Last week, Ohio Governor John Kasich, campaigning on behalf of New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate Chris Sununu, made a nasty comment about atheists.

Seeing a Harry Potter book in a local store, he said of the actor Daniel Radcliffe, “You know that Daniel has declared himself an atheist? I’m serious. What a weird thing. Why would a guy who has had all that success just, I mean, what the hell is wrong with him?”

It made no sense. There are obviously many successful atheists, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being rational and logical when it comes to religious mythology.

Now, American Atheists President David Silverman is calling on Kasich to apologize and meet with atheists in his home state so he doesn’t say something offensive like that again. (Can you imagine if he said that about Jews?)

In a letter sent to Kasich’s office and posted online this afternoon, Silverman declared:

To state what should be obvious: There is nothing “wrong” with Mr. Radcliffe nor with the tens of millions of atheists in this country. Atheists are members of your community. We are your firefighters, your police officers, your teachers, your doctors, and your coworkers. I have no doubt that atheists serve on your staff and volunteered for your presidential campaign. If you think you’ve never met an atheist, you’re wrong. I challenge you to sit down with a group of your atheist constituents. Talk to us about what we want from our government. Ask us why we’re atheists and what it means to us. You name the time and place and I’ll make it happen. … The United States is a nation of countless religions — and atheists. We deserve leaders who acknowledge and celebrate that. Please remember that you represent all of us.

Kasich hasn’t apologized for his remarks or issued any public statement addressing what he said.

(Image via Facebook)



