From: Matthew Gingell (gingell@gnat.com)
Date: Thu Jun 27 2002 - 16:21:02 MDT
Harvey Newstrom writes:
> (Remember Ronald Reagan saying that atheists don't deserve the
> rights of christian citizens?) The religious right seems determined
> to push their interpretation that we are a Christian Nation into
> governmental structure.
You might mean Bush I. The remark that got quoted is so far out to
lunch I have a hard time believing he actually said it, but it's
possible I'm more out of touch than I think I am.
Google turns up the following: (The pedigree isn't too impressive.)
The following exchange took place at the Chicago airport between
Robert I. Sherman of American Atheist Press and George Bush Sr., on
August 27, 1988. Sherman is a fully accredited reporter, and was
present by invitation as member of the press corps. The Republican
presidential nominee was there to announce federal disaster relief
for Illinois. The discussion turned to the presidential primary:
RS (Rob Sherman): "What will you do to win the votes of Americans
who are atheists?"
GB (George Bush): "I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist
community. Faith in God is important to me."
RS: "Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of
Americans who are atheists?"
GB: "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as
citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one
nation under God."
RS: "Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the
separation of state and church?"
GB: "Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just
not very high on atheists."
UPI reported on May 8, 1989, that various atheist organizations
were still angry over the remarks.
The exchange appeared in the Boulder Daily Camera on Monday
February 27, 1989. It can also be found in "Free Inquiry" magazine,
Fall 1988 issue, Volume 8, Number 4, page 16.
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