Ted Cruz and Jerry Falwell

[Anonymous]

Millennials may not know who Jerry Falwell is. In 1971 he founded Liberty University where Ted Cruz decided to launch his 2016 presidential campaign pandering to evangelicals and conservatives.

Jerry Falwell is the President of Liberty University and has made some interesting statements:



"At the same time, I must personally say that I do question the sincerity and nonviolent intentions of some civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mr. James Farmer, and others, who are known to have left wing associations."

"Ministers and Marches" sermon (1965), Lynchburg, Virginia, quoted in Bob Moser (2008-08-19). Blue Dixie: Awakening the South's Democratic Majority. New York: Henry Holt. p. 173. ISBN 9780805087710. Also quoted in A Testament of Hope: the essential writings of Martin Luther King (1990) by James M Washington, pub Harper Collins, San Francisco ISBN 0060646918


"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country. If [there is] any place in the world we need Christianity, it's in Washington. And that's why preachers long since need to get over that intimidation forced upon us by liberals, that if we mention anything about politics, we are degrading our ministry."

Sermon, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1976-07-04, quoted in William R. Goodman Jr.; James J. H. Price (1981). Jerry Falwell: An Unauthorized Profile. Lynchburg, VA: Paris & Associates. p. 91.

'[S]o-called gay folks would just as soon kill you as look at you."

Rally in Miami (1977), quoted in Hans Johnson; William Eskridge (2007-05-19). "The Legacy of Falwell's Bully Pulpit". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.

"I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be! America Can Be Saved!"

(1979) Sword of the Lord Publishers, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, p. 52-53, quoted at "The Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party"

"The Jews are returning to their land of unbelief. They are spiritually blind and desperately in need of their Messiah and Savior."

Listen, America! (1981)

"The homosexuals are on the march in this country. Please remember, homosexuals do not reproduce! They recruit! And, many of them are after my children and your children."

August 1981 direct mail to supporters of his Old Time Gospel Hour show, quoted in Hans Johnson; William Eskridge (2007-05-19). "The Legacy of Falwell's Bully Pulpit". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.

"You'll be riding along in an automobile. You'll be the driver perhaps. You're a Christian. There'll be several people in the automobile with you, maybe someone who is not a Christian. When the trumpet sounds you and the other born-again believers in that automobile will be instantly caught away - you will disappear, leaving behind only your clothes and physical things that cannot inherit eternal life. That unsaved person or persons in the automobile will suddenly be startled to find the car suddenly somewhere crashes... Other cars on the highway driven by believers will suddenly be out of control and stark pandemonium will occur on … every highway in the world where Christians are caught away from the drivers wheel."

Nuclear War and the Second Coming of Christ (1983) as quoted in "Does Reagan Expect a Nuclear Armageddon?" by Ronnie Dugger in Washington Post Outlook (8 April 1984)

"AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. To oppose it would be like an Israelite jumping in the Red Sea to save one of Pharaoh's charioteers. AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals. It is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."

1993, quoted in Robert S. McElvaine (2009-04-07). Grand Theft Jesus. Random House. p. 35. ISBN 9780307395801.
also quoted in Bill Press (2007-05-18). "Press: The sad legacy of Jerry Falwell". Milford Daily News. and Hans Johnson; William Eskridge (2007-05-19). "The Legacy of Falwell's Bully Pulpit". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.

"Grown men should not be having sex with prostitutes unless they are married to them."

Crossfire (17 May 1997)

"If the American Atheists Society or Saddam Hussein himself ever sent an unrestricted gift to any of my ministries, be assured I will operate on Billy Sunday's philosophy: The Devil's had it long enough, and quickly cash the check."

Christianity Today (9 February 1998)

"And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. 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.""

Remarks to Pat Robertson after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on The 700 Club (13 September 2001) (audio recording); more at "Falwell and Above" at Snopes.com Falwell later told CNN:

"I would never blame any human being except the terrorists, and if I left that impression with gays or lesbians or anyone else, I apologize."

CNN (14 September 2001)

"The true Negro does not want integration... He realizes his potential is far better among his own race... It will destroy our race eventually... In one northern city, a pastor friend of mine tells me that a couple of opposite race live next door to his church as man and wife... It boils down to whether we are going to take God's Word as final."

Quoted in "The Nation's Best Bible College Gets Low Grades on Racial Diversity" The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, vol. 31 (2001), pp.43-45

"And the fact that John Kerry would not support a federal marriage amendment [prohibiting gay marriage], it equates in our minds as someone 150 years ago saying I'm personally opposed to slavery, but if my neighbor wants to own one or two that's OK. We don't buy that."

CNN : Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees (3 November 2004)

"The fact that Marc Cherry's a gay Republican means he should join the Democratic Party."

Meet the Press (28 November 2004)

"Today the world has gone sex crazy. Illicit sex has become the downfall of many in the Bible. Movie stars not married to each other, having babies and making headlines all over the world as though they were doing some great thing. Big deal! Just another moral pervert. And for them to become heroes for our kids. My wife and I will be married 49 years the next anniversary."

Televised sermon at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia (25 June 2006), as quoted in "Falwell on the "moral pervert[s" in Hollywood: "[Y]ou almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore" at Media Matters for America (27 June 2006)]

"You know, you almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore. Ellen [Degeneres], and all the rest. I love them, pray for their souls, but they're immoral. And the Hollywood scene — five and eight and 10 marriages — not something to be emulated."

Televised sermon at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia (25 June 2006), as quoted in "Falwell on the "moral pervert[s]" in Hollywood: "[Y]ou almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore" at Media Matters for America (27 June 2006)

"Since Jesus came to the earth the first time 2,000 years ago as a Jewish male, many evangelicals believe the Antichrist will, by necessity, be a Jewish male. This belief is 2,000 years old and has no anti-Semitic roots. This is simply historic and prophetic orthodox Christian doctrine that many theologians, Christian and non-Christian, have understood for two millennia."

Quoted in "Religion, Politics a Potent Mix for Jerry Falwell" by Steve Inskeep in Morning Edition on NPR (30 June 2006)

So here you have the guy that runs the place where TED CRUZ chose to launch his presidential campaign.

The home of JERRY FALWELL

[Anonymous]

I suppose ted's choice of launching pad for his campaign tells us a lot about his stance on social issues. He hasn't been asked a lot, but his father was a fire and brimstone preacher in the televangelist mold. We will soon learn a lot more about teddy's conservative social views.

Most people in the US tend to lean fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Sucks for teddy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quotes, OP.

You missed one thing: Jerry Falwell, the founder of Liberty U. who said all of those things, died several years ago. The current president is his son, Jerry Falwell Jr.

Other than that, though, you're right that a lot of millenials may not be familiar with the ignorance and intolerance that that school is founded on.

[Anonymous]

Millennials aren't going to read your post, OP. And please refrain from the over use of bolded font. It makes it difficult to read. Italics are better to differentiate passages.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I didn't realize he had died with the son having the same name. He was also the founder of the moral majority, a right wing group trying to roll back Roe v Wade. Ted Cruz seems to see value in this connection. Indiana may have made him realize this week that this may not be a viable way to the oval.

[Anonymous]

Ted Cruz is just making clear where he stands.

Like Reagan did when he announced his candidacy in Philadelphia, Mississippi. A town that has no historical or cultural significance whatsoever. Except for being the place where the Klan killed three civil rights workers named Schwerner, Cheney, and Goodman and buried them in an earthen dam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ted Cruz is just making clear where he stands.

Like Reagan did when he announced his candidacy in Philadelphia, Mississippi. A town that has no historical or cultural significance whatsoever. Except for being the place where the Klan killed three civil rights workers named Schwerner, Cheney, and Goodman and buried them in an earthen dam.

Apparently teddy cruz stands with homophobes.

[Anonymous]

Gen X here, 1979. Just wanted to say thanks to the OP for bringing up this connection. I grew up exposed to exactly this kind of religious fear and misinformation-- that gays recruit, that the Second Coming of Jesus would leave kids, ("yes even kids like me"), on a burning earth, that HIV is caused by the Just Hand of God, etc. But my parents' generation that listened to clowns like Falwell is getting older and that kind of message isn't the norm these days. So perhaps not everyone is aware of the history. So, Milennials, those are the kinds of ideas upon which Liberty University was founded. Just Say No to voting GOP.

[Anonymous]

I dont think cruz has a plan beyond the primaries. I think even he realizes that he has no chance in the general considering who he is and how hes gone about it.

[Anonymous]

Is spring break over yet??!?

[Anonymous]

Teddy cruz is leading the evangelical charge against homosexual tyranny over the forces of christian goodness

Gotta defend gay discrimination laws. Teddy cruz is your man. Heir of jerry falwell's mantle.

I love it. Cruz has this tendency to be grating to dems and everyone who doesnt think like him in the republican party.

Reince priebus, jeb bush, roger ailes and the rest of the republican establishment must be pulling their hair out because this dummy wont shut up.

Keep talking teddy... and drag the entire gop into the gutter with you... lol...

Teddy cruz, king of the gop nutters.

[Anonymous]

Ted Cruz has no chance to become president. He is essentially a Hillary Clinton ally at this point because he can't win, but he can sure shit all over the gop establishment's chances of reaching th WH (yes, they still think they can win, lol.

Ted Cruz is HRC's best friend now, not because he wants to be, but because he will keep the baggers from voting for jeb and split the republican vote. Snake charm has its good uses.