Non-Breaking, Finally Reported News Salon, as we know is an online magazine that, like Air America, doesn't die despite Drudge and other Rethuglicans cheerleading for their death. Well Salon served its purpose this week because they lit the fire under the ass of the Washington Post. This blog, following well behind the heels of Atrios, has noted John Gorenfeld's report on the bizarre-ass coronation of Reverend Moon in a congressional office building with several members of Congress (of both parties) prominently displayed. Gorenfeld has reported that the WaPo had spiked the story months ago. Well, thanks to Gorenfeld writing a piece of Salon, the Washington Post has finally published the story, three months after the fact -- but nonetheless on page A1 of the paper. Congratulations to Gorenfeld and its about time. These things have been known to we active blog readers for some time, but again for most folks this is the first they'll hear about it:

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."

And most importantly, though it takes long enough, it finally gets to the point about why this is so fucking bizarre and outrageous and why the Washington Times is a joke:

Some Republicans who attended the event, including Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett (Md.), said they did so mainly to salute the Washington Times, a conservative-leaning newspaper owned by Moon's organization. "I had no idea what would happen" regarding Moon's coronation and speech, Bartlett said yesterday.

And there is more evidence of the wacky world of weirdo influence in politics, if the weirdo has enough money. And I like to note that while Democrats make no secret of George Soros being affiliated with them, we hear little of the role of Moon or Richard Mellon Scaife. But on to the weird world of looney political influence.

Use of the Dirksen building requires a senator's approval. Dayton said he gave no such permission, and Stallings said the question of who did so is "shrouded in mystery." Several Web sites quoted Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) as praising Moon at the event for "always standing up for what is right." In an interview yesterday, Cummings said, "I don't recall saying that. That may have been confused with what I was saying" about Bishop Joseph Showell, a constituent being honored. 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. Also speaking at the event was Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.).

OK, first of all its disturbing that Democrats, and liberal ones at that, are hanging out with the way way right wing Moon, who, for example, would not from his statements exactly frown upon the elimination the world's gay population by any means necessary. Second, its disturbing that one of the rationales given for their presence is sympathizing with Moon for being perceived as a wack job. The latter is disturbing because Moon is a goddamned wackjob. He had himself CROWNED SAVIOR in front of your faces you idiots! Does that not strike you as sort of, y'know -- extremely eccentric? "At the March 23 event, he said: "The founders of five great religions and many other leaders in the spirit world, including even Communist leaders such as Marx and Lenin . . . and dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, have found strength in my teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons." You know that crown design seems familiar.