[El Gato]

Consider: A judge asks BHO for proof of eligibility. BHO hands over the above-photographed certified document (obviously it exists, and it looks a lot like mine). As that is official, on what grounds can a judge deny that as proof, and demand “the original”? Should BHO say “I can’t find the original, the hospital doesn’t have it”, and considering that not all legitimate natural-born Americans have such proof, on what grounds can the judge disqualify him? BHO’s only point of hesitation is that he knows otherwise, and knows contrary proof exists, and he fears being found out.

Hospitals may retain copies, but the document in question is a state document, filed by the hospital/doctor/midwife. It would also have anotated upon it, any name changes, official adoptions, etc, and changes back as well. Barak O to Barry S and back to Barak O for example.

Since the state has the document, they can produce it, or a certified copy of it. Not an extract, which is what the CLB amounts to.

[Philo-Junius]

The reason for demanding the original is that the certification only establishes citizenship, not the natural-born citizenship required for office. Because adoptive birth certificates and so forth are issued, the mere certification of live birth is not a sufficient credential; the additional detail on the actual certificate is required to dispose of the issue definitively.