Tuesday, May 15, 2007

All's Well That Falwell

As I'm sure you've heard by now, Jerry Falwell has shuffled off this mortal coil and gone on to meet his Maker.

What I wouldn't give to be there, just to see the look on Falwell's face when St. Peter patiently explains to him that the central messages of Christianity were not, in fact, "hate the player and hate the game" and "get rich or die tryin'." Given Falwell's track record, I'm sure the shock would be enough to kill him all over again.

While I won't get to see the scales fall from Falwell's eyes, I hope to see the reaction from John McCain. Just over a year ago, as you'll remember, McCain scrapped his old Straight Talk Express line about Falwell, that he was "an agent of intolerance," and instead embraced the man in a controversial appearance at Liberty University.

It was a crude flip-flop, but a calculated move made by the candidate in hopes of winning the presidential nomination in a primary system that brings out the far-right wing. McCain consciously sacrificed his carefully cultivated image as an independent "maverick," in exchange for the Religious Right credentials that Jerry Falwell would give him with the Republican base.

And yet now that Falwell's passed on, he has neither. McCain's maverick image is long dead, but whatever influence Falwell could've brought to his campaign died with him.

Congratulations, John. To quote the wisdom of Judge Smells, you'll have nothing and like it.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Next up, guest shots on "The 700 Club."

Given what his tour-de-farce appearance on "Meet the Press" Sunday did for his chances, the sad-sack Arizona senator's best campaign move would be to stay home, in bed and with the phone disconnected, for the next year and a half, hoping his competitors will somehow implode.

But no, I expect he'll be there on "700," oohing and ahing over Robertson's latest direct-line revelations from God.

Those BTW, include fair warning that the End Times are so near, it doesn't much matter who wins the White House.

Isaac Carmichael said...

Welcome to Hell!

Otto Man said...

It's times like these that I wish I believed in reincarnation. Just imagine what God would send Jerry back as.

Mike said...

I wouldn't mind a chance to be St. Peter for a day.

To quote the Black Knight: "None shall pass." And something tells me, Fat Jerry ain't the swordsman King Arthur was.

(No flesh wounds for me in this scenario.)

Mr Furious said...

Every one of those pandering fool Republican presidential candidates will lilkely attend any memorial service. And NONE of the Dems will.

I got in early in John cole's Falwell thread, and I took easy on the not-so-good Reverend. Many that followed did not. It's an affirming read. Go on over.

Mr Furious said...

It's times like these that I wish I believed in reincarnation. Just imagine what God would send Jerry back as.

AIDS virus? Nah, how about something more mundane like chlamydia.

Thrillhous said...

There's a good list of Falwell's highlights over at TCR.

I wonder if Mitt Romney will go to the services. My guess is he will, despite the fact that most Falwellians think he's going to hell.

Otto Man said...

That list of highlights is so good, I already linked it in the post -- click on "track record" there.

Attention must be paid, Thrillhous.
Attention must be paid.

Otto Man said...

Good point, Anonymous.