Sure, it's a basic Judeo-Christian tenet that we will be accountable to God for our actions on earth. But if a reverend from the religious left had died yesterday, do you think Diane Sawyer, immediately after reviewing controversial statements he had made in the course of his career, would conclude by archly observing that the reverend has "gone to answer to his Maker"? Neither do I. But that is just what the Good Morning America co-host Diane Sawyer did today on the occasion of the death of Jerry Falwell. After a brief biographical review, Sawyer stated "as the years went by, even some believers saw intolerance buried inside his attacks." She highlighted three of his statements. First, a clip of Falwell stating "I happen to be a Bible-believing Christian. And the Old and New Testament both teach that homosexuality is sin." Sawyer and anyone else are free to reject that teaching. But in Sawyer's eyes, does stating what Scripture says amount to "intolerance"?
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Sawyer next honed in on the statement Falwell had made after 9-11, suggesting that various groups that "helped to secularize America" had "helped to make this happpen." Sawyer rolled a clip [from which the screencap here is taken] of her own cross-examination of Falwell back then, when he had come on the show to apologize for his remarks. Sawyer was seen seeking to extract an assurance from Falwell that "you will not be attacking these groups again."
Finally, Sawyer stated that "his next highly-publicized assault would be on a children's show, warning parents against what he called a homosexual TeleTubby." "Assaulting" a children's show is not "assaulting" children, but Sawyer's choice of words seemed to associate the concepts.
Sawyer moved immediately to her conclusion: "the headlines this morning of his death say it all: uniter, divider. Preacher, and polarizer. A political giant, gone to answer to his Maker."
Sawyer left little doubt as to what she thinks the judgment should be.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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"A political giant, g
May 16, 2007 - 09:00 ET by MightyMouth"A political giant, gone to answer to his Maker."
--Spoken by a mental midget who remains to torment her audiences.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
More Respect
May 16, 2007 - 11:27 ET by allanfInteresting that "Ditzy" Diane has shown more respect for Iranian President Ahmadinejad in her interview than she showed for Reverend Falwell.
Let's not forget Diane's buddy Bashar Assad who she interviewed last February. Of course to complete her all dictator perfecta Diane is just dying to land Kim Il Jung. and Osama Bin Laden
Her tone with these folks is respectful and gleeful. Apparently in her mind, Reverent Falwell does not deserve the same treatment.
I may be wrong, but I seem to
May 16, 2007 - 12:17 ET by SouthJersey1953I may be wrong, but I seem to remember Diane interviewing Osama back in the 90's.
No RINOs in '08 - Vote for a true conservative!
Osama Interview
May 16, 2007 - 13:28 ET by allanfThe Bin Laden interview was with ABC's John Miller. in 1998. Miller went on to work for LAPD Chief William Bratton and the FBI. He not the quintessential cliche that Diane Sawyer has become.
"Will answer to His Make
May 16, 2007 - 09:00 ET by rimsky"Will answer to His Maker." That's right Diane.. and so will you.
His Maker will say "Well
May 16, 2007 - 09:18 ET by ricklailHis Maker will say "Well done my good and faithful servant."
A bonafided and certified member of the beer guzzling, NASCAR watching middle class.
Where
May 16, 2007 - 09:33 ET by cvgbuckeyeDiane: Where are the Biblical inaccuracies of any of the examples that you have cited in Jerry Fallwell's positions? He did not write the Bible, he is only telling you what it says. and he is CORRECT!
As far as him answering to his maker, you are correct as it applies to everyone except Enoch and Elijah.
As far as anything about hell, we will have to depend on you and a lot of your friends to fill us in on that, based upon the judgement of God, not me.
Beer guzzling, NASCAR watcher
May 17, 2007 - 17:45 ET by Bill AllenI read your tag and said to myself, that makes two of us. We should start a corporation or something.
--Bill
Diane Sawyer is displaying t
May 16, 2007 - 09:32 ET by Dave RDiane Sawyer is displaying the usual liberal ignorance of religion in general, and Christianity in particular.
What she and her fellow moral-relativists fail to understand is that religion itself is intolerant. It has to be if its adherents are to understand what is expected of them. If it were not, what would be the point of having it?
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz.
Exactly, except I don't know
May 16, 2007 - 10:32 ET by buddycExactly, except I don't know if I would use the word intolerant. To any religion there is a right way and a wrong way. I am not even close to being a religious zealot but Sawyer is a supporter and enabler of evil.
buddyc,You're probably right,
May 16, 2007 - 15:35 ET by Dave Rbuddyc,
You're probably right, but I didn't mean it in the sense of a theocracy, I meant it in the sense of enabling those around us by not speaking out against things we disagree with.
I feel that too many Christians have pushed "tolerance" to the point where the enemies of Christ feel emboldened enough to propose, if not pass laws that are clearly designed to discriminate against Christians.
Hope that helps.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz.
I've never been a big Jerry F
May 16, 2007 - 09:36 ET by stealth punditI've never been a big Jerry Falwell fan. But, far be it from me to suggest what our Maker will think of him (or anyone else). Obviously having survived 4 years of journalism school gives a lot of insight into the mysterious ways of God.
Fan
May 16, 2007 - 09:52 ET by cvgbuckeyeSince yesterday, I have counted 112 places where people have felt the need to pre-empt their statements with "I've never been a big Jerry Fallwell fan BUT".
Not to be argumentative BUT what is that all about? What positions has he taken that you can show Biblical inaccuracy? Where has he (allowed) Our Lord to go that you feel Jesus Christ has no business? Jerry was never ashamed of Jesus Christ and (allowing) Him to walk wherever he went. Where are the places that we should be ashamed to take Jesus Christ?
Just asking!
never sawyer coming
May 16, 2007 - 09:44 ET by the mad poleDiane's maker is Mattel and a re-call is in order
even some believers saw int
May 16, 2007 - 09:57 ET by bigtimereven some believers saw intolerance buried inside his attacks."
Diane, look into the mirror, your reflection represents real intolerance along with the rest of your ilk.
Shame on you all.
Sawyer
May 16, 2007 - 10:57 ET by iveseenitallJust what I was thinking, Bigtimer. As I've said many times, this oily bi##h is high on my list of anti-American hypocrites. Who the hell does she think she is to judge this man? She loves all the dictators and cold-blooded murderers in the world but can't tolerate the lives of people with principles. Sickening!
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Don't forget people....Dian
May 16, 2007 - 10:06 ET by charlietexasDon't forget people....Diane is perfect. Liberals don't sin, they don't throw stones, and they don't answer to anyone. They are the preachers, the teachers to us all.....AMEN
Diane Sawyer (in approximatel
May 16, 2007 - 10:10 ET by GothampcDiane Sawyer (in approximately 33 A.D.): Jesus of Nazareth has just died. The legacy that he leaves is of an angry man that went into the temple and terrorized working class merchants and bankers who were innocently plying their trade. He was known for telling rich people they would never get to Heaven, along with other statements of intolerance. Tonight, we will have a special 20/20 where leading psychologists will analyze his personality and we will ask the question, "Did Jesus have an antisocial personality disorder?"
A good start but this would m
May 16, 2007 - 10:54 ET by Dan The Man 2A good start but this would make a good utoobe segment.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark. -- save my gun, shoot a liberal.
A common quality of religious
May 16, 2007 - 10:24 ET by KC MulvilleA common quality of religious leaders is that they don’t join bandwagons. Falwell didn’t, nor did John Paul II, to name a couple examples. Media figures, on the other hand, live on bandwagons. Falwell refused to join the secular bandwagon about homosexuality, and it drove the media crazy. That’s what they meant by “extremist.” The MSM suspects anyone who resists social “progress.” To the MSM, anyone who isn’t willing to set aside his or her own individual convictions and jump on the bandwagon is a threat to topple the bandwagon.
Oh brother! Now Diana Sawye
May 16, 2007 - 10:55 ET by whatajoyOh brother! Now Diana Sawyer thinks SHE's God. Get over yourself. She's just a journalist - she REPORTS the news - she's not supposed to let her views or opinions cross over into her news segments and judge people. I hate it when people put Christians up on a pedestal and under a microscope thinking they should never sin or do anything wrong because they are a "Christian". However, people should remember this:
CHRISTIANS AREN'T PERFECT, JUST FORGIVEN.
This doesn't give us a free-for-all ticket to sin, because the closer we get to God in our relationship with Him, the more of a conscience we have to convict us of wrong doing. And God (and others) punish us. We sin, just like everyone else, because we are on the devil's playground (earth), but we repent and God forgives us.
And to judge others is wrong. Sawyer was out of line regarding Falwell, and she's no perfect angel herself. 'Let those who are without sin cast the first stone', ey?
Falwell is dead. He did more in his life than Sawyer will EVER do in her life. Sawyer should just do her job - read the teleprompter and report the news. No one cares about her views, opinions or bias. *mute*
----------------------------------------
Oh, um, it's Thursday, but Dwight thinks it's Friday. So...keep that going.
~ From "The Office"
Diane
May 16, 2007 - 11:08 ET by iveseenitallWhy don't you just come out and say what you really think about Jerry Falwell, Diane. You're even too cowardly to do that, you unctuous b#$%h!
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Would Diane have the guts to
May 16, 2007 - 11:36 ET by Darth DutchWould Diane have the guts to say that an Islamic religious leader who died is now "meeting Allah"? Somehow I think that would be considered insensitive to her and to ABC news.
Dutch
She wouldn't say it because s
May 16, 2007 - 12:15 ET by GothampcShe wouldn't say it because she knows that the ABC studio would be burned down before the broadcast was over.
Diane dear; there is a heaven
May 16, 2007 - 12:52 ET by sembyDiane dear; there is a heaven and a hell; I am certain where the good Reverand is going; but I can't say the same thing about you.
she is clueless........................................and classless too!
Just a couple thoughts abou
May 16, 2007 - 13:04 ET by Tom1969caJust a couple thoughts about Sawyer's gleeful coffin-nailing...
~~~
"Al Gore never shuts up; it's just occasionally we have to hood him like a falcon so we can get some sleep..."Denis Miller (on Al Gore)
tom1969 - bravo...
May 16, 2007 - 14:58 ET by TruthMongerFINALLY someone made your absolutely brilliant and eloquent second point - I'm sure no one else on the planet will notice...
Sawyer is a Joke
May 16, 2007 - 14:13 ET by deerjerkydaveDid anybody see Sawyer's report on Cloistered Nuns last Friday night? She asked such dumb questions like: "How can you stand living a celebate life?" and "wouldn't Jesus want you to leave and be among the people?" (those are paraphrased quotes). I got the sense that she wasn't trying to understand them, she wanted to confront them. I'm not Catholic, but I can see a hit piece when I see one. Cleary Sawyer has disdain for conservative religions in general.