By now, you've probably all heard about Pat Robertson calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. (If you didn't, here's all you need to know about it.) We were about due for another looney quote from the host of Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club and founder of the Christian Coalition of America. In fact, if anything, he was a bit overdue. I think the last one was last October when he told us that George W. Bush had personally assured him that the Iraq War could be fought without a single American casualty. I'm no fan of Bush's but I can't believe he said that.
What's amazing about most of Robertson's news-making statements is that they seem to serve no purpose other than the dubious one of getting him a few days' attention and reminding us all what a wacko he can be. What did he think this one would accomplish? Was he trying to drum up a groundswell of support for the hit? No, because you can't exactly do a covert assassination by popular demand. Just saying it out loud makes it less likely to be attempted. Was he trying to bond with Bush supporters? No, because implicit in his statement was that the Iraq War is costing us too much. Was he trying to bond with Bush detractors? No, because none of them would likely favor such action. Was he trying to establish his credentials as a moral leader? No, because you don't do that by suggesting that murder is a peachy idea.
I can't imagine what, if anything, was on the guy's mind. I'm reminded of a line Jack Paar once said to explain his retirement. He said, "The longer you're on TV, the greater the chances that you're going to say something really, really embarrassing."