O'Donnell: "Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" (VIDEO)

[jefferson_dem]

O'Donnell questions separation of church, state

By BEN EVANS
The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 19, 2010; 10:10 AM

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell of Delaware on Tuesday questioned whether the U.S. Constitution calls for a separation of church and state, appearing to disagree or not know that the First Amendment bars the government from establishing religion.

<SNIP>

Coons said private and parochial schools are free to teach creationism but that "religious doctrine doesn't belong in our public schools."
"Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" O'Donnell asked him.

When Coons responded that the First Amendment bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, O'Donnell asked: "You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?"

Her comments, in a debate aired on radio station WDEL, generated a buzz in the audience.

"You actually audibly heard the crowd gasp," said Widener University political scientist Wesley Leckrone, adding that he thought it raised questions about O'Donnell's grasp of the Constitution.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101902501_pf.html

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwSljJAzqg (scroll to 2:37)

[BootinUp]

1. I admit it, I got a little embarrassed for her

but only for a pico-second.

[Botany]

3. She said this at a law school too

2:48 "Where in the Constitution is separation of church and state?"

:rofl:


Ah, Ms. O'Donnell it is right up front ...... the first Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.

[mrcheerful]

7. No wonder Jefferson pushed for the amendment to include a separation of

religion instead of the way it ended up that allows the weaselly religious fanatics room to put their own belief on what free exercise of religion meant.

[Botany]

9. a short google check will show tons of sites that try to say that ...

.... Jefferson did not really mean "as if a wall between church and state" when
he wrote that in 1802 to the Baptists of Danbury, CT.

They all scream about "The Constitution" but really have very little knowledge
of it or they are in deep denial about what is written there and what the
SCOTUS has upheld for generations.

[polmaven]

21. You just KNOW

that we will next hear that banning the teaching of creationism is "prohibiting the free exercise thereof". Poor Christine. She really, really is very pitiful.

[valerief]

2. OMG, she's as dumb as a post. She's running for the Senate and doesn't even know

which amendments are what. Amazing.

[Brickbat]

4. LMAO, she thinks she zinged him.

[woodsprite]

6. I got the impression that she thought the laughter was in support of

her zinging him, not that it was aimed at her stupidity. She is an embarrassment to DE.

I bet she'll try to explain it as meaning nowhere does it actually say "separation of church and state" in those exact words.

[Brickbat]

8. Exactly -- she's beaming at the audience like they're laughing with her.

But no, it's totally at her.

[onenote]

16. yep. its a common RW argument that the exact phrase "separation of church and state"

isn't in the Constitution.

Of course, as Coons made clear, the phrase that IS in the Consitution, "make no law respecting the establishment of religion" has long been interpreted by the Supreme Court (consistent with an explanation of the concept by no less than Thomas Jefferson) as constructing a "wall of separatation" between church and state.

She'll try to dig herself out of it, but only by repudiating (or should I say refudiating?) Thomas Jefferson and a hundred years of Supreme Court jurisprudence.

[kestrel91316]

5. What a blatant display of comtempt for our entire system of government.

Doesn't know what's in the Constitution, and doesn't understand the process whereby laws are interpreted by the courts and the meaning of the Constitution is established.

A true Christofascist. She has no interest in the Consitution because she wants the nation ruled by THE OLD TESTAMENT.

[alsame]

10. Wow, the youtube comments are just brutal. I hope DE feels

the same way.

[Historic NY]

11. sheesh... its not like there is a brazillion of amendments, who briefed her? ..Sarah.

[rasputin1952]

12. Jeez...the stupid is strong in this one...

:eyes:

[polichick]

13. But her religion-based opinions won't get in the way of the job, of course. nt

[recadna]

14. Why is she still in the news??!!!

She is embarrassingly awful and has no shot of winning. Do we really have to know what's going on with her on a daily basis?

Somehow I feel she is just a decoy out there, sucking all the negative media attention away from other tea bagger extremists. I Mean, Angle practically stopped her free-falling as soon as O'Donnell came out. WE need to turn our attention to these electable tea baggers because they are more dangerous.

[polichick]

15. Because she's the latest train wreck. nt

[felix_numinous]

17. Democrats should jump on this issue

with O"Donnell starring as the poster child for Constitutional ignorance.

Separation of Church and State should be a rally cry of all Democrats.

[Hosnon]

18. Wow - she is an absolute moron. She doesn't even seem to realize that the First Amendment

includes legal principles regarding religion.

Yes, while the Separation of Church and State might not be the exact concept found in the First Amendment (i.e., Establishment Clause + Free Exercise Clause), it's pretty darn similar.

[LynneSin]

19. OMG Coons just shut his mouth and let her dig her own hole

crazy fun!

[Amimnoch]

20. wow... just wow... And this is Tea Party Senator material worth fighting for???

I just don't get it.

[S_E_Fudd]

22. At the end of that you could just see Coons wanted to do a happy dance....

He could hardly believe his luck!

[AspenRose]

23. I didn't think it was possible to make Sarah look like a Rhodes Scholar.

:wow:

[joshcryer]

26. Wow, hahaha!

Wow... goddamn.

[Elmore Furth]

24. Who let the dogs out? Woof, Palin, Woof. NT

[joshcryer]

25. The laughter is goddamn amazing.

Utterly amazing. I am speechless.

[AtomicKitten]

27. Ms. McDonnell has no clue, not even a hint she's a dumbshit. nt.

[Odin2005]

28. This woman is a fucking MORON.