Pete Stark’s post-Congress gig: Atheistic role model

[cbayer]

http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/11/27/pete-starks-post-congress-gig-atheistic-role-model/

East Bay Rep. Pete Stark may have been voted out of Congress, but he’s already got at least one high-profile post-Congressional gig: He’ll be the featured speaker at the 2013 American Atheists National Convention next March in Austin, TX. About 1,500 folks expected.

Stark was the only “out” atheist in Congress, having stepped out of the godless closet in 2007. American Atheists president David Silverman just told us there are 20 other closeted atheists currently on The Hill, according to a tally taken by what Silverstein described as members of “The Movement” (i.e. the atheist movement) who have canvassed lawmakers.

But don’t look for any of the Congressional closet-dwellers to be outed. “No, no way,” Silverman said. “That’s not what we’re about.”

Many closeted atheist politicos fear that if they come out, they’ll be politically doomed. In that way, Silverman said Stark was a terrific role model, proving that one could be re-elected regardless of their religious or a-religious views. “The reason he wasn’t re-elected had nothing to do with his being an atheist.”

more at link

[dmallind]

1. What shite.

proving that one could be re-elected regardless of their religious or a-religious views. “The reason he wasn’t re-elected had nothing to do with his being an atheist.”

Why the fuck did his opponent harp on his "out of touch" stance regarding the prayer/pledge then? Did he spend the money on that flyer for fun? It sure seemed to work for him didn't it?

And to be honest I'm not sure someone who hid his disbelief for decades and only came out when forced to by threat of disclosure should be a role model. I know and understand why he did that. I agree it's wise from an electoral point of view to do that. But to hold it up as a paragon? No thanks.

Sorry Silverman - happy happy nice talk doesn't mean atheism isn't still a political death sentence. Don't pretend it's not true - fight it.

[cbayer]

2. It was ugly all the way around. There is nothing to support your contention

that he lost because he was an atheist. Nothing.

And Stark's campaign was equally dirty.

Martyrdom just doesn't ring true here and this piece is far from "happy happy nice talk".

[trotsky]

4. That's not what was said.

The article claimed: "The reason he wasn’t re-elected had nothing to do with his being an atheist."

Your claim: "There is nothing to support your contention that he lost because he was an atheist."

There is what actually happened, which is in between these extremist positions. His opponent DID make mention of Stark's opposition to the pledge, and DID use it to criticize Stark in the campaign.

Did the reason he wasn't re-elected have something to do with his being an atheist? There were of course many reasons, but guess what? Stark's non-believe was one of them.

Did he lose BECAUSE he was an atheist, as you claimed someone said? Not exclusively, but it was a factor. We have no way of knowing which issue spoke to which voters, but Stark's opponent DID exploit Pete's lack of faith in the campaign.

[2ndAmForComputers]

3. "Many closeted atheist politicos fear that if they come out, they’ll be politically doomed."

Yes. And rightly so.

Says a lot, that, innit?

[cbayer]

5. Indeed it does. There is much work to be done, but I think progress is being made.

[2ndAmForComputers]

6. Too slow.

Call me back when atheists are as proportionately represented, relative to their population percentage, as women, African-Americans, Latinos, or even GLBT.

It ain't even close.

[cbayer]

7. And you call me when you do something to make it happen faster.

Hint: Attacking theists is not going to get you there.

[2ndAmForComputers]

8. That line of argument gives me bad flashbacks.

Heard lots of variations of that before, directed at many different groups of "uppity" people.

[trotsky]

9. What you classify as "attacking theists"...

Sounds suspiciously like what the tut-tutters said who admonished homosexuals for being "proud and loud" and fighting vocally for their rights. "Tsk, tsk, mustn't offend the heterosexual majority if you want equality!"

Well guess what, proud and loud has worked. Look at the tide that turned this election - for the first time, marriage restriction FAILED public votes.