Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell said in a brief interview yesterday that he had not seen religious broadcaster Pat Robertson's comments on Haiti directly, "but from what I know of them, I disagree with those comments."
Robertson, talking about earthquake-devastated Haiti,said Wednesday that ever since its people made a pact with the devil to get out from under French rule, they "have been cursed by one thing after another."
McDonnell was asked to comment on Robertson after the governor-elect toured Henrico County's Regional Jail East.
"My heart goes out to the people of Haiti," McDonnell said. "The scope of the devastation and the hardship on the people and the scope of the death toll is just heartbreaking."
He called on Virginians and Americans to help the people of Haiti.
The governor-elect received his law degree from the Robertson School of Government at Regent University, which was founded by Robertson.
McDonnell has said he expects Robertson, a longtime political ally and donor, to attend his inauguration tomorrow.
A magnitude-7 earthquake hit Haiti on Tuesday.
A White House spokesman yesterday slammed Robertson's remark that Haiti has been cursed.
"It never ceases to amaze me that in times of amazing human suffering, somebody says something that can be so utterly stupid," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Robertson's spokesman said the comments were based on Voodoo rituals carried out before a slave rebellion against French colonists in 1791.
Spokesman Chris Roslan said Robertson never said the earthquake was God's wrath.
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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