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.

[dennisw]

Yeah just go away and do something else. You sound like Glenn Beck.

[Artemis Webb]

They don’t “upset me”.
I’m expressing a political opinion.
I have lots of political opinions. Just like you. I doubt you are “upset” right now. I’m sure you are just defending your position as I am mine.

[matthew fuller]

"So we can only comment on threads if we agree with the intent or message of the poster? "

Seems like this thread is a waste of your time..

[Slyfox]

Kenyan-born US Senator

Whoops! How did they let THAT one pass?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Whoops! How did they let THAT one pass?

It helps if you have both fingers in you ears and sing, la la la la.

[Artemis Webb]

It’s my time.

[Eye of Unk]

Thank you for that diagnosis, I rarely see good natured intelligent poster often, especially early or late at night, usually its the bravado teen crowd.

[BP2]

From my hours and hours of reading on FR, I am pretty much convinced he was born in Kenya. If he was born in HI, why wouldn’t he reveal his birth certificate?

I'm not ENTIRELY sure where BHO Jr. was born without prima facie proof otherwise. Anything is possible with the Acting Liar-in-Chief: Kenya, Canada, even Washington state or Massachusetts (Ann following Obama Sr to Harvard). We've explored many theories here, some FAR more plausible than others. Any documentation he may produce, knowing WHO and WHAT he is, is HIGHLY dubious and could never be trusted.

However, it is UNDENIABLE — on paper anyway — that his biological father is a British subject. Even if Obama Jr was born on American soil, his Bloodline AND Socialization defines him LESS as an American ... and more as something else.

In the end, when it reaches the SCOTUS, it would have bearing as the Framers would have undoubtedly seen Obama as an infiltrator and someone who was born as HALF American and half British/Kenyan, with a little bit of Indonesian sprinkled in between.

Blackstone:

Vattel:

[A message]

But if the term offends you I sincerely apologize for it.

A better term in my opinion is "doubter."

I have my doubts. Too much of this guys past is sealed shut to not have suspicion. Yea, we'll fight him at the polls and we still want the truth.

[ASA Vet]

Don’t give us a modern laser copy certificate of live birth

We should just agree to accept the COLB forgery as a true birth document of Resident Obama.

The COLB shows that he is NOT a Natural Born Citizen.

[BP2]

Honestly I thought Birthers liked being called birthers.

Most don't. It's synonymous with calling Tea Party members Teabaggers.

The Left says BOTH to rile up the opposition. As such, the wiser person just allows such childish insults to roll one's back.

That said, we do our fair share of haranguing back at them ...

[StopObama2012]

“Yea, we’ll fight him at the polls and we still want the truth.”

Exactly. Just because we beat 0moslem at the polls, doesn’t mean we SHOULDN’T KNOW if the National Socialists (Democrats) fronted a “fake American” as their presidential candidate.

Also, it might be a tad useful to know if EVERY ORDER AND EVERY LAW OMOSLEM HAS SIGNED is 100% invalid.

Thus, we should pursue this dirty moslem communist on every level, at all times. Regardless of whether we can finally “prove in court” that he’s a usurper.

Maybe we won’t ever get a court to admit he’s a fraud, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying. Just because we cannot predict the future of the investigation, doesn’t mean we quit asking WHY this dirty moslem has sealed all his records.

[dennisw]

Because his Muslim father was a foreigner?

[Artemis Webb]

I have my doubts too! I think Obama was born in Kenya as I have said earlier on this post. But if I might allow me to use a baseball analogy:

If you follow baseball you will have many times seen a situation where a pitcher has a potential base stealer standing on first. The pitcher looks to third then throws to first hoping to catch the guy off the base and get an out. It never works. It’s been tried ump-teen million times, and it never works. Still if a pitcher on MY team ever pulls it off I’ll be thrilled. I just don’t see it happening.

If the “doubters” of Obama’s citizenship want to fight the court fight that is their business, their time, their money. If they ever pull it off I’ll be thrilled. I just don’t see it happening.

[Natural Born 54]

I’ve done that reading, too, and I agree with you.

This obstacle of “standing” is a very high wall to climb. It seems that no matter what is done, there is no judge who is going to allow discovery. So I was thinking about ways to get around that wall and came up with one thought which may have merit.

FR (or whatever group would work) could sponsor a fund to raise money to buy the information we want to the extent that it can be bought. It would have to be a large sum (and therefore require some large sponsors) and would have to be expressed as information that unquestionably proves where he was born. IIRC WND has some kind of reward thing set up but it is chump change for this issue. I remember that a $25 million reward did not produce Bin Laden, but Obummer is not hiding out in some cave in Pakistan (wish he were).

Lots of details would be involved - anonymity, protection, etc. - whatever is appropriate for the taker.

I can’t believe everyone with the information we need would simply ignore a large reward. How about someone in the Hawaii Dept. with the records, especially if that person could remain anonymous? How about that 1/2 brother of BO’s who lives in a hut?

If it worked, it might then be possible to go after Pelosi for signing that extra certification document for Hawaii and to go after a whole lot of other criminals that need to move from public office to a cell. Then perhaps there would be grounds to question legislation passed by these creeps.

Before you “birther critics” start in on this, please remember that:

1. there is real concern that there won’t be elections this year
2. there is real concern that there won’t be fair elections but instead massive voter fraud that will completely counteract the ground swell against the dems
3. if the election results are not good enough to stop the radicals’ agenda, what will be left of American by 2012?

Comments, please....

[Artemis Webb]

I stand corrected. Thank you.

[Natural Born 54]

That’s funny (if you don’t think about the result).

[StopObama2012]

I think some folks miss the point.

Is “proving” the dirty moslem marxist to be a Usurper, in a court of law, unlikely?

Yes.

But keep in mind one thing. Bush was basically destroyed by leftists who just KEPT ATTACKING HIM. Over and over. Relentlessly. Could they ever “prove” he was a “war criminal?” Of course not! Just the opposite was true — Bush ousted a REAL war criminal, Saddam.

But the effectiveness of the attack is they just kept repeating it, every day, all day. They kept attacking nonstop. And to a large degree, it worked to clobber and undermine Bush.

And if that same technique helps get rid of this filty moslem communist traitor piece of garbage, then SO BE IT. Even if we NEVER “prove” he’s a usurper, we have an obligation to try.

[ASA Vet]

Because his Muslim father was a foreigner?

At the time of the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution,
the definition of Natural Born Citizen, combined both the principles of jus soli and jus sanguinis.

The COLB forgery shows Resident Obama doesn't meet the Jus Sanguinis principle.