FOX News: Atheists Meet With White House

From Hemant Mehta the Friendly Atheist:

I was there. Sean Hannity wasn’t.

So why is he acting like he knows what happened at the Secular Coalition for America’s briefing with Obama Administration officials?

Hannity: The Obama administration earlier today rolled out the red carpet for a coalition of atheist groups. Now, among the individuals in attendance was Michael Newdow. That’s the California man who sued unsuccessfully to have the words “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, religious groups, however, have not received this kind of treatment from the Obama White House. Now, last year, the President distanced himself from the National Day of Prayer, cancelling the formal service traditionally held in honor of the day and refusing to attend a Catholic prayer breakfast. So what’s going on? Has the administration demonstrated a pattern of hostility towards religion, or is this merely a coincidence?

There was no red carpet.

There was no Michael Newdow in attendance (not that there would have been anything wrong with that).

Religious group have indeed received the same — in fact, far better — treatment from the Obama administration.

Hannity is doing with conservatives do best: Taking a headline, stretching it past the point of falsehood, and getting his base all riled up.

Note that the majority of the segment has nothing to do with the issue at hand. They don’t talk about atheists or the administration meeting with us. They just use it as a launching pad to trash the president.

By the way, at no point did FOX News ask the Secular Coalition for America for a response to their claims. But I’m sure we would love the chance.