Posted on 07/06/2009 12:55:52 PM PDT by real_patriotic_american
Joseph Farah is founder, editor and CEO of WorldNetDaily and a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate. He is the author of Taking America Back: A Radical Plan to Revive Freedom, Morality and Justice. He is also the editor of the online intelligence newsletter Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin. He has been at the forefront of the campaign to compel President Obama to release more detailed evidence of the circumstances surrounding his birth and citizenship status. Various other well-known figures, including Alan Keyes and Jerome Corsi have questioned the sufficiency of the evidence released so far. Last week, Mr. Farah was kind enough to take the time to answer my questions concerning the controversy over Mr. Obama’s qualifications to be President. My questions and his responses were as follows:
1- How did you first get involved with the effort to verify the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s claim that he is a natural born citizen of the United States?
This issue was first raised to me in a serious way by our senior staff writer Jerome Corsi, author of The Obama Nation. My first major involvement came when Corsi and an aide went to Kenya to investigate Obama's ties there – including the possibility that it was the place of his birth. As you know, Corsi and company were taken into custody by government thugs armed with AK-47s and held for 24 hours. I was Corsi's only link with the outside world during that time. It was a very dangerous day. Corsi was very ill and we were concerned about his health before the trip. He did come home with a sworn affidavit from the translator of the interview with Sarah Obama, Barack's grandmother, who said she was at his birth in Mobassa. Because the major news media showed little curiosity about this possibility, it became more and more intriguing to me.
2- What made you suspect that he might not have been born in Hawaii?
The oddities are that no hospital in Honolulu will even confirm his birth there. That is highly suspicious given the historic nature of Obama's presidency. Hawaii has never before been able to boast a presidential birth – let alone the first black president. Why would a hospital not make a claim? Why would one not be renaming a wing after its most famous patient? Why would it not be sending out press releases? Why all the mystery? I also consider it strange that the only living person in the world who claims to have been present for his birth is his Kenyan grandmother. No doctor, no nurse, no relative, no family friend has come forward to say they can confirm his birth in Honolulu. And, of course, the biggest question of all is: Why won't he release the one document that can confirm this – his long-form birth certificate?
3- Could you explain why the ‘Certification of Live Birth’ displayed in Mr. Obama’s website is insufficient proof that he is a natural born citizen of the United States? Can such a document be obtained on behalf of someone not born in the U.S.?
I don't believe this document can be obtained by someone born outside the country today, but it most definitely could have been obtained in 1961. All that was needed was an affidavit from one parent. Many people born in foreign countries can boast a Hawaiian certification of live birth. That's why that document is not even accepted by the state of Hawaii as proof of being a native born Hawaiian for its home lands program, as we have documented in WND.
4- What kind of documentation would you like President Obama to make public in order to show conclusively that he is qualified to be President under the Constitution?
The most important document is the long-form birth certificate. The computer-generated certification he posted on his website proves nothing. But, personally, I believe if a birth certificate confirms his life story, that he is indeed the son of Barack Obama Sr. and Stanley Ann Dunham, that his "natural born citizenship" is still very much in doubt. His father, in that case, was a citizen of Kenya and a subject of the British crown. The purpose of the "natural born citizen" clause in the Constitution was to avoid "dual allegiances." He may have also given up his citizenship when he lived in Indonesia. There is much about Barack Obama's life that remains a mystery beyond what he has told us in his autobiography. Nothing has been verified by any controlling legal authorities in the United States. It's really quite amazing.
5- I understand that you have made substantial efforts to obtain additional information concerning Mr. Obama’s birth. Have these included specific requests to the White House for documents? If so, what response, if any, have you received?
As you probably know, we have made repeated requests privately and even publicly at a White House briefing. But our primary focus has been for the personal rather than the public. Beside the birth certificate issue and the passport issue, Obama steadfastly has refused to release his college records. I believe his college records would reveal much about who he was, who funded his college education, whether he was a "foreign" student, what he wrote, who he claimed to be back then.
6- Could you summarize your additional efforts, if any, to obtain pertinent information from other sources? What have you been able to find out from sources other than the President and his staff?
Most of what we have found about Obama's early years can be found in our reports in WND and in Corsi's No. 1 New York Times bestseller from last year. Aaron Klein, our Jerusalem bureau chief, has also come up with quite a few scoops – including the Bill Ayers' connection.
7- In his books Dreams of my Father and The Audacity of Hope, President Obama discussed various aspects of his early life. Do you know whether his birth certificate would contain any confidential information that has not already been made public in his books or through other sources? If not, have you been given any reason for Obama’s decision to keep the document sealed?
Well, he revealed what he chose to reveal. What I don't understand is: Since when do we as Americans accept at face value what politicians say about their lives? Why isn't there a mechanism in place to demand proof? For a guy who wants all of our most personal health and financial information to be the business of government, he seems overly concerned with his own privacy.
8- What pertinent information do you think could be obtained from Mr. Obama’s college and law school records?
As I said, I'd like to see how he registered, who paid for his education, what he wrote, how he got into Harvard and so on. John Kennedy and other presidents release transcripts even when some of them were quite embarrassing. What is it that Obama is hiding? The answer seems to be – everything.
9- Is it unusual for a presidential candidate or a sitting President to conceal birth, marriage and school attendance records?
As far as I can determine, it is unprecedented. You can't take a sworn oath to honor and obey the Constitution and then refuse to prove you are constitutionally eligible to serve. It's a contradiction in terms. I don’t like to see the Constitution subverted like this. That's why I am so concerned.
10- Recently, you began a campaign to press Mr. Obama to allow release of his actual birth certificate by renting billboards with the message “WHERE’S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?” I understand that several large advertising media companies, such as CBS and Clear Channel have refused to rent you billboard space for your campaign. What reasons have these companies given you? Do you believe pressure has been exerted on these companies to silence your message?
The companies gave no reason. But these companies are heavily regulated by government and I believe they are hyper-sensitive about offending this administration. I don’t even think they needed to hear from the White House to make this business decision. But that's tragic given that these are large media conglomerates – CBS and Clear Channel among them. The purpose of a free press is to challenge government, to serve as a watchdog on government, not to cower in fear of it.
11- How’s that campaign going? How many billboards do you currently have? Have you selected any additional future locations?
After two months, we have seven billboards scattered around the country with plans for many more. We have raised about $100,000 and we plan to continue this campaign until we get an answer to the question: "Where's the birth certificate?"
12- How are you raising the funds to pay for the billboards? Where can interested persons send contributions to?
We're raising money exclusively online at WND.com. If people go to the site, they will see a little button – an image of a billboard. If they click on it, it will take them to the donation site.
13- If it was determined that Barack Obama was not a natural born citizen of the United States, what effect do you believe that would have with respect to the acts he has already performed in his capacity as President?
Legally, everything he has done should be null and void. Do I expect that to happen? Not today in this America, in this political climate. This, I believe, is the biggest fear people have of this issue. All elected officials – Republicans and Democrats – are genuinely fearful about that remote possibility. They are afraid of race riots. They are afraid of political chaos. But, at least he would not be a contender in 2012. That, I think, would be assured.
14- What mechanism should be followed to determine who would become President of the United States?
No idea. I am not a constitutional lawyer. And even they disagree.
15- On more than one recent occasion, Keith Olbermann of MSNBC, in his program ‘Countdown’, has named you one of the worst people in the world, a distinction you have shared with other well-known media personalities, such as Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Michelle Malkin and Bernard Goldberg. Do you see this as a sign that your efforts are paying off? Do you think you’re making some folks nervous?
When people have to lie about what you do and say repeatedly to mock and criticize you, then you know you must be doing all right. Olbermann obsesses over the fact that one WND news report seemed to challenge the idea that the certification of live birth was fraudulent. But this has never been an issue for me or WND. I have never challenged the certification of live birth as a forgery. The problem is that the real thing is meaningless to the issue of whether he is constitutionally qualified.
16- Finally, do you have any theories, or suspicions as to where the truth lies in connection with Mr. Obama’s citizenship? What do you think is the most likely scenario? Was he born abroad? Did he assume Indonesian citizenship? What was his legal status when he resided in Indonesia? Does anyone know?
I think there is a lot we don't know about Obama and much that would surprise, even shock, the American people. I believe it will all come out in the fullness of time. I'm not even sure we know who his real parents are. And, without a legitimate birth certificate, we'll never know.
Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my questions.
You said — Farah is very convincing. The MSM must be terrified of him.
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I do realize that he does present a different “worldview” than almost all of the MSM present, in its Christian outlook and his own personally stated faith. And he delivers good and accurate news that counteracts the MSM slant, too.
BUT, the ones that I was more particularly referring to — were the many posters here on Free Republic who have stated their absolute disdain and heavy criticism of Farah and WorldNetDaily. Those posters think Farah is nutty; they think WorldNetDaily is nutty, and they never hesitate to jump on here and criticize either (the news outlet or him) for what they say is absolutely nutty and unreliable and that they would *never* have anything to do with him or the news outlet that he has. [mind you...,. that’s not me because I love the news outlet that he has...]
That’s the group, here, who must be very conflicted about Farah/WorldNetDaily presenting his constant barrage on the Obama birth certificate... :-)
LOL- Hey, why not if they won’t enforce the law against Obama.
Re: “Headline?
Arnold Schwarzenegger was adopted, raised by Austrian family
“I was born in Hawaii,” Says Gov. Schwarzenegger
Certificate of birth on website.”
You said — Farah will find the birth certificate after he finds that pterodactyl that he believes is flying over Africa.
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Ahhh..., here we’ve found one of our Free Republic WorldNetDaily/Farah haters... LOL...
Glad to see that you’ve joined us... :-)
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NOW..., would this be because of WorldNetDaily or is it because of the birth certificate issue that he constantly hammers on...
I, for one, find Farah’s info to be very interesting, informative and level-headed. Hey, let’s get more billboards up!!
Re: “I do realize that he does present a different “worldview” than almost all of the MSM present, in its Christian outlook and his own personally stated faith. And he delivers good and accurate news that counteracts the MSM slant, too.
BUT, the ones that I was more particularly referring to — were the many posters here on Free Republic who have stated their absolute disdain and heavy criticism of Farah and WorldNetDaily. Those posters think Farah is nutty; they think WorldNetDaily is nutty, and they never hesitate to jump on here and criticize either (the news outlet or him) for what they say is absolutely nutty and unreliable and that they would *never* have anything to do with him or the news outlet that he has. [mind you...,. that’s not me because I love the news outlet that he has...]
That’s the group, here, who must be very conflicted about Farah/WorldNetDaily presenting his constant barrage on the Obama birth certificate... :-)”
little hint... put the other comments (your quote of another FReeper) first, and then yours. And somehow distinguish between the two. It becomes awfully confusing as to what is going on when one reads your replies... as I said, just a hint ... :-)
Seems about par for the course, actually.
You said — I, for one, find Farah’s info to be very interesting, informative and level-headed. Hey, let’s get more billboards up!!
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And likewise, so do I..., but I am pointing out that you’ve got a *very loud crowd* (of some indeterminate number) here who will knock down *any* and *everything* from WorldNetDaily and they have been doing that for as long as I can remember, way back before Obama or the birth certificate.
I guess they’ve got a grudge against a Christian worldview being presented, something that you’ll never see in the MSM...
How is this?
Star Traveler wrote: “little hint... put the other comments (your quote of another FReeper) first, and then yours. And somehow distinguish between the two. It becomes awfully confusing as to what is going on when one reads your replies... as I said, just a hint ... :-)”
“The authorities MUST enforce the Constitution and require Obama to prove that he is a natural born American citizen.” Um, the federal oligarchs have shown you that in fact they don’t have to honor the oath they took upon entering office. You are living in a federal oligarchy still imagining you live in a Constitutional Republic. With enough ‘hope’ and ‘change’, you’ll get used to being merely a tax serf to the democrat party.
Yeah, that would distinguish it, but I see you’ve fallen into the “top posting” routine, which no one else here is using or doing — and just that, by itself — will confuse people who come across it. Now, that I know you’re doing “top post”, but it’s still quite “disconcerting” to readers... just letting you know...
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When a message is replied to in e-mail, Internet forums, or Usenet, the original can often be included, or “quoted”, in a variety of different posting styles.
The main options are interleaved posting (also called inline replying, in which the reply is woven into the original post), bottom-posting (in which the reply follows the quote) or top-posting (in which the reply precedes the quoted original message). For each of those options, there is also the issue of whether trimming of the original text is allowed or required. While each online community differs on which styles are appropriate or acceptable, within some communities the use of the “wrong” method risks being seen as a breach of netiquette, and can provoke vehement response from community regulars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_style
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I also use “interleaved posting” with longer replies of mine back to other posters, in addition to always using “bottom posting” to all shorter replies. These are the various “conventions” used when posting replies.
But, really, look through all the Free Republic threads and I doubt if you find more than even one or two “top posting” people... :-)
Very good! NOW..., you would think that these posters who *concentrate* on Obama’s birth certificate would feature what WorldNetDaily is doing for their cause.
BUT, the very curious thing for me, is that it seems that the *one news outlet* which is featuring *so much* about Obama’s birth certificate, hardly gets a “good mention” from those particular posters, here on Free Republic.
For some reason, a large portion of those particular birther posters, seem to want to totally avoid WorldNetDaily.
It’s almost like biting the hand that “feeds the issue” the most prominently on the net... kinda weird...
"It’s almost like biting the hand that “feeds the issue” the most prominently on the net... kinda weird..."
Maybe they realize WND is damaging to their credibility?
Not all publicity is good publicity.
Where's the birth certificate? An interview with Joseph Farah
You said — Maybe they realize WND is damaging to their credibility?
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Well, as far as I can see, WorldNetDaily, as a news outlet, has a lot more credibility than all the posters here, combined. Now, you may wonder why I say that... and I would say that it’s because they’ve also got Jerome Corsi writing for WorldNetDaily and he’s got quite a few conservative causes under his belt, that he’s written about over the years. And many credit Corsi with single-handedly sinking Kerry.
In addition, I can’t see a problem with the kinds of things that WorldNetDaily reports about — as compared to what is posted here on Free Republic.
If one were to think that WorldNetDaily was damaging the credibility of this issue (about Obama’s birth certificate) then I would say on *that basis* that one would have to conclude that the posters who post about that very same issue here on Free Republic were damaging their own credibility about ten times over (compared to WND).
Now, I’m saying that if you use the *same basis* for comparing what one says (i.e., WorldNetDaily) versus what the other says (i.e., the various posters’ comments on that same issue...).
There’s no comparison — in that WorldNetDaily is *a whole lot more reliable* in its reporting than anything else that I’ve seen (as a “unit whole”, as compared to the “unit whole” of the posters here...).
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And lastly you said — Not all publicity is good publicity.
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Well, that’s not a rule that some posters here on Free Republic follow, regarding this particular issue (again *as compared to* the reporting of WorldNetDaily on the same issue).
We will keep the heat on! With proof of the COLB being a forgery, how can they not subpoena the original birth certificate?
Well, I know this didn’t come from WorldNetDaily... LOL...
Ummmm..., come t think about it, I believe I saw this one posted several times on Free Republic... :-)
You said — No, once a person claims that there are pterodactyls flying over our heads, I discount everything they say afterwords
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Well, that should mean that you’re discounting everything that comes from Free Republic, as it consists of several different posters who are saying different things. That must mean that those particular posters who say things that you think are crazy, then render the whole of Free Republic as something *to be ignored* — just like a particular author or writer at WorldNetDaily that writes something that you don’t approve of renders all of it as something to be ignored, too... LOL...
And, by the way, I don’t know what article that you’re referring to, so I can’t comment on the content of such an article — but — if I do know how people tend to form arguments like this — it’s that they always leave out what makes something understandable and only put in their “comments” (here) that which supports their position... I suspect that’s what is going on here, too... :-)
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