Dear Donald Trump, here’s how you get the atheist vote

[rug]

By James Kirk Wall, Tuesday at 9:49 pm

Recently Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump was asked “Do you want the atheist vote too?” He answered, “I don’t know about the atheist vote, they may not like me. I’m not so sure.”

That was the wrong answer, but perhaps he wasn’t prepared for the question and needs to think about it more.

First off, a vote is a vote. Either someone votes for you, or they don’t, and each vote counts as one vote. An atheist vote is worth the same as a Christian vote. If you want to win, it means getting the most votes. Not going after all of them doesn’t make sense. Each party is going to cater heavily to the religious demographic. What’s going to be the differentiator? It just makes sense to expand that horizon and go after the independents.

The right way to answer the previous question would be “yes, I want the atheist vote too.” Everyone, whether Christian, atheist, or other wants opportunity, a good education, and safe neighborhoods. Everyone, whether Christian, atheist, or other wants competent people in government who are going to represent their best interests and capably solve the problems that all Americans face.

http://www.chicagonow.com/an-agnostic-in-wheaton/2015/08/dear-donald-trump-heres-how-you-get-the-atheist-vote/

[guillaumeb]

1. An impossible task!!

From the article:
Here are 3 key things to say that will win over atheists and many independents in general.

1. I believe in the separation of church and state the same way that John F. Kennedy firmly believed in that principle. The Presidency is not a place for an individual to push their own religious interpretation on the nation. Anyone filling this office is to abide by the U.S. Constitution and be a President for all the people.

My comment: The GOP does not truly believe in any separation of Church and State. They are theocrats who wish to impose their own beliefs on everyone.


2. I’m not a scientist, but I fully understand that the world is far older than 6,000 years and that we did evolve from other animals. Just because I’m not a scientist doesn’t mean that I can’t keep up with fundamental scientific principles and established scientific facts. And I’m perfectly capable of maintaining my faith while keeping up with modern science.

My comment: How can a party of science deniers, climate change deniers, and evolution deniers accept science?

3. We need to invest heavily in education, and especially science education. We need to increase funds for the space program. We need to invest in science and technology. A sustainable future requiring food, water, shelter, transportation, sanitation, medical care, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, security, and space exploration will rely on our focus and planning today.

My comment: How will all these investments help the richest 1% become even richer?

[struggle4progress]

2. Uhhh ... So Wall wants to advise Trump how to get votes ... Ummm ... OK, I guess ...

I suspect Trump is just mooning on the street for attention so it doesn't really matter what advice he gets

But of course I could be wrong -- in which case I suppose I should take a dim view of anyone trying to help Trump up his vote count

[stone space]

3. With all the love he's getting from Latinos, who needs atheists?

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/donald-trump-says-he-will-win-the-latino-vote-they-love-me/