Pat Robertson Gives More Ammo to the Christian Haters

Sometimes is just better to remain silent, as Jim Geraghty points out in this Morning Jolt item:

It's not really a political story, but the horrific death toll from the earthquake in Haiti is likely to dominate Washington for the next couple of days. Hillary Clinton canceled a trip, President Obama is promising aid, and the Washington foreign-policy apparatus is swinging into action to deal with the latest crisis to strike this long-suffering nation. The Anchoress collects useful links to charities and information here, as does Michelle Malkin.
While sympathy for disaster victims knows no partisan bounds, Rev. Pat Robertson found time to give those who hate Christians their latest handy anecdote. During an interview Wednesday on the Christian Broadcasting Network, he said of Haitians, "They were under the heel of the French . . . and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal.' They kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got themselves free. Ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other." This is the sort of thing that can fuel Maureen Dowd columns for decades.

Hot Air's Allahpundit: "He may be a crank, but he's consistent in his crankery. Anywhere there's human misery -- after 9/11, after Katrina, even after Ariel Sharon's stroke -- Reverend Pat will be there to explain to the victims why they deserved it."

At NR, Mike Potemra notes, "This is a misconceived and counterproductive line of thought. If these two earthquakes are legitimate evidence of God's displeasure, what are we to make of the (much more numerous) instances in history in which sinful nations were not punished in any conspicuous way?"

Over at the Spectator, Robert P. Kirchhoefer says his statement "deserves being condemned -- fully. Pat Robertson has been a passionate and colorful commentator for Conservative issues, and I value him for much of that; but this time, he is way out of line and making statements that are way above his pay grade. When you're wrong, you're wrong. And on this one, he is definitely wrong."

Of course, the usual suspects will use this to denigrate an entire faith, but let me assure you that Pat Robertson speaks for relatively few on this issue (and most others, come to think of it).

There's a whole assortment of reasons why Haiti has been a hellhole for much of its existence, and for the most part, you can look to their succession of corrupt governments as a starting point. It's the devils who have been national leaders that have led this nation to ruin and despair.

UPDATE: CBN attempts to clarify Robertson's comments.