I'm an atheist, but not a typical one.
I admit I'm a right-winger; I'm also an atheist. And the truth is neither neither side of the political spectrum can appreciate or accept that fact. But there are explanations for why each side feels what they do.
First, I'll explain why I am an atheist. I've always been a stickler for proof and evidence. I think of myself as being on a jury. The evidence gathered and put forth in support of God's existence has always been weak, and predicated on circular logic: i.e. the Bible proves God exists, but the BIble is true because it's God's word. I don't believe in God just as I don't believe in Woden, or Zeus, or any other supernatural being. Wrapping a supernatural deity in a cloak of moral stories does not make that deity real.
Many conservatives in the Religious Right unquestionably hold the idea that atheism and communism go hand in hand. This is part of the reason the words "Under God" were inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance. The Religious Right's fear of atheists is not entirely unfounded or illegitimate. The Soviet Union and its satellite states were very big on "atheism." But how atheist was the USSR, or any other communist country? Looking at history since the mid-1800's, communism is hardly more than a replacement religion, requiring the same faith and suspension of logic as any other religion.
I didn't actually admit to being an atheist until I arrived at college. At that point I felt like it was a mark of my intellect, that I wasn't so stupid to believe in fairy tales. I joined a student organization of other atheists. It was here that I learned why conservatives, especially religious conservatives, view atheists with concern and contempt. Virtually all the atheists in this group were not just atheists, they were nihilists. They went far beyond just discarding organized religion in general, or Christianity in specific. They called on the destruction of anything associated with Christianity, for example, Western Civilization. I later recognized that this organization was not about atheism, per se, it was a proxy group for anarchists. Whereas I rejected the Commandments which dealt with the supernatural, (Not worshipping other gods, not taking the Lord's name in vain, Sabbath Day), I still accept the importance of those that deal with earthly living, you know morality. These nihilist-anarchists rejected all such ideas. The 10 Commandments almost became a "How-To-Guide."
When I sit back and ponder, I realize exactly what the Religious Right and the Nihilist Left have in common: they think morality derives only from a supernatural source, from God. The Religious Right accepts God and therefore accepts his moral guidelines. The Nihilist Left (often comprised of irrational atheists) rejects God's existence, and likewise any semblance of morality that goes with it. And that's a real shame. Apparently to both groups, 6000 years of human civilzation and trial and error aren't worthy of consideration. Show me a society that can exist and continue to grow without a coherant moral code?
In their anti-religious zeal, the irrational atheist nihilists have claimed under the guise of "separation of church and state" that government should not legislate morality. Then what exactly is the law supposed to legislate? Again, these people confuse religion and morality. For all the fault I find with them, I would much rather live in the Religious Right's camp than with the NIhilists Left.