Arizona may require birth certificate to run
By Brian Kirwin | Saturday, April 16th, 2011 | PoliticsA bill has passed the Arizona State legislature to require a birth certificate for a Presidential candidate to appear on the ballot. It’s a Governor’s signature away from becoming law.
The White House’s official response was to call the effort the result of “fringe right-wing radio conspiracy theories.”
I’m not sure what’s so bad about the idea. State’s require lots of things of candidates – declaring under penalty of perjury where they live, where they get their mail, what their investment portfolios are. Presenting legal documentation of your qualification to run doesn’t seem too extreme.
But the “legal experts” wonder if Arizona can.
“It’s an interference with federal supremacy. It’s not up for a state to decide who is qualified to run for president,” said Laurence Tribe, a professor at Harvard Law School.
The fact that Tribe worked for the Obama administration had absolutely nothing to do with his legal assessment.
There is a point in there, though. The Constitution spells explicitly gives states little more power than appointing electors, but they alone can proscribe the manner in which electors are selected.
States all have differing requirements to get on their ballots. Seems to me well within Arizona’s rights to set whatever rules they want, especially since this rule is designed to enforce the specific Constitutional requirement that the President be a natural born citizen.
My only question is “Why would the Obama administration oppose this?”
If the question is as absurd as they say it is, it shouldn’t be any problem meeting the test.
If it becomes law, and the Obama Justice Department takes action against it, I’ll be the first person to ask why.
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
Comments
57 Responses to "Arizona may require birth certificate to run"
What’s absurd is that this is making Donald Trump one of the forerunners for the Republican nomination.
Brian, in all your worldly experiences and wise wisdom, you surely must have met someone from Hawaii. Have you ever considered asking to see their birth certificate? What I’ve read says that Hawaii doesn’t release birth certificates, even to the bearer, only certificates of live birth. So ask around. I’m curious.
I think it is appalling that the current President of the United States was not compelled by someone at the National level to prove he met the criteria for birth as a presidential candidate. I think Arizona and every other state for that matter should make it a ballot criteria.
The Constitution has been made a mockery by the Democratic Party.
I think the legislature of Virginia should pass a similar law.
In it we capture some say in the process. The States need to become more of a check on Federalism and this is just one way they can do it.
That’s exactly what I think about this controversy. I find it hard to believe that such a trivial issue as Obama’s birth certificate has won over other important issues such as our national security or economy. The truth is Donald Trump is in a very advantageous position among the potential Republican candidates and I think it’s high time he started talking about the daunting problems that the country faces today.
Hawaii has made a certificate of live birth public.
But in all seriousness, are there not OTHER issues to jump on?
I gave two tours at the foodbank and noticed LONGER lines and MORE empty racks.
I know award winning business owners in my chamber of commerce that have to shut down because of the economy.
Can we talk about something that matters?
Marcus, until you change the First Amendment, people can talk about whatever they please.
Thanks for playing.
Obama had approximately 8 opponents in the primaries and Republican John McCain running against him plus the legal requirements laid out in the constitution. Anyone of these people,if they could prove he is not a citizen, would have stopped him cold. Everything being said by that ego-maniac Trump and all the other birthers is strictly innuendo. They ignore the facts and insinuate that he is an illegal immigrant. Next thing they will be trying to deport him. Between Trying to kill Medicare and the birther issue the Republicans will suffer a bigger defeat in 2012 than the Democrats did in 2010
Brian,
Nobody’s playing. Indeed people are allowed to say whatever, if I’m correct my question was ‘can we talk about something that matters, no implication to not talk about t at all, I just find it more beneficial to communicate things of substance.
A birth certificate? Louis is exactly right.
While I have no interest in debating trivial issues or ‘playing’ in fact, that reminds me, I have more food and funds to raise, enjoy playing.
I don’t see any problem with enforcing a Constitutional requirement, but I find the whole matter of Obama’s birth certificate puzzling.
As I understand it, Obama can prove he was born in Hawaii, but he will not release his birth certificate. Instead, he has had the state of Hawaii provide a computer form, a certificate of live birth to certify his birth in Hawaii.
So people are suspicious. What is on the birth certificate? Apparently, there is something on it, something that Obama does not want made public.
That leads to a question. Is the state of Arizona interested in enforcing a Constitutional requirement or in forcing Obama to expose his birth certificate? With the certificate of birth, hasn’t Obama already met the Constitutional requirement. If Arizone is not trying to embarrass the man, why be nitnoid about the form of proof?
As for Donald Trump, he lost almost any chance of getting my vote when he suggested he might run as an independent — if he lost his quest to be the Republican Party’s nominee.
Consider what running for the Republican Party’s nomination implies. To honorably run for the party’s nomination, Trump has to be willing to accept the outcome. That is, if he does not become the Republican Party’s nominee, he must step aside.
Then there is the practical side of the problem. If Trump cannot win Republican Party’s nomination, he is not likely to win the presidency as an independent. So why would he run as an independent? What is the point? All he would accomplish is to divide the party, exactly what we are trying to avoid by formally selecting a nominee.
Either Trump does not know what he is doing, or he is a jerk. Take your pick.
We all know how this is going to end, the Law Professors or legal experts (in this case) will declare it unconstitutional. It’s called profiling; we all went through this last year. Isn’t Communism great?
Mr. Tribe is asking whether Arizona’s questioning who is qualified to be President but Arizona is asking who is qualified to receive Arizona’s electoral votes for President. If President Obama wishes to receive Arizona’s electoral votes, then he’ll show his birth certificate. If he doesn’t, then Arizona’s electoral votes will go elsewhere.
Obama isn’t going to oppose the birth certificate because this is just another Alinsky tactic. Even though I believe he was born in Hawaii, it is amazing that this loophole has eluded our incompetent federal government. As for Obama, he’s just letting resources be wasted on a trivial topic. To secure his reelection, he’ll pull out his birth certificate making his reelection almost certain. Or he may just let it be a divisive subject, as he’s done with every other subject he’s addressed.
I’m still amazed at these Ivy League elites—luckily Harvard has a reputation and a good admissions program.
@Marcus and Louis, It appears that not answering these so-called trivial questions put us in this situation. While the media minions sent 50 reporters to Alaska to vet Sarah Palin, Barrack Obama got a pass.
My question is, what about all those radicals he surrounds himself with (i.e. Rev Wright, Rev Wallis, Van Jones, Eric Holder, etc.)? Now, if these questions were answered, business may not be so abundant at the food bank or such a decline at the Chamber of Commerce.
I’m not a die hard Obama supporter, in fact I liked Bill Richardson on the Democratic side and Mike Huckabee for Republicans.
Now to imply that Obama’s connections or he himself has made things this much worse….he walked in the DOOR with these problems. Now I blame myself because I voted for Bush in 2004. Bush even admitted he started the bailout.
But really to imply that this is tied to him…is full of more shit than our political system.
In fact, Feeding America reports that numbers started spiking in 2007.
Really?
You’ve never even seen a Foodbank have you?
My statement was clearly pointed toward the media minions that feed the political machine. The government’s purpose is to create an economic environment that promotes growth, not stifle it and a charitable citizen class that has helped their fellow man, as most American’s have done.
To advocate the spending of $3.7T and only jobs disappear and increasing of lines at the food bank lines, only support my position.
Sorry you have taken my position so offensive but it was intended to point out the flaws with government intrusion.
Marcus, I realize you’re thrilled to be a Board Member of the Foodbank, but you’re hijacking a thread to promote your organization.
I don’t really care that much – you can talk about whatever you want – but so can everyone else.
Of course, your foul language places you in a special category that’s not gaining much respect from me.
Brian,
Suppose that Obama was born on the third moon of Jupiter and his father was Martian. Guess what? He is still a natural born American citizen because his mother was born in Kansas, or do you birther nuts deny her birthplace as well?
Have you ever heard of “jus sanguinis?” It is the reason that if an American soldier serving in Germany has a child with his American wife or with a German partner, the child is a natural born American citizen.
http://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration/immigration-citizenship-naturalization/immigration-citizenship-naturalization-overview.html
BTW, John McCain (who happens to be a resident of Arizona) was born in Panama. Although he has a birth certificate stating that he was born in the American hospital in the Canal Zone, the hospital records from the day he was born do not reflect his birth there and he may have been born in a Panamanian hospital. And Barry Goldwater was born in Arizona (what IS it about Arizona?) before it was granted statehood and admitted to the Union. Where they not natural born American citizens?
And don’t bother to reply if the best you have got is one of your snarky, puerile one-liners.
“Suppose that Obama was born on the third moon of Jupiter and his father was Martian.”
Then you’d have a relative in the White House.
Brian,
Its not hijacking a thread. Don’t all politicians including the ones I’ve worked with as well as the ones you’ve worked with like to say they are serving the community.
If you’re going to serve, then serve and be genuine, there is nothing genuine about worrying about anyones birth certificate. They had plenty of time to prove it and still haven’t.
If Hawaii is lying and promoting a fake certificate of live birth then why haven’t the republicans put the hospital under investigation.
If you’re going to do it, do it all the way!
And what foul language? What are you reading? And your respect, I’ll pass. Brian I understand you have highly publicized blogs and an extensive political resume, but like I said in my previous post, this system is full of (haha you mean when I said) SHIT
That’s more honesty than we’ve seen from my clients or yours.
And in no way do I see this as an opportunity to promote the Foodbank.
These politicians nor readers have stepped foot in the Foodbank before nor will they.
Promote the Foodbank? Please
Kid, it is hijacking a thread. This is a political blog, so if the only tangent to the Foodbank is “politicians like to say they’re serving the community,” you can rant about the Foodbank on every story you see here on Bearing Drift for the next 7 years until you get your next client.
If your mental capacity is such that you deny using foul language, and then in the same paragraph use the same foul language again, maybe the Foodbank can help you with a meal or two to get that brain working again.
After all, when that stomach is churning, your mind isn’t learning.
Masa Sir,
My posts had a purpose and were relevant whether you realize it or not, maybe I can borrow a few meals from you, you look like you do alright!
Brian,
That’s my last post, I have no idea which disgusts me more, the politicians who get sidetracked and let a mental capacity the size of their moral compass govern our country into a crapshoot or the poliltical consultants who help them get there.
Feel free to have this conversation with me at your next visit to the foodbank, or we can do it on your terf at Golden Corral
Marcus,
The classic definition of “hijacking” is “to seize control of by force or by extortion and intimidation.” If anyone is hijacking a thread here, it is the person who postulates a preposterous thesis and then uses personal insults and belittlement as a substitution for facts and logic. Yes, Brian initiates a thread and then hijacks it. It is a form of mental masturbation that allows him to publish his own twisted views and then ignore the intellectual honesty of defending those views.
Good to know I can run for president, HisRoc. I was born in a US Army hospital in Wuerzburg Germany. That fact has made some things difficult. Like proving who I am post Patriot Act BS. A driver’s license, my selective service card, countless picture ID cards, pay stubs, mortgage papers, and a military report of my birth were not enough to get my lost social security card replaced. Turns out I did have the certificate of birth they wanted back home. It had far less info than the report of my birth, but did have a seal on it. DMV is no fun either.
If we have a 4th war besides Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya and need to draft, they will probably be ok with me losing any record.
Britt,
It might interest you to know that when I applied for my Army commission when I was in college, the Army would not accept my birth certificate with a raised seal from Norfolk General Hospital. They required a notarized true copy of the registration of birth from the then-Virginia Department of Vital Health Statistics.
Quite frankly, I have no idea why Hawai’i's Registration of Live Birth is somehow less compelling than a birth certificate issued by a hospital. And, BTW, I would like for the birther conspiracy crackpots to explain why Obama’s birth was reported contemporaneously with other new births in the Honolulu newspaper in 1961. If the Democratic Party can either alter 47 year old newspaper archives or have the foresight to fraudulently report a native birth 47 years before the infant runs for President, well I think that I will throw in with a crowd that has that kind of power and organization.
I don’t quite get why Obama won’t produce it. Citizen Tom’s theory about something being embarrassing about it is an interesting. Either that is the case, or Obama doesn’t like government intrusion to which I can only laugh and call him a hypocrite. Either way it passes constitutional muster. Personally I don’t think foreign born should be excluded anyway. Maybe a certain length of citizenship, but voters should be able to vote for the best candidate.
A lot of the rebirth of the birther rhetoric is the fault of that fake, two faced, not really a conservative, media whore Donald Trump. I wouldn’t be surprised if his motive was just to build publicity for other endeavors and to split off birthers from other opponents of Obama that could beat him.
I mean come on……….look at our economy, unemployment, and debt. You don’t need the birther thing to defeat Obama. Just a credible candidate.
Britt,
Agree. There is no question that Jimmy Carter was natural born, but look at the damage he did to our economy and national security.
Obama should be a one-term accident of history and all this claptrap about his citizenship only serves to paint his opponents as nutty. It is time for the Republican Party to reject the lunatic fringe like Trump, Palin, and Huckabee. They need to return to being the party of Reagan.
We need Trump to run as an indy.. does not need to win, just needs to be present to throw live ammo at Obama’s economic failings and then he can pound the crapola out of the rino wing of the gop. The birther question is a good distraction though and will have to be taken seriously in future elections. The question I have is less about where he was born than what could be on it that Obama has reportedly spent millions of dollars to keep out of view.
The reasoning for verification that any candidate be vetted and found to be qualified to serve as prez is clear and it is not surprising that the framers put that in the constitution.
Turbo,
Can you provide any references to how Obama “spent millions” to keep his birth certificate out of view. Glenn Beck doesn’t count.
Turbo, the problem is Trump will garner votes that would otherwise go to the Republican facing him. If Obama can eliminate even a tiny fraction of votes by having them vote Trump instead of his strongest competition he accomplished a great deal. Obama is probably rooting Trump on. You’ll be hearing about Trump being happy with Obama and the idea of socialized medicine if you haven’t already.
If the eventual nominee can’t argue the economic points against Obama, we deserve 4 more years of disaster!
The birth requirements about having to be born in USA territory was written into the constitution to keep Alexander Hamilton from running for president. He was born in the West Indies. Didn’t all you constitutional expert know that. John McCain was born in Panama supposedly in a US military hospital. He could have been born in a Panamanian hospital if it were an emergency. We could of had a good one going if he won the election. I wonder how many of you birthers would be howling now if McCain had been elected/
What could possibly be embarrassing on his birth certificate.=? Was he an overweight newborn? Was he 36″ long?
Please enlighten us by expanding you hypothesis!
Nothing like some good old fashioned GOP racism! Thanks GOP for continuously showing what a bunch o’ morons you are – and I’m sure running the Trump-Palin “all reality TV” ticket will really work out…
Louis,
You are helping the “birthers’” cause by discrediting yourself; he demostration of ignorance of the subject in an argument is a score for the opposion. In fact, nothing but ignorance is at the center of most attacks on the “birthers” as a group, which includes, among others, such promient “racists” as Alan Keyes.
The natural born requirement was not included to keep Hamilton from becoming president, as many ignoramuses repeat without thinking and checking. No foreign born resident of the Confederate US leading up to the adoption of the Constitution would have been eligible for presidency, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, the Constitution’s premier author. This would leave the first preidencies to the newborn, if the ctizenship in the Confederate US not to be counted, or adolescents, if it was to be counted. Alas, even these could not become presidents for at least 35 years, as that is anothe Artcle II presidential requirement.
Fortunately, the Framers were far more thoughtful and knowlegeable than such “anti-birthers” as yourself. They included the grandfather clause that permitted George Washington to step right into the presidency. In fact, Hamiton’s own sketch of the presidential requirements was essentially the same in its meaning with regard to this discussion as the final text.
The only conceivable anti-Hamilton provision in the final text could have been the requirement that the president be at least 35 years of age, but even that one could not prevent Hamilton from becoming president, except by virtue of dying prior to the first eligibiity, as I believe happned to be the case with him.
It is interesting and sad to observe that some of the very
same people who “defend” the Constitution, foaming at the mouth, regarding the provisions in it that they like are oblivious to the importance of its supremacy on issues they do not like. Again, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and bias are at the heart of this.
We cannot dismiss the value of any provisions of the Constitution wihut downgrading and defacing the entire document, without giving justification to anyone to disregard anything they want in law, including the Constitution, and without corrupting the entire system.
Several individuals in this forum have proclaimed that Obama would be eligible for presidency as natural born citizen even if he was not born in the United States. As I explain below, this is incorrect.
The meaning of the Artcle II Natural Born Clause depends on the interpretation of the phrase “natural born citizen.”
According to the English law, predating the Constitution, “natural born citizen” must be interpreted as “citizen at birth,” whose meaning in turn has been defined and redefined by Congress through its various Acts. The Act in effect at the time of birth controls the definition for the rest of one’s life. See, e.g. Runnett v. Shultz, 901 F.2d 782, 783 (9th Cir.1990).
In Obama’s case, the relevant Act is the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, whose Section 301(a) provides: “The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth: a person born outside the geographical limits of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than ten years, at least five of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years. (Emphasis added). Obama’s mother was less than 19 at the time she gave him birth. This is why Obaa would not be eligible for presidency if he was not born in the US.
I can assure everyone that being racist is contrary to everything I stand for. I abhore racism and the fact that there was slavery in the United States. I have great difficulties reconciling this nation’s unquestionable in my mind greatness with this horrible asect of its history. I do not buy for a second the claims of many conservatives and libertarians — and I count myself as both — that painful racism is part of the past only. The African Americans are still discreminated against in private life, not only socially, but in other aspects, including in housing, and I understand, although disagree with Michelle Obama’s past setiment of having difficulties to be proud of he country, based no her unquestionably painful experiences. But is is my love of this land that makes me a zealous advocate for unvarnished truth about it, and unapologetic defender of the rule of law, including on the issue of presidential eligibility.
For the record, I cannot stand Donald Trump, and see his current pursuit of the question of Obama’s place of birth to be motivated primarily by his personal presidential ambitions.
One reason I am thinking Obama has kept his birthcert under wraps is that his name may appear on it as Barry Soetoro. Name changed? Dunno, but if his adoptive parent Lolo Soetoro understandably wanted to make it easier for his now son to be accepted at schools and such in Indonesia then… maybe.
This is a big deal. IF it can br proven that BHO is not 100% his legit name per the constitution then every piece of legislation he has signed would most assuredly be repealed.
Here ya go HisRoc…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6rGqzj6jjI
Obama reportedly changed his name back from Barry Soetoro yet nobody has discovered any court proceeding announcements from Hawaiian newspapers. This is not found on nexislexis either.. I thing Trump will either prove this all to be BS or will force dems to ask their party for due diligence prior to debates.
Another question is.. How long was Obama legally known as Barry Soetoro? BS was used as Obama’s name throughout his life living in Indonesia after Lolo’s adoption until he was sent back to Hawaii, without parents? to live with his grandparents and learn from Frank Marshall Davis.
He may be BHO now but he might have been BS on the long form. Yeah its a technicality but if it is unconstitutional then let the court decide.
Another issue for the O may be that his race is listed as white on the long form. Religion is a whole other matter..
“Indonesian law then and now requires the children to take the name of the father. BO became BS and was not a Muslim but was registered as a Muslim following Indonesian regulation of children being registered under the religion of the father.”
Turbo,
Please. Donald Trump on Fox News is your reference proving that Obama has spent millions hiding his birth certificate? Perhaps you could also send us a reference to the report of the private investigators that Donald Trump claims to have hired and sent to Hawai’i.
I thought that the inference of my comment, “Glenn Beck doesn’t count” was quite clear.
BTW, see the dismissal order in Berg vs. Obama, et al, 2008. The judge ordered the plaintiff’s attorney to show cause why he should not have to pay Obama’s legal fees for bringing a “frivolous lawsuit.”
I’ll bet that you also fell for the email hoax last year that Obama’s citizenship case was “quietly” being taken up by the US Supreme Court.
HisRoc, show the document and the controversy ends. What is on there to hide? And if there is, why give anyone a pass to operate above the law? It’s not all about Obama, if he is who he is then case closed. It is about how we are a nation of laws and rights, one of which is to vet candidates who want the job as our Commander-in-Chief. This was blocked during the campaign over and over was it not?
BHO or BS attended a church for 2 decades with a pastor that preached hatred for America and if he could have covered that one up he would have.. The birth certificate is more serious and no amount of explanations and media fawning would cover up something so fundamental.. This is why it is such a hot button for so many..
I had to produce my original birth certificate to get my learners permit, passport and to attend 3 out of state universities.
So he wont release his birth certificate because it says he is a Muslim or that he has a different last name?
Wow, I see you’ve put quite the effort into this. But let me see if I can through a few wrenches into your plain.
1. Would Hawaii let him change his birth certificate if they wont let him have a copy of it? He’s allowed to go in there and put on a new last name but can’t even get a photo copy? Also, if he were to have changed his name, does it matter? No, it wouldn’t have been him changing his name, it would have been his parents. And if he were to have changed his name I think he would have gotten rid of the whole “Hussein” part that ya’ll are so fond of using.
2. Does it matter if it says he was a Muslim. Frankly I think that’s a bunch of crap. he’s been going to church for a long time, even if his pastor was “Anti-American.” And to put it in perspective: Glen Beck wasn’t a Morman, now he is a Morman, ya’ll still seem to love that wack job and his crazy religion.
And I’ll have to agree with many of the other posters. There was one presidential candidate who is factually known not to have been born in the United States. Why didn’t you go after him? Just admit it, you’re looking for another way to discredit a guy who beat you at the polls. You couldn’t do it on election day, his ideas resonated more with the voters, so you try to go after a imaginary technicality. Next thing we know someone will claim that he was born by chimp parents…
Come on guys – get over it already.
- President Obama produced every document legally required to run for the presidency.
- If there were a shred of proof he was NOT a legal citizen the Clinton, McCain, RNC, Glenn Beck, Trump, etc. would have produced REAL proof long ago.
- If the president’s stepfather changed his name (or religious status) to meet Indonesia school requirements/ standards – who cares. A child has zero control over any parental actions.
- It’s also completely irrelevant if the president was raised Christian or Muslim – or Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, etc. Honestly, do you really care?
- Ethnic race listed is also immaterial; doubtful that baby Obama had much say in that decision. Again, does it REALLY matter?
- Both the Honolulu Advertiser AND the Honolulu Star-Bulletin carried birth announcements (microfiche verifiable) that Barack Obama Jr. was born Aug. 4, 1961, to Mr. and Mrs. Barack H. Obama, residing at 6085 Kalanianaole Highway in Honolulu, Hawaii. It’s also been established his parents did not live together after marriage; his mother lived with her parents (at the birth announcement address) and his father lived in an apartment close to the university.
So why does the President keep his long form under wraps? Because it keeps the Birther Movement alive – and most conspiracy theorists are … Republican and Tea Party. It’s a diversionary wild-goose chase that also happens to make his opponents look stupid, racist, and (you fill in the blank).
HR- I’m totally with you on this one.
When Obama is re-elected in 2012, Republicans can thank people who took lunacy like this “birther” crap seriously. They will be the people who have allowed the Republican Party to be portrayed as the party of nuts and consipracy theorists. It’s not that Dems don’t have them too, but nobody who was a “911 truther” could get a second look in a Democratic primary. They’d be written off as a nut right away. The fact that “mainstream” Republicans have enabled stupidity like this is what will alienate independents and get Obama re-elected. And probably with a Dem increase in the House.
Steve, It appears that the Hollywood crew (Trump) and Chris “Chill Up My Leg” Matthews are the loudest screamers of the Birther conspiracy.
Wow…38 comments for this?
Amazing.
Make that 40 Brian.. You people can call Trump whatever you want but he is ultra wealthy and can easily outceleb Obama. It is not about the birth cert my ass lol.. I would not underestimate his motivation for choosing the birthcert tactic, nobody else wants to go there and he can own it speaking of which he is way out ahead of any other prospective candidate and will not be swayed by Obama campaign’s $Billion.
Here is more propaganda:
Brian,
You are surprised? Steve Vaughan is right–those of us who want to see Obama a one-term president know that all this birther crap is nothing more than a distraction that turns off the moderate Independent voters on Republican candidates. And by enabling The Donald, birthers will encourage him to make a third party run after he gets laughed out of the Iowa Republican caucuses. I promise you that the Trump votes will not come from Obama supporters.
Who cares? He is already President. The statute of limitations on this crap expired with Clinton’s defeat. There is no way that any court will de-certify a sitting president from running again if his party wishes.
Tell Governor Brewer.
Gov. Brewer vetoed the bill (as she should have) and said, “I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for President of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth to submit their ‘early baptismal or circumcision certificates’… this is a bridge too far. This measure creates significant new problems while failing to do anything constructive for Arizona.” Reason prevails, this time.
Yep, its still a hot potato.. meanwhile our economy is in 4WD powering deeper into the grand canyon scale ditch at the hands of a radical lefty prez hell bent on destroying our constitution and our dollar. Pay no attention, just move-on.. this is way too much for the establishment to bear right now. Speaking of traction, Hmm.. anyone notice who is doing a 180 on the birthcert issue now that Trump is commanding a lead in the gop polls? 1/2 of Americans now question whether Obama was born in the US, up from 1/4 a month ago. Trump, a rino no less, like it or not is driving this discussion that will poison debates now. Its becoming less unacceptable to the casual observer outside of the political blogsosphere to question why Barack, (or is it Barry?) can’t produce a simple document..
Just ignore it.. chickenshit!
lol
Anything that annoys the Left and Obama is fine with me. He’s disingenuous, a hypocrite, and a liar. So what if the birth certificate is a distraction? Let it play out.
He’s obviously bugged by it. Good.
By the way, my understanding is that those who want Obama’s original birth certificate published are now called “verifiers”.
If the birth certificate thing had no traction, AZ wouldn’t have passed a law, would it?
Come on people – we are better (and smarter) than some of these comments suggest. This is a political WH trap; if Republicans fall in, we discredit ourselves with the vast majority of Americans that do NOT believe the moon landing was faked, the Bush administration attacked the Twin Towers & Pentagon, the Holocaust didn’t really happen, and earth is only 10,000 years old. No body of evidence will satisfy these kooks … it’s like arguing with flat-earth believers.
Fact: Trump never indicated any doubt about the president’s birth location – until he got into the Republican race. Kiddies, can you spell O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-S-M? As the media covers the new frenzy, Trump makes news & self promotes – at the expense of the rest of us.
Obama has already produced all required legal documents (including certification of live birth); yet birthers never want to talk about the OTHER documents – the August 1961 birth reports in two Honolulu newspapers. Doubting his HI birth means explaining how the newspaper announcements got there – 49 years ago!;birthers have not done so.
Ms. Hurd, once again your comments illustrate an attempt to function well above competence level. As HRTP founder & member of candidate Radtke’s inside circle, you should have discerned by now that the honor of leadership also bears the responsibility of circumspection. Strongly suggest you memorize your own mission statement: “Tea Party Patriots, Inc. is a non-partisan grassroots organization of individuals …” AND read Tom Tillison’s full article in the Tea Party Tribune (Thanks Jacob R. for the link!). The highlights:
“Today, Tea Party Patriots, Inc. is but a shell of its former self…a much more profitable shell, but a shell that no longer represents the heart of the movement because it lost it’s moral grounding. To many, the organization sold its soul to become part of the very same D.C. establishment that is widely condemned by tea party members. …Under close examination, tea party groups have come to serve as a convenient vehicle for some to propel themselves into the limelight … The true source of strength behind the tea party movement is in the numbers and the fact that it is pure and honest, from the heart. It’s average, everyday folks from all across America that love their country and have finally reached the point where they will remain silent no more! That is what gave it an undeniable edge over both the political establishment and the Progressive Left in a battle that is ultimately for the very soul of this great country. It is a distinct moral advantage based on common sense and personal integrity that cannot be matched! …Yet, with every sleazy backroom deal made with corporate lobbyists where the tea party name is sold to the highest bidder, or every turn of the head to excuse the inexcusable from our elected officials simply to perpetuate a relationship and the access and enhanced status it provides, that integrity takes another hit.
http://www.teapartytribune.com/2011/03/24/tea-party-the-decline-of-americas-last-resort/
Jay, its not about the live birth certificate or BHO.. its about beating the far left at their own game which includes playing the blue dog dems too imo. Taking out Obama is not tha answer and it wont happen, however, people losing faith in the Obama brand is the apparent goal for Trump and he is a master of this game. Obama is the talking head of the left and if he cannot uphold the confidence of the common centrist his liberal base will.. uh.. get all weeweed up.
No way this would have worked pre obama but now we are where we are and Trump knows an opportunity to show off when he sees one. This venture will only build his brand if the left takes a hard turn towards the center in an attempt to resurect the brand..
Trump talks about Obama so no one will ask Trump for his financial statements. This guy has declared bankruptcy so many times, and walked away from his obligations, that he will say and do anything to keep the spotlight on anyone but himself. The first reporter that files a detailed analysis of his ruinous business tactics will do us all a favor and put his so called candidacy (read self promotion) on the shelf. Michael Lewis, get going.
Mike,
Damned good point. I have often wondered why a guy who is as wealthy as he claims to be would waste his time on a cheesy reality show. Trump is as big a fraud as Tareq and Michaele Salahi.
If I believed in conspiracy theories, but I don’t, I would tend to think that Trump is on the DNC payroll. He is doing far more damage to the Republican Party than he is to Barack Obama.
Turbo, you’ve got it almost right!
Donald Trump is the 21st century version of PT Barnum – a master of showmanship, entertainment, self-promotion, and business. Using the outrageous to stay relevant – and above the fold – is quintessential PT Barnum.
“I don’t care what you say about me, just spell my name right.” — P.T. Barnum
“Nobody ever lost a dollar by underestimating the taste of the American public.” — P.T. Barnum
“There’s a sucker born every minute.” — also attributed to P.T. Barnum
Bingo for Mike Barrett! Trump’s financial past is checkered with an SEC charge, multiple bankruptcies – AND don’t forget the most delightful Marla Maples. When his candidacy is actually taken seriously, old news will surface and the Trump picture is anything BUT presidential.
Renewed focus on the birth certificate has much greater opportunity to damage the Republican brand than potential to cause people to lose faith “in the Obama brand”. Stick to the issues that count & reverberate with the majority of Americans and we’ll do just fine in 2012. Republicans wade in the silly stuff at our own peril.
So if a thread goes over 50 comments, the first 50 disappear? I don’t see a button that says “see previous comments.”
The recent site redesign screwed up Bearing drifts user interface.. The previous format worked a ton better.
Trump is a narcissist who looks like he is sucking on a tart lemon with that lip pucker when he gets riled, and his hair piece/hair style bears a resemblance to the dead carcass of one of those creatures who clamped onto the faces of those unfortunate astronauts in the movie “Alien”. He and Boehner appear to be using the saame “tanning” lotion because Trump’s skin had a distinct “orange” tone to it when he interviewed with George Stephanopoulos.
Putting that aside along his past business issues, it is quite entertaining to watch him cluster bomb the Obama and his administration, Congress, politicians and our business and diplomatic relations with other countries of the world. Its early, and with the boring and lackluster field of undeclared or almost declared candidates who are playing cautious, his antics are great political theater as contrasted to the usual affairs, outings of gay politicians, hiding and stealing money or misuse of campaign funds, tax evasion and conspiracy theories. It will be interesting to see if Trump piles on to Jerome Corsi’s new book about Obama’s birth certificate.
Does anyone care to retract their statements? You know, since he released his birth certificate and all.
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