AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (908) 276-7300
Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2006


           CAMPAIGN AD FILMED IN CHURCH DIVISIVE,
           "CROSSES THE LINE" SAYS ATHEIST GROUP


An Atheist civil rights organization today charged that a partisan
campaign ad filmed in a Tennessee Baptist church sends a "divisive"
message and is "religionizing" important public policy issues.

The television commercial was filmed on behalf of Democratic candidate
Harold Ford, Jr. who is running against Republican Bob Corker. The men
are vying for the seat of retiring U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist.  The race has drawn national attention because the outcome could
tip the balance of power in the Senate.  Ford's latest ad, though, has
ignited controversy because of its message linking religious faith with
fitness to hold public office.

"To our knowledge, this is the first time a partisan political ad has
been produced using the backdrop of a church," said Ellen Johnson,
President of American Atheists.  "It's part of a larger and disturbing
trend where candidates are invoking religion in order to woo
constituencies and win elections."

Johnson added that by "playing the religion card," candidates like Mr.
Ford were marginalizing and excluding millions of Atheists,
Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers.

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists said that
Mr. Ford's ad is more than a simple statement of personal beliefs.

"It's pandering, and it raises serious questions about a candidate who
does something like this would represent all of the people in his state
if elected, or uphold the separation of church and state."

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and
addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

 American Atheists, Inc.
P. O. Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402