I think the 'blessing in disguise' comment might have been taken out of context, though even in the best light, silver lining comments while people are still buried under the rubble is rather tactless. If there is a defense for Robertson's other comments however, it will not come from me, 'Punishment from God' commentary should really be limited to blatant cases, like someone getting struck by lightning on a clear day while chalking a pentagram, not invoked because an island on a fault line has an earthquake centuries after the Pact with the Devil was apparently made. I found it rather nauseating, and I do not believe a case can be made that the comments were taken out of context and distorted from his menaing, as I believe was clearly the case with Rush's. Not that Rush is a great beacon of tact either, but whereas Robertson actually puts his foot in his mouth regularly, Rush is regularl the target of hijacking.