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Tulane professor Melissa Harris-Perry, guest hosting on Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show last night, could hardly contain her mirth at the specter of an elected official actually praying for guidance while Congress struggles over the debt ceiling. Here's Harris-Perry describing tea party Republicans facing the wrath of House Speaker John Boehner for not supporting his debt plan (video after page break) — After leaving Speaker Boehner's office, Republican congressman Louie Gohmert of Texas informed reporters that he was still 'a bloodied and beaten no.' And according to NBC's Luke Russert, Republican congressman Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, who also plans to vote no, exited Speaker Boehner's office and then headed straight to a small chapel in the Capitol, telling reporters he was going to (pause for effect) pray for his leadership. And Republican congressman Steve Southerland also told reporters that he was a no and when asked if anything could change his mind, he said, 'If the Lord takes me home right now.' Speaking with Harris-Perry minutes later, NBC reporter Luke Russert showed how he also gets a kick out of these unevolved conservatives and their anachronistic worship of a sky god — A few other interesting things that have occurred here on what is turning into quite a chaotic night. You mentioned the prayer off to the side. (Harris-Perry chuckles in response) Also, we actually had an altercation between reporters and police officers trying to clear out the hallway in front of Speaker Boehner's office 'cause there were so many reporters wanting to ask so many questions. … Yet another example of violence linked to Republicans … Praying an example of chaos? Its antithesis would be more accurate. Something tells me Harris-Perry and Russert would have been a tad more respectful had it been President Obama going to the chapel, or Congressman Keith Ellison, Democrat of Minnesota, the first Muslim elected to Congress.