Atheists Congratulate Obama, Biden, Hagan, and Others

For Immediate Release: November 4, 2008

Atheists Congratulate Obama, Biden, Hagan, and Others

Ed Buckner, president of American Atheists, said tonight, "Atheists across the U.S. hold widely varying political philosophies and support candidates of all parties, major and minor, but we all want the winners to do well, for the sake of the nation. We congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama, Vice President-Elect Joe Biden, and all the others who won. The one U.S. Senator we want especially to single out for our congratulations is Senator-Elect Kay Hagan of North Carolina."

The Senate race in North Carolina featured an insulting attack ad by incumbent Senator Elizabeth Dole, who tried to persuade voters to turn against Kay Hagan because Hagan had the support of godless Americans. According to Buckner, "Hagan succeeded in turning the attack ad into an asset in part by emphasizing her own piety, but we are also convinced that Dole's attacks on Atheists cost her many votes even in a religious state like North Carolina. Dole's insults brought us new members and got the attention of irreligious voters, and this added to Kay Hagan's margin of victory. The lesson here is plain: Atheists are good citizens, a strong, politically active minority who should be respectfully wooed--not ignored or treated with contempt."

American Atheists is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, nonpolitical organization and could not be involved in the election in North Carolina or elsewhere, but, as National Spokesperson David Silverman noted, "Individual Atheists can be very important in elections. A wise candidate will seek our help, not treat us with undeserved disdain."

American Atheists is a nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers, works for the separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.