Jerry Falwell found dead...

[firststringer]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18679412/?GT1=9155

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Rev. Jerry Falwell — founder of the Moral Majority and the face of the religious right in the 1980s — died Tuesday after being found unconscious in his office, a Liberty University executive said.

Ron Godwin, Liberty's executive vice president, said Falwell, 73, had been found unresponsive around 10:45 a.m. and was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital.

Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but noted that Falwell had “a history of heart challenges.”

“I had breakfast with him, and he was fine at breakfast,” Godwin said. “He went to his office, I went to mine and they found him unresponsive.”

Falwell, a television evangelist who founded the Moral Majority in 1979, became the face of the religious right in the 1980s. He later founded the conservative Liberty University and served as its chancellor.

Politically powerful
Born on Aug. 11, 1933, Falwell was not particularly religious until his sophomore year of college in 1952, when Falwell said he underwent a religious conversion. Instead of accepting an offer to play professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, he transferred to the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo.

Four years later, Falwell returned to Lynchburg, where he founded Thomas Road Baptist Church, which started with 35 members. Today, the church has 24,000 members and the annual revenues of all of his ministries total more than $200 million, according to his biography on Liberty Univeristy's Web site.

In the 1980s, Falwell saw his political lobbying organization grow to 6.5 million members, raising millions of dollars for conservative politicians and helping to elect Ronald Reagan president.

Falwell claimed that the Moral Majority galvanized Christians to vote for the first time and helped elect President Reagan and many conservative lawmakers in 1980.

In 1986 Falwell founded the Liberty Foundation as a way to broaden his base. Other victories attributed to his influence include the election of President Bush in 1988, several conservative Supreme Court decisions and influencing the creation of the powerful Christian Coalition.

Falwell dissolved the Moral Majority in 1989, saying that its political aims had been achieved.

But he re-entered the political arena by the mid-1990s, selling a video that accused then President Clinton of crimes and calling him an "ungodly liar."

Falwell delivered the benediction at the Republican National Convention in 1996.

Falwell survived two serious health scares in early 2005. He was hospitalized in February for two weeks with what was described as a viral infection, then hospitalized again in March with congestive heart failure after being found unconscious. At that time he had to be resuscitated by EMTs at the hospital emergency room.

A native of Lynchburg, Falwell and his wife, Macel, had three children and eight grandchildren.

[Mule]

Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but noted that Falwell had “a history of heart challenges.”

Wouldn't the challenge have been in finding it?

As for the cause, look for a big wad of money stuck in his throat.

[METSSC]

and libs everywhere are dancing in the street

[Paulie Cee]

Originally Posted by METSSC

and libs everywhere are dancing in the street

They shouldn't be. Falwell's passing means no more dopey remarks that they can use their broad brush to paint every Republican from Lincoln on down. This is a very bad day for the enemy.

And the terrorists too.

[Green Must Go]

Even with my religious beliefs, I have no use for televangelists. Billy Graham is perhaps the only one I know of that I would trust.

[DDPv6.0]

The passing of anyone is a sad day, but to quote a song "the God I believe in never worked on a campaign trail."

[Big Denny]

Originally Posted by METSSC

and libs everywhere are dancing in the street

Yet you are the first on this forum to put a political spin on this.

I wasn't going to say anything but you brought it up. While not every Republican is a conservative Christian, they are much of what the party has become thanks to people like Falwell. They'll stop at nothing until the entire judiciary is made up of evangelicals committed to their agenda. They want prayer in school and they don't believe that there should be laws protecting gays and even women in the workplace.

Try this one on for size. Have you ever heard of Regent's University? It's like Liberty University except it was founded by Pat Robertson. It's an evangelical college committed to grooming the next wave of Christian leaders. It's law school is not a very good academic one as it is one of the lower ranked schools.

Prior to 2000, no graduate of Regents U had ever worked in the U.S. Government. Since 2000, 150 grads have worked in the Bush administration, largely because Bush picked the former Dean of Regents to be the head of the Department of Personnel Managment. The most famous of all is Monica Goodling, a lawyer who was the Director of Public Affairs for the Justice Department who resigned after the news broke that she had a hand in firing of the eight U.S. Attorneys.

It's amazing that a we are supposed to be a country founded on the principles of a separation of church and state yet have an administration committed to evangelical values that seeks to hire evangelicals to promote its agenda.

Don't fool yourself. This is what your party has become. Guys like Giuliani, who are quality leaders, have no shot.

What a shame that every country in Europe refuses to allow the mere mention of religion in politics yet we let bullies like Robertson and Falwell control elections.

[Green Must Go]

Originally Posted by Big Denny

Yet you are the first on this forum to put a political spin on this.

I wasn't going to say anything but you brought it up. While not every Republican is a conservative Christian, they are much of what the party has become thanks to people like Falwell. They'll stop at nothing until the entire judiciary is made up of evangelicals committed to their agenda. They want prayer in school and they don't believe that there should be laws protecting gays and even women in the workplace.

Try this one on for size. Have you ever heard of Regent's University? It's like Liberty University except it was founded by Pat Robertson. It's an evangelical college committed to grooming the next wave of Christian leaders. It's law school is not a very good academic one as it is one of the lower ranked schools.

Prior to 2000, no graduate of Regents U had ever worked in the U.S. Government. Since 2000, 150 grads have worked in the Bush administration, largely because Bush picked the former Dean of Regents to be the head of the Department of Personnel Managment. The most famous of all is Monica Goodling, a lawyer who was the Director of Public Affairs for the Justice Department who resigned after the news broke that she had a hand in firing of the eight U.S. Attorneys.

It's amazing that a we are supposed to be a country founded on the principles of a separation of church and state yet have an administration committed to evangelical values that seeks to hire evangelicals to promote its agenda.

Don't fool yourself. This is what your party has become. Guys like Giuliani, who are quality leaders, have no shot.

What a shame that every country in Europe refuses to allow the mere mention of religion in politics yet we let bullies like Robertson and Falwell control elections.

Denny - you are being a little over dramatic here. By default, the government and the party in power become like its current leader to a certain extent. This will pass when Bush is replaced. You could say that the government was populated by freaks and ultra liberals when Clinton was in office (Janet Reno, anyone?).

Funny you mention that the Republicans want prayer in school, like that's a bad thing. In case you forgot, there used to be prayer in school until the liberals got it booted. Abortion also used to be illegal until 1973. Both sides of the aisle push their agenda, so don't make it out to be the big bad Republicans want to take over the country and force everyone to be born again Christians.

[Big Denny]

Originally Posted by Green Must Go

Denny - you are being a little over dramatic here. By default, the government and the party in power become like its current leader to a certain extent. This will pass when Bush is replaced. You could say that the government was populated by freaks and ultra liberals when Clinton was in office (Janet Reno, anyone?).

Funny you mention that the Republicans want prayer in school, like that's a bad thing. In case you forgot, there used to be prayer in school until the liberals got it booted. Abortion also used to be illegal until 1973. Both sides of the aisle push their agenda, so don't make it out to be the big bad Republicans want to take over the country and force everyone to be born again Christians.

Well, Bush will be replaced but several right wing judges have already been appointed to the bench. Moreover, I don't see the chance of a moderate Republican getting elected any time soon. The Christian wack jobs feel as though they run the party.

As for prayer in school, yes it is a bad thing, especially when it's done a graduation ceremonies and in public schools where not everyone believes in the same God or any God for that matter. Religion absolutely must be a private matter.

Also, liberals didn't get prayer booted. The establishment clause of the Constitution did.

[RkFast]

I love it.....Having 14 year olds perform the "Vagina Monologues" and teaching 10 year olds about homosexuality and birth control is worthwhile, but a 30 second non-denominational invocation before a graduation ceremony is a terrible thing.

[RkFast]

Try this one on for size. Have you ever heard of Regent's University? It's like Liberty University except it was founded by Pat Robertson. It's an evangelical college committed to grooming the next wave of Christian leaders. It's law school is not a very good academic one as it is one of the lower ranked schools.

I see..Christians form a school to promote leadership: BAD

ANY OTHER GROUP does the same and its a good, worthwhile endeavor done in the name of "diversity."

It's amazing that a we are supposed to be a country founded on the principles of a separation of church and state yet have an administration committed to evangelical values that seeks to hire evangelicals to promote its agenda.

You mean an Administration hired...get this...people that think like-minded and work to promote a certain agenda? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the USA was founded on the basis of freedom OF religion. That is, the govt. wont establish a sanctioned religion as its own. It was not founded on the basis of freedom FROM religion. Huge difference. We know you "tolerant" lefties would love to see everything from a Cruicifix to a box of matzoh secured behind triple locked doors, but it aint happenning.

Don't fool yourself. This is what your party has become. Guys like Giuliani, who are quality leaders, have no shot.

Funny talk coming from someone who supports a party that banishes ANYONE who doesnt walk lockstep with the ultra left wing. See: Lieberman, Joe.

What a shame that every country in Europe refuses to allow the mere mention of religion in politics yet we let bullies like Robertson and Falwell control elections.

George Soros, anyone? Nah.

[METSSC]

Originally Posted by Big Denny

Well, Bush will be replaced but several right wing judges have already been appointed to the bench. Moreover, I don't see the chance of a moderate Republican getting elected any time soon. The Christian wack jobs feel as though they run the party.

As for prayer in school, yes it is a bad thing, especially when it's done a graduation ceremonies and in public schools where not everyone believes in the same God or any God for that matter. Religion absolutely must be a private matter.

Also, liberals didn't get prayer booted. The establishment clause of the Constitution did.

NO WAY!!!! OMG WE'RE DOOMED. Whose fault is Ruth Ginsberg?

[Green Must Go]

Originally Posted by RkFast

And the USA was founded on the basis of freedom OF religion. That is, the govt. wont establish a sanctioned religion as its own. It was not founded on the basis of freedom FROM religion. Huge difference. We know you "tolerant" lefties would love to see everything from a Cruicifix to a box of matzoh secured behind triple locked doors, but it aint happenning.

Don't waste your time with that rational argument, RK. In this era of relavent truth, they aren't about to stop reinventing the Constitution if its original meaning impedes their agenda.

T-minus 30 seconds until someone posts "...so I guess slavery for all those years was okay too...."

[manatwo]

I see..Christians form a school to promote leadership: BAD

Nobody is saying anything of the sort. The problem is people from this school (ranked near the bottom of all law schools in academic standards) are getting very important government jobs that they have little to no qualifications for.

And the USA was founded on the basis of freedom OF religion. That is, the govt. wont establish a sanctioned religion as its own. It was not founded on the basis of freedom FROM religion. Huge difference. We know you "tolerant" lefties would love to see everything from a Cruicifix to a box of matzoh secured behind triple locked doors, but it aint happenning.

Hint hint...God was left out of the Constitution.

Funny talk coming from someone who supports a party that banishes ANYONE who doesnt walk lockstep with the ultra left wing. See: Lieberman, Joe.

You don't have to be "ultra left wing" to not support the war, and vis a vis, Lieberman. And let's not pretend anyone was calling voters and telling them Lieberman had a black baby.

George Soros, anyone? Nah.

Bad people make campaign contributions? Big whoop.

[NeilAllen]

Originally Posted by Big Denny

Yet you are the first on this forum to put a political spin on this.

I wasn't going to say anything but you brought it up. While not every Republican is a conservative Christian, they are much of what the party has become thanks to people like Falwell. They'll stop at nothing until the entire judiciary is made up of evangelicals committed to their agenda. They want prayer in school and they don't believe that there should be laws protecting gays and even women in the workplace.

Try this one on for size. Have you ever heard of Regent's University? It's like Liberty University except it was founded by Pat Robertson. It's an evangelical college committed to grooming the next wave of Christian leaders. It's law school is not a very good academic one as it is one of the lower ranked schools.

Prior to 2000, no graduate of Regents U had ever worked in the U.S. Government. Since 2000, 150 grads have worked in the Bush administration, largely because Bush picked the former Dean of Regents to be the head of the Department of Personnel Managment. The most famous of all is Monica Goodling, a lawyer who was the Director of Public Affairs for the Justice Department who resigned after the news broke that she had a hand in firing of the eight U.S. Attorneys.

It's amazing that a we are supposed to be a country founded on the principles of a separation of church and state yet have an administration committed to evangelical values that seeks to hire evangelicals to promote its agenda.

Don't fool yourself. This is what your party has become. Guys like Giuliani, who are quality leaders, have no shot.

What a shame that every country in Europe refuses to allow the mere mention of religion in politics yet we let bullies like Robertson and Falwell control elections.

Denny dramatic? Naaaaaah.

First of all if respecting property rights (Kelo) and not making up law (EPA/carbon ruling) = being evangelical committed to their agenda then SIGN ME THE HELL UP. HALLELUJAH!

2nd, not defending Robertson's school but how long has it been around? If it's only been in existence for the last 20-30 or so years that could account for its lack of a rep, as well as the Bush admin being the first to hire alumni.

(On Edit: just looked it up, school's been in existence since '86 and actually the standards look relatively competitive.)

3rd, that "guy who has no shot"? He's currently the leading candidate for the Republican nomination

Oh and hey Denny considering your hard-on for the Nanny-state and taxes, I wouldn't talk about the principles this country was founded on if I were you.