August 24, 2005
Robertson Apologizes but Says He Was 'Misinterpreted'
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
The Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson issued a statement today
apologizing
for his televised remarks calling for the assassination of Venezuelan
President Hugo Chávez.
"Is it right to call for assassination?" he said in the statement. "No, and
I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should
accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him."
But Mr. Robertson was far from apologetic on his television show today,
instead insisting that he had been been "misinterpreted" by The Associated
Press and that he had never used the word "assassination."
"I said our special forces should 'take him out.' 'Take him out' could be a
number of things, including kidnapping," Mr. Robertson told his audience on
the show "The 700 Club" today.
The video from Monday's telecast, easily available on the internet, shows
Mr. Robertson saying of the Venezuelan president: "If he thinks we're
trying
to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it.
It's
a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don't think any oil
shipments
will stop." Mr. Robertson went on at length about Mr. Chávez, suggesting
that "covert operatives" could "do the job and then get it over with."
Political and religious leaders continued to denounce Mr. Robertson today.
The World Evangelical Alliance issued a statement saying, "Robertson does
not speak for evangelical Christians. We believe in justice and the
protection of human rights of all people, including the life of President
Chavez."
On Tuesday, Mr. Robertson's comments were denounced by both the State
Department and by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. In Caracas, Mr.
Robertson was criticized by the vice president of Venezuela, and in Havana
by President Fidel Castro.
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