[Gerfang]

I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between church and State.
-Thomas Jefferson

It seems pretty clear that at least one founding father believed the 1st amendment implied a complete separation of church and state.

[jlogajan]

"thus building a wall of separation between church and State." -Thomas Jefferson

It seems pretty clear that at least one founding father believed the 1st amendment implied a complete separation of church and state.

To understand the Constitution we have to understand original intent -- oh wait, never mind. heh heh

[MEGoody]

Yes, separation in that the state cannot mandate a religion. Not separation in that the state must outlaw any mention of God. After all, that directly violates the right of free speech as well as the right to freely exercise religion.

[The Southern Right Winger]

Actually Jefferson did not write nor did he even sign the constitution so his view of the meaning of the first amendment, even if the liberal understanding of his view is correct, is no more relevant than that of any other person alive during that time who did not sign it. I like Jefferson but have always been a Sam Adams man myself, without him we are still drinking tea with our pinkie stuck out. George Washington is another guy to see as a hero, his contemporaries called him the indispensable man. He proclaimed a "public day of Thanksgiving and prayer" for the nation. I'll bet if Dr. Newdow was around he would have sued him and many of my libertarian friends would have joined him as friends of the court.