Breaking News: U.S. First Amendment Guarantees Separation of Church, State; Has Done So for 200+ Years

A lot of fun (and justifiable fun) has been made of Christine O'Donnell, the Republican candidate for Senator in Delaware. However, her always entertaining and almost certainly hopeless campaign has hit - depending on your perspective - either a new low or a new peak, thanks to her most recent debate against Democrat Chris Coons:

"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," Widener University political scientist Wesley Leckrone said after the debate, adding that it raised questions about O'Donnell's grasp of the Constitution.

Those interested can view Youtube of the debate here. Ms. O'Donnell makes the initial comment at about 2:37; the audience can be heard saying "wait, what?" at about 2:38.

- Christopher Bird, Toronto

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