We should have seen this coming: Today, televangelist Pat Robertson inexplicably said Haitians brought the earthquake on themselves because the country has been “cursed” since it made a pact with Satan in the 18th century. (An assertion disputed by this Haitian minister.) The extreme backlash we’ve already seen to the comments proves yet again Robertson is out of touch with the feelings of the vast majority of Christians. Instead of calling a country cursed during a national tragedy, Christian leaders should be focusing on what so many Christians already are doing—leading the charge with prayer, sacrificial aid and demonstrating the love of Christ. Christians should be known for healing, not causing more hurt. Just our two cents

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You see what we’re up against

Every once in a while, something happens that gives us a clear picture of just how insane and malevolent some figures on the American right are. Few acts of God have the power to do this more than a devastating earthquake that kills as yet untold thousands of humans who just happen to have black skin.

Pat Robertson, a “religious leader” with a tremendous following in this country and still a fair amount of political influence, although not what he had 20 years ago, said:

“Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it,” he said on Christian Broadcasting Network’s “The 700 Club.” “They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. 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, okay it’s a deal.”

True story. Can you imagine? As I recall things, Haiti won its independence in 1804, and Louie Napoleon, i.e. Nap the Third, didn’t take power until after the 1848 revolutions. And rather more importantly, there’s that devil business.

Then there’s Rush Limbaugh:

Limbaugh also seems to feel we’ve done enough already for Haiti: “We’ve already donated to Haiti. It’s called the U.S. income tax.”

International friends, this is what we’re up against here. No event is beyond politics. Everything that happens in the world — a tragedy that destroys a country and kills little children — is to be put to a political purpose and reduced to an us versus them frame. All the better when the “them” are black, which at this point in history they don’t even need to say. They know their listeners will get it.

Limbaugh couldn’t have suffered a heart attack. He’d have to have one first.