Last week Christine O' Donnell, running for U.S. Senate from Delaware, showed voters why hating government does not make one qualified to be in it. It is becoming a theme among the new faces who join the GOP - many candidates from the school of Sarah Palin - where knowledge and experience take a back seat to enthusiasm and smiles.
O'Donnell's gaffes were not of the comical misunderstanding or brain fart variety. They resulted from a long-term commitment to being uninformed. To believing one is right, ignoring all contrary evidence and accusing any who point out this ignorance of having either hidden agendas or personal vendettas.
She didn't know the First, 14th and 16th Amendments during a debate at Widener School of Law in Wilmington, Del.,Tuesday. When her opponent explained the separation of church and state is in the First Amendment, she jeered him as though he were mistaken: You're telling me that's in the First Amendment? Yes, Christine. That is exactly what he and your high school social studies teacher were trying to tell you.
Unfortunately, Ms. O'Donnell's confidence outweighs her ignorance 10-to-one. She put out a statement afterward claiming she just was making the point that the words separation of church and state do not appear in the Constitution, and that her opponent, Democrat Chris Coons, showed his ignorance because he could not name all five freedoms contained in the First Amendment. He forgot one-fifth of an Amendment during the debate - she had obviously never seen most of them. On top of it all, she claims she'll use the Constitution as a litmus test for every decision she makes in the U.S. Senate.
I don't expect you to know the Constitution, and I'd be lying if I claimed to be an expert, myself. What I do expect, however, is that our senators know it. It's not too much to ask from leaders to know the foundation of our laws before they work in the legislative branch.
At Tuesday's debate, O'Donnell hoped for a reminder of what the 14th and 16th Amendments are and said, I'm sorry I didn't bring my Constitution with me
fortunately senators don't have to memorize the Constitution. Not a hint of regret or embarrassment pervaded the comment, only a desire to be cute and funny.
Christine O'Donnell, who is anti-federal government and anti-taxes, should know the 16th Amendment gives the federal government the right to level an income tax. Although I think it's a horrible idea to dismantle the income tax, that isn't what makes me dislike her. It's that she doesn't understand the concept; that she wouldn't know where to start addressing the issue.
Ms. O'Donnell also didn't know the 14th Amendment, which gives equal protection of rights to all citizens. It establishes our right of due process and defines citizenship. It's perhaps the most important Amendment in protecting citizens from government power. Now she wants that power. She wants to be included in one of the most powerful legislative bodies in the country, and we should fear that. Someone who doesn't know our rights should hold no authority over them.
The silver lining: Delaware voters agree. The more O'Donnell talks, the more her poll numbers drop, and most expect her to lose in a landslide.
Phil Stephens is a graduate student studying public administration and columnist for The Post. Bounce ideas off Phil by e-mailing him at ps245605@ohiou.edu
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Opinion
Phil Stephens
