It seems like virtually every atheist site with a focus on the culture ways has been happy to report an increase in the percentage of Americans willing to vote for an atheist for President. Presumably virtually all atheists would like all Americans, atheist or not, to be willing to vote for an atheist for President.

Now consider the following statement by American Atheists’ Dave Silverman.

“Presidential conventions are for ideas, not ideology – platforms, not platitudes,” Silverman said. “If a person believes stupid things, we have every right to question his or her judgment, and that directly impacts how the nonreligious voter votes.”

The clear implication is that Silverman thinks nonreligious voters are justified in voting against someone solely on the basis of holding theistic beliefs, which Silvermand bluntly calls “stupid things.”

If Silverman thinks it’s okay to vote against both Romney and Obama because of their religious beliefs, I have to wonder how he can sincerely expect or even ask theists to entertain voting for an atheist for President. I have to wonder if there is a double standard here.