From Publishers Weekly
"Teflon televangelist" Pat Robertson, target of liberal ridicule, nevertheless has the Republican Party in a headlock, argues the author of this screed. Boston, a staffer at Americans United for Separation of Church and State and an editor at Church and State magazine, has set out to prove that Robertson remains both powerful and dangerous, despite his defeat in the 1988 Republican presidential primary and his apparent retreat from politics to make way for such younger religious-right leaders as Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed. Boston largely succeeds at this task, citing extreme Robertson statements along with evidence of campaign-law violations and shady business deals, to create a portrait of a man who holds views on a par with the wildest conspiracy theories of Louis Farrakhan, yet whose power to deliver votes prevents GOP leaders from criticizing him. Boston's writing is energetic, clear and laced with humor-although he sometimes engages in rhetorical overkill rather than let the evidence of Robertson's extremism speak for itself. Faced with a Robertson gem like "What is Hinduism but devil worship, ultimately?" who in Boston's audience really needs him to point out that Hinduism "most assuredly does not advocate worship of Satan"? Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Boston, affiliated with American United for Separation of Church and State, makes no attempt to conceal his animus toward Robertson and the Christian Coalition. He believes that Robertson has rebounded from his unsuccessful 1988 presidential bid and the concurrent TV evangelist scandals to an even more influential position than before. He portrays Robertson as two-faced, presenting himself as reasonable and moderate to the general media but making demagogic statements in his 700 Club broadcasts and books, which the secular media ignore. Boston diligently surveyed the broadcasts and literature, documenting numerous contradictions in Robertson's positions in the two forums. He also surveys the Christian Coalition's impact on the 1994 elections, with dire predictions for 1996. Only time will tell as to the accuracy of these predictions. For both lay and informed readers.?Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., Cal.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Midwest Book Review
One of the most powerful and potentially dangerous religious/political movements in American history has been built by right-wing televangelist Pat Robertson. The Christian Coalition (broadcasting fundamentalism and extreme politics to an audience of millions via the "700 Club") wields a might sword within the Republican party in at least 25 states. And GOP national leaders and presidential hopefuls court its favor. Despite his power, many Americans are not aware of Robertson's political views or his goals for the United States. Robert Boston examines Robertson's role in the contemporary political arena an his efforts to influence American society through various political organizations, businesses, and his broadcasting empire. Boston exposes Robertson's theocratic agenda and warns that if the political movement he heads continues to grow in power, American's religious and political freedoms will be placed in jeopardy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Televangelist Pat Robertson has built one of the most powerful religious-political movements in American history. His Christian Coalition's empire extends across the nation, encompasses nearly every media form, has legal and educational outlets, and is now so influential that presidential hopefuls court its favor. Despite this, many Americans are unaware of Robertson's extremism or his theocratic agenda. Government under Robertson's control would regress to a point where freedom for gays, women, and even those Christians who do not espouse Robertson's own brand of fundamentalism would be virtually nonexistent. And with the Christian Coalition's current hold over the Republican party, Robertson himself would not have to be in the White House to have control. By examining Robertson's own words, author Robert Boston exposes the Christian Coalition's ultimate goal of destroying the wall that separates church and state.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

"Teflon televangelist" Pat Robertson, target of liberal ridicule, nevertheless has the Republican Party in a headlock, argues the author of this screed. Boston, a staffer at Americans United for Separation of Church and State and an editor at Church and State magazine, has set out to prove that Robertson remains both powerful and dangerous, despite his defeat in the 1988 Republican presidential primary and his apparent retreat from politics to make way for such younger religious-right leaders as Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed. Boston largely succeeds at this task, citing extreme Robertson statements along with evidence of campaign-law violations and shady business deals, to create a portrait of a man who holds views on a par with the wildest conspiracy theories of Louis Farrakhan, yet whose power to deliver votes prevents GOP leaders from criticizing him. Boston's writing is energetic, clear and laced with humor-although he sometimes engages in rhetorical overkill rather than let the evidence of Robertson's extremism speak for itself. Faced with a Robertson gem like "What is Hinduism but devil worship, ultimately?" who in Boston's audience really needs him to point out that Hinduism "most assuredly does not advocate worship of Satan"? (June)

Library Journal

Boston, affiliated with American United for Separation of Church and State, makes no attempt to conceal his animus toward Robertson and the Christian Coalition. He believes that Robertson has rebounded from his unsuccessful 1988 presidential bid and the concurrent TV evangelist scandals to an even more influential position than before. He portrays Robertson as two-faced, presenting himself as reasonable and moderate to the general media but making demagogic statements in his 700 Club broadcasts and books, which the secular media ignore. Boston diligently surveyed the broadcasts and literature, documenting numerous contradictions in Robertson's positions in the two forums. He also surveys the Christian Coalition's impact on the 1994 elections, with dire predictions for 1996. Only time will tell as to the accuracy of these predictions. For both lay and informed readers.-Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., Cal.

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