With today's news of an endorsement of Rudy Giuliani by Pat Robertson, I thought it would be worth taking a trip down memory lane to what Rudy deemed an "absurd" explanation for 9/11, one that got him so riled up and upset. And we can compare and contrast that with Pat Robertson's explanation. Then we can shudder and weep that someone like Rudy is taken seriously enough to be a front runner for the presidency.
First, a reminder about what Ron Paul said in the GOP debate in May:
They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We've been in the Middle East [for years]. I think (Ronald) Reagan was right. We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. Right now, we're building an embassy in Iraq that is bigger than the Vatican. We're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting.
Rudy's response?
That's really an extraordinary statement. That's really an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of Sept. 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don't think I have ever heard that before and I have heard some pretty absurd explanations for Sept. 11. I would ask the congressman withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn't really mean that.
Of course, as we all know, Ron Paul was the one living in the reality-based world, and you can read all about the substantive facts that lend credence to his statement that 9/11 was ultimately rooted in foreign policy decisions.
But then, of course, there's this from Pat Robertson:
JERRY FALWELL: The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way--all of them who have tried to secularize America--I point the finger in their face and say "you helped this happen."
PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I totally concur...
How does Rudy react? By proudly accepting his endorsement.
So, in sum, the GOP front runner believes the following:
The idea that 9-11 had its roots in foreign policy decisions is "absurd."
The idea that 9-11 had its roots in God striking us down for abortions and homosexuality - just peachy.