Pat Robertson may be getting on in years; he’s turning 86 next month. Yet, any Republican candidate who has any promises of winning over the religious right still must have his blessing. Well, the Virginia Beach Ayatollah may have tipped his hand with whom he invited to a town hall at his Regent University. Ted Cruz? Ben Carson? Nope. Try Donald Trump.
The forum was moderated by David Brody, the chief Washington correspondent for Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network. Shortly after Trump took the stage, he asked Robertson to join him, and the two absolutely fawned over each other. People for the American Way’s Right Wing Watch got a clip.
Trump called Robertson “one of the most amazing people in the country” and “our great friend.” Robertson returned the favor, telling Trump, “You inspire us all.”
At first, the gathering was vintage Trump, complete with the usual rant against illegal immigration. But, this being Regent University, Trump must have felt obligated to throw some red meat to his mostly fundie audience. With a little prodding from Robertson, Trump made some promises that should eliminate any doubt about what a Trump presidency will bring. Watch here.
Robertson pointed out that the next president could potentially appoint as many as three justices, he asked Trump what his criteria would be for filling those vacancies. Trump almost immediately offered praise for Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, who are now the two most conservative justices on the Court. He said they were both “terrific.” However, he blasted Chief Justice John Roberts for voting two times to save Obamacare. Trump reminded the audience that none other than Ted Cruz pushed hard for Roberts’ appointment. Thus, Trump said, “Senator Cruz gave us Obamacare in a true sense.”
Pressed further by Robertson, Trump said that first and foremost, he would pick someone who was “pro-life”–which drew stormy applause from the crowd. He further added that any judges he appoints will be “very conservative,” and cited the late Antonin Scalia as a model. He was doubling down on promises he made last week, when he told Brody that he would work to get Roe v. Wade “unpassed” and condemned the “shocking” decision in favor of marriage equality. That latter interview could be one reason why Trump went gangbusters in South Carolina last weekend. Brody’s blog, the Brody File, is one of the go-to blogs for social conservatives.
It was one thing for Robertson to give Trump what amounted to a standing ovation for his blatant Islamophobia in December. But his fawning of Trump at Regent takes it to a whole other level. After all, Robertson is apparently inspired by a guy who makes vulgar attacks on women, plasters private cell phone numbers on social media, mocked a reporter whom he almost certainly knew was disabled, and condones thuggish behavior from his supporters. Then again, we are talking a guy who thought the Haiti earthquake was punishment for that impoverished country making “a pact with the devil.”
I’ve always known the religious right was taking its followers for a ride. But now that one of its most prominent leaders is openly embracing a guy who, by any definition, is morally unfit for the presidency, I’m sure of it.
