it is usually because the person doing the accusing has never had an original thought in his head. Republicans don't think, they follow orders.

Liberals on the other hand look at a guy like Fallwell and think about the words he speaks and the effect those words have on thier country. And when they do, they get angry, and become filled with contempt.

See, Republicans think that because a guy is rich, has powerful friends, and is famous, that makes him a successful and moral person. Democrats tend to judge people for their behhavior, and not their financial wealth or social status. To me,the homeless guy on the street is more valuable than this hate-monger. People are angry at Falwell for good reason. Should we pray for him? Perhaps. But, I wouldn't expect too many people to do it, given the division in our families our churches and our country that he himself spent a lifetime creating with his poisonous religious dogma.

but it seems to be a liberal value. What a bunch of hateful people! We all get it - Jerry Falwell said some nasty things. He alienated a significant portion of the population. I was never a fan. However, the man is dead... let it go. What he said was in all accounts his opinion. It falls under free speech. Why fill your hearts, minds and pages with hateful feelings, thoughts and words. let it go...

Regarding a much-earlier post...Before Cardinal Cody of Chicago died, there were stories about his alleged diversion of parish funds to various personal uses, including "support" of a female associate. To make a long story short, he was never charged with any crimes and there was no substantiated evidence that his relationship with the woman was "non-Platonic." After his death the rules regarding a bishop's ability to spend "personal" money were tightened up to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

As for JF...it's not for me to judge...his fate is in God's hands now...he "jumped the shark" in Sept. 2001 and was not taken seriously by anyone beyond the hard-core followers after that. Perhaps that was the best "punishment" of all.

Point of fact:

Liberty University, founded only 35 years ago as Lynchburg Baptist College by a man whose only post-graduate degrees are honorary, is now a fully accredited national university that boasts a resident student body of over 10,000 and a total enrollment of over 20,000 pursuing bachelor's, master's, and juris-doctorate degrees. It is running away the largest private college or university in the state, and has a growth plan in place that will see it pass Brigham Young University as the largest religiously affiliated college or university in America by the year 2020.

In addition to its successful women's basketball program, 5 times Liberty has won the Big South Conference's Sasser Cup, acknowledging Liberty as having the best overall athletic department of a member institution (other members include Winthrop University, Virginia Military Institute, and UNC-Asheville).

Liberty has a nationally recognized music department, which has long served as a feeder to churches seeking organists and worship music leaders. As has already been mentioned, Liberty's debate team has for three years running won all three major intercollegiate policy debate organization championships--an unprecedented achievement by any college or university.

Every major Republican political figure has visited and/or spoken at Liberty, including John McCain, who arguably cost himself the Republican nomination for President by alienating Conservative Christian primary voters with critical remarks about Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson during the 2000 race. McCain has since revised his public opinion of the late Rev. Falwell and is among the chorus of politicians, Democrat and Republican alike, to offer favorable comments about Falwell to the media in the past 24 hours.

While it might feel satisfying to offer parting shots at a man who was never shy about making false, hateful judgments, we shouldn't congratulate ourselves or assume that his passing means the waning of his influence, which is still considerable and not likely to ebb with his death, which Falwell and his acolytes have been preparing for ever since he first started showing signs of failing health several years ago.

Jerry Falwell was the worst spokesman Jesus Christ ever had. Conservatives took the money and votes Falwell raised, and they might try to run away from his rhetoric, but we've got the internet now to help us hold them to account. Let's not forget who praises Falwell now that he's dead, because when they laud him, they're sanctioning hatred.

So, Jerry Falwell is dead. Well, Thank God.

How did Falwell and his compatriots become so influential? Well for one thing Cable TV gave them a wider audience and the Republican party sold their souls to the devil so they could win elections. We must however remember that not all evangelicals are part of the religious right and not all members of the religious right are evangelicals.

Jerry Falwell kept the crazy side of the religious right in the fore front, helping to discredit them. However Jerry Falwell was not alone in his crusade to change the our Democracy into a theocracy. So far they have not succeeded, but they have made big in roads with the Bush presidency and the recent Republican congress. Falwell and Robertson have both produced many students in both Liberty University and Robinson's Regency U to carry on their work. They are no in the media, law, and politics. We still have James Dobson, who owns many radio stations and has a multi million dollar publishing company that make millions off our tax dollars through "faith based" programs. Then there is Tim Lehay who helped Jerry start the (in) Moral Majority. In the early 1990s Tim Lehay portrayed his left behind series on CBN as truth, Then he turned them into best selling fiction series, making millions which he has pumped back into the religious right political activities.

I have 2 questions:(1) When will the republican party tell these religious right to take a hike. The GOP can win without them. (2) When will American's rise up and protest their influence in government policies. Millions protested in Turkey, in response to possible Islamic influence in their secular government. Where is the will here?