The impact of Falwell's death on the '08 GOP field: Tonight's debate may be worth watching.

[WilliamPitt]

Falwell's death will have the Evangelical/Right GOP base in a frenzy, and the debate tonight is going to focus on the sacred cows of that base. Giuliani, Mitt and the other "moderates" are suddenly in a tighter spot, while Brownback and his ilk will be preaching to their own demented choir.

Interesting.

Falwell's Sudden Death Jolts GOP Candidates
By Michael D. Shear and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers

Tuesday, May 15, 2007; 3:50 PM

COLUMBIA, S.C., May 15 -- The Republican candidates for president offered condolences for the death of the Rev. Jerry Falwell as they arrived here Tuesday afternoon for a debate likely to center on the social issues that Falwell helped make politically potent in GOP campaigns during the past two decades.

"It was just terrible," Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said as he finished a tour of the debate hall at the Koger Center on the campus of the University of South Carolina. Moments later, former New York City mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani praised Falwell as a man who was "not afraid to speak his mind" and expressed sympathy for Falwell's family. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee called Falwell "a great man and a great influence for America and for Christ."

Falwell's sudden death jolted the news media and the politicians alike here as both crowds prepared for the second in a string of three Republican debates. The debate is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. with 10 GOP hopefuls on the stage.

Already, political strategists had expected the debate to focus on social issues, especially abortion, as Giuliani struggles to explain his pro-choice position to Republican voters. Falwell's death could serve to reemphasize the importance of those issues as candidates, friends, political pundits and others recalled his years of influence.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051501308.html?hpid=topnews

[proud patriot]

1. I can't help but chuckle

:dilemma:

[nannah]

2. when a guy like fallwell dies,

it makes me wish there really were heaven and hell. then i could picture him actually being accountable for the outrageous hypocrisy of his life. sizzle, sizzle, sizzle.

[KoKo]

3. Yes it might...but "boil me in oil" before I tune the damned thing in...

Thanks for your "alert" on this, though.

[H2O Man]

4. You are right.

I rarely decide to not watch political debates. However, I assume the republican candidates -- perhaps especially McCain -- will be eager to humiliate themselves by trying to gain the support of his followers. That would be mighty hard to watch.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Falwell is the new Reagan.

On at least two different levels.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. "Where there is a dead body, the vultures will gather"

Matthew 24:28

Yeah, I think it'll be great entertainment seeing these white Republican meatsticks pandering and fawning for the Religious Right's votes.

:popcorn:

[David Zephyr]

7. Great point, William. By the way, Falwell gave the official invocation at the GOP convention

when it was down in Houston.

[David Zephyr]

8. Dupe Deleted & Simultaneous Kick.

:thumbsup:

[janx]

9. Some of us were musing about this earlier.

I don't think I'll catch the debates, but I will tap into DU to get a synopsis of what happened. It should be interesting!

[hvn_nbr_2]

10. They'll pause the Saint Raygun slobber-thon to have a moment of...

slobbering over Jerry.