With all the crap going wrong in this country, inflation, the economy, the 3 wars we are now involved in...why the heck are Donald Trump and so many talk show hosts, etc. spending so much time on the "birther" issue. If the Obama campaign ever wanted to provide a wild goose for the GOP to waste their energy and resources on, this is it. I am confused why seemingly intelligent people cannot grasp that it is a non-issue when there are so many other real issues to discuss. rant over...
It's an issue because Obama makes it an issue. He could show his birth certificate and put it to rest. I'm positive he's an American citizen born in Hawaii but he chooses to do this, which gives candidates something to rally people around.
This is what friendorfoe is talking about. Obama has shown his birth certificate. The whole argument about "certificate of live birth" as opposed to a "birth certificate" is moot- the document that Obama has shown is the exact same document that is given by the state of Hawaii as proof of birth, and the document that the birthers are crying about is no longer issued by the state of Hawaii, but kept locked away in records. Time and time again, experts have attested to the fact that the certificate of live birth is authentic. The document that Obama has shown was dated just days after his birth and likely has been what he has known his entire life to be his "birth certificate," and in fact IS his legal birth certificate, good to be used as legal proof of ID for obtaining drivers licenses and passports. If the certificate of live birth is not considered a birth certificate, then hundreds of thousands of Hawaiians are in trouble. In short, yes, I am tired of the birther issue. I was tired of it about 30 seconds after I first heard it, since 30 seconds from when I first heard it was all it took for me to find a copy of the certificate itself on the internet. I can't believe that this has actually made mainstream news.
Honestly, if I were Obama and on his campaign I would whip the GOP into a frenzy over this very thing to keep the attention off of the real issues at hand. BTW...it may interest some folks to know that I myself do not have a birth certificate. I was born in Brazil (but to parents who were U.S. citizens) and naturalized through the consulate. I am an American citizen with no birth certificate though I have a record of birth and a passport. Brazil keeps the original birth certificate on file probably much like Hawaii does.
He doesn't have to whip the GOP into a frenzy, he can just sit back and let Trump and others do it for him. As much as it pains me to say it, the President is playing it exactly right. I'm sure that he could get the state of Hawaii to make an exception to the rule that they have for EVERYONE ELSE and go into the archives to get his original BC, but why bother? Not only does it distract from legitimate issues the GOP can use against him, it paints the party as being filled with a significant number of nutjobs/bigots. Even if the next GOP candidate doesn't support the birther issue, they cannot come out and directly condemn it, for fear of alienating a key voting block. When it comes time for the general election, that candidate is going to get crucified for not standing against the issue more strongly. Either a) he believed it, which makes him look like a nutjob/bigot, or b) he didn't believe it, but didn't come out strongly against it, which makes him look weak. I personally find it ironic that there was nowhere near as much controversy regarding the one 2008 presidential candidate that we know for a fact wasn't not born in the United States (John McCain, born in Panama).
It makes you wonder, if Obama wasn't a minority and didn't have a name like Barack Obama, would his birth certificate even be an issue? Probably not. -Matt
Great observation AUTiger00, your comment is completely warranted, given that this thread is about Obama's policies.
that's obviously not what he's saying he is saying that if he were white and his name was john mccain then no one would question if he were born in the US, even though there is more cause to question that than there is to question Obama's citizenship status that is exactly the kind of nonsense the OP is talking about please read the following articles Ex-Hawaii official denounces 'ludicrous' birther claims - TODAY News - TODAY.com CNN investigation: Obama born in U.S. - CNN.com
Yeah, I saw several birthers/politicians interviewed on CNN questioned by Anderson Cooper. When Anderson questioned where these birthers received their facts, they referrenced certain "internet stories". Each "fact" was quickly debunked by the investigative reporting team. When asked whether they chose to change their opinion due to the fact each story they brought up as fact was not, they still said no, they still believe Obama was not born here. Anderson did not know what to say. These guys came off like idiots. If Trump decides to run, he is going to look like an idiot as well. Abner
Speaking of which, within 2 minutes Anderson Cooper gives all of the relevant evidence and then has a debate with someone who is about as articulate as a birther could possibly ever be. Obviously, Cooper absolutely OWNS him, hence the name of the video YouTube - Anderson Cooper OWNS Montana 'Birther' Bob Wagner - February 16, 2011
Bill O'Reilly also made some good points YouTube - Bill O'Reilly & Juan Williams Bash Birthers - 2/14/2011. He's basically saying that it is not the not the birthers who made this into a big issue, but the overreaction of the anti-birthers. I agree.
If I were Obama, I'd let this hit a fever pitch then release whatever birth certificate they want. It would be perfect for him to have the GOP make a huge deal about it then completely lose momentum when the claim is falsified.
I think you've missed something. Obama already released the only birth document that he is able to release.
