Pat Robertson Says You Should be Christian First and American Second, But Attacks Muslims Who Put Religion Ahead of Nationality

Today The 700 Club featured an inflammatory report about Muslims in Spain that featured interviews with members of the far-right extremist party Platform for Catalonia, a fiercely anti-Muslim and anti-Roma (gypsy) party. Later in the broadcast, Robertson was asked why he tells viewers to consider themselves Christians first and Americans second but attacks Muslims who also put their religion ahead of their nationality. Robertson tried to explain that while Christians should be commended for doing that, it isn’t appropriate for Muslims because they are “under the control of the domination mentally of the thought processes that come out of Mecca.” The right-wing televangelist, who frequently rails against the rights of women, religious minorities and the LGBT community, boldly claimed, “I don’t believe in controlling people.”

Watts: Gerald says, ‘Pat, earlier today you ran a report about Muslims in Spain. The reporter mentioned that seven out of ten Muslims there consider themselves to be Muslims first, rather than Spanish. It was presented as if it’s a bad thing. But is it wrong that they put their religion before their nationality? After all, do you consider yourself to be a Christian first, or an American?’

Robertson: That’s a good, good question. Of course I consider myself to be Christian first, American second. But this Muslim thing is a cultural matter. I don’t want to go force women to wear certain kinds of dress and to have certain dietary laws and to marry a certain way, I don’t believe in controlling people. I think good citizenship says if I’m a good Christian I’ll also be a good citizen. But if I am under control of a foreign power that’s a whole different matter and that’s what we’re talking about here; are they under the control of the domination mentally of the thought processes that come out of Mecca? If that’s the case they’re not going to be good citizens of Spain so, no being a good Christian ahead of being America is not a bad thing.