In The Delaware Senate Race: The Separation of O’Donnell and Coons.
A friend (whose excellent blog is here) emailed this Gawker link and I couldn’t resist sharing it and the video. It’s another demonstration of just how much basic high school civics information escaped the notice of Christine O’Donnell, RTP (Republican Tea Party) candidate for a Delaware U.S. Senate seat. Fortunately, her poll numbers rest at a steady 37% in her race against Democrat Chris Coons.
Should O’Donnell win, however, she’d be entitled, for example, to place a “hold” on legislation and judicial or executive branch nominations thereby halting consideration of the measures for any reason she chooses. All that without having to disclose any of her holds or state her reasons. Additionally, she’d be able to do everything else that a real senator may do, including such things as vote and speak.
So, to get an idea of where she stands on the 1st (particularly the separation of church and state), 14th, 16th, and 17th Amendments, the video needs no preface. Just listen.
What does this kind of dialogue accomplish, particularly the church-state issues? I’m hoping O’Donnell’s boffo performance will create a “separation of O”Donnell and Coons” in the polls and the election.
Further Reading (all links will open in a new tab):
A Tea Partiers Take on Separation of Church & State
Everson v. Board of Education of the Township of Ewing, 301 U.S. 1 (1947)
U.S. Senate Doc. 108-17 (2002 ed.)
Analysis and Interpretation of the Constitution: Annotations of Cases
Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Senate Doc. 108-17 (2008 Supplement)
Library of Congress Guide to Law Online (U.S. Constitution)
***** There is no “Read More” for this posting *****
