Practically everytime Moon surfaces in connection with a Republican, it’s treated as a unique, stand-alone incident about someone who doesn’t seem to know enough to stay away from that kooky old cult leader, Rev. Moon.

The reality is that the Moon Organization is a world-wide, well funded political organization, and the connections between the Moon Org and the Republican Party have a deep, rich, and detailed history. I’m speaking as someone who’s spent a considerable part of his life researching the Moon Org and it’s various connections.

To begin with, Richard Nixon, before he was elected President, had a close relationship with former Japanese Prime Minister Nobosuke Kishi, who, in turn, was one of the primary backers of the Moon Organization—which is centered not, as commonly assumed, in South Korea, but in Japan. Japan is where the money comes from.

After Nixon was elected President, representatives of the Moon Organization worked closely with White House operatives attempting to drum up a right-wing student movement to support the war in Vietnam and serve as a counterweight to the anti-war movement. Later, Moon himself emerged as one of Nixon’s chief public defenders during the Watergate scandal.

The Moon Organization also worked to elect Ronald Reagan President, and Moon himself was granted a place of honor at the first Reagan inaugural. The Washington Times, founded in 1982, provided the Reagan Administration with a reliable journalistic ally. And, among other ventures, the Moon Organization played a vital role in organizing support for Reagan’s aggressive anti-communist foreign policy, such as backing the Nicaraguan contras.

Then the Moon Organization provided massive support to the election of George H.W. Bush, through its primary political front, the American Freedom Coalition. The Moon Organization also emerged as a primary supporter of the first Gulf War, working to organize pro-war rallies through the U.S. After he lost re-election, Bush was well-rewarded for his close relationship with the Moon Organization—he was heavily remunerated for a series of speeches that he gave on behalf of the Moon Org.

These are just a few of the highlights. But despite this rich history of power-brokering with the Republican Party, Moon’s persistent image is that he’s a just kooky cult leader, and every now and then some Republicans forget they shouldn’t be seen with him. Well, they’re seen with him for a reason. Moon represents power. The locus of that power is in Japan. And that power is allied with the Republican Party.

It’s been going on for at least forty years. It’s time someone caught on.