The. First. Amendment.

Just ... wow.

This is a report from the latest of three debates between the Senate candidates in Delaware:

The exchange came .. as [Christine] O'Donnell criticized Democratic nominee Chris Coons' position that teaching creationism in public school would violate the First Amendment by promoting religious doctrine.

Coons said private and parochial schools are free to teach creationism but that "religious doctrine doesn't belong in our public schools."

"Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" O'Donnell asked him.

Okay, just pause to savor the moment. Done? Now we move on:

When Coons responded that the First Amendment bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, O'Donnell asked: "You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?" ...

"You actually audibly heard the crowd gasp," Widener University political scientist Wesley Leckrone said after the debate ....

Deep breaths, people. We all know that this crazy woman won't be elected, and that her candidacy is just a colorful sideshow, distracting us while smarter but no less wicked people make a serious attempt to seize power.

But still.