WP p.A01: Rev. Moon Honored at Hill Reception (the whole story!)

[hedda_foil]

Not breaking news to us, but omg, this is the front page of the Washington Post!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61932-2004Jun22.html

Rev. Moon Honored at Hill Reception
Lawmakers Say They Were Misled
By Charles Babington and Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 23, 2004; Page A01

More than a dozen lawmakers attended a congressional reception this year honoring the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in which Moon declared himself the Messiah and said his teachings have helped Hitler and Stalin be "reborn as new persons."

At the March 23 ceremony in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) wore white gloves and carried a pillow holding an ornate crown that was placed on Moon's head. The Korean-born businessman and religious leader then delivered a long speech saying he was "sent to Earth . . . to save the world's six billion people. . . . Emperors, kings and presidents . . . have declared to all Heaven and Earth that Reverend Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent."

Details of the ceremony -- first reported by Salon.com writer John Gorenfeld --

<snip>

[TacticalPeek]

1. Bwaaahahahaha!

Walls shake.

[Cha]

2. Finally! Love the sounds of drip, drip, drip...

all of a sudden.

[LiberalBushFan]

3. Who tha hell is this Democrat Davis?

that sort of lessens the article's impact.

[aquart]

5. Well, for starters, he's an idiot.

He crowned a foreign billionaire in the CAPITOL??????

That leaves dumb in the dust.

[Southsideirish]

29. Danny Davis is a wonderful person, a true underdog who made it

to the top. He grew up dirt poor in the south and made $.16 hr picking cotton all day. His family then moved to Chicago and went to school, became a school teacher, an alderman and rose to the ranks of the U.S. Congress. He has been a fantastic spokesman for the underdog and the "little guy" all his life and I don't know what the hell is going on with this Moon stuff - it is totally against everything the man has ever stood for - a complete mystery.

[Cocoa]

32. I think it's about money

Moon gave Davis money.

Why Davis needs it is another question. He gets about 80% of the vote every election. :shrug:

[Walt Starr]

34. This is specifically why I refuse to donate to the DNC

They could end up helping out a whack job like Davis!

[Cocoa]

36. what does this have to do with the DNC?

Davis is probably closer associated with the Congressional Black Caucus than he is with the DNC, and this episode seems to involve the CBC more than it does the DNC.

[Walt Starr]

38. I don't donate to blanket groups at all

Because they could end up supporting whack jobs like Davis.

[Ripley]

33. Isn't this mixing STATE AND CHURCH?

Even if it is a Freak show? This Davis guy sounds like a looney Moonie to me.

[Journeyman]

9. Democrat or Republican. . .

any Congresscritter who supports such a travesty has made a mockery of our Constitution, especially when this despicable act occured in a Federal building. All should be held to ridicule and disdain, no quarter given.

[Trajan]

40. Absolutely ...

No quarter given, even to a Democrat ...

How foolish must a man be to participate in such an arrogant show of religious sycophancy ...

Im shocked ... REALLY shocked ...

[Hoping4Change]

69. Rep Sanford Bishop GA also in attendence

[Hoping4Change]

71. repuke who was there has PR firm, represent s Challabi's INC

"included conservatives, the traditional fans of Moon's newspaper: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA.), Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah), Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) and Republican strategy god Charlie Black, whose PR firm represents Ahmed Chalabi’s Iraqi National Congress."


http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131

[stevedeshazer]

4. This is great!

Washington Post, page freaking A01.

I read the Salon article, too. The Post article has a very different perspective, both good reading.

[2cents]

14. It 's not great

It would be if not for asshole Davis.

Now we (Democrats) can never use the Moon connection against the pukes.

We all know the spin/reply will be - "Moon was crowned by a Democrat" period.

Whatta schmuck.

[stevedeshazer]

26. I'm not so loyal a Democrat

I won't mind seeing Davis take the heat. Dem or Repub, this shit is just plain wrong.

What the hell was that guy thinking?

[struggle4progress]

51. No sane Dem can possibly support Davis' disgraceful behavior.

If I were running against Davis, this would be my PRIME commercial.

Tough luck, because Davis' record really isn't bad.

On the other hand, it's possible Repubs won't want to touch this, being abject and craven slaves to Moon themselves.

[Octafish]

6. blm should be loving this.

[alphafemale]

7. Dropping the "UPI=Moonie Times" thought-bomb is a favorite of mine.

It sounds so unbelievable to Joe Q. Public. But it's easily proved.

[grasswire]

8. this ain't so great

First of all, Mark Dayton is a great Dem. A real hero and a descendant of a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Second, there's no mention of the relationship of the Bush family to Rev. Moon.

[Supormom]

12. Read what Senator Dayton has to say:

Among the more than 300 people who attended all or part of the March ceremony was Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), who now says he simply was honoring a constituent receiving a peace award and did not know Moon would be there. "We fell victim to it; we were duped," Dayton spokeswoman Chris Lisi said yesterday.

Other lawmakers who attended or were listed as hosts felt the same, she said. "Everyone I talked to was furious," she said. With Minnesotans demanding to know whether Dayton is affiliated with Moon, Lisi said, the senator persuaded the St. Paul Pioneer Press to write an article allowing him to reply.

[2cents]

16. They all can play dumb - except for one

and that one is Davis.

[Hoping4Change]

64. Davis aide on June 10 denied Davis participation see post below.

[leQ]

23. here's the link to that response...

Twin Cities Pioneer-Press

[Hoping4Change]

75. Gorenfeld's article much better

http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131

[kskiska]

10. Great that it's mainstream

I posted this a couple hours ago in LBN and the mods shut it down. Glad to see it up again.

BTW: Freeps take on the subject:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1153485/posts

They just can't BELIEVE their Moonie connection, and their very own Moonie reared his head on this thread to argue his case.

They had NO IDEA their very favorite newspaper is owned by the holy father.

[Citizen Daryl]

56. Freeper on Moon: "Good and sincere man"

"Rev. Moon is a good and sincere man. Conservatives have a lot to be thankful to him for. He has been on the receiving end of history's biggest smear job thanks to his ferocious anti-communism."

Gotta dance with the one what brung ya.

:evilgrin:

[Sophree]

60. That photo is so offensive.

For SO many reasons. :grr:

[Hoping4Change]

77. US News, Mar 89 report Moon's stated aim is the "subjugation

of the American government and people."

[Swamp Rat]

11. I saw the photos of his coronation

A DUer posted a link a while back. I saved some of them for future use. ;-)

Ha ha ha! This is hilarious! Every RW X-tian I know is NEVER gonna hear the end of this.

"Hey 'Bubba' did you see the photos of your new 'Moon Messiah?' Look, all your favorite Republican heroes have crowned him as YOUR God... Praise be to Moon!... NO not Jesus, MOON! George Bush commands you to bow down now and pray to the Moon!"



Edited for grammer: Moon made me do it!

[Dogmudgeon]

13. Rep. Danny K. Davis is toast

What the hell is a Democrat doing crowning a dollar-store messiah, anyway?

--bkl

[Maeve]

22. Please! Moon is not a dollar-store messiah!

Dime-store, at best....
Although I will give him credit for turning lousy theology and slave-labor tactics into a financial empire. Only in America...

[Dogmudgeon]

24. And props to Ron Hubbard

He did it with a small percentage of the membership that Moon has.

Right now, $cientology is the top brass, the Sea Org, and the grunts who do most of the heavy work -- and a small assortment of movie stars and "trustafarians" who can easily pay the Church's inflated prices for salvation.

The good side? No lectures about the proper use of your "love organ". But it's a tad pricy.

I mean, $6000 for an E-Meter? Go to Radio Shack and pick up one of their portable multi-meters. $29 plus you can test all your batteries.

--bkl

[AngryAmish]

25. Danny Davis toast?

You no understand Chicago politics. He has a job for life.

[Walt Starr]

31. If I lived in the idiot's district

I'd be canvassing for the Republican and showing pictures of him crowning Moon as the Messiah!

[Rich Hunt]

45. that's never gonna happen

A Republican in that district? A-ha ha ha ha ha....

[Walt Starr]

46. Doesn't change how I feel Davis is forever branded

an asshole and DINO, IMO.

[notbush]

15. Davis, Fountroy and Cummings have stepped in it.

Cummings , yea I know who he is, should be a hell of a lot smarter than this.
Only 1 repug listed in the Wash. Post story.
At least Dayton had the good sense to disavow this ...this...I don't know what you call it.
This proves we have a few Dems. who aren't any smarter than the repugs.

[DaveSZ]

17. Yep

It makes me sick that Congresscriters, especially Dayton, were there.

I'm glad the Freeps know that their favorite newspaper is owned by a freak now, but that only means their sources of news will degerate further into Newsmax territory.

[Hoping4Change]

82. Lots of repukes there, Gorenfeld whoe followed Moon for

years and broke the story months age has a more thorough accouting of those present.

http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131

[qanda]

18. How come it took three months for the WP to report this?

This is utterly ridiculous and I don't care if they are Democrats, everyone involved should resign their positions.

:grr:

[Hoping4Change]

59. WP Reliable Sources ran story momentarily Apr 4 but than deleted it

"Should Americans be concerned that...Congressmen attended coronation ...The Washington Post didn't think so...

For a moment on April 4, a quote from the keynote speech was in the Web version of its "Reliable Sources" column. The speaker: Sun Myung Moon...

But not long after it appeared on the Post's web site, the paper erased the quote.

Columnist Richard Leiby told me via e-mail that it shouldn't have gone out in the first place. The paper replaced it with breaking news about "Celebrity Jeopardy!" with Tim Russert.


http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131

[DoYouEverWonder]

19. I love the part about Hitler and Stalin

"...and dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, have found strength in my teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons."

Can't imagine who these new persons might be. Bu$hler and Cheney maybe?

[UpInArms]

20. here's a thought

helped Hitler <snip> be "reborn as new person/s

Adolf Hitler died December 13, 1945

GWB was born July 6, 1946


hmmmmmm....

gives a whole new meaning to "reincarnation"

[smirkymonkey]

30. Wow, that is interesting!

Great premise for a book or movie!

[playahata1]

57. I thought Hitler died in APRIL, 1945.

Shortly after FDR passed away.

[UpInArms]

65. well, you are right, playahata1

his date of death:

Date of death (details) 30th April 1945, Berlin, Germany. (suicide)

http://www.pguy.dircon.co.uk/hitlerbiography.htm

I am not certain what I was looking at earlier <shrug>

but the reincarnation thing still applies :D

[FlashHarry]

21. Repukes just barely mentioned.

The Moonie Times bit was buried. This was spun against us. Though, I agree, the Dem who crowned him should be sent packing. What an absolute moron.

[chimpy the poopthrower]

35. Oh, you noticed that too?

Yes, readers who don't already know about Moon's right-wing influence will be left with the impression that this is all about Dems.

Not to excuse the brainless Dems who did participate. It really seems like Moon is going after black Dems hard. I remember that even Sharpton was getting involved with him somehow a while back. Hope this will be a wake-up call to any Dem who thinks Moon is on our side.

[UpInArms]

53. here's where that action (by Moon) began

http://www.cesnur.org/2001/moon/14.htm

"Moon Tries to Connect With Black Pastors"

by Hamil R. Harris ("Washington Post," April 21, 2001)

More than 2,000 people, including about 300 African American pastors, filled a Washington hotel ballroom this week to hear the Rev. Sun Myung Moon deliver a call for an interfaith movement to strengthen American families.

Moon's appearance was one of his last stops on a three-month, 52-city tour billed as an effort to promote family values and break down barriers between races and denominations.
The Korean-born founder of the Unification Church has been a controversial figure because of his followers' belief that he is the messiah, and also because of his financial activities and his church's recruitment techniques. He was convicted and imprisoned for tax evasion in 1984.

Some Washington area black pastors declined invitations to Monday night's event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, citing disagreements with Moon's religious teachings. But many others participated, saying they were willing to overlook such differences because they agreed with the broad themes of Moon's "We Will Stand" tour.

Among the ministers attending were the Rev. Walter Fauntroy, the former D.C. delegate to Congress; the Rev. William Bennett, pastor of First Baptist Church of Deanwood; the Rev. George Augustus Stallings, archbishop of Imani Temple African-American Catholic Congregation; the Rev. Cleveland Sparrow, of Sparrow World Temple; and the Rev. Donald Robinson, the D.C. mayor's special assistant for religious affairs, who presented Moon with a proclamation from Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D).

"Many of the goals of the 'We Will Stand' tour are consistent with the goals the mayor espouses for the city," Robinson said. "I don't see a conflict. I just see this as an opportunity for the city to align itself with like-minded people. We want the renewal and restoration of families, the renewal and revival of community. We want a sense of racial harmony."

In recent years, Moon, 81, has sought to reach out to black pastors and veteran civil rights activists, as well as to members of the Nation of Islam. Last October, his Family Federation for World Peace and Unification co-sponsored the Million Family March that featured Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

...there's lots more there if you have the stomach for it...

[FizzFuzz]

79. The Nazi party touted "Family Values" too

I just don't get it--how are supposedly intelligent people being conned by this known mass marriage-between-strangers cult leader? (I don't even know the whole Moon story) Just wave the phrase "Family Values" in the face of the religious and you get an automatic free pass and a cartoonish coronation? :freak: :wtf: :crazy:

And the look on Moon's face is toooooooooo slimy!!! ugh!

[Walt Starr]

27. Every last Democrat at that proceeding should be voted out of office

I know if I was in Davis' Congressional district, I would be actively campaigning for a Republican.

This kind of crap where a Senate office building is used to "crown" a fuckwad like Moon goes beyond Party loyalty and partisan politics. It's just plain WRONG.

[Cocoa]

37. why not a primary challenger?

why a republican?

I don't know if any republicans live in this district anyway.

[Walt Starr]

39. Primaries were in March

prior to any knowledge about this.

That's why I'd support a Republican over this asshole any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[Cocoa]

41. does his voting record mean anything to you?

I don't like this Moon thing at all, but my disgust is offset by Davis's excellent voting record. But not completely offset. I'm going to look closer at his primary challengers next time.

[Walt Starr]

42. Not a fucking thing after this fiasco

I could care less what any of his votes were. This single vote of Moon being Messiah nullifies every last vote the guy ever made, IMO.

Edited to add: Had Kerry been there, I'd be donating to and canvassing for Ralph Nader.

[LiviaOlivia]

50. What Davis did is unforgivable. Voting record or not.

He might as well given the RNC a big gang-banging BJ.

You cannot call out others on their unconstitutional actions when you don't have any of your own.

Supporting Moon is wrong. Very wrong. How can you trust Mr.Davis?

[BiggJawn]

28. "You'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind..."

"You'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind to not know that any event that is sponsored by the Washington Times . . . could involve the influence, or the potential presence, of the Reverend Moon,"

If he had added "Just plain STUPID" to that list, he would have taken in over half the US House of Representatives.....

[UpInArms]

55. here's some Moon background for you

http://www.americaheldhostile.com/ed010702.shtml

"In the last nine years, the Church poured eight hundred million dollars in cold cash into The Washington Times. 800 million. You have no idea how much money that is. If you deposited that money into a bank, the interest alone, at 10% a year, would be eight million dollars per month. At 12%, it would be even more. That is one hundred million dollars a year. This is just the money that the Church has invested in the American media. With all the other money put together, Father has invested two billion dollars in the providence in America. This is a fact." - Sun Myung Moon June 16, 1997

...more...

[kskiska]

43. Danny Davis carrying crown

[WillyT]

44. More From Salon.com Yesterday Here:

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1839238

:wtf:

[Barrett808]

47. These *are* the End Times

Better get right with "Bob".

http://www.subgenius.com

[struggle4progress]

48. Some nice headlines for this story

Rev. Moon declares himself Messiah
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/world/8988597.htm

Moon told legislators at Congress reception he's lord and Messiah
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001962785_moon23.html


Sounds like we can have some real fun with anybody associated with The Washington Times ....

[DrWeird]

49. They still have the chaplain, right? And prayer meetings in the WH

...?

All a bunch of mixed nuts as far as I'm concerned.

[Mnemosyne]

52. Bohemian Grove. n/t

[Hoping4Change]

54. WP Reliable Sources ran story momentarily Apr 4 but than deleted it

"Should Americans be concerned that...Congressmen attended coronation ...The Washington Post didn't think so...

For a moment on April 4, a quote from the keynote speech was in the Web version of its "Reliable Sources" column. The speaker: Sun Myung Moon...

But not long after it appeared on the Post's web site, the paper erased the quote.

Columnist Richard Leiby told me via e-mail that it shouldn't have gone out in the first place. The paper replaced it with breaking news about "Celebrity Jeopardy!" with Tim Russert.


http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131
---------------------------------------------------

[Hoping4Change]

58. *****ON JUNE 14TH DAVIS ' AIDE DENIED to a DUer****

that Davis crowned Moon (see below for summary of the conversation).

On or around June 14th, DU had a thread about Moon's Coronation, John Gorenfeld's report.

In that thread, I got into an exchange with a DUer who said he was shocked to read that Davis, his Congressman attended. I suggested that he call Davis' office to get a response.

That DUer whose name I forget did contact Davis office and posted a summary of the conversation he had with Davis' aide.

Being intrigued by the Coronation story and lack of coverage, I did a search and found that US News & World Report did a story about Moon back in March 1989.

When I read the summary of the Duer's conversation, I sent the following email on June 15th to whispers@usnews and I am wondering if the email which included the summary of the conversation with Davis' aide might have sparked the recent coverage. If it did, then it would be a great incentive to keep emailing the media about untold stories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dear Sir/Madam
In March 1989 US News reported that Rev Moon's stated aim is the "subjugation of the American government and people."

Given US News' ominous warning, please report on the Coronation this March of Rev Moon.

How could people like Danny Davis and Sanford Bishop and the Republican Senators in attendence have been involved in this kind of bizarre madness?

Rev. Sun Myung Moon is a right wing psychotic. He is a seriously deranged and dangerous cult leader who has given many speeches claiming to be the Messiah, so to see with my own eyes that there were Congressmen involved in physically crowning this madman as the "Messiah" in the Dirksen Senate office building is shocking.

There needs to be a serious investigation into what happened here.

http://www.gorenfeld.net/blog/2004/05/im-and-i-approve-this-messiah.ht...

http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131

A concerned person contacted his Congressman Danny Davis who was also in attendance, the following is a summary of a half hour conversation with his aide Ira:

-- Davis's only relationship with Moon is that Moon asked Davis to speak on two or three occasions about peace. Asked if Davis had a financial relationship with Moon, Ira hesitated and said "I haven't scoured the Congressman's fincancial records, but I don't know of any financial relationsip."

-- Davis does not share Moon's political positions, particularly anti-homosexuality, Davis has spoken recently in favor of gay rights.

-- Congressman don't coronate people, and Davis wouldn't be in any such ceremony.

-- The Congressman meets with a lot of people and he doesn't have to justify who he meets with.

-- Media reports are often incorrect, Ira said, they probably misreported the nature of the meeting. Asked if he knew the nature of the meeting, he said he didn't. Asked if he could find out and get back to me, he got very defensive and said he doesn't have to do that.

Yours truly

[Walt Starr]

61. Oh yeah, don't believe your lying eyes! Davis never crowned Moon!

That's not Davis with the crown in his handds in the picture! That's the EVIL DAVIS from the parallel universe with the crown in his hands!



:eyes:

[Hoping4Change]

62. Aide's remark that Davis doesn't have to justify who he meets with.

is what I found priceless. I think he certainly does have to justify himself.

[DoYouEverWonder]

66. You mean the one dressed up

like a priest in the white robes? That's bizarre.

[Hoping4Change]

67. Summary of a half hour conversation with Davis' aide Ira:

A concerned DUer around June 14th contacted his Congressman Danny Davis. THe Duer posted the following summary of a half hour conversation with Davis' aide Ira:

-- Davis's only relationship with Moon is that Moon asked Davis to speak on two or three occasions about peace. Asked if Davis had a financial relationship with Moon, Ira hesitated and said "I haven't scoured the Congressman's fincancial records, but I don't know of any financial relationsip."

-- Davis does not share Moon's political positions, particularly anti-homosexuality, Davis has spoken recently in favor of gay rights.

-- Congressman don't coronate people, and Davis wouldn't be in any such ceremony.

-- The Congressman meets with a lot of people and he doesn't have to justify who he meets with.

-- Media reports are often incorrect, Ira said, they probably misreported the nature of the meeting. Asked if he knew the nature of the meeting, he said he didn't. Asked if he could find out and get back to me, he got very defensive and said he doesn't have to do that.

[Hoping4Change]

68. No Davis is the Black participant, I don't know who the White

guy is.

[DoYouEverWonder]

70. So who decided on the dress code?

of does Davis always go around with a pair of white gloves handy?

Gee I just happened to be there doesn't cut it when you show up in uniform.

Thanks for the clarification on his ID. I'd still love to know who his partner is with the white hair?

[Hoping4Change]

73. OMG I think it might be another Democrat

In the WP article it says "The Rev. Walter Fauntroy, a Democrat who was the District's congressional delegate for 10 years, was the event's master of ceremonies and recipient of a "National Crown of Peace" award."

Do you think the man in white is the Master of Ceremonies?

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

63. Washington Times owned by GOD?? What a crock.

n/t

JB

[olddem43]

72. Let's hope that Moon, and every other stupid ass

at that proceeding get to meet their friends Hitler and Stalin, and the sooner the better.

[progressivebydesign]

74. Not a DAMN word about Moon and the Bush family! grrr...

If this were a pal of Kerry, don't you know that would be all over the article. A sentence should have begun: Lifelong friend and benefactor to the Bush family, Moon... blah, blah, blah.. Well, you get the idea. Great to see the article, BUT they left out the most important fucking details! Like Moon being a Bush family friend, like Washington Times and UPI being a total front to push GOP policies, etc.

In a story today from the AP, a group NOT linked to Kerry.. ACT, a group that is registering voters, hired felons. Okay.. so what was one of the FIRST sentences in THAT story? " A group who is CRUCIAL to John Kerry's sucess.." THAT makes it into the mainstream media, even though it's an egregious abuse of journalism to link Kerry to felons, But.. Bush's ties to MOon doesn't.

[FizzFuzz]

76. ug, I hate to hear about Dems doing this kind of thing

not good for the rest of us. Who IS this guy Davis? The description of the ceremony sounds like a bad science fiction movie with fake fur capes and secret medalions that channel Zoltifar the supreme Lord who speaks only to the anointed one...

[MallRat]

78. ABC World News Tonight had a report, too.

Generally let most attendees off-the-hook... invitations gave no indication that it was a Moon coronation ceremony.

Danny Davis, however, was not spared. This is going to be a PR nightmare for him.

[koopie57]

80. we have saviors coming out of our ears

Moon is humanity's savior, Bush is god, and god also talks to pat robertson and says the us MIGHT lose the war in iraq. What a bunch of nuts!

[struggle4progress]

81. big kick for idiots

:kick: