Robertson Widens Lead Again

Not content with his massive lead in the standings for Most Embarrassing Christian Ever, televangelist and erstwhile presidential candidate Pat Robertson yesterday issued yet another embarrassing statement. Responding on his TV program the 700 Club to the Dover, Pennsylvania, School Board election that removed from office incumbent school board members who had passed a policy requiring the teaching of intelligent design (ID) with evolution, Robertson said,

I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city.

In addition to identifying support for ID as a means to securing God's favor, Robertson's remark continued his recent string of statements invoking divine judgment on people who oppose his politics.

After the program aired, Robertson attempted to soften his original statement with qualifications and explanations. Claiming that he was pointing out that "our spiritual actions have consequences," he offered:

God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in His eye forever.... If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them.

analysts noted that Robertson's explanations continued his pattern of pronouncements on divine judgment and conditions for divine favor and were interpreted as a means of adding additional embarrassment to his original statement.

Promoting his book at a meeting of disaffected Southern Baptists at Mercer University, Jimmy Carter refused comment when asked if he thought that Robertson's statement was in response to Carter's recent embarrassing remarks pronouncing on the authenticity of George W. Bush's Christianity.