An anti-birther resolution in Congress?

It would make some political sense for congressional Democrats to start pressing their Republican colleagues on the birthers. If Republicans don't reject the conspiracy theories about President Obama's birthplace outright, their opponents can use it to paint them as extremists; if they do reject them, they might have a problem with their base.

Greg Sargent reported Monday that one House Democrat, Hawaii's Neil Abercrombie, was doing just that. Abercrombie, Sargent wrote, "is going to introduce a resolution on the House floor today that seems designed to put House GOPers who are flirting with birtherism in a jam .... [The resolution] commemorates the 50th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood. But here’s the rub, his spokesman tells me: It describes Hawaii as Barack Obama’s birthplace."

The resolution wasn't really intended to jam up the House Republicans, or to rebuke the birthers, though. (The implied slam at the birthers was a side benefit, but not the primary purpose by any means.) Besides, the resolution was actually introduced last month -- it just happened to be brought to the floor on Monday. And one of the bill's co-sponsors, Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., is to be a co-sponsor of the "birther bill" that would require future presidential candidates to furnish a birth certificate.

The way the resolution was brought to the floor, under a procedure known as suspension of the rules, also indicated that it wasn't meant as a political maneuver. The procedure is generally used for measures unlikely to cause any controversy, and means that the amount of debate on the bill is limited, as is the number of amendments that can be added, but means that two-thirds of the House must vote in favor in order for the legislation to pass. Fifteen other measures were brought to the House floor under the same procedure Monday.

On Monday afternoon, it seemed that one House Republican, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, had indeed moved to support the birthers, as liberal blog Think Progress reported that she blocked the bill.

This time, though, Bachmann was being criticized unfairly. She did indeed block a vote on the resolution, noting the absence of a quorum, but that move wasn't about Abercrombie's resolution specifically. She was just playing her part. The House had already decided to postpone the votes on all of the resolutions being considered under a suspension of the rules until Monday evening. Bachmann noted the absence of a quorum for several other non-controversial pieces of legislation so that those votes, too, could be postponed until the scheduled time.

In fact, as a spokeswoman for Bachmann told Salon -- and C-SPAN video of the congresswoman's remarks on the House floor confirmed -- Bachmann supports the resolution.

After the postponement, on Monday evening the resolution passed -- unanimously. Bachmann was one of the "yea" votes.

Text of the bill:

HRES 593 EH

H. Res. 593

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

July 27, 2009.

Whereas August 21, 2009, marks the 50th Anniversary of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's signing of Proclamation 3309, which admitted Hawaii into the Union in compliance with the Hawaii Admission Act, enacted by the United States Congress on March 18, 1959;

Whereas Hawaii is `a place like no other, with a people like no other' and bridges the mainland United States to the Asia-Pacific region;

Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961;

Whereas Hawaii has contributed to the diversity of Congress in electing--

(1) the first Native Hawaiian to serve in Congress, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole;

(2) the first Asian-American to serve in the Senate, Hiram Fong;

(3) the first woman of color to serve in Congress, Patsy T. Mink;

(4) the first Native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate, Daniel Kahikina Akaka; and

(5) the first Japanese-American to serve in the Senate, Daniel Ken Inouye;

Whereas Hawaii is an example to the rest of the world of unity and positive race relations;

Whereas Pearl Harbor is a strategic military base for the U.S. in the Pacific and also a historical site for the Nation, being the location of the December 7, 1941, surprise Japanese aerial attack that thrust the Nation into World War II;

Whereas Hawaii is home to 1/4 of the endangered species in the United States;

Whereas Hawaii has 8 national parks, which preserve volcanoes, complex ecosystems, a Hansen's disease colony, and other sites of historical and cultural significance;

Whereas Kilauea ranks among the most active volcanoes on Earth;

Whereas President Bush nominated the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Centre for consideration to the World Heritage List;

Whereas Hawaii has produced musical legends ranging from traditional favorites such as Alfred Apaka, Don Ho, and Genoa Keawe, to Hawaii renaissance performers such as Eddie Kamae, Raymond Kane, Gabby Pahinui, Israel Kamakawiwo`ole, the Brothers Cazimero, and the Beamer Brothers, and continuing on to contemporary stars such as Keali`i Reichel, Ledward Kaapana, Jake Shimabukuro, and Raiatea Helm;

Whereas Hawaii is culturally rich, as the Hawaiian culture has been protected through Hawaiian language immersion schools, hula competitions such as the Merrie Monarch Festival, canoeing voyages undertaken by vessels like the Hokule`a, and the continuing historic preservation of Hawaiian traditions;

Whereas the Hawaii Statehood Commission has held a Joint Session of the Hawaii State Legislature in honor of statehood and will be celebrating this milestone with a public discussion and with the arrival of the USS Hawaii; and

Whereas for all of these reasons Hawaii is a truly unique State: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,

I really don't even see this as an "anti-Birther" bill. It's a "resolution," not a "bill," so it has no legal effect. Voting against such a bill would be a slap in the face of all Hawaiians.

But this can still be used against the Bamster, particularly if a legitimate BC from outside the States can be produced (and the original BC from Hawaii, if it exists, continues to be supressed):

Congress should introduce this bill.

Actually, I don't agree.

This needs to be a grass-roots movement totally.

While I agree that members should be VERY careful in how they respond to any allegations, if they pull the trigger too soon, it could completely shoot what this movement is achieving in the foot.

Remember, the best forgers on earth work for Ø. It would be a trivial exercise for them to create AND AGE a BC so that it looks utterly legit.

With the assistance of a helpful bureaucrat (democrat member of AFSCME) in Honolulu, they could easily borrow, duplicate, append, and replace a whole spool of microfilm and it would be indistinguishable from the original. If there was even the remotest chance that such a resolution as you suggest was to pass, you've got to know that the forgers would be getting busy (if they are not doing so already).

Keeping the BC question out there, even on the fringe, helps cast doubt on his legitimacy that can be later exploited by a savvy politician when it counts. The media mockery helps us, a lot. People hear that and they ask themselves the question. Even if they answer that question the wrong way ("of course he was born in Hawaii"), the question was still asked...and that question has never been asked about a president in our history. Then, the other issues: his college records, his medical records, and others, can come into play.

Me, I would rather have this issue covered on the fringes (and have to deal with scorn from the MSM), than to have the issue come to a head too quickly.

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