Pat Robertson's approach to handling Chavez

Even by the standards of militant American conservatism, preacher, broadcaster and erstwhile politician Pat Robertson often seems beyond the pale, writes Niall Stanage.

Even by the standards of militant American conservatism, preacher, broadcaster and erstwhile politician Pat Robertson often seems beyond the pale, writes Niall Stanage.

Robertson, a candidate for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 1988, crashed into the limelight again last week when he used his TV show to recommend that the US assassinate the president of Venezuela.

President Hugo Chavez had apparently provoked Robertson's wrath by his leftist views and his general lack ...