Where Christine O'Donnell failed in her questioning of the existence of the phrase "separation of church and state" in the Constitution was in a guileless and unsophisticated "parroting [of the] standard line of the Republican Party and the Right on the separation of church and state." She got hung up on the idea of the exact phrasing of the establishment clause, but her impulse was in line with the Right's long-standing effort to force a new interpretation of that clause and the idea of separation of church and state.
Ken Buck is more polished than O'Donnell, and when he talks about his opposition to the 200+ years old interpretation of the establishment clause, he takes after the actual concept.
At a forum for GOP Senate candidates late last year, Buck said that he “disagree[d] strongly with the concept of separation of church and state,” and that “it was not written into the Constitution,” and then went on to rip President Obama for supposedly getting rid of the White House Christmas tree:
I disagree strongly with the concept of separation of church and state. It was not written into the Constitution. While we have a Constitution that is very strong in the sense that we are not gonna have a religion that’s sanctioned by the government, it doesn’t mean that we need to have a separation between government and religion. And so that, that concerns me a great deal. So I think there are cultural differences, I think there, we are as strong as we, our culture, our culture gives us our strength, I guess is the best way to put that. And, and I am worried about the fact that we seem to be walking away from culture. And, and one thing that President Obama has done that I would certainly speak about is calling the Christmas tree, which has historically been called a Christmas tree in Washington DC, a holiday tree. It’s just flat wrong in my mind.
(The Christmas tree business does actually make you wonder how smart Ken Buck really is, if he'd fall for that extensively debunked trope. The teabagger crowd he was courting in the primary undoubtedly loved it.)
Though he expresses it better than O'Donnell, it's clear that Buck embraces the same extreme view the Right has been pushing for years (and that is gaining ground in the SCOTUS as Armando argues, thanks to the Roberts and Alito appointments). Consider the evidence compiled by the Bennet campaign (via e-mail):
Buck Advocated Closer Relationship Between God and Government on Several Occasions. As reported by Politico, “On several occasions, he’s advocated for a closer relationship between God and government. Last fall, at a forum at Colorado Christian University, the Colorado Statesman reported that Buck “emphasized his conservative values, expressing his opposition to the principle of separating church and state.” [Politico, 6/28/10]
Buck’s Favorite Book: Under God: George Washington and Questions of Church and State. According to the Carbon Valley Herald, “Buck’s favorite book is Under God: George Washington and the Questions of Church and State by Tara Ross and Joseph Smith. [Carbon Valley Herald, 10/9/08]
Ken Buck Supports Public Posting of the Ten Commandments. In responding to a questionnaire from the Christian Family Alliance of Colorado, Ken Buck indicated that he supported public posting of the ten commandments. [Christian Family Alliance of Colorado, accessed 6/1/10]
Buck: “I Think the Secularism That is Developing in This Country is a Very Scary Concept.” During a July 2010 meeting of the Evergreen Tea Party, Buck said “the secularism that is developing in this country is a very scary concept.” BUCK: My, my morality comes from my upbringing and my Christian faith. Others have developed morality in other ways. But the key to a democracy, the key to a democracy is that we have a public ethic, that we have a public morality. And as soon as we lose that we lose really the, the underlying basis for democracy. We depend not on the government enforcing the rules. But rather on our neighbors and our communities developing and enforcing those rules. And if don't have a common understanding of what the rules are, and I'm talking about, you know, very simple things, thou shall not steal. If, if we don't have a common understanding that that is wrong we, we are headed down a serious path. And I think the secularism that is developing in this country is, is a very scary concept. [Evergreen Tea Party Meeting, 7/12/10]
Buck Is Opposed to Separation of Church and State. Reported the Colorado Statesman, “Buck emphasized his conservative values, expressing his opposition to the principle of separating church and state and discussed international challenges.” [Colorado Statesman, 11/13/09]
Buck Called for “Co-Existence Between Government and Religion.” Appearing on Jim Pfaff’s radio show, Buck said “Well I think it’s clear that the intent of the constitution was to avoid a state run religion. Our, our founding fathers our ancestors, came here from Europe and felt very strongly about the state run religions in, in Europe. There is nothing in the constitution, the term separation of church and state does not appear in the constitution. And it’s a concept that's developed in the courts, and as a judicial concept that has been applied very broadly. And I think the, the intent of the constitution and, and really the will of most people in this country is to see a co-existence between government and religion. And not have government dictate religion, but at the same time not have government undermine religion. So I, I hope we move that direction in the future.” [Jim Pfaff Radio Show, 5/21/10]
Buck Doesn’t Think Constitution Intended Separation of Church and State. Said Buck at a Windsor 912 Group meeting, “so I think that this idea of separation of church and state is not what was intended by the Constitution. Yes, we have separation of church and state. We don’t want a state-sponsored religion, but no it doesn’t mean that churches and government should never interact, and that wall that people are trying to form between the two and punish religion is something that I think has gone in the wrong direction, and I think what President Bush did with faith-based programs that worked with the government is exactly the right idea.” [Windsor 912 Group meeting, 6/3/10]
It's a theocratic vision of how America should be and one that has gained significant ground. It needs to be recognized not as a sideshow in a crazy election year, but as the very really expression of where the Republican party wants to take the country. Amrando:
And while their program has not yet reached fruition - the phrase "separation of church and state" still has resonance - it can not be denied that the Extreme Right's campaign is gaining in success, and will continue to do so if not confronted. The philosophical discussions on the Left regarding the use of the phrase "American Taliban" are sideshows. The real threat is being ignored.
O'Donnell won't be elected. But Ken Buck could be, as could Sharron Angle, Rand Paul, and Joe Miller and with them, another big win for the would-be theocrats.