Land of 10,000 Hates?

May 21, 2011 1:47 PM

Earlier this week, the Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives asked Bradlee Dean to give the morning prayer.

Dean is the head of a hard-rock ministry that does controversial presentations in schools about the ills of teen pregnancy, abortion and other things. Dean also has a radio show, where he's effectively called for the murder of GLBT people. (He has since tried to back-pedal on these statements, but still maintains that homosexuality should be illegal, and that gays want to molest children, and that anti-bullying efforts are a way to "go after the kids".)

Dean's prayer implied that President Obama isn't Christian, and was thoroughly sectarian. After the prayer, and once it came to light who Dean is, House Republians quickly repudiated his statements; the Representative who invited Dean said he'd made "an honest mistake", but it's clear that Dean is not an outlier in state Republican circles. Michele Bachmann (US Representative for Minnesota's Sith Sixth District) has prayed in favor of his organization, and done fundraisers for them; and Tom Emmer (Republican candidate for Governor, last time around) has donated money to Dean's organization and called them "nice people" -- after Dean's murderous statements. All this, just as the Minnesota legislature is pushing for a Constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, and while the state is dealing with a large number of GLBT youth suicides.

This is a hard time to be GLBT in Minnesota. It's possible, though, that Dean's prayer may short-circuit Republican efforts to ban gay marriage.

posted by jiawen (80 comments total)

Sorry about the "Sith" joke, but I've had a hard time not thinking of her that way ever since I first heard the flub on MPR.
posted by jiawen at 1:52 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]

"an honest mistake", my ass.
posted by futz at 1:55 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

Things like this are why I am ok that things happen. Sometimes it has to get worse before it can get better. life happens, everyone does things, this produces change one way or the other
posted by rebent at 1:56 PM on May 21, 2011

And the Lord didn't say go forth and hate.
posted by Daddy-O at 1:56 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

in reference to the last link, that is
posted by rebent at 1:56 PM on May 21, 2011

Dean has made many controversial statements as pastor of You Can Run, including advocating the incarceration of gays and lesbians, that the LGBT community is trying to usher in Sharia law in Minnesota, that gay men molest an average of 117 children “before they get caught,” and that Muslim nations that execute gays are more moral than American Christians.

What. the. fuck. His rent boy could not believe he said that!
posted by jaduncan at 1:59 PM on May 21, 2011 [8 favorites]

From the last linked article: Leidiger [guy who invited Dean] did say he liked Dean's message about "bringing the Constitution back" into the schools.

s/Constitution/prayer/g?

Whatever is he using Constitution as code for?
posted by hoyland at 1:59 PM on May 21, 2011

Hello, is this the how to spot a psychopath thread?
posted by found missing at 2:00 PM on May 21, 2011 [51 favorites]

Whatever is he using Constitution as code for?

Spartan-style wrestling?
posted by ennui.bz at 2:01 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

...that the LGBT community is trying to usher in Sharia law in Minnesota

Somewhat unlikely, no?
posted by atrazine at 2:03 PM on May 21, 2011 [15 favorites]

How much does that gig pay?
posted by Artw at 2:03 PM on May 21, 2011

...that the LGBT community is trying to usher in Sharia law in Minnesota

That would be the splinter group, Gays Against Bacon.
posted by orthogonality at 2:06 PM on May 21, 2011 [10 favorites]

Speaking of Bachmann: 16-Year-Old Girl Who Challenged Bachmann To Debate Receiving Threats Of Violence, Rape
posted by homunculus at 2:10 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]

Hard-rock ministry? I'm sure there are some Scandinavian Black Metal bands that would be extremely willing to help him test his faith. In fact, I know a Hare Krishna or two that could very easily pound this dude into a fine paste (but they wouldn't, you know, unless provoked).
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:12 PM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]

On a purely music level, Junkyard Dogs is nothing more than warmed over mook shit designed to have white youth goose-stepping in the streets. So on that level, yeah, fuck him and his "troubled past" for trying to make this a troubled present. Yes Bradlee, your music s utter, utter UTTER shit which is highly representative of your views on GLBT people.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:12 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

So we're talking about the guy in this picture? Sure, dude, TOTALLY not gay. Not one little bit. Hey, you going to the Judas Priest concert? Those guys ROCK!
posted by msalt at 2:12 PM on May 21, 2011

homunculus: "Speaking of Bachmann: 16-Year-Old Girl Who Challenged Bachmann To Debate Receiving Threats Of Violence, Rape"

Ugh. If I could peel off a few Benjamins and send them to Anonymous, I would.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:14 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

Oh man, this sounds like a group called "Freedom Jam" that came and visited our school in the early 90s and they sang bad hair bands, and it was the first date I took my then girlfriend on. They were cheesy. You could tell they were trying to find the "loser" kids who needed to "hear the message of Jesus" -- get these kids to hear rock. Then have them come to a night show and preach Jesus. Thankfully they weren't very in your face about it (though that might be because the show was still on school grounds, and they didn't wanna push too far in a legal challengey direction). Still it was weird...

These guys sound like they upped it a notch, and I have a feeling these guys are assholier-than-thou (assholier-than-freedomjam?)
posted by symbioid at 2:16 PM on May 21, 2011

homunculus: "Speaking of Bachmann: 16-Year-Old Girl Who Challenged Bachmann To Debate Receiving Threats Of Violence, Rape"

What the FUCK?
posted by symbioid at 2:17 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

And speaking of bands who could kick his ass... "My War"? Really, co-opting Black Flag?
posted by symbioid at 2:19 PM on May 21, 2011

With views like his, his god will never let him in to see the show, and forget about a backstage pass!
posted by Max Power at 2:27 PM on May 21, 2011

Don't worry: it's 17:30 in his time zone, and he's half an hour away from being very surprised indeed.
posted by digitalprimate at 2:30 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

Whatever is he using Constitution as code for?

I recently encountered a fundie on Twitter who tweeted "Evolution is just atheists' way of ignoring the Constitution of the US". I still don't understand the thought process.
posted by brundlefly at 2:32 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]

that the LGBT community is trying to usher in Sharia law in Minnesota

atrazine: Somewhat unlikely, no?

Allegiance to the Republican Party no longer has any policy component; it's merely a series of tribal resentments against out groups. In Republicans' brains, gays and Muslims are both in the "Other" category, so they're working together to do horrible things (like legalizing same-sex marriage) to Christians.
posted by ibmcginty at 2:32 PM on May 21, 2011 [37 favorites]

Video of Dean's prayer.
posted by ericb at 2:42 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

According to local media, the marriage amendment can and might be voted on today after 6:00 PM.

Forgive my advocacy, but if you're in Minnesota, call your Representative right now at 800-657-3550 and tell them to vote No on this abomination or, better yet GET TO THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW and stand it solidarity with the families that are protesting this thing.
posted by elmer benson at 2:44 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

threats of violence and rape are, unfortunately, an entirely too common response to women on the internet, particularly women who advocate views that threaten a certain whackjobs' points of view.
posted by rmd1023 at 2:44 PM on May 21, 2011 [6 favorites]

Here's his youth ministry website: You Can Run But You Can't Hide.
posted by ericb at 2:45 PM on May 21, 2011

You Can Run But You Can't Hide.

Wow. Because that's exactly the sentiment I want to hear from religious authority figures asking to be trusted with children.
posted by kafziel at 2:47 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

I recently encountered a fundie on Twitter who tweeted "Evolution is just atheists' way of ignoring the Constitution of the US".

WHATTHEFUCKAMIREADING.JPG

Also, addressing a state legislature in a track suit? You stay classy, Bradlee.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:58 PM on May 21, 2011 [5 favorites]

A response from Rep. Terry Morrow.
posted by nicething at 3:03 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

If the worst kind of whiny, one-note lefty pundits comedians and cartoonists came up with a bunch of caricatures of GOP politicians, designed purely to be straw men for partisan ridicule, I honestly don't know that they could rival this latest crop. How the hell am I supposed to push more progressive politics by complaining that both sides of the partisan divide are basically the same when the one side starts acting so strenuously to assert itself as freakishly bad in comparison? These people might as well be working on the DNC payroll. Limber up that veto pen, Mr. Dayton, make this conservative clown car work for its shitty little revolution.

Dean I have always taken to be pure vile huckster, I don't buy for a minute that he believes in or cares about anything besides hoovering cash. I'm glad the Tea Party set is pushing his execrable "ministry" further into the light, I'd hope the next school that tries to bring him in to inspire kids to live moral and drugfree lives will find themselves facing a little stiffer resistance.
posted by nanojath at 4:27 PM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]

From the video of his prayer: "the fight, the blood, the sacrifice. From World War I to World War II... to Korea, Father... to Korea and Iwo Jima and Vietnam..."

Wait, does he think Iwo Jima was part of the wars in Korea or Vietnam?
posted by Houstonian at 4:44 PM on May 21, 2011

Christ, another asshole.
posted by battleshipkropotkin at 4:45 PM on May 21, 2011

How the hell am I supposed to push more progressive politics by complaining that both sides of the partisan divide are basically the same when the one side starts acting so strenuously to assert itself as freakishly bad in comparison?

Because they aren't the same, end of story.
posted by Ironmouth at 5:07 PM on May 21, 2011 [7 favorites]

How the hell am I supposed to push more progressive politics by complaining that both sides of the partisan divide are basically the same when the one side starts acting so strenuously to assert itself as freakishly bad in comparison?

And what is so progressive about centrism? In Minnesota (where I've lived since 1992) our dalliance with "centrism" has...um...progressively stripped away everything that used to make this state great - Ventura screwed up our surplus and passed some really bone-headed "common sense" laws, Pawlenty tore up the social safety net starting in 2003 and we just rolled over in the name of fees-based revenue-raising. Jeez, what bliss it was in 1992 to be alive, living in a sort of progressive state with a functional tax system.
posted by Frowner at 5:15 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

I recently encountered a fundie on Twitter who tweeted "Evolution is just atheists' way of ignoring the Constitution of the US". I still don't understand the thought process.

Madlibs.

[ EVIL THING ] is just [ THE OTHER ]'s way of [ VERB ]ing [ BELOVED THING ].
posted by verb at 5:19 PM on May 21, 2011 [21 favorites]

Time to go to the hipster cafe and practice my drop-dead-cool look.
posted by telstar at 5:20 PM on May 21, 2011

There's zero chance that Leidiger didn't know what Bradlee Dean is all about when he invited him. After the Tom Emmer campaign/Target boycott? ZERO chance.

I would venture that he agrees with more of Dean's beliefs than he's owning up to. He just wishes that Dean hadn't articulated them quite so explicitly.
posted by louche mustachio at 5:24 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

No, Leidiger and his brethren are fine with the fact that Dean articulated those beliefs quite that explicitly. Now it's out there, it's been said, the dogwhistle has reached the right ears, and they can throw him under the bus, shedding any responsibility, his usefulness spent.
posted by Ron Thanagar at 5:31 PM on May 21, 2011 [5 favorites]

Less a dogwhistle and more a steam whistle, I think.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:37 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

jiawen posted "the Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives asked Bradlee Dean to give the morning prayer."

Can someone explain this? I thought you all had a separation of church and state in the US.

rmd1023 writes "threats of violence and rape are, unfortunately, an entirely too common response to women on the internet, particularly women who advocate views that threaten a certain whackjobs' points of view."

Not in anyway restricted to women.
posted by Mitheral at 5:40 PM on May 21, 2011

That atrocious hair combined with the tracksuit make him look like an actor playing a guy like this, not a real guy like this.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:41 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]

[ HITLER] is just [ FUNDY CHRISTIAN ACTIVIST POLITICIANS]'s way of [ GOD WINNING ]ing [ THE INTERNET]

Hey - that almost works!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:42 PM on May 21, 2011

"Evolution is just atheists' way of ignoring the Constitution of the US"
My guess is that this makes some sort of sense to them because they pretend that the Constitution says just the opposite of what it really does. Up is down.
Translation to reality-ese:
"'Intelligent Design' is just fundamentalists' way of ignoring the Constitution of the US."
posted by zoinks at 5:42 PM on May 21, 2011

Weren't these people supposed to get raptured today? No? Still here? *sigh*
posted by nola at 5:49 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]

Did Bradlee (Oh, those those ees) Dean serve in the actual military or just Jesus' Army?
posted by ColdChef at 5:49 PM on May 21, 2011

I recently encountered a fundie on Twitter who tweeted "Evolution is just atheists' way of ignoring the Constitution of the US". I still don't understand the thought process.

After years of arguing with the rightwing elements of my family, my guess is that they are confusing the "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights" language from the Declaration of Independence as A) being in the Constitution and B) somehow favoring creationism. Probably because scientists want to usher in Sharia law or something.
posted by Muttoneer at 5:51 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

Weren't these people supposed to get raptured today? No? Still here? *sigh*

They're still here ..... and really pissed off.
posted by blucevalo at 6:20 PM on May 21, 2011

After the prayer, and once it came to light who Dean is, House Republians quickly repudiated his statements; the Representative who invited Dean said he'd made "an honest mistake",

Is that really an excuse when you can find out so much and vet people on the Internet? It's not like you can't find references to Dean's remarks like you can here with one reason Ann Rice decided to leave church.
posted by bonzo_dog55 at 6:34 PM on May 21, 2011

Where does a person find basis for these types of arguments? I haven't read all the links but mixing politics with such rash assumptions just seems so insane. The population is getting older but not smarter, apparently. Just like the Italian Rennaissance took Europe out of the Dark Ages, I hope someone, or something, shines some type of light on these hate-mongers. How a person can lobby for these causes in the name of Freedom of Speech boggles me.
posted by Meatafoecure at 6:59 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

I can't believe a miserable, small-minded bigot like this would even be able to walk through the doors of the House, let alone be invited to speak.

Leidiger, you lying toad, you should be ashamed of yourself. I despise these mean little piss-ants that will push their nasty agendas until they're called out on their actions, then cause tsunamis when they backpedal.


Jiawen, the one small light I find in your link is this quote from Zellers:


UPDATE: House Speaker Kurt Zellers just issued this:

STATEMENT FROM SPEAKER ZELLERS DENOUNCING MORNING PRAYER

I respectfully apologize to all members in the Minnesota House of Representatives and all citizens of this state for today's morning prayer. As Speaker of the House, I take responsibility for this mistake. I am offended at the presence of Bradlee Dean on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives. I denounce him, his actions and his words. He does not represent my values or the values of this state.

Strongly worded, very unambiguous. Well done, Mr. Zellers.
posted by BlueHorse at 7:06 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

As a long-time resident of St. Paul, I have to say I am so ashamed of our legislature and thank random forces of the universe that Mark Dayton is our very sane governor.
posted by Mental Wimp at 7:13 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]

The dude showed up in a track suit to address our legislature. A fucking track suit. I can forgive the hair metal ponytail, but the track suit should have been a big, flashing indicator that this guy is an assclown.
posted by wintermute2_0 at 7:49 PM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]

STATEMENT FROM SPEAKER ZELLERS DENOUNCING MORNING PRAYER

I was momentarily hoping this meant he was denouncing the idea of having a morning prayer -- but, alas, it was just the horribly egregious example he (eventually) denounced.
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:59 PM on May 21, 2011

They're still here ..... and really pissed off.

So no new change then.
posted by nola at 8:01 PM on May 21, 2011

Mitheral: "Can someone explain this? I thought you all had a separation of church and state in the US."

We do, except that certain portions of our political spectrum--in a Venn Diagram the portion being discussed in this post and in my reply would overlap nicely--believe that the separation of church and state means that the state cannot regulate the church (provided that church is Christian-oriented and doesn't worship in any "weird" ways) but the church is free to be as involved in the state as it likes.* This extends to "giving an invocation" prior to most public meetings. In the interests of equal time, you will occasionally see the rare Rabbi conducting the invocation but the overwhelming majority of these will be from a Christian.

* My asterisk is to note that there are very valid reasons to not prohibit a church--as a collection of individuals--from being involved in the political process. However, we tend to run into problems such as we have now where sanity is taken to its illogical extreme. This is also known as the We Can't Have Nice Things Syndrome. A comparison would be to corporate entities' involvement in politics.
posted by fireoyster at 8:09 PM on May 21, 2011

Chinese proverb (applied to situations like this): "Act first, apologize later".
posted by Vibrissae at 8:30 PM on May 21, 2011

Can we do a hostage exchange with North Dakota? Send them this turd and his cronies and get their progressive counterparts back in return?
posted by strange chain at 8:31 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

That atrocious hair combined with the tracksuit make him look like an actor playing a guy like this, not a real guy like this.

I used to work at a movie theater way back in the day, and on Sunday mornings, before the matinees, we rented out one of the theaters to a church to do their thing.

So, I saw them only when they weren't preaching. I saw them only before and after the show, so to speak.

This is exactly what I was struck by ... how much the preachers and organizers looked like they were just acting. Not even good enough actors to keep the act going when they thought no one was looking.

How many of these guys are really just acting? As in, not just misguided, not just zealots, but deliberately acting for a paycheck.

I guess it doesn't really matter in the end -- hate is hate.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:46 PM on May 21, 2011

Republican LULZ.

apparently. Just like the Italian Rennaissance took Europe out of the Dark Ages, I hope someone, or something, shines some type of light on these hate-mongers

There is something to be said about this. This Lulz. To digress, in the "Playbook" (all republicans have one, mine is in a lead box) there is an axiom (if i wind up dead or rich, investigate) and it is this.

appear as you are perceived.
This is done at random and with intent. it is a message. But then again, there needs to be an explanation for jesse ventura and al frankin, there is that. personally, put this guy on the radio with me and I would have his tounge for a trophy. Fast talking whack job semi lucid mouth piece. Great tool to have in your circus. Thats why clowns like this dont bother me and i discount the ire these showboats ply with forked rhetoric. The half-truth and spittle and pled and eluded vagaries yet clear as an Iowa sky
spiral notebook with a handcrafted jesus winchester.
posted by clavdivs at 8:52 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

Here's a live Video (click "live event") of the House debate. It's some amazing stuff.

I'm watching my young daughters tonight or I'd be in St Paul chanting with all the other protestors. I thank the folks who are there, and hope that by the time my kids are old enough to think about marrying, no law will tell them who can or can't be on the list.
posted by nickmark at 8:57 PM on May 21, 2011

Something something insert Axl Rose lookalike contest/"One in a Million" joke here.

Anyway...

rmd1023 writes "threats of violence and rape are, unfortunately, an entirely too common response to women on the internet, particularly women who advocate views that threaten a certain whackjobs' points of view."

Not in anyway restricted to women.

Restricted, no. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the rape threats in particular might be more frequent, though.
posted by naoko at 9:00 PM on May 21, 2011

Restricted, no. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the rape threats in particular might be more frequent, though.

It's not as though the threats wouldn't be made if she was male, though. They'd probably just be more death threats instead of rape threats.
posted by kafziel at 9:30 PM on May 21, 2011

toe-tapping scandal in 5-4-3-2...
posted by liza at 9:31 PM on May 21, 2011

Fuck. House just passed the bill 70-62. Anti-gay hate will be on the Minnesota ballot in 2012.
posted by nickmark at 9:34 PM on May 21, 2011

Yes, but apparently 55% of Minnesotans are against the amendment. With any luck, that'll hold or increase over the next 18 months.
posted by hippybear at 9:42 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's worth knowing that the way Minnesota law works, in order for a constitutional amendment to pass you need a majority of people casting ballots in the election to vote yes on the amendment. So declining to vote on the amendment (while still making a vote on other races) is the same as a no vote.
posted by nickmark at 9:46 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

How do we stop the hating and ignorance? I say this with all seriousness. I'm out of ideas. I almost wish Hell was real so I could see the terrified looks on the faces of these people as their demons usher them through the gates.
posted by doublehappy at 10:22 PM on May 21, 2011

I have been at work, so I couldn't be at the Capitol, but one interesting thing that people pointed out was that, while there were many impassioned and erudite speeches against the Amendment, the people who were for it were strangely quiet. Nobody said anything to defend it, or even to explain it. They just listened to what everyone had to say about why it was wrong, and quietly voted the party line.



I have said this before, but it needs to be said again. If we need any Constitutional amendment, it is an amendment to ban putting civil rights issues such as this to the popular vote. It is fundamentally inhumane,immoral and unjust, and turns the will of the people into the rule of a mob.
posted by louche mustachio at 11:35 PM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]

That would be the splinter group, Gays Against Bacon.

Better known as "Queers for Steers".
posted by orthogonality at 12:55 AM on May 22, 2011

Why does the Minnesota House of Representatives have a morning prayer?
posted by ixohoxi at 7:47 AM on May 22, 2011 [1 favorite]

Minnesota has always been famous for the haunting cries of its loons. But never this famous.
posted by Twang at 9:31 AM on May 22, 2011 [4 favorites]

Why does the Minnesota House of Representatives have a morning prayer?

Most such bodies have similar rituals as part of their daily business. Both the US Senate and House Of Representatives have full-time chaplains.
posted by hippybear at 9:45 AM on May 22, 2011

It's a shame, but actually like to help the drive for tolerance. As hippybear pointed out, 55% of Minnesotans oppose this now, and popular opinion is shifting quickly and dramatically against homophobes. 2 recent polls show, for the first time, majority support for gay marriage across America.

By 2012, this vote should ratify the increasing public support for tolerance and hopefully pave the way for a legislative or popular vote extending marriage to all.
posted by msalt at 9:50 AM on May 22, 2011

Yuck. Taking time set aside for peace and contemplation and turning it ugly and hateful. Let us hope that sunlight does prove to be the best disinfectant and get this creeper out of the public sphere. As a Minnesotan, I look forward to voting NO on the amendment.
posted by Makwa at 9:51 AM on May 22, 2011

Metafilter: Famous for the haunting cries of its loons.
posted by gc at 10:38 AM on May 22, 2011 [1 favorite]

You have to watch this speech by Rep. John Kriesel, a first-term Republican and Iraq War veteran (he lost both legs to an IED), where he speaks out against the anti-gay-marriage amendment. More coverage.

"If there was a 'hell no' button right here, I would press it."
posted by rtha at 4:21 PM on May 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Muttoneer: "After years of arguing with the rightwing elements of my family, my guess is that they are confusing the "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights" language from the Declaration of Independence as A) being in the Constitution and B) somehow favoring creationism. Probably because scientists want to usher in Sharia law or something."

I'm guessing they're going to vote for Herman Cain?
posted by brundlefly at 12:23 AM on May 28, 2011

Michele Bachmann's Unrivaled Extremism
posted by homunculus at 5:37 PM on June 15, 2011