Barack Obama: Will the Controversy Over the Birthplace of the U.S. President End?

Suite 101 ^ | July 31, 2009 | Elvira Nieto

[2ndDivisionVet]

It appears that some people are still not convinced that the 44th president of the United States legitimately assumed the office. What exactly is the issue?

With all the problems still plaguing the country – health care, the economy, unemployment – why are so many people intent on keeping the supposed controversy of the citizenship of the President of the United States in the forefront?

The Birthers

“The birthers” as they’ve come to be known, are a group of activists, theorist and attorneys dead set on proving that this particular president, under constitutional grounds, should not be in office (which is in itself a bit ironic being that the president was a Constitutional professor). Using a nationally refuted interpretation of the Constitution, the fringe group claims that what they are arguing is that Obama is only a “citizen” of the United States and not a “naturally born citizen” (much the way countless immigrants are now citizens of the U.S., but were born elsewhere in the world).

The birthers’ main argument is that Obama’s father was not a citizen of the United States - Barack Obama Sr. was a Kenyan national - and that this makes the president simply a “citizen” and not a “naturally born citizen”, even though since August 21, 1959, any person’s born in Hawaii would be recognized as being a naturally born citizen as per article II and the 14th amendment of the Constitution. Major research isn’t needed to prove this point. Just a little reading. Yet, the controversy continues.

Hawaii Vouches for the Authenticity of Obama's Birth Certificate

Earlier this week, state officials of Hawaii again saw themselves forced to confirm that Barack Obama is in fact a natural-born citizen of the United States. But this will likely do little to squelch the fringe groups’ fervor. It didn’t do anything to quiet them in October 2008, the first time Hawaii’s health director and other Hawaiian government officials issued a statement saying that they had personally seen the president’s birth certificate.

Birthers Find a Receptive Audience

In a just released survey conducted by Daily Kos Research 2000, 77% of the country believes Obama was born in the United States; 11% believe he was not, and 12% weren’t sure.

Broken down by regions, 93% of those in the Northeast; 90% of those in the Midwest; and 89% of those in the West believe Obama to be a U.S. citizen. The glaring difference comes in those surveyed in the South of whom only 47% believe Obama is an American - 53% believe that either he is not an American or are unsure of his citizenship.

Republicans are Silent or Deliberately Hazy on the Question of Birth

Unfortunately, many Republicans are not speaking out against the birthers extreme group. Conservative commentators and even some politicians are fanning further doubt by what they say publicly; both overtly and subtly.

When asked whether or not he believed that Barack Obama was an American citizen, Republican Representative from Missouri, Roy Blunt replied, “I don’t know why the president can’t produce a birth certificate”. The fact is, the State Department demands a certified birth certificate in order to issue a passport. Obama has had a passport since childhood. His documentation was seen long before Obama ever dreamed of a political life.

Some in the Republican Party are Fed Up with the Birthers' Hype

Luckily, not all republicans are blinded by the side-show issue that the question of the president’s birthplace has become. Appearing on “Hardball with Chris Matthews”, Republican strategist Todd Harris said today of the Obama birth issue, “I think this whole issue is ridiculous… I think the people that are pushing this issue are not a bit nuts, but a lot nuts”.

The Burden of Proof Has Been Met

Regardless of political affiliation, whether republican, democrat or independent, the truth behind the president’s citizenship is an easily proven one. Barack Obama is a natural born citizen of the United States of America. Documents have been brought forward. Birth announcements in old newspapers have been retrieved. Sworn statements have been taken. Congress confirmed him. Chief Justice Roberts swore him in. Like the man or not, he is an American and he is our president. Perhaps the birthers’ energies would be better served opposing Obama on actual issues instead of beating dead horses.

Sources:

* Apuzzo. Mario. “What to Tell the Birthers Bashers”. Retrieved 2009-07-31 * Hardball with Chris Matthews. MSNBC. 07/31/2009 * Jones, Tim. “Obama Birth Certificate Battle May Go to Supreme Court”. Chicago Tribune (IL); 12/07/2008 * Smith, Ben. “Culture of Conspiracy: the Birthers”. Politico.com 03/01/09 Retrieved 2009-07-31

[2ndDivisionVet]

Do they all write these off of one template? David Axelrod needs to farm out different scripts so that his Astroturfing isn't so obvious.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

When one endures all lots of grief for not taking a simple action, one can only conclude that taking that action would result in more substantial grief.

[Safrguns]

It will end when he proves he was born in Hawaii.

[Sola Veritas]

I wish someone would explain to these folks, and to many ill informed on Free Republic, exactly what the writers of the constitution meant by “natural born.” Also, to explain that the 14th Ammendment does not change the requirement. If anything it makes it clearer, when reading the writing of the person who authored the ammendment, that a “natural born” citizen must have both parents as citizens first. One parent won’t cut it.

[muawiyah]

The line here is pretty much the same as elsewhere ~ the writer tosses up an item, argues from that, and seemingly ignores the "rest of the story".

I think it's that kid who does the "straw man" arguments for Obama's speeches.

He must have been great answering "similar to"s on his SAT exam.

Watch carefully ~ none of the MSM types in this ever question the Great Aunt's statement that she "was there when he was born".

They have to start dealing with that one, and I don't mean by saying the old moonbat was just crazy or feeble.

[Colonel_Flagg]

It will end when he releases the certificate. And fairly quickly, I might add. All he needs to do is what anyone who wants a government job has to do. Why is that so hard for the SRM to figure out?

[muawiyah]

The 14th can, in fact, be read to rescind citizenship granted in error by an INS or ICE administrator.

Probably upwards of 30 million people would no longer qualify with a strict reading and a decision that "administrative error" can be corrected irrespective of the "ex post facto" clause.

[the invisib1e hand]

The fact is, the State Department demands a certified birth certificate in order to issue a passport. Obama has had a passport since childhood...

He has a passport, therefore he has a birth certificate? OK...and the birthers would all say, "show it to us," am I right?

In a just released survey conducted by Daily Kos Research 2000, 77% of the country believes Obama was born in the United States; 11% believe he was not, and 12% weren’t sure.

Broken down by regions, 93% of those in the Northeast; 90% of those in the Midwest; and 89% of those in the West believe Obama to be a U.S. citizen. The glaring difference comes in those surveyed in the South of whom only 47% believe Obama is an American - 53% believe that either he is not an American or are unsure of his citizenship.

And we all know the south is...the bible belt, right, and therefore, well, you know how they are. And what is this, do we decide things like this by survey now?

*tih is agnostic on the BC issue, but not on the SRM.

[so_real]

even though since August 21, 1959, any person’s born in Hawaii would be recognized as being a naturally born citizen as per article II and the 14th amendment of the Constitution. Major research isn’t needed to prove this point. Just a little reading. Yet, the controversy continues.

Being well versed in both Article II of the Constitution and the 14th Amendment, this statement sticks in my gullet. Having done much more than "just a little reading" I am drawn to the completely opposite conclusion. I miss the days of "investigative reporting". I'm tired of people trying to tell me what to believe without supplying a context and rationale. I think a lot of people are ... so the questions continue and grow even while the other team tries to suppress and belittle them.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

“When asked whether or not he believed that Barack Obama was an American citizen,”

-

That’s not actually the issue. By this measure - CA Governor Arnold would be qualified to run for president.

He’s not. Because “American citizen” is not the requirement.

It also, rather completely demolishes the author’s credibility to even write about the issue.

[MHGinTN]

A lie like this is more evidence that 2008-2009 is the final transformation of the media into the propaganda arm of the federal oligarchy. When the media/Press will tell blatant lies all throughout the media no doubt funneled to them from Axelgreasy, we know it is in your face, Amerika, we will tell you what is the truth regardless of veracity. This nation is in deep deep doodoo. It may be that only by exposing and shaming these bastards can this nation be restored. Right now we are a ruled people under the thumb of a federal oligarchy run by untouchable czars appointed by a community organizer sweeping away the old Constitutional Republic, to establish a federal oligarchy that controls absolutely every aspect of your individual lie through federal bureaucrats.

[Kevmo]

Here’s my theory of what zer0bama’s strategy is going to be:

He will say tha t he is qualified to hold office because the SCOTUS swore him into office and it was their duty to investigate if there were any questions towards the 3 or 4 simple elements of eligibility. They had a perfectly valid lawsuit, Berg v Obama, right in front of them and they could have easily hung their hats on that if they so chose. But they didn’t, and that makes him de facto qualified.

It’s a great legal strategy and it will fly well with the press. But it’s the end of the story for this pursuit, unfortunately for us birthers.

[Othniel]

It'll end for me when Obozo's long form BC is released, along with his transcripts from college, his grades, his masters thesis (if he wrote one....ha!), and all the stuff that is continually stonewalled.

If those ba$tards in our gvt. can access any of MY stuff, then the prez, or any of the stooges in Congress, should be treated the same way. Show me the documents!

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Only if you and others, give up.

Never. Ever give up.

[mel]

I think he may indeed been hatched in HI, but something on there he doesn’t want us to see.

[eyedigress]

If that One says he intentionaly broke the law and fooled the dumbass electorate, he would be arrested.

[airborne]

If he’s paying his lawyers out of his own pocket, I say let it go on!

[Kevmo]

He doesn’t even have to say it was intentional. He could just say that he thought the CoLB that was posted on DailyKos was his birth cert and didn’t give it a second thought. It was “inadvertent”. Yeah, right. But he’ll get away with it.

[cpdiii]

When the media/Press will tell blatant lies all throughout the media no doubt funneled to them from Axelgreasy, we know it is in your face, Amerika, we will tell you what is the truth regardless of veracity.

We have always been at war with Oceania. (From the ministry of truth) 1984

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Didn’t he already state in the book he allegedly wrote - a moving tale about remembering seeing his birth certificate folded into a book?

Lies, on top of lies.

No wonder he relies on teleprompters.