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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Sarah Blackwill
Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor considering another run for president in 2012, inaccurately claimed on a conservative talk-radio show that President Obama grew up in Kenya.
"[O]ne thing that I do know is his having grown up in Kenya, his view of the Brits, for example, very different than the average American," Huckabee told host Steve Malzberg, the Washington Post reported. (Huckabee is on a multi-state book tour that is taking him to key presidential nominating states.)
Huckabee's claim that President Obama grew up in Kenya is false. President Obama was born in Hawaii and spent part of his youth in Indonesia, not Kenya. The president's biological father was Kenyan, and Obama barely knew him.
Huckabee has said he believes President Obama was born in the United States -- unlike the so-called "Birthers," who believe falsely that the president was born elsewhere. Huckabee reiterated his standard reasoning for that again today.
"The only reason I'm not as confident that there's something about the birth certificate ... is because I know the Clintons well, and believe me they had lots of investigators out on him," Huckabee said, "and I'm convinced if there was anything they could have found on that they would have found it, and I promise they would have used it."
But Huckabee didn't shoot down other conspiracy theories like the president not having health or college records, floated by Malzberg. Here's a partial transcript:
MALZBERG: Don't you think it's fair also to ask him - I know your stance on this - how come we don't have a health record? We don't have a college record? We don't have a birth certif- why Mr. Obama did you spend millions of dollars in courts all over this country to defend against having to present a birth certificate. It's one thing to say, "You've seen it, goodbye. But why go to court and send lawyers to defend against having to show it?" Don't you think we deserve to know more about this man?
HUCKABEE: I would love to know more - what I know is troubling enough. And one thing that I do know is his having grown up in Kenya - his view of the Brits, for example, very different from the average American. When he gave the bust back to [of Winston Churchill] -- of Winston Churchill, yeah. A great insult to the British, but if you think about it - his perspective growing up in Kenya with a Kenyan father and granfather, their view of the Mau Mau Revolution is very different from ours, because he probably grew up hearing that the British were a bunch of imperialists who persecuted his grandfather.
MALZBERG: He despises the West, he despises the Brits, and I think he could take it all out on Israel, and that's why he despises Israel. He's not too thrilled with our history either... Would you say to him or at least ask him in a debate: Why did you go to court and spend millions of dollars on lawyers to prevent from having to show your birth certificate? If you have one, and it's there, why not show it?
HUCKABEE: The only reason I'm not as confident that there's something about the birth certificate, Steve, is because I know the Clintons well, and believe me they had lots of investigators out on him, and I'm convinced if there was anything they could have found on that they would have found it and I promised they would have used it.
*** UPDATE *** HuckPAC Executive Director J. Hogan Gidley says Huckabee "simply misspoke":
“Governor Huckabee simply misspoke when he alluded to President Obama growing up in ‘Kenya.’ The Governor meant to say the President grew up in Indonesia. When the Governor mentioned he wanted to know more about the President, he wasn’t talking about the President’s place of birth - the Governor believes the President was born in Hawaii. The Governor would however like to know more about where President Obama’s liberal policies come from and what else the President plans to do to this country - as do most Americans.”
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Every country that was a British Colony hate Churchill, not the Brits . Read Madhusree's book "Churchill's Secret War" in which she quotes Churchill's comments from the war cabinet meetings in which Churchill caused the massive famine in Bengal by refusing to divert to India ships loaded with wheat from Australia and the USA. Lord Wavel, the Viceroy, was begging Churchill for food shipments and Churchill's reply was "let them suffer for all that the small island (England) is doing for "their freedom". Freedom from whom, the British? India was a cash cow for the British for 2 centuries and he was not about to let it go on the demands of a "nakid fakir" i.e. Mahatma Gandhi. He called Hindus evil, dirty, filthy, and incapable of self rule. Churchill was perhaps the greatest hero of World war II, but also its greatest villian. You will not see a single statue of Churchill in ANY former British colony.
And he's the front runner in possible GOP candidates? Obama will have a field day debating these nuts!
having been born in arkansas, apparently mr. huckabee's parents were related prior to marriage. first cousins maybe? this guy is obviously and idiot.
Awww Yes. The MSNBC Character Assassination Team is out in force for the 2012 Elections. Well it is certain that Obama did not grow up in the US. If he did, he would know, like every grade schooler knows, that there are only 50 states not 58 as he claimed to have campaigned in. Of course the media let that one slide.
I think a Harvard Law School graduate (Magna cum laude) knows there are 50 states in the US.
What he intended to say but mixed his words was that he had recently made 58 "campaign stops" in a given period, which was verified, but all the righties still don't accept his clarification.
If we held GOP/TP's to this same exacting standard we would all be on Newsvine for the rest of our lives.
What is sad is that you people are more concerned with defending or tearing down a man instead of defending your country. You brainwashed party people(both sides) are the ones ruining this country. You fight against each other instead of working together for the good of our country. JFK:"Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." If this keeps up we are doomed!
Shawn - I agree with you 100% but don't take it too seriously, it is all cheap entertainmnet .... getting your frustrations out. If you did not notice, posts like these attract extremist and sometimes I get into the fray ... and regret it later.
Yea, but they really believe what they say and that's insane. Who are these people? They are so lost!
Shawn, having finished over 26 years defending our country (how many did you put in?), you can read my prior notes. I WAS a Republican from 1960-2002 but Bush 43 fixed that. Goldwater would be in the center of the Democratic Party now, with so many far right brown shirt lemmings following the unbelievable leaders on the right, just like Germany of the 1930's. How can any Republican follow "leaders" like the bloated, drug abusing, prescription forging felon Rush Limbaugh or the ill educated, cocaine and alcohol abusing dolt named Glen Beck or that wonderful patriot Sarah Palin who supported the Alaska Firsters with her husband (Alaska First makes America Last which is pretty close to treason and certainly not what a good American patriot would espouse)
This is not reassuring. Kenya is a far piece from Indonesia. Huckabee can't even get the right continent right.
Huckabee lacks the facts, I wonder what he thinks of John MaCain (pardon spelling) being born in Panama? This from a man seeking to be a President. What is Huckelbucks function at this stage of his (political career) life? He holds no office; I suppose his only function is to opine fallacies. Just what the country needs more fallacies to form misinformed judgments and improve the country?
Obama is American regardless of where he was born because his mother was an American, so I don't know why anyone continues to argue on the topic. I am lost on the we don't have his college records debate. When did this start? Haven't Columbia and Harvard stated that he graduated?
Because by the Constitution to be President you must be BORN on US soil.
John McCain was born in Panama. It would not have prevented him if he had been elected. Ten Thousand Birth Certificates would not satisfy those who do not want to beleive.
No Shawn, you must be a natural born American citizen, not born on American soil. Common understanding is that that means a citizen since birth,as opposed to a naturalized citizen. There is no support for your opinion that it means born on American soil. If it did, McCain would not have been eligible, since he was born in Panama.
the constitution einstein!
u have to be born a citizen of america!
do you honestly want a kenyan running the country?
"do you honestly want a kenyan running the country?"
Nope. That's why we didn't elect one.
He was born in the US and is a US citizen at birth, thus a natural born citizen.
McCain was born abroad to two US citizen parents and is a US citizen at birth, thus a natural born citizen. And no, the installation in Panama is not considered US soil. Also, the retroactive citizenship for those stationed there is nonapplicable since he was a US citizen at birth.
8 USC 1401 - (a) for Obama and (c) for McCain.
Mike Huckabee has said many flattering things abut the First Lady, and stated his admiration for the President's wonderful family. In the same interview, he dismisses the crazy birther issues.
But to mix up "Kenya" and "Indonesia" in discussing Obama's childhood is a mortal crime!
Breaking news! We all must know by heart the full biography of Dear Leader !
The President once erred and said there were 57 states in the Union....but, that was different!
Bob, he did more than confuse Kenya with Indonesia. He expanded on the Mau Maus and how being born in Kenya colored his view of Great Britain. No, it wasn't a great sin but not one you would have made, I will bet. On this line, I hear Obama said 57 states, 58 states and 54 states. It was a Bushism from the Bush years but Obama is no dummy
This is not reassuring. Kenya is a far piece from Indonesia. Huckabee can't even get the right continent right.
Hey Huck, stick to playing bass!
Just another repugnicat shooting his mouth off. Huckabee thinks that abortion is the #1 issue for the U.S. The guy wants to thump his bible and preach from the White House. He needs to wake up and find out that there are other issues more important than abortion.
Another damn so called bible thumper proclliams he is GOD. BULLSH** Huckabee has lost his damn mind. What hole was he born in?
When did Huckabee claim to be God?
Hucckabee/Sheen 2012!
Sorry - Hiccupabee/Sheen 2012!
Huckabee and Palin for president ....... running on the Tea Party ticket yeaaaaaa, birds of a feather.
The only reason these people are still bringing this garbage up is because if they don't, then they will lose a massive wing of their party when it comes to votes. Polls show the majority of Republicans still believe this crap. & since all of these potential nominees work for fox, and fox is nonstop hate on Obama, then they better practice what they preach...... right? Or else those votes they need, will go to another wacko in their party. Does anyone really believe that a person who does not fit the criteria to become president would make it all the way to the top? honestly? With all the vetting and investigating that goes on when someone says their going to run... come on people. Obama is a real president, not a pep rally talking head like the last guy we had.
Ah Huck, you want to talk about birth certificates and not jobs?
Of course Huck knows everything, because his god told him!
Remember, he and Pat Robertson work for the same god. The same god that condemned NewOrleans with Katrina, the same god that condemned Haiti with earthquakes and I'm sure the Australians, Brazilians, and New Zealanders must have done some terribly blasphemous things as well, because god condemned them with floods and earthquakes, too.
Oh yes, let us not forget that The Huckster wants to change the Constitution to "Match GOD'S LAW", which basically means, with the bible as his constitution, god will command Huck to commit genocide against any people who don't accept "JEEBUS" and are not pleasing in his god's eyes. HUCKABEE SUCKABEE!!
Too stupid to understand Science? Try Religion!! (Unknown)
Maybe they were neighbors. Can these Repugs get any dumber??
If the left-wing media would want to put an end to all the speculation about birth place, where he grew up and all, they can put some investigative reporters on it and find out the truth in no time. If this was a Republican president, and this kind of question was floating around, you can bet they wouldn't rest until they have a gotcha moment. After all, how difficult a task can it be? They can find out my last fifty addresses if they want to.
JobSeeker is right. Once in my town, a local TV crew addressed a couple in a parking lot and asked their permission to try to find their identities and address. The couple gave permission. The news crew then rang their door bell early the next day. All caught on television.
Mark By god Huckleberry. A tru Umurikan!
Gather up them birthers and teabaggers and take us to the promised land.
Camden, New Jersey?
Just another crazy wacko righty trying to apease his flock!
While I would never vote for him I had thought that Huckabee made more sense then some of the other morons, but his recent statements about Palestine and now this about Obama show how stupid or deceptive he really is. Either way it is not someone you would want to be anywhere near running the country.
Anna: I'm certainly not a birther. Frankly I could careless about his birth place, with the exception of understanding his or anyone elses views. We all learned in elementary school that we are a product of our enviroment. But, again, the point is I could careless where he was born. He was elected by the majority and that should be good enough for everyone. If not politically run against him/her. There is one thing though that I disagree with your statement. There are not a fair amount of witnesses to anything this man has done. Until now. And man it is bad.
This goes to show that if you listen to liars long enough, their lies filter in. Here's a man who's stood up against the Birthers and then the Limbaugh/Beck crowd who criticized the First Lady's anti-obesity drive, and then he goes and voices the stupidest comment of all. I tell you, my ex-Republican Party lost its way when its leaders veered west and invaded Iraq. Apparently Republican Kool-aid is deadly on the Intellect these days. For related stories, see Charlie Sheen.