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For those who think O'Donnell is correct, even on a technicality: Dreaded Anomaly Send a noteboard - 20/10/2010 10:49:40 PM
It's true that the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in the Constitution.

HOWEVER:

Coons does not claim that it does, either. He states that "The First Amendment establishes... the fact that the federal government shall not establish any religion." O'Donnell interjects "The First Amendment does?" in a vacuous, valley-girl-esque tone. She showed that she has no idea what the First Amendment says, and that's the real story here.

(Don't believe me? Watch the video linked below. Coons makes the statement quoted above at around the 6 minute mark.)
Video of the debate
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"Where in the Constitution is separation of church and state?" damookster - 20/10/2010 12:33:05 AM 1049 Views
You don't want her? nossy - 20/10/2010 01:21:20 AM 600 Views
I have decided for the first time in my life to not vote this year. everynametaken - 20/10/2010 01:27:13 AM 469 Views
Now there's an answer Isaac - 20/10/2010 01:47:28 AM 564 Views
Voting isn't the only way to contribute *NM* Roland00 - 20/10/2010 02:42:10 AM 201 Views
And most of those posts are a guess at best. everynametaken - 20/10/2010 03:02:04 AM 444 Views
Maybe you shouldn't be guessing then? Isaac - 20/10/2010 06:00:02 AM 436 Views
Local bonds/ballot initiatives? Want the only major road within 10 miles of your house tolled? Joel - 21/10/2010 01:50:41 PM 478 Views
Issac has a point. Tashmere - 20/10/2010 02:14:28 AM 445 Views
Can you not spoil your ballot? Mark - 20/10/2010 10:19:54 AM 428 Views
Depends where you live. Joel - 20/10/2010 01:50:30 PM 523 Views
I don't think so but an intentional no vote is just as valid as voting IMHO. *NM* everynametaken - 21/10/2010 02:45:35 AM 203 Views
The difference is when they look at statistics snoopcester - 21/10/2010 10:49:48 AM 417 Views
Exactly. Joel - 21/10/2010 02:02:46 PM 550 Views
When you don't vote the bad guys win. That simple. Joel - 20/10/2010 01:53:23 PM 566 Views
The bad guys? That implies that there are some "good" guys somewhere in politics. Avendesora - 20/10/2010 05:43:06 PM 418 Views
I didn't say that, just that the bad guys automatically win if you don't vote. Joel - 20/10/2010 05:49:43 PM 423 Views
An intentional NO vote is just as valid as voting. everynametaken - 21/10/2010 02:46:58 AM 456 Views
Apart from the fact there's no record of it whatsoever, yes. Joel - 21/10/2010 01:37:46 PM 434 Views
Re: I have decided for the first time in my life to not vote this year. Camilla - 20/10/2010 02:54:04 PM 549 Views
She is a buffoon of course. But what I am speechless about is... everynametaken - 20/10/2010 01:25:43 AM 545 Views
Re: She is a buffoon of course. But what I am speechless about is... TaskmasterJack - 20/10/2010 01:35:48 AM 475 Views
Re: (meant to be under the main thread, but I can't move it) Gaps - 20/10/2010 02:42:23 AM 466 Views
It's a valid argument. Joel - 21/10/2010 03:26:46 PM 424 Views
i feel kinda bad for her Aisha - 20/10/2010 03:31:03 AM 514 Views
What is odd about this is that everyone is used to the 'separation' idea that they don't bother to MightyYT - 20/10/2010 06:44:48 AM 468 Views
Or, you know, the letters on the topic written by the people who drafted the Constitution *NM* Jragghen - 20/10/2010 07:04:47 AM 250 Views
Those aren't the Constitution though. Joel - 20/10/2010 12:39:41 PM 457 Views
which show they considered it but did not include it *NM* random thoughts - 20/10/2010 06:14:37 PM 205 Views
Yep, this. *NM* Zalis - 20/10/2010 07:40:19 PM 225 Views
Personally, I think that's splitting hairs. *NM* rebelaessedai - 20/10/2010 09:20:28 PM 207 Views
a direct reading is splitting hairs? random thoughts - 20/10/2010 09:25:14 PM 430 Views
That's what lawyers like the Founding Fathers do. Joel - 21/10/2010 02:56:36 PM 434 Views
I actually felt bad for her snoopcester - 20/10/2010 10:46:57 AM 448 Views
She's right. Joel - 20/10/2010 12:27:55 PM 562 Views
I'm less concerned about what she said than why she said it. *NM* Avendesora - 20/10/2010 01:32:38 PM 295 Views
It is on youtube snoopcester - 20/10/2010 02:40:12 PM 478 Views
Jesus Christ Camilla - 20/10/2010 03:03:30 PM 482 Views
Re: Jesus Christ snoopcester - 20/10/2010 03:32:02 PM 443 Views
Re: Jesus Christ Camilla - 20/10/2010 03:36:48 PM 407 Views
Re: Jesus Christ snoopcester - 20/10/2010 03:53:46 PM 424 Views
Re: Jesus Christ Camilla - 20/10/2010 04:01:49 PM 502 Views
Re: Jesus Christ snoopcester - 20/10/2010 05:12:28 PM 421 Views
Because she knew her audience, she expected them to know better, not be deliberately obtuse. Joel - 21/10/2010 02:31:19 PM 454 Views
Re: Because she knew her audience, she expected them to know better, not be deliberately obtuse. nossy - 21/10/2010 02:40:23 PM 513 Views
If the subsequent rulings aren't Constitutional they don't matter. Joel - 21/10/2010 03:03:11 PM 453 Views
Re: If the subsequent rulings aren't Constitutional they don't matter. nossy - 21/10/2010 03:57:45 PM 507 Views
She focused on the First Amendments text, and ignored the rest as commentary. Joel - 21/10/2010 04:49:22 PM 524 Views
Ok. nossy - 21/10/2010 05:01:22 PM 413 Views
I certainly don't think she deserves the scorn being heaped on her this time. Joel - 21/10/2010 05:14:03 PM 453 Views
See Dreaded Anomaly's reply below. Camilla - 21/10/2010 03:03:02 PM 477 Views
Done. Joel - 21/10/2010 04:50:52 PM 420 Views
Yet another reason you aren't a lawyer. *NM* Ghavrel - 21/10/2010 05:09:16 PM 163 Views
Because I don't accept arguments I consider unproven? Joel - 21/10/2010 05:23:52 PM 473 Views
The last statement is the only relevant one, and still a bit ambiguous. Joel - 20/10/2010 03:51:35 PM 458 Views
I think it is clear that that argument is beyond her capabilities. It was not what she was saying. *NM* everynametaken - 21/10/2010 02:50:33 AM 191 Views
Separation of church and state is not in the Constitution, so she's right. Joel - 21/10/2010 03:41:27 PM 388 Views
I see we have replaced the PDS with ODS random thoughts - 20/10/2010 03:05:58 PM 405 Views
It only depends on just how finely one wants to split hairs. Macharius - 20/10/2010 04:02:28 PM 423 Views
no it depends how far you want to stretch the Constitution to say things it doesn't say random thoughts - 20/10/2010 04:19:04 PM 416 Views
No it does not show that. everynametaken - 21/10/2010 02:58:32 AM 421 Views
It doesn't matter what some of them may have wanted random thoughts - 21/10/2010 02:54:54 PM 390 Views
Treaty of Tripoli through the Establishment clause fairly explicitly affirms this. Sorry. *NM* Ghavrel - 21/10/2010 03:56:09 AM 192 Views
OK which clause allows for amending the Constitution by treaty? I can't seem to find it *NM* random thoughts - 21/10/2010 02:59:01 PM 181 Views
Supremacy clause, not establishment clause. My mistake. Ghavrel - 21/10/2010 05:07:18 PM 415 Views
Sorry, but the Treaty of Tripolis relevant section still seems like commentary. Joel - 21/10/2010 05:18:00 PM 407 Views
This is quickly becoming infuriating. Ghavrel - 22/10/2010 01:41:18 AM 383 Views
No, it's part of the treaty. Joel - 22/10/2010 02:02:42 AM 432 Views
Take it up with the Supremacy Clause. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/10/2010 02:12:11 AM 194 Views
So from 1797 we've been at "perpetual peace" with Libya? Joel - 22/10/2010 02:25:44 AM 391 Views
Fair enough as regards the treaty being broken. Ghavrel - 22/10/2010 02:38:37 AM 418 Views
Seems to apply to the Tenth Amendment only, not the Constitution as a whole. Joel - 22/10/2010 02:56:27 AM 508 Views
When a treaty is ratified by the senate, its provisions become federal law via a few processes. Ghavrel - 22/10/2010 03:02:24 AM 405 Views
Even if we take that at face value, a law can still be unconstitutional. Joel - 22/10/2010 03:19:07 AM 434 Views
it was a poor decision anyway since Amendments should be seen to modify the original random thoughts - 22/10/2010 02:11:22 PM 399 Views
Well, they do, but they modify, they don't automatically negate. Joel - 22/10/2010 08:31:47 PM 397 Views
no your mistake was misreading the clause random thoughts - 21/10/2010 05:48:52 PM 405 Views
Very difficult not to lose my temper here. Ghavrel - 22/10/2010 01:39:21 AM 391 Views
Then you should argue it violate a treaty with a country that no longer exist random thoughts - 22/10/2010 02:03:32 PM 401 Views
Noticed that, too, did you? Joel - 22/10/2010 08:40:09 PM 518 Views
She's so... bewildered! beetnemesis - 20/10/2010 06:40:04 PM 416 Views
that is what I think when I read a lot of the responses here random thoughts - 20/10/2010 07:44:40 PM 397 Views
She was still confused when he clarified what he meant, is what's funny *NM* beetnemesis - 20/10/2010 08:56:56 PM 184 Views
Because the logical conclusion is obvious. everynametaken - 21/10/2010 03:08:39 AM 400 Views
I think it is logical that it means what is say not want some want it to say random thoughts - 21/10/2010 03:02:08 PM 408 Views
Nonsense. The nature of the nation was already changing in the first generation. everynametaken - 22/10/2010 12:35:26 AM 508 Views
but it is an impulse that should be limited random thoughts - 22/10/2010 06:05:10 PM 399 Views
I think it funny that so many people can't see that what she was actually saying was true random thoughts - 20/10/2010 09:23:23 PM 408 Views
I think it is funny that you think that she could argue that angle when she clearly can't. *NM* everynametaken - 21/10/2010 03:10:43 AM 172 Views
For those who think O'Donnell is correct, even on a technicality: Dreaded Anomaly - 20/10/2010 10:49:40 PM 464 Views
exactly damookster - 21/10/2010 03:26:00 AM 448 Views
She started out alright nossy - 21/10/2010 02:32:01 PM 398 Views
She reiterates her question about "separation of church and state" and he repeatedly dodges. Joel - 21/10/2010 03:19:56 PM 416 Views
or she wasn't really paying attnetion to him and was still trying to argue her first point random thoughts - 21/10/2010 03:24:06 PM 573 Views
Lol. Bush-League. LadyLorraine - 21/10/2010 04:39:43 PM 374 Views
at leas thten the haters were hating someone who mattered *NM* random thoughts - 21/10/2010 05:50:03 PM 195 Views
Heh...reminds me of Obama claiming to have visited all fifty seven states. MightyYT - 22/10/2010 12:44:58 AM 527 Views
My favorite bit is how people are attacking the judicary because they disagree with rulings. Ghavrel - 21/10/2010 05:12:01 PM 416 Views
so you believe we all should just accept what the courts say without question? random thoughts - 21/10/2010 05:54:42 PM 430 Views
Given that it's you, Joel and Christine O'Donnell versus two centuries of jurisprudence? YES. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/10/2010 01:49:01 AM 189 Views
Y'know, an alliance as unlikely as that one ought to give you cause for a second look. Joel - 22/10/2010 03:03:05 AM 499 Views
*double posts* Joel - 22/10/2010 08:44:07 PM 414 Views
yes we are the only ones who don't think the courts can rewrtie the Constitution at will *NM* random thoughts - 22/10/2010 02:04:44 PM 195 Views
yes we are the only ones who don't think the courts can rewrtie the Constitution at will *NM* random thoughts - 22/10/2010 02:04:44 PM 172 Views
Come, my brethren! All Hallows Eve approachs, and we have much to do! beetnemesis - 22/10/2010 05:34:01 PM 403 Views
...goddammit beetnemesis - 22/10/2010 05:35:37 PM 431 Views
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