O'Donnell: "America Is One Of The Most Free Places In The Country"

Last night, batshit family values conservative Christine O’Donnell debated her Democratic opponent, and we heard a little more about what she believes. Only a little. Also, a little light’s shed on why her lesbian sister is supporting the anti-gay candidate.

O’Donnell, who won the Republican primary for Delaware Senate, has a past littered with extremist social-conservative pronouncements that have made her a ripe target. Said Craig Ferguson recently, “The Democrats are already attacking O’Donnell. They’re calling her Sarah Palin of the East. I’m like, ‘Really? She’s a loud, emotionally unstable woman from Delaware? That’s not Sarah Palin, that’s Joe Biden.'” Get it, because Joe talks a lot? Just like those yammering ladies.

In a debate last night, her opponent, Chris Coons, appeared to have decided to avoid social issues altogether, after a bruising primary in which state Republicans started a website just to point to O’Donnell’s financial issues and lies. Asked about the subject, O’Donnell says, “These questions come from statements I made over 15 years ago. I was in my 20s, and very excited and passionate about my newfound faith. But I assure you, my faith has matured.”

It’s not at all clear how it has matured and informed which issues, but as Talking Points Memo notes,

“Many of these statements are less than 15 years old — ranging from her appearance on MTV 14 years ago to promote the anti-masturbation cause, to speaking out against the promotion of condom usage just four years ago. And of course, let’s not forget her speaking out three years ago in opposition to stem cell research, citing the purported fact that scientists have already created mice with human brains.”

And it’s hard to know what she actually believes on anything — her website has been scrubbed of all content, leaving only a donation page.

The debate last night did shed some light on a few other issues. She did say, when discussing immigration policy, that “America is one of the most free places in the country,” and thus we need to keep the Canadians out too. And according to the Delaware News Journal:

Asked about abortion, O’Donnell restated her position that said she opposes abortion rights, even in the event of rape, incest or the health of the mother. O’Donnell said it should be allowed when the life of the mother is in jeopardy.

Coons said he thinks abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.”

And on foreign policy:

O’Donnell said the nation should remain a strong ally of Israel, deferring specifics about cuts to the foreign-aid bill.
“It would be irresponsible for me to say yes or no because I’ve been a little busy the last couple of days,” O’Donnell said. “I haven’t had time to do laundry.”

There never seem to be any specifics, unless you’re talking about the finer points of virginity versus chastity.

Speaking of sexuality, Mother Jones has updated its original story on Jennie O’Donnell, Christine’s lesbian sister, and why she is supporting a candidate who thinks (or thought not long ago) that people can be converted from homosexuality and that AIDS is a punishment for a gay lifestyle. Jennie wrote in a Facebook posting Wednesday, just after her sister’s victory:

to all my friends and family..thank you for your great wishes.. for the wisdom to see through the insane lies that were being tossed around, and still will be, i supose. i’m sure they will make up new ones; but thank you for your love, support prayers, good humor… and support of my sister,no matter what lies were made up about her…oh.. p.s. haave you heard the latest? she’s homophobic… gotta laugh

We can laugh too, as long as O’Donnell remains a marginal candidate who has no chance of winning.

Christine O’Donnell: My Faith Has Matured Since My 20s [Talking Points Memo]
A Tale Of Two Sisters [Mother Jones]
Christine O’Donnell Becomes Fodder For TV Talk Shows [Delaware News Journal]
Candidates Stick To Issues On Debate [Delaware News Journal]
O’Donnell Website Stripped [Think Progress]

Earlier: Virulently Anti-Gay Christine O’Donnell — And Her Lesbian Sister
The Sexual Evolution Of Christine O’Donnell”