historiblogography

Falwell and Lies

Rev. Jerry Falwell is not a difficult figure to lampoon, but a quote from the Boston Globe seems perplexing:

I just believe George Bush is as fine a president as we've had in my lifetime. I'd equate it with Ronald Reagan. . . . I'll be there. If condemning him will help him, I'll condemn him; if applauding him will help him, I'll applaud him.

Look, I understand Falwell’s position as a cheerleader for conservative presidents. But this seems to imply that his condemnations are openly partisan and not expression of his true opinions; or to put in another way—lies. I have no idea if this is what Falwell meant to imply by saying he’s willing to “condemn” or “applaud” as circumstances require, but one would think he would at least want to pretend that his stated opinions aren’t mere calculations. He is, after all, supposed to be a man of God.

posted by Michael Benson @ 8:03 PM