Minister to state legislature: Obama's no Christian!

An anti-gay preacher delivers an incendiary opening prayer in the Minnesota state legislature

Published May 20, 2011 6:56PM (EDT)

Bradlee Dean delivering a prayer on the floor of the Minnesota House.
Bradlee Dean delivering a prayer on the floor of the Minnesota House.

Bradlee Dean, founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide -- a Minnesota-based ministry that targets public school students with its evangelizing "shock treatment" -- made news earlier this week when Mother Jones drew attention to his "unlikely but powerful alliance" with Michelle Bachmann.

Today, Dean (who claims, on his website, to be "ordained as a minister both nationally and internationally" -- as well as "a graduate of the Institution on the Constitution") delivered the opening prayer for a session of the Minnesota legislature, which is currently considering a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. Read the provocative ending of the prayer -- complete with a baseless claim about President Obama's religion -- for yourself:

"I know this is a non-denominational prayer in this Chamber and it's not about the Baptists and it's not about the Catholics alone or the Lutherans or the Wesleyans. Or the Presbyterians the evangelicals or any other denomination but rather the head of the denomination and his name is Jesus. As every President up until 2008 has acknowledged. And we pray it. In Jesus' name."

The Republican Speaker of the House, Kurt Zellers, was quick to denounce Dean's remarks, telling his House colleagues: "Members, I can only ask for your forgiveness. That type of person will never ever be allowed on this House floor again as long as I have the honor of serving as speaker.”

Watch video of Dean's prayer here:

[Video, Minnesota Independent; hat tip to Mother Jones]


By Emma Mustich

Emma Mustich is a Salon contributor. Follow her on Twitter: @emustich.

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Barack Obama Michele Bachmann R-minn. Religion