Kay Hagan cites her faith in a new ad.

Responding to a recent ad by Sen. Elizabeth Dole criticizing her for attending a fundraiser hosted by an atheist, the Democratic Senate candidate called it offensive and an attack on her Christian faith.

"She even faked my voice in her TV ad to make you think I don't believe in God," Hagan says in the ad, released today. "Well, I believe in God. I taught Sunday school. My faith guides my life, and Senator Dole knows it."

The ad ends with a woman's voice saying "There is no God" as an image of Hagan is shown. The woman speaking is actually Ellen Johnson, executive director of the Godless Americans PAC, which advocates for atheists and secular humanists.

Hagan attended a fundraiser in September hosted by Woody Kaplan, a founder of the political action committee.

Hagan ends the ad by saying her campaign is about fixing the economy and — referencing the Ninth Commandment — "not bearing false witness against fellow Christians."

Hagan is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

After the jump, the script.

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Lawyers for the campaign of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole say they won't pull a TV ad that links challenger Kay Hagan to a group called the Godless Americans political action committee.

In a letter sent to Hagan's lawyers today, Dole attorneys Eugene Boyce and Philip Isley say the ad is factual. They point out that Hagan attended a September fundraiser at the home of a Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan, who are leaders in the Secular Coalition of America.

Kaplan, who sits on an advisory board for the Godless Americans PAC, also contributed $2,300 to the Hagan campaign committee, the lawyers say.

"Your client may not like that the ad publicly disseminates information she would prefer to keep quiet in these days before the elections, but the ad is 100% factually accurate and truthful," Boyce and Isley write.

They further say there is "contrary authority to atheist belief or affiliation being deemed 'libel per se' or even defamatory."

Hagan, who is a Sunday school teacher at a Presbyterian church in Greensboro, took offense and threatened to go to court for a "cease-and-desist" order if Dole did not pull the ad today.

Dole campaign spokesman Dan McLagan said: "Kay Hagan is yelling 'lawsuit' to distract attention from the fact that she was caught raising money from members of a group whose purpose is to advocate for the removal of the word 'God' from public life.

Related: Dole ad one of YouTube's most watched yesterday; Hagan cites Ninth Commandment in response ad; GOP strategist Ed Rollins says Dole should be "ashamed"; former Jesse Helms strategist Carter Wrenn says ad goes too far; former Helms consultant Alex Castellanos says ad crosses the line; N&O fact check finds ad misleading. See the ad here.

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A new ad from the campaign of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole criticizes Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan for attending a fundraiser hosted by members of an atheist group.

What the ad says: The ad shows images of Dole and Hagan. Dole: "I'm Elizabeth Dole and I approve this message." Announcer: "A leader of the Godless Americans PAC recently held a secret fundraiser in Kay Hagan's honor." A clip of Godless Americans PAC executive director Ellen Johnson on MSNBC: "There is no God to rely on." Another Johnson clip: "There was no Jesus." A clip of Bill O'Reilly on Fox News: "But taking ‘under God’ out of the Pledge of Allegiance — you're down with that." Godless Americans PAC member David Silverman: "We're down with that." O'Reilly: "'In God We Trust' — are you going to whip that off the money?" Silverman: "Yeah, we would." Announcer: "Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras. Took godless money. What did Hagan promise in return?" The ad then shows an image of Hagan as an unidentified voice says "There is no God!"

The background: On Sept. 15, Hagan attended a fundraiser in Boston hosted by author Wendy Kaminer and her husband, Woody Kaplan.

Both are leaders of the Secular Coalition of America, which advocates for atheists and humanists in public policy. Kaplan also sits on the advisory board of the Godless Americans political action committee, which advocates for non-believers.

It is not clear that Kaminer is a leader of the PAC.

Kaplan was listed as one of ten chairs of the Hagan fundraiser, along with Sen. John Kerry, former Austrian ambassador Swanee Hunt and several other Boston-area businesspeople. Another 25 people were listed as hosts.

The fundraiser was advertised on the Democratic Web site ActBlue in August. After Dole criticized Hagan over the fundraiser in late August, Kaminer and Kaplan’s names were removed from the invitation on ActBlue.

The Godless Americans PAC Web site says that it supports candidates who are atheists and supports the separation of religion and government, including a "Godless pledge."

The news clips are of other members of the Godless Americans PAC on MSNBC's "Scarborough Country" in 2004 and 2005 and Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" in 2004. The unidentified woman’s voice at the end is Johnson's from a Washington rally in 2002.

Is the ad accurate? It is true that Hagan attended the fundraiser in question, but the ad is misleading in several ways. The fundraiser was not a secret. The people shown in the news clips were not involved with the fundraiser. And some viewers might be led to believe that the unidentified female voice  at the end of the ad is Hagan's.

— Barbara Barrett and Ryan Teague Beckwith

The N.C. Republican Party criticizes Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan's views on gay marriage in a recent mailer.

What the mailer says: Front page: Image of two men's hands with rings that say 'guy' on them. "With Kay Hagan and liberal judges, we're one step closer to legal gay marriages."

Inside pages: Pictures of two cake figurines of men in tuxedos, Hagan and donors Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan. "Liberal Kay Hagan opposes constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in North Carolina. Across America, liberal judges are overturning state laws banning gay marriage. In North Carolina a state constitutional amendment is needed to protect traditional marriage and prevent liberal judges from imposing their gay marriage agenda on the state. Kay Hagan is actively opposed to this needed amendment to ban gay marriage in North Carolina. Hagan opposes defining a marriage as a union between one man and one woman in North Carolina."

"Maybe that helps explain why Kay Hagan flew to Boston to pick up campaign cash from leaders of the Godless Americans PAC, Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan. The Godless American PAC actively supports political candidates who support their liberal agenda to legalize gay marriage in North Carolina, remove 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance and force the Boy Scouts of America to accept atheists and homosexuals as troop leaders."

"Kay Hagan and Godless Americans PAC, a radical homosexual agenda for North Carolina. 1. Hold a fundraiser in Boston at home of Godless American PAC leaders. 2. Elect Kay Hagan to the U.S. Senate. 3. Legalize Gay Marriage in North Carolina. 4. Force Boy Scouts of America to make homosexuals troop leaders. 5. Remove 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance."

Back page: "Liberal Kay Hagan opposes constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in North Carolina. 'I don't think there's a need for a (state) constitutional amendment [banning gay marriage.]' — Kay Hagan."

The background: The mailer makes several claims about Hagan's beliefs.

GAY MARRIAGE: Gay marriage is currently illegal in North Carolina.

A state law passed in 1871 defines marriage as between "a male and female person." A second law passed in 1996 specifically invalidates same-sex unions.

In California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, state Supreme Court judges have overturned statutes outlawing gay marriage, citing concerns over equality. Except for Florida, every other Southern state has passed an amendment to its state constitution outlawing gay marriage that cannot be overturned by judges.

Starting in 2004, state legislators began introducing bills that would put a similar amendment up for a referendum in North Carolina. House and Senate Democratic leaders sent all 10 bills to die in committee.

In a 2005 interview with the Greensboro News-Record, Hagan called gay marriage "a polarizing issue."

"In North Carolina we have a law saying marriage is between a man and a woman. I don't think there's a need for a (state) constitutional amendment," she said.

A campaign spokeswoman said she continues to oppose a state amendment as well as a similar amendment proposed for the U.S. Constitution.

GODLESS AMERICANS: Hagan attended a Sept. 15 fundraiser in Boston hosted by author Wendy Kaminer and her husband, Woody Kaplan.

Kaplan is on the advisory board of the Godless Americans PAC, whose Web site says it supports candidates who are atheists and supports the separation of religion and government, including a "Godless pledge." It is not clear that Kaminer is a leader of the PAC.

Hagan's campaign said Hagan does not support removing "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.

Her son is an Eagle Scout. Her campaign said that while Hagan opposes discrimination, she believes questions about who can be troop leaders should be left to the Boy Scouts.

Is the mailer accurate? Yes and no. Hagan does not support a constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage and she did attend the fundraiser. But the mailer incorrectly suggests that she shares the views of the Godless Americans PAC on the Pledge of Allegiance and the Boy Scouts.

The N.C. Republican Party criticizes Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan ties to a political action committee for atheists in a recent mailer.

What the mailer says: Front page: Image of torn photo of children saying the Pledge of Allegiance. "Godless Americans Pac wants to remove 'Under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance. And now, they want Kay Hagan in the U.S. Senate..."

Inside pages: Pictures of Hagan and supporters of the Godless Americans PAC. "Liberal Kay Hagan flew to Boston to pocket campaign cash from leaders of the Godless Americans PAC. What is Godless Americans PAC? Godless Americans Political Action Committee is a left-wing organization based in Washington, DC - dedicated to 'Mobilizing America’s nonbelievers for political activism.'

"They actively support political candidates who are atheists and who also support their liberal agenda to remove 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance and force the Boy Scouts to accept atheists and homosexuals as troop leaders. Their goal is to remove any reference to God in the public arena, including eliminating the Christmas Holiday.

"Kay Hagan & the Godless Americans PAC. Liberal Kay Hagan flew to Boston to pocket campaign cash from leaders of the Godless Americans PAC, Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan. They held a private fundraiser for Kay Hagan at their home in Boston, Massachusetts on September 15th. In North Carolina, Kay Hagan says she shares our values. But, behind our backs she’s the guest of honor at a fundraiser hosted by the most vile, radical liberals in America.

"We can't trust Kay Hagan to defend our North Carolina values."

Back page: Image of a torn photo of a mother and young daughter decorating a Christmas tree. "And, Godless Americans Pac wants to eliminate the Christmas holiday. And, they want Kay Hagan in the U.S. Senate."

The background: Hagan, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, attended a Sept. 15 fundraiser in Boston hosted by author Wendy Kaminer and her husband, Woody Kaplan. Kaplan is on the advisory board of the Godless Americans PAC, whose Web site says it supports candidates who are atheists and supports the separation of religion and government, including a "Godless pledge." It is not clear that Kaminer is a leader of the PAC.

Some readers may be left with the impression that Hagan supports the PAC's position on the Pledge of Allegiance, Christmas and the Boy Scouts — or that Hagan is an atheist.

Hagan's campaign said Hagan does not support removing "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.

Hagan is an elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

Hagan does not support eliminating the Christmas holiday. Her family often spends part of Christmas morning at a home for severely handicapped people, where they cook breakfast, wash dishes and play Santa Claus to relieve the home's staff.

Hagan's son is an Eagle Scout. Her campaign said that while Hagan opposes discrimination, she believes questions about who can be troop leaders is a decision for the Boy Scouts, not Washington, to make.

Is the mailer accurate? Yes and no. Hagan did attend the fundraiser in question. But the mailer incorrectly suggests that Hagan shares the view of the Godless Americans PAC on the Pledge of Allegiance, Christmas and the Boy Scouts.

— Bill Krueger

The N.C. Republican Party is linking Kay Hagan to the Godless Americans PAC.

A mailer from the party authorized by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's campaign notes that Hagan appeared at a Sept. 15 fundraiser hosted by author Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan.

Both are leaders of the Secular Coalition of America, which advocates for atheists and humanists in public policy. Kaplan also sits on the advisory board of the Godless Americans political action committee, which advocates for nonbelievers.

"Godless Americans PAC wants to remove 'Under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance," the mailer says. "And now, they want Kay Hagan in the U.S. Senate."

Inside, it says the PAC supports political candidates who are atheists, wants to "force the Boy Scouts to accept atheists and homosexuals as troop leaders," and seeks to "remove any reference to God in the public arena, including eliminating the Christmas holiday."

Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is attacking Democratic challenger Kay Hagan for raising money from “anti-religion activists” at an upcoming event in Boston.

Hagan is scheduled to appear Sept. 15 at a fundraiser hosted by author Wendy Kaminer and her husband, Woody Kaplan, reports Barb Barrett.

Both are leaders of the Secular Coalition of America, which advocates for atheists and humanists in public policy. Kaplan also sits on the advisory board of the Godless Americans political action committee, whose Web site says it advocates for non-believers.

More after the jump.

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