[MD] Tea Bagging

[Steven Peterson]

Hi Mark,



118:
> That the US is prevented from being a theocracy is written in the first
> amendment in the establishment clause.  This is a topical subject since it
> was brought up in a recent debate in a current political race involving
> O'Donnell.  From my following of recent talking heads, there is nothing in
> the constitution which demands the separation of church and state (in fact
> the houses start each day with a prayer).


Coons said. "I also think you just heard, in the answers from my
opponent, and in her attempt at saying 'where is the separation of
church and state in the constitution' reveals her fundamental
misunderstanding of what our Constitution is, how it is amended and
how it evolved. The First Amendment establishes the separation, the
fact that the federal government shall not establish any religion, and
decisional law by the Supreme Court over many, many decades --"

O' Donnell then interrupted. "The First Amendment does?" she asked,
skeptically.

Coons continued his explanation, and O'Donnell interrupted again. "So
you're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in
the First Amendment?"

Coons went on to cite cases the Supreme Court had decided that backed
up the position of a wall between church and state.

"Let me just clarify," O'Donnell pressed. "You're telling me that the
separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?"

"The government shall make no establishment of religion," Coons said,
summarizing the gist of the specific words in the First Amendment's
establishment clause.

"That's in the First Amendment?" O'Donnell asked again, eliciting
further laughter from the room.


http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk-elections/article/christine-odonnell-first-amendment-question-floors-audience-video/19680390