Chances for an Atheist President? - E.J. Dionne

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/03/13/E_J__Dionne_on_Faith_Politics_and_Evangelicals

Washington Post Op-Ed columnist E.J. Dionne discusses the chances of an atheist candidate being elected President of the United States.

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E.J. Dionne discusses Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right.

One of our most prolific thinkers, E. J. Dionne argues that the advantage of the religious right is over. He says mainstream America has taken up the causes of social justice, peace and the environment.

Though he expects evangelical Christians to continue to thrive, they are beginning to focus on these issues as well, rather than abortion and gay marriage - The Commonwealth Club of California

E.J. Dionne is a twice-weekly columnist for The Post, writing on national policy and politics. His column appears on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Before joining The Post in 1990 as a political reporter, he spent 14 years at The New York Times, covering local, state, and national politics, and also serve as a foreign correspondent in Paris, Rome and Beirut. Dionne began his column for The Post in 1993. He is a University Professor at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution.

Dionne has been a frequent commentator on politics for National Public Radio, ABC's "This Week," and NBC's "Meet the Press." His book Why Americans Hate Politics (1991), won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award nominee. He is also author of Stand Up Fight Back: Republican Toughs, Democratic Wimps, and the Politics of Revenge (2004), and They Only Look Dead: Why Progressives Will Dominate The Next Political Era (1996).

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[SUPAHRL33TNINJA]

actually, an atheist is an individual who does not believe in a higher power. i am proud to be called Atheist

[fcsoccerlevi]

honestly

i think barrak obama might be an atheist or at least an agnostic. if u hav read any of his books you could see where i am coming from

[9N8X]

We have had athiest presidents before. Abraham lincoln,thomas jefferson, etc.

[phildirt3]

thats me and im in the minority he s nuts because people are fucking idiots

[hazydavey]

Chris Hitchens makes the point that several decades ago, you'd have been told you were crazy if you said that a divorced ex-actor would be President, much less a Republican President.

When the right man (or woman) comes along and wins people over, an atheist will be President.

But Dionne makes good points here - especially about how our separation of church & state is of great help to religion. Ironically, many religious people who rail against this separation don't see that.

[hawkertruffelsnout]

please don't call us religious

[bigbluefungus]

@SUPAHRL33TNINJA both you and i can't do exponential math then ;D

[jshjamaarify]

Wasington Post.

[ih8makinusernames]

I'd say 80 years optimistically. probably 150.

[jshjamaar]

16% This is false because Gall Up recently did one in 2010 and Atheism/Agnosticism is barely hitting 10%,

[Wordlaw12]

Yeah right, we will have an black female (Christian) president before we have an Atheist president. 200 years in the future or something, maybe.