Scoop’s Views

Jerry Falwell, 73, dead

Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, died around 1:36 p.m. today at age 73.

Falwell was found around 10:43 a.m. today not breathing, according to his assistant, Ron Godwin. CPR was initiated, but it, along with heroics at a local hospital emergency room in Virginia proved futile.

In 1971, Falwell founded Liberty University, a Christian university in Virginia. He also was responsible for the launch of a national Christian newspaper.

Falwell has been close to at least several of the presidents over the past three decades or so.

For the past several years, Falwell has stood beside President George W. Bush, seemingly as a civilian advisor on matters of faith for the nation’s often laughable leader. In some instances, Falwell seems to have managed to kept quiet when Dubya made comments such as telling the American public God gave His divine blessings for Bush to launch an invasion of Iraq.

Falwell died on what was the day for primary elections in many communities throughout the United States.

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