President Obama Needs to Prove His Constitutional Eligibility to Be Commander-in-Chief

American Thinker ^ | April 08, 2010 | Terrence Lakin, MD

[neverdem]

Last week, I entered Walter Reed Army Hospital to notify the Department of Defense that I would refuse to obey any orders from my commanding officers -- including President Obama -- until the president produces his original birth certificate. After nearly eighteen years of wearing the military uniform of the country I have proudly served, including overseas assignments in imminent danger/combat areas in Bosnia and Afghanistan, I felt compelled to take this step. 

I made this decision from much deliberation, after lengthy consultations with many friends, family members, and colleagues, and I firmly believe that all servicemen and women, and the American public, have the right to know the truth about President Obama's constitutional eligibility to serve as Commander-in-Chief.

As military officers, we all take a solemn oath upon commissioning into the Uniformed Services. In this oath, we swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Upholding the law is an essential part of our role as citizens; in the military, we are the ultimate protectors of that law. The Constitution is our social compact, which safeguards all of us and ensures the "equal rights" that we are entitled to as American citizens. 

Since Nuremberg, My Lai, and even Abu Ghraib more recently, the military has been taught the hard lessons of following illegal orders. Any reasonable person looking critically at the information and evidence currently in the public domain about Obama's birthplace would have questions about President Obama's claim to be a natural born citizen. I made the decision to disobey all military orders, including my deployment order to Afghanistan, in pursuit of the truth of whether President Obama can legally occupy the high post that he holds today and which entitles him to send servicemembers into harm's way. 

The United States serves an example to the rest of the world of a stable, civilized, democratic government, where all men are equal under the law and the rule of law is cherished and obeyed. The U.S. military teaches and promotes the rule of law and civilian control of the military to many other nations and military forces around the world. Every soldier learns what constitutes a lawful order and is encouraged to stand up and object to unlawful orders. This is called the "duty to disobey."

My deployment orders for a second tour in Afghanistan included a requirement to bring copies of my birth certificate. I would be glad to obey this order and provide a certified copy of my original birth certificate with common, standard identifiers, including the name of an attending physician and a hospital. Every day in transactions across the country, American citizens are required to prove their identity; standards for identification have become stricter since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Since fall 2008, I have been troubled by reports that the president's original birth certificate remains concealed from public view along with other records which, if released, would quickly end questions surrounding his place of birth and "natural born" status. Many people mistook the online Certification of Live Birth for an original birth certificate. Until the summer of 2009, the Hawaiian Department of Homelands would not accept this Certification of Live Birth to determine native Hawaiian identity -- the Department insisted upon also reviewing an original birth certificate. 

Many do not understand that the online document was from 2007, generated by computer, laser-printed, and merely a certification that there is something on file which may or may not be sufficient proof of a birth in Hawaii. An original birth certificate could be the underlying document that presumably includes a hospital and attending physician's or midwife's name. Such a document should lay to rest the "natural born" dispute. This controversy was further escalated by media reports that gave two different hospital names for Obama's birthplace -- even today, the public does not know what doctor delivered the then-future president or which hospital was the site of his birth. No eyewitnesses have stepped forward to affirm that he was born in Hawaii in 1961. Under immigration laws in force at the time, if born in Kenya to a father who was not a U.S. citizen, Barack Obama had no right to American citizenship of any kind, and he could never qualify as "natural born." This is why determining his actual birthplace is crucial.

In 2008, after pressure from news media, President Obama's rival, candidate McCain, produced an original birth certificate from the Panama Canal Zone; a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examined and affirmed his "natural born" status and constitutional eligibility to serve as president. The U.S. Senate was strangely silent about President Obama's eligibility despite statements from Kenyan citizens that he was born there, evidently including his paternal grandmother and the Ambassador from Kenya to the U.S. during a November 2008 radio interview. Hawaiian state officials claim that they cannot release an original birth certificate without Obama's consent, declaring that the public has no "tangible interest" in seeing this vital birth record.

I attempted without success through my chain of command for over a year to get answers to the questions surrounding the president's eligibility. I was told that I have no standing to make this inquiry, and moreover, that no one in DoD could answer this question. I made inquiries, unsuccessfully, through my congressional delegation, which simply referred my questions back to DoD. No one I spoke to was able to offer any evidence that the president is "natural born." The burden of proof, it seems, must rest with the White House-- with president Obama himself, as these records are his, and he has chosen to conceal them at considerable legal expense. Remarkably, there is no enforcement mechanism for the Constitution's Article II, Section 1 requirement that the president be a "natural born" citizen -- voters have largely relied on an honor system and a free press to vet candidates for the highest political office in the nation.

While President Obama's records remain hidden, public consternation is growing. The American people have the right to know that their president is constitutionally eligible to serve as Commander-in-Chief and thereby may lawfully direct servicemembers into harm's way. I will be proud to deploy to Afghanistan to further serve my country and my fellow soldiers, but I should do so only with the knowledge that this important requirement of our Constitution is respected and obeyed. Those in uniform who continue to risk their lives and give the ultimate sacrifice to the service of our country deserve to know that they do so upholding their vows to the oath of office and to the Constitution.

Until an original birth certificate is brought forward that will validate the Commander-in-Chief's constitutional eligibility and put to rest the reasonable questions surrounding it, I cannot in good conscience obey any of my military orders. Unless it is established (sufficient proof that should be easily within the president's power to provide) that he is constitutionally eligible to serve as president and Commander-in-Chief, I and all other military officers are at risk of following illegal orders.  

There is no legitimate privacy right to information necessary to prove that President Obama is legally eligible to serve as Commander-in-Chief. 

I remain at risk of arrest and court-martial, but am mindful always that my oath of office is to the Constitution. It fills me with great sadness that on 31 March, I declined a direct order from my Medical Brigade Commander. This is a man I honor and wished to meet in order to thank him for his unquestionable valor and courage, and yet I could not obey his order. Now, he could order my arrest at any time.   

I hope that President Obama will demonstrate his respect for the U.S. Constitution and release his original birth certificate. My bags are packed, and I look forward to joining my fellow soldiers in Afghanistan, but I will deploy only with the knowledge that I am following legal orders under a lawful Commander-in-Chief. 

For those readers wanting to follow my ongoing story, the American Patriot Foundation has set up a legal defense fund to help me, and they tell me that they will be posting up-to-date information about my case. Their website is .

Dr. Terrence Lakin is an active duty Lieutenant Colonel who serves as Chief of Primary Care at the Pentagon's TRICARE health clinic; he has been selected for promotion to Colonel.

[Bellflower]

I do not necessarily think that the beast is O. It just seems like he is in such a position to be him and has the demeanor and personality. It is hard to picture someone who is more antiChrist like. Here is another verse about the antiChrist that is very interesting. It talks about him leaving his flock which can also be interpreted failing the flock. I assume this means that he will be a Jew if the flock means the Jews. He could also start out as a Christian leader if flock means the Church. Maybe the flock is the USA and he fails us. The LORD knows.

Zec 11:17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword [shall be] upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

[Bellflower]

The battle against Obama will be at the polls, not in the courts.

Do you think that you are a soothsayer that that you know the future. Do you think that things are always predictable and always follow in the reasoning of what you understand is the past. If that were the case Obama would never have been elected in the first place. His election is so far from what has been typical reality in this country. Who would have guessed that a man with so many obvious connections to radicals and vicious commies would have become President. Who would have guessed that a man who is not natural born as prerequisite by the Constitution (his father is not a US citizen) would have slid past the entire media and Republican party and become President. Who would have guessed that at the same time Congress would have been loaded with lefties and that between the two they would try to, with much human power, turn this Country in a few short years from being the federation it was into a commie, socialist country on it's way, if not stopped, to quickly becoming ruled by a tyrant.

If all of these things that seemed so unlikely fell into place at one time so can something good but unlikely and unexpected happen, especially since we believe in The LORD and He shall have the last word about what happens in reality. Often anything good that gets accomplished must be endeavored over and over by a few with flaming hearts and courage to see the thing through before it actually happens. This is the nature of things and teaches us patience and persistence, two virtues that we all need to learn.

O is an illegal President who has overturned our beloved Constitution to sit illegally in the office of President of The United States of America. With every fiber of our being we cannot let this stand as it attacks the very fiber of our Country in a way that immensely damages it's very foundation.

If you want to let this go and crumble under it's weight than you are less than an informed patriot who understands what it means to be an American.

[Canadian Outrage]

Yes I know there are several interpretations. I have always been taught that the anti-Christ himself would arise out of the revived Roman Empire which will be Europe. It will consist of only 10 nations. So what the natiionality of the anti-Christ is is really debatable. As to the beast, like you say, God knows and besides in some of these things we certainly do see through a glass darkly. I agree with you tho, Obama is a very definite antiChrist person. He’s very evil and it very much shows in his entire demeanor, everything. CO

[Artemis Webb]

Thanks for playin’ !

[conservativegramma]

Applause applause applause! Very good points about repentance and prayer can turn this nation around and do it very quickly.

I remember reading recently a book on George Washington that contained many of his writings. Over and over again, he talked about Divine Providence and how we as a nation would not have prevailed had it not been for the guiding hand and enabling power of almighty God.

If he could do it in 1776, he can do it again in 2010! Pray people!!

[grey_whiskers]

Smoking cigarettes will thin you out quickly too.

Look out for oat cell carcinoma in his future...?

NO cheers, unfortunately.

[grey_whiskers]

Spoken like an admitted drunkard.
Away, you bottle-ale rascal.
Henry IV Part 2, 2.

Here, Kev, I'll see you and raise you one...

Falstaff: Take away these chalices. Go brew me a pottle of sack finely.
Bardolph: With eggs, sir?
Falstaff: Simple of itself; I'll no pullet-sperm in my brewage.

Merry Wives of Windsor Act III Scene 5

Cheers!

[grey_whiskers]

On the other hand at least I don't amateurishly abuse exclamation points and question marks. You only need one at the end of a sentence.

Try this.

It deals with your topic AND health care!

Cheers!

[little jeremiah]

For SURE he’s got mental problems. May they soon overwhelm him!

(insert graphic of strait jacket...)

[little jeremiah]

It’s gotta be more than just smoking cigarettes. Probably a combination of some of these:

1. Cigarettes

2. Eating disorder due to mental instablity

3. Fear due to knowing his lies will eventually seep out; also it’s nerve-wracking to keep a lot of lies straight, plus having to keep his agenda/handlers in order

4. AIDS and/or other illnesses such as HepC

5. Current drug use - cocaine in its various forms takes away appetite, from what I’ve read

[Kevmo]

It would seem logical to ...
***Unfortunately we aren’t in Kansas any more, Toto.

[Kevmo]

I do smell all horse-piss; at which my nose is in great indignation.
The Tempest, 4. 1

[Artemis Webb]

Re: #448

That sir took me back and brightened my day! <—interjection

[Kenny Bunk]

Unfortunately we aren’t in Kansas any more, Toto.
I do smell all horse-piss

I (and Toto) are also olfactorily assaulted, Toto says,

"All the hosshiite Obama flinging around wouldn't
be so bad if there was a least a horse we could ride
outa trouble on. POTUS smell more and more like south end
of northbound mule."

[Artemis Webb]

To: Artemis Webb; Jim Robinson

Waste of time.
Waste of effort.

I don't believe Free Republic is perfect...

Maybe you should leave then.

262 posted on Thursday, April 08, 2010 6:57:00 PM by Brown Deer (Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

---

Apparently JimRob did not see merit in your attempt.

Allow me to share some things. Back around 1996 I got my first computer and my first internet connection. The computer was a used IBM PS2 with 57MB? of memory. I couldn't even see graphics, I worked in a text only environment with what was known as “frames”.

One of the first websites I found was Drudge Report and from that website I noticed a link to something called, “Whitewater File”. Well Free Republic was about a lot more than the Clinton Whitewater scandal. It was a conservative oasis and Jim Robinson was a one man band running it. There were no moderators. With Jim's help I was able register (I actually have a screen name that predates this one but I have long since forgotten it). Jim was the first person to explain to me what a cookie was.

You took my profile page statement that “I don't believe Free Republic is not perfect but it is perfect for me” out of context. So not only does that make you a liar but an ineffective one.

Have a nice day.

[Artemis Webb]

Jim I meant to ping you to the above. Sorry for the omission.

[Brown Deer]

You took my profile page statement that “I don't believe Free Republic is not perfect but it is perfect for me” out of context. So not only does that make you a liar but an ineffective one.

Ummm, what I posted was, "I don't believe Free Republic is perfect...", with a link to exactly what you said. So, I guess that makes YOU the liar, since it was NOT out of context.

Back around 1996 I got my first computer and my first internet connection. The computer was a used IBM PS2 with 57MB? of memory.

So what's your point? I had a personal computer twenty years before that.

[Artemis Webb]

You figure the point out based on who you pinged on #262 and who I pinged on #456 bright boy.