As others have noted - to hear a statement like this from a U.S. Senator is a scary thing indeed. How about free speech? Do we let the voters decide on that?
But I have a question for someone familiar with the Berg case:
Did the court actually say anything like what Martinez is claiming - that voters and not the Constitution decide qualifications for the Presidency? I find it hard to believe that a court would make such a claim particularly when they would be looking forward to a review by Justice Thomas or Scalia or Roberts or Alito. Perhaps they just assumed that it would be Stevens et al that would do any reviewing.
In a message dated 12/1/2008 3:36:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Mel_Martinez@martinez.senate.gov writes:
“The District Court dismissed Mr. Berg's suit and held that the question of Obama’s citizenship is not a matter for a court to decide. The court further noted that voters, not courts, should decide whether a particular presidential candidate is qualified to hold office.”
Please show me where the Court noted that voters, not courts, should decided whether a particular presidential candidate qualified to hold office. My understanding is that the Court did denied Mr. Berg's case, ruling that he did not have standing. Berg now has his case before the Supreme Court and Senator Obama is to respond to Justice Souter’s order by today, December 1st.
“Presidential candidates are vetted by voters at least twice - first in the primary elections and again in the general election.”
Please tell me how voters get to vet candidates? Especially when the media does not question any of the candidates except the Republican candidates. Did the media or the DNC vet Senator Obama? If they did, they certainly covered up and would not ask Senator Obama anything about his past. Senator McCain's birth certificate was all over the news. Where is Senator Obama’s? Under seal in Hawaii. Senator McCain's college records were all over the news. Where are Senator Obama’s? Still sealed and un-available. Senator McCain's medical records were all over the news. Where are Senator Obama’s? Still not released to the public. The list goes on and on.
“President-Elect Obama won the Democratic Party's nomination after one of the most fiercely contested presidential primaries in American history. And, he has now been duly elected by the majority of voters in the United States. Throughout both the primary and general election, concerns about Mr. Obama’s birthplace were raised.”
Yes, and those questions still remain unanswered. His birth certificate is still under seal in Hawaii. Why? If he was actually born in Hawaii, why does he not release his birth certificate? The Certificate of Live Birth that was released is not his original long form birth certificate. In fact, his COLB has been deemed a fraud. But lets just say the COLB he released is his actual birth certificate, then what is the one under seal? Does he have two birth certificates? Why has Senator Obama spent money and time with attorneys to keep his birth certificate under seal in Hawaii?
“The voters have made clear their view that Mr. Obama meets the qualifications to hold the office of President.”
No, the voters voted for Senator Obama but they do not KNOW if he meets the qualifications to hold the office of President. That responsibility rested with the DNC, and every Sec. of State in order for Senator Obama to have ballot access. It was not done since no one has seen Senator Obama’s original birth certificate. Senator Obama even had to sign a statement that he met the constitutional requirements in order to have ballot access. I trust the Justices of the Supreme Court will decide this coming Friday on Attorney Donofrio’s case, and will make sure that our Constitution is upheld. Obama must show that he is a “natural born” citizen and provide the documents necessary to verify that he meets the constitutional requirements to hold the office of President.
PS: Senator Obama is not President-Elect until after the Electoral College cast their votes.