17:05Z")
We can’t forget its apparent absence during the American Revolution. I mean, from the first shots at Lexington and Concord, through the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there were only a few thousand British troops in North America; the colonists could’ve dealt with them easily. Where was God’s ‘veil of protection’ then? If he’d kept any more troops from setting foot on American soil, independence would’ve been a fact before the leaves fell in 1776. Those colonists must’ve done something pret-ty ba-ad! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/87 "2001-09-18T18:23:02Z")
So now he’s apologized and says he was wrong. Is there more he can do? I don’t buy his opinion on the WTC anymore than I do on evolution, but if he has disassociated himself from a statement, can’t we just treat him as we would some Muslim who was not involved in the attacks either? Christians call it ‘forgiveness’. If it is wrong for terrorists to use some horrible act to push their agenda, it is also wrong for us to do the same. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/88 "2001-09-18T19:13:41Z")
No Shodan, because this is exactly the same type of ingnorant and hateful shit he spews on a regular basis - just usually he doesn’t get noticed. The statements are not an accidental slip of the tongue, but a reflection of his true attitude toward all the groups listed. So I can’t forgive him, because his apology is not sincere. He truly believes what he said. Notice that nowhere in his apology does he say he was wrong. He just says that the _timing_ of his remarks was insensitive and that he didn’t mean to imply that he knew God’s mind exactly. Falwell is a dipshit who doesn’t even have the strength of his convictions, and regularly retracts his comments in the same half-hearted, mealy-mouthed way. If he really wanted to show remorse for his statements, he would make a sizeable donation to each of the groups he offended - ACLU, PFAW, gay/lesbian organizations, NOW, and Planned Parenthood would be good start. And then not spew his hatred anymore. See how long it takes him to say his next hateful comment. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/89 "2001-09-18T20:53:11Z")
It should also be noticed that Robertson is [unrepentant](http://www.cbn.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID2546%7CCHID101024%7CCIID838600,00.html): > [@](#): > > America has enjoyed unprecedented peace and prosperity throughout its history. Though we have been involved in wars on our own soil – the last was the Civil War – the United States of America has not experienced the anguish of invasion by a foreign power since the War of 1812. > > We have imagined ourselves invulnerable and have been consumed by the pursuit of financial gain. The focus of many in America has been on the pursuit of health, wealth, material pleasures and sexuality. Sadly, those in the churches have been as self-indulgent as those in the world. > > We have allowed rampant pornography on the Internet, and rampant secularism and the occult, etc. to be broadcast on television. We have permitted somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-40 million unborn babies to be slaughtered by our society. > > We have a court that has essentially stuck its finger in God’s eye and said, “We are going to legislate You out of the schools and take Your commandments from the courthouses in various states. We are not going to let little children read the commandments of God. We are not going to allow the Bible or prayer in our schools.” > > We have insulted God at the highest level of our government. Then, we say, “Why does this happen?” It is happening because God Almighty is lifting His protection from us. His statement may differ in minor details from what Falwell said on his show last week, but the melody ain’t changed. God was protecting us, but he isn’t any longer. The reason he isn’t protecting us anymore is because of abortions, prayer and the Bible being banned from the schools (which is a million miles from the truth, but that’s Pat for you), Internet porn, the occult, secular programming (gasp!) on TV, and the general ‘self-indulgent’ pursuit of health, wealth, material pleasures and sexuality. He doesn’t attribute the removal of divine protection that he beleives enabled last week’s attacks to the ACLU, gays, feminists, etc. _by name_, but that’s the only significant difference. And there’s no way that this is due to a failure to recognize what Falwell was saying. This is Pat’s official statement, on CBN’s website. I’d call him pond scum, but that would be an insult to pond scum everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/90 "2001-09-18T23:42:46Z")
I think Falwell forgot to be humble (this probably wasn’t the first time!). He really goofed when he said “I” and “you” because he became judgmental. Of course, what am I doing trying to defend the guy? I think he’s a few books shy of a bible. However, I first heard his quote while only listening with one ear. I basically heard “you are to blame for this” and was kind of humbled by it. Yes, I’m not perfect. I know that God would not cause an action like this, but corrupt people do stuff like this. Whatever I may have done to cause one person to hate another makes me responsible for the spread of hate. Hate is at the root of this and “we” all need to take that responsibility to spread love, not hate. Somehow Falwell managed to do the opposite. And that gave God a bad name. Gee, is that considered blasphemy? It is true that there are tons of false prophets out there. Bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/91 "2001-09-19T03:05:34Z")
This issue was reported on tonight’s local news here in Albany. At the end of the report (when the two anchors comment on the story just reported), Ed Dague said, “What he said wasn’t wrong, he just said it at the wrong time.” Lydia just looked away and started the next story, while Ed continued looking at her. I’m glad she kept her composure, because I would’ve beat him about the face with a double-pronged dildo! I couldn’t believe my ears. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/92 "2001-09-19T13:16:04Z")
Could it be that Dague was offering _his translation_ of Falwell’s ‘apology’, rather than offering his personal opinion? Because what he said really _was_ a pretty good summary of what Falwell’s words really meant. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/93 "2001-09-19T15:26:58Z")
Taking a cue from Lib’s idea for fighting back against Fred Phelps, I am sending the following two letters (and following up appropriately): * * * Dear Mr. Robertson, As I have been tuned in to the events of the past week, I have heard your commentary on the matter echoing throughout the news. Specifically, you are concerned about children in public schools not being allowed to pray. I agree with you, because people of faith need to be able to turn to God in times like these. How wonderful, then, that we live in a country in which the government is obligated to remain neutral on matters of religion! The government cannot keep a public school student from praying, or from reading the Bible, on his or her own time. Of course, the government cannot compel or encourage students to pray, but that is OK, since prayer is a personal matter and is not something to be done for show (Matthew 6:5-6). Please note that I have donated $20 in your name to Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Thanks in part to their efforts, people in this country remain free to be Christians, Jews, Muslims, or even atheists without interference from the government. I wish I could give more, but as a medical student my funds are limited. However, I will be encouraging all my friends to do the same, so that together we can fight the good fight for religious freedom. ## Thank you, Dr. J Dear Jerry, As I have been tuned in to the news this week, I have repeatedly heard your comments regarding Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC. Specifically, you place part of the blame for these incidents on homosexuals, abortionists, feminists, church-state-separation advocates, and others who fall outside the favor of your vision of God. Additionally, I have heard your “retractions” of those statements, in which you are careful not to deny the comments or distance yourself from them. Instead, you simply apologize for their “unfortunate timing”. In my 26 years on this planet, never have I heard more insensitive, opportunistic, or just plain incomprehensible words come out of anyone’s mouth. After all, it was not advocates of civil liberties and religious freedom who performed these acts, but fundamentalist zealots who believe the American government should be operating according to their religious principles. In a time when you could have shown the world what real Christianity is about, you instead chose to parrot the same hatred that has made you famous for all these years. However, this is a week in which we need to celebrate and support those things which make America the greatest country in the world. One of those things is the ability to speak one’s mind, no matter how insensitive, opportunistic, or incomprehensible those words may be. Therefore, I will be donating $20 in your name to the American Civil Liberties Union. Thanks in part to their efforts, you can continue to open your mouth and spew forth your brand of hateful bilge, and thinking people, Christian and otherwise, can raise their voices in opposition to yours. I suspect that by naming them directly in your “700 Club” diatribe, you have done more for ACLU funding this year than any direct mailing ever could have. However, I am encouraging my friends not only to make those donations, but to make them in your name, so that you can appreciate the work the ACLU is doing for you. ## Thank you, Dr. J These are rough drafts. If anyone has any suggestions for either letter, let me know. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/94 "2001-09-19T16:06:57Z")
Deadly. Simply deadly. My donations and letters are on their way, per your example… My applause, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/95 "2001-09-19T16:36:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > \*\*Could it be that Dague was offering _his translation_ of Falwell’s ‘apology’, rather than offering his personal opinion? > > Because what he said really _was_ a pretty good summary of what Falwell’s words really meant. \*\* That’s a possibility, but from the reaction of his co-anchor, I think she took it the same way I did. If his intent was to translate the apology, he should have worded it differently. I wonder how many other people possibly took it the wrong way. Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/96 "2001-09-19T16:36:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > \*\*Could it be that Dague was offering _his translation_ of Falwell’s ‘apology’, rather than offering his personal opinion? > > Because what he said really _was_ a pretty good summary of what Falwell’s words really meant. \*\* It would have to be, I hope. Ed’s not like that, is he? ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/97 "2001-09-19T18:16:37Z")
Just in case you’re intrested in these types of thing [Petition to Denounce Falwell](http://www.PetitionOnline.com/falwell/) ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449/98 "2001-09-22T00:50:58Z")
Like the many posters before me, I was aghast when I read about the interview with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. They seemed like self-absorbed, oily, used-car salesmen who would say anything to sell their obnoxious brand of snake oil religion. I thought that they could exchange places with Osama bin Laden quite easily, given their hardline attitudes. I agree with Irishman, that Jerry Falwell never admitted that he was wrong; he merely said that the timing was off. That’s no apology at all. I would like to ask a favor of any other Doper who lives in Northern Virginia. There’s going to be an election soon and the candidates are Mark Earley and Mark Warner. Would anyone be able to tell me which of these candidates support Jerry and Pat? I’m embarrassed to say I can’t remember what the position is for, but I’ll be damned if I’ll vote for anyone who supports those jerks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-falwell-its-the-liberals-fault/81449.md?page=4)