Christine O'Donnell Watch: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Because we DC residents don't have representation in Congress, it's only fair that we get to choose a nearby Congressional race to report on. We have adopted the United States Senate race in Delaware starring Christine O'Donnell, the Republican nominee and Tea Party candidate.

During a recent debate with her Democratic opponent, Chris Coons, O'Donnell caused the audience to gasp when she asked, "Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" Her lack of understanding about the Constitution was as breathtaking as it was unnerving, particularly because she claims to have attended a graduate fellowship at the Claremont Institute -- which turned out to be only a one week course.

O'Donnell's Constitutional knowledge gap manifested itself this past week when her campaign threatened to sue radio station WDEL for posting a video of her interview on the Internet. Yes, really. The threat was, fortunately, later withdrawn.

Various polls put O'Donnell between 10 and 20 percentage points behind her rival. But in politics the unexpected can happen, especially because O'Donnell has access to a power that Coons may not be able to access. She said, "The day that we saw a spike in the polls was a day that some people had a prayer meeting for me that morning for this campaign so I believe that prayer plays a direct role in this campaign and I always ask please pray for the campaign."

Christine O'Donnell Watch: "The separation of church and state is in the First Amendment?"

Because we DC residents don't have representation in Congress, it's only fair that we get to choose a nearby Congressional race to report on. We have adopted the United States Senate race in Delaware starring Christine O'Donnell, the Republican nominee and Tea Party candidate.

Today during a debate with Christine O'Donnell, the Democratic candidate, Chris Coons said that religious doctrine shouldn't be taught in public schools. To which Republican nominee Christine O'Donnell retorted, "Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" Coons explained that the First Amendment bars Congress from making laws establishing religion, and O'Donnell replied, "You're telling me that the separation of church and state is in the First Amendment?" About a minute later O'Donnell repeated her question to Coons: "Let me just clarify. You're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?"

Watch the debate, which was broadcast on WDEL. The notable O'Donnell remarks come at the 2:50, 6:10, and 7:05 minute markers:

Arrested for Photographing the Police: Policy Forum Wednesday

The Cato Institute will hold a policy forum on Wednesday, September 22, on "Recording the Police: Is Citizen Journalism against the Law?"

In Maryland a motorcyclist was arrested and charged with breaking the state's wiretapping laws for videoing a police officer who pulled him over. If convicted, he faces 16 years in prison. In Seattle, a man was taken into custody when he photographed the police arresting somebody on the street. In Texas a man was arrested for photographing a police officer on his own property. In Boston a lawyer was arrested for videoing the police arresting somebody for drugs, and charged with "aiding escape" and disturbing the peace. I was stopped by security officers from photographing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in downtown DC.

Watch Your Tongue at the DMV

Photo by Bill Adler

If you fail your written test or eye exam, or simply get tired standing in line at the DMV in the District of Columbia, be sure not to cuss. Or else.

Snap a fun or interesting photo in the Washington, DC area? Email your photo to alilinfo at ftml dott net (or use the email address to the right) and it may appear on All Life Is Local along with a credit to you.

Has Online Prostitution Ended in DC?

Online prostitution has come to an end in the District of Columbia and in the surrounding suburbs. Mostly. Probably. Possibly.

Bowing to pressure from seventeen state attorneys general and being accused of helping promote not just prostitution, but child prostitution, Craigslist has removed its adult services section, replacing it with the word "censored."  The photo to the right is what Craigslist in DC looks like.