No So Fast! How about that citizenship “President-elect” Obama?

The Independent View ^ | November 15, 2008 | By Matthew Weaver

[library user]

A new challenge to Senator Barack Obama’s citizenship was filed November 12th in California demanding that the court stop certification of the election results until the state’s secretary of state can ascertain from Senator Obama his legal qualification to be a candidate for President.  This 18 page petition is a quick read.  It offers a good summary of what is at stake and the questions that surround Senator Obama’s citizenship.

A few points:

• Petitioners Ambassador Dr. Alan Keyes, Dr. Wiley S. Drake, Sr., and Markham Robinson, establish their standing to file the petition as members of the American Independent Party, for which Drs. Keyes and Drake were presidential and vice-presidential candidates on California’s ballot, respectfully.  (This is a technical point that doomed some other lawsuits.)
  
  
• Petitioners note that Senator Obama has not provided proof of his citizenship eligibility despite repeated requests during the primary and general election campaigns.
  
  
• Petitioners note that action in at least 10 states is underway challenging Senator Obama’s eligibility.
   
• Petitioners note that the 2007 birth certificate offered by Senator Obama is of questionable credibility for several reasons, including that it is a copy of suspect authenticity and that it does not detail actual birth location.
  
  
• Petitioners note that the only person claiming witness to Senator Obama’s birth is his own paternal grandmother who claims he was actually born in Kenya, then the British East African Protectorate of Zanzibar.  Other records and recollections of family members suggest either Queens Hospital or Kapiolani Hospital in Hawaii.  The disclosed Registry of Live Birth is a short-form of the birth certificate that does not state whether Obama was born in Hawaii or that his birth was subsequently registered there within the year following birth as then allowed by state law.
   
• Petitioners note that around 1967, Senator Obama moved to Indonesia with his mother and new stepfather.  Records indicate that once in Indonesia he adopted his stepfather’s name and citizenship.  Since dual citizenship was not allowed by Indonesian law, and U.S. law and treaty obligations required respect of this, Mrs. Obama-Soetoro had to relinquish her minor son’s U.S. citizenship.  Elsewhere, they note that if he later recovered it, and no records apparently substantiate this, it would by law be as a “naturalized” citizen, not a “natural born” and, thus, ineligible for the office of President under the Constitution.
  
  
• Petitioners also note that in 1961 what is now known as Kenya was then the British Protectorate of Zanzibar which, if he was born there as his paternal grandmother claims, he would be a British citizen based on his father’s citizenship.
   
• Petitioners also note that in 1981 Senator Obama traveled to Pakistan, which was then banned by the U.S.  Since he could not legally travel with a U.S. passport, they question whether he used  one of his other passports:  Indonesian, Kenyan, or British.  (Interesting point is that the petitioners state affirmatively that he had other passports.)

I am curious to see how this case fares in the courts.  The question of Senator Obama’s citizenship and constitutional eligibility have never been settled.  In fact, Senator Obama has resisted at every step to release his birth certificate and other relevant records that would resolve this matter.  That he has fought this suggests the information is at least embarrassing, if not disqualifying.

On August 14, 2008, I wrote a detailed article, What is Obama’s Citizenship?, where I explored some of the questions about Senator Obama’s citizenship.  I asked eight questions (seven pertinent to this discussion) that are still substantially unanswered today:

1. Are you now a U.S. citizen?
    
2. Have you ever held as a youth or adult, citizenship in another country?
    
3. Did you ever possess or travel using, at least in part, the passport of another country?  (E.g., while in Indonesia, visiting Pakistan, Kenya)
   
   
4. Did you renounce any foreign citizenship, and when, and do you now hold solely U.S. citizenship today?
    
5. Can you confirm or deny your name change as a youth from Barack Hussein Obama II to Barry Soetoro when you were adopted by your step-father?
    
6. Did you legally reclaim your birth name?  When and how?
    
7. Why did you not list your adopted name Barry Soetoro on any forms associated with your legal profession or others that ask for any other names you have ever used?  Have you now or will you update these records?

In regards to questions 1-4, Senator Obama’s own Web site says he was, through his father, a British citizen and that this British/Kenya citizenship “automatically expired August 4, 1982.”  That it “expired” doesn’t explain if he had passports and used them, nor does it address his potential Indonesian citizenship or how these were reconciled with his U.S. citizenship, especially where laws and treaties prohibited dual citizenship.

So, when will we see proof that Senator Obama is or is not a constitutionally eligible citizen?  Before or after he takes office?  As Keyes et al note, the latter will cause “irreparable harm in that an usurper will be sitting as the President of the United States, and none of the treaties, laws, or executive orders signed by him will be valid or legal.”

[cripplecreek]

It makes Republicans look like idiots.

Then why aren't the democrats and media using it?

[missnry]

... So, when will we see proof that Senator Obama is or is not a constitutionally eligible citizen? ...

The fact that Americans are not up in arms about Obama not producing this most basic document is alarming. I even sent letters to both my Senators asking them why Obama has not produced his birth certificate. For the first time in all my correspondence with a congressman I have received NO RESPONSE from them. That is unheard of. Something is absolutely wrong about this.

[Allegra]

They all have STONEWALLED this issue, which tells me more and more that he is NOT a qualified candidate.

Yes, I've pretty much stayed out of all of this up to now, but the more requests that are made for that birth certificate with no response, the more suspicious it appears.

Anyone who is a natural-born U.S. citizen should have no trouble producing a copy of their COLB.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

That’s part of the problem. The group that is fronting the candidate should not be the one screening him. It’s like having a corrupt corporation launch an internal investigation into allegations of its own corruption.

[Arkinsaw]

..claiming it's irrelevant or a moot point.

How about claiming its an utter waste of time?

You think that Alan Keyes is going to prevent the President-elect of the United States from taking office? He can't even get himself into a debate when he runs for President.

You folks seem to be under the impression that the court system is favorable to conservative or Republican arguments. It is not.

Your own party people are not even going to be in favor of going down this road.

Everyone is free to file whatever lawsuits they wish and avail themselves of the court to make a point. I am cool with that.

But anyone who actually expects these cases to proceed, and who actually expects Obama to be prevented from taking office is going to be sorely disappointed. Just as disappointed as those who were sure Clinton was going to be convicted by the Senate. Just as disappointed as those who were absolutely sure the polls were all wrong. There is not going to be any Merry Fitzmas or magic wand.

I am cool with it as long as it doesn't distract from, or harm, the recapture of the Republican Party, its reconstruction, and victory at the ballot box in two years.

Victory at the ballot box in two years is the actual solution to the problem that you can believe in. Going to the courts may be interesting, but is not going to actually change things.

[jetson]

The citizens of this country that still believe in the Constitution need to ban together and start a nation wide protest ( with the aide of a lawyer) to not comply with laws. We need to draw attention to the fact we are becoming a country with no laws. It would be a sacrifice on the part of the protester but we have to weigh the consequence of what we are becoming. Examples would be to not comply with the courts, the IRS, the DMV or any form of law enforcement. Do not comply on the grounds that there are no laws in this country and if there were why are there illegal aliens taking our jobs, why is Barak Obama president without showing he is a citizen as lay ed out by the constitution, how could John Kerry run for president being he acted against our government when he was a military officer,why aren't politicians and big businessmen jailed for committing obvious crimes and on and on. When millions of cases like this hit the news the government would have to act. ( hopefully)

[ridesthemiles]

(And, it would be fitting if Keyes were able to make something happen here, given his dismal attempt to run against 0bama in Illinois is one of many issues that let 0bama get this far in the first place.)”

When the Supremes declare that NObama is not eligible, then that means that he was also not eligible to even be the Senator from Illinois.

Wonder if that is why he answered PRESENT so often on voting?
The issues/laws where he actually voted yes or no might be ones that were overwhelming in one direction of the other, thus his vote would not be a swing vote.
I have never tried to find that data, and am not good at searching.

Since he is ONLY President-elect- what right does he have to be already making a “weekly” radio address?

The Media just cannot carry his water enough, can they???

[Arkinsaw]

I just don’t understand why upholding the Constitution is so damn difficult nowadays!

Nowadays?

The system has not shared our view of the Constitution in at least a century. One should not be surprised that it won't on this issue either.

[newheart]

Why would Biden be President if the votes for Obama are invalidated then McCain won right? While this case should be pushed through immediately it wont be, liberal judges will say its immaterial.

I think you have answered your own question. The court system can delay this till after the inauguration, after which, I would expect that the succession clause of the constitution would apply, making Biden president.

[Arkinsaw]

When the Supremes declare that NObama is not eligible, then that means that he was also not eligible to even be the Senator from Illinois.

Do you actually believe that the US judicial system is going to end up declaring Obama ineligible? What odds do you give it?

I give it zero.

[cripplecreek]

Victory at the ballot box in two years is the actual solution to the problem that you can believe in.<

Pretty much the attitude the GOP took toward ACORN over the last several years. That worked out well didn't it?

[TruthWillWin]

Non-starter? A lot of noise on this and it’s getting louder. A simple BC produced by Obama would make this go away, why does he refuse to do this?

[hamburglar]

>>>I am convinced that this needs to be pursued as far as it can be. But I have to confess there is something that makes me nervous about this. Two words: President Biden. <<<<<

Yes Bidens a Liberal and a jerk, but at least hes not a MARXIST/Socialist!

[Charles Martel]

It makes Republicans look like idiots.

****

Then why aren't the democrats and media using it?

That's a very good observation. Ordinarily, the media would jump on an issue like this in a heartbeat, if it meant a chance to ridicule Republicans. Their silence speaks volumes.

[Arkinsaw]

Pretty much the attitude the GOP took toward ACORN over the last several years. That worked out well didn't it?

If McCain, and the party, had come out against the bailout like 90% of the American people, he would be President-elect today. By a landslide that no double-voting in Philly would have been able to effect.

The courts are simply not going to declare Obama ineligible. I suspect that you could carry a wheelbarrow full of Kenyan citizenship documents up there and that the courts would turn a blind eye. We do not own the court system.

People are welcome to file suit to make a point. But its a fool's game to actual expect an outcome where Obama is not inaugurated. Not going to happen.

It's also a bad idea to sit around hoping for unicorns when there are only two years to retake a party, repair it, and win some seats. That is route to actually minimizing Obama.

[cripplecreek]

That's a very good observation. Ordinarily, the media would jump on an issue like this in a heartbeat, if it meant a chance to ridicule Republicans. Their silence speaks volumes.

The democrats have a long history of wanting us to be under global control. Creating a situation to allow foreign born presidents would be a fine start.

[cripplecreek]

It’s too bad more Americans don’t have the manhood to stand and demand that the constitution is obeyed. Instead they want to be like middle school girls and worry about how it looks.

[Godebert]

bttt.

[ridesthemiles]

Anyone who is a natural-born U.S. citizen should have no trouble producing a copy of their COLB.””

A COLB is a Hawaiian document, I think. I was born in Wisconsin, and every other person I know who was born wherever in the USA has a BIRTH CERTIFICATE-—not a COLB.

I surmsed that the COLB was unique to Hawaii (not a state until 1959) of natives who don’t usually go to a hospital to give birth. They used mid-wives and gave birth at home. Thus, the system which lets them go to the court house and record the CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH, so their child is able to have some type of documentation.

I think Stanley Ann Dunham (Obama???) gave birth in Kenya, like the Gramma there said, then she flew back to Hawaii and recorded the “birth” of Barack with a COLB, but I am convinced that he was NOT born on USA soil.

I also have doubts that Stanley Ann and Daddy were actually married, because when Daddy came to the US, he already had a Kenyan wife and two Kenyan children he couldn’t bring with him. IF he tried to marry Stanley Ann, that would make his a bigamist. That would also make it difficult to find a “divorce decree” for Stanley Ann and daddy.
Being an illegitimate child isn’t a disqualification according to the Constitution, but not being Natural Born is a disqualification.
The issue of him being “naturalized” has already been proven that he isn’t because Stanley Ann wasn’t 19 at his birth and hadn’t been 5 years uninterrupted inside the USA.

IMO, NObama isn’t legally a President-or President-elect.

He is trying to cover this up, and it is getting some traction- altho lots of money has been spent trying to push him into the highest office in the land.

Wonder what legal redress donors to his campaign would be entitled to?
Unions alone donated over $350 million. What a dirty trick to play on them!!!!! But- considering what kinds of dirth tricks unions have been playing for years: What goes around, comes around.

[TruthWillWin]

It’s too bad more Americans don’t have the manhood to stand and demand that the constitution is obeyed. Instead they want to be like middle school girls and worry about how it looks.

I think a large majority of Americans will want the constitution to be obeyed. That is if they are informed with facts. Will the MSM do this? (dumb question)