>>34 Dude, I'm sure there are atheists in every political party, but in American politics, it is almost impossible in the current age for an honest atheist to be elected.
On topic, Obama was highly criticized (not in major new sources of course) for his political affiliations, including his church. This involved him pleading ignorance about his pastor's (J. Right's) racism... it seems like he's just using religion as a tool to be elected. Fine by me, of course, but no honest religious person wants anyone seeming dishonest (certainly not an atheist!) in office.
Outwardly, American "Liberals" are less, erm, fanatic in their beleifs.