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AP
President Obama addresses the press and discusses the release of a longer-form birth certificate that reaffirms he was born in Hawaii.
From NBC's Athena Jones
President Obama spoke to the press this morning after the White House released his birth certificate for a second time.
The papers -- handed out during an off-camera "gaggle" in the briefing room early today -- were described by Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer as "the president's long-form birth certificate" and the correspondence between the president's lawyer and the Hawaii State Department of Health that led to the release of the documents.
The so-called birther issue has dogged Obama since the presidential campaign and Donald Trump, a potential Republican candidate for president, has repeatedly questioned the president's place of birth in recent days.
During the morning briefing, which was also attended by White House Counsel Bob Bauer, Pfeiffer told the press that the campaign requested the birth certificate from the state of Hawaii in 2008 and posted it on the campaign web site once they received it. He said independent fact checkers had inspected the document at his campaign headquarters and "declared that it was proof positive that he was born in Hawaii."
Noting that the networks were breaking in to cover his statement, Obama said he could not get this kind of coverage for "all kinds of other discussions" like national security and went on the blast the press for focusing on an issue he believes is a distraction. Still, today's remarks were notable because they marked the first time the president has addressed the issue of his place of birth in such an extensive, public and high-profile way, despite sometimes making jokes about what his administration has treated as a fake controversy.
The president said he had "watched with bemusement" and been "puzzled" by the degree to which the issue of his place of birth has continued to make headlines, particularly earlier this month when the Republican House put forward its budget and he gave a speech about his own budget priorities.
While saying he would not normally address such an issue, he said he wanted "to make a larger point" in speaking today and to encourage the media and the American people to focus on these and other issues, like the budget debate ahead.
"I'm confident the American people and America's political leaders can come together in a bipartisan way and solve these problems," he said, before going on the warn, "We're not gonna be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers."
He said, "We live in a serious time" right now and it's possible to deal with the issues in a way that will make our children and grandchildren proud.
Obama acknowledged this latest release of documents would not please everyone.
"I know that there's gonna be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest, but I'm speaking to the vast majority of the American people as well as to the press," he said. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do."
Pfeiffer said the birth certificate handed out to the press today was the same document that every Hawaiian receives when they contact the state to request their birth certificate and the same one they take to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get their driver's license and that they take to the federal government to get their passport. "It is a legally recognized document."
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Carnival Barkers? CARNIVAL BARKERS??
Who does this guy think he is, Sarah Palin???
Once before Chuck Todd was called out for name calling our President. Now is the second time.
Chuck: Don't you think it's time to think before you speak? Grow up!! You are no Tim Russert!
Ignoring the question will NOT make it go away!
Can one of our resident tea baggers explain to us, WHY this President is being held to a different standard, other than the FACT he's BLACK?
HIT the carnival barker with the weasel on his head, where it hurts MOST - his WALLET!
Boycott Celebrity Apprentice! If WE quit watching it will NO LONGER be the #1 show!
What did Chuck say? Was he insulted by the President's remarks? If he was, he should have been. That's if he cares about being a real journalist of course.
His blackness addressed? NO. They won't back off.....cause that's the real beef.
That means that if people take the same approach and quit watching the Chris Mathew's HARDBALL show then it won't even get the small audience that he contrives each day by incessantly talking about the irrelvant birther issue. WHAT A GREAT IDEA! I concur with your position for once and want to adapt it to the Ultimate Carnival Barker (Chris Mathews) HARDBALL!
The President alowed this issue to live for too long when he could have take the action he did today long ago!
Fed up Senior
WHAT A GREAT IDEA! I concur with your position for once and want to adapt it to the Ultimate Carnival Barker (Chris Mathews) HARDBALL!
The President alowed this issue to live for too long when he could have take the action he did today long ago!
Stuff it. I'm a Chris Matthews fan. He and the President speak for your ole @aa even if your are too demented to see it.
Are they doing current events in your senior residence or is it reminiscing about the good old days?
Sounds like the later to me ole foggey
Fed up- got 2 neato-riffic ideas for you.
1. Don't vote for Obama.
2. Don't watch 'hardball'.
It's the old 'easy' button for you, complainer.
Unless you were living under a ROCK the last TWO years - you would know that it has been online for ANYONE to look at!
Then again, that would require some intellectual curiosity, rather than,spoon fed conspiracy theories! ;o)
This should have never been an issue in the first place. The President turned over the required standard short form before he was elected.
However, the Racist Birthers were trying to figure out a way to stop a Black man from being the President.
Ron, i've said it before, Chuck Todd is an Ignorant Imbecile, who thinks he's actually More Important than the news he reportedly covers.
Today, the Office of President took a Hit, & in that I'm disappointed in President Obama! President Obama also reduced America's MSM to what they Are:
Carnival Barkers!
That was'nt directed at Donald trump, not by a LongShot! It was a Direct shot at the MSM!
BTW,what this entire episode of Craziness has done is solidify that Anyone NON White will always be suspected of being ILLEGAL!
I hope the MSM is PROUD today!
I personally LOVED the Carnival Barker title... as that is EACTLY what Trump is...
I'm so amazed the reps already have him ahead in polls... they must admire him for the fact he has filed at least 3 megamillion bankruptcies... all on the banks and investors heads.. but he proudly says it wasn't a PERSONAL bankruptcy... wow.. good going guy...
Secondly, just this week he was saying the bc was missing (all very vague... "he heard this, that, etc") Now he says "he heard the libyan rebels are being led by Iran"... You want THIS wing nut running the country??? Wow... the arteries are hardening as we speak.
"The President alowed this issue to live for too long when he could have take the action he did today long ago!" SHUT UP! this tea bagger has the gull to blame the president for this ugly mess , unbelievable. as i watched the president this mourning, i felt indignation at the disrespect our president has had to indure by people who call themselves "patriots". you are small people with small minds in small numbers and you do not represent america. and i am FED UP with people like you.
We KNOW Obama's Kenyan father renounced imperialist America did he also renounce Obama's American citizenship?
I love that all you wing nuts always go back to the presidents skin color????? no one cares! racism racism rasicm. boo hoo hoo. He's is no leader! he's a community activist living in a dream world.
Who cares about race... not 90% of americans. The issue is what has he done in the last two years to make us go forward??? economy not better, jobs no , infaltion only getting higher. now he wants to tax the oil companies more??? oh that will be a great idea? to get the price of gas higher im sure.
what has he done?? He can read very well.
he's making Brasil better off... we want to be your best customer i believe was his comment. we will give Brasil money we dont have so they can drill for oil??? wake up.
Obama is the quint essential special interest president. 1000 health care waivers?? what a joke!
He talks about the wall street players... bad bad bad. then hires them into the govt. The worst president of my 50 years.
please, all you sheep out there wake up! socialism doesnt work! Human beings are not sheep and will not sit around and let people run their lives... we dont want to be Europe Mr. President! we left there for freedom of thought, religion etc.
God bless the United States of America
The usual lefties here say that the "birther" issue is a right wing racist issue. You seem to forget that it was started by a democrat supporter of Hillary Clinton. Philip J. Berg, a former Deputy Attorney General for Pennsylvannia filed the first lawsuit to block Obama frrom running for President. He did this August 2008. Is he a right wing racist? Spin all you want but the truth is out there for all to see if you can handle it. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing was a Clinton staged event to begin with. Those darn racicst Clintons.
I never bought into the birther thing, but I am baffled at how long it took them to produce this birth certificate. The article mentions this is the same birth certificate one obtains a passport and driver's license. So why did it take 2.5 years?
Also, I am so sick of the libs screaming the race card eveytime someone mentions anything negative about Obama. This country elected a black president so get over it already. We have moved as a nation beyond that. After the election Obama's ratings were over 70%. They are now below 50. Do you ever stop to consider that maybe people don't like his policies and it has nothing to do with his race. I don't care if he's green. purple or violet. I think he is a good father and good husband, but personally I think he stinks as a president and his policies are huring this country.
Being on the internet is not the same thing as the man -- himself -- standing before the public with document in hand. This could have been put to rest a few years ago, so why did he choose not to? Was he that naive to know that this was going to be an issue since it applies to the fiber of our Constitution? Did he want to keep the controversy alive? Was there an agenda for that?
1. As one who identifies with the Tea Party goals, I have never been or ever will be a supporter of "The Donald" for president, he's nothing to me but an attention whore. Should he win the nomination to run as a Republican in 2012, I will not vote for him or his hair.
2. I firmly believe Donald is in fact a democratic plant. Suddenly he has adopted positions that he's not historically held, in order to seem plausible to the right of center. He is a phony and he will be exposed. The RNC should be out front and center distancing themselves from this Bozo and make it clear he's not welcome in the conservative camp.
3. I have never questioned Obama'scitizenship, only his qualifications, leadership, and judgement, all of which are painfully lacking.
Trump used the birth issue instead of speaking to what he could do better if he was elected. Let's wait and see all the dirty laundry that comes out if you decide to run. You are an ego maniac, promoting yourself. I hope this shut you up. As a matter of fact you have turn me off so bad I have decided to stop watching your show, maybe more will do the same and your show will be cancelled too!
"We do not have time for this silliness - we have other stuff to do," the president said....before rushing off to tape Oprah in Chicago and attend three New York fundraisers.
Nuff said?
Beverly Beverly Beverly.... As usual, your diatribe is unfounded. I do not live in "an old folks home or even reminish about the ole days." I am one of the millions of working folks who still care very deeply about this Nation, so cut the accusations! I am also not a birther, but could not figure out why the President let this go on for so long. Obama let others define him for two years!!! Sad!!! If anyone (especially Chris Mathews continues to stir the pot daily on his show) had tried to push this crap about me, I would have immediately published the evidence and told others to move on to another subject worthy of pundit attention ... no race baiting... no support to conspiracy theories...! I am a firm believer that a person is responsible for their own destiny and reputation and if you are not willing to stand up for that reputation when attacked, then I guess you are just weak.
TO: Madison From NY who wrote:
“We KNOW Obama's Kenyan father renounced imperialist America did he also renounce Obama's American citizenship?”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yesterday you KNEW the POTUS was born in Kenya.
I think you need to renounce YOUR citizenship if you are a real U.S. citizen (I’ll need to see your proof of citizenship, or your birth certificate before I believe you, and it must be notarized and bear the State Seal).
We already have enough stupid people in this country and don’t need another one that’s just stuck on being stupid.
Fed up Senior
Beverly Beverly Beverly.... As usual, your diatribe is unfounded.
I am a firm believer that a person is responsible for their own destiny and reputation and if you are not willing to stand up for that reputation when attacked, then I guess you are just weak. I am one of the millions of working folks who still care very deeply about this Nation.
Then if that's the case you have just proved how easy it for you to succumb to the weak, baseless, claims out there about our President.
My advice to you is pull you chin up. It'll get better.
You gotta be Feisty in these days. A working class American would recognize cow dung and never, ever be proud of this bigotry.
Finally! Now, hopefully we can drop this issue and start focusing on real problems like the deficit.
I do have one final set of comments though...I give Obama 50% of the blame on this one. I think it was a calculated (and successful) move to make a block of voters and Republican talking heads, that were never going to support him, look bad. Obama could have easily resolved this in 2008 (after Hillary's camp raised the issue) by producing this document, but he didn't. I think letting the issue fester was great from a political viewpoint for Obama, but bad for the country and probably cost the Democratic party a few seats in 2010.
You know it GF!
Don't take any crap from the right wingers!
Karma really is a b!tch! ;o)
now go after all the different social security numbers he has been issued and under how many different names?
Don't let up like Hillary did!
I am no 0bama fan but letting the birthers keep making fools of themselves was a good move on 0bama's part - it took the people's mind off of his record and his policies. He was a victim and that appeals to people. Now for the next 550 days he has to run on his record which is a lot tougher than running against the birth issue.
Got to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen. After 2 1/2 years the BOGUS POTUS "makes a decision"! Pretty much par for the course! He is definitely an expert calling Trump a "carnival barker" since he has hand-picked some clowns and has been ruling over a complete circus since he was elected! Hope & Change..what a CLOWN act.
So what you are saying black_belt, is that this was a political issue for Obama and you think he could have put this to rest years ago? Agreed.
Yeah, Chuck has become too big for his britches...and yes...I sure miss real political journalists like Tim Russert.
what did he call the Pres?
All you Tea Buggering idiots are now exposed for the bat guano you are. If you still doubt his citizenship, then you have issues with a black man as your president as was always the case anyway. I ALMOST feel sorry for you, it must be terrible to expose yourselves as liars, racists and fools.
I know, it hurts to be wrong and proven to be bigot and idiot. The president is legitimate and you lost the election. Barack Hussein Obama is an American, a Christian and YOUR president. Deal with it, turd.
Get over it. You have NOTHING
HAHAHA....racist pigs just wont give up will they? Go ahead, be a moron. Obama and Dems win, you look NUTS! Now be sure to watch out for those black helicopters....(chuckle)
Danno - yes it has been a political strategy by 0bama to take people's mind off of his agenda and his record. He could have stopped this 3 years ago when Hillary brought it up.
Sorry Ron, FAIL
You cant spin away from being a moron on this. Obama didn't need to do ANYTHING to make you look STUPID. You did it on your own. Deal with it. You gambled, you though it was cute, and you LOST. BUt go on ahead with your next nutty conspiracy theory, every theory launches more votes for Obama and more alignment with the Independant voters...so please ....LIE AWAY!
Typical disenchanted conservative, unhappy with their DISMAL and PATHETIC candidates, creating yet another conspiracy theory to distract about their weak GOP candidates. The Tea PArty created Donald Trump as a candidate. If you don't like him, go talk to the tea tards, they OWN the GOP anyway (chuckle)
Shame on all of you for race baiting. You are all dumb asses! Every single one of you race baiters is a dumb ass.
They called for his documents because of his parents citizenship and the questions surrounding his parents, no other president has had that issue before. Thats the way it is, don't like it, want to make it into a race issue... you're a dumb ass.
Shame on news vine for allowing race baiting.
If it only took 2-1/2 yeasr to produce a birth certificate, I'm really scared how long it will take for him to fix the economy, restore jobs and get us back on the path to happiness. Then again the goal is to distract and get re-elected, not to really accomplish anything - next invasion / conflict / use of American troops coming in 12 months, make book on it....
In the photo of the president, at least we can see he is having fun with the silliness. And I admire him for that, because we know there's a darker basis to this due to his foreign name (Muslim), mixed race (African), and heck being a Democrat (which is "evil" socialism).
But I've already seen posts by Birthers who still think there's something the president is hiding, which is what was predicted. This is part of a larger problem in which people embrace downright superstition, especially conservatives. Perhaps it all begins with believing the Bible to be literal, I don't know. But conservatives are predisposed to take leaps of faith the most, whether it's Saddam/Iraq attacking us on 9-11 or what have you.
Here we are in the 21st Century, with all our technology and information, and yet it is a double-edge sword. And this is where education needs to do better--teaching research methodology (what is a credible source), critical thinking, and the Rule of Reason/logical deduction. Progressives embrace science and knowledge, whereas conservatives have been sucked into the anti-intellectualism movement. How else can this nonsense be explained?
Beverly in Chicago Comment collapsed by the community
Fed up Senior
WHAT A GREAT IDEA! I concur with your position for once and want to adapt it to the Ultimate Carnival Barker (Chris Mathews) HARDBALL!
The President alowed this issue to live for too long when he could have take the action he did today long ago!
Stuff it. I'm a Chris Matthews fan. He and the President speak for your ole @aa even if your are too demented to see it.
Are they doing current events in your senior residence or is it reminiscing about the good old days?
Sounds like the later to me ole fogey
#1.6 - Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:02 AM EDT
drive-by-observer
Bev- neither you, nor any black persons are our enemy. Why on earth would anyone feel otherwise? I can't imagine swapping places with you. Not in a million years.
Love you, too. Do not be discouraged over the occasional pockets of ignorance you encounter each day here and there. It will never dissapate completely.
Thank you drive-by-observer
But you knew that.
Yes, I also know: we got to live together; are a part of something whether we chose to be or not; and many, many people in this world are attracted to each other and love each other regardless of the color of their skin.
newdayDAWNING10
Love ya, Beverly.
Thank Love ya too. My day wouldn't be complete without reading you and other positive posters whom I've grown to love. To the smart asses out there who may choose to chime in with a snarky remark, yes, I have adult children, grandchildren and a husband; so don't go there thinking I'm deprived. I'm complete however, there are many, many other things to make one's circle expand. So right wackos you can draw your conclusions there.
I wonder if the mistake we make is in not saying over and OVER as LOUD as we can that this is just racist B.S. I am OUTRAGED that any contender for President from one of the two major parties is proudly showing himself to be a bigot.
Some am I and on some occasions found myself defending that jerk George Bush to foreigners.
I am equally OUTRAGED that Pat Buchanan is given a stage on MSNBC to proudly proclaim his racism night after night. Chris Matthews, I know you don't believe this stuff, and you have an obligation to step on this nonsense HARD when Buchanan is on your show.
I think you forget that for a while. My experience or perception of watching Chris throughout the years is Chris has forged a friendship with a lot of those old guys . once they cross Chris' threshold intolerance, you know he won't be able to shut up.
The larger question remains: Why is Buchanan on ANYONE'S show?
Mine too, if they must have this old goat on just let him read the news.
I want each journalist who has one of these dorks on to ask them, "How do you feel about being a Carnival Barker?" Trump's red squirrel might answer better than that loud mouth below him.
I have been so proud and pleased w/President Obama with this move and the last big speech about drawing a line against that radical Path to Poverty proposed by the GOP. Go get them.
LMAO! I LOVE it!
Upon hearing the comment "carnival barker" my husband blew his coffee out in laughter. I had to look up the term. So tell me . . . who do you get in touch with at google to add pix of Trump, Todd, Palin and the entire Fox News crew to the carnival barker art? Send me a note if you know how to update this pix list.
Madison in NY
A parent cannot renounce a childs citizenship.
Feisty, Thank you. Thank you. I'll be here all week. Free drinks on Friday.
Now that sounds like a PLAN! See you Friday! ;o)
PS: I'll bring the *popcorn*
Fed-up: I say Bull Sh!t to your post about 90% of Americans not being racist.
First off, I'm a white 50 yr.old man, who travels daily around the country for my job. I interact with both white and blue collar workers in about 2 -3 different companies a day. You'd be surprised how much racism I have encountered in daily life conversations all over the country, by both types of workers.
I'm embarrassed by it each and every day I hear it. I'm even more embarrassed by my own family who are closet racists, even my own mother who told me she would not vote for Obama because she didn't want a black woman (not man) in the white house. When confronted, she says she is not racist, I remind her of her words, and she readily admits her feelings, but still denies she is prejudice, go figure?
Back to the rest of the country, I have been on job sites wondering if slavery is still legal, as the conversations usually go something like this. "The guy is an idiot, he's a (insert N word), he don't know sh!t". What makes this worse, I have seen these conversations take place by the owners of the companies, in front of black employees who don't dare say anything to defend the president or themselves.
This is not even about the president, if you or anyone else denies the racism that still exists in this country, there are only two answers for it, you are a racist, or you live with blinders on, period.
The only thing I am thankful for, as I notice it in mostly the older generations, many more of the younger generations (including my kids) are much more open minded and outspoken of the bigotry and racism they encounter. There is hope yet in this country, we just have to wait for the worst ones to die, and they will.
My husbands gramma says she isn't racist, she just thinks that blacks should be kept separate so that they can have their own culture...
Each generation gets less and less racist BUT there is still racism in EVERYBODY! The difference is to what extent...
I would feel more uncomfortable in a dark parking lot with 5 black guys, than I would 5 white guys (though I would still feel quite uncomfortable with the whites) I can't help it, but I have black friends. I dont have an issue with a black president. But there is still a little bit of racism in me because it is actually completely natural.
Hmmm, Becca. I don't know how I feel about that. I have had solid racism in my family and I disowned them for it. I've been in dark parking lots in Los Angeles and have not felt fear of the African Americans around me. It just never registers. I've gotten between the white teens and the african american teens in this subdivision and pulled them apart. Maybe an old white lady having the huevos to do that made both sides take a breath, but it needed doing. Dr. King told us to be non-violent, and I really try. I just don't like racism anywhere, and believe me, here in Georgia, you need to deal with it on a strange level.
Of course, a few posts from teabaggers and I lose all sense of equanimity. Darn. But I try.
Actually, drive by observer, I'd say carnival barkers sound more intelligent then most of the birthers.
If Obama and referred to these people as a bunch of morons, who need to lose their tails and climb down out of the trees, he would have been much more on target.
I disagree with all of those who think the President should have released this copy 2 yrs ago.
I think he released it too soon, should have waited until summer 2012.
Watching all of the birthers twist themselves into knots has been more than a little entertaining.
The only reason his residency was questioned was because one parent was clearly not a citizen - anyone with his background needs to be clear with these records.
That the White House decided to "release" this information that they could have released 3 years ago only shows what a petty narcissistic President we have. He would rather call American citizen names, and waste all of our time with this non-story. He does not deserve our respect, as he has shown none to us.
Good grief Paul F! Way back in 2008, the Director of Health in Hawaii, who was serving under a Republican Governor, certified that she had personally seen his original birth certificate. Local newspapers had reported the birth announcement, way back in 1961. These publications are on record.
What more did people need, God to descend from heaven and declare Obama to be a native born U.S. Citizen.
To have characterized the loud, shrill calls of the birthers, and their apparent public persona, Donald Trump, as "carnival barkers", was being kind, and accorded these people just the degree of respect that they deserve.
Time to ignore the crazies. You can't fix it. They like being crazy, it is a comfortable place to be. No requires anything of them.
Newday. Hard to ignore when it is on cable 24/7. They are the ones responsible.
But, Patrick, nothing will please them anyway. Why bother?
Newday. My point is, the media are the ones feeding the paranoia, or as the President called it, sillyness. It will not stop till the pundits ignore it.
More than that, Patrick, some erudite newsman needs to call them out on this. Murrow would have, Cronkite would have...it is that none of those type of people exist.
Exactly! Right on the nose! This nonsense went on and on.
I just loved the fact that he rubbed the "Carnival Barker" Trump's nose in it. Now that what I'm talking about! So who is the" Apprentice" now Donald!
Wait... Yep, Help Mr. Wizard! Trizzle, Trazzle, Trissle Trome time for The Donald to go home! Beat it buffoon! Back to NY real estate for you!
btw: Could you check the differential oil on the back axle of the Hope Express while your under that bus!
hes not a carnival barker hes a slum lord .... (i stand corrected trumps father was a slum lord who made millions renting roach infested flop houses to unsuspecting legal immigrants to this country )
PatrickSLC...."Hard to ignore when it is on cable 24/7. They are the ones responsible."
Not totally. Unless you have very short term and/or selective memory, it was the Democrats who started the whole birther movement, specifically the Hillary Clinton camp. The birthers and media took it from them and ran with it. Fools following fools.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Can one of our resident tea baggers explain to us, WHY this President is being held to a different standard, other than the FACT he's BLACK?
Boycott Celebrity Apprentice! If WE quit watching it will NO LONGER be the #1 show!
Well Stupid Redhead, I am not a tea bagger but this President is not being held to a different standard. Were you paying attention the eight years previous to Saint Obama? 95% of all media is liberal and published or printed every crackpot theory there was about President Bush (Who like Obama is not perfect). Black has nothing to do with it for the hundred or so people I have talked to. It is his extreme leftist/socialist agenda, lawyer mentality, open criticism and mocking of every person who dares defy his delusional superiority complex, never even trying to cooperate with the opposition party until his own was put out of office in the house, and maybe the fact that people who adore him act like he is a greek god who favors us with appearance. That is what bothers most of us.
And just as a reminder, the Apprentice is not the #1 show and Trump has never said that it was, only that it was #1 on NBC, who last week did not even have a show in the top 20 Nielson ratings.
That's odd - because the hundred(s) of white people I've talked to say something quite the contrary!
And did you really go with the 'Well the other guy did it' defense? LMAO!
I guess in ConservativeVille - two wrongs CAN make it right! ;o)
Thanks for playing - we have a lovely Pat Buchanon Secret Decoder Ring for you!
And Pastorized, you've been reported for that horrible remark. My Feisty friend is far too honorable to call you on your remark, but me... hey, I was indeed raised by wolves.
I knew there was a reason I liked you instantly - other than your wicked sense of humor! ;o)
but you do not like my humor?
What is silly is the horrible job they did putting this document together for the sheeple. It is obviously a fraud and anyone that has been through a highschool bcis class can tell the document has been layerd and you dont layer something unless you are adding to the original. And for all the nay sayers I challenge you to go to whitehouse.gov and simply paste the thing into microsoft paint (a program that does not read layers) and you get the original without be doctored up. Not to mention the "African" as a race. My question is why was something like this released to the public when it looks like 2 monkeys and a infant put it together? Also, why is the public being decieved like this by our fine and mighty for the people government? Psh
If they were going to fake it, dont you think they would do a better job?
Also, the parents state their race, his father said African. Blame his father.
Honest to God, I have tears in my eyes as I am reading this blog. (This is a tad uncomfortable, because I am at work!) The President's words are very moving to me. If just ONE mainstream Republican had offered more than a tepid "I take Obama at his word when he says he was born in the United States," it wouldn't have come to this. I can't believe the first Black man elected to the presidency, and one of the brightest people to hold that office, has to prove his citizenship - all because a jerk like Trump has gotten in his face about it.
Amy B. Portland, ME
Honest to God, I have tears in my eyes as I am reading this blog. (This is a tad uncomfortable, because I am at work!) The President's words are very moving to me.
Thank you Amy for feeling my pain, the pain of other members in the black community, and the President's. We Black have had to endure this resurgence of racism vicariously through president Obama ascent to the White house.
I think it's very shameful as well as hurtful to know that white people, too, have to endure vicariously the pain we black people have gone through as a result of these racist attacks from the whackos out there and here on First Read.
Again thank you, thank you for being my friend, thank Fiesty, Navy, Pat, Ron, Clara, newday, and any other white person here ( sorry can list everyone; but you know who you are).
May you all live healthy, prosperous, lives as we venture into making America a "more perfect union" because of your genuine feelings and efforts .
Love ya'll
Good point, Amy, all it would have taken was one republican to have the courage to say--he was born in the great state of Hawaii, but not one dared challenge the crazies in their party for fear they might not get their vote. It is sad but once again I am reminded of why I am proud of President Obama; he has more character and integrity in his little finger than all the others combined.
Bev- neither you, nor any black persons are our enemy. Why on earth would anyone feel otherwise? I can't imagine swapping places with you. Not in a million years.
Love you, too. Do not be discouraged over the occasional pockets of ignorance you encounter each day here and there. It will never dissapate completely.
But you knew that.
President Obama is our President and I'm proud to say so.
Beverly, we have each other's back, and the President's. We'll always be here to fight back this crap. Always. DailyKos, Think Progress, MediaMatters, Lawrence O'Donnell, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann ... we are just gettin' started.
Enough.
Many Republicans have denounced the "birther" issue. But the media keeps putting nut jobs like Trump, in the headlines. I guess it is part of the liberal media conspiracy:)
Hey, Pat,
What is going on in Massachusetts--when did the democrats decide to take away public employee collective bargaining rights? Oh last night, with their super majority. Only problem is, the GOP Candidates didn't run and hide in Maine, but it wouldn't have mattered, would it.
Where is the outrage from you folks today?
count this old white guy on your side, too. i have never bought the racist crap that oozes out of right wing "amurika" and i never will. i will gladly die before i believe any crap that says one color is better than another. i can think of no more evidence of stupidity than a notion like that. true patriotism is NOT pitting some Americans against others. united we stand, divided we fall.
I never had doubts that Obama was born in the USA. Unfortunately if a lie is repeated often enough and long enough some people will believe the lie over truth. As other people have pointed out if there was any truth to the claim, then the Clintons would have used that in the 2008 campaign. Additionally, the FBI, CIA and NSA and everyone within those organizations would have to be involved in the biggest conspiracy of all times. The only secrets in Washington are those that are secret to the general populations, so everyone in Washington would be involved in a cover up. So the true birchers will still believe and say Obama was born in Kenya and no amount of evidence will persuade them otherwise.
Enough said
Love ya, Beverly. I wonder if the mistake we make is in not saying over and OVER as LOUD as we can that this is just racist B.S. I am OUTRAGED that any contender for President from one of the two major parties is proudly showing himself to be a bigot. I am equally OUTRAGED that Pat Buchanan is given a stage on MSNBC to proudly proclaim his racism night after night. Chris Matthews, I know you don't believe this stuff, and you have an obligation to step on this nonsense HARD when Buchanan is on your show.
The larger question remains: Why is Buchanan on ANYONE'S show?
Good for you wileydawg, the more of us that speak up, the less acceptable this nonsense is.
That's funny Amy - I was getting gas this morning and someone was at the pump crying. $4.27 is steep for alot of people. I just hope the credit and debit cards increase their limits - $75 is getting to be slightly more than half the total for my beast.
Now Amy, you are mighty lucky - you don't have to drive to work.
Lucky you. As for me - at least all that extra cash at the pump is getting me a lot less traffic. So that's nice.
So, we got this all done with, let's focus on Oil prices. Yeah.
Now Spanky,
Is that any way to speak to a young lady? Don't you know that anyone that is white, conservative, or not democrat considers the President to be of foreign decent.
But hate to break it to Amy & everyone else--we are all of foreign decent, even the "native" Americans crossed the Bering Strait thousands of years ago. Did that make them illegal immigrants:)?
Once again, the President seems to be the only adult in the room. He needs to speak to the press more, to remind us why we elected him.
Could have sworn John Boehner said it several times...you must not have been listening.
Really JFK? Like when Boehner was on Meet the Press and the issue of the birth certificate and our President's religion came up and Boehner said that it was not up to him to tell the American people what to think? See, when you want to be a moral LEADER what you do is you pound on the desk and say something like "you people are idiots, you are making our party look like racist buffoons, KNOCK IT OFF!". But he didn't do that, did he?
New Day,
When was the last time you saw any politician do those types of things? Back when Andrew Jackson was President:)
Newday really?? You would expect a politician from either side to tell their constituents they are idiots. Really? There is is reason it is called politics. I thought those people who believed it were crazy but then again I am not a politician. I am glad all this silliness can be put to rest and stop taking focus off of the real issues.
Newsflash, if you think all the silliness will be put to rest you are dreaming. Just read madison from NY up thread.
Pat...you forgot to mention the also highly-unbiased HuffPo.
Amy,
The first half black/half white man elected. I would prefer my race get half credit at least.
Amy
How can you take someone at their word when all we've seen for two years is that their words are meaningless? Every single candidate should do this openly and up front, not be forced into it. Why all the mystery?
History will play out and this will prove to be the most inept and corrupt administration to ever set foot in the White House.
Carnival Barkers, plural. The President looked the media square in the face and told them what he thinks of their reporting. It sounded to me that Chuck for one, had his nose put out of joint, by the rebuke.
Chuck always seems to have his nose out of joint.
Chuck is all about Chuck.
For every Republican, known and unknown, who have silently stood by and never refuted this nonsense, you must feel very small. For every media person who has talked and reported on this and rarely challenged any Republican leader, shame on you!
To the percentage of Republican voters who believed our President was not a citizen and spread the lies, hang your heads in shame, you do not have the best interests of our country in your heart, in fact you have no heart.
To the rest of the Republicans, here, in the public eye and in the media, when you stay silent, you may as well say you agree with the rest of your party who do not want America and our President to succeed.
You all owe the President an apology. This would and never has happened to a white President.
Bravo, well said, Gingerbread Mamma!
The President owes everyone an apology for letting this issue go on for as long as it has!!! I look so forward to seeing if Chris Mathews offers an apology for promoting this dribble issue daily for months! IF Obama has simply made this public long ago and the MSNBC pundits has dropped it alll together, it would not have been an issue!
See, folks how easy it is? It's all OBAMA'S fault!
Good one, F.U.S. (HEY- I think there's some kids cutting accross your lawn!)
Fed up Senior,
Everyone that questioned his released and “on line” birth certificate owes our President an apology. He provided everything required by law to be President.
Asking anyone for more documentation on anything than is required to meet the legal qualifications is outrageous.
If you believe that additional information/documentation should be required then change the law.
Fed up Senior,
Why should the President have to do anything other than produce the short form, in which he did? The racist are the ones that kept bringing this up.
However, I'm glad he did produce the long form.
As far as I concerned, the Birther Racist can go to hell.
What did Fed Up say wrong? He/She just stated this all could have been put to bed long ago by producing the form. There is quite a bit of truth to that statement. Had the long form been produced, the president could have dispelled all the questions long ago. By taking as long as it did, it allowed the rumors and questions to grow.
Why Bookem? Because he is Black? How come no other President has had this kind of question of birth? One word, White.
B as in B.. and S as in S.. Job1.
What in the He!! did I say now, or ever, regarding the color of this man's skin? Cries of racism are the last refuge of a scoundrel. When you have no answers to the question, cry racism.
I call it what it is.
Because Bookem, that's all Job1 can come back with. Just wait, it's going to get worse.
Hey Job1, answer this simple questions since your an expert on race, how is Obama Black if he had a White Mother? Simple question, love to hear a simple answer.
Fed up Senior
The President owes everyone an apology for letting this issue go on for as long as it has!!! I look so forward to seeing if Chris Mathews offers an apology for promoting this dribble issue daily for months! IF Obama has simply made this public long ago and the MSNBC pundits has dropped it alll together, it would not have been an issue!
I suppose since all the other Presidents released their long form without hesitation, this President should apologize for taking so long.
I have asked time and time again, for all those people who have different standards for THIS President, that they didn't have for others WHY? Everyone is quick to say it has nothing to do with racism, well can you explain why he has to rise to a different standard?
chirp....chirp.....
3wolves: the reason the president is black when he has a white mother is because many many years ago when black people were slaves they created the one drop rule. Which states if you have a 1 drop of black blood in you you are considered black. You should learn some history. Besides if you did not know that he mother was white you would see a black man. My son is biracial (black and white) and he is considered black. Does that answer your question?
Bill & Hillary Clinton are the first ones to bring this up - you liberals gonna bitch at them for a while?? People have been tired about how arrogant and smug the POTUS has been about this issue. Thanks to Hillary you all know that once the media gets on something they are like a dog on a bone and don't stop until it is completely gone.
@Book 'em and 3Wolves:
An even simpler question has been asked of you. I would love to hear your answer...same as anyone else whose held the belief that our President was not a natural-born citizen. If it is not because he is black, then why?
Is it because his father was African? His mother was American (not to mention white)...so, in my mind, he's already American.
I am half Puerto Rican and half Dominican (as in Dominican Republic) by ancestry, lineage, blah, blah, blah, but I am all AMERICAN.
Amazing.
Dear old man, you LOST. Your conspiracy theory was DISPROVED and now in your utter embarassment for being exposed as another 'carnie', you want to put it back on PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.
Not to mention you would have been wetting your pants at the chance to have this drag on for another year. Please, your being SO transparant. Not going to work. Your busted and your a loser today
Wolf and bookem the answer is simple, why should he have to produce more proof than ANY other President?????????
Fed Up Senior.........just say what you mean...
Then, if color was not an issue, why wasn't this a controversy with any other President?
What really concerns me, though, is now, that there is no more reason for "birther" bills, how are state elected officials, like Arizona's, for example, going to spend their time and taxpayers' money? Oh, no, they may actually need to focus on boring stuff like economy, and jobs....
Are you really from Phoenix AZ??? The Gov. has already vetoed the bill in AZ - its a non issue there now.
Yes, actually I am - do I need to show my driver license ? I know that she vetoed it, but, obviously, before it got to her, our legislature spent time and my money to pass it.... instead of, like I said, focusing on real issues, like how to find ways not to cut funding to education. And despite the governor rejecting the bill, Carl Seel repeteadly said he's not giving up. I would really like to see what he has to say now.
fed up senior..... wait until the republicans take your social security and medicare give you a voucher and tell you to shop around for insurance .... tell you you cant get assisted living or cut rate RX when your in the donut hole ... that should make you happy...
Hopefully better late than never....
You can check my posts in the past, but I never questioned whether the president was eligible to be president. My question here is if this was available years ago, why didn't he present it then and get ahead of this by putting the issue to rest. I do believe that if there were any real questions someone in opposing campaigns woudl have brought this out years ago but there will always be some that are not satisfied.
As for reasons to question, it doesn't have to do with his skin color. It may have to do with all of the time he was not living in the US. What president before this one has a similar background of living abroad for this many years? Do you think that could at all be the possible motivation?
As a child, I can remember my brothers and I bugging my parents incessantly at a carnival one time to let us go see the sideshow. They kept insisting we'd hate it, and we kept insisting it would be really cool. I guess they thought we needed to learn a lesson, so they finally gave us each a quarter and off we went, ready to be thrilled and amazed and awed. Needless to say, it turned out to be a sad, pathetic display of a few people with physical deformities and a woman covered in tattoos long before that was a fashion statement, and we didn't stay more than a few minutes before quietly sneaking back out. I felt deeply ashamed the rest of the day for letting the "carnival barkers" exploit those people just for the sake of making money off of other peoples' fears and prejudices.
Kind of the same way I feel today.....
Terrific thoughts, JoAnne PA. It is my hope a journalist asks Donald Trump to apologize but I doubt they or he will.
He is so busy thumping his chest and crowing, he won't have time for apologies.
Mr Trump, if you have time could you just let me know what was the out come of your feud with Rosie o'Donell??? Also whatever happened to your 2nd girlfriend Ms Marla Maples( not quite sure of the name) No rush, anytime after you get over the Presidents birth certificate issue. thank you.
Carnival barkers is an applicable description. I listened to our President's remarks and he subtly and politely admonished the media and, indirectly, the republicans for focusing on his birth certificate instead of the serious problems this country faces. President Obama pointed out it has been going on for over two years but the last two weeks, its been all consuming. Not sure the media or conservatives completely grasped his words but I hope they did--it's what many of us have complained about for a long time: the focus on the trivial rather than the substantive. The country has serious problems and it requires serious debate, discussion and effort--it is simply wrong for the media to focus on the lies spewed by the carnival barkers who have nothing else to offer.
Donald Trump - Carnival Barker in Cheif
Every time I think I couldn't be any prouder of my President, I am proven wrong.
Thank you Mr. President for always being willing to do WHATEVER it takes to move this country forward.
You sir, are a man among boys.
Thank you, Nash, for saying that so eloquently.
Nicely said, Nash, my sentiments exactly.
Yes, going on Oprah and dining with the big boys (wall street) and taking their money is really going to move this country forward. Nothing like taking money from people he has been criticizing for the last 2 years. Got to get that billion in order to get re-elected. How about he does what we elected him to do... Lead and govern on behalf of all of us.
I agree wholeheartedly, as well.
Thanks, Nash---as usual you said it better than I could.
Nash:
Hear, Hear!
jri: STFU!
YEP! Forward and deeper in debt and in the mud! Great president, and he kept all is promises! GITMO has been closed since July 2010, we're out of Iraq, the unemployment rate onlr got to 8%. What a great job!
you were vietnam veteran? On which side? If you are repub, you should be glad he kept you guys war and torture camps up and running. He is indeed doing a great job IN SPITE of the anti-american right wing idiocracy.
ms. gp, were those the DNC talking points handed out for the day? What, you don't like that little freedom of speech thingy. BTW, please show me where I said anything that was not factual? What, did I get your panties in a bunch because the facts bother you? Until the president and both parties start to act on behalf of the citizenship instead of their beloved special interest i will continue to criticize the 535 slime balls and inept administration when warranted.
Athena Jones: Pfeiffer told the press that the campaign requested the birth certificate from the state of Hawaii in 2008 and posted it on the campaign web site once they received it. He said independent fact checkers had inspected the document at his campaign headquarters and "declared that it was proof positive that he was born in Hawaii."
_______________________________________________________
Are people stupid or what? It was already posted. In 2008. It was inspected. It was declared proof positive that he was born in Hawaii.
Carnival barkers? I don't know about anyone else, but if I was a journalist, a professional journalist, the last thing I would want to be called was a carnival barker.
Grow up media. This is America. We deserve better.
Well said, Pat, Boston. Our President picked an excellent description of what today's media has become. Let's hope those in the media who engage in perpetrating the lies internalize what it means to be a carnival barker and decide instead that Walter Cronkhite journalism is what America deserves.
Jody, there are some wonderful journalists out there. They get little attention. But the ones who are on cable every day - they are going to take exception to what President Obama called them. They will retaliate. Believe me. They are thin skinned and unprofessional.
What they should do is look in the mirrow. But those like Buchanan, etc. won't like it. Even though the evidence has been there, out in the open, for 3 freakin' years.
Donald Trump is a racist. Period. He likes to call himself a smart guy. Smart guys aren't racists. Real journalists with integrity would never let him get away with this.
At first I didn't like the fact that President Obama did this today. But think about it. You have a bunch of old white racists attacking him, one story at a time. None of it has anything to do with where our country is headed. None of it.
But these guys like Trump and Buchanan don't have to make any decisions. They don't have to talk with world leaders. They don't have to deal with Congress. They don't have to bring wars to an end.
They just hang around, waiting for the next lie. And go with it. The GOP is so screwed up it isn't even funny.
If I were a carnival barker I would be insulted to be compared to either a Republican politician or a member of the media!
I want to know "what" and "where" are the shocking revelations that Don T said his people he dispatched to Hawaii found out about President Obama? I WANT TO KNOW! Don promIsed he would reveal these secrets in due time. I am waiting? I hope the media press D to answer this IMPORTANT question during their lame interviews.
For those who thinks this puts the issue to rest, the timing only makes the issue so much more suspicious. For Obama to come out with this document over a year later, and then claim it's a waste of time is laughable. He should have stuck to his guns and never produced it, because now the questions will really fly - like has he committed document fraud? If he had it in his posession prior to today, and wanted to "save" all this "wasted time" on the issue, why didn't he produce it months ago, rather than spend millions (documented in supreme court dockets, defended by a certain newly appointed female supreme court judge) to suppress access to his proof of citizenship. Why was there ever any hesitancy to show the document before now. There's no magic to it - I ve shown my own many times, especially when legalities are concerned, and it doesn't take me 15 months to find it in my drawer. Now he also has access to millions of $ and the people who are expert in forging documents, and he gave them over a year to carefully produce this one. Anyone in the document business knows that even money and passports with specific features such as watermarks and seals can be forged in such a way that even the most skilled people at the FBI have a hard time telling a real dcument from a fake. But to forge a birth certificate from a hospital from over 40 years ago would be like child's play for a skilled and well paid forger.
The state of Hawaii determined how long it would take for them to bend their own rules. Obama proved he was an American "Natural Born" citizen many years ago. If this document is a forgery, there must be a dozen people at the Hawaiian department of Health who could sell that story to the National Enquirer. Why are they remaining silent if they know that what the administration has produced is fake?
Paul, they can't tell a forgery - they're not trained to do so, especially from a computer document. They must have the original document in hand to tell, and even then it can be difficult to do, even for the most skilled people in the world, which certainly aren't on the payroll of the Hawaii dept of Health.
jaba166 - I'm really disappointed the President released the bc today.
It would have been lots of fun watching you rant and rave for another year or so....up until this point you've provided so much great humor.
CLEARLY..you have NO IDEA how foolishly you are behaving.
VermontGirl, when you use the terms "CLEARLY" in capital letters and "foolishly", I am reminded of the timeless words of the venerable Enego Montoya; "I do not think that means what you think it means." However, to echo your words I will say this: CLEARLY, to be foolish is to believe and accept that a man who had this document in hand all this time, who has much more important matters to attend to (like runny the country), and who is so concerned about "wasted time" on "silliness", would waste over a million dollars in supreme court time (see the dockets on the supreme court website), take over 18-24 months to produce such a simple document, and then finally produce a document he supposedly had all time, which just happens to be a forger's dream to reproduce. It may very well be a legit document, but to take all this time, energy, and $ to avoid producing it until now is either foolish or fraudulant (if I know what that word means) - not sure which one.
Jaba166-You're pretty idiotic, huh?
So what you are saying is that the President released a copy of a forgery!?! The original document back in Hawaii, which has never been out of the hands of the vault keepers at the DoH, was forged into existence some time in the last five years? Rubbish!
I blame the press for part of the carnival atmosphere surrounding the birth certificate issue. Every major network rushed to interview the buffoon. ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, FOX,CSPAN. You cannot name many members of the press who could not wait to get him on camera. Have we had enough now, will the media stfu.Â
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What Oblame-a should have said was, "I'm sorry this took so long. I should have done this 2 years ago to prevent the distraction that my failure to do so caused." But of course, he blames others for the distraction and starts the name calling again. I guess he wants a formal apology from America for insisting that those we elect to the highest office meet the constitutional requrements demanded. What a great leader!!
Just can't say "I was wrong", can you?
I'm sorry Obama did it. I've come to the belief that birthers are a gift from God, to laugh at and ridicule without any feelings of share or remorse for being so delusional and stupid. Now Obama took that away from me. Please find a flaw in the long form so the fun can continue.
This will never be over for some of these birther people, if they didn't believe the short form, the State of Hawaii, or the federal election commission, they won't accept this, but maybe the press will.
:
What Obama should have done is told the Donald to kiss his 1/2 black 1/2 white arse! Whatever side he wanted to! Because the truth of it is, he showed the proper documents in the first damned place and this was an non-issue! So, Mark, since you can't say you were wrong, let me tell you what to say, "I'll STFU now".
Mark once again....why should he have to go beyond what ANY OTHER President has had to do? He filed appropriate paperwork in 2008, and many chose to make these claims for what ever reason.....
So how long do you think it will be before GWB releases his military records and flight readiness reports from the "Alabama" years ?
I think this will take care of the krazies on the fringe. Notice how Bachman was already moving away from the issue (although tepidly) while Trump was putting it back in the spotlight?
And honestly NO ONE needs a long form to get a drive's license or passport. The certified copy is suppose to be what you need and THAT is what was posted on Obama's website.
Did ANYONE ask Bush for his long form? No....
Girl I know your going to feel picked on but you need to know this. I moved from Nevada to Oregon and went down to get a state I.D. card. Not even a license. I needed my raised seal copy of my birth certificate to get it. Not only that I needed to prove my current residence with bills. So again your wrong. I'm sorry to inform you of this. The have new laws out on pass ports now to. You really need to bring yourself up to date.
"Did ANYONE ask Bush for his long form? No...."
Was Bush born of a mother that married an African (who, by the way, was already married), divorced him a couple years later - remarried an Indonesian man and moved to Jakarta - then sending her son back to Hawaii to be raised by her grandparents? No . . .
To say this mans background origin is a bit unconventional is a gross understatement. Why, given the circumstances, does it seem so outlandish to request proof of his true birthplace? Then, on top of what seems so harmless a request . . . choose instead to hide it for so long. Why?
Couple that mystery with all the other mysteries swirling about Obama (Ayers, Wright, School Transcripts, Harvard Law Review writings, shady real estate deals - Rezko, etc.) and it still surprises you that people are suspicious? Throw a stone in any direction and you hit a mystery. It has nothing to do with him being a black man . . . and, oh by the way, he is half white . . . some just wanted to confirm he is an American! Too much to ask?
Because these controversies only swirl around in the minds of people that see black helicopters hovering over them too. Or in the minds of racists. Which one are you?
From now on I'm sure that every presidential candidate will have to prove his or her eligibility to the letter. And you know. That's a good thing. I'm all for that. Get all those political butts to pucker. Right or Left. I've been around long enough to know better than to put a party ring in my nose. I always list myself as an other.
"We do not have time for this silliness - we have other stuff to do," the president said....before rushing off to tape Oprah in Chicago and attend three New York fundraisers.
Nuff said?
OK Art and this makes him different from EVERY other politician how? REALLY and you have the balls to be confused when people call right wingers ignorant, backwards rednecks?????
Art - too funny. You just can't make this stuff up. Politicians sticking their feet in their mouth's is priceless.
"To say this mans background origin is a bit unconventional is a gross understatement."
Art....geez..it's 2011...sorry to disappoint you but we're not all the Cleaver family....you're down right embarrassing
black_belt3.....it really doesn't bother you that all of your comments are idiotic?
Stupid move Mr. President. The best you can hope for is that the birthers find some imaginary flaw in the long form birth certificate and keep harping on this. Otherwise, they will move on to a new conspiracy theory that may make them look less stupid. You would have been better off letting the conspiracy kooks tilt at the birther windmill that anyone with a brain larger than an insect knows is ridiculous.
They are already (predictably) proclaiming it a forgery. With conspiracy theorists, every bit of evidence that disproves the theory is merely seen as another indication of a massive conspiracy. Every bit of proof is seen by these crazy people as another attempt to fool them.
You can't argue with crazy people.
Don't worry, Al---they will come up with something else---maybe they'll bring up the teleprompter or perhaps "not a Christian"---they will always find something.
Steeler fan, my money is on the Muslim Manchurian candidate with a secret agenda to turn America into an Islamic caliphate crackpot theory.
Al - I like it. Anything that will make sure that 0bama is a 1 term POTUS. I thought that it was a smart move of 0bama's to let the birthers keep up their yapping - it took people's mind off 0bama's record and agenda. No people will focus on that and that will make him a 1 termer!
Exactly! Doesn't matter it's NOT true - as long as it makes sure Obama is a 1 term POTUS!
I doubt that the birthers could find anything else that would make them look any less stupid.
Mark, I want you to prove to me that your a citizen. Post your birth certificate right now. This is the only way to clear this up. I'm sure you had it for Little League sign ups, or for your driver's liscense, but I haven't seen it.
You see the point. It had been seen, but it was a good story, also a racist story. You just got played. Are you mad . Didn't you see it coming.
Wait until he releases his grades. You'll get played again. You just don't get it.
If I was running for office that being a citizen was a requirement, I would show it. If I apply for a job that requires a particular license, I provide it.
I don't see this as a racist story at all. Nor did I think he wasn't a citizen. I just thought that if it were me, I would have provided the document WITH signatures long ago. You can be damn sure that any president born to people who weren't citizens and who were predominantly residing overseas would be asked for the same documentation. The only racism here is by those who think that asking for proof of citizenship from a presidential candidate is racist if asked of an African American.
The only reason this has been a story for the past 2 years is because Obama wanted there to be this nonsensical talk going on to prevent the microscope from being on the terrible job he's been doing.
Hey Mark. Since you are one who bought into the "nonsensical talk" lock stock and barrel, what does that make you?
Since Obama is the first President in U.S. history to release his birth certificate, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it is not a requirement to do so, in order to be President.
If the release of the long form would have put this all to bed, why wasn't it done two years ago? Don't you think the delay and refusal for two years only adds to the conspiracy theorists? There may have been claims of it being a forgery, but I would bet (sorry that I am unable to prove it) that any claims would be fewer and go away quickly.
I grew up in apartheid South Africa. I know racism first hand. It is shocking to me that there is so much bigotry and hatred in the heart of so many Americans - especially in the South. This is worse that South Africa - South African racism came from a reasonable fear that the black majority would eradicate Afrikaner (white dutch heritage) culture. In the US, the same conservative minds don't have that reasonable fear, but the still have the same hateful beliefs. You see it all over these comments. The American conservative movement is made up of the worst America has to offer - bigoted, greedy, and ignorant people that use religion and a false truths as their shields. I am ashamed of my adopted land.
The pivot has already began, by tomorrow it will be fully fledged. The "liberal media" will be criticising the President for releasing the birth certificate.
I wish the liberal media would start asking why 0bama won't drill in the US. Gas was $1.84 when he took office on Jan 9, 2009 - Google it - All he would have to do to bring prices down is say that we are going to start drilling in ANWR and every where we can. Lots of new jobs here and he would get a huge bump in his ratings. I hope he doesn't do this actually because I want him to be a 1 termer and $5 per gallon won't get him re-elected. I will pay the extra at the pump to make him a 1 termer.
black_belt3
I wish the liberal media would start asking why 0bama won't drill in the US. Gas was $1.84 when he took office on Jan 9, 2009 - Google it - All he would have to do to bring prices down is say that we are going to start drilling in ANWR and every where we can.
Sorry dude but you can drill every drop of oil out of the ground and it won't effect the price of oil. Why you ask? Because it is sold on the world market and at world prices. We have no control over that and no control over speculators. I stated this yesterday to Spanky on another vine but he too just keeps saying that it will drop prices but it won't. People like you just don't get it and keep saying just drill baby drill. You need to really get up on things.
Another recycled weak talking point argument from the GOP .....
Only deep water wells were put on hold.
Any new drilling will take 8-10 years to get to your gas pump, so the argument that drill baby drill is a short or even medium term solution is a FAILED argument
So tell me, what measures could be taken right now to lower gas prices. Sorry GOP you have to have a solution...what is it?
chirp...chirp
It was also at record highs before the recession... the reason it went so low is because of the recession, no one was buying anything, so less gas was used to transport stuff. Supply and demand.
You guys are morons who know nothing about the oil biz. Demand and gas sales are down because of the price and what has happened. The price continues to go up - so much for that theory. I am happy to pay $5 per gallon because it will insure that 0bama is a 1 term POTUS.
It stays up because of greed. There has actually been numerous articles about that in the past few weeks. I dont blame Obama for the price of gas, because he doesnt set the prices.
So Mark, hates minorities! Nashville, he will never believe the president was born in the United States! Just guessing, but he more than likely wears a white robe and hood! So Sad!!!!!
Obama should not have had to release his brith certificate until Donald Trump cut his hair........end of story!
Now that the birth certificate has been provided, there will be pressure to to see his grades!
Obama graduated Harvard with Magna Cum Laude which is in the top 10% of his class and a GPA of just above a A-.
And if he takes care of this, they will want to see his christening certificate or circumcision certificate (which personally is WAY outside MY interest level).
Face it, as long as Obama is President there will be people looking for reasons to declare him ineligible! Which thins out the rationale for why...
It is 0bama's policies and agenda that make him ineligible - at least it will on Nov 6, 2012 - "the end of an error."
(Chuckle) Not likely. If Trump or Michelle Bachman is the best you got, your Fu***ed !
Right, California Girl. These people will never be satisfied because no matter how many times they deny it, the big problem is that he is a brilliant black dude who is our President. So, now that they have to eat it raw, well, now we will hear that we are playing the race card. You know, Whoopi on The View said it for me today. "OK, I'm playing the race card."
A very funny post on Maddow's blog today: " I know it's not real because I can't feel the embossed seal when I feel it on my computer screen." LOL
Tim - you are a moron who has added nothing by any comment that you have made. Trump, Bachmann or Palin will not be the GOP nominee as much as you may want them to be. You guys are stuck with the same failed leader that you have now and you are going into 2012 with the same ??leadership?? team that got "shellacked" in 2010. 0bama will win 13 states plus DC. Ohio, PA, NJ have turned very Red thanks to 0bama and he can't win without them. VA, NC, FL will return to the Red column like they normally are in 2012 - sorry but you lose.
Its all been racist. He provided the short form. Its all you can get in Hawaii. You should read a little. But the fact that this kept coming up, knowing he had been to all these colleges, a representative, a senator, now president, for anyone to think he wasn't a citizen is crazy at best and racist at worst. There are only a few certified crazies, so it is racist. Deal with it.
0bama is the biggest racist to be POTUS since Nixon. 0bama is doing everything he can to divide the country in hopes of winning re-election. It won't work. He is a 1 termer.
So your not man enough to admit your wrong then...got it
Truth! That is what it should be all about, the simple truth. Without the truth, then nothing can be trusted, whatever is said doesn’t mean anything ... in fact, when you know it isn’t the truth then you know it is a con and that they are only concerned with their own interests. Of course there isn’t any perfection as they all embellish, “puff their wares” and, as is made necessary by the need to compete, make their positions sound the best. Yet there is a very obvious gross dishonesty that needs to be recognized in order to avoid being manipulated, duped, taken for granted, used and abused. The trouble is that many people have predetermined biases and when given subterfuge to support those feelings, they can rationalize being loyal to what even is against their own best interests. Those perpetuating the con, the manipulators know and readily seek to use that.
That is what we see in many presentations and in the distracting arguing over the details; being the smokescreens and distractions put up to hide the overall self-serving intent. That is what we see in the bazaar and exaggerated acting out, in the aggressive appeals to biases, prejudices and emotional attachments aimed to excite emotions, fears and self-interests and aimed to then result in swaying and controlling public opinion. Whenever that behavior is recognized it should be an automatic “red-flag” and whatever is being offered should be throughly questioned. There are some very obvious and simple examples like the “birthing” argument, like calling Obama “unpatriotic”, like claiming positions addressing problems, where bipartisan cooperation was belligerently withheld, are “socialistic” and so on. And there are more complex but still intentionally deceptive arguments, intended to mislead the public, like which budget or deficit programs honestly address the nations needs and which just seek to continue serving the needs of the few. We have also seen some really very extensive, organized and greatly financed efforts, like with the manipulation of the Christian block, with the Swift-boat propaganda and now with the Tea Party movement. A whole lot of money and effort is constantly being spent to accomplish these cons and the public would be foolish not to cautiously question things, especially when with emotions set aside it becomes obvious that the positions offered just serve the interests of the few.
I’m not advocating that anyone just follow my political preferences but rather strongly recommend that everyone seek to know the truth and then to make their own objective and rational determination. The only way that can ever be accomplished, the only way people can feel confident their evaluation is valid is by first checking their own biases, prejudices and emotional attachments to be able to reject the creative appeals, the deceptive subterfuge, the insulting con and the intended manipulation. Hopefully the majority can accomplish that.
It's simple, when you are a bigot, facts don't matter. 50 million people voted against Obama (yet he won by a large margin). If you hate, reason and facts don't matter. You have your mind made up.
He's different, has a funny name, is BLACK, is changing the way America is run, scares the hell out of the old white crowd (who are so used to the "good old way of things" - which are gone forever). He has to be evil.
Damn the truth, full speed ahead. Nuke the guy, facts don't matter!
Obama created the Birther movement by not releasing this document back during the Primaries against Clinton, when the Clinton supporters started questioning his place of birth. Had he done it then, "birther" wouldn't be in the American lexicon.
almost FOUR years of various groups asking to see it, and he FINALLY decides to release it.
He has no one to thank for the Birther movement but himself.
This whole issue had everything to do with racism and nothing more. But the media is just as culpable for giving this totally stupid subject legs. It would have been best to ignore from the very beginning.
Ah the race card.
Funny you guys were not throwning the race card when Hillary supporting Democrats were questioning Obama's place of Birth....
the issue became a racist one when he produced what he needed to produce and people (birthers) decided that what he provided was not good enough for him. Nevermind that fact that his mother was a citizen of the US is. This issue was all about race whether you want to acknowledge that or not. When he provided the short form and posted on the government website the issue should have been dropped then.
Mark,
McCain was born in the Panama Canal area yet no one said anything about "proving" he was a citizen. It was assumed he was one. McCain was born 8/26/1936 and at that time he would NOT have been a citizen but in 1937 Title 8 Section 1403 was passed granting citizenship to children born of 1 US citizen both before and after 2/26/1904. So there would have been some fun there! But I can pretty much guarantee that it never would have been brought up!
During campaigning no one even mentioned it but everyone has been spreading lies and rumors about Obama from the get go. Therefore, one HAS to ask, if there was no reason for it (in other words, there IS a long form birth certificate), what is the REAL reason for the concern?
You need to study your history a bit more. The panama canal zone use to be considered US Territory been awhile back but McCain goes a while back to. Obama created his own problem with this and added fuel to what you refer to as the birther's. Sealing away the document only gave creditability to the cause. He is responsible for the creation of this BS. If it had been put out there in the first place there would of never been a problem. Additionally, Americans do not have to accept a state rubber stamp from any official, public documents must and should be available. If your going to run for public office. Best get all that is required public. Seems logical.
Cal Gurl, McCain was born on a military base which is considered US soil. A little google goes a long way. Try it sometime and you may not make such a fool of yourself.
Hobo Joe - I was actually stating fact on when people born in the Panama Canal Zone became citizens (and I did Google it!). I understand your feeling about sealing the birth certificate, but no other President has even had to provide anything more than the certified copy provided by the State!
Rocco - I understand that McCain was born on a military base (I did Google that!) I was simply making an observation that there COULD have been potential for questioning his citizenship but no one even brought it up!
My comments was to indicate the unfairness of what Obama has to do to PROVE his citizenship while no one even ASKED McCain anything about being a citizen.
And those who are fools are the ones who bought the "birther" argument in the first place!
First of all, it was brought up. It should of been addressed on the spot. The birth certificate should of never been sealed away and this would not have gone on this long. It would have been over immediately. This entire affair was in all aspects an Obama home grown problem. Should of never happened. Unfair? He should be kicking his own butt. Doubt that he knows how to find it.
Sounds like by your own admission this was resolved in 1937. Why would this be an issue? It has nothing to do with anything but the fact that he was not born of 2 US citizens residing full time in the US. I don't think it's a reach to ask for documentation in these cases. He just happens to be the first (excepting the first generation of US Presidents a couple hundred years ago).
I also wouldn't expect it to come up during the campaign. Do you think the responsibility of vetting legality of candidacy should be by the opposition? Of course not. It was only after he was elected did people ask for some sort of legal proof of eligibility. Even though I always thought he was a citizen (and still do), I think the request reasonable.
If you ask your doctor to see his license to practice medicine and he doesn't show it to you, would you suspect there's a reason? I would think so. Even if he told you what university and told you to look it up there. It's something a doctor is supposed to have visible for review. I would expect that a presidential candidate asked for proof of eligibility would cheerfully, quickly, give whatever documentation was requested. Without making an issue of why people would have the audacity to ask for it. It's typical of his arrogant attitude though. He talks down to everyone, so I guess he has to feign outrage when people call him on anything.
Mark: why would you say that he "talks down to everyone"? Feeling a bit the simpleton you are?
Its a tough day for them. They are LOSERS today and they cant 'man-up; and admit they are wrong. Now watch them squirm. I'm certainly enjoying it!
You know, I keep wondering where George Washington's parents were born. Madison's? Jefferson's? This is all a giant crock of racist b.s.
Well it all comes down to getting our vote. This independent has not been fooled by Obama, and his further attempts to separate us. The issue should have been resolved years ago. It is a classic example of his laser like focus on the issues. Still waiting for UE to never get over 8%, as just one of many many examples of his inexperience and poor leadership skills. Obama must learn that words can change the world, but actions change the words. Obama's actions have been abysmal for the good of this country.
Independents for the repeal of Obama and his health care mess.
This really is the presses fault for covering this at all. If they had quit giving air time to these people, it would have stopped. It is a sorry state that the President of the United States had to produce his long form certified copy so that hopefully the news will start covering jobs, the economy, the debt ceiling, the wars, etc. instead of this b.s. I am not usually too critical of the press but they really have a hand in keeping this going. It is a shame too because unlike a lot of us here on this site, who also get our information from other sources, many people only listen to network or cable news or morning show like the Today show or Good Morning America. So shame on the press.
Hey hey, what commie form of government did you come from. Your going to keep people from expressing themselves. Your going to keep the press from printing, wow. That's a one sided democratic view. Must have to be a progressive to come up with something like that.
@23- Have you ever read the First Amendment? Do you even know that we all have the right to freedom of speech, press, religion, and the right to assemble peacefully?
And yes, Obama could have avoided all this nonsense by releasing this document before he was elected.
Obama has taken away Trump's only platform. Now, Mr. Trump, it's your turn to show us what you have under there.
Obama has also taken the BEST distraction from the economy, the budget, the deficit, the jobs and the wars he had.
Now the issues about his Presidential record will be raised. Not necessarily a good thing for BO
wars he had? I love how he's blamed for bush's wars too. BTW check it out, by january 2012 Iraq ill no longer be considered a war zone. Thats one mess cleaned up. As far as Libya, lobbing a couple missils over a pond is target practice, not war. Afghanistan is next, we need to gtfo of there too.
"Tran" Read the record, Obama stated he would end the war in Iraq on a quick schedule= not. It is going by GW schedule. He stated he would end Afgan and it has be another one of his abysmal failures. Let alone starting a new war in Libya. Are you blue flag wavers that immune from the truth?
Repeal the great american liar and his health care mess..............................
mr trump said this morning on fox news that it eas he that bought the birther issue to the front.cant u people see that he wants to take credit for everything. it is all political and when president is reelected is 2012, a lot of people is going to be hurt and look stupid.
A lot of people already look stupid. look how many of them are right here on this very thready trying to back track and find every excuse under the sun as to why it's not their fault they were stupid enough to buy into in the nonsense first place. I also see a bunch of the regular birthers aren't even here. LOL must be harder than they thought peeling that egg off their faces. Or, maybe they are having a nice lunch of crow!
Simple fact, Obama should have put this issue to bed years ago. Why are you not putting Hillary in with your insults. She is the one that started the whole thing back in the primaries. Oh just another blue flag waver, never mind.
Repeal the great American Liar and his health care mess.
I would like to apologize to the President and his family, for the inanity of some in this country
Well now that's real big of you, ranmarie. I'd like to apologize to the people in this country for you thinking you have the right to apologize for anybody other than yourself.
She already has that right, she didn't , and doesn't, get it from you.
Simpler fact, it was never an issue for anybody with two or more gray cells still firing upstairs.
This was an issue for conspiracy theorists only and nobody else.