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Atheism Quote by Noam Chomsky

“Since Jimmy Carter, religious fundamentalists play a major role in elections. He was the first president who made a point of exhibiting himself as a born again Christian. That sparked a little light in the minds of political campaign managers: Pretend to be a religious fanatic and you can pick up…” quote by Noam Chomsky
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“Since Jimmy Carter, religious fundamentalists play a major role in elections. He was the first president who made a point of exhibiting himself as a born again Christian. That sparked a little light in the minds of political campaign managers: Pretend to be a religious fanatic and you can pick up a third of the vote right away. Nobody asked whether Lyndon Johnson went to church every day. Bill Clinton is probably about as religious as I am, meaning zero, but his managers made a point of making sure that every Sunday morning he was in the Baptist church singing hymns.”

Noam Chomsky

About This Quote

Source Speech: Interview on US politics, 2000s

Political strategists have used overt religiosity to attract voters, treating faith as a campaign tool

In simple terms: Religious image is used to win votes

Key Takeaway

Beware of exploiting faith for political gain

Themes

politics religion image management

Mood

critical analytical

Type

political media

When to use this quote

  • campaign strategy
  • media analysis
  • voter outreach
  • public perception

Key Concepts

symbolic religiosity voter manipulation

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is authenticity possible in faith‑based campaigning?
  • What are the long‑term effects of such tactics?
A Different Perspective

Faith can be genuine, not merely a political façade

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