Young, conservative, and ... atheist? A test for the GOP.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2015/0305/Young-conservative-and-atheist-A-test-for-the-GOP.

Young voters are increasingly secular. To grow the youth vote, Republicans face a challenge in keeping religious conservatives on board while expanding their reach to atheists and the 'religiously unaffiliated.'
By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer MARCH 5, 2015


Mike Theiler/ReutersView Caption

WASHINGTON — Conservatives made history this year. For the first time, an avowed atheist addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, the big annual gathering of conservative activists. And atheists occupied an exhibitor’s booth, another first.

Jamila Bey, an African American journalist and board member of the group American Atheists, didn’t exactly wow the crowd, for whom professions of religious faith and a belief in God are standard fare. But she wasn’t booed either. For the atheists, long held at arm’s length by Republicans, that’s progress.

“Embrace me. Let me vote for GOP candidates,” Ms. Bey said last week at the 41st annual CPAC.

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In particular, Bey said, Republicans must reach out to young people who identify as “secular,” a cohort that is growing.

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