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Adieu, Adieu, Remember Me
March 25, 2011 | 38 comments
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DeMint’s Defense of RomneyCare is Ignorant…And Dangerous
March 17, 2011 | 85 comments
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McConnell Pushing Vote to Block the EPA from Regulating Carbon Emissions
March 17, 2011 | 9 comments
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More Barbour on Afghanistan
March 16, 2011 | 8 comments
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House Passes Three Week Spending Bill
March 15, 2011 | 8 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Up until now, I have never posted about President Obama’s birth certificate, because I don’t want to give those who claim he is not a U.S. citizen the attention they so desperately seek. I don’t even want to describe the matter as a “controversy,” because to do so suggests that there is a serious dispute over Obama’s place of birth. To any sane human being, there is no controversy. Obama has produced an authentic certificate of live birth from the state of Hawaii that clearly shows he was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii at 7:24 p.m. State officials have confirmed the document as legitimate and have stated that such facts would have to be verified by the state before they appear on the document. And if that isn’t enough, the fact is corroborated by a contemporaneous newspaper birth announcement.
While I’d like to continue to ignore this story entirely, it’s hard to do when a figure like Rush Limbaugh is giving it credence, declaring this week that, “Barack Obama has yet to have to prove that he’s a citizen. All he has to do is show a birth certificate. He has yet to have to prove he’s a citizen.” If he addresses the issue at all, Limbaugh should be using his perch to explain why this story is complete nonsense. Doing so would help to keep these citizenship conspiracy theorists in the fringe, where they belong. Instead, he’s just encouraging them. I’ve lost a ton of respect for Limbaugh this week.
Meanwhile, Florida Rep. Bill Posey has also added cover to the lunatic conspiracy mongers by offering a House bill aimed at having future presidential candidates produce birth certificates. It has 9 Republican co-sponsors so far, and all of them should be embarrassed: Marsha Blackburn, Dan Burton, John Campbell, John Carter, John Abney Culberson, Bob Goodlatte, Kenny Merchant, Rander Neugebauer, and Ted Poe.
Some who attempt to take neutral ground on this issue ask, why doesn’t Obama just release his original birth certificate and put this matter to rest? There are two reasons. The first is that it would obviously not put the issue to rest, because the conspiracy theorists have demonstrated that they do not care about facts. At this point, anybody who questions whether Obama is a citizen will not be convinced otherwise because of a document released by the White House. But beyond that, there’s absolutely no reason for Obama to cave into these people. Doing so would set a standard in the future so that people can start whatever insane rumors they want about an elected official, and then the burden is on the official to dispute them. It’s no different than those calling for an investigation of whether 9/11 was an inside job.
This is the last thing that I intend to write on the issue, because I’d prefer to concentrate my energy on laying out why Obama’s ideas and actual policy proposals will have disastrous consequences for the nation, just one American criticizing another.
View all comments (91) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2009/07/22/shame-on-rush
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Eric Dondero | 7.22.09 @ 6:37PM
Pretty bad you feel this way Phil. I've always counted you among the few who didn't go along with establishment conservatism. Guess not.
You really dissapoint.
Jay Zee| 7.22.09 @ 6:39PM
Even if Obama produced an original, long-form birth certificate notarized by Justice Scalia, there would still be the difficulty believing that a natural born American male would allow himself to be seen throwing a baseball like that.
d randall| 7.22.09 @ 6:49PM
Even Liz Cheney, who should know better, also gave into the lunacy. Klein is right. This is a problem that REP leadership need to do something about--before it presents more Republicans with having to correct their more extreme and ill-informed constituents.
Brubaker| 7.22.09 @ 7:05PM
Nice try Phil, but it misses the mark. The two salient facts here are these: First, the Consitution (you've heard of that, right?) imposes specific qualification requirements for those who seek to serve as president. Second, Barry has spent more than a million dollars preventing release of information regarding his birth.
No one, left or right, spends that kind of money preventing release of information that is normally public unless they have something to hide. Perhaps it's not a question of where he was born. Perhaps it's a question of parentage. Who knows? The very clear bottom line is that he believes he has some major hiding to do--and he's doing it.
muawiyah| 7.22.09 @ 7:07PM
? Who is this Klein guy? Do I know him ~ guess not.
I would just bet that if he were told he had to submit his "long form birth certificate" as provided by the state agency responsible for such things he'd say "hunh, whas' dat".
He'll never get a security clearance in this or any other government Fur Shur.
BobH| 7.22.09 @ 7:08PM
This won't go anywhere but the intent of the amendment was to avoid divided loyalties. I question his commitment to and understanding of our founding principals. His father was an African colonialist and a British subject and his mother and early influences communist. His polices exactly match the platform of the CPUSA.
Rep. A. Smyth (VA), House of Representatives, December 1820:
When we apply the term “citizens” to the inhabitants of States, it means those who are members of the political community. The civil law determined the condition of the son by that of the father. A man whose father was not a citizen was allowed to be a perpetual inhabitant, but not a citizen, unless citizenship was conferred on him.
Frank | 7.22.09 @ 7:08PM
If more Republicans wrote this clearly and accurately, we Democrats would have a lot to worry about. The fringe on either side has its place as an important group of avid voters, but that place should not be center stage of a parties message.
Vincent| 7.22.09 @ 7:09PM
A certificate of live birth is NOT a Birth certificate
Try yourself to get a passport to travel outside the country and bring a "certificate of live birth" with you, Customs and border agents will tell you the same thing that I was told, you need a 'Birth Certificate". not a C.O.L.B. They are two totally different documents. so my question is ,why wont he display his 'Birth Certificate" It's all about Transparency or lack there of
A Collier| 7.22.09 @ 7:10PM
This is not lunacy. Obama has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to conceal his birth certificate, which is not the same as a certificate of live birth, along with his college records, and other vital records. Not to mention the fact that now even his 'official' birth hospital is in dispute. Why does American Spectator continue to berate its conservative allies? America has legitimate reasons to believe that Obama is not a natural-born citizen, and he needs to provide proof otherwise. You should be ashamed, not Rush.
d randall| 7.22.09 @ 7:24PM
Right (worlddailynet) http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=73214 and left
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html
have seen enough to know that this is ridiculous.
But the main reason it should be obvious is that the Democratic presidential candidates, particularly Clinton, would have annihilated Obama on this issue, if there even the most remote possibility that it were true. Why would she have fought and lost a bitter (and humiliating) campaign if she could have disqualified him at the start?
Jon Samuel| 7.22.09 @ 7:24PM
This issue isn't about Obama specifically. It is about following the Constitution. I have to show all sorts of ID to do just about anything in this country and yet here we have NO check that a President meets the criteria established in the Constitution. In the case of Obama there is no conclusive proof of his birth (no long form) and some apparent photoshopped nonsense going on with what has been presented. But even if Obama was born in Hawaii there is a question as to whether he would be a "natural born citizen". This is the larger issue and what is being discussed more than where he was born. For those uneducated about it - Google is your friend.
We need the Supreme Court to weigh in - not just for the sake of legimitizing this administration but in setting precedent and ensuring the Constitution is followed. Unfortunately we have a lot of ignorant people out there who don't even understand what the requirements are for President. They will get an education - soon enough. This issue is not going away.
Fidor Devski| 7.22.09 @ 7:26PM
I agree with A Collier above. This is not lunacy. The President of the United States is a Muslim communist who was born in Kenya. How could anyone describe that as lunacy?
Paul| 7.22.09 @ 7:31PM
"It has 9 Republican co-sponsors so far, and all of them should be embarrassed: Marsha Blackburn, Dan Burton, John Campbell, John Carter, John Abney Culberson, Bob Goodlatte, Kenny Merchant, Rander Neugebauer, and Ted Poe."
Except for Dan Burton, I've never heard of any of them. Who cares what they think?
Captain Steve| 7.22.09 @ 7:31PM
SHAME ON YOU! Dumbass? Liar? Sellout? hmmm
If Obama has a long-form, why doesn’t he show it? If he doesn’t have one, why not? People that hide things, usually have something to hide. He works for us. We have a right to know! We have a right to demand it!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to send a message to Obama and to EVERY OTHER POTENTIAL VIOLATOR OF OUR RULE OF LAW!!!!!!!!!!!
OBAMA, STOP HIDING. SHOW US THE LONG FORM BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!!!
Patriot| 7.22.09 @ 7:38PM
Phil, you and Senator Graham Cracker are meant for one another. You're both squishes.
Gil| 7.22.09 @ 7:40PM
Phile you are a good little communist just like Obama.
Do your research. A certificate of live birth is something the parents fill out and it is unaudited so it can say anything. They then file it. Not even Hawaii accepts it as an official document.
Secondly, don't you love how you can decide for all the birthers and say we would not be satisfied if we saw the original documents. That is totally untrue.
A few days ago Alan Keyes did an interview where he said that he wanted to see the birth certificate not the COLB and the college and passport documents. If they all added up, the matter would be dropped. Many of us would be satisfied.
As far as saying why should Obama release his documents under pressure. How bogus. Do you remember when Bush was being battered about his National Guard records? Can you imagine if his position had been to say the matter was resolve, if he said it was closed and he should not bow to pressure. You would have burned him alive.
instead Bush set the standard and allowed the authorities to give to anyone his National Guard records for verification. The controversy then died.
This eleigibility controversy is not dying at all. It has legs and it won't die. That is because Obama is guilty of fraud and deceit!
For the good of the country Obama needs to release the documents, all the documents.
No worries here. All the documents will come out in Federal District Court.
Basically, Obama is at the same point in time where Hitler was in 1941. Hitler's commanders knew they had already lost the war. It just took 3 years of devastation before he was pummeled into oblivion.
Do your homework. Your article is so factually wrong, that you are confirming everyone's suspicions that you and Obama are hiding something very damaging to this wanabe-president.
Smitty| 7.22.09 @ 7:43PM
I'm sure Rush is broken hearted that you've lost a ton of respect for him, Phil: If he even knows who you are, that is.
I'm surprised you didn't get another nasty remark for Palin in your little rant, Bozo.
d randall| 7.22.09 @ 7:43PM
I think the reason that Obama does not make any effort to diffuse this issue, aside from having shown the birth certificate to the folks at factcheck.or is that it is *great* for him politically.
The more the issue takes hold, the more Republican officials and, more importantly, Presidential candidates, will have to waste their breath, explaining it away.
Basic rule #1 of politics--if your political enemies are busy shooting themselves in the foot, don't wrestle the gun away from them.
Groucho | 7.22.09 @ 7:44PM
Klein --
You're a traitor, and a communist just like Obama. YOU probably aren't even a citizen of this great nation.
You mean just because a lib state like Hawaii produces a birth certificate that could be faked we're supposed to let this pass.
Everyone -- let's say the Pledge to drown out this lib fraud!
jae| 7.22.09 @ 7:46PM
Very weak, unconvincing post, Mr. Klein. The birth certificate is just one issue. Can you give ANY plausible reason why BHO is hiding so much (you DIDN'T give a real reason in your post)?
Violette| 7.22.09 @ 7:47PM
I don't know if Obama is a commie, but I do think he's a fascist liberal--like all liberal/progressives.
Sara123| 7.22.09 @ 7:48PM
Oh good grief! Get off that moral high groud horse before you fall off and get mud in your face!
McCain stooped so low as to answer the questions on the Left when he was running for President. Although he had two natural born parents, he was not born on US soil so the question was legitmate. He was not above submitting the necessary documentation to please "the birthers." I don't remember you screeching for eeveryone to shut up about it then! At the same time Republicans had questions about Obama and they were ignored!
Where do you get off trying to shut everyone up without even reading the evidence? Do you think the State Department would accept a web site capture of documentation required to establish qualification for a US passport or would they insist on a certified hard copy of your birth certificate? Get a brain!
D Randall| 7.22.09 @ 7:52PM
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/07/should_the_gop_take_the_birthers_seriously_rush_does.php
also raises the question of where this takes the Republican Party
Solo| 7.22.09 @ 7:53PM
I don't know if he was born here or not. But then, either do you.
I'm not for the endless demand for documentation by enraged zealots--such as the repeated demand for Bush's dental records from his National Guard service--records that he supplied no less than 4 times, I might add.
But...in Obama's case, there is some discrepency inasmuch as (some) of his own relatives have claimed that he was born in Kenya. Moreover.....it is also known that he was adopted by his step father (Soetero) and may have relinquished his citizenship (or established dual citizenship) to become a citizen of his new father's country, Indonesia.
The "long form" of his birth certificate is what is missing from public view and it is this that contains the information necessary to tract down whether or not the "short form" (read...easily forged) provided is actually accurate or whether his mother decided to 'pull a fast one' in order to get him citizenship in the U.S.
Certainly, given these circumstances, any reasonable person can see why there might be some measure of legitimate concern.
The simple solution is to authorize the release of the proper documentation and be done with it. He won't do that and we can only speculate as to why.
Consider this, however.....
What if he really IS a citizen of Kenya? What if his "short form" certificate is a fake and he isn't eligible to be President?
Do you really believe that anyone would have the gonads to throw out of office the first black president on a technicality? This country would erupt into a race war in about one day! And it would actually be the democrat's fault for allowing the scam to proceed without question.
For this reason...I'm inclined to think that, whether or not he is actually qualified under the Constitution to be President, it is best to just let this one slide and pass the legislation making proof of eligibility a pre-condition for all future elections and candidates.
Let's just beat him at the polls but see to it that such a scam (if there is one) can never happen again.
Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 7.22.09 @ 7:57PM
So he was born in HI in 1961? If that's the case, why does the documentation look new like that? When I needed a copy of my birth certificate, what I got was a photocopy of what looked like an old card (from 1959, to be exact), with a seal embossed on the copy.
d randall| 7.22.09 @ 7:58PM
Solo,
I think you are right about the politics. No one is going to let this one go anywhere in a federal court.
Lamarr01| 7.22.09 @ 8:15PM
The Certificate of Live Birth has been modified by Photoshop on a MAC CS1 computer. This document has NEVER been declared valid by the officials in Hawaii. It is illegal in Hawaii to release information about a birth certificate.
The following press release is often quoted as verifying Obama's birth certificate. It states there is a birth certificate on file for Obama. Hawaiian law allows foreign birth certificates to be registered.
http://hawaii.gov/health/about/pr/2008/08-93.pdf
Obama nor his parents ever lived at the address on the birth announcement. You should be careful when referencing the sloppy reporting of other "journalists."
D Randall| 7.22.09 @ 8:22PM
Mirror, mirror on the wall
who is the wackiest of them all?
http://bit.ly/pQHEg
Let's vote.
fatman650| 7.22.09 @ 8:37PM
Mr. Klein,
The document linked too, which you referred to as an "authentic certificate of live birth" is incorrect. The document is actually titled thus: Certification of Live Birth, which is a different document than an original birth certificate and contains only limited and general information; Name, Race, Gender, Fathers Name, Fathers Race, Mothers Maiden, Mothers Race, Date and time of birth and other basic info, and is known unoficially as a short form birth certificate. This document cannot be accepted by businesses or government agencies as an original birth certificate.
A Birth Certificate, or "Certificate of Live Birth," is the long form birth certificate and contains more detailed information, including signatures of doctor(s), witnesses, vital statistics (length and weight), etc. This is the only document that can be accepted by businesses and government when a birth ceretificate is required to prove natural citizenship.
I have to produce an original Birth Certificate everytime I have to update my security clearance or if I change jobs, as does everybody else. If we regular folks in flyover country have to abide by these rules why not our politicians? I think it should be a minimum requirement for those who choose to stand for election to the Presidency to produce their original Birth Certificate to prove their natural citizenship.
Pingback| 7.22.09 @ 8:49PM
Blind Spectators Make Worthless Referees « AConservativeEdge links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Subroutine| 7.22.09 @ 8:49PM
I've heard that there's a small commie religious sect whose sole tenant is the destruction of the USA. They identify their members by a small tattoo on the inside of their left butt cheek. It's a frog sitting on a lillypad.
To date, Mitch McConnell has never allowed the press to examine his butt. Why not? What is he hiding? Why not just go on Larry King Live and show his butt? We (I) want the truth.
-sub
Ran| 7.22.09 @ 10:00PM
"Obama has produced an authentic certificate of live birth from the state of Hawaii that clearly shows he was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii at 7:24 p.m."
Not so fast. What many Birthers are claiming is this: At the time, a Certificate Of Live Birth was given to parents of all infants on the island, upon demand, regardless of origin. Repeat, regardless of origin.
Only Birth Certificates - a distinct document - was given to parents of children born in the State. If what you claim, Mr. Klein, had the ring of verisimilitude, the Birthers would be out of business six month ago. On the other hand, they may be wrong and the CoLB may be identical to a CB at that time, but the Birthers are sticking to their point. It may be valid.
That, and we have another bit of annoyance: Grandma Sarah saying on video that A] Barack is native born to the village (naté), and B] that she assisted with his birth in the local med clinic. The clinic is not in Honolulu.
"But beyond that, there's absolutely no reason for Obama to cave into these people. Doing so would set a standard in the future so that people can start whatever insane rumors they want about an elected official, and then the burden is on the official to dispute them. "
That is missing the point set out in Article II, Section I, or is demonstration beforehand of meeting a Constitutional Requirement of no significance? Sir, you write for The American Spectator, NOT the New York Times!
You miss another set of issues entirely raised by the Birthers: His native citizenship, his passports and travel.
A good-grace exposition of a genuine Birth Certificate, Passport, school application forms and transcripts would do much to restore the confidence of the People - the man reports to us - given the present climate of special "Czars", the bulldozing of Contract Law, the direct intimidation of private citizens, the misuse of TARP funds, the seizure of Private Property, the broken campaign pledges...
Reaktionär| 7.22.09 @ 10:09PM
I notice the Democrats did not have any trouble confirming John McCain's status as a US citizen.
Sean| 7.22.09 @ 10:14PM
Asking to see a birth certificate isn't asking much. Especially considering that one of his parents was not a citizen and they spent time in Kenya. There are reports of Obama's grandmother saying he was born in Kenya. Lets see the official birth certificate to clean up this mess.
Jani| 7.22.09 @ 10:20PM
The American Spectator became famous with stories on Whitewater, troopergate etc.
You should be helping investigate Obama especially his relationship with Bill Ayers and Dreams. You might actually get some readers again.
MartineStL| 7.22.09 @ 10:21PM
I have to produce a long form birth certificate so my kid can play Little League.
What gives, Mr. O?
Pingback| 7.22.09 @ 10:32PM
The Jury Talks Back » Shut Up About the Birth Certificate Already links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Mickey White| 7.22.09 @ 11:02PM
This is coming from the women who told us we needed Massachusetts Ex. Gov. Mitt Romney for our next president.
Congressman Marsha Blackburn bashes TennCare as an example of how bad Obama’s proposed Universal Health Care Plan will be for all of America. Well that’s real nice but she fails to note the fact that she campaigned for Mitt Romney whose Massachusetts Universal Health Care Plan is Bankrupting that state.
Obama may be taking this nation over the edge with regards to health care reform but it was Congressman Blackburn’s favorite yank that gave him the map to follow.
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=3321
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conservative.
See her unconstitutional votes at :
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=614
Mickey
Chris Free| 7.22.09 @ 11:04PM
so, the republican party was so inept that
they couldn't muster enough of a legal challenge
to prevent obama from filing for president.
Anne| 7.22.09 @ 11:11PM
Geeze, the commenters on this site are brutal! Say one thing that they don't agree with and all of a sudden you're a dyed-in-the-wool communist. Don't y'all have anything else better to do?
louis c| 7.22.09 @ 11:22PM
I thought it rather odd for Rush to bite on this as well. He usually scoffs at stuff like this. This is so dangerous to his credibility, I can't help but think that he is setting us up for some elaborate prank. He is waiting for some MSM to attack him before he springs it. Or, it could be he's gone over to the truther side.
sage1875| 7.22.09 @ 11:22PM
Rush Limbaugh and all the fringe lunitics, Sarah Palin started all this, are stirring up something that is going to get out of control. I predict there will be riots on a scale this land has never seen, thousands will die, loss of property willl be in the billions, the United States as we know it will cease to exist. People will remember who started it all, Sen. John McCain when he chose Sarah, Sarah Palin with her ignorance and Rush Limbaugh and his hatred of anthing decent in this country. May God have mercy on us.
Patriot| 7.22.09 @ 11:33PM
Sarah Palin's fault? Riots in the streets? You mean like the thug unions and ACORN ?
Man, that's the craziest derangement syndrome I've ever seen. Are you sure it wasn't Willow or perhaps Trig who caused this crisis? What a freak.
It's spelled 'lunAtic', bonehead. Go take your meds. Stat!
Morris| 7.22.09 @ 11:39PM
That' right Patriot, swear, attack ones character and use body parts to get you point across, works everytime.
Robert| 7.23.09 @ 12:20AM
You'll notice that Rush hasn't said the President isn't a citizen, or that he isn't legitimate. Rather, he compared what he has to do to prove he doesn't work in New York City to what someone has been able to get away with while being elected to the highest office in the world. Going forward it should be MANDATORY, not optional, for all candidates to release all information.
Patriot| 7.23.09 @ 12:33AM
Morris, prove I swore and attacked sage's character.
You can't because I didn't, moron. I questioned sage's sanity, as I question yours, bonehead (those wretched "BODY PARTS" again).
You're both liars which means you're both liberals. LOL!!
Tim C(Spaceghost)| 7.23.09 @ 1:49AM
Hawaiian newspapers don't prove birthplace
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=104678
Why the Barack Obama Birth Certificate Issue Is Legitimate
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/11/why_the_barack_obama_birth_cer.html
Never would I have imagined I would have to post these links on this site. But, then again I guess the MSM is not the only ones who refuse to investigate matters, and just rely on their gut for their "facts".
Charles Martel| 7.23.09 @ 2:08AM
I keep having to say this because writers like Klein keep missing the point: what the Hawaiian authorities have released is a COMPUTER PRINTOUT indicating only what information is allegedly contained in the Oahu County registrar's database, information that was entered therein years after the alleged fact.
Hawaii permits the registration of out-of-state births.
Barry's paternal step-grandmother has said that she was present at his birth, and she has never left Kenya.
Only release of the 1961 ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE signed by the attending physician or midwife will finally put this matter to rest, but millions of dollars have been spent to prevent its release. Why? What could that document tell us that it is so important to conceal?
Next, I would like to know what document young Barry used in order to travel to Pakistan. I would also like to know whether any of his college transcripts show that he was enrolled as a foreign student. If the answers are shown to be "a valid US passport" and "no" respectively, then we do not have a problem here. Unfortunately, the answer is always "none of your business", and that is simply not acceptable.
No one cares that such questions are beneath Mr. Klein's dignity. The integrity of the presidency is sufficiently important that they be asked. It is also so sufficiently important that all future candidates should be compelled by law to demonstrate publicly their Constitutional qualification to hold the office, including the incumbent should he still be interested in 2012 in the pursuit of a second term.
And the only Houston-area Congressional representative who should be embarrassed is my own, but then nothing embarrasses Sheila. And I mean absolutely nothing.
No, wait, I take that back: Gene Green should be embarrassed for voting for Cap-and-Tax.
+++
Morris| 7.23.09 @ 2:41AM
So far Patriot--all you have done is throw a hissy fit.
Patriot| 7.23.09 @ 2:51AM
Yes, a fit of laughter AT you, Morris.
Watch out for Willow and Trig Palin starting all those baby riots all over the US. Those young kids are trouble!!
Also, beware the 'WRETCHED BODY PARTS." They're scary and enemies of all things good and decent in our country, too.
Morris, take your meds, you'll feel better.
Lily| 7.23.09 @ 6:38AM
The ABC's of eligibility:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=104706
stephanie| 7.23.09 @ 7:37AM
Patriot, tell it like it is! I would ignore the trolls and keep your eye on the ball. they are a waste of energy.
Tea Party in DC Sept 12
stephanie| 7.23.09 @ 7:38AM
Hey Morris,
We have PLEANTY to throw hissie fits about.
Now go away
Tim| 7.23.09 @ 8:31AM
It's a mad house! A madhouse!
Mike| 7.23.09 @ 8:59AM
Phil,
You turned over a rock and look what crawled out.
I'm hope you consider the abuse you receive from these troglodytes as a badge of honor - the badge of intellectual honesty, integrity, fairness.
Teflon93 | 7.23.09 @ 10:24AM
Obama's path to national politics has come not from genuine electoral victories but from having his opponents disqualified.
Phil forgets this and the fact that the "not a citizen" meme started not with the Right questioning Obama's bona fides but the Left questioning John McCain's (born on a U.S. base in the Panama Canal Zone).
The newspaper article is certainly corroborating evidence that Obama is indeed a U.S. citizen, but the birth certificate is the actual evidence.
So why does Obama spend so much money and create so much nonsense over a document you or I have no problem producing at the DMV?
If only there were an investigative journalist on the Right willing to pull the thread and answer that question.
I seriously doubt it will establish that Obama is not a U.S. citizen but it will undoubtedly surface something useful---which is the only reason I can think of for Obama the punctilious observer of election rules to hide it, especially given the mud slung at his opponent over the same issue.
Heather Mayfield| 7.23.09 @ 10:31AM
I am a graphic designer who found Obama's 'live birth certificate' (which it is not) to be laughable. A child Photoshop'ed it from the looks of it. It can be taken apart on my computer at home - no fancy equipment necessary.
Is it not important to know whether elected officials are legally qualified to run for and hold office?
It took me months to obtain proper ID to change my maiden name to married, as I'd moved to another state from my birth state. It took me months longer to have a passport reissued. I received numerous letters from the government passport office questioning the authenticity of my documents (me - your average girl from Virginia), and requesting further proof of citizenship, birth records, and marriage documentation.
I should have run for President. It would have been easier than obtaining my driver's license.
John A| 7.23.09 @ 11:22AM
Wow...you people are total nutjobs! Don't forget to put your tinfoil hats on- that Enterprise is coming to pick you up anytime now!
Wow is all I can say.
Sean| 7.23.09 @ 11:34AM
Yeah, it is total nutjobbery to ask for a birth certificate! What kind of fools are on this site. People wanting to be shown proof of the President being a natural born citizen. Why don't you guys shut up and not make any fuss and do what your told. Asking to see the official birth certificate s going way to far. Next you guys will want to Congress to actually read the bills they vote on. What next auditing the FED?
Brian B| 7.23.09 @ 11:51AM
I suspect Mr. Obama was born right where he claims, but I also suspect there is considerably more to this story than tin foil hats and the John Birch society.
My best guess is the real birth certificate either does not name a father or names a different one than the one he supposedly received his dreams from. If so that could potentially destroy him politically.
Leftists of course would instinctively recognize the opportunity here to cripple their opponent politically regardless of the legal technicalities.
Mike Lee| 7.23.09 @ 11:56AM
I agree Mr Klein. There are more important issues. Just because the fringe left truthers were lent credence by the lazy "MSM" does not mean we should lend credence to fringe right birthers. Good job.
Hear Hear.
Regards....
Sallie| 7.23.09 @ 12:25PM
Yeah, but the birthers are probably right.
Geo| 7.23.09 @ 12:39PM
You "birthers" are some of the biggest idiots. It's amazing how the state of Hawaii had the foresight to put the "fake" birth announcement in the local paper so many years ago when Obama was born, just in case someday he ran for president. You won't be convinced of the truth by anything, so that is why the president hasn't even tried to convince you. Nor should he. Personally, I think you all have a real hard time with a black man in the white house. Deal with it! And all these claims that he has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to hide this secret......pure garbage.
Missy| 7.23.09 @ 2:56PM
Geo is probably a huge truther. Bonehead fascist liberal.
Jefferson Washington| 7.24.09 @ 8:00AM
Where is the real birth certificate showing the hospital and doctor? Why can't we see it? Why don't you want to see it?
althusius| 7.24.09 @ 6:09PM
"The researchers contacted the Hawaii Health Dept. and confirmed that paper documents were discarded in 2001 when the department went paperless. That reportedly includes Pres. Obama's original birth certificate."
It has been widely reported that the State of Hawaii will not release a copy of the long form without Obama's permission. Why is Jon Klein, the President of CNN, making up this stuff after all this time?
jenna| 7.27.09 @ 2:47PM
Obama's step grandmother did NOT say he was born in Kenya. Instead, she rejected suggestions by the interviewer that he was born in Kenya and said on several occasions in the interview that he was born in Hawaii. The birthers decided to edit down the tape to just the first part of the interview where she said she was in Kenya when he was born (not saying where he was born) and the birthers cut out the last part of the tape where she makes the facts clear. The interviewer admitted on the full tape that he had misunderstood her earlier answer. There are NO FACTS that support any of the conspiracy theories.
BrooklynGirl| 7.27.09 @ 3:39PM
". Obama has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to conceal his birth certificate, which is not the same as a certificate of live birth"
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I fell to understand why people who claim to need absolute proof in regards to Obama's citizenship, swallows without question or proof that Obama spent millions to block an investigation into his birth certificate. What law firm received this "hundreds of thousands of dollars" to conceal a birth certificate that the Republican governor of Hawaii already confirmed was authentic?
R8RBOB| 7.27.09 @ 7:47PM
BrooklynGirl| 7.27.09 @ 3:39PM
". Obama has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to conceal his birth certificate, which is not the same as a certificate of live birth"
******************************************
I fell to understand why people who claim to need absolute proof in regards to Obama's citizenship, swallows without question or proof that Obama spent millions to block an investigation into his birth certificate. What law firm received this "hundreds of thousands of dollars" to conceal a birth certificate that the Republican governor of Hawaii already confirmed was authentic?
******************************************
Brooklyn, you are wasting your time. Thanks to their heroine, Sarah Palin the birthers believe that man walked with dinosaurs.
After reading these comments, I hope the President does nothing just so we have all the birthers nuts rant and rave week in, week out. Keep up the good work birthers, I'm on your side.
rational| 7.28.09 @ 12:35AM
What's the difference between a birther and a flat earther? Flat earthers can use their half a brain.
Karen| 7.28.09 @ 9:17AM
This is real simple:
1. Hawaii DOH was forbidden to disclose whether or not Obama was BORN in Hawaii; and they have never done so. Never.
2. Hawaii DOH also has never acknowledged that they produced and delivered Obama's 2007 COLB to Obama.
3. Okubu (as HI DOH) actually said that: "I don't know if we can even say WHAT that document is" referring to the image of Obama's COLB. Why not?
4. It is extremely easy to forge a computer-generate COLB. I've seen several on the NET already that have altered information so that it appears that Joe Shmoe was born to Ann Dunham in August 1961. It's EASY to do w/photoshop.
5. There is no -- NO -- connection between Obama's 2007 COLB and HI DOH that HI DOH will admit.
Karen| 7.28.09 @ 10:59AM
6. Obama's 2007 COLB was ordered by him and sent directly to him. He alone has been in possession of that COLB.
7. If HI DOH would say: "We produced that 2007 COLB to Obama and the contents reflect the data in our system" this entire matter would end, certainly for me.
8. IF HI DOH would have simply said: "We've reviewed Obama's vault BC and can confirm that he was born in Hawaii" that too would have been enough evidence for me.
HI DOH never Obama was born in Hawaii. That is the $64,000 question/ANSWER that everyone was waiting for but was denied for whatever BIZARRE reason. HI DOH never said, officially, that Obama was born in Hawaii. Later, some journalist asked a subordinate of one of the witnesses to Obama's vault BC IF the witness MEANT that Obama was born in Hawaii. The NON-witness subordinate said: "yes" that's what boss meant. Well, hold it -- that is absurd hearsay.
If that is what your boss meant, let HIM say so b/c he CHOSE not to say, specifically, that the BC proves that Obama was born in Hawaii.
Clever little of hand. I'm not amused. This little charade is not going away. And, it's outrageous that the American people have been deceived in this manner . . AND . . .that MOST fell for it, including you Mr. Klein.
Karen| 7.28.09 @ 11:13AM
9. My understanding is that the Hawaii State Seal on Obama's COLB is a 2008 seal on a 2007 COLB. That alone is a problem. Anyone, who got ahold of HI state seal could have stamped it on a forged Obama COLB. Did they? I don't know but they could have EASILY done so. This is high-stakes politics - a presidential election.
10. The Registrar's signature on Obama's 2007 COLB is NOT a real signature. It too is a stamp.
11. Two LOGICAL reasons why there's a BC notice in those HI newspapers in 1961: (A) Obama was conceived out of wedlock in 1961. Grandma Dunham as well as Ann would have wanted everyone to know that she was married to the father of the child. (B) ANN was 19 yrs old. It's very likely that IF Barry was born outside the US, she would jump through hoops --including putting a notice in the paper -- to make it appear he was born in the USA. 19 year old Ann most likely didn't know the law -- that Barry would have been a US citizen (even if born outside the USA). Only question is: IS he a "natural born citizen" if born to a foreign father on foreign soil. Answer: NO.
When Obama pony's up an AUTHENTICATED BC, even COLB, then this matter will die.
Call Obama. Tell him it will cost him $12 to end this matter and he can do in ONE day, even hours.
I think he owes the American people that much. It's nothing to expect and ask of this President or ANY President.
Article II of the US Constitution must be obeyed by all, period. There are only 3 minimum requirements of the Office of President of the United States. Providing slip-shop crap as proof is INSULTING to the American people.
ObamaIs Jesus| 7.28.09 @ 12:21PM
Support your president, traitors!
Rivin| 7.28.09 @ 4:44PM
I think the birther situation should continue full steam ahead, they should push and push and push, and the media should put them and their claims in the spotlight 24-7. Rush, Phil, Palin, Jindal, Steele, should all be shouting this story from the rooftops.
That way, by 2010, the Dem flogging of the Republican Party in 2008 and 2006 will look like a warm-up routine.
Trollmaster Skippy| 7.28.09 @ 7:27PM
By birther logic, Herbert Hoover should never have been president, then, because his mother was Canadian.
This constant "show the long form..." argument detracts from the real issues to be faced, like socialized medicine, the Sotomayor coronation and trillion dollar deficits. Independent voters see mainstream republicans in this same light, and it weakens the movement as a whole. Why not argue against the moon landing as well?
The fact remains that he is, and will stay, #44. Positive action to bring about change is required; hunting down bogeymen only drives the curious and the wanting straight into the opponent's hands.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. Or, for you birthers, the analogy could very well be hitting your head repeatedly against a wall and wondering where all the blood came from. By making the problem about you, you defeat the very party you claim to support.
Can't you idiots find something else to do? You're killing the rest of us.
Trollmaster Skippy| 7.28.09 @ 7:29PM
Oh, and you are all closet racists. When Free Republic sounds exactly like Stormfront, then the liberals win.
born in the usa| 7.31.09 @ 4:41PM
I submitted a short form and got a passport. The u.s. government believes i'm a citizen, but the birthers probably don't because i'm not white! i've been asked all my life: "what ARE you?" Probably birthers who think "white is right." My family's been here for over four generations, about a hundred years. Birthers need more and more proof, unending proof because their white supremacist attitudes cannot be reconciled with reality. Birthers, we can't prove it to you. And we don't have to. Obama's already given the same proof i've given. i believe him. there's no reason not to believe unless you are truly unbalanced.
Rush| 7.31.09 @ 5:22PM
How dare you question my judgement, you little prick.
Veronica| 8.3.09 @ 2:27PM
LOL - Obama's not really a U.S. citizen, Santa Claus is real, and the tooth fairy is really Tinkerbell in disguise.
Quick, folks! Your unicorns are getting out of the barn!!
Pingback| 8.8.09 @ 4:39PM
How Lou Dobbs Scared Rush Limbaugh Off the Birther Story « Politics or Poppycock links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Wesley Mouch| 8.8.09 @ 5:42PM
This is just great. Looks like the kooks have fully taken over the Republican party. Their plan for returning to power? 1. Keep it up with the birther foolishness. 2. Try to alienate the fastest growing part of the US population by smart remarks about Sotomayer 3. Get Sara Palin nominated for 2012. See what you get.
Harry C| 1.16.10 @ 12:09PM
Excellent article, and a much-needed rebuke of the lunatic fringe of the right which has bathed in a neverending shower of paranoia and outright "dis-logic" on so many issues.
It's one thing to have severe disagreements on fiscal policy, taxes, wealth redistribution, those are the true issues at the table.
But to address these issues, it's imperative for the right to tell this lunatic fringe to put its toys ahead, shut the **** up, and go to bed, it's time to let grownups control the tone of the conservative message.
pigment Red | 4.6.10 @ 3:47AM
Never frown, Ink Pigments
even when you are sad,Organic Pigments because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
Dave | 2.19.11 @ 4:39PM
Still waiting on that birth certificate. Since when does a person running for president not have to provide any proof that he is eligible for the office? Barry's little sister has a 'certificate of live birth" issued by Hawaii too and no one denys she was born in Indonesia. This entire controversy could be over in 60 seconds if the White House wanted to end it. So what are they hiding if he was born in the US? That is the real question that should be asked.