Today Republican Christine O'Donnell and her Democratic opponent, Chris Coons, debated at Widener University Law School in Delaware. The debate was carried live on radio by WDEL-AM.
During the debate O'Donnell called for teaching Creationism/Intelligent Design in public schools. Coons said that would be unconstitutional because it would violate the separation of church and state. O'Donnell then shocked the roomful of lawyers and law students when she questioned (several times) whether the First Amendment of the Constitution calls for the separation of church and state.
Don't believe me? Watch the video above. Click here to read more in the Washington Post about this bizarre episode.
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Update (4 p.m., same day): O'Donnell is a litmus test for your Republican friends. From here on you'll know it's a flat waste of time talking politics with anybody who can ignore all the crazy stuff and go on saying she really ought to be in the Senate for six years. Look at it this way: they're either so cynical it would make a goat puke, or they're dumb as a post.
8 comments:
Of course, the phrase "separation of church and state" does NOT appear in the Constitution, or the First Amendment. It is from a letter from Jefferson, who had nothing to do with the drafting of either.
Yes, I see that's how her handlers are spinning it. But if you watch the video, O'Donnell says way to much for that handy explanation of her lowbrow gaffe to hold up.
No doubt, her most ardent followers don't care and they will go on saying that's what she meant. Besides, only "elites" actually know what the Constitution says.
Well, I don't much care about what her handlers say.
I care about what the Constitution actually says.
No one, certainly not Coons, suggests that the phrase appears in the constitution. He actually explained in detail the relationship between the two provisions in the text ("establishment" and "prohibition") and the notion of "separation" as defined repeatedly in case law. This is what we (always) mean in all cases when we say something is "in" the constitution. Constitutional law is never about "phrases" but concepts. If it were, you could ignore any part of constitutional rights by saying "[word or phrase] isn't in the constitution."
O'Donnell, Angle, Paul, Brewer, Palin....Thanks alot Tea Party . You always represent what is worst about this country...
O'Donnell will have you arrested for stalking her Terry. 5 posts and counting. Who's yanking their doodle now?
Anonymous 7:56 a.m. (Josh), thanks for sharing and stay tuned.
There was a sign at the rally today that said "I masturbate to Christine O'Donnell". I didn't know you were even going, Terry, much make a sign.
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