You know, I really thought that Falwell (Sr.) was completely, irrational, high-tempered, and full of fire and brimstone. "Ban Teletubbies," I mean, come on!
All of these things may be true about his public persona, but I really was moved by a memoriam written for him by none other than Larry Flynt (the publisher of Hustler Magazine) when he passed away. I may not have liked Falwell, but after reading this article, I respected him.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-flynt20may20,0,2751741.story
Larry Flynt: My friend, Jerry Falwell
How the pornographer found himself in the embrace of the reverend who sued him.
By Larry Flynt, LARRY FLYNT is the publisher of Hustler magazine and the author of "Sex, Lies and Politics."
May 20, 2007
THE FIRST TIME the Rev. Jerry Falwell put his hands on me, I was stunned. Not only had we been archenemies for 15 years, his beliefs and mine traveling in different solar systems, and not only had he sued me for $50 million (a case I lost repeatedly yet eventually won in the Supreme Court), but now he was hugging me in front of millions on the Larry King show.