"They distort my pro-life positions and smear the reputations of my supporters. Why? Because I don't pander to them. Because I don't ascribe to their failed philosophy that money is our message," the senator added.

While leaders of several evangelical groups blasted McCain for "divisive" remarks, a spokesperson for Falwell said the evangelist would have no comment on the senator's statements.

Several days later, McCain released a statement in which he apologized for his comments.

"While I disagree with the political message and tactics of Reverends Falwell and Robertson, Mr. [Bob] Jones and other self-proclaimed leaders of the Christian right, I do not consider them evil, and I regret that my flip remark may have mistakenly created that impression," he said.

At the GOP convention in Philadelphia later that year, Falwell endorsed McCain's opponent. "I'm very pleased with George W. Bush and with his policy," the evangelist stated. "I think the desire has been there for many years, the desire of [inclusion], bringing everyone in. But Gov. Bush is doing something about it."

Controversies

Falwell was no stranger to controversy over the past decade. In 1999, he was criticized in some quarters for suggesting that one of the characters on the Public Broadcasting System children's program "Teletubbies" was gay -- a comparison that had already been drawn in a number of homosexual media outlets.

Then, in the aftermath of 9/11, the evangelist was again in the hot seat after suggesting that groups and individuals "who have tried to secularize America" had "helped [the attacks] happen."

Under fire from liberals, Falwell said in a statement his remarks had been "taken out of context."

"I hold no one other than the terrorists and the people and nations who have enabled and harbored them responsible for Tuesday's attacks on this nation," he said. "I sincerely regret that comments I made during a long theological discussion on a Christian television program yesterday were taken out of their context and reported.

"My thoughts -- reduced to sound bites -- have detracted from the spirit of this day of mourning," Falwell stated.

In 2002, Falwell came under fire for saying during a CBS television program that Mohammed, the founder of Islam, was "a terrorist" and a "man of war."

Falwell said that in his opinion, "Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses, and I think Mohammad set an opposite example."

In a subsequent apology, he said he meant no disrespect to "sincere, law-abiding Muslims," but a senior cleric in Iran issued death threats and in western India angry Muslims called a general strike in protest, accusing him of "blasphemy."

During the 2004 presidential election campaign, Falwell was criticized for statements made in an email urging support for Bush.

"For conservative people of faith, voting for principle this year means voting for the re-election of George W. Bush," Falwell was quoted as saying in the July 1 edition of the "Falwell Confidential" email.

But the following year, the Federal Elections Commission unanimously dismissed a complaint filed against Jerry Falwell Ministries and Liberty Alliance, a lobbying group.