For The Record #291 - From Kennebunkport to Pearl Harbor: Bush, Moon, and The Rising Sun

FTR #291 1. The focal point of this broadcast is the Unification Church of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. In addition to providing a brief overlook at the history and methodology of his organization, the broadcast further develops the relationship between the Bush family and Moon, as well as historical links and structural similarities between the Japanese patriotic and ultra-nationalist societies and the Moon outfit. (The patriotic societies paved the way for the rise of fascism in Japan through a wave of political assassinations.) 2. Republican die-hard and televangelist Pat Robertson expressed reservations about George W.'s "faith-based charity" program because it would provide aid to Moon's organization. "Robertson, a former GOP presidential candidate and one of Bush's strongest supporters on the Christian Right, pointed to plans by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church to promote its sexual abstinence programs in public schools with government funds.". . . He said Moon's church uses 'brainwashing techniques' on recruits." ("Faith-Based Welfare Puzzles Televangelist'' by Don Lattin; San Francisco Chronicle ; 2/22/2001; pp. A1-A15.) 3. Robertson's stance is ironic in a couple of respects. Robertson's televangelical colleague Jerry Falwell had his Liberty University bailed out of financial trouble by Moon. More importantly, the Bush family has important and long-standing contacts with the Moon organization, a fact that failed to dissuade Robertson from endorsing Dubya for president 4. Much of the first half of the program highlights the history and methodology of the Moon organization and further develops its ongoing relationship with the Bush family. This discussion relies largely on a fine article by Carla Binion, in the worthy on-line magazine Online Journal. ("Why is TV News Ignoring the Relationship between Moon and the Bush Family?" by Carla Binion; Online Journal ; 2/22/2001) 5. After posing questions about the reluctance of broadcast journalists to pursue the Moon-Bush link, the article details the anti-American, anti-democratic nature of the Moon organization. " ⦠here is evidence that Moon is openly anti-American and anti-democratic, with an agenda that includes undermining American democracy and individualism. These are only some of the reasons why a deeper investigation into the Moon/Bush alliance is worthwhile: (First 1) Frederick Clarkson (Eternal Hostility, Common Courage Press, 1997) reports that Moon has stated his goal is the 'subjugation of the American government and population'. (Clarkson's source: John Judis, 'Rev. Moon's rising Political Influence: His Empire Is Spending Big Money To Try To Win Favor With Conservatives,' U.S. News and World Report , March 27, 1989.) 6. According to the same U.S. News article, Moon also said, 'History will make the position of Rev. Moon clear,' and that 'his enemies, the American people and government will bow down before him.' 7. Clarkson reports that Moon has also said, 'the entire world is our goal. . . Absolute obedience to the Father [Moon]âthat one thing will bring certain victory. . . People here in America have to recognize the ability and power of Reverend Moon.' (Excerpt from New Hope News , November 25, 1974, Reprinted in Frederick Miller's 'Confusion at the Fronts, Part three,' True Light Educational Ministry , 1996.) 8. On May 1, 1997, Moon told a group of followers that 'the country that represents Satan's harvest is America.' ( Unification News , June 1997.) 9. In the 1970's, Moon was investigated by a congressional committee headed by then-U.S. Representative Donald Fraser (DâMN.) Robert Boettcher was staff director of the Fraser committee. Boettcher's interviews with former Moonies revealed that Moon was 'appalled' by American individualism and considered moving to Germany' where people were trained in totalism.' (Robert Boettcher, Gifts of Deceit: Sun Myung Moon , Tongsun Park and the Korean Scandal, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1980.) 10. Boettcher writes that according to former Unification church members, Moon's program to 'instill discipline' included showing 'Nazi films on organizing Hitler Youth.'" (Ibid.; pp. 1-2.) 11a. The fascistic, anti-democratic and anti-American attitude of the Moon organization is made all the more alarming because of the enormous power Moon wields. One of the main areas of Moon influence is in the media. "In an effort to gain political influence, Moon has worked his tentacles into the news media. Frederick Clarkson writes that since its founding the newspaper the Washington Times 'has been owned, controlled and bankrolled' by Moon. Former Washington Times editorial page editor William Cheshire resigned because of alleged editorial interference from Moon's officials. According to Clarkson, Cheshire also said he believes the Washington Times is operating in violation of the foreign Agents Registration Act. Passed in the 1930's, the Foreign Agents Registration Act 'requires entities whose activities are controlled by foreign governments and corporations to make financial and other forms of disclosure to the Justice Department'. Clarkson says the Act was originally passed 'to expose covert Nazi funding of German-American newspapers.'" (Ibid.; pp. 2-3.) 11b. Another major source of power for the Moon organization has been its links with powerful Republican politicians. George H.W. Bush, in particular, has been very active on behalf of Moon, speaking out on behalf of Moon-owned media voices and accepting generous stipends for these engagements. "George H.W. Bush is one of the most politically powerful defenders of Moon and the Washington Times. Bush was CIA director when the Fraser committee investigated Moon, and he is well aware of Moon's stated agenda and modus operandi. At the time of the congressional investigation, Bush handled sensitive matters on U.S. relations with Korea and the political figures involved. According to a Reuters report, ('Bush Praises Moon as 'Man of Vision,''' November 25, 19.)" 12. "When Moon held a banquet in Buenos Aires celebrating his new 'Spanish-language newspaper for the whole of Latin America,' his guest at the event, George H.W. Bush, praised Moon's 'respect for editorial independence.' Bush's speech 'was full of praise' for Moon's Washington Times, according to Reuters. The report also says Bush described Moon as 'the man with the vision.' Reuters said Bush later traveled with Moon to neighboring Uruguay 'to help him inaugurate a seminary in the capital, Montevideo, to train 4,200 young Japanese women to spread the word of his Church of Unification across Latin America.' 'I want to salute Reverend Moon who is the founder of the Washington Times and of the new paper,' Bush said. According to Reuters, the Washington Post reported that Bush was paid $100,000 for his Buenos Aires appearance." (Ibid.; p. 3.) 13. In addition to speaking on behalf of Moon-controlled media voices, the elder Bush and his wife, Barbara, have been actively supportive of a front group founded by Moon's wife. "Clarkson says Moon has often used George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush as a 'warm-up act' at his 'family values' rallies. When Bush gave a series of speeches at events sponsored by Moon's wife's organization, the World Federation for World Peace (WFWP), he claimed he did not know Moon was involved. Instead, Bush praised the WFWP for its 'great emphasis on family.' Bush also said, 'Until I see something about the Women's Federation that troubles me, I will continue to encourage them.' (Clarkson's sources: Peter McGill et al, 'Ed Schreyer and the Moonies, MacLean's, October 23, 1995; Andrew Pollock, 'Bush Host in Japan tied to Rev. Moon,' The New York Times ; September 4, 1995.) (Ibid.; pp. 8-9.) 14. In addition to the Elder George Bush, Moon has clout within the administration of George the Younger. "Reporter Joe Conason said that at a Washington gathering celebrating the George W. Bush inauguration, at a 'prayer luncheon' held in the Hyatt hotel ballroom on Capitol Hill on 1/19/2001, Moon received an award for his 'work in support of traditional family values.' The featured speaker was John Ashcroft. (Conason, The New York Observer, February 12, 2001.) Tuesday (2/20/2001), a C-Span moderator said Rev. Moon plans to promote his abstinence program in schools with the help of George W. Bush's Faith-Based Initiative program. How might that work? Frederick Clarkson points out that Moon has been trying to get his tentacles into U.S. schools to promote his rightwing views for many years. The World Medical Health Foundation (WMHF) is a Moon front group. WMHF chief, Dr. William Bergman, once-director of Moon's Unification Church, produced a slide program for schools called 'The Private Plague: AIDS, Sexually Transmitted diseases & a Strategy for our Youth at Risk.' Bergman's program teaches that these diseases have roots in the 'civil rights movement' which allegedly led to 'moral relativism.' (Clarkson's source: The Private Plague slide program manual, p. 23.) (Ibid.; pp. 7-8.) 15. Moon has influence with other key elements of the Republican establishment, as well as the Bush family (and administration.) "Clarkson writes that a 1994 congressional resolution sponsored by Rep. Dan Burton (R-In), Senator Trent Lott (R-MI), and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) supporting Parents Day turned out to be a Moon initiated effort 'in which the 'True Parents behind the resolution were quietly celebrated' a fact possibly hidden from the congressmen.) Clarkson's source: Lisa Gray, 'Honor Thy Parents,' Washington City Paper , September 1995; and Robert Boston, 'Unholy Matrimony,' Church and State , October 1996." (Ibid.; p. 8.) 16a. As detailed at greater length in RFA#7 and FTR#84, Moon's pull with the Bush family and the Republican Party is the product of a long and concerted program to acquire power in the United States. "For example, when conservative direct mail entrepreneur Richard Viguerie was having financial trou

Fetched live from OpenAlex and de-inverted. Abstracts are not stored in this database: the inverted indexes are 8.6 GB of the frame’s 9.3 GB of text, and the host has 13 GB free.