Bachmann to raise funds for controversial Christian punk ministry
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 3:43 pm
- 83 Comments
Photo: Lori Howard, iStockphoto
Rep. Michele Bachmann will be headlining a fundraiser in November for controversial ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide (YCRBYCH).
Based in Annandale, Minn., the group has made a name for itself as an anti-drug Christian punk rock band that organizes motivational student assemblies to bring Christ to public schools. But over the last several years, parents and school administrators have complained that the ministry misrepresents itself, claiming that the group is not transparent about its Christian mission. And since schools pay using public funds, some are concerned that the group is violating the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state.
Bachmann will be the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for the group on Nov. 12 at a Bloomington hotel. Bachmann’s office did not return a request seeking comment about the event.
It won’t be Bachmann’s first time at a YCRBYCH fundraiser. At a Minneapolis hotel in October 2006, she offered a powerful prayer for the ministry and praised the group’s work of sharing the gospel in public schools.
“Lord, I thank you for what you have done at this ministry… how you are going to advance them from 260 schools a year, Lord, to 2,600 schools a year,” she said. “Lord, we ask thy faith that you would expand this ministry beyond anything the originators of this ministry could begin to think or imagine. Lord, the day is at hand! We are in the last days! The day is at hand, Lord, when your return will become nigh. Pour a double blessing, Lord, a triple blessing on this ministry.”
In an April 2009 broadcast on Christian radio station KKMS, the group acknowledged that it is going into public schools to evangelize.
“We are doing assemblies here, folks, just so you understand, we do public high school assemblies,” said one of the group’s members. “We are speaking to kids in our schools about the constitution, suicide prevention and our own testimony of how Christ turned our lives around in public schools so we can get the light into kids hands in public schools.”
Complaints around the Midwest
In school districts around the Midwest, school administrators have taken heat for inviting the ministry into schools.
In 2003, the group came to a Benton, Wis., high school. “They had a captive audience for their message, and that wasn’t right,” Benton Principal Gary Neis told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. He was reportedly so upset that the ministry strayed from its anti-drug message that he held another assembly to apologize to the students.
“They talked about influencing and brainwashing people. Be wise to the fact that is what they were doing. They were using the same tactics,” Neis told the students at the assembly. Neis said he contacted other schools in the area and found that they had no idea that YCRBYCH was a Christian ministry.
In 2005, at a Eureka Springs, Ark., high school, students walked out of the assembly; afterward, the principal took heat from parents. According to the local paper, The Lovely Citizen, Eureka Springs superintendent Reck Wallis, said, “I take responsibility. We had no idea about their religious, right-wing message. They misrepresented their program. We want [Eureka Springs schools] to be open and all inclusive. … They won’t be back.”
At Pequot Lakes High School in central Minnesota in 2007, the group stirred controversy when students reportedly ran out of the assembly crying after the group showed graphic images of abortion and told the students that God wanted women to be subservient to men. John McDonald, Pequot Lakes High School Principal, told WCCO, “We were expecting something a bit different,” he said. “The thing we apologized to students for is the program wasn’t to the expectation that we thought it would be.”
Bradlee Dean
Also in 2007, the group performed in Phelps, Wis., causing an uproar among parents and administrators. “The school district administrator said she didn’t know You Can Run But You Cannot Hide was a Christian group until I told her,” said Paul Guequierre, a reporter for WJFW TV-12. “She showed me the lit from the group and there was no mention that the group was Christian.”
Indeed, the group does not mention God, Jesus, Christianity or any religion in the “Principal Packet” that it distributes to school administrators. According to the four-page document (pdf), founder Bradlee Dean’s “message hits on issues such as drugs, alcohol, suicide, our country, our veterans, our freedom, the Constitution, friends we choose, the influence of media, and day to day choices we make.” (The program’s website only references God once, in a promotion for founder Bradlee Dean’s book.)
When questioned by the Minnesota Independent about claims that the group doesn’t disclose the religious nature of the assemblies, Dean said, “78 percent of the American people are professing Christians. Are they, in their line of work, to wear ‘I am a Christian’ shirts?”
“It sounds like there is a lean toward discrimination in what you are asking,” he added.
Separation of church and state
While many have challenged that the group causes schools to run afoul of the separation of church and state, both Bachmann and YCRBYCH deny that the constitutional prohibition exists.
In fact, Bachmann urges people to give money to the organization for the stated purpose of bringing Christ into public schools.
“[Public schools] are teaching children that there is separation of church and state, and I am here to tell you that is a myth. That’s not true,” Bachmann said at the group’s 2006 fundraiser in Minneapolis. “And they explain to children in the public school system what a myth that is. And that’s what I love about this ministry … We want kids to come to the truth and that’s why this ministry is so absolutely vital. We need them in every public school classroom across the state to tell young people, ‘You Can Run But You Cannot Hide.’”
Schools pay the group thousands of dollars to put on the assemblies. “On average we ask $1,500 to $2,000 an assembly,” Dean told the Advocate, a paper in Annandale, Minn. (The group’s Web site says a three-hour assembly ranges from $3,000 to $5,000.)
Dean has similarly claimed that the Constitution does not call for church-state separation.
“Did you know that the phrase ‘separation between church and state’ is nowhere in the Constitution, nor in the Declaration of Independence, and nowhere in the Bill of Rights?” he asked listeners of his radio program, called “School of Hard Knocks,” which is broadcast on KKMS.
Dean says that the ministry is being targeted by the government because it tells the truth. On his April 11 radio program, he recalled an incident a week earlier which he claimed an employee of the ministry was chased by a helicopter.
“There was a blue and white helicopter that flew down on top of her van as she was going to this [Wright County] Republican party convention. And then he swooped back down on her again.”
Bradlee said that helicopters frequently dive-bomb their tour bus with “helicopters flying up to the bus and pulling off.” He said, “What they are trying to do is criminalize the righteous.”
At the ministry’s 2007 fundraiser at the Minneapolis Hyatt, Dean elaborated on his fears of the government, as reported at the time by the Minnesota Independent.
“We passed out over 100,000 [religious] tracts in public high schools because God said,” Dean said. “Not because some tyrannical government wants to try telling us what we can say and what we can’t say, because we know what the Constitution says. We know who the problem is, nothing’s changed in two thousand years.”
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Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
KKMS,…KKMS…hmmm…hey – isn’t that station owned by Salem Communications? Hey – it IS. Just like Salem owns WWTC – the “Patriot”. Hmmm….
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 4:11 pm
How dare they distribute material in the public schools! What gives them the right to even be on the grounds of a public school? Christian groups should never be allowed into our schools.
Haven’t they ever heard of the Constitution? That document prohibits the intermixing of church and state. Why isn’t the government doing anything about this criminal activity?
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
Completely unconstitutional! But, that wouldn’t both Bachmann. She’s a disgrace to her state and to all of America.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
This sort of evangelizing should be done in the private sphere, not the public sphere.
Specifically targeting public school audiences for their evangelical message? Doesn’t sound very respectful of the beliefs students and staff hold already.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
the only seperation needed here is michelle’s a s s from her brain
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
People like Bachmann and others on the “Christian” right don’t understand that their beliefs are pretty much identical to the Taliban, just with a different religion. Trust, they are just as fanatical and just as dangerous.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
If God said it, he won’t mind producing God to confirm his claims. Otherwise he’s a liar and a fraud and should turn himself in for prosecution. By my estimation he’s scammed half a million bucks misrepresenting himself and making false claims
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
Christian Punk!?! Is that like a born again Satanist?
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
Excellent work. I called into Bradley Dean’s show on KKMS last weekend and asked him whether he’s done any work at the Minneapolis or St Paul public schools – and he claimed he had. I can’t imagine any school in Minneapolis or St Paul being willing to have him.
I thought there was a commandment about bearing false witness. It doesn’t appear they follow that one with their Principal’s packet.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
I mispelled Bradlee Dean in last comment…. sorry.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
She is very sly and slick and expects other “Christians” to agree. I am Christian and raised my children and put them in private schools and paid for their education. I am a public school teacher and would be apphalled if anyone near like her would appear in our assembly. Besides, our principal would have looked into all of this more deeply. She is a pathetic person connected to Glenn and Rush and other mis guided self serving, un-educated twisted hateful ugly Wolves in Sheeps clothing. I hope people really do not believe her…….
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
Why is Bradlee Dean wearing a 101st Screaming Eagles Airborne patch? He clearly is not Airborne material and is doing a dis-service to all the fine men and women who have earned the right to wear the 101st Screaming Eagles Airborne patch. Someone should tell him that the “Axel Rose” look was bad enough when Axel Rose did it.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 9:29 pm
There is no end to what some people feel is their right to misrepresent in order to attempt to indoctrinate or brainwash a child/student body. It does not surprise that Michele Bachman is a big supporter. What does surprise me is that the people of Minnesota continue to elect her. She is as devious as this group and should not be in WDC, but more like a padded cell.
How dare this group masquerading as “Christians” try to infiltrate the public schools. As an Arkansan, I am proud of the students in Eureka Springs for walking out of the assembly. The only people that would support this group are the same people that kept their children at home in protest when the President of the United States spoke to school children about studying hard and in America you can succeed, no matter what your circumstance.
This country is in a world of hurt when people like this can even get a foot in the door of public schools.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 9:58 pm
“…so we can get the light into kids hands in public schools.”
So they’re BLATANTLY proselytizing, with public funds, in public schools, and people aren’t supposed to have a problem with that?
Time to bring in the Muslim groups and Satanists too. If you let one religious group come and play, you gotta let ALL of them play.
There’s a time and a place for proselytizing. And it’s NOT on school time, on school grounds, being funded with public money.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
Bachman should be investigated, as should the schools that allowed this group to “perform” to the students. I would be so incredible offended if they came to my child’s school and I definately would sue the school district that allowed it.
I am a Christian but I can not stand these types of Christians.. they are so unlike Christ.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
And I loved the ending.
“OWe’re being chased by HELICOPTERS! One HOVERED OVER and SWOOPED at our van in an attempt to CRIMINALIZE OUR ACTIONS!”
What a freakin’ loon.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 10:46 pm
Yeah, what would Thomas Jefferson know about anything?
Good thing Ms. Bachman is here to set the record straight.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
The fact that Michele Bachmann, this keynote speaker and politician, is going into schools and basically preaching to public schools is outrageous because it completely contradicts the separation between church and state. Along with Bachmann preaching to students, the punk-rock christian band that charges a few thousand dollars to perform religious music is completely immoral. Not that christianity or religion is bad, but it is blatantly obvious that they are, in a way, attempting to brainwash these students. Not only does this violate the separation between church and state, but this is creating a society where forcing religion upon people is okay. This also indirectly violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a specific religion cannot be established.
Comment posted September 30, 2009 @ 11:07 pm
Times have changed – while evangelizing in school used to be okay, the public doesn’t want it anymore. I think they do cross the line of what the general public wants.
However – they are right about the Constitution. Nowhere does the phrase “separation of Church and State” appear in any of our founding docs. What does appear, is the 1st Amendment, part of which says “Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion.” From that, flows the principle of separation of church and state – and generally, it’s a good thing. However, I think it’s meant more to protect religion from government…. and not that religion shouldn’t influence our laws, schools, etc.
The Declaration of Independence also specifically mentions God right at the beginning, when it says that we are “endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among those being Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” So – according to the founding docs… who gave you your rights? Not the government, but something bigger.
Pingback posted September 30, 2009 @ 11:58 pm
[...] to the Minnisota Independent News: “They talked about influencing and brainwashing people. Be wise to the fact that is what they [...]
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 12:04 am
Creator doesn’t mean God, its a false premise by the Christians. And the founders were not all practicing Christians.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 12:22 am
This lady if thats what you can call her is stuck on stupid looking for a brain in a supermarket. The folks of Minn are just as much to blame as she is. One you voted for this right wing nut. Two shows how important your children are to you. If you want God, go to house of the God not our public schools. She should be arrested right along with those slick willies
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 1:09 am
Isn’t Bachmann a German last name? What was her family doing 50 years ago? Looking aside while people were being killed for nothing?
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 6:32 am
Christian Punk? Sanctimonious Christian POS is more like it. And that includes Bachmann.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 7:26 am
JAKE: “The Declaration of Independence also specifically mentions God right at the beginning, when it says that we are ‘endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among those being Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.’ So – according to the founding docs… who gave you your rights? Not the government, but something bigger.”
Jake, that reference to the Creator (written by the non-
Christian deist Jefferson) is at most ambiguous about which “Creator” it refers to– the impersonal Demiurge of deism or the personal YHWH– but it’s more likely a reference to the Demiurge.
In any event, you’re also overestimating the continuing importance of the Declaration by lumping it together indicriminately with the other “founding docs”. The legal effect of the Declaration was limited entirely to separating us from the United Kingdom. Nothing in it affects our current law of church & state. That is controlled by the Constitution and its Amendments, which are scrupulously free of appeals to the supernatural and which refer to the one and only source of the government’s powers and legitimacy as “We the People”. The US Constitution is a wholly secular document based on wholly secular principles.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Those who advocate integrating religion in to the public school curriculum should be careful with what they pray for. Christianity is not the only religion in this Country. Islam and Judaism are both religions. So, if Christians want “religion” in public schools then they will have to accept other religions as well. And if religious groups are afforded the right to spread their message to students, atheism would have the right to do so as well. The old saying is that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. The rights afforded Christians is good for Jews, Muslims, and atheists.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 8:15 am
$2000 is what the Safe and Drug Free Schools America Act gives to every school in America. There are more groups like this out there.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 8:41 am
Debbie you’re the disgrace along with most of you so-called progressive weirdos.
Go ahead and push God out of everthing as non-believers do, but rue the day you actually need Him for something. Like let’s say when He returns and you stand before Him?! What are you gonna say then? Oh that’s right, you don’t believe that will happen. I’d rather live as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.
Will you be offended when Kevin Jennings mandates the homosexual agenda in your schools? You’ve heard of Kevin I’m sure. The radical gay guy who suggested to a minor student he wear a condom when he was having sex with older men rather than reporting it to the authorities? I’m sure that will be just fine with all of you. Or when Planned Parenthood sets up shop in your schools and hands out condoms like candy? Where will the outrage be then? I’m ashamed to even call myself a Minnesotan what with the dangerous far left agenda advancing in this state like cancer and destroying the innocence every child deserves to hang onto for as long as they can.
Live it Loud!
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 10:05 am
So, the dumbasses running the public schools have no problem with having a captive student audience when the lies being told are anti-drug propaganda? The Drug Warriors are far worse than the fanatical Christians, since they are actually responsible for killing people.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 10:13 am
“I’d rather live as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.”
I hate to be rude and break the bad news to you, but if this your reason for salvation, Christ will not accept you into heaven. You have faith for all the wrong reasons. Salvation was born out of unconditional love for mankind, not fear of reciprocity. You don’t have actual faith in God, you only pay lip service because you’re afraid if you’re wrong you’ll end up spending an eternity being punished. I suggest you re-evaluate your faith. I guess I should turn your question around on you, asking, “what will you say when He returns?” I went to church and believed in you so I don’t get punished now right? Is that it? You don’t seek salvation for the reward, you seek salvation if you believe Christ’s “life path” if you will is the path or morality.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 10:23 am
TO: Arnold Charles
You are a public school teacher?
I am “apphalled” at your lack of command of the English language. You should go back and take a class titled: “Elements of Sentence Construction”.
Comment posted October 1, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
separation of church and state is not in the constitution? maybe. but here’s a quote from Jefferson (try googling separation of church and state):
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”
is that clear enough?
Pingback posted October 1, 2009 @ 6:30 pm
[...] the Minnesota Independent: By ANDY BIRKEY 9/30/09 3:43 [...]
Comment posted October 2, 2009 @ 10:55 am
SamNYC –
No need for condescension. I am well aware of that quote from Jefferson. But, as Jim rightly points out above, we are not governed by the Declaration of Independence, and therefore dismisses any mention of the Creator there – then I must also dismiss the level of importance you place on a phrase that Jefferson used in a personal letter – not an official document at all.
I did acknowledge the principle of separation of church and state, and said that it is mostly a good thing. But, I think if we read the amendment again, we see there is not only an interest in keeping the federal government from imposing religion (any one form, or any at all) on the people, there is also an interest in keeping the government out of the free exercise of religion.
Instead, nowadays, “separation of church and state” is used as a club to beat down even a cultural mention of Christmas in schools?!?!? Yet, indeed, other religions’ festivals are taught about and even celebrated in the name of diversity. I would prefer a little common sense and common ground. For instance, if there are Muslims in the school, and the teacher wants to do something special on one of their holidays, I’d be okay with my Christian children learning about their classmate’s traditions. And gee, wouldn’t it be nice for the kids to actually be able to sing a Christmas carol in December. The direction we are going, Christmas will no longer even be a work holiday – and we’re going to have to rename a number of U.S. cities, such as St. Paul MN, Corpus Christi TX, San Francisco-San Diego-Los Angeles-Sacramento CA because if the government has a holiday on Christmas, or has a city named after a Christian hero… it just might cause someone to think about God – OH NO!
Unfortunately – common sense is out the window, and we can’t be adults and grant each other a little leeway. We gotta fight about every square inch.
Now I know I steered this away from the original issue – of what this group is doing. Without actually seeing the presentation, I can’t say for sure. But I did acknowledge that they probably go over the line that the public has decided they want today. But – in my view, that’s better than the direction we are going in.
Comment posted October 2, 2009 @ 11:39 am
Jim from Chicago:
I grant your point about the Declaration not being binding upon us in any way today. I do think it’s instructive about the general mindset of the founders, and a shared part of our tradition that can be appealed to for persuasion, not necessarily enforcement of anything.
Seems to me it doesn’t matter if the Creator refers to a deistic concept or Judeo-Christian God. Most Americans even today would still believe in a creator of some sort. (Creator could mean “God” even to a deist, no? I thought the word “God” was generic enough to cover both theist and deistic concepts of a higher power. May need to adjust my vocab.) Do atheists believe in Natural Law? Perhaps they view the “Creator” as nature itself. Do they believe there are certain laws of nature that endow us with the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness?
I would hope so, so that we have a common basis for an understanding of those rights. Quite an ingeneous choice of a word by Jefferson.
I’d agree that the Constitution is a secular document. However, I do believe the founders were influenced by Judeo-Christian thought, belief, philosophy, etc., and that the Constitution is likewise influenced. In a study of the writings of many of the founders, the most frequent quoted person was Christian political philosopher Montesquieu, but far more than him, were direct quotes from the Bible. The founders were able to take Christian thought and ideas, remove from them any sectarian or denominational exclusivity, and incorporate them into the Constitution.
Even Thomas Paine, who was the most anti-religious and anti-Bible of the founders, still advocated against an entirely atheistic approach to things.
Comment posted October 2, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
If our founders believed in “separation of church and state” how were bibles allowed in schools? How were students allowed to pray in school for 150 years? How were preachers allowed to give sermons on street corners before elections?
The Jefferson quote being used here by SamNYC to somehow validate any religious expression in government is not allowed, is revisionist history. (Jefferson did not sign the U.S. Constitution BTW). The exchange was in response to a letter President Jefferson received from the Baptist Association of Danbury, who feared not being allowed free exercise of religion. Jefferson assured them that the government could not interfere in that respect – that their inalienable God-given rights were protected from federal regulation or interference. Jefferson ends his letter, “I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect and esteem.”
Jefferson loathed organized religion, he was a Christian.
“I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.” – Thomas Jefferson.
Comment posted October 2, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
Leslie – Thanks for proving Mahatama Ghandi right with his quote “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Same can be said for Michele Bachmann and every other Christianista.
Love that pick of Bradlee Dean. Someone needs to tell him that this is 2009, not 1989.
Comment posted October 3, 2009 @ 5:54 am
Michele Bachmann is proof positive that every individual seeking public office should by law,have to submit to psycological profile evaluation testing.She reminds me of a space alien searching for a place to land.Maybe someone from her congressional district could check and see if insanity is prevalent in her family.
Comment posted October 3, 2009 @ 11:59 am
I think a copy of this should be sent to all of our School Boards as a warning. This is in direct violation of the separation of church and state in the Constitution. There should be some legal action against this group and Michele Bachmann for promoting God in public schools. This is a very frightening precedent affecting our children’s daily school lives. Showing pictures of abortions is completely unacceptable in a school setting.
Michele Bachmann’s embarkation onto the crazy train has been known for some time now. We should not give any credence to her rantings – she is riling up the right Christainistas and that never bodes well for any country.
Pingback posted October 5, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
[...] mission, of course, doesn’t sit too well with civil libertarians, who say those assemblies blur the line between separation of church and [...]
Comment posted October 7, 2009 @ 9:54 am
I fail to understand how the very informed electorate in the great state of Minnesota could have given the United States of America the late,great,Senator Paul Wellstone,and the equally great Russ Fiengold,only to saddle us with Minnie Mouse Bachmann.Please folks,dump her the next time around.
Comment posted October 7, 2009 @ 11:52 am
To those who of late are wont to fall back on the risible simplification of “It isn’t in the Constitution,” please understand that the Constitution is not strictly the law of the land, but a contract between the U.S. government and the citizenry regarding how laws shall be made, and the limits of what the government may and may not do in relation to those citizens. There’s no provision in the Constitution about speeding tickets, but traffic laws are in force in every state of the Union. Will some lawyer among those reading this article please explain to these obtuse “Originalists” the relevant cases and laws regarding the prohibition of religion in public schools? I can’t access Lexis-Nexis from work, otherwise I’d do it myself.
Comment posted October 9, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Maybe I’m just tired of a debate that would go away entirely if all students had meaningful school choice, but doesn’t it bother anyone else that, Christian or not, why would we think it good our school system is taking time from the school day to hold an assembly featuring a puck rock band? We have a bigger problem here with the way tax dollars are being spent than whether kids are being tainted by the evils of religion.
Comment posted October 13, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
And she went to which law school? Evidently, she skipped Constitutional Law.
Comment posted October 20, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
So ‘seperation of church and state’ isn’t in the constitution. Some of the words used by the Supreme Court in defining the establishment clause throughout the years are; to prohibit government from endorsing, favoring, supporting, advocating, promoting, or financing any religious group. So that is the law of the land, written by the founding fathers, and tested and interpreted by the Supreme Court throughout our history to this day.
Comment posted November 23, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
““Christian punk”? Talk about oxymorons”
Exactly, but Junkyard Prophet actually sounds more cheesy 80′s metal revival (butt rock), which makes sense aesthetically, as that genre never had any controversial messages really and is easier to appropriate. If they actually tried to sound punk, they would probably get their legs broken, like Jello Biafra… and he really was punk!
Comment posted January 12, 2010 @ 11:39 pm
I have yet to see any so called “Christian” punks fighting against all Church institutions which we ALL know are piss-poor corrupted from the inside out. To all these Christian punks, please have a look in YOUR area and fix the system. Or better yet, go DIY and fuck what the Church thinks.
Comment posted February 22, 2010 @ 8:31 am
This punk group are not Christians at all. You cannot be like the world (punk), and be Christian at the same time. As for these people who would deny this group from going to perform at schools, you all need brain surgery. If it is a Christian band, Preacher, Teacher or some other program, how dare a school let it happen within their doors. But if it has to do with homosexuality, how glad you are to have such filth stain the walls of any school. Such adoration for that which comes from a cesspool. Such venom for that which is Holy, and Christian.
Comment posted May 28, 2010 @ 1:34 am
If I were a principal, I wouldn’t let Bradlee Dean anywhere near my school looking as he does like a Charles Manson type. He looks frightening and crazy.
Apparently Michele Bachmann has also taken leave of her senses from what I read here supporting this demented band of weirdos. I can’t believe that she is representing Minnesota in the US Congress have displayed such rampant bad judgment.
Comment posted May 28, 2010 @ 10:23 am
I am tolerant of modern and thoughtful religion being a church-going Christian (using critical rather blindly and mindlessly literal interpretations of the Bible and going to a diverse, welcoming, liberal and gay-friendly church.
The Bible contains, lessons, parables, metaphors etc. is subject to various interpretations and Scripture needs to be compared with Scripture and certainly not all of it can be taken literally. The mountains of Lebanon obviously did not “skip like a lamb” for example.
You have to use your brain when reading the Bible.
I take the best of it and leave what is not possible behind.
I also treat the Bible as an ancient historical record of families, tribes and civilizations that no longer exist but did in ancient times like the Babylonians (present-day Iraq) and Elamites (they lived near present-day Iran), Medes (Kurds may have been the Medes of the ancient world. From cultures and with customs often not possible, practical or even legal in 21st century USA like executing gays. It is ridiculous, impossible, impractical, illegal and pathologically insane in today’s America to copy-cat Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, certain African nations etc and any others primarily with the 3 Abrahamic faiths of Islam, Judaism and Christianity in imprisoning, lashing and executing people for being gay like this vile, reprehensible and revolting piece of trash calling itself the scary and almost stalkerish sounding “You Can Run But You Can’t Hide” are calling for. And Bradlee Dean and his band of lying vermin can’t get it through their thick skulls that the US Supreme Court itself struck down sodomy laws wherever they existed in the USA. Any state trying to resurrect its sodomy law is flying in the face of this decision of the US Supreme Court itself. I regard any state doing so as showing contempt for the US Supreme Court’s decision and as dragging our country backwards to a dark time rather than progressing forward as a land that is supposed to be a beacon as freedom, justice and liberty for all and not just for heterosexuals.
Michele Bachmann is apparently a religious fanatic trying to force her state and this country backwards. Religious fanatics who have no respect for separation of church and state have no business in making laws for this country.
She even supports this vile creep Dean who looks like a serial murderer and schools are right to ban him and his nasty cohorts from performing once they realize what he and his band are really about. They come with a hidden agenda rather than being proudly open of their approval of executions for gay people.
Bachmann has a lesbian sister and she just plain doesn’t “get it”. It’s very unloving of her toward her sister to support a group that approves of executions of gay people. And frankly, and last but not least, the people who elected her to Congress need to smell the coffee and wake up and see that all is not right with Bachmann and that is not OK for them to vote in someone like her with such immoral and repulsive ties to this kind of trash and vermin like this group. Wake up Minnesota and elect another woman or man for a US congressperson who know how to live in their right minds and who lacks Bachmann’s morally sick and extremely inappropriate political agendas.
Pingback posted June 11, 2010 @ 2:08 pm
[...] both involved with the Minnesota GOP convention this year, and Bachmann has spent considerable time and effort supporting YCRbYCH with fundraising benefits and free [...]
Comment posted July 30, 2010 @ 11:01 am
The band has a right to its opinion. So does Michelle Bachmann. The parents of the children have a right to determine what their children believe, and should take appropriate steps to manage what is being put into their heads, and if they do not, and someone else DOES, who do they have to blame?
That said, the ideas of this band, that GLBT persons are evil and should be executed, are heinous and disgusting. All I can say is, this band may come see me and take their best shot. And I will take mine.
ME? I’m the National Media Spokesperson for the Pink Pistols, and Ted Nugent’s FAVORITE Lesbian. I have a right to defend myself if some violent punk decides to try to murder me, and I will use every method at my lawful disposal to stop them, up to and INCLUDING lethal force.
And if Michelle Bachmann doesn’t like that, she can come speak to me about it in person, too. I’ll put on a pot of coffee. Glenn Beck can come and bring his chalkboard. Phelps is not invited.
Pingback posted July 30, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
[...] by the GOP-linked “Christian punk rock” band You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, supported by Michelle Bachman, who believe that gays should be executed, and who deride America for not being “moral [...]
Pingback posted July 31, 2010 @ 10:01 am
[...] by the GOP-linked “Christian punk rock” band You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, supported by Michele Bachmann, who believe that gays should be executed, and who deride America for not being “moral [...]
Comment posted August 5, 2010 @ 11:02 pm
“Did you know that the phrase ’separation between church and state’ is nowhere in the Constitution, nor in the Declaration of Independence, and nowhere in the Bill of Rights?”
Did you know that the phrase “Jesus Christ” isn’t either? I hope these bozos show up at on of my kids’ schools so I can promptly sue their asses.
Comment posted August 10, 2010 @ 8:38 am
The separation of church and state is one of the reasons the American church has continued to grow(in ways I often don’t agree with, but grow it has). If the right wants to erase it, maybe we should let them. I’d love to watch them as they see their pet doctrines dilluted until they aren’t recognized by the faithful anymore. We could follow the German model and tax the population to support the church. That certainly has generated mass enthusiasm(pun intended)and religious revival, or the British model and make Obama the head of the church as the Queen is the head of the Anglican church. Yes, lets erase the boundary. Prayers in schools, YES. Hail Mary’s in the morning, a nod toward Mecca at lunch and tongues before they leave for the evil world.
Take down the wall!
Comment posted January 26, 2011 @ 10:40 pm
We need laws to Protect people and innocent Children from Religious Groups.
Not Proselytizing of Religion Public!
Advertisements OK as long as religious Quotes and beliefs are not broadcast in Public. Radio stations OK as long as it is a religious radio Station,same go’s for TV.
No door to door Religious Proselytizing and luring Children in your church and Church Camps,or offering to Come and pick them up at the Front Door! Stay away from peoples Children! If parents want their children to go to your Church they will make the choice. No Religion in our Government or Public Schools NO Religious materials in Public Schools especially Christian Books. How would you like Islam Books going home with your children, Christian Bigots and haters of any and all who are not one of you???
Freedom of speech needs to be limited to only the Church.
We need to TAX every Church in the Nation 10% for all donated moneys collected to Local and state Tax to help the city’s and Towns.
No more free ride!
Protect Children from Pedophile Preachers and Priests and put them in Jain No protection for these monsters.
The time has come we must put the Church in its place and keep it there!
Stay out of our Government shut up we do not care what the Christian Church has to say or any church it is a personal choice keep to yourselves. Every Human Soul has their own path in Life and it is not yours to decide!
I would Like to see these laws also protect Christian Church from bothering other Religions during their services,Funerals,of Dead Soldiers,and when they do keep people from living in peace and they Violate theses laws put them in Jail and fine them good and if it is a Church group fine the whole dame church!
Pingback posted June 5, 2011 @ 9:16 am
[...] money for the liars for Jesus stumping for the execution of people doing legal things: it’s a federal representative of the United States Government. Rep. Michele Bachmann will be headlining a fundraiser in November for controversial ministry You [...]
Pingback posted June 15, 2011 @ 9:29 am
[...] you aren’t familiar with Bradlee Dean, anti-gay “minister” Michele Bachmann BFF,* Minnesota Family Council (Read: local chapter of Focus on The Family/Family Research Council) [...]
Pingback posted June 18, 2011 @ 9:00 am
[...] “You can run, but you cannot hide! Keep your hate out of our Constitution!” — a reference to the “You Can Run But You Cannot Hide” ministry for which Bachmann has hel… and to a proposed ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The ministry, a brainchild of rabidly [...]
Pingback posted June 18, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
[...] [1] http://minnesotaindependent.com/45902/michele-bachmann-to-fundraise-for-controversial-ministry [...]
Pingback posted June 18, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
[...] [1] http://minnesotaindependent.com/45902/michele-bachmann-to-fundraise-for-controversial-ministry [...]
Pingback posted June 18, 2011 @ 1:14 pm
[...] and evangelize young people based on a shocking and offensive anti-gay program — often without the knowledge of school administrators, whom Dean’s ministry reportedly has duped with promotional materials not fully-representative [...]
Pingback posted June 18, 2011 @ 1:32 pm
[...] “You can run, but you cannot hide! Keep your hate out of our Constitution!” — a reference to the “You Can Run But You Cannot Hide” ministry for which Bachmann has hel…and to a proposed ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The ministry, a brainchild of rabidly [...]
Pingback posted June 27, 2011 @ 4:15 pm
[...] way or the other. Yeah, right. She also thinks creationism should be taught in public schools, and conveniently fails to see how such an atrocity would violate the Constitution. Leave it to a Republican Speaker of the House to give her a spot on the Intelligence Committee. [...]
Pingback posted July 2, 2011 @ 3:28 pm
[...] October 2006, Bachmann made a prophetic declaration to the Christian ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, which is dedicated to using public [...]
Pingback posted July 18, 2011 @ 9:00 am
[...] juicy cherry on top of the nut-covered sprinkly whipped cream of this three-flavored banana split: UNMARKED HELICOPTERS. (Founder Bradley Dean) says that the ministry is being targeted by the government because it tells [...]
Pingback posted July 20, 2011 @ 10:02 am
[...] You Can’t Hide”, run by the radical preacher Bradlee Dean. Bachmann offered the prayer in 2006 (though the recording was uploaded in 2008). In it, Bachmann predicts, “We are in the last [...]
Pingback posted July 20, 2011 @ 5:31 pm
[...] You Can’t Hide”, run by the radical preacher Bradlee Dean. Bachmann offered the prayer in 2006 (though the recording was uploaded in 2008). In it, Bachmann predicts, “We are in the last [...]
Pingback posted July 22, 2011 @ 2:19 am
[...] But You Can’t Hide, run by the radical preacher Bradlee Dean. Bachmann offered the prayer in 2006 (though the recording was uploaded in 2008). In it, Bachmann predicts, “We are in the last [...]
Pingback posted July 26, 2011 @ 5:08 pm
[...] and yes, Michele Bachmann has supported Bradlee Dean and his ministry financially, and headlined a fundraiser for You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International. Big surprise. [...]
Pingback posted August 15, 2011 @ 11:32 am
[...] in public schools (which is a whole different can of worms), now-presidential candidate Michele Bachmann offered a prayer: Lord, the day is at hand! We are in the last days! The day is at hand, Lord, when your return [...]
Pingback posted August 25, 2011 @ 6:26 pm
[...] way or the other. Yeah, right. She also thinks creationism should be taught in public schools, and conveniently fails to see how such an atrocity would violate the Constitution. Leave it to a Republican Speaker of the House to give her a spot on the Intelligence Committee. [...]
Comment posted August 30, 2011 @ 8:28 pm
I am appalled at the activities of this group. The Bible says, “Providing things honest in the sight of all men”
There is nothing submissive about rebellious Punk/Rock music.
God is clear, “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” 1 Sam. 15:23.
This group could be genuine brothers and sister in Christ that are useing unsavory methods to convince kids of the faith. As Christians we are to preach the gospel that changes men’s hearts. We are never to force or con anyone. This would give us a bad reputation and would be morally wrong.
Sincerely,
AS
Pingback posted September 24, 2011 @ 6:50 pm
[...] her earlier claim that it was a “myth” to teach children that “there is separation of church a… Bachmann gave a misleading interpretation of Thomas Jefferson’s words. “I think that Thomas [...]
Pingback posted October 1, 2011 @ 1:09 am
[...] of church and state. Bachmann told a large youth ministry group a few years ago that religion is supposed to be part of government: “[Public schools] are teaching children that there is separation of church and state, and I am [...]
Pingback posted October 2, 2011 @ 10:27 am
[...] of church and state. Bachmann told a large youth ministry group a few years ago that religion is supposed to be part of government: “[Public schools] are teaching children that there is separation of church and state, and I am [...]
Pingback posted October 4, 2011 @ 12:16 am
[...] of church and state. Bachmann told a large youth ministry group a few years ago that religion is supposed to be part of government: “[Public schools] are teaching children that there is separation of church and state, and I am [...]
Pingback posted October 24, 2011 @ 6:33 pm
[...] earthquake, the fact that she initially made this comment is cause for concern. In 2006 she also stated that teaching students about the separation of church and state was wrong because it was a myth. [...]
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