# Would a snake-handler be more electable as POTUS than an atheist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 6, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237 "2012-06-06T04:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/81 "2014-09-01T18:35:33Z")
Though other Pentecostal groups might have concerns about snake handling, in its slightly more abstract form it’s recognizable as a practice based in Pentecostal beliefs. One of the beauties of Pentecostalism is that it doesn’t insist on universal practices–it’s much better at including congregations with syncretic/indigenous expression than churches that regulate for consistency across congregations or regional expression. ---
**Author:** ![Weeping\_Wyvern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@Weeping\_Wyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeping_Wyvern)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/82 "2014-09-01T19:13:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What critical moral questions do you think you and an atheist politician might disagree on? Oh, the classic ones. Abortion and homosexuality, mostly. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/83 "2014-09-01T19:20:58Z")
> [@Weeping\_Wyvern](#): > > Oh, the classic ones. Abortion and homosexuality, mostly. And you presuppose that atheists are pro-choice and pro-equal rights for those of various sexual orientations? Are there any other characteristics you would ascribe to atheists that you might disagree with politically? ---
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/84 "2014-09-01T20:03:52Z")
There’s empirical evidence we can look at, in terms of the religions of other elected politicians. There have been atheists in congress. Usually they won’t go out of their way to say that, they’ll say they are [non-practicing Buddhists](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazie_Hirono) or were [raised Jewish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Franken) or maybe they just [put down their religion as “none”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrsten_Sinema), or whatever, which is just what a President would do. They wouldn’t say “my belief is that there is no god”, they just wouldn’t talk about it too much, and if pressed, it would just be “I was raised baptist” or “I went to a catholic school, boy are those nuns scary” or something like that. It is helpful to have at least a nominal religion in politics, but it isn’t strictly necessary. Have there been any snake handlers in congress? I honestly don’t know, but I bet there haven’t been very many. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/85 "2014-09-01T20:30:02Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > Based on that survey, I’m guessing that a black gay female atheist is fucked. Numerous white, straight Christian men have been elected through conservative support. So why wouldn’t a black gay female atheist get elected through liberal support? ---
**Author:** ![Weeping\_Wyvern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@Weeping\_Wyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeping_Wyvern)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/86 "2014-09-01T21:07:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And you presuppose that atheists are pro-choice and pro-equal rights for those of various sexual orientations? Are there any other characteristics you would ascribe to atheists that you might disagree with politically? I do suspect that a large majority of atheists, especially ones who are active in politics, would have those views. I would be quite happy to be proven wrong, though! I think most of my other political beliefs are likely fairly common among the atheist population. ---
**Author:** ![kurtisokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kurtisokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurtisokc)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/87 "2014-09-01T23:14:10Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > What kind of limits can be imposed on a presidents risk taking? I know Bush used to mtn bike, but I don’t know how aggressively. Can the POTUS skydive? Base jump? Would a religious activity be different? The Secret Service really can’t make the President not do something he is determined to do. If the President wants to skydive or base jump, the Secret Service can try to talk him out of it, but beyond that they have no authority to prevent it. To address the OP’s question: I really don’t think it would be that unrealistic for an atheist to be elected POTUS provided he/she is the kind who just doesn’t talk about religion much. It is the snarky, self righteous atheists who likes to talk about how stupid religious people are who would be unelectable. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/88 "2014-09-01T23:24:13Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > The evidence shows that this is the most ignorant false equivalence fallacy made in these message board. Oh, come now! Surely there have been worse! How about “Jane Fonda was as bad as Hitler?” The competence of SDMB members to construct staggeringly ignorant false equivalences is unplumbed! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/89 "2014-09-01T23:33:37Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Numerous white, straight Christian men have been elected through conservative support. > So why wouldn’t a black gay female atheist get elected through liberal support? People get elected by gaining the support of the independents, not conservatives or liberals since both of those groups make up much less than half the electorate. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/90 "2014-09-01T23:52:09Z")
> [@buddy431](#): > > Have there been any snake handlers in congress? I honestly don’t know, but I bet there haven’t been very many. It’s mostly illegal, if only because of how they treat the snakes, so we wouldn’t really know. As for the thread title, I’m going to say that the atheist is more electable. Here’s why. A known snake handler couldn’t gain one of the gateway offices needed to be a credible candidate (governor, senator, member of the House of Representatives). So not only couldn’t a known current snake handler be elected, he or she couldn’t even become a first-tier primary election contender. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/91 "2014-09-02T00:01:58Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Numerous white, straight Christian men have been elected through conservative support. > So why wouldn’t a black gay female atheist get elected through liberal support? For one thing, because liberalism barely exists in America and hasn’t the power to do much of _anything,_ much less elect someone President. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/92 "2014-09-02T00:33:34Z")
Meanwhile in other parts of the country you can’t protest religious invocations without being kicked out as a troublemaker. [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-mayor-tosses-man-for-not-standing-for-pledge-of-20140829,0,80941.story](http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-mayor-tosses-man-for-not-standing-for-pledge-of-20140829,0,80941.story) ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/93 "2014-09-02T01:22:44Z")
I think if an athiest demonstrated a sincere respect for freedom of religion he might have a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/94 "2014-09-02T01:33:08Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I think if an athiest demonstrated a sincere respect for freedom of religion he might have a chance. And how would you would you like an _atheist_ to demonstrate this sincere respect for freedom of religion, while his or her opponents are wrapping themselves in the Bible and casting aspersions on the heathen atheist’s character? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/95 "2014-09-02T01:55:26Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I think if an athiest demonstrated a sincere respect for freedom of religion he might have a chance. Most do, given that any suppression of religious freedom is going to have them targeted for suppression right off. The hatred of atheists by believers has nothing to do with anything they do or say. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/96 "2014-09-02T02:14:07Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Well, ya lost me there. If they’re doin bong hits, they’re not really in recovery, but the bong hits aren’t a deal breaker in and of themselves. BOng hits aren’t alcohol! ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/97 "2014-09-02T02:22:38Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s not just the snake handling… it’s the whacky music and dancing that goes along with it.[Check it out here.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl_8r7WG3g4) > > I would suspicious of any poll taken on this subject since few people know any snake handlers or anything about them. And a person answering a poll about a generic atheist isn’t going to have the same response to that person as they would have if they knew something about him. Well, folks, that is where I came from. Grew up in that type of church. We’d have a travelling preacher bring in his snakes a couple of times a year. That is only one reason I became a full blooded atheist. But the dancing and women falling on the floor and rolling around was a weekly occurrence. I’d vote for an atheist before a Baptist. I am old enuff to remember preachers shouting that if the country elected John Kennedy, a Catholic, we’d have the country being run from the Vatican by Papists! Ain’t heard the word papist for 50 years or so though! ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/98 "2014-09-02T02:33:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Every side is convinced they’re at a disadvantage. > Atheists are no exception. But every side is convinced they are right! ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/99 "2014-09-02T03:03:56Z")
> [@DingoelGringo](#): > > But every side is convinced they are right! And in the case of atheists, Muslims and gays, their supposition is accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237/100 "2014-09-02T15:00:11Z")
> [@kurtisokc](#): > > The Secret Service really can’t make the President not do something he is determined to do. If the President wants to skydive or base jump, the Secret Service can try to talk him out of it, but beyond that they have no authority to prevent it… Quite true: [Is the Secret Service responsible for keeping the president from getting drunk? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2910/is-the-secret-service-responsible-for-keeping-the-president-from-getting-drunk) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-snake-handler-be-more-electable-as-potus-than-an-atheist/624237.md?page=6)