Unification Church and business empire in turmoil over succession

[Gutenberg]

Transfer of power from Moon to junior Moons sparked firings of three WashTimes execs, including the publisher, who were caught in the family feud. This sort of thing has certainly happened in other family-owned newspapers, but for those who continue to insist that the Unification Church and the Moon Family do not influence news decisions at WashTimes, here's a little egg for the face.

"The Sunday firings of executives at the Washington Times and the possible exit of its top editor are apparently being driven more than previously known by last month's transfer of power of the Unification Church and associated business empire from Rev. Sun Myung Moon to his children."

Read more: http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com...php?ref=tn

[$tevie]

The source believes the church has invested up to $2 billion in the newspaper, which was founded in the early 1980s to fight Communism. And the church is running a multi-million dollar annual deficit to keep the institution alive.

So much for the righties' claims that the New York Times is doing poorly because it's too liberal. The Times just lacks a messiah to finance it.

[RgrF]

If other newspapers had a tax free base, they might be a bit healthier.

[Doc]

Some old stuff, just for fun:

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/...index.html

Jun 21, 2004 | You probably imagine your congressman hard at work in the Capitol debating legislation, making laws -- you know, governing. But your newspaper probably didn't tell you that one night in March, members of Congress hosted a crowning ritual for an ex-convict and multibillionaire who dressed up in maroon robes and declared himself the Second Coming.

On March 23, the Dirksen Senate Office Building was the scene of a coronation ceremony for Rev. Sun Myung Moon, owner of the conservative Washington Times newspaper and UPI wire service, who was given a bejeweled crown by Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Ill. Afterward, Moon told his bipartisan audience of Washington power players he would save everyone on Earth as he had saved the souls of Hitler and Stalin -- the murderous dictators had been born again through him, he said. In a vision, Moon said the reformed Hitler and Stalin vouched for him, calling him "none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent."

[OWC Jamie]

there's a bathroom on the right

[cbelt3]

weird. I had always wondered what happened to the Moonies. I sometimes miss those flower sales kids with their brain-fried expressions of calm desperation.

[SteveO]

Makes you wonder if the lauded Roman Senate contained the same conflicts of interest and weirdo religious connections as we have today. I'd have to say yes....because people are generally stupid. And greedy.

[Dennis S]

I played along with a moonie back in the 70's. She was pulling out all the stops to get me to join. I got bored with the conversation when she told me Hitler was a commie.

_______

It is amazing that the the right-wingers think the Washington Times is a legitimate newspaper.

[Doc]

cbelt3 wrote:
I sometimes miss those flower sales kids with their brain-fried expressions of calm desperation.

Take a walk on the Atlantic City boardwalk in the summertime. You'll have your fill of Moonies, Mormons, Jews for Jesus freaks, Jehovah's Witnesses, beggars, porn-peddlers and itinerant performers very quickly.

Much like the DC Metro in an election year.

[Seacrest]

And back in the day, Ed McMahon.