Virginia Governor-Elect Called On To Repudiate Statements By Pat Robertson

Virginia's new Republican governor-elect, Robert F. McDonnell, is being asked to repudiate comments by his long-time supporter and friend, Rev. Pat Robertson. Last week, in response to the Fort Hood shootings, Robertson made controversial comments about Islam on his 700 Club television show. Robertson said:

Islam is a violent -- I was going to say religion, but it's not a religion. It's a political system. It's a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination. I think we should treat it as such and treat its adherents as such, as we would members of the Communist Party or members of some fascist group.

Today's Washington Post says McDonnell attended law school at Robertson's CBN University, and served on the university's board after it changed its name to Regent University. McDonnell received $40,000 in contributions from Robertson and his family for his election campaign. Mohamed Magid, imam of a mosque in Sterling, Virginia, said that Muslims want McDonnell "to distance himself from [Robertson's] remarks of hate...."