Church Life

Pat Down

Can Robertson take any more PR hits?

Pat Robertson took a pretty serious PR hit when his 700 Club show blamed the September 11 attacks on the ACLU, homosexuals, and others. But lately his businesses have taken the most serious damage.

On November 6, his for-profit Web site, Christianity.com, announced it was closing. Two days later, a federal district judge stopped his plans to reopen a California oil refinery. Two days after that, Washington Post columnist Colbert I. King attacked him (for the fourth time) for cozying up to Liberian dictator Charles Taylor while arranging a gold-mining agreement.

Robertson’s latest book is titled Bring It On, but can he really take much more?

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Also appearing on our site today:

Robertson Takes Flak for Gold-Mining VentureFreedom Gold has not yet mined much in Liberia, but it is already producing critical media attention for its founder.

Related Christianity Today coverage includes:

Weblog: Saving Christianity.comLifeAudio.com announces it will take over Pat Robertson’s Christianity.com Web site. (Dec. 14, 2001)

Weblog: Robertson Says He’s Quitting PoliticsWhat is fascinating is how much harsher the conservative press is on Robertson and the Coalition than the mainstream is. (Dec. 6, 2001)

Weblog: Christianity.com Falls. Is Crosswalk.com Next?The site is closing down and will lay off almost all of its three dozen or so employees by November 15. (Nov. 7, 2001)

Weblog: As the World Prays, Falwell and Robertson Blame ACLU, Gays, and Others for ‘Deserved’ AttackHas America provoked God to remove his hand of protection from the land? (Sept. 14, 2001)

Weblog: Did Pat Robertson Just Defend China’s One-Child Policy?Broadcaster’s comments spell the demise of the Christian Coalition, says former senior staffer. Other Christians are furious. (April 18, 2001)

Colbert King’s Washington Post columns on Pat Robertson include:

Pat Robertson’s Gold — (Sept. 22, 2001)

Pat Robertson: His Liberia Deal — (Oct. 20, 2001)

Death and Diamonds in Liberia — (Nov. 3, 2001)

Pat Robertson and His Business Buddies — (Nov.10, 2001)

Bunkum From Pat Robertson — (Dec. 1, 2001)

Pat Robertson’s letter to the editor refuting the allegations made against him in The Washington Post is posted online at Robertson’s official site.

On November 9, according to The New York Times, an order by a federal district judge in Los Angeles took effect, temporarily stripping the oil company that Robertson controls of its permits and halting its plans to turn crude oil into gasoline for charitable purposes.

Robertson’s Bring It On is available at Christianbook.com.

See the official site for the 700 Club.

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