The following exchange took place at the Chicago airport between
Robert I. Sherman of American Atheist Press and George Bush Sr.,
on August 27, 1988. Sherman is a fully accredited reporter, and
was present by invitation as a member of the press corps. The
Republican presidential nominee was there to announce federal
disaster relief for Illinois. The discussion turned to the presidential
primary:
RS (Rob Sherman): "What will you do to win the votes of Americans who are
atheists?"
GB (George Bush): "I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community.
Faith in God is important to me."
RS: "Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of
Americans who are atheists?"
GB: "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens,
nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
RS: "Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation
of state and church?"
GB: "Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just not
very high on atheists."
UPI reported on May 8, 1989, that various atheist organizations were
still angry over the remarks.
The exchange appeared in the Boulder Daily Camera on Monday February
27, 1989. It can also be found in "Free Inquiry" magazine, Fall 1988
issue, Volume 8, Number 4, page 16.
