Need help chasing a quote: "Atheists can't be president." Anybody hear

[hansolsen]

major Repub saying something along these lines??? Thanks

[troublemaker]

1. It's widely reported that BUSH 41 said an atheist cannot be a good citizen

or something like that. Googling this should find it:

Bush atheist "under god"

[K-W]

25. Not good citizen, a citizen at all.

He thought a belief in a higher power was an essential qualification for being a US citizen.

[wurzel]

2. I suppose taking the "Oath of Office" would be a problem.

[PassingFair]

13. it is mandated that there should be

no religious test. None whatsoever, to hold public office in this country.

[wurzel]

21. I 'm pretty sure there are in some States, laws prohibiting Athiests

from taking office.

[SteveG]

26. not any more

Some state constitutions have such clauses in them, but the Supreme Court nullified them some time ago.

[atre]

17. No more than the oath to take the stand in a trial

There are secular oaths out there.

[Peregrine]

24. Check the constitution

God isn't mentioned in the oath of office.

[Sinistrous]

3. bush41 (GHWB) made some stupid comment about atheists.

Try Google.

[Eric J in MN]

7. George H. W. Bush comments

George H. W. Bush on atheism and patriotism

"Did George Bush really say that atheists should not be considered citizens?"

The following exchange took place at the Chicago airport between Robert I. Sherman of American Atheist Press and George Bush, on August 27 1987. Sherman is a fully accredited reporter, and was present by invitation as a 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:
"What will you do to win the votes of Americans who are atheists?"
GB:
"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.

[Sinistrous]

14. That's the one. Thanks. n/t

.

[LTR]

4. Jefferson was a deist

Felt that God wasn't involved in day-to-day matters on earth, and considered the Bible to be 'just another book'.

Wasn't too fond of churches either.

[Mojambo]

10. Didn't he edit the bible?

Took out almost all of the superstitious hooey and edited it down to like 18 pages.

[wurzel]

22. He edited the New Testament.

[Kinkistyle]

11. Actually aren't all the Founding Fathers, plus Honest Abe too.

I believe most of the Founding Fathers were Deists. Ben Franklin, Adams, etc... So was the last great Republican, Honest Abe Lincoln.

[jdj]

5. Well, I know Star Jones has said it.

But I think she was at the dem convention, so she doesn't fit the profile. Actually she said she'd never vote for an atheist for pres. they couldn't possibly be qualified. Odd for me as a recovering fundie how atheists are some of the sanest people I've ever met.

[clydefrand]

6. Well, it's already happened according to Billy Graham

Eisenhower was an atheist until Graham ministered "unto" him. That's what he said. I wasn't there.

[LTR]

8. Here ya go

" can't be considered citizens or patriots...this is one nation under God."
-- George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States

http://www.godlessgeeks.com/PrezCorner.html

Here's a Google search:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Atheists+can%27t+be+president&btnG=Google+Search

[Mojambo]

9. I spend so much time loathing his son,

It's been too long since I've said this...

FUCK OFF, Papa Bush!

He's going to tell me I'm not a citizen, because I don't believe in the delusion produced by his brain. What an asshole.

[Ohio rules]

12. " There are no Atheists -

in an foxhole "

If you are actually looking for some quote with the word "Atheists"
thats all I got.

Of course I have no idea who said it.Somebody during WWII

[JHB]

16. Of course, they're wrong...

These vets hold a different opinion:

http://www.nobeliefs.com/GAMOW/GAMOW31.htm
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OBW/is_5_42/ai_108913539
http://atheistanon.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=NewsArchive&action=display&num=1069194296

[hansolsen]

15. Thanks for all the help. I appreciate it very much. Hans

[gauguin57]

18. Ron Reagan has said it all year

On Larry King, for example, in response to King's asking whether he would ever run for president, Ron said:

"No, I’m not really cut out to be a politician. You know that I sometimes don’t know when to shut up. That could be a drawback. I’m an atheist. So there you go right there. I can’t be elected to anything because polls all say that people won’t elect an atheist."

[theboss]

19. Senator Byrd is definitely against atheists in pretty much any office

"I, for one, am not going to stand for this country being ruled by a bunch of atheists. If they don't like it, let them leave."

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. Jack Germond speaks to this issue.in his book "Fat Man Fed Up"

[kerry-is-my-prez]

23. Ron Reagan Jr. (a Dem.) said that's why he couldn't run for office.

n/t