GOD ON HIS TICKET
Emma Gilbey listens to
a presidential candidate with a direct line to God
New York PAT Robertson has now let it be known he is prepared to run for the presidency. The Republican evangelist owns the Christian Broadcasting Network, which is one of the largest cable systems in the country. His talk show, The 700 Club, has him as its star and attracts some of the top political figures in the country. Robertson's announcement took place in Washington but was transmitted to huge screens in selected meeting halls across the country. The evening lasted for three hours and was a combination of song, dance and prayer. No one has ever declared in this .way before, though Reagan lifted the lid on a vast Pandora's box when he brought Holly- wood to the White House.
The evening kicked off with singing by those all-American boys and girls who are now an inevitable part of American patrio- tic proceedings. The audience started clap- ping along fairly early on, for these were the converted. This was an event you had to have a ticket to and it had not been publicly advertised. • After the troupe, the zealots were told to give a warm welcome to Mr Phil Driscoll, an evangelical pop singer, which they obligingly did. By 'warm' I mean they stood up and cheered. Mr Driscoll came on and sang 'Let Freedom Reign', accom- panying himself on the trumpet. Members of the crowd were now swaying and giving the pentecostal sign of prayer — raised, outstretched arms (to embrace the Lord). The master stroke of Mr Driscoll's per- formance was the singing of 'My Eyes Have Seen the Glory', for the chorus of this hymn is 'Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.' This introduced the word 'Hallelujah' to the audience for the first time that night. They fell on it enthusiastically and used it as their response for the rest of the night, occasionally alternating it with 'Amen'.
Continuing the religious theme of this political rally, the audience were now able to listen to the Evangel Temple Choir. They didn't just listen, though. They danced in the aisles as they sang along. The evening slowed down after this, while breathing returned to normal. A film was shown of some people being asked 'Should Pat go for it?' Naturally he should. 'If Christians will support him, we've got it made,' said one man. 'It's God's will,' said another. 'One nation under God.' God's ordained him to be the next president of the United States.' Go for it, Pat!' they finally shouted. 'Go for it, Pat!' everyone shouted back.
Jamie Buckingham, a pentecostal writer, then entered to lead the prayer and the singing of 'God Bless America'. Lest it be forgotten that there was more to this evening than religion, he also led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.
A group of people now came on, one after another, to say what Pat meant to them as individuals. These people had been chosen, I felt, not only for their individual merit, but for what faction of society they represented. Miss Randall Ann Brooks was the first speaker. She, believe it or not, had been the star of Annie some years earlier. She liked Pat because he made her appreciate `my performance as a person'. He also valued principles more highly than politics, which Miss Brooks admired. She was followed by Ben Waldman, a young Jew, who had worked as a Jewish-coalition director on Reagan's campaign before joining his staff at the White House. He read aloud a letter of resignation he had written to Mr Reagan. He was going to be with Pat.
Rosey Grier (colour of skin black) then entered. Rosey had a hard time controlling his tears as he talked about every war America had ever been involved in. 'Men refuse to love, y'see, and God is love.' `Amen' was whispered throughout the hall. `I'm gonna go with God,' resolved Rosey. `Amen for America!' came the enthusiastic response.
Mrs Beverley LaHaye, head of Con- cerned Women for America, talked about the importance of traditional family values. Pat, luckily, has 'been married to his lovely wife Dee Dee for 32 years.' But she forgot to mention her own husband, Tim, the chairman of the Coalition for Religious Freedom, which defends the Revd Sun Myung Moon.
A man called Art Williams came on and said he didn't like politicians. Robertson's campaign is heavily directed towards the 50 per cent or more of the electorate who don't vote. They don't like politics, they don't like politicians. The idea is that maybe they will be inspired to vote, not for a politician, but for a religious leader. Four religious leaders of different Southern churches came on and publicly endorsed Pat, before the advent of Mr Robertson himself. (Cheers, prayer signs, 'Amen', `Halleluj ah'.) He went straight into talking about the importance of religion and morality in politics throughout history be- fore outlining his policies. Education: `There can be no education without moral- ity and there can be no lasting morality without religion.' Economics: 'Federal spending is out of control because of the clamour of special-interest groups. . . ev- ery citizen will have the right to pursue happiness, but happiness will not be guaranteed for every citizen.' Trade: Pat believes in free trade and an open market, but it must be fair trade. He took the opportunity 'to serve notice on the Japanese — either give us access to your markets or we will shut down America's markets to you.' Nicaragua: Pat spoke of the cruelty of the Sandinistas and the awful chains of human bondage that our fellow human beings have to endure as a result of communist tyranny. 'Our goal is that no longer will communist tyranny be financed by loans and credits.' He didn't specifically mention a nuclear policy, but he has made no secret in the past that his policy there is based on Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39: `Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come into my nostrils . . . .' The inter- pretation is that the Soviets will invade Israel and God will provide a natural disaster — such as an earthquake — to offset this. Or man will just have to drop a bomb. It is true. It has been written.
`And now for a personal note from me.' Pat and God had spoken and Pat had decided that if in one year's time he had received petitions from three million voters saying that they were willing to work on and finance his campaign, then he would run. (If he had declared now he would have had to come off television or grant equal air time to his opponents. This way he gets his campaign moving and stays on the air.) The ushers passed out envelopes that contained ready-printed petitions for sign- atures to be collected on and forms for donations that looked like Pat could be bought by mail order. Payment could be made by Barclaycard or Access or cash or cheque, $100 for a single person, $200 for a man and wife. 'If it's possible,' urged Pat, `try and include a cheque tonight, or cash or whatever.'
And then it was all over. Pat said how moved he'd been and left. Most people left determined to continue working for Pat. I had found it a terrifying experience.
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