I’ve become a bit of a fivethirtyeight addict. In his latest senate prediction update, Nate Silver discussed Libby Dole‘s dirty “Godless” video. This is the most disgusting political ad that I have seen this cycle. It ranks up there with Grucci’s Rape radio spot, which led to my work with Tim Bishop‘s (D-NY) successful 2002 House campaign.
Dole, a politician I once respected (if disagreed with) and even hoped might be McCain‘s VP pick, should be ashamed. Her advertisement accuses Kay Hagen of accepting money at “secret meetings” with godless atheists. The spot has an interesting shot of Hagen standing next to a man who appears to be one of those godless atheists. (According to the Independent Weekly, the man is actually a theology student at the Harvard Divinity School.)
Wow. This is wrong on so many levels. Let’s start with: Hagen is an elder at the First Pres Church of Greensboro and a sunday school teacher. But, let’s not forget: SO WHAT??? What if she was an atheist? Okay, perhaps some people might be concerned that an atheist wouldn’t share their views on a progressive income tax, job growth, or how the Iraq war has been a wonderful recruiting tool for Al Qaeda. But where, oh where, does Dole get the idea that talking with an atheist gives you cooties? Or have the audacity to falsely imply that atheism is a contagious disease that otherwise good people might catch from contact with atheists.
This race is close. Very close. I ask you to join with me and to donate a few bucks to Hagen’s campaign. We need to send a message to Dole and to politicians like her that this type of negative campaigning is unacceptable.
*Yes, I know that I am not a resident of North Carolina. What Libby Dole has done here cannot be left alone, lest we all lose out.
