Rock'in Glass Houses

Bad Moon Rising: How Reverend Moon Created the Washington Times, Seduced the Religious Right, and Built an American Kingdom. Author John Gorenfeld (Order here)

It's really a measure of the stunning chutzpah of conservative Republicans that they expect to sail along without being called out on working with a notorious '70s cult leader ... and a deeply cynical Washington media doesn't think it's worth telling the public about. People literally have no idea that Moon is jetting around with George H.W. Bush; it's the ultimate proof of how cynical the GOP is, when they're working with a group that has hurt so many families. -- John Gorenfeld (Blog)

"Reverend" Sun-myung Moon, AKA "Father," leader of the Unification Church, convicted felon, self proclaimed messiah, sits atop a massive fortune built on alms gathered by an army of dazed converts, many recruited from teenagers on the run and lonely, vulnerable young adults. He has bought power and influence wherever he can find it. But today the vast majority of his support flows openly to and from the Republican Party and the traditional socially conservative base. FDL attributes a number of disturbing quotes to Moon espousing hatred for democracy and America:

But look at America. It is rotten, top to bottom. There is nothing to be proud of, not their way of walking or talking or thinking.

After the demise of communism and the destruction of democracy, all that will remain will be the True Family and True Children system, centered upon True Parents [Moon's title for himself and his wife].

Why would some conservatives abandon our cherished American values and seemingly opt to embrace and protect an immigrant (Gasp!) cult leader who reportedly states -- at times almost as if straight from bin Laden's mouth -- that America is 'rotten' or a 'Satanic' playground? The answer is as simple as it is revolting: this is no obscure former pastor or present day spiritual adviser to influential, mainstream conservative politicians and pundits, he's a billionaire: he buys them. Moon is just one of many, wealthy, ultra-extreme right-wing religious leaders the GOP would like to keep under wraps, yet oh so conveniently close to their monetary hearts. But with your help, they won't have it both ways with a double order of hypocrisy on the side. We can make certain our fellow Americans know these ugly secrets, and vote accordingly.