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Double down? This was more like triple down.
The Donald was at it again, offering a full-throated defense of birtherism and birthers this morning on MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd and Savannah Guthrie.
Asked if he wants to be taken seriously, why he continues to defend the false conspiracy theory that President Obama was not born in the United States, Donald Trump said, “Well, I do think it’s a serious issue. ... I am embracing the issue. I’m proud of the issue.” He claimed it is “not that much of a conspiracy… it’s really not.”
Trump, who says he's considering a run as a Republican for president in 2012, went further, chastising the media for using the term “birthers,” calling it “derogatory” to lots of “intelligent” people.
He said if it were true that the president weren’t born in the United States it would be the “greatest scam in the history of this country” and that there’s “certainly a chance” he’s not born in the U.S. He claimed Obama “could have come in after birth and could have been registered for purposes of hospitalization” or even “welfare.” “Excuse me,” he said, “I’ve grown up watching some of the great thieves of the world… this is peanuts compared to what these people do.”
He deadpanned later: “We all agree he was born.”
NBC’s Pete Williams reported on the birth announcement that appeared in the Honolulu Advertiser in 1961. Trump dismissed that, claiming the notice was “three days later. … Lots of things could happen.”
He added that “no nurses, no doctors, nobody came forward.” And he said that about 50 percent of Republicans “think he wasn’t born in the country” – and they’re “intelligent” people.
He even went so far as to almost question if Chuck Todd’s children were born in the United States after Todd said that he has “certificates of live birth” from DC. He contended that Todd could go down to the hospital where they were born and get authorization to get a more official “birth certificate” from the Department of Health -- provided they were born in the U.S., “which I assume they were,” Trump said.
Trump was also asked if he’s prepared for the financial scrutiny that would come with running for president. Official candidates for president are required to file financial disclosure forms. Asked, in particular, about his companies that have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Trump became defensive.
“I never went bankrupt,” Trump said, trying to draw a distinction between personal bankruptcy and putting a company into Chapter 11. “Many of the biggest people in this country, many times have filed Chapter 11s on various companies in order to reduce debts.” He added, “I’ve done an unbelievable job” and used the laws of the country to help his companies.
Asked then if the United States should file for bankruptcy, Trump said no. “I wouldn’t recommend that,” he said, because the United States has more leverage.
On Libya, Trump said he didn’t “know enough” about the rebels to arm them.
On his decision to run for president, he said, “I will make a decision sometime prior to June.
“We’ll all have a lot of fun together.”
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I did think Trump was a smart man untill now.Now i realize he,s just another Republican dingle berry looking for a place to cling to
Old "Trampy Trump" stilll continues to have trouble putting two working brain cells together. Does he even have two brain cells to spare anymore?? Listen "Trampy Trump!" President Obama is an American Citizen! Please THINK!!
What is so hard about showing a birth certificate?????? Most of us common folks have to do it all the time for for various services. You either got it or you don't. Even a low income poor person can jump through the hoops and pay a fee to get one as required for many things now days. I am sure the President of the United States with his resources could get a Birth Certificate in minutes if he had one. What if? Makes no sense at all to not proudly display it. Something smells here. What would happen if he was not born in the US? Wow, now that is a problem nobody has an answer for.
as has been stated so many times before Craig--he has shown it.
To: Echo82: That is what is irratating and is also what the Left says over and over, that it has been shown. Wrong. What has been shown is a Certificate of Live Birth which is totally different from a Birth Certificate. This is why I worry about the US future. People are uninformed and now most important uneducated. If the media said for one week the sky is green and not blue the shoppers at the mall or whoever would agree when you asked them. "yeah, the sky is green, what's the matter with you?. A Certificate of live birth can be issued days after birth by almost anybody and is totally not the same as a Birth Certificate which is certified and signed by the delivering doctor with location, time and date, Mother and Father and in most cases Religion affiliation. So, lets get the facts straight, there has never ever ever been a Birth Certificate produced. Facts are facts and nomater what the media or left say there is no known birth certificate. I am not a right winger, not a Republican, not religious, but concerned about the future of the US with daily lies by politicians and media and the dumbing down of most of our citizens.
Facts are facts, it has been settled. And this country has much bigger issues to deal with. This is simply a distraction set up by people who have little else to offer. I agree that there is massive perception manipulation happening everyday. People continuing to talk about this matter is proof of that. Dumbing down---yes.
To: Echo82: It is a settled matter in your mind only. Also in the Left media. Settled to you or the media just means lets not discuss it or talk about it anymore. The FACT is there has never been a Birth Certificate produced. I guess if one wants to say it is a settled matter, fine. A deep thinker knows it is not. Yes, there are so many other problems, I agree with that. But, one can not just say a subject is settled because they want it settled. It is not.
your opinion. have a wonderful day.
Craig, you are wrong. The only difference between a "Birth Ceritificate" and "Certificate of Live Birth" is the wording at the top of the form. I live in Colorado and have two children. Both of them have Certificates of Live Birth and that's it. Neither of them has anything called a "Birth Certificate" and they never have. Now, I know that some hospitals give what they call a "Birth Certificate" as a souvenir when the family leaves the hospital. These sometimes contain more detailed information...sometimes they have footprints on them, and sometimes they have the attending doctors signature on them. However, not all hospitals issue these. Neither of my kids received one...not that it matters because they hold no official status whatsoever. I wouldn't be able to use one to verify citizenship, get them a driver's license, or a passport. The only piece of paper that matters is the one that is verified, signed and stamped with the seal of the Department of Vital Records (or whatever the name of the agency happens to be in the state where you live). President Obama has provided that Certificate and I'm guessing it's the same document he used to obtain his driver's license, his marriage license, to verify his eligibility to work and to obtain his passport. He would not have been able to obtain any of those things without first proving his citizenship. And, yet, he has all of those things, so you have nothing to stand on.
Just because it may not look like yours, or isn't called what you want it to be called, doesn't mean that it's not an official document verifying the birth of the President in the state of Hawaii. It's where he was born. You're just going to have to get over it.
In addition, since you all are so convinced that he has a "long form", I'd really like to know what you think you would find on a more detailed form. Do you think as an infant he claimed to be a socialist, or a Muslim? Do you think a Hawaii Birth Certificate is going to show that he was really born in Kenya? I mean...do you guys even THINK before you start screaming about these absurdities that you have managed to convince yourselves are so important? Just because the President doesn't look like you...and his Birth Certificate isn't called what you want it to be called, doesn't automatically make him a non-citizen, or disqualify him as President of the United States. That you spend so much time twisting yourself in knots trying to prove that he's not from here is a real reflection on you, your views of others and your priorities in life. It's rather sad, actually.
Here is a bright idea, why doesn't MSNBC show whatever birth certificate they can get. Maybe that will shut everybody up on this subject and we can argue about important subjects.
Carianne,
You echo my sentiment exactly. Well said!
To dontgivemethepenguin, I have actually seen the President's birth certificate displayed on MSNBC, but it's the newfangled official copy and not the aged, hospital copy from 1962, which as Carianne pointed out, doesn't really mean anything.
I can't remember the last time I saw the certificate I got from the hospital I was born in. It may be in the baby book my mother kept. Regardless, I've served in the military and now as a government contractor, applied for federal jobs, applied for and obtained high level security clearances, etc, and whenever I've needed some proof of citizenship, I've written to the state of Tennessee or ordered it on-line or stopped by the Health Dept in my home town and gotten the exact same thing that President Obama has and I've never had my citizenship questioned. The state records your birth into it's official records and from then on it only issues certified copies of it. If the state certifies it, they've already reviewed the supporting documents prior to issuing it out. Hawaiian officials have repeatedly stated that they have vetted the President's information in the same manner they would anyone else's.
This is a conspiracy theory from La-La Land. Even if Obama's mother for some reason decided to fly across the globe in her third trimester (which is NOT recommended) and had her baby outside of the borders of the United States, he would STILL be an American citizen because his mother was. John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone to American parents and his citizenship isn't Panamanian. Of the two, Obama was the only one actually born within the borders of a US state. Besides, 'ol John McCain is a Mavrick, right? Do you really think that he would have given up on the chance to be President of the United States if thought for one minute that Obama's citizenship was in question?
Seriously????
I think what the next question will be is what was Obama's father's residence/citizenship legally? Kenya? England? Whatever it was does it effect Obama no matter where he was born? Let's say he was born in Hawaii, now the question is does the citizenship of his father have to be US in order for his son to run for Presidnet? Where is the answer? in the Constitution? The Supreme Court? In a law passed for John McCain?
dgmtp
read up,...at your leisure:
http://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration/immigration-citizenship-naturalization/immigration-citizenship-naturalization-did-you-know.html
If this is our choices for the next dictator of this country at least trump is a man of riches made by himself and his Genius Not extortion from the people he serves like Obama and his corruption and lying mouth. Then we all know that Obama was born in Kenya because of his Grandmother who said his mother went into labor while on the beach there. I can't wait to see all the birth stuff blow up in Obama s face. He has fooled all his puppets into thinking he is some savior, yet has done nothing for this country unless you are his special interest groups. Trump is a man of honor, well respected in all manners of living, very well respected by the American people for his contributions to this countries financial stability. What has Obama done to help stabilize this countries financial institute or it's people, nothing unless you count the people he handed billion to so they could get their over paid corporate bonuses. Trump you need to make, no ask but make Obama prove his birth rights to the office he has stolen and as you have said, stop the biggest scam that has taken over this counties people, the military that he uses now for his police station, the extortion of the Americans people taxes. His extortion of fund for his over priced vacations, parties and lack of services to the American people who now see nothing of a Country, nothing for Retirement and the American Dream gone. Bring back the American dream that you MR, Trump helped to build with your great financial genius..Better to have a Genius in the White House, than an Idiot Muslim dictator .
TO: Carrinaae: Wow! The first paragraph was well written and showed some intellectual process. Your second paragraph went off the scale and showed your true extremisim which is a word thrown around now days. I am well aware of the State differences in requirements but your explanation is weak at best. Are you a nurse or a State employee? I know most State require a Birth Certificate signed by the delivering Doctor. I am sure many people were born in caves, taxi cabs, etc. In your second paragraph you insinuate racisim is at play here. Wow, what a left wing talking point. My granddaughters are half Mexican and one of my very best friends who is very accomplished and a pilot is Black, so don't play that tired old race card. People are so sick of that card being played all the time at all levels. I was hoping Condolesa Wright, who is very Black would run but she is just too damn smart and is enjoying the rest of her life playing piano and teaching at the University level.
LOL...the old "I have friends who are black so I'm not a racist" card. And Craig...I wasn't at all insinuating that you were a racist. If you'll notice, my second paragraph started with "since you all are so convinced", and was addressed to all of those who are asking these ridiculous questions. I find it interesting that nobody has asked to see any other President's Birth Certificate (and I guarantee you that more than one of them would provide a "Certificate of Live Birth" if you did) If you don't think that SOME of the people who are asking are asking because the President is black, you are deluding yourself.
However, I notice that you don't address any of the substantive points in my post. Is that because you realize that your beliefs are wrong...or because you still think he's not a citizen, but you don't really have any valid reason for believing so?
Is there something wrong with saying "I have a close good Black friend"??????? Do you? That is how screwed up our society is now. One can't say I have a Black friend if your white. So sad. I could care less if Obama is a citizen or not. Only thing I want is a good President, even if he was from Mars. I also do not care if he is green, yellow, red, or my god, even white. My only point was that the so called Birthers which I am not have a valid point that is made fun of and ridiculed by the left and most media. Trump has the balls to bring it up cause he probably has no intention of political office. He just loves the attention.
Craig -- if you aren't a racist, then you aren't. Saying that "one of your best friends is black" isn't proof that you are not...and to be quite honest, only makes it seem as if you are protesting too much. It's quite common that people on these boards will say "My best friend is black", or "I have friends who are gay", or "I work with many Hispanics", and then will go on to say the most hateful things imaginable about that group of people. I'm merely advising you that saying "My best friend is black" is a quick and easy way to get people to jump to the conclusion that you are, in fact, a closet racist. Again, however, I'm not saying that you are.
And...again...as I pointed out in my post above, birthers do not, in fact, have a valid point. They have a point based on misinformation and twisted facts and logic. And it's facts that they continue to twist every time facts and logical arguments are placed before them. There are STILL people on this vine that will tell you that Obama's Kenyan grandmother said that he was born in Kenya...even though the truth is that it was a mistake made by the interpreter and anyone who reads the full interview would know that. Donald Trump said that maybe he's hiding the fact that his "real birth certificate" lists his religion as Muslim." However, nowhere on ANY birth certificate in any state is a child's religion listed. Donald Trump also says that he questions the President's Birth Certificate and citizenship, and then goes on to say that you need a Birth Certificate to get a driver's license, a marriage license and a passport. Well, I hate to break it to Mr. Trump, but the President has all three of those things. In addition, Trump states that the announcements in the paper aren't proof because they were posted in the paper "two or three days later". Is he really so stupid to think that every time a child is born, the paper stops the presses to make sure that the announcement goes in that same day? I mean, seriously! So, Craig, Donald Trump may have the balls to bring it up...but, he doesn't have the brains to come up with any valid evidence or arguments to show that the President was not born in Hawaii and is not a citizen of the United States.
Your last entry shows me how I have wasted time. I love Jeff Foxwothy's comedy skit about stupid people should have a large S on their forehead. That way you can just bypass them wherever you are, Walmart, store, etc. I now believe you should have that large S on your forehead. Goodluck in life, as you will need it.
LOL...I see. So, I list facts for you, you completely ignore them, and I'M the one who's stupid.
Oh...and you can't even get your Jeff Foxworthy reference right. Here's your sign.
My wife is black and we both do not like the Prez. Does that make us racists?
Wow, don't...that was a pretty big leap there. I hope you didn't hurt yourself making it.
Trump refuses to accept the evidence of President Obama's birth certificate as produced by the officials of the state of Hawaii making trump and the birthers suspect that they also do not believe the following; That the Holocast is a myth despite the tons of factual evidence produced by the Nurenberg Nazi trials after wwii, ;That Trump and his fellow birthers belive the earth is square,despite the scientific evidence that the earth is round. Finally,the evidence is clear that President Obama was born in Hawaii and the Holocost did happen and that the earth is round.
I am almost embarrased to get into these internet discussions as it just proves to me how our country is going down the toilet. Dems vs Reps, politics seems to drive everything. Our schools have had so much money in the last twenty years and are still failing. The Unions are becoming Communistic, and the bloggers are all over the board. Nobody in this current crop of Americans (remember, we are just passing through) seem to understand we are 28 ranked now in education in the World. Half our kids drop out of high school and do not know we have three brances of government or who the Vice President is. That goes for the adults to who you ask. We are so far in debt now, fourteen Trillion, if you believe the numbers it will take three hundred years to get it paid. Nobody seems to really grasp this anymore. Politics and Party come way before country or future generations. There is just no way the US will be around in our current form in the future. The only question, is when, will we collapse in one year, two, twenty, maybe if we are lucky, fifty. The Left and Right will never come together. Party first, US second. If I were Nostradomis I would predict the breakup of the US, probably driven by the West Coast (liberal) and the East Coast(liberal). Texas could easily become an independant Country. They were at one time in history. They are big and have coastal ports and on and on. Maybe, just maybe, Mother Nature will intervene and divide up the country with who knows what. My point is, the US days are numbered in either manmade actions or geological. I will never understand how a party affiliation trumps the well being of the country, but it does.
Craig,
What a sad diatribe about our nation's prospects. Do you forget the Civil War and how bitterly our nation was divided? Yet, generations later, we're still one nation. The differences between Liberal and Conservative have shifted and evolved and likely will again. As a moderate and Independent, I see things on both sides that I feel can be compromised on, but that "C" word doesn't seem to exist in the vocabulary of Republicans and Tea Party followers today.
I truly believe that trickle-down economics don't work and the Bush tax cuts should be allowed to expire, as was the original intent when Bush proposed them. That source of revenue would significantly aid our efforts to restore fiscal responsibility, along with targeted cuts to programs that are wasteful...not just scorned due to ideology. Otherwise, you'll continue to see cuts in education, health care, social security, etc. Areas that affect the majority of Americans, all which is infinitely more important than some conspiracy about the President's birth certificate. I have received the same type of document from the State of Tennessee and my citizenship has never, ever, been questioned by any local / state / federal agency that was requesting it. Hawaii has vetted the records they have on file and certified that Obama is a US citizen. Let's please move on to more pressing matters.
Obama was born to a U. S. citizen and by law it does not matter if he was born on the moon. He still is a natural born citizen by birth (regardless of the citizenship of his father) and has nothing to prove to you or anyone else.
... frezfarm...
Donald Trump is a very intelligent man with LOTS of money...and he made it all by himself...he didn't inherit it and no one gave it to him. He is a billionaire! Has anyone here accomplished what Trump has? I doubt it.
Obama is the President by selection or election...most likely by selection... and he should be made by American Law to provide proof of his validity to be the President of the USA via providing his ligimate birth certificate. The President of the country holds the security of the Nation and the people in his hands and his loyalty to the country cannot be in doubt. No valid proof has been given yet. No valid birth certificate has been given yet. Donald Trump was able to get his birth certificate in a few days and provide it, Obama hasn't. Why??? Does he not have one? How was he able to register in school, get a passport amd more importantly become the President of the United States? There is definetly something strange going on here. If I was the President of a country and any citizen of my country had any doubt about my birth or anything else, I would immediately clear that doubt. Obama is not! He is hiding something!
As for McCain, I believe he was born in Panama. The law is still not clear regarding this issue, after the states of the US was not divided as it is now. This came up when he was running for office and he was scrutinized and it was determined that he is a ligimite citizen of the US. Remember this land was not the United States, it was Indian Land. Indians and Mexicans were living on the land long before the white man came. The law is still not able to interpret the law that was issued in 1904 regardig Panama when the states were being 'formed'.
Donald Trump would make a better President than Obama unless they kill him first like they did John F. Kennedy.
you really should learn some FACTS about your hero:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_trump
He slipped into his DADDY'S company. His DADDY was a self made millionaire. Donald? Not so much,...and the bankruptcies and number of people he's left holding the bag for pennies on the dollar of his mismanagement,...well that was REAL money to those holding the notes.
Seems there is a lot of FANTASY about who Donald Trump is - problem is - the reality doesn't quite square up with that 'dream'.
Celestine,
Hello again. Obama was able to get a driver's license, marriage license, passport, register for school and financial aid, etc, and the reason he was able to do so is because the birth certificate that he provided was valid in all fifty states. The state vetted their vital records and validated his citizenship. I have used the exact same type of document to prove my citizenship. This wasn't an issue when he ran for Senate because level-headed people were able to interpret those very simple facts. The only thing that is strange here is the Kool-Aid that the Birther movement is drinking. The Donald alludes to him wanting to hide facts about his religion on his birth certificate, which is rediculus because children aren't born into religion (Just because I was born to a Christian family doesn't mean that I have to be a Christian when I grow up; one may grow up in that religious faith and accept it as one's own, which might explain finally why Obmana professes a Christian faith for himself). His birth announcement was listed a few days after his birth? So was mine. Many papers don't post daily birth announcements and may not even have but one or two issues per week.
This Birther movement is based on irrationality not only born out of a distast of Obama and his politics, but also his skin color and name (neither of which the man had any control over when he was born). History will look back on this as joke and this Birthers will be the fools who chose to argue and fight and bicker over this issue when so many more important ones were at hand.
Even if Obama were born in a different country it wouldn’t change the fact that his mother was a U.S. citizen at the time. Even if he were born out of country he most likely would have been afforded dual citizenship. Unless she had renounced her citizenship and I don’t think that happened.
I think the whole “Birther” gig was a miss-direction play. It was a 2-½ year delay tactic to divert attention away from the real problem with his past, selective service registration.