The Real Sun Myung Moon

Moon's Wash. Times is About to Die

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:57:00 +0000

The story is here.

R.I.P. The Washington Times

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Eric Boehlert has the full story:

You'd think that somebody with a direct line to the Almighty, and tapped by Jesus to save mankind on Earth, would be able to come up with a better business plan for running a daily newspaper. But, alas, after nearly three decades of unrelenting financial losses, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, a federal tax cheat, accused cult leader, and founder of the Unification Church, has decided to pull out. Actually, according to news reports, it's more like Moon's U.S. college-educated sons, as part of an internal family power struggle, have decided to finally cut off the endless stream of Asian church cash that's kept The Washington Times afloat. . .With the announcement that 40 percent of the Times' staff is getting pink-slipped, and that the daily's no longer even going to bother with traditional who/what/where/when/why reporting, instead publishing an opinion-heavy publication that will be free of charge at a diminished number of local outlets, Times owners look like they're angling to be a Weekly Standard wannabe, churning out lots of predictable GOP Noise Machine opinion prattle. . .The messianic Moon, who has referred to himself as "humanity's Savior," never cared about journalism in the traditional, American, free-marketplace sense of the word. Yes, he launched a product that looked like a newspaper, but its central goal was never really to inform its readers. Its goal seemed more often to misinform and to enhance Moon's reputation outside the United States. Moon and Unification Church leaders used the newspaper as a symbol, most often in Asia, to suggest that Moon moved freely among world leaders. That the newspaper in 2009 had a modest circulation roughly matching that of the Chattanooga Times Free Press was irrelevant to the paper's publishers, although the newspaper's evaporating readership probably was not lost on the Times' shrinking band of local advertisers. . .

Moon's Wash. Times is Imploding!

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Forty percent of the paper's staff is being laid off.

Googlebomb of Former Wash. Times Operative Bill Sammon

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:14:00 +0000

Read about it on the Google Bomb Blog.

Article on Sun Myung Moon and his Washington Strategy

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Part Two of Rory O'Connor's Media, Money and Sun Myung Moon (hat tip to politickybitch)

Affidavit: Wash Times Receives $40 Million Yearly From Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:26:00 +0000

In an affidavit for a lawsuit against his former employer, former Washington Times editorial page editor Richard Miniter disclosed that Sun Myung Moon's Unification movement spends $40 million each year subsidizing the paper. Also, Miniter felt that then-Times publisher Tom McDevitt pressured him to attend a Moonie mass wedding:

21. McDevitt told me that "It would be good for you to go." I took this to mean that if I didn't go, it would count negatively against my prospects at The Washington Times and of being offered permanent executive employment there.

22. I knew that McDevitt was a member of the Unification Church and that his religion was important to him. A large, Mao-like portrait of Rev. Moon hung above his desk and a billboard-sized Korean-language calligraphy, written by Rev. Moon, hung in the executive conference room. While these Moon relics were only seen by senior executives, I knew they had personal significance to McDevitt. At first, I considered this artwork to be a sign of personal and private religious devotion, like an Advent calendar tacked to someone's cubicle, and not a sign that the Church would interfere in the "editorial independence" that editors were promised.

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:45:00 +0000

Washington Times editor emeritus Wesley Pruden: Obama lacks "blood impulse" for what America "is about" due to "Kenyan father," "mother attracted to men of the Third World."

Also, I address Pruden and other WT white supremacists in the video "The World's Most Powerful Cult."

Comprehensive Coverage of the Turmoil in Moon's Wash. Times

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Talking Points Memo has a long article:

When Washington Times Publisher Thomas McDevitt was fired last Sunday, his successor Jonathan Slevin and two security guards escorted him from the Times headquarters to his car and confiscated his cell phone and computer, according to an internal Unification Church memo provided to TPM by multiple church members.

Issued Friday and addressed to "District Directors, State Leaders, all Blessed Central Families and Members," the memo appears to be the first official statement from the church that addresses the turmoil at the Times which has threatened the very future of the newspaper founded by church leader Rev. Sun Myung Moon in the early 1980s and long subsidized by the church's business empire.

The conservative Washington Times is controlled by Preston Moon, son of Rev. Moon and chair of the Times' parent company, News World Communications. TPM has reported that Preston's feud with the rest of his family -- rooted in his displeasure at the way the elderly Rev. Moon divvied up the church and its business empire -- is driving the chaos at the Times. . .

Read the rest of the article here.

Wash Times Announces Resignation Of Executive Editor John Solomon

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Read the story.

Must Read

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:49:00 +0000

"Media, Money and Sun Myung Moon" by Rory O'Connor (Thanks to politickybitch for the link).

Beefed-Up Security at Moonie Times

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:29:00 +0000

Here is the story.

The Washington Times' Anti-Gay War on Kevin Jennings

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:24:00 +0000

Surprised about The Washington Times' jihad against Department of Education official Kevin Jennings? It comes to know surprise from those who know about Sun Myung Moon's thoughts about gays, namely that they are "dung-eating dogs" who will be "eliminated" by God.

Settlement Reached in Stallings Case

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:36:00 +0000

According to the Washington Post, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has reached a settlement with a man who said he was sexually abused as a teenager by a former priest, George A. Stallings Jr., who is now a prominent member of Moon's Unification movement.

AP: Sun Myung Moon Turning Over Unification Movement to Sons

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:55:00 +0000

Here is the Associated Press story:

SEOUL, South Korea - The Rev. Sun Myung Moon, now approaching 90 and still one of the world's most controversial religious figures, is handing over day-to-day control of his Unification Church to three U.S.-educated sons.

There are some changes afoot in fundraising and boosting membership, the sons say. But Moon — who will preside over another series of his trademark mass weddings on Wednesday — remains in charge as the church's self-proclaimed "Messiah."

Read the full story.

George H.W. Bush and other World Leaders Puff Up Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Bush and other prominent current and former world leaders recently congratulated Moon on his autobiography. Bush wrote (6:37 of the video), "I salute Rev. Moon, and all of you, for your work and your service to the world. I believe that public service of all kinds is an honorable calling. Yes, there are great challenges, but our will and determination are, and must be, greater."

Watch the video:

Sun Myung Moon to Kick the Bucket on January 13, 2013?

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:10:00 +0000

In two recent speeches, Sun Myung Moon has claimed that January 13, 2013 will be an auspicious day. Two years, ago Moon told followers the following:

I have just six years until January 13, 2013. If I give the order, will you be able to move all the people below you? A great migration will occur. This is not just a dream; this can actually happen. Can a bird carry a lot of luggage to migrate? No. You yourselves should not have things that will burden you down; you must be able to migrate

Last year, Moon told his followers:

Today is the 13th of February. Thirteen is very important. There are five years from now until January 13, 2013. The 13th of every month should be marked as important days on our march to 2013. This is the ssang hap time of connecting the 7th and 8th jubilee years. We will expand the jubilee of God’s forgiveness every year through 2012.

In other Moon news, a Washington Times review of Moon's autobiography, "As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen" (to no surprise, it is a positive review) notes that the book is now in English. I previously noted that the book was a bestseller in South Korea.

Andrew Breitbart Throws Stones At ACORN from Sun Myung Moon's Glass House

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:54:00 +0000

(Updated below)
The right has been in a feeding frenzy since some hidden-camera tapes from right-wing operatives (don't call them journalists) were aired on Fox News. Clearly, the operatives cast a wide net, hoping that lower-level ACORN workers in field offices would make incriminating statements (here's an article on the nature of these sting operations and how people get caught up in them).

The operatives are now in the employ of Andrew Breitbart, a commentator for Sun Myung Moon's Washington Times. Breitbart was so outraged by alleged "deep corruption and unspeakable immorality at the ACORN housing division" that he wrote about it in The Washington Times. As an employee of the Washington Times, whether he knows it or not, Breitbart is contributing to Moon's attempt to legitimize his worldview to the world; Moon said, "That is why Father [Moon referring to himself in the third person] has been combining and organizing scholars from all over the world, and also newspaper organizations, in order to make propaganda." Since Breitbart used the pages of a paper devoted to promoting the Unification Movement's worldview to slam ACORN, I thought a comparison of ACORN and the Unification movement would be in order:

ACORN Versus The Unification Movement
Movement	ACORN	Unification Movement
Purpose	The empowerment of poor and disenfranchised through voter registration, affordable housing, health-care, and neighborhood safety.	The aggrandizement of Sun Myung Moon, who, according to Unification dogma, is "humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent"
Does the leadership compel members to engage in degrading, unhygienic sexual acts?	No	Yes
Has the Movement Scammed Japanese Widows?	No	To the tune of hundreds of millions, possibly billions, of dollars
View of neo-Confederate groups	Strongly opposes efforts by neo-Confederates and anti-civil rights groups from denying the vote to the poor and minorities	Moon's Washington Times has had several prominent editors who were neo-Confederates or who supported white supremacy
Rapes Committed by Leadership	None	Moon procured an underage girl for his drug-addled, adult son
Actual Importing of Underage Girls	No	Yes
Supported Apartheid and Salvadorean death squads?	No.	Yes, Moon was a huge supporter of the WCAL

UPDATE: True to form, Moon's Washington Times has been prominent in spreading the smear that Department of Education official Kevin Jennings had covered up sexual abuse in a school where he had been a teacher.

Irony is Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Fox News managing editor (and former Washington Times operative) Bill Sammon writes a memo to Fox News staffers about the need to be impartial. To fully appreciate the irony of the memo, read my article about Sammon (written when he also worked for Moon).

Must Read Article on Moon's Ties to Nazis

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:53:00 +0000

(Updated below)
Robert Parry on Sun Myung Moon's Nazi ties:

One of the ugly ironies in the Right’s depiction of President Barack Obama as Hitler and health reform as a plan for Nazi-style euthanasia is that the owner of the Washington Times, which has pushed this line of attack, has had longstanding ties with World War II-era Nazis, neo-Nazis and rightist “death squads.”

Indeed, the Washington Times founder and funder, Sun Myung Moon, built his international religious-business-media empire in collaboration with Japanese fascist war criminals and with operational assistance from ex-Nazi SS officer Klaus Barbie, the so-called “Butcher of Lyon.”

The 89-year-old Moon also has had close ties to later generations of neo-Nazis and right-wing murderers, especially in Latin America where Moon-related organizations threw in their lot with brutal military dictators including some involved in cocaine trafficking.

UPDATE: Regarding the Nazi analogy used by the Washington Times, there was an apology; from the New York Times to the Washington Times for its assertion that the Moonie Times is an "outlet ... decidedly opposed to Mr. Obama." (Thanks to JG for the link).

UPDATE II: Media Matters for America asks: Do Wash. Times news pages really have "no agenda"? and discusses the Times' defense of its "fact-based" editorials comparing Obama to Nazis

Interesting and Revealing Post on the Washington Times

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:25:00 +0000

Matt Gertz of Media Matters for America:

Politico reports that Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and former Republican Senator Rick Santorum has written a fundraising email for the RNC – which was sent to the Washington Times’ subscriber list. In the email – addressed “Dear Fellow Conservative” – Santorum waxes sentimental about how “a great tide of conservative Republicans swept to victory in races all across America,” and claims that “we are facing a very similar opportunity today.”

This follows fundraising emails sent to the Times’ list on behalf of House Republican Leader John Boehner and the right-wing Judicial Confirmation Network. Perhaps John Solomon's promise that the Washington Times would maintain a "neutral, civil voice" kicks in next month?

The Ulitmate Irony?

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:47:00 +0000

On Sun Myung Moon's Washington Times' America's Morning News radio program, L. Brent Bozell appeared and said the following about Barack Obama: "He is the Messiah; he is The One. . . "

Click here is you don't see the irony of this.

I have previously written about the Bozell family.

Moon's Washington Times on Sotomayor

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Media Matters for America: "Wash. Times changes word in Sotomayor statement to call for her defeat"

UPDATE: I just found out that the Washington Times is selling a limited edition book W. The Legacy of President George W. Bush. The e-mail promoting the book has the following text:

You have stood with former President Bush through some of our nation's most turbulent times. That is why we are making this special edition with personal remembrances by Vice President Cheney, Laura Bush and many others available to you now. "W" is packed with gripping pictures and stories all beautifully presented in this historical keepsake presentation of all eight years of the Presidency of George W. Bush.

From the Man Who Gave Us the Capitol Hill Moon Coronation

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:45:00 +0000

Joe Conason's recent article on Sarah Palin has some interesting information about Charlie Black, the Republican operative who arranged the 2004 coronation ceremony for Sun Myung Moon and his wife. Black had a big hand in John McCain's ill-fated decision to tap Palin as his running mate:

[McCain strategist Steve]Schmidt had collaborated with [lobbyist Rick] Davis and [speechwriter Mark] Salter to promote Palin over several more qualified candidates -- after a cursory background investigation that revealed almost nothing about her lack of knowledge, bizarre official conduct, and narcissistic temperament. When the three insiders presented her to a smitten, impetuous McCain, he accepted their judgment, ratified by Charlie Black, one of the most experienced Republican operatives in Washington, who told him that if he chose her, he might win -- and otherwise he would surely lose.

Exclusive: Sun Myung Moon's Alliance with Another Cult-Run Media Group

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:06:00 +0000

(Updated below)
Sun Myung Moon's media empire has branched out to right-wing talk radio with the recent establishment of the Washington Times America's Morning News program. The co-hosts of the radio program are John McCaslin, a columnist and a former editor of the Washington Times, and veteran right-wing talker Melanie Morgan.

The program is due to an alliance with Moon's Washington Times and another media outlet founded by a cult leader, the Talk Radio Network (TRN). TRN was founded by zany cult leader and radio talk show host Roy Masters and is currently run by Masters' son Mark. Having listened to Masters' radio program, I can confirm that Michael Savage (whose radio show is syndicated by TRN) is the embodiment of sanity compared to Masters (ConWebWatch has a succinct primer on Masters and TRN).

The alliance between Moon's Washington Times and the Masters' Talk Radio Network is, in Unification Church terminology, a "perfect marriage."

UPDATE I: Welcome readers of Crooks and Liars, American Politics Journal, and Oliver Willis' blog. Check out the articles on my main blog (the sidebar of hilarious transcripts of on-air conversations I've had with Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, etc.). also, check out the front page of the Sun Myung Moon blog and watch the YouTube video "The World's Most Powerful Cult."

UPDATE II: Lanny Davis is a regular guest on the show. Davis performs the same thing on the Washington Times radio program that he does for Fox News (and did on G. Gordon Liddy's radio show)--he acts as an on-air punching bag.

UPDATE III: When the news media focused on missing governor or South Carolina Mark Sanford (who it later turned out was having an affair with a woman in Argentina), the Washington Times let Sanford know that they were on his side. A WT staffer sent an e-mail to Sanford's office with the following message: "If you all want to speak on this publicly, you're welcome to Washington Times Radio. You know that you will be on friendly ground here!"

The Washington Times and Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), joined at the hip

noreply@blogger.com (Scoobie Davis) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Media Matters for America has the full story.