FactCheck.org: Obama's birth certificate and citizenship validated

Born in the U.S.A. August 21, 2008 Updated: November 1, 2008 The truth about Obama's birth certificate. Summary In June, the Obama campaign released a digitally scanned image of his birth certificate to quell speculative charges that he might not be a natural-born citizen. But the image prompted more blog-based skepticism about the document's authenticity. And recently, author Jerome Corsi, whose book attacks Obama, said in a TV interview that the birth certificate the campaign has is "fake."

We beg to differ. FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as "supporting documents" to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said.

Update, Nov. 1: The director of Hawaii’s Department of Health confirmed Oct. 31 that Obama was born in Honolulu. Analysis Update Nov. 1: The Associated Press quoted Chiyome Fukino as saying that both she and the registrar of vital statistics, Alvin Onaka, have personally verified that the health department holds Obama's original birth certificate.

Fukino also was quoted by several other news organizations. The Honolulu Advertiser quoted Fukino as saying the agency had been bombarded by requests, and that the registrar of statistics had even been called in at home in the middle of the night. Honolulu Advertiser, Nov. 1 2008: "This has gotten ridiculous," state health director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said yesterday. "There are plenty of other, important things to focus on, like the economy, taxes, energy." . . . Will this be enough to quiet the doubters? "I hope so," Fukino said. "We need to get some work done." Fukino said she has “personally seen and verified that the Hawaii State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures."

Since we first wrote about Obama's birth certificate on June 16, speculation on his citizenship has continued apace. Some claim that Obama posted a fake birth certificate to his Web page. That charge leaped from the blogosphere to the mainstream media earlier this week when Jerome Corsi, author of a book attacking Obama, repeated the claim in an Aug. 15 interview with Steve Doocy on Fox News.

Corsi: Well, what would be really helpful is if Senator Obama would release primary documents like his birth certificate. The campaign has a false, fake birth certificate posted on their website. How is anybody supposed to really piece together his life?

Doocy: What do you mean they have a "false birth certificate" on their Web site?

Corsi: The original birth certificate of Obama has never been released, and the campaign refuses to release it.

Corsi: No, it's a -- there's been good analysis of it on the Internet, and it's been shown to have watermarks from Photoshop. It's a fake document that's on the Web site right now, and the original birth certificate the campaign refuses to produce. Corsi isn't the only skeptic claiming that the document is a forgery. Among the most frequent objections we saw on forums, blogs and e-mails are: The birth certificate doesn't have a raised seal. It isn't signed. No creases from folding are evident in the scanned version. In the zoomed-in view, there's a strange halo around the letters. The certificate number is blacked out. The date bleeding through from the back seems to say "2007," but the document wasn't released until 2008. The document is a "certification of birth," not a "certificate of birth." Recently FactCheck representatives got a chance to spend some time with the birth certificate, and we can attest to the fact that it is real and three-dimensional and resides at the Obama headquarters in Chicago. We can assure readers that the certificate does bear a raised seal, and that it's stamped on the back by Hawaii state registrar Alvin T. Onaka (who uses a signature stamp rather than signing individual birth certificates). We even brought home a few photographs.

You can click on the photos to get full-size versions, which haven't been edited in any way, except that some have been rotated 90 degrees for viewing purposes.

The certificate has all the elements the State Department requires for proving citizenship to obtain a U.S. passport: "your full name, the full name of your parent(s), date and place of birth, sex, date the birth record was filed, and the seal or other certification of the official custodian of such records." The names, date and place of birth, and filing date are all evident on the scanned version, and you can see the seal above.

The document is a "certification of birth," also known as a short-form birth certificate. The long form is drawn up by the hospital and includes additional information such as birth weight and parents' hometowns. The short form is printed by the state and draws from a database with fewer details. The Hawaii Department of Health's birth record request form does not give the option to request a photocopy of your long-form birth certificate, but their short form has enough information to be acceptable to the State Department. We tried to ask the Hawaii DOH why they only offer the short form, among other questions, but they have not given a response.

The scan released by the campaign shows halos around the black text, making it look (to some) as though the text might have been pasted on top of an image of security paper. But the document itself has no such halos, nor do the close-up photos we took of it. We conclude that the halo seen in the image produced by the campaign is a digital artifact from the scanning process.

We asked the Obama campaign about the date stamp and the blacked-out certificate number. The certificate is stamped June 2007, because that's when Hawaii officials produced it for the campaign, which requested that document and "all the records we could get our hands on" according to spokesperson Shauna Daly. The campaign didn't release its copy until 2008, after speculation began to appear on the Internet questioning Obama's citizenship. The campaign then rushed to release the document, and the rush is responsible for the blacked-out certificate number. Says Shauna: "[We] couldn't get someone on the phone in Hawaii to tell us whether the number represented some secret information, and we erred on the side of blacking it out. Since then we've found out it's pretty irrelevant for the outside world." The document we looked at did have a certificate number; it is 151 1961 - 010641.

Some of the conspiracy theories that have circulated about Obama are quite imaginative. One conservative blogger suggested that the campaign might have obtained a valid Hawaii birth certificate, soaked it in solvent, then reprinted it with Obama's information. Of course, this anonymous blogger didn't have access to the actual document and presents this as just one possible "scenario" without any evidence that such a thing actually happened or is even feasible.

We also note that so far none of those questioning the authenticity of the document have produced a shred of evidence that the information on it is incorrect. Instead, some speculate that somehow, maybe, he was born in another country and doesn't meet the Constitution's requirement that the president be a "natural-born citizen."

We think our colleagues at PolitiFact.com, who also dug into some of these loopy theories put it pretty well: "It is possible that Obama conspired his way to the precipice of the world’s biggest job, involving a vast network of people and government agencies over decades of lies. Anything’s possible. But step back and look at the overwhelming evidence to the contrary and your sense of what’s reasonable has to take over."

In fact, the conspiracy would need to be even deeper than our colleagues realized. In late July, a researcher looking to dig up dirt on Obama instead found a birth announcement that had been published in the Honolulu Advertiser on Sunday, Aug. 13, 1961:

The announcement was posted by a pro-Hillary Clinton blogger who grudgingly concluded that Obama "likely" was born Aug. 4, 1961 in Honolulu. Of course, it's distantly possible that Obama's grandparents may have planted the announcement just in case their grandson needed to prove his U.S. citizenship in order to run for president someday. We suggest that those who choose to go down that path should first equip themselves with a high-quality tinfoil hat. The evidence is clear: Barack Obama was born in the U.S.A.

Update, August 26: We received responses to some of our questions from the Hawaii Department of Health. They couldn't tell us anything about their security paper, but they did answer another frequently-raised question: why is Obama's father's race listed as "African"? Kurt Tsue at the DOH told us that father's race and mother's race are supplied by the parents, and that "we accept what the parents self identify themselves to be." We consider it reasonable to believe that Barack Obama, Sr., would have thought of and reported himself as "African." It's certainly not the slam dunk some readers have made it out to be.

When we asked about the security borders, which look different from some other examples of Hawaii certifications of live birth, Kurt said "The borders are generated each time a certified copy is printed. A citation located on the bottom left hand corner of the certificate indicates which date the form was revised." He also confirmed that the information in the short form birth certificate is sufficient to prove citizenship for "all reasonable purposes."

–by Jess Henig, with Joe Miller Sources United States Department of State. "Application for a U.S. Passport." Accessed 20 Aug. 2008.

State of Hawaii Department of Health. "Request for Certified Copy of Birth Record." Accessed 20 Aug. 2008.

Hollyfield, Amy. "Obama's Birth Certificate: Final Chapter." Politifact.com. 27 Jun. 2008.

The Associated Press. "State declares Obama birth certificate genuine" 31 Oct 2008.

Nakaso, Dan. "Obama's certificate of birth OK, state says; Health director issues voucher in response to 'ridiculous' barrage" Honolulu Advertiser 1 Nov 2008.

People are saying that if he was born in Hawaii, then he is a natural born citizen. Obama himself admits his father was a citizen of the U.K. (now Kenya) so this issue of his birth certificate is pretty much a red herring. It makes no difference where he was born, only what his fathers nationality was. And all a birth certificate can prove is that what Obama has been telling us is the truth about who is father was. Now, if he lied and Obama Sr. is not his father, and his father is a “real” American that’s different.

But if he’s telling us the truth than no, I’m sorry, he’s not a ‘natural born’ citizen! He would not be a ‘natural born’ citizen because that status follows the fathers nationality.

And by the 14th Amendment (1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.) he may not even be a U.S. citizen. Why? Because he was removed from the U.S. by his mother and he was never “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S.

When he returned to the U.S. he would have to have been naturalized by swearing an oath of allegiance to the U.S., and relinquishing his Indonesian and Kenyan citizenships.

Since he’s not a ‘natural born’ citizen, and at best a naturalized citizen, he is ineligible for the Presidency. And if Obama Sr. is not his father he’s been pulling off one big fraud.

If being ‘born in the U.S.’ is the qualification to be considered ‘natural born’ than we have a lot of children born to Mexicans and Central Americans, who now live in Mexico, Guatemala, or elsewhere that could be elected President. Just being born here is not the qualification.

GO TO YOUR LIBRARY TO OR SUITABLE PLACE (LEST YOU WANT TO STICK WHERE YOU ARE} USE OTHER CPU AS THE PLAINS RADIO FORUM DISPLAYS IP AND POST INTO PLAINS RADIO FORUM REQUESTING THAT ED HALE / PLAINS RADIO BURIES THE HATCHET AND TRANSMITS THESE INTERVIEW TAPES TO FOXNEWS AS SO REQUESTED BY FOXNEWS.

http://pub29.bravenet.com/forum/2442810129/ for above forum page

LEO DONFRIO APPEARS TO BE FINE [Turkey day slight update]

http://pub29.bravenet.com/forum/2442810129/show/940488

A very few I emailed and I made one single post comment [now update]: What the hell am I [was] listening to [lapping late Weds eve to early Thurs AM] ? A rebroadcast of what sounds like Wednesday Nov 26 [had to be Tues Nov 25 ] Plainsradio “listen live”. Leo Donofrio is speaking via phone hookup to someone via phone hookup to a JD who is obviously a lawyer asking him in straight prepared questions.

Leo states he has NOT been threatened. HE WAS SLEEPING FOR A COUPLE DAYS. Then another fellow who asks if other material ( passports, student applications) can be entered.. LD seems negative on this. But LD DOES say “this” AM “Court’s Case” [CW- I thought they were using changed name] ( via Connecticut action) did get docketed today in the US SUPREME COURT. [to USSC docket No. 08A46]

Steve, a young admirer calls in, who had emailed LD w/ LD acknowledging Then another fellow calls in from NY, an man of some age. …

http://www.plainsradio.com/chat.html

http://www.plainsradio.com/show.html
The Caren & Ed’s Friday show button at lower left Nov 21 breaks off after break. HERE [I’m 90% sure it was here) ED HALE SAYS HE HAS SNUBBED FOX NEWS REQUEST FOR TAPES OF THE SHOWS. EH expresses great chagrin as Fox didn’t want to have anything to do with plainsradio requests to Fox earlier. I’ve posted into forum message board polite but ardent request he drop the snub of Fox, that this has to get out!

REPEAT: GO TO YOUR LIBRARY TO OR SUITABLE PLACE (LEST YOU WANT TO STICK WHERE YOU ARE} USE OTHER CPU AS THE PLAINS RADIO FORUM DISPLAYS IP AND POST INTO PLAINS RADIO FORUM REQUESTING THAT ED HALE / PLAINS RADIO BURIES THE HATCHET AND TRANSMITS THESE INTERVIEW TAPES TO FOXNEWS AS SO REQUESTED BY FOXNEWS.
They’ve made their point already.

http://pub29.bravenet.com/forum/2442810129/ for above forum page

So yes- following links etc (while wonderful smells coming from kitchen)
Donofrio has himself posted here:
http://www.therightsideoflife.com/?p=1216
Wrotnowski v. Bysiewicz: Clerk Bickell Allegedly Obstructing Justice on Another Emergency Stay Application
November 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Today, Leo Donofrio, Plaintiff in Donofrio v. Wells, reported on Mr. Cort Wrotnowski’s emergency stay case from Connecticut. He says that Supreme Court of the US (SCOTUS) Clerk Danny Bickell is again denying Mr. Wrotnsowski’s motion in similar fashion as he did to Mr. Donofrio’s (see that whole saga here).
Media alert: Wrotnowski and Donofrio will be interviewed by Bob Vernon on the Plains radio Network at 10:30PM EST; Mr. Donofrio was also on the Scott Hennen show today (MP3). This was the first main stream media exposure of the case. Please see the link and look for an audio file at this blog to be uploaded soon.
SCOTUS Docket: 08a469
A full posting is available below.
PDF document: Connecticut Supreme Court order of Chief Justic Chase Rogers.
TREASON AT SCOTUS? BICKELL OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE AGAIN IN WROTNOWSKI V. CONNECTICUT SECRETARY OF STATE
- Wrotnowski and Donofrio will be interviewed by Bob Vernon on the Plains radio Network at 10:30PM EST.

- Mr. Donofrio was also on the Scott Hennenshow today. This was the first main stream media exposure of the case. Please see the link and look for an audio file at this blog to be uploaded soon.

US Supreme Court stay clerk Danny Bickell is guilty of obstruction of justice for the second time. Yesterday, Cort Wrotnowski filed an emergency stay application in the case WROTNOWSKI V. BYSIEWICZ, CONNECTICUT SECRETARY OF STATE, which is coming directly from a Connecticut Supreme Court order of Chief Justic Chase Rogers.
Mr. Wrotnowski was informed by Danny Bickellthat Mr. Bickell denied Cort’s motion based on Rule 23.3, the same grounds Mr. Bickell had illegally improperly relied on to obstructDonofrio v. Wells [docket], the same case which is now going before the entire Supreme Court for Conference of Dec. 5th and to which Donofrio has pointed out Mr. Bickell was guilty of attemping to overturn Justice Powell’s holding in McCarthy v. Briscoe 429 U.S. 1317 n.1 (1976) and Justice O’Connerin Western Airlines, Inc. v. Teamsters, 480 U.S. 1301 (1987).

Furthermore, the issue was fully briefed - in the application submitted to the SCOTUS yesterday by Mr. Wrotnowski based on Donofrio’sresearch, and Donofrio’s fear that Bickell would try to pull the same obstruction of justice again.
Furthermore, Mr. Bickell is fully aware that the Supreme Court is hearing this issue in full conference despite Bickell’s best attempts to stop that from happening.
Donofrio (me) believes Mr. Wrotnowski’s case is at least as strong as his own, if not stronger. And Donofrio warned Wrotnowski that Bickellwas going to try the same tactic again.
Donofrio was right. Today, Bickell informed Wrotnowski that he was refusing to pass the emergency stay application on to Justice Ginsberg.
In a follow up phone call, Mr. Wrotnowski pointed out to Mr. Bickell that the issues he raised were properly briefed in the application and that it was the job of a Supreme Court Justices to make decisions of substantive law, not Mr. Bickell. Bickell then berated with mocking insults.
Mr. Wrotnowski has been through two lower courts and is now using our US Supreme Court rules to properly petition our Supreme Court for relief. This is outrageous and Mr. Bickell needs to be fired immediately and brought up on criminal charges for obstruction of justice, and possibly treason.
Courageously, Mr. Wrotnowski refused to back down and eventually Bickell said he would, reluctantly, docket the case.
As of 12:38 PM the case has not been docketed.
If you think that justice has been obstructed then please voice your opinions to the appropriate authorities. This is a very urgent issue which is now causing out entire system of justice to be overturned by a single clerk.
Mr. Wrotnowski
[UPDATE. WROTNOWSKI V. BYSIEWICZ, CONNECTICUT SECRETARY OF STATE…
…has been docketed, despite having initially been denied process by the SCOTUS stay clerk, Danny Bickell. Wrotnowski’s case has been submitted to the Honorable Associate Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Circuit Justice for the 2nd Circuit (includes Connecticut).
POSTED BY NATURAL BORN CITIZEN AT 9:12 AM

Below link to a nice picture of Cort- who saw Connecticut trot out some HEAVY lawyerly big guns for the little less-than-an-hour obfuscation finally at hands of State Supreme Court Head “Judge”:

http://americamustknow.com/connecticutcase.aspx

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.