Atheist PAC Launches To Promote Equality For Nonbelievers

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/atheist-pac_n_3943223.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

Amanda TerkelBecome a fan

Posted: 09/18/2013 9:30 am EDT | Updated: 09/18/2013 11:51 am EDT

WASHINGTON -- Although a growing number of Americans say they are not affiliated with any religion, Congress has just one member who says the same. A new political action committee is hoping to level the playing field.

On Wednesday, the Center for Humanist Activism launched the Freethought Equality Fund PAC, which it's billing as the first nontheist political action committee with a full-time paid staff.

"I am pleased that we're able to meet this need for political representation for atheist, humanist, and other freethinkers," Roy Speckhardt, the group's executive director, said in a statement. "To be able to provide financial assistance to candidates who support secular government will benefit all Americans, including those who value the absence of government entanglement in religious beliefs."

The PAC will back humanist, atheist and agnostic candidates at all levels of government. Freethought's coordinator, Bishop McNeill, told The Huffington Post that it would also be open to supporting candidates who identify with a religion if they are committed to protecting the separation of church and state and defending the civil liberties of secular Americans.

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[cleanhippie]

1. It's unfortunate that this is even required.

Last edited Wed Sep 18, 2013, 01:46 PM - Edit history (2)

Were believers of religion able to keep their religious beliefs out of policy and lawmaking...

[LostOne4Ever]

2. While I do like the idea of secular candadites getting help

I am more than a single issue voter.

I would not want any of my donations going to an Ayn Rand type of candidate. Supporting liberal/progressive/left wing libertarian candidates would promote separation of church and state just as much without the chance of my helping someone wanting to cut food stamps for children.

Maybe if they broke the PAC into a right wing and left wing versions I would be more supportive.

Of course, I realize most funds will go to progressive candidates simply because most of us are on the liberal side of the political divide but there still are people like S. E. Cup out there

[cbayer]

3. There is the potential here for this to become a libertarian effort,

but it sounds like they are really focussing on candidates who are interested in 1st amendment separation issues.

So far the candidates they are looking at are all democrats and they say they have had difficulty identifying any republicans who agree with their philosophy, so that's good news.

It will be interesting to see what kind of criteria they use for endorsements.

[LostOne4Ever]

4. I am guessing

Their main criteria is going to be those who advocate for a strong separation of church and state.

But again, while C&S separation is one of my top issues there are other issues that are just as important to me. Reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, living wage, single payer UHC, union rights, etc.

Sooner or later either a conservative atheist is going to show up or a right wing libertarian.

Again, I realize that the way the politics are currently that the right is going to reject most of their secularists and that the majority of us atheists are going to be liberal; but inevitably a right winger will qualify.

I will take a left wing liberal religious christian like Jimmy Carter over a secular Carl Rove any day of the week.

But then again I <3 Carter.

[cbayer]

5. I agree with what you are saying. Single issue PAC's can be problematic

and generally don't appeal to me unless they are pushing an issue that is at the top of my list.

But I suspect that this group is also going to consider political ideology when making their endorsements.

At least I hope so.

There certainly is benefit in promoting certain candidates who may be at a disadvantage if they do not claim some religious affiliation, so I am cautiously optimistic that this is a good thing.