AMERICAN ATHEISTS


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
ELLEN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AMERICAN ATHEISTS
VOICE 201-334-4033, E-MAIL EJONBAND@AOL.COM, EJ@ATHEISTS.ORG
OR CALL AMERICAN ATHEISTS 512-458-1244
November 6, 1996


                           PRESS RELEASE

   ATHEISTS CHALLENGE CHRISTIAN COALITION "SPINDOCTOR" -- RELIGIOUS
   EXTREMISTS OVERSTATE THEIR NUMBERS, ROLE IN YESTERDAY'S ELECTION

    American Atheists today criticized the attempts of Christian
Coalition Director Ralph Reed to "spindoctor" the results of
yesterday's national election, and the role played by extreme
religious groups.  Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists,
charged that claims based on the Coalition's "exit polls" were
disingenuous and designed to exaggerate the role of Mr. Reed's
organization both inside the Republican Party and in the electoral
process."
    Johnson noted that the Coalition claims between 1.6 million and 1.8
million members; but its publication The Christian American has
a circulation of only about 350,000 according to filings with the
postal service.  She added: "No sooner had President Clinton
been declared the winner, than Reed was claiming credit in
preventing a Republican 'meltdown'.  But the Coalition's exit
polls are like their so-called voters guides.  They're designed
to skew facts and simplify issues.
    Johnson noted that the exit polling (conducted by Wirthlin
Worldwide) focused on a narrow group of evangelical Christians who
emphasized "pro-life" issues.  But even Reed's own statistics
suggest that this segment did not vote as a monolithic block--over
35% voted for President Clinton.
    "There are too many factors behind why people voted as they
did to suggest that Bob Dole lost this presidential race because he
didn't emphasize the Christian Coalition's social agenda, or attack
President Clinton on 'character issues", Johnson said.  "Ralph Reed
was ready last night to claim credit for ANYTHING that happened.
If there had been a Dole upset, he would have attributed that
surprise to the 45 million "voters guides" the Coalition pumped-out in
churches at the last minute.  But instead, he's using selective
thinking and bias--he's claiming credit for the GOP victories
in the House and Senate, but wants to wash his hands of Senator
Dole's defeat.  He's trying to have it both ways."
    Ron Barrier, National Media Coordinator for American Atheists
noted that the Coalition's polling focused on a narrow segment
of voters, and was designed to exaggerate the group's influence.
"Ralph Reed is always talking about the 'people of faith,' but
the facts show that this is not some monolithic block that the
Christian Coalition can deliver on."

    American Atheists is a nationwide movement founded by
Madalyn Murray O'Hair for the advancement of Atheism and the
total, absolute separation of government and religion.

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