Kevin Drum included this particularly eye-popping quote in a post today about America’s disdain for atheists:
Robert Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?
George H.W. Bush: No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.
Apparently he said it in Chicago back in 1987. I can honestly say that this is one of the most shocking things I’ve ever heard of a modern president saying. I’ve always had a certain respect for Bush 41. Obviously I’m far to young to make any reasonable judgement about his presidency from experience, but anyone should be able to recognize that he was a brave politician. He compromised and gave up a second term in order to do the right thing and pave the way for the budget balancing in the 90s. But I just don’t know how much I can respect a man who says something as heinous as that.
