Pat Robertson and Media Matters

Pat Robertson's recent comments on Hugo Chavez aren't exactly what I'd call the words of a old-fashioned, ultra-conservative Christian:
Bush administration officials Tuesday dismissed Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson's call for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as the remarks of a private citizen, but Venezuela accused Robertson of promoting terrorism.
Of course, some left-wingers - namely Media Matters - think that Robertson should retract his comments:
A liberal media watchdog group Tuesday called on Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson to retract statements he made calling for the U.S. to assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

On the Monday edition of his show "The 700 Club," Robertson said Chavez should be killed, because "it's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war." Media Matters for America President and CEO David Brock called Robertson's comments "an irresponsible use of the public airwaves.

"Pat Robertson's call for the assassination of a foreign leader is an irresponsible use of the public airwaves, as well as a call for the Bush administration to violate the executive order banning assassination," said Brock in a statement. "Responsible news outlets should think twice before providing him a platform from which to peddle his inappropriate and inaccurate claims."
Now while I should stress again I don't agree with Robertson, Media Matters have missed the point on so many marks that they should be forced to redo primary school comprehension:

1. There's nothing inaccurate about Robertson's statement: killing Chavez with an assassination is cheaper than starting a war. How much has Iraq cost? And how much would it have cost to get a group of stealth operatives in there and shoot Saddam? Exactly.

2. Pat Robertson's show, The 700 Club, is on the Christian Broadcasting Network. That's not a news outlet, let alone a "responsible news outlet". Brock is probably talking about ABC Family, who also run The 700 Club, but they don't show any more news than the lawn bowls channel. So Brock's claims are at the very least poorly researched efforts at incriminating ABC network via a sister channel, and more likely to be typical Media Matters exaggeration in order to achieve a story.

I also seem to remember lefties not having the same problem when Air America's Randi Rhodes - twice - ran skits in which President Bush gets assassinated. Rhodes even laughed after the second one. Both Rhodes and Robertson's actions are wrong. Only one side of politics appears to avoid the double standard on this issue.

(Cross-posted to The House Of Wheels.)

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