‘Birther’ Movement Dogs Republicans

[JKD]

‘Birther’ Movement Dogs Republicans

Ten Members of Congress Sign on to Presidential Birth Certificate Bill

By DAVID WEIGEL 7/17/09 6:00 AM


Kris Kobach is a law professor with degrees from Harvard, Yale and Oxford, and a veteran of George W. Bush’s administration who, after Sept. 11, helped craft the policy on domestic registration of foreign visitors to the United States. In May, he announced a run for Kansas secretary of state, campaigning for photo ID requirements at the voting booth. He’s considered a clear front-runner for the job. But over the weekend, Kobach spoke at a Republican Party barbecue and committed a minor gaffe. According to the Lawrence Journal-World, Kobach “asked what President Obama and God had in common, with the punchline being neither has a birth certificate.”

Kansas Democrats pounced. “While Kris Kobach has in the past associated himself with extremists who frequently show poor taste,” said state Democratic Party Executive Director Kenny Johnston, “his latest attempt at humor has gone too far.” Kobach told the Democrats to “lighten up” before walking back the comment, explaining that “until a court says otherwise, I believe Barack Obama is a natural-born citizen.”

Kobach could have offered another defense. The joke was not his. One month earlier, Rush Limbaugh made the same remark on his radio show. “Barack Obama has one thing in common with God,” Limbaugh said. “Know what it is? God does not have a birth certificate either.” And Limbaugh may not have been writing his own material, either. At Patriot Depot, a conservative web site that sells books by Glenn Beck and signs designed for anti-tax Tea Parties, buyers can pay $10 to get two bumper stickers that read: “Obama & God Have ONLY ONE THING in Common: NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE! The Difference Is God Doesn’t Think He’s Obama!”According to a salesman for Patriot Depot, the company has sold “hundreds” of this and another birth certificate sticker since advertising them with the conservative opinion sites GOPUSA.com and Townhall.com.

Six months into Obama’s presidency, after scores of embarrassing legal defeats, and even after tussles between the attoneys who’ve turned frivolous lawsuits about the president’s citizenship into full-time jobs, the cottage industry of conspiracy theories about the president’s birth shows no signs of disappearing. The theories have found a home in talk radio and on conservative web sites such as Free Republic and WorldNetDaily. Conspiracy theorists are increasingly sending letters to their local papers, embarrassing members of Congress at town hall meetings, and hounding Hill staffers about challenges to the president’s citizenship.

“I wouldn’t consider what Kris Kobach said a ‘gaffe,’ although it wasn’t a prudent comment,” said William B. Lacy, director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas. “It’s not at the root of the complaint that conservative [Republicans] have with this administration. In essence, what any Republican is doing by raising that issue is creating his or her own red herring. Kobach is probably okay here, but there’s a certain danger, I think, if it becomes something you repeat on a continuous basis.”

There’s no indication that the White House is worried about all of this. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has occasionally called on Lester Kinsolving, a radio host and correspondent for WorldNetDaily, to air the latest theories about the president’s citizenship as a way of defusing tense press briefings. While “birthers” claim that the president’s lawyers have spent “hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars” fighting their lawsuits, they’ve never provided evidence for that claim. Indeed, most of the suits have been tossed out of court on technicalities.

Ironically, the ‘birther’ movement began in response to Obama’s own efforts to debunk rumors. One year ago this week, the presidential campaign of then-Sen. Barack Obama launched FightTheSmears.com, a web site designed to push back against false rumors about the first African-American presidential nominee. To push back against rumors that he was not born in Hawaii, the campaign reproduced a Certificate of Live Birth from the state’s Health Department. Instead of terminating the conspiracy theories, that inspired new theories — that the certificate had been forged or that even if it hadn’t been forged it was the sort of certificate that could be given to someone born outside of the United States. But the certificate is specific about Obama’s birth in Honolulu, down to the 7:24 p.m. time.

“It’s crazy,” said Janice Okubo, director of communications for the Hawaii Department of Health. “I don’t think anything is ever going to satisfy them.”

Okubo, who said that she gets weekly questions from Obama ‘Birthers’ that are “more like threats,” explained that the certificate of live birth reproduced by Obama’s campaign should have debunked the conspiracy theories. “If you were born in Bali, for example,” Okubo explained, “you could get a certificate from the state of Hawaii saying you were born in Bali. You could not get a certificate saying you were born in Honolulu. The state has to verify a fact like that for it to appear on the certificate. But it’s become very clear that it doesn’t matter what I say. The people who are questioning this bring up all these implausible scenarios. What if the physician lied? What if the state lied? It’s just become an urban legend at this point.”

The urban legend has become too pervasive for Republicans to avoid. In February, Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) introduced a much-mocked bill that would require presidential campaigns to provide “a copy of the candidate’s birth certificate.” While Posey initially said that he disbelieved conspiracy theories about the president’s birth, he told the host of an Internet radio show that he’d discussed the possibility of Obama being removed from office over “the eligibility issue” with “high-ranking members of our Judiciary Committee.” As of July 15, nine fellow Republican members of Congress were backing the bill. While Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) has said that he supports the bill because he didn’t know whether Obama was a citizen, other sponsors say that they weighed in to pour cold water on the conspiracy theories.

“It’s a good idea,” said John Donnelly, a spokesman for Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), who became one of the bill’s co-sponsors this month. “If candidates provided that information to the Federal Election Commission you wouldn’t have all this hullaballoo. You don’t want to needlessly expose presidents to crazy conspiracy theories.”

At the state level, “birther” conspiracy theorists have made headway in getting Republican lawmakers interested in legislation like Posey’s. At least four Republican members of Missouri’s state legislature have looked into introducing a similar bill. State Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Okla.) who is running for governor of Oklahoma in 2010, said that he’d co-sponsor birth certificate legislation if it made it out of the state senate and would “definitely” sign the bill if he won the governorship.

“You bet I’d sign it,” said Brodgon. “I know I’d have no problem showing my birth certificate.”

The Republicans who appear to be willing to listen to “birthers,” even to debunk them, have to walk a tightrope. In April, freshman Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) held a town hall meeting at her old high school in Cheyenne, Wyo., and got a question about the president’s citizenship. Lummis challenged the skeptic to “please send” evidence that the president was not a natural-born citizen. “I’m not questioning your concern,” Lummis said. “I am questioning whether there is credible evidence.” In early July, a small group of “birthers” walked the halls of Congress handing “grand jury presentments” over to the confused front desk assistants of members of Congress; the activists rushed online to report the latest member who had been “handed” the information. After “birthers” provided some of their papers to Michael Schwartz, the chief of staff to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), they rushed online to report that Schwartz had been won over to the cause and was about to get in touch with Orly Taitz, a California lawyer who has filed several unsuccessful challenges to the president’s citizenship.

It is possible to mistake politeness for agreement,” Schwartz told TWI, “and I make every effort to be polite.” He did have a “brief conversation with Dr. Taitz,” but challenged the way online “birthers” had hyped their contact with Coburn’s office. “An observer would not report it quite like this,” said Schwartz.

Taitz’s lawsuits and the pressure of conservative talkers like Limbaugh have made it increasingly difficult for Republicans to avoid the “birthers.” On June 16, after Limbaugh joked about the president’s citizenship, WorldNetDaily editor-in-chief Joseph Farah appeared on the Web-based Recharge Radio to thank the host for spreading the “birther” message. “What that did is beyond Rush’s impact,” said Farah. “It also gives other talk show hosts license to talk about this issue … Rush is kind of the standard of talk show hosts. A lot of people emulate what he does. He crossed the Rubicon on that show, and I’m very proud of him for doing it.”

Farah’s instincts have been borne out by conservative media. This week, Taitz represented Maj. Stefan F. Cook, a reservist who volunteered for duty in Afghanistan, then demanded to be released from the commitment unless the president proved that he was a U.S. citizen. “I did not volunteer with the intent of becoming a conscientious objector,” Cook told TWI in an email. On Wednesday Cook’s deployment was cancelled, and a spokesman for Centcom took issue with Taitz’s claim, made in a WorldNetDaily story, that this decision verified conspiracy theories about the president’s birth. Later that night, Sean Hannity cited the story on his Fox News show and used Taitz’s version of the facts, not Centcom’s.

“Major Cook and his lawyer expressed joy at this outcome,” said Hannity. “And they took it as an admission on the part of the military that the president is not in fact a legitimate citizen by birth.”
http://washingtonindependent.com/51489/birther-movement-picks-up-steam

http://www.youtube.com/v/0PfkLLMkJX0

[Jobu]

It's a good joke, especially the Patriot Depot version.

[brainplay]

Shouldn't the title be more like "Birthers dog Obama"?

[JKD]

Shouldn't the title be more like "Birthers dog Obama"?

It's the Republicans they're embarrassing and making look nuts. Sort of the role Truthers played for the Dems.

[MJC9678]

They drove McCain nuts over being born in the Panama Canal zone, I have no idea why Obama will not release his birth certificate. Maybe he was born in the US but there is something else on it, he does not want made public?

[Kit]

Just let it go... maybe focus on regaining some dignity instead?

[gaijinsamurai]

I have no idea why Obama will not release his birth certificate. Maybe he was born in the US but there is something else on it, he does not want made public?

Are you sure about that, or are you just repeating something you heard from someone else?

[a_very_ex_STAB]

Some ppl on the Republican side obviously have way too much time on their hands!

[gaijinsamurai]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertificate.asp


Of course, there will continue to be those who refuse to be bothered with the facts, when they don't conform to what they want to believe.

[budgie]

Shouldn't the title be more like "Birthers dog Obama"?

Nope, the theme of the article is how they negatively affect the GOP's image. As a fringe group of conspiracy theorists they have very little ability to dog the President but apparently they're causing headaches for their own representatives at the State/local level.


They drove McCain nuts over being born in the Panama Canal zone, I have no idea why Obama will not release his birth certificate. Maybe he was born in the US but there is something else on it, he does not want made public?

Case in point:


“It’s crazy,” said Janice Okubo, director of communications for the Hawaii Department of Health. “I don’t think anything is ever going to satisfy them.”

Okubo, who said that she gets weekly questions from Obama ‘Birthers’ that are “more like threats,” explained that the certificate of live birth reproduced by Obama’s campaign should have debunked the conspiracy theories.


Nothing it seems, will satisfy some people. Really this is just an urban legend: The original has been verified by experts. See STAB's (oops, Gaijin's) link please.

What exaclty does 'releasing' the birth certificate mean to you lot anyway? Should the President turn up in person at every American's door with a hard copy and ask them to sign. Give it up mate.

[gaijinsamurai]

Since when is it so easy to get me and STAB confused, Budge?!?!? (wink!)

All of this crap is really a shame, because we DO NEED a legitimate, viable, and RESPECTABLE opposition party right now. There are issues, such as the budget/economy, health care, immigration, foreign policy, and defense, in which the Obama Administration should not be given carte blanche to do everything it wants. There needs to be checks and balances, keeping in mind that our current President was elected in a fair election, and should be given the freedom to pursue the implementation of the agenda which the voters wanted him to enact.

But all this petty crap just reminds me of the same tired stuff that turned everyone off back in November. The GOP really needs to get its act together, distance themselves from the nutcases, and act like mature folks, unless they want to continue to become less relevant. And as a Democrat, I believe we need a Republican leadership which will act in the best interests of the American people, not just the Rush Limbaughs and Bill O' Reillys.

[Jobu]

But all this petty crap just reminds me of the same tired stuff that turned everyone off back in November. The GOP really needs to get its act together, distance themselves from the nutcases, and act like mature folks, unless they want to continue to become less relevant. And as a Democrat, I believe we need a Republican leadership which will act in the best interests of the American people, not just the Rush Limbaughs and Bill O' Reillys.

Sorry but that's such a bull**** argument. Who in the GOP is embracing these idiots? Nobody. The fringe nutters did not "turn everyone off back in November" they just made for a convenient excuse for those who pretend to be conservative or moderate but wanted to vote for Obama anyway knowing full well how far left he really is.

I'm sure some pseudo-liberals used the Cindy Sheehan nutters excuse in 2004.

[Atlantic Friend]

Sorry but that's such a bull**** argument. Who in the GOP is embracing these idiots? Nobody. The fringe nutters did not "turn everyone off back in November" they just made for a convenient excuse for those who pretend to be conservative or moderate but wanted to vote for Obama anyway knowing full well how far left he really is.

I'm sure some pseudo-liberals used the Cindy Sheehan nutters excuse in 2004.

They're not exactly embracing the Birthers, but the Birthers, they keep embracing the GOP. Remember that McCain speech during the campaign, with that crazy old woman standing up and saying something on the line of "Obama is a Muslim terrorist" and McCain found himself forced to defend Obama and silence her? It's the same thing, only it has picked up speed.

See for yourself at some Republican forums, and you'll see dozens of threads about Obama's birth certificate. Not to mention the thousands of references to it in other threads, whether they have any connection to the issue or not. Obama is called the Kenyan Usurper, and things like that.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

It's all because they are still pi$$ed about that whole 'Hussein' thing :-)

Pretty much guaranteed to make your average right wing nutjob's systolic blood pressure hit the roof.

[Jobu]

It's all because they are still pi$$ed about that whole 'Hussein' thing :-)

Pretty much guaranteed to make your average right wing nutjob's systolic blood pressure hit the roof.


I still find it hilarious that his middle name is Hussein.

Imagine if McCain's middle name were Adolf.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

I still find it hilarious that his middle name is Hussein.

Imagine if McCain's middle name were Adolf.

You must be lying

Amerikans are genetically incapable of appreciating irony :)

[chauncy republicans]

Funny, I can just imagine the reaction of a prospective employer when he asks for a copy of my birth certificate, and I tell him to look it up on the internet, or rely on the hearsay from random Hawaiians. If that wouldn't fly for a janitor, why should it for the President, or is this just another example of faith and loyalty to the One, by his disciples? Seems to me the issue could go away over night if he just did the right thing.

[gaijinsamurai]

Sorry but that's such a bull**** argument. Who in the GOP is embracing these idiots? Nobody. The fringe nutters did not "turn everyone off back in November" they just made for a convenient excuse for those who pretend to be conservative or moderate but wanted to vote for Obama anyway knowing full well how far left he really is.

I'm sure some pseudo-liberals used the Cindy Sheehan nutters excuse in 2004.

So, nobody in the GOP is embracing Rush Limbaugh?

As far as voters being turned off last November, it was not just the birth certificate so-called "issue" that turned people off. When McCain decided to make the "lipstick on a pig" comment an issue, when Palin showed she could not get a grasp of the issues which are essential for someone to want to lead the country to know, and when some of the people at the GOP political rallies made racist comments about Obama, it became a liability for McCain's campaign. Unfortunately for him, McCain figured that out too late.

And yeah, the Cindy Sheehans, Acorn idiots, Jesse Jacksons, and Al Sharptons are a liability to the Democrats.

I think you and I probably agree on more than we realize, Jobu. Conservatives have a lot of valid points, and they need to be heard. But this kind of crap only compromises their credibility.

[gaijinsamurai]

Funny, I can just imagine the reaction of a prospective employer when he asks for a copy of my birth certificate, and I tell him to look it up on the internet, or rely on the hearsay from random Hawaiians. If that wouldn't fly for a janitor, why should it for the President, or is this just another example of faith and loyalty to the One, by his disciples? Seems to me the issue could go away over night if he just did the right thing.

Is there a standard procedure a candidate must follow, when it comes to a birth certificate? Did Obama, in fact, just say "Look it up on the internet!"?

[chauncy republicans]

He showed a copy of his Birth Certificate to Factcheck.org for them to examine. Which is essentially saying "look it up on-line".

[FullMetalJackass]

It's the Republicans they're embarrassing and making look nuts. Sort of the role Truthers played for the Dems.


It is pretty obvious at this point that the birther embarassing republicans is less important than the whole democrats demolishing what is left of the US economy with their politics of fear attempt of passing completely misguided legislation. Look at the presidents approval ratings on these. Carter Mk.II

[JKD]

Funny, I can just imagine the reaction of a prospective employer when he asks for a copy of my birth certificate, and I tell him to look it up on the internet, or rely on the hearsay from random Hawaiians. If that wouldn't fly for a janitor, why should it for the President, or is this just another example of faith and loyalty to the One, by his disciples? Seems to me the issue could go away over night if he just did the right thing.

He's shown it. Representatives of the government of Hawaii have said it's legit. There were birth announcements in two Honolulu newspapers. What else should he do? Go door to door with it?

It's just like with 9/11 Truthers. No matter how much evidence you throw their way they cling to their conspiracies.

[chauncy republicans]

He said she said the internet said...
I'm sure the messiah appreciates your faithfulness.

[JKD]

He said she said the internet said...
I'm sure the messiah appreciates your faithfulness.

What is that you doubt? The birth certificate that he's shown? The government of Hawaii? The Honolulu Advertiser? The Honolulu Star Bulletin? I'm assuming the man has a passport...which would require the State Department to be in on it. This is getting to be a pretty deep conspiracy going all the way back to 1961.

It's not faith. I just have two eyes, a brain, and I'm not nuts.

[Blue_0]

The whole birth certificate issue is stupidity at this point.

-- Bluelight

[chauncy republicans]

What is that you doubt? The birth certificate that he's shown? The government of Hawaii? The Honolulu Advertiser? The Honolulu Star Bulletin? I'm assuming the man has a passport...which would require the State Department to be in on it. This is getting to be a pretty deep conspiracy going all the way back to 1961.

It's not faith. I just have two eyes, a brain, and I'm not nuts.
I don't doubt anything, I see a group a faithful disciples attempting to bypass the law (U.S. Constitution) in favor of they're hero. This is ****ing nuts. There is a law in this land higher than the whims of an awestruck majority, or any beloved celebrity leader, and it must be followed. Whether he is a citizen or not at this time is a moot point, he hasn't provided any real evidence to indicate one or the other.
Aside from - He said She said the Internet said...

[JKD]

I don't doubt anything, I see a group a faithful disciples attempting to bypass the law (U.S. Constitution) in favor of they're hero. This is ****ing nuts. There is a law in this land higher than the whims of an awestruck majority, or any beloved celebrity leader, and it must be followed.
What is it that he has not done with regards to his citizenship that no president before him has done? What laws have been bypassed? In what way have they been bypassed?


Whether he is a citizen or not at this time is a moot point, he hasn't provided any real evidence to indicate one or the other.
What evidence has he not provided and to whom has he not provided it? He provided what the state of Hawaii has verified as being a valid birth certificate.

[brainplay]

Chauncy, I can understand your frustration. I too was sucked into this since the birth certificate issue was handled rather unconventionally. Even move so due to Hawaii's unusual way of handling birth certificates and issued copies and when his own grandmother claimed she was present to his birth in KENYA.

However, as it was later vetted and validated (the original) by the Hawaii officials who hold ALOT more credibility than FactCheck or the husband/wife Snopes teams then it was good enough to settle any lingering suspicions that I had.

Would you finally be satifsfied if they released the "long" version which has all of the details?

[gaijinsamurai]

I don't doubt anything, I see a group a faithful disciples attempting to bypass the law (U.S. Constitution) in favor of they're hero. This is ****ing nuts. There is a law in this land higher than the whims of an awestruck majority, or any beloved celebrity leader, and it must be followed. Whether he is a citizen or not at this time is a moot point, he hasn't provided any real evidence to indicate one or the other.
Aside from - He said She said the Internet said...

And what law is not being followed?

[LineDoggie]

It's the Republicans they're embarrassing and making look nuts. Sort of the role Truthers played for the Dems.

Theres a LOT of Crossover from the Alex Jones/Ron Paulians/9-11 Truthers Lunatics. Jones is the one who put out the Obama Deception, after all.

It shows far too many with Mental problems in this country get press time

[budgie]

Funny, I can just imagine the reaction of a prospective employer when he asks for a copy of my birth certificate, and I tell him to look it up on the internet, or rely on the hearsay from random Hawaiians. If that wouldn't fly for a janitor, why should it for the President, or is this just another example of faith and loyalty to the One, by his disciples? Seems to me the issue could go away over night if he just did the right thing.

Once again what do you expect? Should Obama turn up to every family's doorstep in person and show the original? The internet is as close to a Public Servant's birth certificate as anyone can expect to get.

[budgie]

However, as it was later vetted and validated (the original) by the Hawaii officials who hold ALOT more credibility than FactCheck or the husband/wife Snopes teams then it was good enough to settle any lingering suspicions that I had.


Dude Fact Check, Snopes and Wiki for that matter are simply clearing houses. They cite their sources and in this case, the source cited on Snopes appears to satisfy you. No need to **** the gun for the next messenger "just in case".

[chauncy republicans]

Once again what do you expect? Should Obama turn up to every family's doorstep in person and show the original? The internet is as close to a Public Servant's birth certificate as anyone can expect to get.
No it is not, we have elected Representatives that have to answer to their voters, they should have a look at it.

[JKD]

No it is not, we have elected Representatives that have to answer to their voters, they should have a look at it.

Why not just save the trouble, cut out the middle men, and go straight to the issuing body, the state of Hawaii, who has said the certificate is legitimate and the President was indeed born in Honolulu

[chauncy republicans]

I am able to walk to Donald Manzullo's office, and visit quite often. I have confidence that he does what is best for his voters (when he can). I have no idea who these assholes in Hawaii are.

[JKD]

I am able to walk to Donald Manzullo's office, and visit quite often. I have confidence that he does what is best for his voters (when he can). I have no idea who these assholes in Hawaii are.
You're saying the government of Hawaii, which I guess is composed of assholes, two Honolulu newspapers that published the birth announcement in 1961, and numbers of other people are or could be lying?

[chauncy republicans]

No, I'm saying as a citizen of the United States of America, I have the right to know who my President is, and where he comes from. The people of America are the ones who he is accountable to, not some assholes in Hawaii.

[California Joe]

I am able to walk to Donald Manzullo's office, and visit quite often. I have confidence that he does what is best for his voters (when he can). I have no idea who these assholes in Hawaii are.

They're civil servants that do their job, and their job is to look up stupid sh*t like this. I have no idea who Donald Manzullo or you are but it's pretty obvious you're retarded.

You've been told, you just don't like the answer.

[chauncy republicans]

Donald Manzullo is my U.S. Representative.
Your right, "he said, she said, I saw it on the internet", doesn't cut it for me.

[gaijinsamurai]

Chauncy, quite frankly I don't think anything would really "cut it" for you, because you seem to not want any credible sources to confuse you with the facts, now that you're mind is made up.

And yeah, like CJ wrote, you are looking more and more retarded with every post. If I were a Republican or conservative, I'd want to distance myself from you really fast.

[California Joe]

Look at it objectively, he's not stepping down, there will be no bombshell revelations, nothing will be accomplished, except rallying the tinfoil wing of the party. That's all you have to look forward to. Being lumped in with ignorant sh*theels like that dopey broad yelling at the congressman they show every 15 minutes on the news.

Remember how Republicans clowned all of the Al Gore diehards that claimed Bush stole the election? Well, this is even more stupid.

[chauncy republicans]

I am an American citizen, and unlike many on this board I have the stones to act like one. I don't give a **** how stupid you people think I am, the issue is that there is a certain amount of speculation as to his birth place, and so far no credible forms of evidence have surfaced to prove/disprove anything.
I, and the rest of you are the ones who have to hold our public officials accountable, if you people are too cowardly to assert your rights as American citizens maybe you should move. Again, this whole issue could go away in a moment, and all of us 'idiotic birthers' would be proven wrong, but so far that hasn't happened, and it sure as hell isn't for a lack of effort.

[California Joe]

Chauncy, your patriotism is laudable. I believe you are passionate about it. Our lack of believing in this silliness is not for lack of stones, nor from some sort of idol worship of a politician of all people.

We are not being cowardly, we just think it's absurd. It's also counterproductive and delusional if you think that somehow this is all going to result in "American citizens" exerting control over a sitting President.

What you're all going to do is piss and moan and refuse to believe and be seen as nuts and further marginalize your overall cause due to what is nothing more than a distraction issue and a way for disenfranchised, truly angry people to rail against having a black guy in office without having to use the "N" word.

Do you somehow believe that the state of Hawaii is involved in a massive conspiracy and that they and everyone in Obamas administration is a flat out liar? Do you really believe that Hillary Clinton wouldn't have used it if it was true to take the nomination? Like John Stewart said, that's some kickass planning on Obamas parents part to plant a story in a newspaper 46 years ago in order to kick off their plan to dominate the world by installing their African baby as POTUS.

[budgie]

the issue is that there is a certain amount of speculation as to his birth place, and so far no credible forms of evidence have surfaced to prove/disprove anything.

There is no speculation - at least not credible. Just a few die hards such as yourself who refuse to accept every piece of evidence supporting Obama's citizenship because they sincerely want to believe he was not born in the US.


I, and the rest of you are the ones who have to hold our public officials accountable, if you people are too cowardly to assert your rights as American citizens maybe you should move.

Does this mean that not one single elected official has investigated these claims? SWurely its been done in Hawaii and if not in Hawaii then where else should it be done? Should every local representative in every Red State where there are 'birthers' launch his own separate "investigation"? Where does this end? If they all come to the same conclusion as the state of Hawaii?


Again, this whole issue could go away in a moment, and all of us 'idiotic birthers' would be proven wrong, but so far that hasn't happened, and it sure as hell isn't for a lack of effort.

Yes it has been proven, time and again and you guys refuse to accept it. Not to your satisfaction? You and the marginalized few who just can't accept the facts laid out in front of them? Tough. Your personal satisfaction beyond all reason is not cause enough to keep this pissant excuse for a debate going. So it just carries on as a circular argument, a lame conspiracy theory. You can take the hat off now, my evil words are over.

Now back to the OP, this assertion of yours that (undoubtedly Republican) people who are still unsure should approach their (presumably Republican) representatives and demand investigations kind of proves the point that the birthers are dogging the GOP. As long as they refuse to let go, they'll be a thorn in the side of said representatives.

[7thKeeper]

Chauncy, I can understand your frustration. I too was sucked into this since the birth certificate issue was handled rather unconventionally. Even move so due to Hawaii's unusual way of handling birth certificates and issued copies and when his own grandmother claimed she was present to his birth in KENYA.

Actually, she didn't. A lot of the transcripts just oddly enough stop at that point and don't continue, when she states that he was born in Hawaii. I think this is supposed to be the audio file to it. Hope I get the right one, don't have sound at the moment so I can't verify atm.

http://s16v.com/americasright/8167169.wma


MCRAE: Could I ask her about his actual birthplace? I would like to see his birthplace when I come to Kenya in December. Was she present when he was born in Kenya?

OGOMBE: Yes. She says, yes, she was, she was present when Obama was born.

MCRAE: When I come in December. I would like to come by the place, the hospital, where he was born. Could you tell me where he was born? Was he born in Mombasa?

OGOMBE: No, Obama was not born in Mombasa. He was born in America.

MCRAE: Whereabouts was he born? I thought he was born in Kenya.

OGOMBE: No, he was born in America, not in Mombasa.

MCRAE: Do you know where he was born? I thought he was born in Kenya. I was going to go by and see where he was born.

OGOMBE: Hawaii. Hawaii. Sir, she says he was born in Hawaii. In the state of Hawaii, where his father was also learning, there. The state of Hawaii.

[martinexsquaddie]

back off chauncy
your treading in dangerous waters.
if and when we get one of the black chinnooks flyabe again.
we will come for you obamama is part of the British empires plan to retake its rebellious colony.

[chauncy republicans]

Do you somehow believe that the state of Hawaii is involved in a massive conspiracy and that they and everyone in Obamas administration is a flat out liar? Do you really believe that Hillary Clinton wouldn't have used it if it was true to take the nomination? Like John Stewart said, that's some kickass planning on Obamas parents part to plant a story in a newspaper 46 years ago in order to kick off their plan to dominate the world by installing their African baby as POTUS.
No I don't, that is not the issue. We have an arrogant son of a bitch for President who feels the American people are merely a ticket to election, although it does look pretty suspicious given the fact that he wont man up and make the problem go away.

It incenses me that after Bush, people would still give these assholes an ounce of credibility, especially Obama, who already has a consistent history of flip-flops. If a President's birth place is being scrutinized the President should voluntarily submit any relevant evidence to the House of Representatives to be examined. He works for us, it's not unreasonable at all to be very thorough when it comes to enforcing the laws that ultimately protect us all.

[chauncy republicans]

back off chauncy
your treading in dangerous waters.
if and when we get one of the black chinnooks flyabe again.
we will come for you obamama is part of the British empires plan to retake its rebellious colony.
Sorry man, I don't speak squaddie. :)

[California Joe]

No I don't, that is not the issue. We have an arrogant son of a bitch for President who feels the American people are merely a ticket to election, although it does look pretty suspicious given the fact that he wont man up and make the problem go away.

It incenses me that after Bush, people would still give these assholes an ounce of credibility, especially Obama, who already has a consistent history of flip-flops. If a President's birth place is being scrutinized the President should voluntarily submit any relevant evidence to the House of Representatives to be examined. He works for us, it's not unreasonable at all to be very thorough when it comes to enforcing the laws that ultimately protect us all.

I'm sorry, I thought that was the issue. In fact it seems to be the whole point of this "movement". "arrogant son of a bitch" seems to be your issue and your opinion. That's fine, I get it, you don't like the guy or his attitude. But don't most politicians fall into that particular category? W was routinely called "smug" or "cocky", Bill Clinton was certainly an arrogant "Alpha male" type personality.

The trouble with all of this is that perception is reality. Most of the country doesn't consider it an issue. Do you really believe that the Republican congressmen that are paying lip service to this bizarre issue are doing it for some noble purpose? They know it's retarded, well most of them probably do. They are pandering to nuts, they are using it as a springboard for reelection and to poke the administration with a stick because they are supremely angry and butthurt that some black guy with a weird name won the election and their constituents see it as the beginning of the endtimes.

[budgie]

Most of the country doesn't consider it an issue. Do you really believe that the Republican congressmen that are paying lip service to this bizarre issue are doing it for some noble purpose? They know it's retarded, well most of them probably do.

CJ why do you hate Freedom?

Actually perhaps what this 'birther' movement needs is some structure, focus and leadership. If it were actually an organised campaign, then the Whitehouse could simply show Obama's birth cert and other hard evidence to the birther leadership and they could announce to their slavering zombie minions that he is indeed a citizen after all.

No doubt that would cause all sorts of splinter groups to emerge who "really know the truth" right?

[Limeyfellow]

It gotten to such a stage, that even going back in time and showing them the birth, taking DNA and measuring it later to the President would not be enough evidence. You can't win when someone goes full retard.

These guys make most the teabaggers look perfectly normal.

[SkyUS]

What you're all going to do is piss and moan and refuse to believe and be seen as nuts and further marginalize your overall cause due to what is nothing more than a distraction issue and a way for disenfranchised, truly angry people to rail against having a black guy in office without having to use the "N" word.


CJ nailed the issue right here.

This thread greatly amused me. Keep it up.

[Ought Six]

Just to throw a little fuel on the fire, here is Lou Dobbs revealing that the State of Hawaii admits losing Obama's original vault copy of his birth certificate eight years ago.

What Obama has shown to people is his Certificate of Live Birth, which is not the original vault copy birth certificate with the name of the doctor that delivered him, the name of the hospital where he was delivered, and other important details. Enjoy! :)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvYcFgXCJrE&feature=player_embedded

[budgie]

Oh Christ another one! Christ I've got three copies of that at home. They sell them for 200 baht apiece on Khao San Road.

[IraGlacialis]

Hawaii again declares Obama birth certificate real
By JAYMES SONG, Associated Press Writer

HONOLULU – State officials in Hawaii on Monday said they have once again checked and confirmed that President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and is a natural-born American citizen, and therefore meets a key constitutional requirement for being president.
They hoped to stem a recent surge in the number of inquiries about Obama's birthplace.
"I ... have seen the original vital records maintained on file by the Hawaii State Department of Health verifying Barack Hussein Obama was born in Hawaii and is a natural-born American citizen," Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said in a brief statement. "I have nothing further to add to this statement or my original statement issued in October 2008 over eight months ago."
So-called "birthers" — who claim Obama is ineligible to be president because, they argue, he was actually born outside the United States — have grown more vocal recently on blogs and television news shows.
Fukino issued a similar press release Oct. 31, but was prompted to speak out again because of the renewed attention on Obama's beginnings. Hawaii's Health Department has been flooded in recent weeks with questions from individuals and several national TV news networks asking for proof that Obama was indeed born in Hawaii.
"They just keep asking over and over and over again," Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said.
The Constitution states that a person must be a "natural-born citizen" to be eligible for the presidency. Birthers contend that Obama's birth certificate is a fake, and many say he was actually born in Kenya, his father's homeland. They've challenged his citizenship in court.
One widely circulated YouTube clip of a town hall meeting showed a Republican congressman getting booed for saying Obama is a citizen. Talk show host Rush Limbaugh and CNN's Lou Dobbs have also raised the issue, and 10 Republican members of Congress co-sponsored a bill that would require future presidential candidates to provide a copy of their original birth certificate.
However, it appears Congress has moved on and has accepted Obama's island birthplace. The U.S. House on Monday unanimously approved a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii becoming the 50th state. A clause was included that reads: "Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961."
State law bars the release of a certified birth certificate to anyone who does not have a tangible interest.
However, Obama's birth certificate along with birth notices from the two Honolulu newspapers were brought forward even before he took office. But that's done nothing to shake the belief by many Obama critics that the president was born abroad.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090728/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_birth_certificate

Not that it really matter to the 'birthers'.
If you are going to attack Obama, there are plenty of other issues to attack him with without sounding like a loony on par with the lunar landing conspiracy theorists.

[CPLHUNTER]

The whole "birther" bit is retarded and makes the right wing resistance look stupid by the left wing media that uses it to portray all conservatives as loony bin.

We need to focused on the real issues, such as healthcare reform, cap and trade bills and such. Sh1t even Fox ponies up the story:

Hawaii Again Declares Obama Birth Certificate Real

State officials in Hawaii on Monday said they have once again checked and confirmed that President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and is a natural-born American citizen.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/28/hawaii-declares-obama-birth-certificate-real/

[Connaught Ranger]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090728/tod-oukoe-uk-birth-cb1d00a.html
Obama IS a U.S. citizen, says exasperated White House

5 hours 28 mins ago
http://l.yimg.com/i/i/uk/ne/reute.jpg (http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/*******online/SIG=114rh0n4s/**http%3A%2F%2Fwww.*******.co.uk%2F) Ross Colvin

Print Story (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090728/tod-oukoe-uk-birth-cb1d00a.html?printer=1)


A vocal group of conspiracy theorists known as "birthers" are riling the White House with their persistent claim that Barack Obama is not an American citizen and therefore ineligible to be president.


The claim that the United States' first African-American president was born in Kenya, not Hawaii, first emerged during his presidential campaign, but it has garnered more media attention in the summer "silly season," a traditionally slow news period when many Americans are on vacation.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs looked exasperated at his briefing on Monday when a reporter asked him, "Is there anything you can say that will make the birthers go away?"

"If I had some DNA, it wouldn't assuage those that don't believe he was born here," Gibbs replied. "But I have news for them and for all of us: The president was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 50th state of the greatest country on the face of the earth. He's a citizen.

"A year-and-a-half ago I asked that the birth certificate be put on the Internet because Lord knows, you got a birth certificate and you put it on the Internet, what else could be the story?"

The digitally scanned copy of the "certification of live birth" from Hawaii's Department of Health shows Obama was born in Honolulu at 7:24 p.m. on August 4, 1961.

The nonpartisan FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Centre of the University of Pennsylvania, examined, handled and photographed the original certificate in an effort to put the controversy to rest.

"We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the USA, just as he has always said."

FactCheck.org also pointed out that Obama's American mother and Kenyan father placed an advertisement in a local Honolulu newspaper on August 13, 1961, announcing their son's birth.

Gibbs, who has ridiculed "birthers" in the past, impatiently dismissed the claims as "made-up, fictional nonsense." "There are 10,000 more important issues for people in this country to discuss, rather than whether or not the president is a citizen."

Despite the seemingly incontrovertible evidence, the issue shows no sign of disappearing off the radar of right-wing radio talkshow hosts and others who say the birth certificate is a forgery to hide the fact that Obama is foreign-born.

Republican Congressman Mike Castle was booed at a town hall meeting after he insisted Obama, a Democrat, was an American citizen. Video of the meeting went viral and has been viewed nearly 700,000 times on YouTube.

Fellow Republican Congressman John Campbell is a co-sponsor of legislation that would in the future force presidential candidates to produce their birth certificates.

Meanwhile, several lawsuits challenging Obama's eligibility to serve as president have been dismissed, and a U.S. Army major made headlines by arguing he should not be deployed to Afghanistan (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/fc/al-qaeda.html) on the grounds that the commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces was not an American citizen.


Connaught Ranger.

[budgie]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090728/tod-oukoe-uk-birth-cb1d00a.html

Connaught Ranger.

Connaught why do you hate freedom? Clearly all these documents are fakes. Duuuh.

Seriously though with all this evidence why do people just refuse to let it go? The truth is they want to believe that the black dude in the white house is some sort of IslamoCommunEcoFascist plant.

[BearInBunnySuit]

I wonder if we would have had the same "birther" movement had McCain won since he was born on a Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal. I know that the Canal was in U.S. control at the time but it's technically not the U.S. proper.

[Delay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1zrcXCJzK0

[Stainless Steel Rat]

I wonder if we would have had the same "birther" movement had McCain won since he was born on a Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal. I know that the Canal was in U.S. control at the time but it's technically not the U.S. proper.


Yep, but in this case it would have been the left-field wackos instead of the right-field wackos...

[Atlantic Friend]

I wonder if we would have had the same "birther" movement had McCain won since he was born on a Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal. I know that the Canal was in U.S. control at the time but it's technically not the U.S. proper.

No, it would have been an entirely different issue because, er.... because.... say, isn't that a unicorn ambling down the street?