According to Pat Robertson, Christians Are Crazy and Bloodthirsty

President Obama recently signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Pat Robertson is very upset. He believes that the law is bad news for Christians:

The noose has tightened around the necks of Christians to keep them from speaking out on certain moral issues. And it all was embodied in something called the Hate crimes bill that President Obama said was a major victory for America. I’m not sure if America was the beneficiary. . . .We have voted into office a group of people who are opposed to many of the fundamental Christian beliefs of our nation. And they hold to radical ideology, and they are beginning put people sharing their points of view into high office. And not only that, they not only have control of both houses of Congress.

Assuming that people who believe Pat Robertson have the capacity to read, here is the actual language from the statute that addresses "hate crimes" committed on the basis of sexual orientation (and other categories):

Whoever . . . willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person. . . [shall be liable for criminal penalties stated in this legislation].

So, in order to believe Robertson, one must also believe that Christians, by definition, want to "willfully" cause "bodily injury" to people in the listed categories. Robertson's grotesque logic also requires the listener to ignore the fact that the law also protects Christians -- and everyone else -- from religion-based violence.

Earth to Robertson: Your blatant lies are a bigger threat to Christianity than this legislation.