Any Atheist Senators? Representatives? Or Governors?

[openly68atheist]

I'm in PA, both my senators are republicans Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, Governor is Ed Rendell, Representative Jim Gerlach and I watch listen to and read pilitics all the time, but I don't know a single Atheist politician probably because one doesn't exist but I've only been paying attention to politics since the 04 election, the first election I could vote in. Has any politician ever come out openly as an atheist?

Or who is the closest person, if we could deduce from what he usually supports or doesn't, that is most likely an in the clost atheist? Ted Kennedy maybe?

[Evil_Mage_Ra]

Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura is quoted as saying "religion is a crutch for the weak-minded".

[openly68atheist]

Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura is quoted as saying "religion is a crutch for the weak-minded".
Thats the type of person we need running our states, but now he's not even in office.

[clambake]

PA here too, Santorum made me retch from the first time I heard his name and it wasn't even a religious issue. He needs to be removed ASAP.

I don't have too many issues with Specter, he seems to be a reasonable person for the most part.

I might even suggest Kerry is a closet atheist, or a deist at least. Even when he quoted the bible it was the more agreeable generic "we're in this shit together" kind of vein.

PA, what a paradox. We vote for Kerry and yet we still have Dover.

[alaspooryorick]

Also in PA, and yes, Rick Santorum kind of makes me want to throw up a little. Hearing him talk on any number of issues is infuriating.

Specter is all right though pretty conservative on most issues. Rendell, don't even get me started.

But if you think about it, with a huge majority of the country believing in some form of religion, it'd be political suicide (at least from the "character" view) for a politican to shun religion openly. It works for Bush to use his faith as a platform, but I doubt that one could get too far with an atheist platform. I don't particularly care that many of our officials are religious as long as it doesn't get brought into their politics (*cough*Bush*cough*), but I'm pretty sure many religious voters wouldn't be so keen on electing an open atheist.

[Tenspace]

Well, Paul Wellstone is dead, and he was the closest thing we had to an honest politician in awhile.

Ten

[openly68atheist]

Yea, Specter is pro stem cells so I like him, but Santorum is completely brain washed in religious stupidity. He must be voted out.

[Rhinoqulous]

If any yall are unfamiliar with Dan Savage and his campaign against Rick Santorum, this (http://www.spreadingsantorum.com/) is the first page to show up when you google the name Santorum.

Rhinoq

[clambake]

How appropriate.