Texas GOP Plays Atheist Card in Judge Race

The Republican Party of Texas has sent out a newsletter calling a Democratic nominee for a seat on the 6th Court of Appeals a “professed atheist.” A local poli sci professor says he’s never seen the religion card pushed that hard. (via Andrew Sullivan)

Law.com:

Religion has entered the political fray in a race for an appellate court bench in east Texas.

The Austin-based Republican Party of Texas played the religion card in a Sept. 21 online newsletter. As alleged in the newsletter, Texarkana solo E. Ben Franks, Democratic nominee for a seat on the 6th Court of Appeals, “is reported to be a professed atheist” and apparently believes the Bible is a “collection of myths.’”

But Franks says he has never professed to be an atheist and is not a member of any atheist organization. Franks says no one with the Republican Party ever asked him whether he professes to be an atheist. However, he says he’s not surprised by the allegation.

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