New York City Atheists

No one ever accused the Secular Coalition, an organization that lobbies in Washington DC for 11 secular organizations, of not being provocative. After all, lobbyists, like publicists, are supposed to be provocative. But when the Secular Coalition recently chose Washington attorney Edwina Rogers as its Executive Director, heads turned.  Eyebrows lifted.  Hard-nosed Democrats were nonplussed, and more than a few liberals suspected the Coalition of having taken leave of its senses. 

You see:  Edwina Rogers, the sharp young attorney the Coalition hired, is not merely a Republican--in 2001-2002, she served as an Economic Advisor for President George W. Bush at the White House. 

What’s more, Rogers worked on International Trade matters for Bush at the Department of Commerce from 1989 until 1991. She also served as General Counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 1994. She worked for Senator Trent Lott (R.-Miss.) while he was Majority Leader in 1999 and she handled health policy for Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama in 2003 and 2004.
 
‘Secular Values are American Values’
 
But before you holler “Trojan Horse,” listen to what Attorney Rogers has to say. In a telephone interview with NYC Atheists, Rogers, with calm, cool and confident demeanor, congratulated the Coalition’s board of directors on choosing such a, well, dark horse.  “I’m impressed by the Board and the leadership that they would have the foresight and the courage to select me.” 

Rogers pointed out that she has been working on Capitol Hill for some 20 years and noted: “I wouldn’t say that separation of church and state is exclusively an issue of the Democratic party. Secular values are American values and they shouldn’t belong to just one party.”

What’s more, Rogers added, “There is a silent majority in the Republican party that cares about these issues. I have seen polling data that 52.8 percent of Americans think that laws should not be based on religion.” And, she noted,  “We’re actually in coalitions with various religious groups. We have a lot of work to do with  both parties.”
Grew Up in Democrat Turf
 
On a more personal tone, Rogers, who grew up in Alabama confided, “You know, growing up, I don’t remember meeting a single Republican. At one time, almost everyone in the South was a Democrat. Then it changed, and by the mid-90s, it was predominantly Republican.”  In other words, bottom-line, there’s basically not much difference Down South between Republicans and Democrats--and it’s open to change.

Is Ms. Rogers at least an Atheist, we asked. “I’m more agnostic,” she responded tactfully. “It helps that I’m not aligned with just one group because the secular movement is huge. The Coalition wanted a serious lobbyist and someone who is not aligned with one group over the other.”

So how’s it working out so far? “My Republican friends have all been very nice and curious, want briefings, want to hear more. A lot of them didn’t know there is a secular coalition for America,”  Rogers notes.

Democrats, do you hear that?  Republicans want to hear more!  In a nation where we need to educate both ends of the political spectrum, is that not music to our ears?

Exciting Plans to Reach All Americans!
 
Come on Thursday, May 31, to NYC Atheists’ monthly meeting to hear the exciting future plans of the Coalition’s new chief executive, the lovely, talented, tactful, farsighted Edwina Rogers. 
 
One of the things Rogers is planning to institute is the tracking of secular issues at the state level, where many religious values manage to infiltrate. “We have operations now in Alabama and Arizona. We are adding 16 states to our roster in June and 10 or 12 in July,” she reports.
 
No More Preaching to the Choir!
 
Though Atheists have historically and traditionally been liberal Democrats, have we been preaching to the choir?  Maybe it’s time to open our floodgates to all of America! 
 
Come on Thursday to hear this new phenomenon, our Republican lobbyist! Perhaps it’s time for us to infiltrate the centers of Republicanism and show them that secular issues as seen by our founding fathers are the issues of allAmerican citizens! 
 
EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT:        “NEW CHIEF OF SECULAR COALITION
                      TELLS EXCITING PLANS TO PUSH
                       SECULAR VALUES” - A talk by Attorney
                       Edwina Rogers, new Executive Director
                       of the Secular Coalition.
WHEN:           THURSDAY, MAY 31, at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE:   SLC Conference Center
                   352 Seventh Avenue (bet.29th & 30th)
                   16th Floor

COST:       We appreciate a donation of $5 to
                   cover the cost of the conference center.
                   Students and unemployed exempt.