A Big Send Off for Falwell

I've notice a lot of finger wagging coming from the right-wing whinosphere. They're just ecstatic because the comment threads on some liberal websites have contained some unkind comments about the recently deceased Jerry Falwell. They seem to think that somehow proves something. There's much clucking about incivility and meanness with no apparent recognition of the incongruity of defending Falwell, who shortly after the 9/11 attack said; "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.'"

But the chicken-scratching from the wing-nut blogs just can't compete. This news item supplied me with 100% of the recommended daily dose of irony.

Protesters skip soldier's funeral for Falwell's

By AMAN BATHEJA

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

NEW BRAUNFELS -- He died two days ago, but in a bizarre twist of fate, the Rev. Jerry Falwell provided a final bit of heavenly solace to the friends and family of fallen soldier Anthony Bradshaw on Wednesday.

Many in New Braunfels had braced for a protest at Bradshaw's funeral by members of Westboro Baptist Church. The Topeka, Kan., church has drawn widespread scorn for staging anti-homosexuality demonstrations at fallen soldiers' funerals. ...

... But the protesters were a no-show in New Braunfels on Wednesday because they chose to travel to Virginia in preparation for demonstrating at Falwell's funeral, said member Shirley Phelps-Roper, who is also an attorney for the church.

"There are dead soldiers everywhere," Phelps-Roper said. "You don't have a very high-profile, cowardly, lying false prophet like Falwell dying every day."

Phelps-Roper said the group plans to demonstrate at Falwell's service because members believe he was never harsh enough in his declarations that homosexuality was the source of America's problems. ... (Star-Telegram)

Addendum: I just noticed a post by Rick Perlstein that points out another wing-nut critic of the recently deceased Falwell.

Although she begins her column with some faint praise, it seems Ann Coulter agrees with the Phelps clans opinion that Jerry Falwell was insufficiently malevolent:

Actually, there was one small item I think Falwell got wrong regarding his statement after 9/11 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.'"

First of all, I disagreed with that statement because Falwell neglected to specifically include Teddy Kennedy and "the Reverend" Barry Lynn.

Second, Falwell later stressed that he blamed the terrorists most of all, but I think that clarification was unnecessary. The necessary clarification was to note that God was at least protecting America enough not to allow the terrorists to strike when a Democrat was in the White House.