Bizarre Doings at the Washington Times

Media • Views: 1,846

It’s getting weird at the Washington Times, as a reported power struggle in Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church causes chaos among the paper’s top management.

There’s still a lot of confusion in the Washington Times newsroom, two days after the removal of three top business-side executives and high-ranking members of the Unification Church.�

Executive Editor John Solomon hasn’t been in the office for several days, and it’s unclear whether he’ll return. When new Publisher and President Jonathan Slevin addressed staff Monday, he didn’t mention the paper’s top editor or take questions. (Solomon hasn’t returned numerous calls and e-mails since Sunday night.)

But things are getting stranger. Talking Points Memo reported yesterday that there have been armed guards spotted on the third floor, where management works. The floor, it was reported, has now been closed to the rank and file.

Jump to bottom

65 comments
1 vxbush  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:05:55am

Perhaps they will redecorate the management floor in orange.

/

2 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:08:21am

Gosh. How does a reporter get in his publisher's face?

3 Guanxi88  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:11:06am

I can't wait for this thing to blow up big-time into a gosh-awful apocalyptic mess of teh Kra-Z.

4 Killgore Trout  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:13:25am

re: #2 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Gosh. How does a reporter get in his publisher's face?

I get the feeling it's much more about religious control of the cult than a journalistic issues. Moon's sons are consolidating control of the church and its entities by putting their own people in charge.

5 Guanxi88  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:14:21am

re: #4 Killgore Trout

I get the feeling it's much more about religious control of the cult than a journalistic issues. Moon's sons are consolidating control of the church and its entities by putting their own people in charge.

Wow! It's almost like the dynastic struggles we're bound to see in North Korea, only here.

6 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:15:39am

re: #5 Guanxi88

Wow! It's almost like the dynastic struggles we're bound to see in North Korea, only here.

And as far as I know, none of the Moon family has nukes, which makes me feel much more relaxed about their internecine struggles.

7 Killgore Trout  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:16:02am

Wash Times on the Brink?

...one key is that the future operation of the Washington Times -- either as a print newspaper or in any form at all -- seems to be in real question, whether that's because the Moon family decides for its own ideological or familial reasons to pull the plug or because the fighting within the family creates a cash shortfall that prevents the paper from staying open.
8 researchok  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:20:01am

The unreported story is about finances.

The Washinton Examiner is kicking butt.

9 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:20:44am

The MOONIES? I haven't heard anything out of them in a LONG time. Since when has the Washington Times been in that family? I'm honestly asking, because I didn't have the slightest clue.

10 bosforus  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:20:59am

Imagine, if you will...

11 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:22:10am

re: #9 thedopefishlives

I don't either. Didn't have a clue.

Everybody on staff can just get married on the same day every year?

12 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:22:10am

It's not so weird, it's just the same economic downturn that is affecting all print media...according to the WaPo.
[Link: www.washingtonpost.com...]

13 karmic_inquisitor  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:22:59am

Always nice to wake up to religious infighting over money.

What would we do without the zealous trying to dictate our morality while they disregard it in their own lives?

14 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:22:59am

re: #8 researchok
WaPo says so too.
But Talking Points Memo wouldn't be interested in the regular boring stuff...///

15 jvic  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:23:19am

Why is the third floor sealed off?

Maybe the new management commutes via an interdimensional portal and breathes a toxic atmosphere incompatible with our own.
***
re: #9 thedopefishlives

The MOONIES? I haven't heard anything out of them in a LONG time. Since when has the Washington Times been in that family? I'm honestly asking, because I didn't have the slightest clue.

My understanding is that the Moonies own the paper but claim to have a hands-off policy on editorial matters.

16 Cato the Elder  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:23:28am

For decades, the prevailing lie from defenders of the WashTimes when people bring up its cult ownership is that the Moonie "church" plays no active part in running the paper.

Now we find out that the business end is dominated by high-ranking Moonies.

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

17 Bubblehead II  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:23:30am

re: #9 thedopefishlives

I found this looking for info about how many people have subscriptions to their paper.

It is from October 2004., but it is an informative read.

Who's driving the bus?

18 Killgore Trout  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:23:33am

re: #9 thedopefishlives

They founded the Wash Times in the 80's. It's always been their propaganda tool.

19 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:23:33am

re: #9 thedopefishlives

Since for Evuh.
Okay, a long time.

20 lawhawk  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:24:06am

re: #2 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Something similar happened at the Washington Post (with reporters going at it), and with all the job losses in the newspaper business, tensions are high across the industry, and not just at the Washington Times.

21 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:24:31am

re: #16 Cato the Elder
The point has been made often that moonies played no part in the editorial or news content of the paper. Of course they would have a part in the business end of it... they own it.

22 karmic_inquisitor  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:24:33am

re: #16 Cato the Elder

For decades, the prevailing lie from defenders of the WashTimes when people bring up its cult ownership is that the Moonie "church" plays no active part in running the paper.

Now we find out that the business end is dominated by high-ranking Moonies.

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

I think they Moon family ought to sell to the Scientologists.

23 sattv4u2  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:24:57am

re: #9 thedopefishlives

The MOONIES? I haven't heard anything out of them in a LONG time. Since when has the Washington Times been in that family? I'm honestly asking, because I didn't have the slightest clue.

ummm,,, like ,,, since it;s FOUNDING !(1982)
[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

24 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:26:35am

re: #23 sattv4u2

I had no idear!

25 karmic_inquisitor  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:26:35am

I think that Stacy McCain should get a collection from his readers so that he can do some investigative reporting of his former employer. Maybe he can hit on some Moonie Lesbians in the process (that would be news).

26 bosforus  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:27:07am

Did you hear what I said, Washington Times? Or shall I turn it up for you?

27 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:27:46am

re: #26 bosforus

Did you hear what I said, Washington Times? Or shall I turn it up for you?

Hey! Sharmuta!

28 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:27:59am

re: #26 bosforus

(They're all cowering under their desks, I'm sure).

29 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:28:12am

re: #23 sattv4u2

ummm,,, like ,,, since it;s FOUNDING !(1982)
[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

Huh. Whaddya know. I learned something today.

30 Rexatosis  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:28:46am

If it weren't for the Moonie angle this would be a basic "failing corporation fires upper management, changes the locks, and doesn't tell the rank 'n file workers squat about it" story. How many from the Washington Times had already jumped ship?

31 Sharmuta  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:28:51am

Armed guards in the msm? Isn't this the sort of behavior critics of liberal fascism would say we'd see in the left-wing press?

32 Guanxi88  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:29:05am

re: #26 bosforus

Did you hear what I said, Washington Times? Or shall I turn it up for you?

"I hope they can see this, because I'm doing it has hard as I possibly can"

33 bosforus  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:29:27am

re: #28 tradewind

(They're all cowering under their desks, I'm sure).

The explosion will be of extraordinary magnitude.

34 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:29:27am

re: #31 Sharmuta

Hi Sharm...

35 Cato the Elder  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:30:02am

re: #21 tradewind

The point has been made often that moonies played no part in the editorial or news content of the paper. Of course they would have a part in the business end of it... they own it.

Yeah, right, and if you believe the business side has no influence on the storytelling fable-making propaganda Big Lie news side, I have some sub-prime credit default swaps you might be interested in buying.

36 WindHorse  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:30:47am

Reverend Moon say "Everybody kick in fifty bucks..."

37 karmic_inquisitor  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:31:28am

BTW - Happy Veteran's Day to my fellow vets. Also noticed that Google now acknowledges both veterans and memorial day now that Bush is no longer around.

Conditional recognition of service members is not recognition of service members. It is something else entirely.

38 Velvet Elvis  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:31:37am

I can see the new editor sitting in a plus sized leather executive chair stroking a white cat.

39 WindHorse  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:31:48am

Didn't the moonies, at one time, own the Empire State Building?

40 bosforus  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:32:27am

re: #32 Guanxi88

Sadness is for poor people!
(last one)
-relieved that a Mooninite quote doesn't go unnoticed here-

41 Cato the Elder  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:32:29am

re: #39 WindHorse

Didn't the moonies, at one time, own the Empire State Building?

I don't know, but I believe they at one point held a controlling interest in Ronald Reagan.

42 sattv4u2  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:33:20am

re: #31 Sharmuta

Armed guards in the msm? Isn't this the sort of behavior critics of liberal fascism would say we'd see in the left-wing press?

The "armed guards" are probably rent-a-cops, not tactical swat teams. Most likely there to ensure employees who have been let go take nothing out of their offices other than personal affects

43 Velvet Elvis  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:34:08am

re: #39 WindHorse

Didn't the moonies, at one time, own the Empire State Building?

Actually, according to glen beck, they used to own the moon. The moon is made of green cheese. You know what else is green? MONEY! I'm not saying it's true, but think about it. Doesn't that mean that the Moonies control the entire US financial system?

/Beck

44 lawhawk  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:34:35am

re: #37 karmic_inquisitor

Google had a Veterans day logo last year as well (and Bush was still in office). It's better late than never for them to have done something to recognize the hard work and dedication of our US servicemembers.

Bing.com has a very good front page as well, and ask.com has a flag logo behind their front page.

Thanks to all the servicemembers out there.

45 Sharmuta  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:34:49am

re: #34 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Hi, FBV! Weird what happens when a cult owns a media outlet, huh?

46 Sharmuta  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:36:02am

re: #42 sattv4u2

The "armed guards" are probably rent-a-cops, not tactical swat teams. Most likely there to ensure employees who have been let go take nothing out of their offices other than personal affects

Fascism!

47 karmic_inquisitor  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:36:56am

Ted Turner created and owns CNN.

CNNs editorial slant reflects Ted's.

There is no sort of magic partition between owners and editors. Some are less intrusive than others but it is never a clean division. Advertisers know this. PR people know this. Editors certainly know it.

48 karmic_inquisitor  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:37:35am

re: #44 lawhawk

Google had a Veterans day logo last year as well (and Bush was still in office). It's better late than never for them to have done something to recognize the hard work and dedication of our US servicemembers.

Bing.com has a very good front page as well, and ask.com has a flag logo behind their front page.

Thanks to all the servicemembers out there.

Thanks for correcting that.

49 Guanxi88  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:37:40am

re: #45 Sharmuta

Hi, FBV! Weird what happens when a cult owns a media outlet, huh?

I know, just look at MSNBC! ( I kid!)

50 sattv4u2  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:37:57am

re: #47 karmic_inquisitor

Ted Turner created and owns OWNED CNN.

CNNs editorial slant reflects Ted's.

There is no sort of magic partition between owners and editors. Some are less intrusive than others but it is never a clean division. Advertisers know this. PR people know this. Editors certainly know it.

ftfy (he made a deal with the devil several years ago)

51 Cato the Elder  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:38:32am

re: #42 sattv4u2

The "armed guards" are probably rent-a-cops, not tactical swat teams. Most likely there to ensure employees who have been let go take nothing out of their offices other than personal affects

What would a non-personal affect look like?

52 MandyManners  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:38:50am

I gotta' give props to Helen Thomas for resigning from UPI after it was bought by the Moonies.

53 karmic_inquisitor  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:39:12am

re: #50 sattv4u2

I thought he got a good bit of it back. Is he out completely?

54 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:41:51am

re: #51 Cato the Elder

/The blank stare that accompanies most snarky typo corrections./

55 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:42:35am

re: #35 Cato the Elder

Sorry, you're stuck with 'em.

56 sattv4u2  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:42:37am

re: #53 karmic_inquisitor

I thought he got a good bit of it back. Is he out completely?

Although there are reports that he would like to have it back, NO, except for still having his name on A Time Warner board he has nothing to do with the day to day ops of it or any of "his" other ventures (Headline News, WTBS, et al)

57 RogueOne  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:43:32am

re: #52 MandyManners
Why? She's just as crazy as they are.

58 Cato the Elder  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:44:21am

While we're all jumping up and making ourselves feel great by wishing a Happy Veterans' Day to military personnel past and present, may I just say that to the homeless vet whose regular post is the corner of Cold Spring Lane and Roland Avenue in Baltimore, those prayers and "thank yous" are cold comfort indeed. People, please look into what you can actually do for vets in need, because our vaunted system leaves many in the lurch. Iraq and Afghanistan vets with severe PTSD are being told they really had a "pre-existing condition" before they joined the service so the VA doesn't have to cover their care. The "nothing's too good for our men and women in uniform" line is often just that - a nice sentiment with little to back it up.

That the murderous Maj. Hasan, a fourth-rate doctor, could qualify as a military psychiatrist gives you some idea of how bad things are.

59 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:44:35am

re: #52 MandyManners

I gotta' give props to Helen Thomas for resigning from UPI after it was bought by the Moonies.

Was that in 1934 or 1935?

60 tradewind  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:45:40am

re: #52 MandyManners
I wonder, though, if she was more worried about the actual ownership change or how it was going to affect her ability to go postal on anything conservative or Republican...

61 watching you tiny alien kittens are  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:50:50am
But things are getting stranger. Talking Points Memo reported yesterday that there have been armed guards spotted on the third floor, where management works. The floor, it was reported, has now been closed to the rank and file.

More layoffs announced in 5...4...3...2...

62 MandyManners  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:50:58am

re: #59 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Was that in 1934 or 1935?

2000.

63 MandyManners  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 9:51:19am

re: #60 tradewind

I wonder, though, if she was more worried about the actual ownership change or how it was going to affect her ability to go postal on anything conservative or Republican...

From what I've heard and read over the years, it was the former.

64 armylaw  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 10:01:55am

re: #58 Cato the Elder

While we're all jumping up and making ourselves feel great by wishing a Happy Veterans' Day to military personnel past and present, may I just say that to the homeless vet whose regular post is the corner of Cold Spring Lane and Roland Avenue in Baltimore, those prayers and "thank yous" are cold comfort indeed. People, please look into what you can actually do for vets in need, because our vaunted system leaves many in the lurch. Iraq and Afghanistan vets with severe PTSD are being told they really had a "pre-existing condition" before they joined the service so the VA doesn't have to cover their care. The "nothing's too good for our men and women in uniform" line is often just that - a nice sentiment with little to back it up.

That the murderous Maj. Hasan, a fourth-rate doctor, could qualify as a military psychiatrist gives you some idea of how bad things are.

I agree 100%. I will make a minor quibble: The trope of the "homeless vet" is not 100% accurate. A lot of the homeless "vets" never served, while statistically, Vietnam vets did as well or better than WWII vets.

65 Ojoe  Wed, Nov 11, 2009 10:14:29am

Down with religious cults. Pffiibbittth.™


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal
Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh