Early favorite for 2006 Asshole of the Year

Pat Robertson wastes no time in establishing himself as a formidable adversary in the competition for 2006's biggest asshole.

(AP) Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land."

"God considers this land to be his," Robertson said on his TV program "The 700 Club." "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.'"

Sharon, who ordered Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday.

It's nothing personal, adds Robertson:

In Robertson's broadcast from his Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, the evangelist said he had personally prayed about a year ago with Sharon, whom he called "a very tender-hearted man and a good friend." He said he was sad to see Sharon in this condition.

So, God is punishing this traitorous jew for giving away what you need to fulfill your wacked-out prophecy, but you're going to miss the lovable scoundrel.

What a load of horseshit. Pat Robertson has cynically exploited millions of decent and sincere Americans to enhance his own power and wealth. His lack of compassion and sympathy for the victims of tragedy, his deigning to claim to know the mind of God - these traits and behaviors reveal him as a hypocritical farce of a real Christian.