Dark Side of the Moon (Rev. Moon crowned "Messiah" and "King of Heaven" by sitting Congressmen.)

Politics1 ^ | 17 June 2004 | Ron Gunzburger

[Ahban]

SIDE OF THE MOON. On Wednesday we reported on a largely ignored story -- investigated in depth by journalist John Gorenfeld -- about Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) having participated recently in a bizarre DC event featuring purported Korean cult leader Sun Myung Moon. Moon -- the leader of the Korean-based Unification Church cult, a convicted felon, and owner of the Washington Times newspaper and the UPI press service -- was previously involved in the "Koreagate" Congressional scandal in the late 1970s. We mentioned yesterday how Davis wore white gloves, read Moon's "Crown of Glory" poem, and carried a golden crown that was placed on Moon's head after Moon proclaimed himself the "Messiah", the "King of Peace" and "Returning Lord." The crowning relates to Moon's push over the past year to urge Christian churches to remove crosses from their walls and replace them with a crown -- honoring the King of Kings (which, of course, he says is himself). Now, if you thought that was bad ... well, keep reading because it gets much worse!

The huge event was held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building -- a US government building -- on Capitol Hill. Not only were there Congressional Co-Chairs of the event (Congressmen Danny Davis, Curt Weldon, Roscoe Bartlett, Sanford Bishop and Chris Cannon), others played roles that evening. US Senator Lindsey Graham, NRCC Chair Tom Davis and Congressman Phil Crane served on the Host Committee, as did noted GOP political consultant Charlie Black. Weldon -- who had his staff initially deny he even attended, then claimed he possibly popped in briefly on his way to a meeting -- actually delivered the official "congratulatory remarks" welcoming the guests. Weldon, however, seems to have a good reason to fear exposure of how closely tied he is to Moon. On June 19, 2003, the Congressional Record shows that Davis introduced remarks on behalf of himself and Weldon for last year's Amassadors of Peace Award ceremony held in the Rayburn House Office Building. "Many of my colleagues will join me and the Gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Weldon], co-chair, in giving tribute to ... those honored with the Ambassadors for Peace Award ... We are grateful to the founders of Ambassadors for Peace, the Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung [Moon], for promoting the vision of world peace, and we commend them for their work," said Davis. Weldon has even gone so far as to apparently organize a Congressional fact-finding mission to Libya to create an opportunity for him to present dictator Moammar Khadafy with one of Moon's Ambassadors of Peace pins. Don't believe me, check out the photo at left (which was also displayed by Weldon at the Moon event in the Dirksen Building).

So, what else went on at the Dirksen event? Famed civil rights activist and retired Congressman Walter Fauntroy (D-DC) presided at the event. A welcoming letter from House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) was read. Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) praised Moon for "always standing up for what is right." Is Cummings aware that Moon supports the eradication of homosexuals (who Moon calls "dirty dung-eating dogs")? Utah State Senator Howard Stephenson (R) spoke "as an ancestor of the white settlers, the pilgrims, and those who moved westward ... as a representative of my people in a spirit of repentance for the 'Trail of Tears' which we imposed upon the Native Americans." Bartlett next was proclaimed to be one of Moon's Ambassadors of Peace, and received a medal for this from Moon. Then came the Davis poem reading and the crowning ceremony. The narrator of the official Moonie-produced video of the event -- when showing this part -- stated that "the Honorable Roscoe Bartlett [was] representing the United States" at the crowning and "Senators and Congressmen and representatives of all the [religious] families of the world joined in." The Moonie video even claims that "81 US Senators and Congressmen" attended the event, although nowhere near that number appear in the video.

In a related development, it seems the Washington Post's "Reliable Source" column on April 4 unsuccessfully attempted to report on Moon's remarks at the event. They quoted Moon as proclaiming (and this is the same quote that appears in Moon's own video): "The five great saints and many other leaders in the spirit world, including even communist leaders such as Marx and Lenin, who committed all manner of barbarity and murders on Earth, and dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, have found strength in my teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons. Emperors, kings and presidents who enjoyed opulence and power on Earth, and even journalists who had worldwide fame, have now placed themselves at the forefront of the column of the true love revolution. ... They 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." However, shortly after it first appeared on the Post site, it was deleted by the Post and oddly replaced by a paragraph about Celebrity Jeopardy.

In recent years, former Vice President Dan Quayle and Attorney General John Ashcroft (in 2001) and former President George H.W. Bush (in 1988) also attended events with Moon. Bush even called him "the man with the vision." Finally -- as if you aren't sick already -- senior Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) signed a proclamation on Congressional letterhead in April 2004 recognizing Moon as the "True Parent" and "King of Peace."

Bottom line: Why did elected officials actively and tacitly participate in crowning this ex-felon as the Messiah and King of Peace? Where is the public outrage demanding that these officials -- both Democrats and Republicans -- answer for their fawning ties to this cult leader?
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 06.17.04 |

LaHood predicted that senior Congressman Phil Crane (R-IL) could be an upset defeat this year. "A lot of people are worried that the November surprise could be Phil Crane. The problem is he just has not really worked [his district] that well, and he hasn't paid attention to it," said LaHood. Then there's the strange behavior of Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL). Davis participated recently in an event featuring purported Korean cult leader Sun Myung Moon. At the "Moonie" festivities, Davis wore gleaming white gloves, spoke, and carried a golden crown that was placed on Moon's head after Moon proclaimed himself the "Messiah" and "Returning Lord." When contacted by Capitol Fax, Davis explained that he was "not necessarily in agreement with everything that [Moon] said ... Jesus the Christ is my guy." Postscript: It turns out that -- while Davis was the only Member of Congress to play a participatory role in the bizarre coronation ceremony -- other prominent officials were also in attendance as "Congressional Co-Chairs" of the event. They included: Congressmen Curt Weldon (R-PA), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT). US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), NRCC Chair Tom Davis (R-VA), Congressman Phil Crane (R-IL) and former US Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) were among those listed on the host committee. Read more about it here. Weldon's office vehemently denied he attended, until a photo was found on a Korean Moonie website picturing Weldon at the ceremony. Congressman Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN) was listed as a co-chair on the invitation, but he said he neither attended nor gave permission for his name to be used. All of this is very disturbing.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 06.16.04 |

[Tiger28]

it makes me sick the way he and his church get trashed constantly by the Left.
it should get trashed, from the left and the right! have you ever seen his followers- the 'moonies'- they are completely brainwashed. moon is NOT a Christian!

[billbears]

bump

[4CJ]

Hello my FRiend!

Not only were there Congressional Co-Chairs of the event (Congressmen Danny Davis, Curt Weldon, Roscoe Bartlett, Sanford Bishop [DIM-GA] and Chris Cannon), others played roles that evening. US Senator Lindsey Graham [RINO-SC], NRCC Chair Tom Davis and Congressman Phil Crane served on the Host Committee, as did noted GOP political consultant Charlie Black. Weldon -- who had his staff initially deny he even attended, then claimed he possibly popped in briefly on his way to a meeting -- actually delivered the official "congratulatory remarks" welcoming the guests.

So much for my congresscritter, not that this is a suprise. Graham was suprising. Where's the ACLU and the nonRev. Barry Lynn when it's NON-Christians involved? </sarcasm>

[stainlessbanner]

Glad to see you back, sir.

[john gorenfeld]

But Rev. Moon doesn't really like America all that much, or at least he didn't when he said, "The country that represents Satan's harvest is America." He says that God hates individualism, and he's just come off a tour of 300 churches tearing down the Christian cross. Which is a bit more extreme than anything the ACLU ever did, lol

Wash. Times founding edit Jim Whalen compares Moon's talk about America to the way Islamic radicals talk about America. But Moon does put on big shows with people dressed up in Revolutionary War gear so maybe he's got mixed feelings

Hey, my blog is actually pretty respectable. I was on WorldNetDaily and an ABC Radio program last week.

[Ahban]

The Washington Times is owned by Moon himself of course.

The politics1 website has updated this story

http://www.politics1.com

Weldon and Davis look particulary bad.

[blue jeans]

And Lyndsey Graham? You gotta be kiddin me.

[Eva]

This is really scary. Lyndsey Grahm's participation is particularly troubling. I don't find Bush's comment that Moon is the man with vision troubling, though. It sounds like political double talk. I just wonder what Moon is doing to garner this kind of support.

[Eva]

Grahm has been kind of off the reservation since he campaigned with McCain, and getting stranger all the time. I remember back during the impeachment trials, when the Democrats accused Grahm of "being light in the loafers." Now I am beginning to seriously wonder if it might be true.

[avg_freeper]

bears to be reapeated:

Every time this story gets posted and then yanked it gets wackier. Do y'all just think that the mods are waiting for the really, really, really goofball version and that one will stay up?

[Ahban]

That quote was Ron Gunzberger from the Politics1 web site, right? He is refering to a media pull of the story I think. As far as I know the mods on FR have never yanked or attempted to cover up this explosive story in any way.

[Ff--150]

UH-OH!! A billbears imposter, undoubtably a liberal wishing to pull the wool over our eyes. Won't work, mister! /s

Ff is up the creek as guess I was asleep when The Messiah came out of the eastern sky--musta thought it was rain??=-(

[jmc813]

but he loves America and it makes me sick the way he and his church get trashed constantly by the Left.

His "church" almost destroyed my family many years ago. Educate yourself on what life is like for the ty[pical "parishoner" of that disgusting cult.

[jmc813]

One more thing, Moon IS a convicted felon who has spent time in prison.

[Az. Mike]

If it's garbage, the FNC got duped 'big time' - They reported on this, this morning.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

No spin. Moon is Korean. He brings Korean culture to Christianity and thinks of himself as a conservative. To western eyes it sometimes translates as odd-ball, but he loves America and it makes me sick the way he and his church get trashed constantly by the Left. The fact the piece calls him "a convicted felon" shows where these people are coming from.

Moon is a Korean, yes. All well and good, hoopdy-do.

Moon is also a Lunatic (hmmm; go figure. Some people just deserve their names...) who is not "bringing Korean culture to Christianity", he is simply bringing his own personal cultic Insanity into unwelcome association with Korean Christianity.

Do you like the smell of your husband's semen? Answer to Father. Does it smell good or bad? You may not like the smell of your wife's stool, but do you smell your own? Why don't you smell your own but you smell your wife's? Because you are not totally one. -- Reverend Sun Myung Moon

Mmm, yes. Lovely.

The fact is, Korean culture is already largely Christianized, moreso than any other Nation in East Asia, largely due to Presbyterian mission work (South Korea today is approximately 49% professing Christian, including an 18% Presbyterian population) -- and was so long before Moon came along with his Korean brand of L. Ron Hubbard-style personality-worship Cult Religion.

Why don't you talk to some Korean Presbyterians, Deb Omniscient, and ask them what they think of Moon "bringing Korean culture to Christianity"? Harrumph.

Saying that "(Moon) brings Korean culture to Christianity and thinks of himself as a conservative" is like saying that "Jimmy Swaggart brings Adulterer culture to Christianity and thinks of himself as a conservative", and then expecting your readers to respond: "Oh, well then, that makes perfect sense. Thanks for the latest episode of 'Deb explains it all', and please pardon our ill-informed, Neanderthal bigotry".

Sorry, but a Lunatic is a Lunatic. And that's all you need to know about the "Reverend" Sun Myung Moon.

You may now return to your Cultural-Relativistic "It's-a-Korean-Thang, y'all-just-wouldn't-understand" apologias on behalf of this self-proclaimed "Messiah".

[Corin Stormhands]

Fox just ran this story (again?). Said several of the congresscritters had no idea what was happening. They thought their constituents were getting a "peace award."

I'd be finding me a new advance team...

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Fox just ran this story (again?). Said several of the congresscritters had no idea what was happening. They thought their constituents were getting a "peace award." I'd be finding me a new advance team...

Seems like it oughtta be pretty simple to me.

Walk in...
See "Reverend" Sun Myung Moon seated at the table...
WALK OUT... (Oops, I just remembered a crucial Constituent's meeting I really must attend with... um... some plumber's union or something -- Bye Now!)
Fire Staff.

There, was that so hard? ;-)

best, OP

[Corin Stormhands]

Makes sense to me.

[tuckrdout]

I posted this story on the 21st of June, in News/activism.

It got moved to chat/ufo's.

But, now it is all over the news...

My hat is off to you, for having a sharp eye! Wish I would have know about this earlier. If your thread had been in News, perhaps I would have caught it. But as it is, I ran across the story accidentally--and immediately came to FR to pass the info on.

I don't know how I missed yours and the other ones who posted the information....I did put Moon's name in the search, but came up empty.

Here is the link to my thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1157448/posts?page=6