Clearwatergate: US politics and Scientology

Clueless US politicians

skip these dummies

In 1993, the Baden-Württemberg state government refused to invite OT8 Chick Corea at a state-sponsored concert (contract negotiations were stopped). After that, Scientology made a lobbying effort, and several US politicians stood up and called the refusal to invite Corea a violation of the freedom of expression and the artistic expression. Chick Corea lost his lawsuit against the state of Baden-Württemberg twice (read the court decision in german).

In 1997, 6 members of congress proposed H. CON. RES. 22, which failed miserably in a vote. In 1998, 53 members of congress proposed H.CON.RES.325, which died with the end of the legislative session.

In 1999, 56 members of congress proposed H.RES 388IH and 3 members of congress proposed SRES 230 IS; in 2000, 3 members of congress proposed H.RES 588 IH. All three resolutions died with the end of the legislative session.

In 2001, Rep. Gilman introduced H.R.3151 and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen introduced H.R.3145. Both resolutions died with the end of the legislative session.

In 2003, Rep. Max Burns introduced H.R.1170 ("To protect children and their parents from being coerced into administering a controlled substance in order to attend school, and for other purposes"). The resolution died with the end of the legislative session.

In 2005, Rep. Ron Paul introduced H.R.181 ("To prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program"). The resolution died with the end of the legislative session.

In May 2009, 6 members of congress, led by Trent Franks (R-AZ), wrote a letter of protest to the Ambassador of France because they didn't like the MIVILUDES report that had been published one day before.

Who are the people who support Scientology in the political arena?

• Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst wrote a proclamation for the Clearwater Academy, a local Scientology school, on the request of the CBAA, a well-known Scientology front.
   
• Florida State Representative for house district 107 Gus Barreiro (R) tried to funnel $500,000 for the scientology criminon programme. However Governor Jeb Bush got wind of the plans (the funding was hidden in a bigger bill) and vetoed the bill. He also tried to submit a CCHR-flavored bill, which was also vetoed by Governor Jeb Bush. In 2009, he was fired from his job at the Department of Juvenile Justice. The dismissal was related to misuse of computer equipment... yes, you guessed correctly: he downloaded porn. His nickname on an adult board was CubanCigar107.
  
  
• Rep Xavier Becerra, (D-CA): Chick Corea incident, complained to the US ambassador in Germany (also here) and to the head of the CSCE delegation claimed that Chick Corea would not proselytise for Scientology in a concert (he does, see in the Celebrity FAQ). Member of the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property. Also joined H. CON. RES. 22 (see Donald Payne) and H.CON.RES.325 and H.RES 388IH. Xavier Becerra has also intervened for the pardon of drug dealer Carlos Vignali after his dad donated for his campaign.
   
• Sandy Berger (real name is Samuel Berger), Bill Clinton's national security adviser (!) was assigned by the prez to work on the Scientology problem. Berger briefed Travolta on the administration's efforts in the same manner he would a senior senator. "Sandy was just great to us," Travolta raved. Berger claims he just met Travolta to "get an autograph for one of my kids". Yeah, sure.
   
• Rep Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) (R-FL - his district includes Clearwater): co-signed a letter of protest in May 2009 to the Ambassador of France because he didn't like the MIVILUDES report that had been published one day before. In 2007, he donated a flag that was flown over the United States Capitol to the Scientology New Life Improvement Center in Plant City, Florida. He also voted for H. CON. RES. 22, claiming that he's always concerned when a group is singled out for persecution. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater Scientologist Brett Miller is on a Bilirakis advisory board.
  
  
• Sen Christopher Kit Bond (R-MI): sent a letter of congratulation to the Church of Scientology of Missouri in December 2004

 
• Rep Sonny Bono (R-CA): Took Scientology course(s) and was quoted in a full-page ad at the death of L. Ron Hubbard in 1986:

 

My only sorrow is that L. Ron Hubbard left  before I could thank him for my new life.

Bono praised the "ethics" in Esquire, Nov. 1994, and said "there was no cult thing there". Bono is listed as #8 by The Progressive in its list of the 10 dimmest bulbs in Congress (read the full article). Member of the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property. Additional info in the celebrity FAQ.

Bono has been quoted saying The communication is the bridge in an article about his "Entertainment Task Force Summit". He is probably still a Scientologist: Speaking about Newt, Sonny said around April 26th: "He enturbulates things." That word is a Scientology word. Sonny also supported CCHR, a hate group managed by Scientology.

In June 1997 Sonny announced that he would not run for the Senate.

 

Jay Leno about Sonny Bono (28.6.1997)

"Sonny Bono has decided not to run for the Senate in 1998. Sonny said today he's doing it for the good of his family.  He shouldn't sell himself short -- that decision is good  for the whole country."

Scientology reactivated him in Mid 1997: together with US Trade representative Charlene Barshefsky he pressured Sweden to remove the NOTS packs out of the swedish parliament where they are available for public access.

Sonny Bono's career ended abruptly in January 1998, when he hit a tree and died.

His widow, Rep Mary Bono (R-CA), has also taken Scientology courses in the past. Listen to Howard Stern singing I've got Sonny Bono's money, Babe. However, an article in "George" in August 1999 quotes her considering Scientology as expensive bullshit.

• Lee Brown, White House drug policy director and Clinton Cabinet member, took part of a rally sponsored by the Drug-Free Marshalls front group. He said that he discovered the connection only later, but indicated that he would have taken part anyway: "We want to be involved in anything that can be done to minimize the number of youths who are involved in drugs".
   
• State Dept. Spokesman Nicholas Burns: told Germans not to boycott Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible. He said:

   

  And my only advice would be to German citizens,  you ought to watch the film; it's a very good film.

  Read the transcripts on this page.
  
  
• Rep Dan Burton (R-IN) (R_FL): co-signed a letter of protest in May 2009 to the Ambassador of France because he didn't like the MIVILUDES report that had been published one day before. One of his staff members is Beth Clay, a board member of CCHR, Scientology's anti-psychiatry hate group.
  
  
• Gov Richard Celeste (D-OH): signed a proclamation for an L. Ron Hubbard month in 1983. His press secretary later wrote:

 

You deceptively failed to indicate Hubbard's membership or  involvement with the Church of Scientology in the  background information... You are therefore not to interpret  the proclamation in any way an endorsement of the  Church of Scientology, its founder, its policies and practices  by the governor of the state of Ohio.

• Bill Clinton, president of the United States. Travolta met him in 1997, and was delighted: "he said he wanted to help me with the Scientology situation in Germany." (Source: TIME 22.9.1997) Official reason: years ago, Clinton had a roommate who was a Scientologist and had really liked him. Actual reason: he wanted a positive portrayal of the president in the movie Primary Colors. Clinton assigned national security adviser (!) Sandy Berger to the Scientology problem. In New Year 2000, he sent a greetings message to Scientologists, thanking them for all your efforts to promote [religious freedom] and to build communities united in understanding, compassion and mutual respect."


He also wrote an article for Freedom Magazine, Scientology's infamous propaganda magazine.
 

• Hillary Clinton, at the time she was first Lady, greeted the members of the Scientology front group Hands of Hope, and received a quilt with a quote of L. Ron Hubbard. (The event was later appropriately named Clearwatergate).

 
• Rep Howard Coble (R-NC): complained to the swedish parliament about publicly available NOTS packs. When asked about his letter later, he could not remember. Why kind of moron is this???

 
• Rep John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI): Chick Corea incident, complained to the german ambassador and to the head of the CSCE delegation, and supports H.RES 388 IH.

 
• Florida state representative Larry Crow introduced the CCHR sponsored H 0357: While its title Parental Consent/Medical Treatment seems harmless, the text shows that it would prevent schools to give children something as simple as an aspirin without prior parental permission; would forbid schools to provide health services if protested by the parents; would limit transportation to a hospital without parental permission in non-emergency situations. The law was obviously designed for children of Scientologists and members of other anti-intellectual cults. The law never made it to a House vote and died with the end of the legislative session in May 2001.

 
• Chicago Mayor Richard Daley accepted the Ron The Humanitarian award from Scientologist Mike Zarnek

 
• Sen Alphonse D'Amato (R-NY): chairman of the CSCE, continued where DeConcini stopped. Mother Jones magazine names him arguably the most corrupt politician in America and a self-evident crook. In September 1997 he arranged a hearing Religious Intolerance in Europe Today in which three Scientology celebrities (Isaac Hayes, John Travolta and Chick Corea) read prepared scripts. Another Guest was the Islamophobe "Reverend" Terry Jones, see Mike Enzi
• The D'Amato report
• D'Amato's Ethical Sampler
He was defeated in November 1998.
 
• Sen Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), chairman of the CSCE. Chick Corea incident, and also used his position to include it in the CSCE reports in which Germany was critized for it. He should know it better, considering this excerpt from the 1980 St. Petersburg Times Pulitzer award winning series on Scientology:

   

  ... the highest officials of the Guardian Office ordered  the implementation of "Operation Devil's Wop."  It was directed at Arizona Sen. Dennis DeConcini,  who had supported various anti-cult groups. The goal of  the operation was to leak to the press a false report  linking the senator with organized crime.

  DeConcini is no longer a Senator; he retired because of his role in the S & L scandal (he was one of the "Keating Five").

• Sen Chris Dodd (D-CT): in August 1996 asked Secretary of State Warren Christopher to investigate "religious discrimination" of Scientologists. He did not seek relection in 2020 possible due to his role getting a VIP Friends of Angelo loan from Countrywide Financial.

• Gov Jim Edgar (R-IL): Noting that Scientology's founder "has solved the aberrations of the human mind," he proclaimed March 13 "L. Ron Hubbard Day." in the year 1991. He rescinded the proclamation in late March, once he learned who Hubbard really was.

 
• Sen Mike Enzi (R-WY): Joined a press release and made a statement in 1999 in which he complained that "European countries are following the German example" and introduced SRES 230 IS. Enzi also claimed persecution of "Reverend" Terry Jones and his "Christliche Gemeinde Köln" (see also the Congressional Record of November 9, 1999, page 29166). In 1999, the state department admitted that it had been fooled ("The fact that the Church apparently violated tax law, and the authorities' voluntary reduction of the Church's tax liability, raise questions about the merit of the CCK's allegations of harassment."). Jones was convicted of a 3000 Euro fine in 2002 for using a bogus "Doctor" title. In 2008, the german church community gave Jones the boot and have started to apologize to former members. Jones is back to the US, where he runs the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville. According to an article, he runs that "Church" like a family business. He received worldwide fame by planning a public Koran burning on September 11, 2010.

 
• Florida State Sen Mike Fasano (R) visited a Scientology event on 19.7.2003 at the Fort Harrison Hotel to promote Scientology's bogus anti-drug and anti-crime programs.
• Sen Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): Chick Corea incident, complained to the german ambassador (page one, page two).

 
• Rep Trent Franks (R_FL): wrote a letter of protest in May 2009 to the Ambassador of France because he didn't like the MIVILUDES report that had been published one day before.
  
  
• Rep Mark Foley (FL): Joined a press release in 1999 which complained that "European countries are following the German example". He also threatened to make "religious freedom" part of the World Trade Organization WTO (haha). On May 24, 2003, he was photographed receiving leatherbound copies of Dianetics and The Way to Happiness from Clearwater OSA woman Mary Story. In 2006, he resigned after having sent sent inappropriate emails and sexually explicit instant messages to teenage boys who worked as congressional pages. At the same time, he claimed to fight against child predators.

 
• Rep Martin Frost (D-TX): praised the Scientology front group Concerned Businessmen's Association of America

 
• Sen James M. Inhofe (R-OK), congratulated Narconon Chilocco, Scientology's drug rehabilitation scam.

 
• Sen James Jeffords (R-VT): Chick Corea incident, complained to the german ambassador and to the head of the CSCE delegation.

 
• Sen Bob Graham (D-FL), sent a letter to the White House, urging the first family to meet with the the Scientology front group Hands of Hope.

 
• Rep Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY), chairman on the Committee on International Relations, claimed on the house floor that Scientologists, namely Chick Corea, are "discriminated". He started to claim this in 1996. In 1999 he co-wrote a letter to the European Council in an unsuccessful effort to prevent them from publishing a report critical on cults. On 21.10.1999, he complained in a press release that "European countries are following the German example", and supported H.RES 388 IH and H.RES 588 IH, and introduced H.R.3151. He was also a guest speaker at the 33rd anniversary gala of the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles on August 3, 2002. Who pays him? Ten well-known Scientologists. Gilman retired from congress at the end of 2002.

 

Source: OpenSecrets.org

JENSEN, SALLY LA CANADA, CA 91011	EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE	7/2/1998	$1,000
JENSEN, CRAIG LA CANADA, CA 91011	EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE	7/2/1998	$1,000
ATKINSON-BAKER, SHEILA GLENDALE, CA 91203	ATKINSON-BAKER INC	7/2/1998	$250
BAYBAK, MICHAEL LA CANADA, CA 91011	BAYBAK & ASSOCIATES	7/2/1998	$250
CHAIT, I M MR SANTA MONICA, CA 90402	I M CHAIT GALLERIES	7/2/1998	$1,000
LEE, MICHAEL Q GLENDALE, CA 91206	MANAGEMENT SUCCESS	7/2/1998	$1,000
AYLOR, KAREN L CAMARILLO, CA 93010	MCLN HEALTH MANAGEMENT	7/2/1998	$400
LEE, BARBARA JOY GLENDALE, CA 91207	MFS INC	7/2/1998	$500
KILPATRICK, WILLIAM D GLENDALE, CA 91206	THE SOFTWARE WORKS	7/2/1998	$1,000
BURKE, KEVIN J LA CRESCENTA, CA 91214	WASSMAN & BURKE	7/2/1998	$1,000

• Rep Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL): Chick Corea incident, called the cancellation shameful and disturbing, and supports H.CON.RES.325 and H.RES 388 IH

 
• Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT): On 9.10.2000, he criticized France for establishing a parliamentary inquiry commission charged with 'studying the sect phenomenon' in the country. He is a mormon and claims that "Mormons have known persecution" without admitting that in their very early times, the LDS church was indeed a highly criminal cult.

 
• Rep Steny Hoyer (D-MR): Chick Corea incident; Co-Chairman of the CSCE.
   
• Rep Bob Inglis (R-SC) (R_FL): co-signed a letter of protest in May 2009 to the Ambassador of France because he didn't like the MIVILUDES report that had been published one day before.
  
  
• Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX): praised the Scientology front group Concerned Businessmen's Association of America and supports H.CON.RES.325 and H.RES 388 IH

 
• Florida State Sen Dennis L. Jones (R) visited a Scientology event on 19.7.2003 at the Fort Harrison Hotel to promote Scientology's bogus anti-drug and anti-crime programs.

 
• Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating congratulated Narconon Chilocco, Scientology's drug rehabilitation scam

 
• Oklahoma State Sen Richard Lerblance spoke at a Narconon Arrowhead celebration on Sept 19, 2003

 
• California Attorney General Bill Lockyer appears on a photograph (see bottom of the page) with Scientology cultists Bob Graves, Dennis McKenna and Don Pearson. McKenna is a former staff member of Scientology's Guardian Office. The caption (which did originally come from the Citizenship & Law-Related Education Center) makes it appear that they come from different companies; the truth is that they all work for the same company, which publishes Government Technology Magazine, which tries to promote Scientology "technology" to government entities. (More details on the company page)

 
• Sen Richard Lugar (R-IN): praised the Scientology front group Concerned Businessmen's Association of America

 
• Sen Connie Mack (R-FL), sent a letter to the White House, urging the first family to meet with the the Scientology front group Hands of Hope. (By the way, "Connie" is male). He lost his seat in the 2000 election.

 
• Rep Cynthia A. McKinney (D-GA): joined H. CON. RES. 22 (see Donald Payne)

 
• Rep Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chick Corea incident: he wrote to the head of the CSCE to complain. In 1988 Lantos had co-sponsored a "cult awareness week". Why the flip-flop? Maybe because his "Congressional Human Rights Foundation" (a private non-profit group) had a close relationship with Hill & Knowlton (they donated office space and handled phone calls), which had the worst human rights abusers, including Scientology, as clients.


Lantos was involved in another propaganda activity. In 1991, before the first Gulf war, he claimed that the identity of "Nayirah" (the girl who claimed that Iraqi soldiers had taken babies from their incubators) would be kept secret "to protect her family from reprisals in occupied Kuwait". The truth came out after the war - Nayirah was the daughter of the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the U.S., and Hill & Knowlton orchestrated her tour.

In 1999 he co-wrote a letter to the European Council in an unsuccessful effort to prevent them from publishing a report critical on cults.
 

• Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) supported H.CON.RES.325 and H.RES 388 IH, and introduced H.R.3145. Here is an analysis of the Scientologist money flows (also here) to her. In August 7, 2004, she presented a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of the Scientology Celebrity Centre’s 35th anniversary of "humanitarian and voluntary contributions", together with Rep. Brad Sherman.

 
• Rep Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) wrote a letter of support to the New York Workers Detoxification Project, a Scientology front to advertise the unscientific "purification rundown".

 
• Thomas Menino, Mayor of Boston, proclaimed April 22 to be World Literacy Crusade day. He explicitly commended volunteers using study methodology based on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard to help improve reading and writing skills among inner-city youth. His spokesperson later claimed not to have known what was behind it. In 2001, he supported again Scientology's literacy scam and handed them money through the Safe Neighborhoods Youth Fund. His spokesperson later claimed not to have known of the Scientology connection.

 
• Rep Carlos J. Moorhead (R-CA, Glendale district !): submitted a support-letter to the Drug-Free-Marshalls and complained to the swedish parliament about publicly available NOTS packs, and got an answer telling him – in very diplomatic form – where to stick it. Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property. Here's his profile. Luckily his term expired in January 1997. Who pays him? Scientologist Craig Jensen and his wife Sally Jensen.

 

(From FEC data)

JENSEN, CRAIG 7/6/93$250.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE INTL -[Contribution] MOORHEAD FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE JENSEN, SALLY 11/1/93 $250.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE -[Contribution] MOORHEAD FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE

• Sen Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL): in August 1996 asked Secretary of State Warren Christopher to investigate "religious discrimination" of Scientologists, and confirmed this in a letter to a netizen. Scientology is not the only cult she supports: she also signed an open letter asking for Lyndon H. LaRouche's Exoneration. Who pays her? Tom Cruise!

 

(From FEC data)

CRUISE, TOM 4/29/94 $1,000.00 LOS ANGELES, CA 90067 ENTERTAINMENT -[Contribution] CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN FOR U S SENATE

She was defeated in November 1998.
• Rep Bob Ney (R-OH): joined H. CON. RES. 22 (see Donald Payne) and H.CON.RES.325 and H.RES 388 IH. Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in January 2006 to conspiracy and fraud, and admitted providing trips, entertainment, and campaign contributions to Rep. Bob Ney, who denied having done anything illegal. Ney pleaded guilty in September 2006 to criminal fraud charges (accepting handouts and free trips from Abramoff and his clients in exchange for pushing their legislative agenda).

 
• Rep Ed Pastor (D-AZ): joined H. CON. RES. 22 (see Donald Payne) and H.CON.RES.325 and H.RES 388 IH

 
• Rep Donald Payne (D-NJ): introduced a House resolution condemning the German government for "discrimination" directed at Scientologists (H. CON. RES. 22) and supports also H.CON.RES.325 and H.RES 388 IH and H.RES 588 IH. Payne is african-american, but prefers to ignore Scientology's racist texts, like this one:

 

Scientology, the fundamentals of thought, p. 30

Unlike yellow and brown people, the white does not  usually believe he can get attention from matter or  objects. The yellow and brown believe for the most part  (and it is all a matter of consideration) that  rocks, trees, walls etc. can give them attention.  The white man seldom believes this and so is likely  to become anxious about people. Thus the white saves people, prevents famine, flood, disease and revolution for people  as the only purveyors of attention are scarce.

His relationship with Scientology is a close one – a journalist was prohibited entry because he was seen having lunch with Scientology critic Arnie Lerma:

 

I went with Arnie yesterday to the press conference and Payne's staffers refused to let me into the room, even though I had valid press credentials issued by the U.S. Congress, just like all the other journalists did. My crime? Being seen having lunch with Arnie beforehand. There were half a dozen Sciento flacks hanging around the room. The head flack seemed to be Sylvia Stanard, "external affairs director" of the Founding Church of Scientology. She has an office in the Dupont Circle mansion, just off Conecticut Avenue. She didn't seem to like me much.

Read also Arnie's report: Two bad days at cult rock

The good news (but bad news for Payne) is that the bill was defeated 101-318, i.e. instead getting 2/3 of votes for the resolution, they got 3/4 against! In the same session, HCR 139 was passed 415-2 to participate in EXPO 2000 in Hannover, Germany.

• Rep John Edward Porter (R-IL): praised the Scientology front group Concerned Businessmen's Association of America . Later he got a clue and wrote that Scientology's tax exemption should be eliminated. Lost his seat in the 2000 election.

 
• General Colin Powell attended an Applied Scholastics event, Scientology's literacy scam

 
• Rep Charles B. Rangel (D-NY): supports NARCONON, the drug rehab scam of Scientology. The reason for this was told by one netizen:

 

Charles Rangel is a Drug Warrior so fanatic that he would  lie down with the Devil Himself if it would result in the  death of all persons selling currently-illegal drugs.

Rangel has also supported the Moon cult on 16.4.2004. Rangel also sent a welcome message to the New York Scientology org in 2004. Oh, and he's corrupt, too.
 
 
• Nancy Reagan, former 1st lady: submitted support-letter to the Drug-Free-Marshalls.

 
• Richard Riordan (R), Mayor of the city of Los Angeles, accepted a $ 25,000 check from the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard for his fund Mayor's Alliance for a Safer L.A. designed to modernize to LA police department. Considering the notorious information osmosis between Scientology and the L.A.P.D.; Scientology can now proudly consider itself a shareholder of the L.A.P.D. ! Wow !


Riordon also later praised Scientology for their "charity" work:

 

From "International Scientology News"

The Church of Scientology plays a very important role in Hollywood and their participation in our social programmes is invaluable

• Sen John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV): unwittinly commended a Scientology front group, the Concerned Businessmen's Association of America in 1987 on the Senate floor.

 
• Rep James E. Rogan (R-CA): Jim Rogan "inherited" the Glendale district from Carlos Moorhead, and joined H. CON. RES. 22. He also signed a proclamation in 1997 praising Scientology Celebrity Center for its "community activities". In June 2000 he introduced Scientologist Craig Jensen as "an old friend of mine" at a hearing of the House International Relations Committee on the treatment of religious minorities in Western Europe. Who pays him? Scientologists Craig Jensen, his wife Sally Jensen, Joseph Feshbach and Nancy Cartwright. It didn't help him - he lost his seat in the 2000 election. His Chief of Staff was Scientologist Greg Mitchell (more details here and here). Greg is now vice-president of Keelen Communications and also involved with the Scientologist group Citizens for Social Reform.

 

(From FEC data)

JENSEN, CRAIG 8/17/98 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE JENSEN, SALLY 8/17/98 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 HOMEMAKER -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE JENSEN, CRAIG 6/24/97 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE JENSEN, SALLY 6/24/97 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 HOMEMAKER -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE JENSEN, CRAIG 9/8/96 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE -[Contribution] ROGAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE JENSEN, SALLY 8/6/96 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 HOMEMAKER -[Contribution] ROGAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE JENSEN, CRAIG 10/25/95 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE -[Contribution] ROGAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE JENSEN, SALLY 12/12/95 $1,000.00 LA CANADA, CA 91011 HOMEMAKER -[Contribution] ROGAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE FESHBACH, JOSEPH 7/26/97 $500.00 PALO ALTO, CA 94306 FESHBACH BROTHERS -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE CARTWRIGHT, NANCY 7/6/98 $500.00 BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211 ACTOR -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE CARTWRIGHT, NANCY 10/16/98 $250.00 BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211 ACTOR -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE CARTWRIGHT, NANCY 10/30/98 $500.00 BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211 ACTOR -[Contribution] ROGAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE

• Rep Matt Salmon (R-AZ, LDS member): Introduced H.CON.RES.325 in 1998 condemning Germany for its activities against Scientology, and H.RES 388 IH in 1999, and H.RES 588 IH in 2000 (which condemns about every country in Western Europe for discriminating almost everyone). Joined a press release in 1999 which complained that "European countries are following the German example". Claimed to a journalist that Chick Corea couldn't get a permission to make concerts in Germany. When asked what kind of "permission" is needed, he answered: "That's what Chick Corea tells us". (Read the article online). Scientology likes him so much that they praised him in their propaganda organ. He lost his seat at the 2000 election.

 
• Rep Jose Serrano (D-NY): Chick Corea incident, complained to the german ambassador and to the head of the CSCE delegation.

 
• Sen Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) wrote a letter of support to the New York Workers Detoxification Project, a Scientology front to advertise the unscientific "purification rundown".

 
• Rep Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY): Chick Corea incident, complained to the german ambassador and to the head of the CSCE delegation, also joined H. CON. RES. 22 (see Donald Payne).

 
• Rep Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), chairman of the CSCE: in 1999, he co-wrote a letter to the European Council in an unsuccessful effort to prevent them from publishing a report critical on cults.

 
• Sen Gordon Smith (R-OR): As the chairman of the foreign relations committee's European affairs subcommittee he suggested at a hearing (around May 1st, 2001) to impose retaliatory sanctions against France, Belgium, Germany and Austria for "increased hostility toward smaller and newer religions", saying the US could choose to decline visas to European church groups and journalists.

 
• Sen Olympia Snowe (R-MN): in August 1996 asked Secretary of State Warren Christopher to investigate "religious discrimination" of Scientologists.

 
• Rep Brad Sherman (D-CA): On August 7, 2004, he presented a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of the Scientology Celebrity Centre’s 35th anniversary of "humanitarian and voluntary contributions", together with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. On 30.10.2009, he did this again for the "Founding Church of Scientology" in Washington DC.
   
• Rep Dianne Watson (D-CA) (R_FL): co-signed a letter of protest in May 2009 to the Ambassador of France because he didn't like the MIVILUDES report that had been published one day before. As a California State Senator, Watson also supported Scientology in a 1996 "human rights" event (honoring Scientologist Isaac Hayes) at the Celebrity Centre.
  
  
• Former CA Governor Pete Wilson (R-CA): submitted a congratulation to NARCONON and a proclamation to the Celebrity Centre
   
• Rep Frank Wolf (R-VA) (R_FL): co-signed a letter of protest in May 2009 to the Ambassador of France because he didn't like the MIVILUDES report that had been published one day before. In 1998, Frank Wolf authored legislation (H.R.3151) to establish the "International Religious Freedom Office" at the State Department.
  
  
• James Ridge, press chief of the CSCE about the report: "we stand by what is written"

 
• Sen James Talent (R-MI): sent a letter of congratulation to the Church of Scientology of Missouri in December 2004

Rep Donald M. Payne (NJ 10th district), Rep Robert W. Ney (OH 18th), Rep Brad Sherman (CA 24th), Rep James E. Rogan (CA 27th), Rep Richard A. Gephardt (MO 3rd), Rep Jon D. Fox (PA 13th), Rep Sam Gejdenson (CT 2nd), Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX 18th), Rep Ed Pastor (AZ 2nd), Rep Michael P. Forbes (NY 1st), Rep Edolphus Towns (NY 10th), Rep Joe Scarborough (FL 1st), Rep Bennie G. Thompson (MS 2nd), Rep Mark Foley (FL 16th), Rep Loretta Sanchez (CA 46th), Rep Jerry Weller (IL 11th), Rep Elijah E. Cummings (MD 7th), Rep Nick J. Rahall II (WV 3rd), Rep Xavier Becerra (CA 30th), Rep Helen Chenoweth (ID 1st), Rep Lois Capps (CA 22nd), Rep Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ 8th), Rep James H. Maloney (CT 5th), Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL 18th), Rep Harold E. Ford (TN 9th), Rep Thomas M. Davis (VA 11th), Rep Luis V. Gutierrez (IL 4th), Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX 30th), Rep Eliot L. Engel (NY 17th), Rep Major R. Owens (NY 11th), Rep James E. Clyburn (SC 6th), Rep Alcee L. Hastings (FL 23rd), Rep Carrie P. Meek (FL 17th), Rep Sanford D. Bishop (GA 2nd), Rep Danny K. Davis (IL 7th), Rep Chaka Fattah (PA 2nd), Rep Corrine Brown (FL 3rd), Rep Albert Russell Wynn (MD 4th), Rep Barbara Lee (CA 9th), Rep Earl F. Hilliard (AL 7th), Rep Gregory W. Meeks (NY 6th), Rep Eva M. Clayton (NC 1st), Rep Juanita Millender-McDonald (CA 37th), Rep Lane Evans (IL 17th), Rep Nancy L. Johnson (CT 6th), Rep Pete Sessions (TX 5th), Rep Deborah Pryce (OH 15th), Rep Jack Metcalf (WA 2nd), Rep Louis Stokes (OH 11th), Rep Gil Gutknecht (MN 1st), Rep Steven R. Rothman (NJ 9th), Rep Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (IL 2nd).

Here is the list of supporters of H.RES 388 IH:

Rep Matt Salmon, with Rep Donald M. Payne, Rep Benjamin A. Gilman, Rep Juanita Millender-McDonald, Rep Joe Scarborough, Rep Albert Russell Wynn, Rep James H. Maloney, Rep Steve R. Rothman, Rep Mark Foley, Rep Brad Sherman, Rep James E. Rogan, Rep Ed Pastor, Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee, Rep Lane Evans, Rep JohnConyers, Jr., Rep Robert W. Ney, Rep Bennie G. Thompson, Rep Jack Metcalf, Rep Adam Smith, Rep Thomas M. Davis, Rep Harold Ford, Jr., Rep Xavier Becerra, Rep Eliot L. Engel, Rep CorrineBrown, Rep Martin Olav Sabo, Rep Neil Abercrombie, , Rep Michael P. Forbes, Rep Earl F. Hilliard, Rep Jerry Weller, Rep Stephen Horn, Rep Deborah Pryce, Rep Carrie P. Meek, Rep Edolphus Towns, Rep Luis V. Gutierrez, Rep Steve Chabot, Rep Elijah E. Cummings, Rep Major R. Owens, Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Rep Alcee L. Hastings, Rep Maxine Waters, Rep Lois Capps, Rep Nancy L. Johnson, Rep Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Rep Gregory W. Meeks, Rep Eva M. Clayton, Rep Bill Pascrell, Jr., Rep Danny K. Davis, Rep Melvin L. Watt, Rep Thomas G. Tancredo, Rep Donald A. Manzullo, Rep Sam Farr, Rep Carolyn B. Maloney, Rep Mac Collins, Rep Matthew G. Martinez, Rep Mark E. Souder, Rep Cass Ballenger

Relevant US State Department documents:

• Human Rights Report on Germany 1993: 5 lines about Scientology
• Human Rights Report on Germany 1994: 8 lines about Scientology
• Human Rights Report on Germany 1995: 15 lines about Scientology but more self-critical. In fact, two lines are routinely omitted by Scientology when quoting the report!
• Human Rights Report on Germany 1996: 57 lines about Scientology
• Daily Press Briefing 9.8.1996: Burns suggests to watch Mission Impossible
• Daily Press Briefing 18.10.1996: Burns denounces the Scientology ads in the NY Times
• Daily Press Briefing 20.12.1996: Burns applauds German action on Scientologists
• Daily Press Briefing 16.1.1997: Burns attacks both the Germans and the Scientologists
• Daily Press Briefing 27.1.1997: Burns clueless again, recommends to watch Mission Impossible
• Daily Press Briefing 30.1.1997: Burns again recommends the movie
• John Shattuck Press Briefing 30.1.1997: Shattuck doesn't really know much, except that Bavaria is screening people for membership in Scientology
• Daily Press Briefing 10.2.1997: Burns speaks on Albright's trip to Germany
• Albright and Kinkel Press Briefing 17.2.1997: Albright calls Scientology's comparisons "historically inaccurate and totally distasteful", Kinkel makes the german position clear
• Daily Press Briefing 10.3.1997: Burns comments on Germany's expulsion of CIA spy Peyton K. Humphries and on the NY Times article on the shadowy Scientology tax exemption. And yes, He's still a moron. (on the right: Scientology ad © 1997 CSI, item# 4181E)
• Daily Press Briefing 6.6.1997: Burns comments on Germany's decision to investigate Scientology, and doesn't have anything new to say.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 1997: 60 lines about Scientology, but much less critical
• Human Rights Report on Germany 1998: 121 lines about Scientology, but balanced; Scientology is also mentioned in the introduction, and the reports about Austria, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
• United States Policies in Support of Religious Freedom, July 1997: 4 lines about Scientology
• Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad, January 1998: 4 lines about Scientology
• At the end of 1998, the US state department sponsored a concert by Chick Corea in Berlin (Source: Berliner Morgenpost, 23.11.1998; see also propaganda in Scientology's Freedom Magazine).
• Final Report of the Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad, May 1999: intense scrutiny of Scientology by Germany criticized, and commissions of inquiry on sects called an unfortunate trend.
• Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 1999: critical about the treatment of Scientology, but balanced, and mentions that earlier reports about discrimination of CGK (Christliche Gemeinde Köln) were inaccurate. Also criticizes France, Greece, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Finland.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 1999: 214 lines about Scientology, but balanced; Scientology also mentioned in the reports about Austria, Belgium, Finland, France,Greece, Italy, Switzerland and Russia
• Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2000: critical about the treatment of Scientology, but balanced. Says that "The U.S. Government has maintained consistently that the determination that any organization is religious is for the organization itself." Yeah, right. Also criticizes Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom and Finland for their attitude on Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2000; Scientology also mentioned in the reports about Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Russia
• Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade Practices 2000 released by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs complains about an alleged "sect filter" for certain contracts. (The truth is that the wording of such "filters" only mentions "The technology of L. Ron Hubbard", about which Scientology itself has said that it is "secular").
• National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers 2001
• Annual report on discrimination in foreign government procurement 2000
• Cable showing the US State Department conspiring with Scientology (also here) to protect Heber Jentzsch from spanish criminal trial
• International Religious Freedom Report 2001: critical about the treatment of Scientology, but balanced, even mentions that the word "sect filter" is misleading (but doesn't mention that the word has been invented by Scientology itself!). The report also criticizes The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Greece, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Austria, and Denmark for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2001: critical about the treatment of Scientology, but balanced, even mentions that the word "sect filter" is misleading (but doesn't mention that the word has been invented by Scientology itself!). Also criticizes Switzerland, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Greece, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, France, Belgium, Austria, the United Kingdom, Finland and Denmark for their attitude on Scientology
• International Religious Freedom Report 2002: critical about the treatment of Scientology, but balanced, even mentions that the word "sect filter" is misleading (but doesn't mention that the word has been invented by Scientology itself!). The report incorrectly claims that this "filter" was changed to mention only "technology of L. Ron Hubbard": this has always been the wording, it never used the words "Scientology" or "Sekte". Another highlight is at the end of the text: The U.S. Government consistently maintained that the determination of whether any organization is religious is for the organization itself to make. The report also criticizes Austria, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Belarus, Greece, France, Finland, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2002: critical about the treatment of Scientology, but balanced (even mentions several court cases lost by Scientology!), no longer uses the word "sect filter" (which was invented by Scientology). Also criticizes Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Greece, the Slovak Republic, France, Belgium, Austria and the United Kingdom for their attitude on Scientology.
• International Religious Freedom Report 2003: Unlike previous years, it no longer uses the word "sect filter". The report incorrectly claims that the "S" notation meant that employment counselors are supposed to warn their clients that they might encounter Scientologists in these workplaces. The truth is that the "S" notation meant that a company is linked to Scientology itself, so that job seekers can decide whether they would want to work there. The report also claims that Ursula Caberta was "fined", which is not true - the case was closed for a payment of 7,500€ without her admitting any guilt, thus it is not a "fine". The court decision that criticized her for accepting the $75,000 loan was overturned on appeal. Another highlight is at the end of the text: The U.S. Government consistently maintained that the determination of whether any organization is religious is for the organization itself to make. The report also criticizes Austria, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, France, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology. The report for Kenya names Mungiki (a killer gang) a "small, controversial, cultural and political movement".
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2003: Unlike previous years, it no longer uses the word "sect filter". The report incorrectly claims that the "S" notation meant that employment counselors are supposed to warn their clients that they might encounter Scientologists in these workplaces. The truth is that the "S" notation meant that a company is linked to Scientology itself, so that job seekers can decide whether they would want to work there. The report also criticizes Austria, Belarus, Belgium, France, Greece, Spain, Russia, Switzerland, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology. Note that the report for Kenya now correctly names Mungiki a "small, often violent cultural and political movement ... responsible for numerous attacks and killings".
• International Religious Freedom Report 2004: The report incorrectly claims that the "S" notation meant that employment counselors are supposed to warn their clients that they might encounter Scientologists in these workplaces. The truth is that the "S" notation meant that a company is linked to Scientology itself, so that job seekers can decide whether they would want to work there. Another highlight is at the end of the text: The U.S. Government consistently maintained that only an organization itself can determine whether it is religious. The report also criticizes Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2004: The report incorrectly claims that the "S" notation meant that employment counselors are supposed to warn their clients that they might encounter Scientologists in these workplaces. The truth is that the "S" notation meant that a company is linked to Scientology itself, so that job seekers can decide whether they would want to work there. Berliner Zeitung reported another goof unrelated to Scientology: the report mentions that a man died after an arrest, and that an investigation was ongoing at year's end. However, the case had already been closed in November, and had revealed no wrongdoing by police (The suspect had died of a ruptured spleen, which was related to hepatitis). The report also criticizes Austria, Belarus, Belgium, France, Greece, Spain, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• International Religious Freedom Report 2005: The report incorrectly claims that the "S" notation meant that employment counselors are supposed to warn their clients that they might encounter Scientologists in these workplaces. The truth is that the "S" notation meant that a company is linked to Scientology itself, so that job seekers can decide whether they would want to work there. The report also criticizes Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Spain, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2005: mentions that the "S" that they kept reporting on for years (this time correctly as designation for companies with a connection to Scientology, but in past years incorrectly described as they might encounter Scientologists in these workplaces), hasn't been used for years. The report also criticizes Austria, Belarus, Belgium, France, Greece, Spain, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• International Religious Freedom Report 2006: The report incorrectly claims that the "S" notation used by employment offices meant employment counselors were supposed to warn their clients that they might encounter Scientologists in these workplaces. The truth is that the "S" notation meant that a company is linked to Scientology itself, so that job seekers can decide whether they would want to work there. (This error had already been corrected in the 2005 Human Rights Report!) The report also criticizes Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Portugal,Poland, Russia, Spain, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Daily Press Briefing 4.9.2007: Tom Casey comments on the filing of criminal charges against Scientology in Belgium, and opposes "any effort to stigmatize an entire group based solely upon religious beliefs".
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2006. The report also criticizes Austria, France, Greece, Spain, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• International Religious Freedom Report 2007: The report complains about an alleged "sect filter" for certain contracts. (The truth is that the wording of such "filters" only mentions "The technology of L. Ron Hubbard", about which Scientology itself has said that it is "secular"). The report also criticizes Austria (note that the text falsely claims The Church of Scientology is also denied acknowledgement as a religious group, but later tells the truth: The Church of Scientology and the Hindu Mandir Association withdrew their applications), Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Portugal,Poland, Russia, Spain, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2007. The report also criticizes Austria, Belgium, Belarus, France, Greece, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• International Religious Freedom Report 2008: The report complains about an alleged "sect filter" for certain contracts. (The truth is that the wording of such "filters" only mentions "The technology of L. Ron Hubbard", about which Scientology itself has said that it is "secular"). The report also criticizes Austria (note that the text falsely claims The Church of Scientology is also denied acknowledgement as a religious group, but later tells the truth: The Church of Scientology and the Hindu Mandir Association withdrew their applications), Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2008. The report also criticizes Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• International Religious Freedom Report 2009: The report complains about an alleged "sect filter" for certain contracts. (The truth is that the wording of such "filters" only mentions "The technology of L. Ron Hubbard", about which Scientology itself has said that it is "secular"). The report also criticizes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.
• Human Rights Report on Germany 2009: The report complains about an alleged "sect filter" for certain contracts. (The truth is that the wording of such "filters" only mentions "The technology of L. Ron Hubbard", about which Scientology itself has said that it is "secular"). The report also criticizes Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Latvia, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom for their attitude towards Scientology.

Read also this article: Why the U.S.'s International Religious Freedom Commission Is Harming Its Status In the World Community

Visit this excellent website: Florida politicians and officials lending credibility to Scientology

Smart US politicians

 

Congress of the United states House of Representatives December 10, 1976 Dear Ida Camburn, Thank you for your very detailed letter regarding Scientology.  We haven't yet found a way to attack these jackals who feed on  children and young adults who are too emotionally weak to stand  by themselves when they reach the age of consent. It's too bad there isn't a 20th Century Charles Dickens to  write about the terrible destruction of these 20th Century  fagins who make themselves rich while they destroy the  psyche of so many. At the present time, I can only encourage you to do more of  what you have been doing. Sincerely yours Leo J. Ryan Member of Congress

Clearwater mayor Gabe Cazares did speak and act against Scientology. Result: Scientology sabotaged his Washington career plans. In 1991 and 1992, he was again targetted by Scientology lawsuits (of course dismissed), because he kicked out Scientologists Marsha Lovering and Alice Herben out of a meeting of the Democratic Party in March 1991. Here their complaint (St. Petersburg Times 11.12.1991):

 

It says Cazares called the organization "Sintology," referred  to it as a paramilitary organization and spoke of the group's  plans to build a "brainwashing factory" in Clearwater.  He also said Scientology should be "ejected from Clearwater just as Iraq was ejected from Kuwait," it said.

Sen Thomas F. Eagleton (D), Missouri, was unsuccessfully blackmailed in 1980 by his niece Elizabeth Eagleton Weigand (alias Libby Weigand alias Elizabeth Weigand, now Elizabeth Regan) and her attorney Stephen Poludniak, both Scientologists, to buy her shares on the family-owned Missouri Pipe Fittings co. for $220,000 or she would publish "damaging information". He declined and called the FBI, because 1. he didn't believe her that such information existed, 2. he knew she was a Scientologist and that the money would go to them. Scientology denied any involvement, but admitted that it was a GO operation in their IRS 1023 Tax Exempt Application. (Of course this didn't interfere with the Scientology career of "Libby": she became a director and key employee in CRIMINON, a scientology front)

Nevada State Sen William Hernstadt (D), Las Vegas, sponsored state bill SB108 (later modified as SB343) to protect the public against organizations that provide "personal or psychological improvement", forcing them to provide a list of fees and protect ex-members against frivolous defamation suits. In the debate Hernstadt alleged that Scientology "president" Heber Jentzsch "lied through his teeth" in his testimony and called Scientology a "criminal organization". Sadly, the bill did not pass.

His daughter Liane had spent $50,000 for courses and loans to other "church" members, and had troubles to get her money back (she succeeded later in getting most of it).

Rep William J. Hughes (D), New Jersey, wrote an inquiry to the US Marshalls Service, concerned whether they were lending their name to an effort to "improve the image of Scientolog" after they had participated in an event of a Scientology front.

Sen Robert Dole (R), Kansas, presidential candidate for 1996, knows whose vote he doesn't want (AP 28.8.1996):

 

As the vacationing Dole made his way down Santa Barbara's main drag, heading for dinner Monday at Joe's Cafe, he and a crush of autograph seekers drew near a building prominently labeled "Dianetics -- Church of Scientology Center."    Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a top policy adviser to the Dole campaign, eyed the surrounding horde of news photographers and tugged at press secretary Nelson Warfield, pointing out the Scientology center. Its storefront sign would likely land in the photographers' frames if Dole headed in a straight line down the sidewalk.    "You don't want him in front of there. Cross him over there, then cross him back," Rumsfeld instructed while gesturing across the street.    Dole appeared unaware of the whispering as he was guided to the opposite side of State Street.

 

The Oakland Tribune, 16.11.2003

"Jim Jones and the other cults that followed wrapped themselves around freedom of religion, and we are very loathe to take any actions against any, quote unquote, organized religions," she said.

CNN, 18.11.2003

There are still over 1,000 cults operating in the United States and around the world," she said. "And we -- in terms of the government -- have always looked the other way because of our great appreciation of the First Amendment and freedom of religion we have allowed many of these cults to operate outside the law.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 16.11.2003

"Jim Jones got away with what he got away with because he was politically connected and because he had the ability to call what he had a religion. Our commitment to protecting the First Amendment clouded reasonable people from recognizing that even though religions have a right to exist, they do not have a right to conduct themselves in a manner that suggests criminal conduct."

 

International Relations Committee Mark-Up meeting of 3.10.2000, discussing H.RES 588 IH

So how can we criticize Germany for not recognizing Scientology when our administration made a public proliferance decision with a group that has a history of preying on elderly, perceived wealthy widows and apparently preys on some people of the entertainment industries who are not smart enough to do anything else but be entertainers. So I really am opposed to this and do not think that it serves  any useful purpose and I think that if we need to do something  useful and meaningful (...)

 

House of Representatives, parliamentary inquiry of 9.11.1997

Germany is a free country in which religious freedom is guaranteed under the Constitution and thus sacrosanct. The U.S. State Department country report on human rights clearly confirms this in its most recent report. I would add that I think we need to be reminded every time that what we do as a body expressing our views on foreign policy is taken very seriously.  This resolution is not balanced. It singles out Germany for a variety of practices, particularly those related to Scientology where their position is no different than seven or eight other European countries and several other countries outside the European Continent. This is a troubling situation for them. It is a matter that is pending currently in their tax court. But I think it is important we not have  Tom Cruise or John Travolta setting foreign policy in this country, and I think that is a driving factor behind this legislation. It is very unfortunate. I urge my colleagues to oppose the resolution.

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