Minnesota Republican candidate for governor Tom Emmer apparently violated campaign finance laws when his campaign donated twice the legal limit to a Christian punk-rock group which teaches public-school students that it’s “moral” to kill homosexuals.
The Minnesota Independent made the disclosure in two stories today.
Like Exodus International, this band — named You Can Run But You Cannot Hide Intl., and led by self-styled minister Bradlee Dean — claims to be bringing the “message of Christ” to youth: In this case, a message of righteous murder. According to the Independent:
“Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America,” Dean said on YCR’ May 15 radio show on AM 1280 the Patriot. “This just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do, because these people are livid about enforcing their laws. They know homosexuality is an abomination.”
Dean endorses efforts by foreign antigay terrorists to attack the United States if the nation does not voluntarily adopt antigay genocide laws:
“If America won’t enforce the laws, God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just that,” Dean continued. “That is what you are seeing in America.”
Rep. Tom Emmer has appeared on the kill-the-gays rock band’s talk show, posed for pictures, visited Dean’s home, and attended a non-profit band fund-raiser. Fellow Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann has twice endorsed the murderous band.
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Despite protests by the Minnesota Log Cabin Republicans, the state party has become more cozy with the band, not less. Emmer has refused to comment on the band’s appeals for antigay bloodshed. Instead, Emmer’s campaign released a statement to the Independent saying “Tom’ position on social issues has been very clear and consistent. He is a supporter of traditional marriage, and he strongly opposes any kind of violence or unfair discrimination against any group.” Unless, apparently, the violence is politically and musically expedient or the discrimination is “fair.”
As for the tax-free, non-profit group’s partisan political activity, watchdogs said they’ve seen worse.
Abby Levine of the Alliance for Justice wouldn’t comment on the specifics of YCR’ involvement in Republican politics, but did offer general guidelines for nonprofit organizations.
“A 501(c)3 can’t support or oppose a candidate. They can’t indicate support for candidates,” said Levine. “If it looks like an organization is supporting a candidate, that would be problematic.”
She added, “There could be legitimate reasons for a nonprofit organization to attend events like you’ve described.”
Donald Tobin, a professor of election law at Ohio State University’ Moritz College of Law, said, “In light of how blatant some nonprofits have been, this seems like it’ the lesser of the blatant.”
[...] is a troubling example of GOP leaders in bed with extremists. According to the Minnesota Monitor, a radical anti-gay ministry, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide (YCR), has solidified ties to the [...]
Since this is an American group, and since it speaks through more than just its music, though its music is its entre to schools, etc., the entire music catalog of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide Intl. should be labelled “murder music” and its performances should be treated the same as the Jamaican music songs are.
If you support this band, you are supporting the murder of GLIBTs. If you support the murder of innocent people, you cannot expect to be left alone to do it without good people warning every place you intend to perform.
Update: Emmer’ campaign acknowledges that Emmer’ Minnesota House campaign donated $250 to You Can Run in 2008; the campaign has alerted the Campaign Finance Board because the donation exceeds the legal limit by $150.
http://minnesotaindependent.com/59337/emmer-campaign-donated-to-you-can-run
If Bradlee Dean wants to see a criminal predator, he need only look in the mirror!
Let me put it to you straight, Mr. Dean. I will kick your a*s anytime you want a go at it! Just you keep firmly in mind that according to your fairy tale about Sodom and Gomarrah, it took GOD ALMIGHTY to destroy a city of queers. We ain’t your daddy’s faggots anymore! We will fight. We will win. We’re NOT afraid of some drag-envy looking “rock star”. I challenge you any day to walk into a Baptist church beside me; me looking like me and you looking like a Poison copycat boy b***h…let’s see who gets kicked to the curb! YOU are the abomination! YOU are the freak. YOU have lost your culture war. Can hardly wait until California repeals H8. The dominos will fall and your stain will be painted over!
Just what the hell IS a “Christian Punk Band”? That’s oxymoronic, minus the “oxy”. What’s next-Christian porno?
What have we learned over the past couple months that has proven itself over and over again? When you hear someone vehemently bashing gay people then there is a 99.9% chance that that person is a self-loathing closeted homosexual. Self loathers either A) direct their hatred towards themselves (attempt suicide) or B) direct their hatred towards gay people who are out and happy.
I hope this population rapidly decreases with the next generation. Let’s get rid of those closets and just be who we are-the way we were created.
As the daughter of a Reverend people like this really grind my gears. It is proven that homosexuality is GENETIC which means that our CREATOR MADE them that way! We are not to understand his purpose and those who claim to and judge others in HIS name are the abomination!
@Bill S:
Carrie Prejean legitimized Christian porn last year.
Bradlee Dean…. You are a closed-minded b*****d, I hope you know. I AM the future generation, and if I heard that you were going to perform anywhere near me, I would post online, in newpapers, and go to that place myself, what a horrible person you are. God did NOT make homosexual people so that hetrosexual people could make fun, pick on, and kill them. I hope you realize that.
I wonder what precious Bradley’s reaction would be if *he* was the one being oppressed for being *straight*?
Having to hide being attracted to women and afraid of holding his girlfriend’s hand for fear of being targeted by gay gangs looking to “breeder-bash” ’cause they’re bored, hearing Sunday sermons about the abomination of the unnatural attraction to the opposite sex and how with the help of God and Jesus he can return to his natural attraction to men?
strange you would all be so JUDGMENTAL! I’m surprised you would so vocally oppose those that may only be “natural born” killers (though i’m certain Bradlee Dean isn’t calling for executions)… Who sets the standard really… YOU say anything goes…then you arre HYPOCRITES! Without God’s standards we digress only to survival of the cruelist… Lord of the flies… Only power over flesh is the Holy Spirit which is only availible to those who recognize their need and submit to Jesus Christ. Flee the wrath to come!
robert: Oh COME ON, mate!! Surely you’re just trolling us! But… just in case…
1. We ALL can feel rage, and we ALL have the capacity to kill. The reasons not to kill need not involve some kind of mystico-legalistic GodFormula mumbojumbo like the one you offer – just a bit of empathy, a sense of proportion, and a down-to-earth sense of consequence. They’ll serve you better than any sort of Biblical authority. That’s just as likely to command people to kill! And often does!
2. Speaking of God, and the “survival of the cruelest” – if He is so kind, why do we have to “fear” His “wrath”?
3. I don’t say “anything goes” – I just think we need REAL reasons to modify our behavior (see my first point)- not some pre-programmed piece of dogmatic bigotry, warping both the facts and their interpretation.
4. If you want to serve the real message of Jesus – abandon your stupid faith! Once you look at His mystical philosophy without your “God-goggles” to blind you, and without polluting it with the irrelevant authoritarian savagery of the Old Testament and the Roman Empire,and the inferior vision of people like Paul, you’ll find a humanist who preaches empathic love and humane understanding above all other values. Try following His advice in this regard – it will prove itself a good foundational method for generating real civilization.
Robert says: Without God’ standards we digress only to survival of the cruelist
Reply: Actually, fundamentalism is survival of the cruelist. However, they take the time to use God to rationalize and justify their barbaric and savage actions. That is why the cruelty of fundamentalists of all stripes dominate the newspaper each morning.
One does not have to be a fableist to be a good person.
Warwick intersting you acknowledge these godlike characteristics in the creation but don’t acknowledge they came from the creator for:
1. Empathy… to relate to feelings… hmmm… like those of isolation?… as I when Jesus was on the cross bearing *OUR SINS* and was,for the first time, separated from the fellowship of His father and cried out “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” or of PASSION… like for His children… as when it is said… God PROVES HIS LOVE FOR US in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
as for a sense of proportion… like in how unholy(imperfect)…incomplete(foolish), and confused we are and Holy(perfect) righteous(honourable), and true(orderly) he is.
And then there is consequence… right? like how our failure to conform(foolishness…wow too many references to note, check a concordance for fool see if they don’t apply) to his image(Holiness, order), by acknowledging our complete dependency upon Him(in Spirit and truth via written word), has brought our state of strife(wrath presently), as we strive to find exceptance of man(of whom we can not please all) rather than of God which will matter eternally.
Look at the Law of God. The ten commandments. I’m sure you, like me(common ground) have broken most if not all of them. Is it the breaking of or the keeping of those commands which are causing the distruction in the world? Are you keeping them? Are you part of the problem or the solution?
Wow, robert… Wow.
I just don’t accept the Biblical doctrines you are using as legitimate premises for your arguments. This makes most of what u say look like cultish babble.
I don’t believe in your Biblical Creator.
I don’t believe the death agonies of Jesus were worth any more than anybody else’s. I believe everybody’s death feels like “The End of the World” and probably a whole lot of other mythic-level things for them…
I believe your whole “Ideal vs Imperfect” thing is just a function of the conflict between the ability of the more Platonic sections of the mind to hold an ideal, and the relative “messiness” of the (far-more-complex) rest-of-reality.
And “Is it the breaking of or the keeping of those commands which are causing the distruction (sic) in the world?” -See above re: “cultish babble.”
The slavishness of your commitment to a narrow doctrine does not impress me, only the possibility that you seek to do good.
I suggest you respectfully study the other spiritual and philosophical traditions your heritage as a Human Being entitles you to.
Mr. Besen. What makes one a good person? Are pediphile priests good? Where does the line between good and evil get crossed? Isn’t good really to have the desire to see only that righeousness is fulfilled. For if I can manipulate someone to my benefit/pleasure… that’s good for me… Does that in itself make me good…or deceptive? is deceptive good? I know there is a great deciever. He came to kill, steal, and destroy.
Isn’t suicide highest among homosexuals. Perhaps deceit plays a part in that.
@Robert:
The suicides would not have to happen if these so called “Christian Ministries” would stop harassing the GLBT community and let them be who they are. These people are not doing anybody any harm by being themselves. They are not committing acts of terrorism, they are not out burning down churches, they are not out to destroy families. If anything is destroying families, it would be those who blindly follow their religion without question.
Seriously,Robert, how is it that a Mother and a Father can turn on their children simply because of their orientation? Doesn’t God call for Christians to love others unconditionally, without judgment? However, your followers have taken it upon themselves to become judge, jury, and executioner. This sadistic “christian punk band” is hiding behind scripture to justify their hatred and their actions and feeding this to a bunch of teens who are very susceptible to these kinds of messages. This is where the danger comes in. What can we expect next:
LOCAL MINNESOTA TEENAGER KILLS 14 TEENAGERS WHO ARE PART OF A GAY -STRAIGHT ALLIANCE GROUP AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. SAYS CHRISTIAN PUNK BAND “YOU CAN RUN” GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO DO IT.
Is this what you want to see in the local headlines?
Robert:
We know that the way a gay person is treated by family when he or she comes out has a direct correlation on LGBT teen suicide, depression and drug abuse. Please see Caitlin Ryan’s study of San Francisco State on this link. In other words, Robert, people like you are the problem, not the solution.
The deceivers are superstitious fableists such as yourself, who cause most of the world’s misery and pain. You are caught in a deep and dangerous delusion. I just feel bad for your spiritual depravity and emptiness inside.
Robert said “Without God’ standards we digress only to survival of the cruelist”.
You’re deluded Robert – the opposite is true. The most religious countries have the highest level of social dysfunction. The least religious countries are the only ones that have developed true cultures of life with low levels of social problems:
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html
Bob asked “What makes one a good person? Are pediphile priests good?”.
A good person is one who does not hurt others and who gives of herself to help society maximize the benefit and minimize the pain for all in an equal fashion. Pedophiles are evil because they harm others.
Bob asked “Where does the line between good and evil get crossed?”
When one hurts others. Any behavior is moral if it hurts no one.
Bob asked “Isn’t good really to have the desire to see only that righeousness is fulfilled.”.
No, because as we’ve seen many christians define righteousness as oppressing or murdering gays. As this harms innocent people those religious beliefs are evil, not good.
Robert said “Isn’t suicide highest among homosexuals. Perhaps deceit plays a part in that.”.
The higher level of suicide is due to the discrmination and oppression that people like you foment. You’re like the schoolyard bully claiming that his victim’s unhappiness is proof that the victim is mentally ill.
Robert, gays let you live your life as you choose – your attempt to deny them the same rights you have is evil.
“Isn’t suicide highest among homosexuals[?]” asks Robert.
Well, Robert, what are you deducing from that? That being homosexual is somehow “bad”, “wrong” or pathological? If so, then consider the statistics for male and female suicides.
If we look at the world suicide rates, we find that we don’t need even the fingers of one hand to count the countries where the male suicide rate is LOWER than the female suicide rate. In all other countries the male rate is HIGHER than the female rate. In fact there are few where the male rate isn’t at least TWICE as high as the female rate; there are plenty where it’ three or four times as high; and there are some where it’ five, six, seven, even eight times as high.
So do we infer that being male is somehow “bad”, “wrong” or pathological? I think not.
The effects of homophobic abuse in its multifarious forms — physical, psychological and spiritual — during youth can be very similar to those of paedophilic abuse during childhood. Those effects, like those of paedophilic abuse, unfortunately don’t automatically cease when the abuse ceases; they can be felt years, even decades, later. If anything is remarkable, it is not that the suicide rate is so high among homosexuals, but that it is so low.
Wayne is absolutely right, Robert. People like you are the problem.
Robert:
Black men are incarcerated at a much higher rate in our country than any other group. Black people have the highest rates of new AIDS infections. Black women have a higher rate of out-of-wedlock births than white owmen. Black women in East Oakland used to, and possibly still do, have the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality.
I think it’s time to start restricting their irghts, don’t you?
Wow, the trolls are out from under the bridge today.
They’re entitled to express and display their opinions on the matter. It’s against the Old Testament and Moslem religeous laws.
And you cannot be subjected to the punishments attached to such behavior within those religeous laws, according to the civil law in our country.
Risky behavior has it’s risks, but it’s all just rhetoric to you anyway, because in this country you are protected by the civil law.
Dear bible thumping, hate filled freaks. YOU are the ones going to hell…There will be a large bus waiting for you and I’ll be sure to buy every single one of you a one way ticket. Your level of hate will determine your fate. Come on over to Chicago…step into OUR churches. We’ll see who gets kicked to the curb.