Only the Beginning of Sorrows

White House Spokesman Calls Pat Robertson's Haiti Remark "Stupid"
Larry Riggs

Virginia Beach, VA -- A White House spokesman has slammed evangelist broadcaster Pat Robertson's remark that earthquake-ravaged Haiti has been cursed.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday, "It never ceases to amaze, that in times of amazing human suffering somebody says something that can be so utterly stupid."

The day after the earthquake, Robertson said Haitians long ago pledged to serve the devil if he would help them win their independence from France, and the devil said, "It's a deal."

Robertson said, "ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other."

His spokesman said Robertson's comments were based on Voodoo rituals carried out before a slave rebellion against French colonists in 1791.