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.
American Atheists Welcomes Ed Buckner As Our New President
Ed Buckner
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Many of you who are active in the movement will know of Dr. Buckner's accomplishments, originating in the Atlanta Chapter of the Society of Separationists (then an American Atheists affiliated corporation), helping to grow the Atlanta Freethought Society through its formative years, and then most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Council for Secular Humanism.
A hardcore Atheist, Dr. Buckner has written, spoken, debated, and appeared often in the media, both locally and nationally. He has been on MSNBC, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Fox News, the Michael Medved Show, CNN, the national CBS Radio News, NPR, and on nearly every local media outlet (radio or television) in the Atlanta and Buffalo areas, most repeatedly. He's been quoted, sometimes at length, in newspapers all over the nation and, occasionally, elsewhere in the world, been a featured guest on many Internet broadcast shows, and given the keynote address for Atheists Alliance International.
Dr Buckner has debated or spoken in Alabama , California , Connecticut , DC, Florida , Georgia , Illinois , Indiana , Kansas , Kentucky , Missouri , New York , Ohio , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , and a few times outside the U.S. He earned a doctorate (1983) and M.Ed. (1975) from Georgia State University ; B.A., English, Rice University , 1967.
We had a FANTASTIC response from world-class atheist leaders for this position, and on behalf of the Board of Directors I thank every applicant.
Please help me welcome Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists!
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Since 1963,
AMERICAN ATHEISTS has been the premier
organization laboring for the civil liberties of Atheists, and the total,
absolute separation of government and religion. It was born out of a court
case begun in 1959 by the Murray family which challenged prayer recitation
in the public schools. That case – Murray v. Curlett – was a landmark
in American jurisprudence on behalf of our First Amendment rights. It began:
"Your petitioners are Atheists, and they define their lifestyle as follows. An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An Atheist accepts that heaven is something for which we should work now – here on earth – for all men together to enjoy. An Atheist accepts that he can get no help through prayer, but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue it and to enjoy it. An Atheist accepts that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help lead to a life of fulfillment."
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