Amidst the Lott-gay rumors we should not forget his role in establishing “True Parents Day” as a

When U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (from Pascagoula, MS) stood before his fellow lawmakers in 1993 and encouraged them to support "True Parents Day," some said he was doing the bidding of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church. That holiday, reborn as just plain "Parents Day" and officially celebrated the fourth Sunday of July, was signed into law in 1995 by President Clinton. Children are supposed to salute their parents, as on Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Lott's Senate speech that first introduced the innocuous sounding day does seem to reveal a connection between Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, referred to as the "True Parents" by Unificationists the world over. But Parents Day is only one example of increasing connections between the Unification Church and Republican leaders, whose party convention starts in Philadelphia on Monday.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The connection to Parents Day is more tangible. "I wish to join the Women's Federation for World Peace in celebrating July 28, 1993, as True Parents Day. I also urge my colleagues in the U.S. Senate, and all citizens of our Nation to recognize and support True Parents Day and the restoration of God-centered families in our society," the senator from Pascagoula said in 1993, finishing up by inviting Senate members to attend a presentation by Moon's wife, the president of the Women's Federation for World Peace.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

On Friday in Mobile, Alabama state Sen. George Callahan, R-Theodore, spoke at the American Leadership Conference, a Unification-sponsored event. "I've attended several of their sessions and events. They seem to want to diversify and become part of the larger religious community of Mobile," Callahan said. "They aren't pushing their religion, it's more family values. That's why they invite me. My platform falls in line with theirs. I'm a pro-life, family values politician."