Does Giuliani Agree With Pat Robertson's Views on 9/11?

Posted by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report at 3:00 PM on November 7, 2007.

This post, written by Steve Benen, originally appeared on The Carpetbagger Report

By some measurements, TV preacher Pat Robertson is perhaps weaker when it comes to terrorism than any prominent American in public life. If he were a liberal, Robertson probably would have been run out of the country by now.

Just since Sept. 11, 2001, Robertson has blamed the terrorist attacks on Americans, and agreed that we "deserved" to be attacked. He's argued that federal judges are more dangerous than "a few bearded-terrorists who fly into buildings," dismissing the seriousness of jihadists that many conservatives threaten the future of Western civilization. Robertson has even gone so far as to openly invite a terrorist attack on the State Department. I know the right likes to carelessly throw around words like "treason" and "traitor," but when it comes to terrorism, it's safe to say Pat Robertson probably isn't on our side.

And yet, Rudy Giuliani couldn't have been more pleased to stand with the crazed televangelist this morning, and accept his endorsement.

Greg Sargent talked with one of Robertson's religious-right cohorts -- who aren't nearly as impressed with the pro-choice, pro-gay serial adulterer -- who raised the right question.

"9/11 is what Rudy's campaign is fundamentally based on," Charmaine Yoest, a vice president at Family Research Council Action, told us. "This does beg the question -- does Rudy agree with Robertson's comments about 9/11?"

Yoest also added that it should be asked whether Rudy agrees with Robertson on a whole host of other issues, such as Robertson's defense of China's one-child policy.

Good questions. Will anyone else ask them?

Pat Robertson's record of truly insane remarks -- about terrorism, about Americans, about natural disasters -- is practically endless. Any campaign reporters want to ask Giuliani about any of this? Please?

Put it this way: if, say, John Edwards hosted a press conference to announce an endorsement from Ward Churchill, would reporters ask Edwards whether he agrees with some of Churchill's controversial remarks?

Tagged as: 9/11, terrorism, religious right, election08, giuliani, robertson

Steve Benen is a freelance writer/researcher and creator of The Carpetbagger Report. In addition, he is the lead editor of Salon.com's Blog Report, and has been a contributor to Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, Crooks & Liars, The American Prospect, and the Guardian.