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Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc.
Vol. 36 No. 01 Jan/Feb 2019

FFRF Reagan ad returns to Maddow, ‘Late Show’

Ron Reagan

FFRF’s ad, featuring Ron Reagan, self-described as “an unabashed atheist, not afraid of burning in hell,” will air three times a week for two weeks at the end of January on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show.”

FFRF will also run the spirited spot this month on 18 regional markets during Colbert’s live broadcast Tuesday night, Jan. 29, following President Trump’s State of the Union Address. The ad will air over a two-week period three times a week during the CBS national “Late Show” (11:35 p.m. Eastern) starting the week starting Jan. 28 through the week beginning March 4. 

Additionally, FFRF is debuting a new endorsement by FFRF Honorary President Steven Pinker, a Harvard academic and best-selling author, during the previous week starting Feb. 21 on the “Late Show” in the same regional markets. (See related story on this page.)

The Reagan ad has been contracted for on a regional basis, since national CBS has censored FFRF’s Ron Reagan ad from running nationally or on CBS-owned stations. Cities where the Reagan ad is scheduled to play on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights from Jan. 28 – Feb. 6 are: 

Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Columbus, Ohio, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Madison, Wis., Milwaukee, Nashville, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.

CBS Network, ABC, NBC and Discovery Science have all refused to air the 30-second spot nationally. Last year, a number of contracted regional markets ended up refusing the Reagan ad at the last minute. It is hoped if that happens, that the Pinker ad will be accepted.

FFRF’s Reagan commercial 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.”

“We’re very grateful to Steve Pinker and Ron Reagan for lending their prestige in the cause of FFRF, freethought and the constitutional principle of separation between religion and government,” says Dan Barker, FFRF co-president. “Welcome to new members who catch these advertisements, which are not only reaching prospective new supporters for FFRF, but are letting the public know that the son of a conservative president can be an outspoken atheist, and that one of science’s most distinguished advocates endorses FFRF’s work to uphold the Enlightenment in the United States.”