Christine O'Donnell DELIVERS.

[Doktor Howl]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020015-503544.html

Christine O'Donnell: "Where in the Constitution is the Separation of Church and State?"

Republican Senate Candidate Christine O'Donnell today challenged her Democratic opponent Chris Coons on his statement that the Constitution disallowed the integration of religion into the federal government, asking, "Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?"

The exchange, which prompted laughs from the studio audience, came during a debate this morning at Delaware's Widener School of Law, which was aired by WDEL radio.

In a discussion over the whether or not public schools should be allowed to integrate religion-based ideas into science curricula, O'Donnell argued that local school districts should have the choice to teach intelligent design if they choose.

When asked point blank by Coons if she believed in evolution, however, O'Donnell reiterated that her personal beliefs were not germane.  "What I think about the theory of evolution is irrelevant," she emphasized, adding later that the school of thought was "not a fact but a theory."

Coons said that creationism, which he considers "a religious doctrine," should not be taught in public schools due to the Constitution's First Amendment.  He argued that it explicitly enumerates the separation of church and state.

"The First Amendment does?" O'Donnell asked. "Let me just clarify: You're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?"

"Government shall make no establishment of religion," Coons responded, reciting from memory the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (Coons was off slightly: The first amendment actually reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.")

"That's in the First Amendment...?" O'Donnell responded.

Also during the debate, O'Donnell stumbled when asked whether or not she would repeal the 14th, 16th, or 17th Amendments if elected.

"The 17th Amendment I would not repeal," she said, before asking the questioner to define the 14th and 16th amendments, adding: "I'm sorry, I didn't bring my Constitution with me."

The 16th Amendment allows Congress to raise taxes without apportioning them among the states or tying the taxation to Census results. The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to everyone born in the United States. The 17th Amendment established direct election by popular vote of two U.S. Senators to each state .

Earlier in the debate, O'Donnell accused Coons of constitutional ignorance, saying that "perhaps they didn't teach you Constitutional law at Yale Divinity School."

[Don Coyote]

She got my vote.

[Adios]

Please let her win. PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE

[Sir Fronkensteen, The Hawk]

Good thing she wouldn't repeal the 21st

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Schooled.

[Adios]

AMERICA™ DESERVES PALIN/O'DONNELL!

[AFK]

I have to envy some of these states.  In this race in Delaware they're picking between a limp fish and a crazy church lady.  Then again, I get to pick which flavor of shit sandwhich I'm going to eat when it comes to picking my next Governor. 

[Freeky]

I'd vote for her just because that was so FUNNY!

[East Coast Hustle]

I have to envy some of these states.  In this race in Delaware they're picking between a limp fish and a crazy church lady.  Then again, I get to pick which flavor of shit sandwhich I'm going to eat when it comes to picking my next Governor. 

You really think Cutler's that bad? Aside from his annoying frequency in my facebook feed, dude seems pretty reasonable and realistic, which is even more amazing considering he's from Cape Elizabeth.

Totally agree that Mitchell and LePage are the syrup and butter on a blueberry shitwaffle though.

[Sir Fronkensteen, The Hawk]

I have to envy some of these states.  In this race in Delaware they're picking between a limp fish and a crazy church lady.  Then again, I get to pick which flavor of shit sandwhich I'm going to eat when it comes to picking my next Governor. 

You really think Cutler's that bad? Aside from his annoying frequency in my facebook feed, dude seems pretty reasonable and realistic, which is even more amazing considering he's from Cape Elizabeth.

Totally agree that Mitchell and LePage are the syrup and butter on a blueberry shitwaffle though.

...Where do you get your metaphors??

[Jenne]

I have to envy some of these states.  In this race in Delaware they're picking between a limp fish and a crazy church lady.  Then again, I get to pick which flavor of shit sandwhich I'm going to eat when it comes to picking my next Governor. 

RIGHT BACK ATCHA SIR!

[Bobby Campbell]

The crowd reaction is awesome!

I'm from Delaware, and have found this all rather fascinating.

[Iason Ouabache]

The crowd reaction is awesome!

I'm from Delaware, and have found this all rather fascinating.

I had to watch the video a couple of times to tell whether they were laughing with her or at her. This is a damn loud dog whistle to her religious right backers. They somehow think that since the exact words "separation of church and state" aren't in the Constitution that the Founding Fathers wanted us to be a Christian theocracy. I wish I was fucking joking.

[Iason Ouabache]

vorjack agrees with me:

http://unreasonablefaith.com/2010/10/20/she-did-it-again/

Remember how I said that I liked the way that Christine O'Donnell would say things that were common in conservative christian circles, but uncommon in the rest of America? Well, she got in a good one during a debate with her opponent Chris Coons: "Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?"

This line is a staple in certain circles, and I've heard it any number of times on political call-in shows. But O'Donnell was foolish enough to bring it out at a law school...

The worst part is that she comes across as completely clueless. That line, "Where in the Constitution &tc," is supposed to just be the lead-in to a long diatribe about how "Separation of Church and State" is just a liberal anti-christian hoax. But when Coons repeats the First Amendment to her, she doesn't seem to know how to proceed to the next stage.

[AFK]

I have to envy some of these states.  In this race in Delaware they're picking between a limp fish and a crazy church lady.  Then again, I get to pick which flavor of shit sandwhich I'm going to eat when it comes to picking my next Governor. 

You really think Cutler's that bad? Aside from his annoying frequency in my facebook feed, dude seems pretty reasonable and realistic, which is even more amazing considering he's from Cape Elizabeth.

Totally agree that Mitchell and LePage are the syrup and butter on a blueberry shitwaffle though.

No.  He just hasn't run a very good campaign.  I'll most likely be voting for him.  I was really hopeful after the primaries he would bust out and win the thing a la King  (no pun intended).  He needs a little more zip in his campaign.