Senator John Kerry (D-MA) called for an apology from Rev. Pat Robertson for comments that suggested Sharon's stroke was a punishment from God, RAW STORY can reveal.
"It is beyond shocking to think that as Prime Minister Sharon fights for his life, Pat Robertson would attack his character and disparage the risks Ariel Sharon took to bring peace and security to Israel," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement this morning.
"At a time like this, you'd expect bigoted tin-horn dictators and petty thugs like President Ahmadinejad of Iran to attack Sharon, but no American who claims to be a leader should stoop so low," he added. "Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to hear such venom from someone who claimed Hurricane Katrina was punishment for the people of New Orleans."
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"Ariel Sharon is a courageous and good man, and he deserves the world's prayers, just as the people of Israel today deserve an apology from Pat Robertson," Kerry concluded.
Robertson claimed Thursday that the deteriorating health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was divine punishment for a soft stance on Israel. Sharon, who turns 78 next month, is in critical condition following a cerebral hemorrhage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen I said last year that Israel was entering into the most dangerous periods of its entire existence as a nation. That is intensifying this year with the loss of Sharon. Sharon was personally a very likeable person and I am sad to see him in this condition, but I think we need to look at the Bible and the Book of Joel. The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land.' God considers this land to be His. 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 had a wonderful meeting with Yitzhak Rabin in 1974. He was tragically assassinated, it was a terrible thing that happened but nevertheless he was dead. And now Ariel Sharon who again was a very likeable person, a delightful person to be with, I prayed with him personally, but here he's at the point of death. He was dividing God's land and I would say woe unto any Prime Minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations, or the United States of America. God says 'this land belongs to me. You'd better leave it alone.'"
People for the American Way has also released a video of the monologue, available here for broadband, here for dial-up users, and here in broadcast quality (large file). Media Matters also has the video here.
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) called for an apology from Rev. Pat Robertson for comments that suggested Sharon's stroke was a punishment from God,