And another article describes Moon's efforts to obtain access to power:"Besides the estimated $3 billion-plus invested in the Washington Times, Moon has spread money around to influential right-wingers, often coming to their rescue when they are facing financial ruin as happened with Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell in the mid-1990s. [See below.]
Moon also has paid lucrative speaking fees to political figures, such as former President George H.W. Bush who has appeared at Moon-organized functions in the United States, Asia and South America. At the launch of Moon’s South American newspaper in 1996, Bush hailed Moon as “the man with the vision.”
Moon has key defenders, too, in the U.S. Congress, such as Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2004, Moon was given space in the Senate’s Dirksen building for a coronation of himself as “savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent.” [See The Hill, June 22, 2004]
Though primarily allied with the Republican Right, Moon has tossed money to some African-American ministers to gain favor with a key Democratic constituency.
Moon’s multi-billion-dollar political investments, in turn, have shielded him from sustained scrutiny since 1978 when he was identified by the congressional “Koreagate” investigation as part of a covert Korean influence-buying scheme. As a result of those findings about his finances, he was convicted in 1982 of tax fraud.
Ironically, however, as Moon implemented the influence-buying blueprint exposed by the “Koreagate” probe – investing in U.S. media, politicians and academia – he became an untouchable. He founded the Washington Times in 1982 and quickly put it into the service of Republican power."
"To buy the access he craves, Moon has paid out millions in speaking fees to an array of powerful people, including the elder Bush, former President Gerald Ford and members of Congress. Through innocuous-sounding groups with names such as Interreligious and International Forum for World Peace, the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles and The Women's Federation for World Peace, Moon passes out awards to various civic leaders, then invites their members of Congress to attend ceremonies where their constituents are honored. Last week President George W. Bush visited Philadelphia where he was hosted by a local supporter, the Rev. Herb Lusk. Three years ago, Lusk was among those on the dais with Moon, receiving the "National Service Award" from the Washington Times Foundation."Among the dignitaries in Washington that have successfully been wooed by Moon is Senator Hillary Clinton who praised him and his work as late as September 2007.
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Rainbow Law is Elisia and Carrie Ross-Stone, lesbian civil rights activists, life partners and grandmothers. We own and operate Rainbow Law, an online service offering legal information and free and affordable legal documents for gay and lesbian families. We also publish RainbowZine (http://www.rainbowzine.com), a progressive LGBTQ newsletter and we Blog at http://RAINBOWbLAWg/.blogspot.com. In 2003 and 2004, we rode our bicycles across the country to advocate for marriage equality. Lesbian Grandmothers from Mars, a documentary about the ride, premiered at the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in San Francisco in 2005. And if all of that is not enoiugh to keep us busy, we are building our own house with our own hands out of recycled materials. The building project is online at http://www.BuiltfromTrash.com.
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Registered voter in West Chester, Ohio |
racist Regardless of anyone else, Obama's own minister is a terrible racist. He should have left this man's flock long ago. To sit and listen to this man for 20 years is unconscionable. Says quite a bit about Obama's true thoughts and beliefs. Vote Hillary by
sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 127 comments)
on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 12:31:34 PM
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Registered voter in West Chester, Ohio |
He is a Racist Regardless of Sean Hannity's, Suzanne Pharr's, or Billy Carter's definition of what a racist is, Reverand Wright is a Racist. His hatred and intolerance of white peope make him a Racist. It has nothing to do with anything else, please don't try to complicate. "HATRED and INTOLERANCE of Another Race" is the most recognized definition of Racist. Keep adding to the definition to best suit you if you must. The fact that Obama sat in that church and listened to Wright's diatribes against white people for 20 years, 20 YEARS, speaks volumes of Obama's own beliefs. It's a shame Obama didn't leave the church years ago, or at the very least, step up and say "I was wrong to stay". But nothing remotely close has happened. Actions speak much louder than words. Obama talks a good game, his actions say otherwise. I can't vote for a Racist, that's not who I am. by
sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 127 comments)
on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 1:41:54 PM
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Are you racist? I am. sbaker can't vote for a racist. I would guess sbaker is pretty sure she/he isn't a racist. I doubt it. And I doubt that Hilary Clinton or John McCain are free of racism either. Don't get me wrong. I don't want to be racist, but I am. I try not to be. I try to give people a fair shake independent of their race. Wanna find out if you are racist too? Try this test. by
John Haigh (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 106 comments)
on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 6:50:38 AM
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Yes I Am And I do not need to take the quiz to know it is true. As a child I watched as the "uppity Coloreds" were clubbed, hosed and attacked by police dogs just for daring to march in the streets to demand equal rights. I heard my dear sweet Mother tell me she was afraid that they would kill us. My Mother took me to see Gone With The Wind 5 times and said it was the best movie ever made. She bemoaned the fact that more and more Blacks were showing up on TV -- first Julia, Bill Cosby and then The Jeffersons and Redd Foxx. What was her little White world coming to? Fortunately I was being raised at a time when music idols and high school and college teachers were trying to enlighten me to the truth about racial inequality and I had their voices balancing out the ones I heard at home. And as a closeted Lesbian, I also knew what they were saying about people like me! When I raised my White children I tried to instill other values in them. And when my 16 year old son came home to tell me he had a girlfriend, he never even mentioned that she was African American. When he invited her to meet me, months later, THAT is how I knew that on some level I was able to teach my kids that it does not matter. I cried myself to sleep that night. So yes, I too am a recovering racist and I know and understand that to be true. Like you, I am trying not to be. A Poem by Langston Hughes: I, too, sing America. by
Rainbow Law (25 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 42 comments)
on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 7:54:18 AM
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Registered voter in West Chester, Ohio |
Degrees of Racism Certainly there are various degrees of Racisim. I believe very few of us don't have some points of racism in us. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm racist to a certain extent. I don't want to be, but I can't deny that most of us are. For me, Reverend Wright's degree of Racism is too much. Doesn't make me right or wrong. If you don't have a problem with his Racist rants, then that is OK for you. But just not for me. Fair enough? by
sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 127 comments)
on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 7:14:47 PM
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Relative racism You have decided that Reverend Wright's racism is "too much" compared to yours. But you really do not know what his life experiences are or how and why he feels what he does. In the last few news cycles (since Obama's speech) the subject has changed from Wright's racist remarks to his lack of patriotism. This is just swiftboating at its finest. Taking a few soundbites and turining them into a "crisis." It works. Everyone is mad at Obama. Even though they do not take the time to listen to all sides. 4000 dead in Iraq. John McCain doesn't know who we are fighting. Hillary lies about her foreign policy experience (she didn't get shot at in Bosnia, she didn't help to broker peace in Ireland, she didn't help to pass SCHIP, she did support NAFTA). What has Obama said ot done that's so bad? Nothing. We can only talk about his preacher being angry because he was treated like a second-class citizen in a country that claims that we are all equal under the law. So we spend all week talking about a non issue and John McCain is closer to winning. by
Rainbow Law (25 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 42 comments)
on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:36:12 PM
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Registered voter in West Chester, Ohio |
Regardless Rev. Wright is overtly Racist. Regardless of his life's lessons, he's Racist. Obama didn't live Rev. Wright's life, yet he sat there listening to the Racist drivel for 20 YEARS. To say he cannot disown him is weak, very weak. More than likely he simply agrees with the Reverand. As I said earlier, while my opinions don't make me right or wrong, I am right in my eyes. Vote Hillary. by
sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 127 comments)
on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 12:19:09 PM
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Worth the Effort We are not trying to convince you to vote for Obama and we support your right to vote for Hillary. Did you listen to or read Obama's speech? If you did then you know that he repudiated the words of Reverend Wright. He also said that he understood where Wright was coming from because he can empathise with the fact that for most of his life Wright lived in a world where he could not sit at the lunch counter, had to ride in the back of the bus, attend a segregated school and drink from a colored only water fountain. Obama understands that his pastor had these experiences, thus he will not condemn him personally. To do that may have been politically expedient but Obama chose to try to explain to America why he refuses to do this. The he told his pastor why he (Obama) disagrees with him. He said that Wright's views are wrong because they are of the past and times have changed. He also said that he understands that White American's are also justifiably angry about what they perceive as injustce resulting from affirmative action, quotas, etc. In his speech Obama asked all Americans -- Blacks, Whites, Asians, Latinos, Native Americans and others -- to try to listen to one another with respect and empathy. Only then, he said, can we expect to heal. It doesn't help when you continue to repeat the phrase "he's a racist" over and over again. Apparently you are either unwilling or unable to do the hard work that is necessary to overcome the pain and anguish that keeps us separate and unequal. by
Rainbow Law (25 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 42 comments)
on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 1:08:08 PM
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Registered voter in West Chester, Ohio |
not a Racist Barber This is not Obama's "old man barber" that Obama visits for 20 minutes every 6 weeks to get his hair cut. After listening to the barber rail about the 50's and 60's, his hair cut he leaves and goes about his business. This is Obama's Reverend, the type of person many normally go to for guidance and counseling. This is the type person you choose to listen to for guidance and counseling for 20 years??? I don't agree. I certainly wouldn't choose this type person. It's almost like you believe it is fine to be Racist as long as the Racist is voting your way. I guess you are right, I am not willing to do the work necessary to understand, because I certainly never will condone this type of thinking. Good Luck. by
sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 127 comments)
on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 9:43:54 PM
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A Teaching Moment We appreciate your honesty -- admitting you cannot or will not try. At least Obama tried and hopefully some people can hear him. Whether or not you vote for Hillary or Obama, these issues will remain with us. by
Rainbow Law (25 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 42 comments)
on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 5:40:02 AM
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Registered voter in West Chester, Ohio |
A learning moment Obama tried to divert the attention from "exactly why did you sit there for all those years Obama?". This would have gone away immediately had he simply owned up to what most consider a major mistake. Instead he basically defended sitting there listening to all those Racist teachings for 20 years. I'm afraid it is you that do not understand. This has helped many learn what Obama is, and it certainly isn't good. by
sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 127 comments)
on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 8:00:56 AM
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Pastor at Clinton's Church Defends Reverend Wright Last week, Dean Snyder, the senior minister at the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. -- which the Clintons famously attended while in the White House -- released a little noticed statement offering a sympathetic defense of the totality of Wright's work. "The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times," Snyder wrote. "He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African-American church which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear. Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize." by
Rainbow Law (25 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 42 comments)
on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 8:23:54 AM
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