# WTF Romney's cozy with Pat Robertson? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 11, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360 "2012-09-11T00:24:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/1 "2012-09-11T00:24:34Z")
First Steve King, now Pat Robertson… these are the old white men that Romney hugs. Robertson: That old windbag. He advocates wife beating. Charming. > **[Pat Robertson Tells Man To Move To Saudi Arabia So He Can Beat His Wife...](https://www.gawker.com/5941983/pat-robertson-tells-man-to-move-to-saudi-arabia-so-he-can-beat-wife-legally-of-course)** > > This morning on the 700 Club's regular segment "Bring It On," in which horrible people ask other horrible people how to continue being horrible people, a man asked Pat Robertson how to work things out with his wife who "has no respect for \[him\] as... And this is only the beginning, the guy has a wiki of controversy > **[Pat Robertson controversies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson_controversies)** > > Baptist minister and broadcaster Pat Robertson (1930–2023) had outspoken opinions on religion, politics, and other subjects. Many of his statements have stirred controversy and several have been headline news in the United States and elsewhere. Robertson made many of these comments on his daily talk show, The 700 Club. > Several times near New Year, Robertson made statements purporting that God told him several truths or events that would happen in the following year. "I have a relatively good tr... ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/2 "2012-09-11T01:53:26Z")
Every GOP presidential candidate gets “cozy” with Robertson. Why is it surprising that Romney would, too? Has Romney shown any aversion to pandering in this election? Quite the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/3 "2012-09-11T02:01:03Z")
And that’s the problem with the GOP, getting cozy with a man who advocates beating the “little woman” Inviting the old bastard on stage with him. I guess Ann Romney is fine with it too. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/4 "2012-09-11T02:07:25Z")
What’s wrong with slapping a woman? She might deserve it … if she doesn’t let things drop. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FgMLROTqJ0) ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/5 "2012-09-11T02:18:06Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > What’s wrong with slapping a woman? She might deserve it … if she doesn’t let things drop. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FgMLROTqJ0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FgMLROTqJ0) Good. The more the GOP makes fun of it, the more women will vote for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/6 "2012-09-11T03:04:42Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > And that’s the problem with the GOP, getting cozy with a man who advocates beating the “little woman” Inviting the old bastard on stage with him. I guess Ann Romney is fine with it too. Look, there are lots of things to bash Robertson about, but it’s pretty pathetic for you to trot out that video and claim that he advocates wife beating. You’d be better off using that as Muslim bashing. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/7 "2012-09-11T03:17:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Look, there are lots of things to bash Robertson about, but it’s pretty pathetic for you to trot out that video and claim that he advocates wife beating. You’d be better off using that as Muslim bashing. Yeah? No. He’s advocating moving to Saudi Arabia so the little woman can be put in her place… All of his freakin nonsense as if he knew the situation well enough to call the wife a child? at least the woman feeding him the question interjected to say there needed to be a third party… Robertson is a sexist old pig. And that video was “trotted out” because it was the day after he stood on stage and clapped for Romney. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/8 "2012-09-11T03:28:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Every GOP presidential candidate gets “cozy” with Robertson. Why is it surprising that Romney would, too? Has Romney shown any aversion to pandering in this election? Quite the contrary. What’s shocking is that Robertson would get cozy with a Mormon! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/9 "2012-09-11T03:30:31Z")
I am not surprised that either man finds the other to be a useful ally. It makes me quite sad. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/10 "2012-09-11T04:20:02Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > I am not surprised that either man finds the other to be a useful ally. Neither am I. But between one thing and another, it seems that people this year are actually _noticing_ how batshit crazy so much of the GOP is, and how little pushback the crazies get from anyone else in the party. Consequently, this isn’t exactly the smartest time for Romney to wander down to Virginia Beach and kiss Pat’s ring, or for his wife and his running mate to show up at the [Values Voter Summit](http://www.valuesvotersummit.org/schedule). (I’ll bet Ann’s there strictly to [talk about jobs and the economy](http://www.kwqc.com/story/19484978/anne-romney-kwqc-tv6-interview-transcript). :p) ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/11 "2012-09-11T05:12:27Z")
I use to listen to The 700 Club. Not willingly. It was on, I was there, and I couldn’t leave or turn it off. If you’re not familiar with his schtick, what he does is completely different from an evangelist looking towards heaven and praising the lord. Nope, Pat and the lord are buddies. It would be awkward praising someone you’re equal to. He just sits there with his eyes closed, nodding as God dictates messages. People would call in or send letters, thanking him for curing their ailments, and pain. An example of how he cures people…He closes his eyes, and gets on his direct hotline to the lord. Then he tells all the viewers that if you are suffering from leg/back/stomach/head/feet…or whatever pain, (only 1 ailment per show), you will be healed. That show airs worldwide. How often does the average person have a pain that lasts less than a day.:dubious: Then he starts asking for donations. Why would god’s bff need money? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/12 "2012-09-11T06:32:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What’s shocking is that Robertson would get cozy with a Mormon! :eek: Seriously. It shows the level of desperation on both sides for them to cozy up to one another. Until recently Robertson, [like most Fundamentalists](http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelical-baptist-pastor-mormonism-is-a-cult-mitt-romney-is-not-a-christian-57626/), [was vocal about how the LDS Church is a cult](http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/cbnteachingsheets/FAQ_cult.aspx) and its members are not Christians. Now that it looks like the dreaded Negro Socialist might pull off his re-election Rev. Pat realizes they really are Christians after all. And Romney is so desperate for any endorsement that might bring a few votes his way he is willing to snuggle up to someone who has said hateful things about him and his fellow believers until very recently. It’s actually pretty pathetic for both of them. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/13 "2012-09-11T13:50:12Z")
Begin the thawing of Billy Graham!! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/14 "2012-09-11T13:56:31Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > Yeah? No. He’s advocating moving to Saudi Arabia so the little woman can be put in her place… No. It was obviously a backhanded insult to Muslims. You really think PR is going to advise someone to convert to Islam? Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/15 "2012-09-11T15:57:14Z")
Robertson’s saying, repeatedly, that Saudi Arabia has the right idea for dealing with rebellious women who don’t respect their husbands’ authority. That’s his solution for the guy. After describing the guy’s wife as a spoiled child with possible psychological problems, Robertson concludes that “something has to be done”. Since the guy can’t divorce his wife, Robertson suggests a second time that he move to Saudi Arabia - where wife beating is not just condoned but encouraged. The only person Robertson’s insulting here is the wife. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/16 "2012-09-11T16:19:08Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > The only person Robertson’s insulting here is the wife. Oh, I think more people than that are (or should be) insulted. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/17 "2012-09-11T16:19:45Z")
He explicitly says that we don’t condone wife beating. But if you really think he’s evangelizing for Islam, then I don’t see any point in further discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/18 "2012-09-11T16:21:38Z")
More on the wife beating hijack: At about 35 seconds in the video Pat says " sigh, I don’t know that we condone wife beating these days but something’s got to be done to make her…" At which point the female host interrupts to save him from digging himself deeper, saying that they shouldn’t do anything physical. And then his final statement implies that nothing can be done but to move to Saudi Arabia where they do allow wife beating. I think this clearly indicates that he is looking wistfully back to the old days when you could beat your wife, and bemoaning the state of affairs where you have to go all the way to Saudi Arabia to find a place where its legal. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/19 "2012-09-11T16:45:50Z")
Man, no wonder ABC Family runs that disclaimer before his show. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360/20 "2012-09-11T17:08:26Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > He explicitly says that we don’t condone wife beating. Sure. He’s also said, “We have turned away from God.” I don’t think he was confessing to atheism when he said it. “We,” in this context, pretty clearly refers to American society. He’s acknowledging that you’re no longer allowed to beat your wife in this country. He’s not exactly saying that it’s \*wrong \*to beat your wife, though. Admittedly, I’m far from unbiased when it comes to Pat Robertson, but his overall tone here sounds rueful. His comparison of the wife to a thirteen year old girl, and his focus on how she probably wasn’t disciplined enough as a child, sounds like he’s skirting the edge of saying, “You need to slap some obedience into her.” His closing statement, to me, sounds like he’s saying, “God won’t let you divorce, and the government won’t let you beat her, so I’m out of ideas.” But you’re right, it’s just short of an explicit endorsement of wife beating. Not that that really changes much. Domestic violence advocacy aside, what’s he’s saying is still plenty sexist. Not really the sort of thing that the Republican party needs associated with their candidate, given their current image problems with female voters. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-romneys-cozy-with-pat-robertson/634360.md?page=2)