Christian Group Takes on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow in Slander Suit

The Christian foundation You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International, Inc., will take on MSNBC and Rachel Maddow in a case of slander. The Christian group has announced it is suing for damages in excess of $50 million claiming damages due to slander and for portraying them in a false light.

Founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, Bradlee Dean, a former rocker turned minister, claims MSNBC and Maddow made false accusations that Dean supports the killing of homosexuals and was advocating for the execution of gays. He also claimed the network and pundit, "maliciously set out to and did harm not only the Plaintiffs but by extension also the presidential campaign of Congresswoman Michele Bachmann."

The accusations against Dean came after he made a public statement on the Sons of Liberty radio show that criticized fellow Christians for not taking a strong enough stance against the gay rights lobby promoting homosexuality in schools. During the radio show he made reference to Muslims who take the issue more seriously in the context of Sharia Law.

Dean's statements on his May 15 radio show were just one of the reasons MSNBC, Rachel Maddow and other media outlets called him on his words.

His exact statement was:

"Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America. This just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that 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. If America won't enforce the laws, God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just that ... That is what you are seeing in America. The bottom line is this -- they [homosexuals] play the victim when they are, in fact, the predator."

Dean went on to claim that homosexuals are responsible for the molestation of 117 people on average before they are found out. He has no actual, factual data to back up his statements on homosexuals and molestation. It also appears he hasn't been reading about the Catholic church either.

Lawyers for Dean's ministry claim the case isn't about money, but about principles. Larry Klayman, the founder of Judicial Watch and Freedom Watch, who filed the suit claimed, "This case is filed as a matter of principle. We need more Bradlee Deans in the world and hateful left wing television commentators must be made to respect not only his mission but the law."

The entire complaint filed can be read on the ministry's website. Michele Bachmann, congresswoman currently running for the Republican nomination for president, has yet to make a response regarding the lawsuit. She has in the past, however, supported the anti-gay group for quite some time.

In 2009 at an "Appeal to Heaven" fundraiser, Bachmann made a special video for her absence which showcased her support of You Can Run's mission. According to the Daily Kos, she said in the video greeting:

"I'd hoped to be there, but unfortunately the future that's being forged here in Washington, DC -- is one that saddles today's youth with tremendous debt, a diminished world presence, and diminishes their God-given freedoms. It a tough job that you do, but someone has to do it. I thank God that he has given you the strength and the resolve to fight for our timeless values. We can't overlook the outright rejection of God in the public school classroom, and the outright scorn of Christianity in our public square ... Moral relativism is exalted and faith in Christ is derided."

During that same fundraiser, Dean called liberals "criminals" and urged his attendees to fight a "war" for the faith against liberals, according to The American Independent.

Death and Taxes Magazine has offered up an opinion piece claiming that gays should sue Dean for defamation. It includes the video clip of Rachel Maddow's show that has the ministry seeking legal action.