The name of the youth ministry is You Can Run But You Can't Hide (YCRBYCH). Their spokesman is Bradlee Dean. They go to public schools to witness for Jesus, and they apparently do that without telling school officials that that's what they are going to do once they get on school grounds. (YCRBYCH has presented itself to school officials an anti-drug message show, not a "Christian witnessing in the schools" outfit.)
But it's not just evangelical Christianity. It's a political thing. YCRBYCH has a syndicated radio showing starring Dean. The Minnesota Independent reports some of the things that Bradlee Dean told listeners on his show.
"(Barack Obama’s) un-American, he’s not American, he’s unpatriotic to the max."
(continued)
On Aug. 1, Dean recited an open letter from the White House: "Truth be told with each passing day more and more Americans are unable to get the health care they need," he read. To that, Dean added, "In other words, Obama is saying, ‘I can give it to you, who’s yo daddy?’"
In the same broadcast he called Obama a criminal.... Dean: "This man is an internationalist. This administration is set against against your constitution, folks. That is a crime. That is a crime and do not let it go."
Dean continued, "Crime cannot be tolerated especially from them that rule in government. It cannot be tolerated ... Criminals mock society’s laws. That’s what you see in this administration."
And there's much much more for you to read, at the Minnesota Independent article. (Link below)
YCRBYCH told listeners that homosexuals only live to be 42, homosexuality is a crime in the US, and that "they are aiming at your kids like crazy folks."
Okay--so what does all this hate and all these lies and all this wing nut paranoia of the right--have to do with the message of Jesus Christ?
The answer to you and me is obvious: this kind of lying right wing hate politics garbage has nothing to do with Christianity, or Christ, or even ordinary truth. But it's apparently at the center of the "Christianity" of YCRBYCH and Michele. Yes, she's involved in this mess, too--a longtime supporter of YCRBYCH and with a scheduled appearance at a fundraiser for them coming up.
This is the kind of "Christianity" where you slap Jesus' name on lies and right-wing paranoia if you want to gain yourself attention and maybe even a career. It was Bachmann's style when she led the homophobia charge here in Minnesota in 2004 and 2005. It's not Christianity--telling lies and spreading false witness--even in support of the Bible--is breaking two of the ten commandements, as well breaking an even bigger commandment regarding love.
The thing you will probably not get out of reading the MNIndy story is: this kind of thing goes on, on evangelical radio: all the time. Christ's name is used as a political tool to spread panic, fear, and loathing against us--the people who aren't evangelical conservatives. The liberals, the progressives, the gays, the Christians who "aren't really" Christians (like Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses.) Evangelical radio is used as a tool to spread conservative political propaganda, to organize for the right.
It's heartening that reporter for MNIndy took the time to sit down and listened to this particular nuthouse propaganda in the name of Christ. Most reporters are determined to ignore this kind of broadcasting--even though it's been going on for decades, even though it's a major political influence on millions of voters. (Listening to evangelical radio was how I got my very first "crazy quotes from Bachmann," back in 2003.)
But YCRBYCH is just "an atom" compared to what goes out every day, all week, all over the airwaves, in broadcast markets all over the country, tailored to the particular market. The presentations are different, but the craziness and dishonesty of the political messages are the same: and they're presented in the name of Christ!
Here's the link:
http://minnesotaindependent.com/...
Next:
HuffPo reports that Bachmann is NOT considering a presidential run in 2012.
Disappointing some (Editor's note: I know she disappointed me!), the Minnesota Congresswoman said, "Goodness, I've only been in the House for three years, so, no, I'm not considering anything like that."
Well, who the fuck should run, then, Michele? asked the Sioux City Journal. Bachmann replied:
"Steve King is mentioned as a potential nominee. I have a very high opinion of Steve King and his ability, so I would encourage him to consider any position for higher office."
I would rather have Stephen King get the GOP nomination than Steve King, because Stephen King is less scary. Here on the Kos back in 2007, I had an informal contest to see who had the kraziest kongressional rep.Bachmann swept the event, as I knew she would, but King was definitely there in the finals.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Action link to Tarryl Clark, Bachmann's union-endorsed Dem opponent:
https://services.myngp.com/...
contest to see who had the kraziest kongressional rep.