Jerry Falwell, in his own words (and deeds)

(Source)

“AIDS is not just God’s punishment for homosexuals; it is God’s punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.”

“Billy Graham is the chief servant of Satan in America.”

“Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions.”

“God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.”

“Homosexuality is Satan’s diabolical attack upon the family that will not only have a corrupting influence upon our next generation, but it will also bring down the wrath of God upon America.”

“I am such a strong admirer and supporter of George W. Bush that if he suggested eliminating the income tax or doubling it, I would vote yes on first blush.”

“I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I’m going to buy a Suburban next time.”

“If you’re not a born-again Christian, you’re a failure as a human being.” “The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country.”

(Source)

“I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’” (speaking about 9/11)

“Labor unions should study and read the Bible instead of asking for more money. When people get right with God, they are better workers.”

“If Chief Justice Warren and his associates had known God’s word and had desired to do the Lord’s will, I am quite confident that the 1954 decision would never have been made…. The facilities should be separate. When God has drawn a line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line.” (Falwell opposed the Civil Rights movement, often calling it the “Civil Wrongs” movement.)

Falwell asserted that when The Antichrist comes, he “must be, of necessity, a Jewish male.”

In 1994, Falwell released the straight-to-video documentary “The Clinton Chronicles: An Investigation into the Alleged Criminal Activities of Bill Clinton.” The video connected Bill Clinton to a conspiracy theory involving Vincent Foster, James McDougal, Ron Brown and an alleged cocaine smuggling operation.

Falwell manipulated the Bakkers into giving up control of PTL, and then publicly attacked Jim Bakker for greed and alleged homosexuality. Tammy Faye Bakker and husband Roe Messner both allege that Falwall instructed her to write down details of the salary package provided to the Bakkers, and Falwell then characterized the list as the demands of the Bakkers.

The GOP debate

I watched only moments, and highlights, but I respect McCain for firmly defending his stance against torture. I later saw him inform the idiot Hannity that waterboarding was instituted during The Spanish Inquisition — do we want to follow that lead?

Tom Tancredo’s response? "I’m looking for Jack Bauer." I’m looking for a military record, Rep. Tancredo. Of course he doesn’t have one; among the GOP field, only McCain does.

Regardless of what you think about McCain — and he’s certainly not impressed much during this campaign — he remains a decent man … too decent for the modern Republican Party, I’m afraid.

Will it be the mayor, or the anchorman?

“Corrupt, sinister and dangerous”

Watch the BBC documentary on Scientology here (under latest programme).

(Why don’t we see something like this on American television? Might the networks fear offending Hollywood heavyweights like Cruise and Travolta?)

Watching this also begs the question: why is Scientology tax exempt? A true outrage, one that should be rescinded. These people are truly frightening.

Speaking of, here’s a reminder why I loathe Lonesome Rhodes:

The Clintonite schmoozing didn’t stop with Nichols; John Travolta, who plays the quasi-Clinton character, was courted as well. “I was waiting for the seduction that I had heard so much about,” recalled the actor. “I thought, ‘Well, how could he ever seduce me?’ And after we talked, I thought, ‘Bingo! He did it.’ Scientology is the one issue that really matters to me.” Travolta is among Hollywood’s most tireless missionaries for Scientology. According to the Post, Mr. Clinton promised Travolta that the Administration would work with the German government to advance acceptance of Scientology in that country if Travolta would soften up his portrayal of the Clinton character in Primary Colors.

National Security Adviser Sandy Berger and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel to urge his government to moderate its opposition to Scientology.

Travolta has held up his end of the deal as well. “You have to be dead not [to] see that the film favors Clinton,” said Travolta. “The script was always kind to him. We’re talking about kind to a character, but indirectly we’re talking about [being] kind to the President.”

Noted and quoted, eulogy edition

"I think he was a conscious charlatan, bully and fraud."

–Christopher Hitchens, on the late Jerry Falwell

Falwell dead

A Liberty University executive says the Rev. Jerry Falwell has died.

It’ll be interesting to see how certain people respond to this. Will his enemies cackle? Will George W. attend his funeral?

I’ll steer clear of politics here and instead share a story about my step-grandfather, a poorly trained pathological liar who once worked for Falwell (as a techie). Rev. Farwell, as he called him, had an irascible habit of “goosing” his employees. Considering that my step-grandfather, aptly named Ralph, weighed in at 280 pounds (give or take), I applaud Falwell’s courage. Or I would have, were the story true.

Ralph also claimed that Falwell enlisted him to watch porn to “see what kind of filth is out there.” No lie.

This is the same man who insisted he lunched with Colin Powell — “he wanted to see what the common man thought.” Same with Dan Quayle. Ralph was certainly common; he once bragged that he was taking my grandmother out for a “very romantic meal.” At Shoney’s.

Perhaps Ralph will speak at Falwell’s funeral.

Is Jerry Falwell dead?

UPDATE: Falwell in “gravely serious condition”

The Rev. Jerry Falwell arrived at Lynchburg General Hospital today around noon after being found
unresponsive in his office. Ron Godwin, the executive vice president of Liberty University, confirmed that Falwell was found unconscious in his office after missing an appointment this morning.

Crayons and sex

I’m not sure why I’m gay. Born that way, I assume, but perhaps other factors contributed. Maybe my orientation has someting to do with early successes courting, seducing and — eventually — molesting girls.

Now don’t get carried away — I was but a child myself when I first mastered anal penetration. And no, it wasn’t with my prepubescent tallywacker, but with a crayon. I was always one for accuracy, even back then. As you likely recall, thermometers are administered rectally up until a certain age. So, when playing doctor, I insisted on inserting the crayons as if they were actual thermometers. If you had a fever, you got a red one. If not, blue.

Crayons had always served me well. I’d sit up at night meticulously crushing my gold, silver and copper crayons into a fine dust. On the playground, I’d offer girls “gold” (if I really fancied them), “silver” (if I was marginally interested) and “copper” (if I felt sorry for them). It worked quite well.

As did my stint as a doctor. Don’t misunderstand — there were no prurient thrills involved. Those came when my playmate and I discovered her mother’s stack of Playgirls. I was much too young to feel so inadequate.

Eventually her mother busted my makeshift examination room. My doctor days were over, a young boy’s dreams crushed. I could’ve been somebody — I could’ve had money. And a stable of girls. Instead, I’m just a lowly gay writer with crayons on the brain. And not as many regrets as I should have.

There is no lesson here, though parents might want to think twice before buying their sons a pack of Crayolas.

Jerry Falwell, in his own words (and deeds)

(Source)

"AIDS is not just God’s punishment for homosexuals; it is God’s punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."

"Billy Graham is the chief servant of Satan in America."

"Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions."

"God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve."

"Homosexuality is Satan’s diabolical attack upon the family that will not only have a corrupting influence upon our next generation, but it will also bring down the wrath of God upon America."

"I am such a strong admirer and supporter of George W. Bush that if he suggested eliminating the income tax or doubling it, I would vote yes on first blush."

"I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I’m going to buy a Suburban next time."

"If you’re not a born-again Christian, you’re a failure as a human being." "The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country."

(Source)

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’" (speaking about 9/11)

"Labor unions should study and read the Bible instead of asking for more money. When people get right with God, they are better workers."

"If Chief Justice Warren and his associates had known God’s word and had desired to do the Lord’s will, I am quite confident that the 1954 decision would never have been made…. The facilities should be separate. When God has drawn a line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line." (Falwell opposed the Civil Rights movement, often calling it the "Civil Wrongs" movement.)

Falwell asserted that when The Antichrist comes, he "must be, of necessity, a Jewish male."

In 1994, Falwell released the straight-to-video documentary "The Clinton Chronicles: An Investigation into the Alleged Criminal Activities of Bill Clinton." The video connected Bill Clinton to a conspiracy theory involving Vincent Foster, James McDougal, Ron Brown and an alleged cocaine smuggling operation.

Falwell manipulated the Bakkers into giving up control of PTL, and then publicly attacked Jim Bakker for greed and alleged homosexuality. Tammy Faye Bakker and husband Roe Messner both allege that Falwall instructed her to write down details of the salary package provided to the Bakkers, and Falwell then characterized the list as the demands of the Bakkers.

“Corrupt, sinister and dangerous”

Watch the BBC documentary on Scientology here (under latest programme).

(Why don’t we see something like this on American television? Might the networks fear offending Hollywood heavyweights like Cruise and Travolta?)

Watching this also begs the question: why is Scientology tax exempt? A true outrage, one that should be rescinded. These people are truly frightening.

Speaking of, here’s a reminder why I loathe Lonesome Rhodes:

The Clintonite schmoozing didn’t stop with Nichols; John Travolta, who plays the quasi-Clinton character, was courted as well. “I was waiting for the seduction that I had heard so much about,” recalled the actor. “I thought, ‘Well, how could he ever seduce me?’ And after we talked, I thought, ‘Bingo! He did it.’ Scientology is the one issue that really matters to me.” Travolta is among Hollywood’s most tireless missionaries for Scientology. According to the Post, Mr. Clinton promised Travolta that the Administration would work with the German government to advance acceptance of Scientology in that country if Travolta would soften up his portrayal of the Clinton character in Primary Colors.

National Security Adviser Sandy Berger and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel to urge his government to moderate its opposition to Scientology.

Travolta has held up his end of the deal as well. “You have to be dead not [to] see that the film favors Clinton,” said Travolta. “The script was always kind to him. We’re talking about kind to a character, but indirectly we’re talking about [being] kind to the President.”

Falwell dead

A Liberty University executive says the Rev. Jerry Falwell has died.

It’ll be interesting to see how certain people respond to this. Will his enemies cackle? Will George W. attend his funeral?

I’ll steer clear of politics here and instead share a story about my step-grandfather, a poorly trained pathological liar who once worked for Falwell (as a techie). Rev. Farwell, as he called him, had an irascible habit of “goosing” his employees. Considering that my step-grandfather, aptly named Ralph, weighed in at 280 pounds (give or take), I applaud Falwell’s courage. Or I would have, were the story true.

Ralph also claimed that Falwell enlisted him to watch porn to “see what kind of filth is out there.” No lie.

This is the same man who insisted he lunched with Colin Powell — “he wanted to see what the common man thought.” Same with Dan Quayle. Ralph was certainly common; he once bragged that he was taking my grandmother out for a “very romantic meal.” At Shoney’s.

Perhaps Ralph will speak at Falwell’s funeral.

Is Jerry Falwell dead?

UPDATE: Falwell in “gravely serious condition”

The Rev. Jerry Falwell arrived at Lynchburg General Hospital today around noon after being found
unresponsive in his office. Ron Godwin, the executive vice president of Liberty University, confirmed that Falwell was found unconscious in his office after missing an appointment this morning.

Crayons and sex

I’m not sure why I’m gay. Born that way, I assume, but perhaps other factors contributed. Maybe my orientation has someting to do with early successes courting, seducing and — eventually — molesting girls.

Now don’t get carried away — I was but a child myself when I first mastered anal penetration. And no, it wasn’t with my prepubescent tallywacker, but with a crayon. I was always one for accuracy, even back then. As you likely recall, thermometers are administered rectally up until a certain age. So, when playing doctor, I insisted on inserting the crayons as if they were actual thermometers. If you had a fever, you got a red one. If not, blue.

Crayons had always served me well. I’d sit up at night meticulously crushing my gold, silver and copper crayons into a fine dust. On the playground, I’d offer girls “gold” (if I really fancied them), “silver” (if I was marginally interested) and “copper” (if I felt sorry for them). It worked quite well.

As did my stint as a doctor. Don’t misunderstand — there were no prurient thrills involved. Those came when my playmate and I discovered her mother’s stack of Playgirls. I was much too young to feel so inadequate.

Eventually her mother busted my makeshift examination room. My doctor days were over, a young boy’s dreams crushed. I could’ve been somebody — I could’ve had money. And a stable of girls. Instead, I’m just a lowly gay writer with crayons on the brain. And not as many regrets as I should have.

There is no lesson here, though parents might want to think twice before buying their sons a pack of Crayolas.