Christine O’Donnell, Confused About First Amendment?
Source: Buzz Catalog — This morning, Christine O’Donnell, made a major gaffe during debate over teaching creationism in schools. The audience was shocked when Delaware’s Republican Senate candidate asked Chris Coons:†Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?â€
Her opponent, Chris Coons, said later that her question revealed †a fundamental misunderstanding of what our Constitution isâ€. He also explained that the First Amendment prevents Congress from issuing laws referring to the establishment of religion, which is the basis of the separation of church and state concept. The First Amendment states:†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 assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.â€
In a reply after the public’s reaction, O’Donnell campaign manager, Matt Moran, issued a statement:†In this morning’s WDEL debate, Christine O’Donnell was not questioning the concept of separation of church and state as subsequently established by the courts. She simply made the point that the phrase appears nowhere in the Constitution. It was in fact Chris Coons who demonstrated his ignorance of our country’s founding documents when he could not name the five freedoms contained in the First Amendment.â€
October 20th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
The Republican / Tea Bagger party has become a party of unintellectual fear mongering religious extremists. I consider myself socially liberal, fiscally conservative. I have always leaned more republican than democrat but I can’t relate to the republicans anymore. Tea baggers just make their whole party even more of a joke and insult to the founding principles that made this country great. Feels like we are heading back to the dark ages with these goons.