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The Spectacle Blog
Well. Isn’t this interesting.
As John R. Guardiano has noted below, Democrat Chris Coons and the liberal media have gotten the Constitution totally wrong.
But the question is: Out of ignorance — or deliberateness? I vote for a combination of both.
In one of the more startling moments in the recent debate between Delaware Senate candidates Coons and Christine O’Donnell, the conservative Republican opposing the left-wing Democrat, is Coons’ frightening ignorance of the U.S. Constitution.
You read that right.
In a sentiment that speaks volumes about the combination of ignorance and arrogance all too frequently coming out of Ivy League schoolings and American liberal elites, Coons said this in response to O’Donnell’s discussion of the “overreaching arm of the federal government getting into the business of the local communities.” The conservative O’Donnell said: “…our so called leaders in Washington no longer view the indispensable principles of our founding as truly that, indispensable.”
To which Coons stunningly replied: “Ms. O’Donnell, one of those indispensable principles is the separation of church and state.”
O’Donnell immediately replied: “Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?”
The transcript than indicates “laughter.”
Laughter? If that is meant to mean O’Donnell was wrong, than we are in even worse shape than might be supposed.
There is no such thing in the Constitution as the “separation of church and state.” Coons, who was also unable to name the five freedoms mentioned in the First Amendment (religion, speech, press, the right of peaceful assembly and to petition the Government) simply asserted a flat-out untruth. And the media…predictably…is trying to say O’Donnell was wrong!
This is one very, very big issue. The notion that Coons was wrong is bad enough. The audience not understanding the fundamental founding document that is the U.S. Constitution?
Downright scary — and a glaring warning sign of just how far off-track the American left-wing and secularists have gotten this country.
Christine O’Donnell — she the supposed unqualified candidate — got this 100% correct.
And Coons — the Ivy Leaguer — got it wrong, and not just wrong but abysmally so.
In this one exchange Americans can see two of our big problems at work. Ignorance of the Constitution — and arrogance from self-appointed elitists about a supposed intellectual superiority they quite laughably don’t even come close to possessing.
And the third problem? The serious possibility that Coons in fact knows he’s wrong, but has every intention of deliberately violating the Constitution in an effort to keep extending federal control over every last nook and cranny of American life.
No more local control of schools. No more churches deciding what they can preach. No more First Amendment protections for talk radio or the Internet.
This exchange between O’Donnell and Coons is not just won by O’Donnell — as Guardiano says — it is a vivid illustration of just how determined the left is to grab control of America in total violation of constitutional principles.
And that is no laughing matter.
View all comments (37) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/10/19/oons-clueless-on-constitution
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wodiej| 10.19.10 @ 3:23PM
Waiting for conservative pundits like Rove and Krauthammer to rethink their doubts by writing off O'Donnell because she did not have the prerequisite of an Ivy league education and a penis to be qualified enough to beat a far left marxist liberal like Coons who raised taxes in Delaware 50+% when he already had a $200 million dollar budget surplus.
Eric Cartman| 10.19.10 @ 6:10PM
Wait a minute, wodiej. You're not inferring Coons should know anything about the Constitution, are you? I mean, it's not like he went to an Ivy League university like, oh, I don't know, say Yale Law school, or anything like that. Besides, he has plenty of time to learn about it once the lazy ass, corrupt unionists of Delaware elect him. Hey! I got it! Obama is a Constitutional Lawyer - he can teach him! Oh, this is all starting to look great for the country!
Floyd Looney | 10.19.10 @ 3:30PM
I would like to see more churches, especially small ones, simply not register with the IRS. Just have a building where the congregation gathers and hears a pastor preach. The IRS would have no say about what is said from the pulpit because they can't scare you over your "tax status".
NotALibertarian| 10.19.10 @ 3:30PM
The misinformed public is the deliberate product of a treasonous education establishment. They haven't just been remiss in teaching students what the Constitution says; they have taught students lies about what the Constitution says.
The only way to change this is for someone to start an education foundation whose mission is to fix education culture in America, and fill the halls of academia with actual Americans again.
Tim*| 10.19.10 @ 3:35PM
Tea Party Alert :
WHYY-TV will broadcast a special election debate pitting U.S. Senate candidates Democrat Chris Coons against Republican Christine O’Donnell in its Wilmington, Del., studio Wednesday, Oct. 20.
The debate, which will be held from 8 to 9 a.m., will be recorded for broadcast on WHYY-TV at 7 p.m. that night. The debate will be rebroadcast at 5 and 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, and 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, on WHYY-TV and at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, on WHYY-TV’s Y Info channel.
We Tea Party Rebels support Christine O'Donnell .
Down With The New Castle County Serial Taxer & Liar Coons .
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Rise Up In Rebellion !
Andrew| 10.19.10 @ 3:48PM
You obviously didn't watch the entire debate. Coons recited to her part of the First Amendment, and she did not believe it was in there.
David W| 10.19.10 @ 3:53PM
Which part?
Ellie Light| 10.19.10 @ 7:34PM
The Bearded Marxits just kept lying. He couldn't even name the five rights guaranteed under the First Amendment. By the way the seperation of church and state can be found in the Constitution between the right to abortion and the right for homosexuals to serve in the military.
Ryan| 10.19.10 @ 4:00PM
Remember, under the whole "living document" theory of the Constitution, separation of church and state IS included, and has been promoted by court decisions (more or less). It's not that those on the left are somehow trying to be deliberately deceptive about the matter, it's just their (mostly incorrect) view of the Constitution.
O'Donnell is TECHNICALLY correct - and is also correct in what SHOULD be the interpretation of the Constitution; however, Coons and the left are simply using their own definition on how the law is applied.
I attribute ignorance before malice in any case.
Lesser Weevil| 10.19.10 @ 4:08PM
You think that the Constitution is an 18th-century document granting certain enumerated powers to the Federal government and recognizing the inalienable rights of the People. Chris Coons, on the other hand, thanks to his Ivy League education, knows that it is a mysterious and expansive living entity that evolves constantly to meet whatever are the requirements of the moment. It can be glimpsed occasionally through the pronouncements of the judiciary, but is otherwise unknowable.
Derek Leaberry| 10.19.10 @ 4:19PM
About 95 % of the liberals are ignorant, indoctrinated blunderheads when it comes to this alleged "separation of church and state." The other 5 % are liars, dishonorably misusing the 14th Amendment to run roughshod over the rest of the Constitution. They should all be impeached from whatever office they have burrowed into.
PattyMor| 10.19.10 @ 4:47PM
Its so telling that the MSM (aka US Provda) cropped the radio clip to such an extent that it appeared that Christine O'Donnell got it wrong.
Then the audience filled with law students had the misjudgment to laugh.
Tim*| 10.19.10 @ 4:50PM
The Liberal Agendists attempt to expand The Establishment Clause & contract The Freedom Clause .
Amendment I:
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.
Jefferson had no problem with four different Christian sects using his native Albemarle County Court House for Religious Services on alternating Sundays.
Jefferson had no problem with different Christian sects establishing and supporting Divinity Chairs at His State University of Virginia with full access to all facilities.
Jefferson had no problem with the appointment of a Congressional Chaplain.
" In matters of religion I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the General Government. I have therefore undertaken on no occasion to prescribe the religious exercises suited to it, but have left them, as the Constitution found them, under the direction and discipline of the church or state authorities acknowledged by the several religious societies. "
Thomas Jefferson's Second Inaugural Address
March 4, 1805
We Tea Party Rebels Support Christine O'Donnell.
Rise Up In Rebellion !
Ellie Light| 10.19.10 @ 7:36PM
Jefferson also held weekly relious services in the Capitol Building.
Reaganaut| 10.19.10 @ 5:21PM
Dear Mr. Lord-
There are so many great Republican candidates to support and follow, why your obsession with O'Donnell?
A Constitutional scholar she ain't (not that Coons is any better).
This DE R is writing in Castle.
Best regards.
ds80| 10.19.10 @ 8:04PM
... proving you are a doofus. QED
Troll Hunter| 10.19.10 @ 8:44PM
You dishonor the Great Man's name, TROLL.
Reagan would have never insulted a fellow Republican on the campaign trail.
Tim*| 10.19.10 @ 5:41PM
Trumps your RINO -CINO Obsession with RINO-CINO Castle .
Drew Williams| 10.19.10 @ 6:15PM
But then you must all wonder here why her campaign most emphatically state she is NOT questioning the very validity of separation ...
Tim*| 10.19.10 @ 6:29PM
Do your homework. We're wondering why your Boy Coons doesn't know the five freedoms of The First Amendment and he's The Serial Taxer & Liar from New Castle County .
In the 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.
We Tea Party Rebels Support Christine O'Donnell
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Rise Up In Rebellion !
moontalker| 10.20.10 @ 11:55PM
Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase "seperation of church and state" to describe the establishment clause. Specifically, "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State" - Thomas Jefferson (you know, that guy who penned most of the Constitution).
Kevin| 10.23.10 @ 12:48AM
Moontalker you ignoramous, Madison "penned most of the Constitution", Jefferson "penned most of the" Declaration of Independence.
And he didn't COIN a phrase "sepAration of church and state", it was merely verbage in a letter.
Drew Williams| 10.19.10 @ 7:16PM
Hey Tim, chill on the whole "rising up and rebelling" nonsense. We can all see you've got your little Rush Limbaugh talking points, your little spoon-fed slogans and the rest of your cut-and-paste drivel pulled from the pages of your favorite sources of propaganda.
What you don't have is the ability to form an educated opinion of your own.
If O'Donnell is really in favor of the separation, as her campaign claims, then she has changed positions she has held for more than two decades, going back to her SALT activism. So why should anyone believe her now? Lying then or lying now?
Feel free to go grab your tri-corner hat and flute now -- Rebels Rise UP!! You've got a great sense of drama, I'll give you that.
Ellie Light| 10.19.10 @ 7:55PM
The People's Court agrees with your brillant attack on the enemy of the peoples. Good job Commissar Williams.
You have all the talent and insight of an Obama speech writer.
Tim*| 10.19.10 @ 10:21PM
Uh Oh !
CoonsBoy Drew is gettin' all upset & atwitter about Tea Party Rebel Tim.
Sorry Sport , We Tea Party Rebels don't take orders from King Obama's Tories .
Go crybaby to somebody else .
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .
Rise Up In Rebellion !
Drew Williams| 10.20.10 @ 2:25PM
Hey Timmy Baby, how do you like your self-proclaimed expert on the Constitution who doesn't even know the contents of the 14th, 16th and 17th Amendments -- hot in GOP circles now?
Hooo, boy, the only thing you're rising to is that picture of Christine you keep between the mattress and the box spring. Wacka, wacka, Timmy Baby.
Dixie Pixie| 10.19.10 @ 7:42PM
Bribed with your own money.
What wonderful people.
Naturally, Obama wants more people in unions.
According to Obama most people have too much money and the unions too little.
So it is best to spread the money around.
All under gunpoint of the IRS.
Dixie Pixie| 10.19.10 @ 7:49PM
Sorry Gentlemen and Ladys.
This post was meant to be posted on another thread.
This just proves the adage to never type angry.
K Dub| 10.19.10 @ 11:09PM
Sorry, but I don't see it. O'Donnell knows even less about the Constitution than Coons, and he is no scholar.
I want our government to be smaller, and its balance sheet black, but we need far smarter candidate than Christine O'Donnell for it to happen...
Russell Seitz| 10.20.10 @ 12:30AM
Sorry Jim- catastrophes happen
“Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?”
Delaware Republican Christine O’Donnell asked in a debate with her opponent Chris Coons on Tuesday morning—a question “which prompted laughs from the studio audience,” according to CBS News.
Coons had argued that that the First Amendment prohibits the teaching of intelligent design in public schools.
"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?"
Coons replied,
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
O’Donnell asked,
“That’s in the First Amendment?”
Earlier in the debate, O’Donnell had attacked Coons for not knowing enough about the Constitution, saying, “Perhaps they didn’t teach you constitutional law at Yale Divinity School.”
Tim*| 10.20.10 @ 12:45AM
"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."
Drew Williams| 10.20.10 @ 1:32PM
Zzzzzzzzzz. So you're not fazed by the fact that Christine O'Donnell, with her, in her own words, "graduate fellowship on Constitutional government from the Clairmonte Institute ( a 7-day program, by-the-by)" didn't know the contents or context of the 14th, 16th or 17th Amendments?
This supposed Constitutional expert who has said on Fox News that her litmus test for any and all legislation would be the Constitution admits on video that she doesn't know even these Amendments when asked by a second-year law student?
Ha, what a joke she, you and the Tea Party is. I realize the bar has sunk pretty low for the GOP, but this bar is actually underground now. Thank God she's going to get smoked in the general.
Timely Renewed | 10.20.10 @ 2:12AM
Although unfortunately presented inarticulately, Ms. O’Donnell is correct that "separation of church and state" does not appear in the Constitution, nor is it a correct interpretation of the Establishment clause. The sole meaning of the Establishment clause was to prohibit the federal government from preferring one faith as a national religion. The 20th century Supreme Court rulings expanding that clause to incorporate the bigoted 19th century anti-Catholic concept of "separation of church and state" are an unconstitutional exercise of judicial overreach, as well as creating a jurisprudence which even pro-separationists acknowledge is incoherent. We need to amend the first amendment to restore the original meaning of its establishment clause, which is non-preference among denominations, not secular hostility to faith in general. See http://www.timelyrenewed.com.
Dale Cord| 10.20.10 @ 10:03AM
Like the Bible our Constitution will end up in the dumpster. We the people have not the wisdom or ability to govern ourselves, or to choose honest God fearing people to lead us. This country will suffer a great tribulation, like the Roman Empire its future is doomed.
Family Values| 10.20.10 @ 4:22PM
Tea Party leader Pastor Phelps is right, until we deal with Family Values, our positon on smaller government won't amount to a hill of beans!
Rise up Christian Tea Party Soldiers!
Ben| 10.20.10 @ 5:43PM
All these constitutional issues stem from "Gotcha" questions from the media. The real issue in Delaware is do you want higher taxes, more government, larger deficits and increasing unemployment with a proven tax and spend Obama, Pelosi and Reid clone or try something else? Maybe it's time to try something else.
Old Republican| 10.31.10 @ 3:24PM
This article is really really dangerously flirting with the truth.
I think what's its relying on is the fact that the exact words "separation of church and state" do not occur in the constitution. That phrase is a modern one that wasn't used in the early united states.
But Coons was entirely correct to say that the concept of separation does exist in the first amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion".
Perhaps it can be better said that the First Amendment dictates that no laws shall be made enshrining one religion, or indicating the preference of one religion over another.
That sounds an awful lot like the separation of church and state to me.
I want to see a Republican victory as much as anyone else. But trying to discredit the Democrats based on flimsy facts makes our great party look bad.
We're better than that.