Falwell Flexes Muscles
The Rev. Jerry Falwell, apparently spurred by recent comments critical of him by erstwhile presidential candidate John McCain, is launching a drive to register 10 million new voters of religious faith.
Speaking from Lynchburg, Va., on the CBS News Early Show Thursday morning, Falwell said that the specific faith of new registrants was not as important as getting voters with strong religious beliefs back into the political process.
In a now-famous campaign speech in February, McCain, who was then mounting a serious challenge to GOP front-runner George W. Bush, attacked Falwell and other members of the religious right, calling them "the agents of intolerance," telling supporters that the party had been taken over by extremist forces.
The attack is widely believed to have been a political mistake, since McCain ended up faring poorly in the Virginia Republican primary, which took place after the comments were made.
Of McCain's attack on him and Pat Robertson, Falwell said:
"I was surprised, because he's always been a hero of mine. And I still highly regard him as an American hero. He made a terrible tactical error, because that energized religious conservatives across the country . . . and caused his political demise right quickly," Falwell said, adding: "It also helped me realize that we need to get more people of faith into action."
Falwell also discussed a range of issues that have long helped define the politics of religious conservatives. On abortion, Falwell warned that Bush should not be tempted to choose a liberal Republican, lest he lose the support of his conservative base.
"If (Bush) chooses anyone but a pro-life running mate, I think he will lose the election," Falwell said.
Falwell also discussed a high-profile split with his staunch ally, Pat Robertson, over a moratorium on death row executions. Robertson has called for a moratorium, while Falwell wants to streamline the process.
"The U.S. judicial system, though imperfect, is the best in the world. It has served us well," Falwell said.
Falwell said that, if the time between conviction and execution in death penalty cases were shortened or streamlined, it would serve as a better crime deterrent.
Falwell's voter registration drive is called "Faith 2000."
"We believe that if we are able to get millions of people of faith to the polls on Nov. 7 ... we will certainly be able to live with the results," he said.