And now, a standing ovation for Congress' newest atheist, Kyrsten Sinema!

[backscatter712]

She's a celebrity in LGBT circles, but she's also probably the first open atheist to get elected to Congress.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kyrsten Sinema!!!

[FiveGoodMen]

1. I think Pete Stark is also an open atheist.

He was supposedly the only one in Congress till now.

[OswegoAtheist]

2. Was.

Unfortunately, Pete Stark lost his re-election bid to another Democrat, Eric Swawell (California has a system where the top two vote-getting candidates compete, regardless of party). One of the issues Swawell used in his campaign against Stark was his vote against reaffirming IN GOD WE TRUST as the national motto.

Oswego "Proving that Dems can be bible-thumping assholes, too" Atheist

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Bad news!

If "IN GOD WE TRUST" we are doomed.

[dmallind]

3. And he's gone. So will she be after an opportunist believer makes a big deal of it

All it needs is a primary challenger riling up the "liberal" Christians and she's one and done.

Stark had sense. He managed 17 wins before he was forced to admit his atheism. Gone two after that.

Don't make plans for your pension, Kyrsten. You're marked as soon as you question Big-Fella-in-Sky.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. Ah shoot. I missed that bit of info.

[backscatter712]

8. Sinema's a firebrand - she won't go down without a fight.

I know her personally - she's incredibly smart, knows the political game, cut her teeth in the right-wing-dominated shark tank that's the Arizona legislature, and was quite successful at getting things done there.

Watch her. I think she'll be awesome!

[dmallind]

9. Christ I hope so. Stark was one of the safest seats tho' and he got undercut. nt

[backscatter712]

6. He wasn't open when he was first elected. n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

7. No, but he did manage to stay in office (for a while) after coming out

Seemed hopeful at the time...

[dimbear]

10. That's true and also he's about or perhaps exactly 80 years old.

Enjoy your retirement, Pete.

[dmallind]

11. Who could be back then? I honestly doubt the electorate will accept one for long now

I hope Sinema proves me wrong - trust me I do - but this election proved Christianist Dems are far from above playing the faith card, which believe me if played well will trump ANY amount of feistiness or political acumen. When most of the population loathes atheists, it's not difficult to beat one.

Good luck to her, and I hope she'll be treated fairly despite not having an invisible friend. I just doubt it.

[backscatter712]

13. If you want to be accepted, you're going to have to fight for acceptance.

Sinema's a fighter! And she won in a right-wing state while being openly bisexual and atheist. If she could pull that off, we damned well can do better, rather than just accepting being shunned.

[OriginalGeek]

12. Brava!

[cleanhippie]

14. Woot!

[progressoid]

15. Very Cool!

[AlGoreRhythms]

16. That's awesome!!!!