Strange Bedfellows

November 8, 2007 11:29 AM

Pat Robertson Endorses Giuliani for PresidentBack in mid-2001, when Mayor Rudy Giuliani was busy committing adultery, lurching into his divorce and third marriage and rooming with a gay couple he promised to marry as soon as the law allowed, who among us would have imagined that one day he would be endorsed for president by Pat Robertson? Truly, Sept. 11 changed everything. Odd though this may be, it raises the question of what an endorsement actually means.
posted by psmealey (63 comments total)

Wasn't he threatening earlier that if Guiliani was nominated, the religious right would form a third party?
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:32 AM on November 8, 2007

Pat Robertson endorses a Republican. News at eleven.
posted by fandango_matt at 11:32 AM on November 8, 2007

9/11 changed some things, but not Pat Robertson's inability to back a Mormon.
posted by Muddler at 11:34 AM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

We can expect Keith Olbermann to deliver an outrage-fueled rant about this incredible hypocrisy in about eight years.
posted by fandango_matt at 11:35 AM on November 8, 2007

Is that guy from CSI still in the running?
posted by Artw at 11:39 AM on November 8, 2007 [3 favorites has favorites]

Why would anyone want the endorsement of that lunatic? Yeah, I know he's a conservative Christian leader and all. But he's also a lunatic.
posted by Nelson at 11:40 AM on November 8, 2007

I'm inclined to think it was a quid pro quo move: Pat Robertson mobilizes the fundies behind Guiliani, and Guiliani, if elected, lets all the Regent University grads keep their west wing jobs, with plans to hire more..
posted by brain cloud at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2007

That was actually James Dobson doing the third-party threatening.

In answer to your second question: Yes, Dobson and Robertson are two different people. Well, separate people. Well, separate bodies.
posted by DU at 11:44 AM on November 8, 2007 [6 favorites has favorites]

Muddler hit this on the head. It's pretty clear that, barring some kind of political earthquake, the Republican nomination is going to either Romney or Giuliani. Robertson looked at those two choices, and decided that supporting a thrice-married twice-divorced gay-rights-supporting reproductive-freedom-defending Catholic was better than a Mormon.

And, I'll give him credit - at least he's not looking at throwing his entire party under the bus the same way James Dobson is.
posted by deadmessenger at 11:44 AM on November 8, 2007

PS: I am unable to spell Giuliani.
posted by brain cloud at 11:46 AM on November 8, 2007

We can expect Keith Olbermann to deliver an outrage-fueled rant about this incredible hypocrisy in about eight years.

Or last night. Whichever.
posted by eyeballkid at 11:49 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

...gay-rights-supporting reproductive-freedom-defending Catholic...

To be fair to Robertson, he knows Giuliani is a Republican and will say or do whatever it takes to remain in power. He may well work in the "right" direction on these issues.
posted by DU at 11:49 AM on November 8, 2007

Lay off Olbermann. You're just mad cause he's smarter than you.
posted by bukharin at 11:51 AM on November 8, 2007

deadmessenger writes "And, I'll give him credit - at least he's not looking at throwing his entire party under the bus the same way James Dobson is."

Oh man, it would really be sweet to see the republicans get their own Nader.
posted by mullingitover at 11:52 AM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

er, there is already a metatalk thread open about Olbermann, if youse guys want to bicker about him go to it over there.
posted by edgeways at 11:53 AM on November 8, 2007

er, there is already a metatalk thread open about Olbermann, if youse guys want to bicker about him go to it over there.

Yeah, started by fandango_matt. Apparently he had to bitch about Olbermann here too.
posted by puke & cry at 11:58 AM on November 8, 2007

Robertson endorsed Giuliani?

Perfect, because there's a great anti-Rudy TV commercial in the making.

It looks like this:

Roll tape of Robertson & Fallwell blaming 9/11 on

"The ACLU, the abortionists, Pagans, feminists, gays lesbians"

As those people are mentioned, show either footage of Giuliani supporting those groups (as he has in the past, e.g. cross dressing or at a fund raiser with Gloria Steinem etc) or headlines of Giuliani supporting them.

Run this ad 20 or 30 times a day.

Especially in "The South".

Beat Rudy over the head with who he is until he's dead and buried.
posted by Relay at 12:00 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Well, to be fair, only 2 of the marriages counted in the church's eyes. His first was annulled because he married his second cousin.
posted by ShadowCrash at 12:01 PM on November 8, 2007

This endorsement illustrates why right wing religious nuts are so dangerous... they will compromise their religious values to remain in power.

So... it's not about the Jesus after all. Surprisea-surprise.
posted by ewkpates at 12:02 PM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

As those people are mentioned, show either footage of Giuliani supporting those groups (as he has in the past, e.g. cross dressing or at a fund raiser with Gloria Steinem etc)...

Best part? He borrowed that outfit from Pat Robertson.
posted by brain cloud at 12:02 PM on November 8, 2007

All I could think of when I saw this was the circa WW2 headline from the Onion's Our Dumb Century: "Japanese Side With White Supremacists In Well Thought-Out Scheme". The fact that Giuliani claimed, when debating Ron Paul, that he had never heard anyone do anything as awful as blame the US for 9/11 and then goes on and accepts an endorsement from one of the few fools who did, makes it pretty apparent that this is a marriage of convenience/political expedience. And I expect it to hold together about as well as Giuliani's real marriages.
posted by Challahtronix at 12:04 PM on November 8, 2007

I've been waiting all day for this to hit the blue. Well done psmealey.

So now I have no idea what the federal judiciary would look like under Rudy. Seriously, does he just carve out a quota of judges for the RelRight or what?
posted by butterstick at 12:04 PM on November 8, 2007

So, with religious-right leaders endorsing mainstream Republican candidates, does that pretty much mean that Huckabee's dead in the water?
posted by box at 12:18 PM on November 8, 2007

Why would anyone want the endorsement of that lunatic?

Yeah, I think it's bad for Robertson too.

Anyhoo, it seems that Robertson wants to shape himself as the alleged kingmaker for a Giuliani presidency that rallies the religious right behind him in exchange for a promise to appoint Alito-like crazy people to the Supreme Court. Robertson's backing of Giuliani is supposed to give the message that he knows the "real deal" on what Giuliani will mean as for benefiting the religious right.

It might seem silly on its face that of all people for Robertson to back, it's Giuliani, but if Robertson truly does believe he has the best chance to put a Republican in the White House and stack the courts, then he's going to go with it. Robertson should have no problem selling Giuliani; he already has a constituency that believes he talks personally with God every morning.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 12:18 PM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that Rudy is actually a head in the polls then fear off Mitt the Mormon. Although it does make sense that a Christian would rather vote for a "lapsed" Christian (even a papist!) then a Mormon, who they probably see as fooled by Satan.

If Rudy wins and the Christian right opposes him, the right is doomed, of course Rudy can't win the presidency without them, but it's looking increasingly like he might win the nomination. If he wins without them, they get locked out of power.

On the other hand, I don't think he'll win the presidency, and he'll just be another footnote in history.
posted by delmoi at 12:24 PM on November 8, 2007

In related news -- Rudy responds to expected Kerik indictment.
posted by ericb at 12:31 PM on November 8, 2007

Don't the 'Guiliani' and 'Robertson' tags simply merge into 'batshitinsane'?
posted by Brak at 12:40 PM on November 8, 2007

I'm reading this the translated manifesto. I'm surprised he hasn't name dropped Ayn Rand. I'm sure he'd love her.
posted by delmoi at 12:47 PM on November 8, 2007

Crap, wrong thread wrong thread. Although it still kinda fits.
posted by delmoi at 12:48 PM on November 8, 2007

So....what, you’re saying he’s a hypocrite?
*blink blink*
posted by Smedleyman at 12:48 PM on November 8, 2007

> Don't the 'Guiliani' and 'Robertson' tags simply merge into 'batshitinsane'?

G i u l i a n i r o b e r t s o n

batsinne

No, but they do merge into "bat sinne Guliroro", which is, as you know, a reference to conspiracy theorists' belief that Giuliani is the high priest of Guliroro, one of the Elder Gods who is in charge of the sins of bats.
posted by WCityMike at 12:49 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ex-Bush official David Kuo points out the differences between Dobson and Robertson. It's a well-informed post.

As far as the pairing of Robertson and Giuliani goes, I think they should use the campaign slogan "Wrapped in the Flag and Carrying a Cross."
posted by ibmcginty at 12:51 PM on November 8, 2007 [4 favorites has favorites]

Only 2 of the marriages counted in the church's eyes. His first was annulled because he married his second cousin.

Ah, the old "Southern strategy" at work.
posted by rokusan at 12:52 PM on November 8, 2007

Sad that Guiliani would allow Robertson to endorse him, given his connection to 9/11. Robertson had invested millions with Charles Taylor for a gold mining operation. At the same time, Charles Taylor's diamond related activities include, allegedly, helping to fund Al Qaeda, perhaps before 9/11.Though I'm sure the money he made with Robertson was kept apart from any atrocities Taylor was involved in right? Giulliani shouldn't be so quick to invoke 9/11 every other sentence when he's in bed with those who profited off it and similiar miseries.
posted by cal71 at 12:53 PM on November 8, 2007

*approaches soapbox*

Ahem...

I know that in the past, I have indicated that I am anti-puppy-kicking. I felt that it was not in the best interests of the dogs or our nation.

And as I now throw my support behind this candidate that is clearly pro-puppy-kicking, many of you have questioned how I can do this.

To those of you who have brought this up, I can only say that our nation is made up of good men, who are faced with a dangerous enemy, and if, in the pursuit of that foe, a few small dogs are accidentally trod upon with force, we must stay strong. I feel that this candidate brings those qualities. The ability to stay strong in the face of puppy-kicking.

Thank you all, and good day.
posted by quin at 12:55 PM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

Oh, Lord, get me through this next year.

*sticks fingers in ears*

La, la, la, la la.....
posted by konolia at 12:59 PM on November 8, 2007

... it would really be sweet to see the republicans get their own Nader.

I've a feeling that's going to happen, but not because of James Dobson.
posted by grabbingsand at 1:13 PM on November 8, 2007

So now I have no idea what the federal judiciary would look like under Rudy.

Here ya go:

As President, I will nominate strict constructionist judges with respect for the rule of law and a proven fidelity to the Constitution -- judges in the mold of Justices Scalia, Thomas and Alito and Chief Justice Roberts.

Also:

Justice Scalia was also a colleague of mine...and he probably would have been my choice for Chief Justice.

Back in mid-2001, when Mayor Rudy Giuliani was busy committing adultery, lurching into his divorce and third marriage and rooming with a gay couple

And setting up the emergency command center as a love shack at the World Trade Center.

Giuliani's office had a humidor for cigars and mementos from City Hall, including a fire horn, police hats and fire hats, as well as monogrammed towels in his bathroom. His suite was bulletproofed and he visited it often, even on weekends, bringing his girlfriend Judi Nathan there long before the relationship surfaced. He had his own elevator.

posted by kirkaracha at 1:23 PM on November 8, 2007

Oh, Lord, get me through this next year.

*sticks fingers in ears*

La, la, la, la la.....

Yes! Now that's the way to become an informed voter.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:33 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Oh, Lord, get me through this next year.

*sticks fingers in ears*

La, la, la, la la.....

If I recall correctly, her husband is a bigwig in their local Republican party.
posted by box at 1:39 PM on November 8, 2007

Does he also have his fingers in his ears?
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:48 PM on November 8, 2007

His ears, if we're lucky.
posted by box at 2:00 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

so, konolia suffers guilt by association? Same as Hillary?
posted by Cranberry at 2:12 PM on November 8, 2007

God told Robertson to endorse Gulliani? What?

I talk to God every day. God told ME that he doesn't know who this Robertson guy is.

Oh. And the Big G thinks Gulliani is... what were his words again...oh yes... crazier than a cave full of Egyptian Fruit Bats.
posted by tkchrist at 2:25 PM on November 8, 2007

As a liberal type guy, why should I care if Guiliani's gotten divorced, or roomed with a gay couple? So I can say " ha ha, you've done something that I think you think is hypocritical, but I actually don't personally mind myself"?
posted by garlic at 2:29 PM on November 8, 2007

Now all we need to do is coat them with GHB, stick them together, and spray 'em with water.
posted by pmbuko at 2:51 PM on November 8, 2007

As a liberal type guy, why should I care if Guiliani's gotten divorced, or roomed with a gay couple?

because it makes particularly shameful his sudden love for the people who want to scrawl anti-gay graffiti on the Constitution, branding a big fat pink triangle (godwin I know, tough shit) on gays and lesbians' arms? because Giuliani, authoritarian little man that he may be (personally I don't mind him), he's certainly not a mouthbreather who seriously thinks that the earth is 4,000 years old, and his kissing the lard asses of the people who want to erase Darwin from public school books is particularly shameful?

maybe because of that?
posted by matteo at 2:56 PM on November 8, 2007

As a liberal type guy, why should I care if Guiliani's gotten divorced, or roomed with a gay couple?

You're not. The religious nutcases and so-called conservatives that care so much about morals and family values supposedly do. You know, all those people that vote republican?
posted by puke & cry at 2:59 PM on November 8, 2007

They are supposed to care, I mean. That sentence parses funny.
posted by puke & cry at 3:00 PM on November 8, 2007

“mouthbreather who seriously thinks that the earth is 4,000 years old, and his kissing the lard asses of the people who want to erase Darwin from public school books is particularly shameful?”

So....the other guy is a hypocrite?
*squints*
posted by Smedleyman at 3:55 PM on November 8, 2007

Indictments like Kerik's today are far more important than endorsements--and Pat and Rudy are both insane anyway, so it fits. This says that all the graduates they placed in the Exec. Branch from Robertson's college/law school don't have to worry about their jobs, and that the pipeline will keep flowing.

The media might want to actually force Rudy to speak of Robertson's stances on 9/11 and everything else...i won't hold my breath.
posted by amberglow at 4:55 PM on November 8, 2007

Robertson's stances on 9/11 and everything else...i won't hold my breath.

That's all down the memory hole at this point. The fact that anyone anywhere still listens to Pat Robertson though, I find astonishing. He's just another one of these well-heeled jerks that is entirely too intelligent to believe the shit he tries to sell, but does it anyway in a bald-faced and cynical effort maintain his social and financial position. That Giuliani will say absolutely anything to get and keep power, well, that just makes them birds of a feather.

Dobson is a motherfucker, but at least he seems to believe his own bullshit.
posted by psmealey at 5:32 PM on November 8, 2007

Dobson is a motherfucker, but at least he seems to believe his own bullshit.

You know who else believed his own bullshit?
posted by ericb at 5:57 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

touché, ericb... or rather: ja-WOHL!

strangely similar to an earlier discussion I had with someone w/r/t whether it would be better or worse that Ann Coulter didn't believe her own bullshit
posted by psmealey at 5:59 PM on November 8, 2007

You know who else believed his own bullshit?

Metafilter reminds you that your own bullshit cannot speak. In the event that your own bullshit does speak, Metafilter urges you to disregard its advice.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:11 PM on November 8, 2007

Pat Robertson and his ilk were never about religion and spirituality to begin with. They just exploited religiosity as a means to an end. Pat Robertson has always had more in common with Richard Nixon than the Dalai Lama.
posted by Huplescat at 6:11 PM on November 8, 2007

Since before the Dark Ages and the Roman Catholic Church (hell, since before the Romans! Since before Pharoahs!), religion has been a way to control the masses. Control is power. Power corrupts.

They always mean well when they start out, but it never seems to end well. I'm sure Robertson's a nice guy face to face who dotes on his grandchildren and has a smile for anyone he considers a neighbor, but people who differ from his world view are not in his opinion, neighbors. That's kinda the line that is drawn in his sand: that's where his idealism and dedication starts to break down.

I can't support anyone who Robertson supports, because I'm precisely the sorta person who Robertson claims will burn in hell. Funny thing is, so is Rudy. He can claim political support to Giuliani, but that doesn't mean he really supports the man. He still thinks Rudy's gonna burn in hell.

That's just sad, really. When you think about it. I feel sorry for both of them. They have a manufactured reality made of rice paper, and they think it's concrete. Houses of sand and all that, but then, even contemplating that may make me just as much a hypocrite as Robertson.

I guess the only difference there is, I can see the rice paper. I can see the sand.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:05 PM on November 8, 2007

That last part reads entirely corny and pretentious. Somebody just shoot me. plskthxby!
posted by ZachsMind at 8:46 PM on November 8, 2007

Indictments like Kerik's today are far more important than endorsements-

Let's all say it together now: Culture of corruption.

Guiliani's name should never ever ever ever again be uttered without Bernard Kerik's name being included.


*Squints*
posted by Skygazer at 8:27 AM on November 9, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Guiliani's name should never ever ever ever again be uttered without Bernard Kerik's name being included.

Or Amadou Diallo or Abner Louima.
posted by psmealey at 8:36 AM on November 9, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

amen, psmealey--and speaking of Rudy and race: Giuliani Poised To Launch His Own Version Of The "Southern Strategy"
posted by amberglow at 4:46 PM on November 9, 2007

perfect:

...We are living in extraordinarily dangerous times, when evil, rather than justice, prevails. The schoolyard is terrorized by thugs and punks with names like Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, Robertson, Clinton, Rockefeller, Rice, Rumsfeld, Perle, Kristol and Giuliani—pedigreed people all.
...
The thugs and punks are aggressive without restraint, and they wear the garments of priests and saints and public service. Their minds are disturbed, their hands stained with the blood of the innocent. Their conscience, if it exists at all, is unstained by guilt or principle. ...
posted by amberglow at 5:38 PM on November 9, 2007

Guiliani's name should never ever ever ever again be uttered without Bernard Kerik's name being included.

Or Amadou Diallo or Abner Louima.
posted by psmealey at 11:36 AM


Or Chris Ofili's painting “The Holy Virgin Mary” (1996), which makes use of elephant dung. The painter, British-born and a Catholic, is of Nigerian descent and makes use of the material in reference to his African ancestry.
posted by Skygazer at 8:19 PM on November 9, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]