Rachel Maddow sued for defamation (Video of segment regarding lawsuit)

The You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International, Inc. ministry run by former hard metal rocker Bradlee Dean is suing MSNBC and its talk-show host Rachel Maddow for some-$50 million.

Larry Klayman, the lawyer representing the Minnesota-based ministry, is the founder of the well-known Freedom Watch which, according to its website, claims to be the only political advocacy group that speaks through action instead of just words.

CLICK HERE to view the RACHEL MADDOW segment for which she is being sued along with MSNBC

The issue is that Dean took to radio airwaves to criticize fellow-Christians for not taking a stronger stand regarding the gay rights lobby that promoted homosexuality in the schools. He allegedly made a strong reference to Muslims taking the issue more seriously in the context of Shariah law, but did not condone their practices. The ministry and Dean maintain that the statements were to bring attention to the issue and not to advocate harm to anyone.

Yet, Dean and the ministry, complemented by the presidential candidacy of Michele Bachmann who is a conservative Christian, claim that Dean was falsely accused of calling for the execution of homosexuals as is allegedly the practice in some radical Islamic countries. This allegation, according to the ministry’s announcement, has greatly harmed Dean and the ministry.

Maddow featured a quote from Dean on her show which said:

The Muslims are calling for the execution of homosexuals in America. This was just released yesterday and it shows you that 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's an abomination. If America won't enforce the laws, God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just that.

The contrary claim is that Dean’s message was edited. Dean said he was attempting to put guilt on Christians so that they would respond more aggressively to a radical leftist homosexual agenda.

The ministry says that Dean’s original statement was:

Muslims are calling for the execution for homosexuals in America. This was just released yesterday, and it shows you that they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible, the Judeo Christian God. 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. And I continually reach out to the homosexual communities on this radio show, and I warn them, which ones love? Here you have Obama condemning it behind the backs of the homosexuals, but to their faces, he's promoting it. I say this to my gay friends out there the ones that continuously nitpick everything I say. Hollywood is promoting immorality, and the God of the Heavens in Jesus name is warning you to flee from the wrath to come. Yet you have Muslims calling for your execution. If America won't enforce the laws, God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just <that>. That's what you're seeing in America today. Read Leviticus 26, America.

Attorney for the ministry, Klayman, claims the original misspeak of the comments were produced by writer Andy Birkey of the Minnesota Independent. Birkey titled a story regarding Dean's comments as 'GOP-linked punk rock ministry says executing gays is moral.'

In response to this article, the ministry addressed the newspaper by writing:

We have specifically rejected, as all Christians do, the Islamic doctrine, and actual practice, of executing homosexuals. But some have claimed, in effect, that by merely mentioning the execution of homosexuals (as a criminal practice of Islam), on our radio broadcast, we have suggested it for consideration. Obviously this is absurd. The whole point was to contrast the Islamic position with the Christian position. This may not have been as clear as we would have otherwise planned it to be. Live radio is not scripted. But everyone who knows us knows that this is our position because we have stated it consistently for years…

In spite of the response to the Minnesota Independent, attorney Klayman says the first accusation has spread. Beyond the story in the Minnesota Independent, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, KARE Television, the City Pages, and even ABC spread the word that Dean is for the execution of homosexuals.

Dean has said that he thinks Rachel Maddow and others are using him as a scapegoat to harm the Michele Bachmann’s chances of becoming president.

Dean and Klayman will speak at a news conference regarding the lawsuit today at the Midtown Executive Club (NY Press Club) located at 40 West 45th Street in the Priestly Room in New York City at 11:00 EST.