WH Denounces Pat Robertson, Rush Limbaugh Haiti Comments

Much has been written on this site about the despicable comments of Pat Robertson (who said that the Haiti earthquake was the result of a pact with Satan) and Rush Limbaugh (who, among other things, urged his listeners not to donate to relief efforts), both of which came up at today’s White House press briefing. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs‘ responses were properly calibrated to the importance of these men at a time such as this.

Gibbs was first asked about Robertson, but didn’t get far before being interrupted:

Transcript:

Q And just one more quick question. What did you think of Pat Robertson’s comments yesterday that the Haitians brought this on themselves by making a pact with the devil?

MR. GIBBS: It never ceases to amaze that in times of amazing human suffering somebody says something that could be so utterly stupid, but it like clockwork happens with some regularity. What is — well, I won’t –

Q Hey, Robert, you were going to come back on AIG –

Q No, go ahead.

MR. GIBBS: No, no, no, no, I got — hold on, let me just go –

Q You wanted to say something.

MR. GIBBS: Yes, I know, and I — the universal right of a –

Q Unburden yourself.

MR. GIBBS: — free press secretary to — no, I won’t. You know, well, I’ll tell you afterwards, it actually applies to what I might have said and I quickly formulated it through and — go ahead.

Q It would have been very stupid.

MR. GIBBS: Yes, it would. (Laughter.)

At the very end of the briefing, however, he had the opportunity to revisit both comments:

Transcript:

Q Robert, Rush Limbaugh says that Americans shouldn’t donate to Haiti. What do you say about that?

MR. GIBBS: Again, I’d refer you back to the — again, I think in times of great crisis there are always people that say really stupid things. I don’t know how anybody — I don’t know how anybody could sit where he does, having enjoyed the success that he has, and not feel some measure of sorrow for what has happened in Haiti. I think to use the power of your pulpit to try to convince those not to help their brothers and sisters is sad. My sense is that most people, though, because they understand we’re part of an amazing world, won’t listen, and instead will seek to help those that they know, because through no fault of their own, have suffered an unspeakable tragedy.

Gibbs is right, of course. Most Americans will ignore Rush, whose previous yardstick on Haiti was his perception of the quality of their prostitutes (really), but some won’t. At a time when every little bit counts, that really is sad.

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