Republican Christine O’Donnell partook in a debate with Democratic opponent Chris Coons this morning at Widener University Law School in Delaware. Apparently Chistine O’Donnell does not know the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

During the debate, Chris Coons said something about how private schools are permitted to teach creationism, but public schools are not.

Christine O’Donnell proceeded to ask, “Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?”

Coons then told O’Donnell that the first amendment prevents congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion. That is when O’Donnell countered saying, “You’re telling me that’s in the First Amendment?”

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. Originally it only applied to congress, but since Gitlow Vs. New York in 1925, the amendment also applies to each state and all local governments.

The First Amendment states the following:

“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.”

So, yes it does appear as though Christine O’Donnell goofed up. However, she is correct, as the First Amendment does not specifically, that there shall be a “separation of church and state”.

That statement actually comes from a letter in 1802 written by Thomas Jefferson.

Republicans are known for using the constitution in making policies, and to back up their campaigns. O’Donnell did goof up when asking if the phrase “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” was in the constitution.

More than likely most politicians do not know the entire constitution and each amendment word-for-word. What do you think? Does this “goof up” make O’Donnell less of a candidate to be Senator of Delaware?

Christine O’Donnell is running in Delaware’s 2010 Senate special election for the Republican Party. She has previously worked as a consultant and commentator on Fox News, and CNN. She finished third in the 2006 Republican primary for Senate in Delaware, and lost to Joe Biden in 2008.