White House adviser: Evangelist’s remark that Haiti is cursed doesn’t reflect American spirit

White House adviser criticizes evangelist’s remark

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A senior White House adviser says evangelist broadcaster Pat Robertson’s remark that Haiti has been “cursed” doesn’t express the spirit of the American people or the president.

Valerie Jarrett said Thursday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that Roberston’s statement left her speechless and called it “a pretty stunning comment to make.”

A devastating magnitude-7 earthquake hit the small island nation on Tuesday.

The next day, Robertson said Haiti has been “cursed” because of what he called a “pact with the devil” in its history. His spokesman said the comments were based on Voodoo rituals carried out before a slave rebellion against French colonists in 1791.

Spokesman Chris Roslan says Robertson never said the earthquake was God’s wrath.