Pat Robertson, the controversial Christian broadcaster and political kingmaker, dies at 93

 Pat Robertson, the controversial Christian broadcaster and political kingmaker, dies at 93

Pat Robertson, a religious broadcaster who turned a tiny Virginia station into the global Christian Broadcasting Network, tried a run for president and helped make religion central to Republican Party politics in America through his Christian Coalition, has died. He was 93.

Robertson’s death Thursday was confirmed in an email by his broadcasting network. No cause was given.

Robertson’s enterprises also included Regent University, an evangelical Christian school in Virginia Beach; the American Center for Law and Justice, which defends the First Amendment rights of religious people; and Operation Blessing, an international humanitarian organization.

For more than a half-century, Robertson was a familiar presence in American living rooms, known for his “700 Club” television show, and in later years, his televised pronouncements of God’s judgment, blaming natural disasters on everything from homosexuality to the teaching of evolution.

The money poured in as he solicited donations, his influence soared, and he brought a huge following with him when he moved directly into politics by seeking the GOP presidential nomination in 1988.

Robertson pioneered the now-common strategy of courting Iowa’s network of evangelical Christian churches, and finished in second place in the Iowa caucuses, ahead of Vice President George H.W. Bush.

He eventually dropped out of the race after failing to win any primaries, but he used his political clout to form the Christian Coalition, a grassroots organization that mobilized conservative Christians to vote for Republican candidates who shared their values on issues such as abortion, gay rights and school prayer.

The Christian Coalition became a powerful force in American politics in the 1990s, helping Republicans win control of Congress in 1994 and boosting the presidential campaigns of Bob Dole in 1996 and George W. Bush in 2000.

Robertson himself remained a controversial figure, often making inflammatory statements that drew criticism from liberals and moderates alike. He once called feminism “a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.”

He also claimed that God told him who would win the 2004 presidential election (Bush), that God would punish Orlando for allowing gay pride events (by sending a meteor), that God would smite former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for dividing the land of Israel (by causing a stroke), and that God would unleash a massive terrorist attack on America if it elected Barack Obama (it didn’t happen).

Robertson also faced accusations of financial impropriety and misuse of funds from his humanitarian projects. He was criticized for using his Operation Blessing planes to transport diamond-mining equipment for his personal business venture in Africa. He also faced scrutiny for his involvement in a Liberian gold mine that was linked to former dictator Charles Taylor.

Despite these controversies, Robertson remained a revered figure among many evangelical Christians who admired his faith and vision. He was praised for his pioneering role in creating a Christian media empire that reached millions of people around the world with the gospel message.

He was also credited with raising awareness and providing aid for various humanitarian causes, such as hunger relief, disaster response, medical missions and orphan care.

Robertson was born Marion Gordon Robertson on March 22, 1930, in Lexington, Virginia. His father was a U.S. senator and his mother was a homemaker. He graduated from Washington and Lee University and Yale Law School before serving as a Marine officer in the Korean War.

He became a born-again Christian in 1959 after watching a televised sermon by evangelist Billy Graham. He then enrolled at New York Theological Seminary and earned a master’s degree in divinity.

He founded the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1960 with a $70 investment and a small UHF station in Portsmouth, Virginia. He later moved the network to Virginia Beach and expanded it to include radio stations, cable channels, satellite networks and online platforms.

He launched the “700 Club” in 1966 as a telethon to raise funds for CBN. The show evolved into a daily mix of news, commentary, interviews and prayer requests. It is still on the air today and reaches millions of viewers around the world.

He also founded Regent University in 1978 as a graduate school for Christian leaders. The university now offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in various fields of study. It has more than 11,000 students enrolled online and on campus.

He married Adelia “Dede” Elmer in 1954 and they had four children. He is survived by his wife, his children, 14 grandchildren and seven great-gra