[Senate Majority Leader] Reid Attacks Birthers In Floor Speech

CBS News ^ | August 3, 2009 | Brian Montopoli

[2ndDivisionVet]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid attacked the birthers – the group of conspiracy theorists who believe President Obama is not a U.S. citizen despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary – in a speech on the House floor this afternoon.

Reid's comments suggest Democrats have begun to view the birther movement as an asset – an opportunity to link the opposition party to a fringe group that discredits its message overall.

After attacking Republicans for offering "one radical distraction after the next" in the health care debate, Reid said "they not limited to health care." He continued:

"An artificial controversy is getting far too much attention lately - one that ignores the undeniable and proven fact that our president was born in the United States of America. Just last week, one of the Republican leaders in the House of Representatives continued to give it credence.

Let's be clear: It is a phony issue that does not deserve even a minute of our attention on the floor of the United States Senate. It is absurd, irresponsible and baseless, and the false claims have long ago been easily refuted.

The American people have every right to expect we will solve real problems before creating fake ones. And they should know that rather than helping them get ahead, some of our colleagues would rather spew ludicrous conspiracy theories."(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Mark my words: The time soon approaches when the elites will regret their evil words and deeds.

[DonaldC]

“An artificial controversy is getting far too much attention lately”

This may very well be the case, but the 0 can easily put the issue to rest but he doesn’t. I think he likes the distraction.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Mark my words: The time soon approaches when the elites will regret their evil words and deeds. “

And the sooner the better!!

[Jeff Head]

Hey AxleReed, this whole issue is a simple thing to put to rest. I have a passport and a birth certificate. I can produce them at my house in a matter of minutes. I have not spent a million dollars to either acquire them...or to hide them.

This is not a unreasonable thing to ask for since being a "natural born citizen" of the US is a constitutional requirement for the job of President. It's not hateful, and it's not racist.

Proving that you are should be an honor.

Yet Obama cannot and will not produce either. Why?

The following birth certificate is supposedly from Kenya, and is getting a LOT of press and exposure. Though it is almost certainly not authentic, still it looks a whole lot more authentic than the COLB that Obama placed on his web site. Click on the image.

The point is...this document is being widely shown and can be analyzed to determine its authenticity. Obama's is not, and the questions get more and more insistant...why not?

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA'S UPBRINGING

A PETITION ON FACEBOOK FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RESTORATION

[Sarah Barracuda]

Hey Harry, if this is such a non issue, why even bring it up. WOW these leftists are scared to death aren’t they. I see they are all wearing dark pants, I can see why

[chris37]

The movement was started by a democrat named berg, mr. reid.

Your government, including you, is illegal, and I swear no allegiance or loyalty to you.

[Texas Fossil]

LIE=>

“Let’s be clear: It is a phony issue that does not deserve even a minute of our attention on the floor of the United States Senate. It is absurd, irresponsible and baseless, and the false claims have long ago been easily refuted.”

—

Not a SINGLE claim has been refuted. Nothing but one lie after another as they dance on the pin head of definition. And play lawyer double speak games.

IT IS TIME FOR TRUTH! And we want it NOW.

[CedarDave]

In other birther-related news, last night one of the most prominent members of the movement, Orly Taitz, released what was purported to be the president's Kenyan birth certificate. ...

Faced with the document, the birthers "quickly divided between the credulous — people who believed that the new certificate was genuine — and skeptics who believed that their movement was being taken for a ride," reports The Washington Independent's David Weigel. Unsurprisingly, the latter were correct: Weigel catalogues a litany of problems with the document, including the fact it purports to be from the "Republic of Kenya" but boasts a publication date that is before said republic was founded. ...

[fieldmarshaldj]

"the group of conspiracy theorists who believe President Obama is not a U.S. citizen despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary"

That ludicrous and laughable and FALSE talking point I emphasized in italics is put in almost every liberal outlet and storyline verbatim, why is that ? It's sheer propaganda. Who has seen the evidence ? Where are the proper documents ? Why is the False Messiah hiding his documentation from the public ? What is in them that he doesn't want us to see ?

[joejm65]

‘Let’s be clear: It is a phony issue that does not deserve even a minute of our attention on the floor of the United States Senate.’

Yet, he gave it a minute of attention on the floor of the United States Senate anyway?

[Talisker]

"An artificial controversy is getting far too much attention lately... Just last week, one of the Republican leaders in the House of Representatives continued to give it credence. ...It is a phony issue that does not deserve even a minute of our attention on the floor of the United States Senate."

Said Senator Reid, on the floor of the United States Senate.

Can't make this stuff up, folks - no one would believe it in a fictional work.

[El Gato]

The more you FLAK you are taking, the closer to the target you are.

Was this over the bill(s) introduced to require proof of eligibility in future elections? Or was Reid just foaming at the mouth over the general level of chatter on the issue?

[cripplecreek]

As a potential co defendant, Harry Reid has good reason to worry.

[JudgemAll]

Well, Reid can call it a political asset all he wants even if supporting a lie in the short term proves to be such. Thus it does not disprove the truth but quite reinforces it.

[TNLawyer]

Reid is pathetic.

We want ALL records released.

[Luke21]

It’s like the latest crap from the media about the health care fiaco, with stories that feature the words: “Dems vow..” These people get their orders from somewhere, probably White House fax machines.

[JudgemAll]

... and the only “fringe” group is the Obamessiah movement.

[TNCMAXQ]

By talking about the issue on the Senate floor, Reid keeps it alive even longer. Brilliant move.

[downtownconservative]

“Let’s be clear: It is a phony issue that does not deserve even a minute of our attention on the floor of the United States Senate.”

Then why’d you personally bring it to the floor, Harry, you imbecilic dopy looking putz!

[MamaTexan]

the group of conspiracy theorists who believe President Obama is not a U.S. citizen despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary

Overwhelming evidence to the contrary?

Oh, like the evidence of various governmental officials and media talking heads saying THEY know he was born here, THEY'VE seen the document, it WAS posted online for everyone to see... and the birthers are just a bunch of stupid, racist kooks for continuing to question it?

WOW! Case closed, your honor.

[snicker]