Worst Job Ever: PR Spokesperson for Pat Robertson

Working for crazy people has to be tough. In my old line of work we called these crazy people “editors,” which is honestly the nicest thing an editor has ever been called.

But today I want to offer my thoughts and prayers to Angell Watts, spokesperson for Christian broadcaster, former Presidential candidate and the craziest old person in America not named U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, Pat Robertson. In the latest of a string of nutty nuggets spewed by Robertson – who can forget his warning to Dover, Penn., residents that God won’t help them in a disaster because they voted out local school board members that supported teaching Intelligent Design – he said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel (Arik) Sharon’s stroke was “divine punishment” for ordering Israel’s pullout from Gaza.

"God considers this land to be his," Robertson said on his television show. “You read the Bible and he says `This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, `No, this is mine.'

“I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU (European Union), the United Nations, or the United States of America.”

Now most of us can dismiss these comments for what they are – a gross misinterpretation of divine intent from a man who lost his relevance long ago. But poor Ms. Watts doesn’t have that luxury. No, she has to answer the phone when The Associated Press calls, clear her throat and say in a strong, serious and sincere voice about Robertson’s critics:

“What they're basically saying is, `How dare Pat Robertson quote the Bible?' This is what the word of God says. This is nothing new to the Christian community."

Bless her heart. Ms. Watts took her key message and stuck it where the light of God doesn’t shine. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan doesn’t have that much chutzpah, and he speaks on behalf of a whole government full of crazy people.

I would hire Ms. Watts in a heartbeat, but I don’t have any clients who are crazy enough for someone of her caliber. Besides, Robertson will need her to explain his next ill-timed diatribe.

So Godspeed and God Bless, Ms. Watts. The PR community is praying for you.

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Comments

[John Wagner]

great post, Gary ... I've often wondered about these PR people in unwinnable situations. They must be paid handsomely. :)

[Kami Huyse]

I wanted to post about this but didn't know exactly what to say. What comprehensible thing can you say to such "crazy" statements?

Well, once again, you did it with style and dare I say, grace.

[LaPopessa]

With all the wild smiting that Pat's been up to lately, it makes me think that Sharon's not the only one with an arterial flow problem.

[Usher Lieberman]

Did Pat Robertson just issue another Fatwa?

What's scary is that Ol' Pat and the Judeo-Christian fundamentalists who agree with his fatwas believe that between Rabin and Sharon (not to mention Katrina, et al), they've got solid evidence on their side that the Messiah is smoting mad and he might soon be appearing on a screen near you.)

What's even scarier is that in other parts of the world, there are fundamentalist leaders of another type who use this garbage as fodder for their own fatwas (see, they really are on another Crusade.)