An ad recorded by Ron Reagan inviting viewers to join the Freedom From Religion Foundation is airing for the first time on the nation's most prominent news commentary shows.
"Morning Joe" and the "Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC are running the ad through March 12. The 30-second spot is also returning to CNN during the same time period.
In the ad, Reagan, the progressive son of President Ronald and Nancy Reagan, says:
Hi, I'm Ron Reagan, an unabashed atheist, and I'm alarmed by the intrusion of religion into our secular government. That's why I'm asking you to support the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the nation's largest and most effective association of atheists and agnostics, working to keep state and church separate, just like our Founding Fathers intended. Please support the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist, not afraid of burning in hell.
This week, the commercial is scheduled to air tonight, Feb, 27, for the first time on the "Rachel Maddow Show" at 9:12 p.m. Eastern Time and on Wednesday, March 1, at 9:30 p.m. The ad will run a total of four times. MSNBC had previously refused to run this commercial. It aired for the first time on "Morning Joe" this morning and will be telecast a total of six times on that show between Feb. 27 and March 17.
FFRF has also placed the ads on CNN, where it will run a total of 16 times on "CNN Newsroom," "The Lead with Jake Tapper" and "The Situation Room" between Feb. 27 and March 12.
The ad had previously been refused by CBS, NBC, ABC and Discovery Science, although it had aired on some regional network markets, as well as CNN and Comedy Central. However, a previous FFRF ad featuring John F. Kennedy has run on MSNBC, CBS and other networks.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is the nation's largest association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics), with more than 27,000 members. It works as a state/church separation watchdog.
FFRF advertising is made possible by kind contributions from members. Donations to FFRF are deductible for income-tax purposes.
