The Bilerico Project | Daily experiments in LGBTQ

What would the world of televangelism be without Pat Robertson? The original snake oil salesman with the penchant for preaching, Robertson oversees a worldwide empire of millions of viewers and listeners. He's also known for making outrageous, radical comments about social issues of the day. His empire also includes diamond and gold mines in Africa.

Yesterday Robertson started spouting off on his television show, The 700 Club. You know the one - it's always proceeded by the disclaimer, "This show paid us to air this. We do not necessarily agree with the content." There's a good reason why... This time the target of his ire is Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan President and long-time Bush detractor.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested on-air that American operatives assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to stop his country from becoming "a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism."

"We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," Robertson said Monday on the Christian Broadcast Network's "The 700 Club."

Robertson has made controversial statements in the past. In October 2003, he suggested that the State Department be blown up with a nuclear device. He has also said that feminism encourages women to "kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."