Cultgate Updates
FACTNet Cultgate Alerts
Clinton helps Scientology
President Travolta: Another actor in the White House?
[March 12, 1998]
Primary Colors Pandora's Box[March 3, 1998]
Should Clinton resign over the Primary Colors Cultgate national security scandal?[February 27, 1998]
Has Primary Colors become Clinton's Cultgate?[February 24, 1998]
Urgent Cultgate Update: Travolta to do damage control on Clinton situation on Entertainment Tonight[February 20, 1998]
First Lewinsky. Now Clinton, Cultgate and John Travolta
Media Articles on Cultgate
"German commission proclaims Scientology more threatening than thought"
Associated Press, March 5, 1998"Lawmakers fresh from a U.S. visit to defend Germany's stance on Scientology said Thursday they succeeded in refuting the group's claim that Germany practices religious discrimination... At the same time, the five-member bipartisan parliamentary committee said Americans it spoke with during a weeklong Washington trip confirmed German suspicions that the group is dangerous."
"German panel brings concerns on Scientology to Washington"
St. Petersburg Times, February 28, 1998, by Jack R. Payton"There are some Germans out there who don't trust John Travolta. Not only that, at least one of these Germans - actually a member of Germany's parliament - doesn't at all like the idea of Travolta talking with the president of the United States or his national security adviser, Sandy Berger, about the state of U.S.-German relations."
"California Representative Says Enquete is Helpful"
Associated Foreign Press, February 27, 1998"Tom Campbell, congressional representative from California, has characterized his talk with the German Bundestag's Enquete Commission about Scientology as a helpful contribution in regards to the claims which have been made against Germany. The meeting on Wednesday was open and objective, without diplomatic embellishments, said the Republican on Friday to the AFP news agency. It was finally made clear to him that the German courts have decided once and for all that Scientology does not have a religious status."
"Enquete Commission solicits understanding for the perspective towards Scientology"
Associated Foreign Press, February 27, 1998"The Enquete Commission of the German Bundestag, which concerns itself with Scientology, has conducted a week-long fact-finding mission in the USA about the organization. During this time they were successful in raising doubts in the concept that Scientologists are persecuted by the state in Germany...
"The Commission chairperson Ortrun Schatzle (Christian Democrat Party) said that they had jointly confirmed with John Shattuck, the department head of the US State Department for Questions of Human Rights, that religious freedom is guaranteed in Germany just as it is in the USA.""Not even fiction's safe from ultimate spin doctor"
Irish Times, February 27, 1998, by Fintan O'Toole"It has, in America at least, come to the point where a president can manipulate not just facts, but fiction. For it is now clear that Bill Clinton has just pulled off an extraordinary feat of image-making. He has ensured that a major fictional film about a president whom everyone assumes to be Clinton will, instead of being a damaging attack, convey a favourable impression of its subject... Clinton and his advisers set about the task of doing to the film fiction of Primary Colors what they are so used to doing to real life. They seduced and charmed and finessed it into the shape they wanted...
"Making a movie of a book damaging to Clinton ought to have resulted in expulsion to the outer darkness. Instead, [director] Nichols in particular continued to be invited to share barbecues and dinner parties with the first couple... Billy Bob Thornton, who plays the important role of James Carville/Richard Jemmons, is also, as it happens, a friend of Clinton's... The President gave his blessing. He was, in effect, casting the movie that was supposed to attack him...
"For the most powerful politician on Earth, controlling fictions has become as important as the influencing of news reports."
Read the article.George Magazine,
March issue (published in February)"'You have to be dead not see that the film favors Clinton," admitted Travolta, who gained 20 pounds and streaked his hair gray to look presidential in the film... More than anything, it promotes what a decent person he is.'"
"Scientologists organize opposition to German delegation"
Associated Press, February 26, 1998, by David Briscoe"Scientologists are enlisting the support of ministers and scholars from other faiths as they demonstrate against a 10-member group of German parliamentarians that was meeting with members of Congress today."
"The Secrets of the Universe"
Wall Street Journal, February 24, 1998, Review & Outlook, p. A24"Some of the weirdest conversations of the day concern Sandy Berger's meeting with John Travolta, along with Tom Cruise the chief ornaments of the Scientology movement... By now it seems you can't understand the universe without plumbing thetan influence in the White House, the halls of Congress, and the murky heart of the IRS."
New Clinton Uproar: He made secret deal with Travolta
National Enquirer, February 23, 1998, by David Wright and Bennet Bolton"Still reeling from the Zippergate scandal, Bill Clinton has been hit with yet another 'seduction' charge--this time by Hollywood hunk John Travolta!"
"Travolta Oath on Scientologists?"
New York Post, by Richard Johnson"REP. Michael Forbes wants to haul John Travolta before Congress to testify about his secret deal with President Clinton to help the Scientologists...
"'A resolution was put before Congress last year to press Germany to recognize the Scientologists. It didn't pass,' said one insider. 'So when the Clinton Administration lobbied Germany on behalf of the cult, they acted against the express wishes of Congress.'""Scientologygate? Travoltagate? 'Primary Colors' Gate?"
Contra Costa Newspapers, February 16, 1998"As if President Clinton doesn't have enough to worry about these days, his administration is now being accused of pandering to prominent Scientologist and actor John Travolta, in order to influence his portrayal of the president in 'Primary Colors'...
"The German government contends the church is a moneymaking organization with some traits of organized crime, and as such represents a threat to democracy.""Meet the Press with Tim Russert"
NBC-TV, February 15, 1998RUSSERT: "What this says, Mr. Berger, is that John Travolta, was seduced by the president, and has created, a movie called "Primary Colors," which in the words of 'George' magazine, is a 'celluloid valentine' to the president, because you helped him out... on his pet cause of Scientology."
BERGER: "Uh, it sounds to me, Tim, like you're getting, you're getting uh, developing your own conspiracy theories here.""Berger Denies Travolta-Deal Rumors"
Associated Press, February 15, 1998, by Jim Abrams"'The only thing I was trying to get was an autograph for one of my kids, but other than that I had no ulterior motive,' National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said Sunday, discussing his meeting last year at the White House with a Church of Scientology delegation, including Travolta."
"Scientology Cultivates Its Roster of Stars"
New York Times, February 13, 1998, by Douglas Franz"'These groups are often crying out for legitimacy, and they seek it any way they can, especially if they are under duress in public,' said James T. Richardson, a professor of sociology and law at the University of Nevada at Reno. 'What's phenomenal is the success that Scientology has had with the entertainment industry.'"
"Travolta Admits Clinton Used Sects Appeal to Woo Him"
New York Post, February 12, 1998, by Linda Massarella"John Travolta says President Clinton offered to help him with a pet project - getting Scientology accepted as a religion in Germany - just as he was about to play a character based on the president."
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