American Atheists' president says conservatives should embrace religious neutrality. | POLITICO Photo CPAC un-invites American Atheists

The Conservative Political Action Conference has rescinded its permission for American Atheists, a nonprofit that protects the civil rights of atheists, to sponsor an information booth at the conservative gathering next month.

“American Atheists misrepresented itself about their willingness to engage in positive dialogue and work together to promote limited government,” said CPAC spokesperson Meghan Snyder in an email.


Earlier Tuesday, after announcing the group’s participation, American Atheists’ president David Silverman told CNN, “I am not worried about making the Christian right angry. The Christian right should be angry that we are going in to enlighten conservatives. The Christian right should be threatened by us.”

When CPAC spoke to Silverman about this “divisive and inappropriate language,” Snyder said, “he pledged that he will attack the very idea that Christianity is an important element of conservatism.”

“People of any faith tradition should not be attacked for their beliefs, especially at our conference. He has left us with no choice but to return his money,” she said.

But revoking American Atheists’ booth wasn’t enough to appease some conservative groups angered by the invitation itself.

Media Research Center President Brent Bozell said that revoking the booth “makes no difference” and is urging all conservative groups to withdraw entirely from CPAC.

“American Atheists is an organization devoted to the hatred of God. How on earth could CPAC, or the ACU and its board of directors, and Al Cardenas condone such an atrocity?” Bozell said in a statement.

“No conservative should have anything to do with this conference. If you do, you are giving oxygen to an organization destroying the conservative movement,” he added.

In the American Atheists’ Tuesday announcement of their CPAC attendance, entitled “Atheists March Into Lions’ Den at CPAC,” Silverman said that “imposing religious dogma” on people “should not be the role of the small government advocated by conservatives.”

“If conservatism doesn’t embrace religious neutrality, its influence will wither and die,” he predicted, noting that atheists are quickly growing in numbers.

CPAC will take place March 6-8 just outside of Washington D.C. and will convene conservative leaders such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Rep. Paul Ryan, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida.

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