Should we stop being surprised by Pat Robertson?

Across the blogosphere, the atheist media websites, and even occasionally on the news, people react to the vile words of Pat Robertson.

Robertson, a former baptist minister, and currently host of the Christian Broadcast Network, and it's flagship, the 700 club. The numerous media-focused industries, companies which make their living recording and selling clips to various news and media companies, such as The Daily Show, CNN, or MSNBC, have been recording Robertson and his ilk in hopes they catch another boneheaded thing coming out of his mouth...

The headlines are always interesting...

Pat Robertson dismisses "nutty" climate scientists
Pat Robertson prays to make you a millionaire
Pat Robertson blames atheists for Sikh temple shooting
Pat Robertson: Ignore Bible on slavery
Pat Robertson: "Miserable" atheists trying to "steal" Christmas
Pat Robertson blames Haiti's "pact to the devil" for catastrophe

They go on and on... So why are people so concerned about the ramblings of an old man? What's the difference between him and your awkwardly-racist older relative who is not living in modern times?

On the website, the Christian Broadcasting Network claims "CBN programs have aired in approximately 108 languages in 218 different countries and territories, from Mandarin to Spanish and from Turkish to Welsh."  Furthermore, any more than a cursory glance at the network and it's primary goal is clear... to bring money in.

Although I can not say what that money has gone towards, and as a non-profit organization, they have continuously refused to disclose their financial information. The Better Business Bureau has never been able to give it a rating, simply because they refuse to play ball and hide under the protection religion offers them. In 2006, CBN brought in $462,597,261 and will not state what it was spent on. Pat Robertson himself is said to be worth $200 Million.

At any moment, according to Nielsen ratings, there might be half a million people watching in on his show, being fed what they want to hear so they donate money. What are they being told? The 700 Club shows it's viewers a person who was at the brink of bankruptcy, but gave their last $20 to the 700 club, and all of a sudden they received a $100,000 a year job, and bought a brand new big house, all through the glory of god. They will milk people dry and just like a faith healer, if things do not work out, it was only because the caller was not righteous enough. 


At 83 years old this month, Robertson has no shame, and tends to fabricate more fiction than L. Ron Hubbard. 


Just check this clip out... Titled Pat Robertson says used clothes can harbor demons. 

This man influences the ignorant and the faithful to give him money with messages of bigotry, hatred, anti-science rhetoric, and racism. After all that, he is protected by government under a tax-exempt religious non-profit. Is this not worse than running a money laundering business? Is this not worse than thieving people with false hopes and encouraging poverty while living in opulent luxury? If this is going to be legal, I insist they pay taxes and document where people's money goes.