Falwell's Political Legacy Continues

May 16, 2007 — -- The death of the Rev. Jerry Falwell on Tuesday raises the question: Who fills the political void on the religious right?

First though, another question: Is there any void to fill?

Falwell, in the opinion of many on both the political left and right, gradually lost much of his influence after his post-Sept. 11 accusations that "the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians … the ACLU, People for the American Way" had to bear some of the responsibility for the attacks.

He soon apologized, but the damage was done.

Still, a trek to Liberty University, which he founded, was considered a good move for White House aspirants seeking the GOP nomination. Sen. John McCain, after blasting Falwell in the 2000 primaries, paid homage by addressing Liberty graduates last year.

This weekend the commencement speaker will be former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who may announce his candidacy this fall. Falwell may not have been the power he was in the '80s during the heyday of the Moral Majority, but like Arthur Miller's Willy Loman, attention still had to be paid.

As Falwell's health and political clout declined over recent years and as he focused more on his university and his pulpit, others from the religious right became more vocal on politics and social issues. Most prominent is Dr. James Dobson, who founded Focus on the Family in 1977. His daily program is heard on radio all over the world and is on many American TV stations. Some political observers credited him with getting a crucial number of religious conservatives to support President Bush's 2004 reelection bid.

Writing shortly after that election in Slate Magazine, Michael Crowley flatly stated that "Dobson is now America's most influential evangelical leader, with a following reportedly greater than that of either Falwell or [the Rev. Pat] Robertson at his peak."

Crowley also dismissed Ralph Reed, who for years was executive director of Robertson's Christian Coalition. Since his departure in 1997, Reed and the coalition have suffered setbacks. Last year Reed lost the GOP primary for lieutenant governor in Georgia.