Nation
Pat Robertson, Influential Christian Broadcaster and Political Figure, Passes Away at 93
Pat Robertson, the renowned Christian broadcaster and influential figure in Republican politics, passed away at the age of 93, Thursday. While the cause of his death was not disclosed, Robertson’s impact on both religious media and political landscape cannot be overstated.
Robertson gained widespread recognition through his popular television show, the “700 Club,” which became a cornerstone of Christian broadcasting worldwide. His efforts in transforming a local Virginia TV station into the global Christian Broadcasting Network contributed significantly to the expansion of religious programming and its influence on mainstream media.
Notably, Robertson’s foray into politics during the 1988 presidential campaign left an indelible mark on the Republican Party’s relationship with evangelical voters. Although he finished in second place in the Iowa caucuses, ahead of Vice President George H.W. Bush, his innovative strategy of courting Iowa’s evangelical churches revolutionized campaigning techniques and helped solidify the alliance between the Republican Party and evangelical voters.
Subsequently, the Christian Coalition, an organization founded by Robertson, became a significant force in shaping conservative politics, particularly regarding social and religious issues.
Beyond his media ventures, Robertson was instrumental in establishing various organizations committed to furthering Christian values and aiding those in need. Regent University, an evangelical Christian school in Virginia Beach, served as a platform for educating future leaders with a focus on faith-based principles.
Additionally, Robertson’s American Center for Law and Justice defended the First Amendment rights of religious individuals, while Operation Blessing, an international humanitarian organization, provided vital assistance to communities worldwide.
Born Marion Gordon “Pat” Robertson in 1930, in Lexington, Virginia, Robertson came from a politically active family. His father, Absalom Willis Robertson, had a distinguished career as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Virginia.
Furthermore, Robertson’s own journey led him to serve in the military during the Korean War before pursuing a law degree at Yale University. Although he did not pursue a legal career after failing the bar exam, his endeavors in broadcasting and politics propelled him to international prominence.
Pat Robertson’s passing marks the end of an era in Christian broadcasting and political activism. His visionary contributions not only shaped the landscape of religious media but also had a lasting impact on the Republican Party’s alignment with evangelical voters.
As his legacy continues to influence American politics and the Christian community, the mark left by this influential broadcaster and political figure will be remembered for generations to come.
Follow Alexander Carter on Twitter @AlexCarterDC for more!
education
Parents, advocates call on leaders to step down after ZERO children pass math at 13 Baltimore state schools
How long will leaders who let our children down blame Covid-19 for their failures? Anger swept across Baltimore, Maryland, after not a single student passed their state math exams, and almost 75 percent testing at the lowest possible score.
The Daily Mail reports “The poor performances came in the latest round of Maryland‘s state testing, where 13 high schools in the city – a staggering 40 percent – failed to produce a single student with a ‘proficient’ score in math.” Baltimore City Schools not only received $1.6 billion last year from taxpayers, but the school district also received $799 million in Covid relief funding from the federal government.
“So, it’s not a funding issue. We’re getting plenty of funding,” said Jason Rodriguez, deputy director of Baltimore-based nonprofit People Empowered by the Struggle, to Fox Baltimore. “I don’t think money is the issue. I think accountability is the issue…This is educational homicide, there is no excuse for the failure, which has come after years of warnings over the city’s poor education standards,” added Rodriguez.
A bombshell study published this month by the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) found that 16 million students were chronically absent during the pandemic. “The millions of students had missed more than 10 percent of schools days during the 2021-22 year, twice the number seen in previous years. More than eight in 10 public schools also reported stunted behavioral and social-emotional development in their students due to the pandemic, according to a May survey cited in the report.”
However, six years ago a similar report by Project Baltimore found that 13 schools in the city had zero students test ‘proficiently’ in math. An almost identical finding. “We’re still dealing with these same issues year after year,” Rodriguez continued. “It’s just scary to me and alarming to me because we know that what’s happening now, you know, it’s just opening up the floodgates to the school-to-prison pipeline. I’m beyond angry… This is why we’ve been calling for the resignation of the school CEO.”
Daily Mail notes that Rodriguez’s group has previously held rallies over the mounting educational crisis in the city, and in 2021 led calls for Baltimore City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises to resign over low test scores and falling graduation rates.
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