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Men Behind the Curtain:
Scientology and Politics
by Barbara Graham and Maureen Drueck

"The goal of the department [of governmental affairs] is to bring the government and hostile philosophies or societies into a state of complete compliance with the goals of Scientology. This is done by a high level ability to control and in its absence by a low level ability to overwhelm. Introvert such agencies. Control such agencies." L. Ron Hubbard, evidence from Church of Spiritual Technology v. U.S., November 22, 1989.

Before the release of "War of the Worlds," Tom Cruise was interviewed by the German magazine, "Der Spiegel," in which he publically spoke for the success of the Scientology drug rehab program, "Narconon." Cruise claimed, "I myself have helped hundreds of people get off drugs. In Scientology, we have the only successful drug rehabilitation program in the world. It's called Narconon." When Der Spiegel commented that Narconon was not amongst any recognized programs, and that the program had been called "pseudo science" by experts, Cruise stated, "You don't understand what I am saying. It's a statistically proven fact that there is only one successful drug rehabilitation program in the world. Period."

Related to the claims that are made about the program by the Scientologists, the expulsion of the Narconon Drug Prevention and Education program in California, and subsequently Boston, and Hawaii public schools has taken place within the last year. The program was expelled because it was teaching bad science to school children. However, the bad science behind the Narconon Drug Prevention and Education programs is the same bad science behind the "Purification Rundown," Scientology's flagship secular product. The Purification Rundown, or "Purif," is based on the bad science rejected by the aforementioned public schools. And yet, the Purif is currently being sold: to Scientology practitioners, to state legislatures, recovering substance abusers and rescue workers.

In the world of the secular versus the spiritual, Scientology is a floor wax and a dessert topping! If being a religious entity interferes with receiving public funding, a new, secular front group is waiting in the wings. Narconon, and several other programs are simply repackaged versions of Scientology's Purification Rundown, disguised as secular. Removing toxins from the body through purification is a prerequisite for later Scientology study and their deceptive claims of salvation - the understanding that they will be ridding their bodies of dead space aliens, or "body thetans."

"Scientologists believe that most human problems can be traced to lingering spirits of an extraterrestrial people massacred by their ruler, Xenu, over 75 million years ago. These spirits attach themselves by "clusters" to individuals in the contemporary world, causing spiritual harm and negatively influencing the lives of their hosts." --US District Justice Judge Leonie Brinkema, 4 Oct 96 Memorandum Opinion, RTC vs. Lerma

Even though the program uses excessive vitamins and sauna use, Scientology uses "alternative health" in its explanation of being a "natural," or a "non-narcosis based treatment" without drugs - avoiding real medical review." A proposed study of the Purification Rundown was considered in 1985 by Dr. Joseph Miceli, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacy at the Children's Hospital of Michigan. However, the Human Subject Review Committee at Wayne State University refused to allow the study, deeming it "unfit for human experimentation."

Despite the differently named programs and purposes for the Purification Rundown, they all use the same "bad science" as well as Scientology teaching materials, as mental and alternative health criteria. This is one reason that Scientology has sought approval through legislators and others, who may not question the materials and references they provide. It is clear that this program teaches and applies an irresponsible and dangerous program.

Scientology uses its own "scientific" front group that validates L Ron Hubbard's "research" in the detox program, comprised of Scientologist doctors, called the Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Education, (FASE.) A Boston Herald article of March, 1998 stated that "FASE was originally created to put Scientology covertly into schools and government, to give the Purification Rundown an air of respectability." This group also produced videotapes about Jaime Escalante's math program for PBS TV, which falsely gives merit to other studies, through which FASE supports Scientology programs.

If it's not stealthy enough to have the programs research validated through the same Scientology entity, then it is even more appalling to find that the scientific research is fraudulent. Part of FASE's research includes a "scientific paper" that was never published! And imagine someone receiving a glossy brochure or looking on the Internet to research a program and not know that Scientology has fraudulently used others to sell these products. This is a sure sign that they really have no valid information to support their hideous claims, and far from proper accreditation.

Scientology has unfortunately found a group in the legislative arena to seek funding for the Purification Rundown. In April of 2003, there was a brief article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which discussed an interesting offer by an unnamed Arizona businessman. The story recounted how this anonymous Arizonan had offered the entire Nevada legislature a free trip to Ensenada, to observe an "alternative drug treatment program developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard " operating at the prison there.

Rep. Sharron Angle was promoting a program, called 'Second Chance,' for possible inclusion in the Nevada prison system, at taxpayer's expense. The anonymous businessman was willing to contribute $8,000 to fly the 35 legislators to Mexico. Among the critics, this raised many questions. Who was this Arizonan? Why was Rep. Sharron Angle promoting Hubbard based programs? The offer went out on Monday. By Tuesday, they were receiving confirmations from legislators.

Rep. Angle is a member of the National Order of Women Legislators, (NOWL) an unincorporated membership organization founded in 1938, works with the National Foundation for Women Legislators, (NFWL) a 501 c3 tax-exempt, non-partisan organization formed in 1983. The NFWL, made up of both legislators and corporate sponsors, encourages women into legislative roles, as well as provide model legislation, offer training, and host networking and other programs for women legislators.

In a follow-up article on February 14, the Nevada Review-Journal reported, "Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley said Thursday legislators should not take a free trip to a Mexican prison to view an unproven drug treatment program that uses sauna and massage treatments." The anonymous Arizona businessman was named as Russell Suggs. A search for this elusive donor revealed that Mr. Suggs was a Scientologist. Interestingly, his, "I am a Scientologist" website disappeared just prior to his offer to the Nevada legislature.

Fortunately, a very well researched website on Narconon, Stop-Narconon.org, had just gone up. Letters were sent to every single member of the Nevada legislature, urging them to review the Scientology programs a bit more in depth before deciding to accept this free trip. Ultimately, the legislature overwhelmingly turned down the offer, but questions remained about the program, and those promoting it.

Research revealed that the Second Chance program, based in La Mesa, California, appears to be twin to another Scientology front group, Narconon. Both programs sell the "Purification Rundown." Both programs core elements expose participants to Scientology material in a "secular surrounding" along with a detoxification using a sauna regimen with excessive amount of vitamins to cleanse the body of toxins. Supporters are quick to deny any association with the Church of Scientology. They often claim their programs are "based on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard." However, the practice and procedure is identical to the courses sold to Scientologists as religious.

Second Chance is licensed under Criminon, a Scientology front group targeting inmates. Criminon, Narconon, Applied Scholastics and The Way to Happiness Foundation are all under the umbrella of A.B.L.E., the Association for Better Living and Education. And A.B.L.E. is contained under the entity which controls all Hubbard copyrights, the Church of Spiritual Technology.

The Second Chance Program was first proposed by Arizona Senator and NFWL regional director Elaine Richardson in 2001, as an amendment to House Bill 2563, where community transition programs were being considered by the Arizona Department of Corrections. The Second Chance Program was deemed too expensive and the scientific studies, as well as Scientology teachings within the program were rejected.

The Second Chance program has been rejected twice in the Nevada Assembly. First rejected in 2001, it was rejected a second time when it was proposed by NFWL member and Assemblywoman Sharron Angle in 2003.

In October, 2003 the Second Chance Program was proposed in Erie County, New York by Joy Westrum; a Scientologist, President of the Second Chance Program, and board member of the NFWL. Information once posted on the Erie County website's message board regarding Scientology and L Ron Hubbard's teachings in the program are no longer there. The program was never granted.

Scientology began promoting the Second Chance Program even though their first program, called "Criminon" still exists. Never has one organization used so many names for the same program. Five programs with identical components - being a sauna detoxification and application of Scientology teachings - are being promoted for use in criminal rehabilitation, drug rehabilitation, alternative education, for firefighters, and as an alternative health, body detoxification listed in a Scientology book, sold under the category of "nutrition and dietary." The success stories are just as unbelievable as the recidivism rates have been misleading.

Here are the various names for the identical Scientology detoxification/purification programs being promoted to legislators and others: Second Chance, Inc., Criminon, Narconon, Purification Rundown, (secular version in the L Ron Hubbard book, "Clear Body, Clear Mind"), The New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project (and New York Firefighters Detoxification Project), "LEAP" - Literacy and Education Awareness Project, (from the Utah Scientology business "Innovations in Education") recently turned down by Governor Olene Walker.

Discovering that NFWL members were supporting and seeking funding for the Second Chance program was not all that was to be found while looking at the NFWL. Searching for information gave back several accolades for the NFWL by Scientology front groups. Like the Unification Church, the Scientology organization is fond of issuing awards, citations and endorsements, usually to its own front groups. One such front group is the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights, (CCHR,) which Scientology established in 1969.

The CCHR had been involved with the NFWL since 1998 with quite another agenda. The CCHR makes no bones about its mission. Destroying the mental health field is one of the stated goals of Scientology. In 1995, David Miscavige, the "ecclesiastical head" of the organization, spelled it out clearly during an address to the International Association of Scientologists, (IAS).

"There are a lot of opinions out there as to what is wrong with Earth, 1995 - unstable economies, unstable political arenas, criminality, drugs, injustice and so forth - obviously valid concerns. But if you really want to eliminate those problems all you have to do is work for the objectives that we, as members of the IAS, have set for the year 2000: Objective One - place Scientology at the absolute forefront of Society. Objective Two - eliminate psychiatry in all its forms. We don't care what the current think is regarding what's wrong with the planet. Government won't handle it. Politics won't handle it. Legislation won't handle it. All that's going to handle it is what we, of the IAS, have set down in stone. Let's get rid of psychiatry, and let's bring Scientology to every man, woman and child on this planet."

David Miscavige, 1995

Scientology had entered the women legislators' group in 1998 according to this letter to Scientology members from the current president of the CCHR, Bruce Wiseman:

"I know you would like to do everything possible to back up management's ongoing efforts to clear this planet. A key vector in this strategy is, of course, removing planetary suppression. In a word, that means getting rid of destructive psychiatric programs, treatments and philosophies. A terrific opportunity has just arisen that will help us do just that. There is an organization called the National Organization of Women Legislators (NOWL), and as the name implies, this group is made up of top woman legislators from local, state and the Federal Government. Senators, governors, congresswomen and others are members of this group.This is a magnificent opportunity for CCHR to get its message delivered directly to some of the top policy makers in this country..." I want CCHR to become a member of this group so we can get our message out to this very important public on an ongoing basis about what psychiatry is doing to our schools, our courts and our civilization as a whole.At CCHR International we have a number of plans and projects coordinated to do just that. One of these is to see that the psychs are deprived of their unearned millions in appropriations."

Further search of the NFWL legislators showed that several of the women had taken up the Scientology issue of "coercive drugging of school children," by proposing legislation in their respective states. Rep. Sharron Angle from Nevada had done this is 2001, prior to her attempt to get Scientology's Second Chance prison program funded. It wasn't an apparent issue on the NFWL website or mentioned in the group's newsletter that these women had been proposing such legislation. But it was very clear that Scientology and CCHR had access to these legislators by the star-studded ceremonies that had these women appearing on CCHR's website. By 2002, the CCHR "news" section of their website lauded the NFWL: "LOS ANGELES: The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), an international mental health watchdog, applauds the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) for taking the lead in promoting federal safeguards for children against enforced psychotropic drugging through schools."

While none of the history of the individual women legislator's psychotropic drugging issues appeared on the NFWL website, a NOWL representative and legislator, Katherine Bryson from Utah sponsored the Child Medication Safety Act, H.R.1170, pertaining to the issue of psychotropic drugs and children in schools, which was passed by the House and referred to the Senate Committee. A resolution for this Act was added to the NFWL website in 2004, (strangely dated August, 2003, and during the critical period of its faltering passage.) Scientology has used the NFWL to prod their attack on mental health further while it is not deemed an outward issue by the NFWL. The effect of these women legislators, the CCHR and other groups still being found to have had Scientology influence, are evidence that Scientology is working to carefully control the information so their obvious stance towards mental health is not seen, but effectively used.

A look at these political groups will show taxpayers that Scientology has and will work deceptively through other groups. By keeping their name out of view, they conceal their outward goal of eradicating psychiatry behind another group's identity. CCHR was also a member of another "model legislation" group, the American Legislative Exchange Council, (ALEC) in 1998. At that time, Sam Brunelli, board member, was the husband of the current president of the NFWL, Robin Read. CCHR was working with ALEC the same year they joined the NFWL, and were both opposing the mental health parity in insurance.

As early as 1995, Scientology appealed to many Christian lobby groups. So alongside the Scientology goal to eradicate mental health, so were Christians fighting alongside the CCHR against mental health programs in educational settings. Do taxpayers see this as the threat Scientology and some of these other groups do? Despite the bizarre belief of eradicating mental health as a Scientology belief, many would beg to differ and not feel as threatened by mental health programs, especially when children are generally under-diagnosed for problems, or have disabilities that need special mental health backed programs. Where there are mental health issues, political officials and taxpayer spending, be assured that Scientology is both out front and working behind the scenes, trying to gain allies while using other groups so they will not be detected.

In 2003, two Scientologists appeared as members of the NFWL. Bruce Wiseman of the CCHR - is now the treasurer, and another Scientologist, Joy Westrum, happens to be the president of the Second Chance program and Private Sector Chair of the Crime, Justice, Terrorism & Substance Abuse Policy Committee. Several other Scientologists are also found to have connections with the NFWL representing everything from Scientology business, legal council, and even those who created the NFWL theme song.

Taxpayers and legislators need to be aware of two areas where this detoxification program has been proposed for government funding. The "Second Chance Act of 2004," (H.R. 4676) would create a federal task force for prison reentry programs, and include faith-based and other grants to state and local organizations for substance abuse programs. There are grave concerns regarding attempts made by Scientology to propose their prison program, coincidentally called, "Second Chance" on either a medically sound or secular basis. The same concerns apply to the New York Rescue Workers' Detoxification Project.

The "New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project," another version of the Purification Rundown, is a program that casts actor Tom Cruise as the lead salesman for Scientology. Unfortunately, this is where rational evaluation is overcome by an actor's persona whose promotion of a dangerous detox has included financing the program personally. Backed by the Scientology "scientific" doctors' group FASE, this program began in New York, targeting firefighters after the 9-11 tragedy. Funding for the first Scientology backed "clinic" known as Downtown Medical was cut by the Firefighter's Union when they heard that this dangerous treatment was being promoted to their force, and bore no scientific data. However, this hasn't stopped the promotion of the detox by "true believer" Tom Cruise, who has gone on to court legislator Margarita Lopez, Council Member of New York City, and chairperson of the City Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services.

Scientology was aware of her plans to run for the position of President of Manhattan Borough in New York and asked members to donate towards her election.

Lopez originally donated $30,000 from her discretionary fund to the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project as a call to her office affirmed. Other questions asked of representatives about the amounts approved in the city budget were referred to with a name and contact of the Scientology detox center. The New York Post quoted in the August 3, 2005 article, "Quid Pro Cult" that the total amount eventually disbursed by the city to the Scientology detox program was: $30,000 in June, 2004, $300,000 in December, 2004 and another $300,000 in July, 2004.

A Scientology front group and political action committee called the Citizens for Social Reform, (CSR ) was regularly holding meetings to raise funds to support Lopez' campaign, with hopes that she would continue to promote Scientology's detox program in New York. The New York Post reported that $96,000 was raised to this date from Scientology members, to help Lopez succeed. The CSR had also asked that Lopez approach the governor for funding of this program.

In lieu of the recent media reports about Margartia Lopez, the Buffalo News reported that Senator Charles E. Schumer, (D-New York) had written a letter in support of the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification but did not know the detox was associated with Scientology. Three other representatives, Charles B. Rangel, (D-New York City), Vito Fossella, (R-Staten Island) and Carol McCarthy, (D-Long Island) had also written letters in support of the detox. Fosella and McCarthy have requested $1.5 million in federal funding for the program.

By supporting these Scientology programs, politicians advance Scientology's quest for recruits, money, and ultimately, power.

"Once the world is Clear - a nation, a state, a city or a village - the Scientology organization in the area becomes its government! And once this has taken place the only policy accepted as valid is Scientology policy."

L. Ron Hubbard From a lecture entitled "Future Org Trends" given January 9th, 1962

=== Feisty

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