The Merde Has Hit the Fan

By Jeff Archer

I would like to bring you up to date on the situation concerning the San Diego County Board of Supervisors' illegal spending of public money to promote the National Day of Payer which was held in San Diego in May.

As you recall the information was discovered by a newspaper article in the San Diego-Tribune in which a former employee stated she put time into the National Prayer Day project and used public money in its promotion. A supervisor, Bill Horn, fired the employee when she refused to work for no pay after being asked to continue the project at her own expense.

Shortly after, the Union-Tribune ran an article about the Atheist Coalition's attempt to have the County Board of Supervisors either return the mis-used money or give the Atheist Coalition an equal amount to run a "national day of nonbelief." This article prompted KFMB Radio to invite me to be a guest on the Rick Roberts Show along with Bill Horn.

What I thought would have been an astute debate turned into a one-sided fiasco. During the interview, Horn stated that he did not have the figures for the amount of money spent on the National Day of Payer, but he would get them. A few minutes later, he stated he had paid the money back out of his own pocket. He made many odd statements. Once, he said that the County Board of Supervisors gives money to many non-religious groups, such as the YMCA. Maybe somebody should tell Mr. Horn what the "C" stands for in YMCA.

After my one hour of air time, the station interviewed the employee who was fired by Mr. Horn. She said that all he had stated was a lie. Then she went on to tell of Mr. Horn having an extramarital affair with a staff member. The implication of marital impropriety took this to another level.

Since the interview, KFMB has stated that the station has received hundreds of calls. KFMB even has the interview on its website to download. In addition, on Monday, July 24, 2002, at 3:00 pm, the interview will again air on KFMB (760 AM).

The KFMB website describes the interview in this manner: "Your Tax Dollars for Prayer Meetings?" That was supposed to be the premise of an interview between Rick (Roberts), Jeff Archer, president of the Atheist Coalition of San Diego, and County Supervisor Bill Horn, but it turned into much more. The interview is currently being reviewed by the San Diego DA's office, County Council, and the Union-Tribune. This Rick Roberts exclusive has it all - Corruption, Deceit, and Adultery.

Tune in on Monday and listen to the original interview. From our perspective, it is fabulous. For one, the atheist message was heard by many and, in most cases, is supported by the public.